Metropolitan.

The W . MASTER next proposed " The Health of Bro . Binckes , " thanking him for the splendid oration he had delivered that day , and said he hoped the brethren would follow the excellent principles it contained . Bro . BINCKES , at some length , acknowledged the compliment that had been passed upon him . He wished the lodge every success , hoping that it might be productive of good results ,

and in whatever position he might be placed , his humble services would always be at their command to promote its interests . Bro . Lord W . HAT said that the Presidencies of Bombay and Bengal had been represented by members who had addressed them , but he then asked them to drink the health of a brother representing the third Presidency , who was a notable and distinguished Masonand who bhis zealindustryand

philan-, y , , tbrophy had done more than any other man to render the name of Englishmen popular in that country . He asked them to drink " The Health of Bro . Norton , of the Presidency of Madras . " Bro . NORTON said he had not the slightest apprehension that he should have been called upon . He had been a voluntary exile for more than a quarter of a century , and when he came

home he found himself to be quite an outsider—a stranger to the generation that had sprung up since he had been awayand that induced him to creep back to his friends and relations , or otherwise he must have remained a stranger , but in a Masonic body he had found a home . He had been rather lax in his Masonry , but he trusted to do better for the future . In the Presidency of Madras there were a number of native lodges , and he mi ght say that India was a mightcountryHe was

y . not going to make a political address , but it was a very cheap way for " gentlemen who sat at home at ease " to talk of India as the "brightest jewel in the British crown , " but they ought to take care that they handed down that jewel to posterity unflawed and untarnished . He , for one , did not rely on thousands of bayonets , but on obtaining the love and esteem of the peoplewhich could only be done bcultivating those princiles

, y p and feelings which were the root of Masonry . By extending to them justice—public , private , and social—they would bring about a unity which wonld tend to the safety , honour , and welfare of our Sovereign and her dominions . He thanked them sincerely for the honour they had done him . The Tyler's toast brought this really interesting meeting to a close .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . EDUCATIONAL MASONIC INSTITUTION . On the 13 th inst ., the annual meeting of the general committee for the management of this Institution was held at the office of Bro . Samuel Moss , South Castle-street , Bro . E . G . Willoughby in the chair . There was a numerous attendance of the brethren .

The accounts of the Institution were audited , and it appeared that the funds invested amounted to £ 500 . The balance of revenue brought forward from the last year was £ 73 3 s . lid ., and the total revenue for the year 1866 was £ 322 lis . 10 d ., leaving a balance to credit at the end of the year of £ 165 7 s . 4 d . There were seven children on the foundation , one of whom would , by fluxion of time , leave the Institution at the end of the current year .

After a careful investigation , and a medical examination by Bros . Dr . S . Spratley and Dr . Lambert , five boys , the sons of deceased Masons , were recommended by the committee to the governors of the Institution , to be placed upon the foundation this year , in addition to the seven boys already enjoying that privilege . Bro . J . P . Piatt , the Hon . Sec , read the following report : —

To the Right Hon . Lord De Tabley , R . W . Frov . G . Master of the Province of Cheshire , President of the Cheshire Educational Masonic Institution for the Education and Advancement in Life of Children of Distressed and Deceased Freemasons , and to the Vice-Presidents , Life Governors , and Governors , —The committee , in presenting their fourth annual report , desire to express the great satisfaction they feel at the progress the

Institution has made during the past twelvemonths . At the close of the last financial year there was a balance of £ 473 3 s . lid . in hand , which has since been increased to £ 665 7 s- 4 d ., £ 500 of which has been satisfactorily invested in the name of the

Provincial.

trustees , and at a high rate of interest ; arrangements are also being made to invest profitably a further portion of the funds . Eight children , at the beginning of the year , were receiving the benefit of the Institution , but the committee have to report with regret that one died three months after being placed on > the books , leaving seven for the remainder of the year . There are , however , five more applicants at the ensuing election , andi your committee feel quite justified in recommending that al >

shall be elected if found eligible , relying on increased suppor from the brethren to meet this greatly-increased expenditure-From the lodges in the provinces the contributions out of initiation and joining fees have increased from £ 17 6 s . 6 d . in 1 S 65 to £ 3 S 7 s . 3 d . in 1 S 66 ; the donations have increased from £ 47 4 s . to £ 62 7 s . ; and the subscriptions from £ 35 15 s . to-£ 56 lis . 6 d . in the . same period , showing the increasing interest

felt in the Institution by all the brethren in the province . Yourcommittee desire to express their gratitude to the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the W . M . ' s at the lodge at Stockport , for thesum of £ 12 13 s . 9 d ., contributed as a moiety of the collectionat church , at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held in that town on the 6 th September , 1 S 66 . They also desire to thank the brethren of Ellesmere Lodge ( No . 758 ) , and Bro ..

Waugh , for £ 5 7 s . 6 d ., the proceeds of an entertainment given at Runcorn on the 27 th December last on behalf of your funds ; . and in doing so would urge on the members of the variouslodges in the province the great assistance tbey can render by readings , lectures , or other entertainments of a similar character , in their respective localities . The committee have again tc * record their deep sense of obligation for the very indefatigable exertions of their honorary secretaries , Bros . Piatt and Hignett ,

who , in conjunction with Bros . T- E . Hignett , ofLodpe 537 , and John L . Howard , P . M . 537 , and other influential brethren in . Cheshire and West Lancashire , so successfully promoted and carried out an amateur performance in the Theatre Royal , Birkenhead , on the 29 th October , 1866 , which resulted in the handsome sum of £ 49 3 s . being handed to the treasurer of the Institution . Your committee cannot close their report without , expressing their thankfulness to the Great Architect of the :

Universe for the uninterrupted success which has attended the-Institution from the commencement to the present time , and " for the increasing interest felt in it by all who are acquainted with its working , as evidenced by the additional income from all sources , notwithstanding the gloom which has overspread the whole of the commercial world during the period embraced by this report , and they sincerely trust that it may prove a blessing , to all who are in any way connected with it .

The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted , and there were strong expressions of hope that during the current year the various lodges in the province would make exertions ,, commensurate with the importance of the object in view , to secure ample funds in order that the blessings of this Institution may be as widely diffused as the founders and managers of it desire .

On the motion of Bro . Harrild a resolution was passed ,, recognising the valuable services rendered by Bro . John Lord Howard in raising funds for the Institution by amateur theatrical performances at Birkenhead , and suggesting to thegovernors of thelnstitution that that gentleman ' s name be added , to the list of life governors . A sum of £ 100 , being part of the surplus revenue of theyear , was ordered to be invested at not less than 5 per cent .

interest . A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings , which lasted three hours . CREWE . —Lodge of the Four Cardinal Virtues ( No . 979 ) . — An emergency meeting was held on Tuesday , the 19 th ult ., togive Bro . Walter Knox the second degree , as he was departing , for Bombay , to fulfil the important office of general manager of the Indian Railway . For an emergency there was a

largeattendance , and the W . M ., Bro . George Lord , worked the ceremony to the satisfaction of the biethren . Bro . Bullock , P . M ., suggested that as Bro . Knox had a long voyage , a great change of climate , and a very important undertaking to fulfil , that it would be only doing a Masonic duty , and acting up to the precepts of that open hook , the volume of the Sacred Law , if they ; sought the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe for Bro . Knox and his wife , who would accompany him . Bro .

Bullock then called upon Bro . Rev . A . O'Neil , Assist . Prov . G . Chap . West Lancashire , who offered a most appropriate andbeautiful prayer , which left a truly Masonic impression on Bro . Knox and every brother present . The lodge was then closed in