Metropolitan.

' •' You are requested hy the W . M ., Bro . Lilley , to attend the duties of your lodge , on AVednesday , the thirteenth day of January , at 7 o'clock precisely . Business : to raise Bro . Davis . " The second summons ran thus : — " You are requested by the AA . M ., Bro . Lille } ' , to attend the duties of your lodge on AVednesday , the 14 th day of January , at 6 o'clock precisely . Business : Election of the AV . M . and officersto ballot for Bro .

, E . J . Page , of the Globe Lodge , as a joining member , proposed by the AV . M . and seconded by Bro . J . Smith , and to raise Bro . Davis . Note . —In consequence of the informality of the previous notice I forward this , J . Smith , Sec , pro tern . " Now , it appears , that although tlie second summons was dated the Sth , the brethren did not receive it until the 12 th , and some had not received it up to the time of meeting . Several gentleman

having been proposed as candidates for initiation , the subject of the election of AV . M . for the ensuing year was brought forward by the AV . M ., Bro . Lilley , who stated that in consequence of the fact that Bro . Murr , S . AV ., was at present holding the position of W . M . in another lodge , he ( the AV . M . ) had been in correspondence with the G . Sec , and lie would read the letters which had passed between them . The purport of these letters merely

confirmed the well known fact that a brother cannot rule two distinct lodges at the same time without a dispensation from the Grand Lodge . The W . M . then stated Bro . Murr was certainly eligible for election , but in the event of his being elected a dispensation must be obtained before he could be installed , although his term of office in the other lodge would expire within a few days of the period of installation in St . Marks . The brethren eligible for election were Bros . Thomas , P . M ., Lilley , W . M ., Murr , S . W ., Hammond , JW . and Ball , who had previously served the office of J . AV . Bro . J . Thomas , P . M ., in reference to some remarks from the AV . M . said that if Bro . Murr

were elected , and he thought there could not be two opinions as to his being a fit and proper person to rule over the St . Mark ' s Lodge , there would be no difficulty , under the circumstances , in procuring a dispensation from Grand Lodge . The ballot having been taken , the result was eight votes for Bro . Lilley and eight for Bro . Murr . The AV . M . said this result placed him in a very awkward position , as he was called upon to exercise his privilege of giving a casting vote . He disliked giving such a vote ; but

if it were the general feeling of tlie brethren that he should , he would do so ; he had , however , abstained from voting in the ballot itselfj if he had voted , his election would have been secured without exercising this undesirable privilege . Bro . Ball suggested that the legitimate plan would be for the W . M . to give the vote and in doing so he could but secure the approbation of the lodge generally , as the majority of the members were young and aspiring Masons , to whom it would be an injustice to defer

their period of office by the re-election of the AV . M . Bro . Lilley , however , who seemed anxious for the honour of office , but did sst like to secure it by his own casting vote , ruled that the ballot should he retaken , which having been done , it was declared in favour of Bro . Lilley . This termination of the matter elicited some expression of regret from the the older members and founders of the lodge , which has been in existence only about two years , the majority of the brethren being newly made , and

of course little experienced in the . ancient usages and established customs of the Order . The AV . M . read a petition on behalf of a brother of the lodge , who had been visited by sickness and misfortune . This being signed and the business of the evening ended , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was spread in the characteristic manner , that has uniformly secured to Bro . Davis the approbation of the brethren . The usual Masonic and loyal toasts having

been duly honoured , Bro . Thomas , P . M ., took the gavel , and in proposing the toast which falls to the privilege of the P . M ., adverted in terms of deep regret to the unfortunate circumstances which had to some extent interrupted the uniform harmony which distinguishes the Craft , and had always been a source of gratulation in the St . Mark ' s Lodge . He remarked that the lodge was never more flourishing , the officers well qualified to

discharge their respective duties . Bro . Murr was in every way fitted to rule and govern the lodge . To re-elect a AV . M . in such a case was at least a very bad precedent , and afforded no inducement for aspiring Masons to prepare for the realization of the object of their ambition . The AV . M . thanked the brethren for the honour they had conferred upon him , he had acted with due appreciation of the dignity of his position , and in accordance with the dictates of his own feelings , and the brethren whom he should appoint as his officers for tlie ensuing year should have due notice . After the Tyler's toast the brethren separated .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

