Metropolitan.

the brethren adjourned at half-past eight to the banquet , which , although the number of brethren was greater than bad been anticipated , was of that ample , choice , and substantial form by which Messrs . EUdngfcon and Shrewsbury command the support and patronage of the Craft . The P . M . 's of the lodge present were—Bros . E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; J . B . Sheen , E . Spooner , Sec ; 11 . M . Arliss , M . C . ; R . Watts , Treas . ; J . Robinson , W . S . ; ' !' . W . J . Goldsborough , M . D . ; J . Dyer , and C . Sivan . The

cloth havingbeen drawn , the W . M . gave the toast "Tbe Queen and tbe Craft , " making some appropriate remarks upon tbe event to take place before tbe next meeting of the lodge , and fraught with so much interest to the Royal family , and , in fact , to the whole nation . " The Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M . of the Order , " also received a due share of praise from the W . M . for his unabated exertions in promoting the

welfare of the Craft , and the prosperity of its charities . " The Right Hon . . Earl de Grey and Ripon , D . G . M ., and tho rest of the Grand Officers , past and present , " was , as is usual in the Jordan Lodge , coupled in particular with the name of the father of tbe lodge , Bro . E . H . Patten , P . G . S . B ., who replied in a few brief but appropriate sentences , expressive of the appreciation he felt for the honour done him , and of the

great interest he took in the Welfare of the Jordan Lodge . Bro . Swan , P . M ., in proposing the health of the W . M ., remarked upon the very efficient working the brethren had witnessed in lodge , and spoke in flattering terms of the prospects of Bro . Jefi ' ery's year of office . The ceremonies of the first two degrees had been given with remarkable precision , solemnity , ancl effect . The W . M . briefly acknowledged the compliment , stating that ,

from the time of his entering the precincts of Masonry , he had been determined to make himself master of its beautiful ceremonies . He was now repaid by this expression of the approbation of the brethren of his mother lodge , and he trusted that , during his year of office , he should be able to master the only remaining ceremony—that of installation—with the beauty and solemnity of which he had been so fully impressed at their last

meeting , and which it bad now become the established custom ofthe outgoing Masters of the Jordan Lodge to perform . Tbe visitors were next welcomed by the W . M ., several of whom were strangers to him ; hut there were some marked executions . He

would name Bro . F . W . Best , P . M . 3 . 006 , who deserved and was sure to be honoured by a hearty welcome wherever he visited . There was Bro . J . T . Nicolls , also , of the well-known lodge 5 b . 25 , the Robert Burns ; Bros . Arnold and Richard Chandler , both of No . 453 ; Bro . H . Norman , P . M . 108 , whose visit was not tbe first he bad paid to tbe banks of the Jordan ; and there was also Bro . Pottage , of No . 165 . Bros . Nicolls ancl Norman replied respectively on behalf of the visitorsand assured

, tlie W . M . that the gratification they had experienced in witnessing the ceremonies that evening was very jjreafc , Uro . Norman eulogising in particular tlie beauty of the explanation of the working tools , as given in this and other lodges , working on what is termed the east-end system . The toast following , was that to Bro . Whealler , the initiate , whom the W . M . bad not the pleasure of knowing till that evening ; but

said there was no fear but a brother would have a hearty welcome among them , who w . is introduced by brothers wlio commanded so much esteem in the lodge as Bros . Gate and Gee , as there could be no doubt about his being of the rig-lit sort . Tne brother having responded , expressing his hope that he should be found to be all that ivas anticipated , that is , of the right sort , * lie W . M . gave the P . M . ' s of tbe lodge , referring to their

varied qualifications , and expressing his gratification that he was supported by so goodly an array of' brethren who had passed the honourable position which he then held . He alluded also to the amount of Masonic assistance which the P . M . 's were always ready to render , and tonching upon the remarks which loll from Bro . Norman , be said , that ho had been indebted solel y to the kindness of Bro . Swan for instruction in the

working tools , the explanation of which he had not acquired in the east end method , till within a short time of his taking office . The junior P . M . having claimed tbe privilege ancl responded , tlw W . M . next gave tbe officers of the lodge , including Bros . Arliss , M . C ., and Robinson , W . S ., to the credit of whom too much could not be said , for their energetic exertions in promoting the comfort of the brethren at their board

numerous . Ibe S . W ., Bro . W . Hammond , responded on behalf of himself and his brother officers more immediately connected with the ceremonies , leaving the two P . M . ' s , who as such he must consider as senior officers , to reply for themselves . Bro . Arliss in a witty and facetious speech , thanked the W . M . for the honour done

