Metropolitan.

Ho know his ability and his painstaking to do his duties m a proper manner , and was suro wlion tho lodgo caino undor his auspicios that everything woidd bo properly performed . Ho also had tho greatest respect and ostoom for Bro . Margorison , and Avith two such Masters in perspective tho lodgo must prospor . Thoir assistant officers woro also well up to thoir work , and everything- as far as ho could soo augured for a brilliant future . Ho gavo " Tho Officers o £ tho Southern Star Lodgo , " which -was

onthusiastically rospondod to . Bro . Pulsford , S . W ., said he ' wonld at any time rather work a section when called upon , for ho could not make a speech . He thanked tho W . M . for his kindness , and would endeavour to discharge his duty to the best of his ability . Bro . Margerison , J . W ., said it gave him great pleasure to servo under the W . M ,, and would endeavour to deserve the honour conferred upon him .

Bro . John Smith , Treas ., said he would take care of their funds , and hoped that he might have plenty of them to receive . Bro . C . E . Thompson , Sec , also returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , and said , although desiring to he a better man than his father ( the W . M , ) , if he only proved as good he should he well satisfied , and would do all in his power to promote tho welfare of the loclge . The duties of Secretary

Avere very onerous , but he would fulfil them to tho best of his ability . Bros . Clarke , Bayfield , and Bartlett also briefly returned thanks : The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was-one that he hoped Avould always hold a prominent place in the proceedings of the Southern Star Loclgeas it was that of their " Masonic

, Charities . " They were most important institutions , as providing for the aged Freemason when misfortune might overtake him ancl render tho close of his days happy and comfortable . They also provided for their sons when they fell into distress and were unable to provide for them . Their Boys' School was an institution in which they could receive an education to fit

them for their duties , and to engage in the battle of life . Then , again , they had their School for the Daughters of Freemasons . Avhere they were taken in at seven years of age , and remained until they were sixteen ; during the whole of that time being clothed , fed , and educated to qualify them for any situation in life to Avhich they might be called . As regarded that institution , only a few clays before he had au opportunity of witnessing it , and felt perfectly astonished at the proficiency to which they

had attained in music , i ' rench , recitation of some of the best English poets , ancl their catisthenic exercises . AVhile the ornamental part of a good education had been attended to , the useful had not been forgotten , and there was not one of those children Avho Avas not equally well instructed as to her duties in the kitchen as well as the drawing-room . It was one of the most pleasing sights ho had ever witnessedand those who had not

, seen the institution he advised them to do so as soon as possible , feeling convinced that they would come away from it as delighted as he had done . He gave the Masonic Charities , coupling Avith it the name of Bro . Muggeridge . The toast was heartily received . Bro . Muggeridge briefly returned thanks for coupling his name with the toast , and said the last festival for the Girls '

School had produced the munificent sum of £ 6 , 000 . Bro . John Emmens alluded to a practice which prevailed in the Old Concord Loclge , of which he Avas P . M . and Sec , of r eceiving contributions from the members in aid of a benevolent fund to be attached to the loclge . That Avas started a few years ago , and the consequence Avas , that independently of what had been granted from it , they had now upAvards of £ 100 ,. so that if ! brother b

a y any unforeseen event fell into distress he could be immediately relieved from their own fund , without Avaiting for an application to the Board of Benevolence . He advised a similar course to be pursued in that lodge , and the result Avould be found most satisfactory . The Tyler's toast was then given , and a truly happy and harmonious meeting was brought to a close without the slightest hitch for a moment to mar the proceedings .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BERKS AND BUCKS . READING . — Grey Friars Lodge ( No . 1101 ) . —ANOTVEBSAWX FESTIVAL AND INSTALLATION . —The first anniversary festival

Provincial.

of this spirited young lodge took place on Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Reading , at four p . m ., on which occasion there assembled a large number of brethren of the two Reading lodges , with several visitors from neighbouring lodges . Agenda : —To ballot for Mr . George Jackson Stevens . To raise / Bro . G . J . Shaw Lefevre . To instal the W . M . elect , Bro . John Ellis , Prov . Assist . Grand Dir . of Cers ., by Bro . Briggs , I . P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . W . Wilts & c . To receive the report of the

