Metropolitan.

when the duties of the Earl of Zetland called him elsewhere how efficiently they were discharged in his absence by the M . W . the Deputy Grand Master . The Grand Master was fortunate in having so able a substitute as Earl de Grey and Ripon , who had commended himself to all classes . No words were required to commend him to them , for they all remembered the courtesy and kindness with which they were received by Earl de Grey and Ripon at tlie time he was Secretary at Warand their

, feelings as Volunteers were superadded to the respect they entertained towards the Deputy Grand Master of England . He coupled with ihe toasfc the name of Bro . Stohwasser , and he might say that there was little but what he had touched , he had not adorned . Bro . Stohwasser saiel he did not calculate upon the honour of having his name coupled with that of the Grand Officers , as he

svas not a Grand Officer' , but believed that as Grancl Steward it was their object individually and collectively to promote the interests of their institution . The W . M . said the next toast that it was his pleasure anel Iris duty to propose was " The initiates and joining members of fche lodge . " It was gratifying that in six months so young a lodge should have so large a number of members , who were

assisted by those who had seen the light of Freemasonry elsewhere , but had come amongst them to render their ceremonies perfect and to impress the initiates with the importance of their order . He was sorry he had not tabulated tbe members so that he could allude to them in chronological order , but he had some recollection of the duties he had gone through , averaging six ceremonies per night , extending almost to a

period at night that their warrant did not warrant . Thensuccess must be very gratifying to the members of the lodge , and also to them who brought in joining members . He ( the W . M . ) was deeply impressed with Freemasonry , and it was his desire to administer the ceremonies in the way in which they should be administered . The more they meditated over the moral principles contained in their ceremonies the mora they would be impressed with them , and if they did not then they would really know nothing as to what was Freemasonry , If a man joined Freemasony and he did not fulfil its duties , if he

failed to discover its beauties , it was not because there were not excellent lessons to be learned , but that he had failed to be impressed with tbe ceremonies as he ought to be . As to their joining members they were imbued with the same principles , they gave them cordial welcome to their ranks as brothers who had come amongst them to assist in the instruction of others . Some had no honours to gain for they were Past Masters of other lodges , but still they did not scorn to come and

assist them in diffusing the great principles of Freemasonry . As it was the custom for the youngest bachelor to return thanks for the health of the ladies , he should call upon the youngest initiate Bro . Carnell , to return thanks for the initiates . Bro . Carnell returned thanks , and said he hoped that they would all prove good Masons . The W . M . said the toast that came next commended itself , for none could exceed the importance of that he had then to

propose . One of the first principles on . which they established their lodge was to show cordial hospitality to their brethren in Freemasonry , and although the opportunities had been few , yet at their interesting meetings they had endeavoured to express to their brother visitors the joy and pleasure they felt in welcoming them within the walls of their loelge . As they grew older those opportunities would increase , inasmuch as their

Masonic year began on the 1 st of January and ended on the 31 st of January . Still they did not wish to lie under the opprobrium that their lodge was established exclusively for tho purposes of eating and drinking , and if they devoted ten of their meetings to working from half-past six to twelve o'clock at night , lie thought they would show that tlie principles upon which the lodge was established hael been fully carried out . That was the second time they had met at the banquet table

, although they were called off for light refreshments , thus snaking Masonry tbe first consideration and refreshment the second . They gave to all a cordial welcome , and if every time they did not sit down to something substantial it was not because they did not appreciate it , but from art innate elesire that a banquet should not be the first object of their lodge . After a few other observations the W . M . gave the health of tbe visitors , coupling with the toast the names of Bros Baxter and

Meggy . Bros . Baxter , Meggy , and Goldstein respectively returned thanks for the visitors .

Bro . Meggy , W . M . of the Fitzroy Lodge , said he then ap . peared before the brethren in another capacity , as by the kindness of the W . M . he had been invested with the collar of P . M ., and it gave him peculiar pleasure to have to propose the next toast , and he was sure that it was one that woulel be appreciated as it was the health of their W . M . It spoke a great deal for the future management of the lodge when he found that they had made such an admirable selection in their Past Master .

He felt proud as the W . M of the Fitzroy Lodge in being thore as their P . M ., anel by a concatenation of circumstances he knew their W . M . as a good soldier and a commanding officer , and he fully appreciated the kind manner in which he received visitors to his loelge , and he ( Hro . Meggy ) was quite sure they would drink with cordiality the healths of those they loved . He asked them to join with him in drinking tho health of Major Irvine , their W . M .

The toast was enthusiastically responded to . The W . Master said that sharp firing demanded a quick reply , " but he could scarcely refrain from thinking that Bro . Meggy had drawn upon his imagination for the kind things he had said of him , anel the kindness of heart which was a distinguishing feature of the members of the H . A . C . His flank acquaintance on his left hand was formed in his volunteer career of ten yearsduring which time they had met occasionally

, , and every meeting increased his esteem for him and the corps to which he belonged . If , was the custom to propose the health of the Master of the lodge or he did not think it would have been justifiable ou that occasion . In inaugurating the lodge in the corps the colonel was not a Mason , so that ne could not take the command , but as he was second he was bound to undertake it . His desire was to promote happiness amongst the 1 st Surrey Riflesand to draw them

, closer together by solid and more endearing ties , and therefore it was that he accepted the post of W . M . He might not have discharged his duty so as to avoid criticism—that he did not hope to do—but he believed that all would grant him credit when he said he had endeavoured to do so to the best of his ability . " It is not in mortals to command success ,

But we will do more—endeavour to deserve ifc . " On that principle he had acted towards his brethren of the lodge ; he had tried to revive the duties he had performed in his own first lodge , and if he had failed he hoped they would give him credit for having done his best . If he was standing in the lodge room he could say no more in praise of his successors than that they had clone their best , and if he could do better

it would cheerfully ba at their service . It was his desire to see good working in the lodge ; that Masonry should bring amongst them more of the true esprit de corps , believing that by it greater permanency would be secured to their corps , and that they would all become better men if they practised what Masonry taught them . By some his ideas might be considered as Utopian , but he felt that Masonry was something that gave

a man a prouder claim to every brother who was pledged to the five points , and all who were brought within its influence . He felt he owed obedience to its sound and solemn precepts , and if lie could enforce thorn more strenuously ou the mind than he had done , he should leave the chair with a feeling that he had done his duty to the lodge and to Freemasonry iu general . They had kindly supported him , not only at the banquet table but

in the lodge . They hael assisted him in the good u ork , and while it did him honour it would be followed by a reward , in which they would all share . As an earnest Mason , anel one from his heart , he thanked them for not only drinking his health , but for assisting him in carrying out those principles he had done his best to discharge in the Alaodonald Lodge . The W . M . next gave the officers of the lodge , and said that

the support that he had received from them had exceeded his expectation , and he acknowledged the valuable assistance he had had from them . His S . W . was imbued with the true principles of the Masonic art ; his J . W , was also proficient aud indeed no master could have more efficient officers . Having alluded to the other officers he said he believed their desire was that the whole of their ceremonies should be performed in the milliner they were intended to be performedand when they

, should arrive at the position that he then unworthily occupied , he had no doubt that they would add to those great principles which he had endeavoured to initiate . They were not like an old lodge , but had got their reputation to make , for even the W . M . could not compress the knowledge of a thousand years into two , but they had given early proof of the working of the