Metropolitan.

Lodge in particular ; and though they were now more than 10 , 000 miles distant , he could answer for it they were present with them in heart this evening . Asa proof of the universality of Masonic feeling , he said Bro . F . Goldshorough had expressed himself in the warmest terms of praise of the truly fraternal reception accorded him by the brethren at the antipodes . Bro . Farnham also had experienced the same gratifying reception

in India . Bro . Goldshorough , P . M ., felt assured that this special act of remembrance would be highly gratifying to them , when made acquainted with the circumstance ( as they no doubt woulel be ) , viz ., that though " far awsi "' they were borne iu fraternal remembrance by the members of their mother lodge . The P . M . ' s present were Bros . Patten , Spooner , Sheen , Watts , Robinson , Goldsborough , and Dyer . The visitors present , Bros . Webb and May , and several other brethren .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . CREWE . —Lodge of the Four Cardinal Virtues ( No . 979 ) . — The third regular meeting of this lodge ( new ) was held at the Town Hall on the 19 th inst . Present : Bros . Mould , W . M . ; AV . J . Bullock , S . W . and Sec , pro tern . ; W . H . Scott , J . W . ; Reaele , P . M . ; Lord , Treas . ; Wilson , S . D . ; Thompson , J . D ., pro tern . ; Kenyon , I . G . ; Smith , Tyler ; and the following membersBros . G . LordEardleyPriceBi-oadber . tand

Wilkin-, , , , , son . Visiting brethren , Bros . Edwards , S . W . 293 , and Thursby , late 899 . The lodge was openeel with prayer anel the minutes of the last lodge were confirmed , one of which was that the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE be taken in by the lodge . Tire W . M . then requested the S . W . to examine Bros . Broadbent and "Wilkinson as to their proficiency in the first degree , which was highly satisfactory . The loelge was openeel , and the S . W .

passeel them to the F . C . degree . Bros . Lord , Eardley , and Price were next examined ; and the S . W . then raised Bro . Lord ; Bro . Reaele , P . M ., raised Bro . Price ; at the request of the W . M . and P . M ., the S . W . raised Bro . Eardley , giving the traditional history and presenting the working tools to all three . The lodge having been closeel down to the first degree , Bro . Edwards was proposed a joining member , and Bro . Bullock was elected Almoner , to prevent the frequent claims that have recently been made from travelling brethren , particularly with -certificates from the Grand Lodge of Scotland . The brethren

have wisely determined to dispense with the banquets , though the lodge was called off for a few minutes from labour while the S . W . sang the " Entered Apprentices , " accompanying himself on tlie grand piano , for the new- candidates . The lodge was then closed in peace and harmony . This loelge will he constituted on the last Wednesday in January , when the "W . M . ofthe Lodge of Unity ( No . 321 ) , Crewe , Bros . G . C . Legh , M . F ., J . G . W . of England ; the immediate P . M . 321 ; the Right

Hon . Bro . Lord de Tabley , Past G . W . and Prov . G . W . Cheshire , together with the officers and brethren , have kindly consented to come in a body to assist their daughter , the 979 . The ceremony of constitution and installation will be performed by Bro . Captain Cope , P . Prov . J . G . W . Cheshire , who devotes his rare abilities , as a working Mason , with the greatest benefit to this province . After the ceremony the brethren will form in procession at the Town Hall , and will proceed to the Crewe

Arms Hotel , where a banquet will be provided by Bro . Edwards , whose catering stands second to none in the provinces . The tickets , too , will he move reasonable than is usual at Masonic banquets , for the general charge keeps many a worthy member of the Craft absent from the festive hoard . The 979 bids fair to become a credit to the successful province of Cheshire , whoso venerable Prov . G . M ., Viscount Combermere's , 91 st birthday was celebrated last week , and to whom tho county is about to raise a monument . The sum of £ 600 was collected at the birthday banquet for this purpose .

