Metropolitan.

took the chair , and commenced the all important ceremony of the evening , viz ., the installation of Bro . H . Bagshaw , S . W . and W . M . elect , who was presented to him by Bro . Owden , P . M . Bro . John Stevens , W . M ., having asked the usual questions and explained the duties of the W . M ., he immediately commenced the installation . The Board of Installed Masters

was duly formed , there being more than eighteen present . The brethren were afterwards admitted and paid obedience to the new W . M . Bro . John Stevens , P . M ., then in appropriate speeches and in his usual happy manner , by command of Bro . H . Bagshaw , AV . M ., invested the following brethren as officers , viz ., Wakefield , S . W . ; Bumstead , J . W . and Sec . ; R . Welsford , P . M . Treas . ; J . Liddiard , S . D . ; Gale , J . D . ; Jones , I . G . ; S . ( JarrettP . M . Tyler . Bro . John Stevens then gave the usual

, , addresses , and during their delivery , as at the other impressive points of the ceremony , he so managed to rivet and concentrate the attention of the brethren . It has never been our happy lot to witness this ceremony so well done in this town before , more especially by so young a Mason as our highly esteemed Bro . John Stevens , who is one of the first brothers for some years past who has installed his successor . Year after have

year we had to witness brethren from other lodges perform this work ; but now what a beautiful change do we witness in seeing every part of this ceremony so happily rendered , and that , too , hy the I . P . M . It would be impossible to point out any part of the ceremony which was given better than another . Bro . John Stevens gave this ceremony in such a quiet and correct mannerthat although his tutorBro . H . A . Collington was

, , present he had not the slightest occasion to prompt him hy either word or look . He gave Bro . S . B . Wilson ' s working , and if that worthy brother had have been present he mi ght indeed have been proud to claim him as a disciple . His work was truly appreciated , for scarcely had the last word died from his lips when the lodge-room shook with enthusiastic applause , which was showered on him by the brethren . Bro . H . A .

Collington , P . M ., although very ill from a severe cold , came to see his pupil acquit himself , which he did in such a superior style as almost to equal ( if it were possible ) his tutor . Bro . A . D . Loewenstark , P . M ., then said that , although Bro . John Stevens , P . M ., had expressed an objection to receive a P . M . ' s jewel , the members could not allow him to leave the lodge that night without having a vote of thanks recorded on their lodge books , and that the sum of five guineas be given from the lodge funds

to make Bro . Stevens , P . M ., a life subscriber of any of the charities ( although Bro . John Stevens was determined to become a life governor of them all ) , to show how sincerely they felt and appreciated the able manner he had conducted every ceremony of the lodge , which was carried unanimously ; and we could not help noticing that some of the P . M . 's in their enthusiasm held up both their hands for it , showing it came from thenhearts . Bro . John StevensP . M . acknowledged their kindness

, , , hut assured them he never wished to tax the lodge for any testimonial , being satisfied with having done his very best to carry out the duties of his office . Our correspondent adds : — " We must oncemorewarnour respected AV . M . that we are afraid he has committed a similar error as one of his predecessors did when he passed over one of the very best working members of the lodge hy refusing him office . We were sorry to see a talented man

, who can work every ceremony , passed over on this occasion , although it cannot affect his position in the Craft as an Installed Master , yet we did hope , for the sake of peace and harmony , that every brother would have had his regular preferment . We hope , as it was before , that it is only an error of the head and not of the heart . "

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

HAMPSHIRE . SouKuaiEroir . —Poyal Gloucester Zodge ( No . 230 ) . —The brethren of this lodge held the Festival of St . John on December 30 th , 1863 , Bro . G . Perkins , W . M ., presiding , supported hy Bros . D . G . Douglas , Prov . S . G . AV . ; Booth ; F . Perkins , P . Prov . S . G . W . ; S . M . _ Possenger , _ P . Prov . S . G . W ., P . M . 's , and a large and influential gathering of other brethren . Bro . Booth , P . M . installed Bro . J . Collis in the chair for the ensuing

