Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

MOUNT LEBANON LODGE ( NO . 73 ) . —This lodge met on the 17 th inst ., at the Green Man , Tooley-street . The lodge was opened by Bro . Walters , and the W . BI ., Bro . Gooddy , afterwards initiated BIr . W . H . Reed , of Portsmouth . Bros . Trickett , Jenkins , Smith , Prince , and Hornsey were passed , and Bro . G . Freeman was raised . The ceremonies were performed in a very creditable manner , and the lodge was closed according to ancient custom . There was a goodly muster of the brethren , including Bros . G . Morris , J . T . Sabine , E . Harris , F . H . Ebsworth , D . Hose , BJ . A . Loewenstark , A . P . Steadman , G . Free , H . Moore , Marshall , Bleager , Chipperfield , and Cooper .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND . CARLISLE . —JJnio % Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —On Tuesday last , tbe 24 th inst ., a regular monthly meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Carlisle . The chair of K . S . was occupied by Bro . W . Cocketh , W . M . and Chap ., P . Prov . G . Chap ., supported by Bro . G . G . Hayward , S . W . ; J . Fiack , J . W . ; W . Carrick , S . D . ; M . Fisher , J . D , ; G . Somerville , Steward , as Sec ; Arthur Woodhouse , I . G . ; Thomas Storey , Tyler ; W . Murray , J .

Sherrington , and J . Brown , P . M . ' s . There were also present Bros . J . A . Wheatley , Dr . Thomas D . Wheatley , J . Gibson , J . Atkinson , M . Higgins , J . Barnes , W . Irwin , and W . T . Greaves , D . Prov . G . M ., visitor . The lodge was opened in due form , and , after the minutes of former meetings were read and confirmed , the lodge was opened in the F . C . degree , and Bro . W . R . Hayward being a candidate to be raised to the sublime degree of BI . M . was duly entrustedpreparedand raised b

, , , y Bro . J . W . Hayward , P . M . and Treas ., P . Prov . S . G . D ., in his usual able manner . The lodge was then closed down to the E . A . degree , and the ballot was taken for Bros . W . H . Pulford , 2 G 8 , and J . B . Paisley , 371 , as joining members , which proved unanimous in their favour . Bro . J . B . Paisley proposed a gentleman to become a member of this lodge . Tlie lodge was then closed with prayer , according to ancient custom , and the brethren retired to the refreshment room , when Bro . W . T .

Greaves , D . Prov . G . BI ., referring to tlie forthcoming election for the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , stated the number of votes he had obtained , and said he hoped to be able to obtain many more in support of Bro . Thomas Stoiey , Tyler of this lodge , lie being a poor but deserving candidate for the benefits of the Institution referred to . Bro . Greaves trusted Bro . Storey would he one of the chosen few ; if not , it would go hard with him until next year , as ho was unable to support himself and family .

ESSEX . COLCHESTER UNITED LODGE , No . 697 . The annual festival of what may he culled tbe Military Blasonic Lodge of Colchester was held on Friday , April 13 th , n ' t the Lodge-room , George Hotel . Bro . Charles Carnegie , P . M , who has mainly discharged the duties of the Mastership during the past year , as deputy for Bro . Capt . Boyce , who was ordered

out to India very shortly after his installation , had been unanimously chosen W . M . for the ensuing year , and the ceremony of installation was ably and very impressively performed by Bro . Peter Matthews , P . M ., P . Prov . J . G . W ., and Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . for Essex . The following brethren were also invested with their respective badges as officers of the lodge : —Bros . A . Wolveraou , Military Staff Clerk , S . W . ; Lieut . Sheringham , 16 th Regiment , J . W . ; W . Smith , S . D . ; D . Lewis , J . D . ; B . J .

