Metropolitan.

been read and confirmed , Bro . P . M . Swainston , the W . M . pro tern ., addressing the brethren , said he was quite sure the course he was ] about to adopt would , under the melancholy circumstances , meet with the ready approval of every member of the lodge . The death of the Prince Consort had been received by all classes throughout the country as a national calamity , and he therefore thought it the duty of the members of

that lodge , as good Masons and loyal subjects , to show their sense of the loss sustained by her Majesty and the Eoyal Family by refraining from all business or pleasure that AA-as not of immediate necessity . It was the Avish of the W . M . ( Bro . J . G . Thompson ) , that all further business should be postponed , and the lodge adjourned , as a mark of respect to his late Eoyal Highness the Prince Consortand as a loyal expression of sympathtoivards

, y our beloved Sovereign in her deep affliction for the great and sad bereavement her Majesty had suffered . The lodge AA'as therefore ¦ adjourned until the third Monday in January , emergencies excepted , after which the brethren separated , a memorandum to that effect having been previously entered on the minutes .

INSTRUCTION . EOEERT BURNS LODGE ( NO . 25 ) . — -For many years this Lodge of Instruction has been in the habit of holding a reunion of those brethren who have attended for the benefit of instruction . The anniversary this year took place at Bro . J . W . Adams ' , Union Tavern , Air-street , W ., on Friday , the 6 th inst . The brethren began to assemble about half-past seventhe banquet being appointed to

, take place at 8 o'clock precisely , Bro . W . Watson , P . M . 25 , was W . M . for the evening ; Bro . T . A . Adams , G . P ., S . W . ; Bro . Clements , P . M . 25 , J . W . ; Bro . Newton , P . M . 23 , Secretary . Among the brethren present Avere Bros . Le Gassick Gladivin , P . M . . 25 , Bro . Caulchen , S . W . 25 ; Bro . Lyon , J . W . 25 ; with others of the parent lodge , Bros . States , Hart , Diedrich , Exall , Grant , Winter , W . CarterB . FordBoydand in all betiA-een 40 and 50 sat doAvn

, , , to one of the most comfortable banquets that any caterer could place on the table . Bro . Watson , in proposing "The prosperity of the Lodge of Instruction , " said that , those brethren piesent who were members Avould acquaint other brethren of the excellence of the working , and if they AA'ere to attend to this lodge , there Avould not be so many incompetent officers in lodges , andit was to be regretted that more did not avail

, many themselves of the advantages of Lodges of Instruction . Bro . B . Ford sung that very beautiful ditty " Have faith in one Another . " Bro . Watson proposed " The Health of Bro . T . A . Adams , the S . W . " He felt this Lodge of Instruction AA'as under gieat obligations to Bro . Adams , for his almost constant attendancehe Avas alAvavs

, Joyful , alvrays ready to impart to others the knoAvledge he had himself acquired , and would doubtless be still willing to dothe same as long as T . G-. A . O . T . U . spared him—this toast w-as most enthusiastically responded to . —Bro . Adams , in return , said , to shoiv young Masons what perseA'erance ivould do , that by the time he had been nine months a Mason he had acquired all Craft Masonry , and did not believe that he kneiv it better HOAV then he did then , and

as Bro . Watson said he Avas ivilling at suitable times , eA'en at his own house , to impart that instruction that had been imparted to him for the benefit of any one here or elseAA-here . He regretted "that there were so many brethren placed in office ivho ought not to have any pretence to the chair when there Avere so many in the room -willing to make them efficient . —The " Health of the W . M ., ( Bro . Watson ) , " Avas proposed by Bro . Adams , AVIIO said that it \ vas all

nonsense to eulogize the W . M . either as a Mason or as a banquet master , and the less he said about him the better ; he AA-as so universally knOAA-n and respected ; ready to help and assist any brother who might unfortunately get into a Masonic difficulty oi- trouble , and his opinion was knoivn to be so correct , that in fact he was a walking Boole of Constitutions . The other toasts ivere , " The Parent Lod" BroCaulcherWMElectand BroL lied

ge , . , .. ., . yon , J . W ., rep , Bro . Nevvton , the Secretary of the lodge , and ' Lodge of Instruction , " " The SteAvards , " "The Host , " and "Mrs . Adams . " The vocal talent consisted of Bro . B . Ford , Carpenter , Newall , Exall , W . Carter , and others , and after a pleasant and convivial meeting the brethren separated , pleased and satisfied with each other , and in particuliar ivith the host and hostess .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DURHAM . SuKDERiAyD . —Palatine Lodrje ( No . 114 ) . —On Thursday last , December 12 th , the Master , Wardens , and brethren of this lodge _ ield their annual meeting in the lodge-room , Bridge Hotel , on which occasion the ceremony of the installation of the W . M . for

the ensuing year was conducted with great ability in the presence of a large number of P . M . s from other lodges , by Bro . B . Levy , P . M . On Bro . Thomas Hanson , the ne-vly-elected WM ., taking the chair , the folloiving brethren were appointed officers : —Bros . James Hamilton , S . W . ; R . Fairclough , J . W . ; W . J . Young , S . D . ; Joseph Doxford , J . D . ; Eichard Iliff , I . G-. ; William LaAA-s , Tyler ; also Bro . J . H . Hartre-elected Secand Bro . J . CrosslyP . M .