! DEVONSHIRE . j PLYMOUTH . —Lodge of Fortitude ( No . 122 ) . —This ancient i lodge celebrated its annual festival of St . John the Evangelist I on Wednesday , the 14 th day of January inst ., at the Prince George Hotel . The great popularity of Bro . R . Rodda , Prov . G . S ., the AV . M ., drew together such a large assemblage of

brethren as is rarely seen in any private lodge , no less than twelve Provincial Grand Officers being present , and representatives from every lodge of the locality being among the number . The lodge being opened in due form , the brethren were called from labour to refreshment , and a banquet of the most recherche description , served by Bro . Haselwood , gave the

utmost satisfaction to all present . On the cloth being removed , the AV . M . proceeded to give the usual toasts , the first being that great and loyal one , so dear to every British heart , " The Queen . " In proposing this toast , the AV . M . spoke iu a strain replete with sympathetic eloquence , dwelling on the virtues of our beloved Queen , in a manner that rivetted to himself every breath of attention of the brethren . He said we live under the

rule of the best sovereign in the world—a monarch who lives in the affections of all her subjects , and those affections have been increased , and the ties of the love of her people been closer drawn around her Majesty in consequence of the severe affliction with which it has pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to visit her , and the magnanimity with which she has borne up under this groat trial . I have frequently thought of an anecdote "

which occurred now twenty-six years ago in connexion with her Majesty , and which may not be out of place to relate here . " AA'hen the late King AVilliam the Fourth drew his last breath , the then Archbishop of Canterbury hastened to Kensington , to apprise the Princess Victoria of the fact , and to do homage to her as the Queen of these realms . Now most young ladies

of her age would have received such intelligence with extatic joy and delight ; but not so with this estimable lady . She received the news with tremulous agitation , and her first words were , ' my Lord and Bishop , I require your prayers , on my behalf , ' and ' your Majesty shall have them , ' said his lordship , and they both went on their knees . Oh it must have been a beautiful sight to witness this sweet maiden Queenand the

, venerable Prelate at their devotion , she copying the example of our Grand Master Solomon , the young King of Israel , in her supplications to the G . A . O . T . U ., and saying : —* Thou hast made me the Sovereign of this mighty nation instead of AA'illiam my uncle , whom thou hast taken unto thyself , and I

am but a child . Oh ! that thou wouldst bless me , indeed , and give me wisdom and an understanding heart , to rule this great people . ' AA ith what earnestness and faith that prayer was offered up , the sequel of her life has proved , by twenty-six years of unsullied virtue , and of brilliant and unmixed success at home and abroad . She has proved the most exemplary of daughters , the most affectionate and devoted of wives , the kindest and most prudent of mothers . A soverei

unparalgn leled in the htstory of nations , the glory and delight of every Englishman , and the admiration of the world . But it is not in her capacity of a sovereign alone that should cause her name to be so well received in a Freemason's lodge . She is the daughter of a Mason , the niece of our late Grand Master , and I hope soon to hear that she is the mother of a Mason , and although her health is always drunk with loyalty and deliht

g in every Freemason ' s lodge in general , in this lodge in particular , it should ever be so , for her immediate predecessor , the late King AVilliam the Fourth , was initiated in this lodge , and sat in this chair" ( the AV . M . at this moment , placing his hands on the back of the beautiful and antique P . M . 's Chair ) . The response to the toast was most enthusiastic , all present heartily acknowledging our beloved Queen ' s inestimable worth . " The

Most Worshipful Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and the Officers of Grand Lodge , " were given in due form , and received suitable replies . In giving the health of the R . AV . D . Provincial Grand Master , the W . M . said , I have to propose the health