Metropolitan.

of Masonry , viz ., Dr . Sleeman , A . W . Sidney , Collins , and Spragne . The ceremony was worked in the most efficient manner by Bro . G . D . Cossins , the W . JI ., and an excellent staff of officers , among them being that welt-known and JRev . Bro . Ansloiv , S . W . There was also a passing of Bro . Part , ancl raising of Bro . Elliott , both of these degrees being worked in an excellent manner . Much credit is due to the lodge , not only for the excellent working , but especially for the care they had taken in receiving into Masonry only those

they would feel a pleasure in receiving in the family circle . After the lodge closed , the brethren sat down to one of Bro . Harris's excellent banquets . The usual toasts were given and responded to , and the evening was spent in harmony . The visitors present were Bros . H . I . Thompson , 73 , 227 , 257 ; Salborniy , 613 ; Dyer , 33 ; Thomas , GJO , 8 . Australia . DcirAiio LODGE ( SO . 20 G ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday evening December 10 at Bro . Ireland ' s

, , Masonic Hall , Fetter-lane . Bro . Brett , P . M . ( in the absence of Bro . Haydon , W . M . ) occupied the chair . He was supported by his Officers , ancl the following visitors : —Bros . C . Gnnn , 73 ; J . Edwards , 8 _ - ( Scotland ); J . J . Everest , W . M . 91 ( Freedom ) ; W . Small , 10 S 2 ; Georsre Thorns , S . D . 219 ; E . Bo thill , 1037 ; W . H . Everest , W . M . 709 ; W . Tuck , 25 ; E . Farthing , S . W . 115 ; Sasboura-e 2 SI ; J . JDiuluev , St . John the Baptist , 46 ; W . Birch ,

P . M . 1 GS ; F . White , S . W . 709 ; Charles Lee , P . M . 9 ; Ford , St . James ' s Union , 211 , & c . The lodge having been opened ancl the minutes read , Bros . Simpson , Baigent , Small , Slater , anclAVavellwere questioned , and having given pi-oofs of their prociency , they were in a most solemn a nil impressive manner raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons . The lodge then resumed to be second degreeand Bros . SutherlandMen-lit , and JMeedhani were

-, , . respec tively passed to the degree of F . C . The lodge then resumed to the first degree , anclMessrs . W . Moes , AA' . Manton , anclB . Bryant were introduced , ancl in clue form regularly initiated into the privileges and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . The next business was the installation of Bro . Moore , the W . M . elect , into the chair of K . S ., that impressive rite being most ably performed bv Bro . Brett ,

P . M ., in the presence of P . M . s Adams , Snow , Marshall , Carpenter , Smith , ( Src . The customary salutes having been given , the W . M . invested his officers as follows : —Bros . Kussen , S . W . ; Wilson , J . W . ; H . Thompson , _ S . JD . ; Osborne , J . D . ; and Meekham , I . G . — Bro . Everest , W . M . JNo . 91 , proposed that the thanks of the lodge be given to Bro . Brett , P . M ., for the very able ancl efficient manner in which he had worked the ceremony of initiation that evening , which ivas seconded by Bro . Farthing , and carried unanimously .

Nothing further occurring for the good of Freemasonry , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment . After the loyal and Masonic toasts had been disposed of , Bro . Smith , P . M . and Treas ., said he had been entrusted by the W . M . for a short time with the use of his gavel , and the'brethren , he had no doubt , would understand the use that he should make of it , which was to propose , "The Health of their W . M . He need offer no words in recommendation of the toastfor he was siv-e the brethren must all

, have felt surprised at the way in wliich their W . M . had performed the duties of the lodge . In that lodge there was a great deal of business to perforin in a very short time , and he believed that at the end of his year of office the brethren would have no cause of regret in having elevated him to that honourable position . He gave them ' ' The , Health of Bvo . Moore , tiieiv W . M . " and wishing Tuva health and prosperity . ( Cheers . ) The W . M . thanked the brethren for the very kind ancl heai tv manner in which they hacl drank his health

and that they ivei-es . iti . Mied he bad ample proof in the smiling faces he saw around him . The WM . then proposed " Tho Health of the Visitors , " wliich was responded to by Bros . Lee and Dudley , the former expressing his great gratification at the working-of the lodge , ancl the manner in which the officers had performed thcirdiit'es . The next toast was that of "I'he Past Masters ofthe Lodge , " for wliich compliment Bro . Carpenter returned thanks iu his usual humorous and happy stra i n , which elicited roars of laughter . " The

Health of their newly-ini . iatod Brethren " was then given , for which Bro . Bryant returned thanks . Bro . Smith , P . M ., proposed "The Health of Bro . Haydon , their immediate P . M . " and remarked that as be had consented to act as Steward ibr the lodge at the coming Festival for the benefit of tha aged Freemasons , he hoped the brethren would support bim upon that occasion . Ssver . il other toasts ivere given , and the evening was spent in the

most complete harmony . LODGE or U . VJTED SI BEXC-TIT ( XO . 276 ) . —At a meeting of this lodge , at the Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell , Bro . J . J _ 7 . Frost , W . M . Bro . William Leedham was initiated into Jlasonry , and Bro . Vesson passed to the second degree . Bro . AVinsland , S . W ., was elected W . M . for the year ensuing ; Bro . Allen , P . M ., was unanimously re-elected Treas ., and Bro . Beckett , Tyler . The Audit Committee was appointed , and several accessions to the locla-e ivere announced , promising a busy year to the W . M . elect .