Newman , I . G . ; Witten , Tyler . The annual banquet took place at 6 o'clock , and was served in excellent style by the host , Bro . Quiver . The W . M . presided , supported by Bros . R . J . Bagshaw , Prov . G . BI . for Essex ; P . Matthews , the Installing Blaster ; Capfc . Lea , IGth Regt ., P . M . ; Capt . Black , Gth Regt . ; Capt . Gaynor , 38 th Regt , ; Quartermaster Anderson , Sth Depot Battalion , & c . There were also jircteut the officers of the lodo and BrosMartinConyard

-e , . , , "K . W . Lewis , W . E . Hollandf and W . Middleton , No . ' 697 . Visitors : —Bros . E . Bean , W . M . Darken , S . 'W . Railing , Evans , Ha . it , and Harrington , Angel Lodge , No . 51 j Franks , W . M . ; and S . B . King , Secretary , Perfect Friendship Lodge ; Ipswich , No . 37 G ; Glass , W . BI ., Chigwell Lodge , No . 4-53 ; P . Green ,

W . M ., and W . Adams , Secretarv , St . Peter's Loclge , Maldon , No . 1024 ; & c . The W . M , in proposing "The Health of the Queen , " remarked that at a time when treason and disloyalty were rampant in the sister kingdom ifc spoke well for the principles of Freemasonry that not a single member of that order had heen iu any way implicated in the Fenian conspiracy . The national anthem , led by Bro . Wolverson .

The toast of " The Prince and Princess of Wales and Royal Family" was also drank-, followed by "The Health of the Grand Blaster of England , the Earl of Zetland , the Deputy Grand Blaster , tho Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the othei-Graud Officers . " The W . M . next proposed "The Health of tho Prov . G . M . for Essex , " Bro . Bagshaw , thanking him for his presence at their festival , and expressing a hope that , under his rule , the Order

would continue to flourish in Essex as it had hitherto done . He also alluded to the probability of a Provincial Grand Lodge being held in Colchester in May next , and assured the Prov . G . M . that the brethren would rally round him upou that

occasion . The Prov . G . BL , in returning thanks , said it was his privilege to he present at the opening of this lodge ; and tho interest with which he had watched its progress had been well repaid , for he had seen it grow aud prosper . He knew from experience the value of Freemasonry in the army , especially in the Colonies ; and he had always felt that a lodge constituted like this , principally to meet the requirements of a garrison , must prove

of incalculable service . The good it had already done convinced him that he had not over-estimated its importance , for during the seven or eight years of its existence the number of iniatiations and of those who had gone to different quarters of the globe had exceeded anything that could be expected . Having lived in India the greater paat of bis life , and having had the good fortune at an early period to become a Mason , he had the strongest reasons for the deep interest he felt in an Institution

like this , because , as one who was now getting an old man , he could say that to his connection with Freemasonry he owed very much of the prosperity he had met with abroad . Blasonry brought its members much together ; they could understand one another , and feel that confidence in each other which was essential to success ; and he could point to very many persons who , like himself , were indebted to Freemasonry move than to anything else for their prosperity in life . It was not usual to

invite persons to join their Order , but , on the other hand , he should never discourage a young man who was desirous of becoming a Mason , because if properly used it was likely to be of the greatest value to him . A great deal was said of Blasonry being a secret society , but that was really one of its strongest recommendations . There were thousands of occasions

in a man's life when he ought to he able to reserve his opinions , and if Masonry had no other merit , the mere fact of its inculcating secrecy made it almost invaluable . He was very glad to see several non-commissioned officers present . In the first lodge with which he was connected in India there were from 50 to 100 non-commissioned officers ; and he had no hesitation in saying that that association was of essential service to men of that class . They not only enioyed the intercourse aud respect

of their superiors , but through Blasonry many who had beeu brought up in infidel principles were induced to search the Scriptures , and so brought to a knowledge of the Divine truth . As a Christian therefore ho valued Freemasonry , and particularly in the army , where be should be glad to see the majority of non-commissioned officers , as well as of officers , belonging to tho Order . He would only add that circumstances had prevented him from holding a Provincial Grand

Lodge for the hist two years , but he hoped to do so within a month from this time , when he had no doubt he should be supported by a largo muster of brethren from the various lodges of the province , and especially those of Colchester . The W . M . proposed " The better health of the Deputy Grand Blaster of the Province , " Bro . Major Skinner , and "The health of the Provincial Officers , " coupling with the latter the name of Bro . Peter Matthews .

Bro . MATTHEWS , in acknowledging the compliment , said , having had the privilege of consecrating the United Lodge , itwas a source of great pleasure to him to witness its progress and success . True , the pleasure of each recurring visit had its drawback in the absence of many old friends ; hut they had heen called away in the service of their country , and his hearty good wishes went with them . It was an honour to the lodge