Metropolitan.

present at the Strawberry-hill Lodge , or chapter , know it is Bro . Bendy ' s pleasure to place before them . After justice had been done to the good things provided , and the cloth drawn , the new W . M . proposed the first three loyal and Masonic toasts : "The Queen , " " The M . W . G . M , " "TheD . G . M . and the Grand Officers , " after which came one of the most pleasant episodes at which a biother can assist , viz ., the pnblic recognition of a brother ' s services who has nobldone his dut

y y as a Freemason , a friend , and a man . On the table , covered with a cloth , was placed an elegantly illuminated testimonial , framed aud glazed , a silver cup , weighing eighteen ounces , with rural scenes and animals in bold relief , under a glass shade , and two exquisite brooches , set in gold ; all of which had heen subscribed for by brethren and others , for presentation to Bro . Bendy , Mrs . Bendy , and her sister , Mrs .

Beasley . The cup bore the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . Thomas Bendy , in open lodge , by the Brethren of the Strawberry-hill Lodge , Xo . 946 , as a small tribute of admiration for his truly Masonic conduct towards the late Bro . John Gurton , his deceased wife , and surviving family ; and to mark the esteem in which the brethren of his own and

other lodges hold him . "April Sth , 1868 . " The testimonial , adorned with various Masonic emblems , and effectively coloured , was as follows : —

* He that loveth his Brother abideth in the light—John i ., 11 , 10 . ' "This testimonial , accompanied by a Silver Tankard , was presented by the brethren of the Strawberry-hill Lodge , Xo . 946 , to Bro . Thomas Bendy , as a mark of their esteem and admiration for his disinterested and fraternal good works , on behalf of the lamented Bro . John Gurton , founder of the lodge ,

his late widow , and surviving children . In this ' Tribute to Excellence' the lodge would be not only unjust , but ungrateful , not to record its appreciation of the delicacy , tact , unremitting attention , and uniform kindness with which Mrs . Bendy and her sister , Mrs . Beasley , ministered to Bro . John Gurton , his wife , and family , whilst under Bro . Bendy ' s roof ; and the lodge trusts those ladies will accept its warmest thanks and profound

respect for the many kind and alleviating offices they rendered , and which none but women know so well how to discharge . May every blessing , both here and hereafter , rest on such true examples ' worth and real merit . '

"Signed—on behalf of the lodge , April Sth , 1 SGS" William Smeed , W . M . " Henry James Smith , W . M . elect . " Edward Hopgood , J . W . " Matthew John Stedwell , P . M . and Treas . " William Piatt , P . M ., Hon . See . " The W . M . after prefacing his remarks by stating that

however imperfectly he might perform the pleasing duty that fell to his lot , he was not prepared to delegate its performance to anyone else however talented , called Bro . Bendy forward and told him that from his great kindness in receiving their late Bro . Gurton , his deceased wife , and surviving family , into his house when Bro . Gurton ' s misfortunes deprived him of a home ; from the care with which he had supported him through a

painful illness which terminated in his death , by the manner in which he had succoured Mrs . Gurton , and was then providing for the youngest of the family , he had won the gratitude , love , and respect , of the lodge and of all true brethren . The W . M . next said that it was not to be supposed they eould sit by quietly and see such fraternal acts done without , in some slight manner , testifying their warmest approval . Knowing that they could

never repay Bro . Bendy—nor was their offering intended in any such manner—but , simply , as a tangible and enduring memorial of their warmest appreciation ; he begged Bro . Bendy to accept the testimonial and cup before him , and that Mrs . Bendy and Mrs . Beasley would also accept tbe brooches , all of whicli the lodge kindly trusted would be welcome to him and the ladies , not for their intrinsic valuewhich was but smallbut as an

, , earnest pledge that the members held his generosity in great respect , and considered Mrs . Bendy and her sister as good Freemasons , at heart , as Bro . Bendy himself . With the best wishes for all three he had the pleasure to ask Bro . Bendy ' s acceptance of their present , feeling assured that not only here , on earth , hut in the Grand Lodge above , his Masonic virtue would be justly appreciated . The W . M . then called upou all to drink