Com-, mittee appointed to negociate with the Committee of the Lodge of Union on the subject of the rent of the Hall . —Precisely ab the time specified the first Master , Bro . AV . P . Ivey , proceeded to open the lodge , when the ballot was taken for Mr . J . G . Stevens , who was unanimously elected . The Committee appointed to negociate for tho rent of the Loclge of Union gave in their report , when a lively discussion ensued respecting the

terms offered by the Lodge of Union , which resulted iu its acceptance by the Grey Friars Lodge . The W . Mi announced that the I . P . M ., Bro . Briggs , having expressed a desire to officiate at the ceremony of raising Bro . Lefevre to the sublime degree of M . M " ., be readily complied with the request , adding he had no doubt but that all the brethren present would be benefited bthe impressive manner in which Bro . Briggs

y would conduct the ceremony , indeed it was noticed by several visiting brethren that they had never seen the raising more correctly and impressively performed than on this occasion . During the ceremony the first verse of Luther's Hymn Avas sung by Bro . J . W . Hounslow , of the Loclge of Union , which added immensely to the effect cf this sublime degree in Freemasonry . The I . P . M . then proceeded to install the W . M

elect , Bro . John Ellis , into the chair of K . S . It is almost needless to add that the ceremony was most impressively performed by Bro . Biggs , whose Masonic lore is equalled by that of feweven of the most learned . members of the Craft . In the salutation procession Bros . Hounslow aud Bradley , of the Lodge of Union , accompanied by Bro . Birch , the Organist _ of the lodge , sang some very appropriate pieces , which materially increased thanks

the interest of the society . The W . M ., having returned , for the honour done him , then proceeded to invest the officers of the lodge as follow : —Bro . AV . P . Ivey , I . P . M . ; A . Beale , S . W . ; . R . C . Hurley , J . W . ; R . J . Simpson , G . Chap ., Chap . ; W . Biggs ,

P . M ., Treas . ; Geo . Lydclon , Sec ; J . Weightman , S . D . ;

; distinguished Bro . Ivey Avith this token of esteem from the brethren , aud he trusted the G . A . O . T . U . Avould prolong his life ,, and that he would long continue to meet with them , adorned with this emblem of the fraternal regards of the members of theloclge of Avhich he was first Master . The I . P . M . expressed his . deep sense of the honour conferred upon him , and hoped that every succeeding Master would add to and beautify the Masonic

structure so auspiciously begun . The lodge was then closed ,, and tho brethren adjourned to the George Hotel , to the banquet provided by Bro . Pontin , Avhich was served up in his usual admirable manner . The chair was taken by Bro . Ellis , W . M . There was a very large attendance of brethren , both ofthe Readin" -lodgesbeing strongly represented . Among the brethren present ,, most ' of whom had been at theinstallation , wero Bros . G . Botly . P . M .,

414 ; ' P . Prov . J . G . W . Berks ; F . A . Bulley , P . M . 414 , P . Prov . G . S . B . Berks and Bucks ; A . Sellar , P . M . 414 , P . Prov . J . G . D . Berks and Bucks ; John Smith , 414 , Prov . G . Purst . Berks and Bucks ; George H , Baseni , P . M . 563 Umballa , Bengal ; G . P . Ivey , S . W ., Lowry , Victoria ; W . Ritson , P . M . 414 ; John Strachan , 14 ; John Old , S . AV . 414 ; J . A . Strachan , 414 ; R . Bradl Jun . I . G- 414 ; J . W . HounslowJ . D . 414 ; W . P .

y , , , Dowson , 414 ; W . H . Prestwick , 414 ; George Pontin , 414 j W . C . Bland , AV . M . 574 ; J . Stibbe , 73 ; W . Hood , 414 ; also , of No . 1 , 101 , Bros . Greenfield , Livesay , Perriu , Margrett , Dowsett , Shaw Lefevre , ilf . P ., Stransom , Sharpe , AVeleb , Wynn , Freeman , Brown , and the officers of the lodge . After the customary loyal and Masonic toasts Bro . Biggs proposed "The Health of tho AV . M . " who had proved himself to be a most

, zealous anil energetic Mason , and under Avhose governance the lodge would add to the prosperity already commenced . The W . M ., in returning thanks , expressed the hope that the brethren Avould aid him in conducting the affairs of the lodge , so thab Avhen the term of his office expired he should be able to hand