DURHAM . HARTLEPOOL . —St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 531 , late 774 ) . —A Master ' s lodge was holden in the Masonic hall on the 19 th inst . 'The following brethren were present : Bros . James Groves , P . M ., acting W . M . ; A . Nathan , S . W ., acting S . D . ; J . Sweinright , acting S . W . ; J . Lindhardt , J . W . ; Emra Holmes , acting Sec , and , at the commencement of the evening , J . W . ; L . W . Hill ; W . Donald , I . G . ; S . Armstrong , P . M ., Treas ., & c . The

loelge was opened in the 1 st degree in ancient form and with solemn prayer . Mr . William Stokell was balloted for and unanimously elected ; and , having come properly prepared to receive the same , was duly initiated into the secret mysteries of ancient Freemasonry' . Bro . Nathan delivered the customary concluding charge to the candidate with that solemnity appropriate to the occasion , and Bro . Groves conducted the ceremony with his usual ability and decorum . Mi * . Miles

Fideman was proposed as a fit anel proper person to be made a Mason , to be balloted for at next regular lodge . The certificate of a deceased brother , who had been initiated in the Friendly Lodge ( No . 291 ) , Jamaica , was handed in by one of the brethren , with a view to see whether the lodge could do anything for the widow and orphans of deceased , who belonged to Hartlepool , either of itself or through the Board of Benevolence . The W . M . ho iveverruled thatas the deceased

, , , brother had not been the requisite time a subscribing member of any lodge , and was only an E . A ., he could have no claim , and the case was dismissed . There being no other business , the lodge was closeel and the brethren retired to refreshment , when the usual Masonic and other loyal toasts were given , and the evening was spent in harmony .

HEREFORDSHIRE . PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE . The province of Herefordshire has not within the last century at least witnessed so large and distinguished a gathering of Masons as it did on Monday , the 16 th inst . The Provincial Grand Lodge met at the Oak Hotel , Leominster , and lodge was

opened in the several degrees af high noon , when there were present among the brethren—Bros . Rev . Dr . Bowles , Prov . G . M . ; Chandos Wren Hoskyns , M . P ., D . Prov . G . M . elect ; Rev . J . Hinton Bluck , L . S . Demay , W . M . Royal Edward Lodge ; H . Moore , E . Chad wick , Rev . Sir F . G . Ouseley , Bart , Claude Frederick Fox Chawner , Alfred J . Capel , Rev . J . Hampton , J . Nigel Heathcote , W . Harley Bailey , J . Herbert Freme , Robert Slowman , Edward George II . Clarkson , J . Gardiner , PI-OT . G . Sec ,

II . Carless , R . F . Knight , G . II . Piper , Captain T . G . Peyton , Prov . G . J . W ., Edwin Gregg , Edwin Clarke , Wm . Russell , Win . Prosser , J . Ladley , Vaugqan Barber , J . Hartland , S . G . Morris . J . Wooclyatt , J . Gardiner , George Evans , T . M . Hughes , 117 , late 135 , C . F . Lewis , S . H . Hay ward , A . Myer , E . W . Coleman , W . J : Palmer , H . Vevers , J . W . Lacy , Orlando Shellard , J . H . Hustwick , F . J . Crowe , C . Gwatkiu Hill , Captain M'Laughlin , B . A . Captain TurnerCharles GrayP . M . 19 S . PartridgeW .

, , , , , J . Wormington , J . Bradford , W . J . Bnllock , W . S . Boyce , W . Daggs , J . Reynolds , W . Gilkes , G . Tomkins , T . Turner , R . Mann , E . J . Coleman , Herbert , Connop , W'ileling John Hodgkiss , W . J . Clement , Captain Turner , and Robert Crawford . The R . W . PROV . G . M . said : Brethren , the first duty , and it is one of the saddest which I have ever been called wpon . to

discharge , is to condole with you on the irreparable loss we have sustained in the death of our dear brother the Venerable Archdeacon Lane Freer , the D . Prov . G . M . of this province . The place which he hrs so long occupied at my right hand will know him no more ; he will never more guide us by his counsels , or impart to us those elements of life and action with which his own noble spirit was so richly fraught . We do not estimate tho strength of our attachment to any object till it is

removed , and we never adequately appreciated the love of Masonry , the singular social virtues , the self-sacrificing benevolence , the large and varied intellect , anel the devotion to God ' s pur-poses which so eminently characterised our beloved and invaluable brother till death had removed him from us . ( Hear , hear . ) To every duty whichheperformcdinourPi-ov . GrandLodge he brought the accumulated force of all his powers ; each was

enstampecl successively with the entire impress of his mind , anel was accomplished effectively because attempted determinedly and alone . In all our personal intercourse , in all our Masonic conferences aud deliberations whereon we were honoured with his society , or called to co-operate with him in Masonic objects , I am sure that the officers and brethren of every lodge in the province will bear their united testimony that they never remarked in him a single indication of the consciousness

of his superiority , either in intellect or influence ; his highest .emulation was , like his Master's , to become the least of all , and the servant of all . Easy of access , unassuming in demeanour , ready to hearken to every tale of suffering , and to every petition for assistance and relief ; candid , hospitable , peaceful , prudent