Metropolitan.

he could assure them that he would endeavour to promote the success of it , while he occupied the chair , and the interests ol Freemasonry in general . He felt confidence in the brethren he had selected as officers of tho lodge , and nothing should be wanting on his part to carry on the business with success , and with such officers there was less chance that he should fail in the duties of his office . He also wished to tender his thanks to

the brother representing the Grand Master , who had performed the interesting duties of consecration and installation , and he felt sure that the brethren would return him their grateful thanks , for they would never forget the impressive manner in which he had performed the ceremonies . He also wished , on "the part of the lodge , to thank Bro . Binckes for his splendid oration .

Several joining members were proposed to the lodge , and amongst them Bro . the Right Hon . Earl de Grey and Ripon , D . G . M . Several gentlemen were also proposed for initiation at "the next lodge . Bro . Capt . BARBER proposed that Bro . Hughan , of Truro , Cornwall , should become an hon . member of the lodge , for the "trouble he had taken in drawing up an excellent code of by-laws , which was agreed to .

Bro . BARBER then moved that a committee should be appointed to consider the by-laws drawn up for the use of the lodge . Bro . Lord WILLIAM HAT seconded the motion , which was put and agreed to . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshmentwhich was served a la Russe in BroGordon '

, . s 'best style . This having been disposed of , The W . MASTER said that he should feel obliged to the brethren to look over any omissions he might make in the -established forms , as for some years he had worked under the Lodge of Scotland , which somewhat differed from the working -of the lodges of England ; but there was one toast upon which

there was no difference of opinion , and that was " The Health of the Queen , " coupling with it " The Craft . " This toast was cordially drank , followed by the National Anthem by the professional singers . The W . MASTER said the toast which naturally followed the last was that of " The Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , " and he asked them to drink that toast with all the honours .

The toast was enthusiastically received . The W . MASTER then gave "The Deputy Grand Master and the rest of the Grand Officers , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Snell , G . D . Bro . SNELL returned thanks , wishing every success to the lodge that had been so auspiciously commenced that day , and that it might continue and flourish to the end of time " The nest toast was "The Health of BrosWhite Melville

. and the Duke of Leinster , Grand Masters of the Lodges of Scotland and Ireland . " The W . MASTER said on ordinary occasions it would be his duty only to propose a particular series of toasts classed with the lodges of the United Kingdom , but that day they were peculiarly reminded that those belonging to the British Empire extended far beyond their shores . The brotherhood

extended beyond distant Indian seas , and they were to be found amongst the new nation founded in distant Asia . They were that evening honoured by the presence of one of the most distinguished officers of Her Majesty in India , and he felt proud that the Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge began with one of them , and a native of that country as their Secretary ( Dadubhai Naorojie ) . They had present one of the representatives of the Grand Lodge of India , and therefore he had great pleasure in coupling with the toast " The Health of Bro . Col . 'Buriton . "

Bro . Col . BURITON , in responding , said he had found amongst the Masons of India more brotherly love and charity than in almost any other part of the world . In India they met twice a month throughout the year , and there was nothing but hard work with them . It was a great satisfaction to him to have his name coupled with a body from whom he had brought iiome so many marks of their esteem , shewn in a variety of ways , and which he should hand down to posterity as tokens ' of their '

goodwill . He had been a Mason therefor thirty years , and he never saw anything more exemplary than their working . He thanked them for their kindness , but they had amongst ¦ iheia a member of the Rising Sun Lodge , a lodge which was

established for the encouragement of a union of Parsees and Mahomedans in the Presidency of Bengal , and he had no doubt their brother the Secretary would respond to the toast . Bro . DADUBHAI NAOROJIE , Sec , said he was quite taken by surprise when he was told that he was elected as Secretary of the lodge , as it was too great an honour to be conferred upon so small a Masonfor he had not done anything in Masonry for

, the last twelve years . As the W . M . had commanded his obedience , it was his duty to obey , and he at once accepted the office ; but he must trust to the indulgence of the brethren in . making allowances for his coining again , as it were , into Masonry . He had great pleasure in belonging to one of the lodges of India ; and he could not refrain from saying that there was exhibited amongst native Masons an amount of zeal

that had produced great effects upon the moral character of the Parsees . He did not by that mean to say that they were immoral men , but Masonry had given them a force and a zest to do good that was most surprising , showing the vitality of an Institution that had existed for more than 5 , 000 yearsbecause it was founded on truth , justice , and morality . Based as their Institution was upon the commands of God , it must

flourish , for it concentrated noble minds into one universal brotherhood , promoting unity amongst all mankind , and while they enjoyed the pleasure of such an association it must confer upon posterity great obligations . At one time there was a prejudice against Parsees and Mahomedans associating together at the same table , but that barrier was now broken through quietly and satisfactorily , and in the Lodge of the Rising Sun

there was a complete bond of brotherhood between distant races , and he trusted , by the goodness of God and their Institution , that this holy bond would soon be complete . He felt great gratification and gratitude for the honour they had conferred upon him . Bro . Col . BURLTON said no doubt the brethren would anticipate the toast he was about to proposeas the P . M . next to the

, chair . He was sure the brethren would feel great satisfaction ig having the pleasure of drinking the health of the first W . Master of this lodge . He ( Col . Buriton ) had great satisfaction in serving under the Marquis of Dalhousie in India , and it was a great privilege to him to see bis son-in-law fill the first chair

in the Marquis of Dalhousie Lodge . At an early age Lord Dalhousie distinguished himself in India and his son-in-law , although young , had served his country and brought home with him a wound he received at Inkermann , and he now held a public office in the administration of the affairs of India . He was still a young and hale man , and he hoped to see him there for many years to come . He welcomed his inauguration as Master of the lodgewishing every happiness and every prosperity

, might attend him and his family . He wished him every possible success while he was in the chair , and happiness when he was obliged to leave it . He gave them "The Health of their Worshipful Master . " The W . MASTER said he felt deeply grateful for the kind reception they had given to his health , and he thanked his gallant and respected brother for the kind terms in which he

had brought the toast before them . He had been pleased to refer to past incidents of his life , and he said it augured well for the future government of the lodge . Now , if he had learned anything , it was to be distrustful of himself that the lustre of the lodge should not suffer in his hands . Still , it was everything to begin well . If they began the lodge strictly it was more likely to be prosperous , and to have a happy and prolonged

existence . Their gallant brother had been pleased to allude to the office he ( the W . M . ) held in the administration of Indian affairs , which involved a grave responsibility in that distant empire ; but he felt that those who were entrusted with duties in India had proved themselves not unworthy ol the country from which they had sprung . Everyone bearing the name of an Englishman should prove that he was not unworthy of it , but shouldwhether his time was short or longperform his

, , duties in that empire in such a manner that they might prove a blessing to the inhabitants and an honour to their own country . Their S . W . was not only his ( the W . M . 's ) brotherin-law , but one who was selected for a very important post in India , and he well justified the selection that had been made . He should he assisted in his duties by his noble relative , and thanking them for the kind reception he had received , it would

he a stimulus and encouragement to him for the future . The W . MASTER gave "The Health of Bro . Fenn , the Presiding Officer of the Day , " which that brother acknowledged iu suitable terms .