, year in a most able and efficient manner , when the new W . M . appointed the following officers : —Bros . Arthur Weston , S . W . ; P . Keau , J . W . ; Haynes , S . D . ; C . Crewe , J . D . ; G . F . Harper , I . G . ; J . R . Weston , P . M ., Sec . A vote of thanks was moved , seconded , and carried unanimously , to Bro . G . Perkins ,

the W . M . of the past year , for the able , assiduous , and courteous manner he had ruled the lodge during his term of office , alsoto Bro . Booth , P . M ., for the very pleasing manner in which he had performed the installation . Several candidates were proposed , and'the W . M . instructed to relieve certain distressed brothers , when the lodge adjourned from labour to refreshment . Bro . Collis , W . M ., presided supported by Bros . Admiral Sir L , CurtisK . C . B . Prov . G . M . his DeputyBro . C . E . Deacon ,

, , ; , P . G . D . of England ; and a large number of the most influential members ofthe Craft , among whom were Bros . P . M . ' s Stebbing , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes ; Hickman , Prov . G . S . ; F . Perkins , Ex-Mayor of Southampton ; Abraham , Treas . After the usual loyal and other Masonic toasts , the W . M . proposed " The Health of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Admiral Sir L . CurtisBart . " alluding to his services to the Crafthis

suc-, , , cessful administration of the offices of the province , the honours he had won in the service of his Queen and country , asking the brethren to join him not only in drinking the health of their Prov . G . M ., but to join , at the same time , in the wish that he might long remain in health and strength to give the province the advantage of those adminstrative abilities which had tended to advance the province in the estimation of the Craft ,

in general . —The R . AV . Pltov . G . M ., in reply , thanked the brethren most cordially for the manner in which they hadi drank his health , for the good wishes which had been expressed by the W . M ., and the kindness which he had always by word and deed experienced from the brethren of the Royal Gloucester Lodge . He was proud of being a member of it , and further alluded to the length of tim » he had presided over themand been in the service of his

, country , and then in a very feeling manner alluded to the fact of finding in his old age his junior ' s placed over his head . * He assured them that he had always felt the greatest interest in the prosperity of the province , and so long as the G . A . OlT . H . spared him , he should do all that could be done to promote it . — The W . M ., in proposing the next toast , " Tlle Health of the

R . AV . D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Deacon , " alluded to his long absence from the lodge , consequent on a family affliction , and the deatli of a lady whose active benevolence has endeared her to all who knew her , and raised her to a high place in the estimation of her neighbours and friends . He reminded the brethren of that brother being the old P . M . of the lodge , his continued services as Deputy of the province , and would , therefore , wish him , on their behalf as well as his own , all the health and happiness

which could make his futurea source of joy and pleasure to himself and those around him . —Bro . DEACON , in responding , thanked the lodge for this , in addition to the many other acts of kindness , and good feeling he experienced during the many years he had been a Royal Glosterian during his late affliction . He had beencomforted , under his irreparable loss , by the sympathy of the members of that lodge ; and , after dwelling at considerable lengthand in the most eloquent termson the aid wliich

, , Masonry gave to all who could appreciate it as an auxiliary to religious teaching , he concluded an affecting speech by wishing the future of the lodge might be as prosperous and happy as that past which they could always look back to with pride and pleasure . The R . AV . Brother then proposed " The Health of the W . M . Bro . Collis , " who was an efficient and most worthy Mason . He belonged to a Masonic family , and had been so assiduous in the discharge of duties in offices of a most

important character in that lodge , that he felt confident that he would not only be able to maintain its prestige , but that it would be to him a task of ease and pleasure . —Bro . COLLIS , W . M ., in returning thanks , said that no honour could be more appreciated by him than presiding over the Royal Gloucester Lodge ; and while he was in the chair to which he had been unanimously elected , he felt sure that he could not fail in maintaining the dignity and character of the lodgesupportedas he

, , knew he should , by his efficient officers , experienced P . M . 's , and the cordial aid of the other brethren . After a number of other Masonic toasts , the brethren separated , having added another to those many happy gatherings which had marked the Festival of St . John as a red letter-day in the calendar .

MIDDLESEX . UXBBIDQ-E . —Poyal Union Zodge ( No . 382 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , 18 th inst ., at Bro . Lines , the Chequers Inn . The W . M ., Bro . Cobham , being