MERCHANT AAVT LODGE ( . SO . 1083 ) . —At a regular meeting held on Thursday , December 13 , at the Jamaica Tavern , adjoining the East India Docks , Bro . Tildon Manton , the AV . M ., presided , and passed to the second degree , Bro . AA'ilkinson . A case of distress was brought before the lodge , and two pounds voted from the funds ; a private subscription for the poor brother was entered into , which produced an additional sum of £ 3 12 . j . The lodge was closed , ancl about twenty brethren afterwards gathered around the W . M .

at the social boarcl . In the course ofthe evening Bro . Potts , in proposing "The Master's Health" referred to his having been the founder of the lodge '; ancl to Bro . Manton it was indebted for its name ; he rightly considering it would have a charm for the officers engaged inthecomnierci-. il navy ; auditsbeiiefitsweremadelmownby theniany claims on its charitable funds for sudden cases of calamity , such as wrecks , or like casualties by sea . Bro . Manton was entitled to the

respect of the lodge for his punctuality and attention to its interests , ancl would be an example to all who should follow him . — Bro . Manton , in reply , said it afforded him great pleasure to witness Ihe continued good progress of the lodge ; it was most gratifying to find his anticipations realised ; he early saw the need of a lodge in London devoted to the officers of the merchant navy . The lodge , in its short period of existence , had initiated forty-four members of that professionand he hoped that ere long its fundsby increase of

, , members , would be equal to meet any case of sudden distress that might come under its notice . To " The Health of the Visitors , Bros . Kindred ancl How , " the latter responded , ancl referred to the great good that the lodge might diffuse in spreading the principles and precepts of Masonry in distant lands . The mercantile navy was possessed of the power of advancing the progress of civilisation in savage climes , and of making the name of au Englishman respected and honoured ; oron the contraryof teaching vice and

, , immorality ; hence how necessary was it that they should be imbued with the Divine principles of their time-honoured institution . —Bro . Johnson , P . M ., with the permission of the W . M ., proposed " Success to THE FEEEIIASOXS MAGAZINE , " and called on the brethren to give it better support than it appeared haci hitherto been afforded to its

able editor . After some other toasts , the brethren separated at an early hour . Bi . rr . 3 H OAE LODGE ( JN " . 1133 ) . —COXSECHATIOS - . —JNearly sixty brethren , over twenty of whom were Past Masters of lodges , assembled at Gm-uey's Hotel , on the confines of Middlesex ancl Essex , on Monday , December 17 th , at two p . m ., to participate in the imposing rite of consecration of this new addition to the Craft . Jfhe AV . M . G . M . had deputed Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson to perform the

ceremony , and he took the chair ; Bros . Bolton and Finch , P . M . s , filling the Wardens' chairs , Bro . Rule , P . G . Purs ., acting as Deputy Master , Ilev . Bro . Charles AVoodward , P . Prov . G . Chaplain of Australia , as Chaplain , and Bro . Jeremiah How , Prov . G . D . Cers . Herts , as Secretary and Director of Ceremonies . The ceremony was considerably enhanced by the aid of good music , Bros . Shoubriclge , Fielding , and Winn being the vocalists . The rite of consecration concludedBro . Richard I- ' airbairnthe AA . M . named in the ivarrant ,

, , was presented by Bro . Pule , and duly installed by Bro . AVilson . The "W . 7 . I . was sainted and proclaimed in the several degrees , and Bro . Wilso-. i delivered the usual charges . The AA' . M . then appointed and invested ns his officers . Bros . George- JXorton , S . W . ; William Mitcheson , J . AV . ; H . Bradley , Sec . ; " C . Hekkel . S . D . ; Samuel West , J . D . ; Edwin West , I . G . Bro , Hobart Burrell was invested as Treasurer , and Bro . Koare , Tyler . A ballot was taken for the reception ofthe folio win ; - seutlemeu : — -Messrs . 11 . II . AVright ,

A . G urney , II . Iiimlmarsh , AA ilhcliii Lund , and Thomas J . Cross . All were unanimously accepted , ancl , being in attendance , initiated into the Order . The AV . AI . then proposed a vote of thanks in grateful acknowledgment- of Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson's kind services of consecrating the lodge and performing the ceremony of installation , which was seconded by the Senior AA'arden , and carried by acclamation . The lodge was duly close . il , ancl soon after seven , about fifty brethren assembled at the banquetThe excellent

. very dinner having been disposed of , " ' JSTon nobis Domiiie" was sungby the vocal " brethren . —The AA ' . JI . then begged the attention of the brethren to the first toast iu all societies of gentlemen , and which Masons never omitted— "The Queen , " to which , as comprehending all honour p . dd by the Order , was added " The Craft . " The next toast , "Tiie M .-W . G . M . thc Earl of Zetland , " as tho Sovereign of the Order , of course followed . —The W . M . rose again ,

and said : tha toast that followed in order , irrespective of the chief personage mentioned , would include a time-honoured brother , whose name was a tower of strength in Masonry , who had that day honoured tiie British Oak Lodge by solemnly inaugurating iti entrance into Masonry . Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson ' s attainments were widely known , and all present bad hacl the happy opportunity of witnessing his consummate skill in consecrating the lodge and installing its Master ; he , therefore , concluded by giving " The D . G . M . Lord P .-unmirs , and the rest of the Officers , Past and Present , particularly including Bro . AVilson , P . G . D . " —Bro . WilSOS ,