him , and the brethren for the cordial acknowledgment of his services . Bro . Robinson seizing upon the vein of humour , indulged iu by his superior officer , expressed himself to the same effect . The next toast was that of the Masonic Charities , and in giving which the W . M . connected it especially with the names of the two brethren who wore to stand as Stewards for tbe forthcoming festivals , P . M . ' s Spooner and Robinson . At the same time he could not help referring to the energetic endeavours of their

immediate P . M ., the festival for which he had been Steward having taken place in the interim between this and the last meeting , his exertions on that occasion had realized the very creditable , and handsome sum of nearly £ 80 . Bro . Swan thanked the brethren for the support they had given him on the occasion , and especially for the manner ia which they liad come forward in aid of the funds ofthe charity , which he had been able to

support with such credit to the lodge and pleasure to himself . He had completed his duties with the charities for tbe aged , he would , therefore now direct attention to a very interesting portion of their charitable machinery , the Girls' School . He had no doubt that Bro . Spooner would be supported to an extent at least equal to that which he had first came into the field to claim . —Bro . Spooner spoke in satisfactory terms of the amount of kind aid rendered or promised himand said that he need not

, depend upon neatly turned sentences and eloquent expressions for the support of such a charity as the Girls ' . School ; that there was something more telling than the flow of the most refined eloquence , something that spoke to the senses and the heart , and that was the excellent management of the establishment and tbe gratitude of its little inmates . He would only say , brethren before you name the sum you will give , visit the school .

Bro . Patten ' s name is a sufficient passport for you . —Bro . Robinson on behalf of the Boys gave a very cheering prospect of the results of the Festival for them , and said that it would form an era in the history of their School , lay the basis of a bright career of success , and retrieve the charity from that cloud which had hitherto enveloped its history and its aims . He had himself already collected a goodly sum , and was still increasing bis list . Bro . ' Watts , the Treasurer of the Jordan Lodge , had just handed him a guinea on his own account , and he would not omit to say that he had simultaneously done the same charitable

act for the Girls' School . Before the Tylers' toast , the brethren were reminded that the annual meeting of Bro . Muggeridge's Lodge of Instruction would take place the last Friday in April , at Radley's Hotel , at six o ' clock in the evening . The Jordan Lodge would meet again a week before this treat would take place , but the brethren ought to have this timely notice , as the lodge in question is the only one in which formal instruction is given upon the system worked in the Jordan Lodge . The

brethren separatee ! soon after eleven , having enjoyed a most pleasant and harmonious meeting , the delights of which had been enhanced by the vocal taste and abilities of Bros . Carvil , J . W ., Brabham , S . D ., Harris , J . D ., Watts , Norman , Sheen , and Spooner , P . M . s , and Bro . Finglass . The Secretary gave the Entered Apprentices' song , with the grace , pathos and good humour which is peculiar to him in the rendering of his composition

. CITS . - OP LONDON LODGE . NO . ( 1203 ) . —This young but happy lodge held their first meeting after installation , on Monday , February 16 tb . There were present , Bros . Sisson , W . M . ; F , G . Collier , S . W . ; S . Osmond , J . W . ; W . A . Higgs , S . j ) . ; F . Smithers , J . D . ; E . Salisbury , I . G . ; and a numerous meeting of the brethren . The lodge was opened in due form , it'lieti Bro . A . Griffiths was passed as a F . CBro . Metealf

, raised to the sublime degree of M . M ., and several candidates proposed fin- ballot next meeting . Tbe business of the evening being over , the lodge was called off to banquet , which was all that could be daiired , and appreciated both by members and visitors . Oil the removal of the cloth , the W . M . said their first duty ivas to shew their loyalty to their Sovereign by drinking to her health , and the toast presented peculiar claims

upon them at that moment , as their Sovereign was now about to add another member to her ajready happy family , in tbe person of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark , who would probably become their future Queen , and as loyalty was one of the peculiar characteristics of Freemasonry , be called upon them to drink to the Queen , Prince of Wales , Princess of Denmark , and the Craft . The toast was responded to with enthusiasm ,

The W . M . said that having drank to the Sovereign of Great Britain , they had now to drink to the Sovereign of their Order , the Earl of Zetland , who was beloved and respected by all its members . ( Cheers ) . He asked them to drink to the noble