" The Health of Bro . Bendy , Mrs . Bendy , and her Sister . " The toast was enthusiastically received . Bro . Bendy ( who ou rising was greeted with repeated roundsof applause ) , was quite unprepared to find such a handsomeaeknowledgment for having done what he considered to be his Masonic duty . Bro . Gurton was a stranger to him until he ( Bro . Bendy ) went to Twickenham . Then he first knew him and liked himbut because he liked a brother he did not think

, himself deserving of such a tribute . Well , then , he supposed he had done something very wonderful , and was asked to accept of what they were pleased to call a small present of little value . If however , they thought so he did not . It might be , as far asmoney went , of comparatively small value , but for himself and wife , with her sister , they did not need money , but they must ever look uponand regardthe gifts as invaluable and beyond

, , the power of money to purchase . For their kindness and in the name of his wife and Mrs . Beasley , he thanked them deeply and could assure them the presents given to thein that daywould be sacred in their eyes as long as they should live , and when they were gone they would , he hoped , fall into other hands who would cherish and venerate them as he and his . would do . ¦

The cup was then filled with champagne by Bro . Bendy , and passed round . At this stage of the proceedings Bro . Bendy brought in Bro' John Gurton's youngest child , Robert Gurton , born on that day five years , the day upon which the lodge was consecrated ; and Bro . Piatt , Hon . Sec , stated they had founded what would be called the " Strawberry-Hill Gurton Fund , " for the purpose of making some provision for the child in after life , Bro . Bendy having undertaken the care of him until he is of age to be got into some school , and Bro . Bendy was also willing

to apply any sums of money entrusted to him for the little" Strawberry- Hill" boy , and had , most handsomely headed the list with his own twenty pounds . Bro . Piatt said the amount they had collected was more than forty guineas , and he hoped they would be able to increase it . from time to time . Bro . George States—in the most creditable manner and without a single word—put a five-pound note into the child ' s

hand , and it cannot be doubted but that , as time goes on , a very handsome sum will be realised for the benefit of "the child , of the lodge , " who has no one else to look to but his kindly self-constituted guardians , Mr . and Mrs . Bendy , and the brethren of the lodge . After such a scene everything else must appear commonplace . So , suffice it to say , the new W . M ., who won golden opinions

for his unpretending carriage , proposed the visitors , which was replied to by Bro . George States , W . M . of the Grand Steward ' s Lodge , who well expressed the pleasure all who visited the lodge must have experienced at witnessing such a happy illustration of Masonic precepts . Bro . Smeed , P . M ., proposed the health of the new W . M ., in terms which did him credit and the W . M . justice , and the latter

proposed the P . M . 's , each of whom spoke briefly in acknowledgement . Bro . Stedwell , P . M and Treas ., and Bro . W . Piatt , P . M , and Hon . Sec ., were not forgotten , aud each of them made suitable replies . TheS . W ., J . W ., and the rest of the officers were toasted and congratulated on their preferment , and each having spoken his thanks , the lodge was called from refreshment to labour , and finally closed .

SOUTHERN STAE LODGE ( XO . 1 , 158 ) . On Tuesday , the 7 th inst ., the ordinary meeting of this lodgewas held at Bro . Allat ' s , the Montpellier Tavern , Walworth , Bro . Henry Thompson , W . M ., presiding , supported as usual by the following officers : —Bros . Pulsford , S . W . ; Margerison , J . W . ; Clarke , S . D . ; Bartlett , I . G . ; Charles E . Thompson , Sec . ; Smith , Treas . ; PotterP . M . Steward ; and LaingP . M . Tyler . There

, , , , was a numerous attendance of the brethren . The lodge having been opened in due form and with solemn prayer , the Secretary proceeded to read the minutes of the last lodge and emergency meetings . The latter ( the emergency meeting ) revealing the extraordinary occurrence of five initiations , & c . The minutes were unanimously confirmed . Mr . Walter Bruice was balloted for aud approved of , and

afterwards initiated into the mysteries of Masonry . Bros . Piggott , Limeburne , Harris , Flowers , and Page , were then advanced to the F . C . degree . The lodge was then raised to the third degree , when Bros ,