The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM .

At the meeting of the lodge of AA'cdnesday last , Bro . Captain Creaton , G . D ., in the chair , ten petitioners were relieved with sums amounting- to £ 90 10 s ., and three recommenned to Grand Lodgo for grants amounting to £ 110 .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ST . GDOKGE ' LODGE ( NO . 161 ) . —This lodge held its first meeting- for the season on AA'cdnesday , the 15 th inst ., at the " Glohe , " Greenwich , and was numerously attended . Bros . Mourilyan , AA . M . ; Scott , S . AV . ; Smyth , J . AV . ; Ryder . P . M . and Treas . ; Robinson , P . M . and Sec . ; Booth and Collington , P . M . s ; Hubbuck , S . D . ; Bonacich , J . D . ; Badger , I . G . ; Carless ,

Hill , Young , Delanej' , Hards , Mackenzie , Lintoff , & c . ; visitors , Goff and Moylan . Bro . A . Tattershall , of No . 13 , Union of Waterloo , was unanimously elected a joining member . A ballot having been taken for live candidates for initiation , all were declared to he elected unanimously ; three of whom , viz ., Messrs . C . Thome , R . M . Hubbard , and J . Jackson , being within hail

, were duly initiated into the first degree iu Freemasonry , the working being admirably conducted hy the AV . M ., and his able and efficient staff of Officers . Two of the initiations were performed hy the AA . M . ' s permission hy Bro . Robinson , P . M . and Sec . Some candidates having heen proposed for ballot on the next meeting , and other lodge business transacted , the lodge was

closed in peace , and the members adjourned to banquet , after which an agreeable and pleasant evening was spent , the W . M . alluding with much gratification to the flourishing position of the lodge , and expressing himself warmly for the able and heart y assistance of his officers , and the members of the lodge generally . Bro . P . M . Collington , in proposing the health of the AV . M ., passed a high and deserved compliment upon that brother for his able working , and also for his urbane and gentlemanly

hearing to his officers , and tho other members of the lodge—sentiments most cordially joined in by the members and visitors present . NEW COXCOUD LODGE ( NO . 1115 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , October 17 th , at the Eosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton . Bro . Swinnock , AV . M .,

presided , all the officers being in their places . After the lodo-e had heen duly opened , and tho minutes read , the AA . M . passed Bros . Batey , How , and Mind Co the second degree . The lodge having been resumed in the first degree Mr . Henry Merritt , Mr . AVilliam power , and Mr . Blandford were presented as candidates , and the ballot being in their favour they were in a very

impressive manner initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry . After some other business had been transacted , the lodgo was closed , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment , which was of a very excellent quality ; aud this having been disposed of , the AA . M . gave the loyal and Masonic toasts . " The Health of their newly Initiated Brethren , " was next

given , the W . M . congratulating them upon their admission into Freemasonry , and said that , as he had been a Mason for some few years , he could assure them that the further they went into it the more they would like it , and whether they met Masons athome or abroad they would always be received with kindness and good will . Bro . Merritt returned thanks on behalf of the initiates . Bro . EAOIENS , P . M ., in proposing the health of the AV . M ., said that ho was sure the brethren would agree with him when

he said that he did everything he could to advance the interests of the lodge , and was at all times ready and anxious to benefit anything that was for the good of the Craft . —The W . M . returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , and for the very complimentary way in which their P . M ., Bro . Emmens , had proposed his health , and said that , so long as he belonged to the New Concord Lodge , he would never deviate from the great

principles of the Craft , and would , to the utmost of his power , promote the interests of the lodge . He was sure for what little he had done he had been amply repaid in the compliment passed upon him by the members of the lodge , although he regretted he could not devote more time to it . The health of the visitors was next proposed , for which Bro . Westley , of the Lodge of

Prosperity ( No . 78 ) , returned thanks . —Bro . EiniENS , P . M ., said there was another matter upon which he had the permission of the AV . M . to address them , which was in reference to their benevolent fund . Most of them Avere aware that some time ago a motion was carried that they should have a benevolent fnnd , for which rules were introduced and

unanimously agreed to . So far the project had been carried , but beyond that little or nothing had been done . He wished , however , to state that a portion of the subscription and of the initiation fee would go towards this benevolent fund , which was secured by one of the rules by which it was to be governed . He might say that the Old Concord Lodge had funded some

hundreds of pounds , and from which any brother could , in case of necessity , at once receive £ 20 , £ 30 , or £ 50—from the funds of his own lodge—without the necessity of applying to the Board of Benevolence or Grand Lodge . Although the lodge had been hut a short time iu existence , he trusted to see in it a good benevolent fund ; and if any brother objected to the system of sending round for collections , he hoped he would not refuse to drink success to the New Concord Benevolent Fund .

He should propose , as a toast , " Success to the New Concord Benevolent Fund and the Masonic Charities , " and should couple with it the name of Bro . Thompson . The toast was drunk with great cordiality , and a liberal collection was made towards the fund . Bro . TiroMrso ; , ' said , however unworthy he might be to have his name coupled with the toast , yet as Bro . Emmens had conferred tho duty of returning thanks on himhe would

, say , foi \ the ~ information of their newly-initiated and younger brethren , that tho great and distinguishing characteristic of Freemasonry was its charitable institutions ; but their benefits were dispensed in such a manner that they scarcely appeared like charity at all , but rather as helping aid preferred by a friendly hand . Their fostering care attended them through

oveiy stage of their life ; for , in the first instance , should a brother , through misfortune , which no one could foresee or control , fall into distress , the Royal Freemasons' School for Boys wis open for his sons , in which they were well clothed , maintained , ancl educated and fitted for those duties which in after life they would be called upon to perform . Freemasonry , ever

mindful of all her children , was still more watchful of the daughters of its reduced brethren , for the weaker vessels required tho greater care ; and , therefore , by a recent regulation in the rules , they were received at seven years of age , and allowed to remain in the institution until they were sixteen ; and thus for nine years they were the continued objects of

their care . It provided them with a healthy and cheerful home , which , no doubt , many of those he addressed had caught a glimpse of in travelling on the South-Western Railway at Clapham , where they were fed , clothed , and educated so as to fit them for those duties which , in their passage throug h life , might berequiredof them , in whatever station they might happen to " be placed . If Freemasonry could do this , it was really something to be proud of ; but it ' s programme of benevolence was not exhausted hero , for after having done all this for her boys