re-, , , , elected Treas . —Bro . Levy , P . M ., in accordance with notice of motion , proposed a committee for carrying out the preliminary arrangements for the intended Masonic hall , shortly to be built by the members of the Palatine Lodge . The business being closed ; and while at refreshment the folloiving toasts Avere given and various songs sung : — "The Queen ; " "The R . W . Grand Master ; " "The Deputy Grand Masterand other Grand Officers ; " "The Health of the

Wor-, shipful Master . "—The W . M . responded in a very neat and appropriate speech , in AA'hich he took occasion to thank the brethren for the honour they had done him in electing him W . M . of a lodge distinguished throughout the province for the beauty and correctness of its working , and expressed his determination , as far as should lie in his poAver , to prevent its losing any of those honours it had so justly earned . —The health of the immediate P . M ., Bro . Edward

Evans , was next given . The health of the Treasurer , Bro . Crossly , P . M ., concluded an exceedingly harmonious and delightful evening ; and from the fact that several professional and amateur musicians have lately joined this lodge , Ave fully anticipate , during the ensuing year , several such delightful meetings . The brethren of the above lodge intend celebrating the festival of St . John on the 27 th inst .

SOUTH SHIELDS— -Stf . Silda's Lodge ( No . 292 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge was held at the Central Hall on Monday , December 9 , for the installation of the W . M . elect , and the regular business . After the raising of tivo brethren to the third degree , Bro . Eoddam , S . AV ., and W . M . elect , was presented to the Installing Master for the ceremony of installation . After being duly obligatedhe Avas placed in the chair of K . S . as

, W . M . of St . Hilda's Lodge for the ensuing year , and saluted by the brethren in due form . The beautiful ceremony of installation ivas conducted by Bro . P . M . Ridley , P . Prov . J . G . W ., in his usual masterly and effective style . The W . M . invested the following brethren with the jeivel and collar of office , viz ., Bros . Buckland , P . M . ; Hed ' ley , S . W . ; Evans , J . W . ; Ridley , Treas . ; ShattenSec . ; BuchananS . D . ; ChambersJ . D . ; L . IAVSOUI . G . ;

, , , , Chater and Weaklier , SteAA-ards ; Dacchar , Tyler . The brethren aftei-Avards adjourned to refreshment , when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , enlivened at intervals by _ several brethren with some appropriate music . There was a very large attendance of the brethren , and amongst the visitors were Bros . Twizell , PI-OA * . J . G . W . ( W . M . elect , St . George's 624 , North Shields ); and Shatten ( W . M . 624 ) Prov . J . G . D . for

, Northumberland ; and a number of other brethren . The Treasurer reported a large balance in favour of the lodge , which was vouched for by the auditors . After several propositions had been received , the lodge AA-as closed in due form . The annual festiA-al Avas agreed to take place on Thursday , the 26 th , when a good muster is expected .

KENT . AsnroRD—Invicta Lodge ( No . 1011 ) . —On Friday the 6 th inst ., the annual meeting of this lodge took \ ilace in the rooms attached to the handsome new Corn Exchange ( in which place the business of this lodge AA-HI in future be transacted ) , the W . M . Bro . J . S . Eastes presiding . After the initiation of Mr . John Perry , and the passing of Bro . Buckivell , which ceremonies were most

effectually performed by the W . M . elect , Bro . B . K . Thorpe was presented for installation , and after liaving been duly obligated , AA'as placed in the chair by a board of P . M . s , and duly saluted by the brethren . The ceremony of installation ivas most ably conducted by the talented immediate P . M ., Bro . J . S . Eastes , who , before leaving the chair , presented the lodge with a beautiful stand for the ballot box , a column consisting of the three orders of Architecturedesigned bBro . E . C . May . The folloAA'ing officers

, y AA-ere appointed for the ensuing year : —Bro . J . S . Eastes , Prov . G . S . W ., P . M . ; G . W . Greenhill , S . W . ; H . Maund , J . W . ; C . J . A . Goldberg , Sec ; R , Mansell , S . D . ; A . Kingsnorth , J . D . ; J . C . HalloAves , I . G . ; H . Collins , Tyler . The brethren aftenvards sat down to an excellent banquet , at the George Hotel , at which there were present , besides the officers of the lodge above enumerated , Bros . T . HallowesPProvDGMB . ThorpeP . Prov . GRCooke

, . .... ; , .. ; , P . Proi * . S . G . W . ; Sheppard , P . Prov . G . S . B . ; Ashdoivn , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; Key , P . Prov . G . O . ; Rev . — Eoxborough , J . Furley , F . Collins , Kingston ! , W . Buckwell , J . C . Bayley , J . Warrington , & c . A very pleasant evening was spent , and the brethren separated—happy to meet , happy to part , happy to meet again .