Metropolitan.

P . M ., Bro . Robottom , was then given , also the healths of the visitors and officers of the lodge , which were severally responded to . The W . M ., in giving the toast of " The Charities , " added the fact of the distress at the East-end of London , and observed that at a festive meeting it was a proper time to bring the fact to the notice of the brethren , especially upon the present occasion , he thought it a proper subject to notice , although not a lodge questionbut ho could not pass from the meeting that

, evening without informing the brethren of the dire distress then prevailing , and he sincerely hoped that the brethren would answer his appeal , and hand over to Bro . Marsh ( who was a zealous worker among the poor ) , the amount of their subscriptions . It is very gratifying for us to be able to report that the appeal to the brethren produced tbe sum of £ 12 5 s . which was duly given to Bro . Marsh to be distributed . Bro . Marsh

thanked the brethren for the handsome contribution , and stated several instances within his knowledge of extreme poverty . The business of the evening was enlivened by the vocal abilities of Bros . Scnrr , Wainwrighfc , Hudson , Stevens , & c . Among the visitors were Bros . Hamilton , P . M . 554 and 275 ; Bver , P . M . 45 ; Scotcher , P . M . 55 ; Foulger , W . M . 193 ; Hudson , P . M . 554 ; Harris , W . M . 141 ; Levy , P . M . 73 and 507 ; Gottheil , P . M . 141 ; Boyd , 206 ; Chadwick , S . D . 554 ; Verry , J . D . 554 ; Brown , 554 j Patient , 144 ; Morris , 109 ; and Buller , 9 .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CUMBERLAND AND AVESTMORELAMD . CABLISIE — Union Lodge ( No . 310 ) . —On Tuesday evening , "the 14 th inst ., a Lodge of Instruction was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Castle-street , when the respective offices were ably ¦ filled by Bros . A . Woodhouse , Steward , as AV . M . ; W . Court , Treas ., as S . W . ; J . Atkinson , I . G ., as J . W . ; T . Cockburn , S . D . ; J . Nedall , P . M ., as J . D . ; J . Gibson , J . D ., as I . G . The following

members wero also present : Bros . F . W . Hay ward , P . M ., Dir . of Cers . ; G . G . Hayward , P . M . ; I . Slack , W . M ., as Steward ; G . Somerville , Segeant S . Maxwell , 402 ( I . C ) , W . Forde , both ¦ of the 70 th Regiment , and R . Martin—the two latter were Fellow Craft . The lodge was opened in form in the first and -second degree . The test questions were put round for the henefit of Bros . Forde and Martin . Bro . GGHayward was

_ . . asked to give the lecture on the second tracing board ; he not being prepared , desired to withdraw for a short time , and in "the meantime Bro . AVoodbouse performed tbe ceremony of 'initiation , and when nearly completed , Bro . G . G . Hayward was ¦ announced , and gave the required lecture in a most praiseworthy manner . Bro . J . Nedall next favoured the brethren with the lecture on the six days of creation , which won him the

• applause of all present . Tho lodge was then closed down , and at 10-20 was finally closed , all the brethren highly delighted with the evening ' s entertainment , and all parted in peace and Siarmony .

DEVONSHIRE . PlXHOUTH . Consecration of the Metham and the Flms Lodges . If anything were necessary to prove the great activity of 'Freemasonry in the south-west of England , we should find ample proof of it in the fact that two new lodges were

consecrated in one day , and the lodges bear the names of the Metham and the Elms—the first in honour of Bro . L . P . Metham , the D . Prov . G . M . of Devon , and the second also to his honour , it heing named after his place of residence . This is a very great honour to the V . W . brother , whose Masonic excellence , abilities , ¦ and great energy havo long been known to , and valued by the province . The Metham Lodge is formed chiefly for the benefit of the

members of the Craft who belong to the united services , and who find it difficult in the older civilian lodges to make these advances towards the chair to which all Freemasons desire to ¦ attain . The Elms is only another of those ordinary swarmings off which ever and anon take place when Masonry is active and prosperous . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Elliott , P . M ., is at the head of the Metham Lodge , and Bro . B . Lose , P . M ., is at the head of the Elms Lodge .

Provincial.

The consecration took place in the noble assembly room at St . George ' s Hall , East Stonehouse . The R . W . P . G . M . of Devon , the Rev . Bro . John Huyshe , was in attendance , and presided in the important and solemn ceremony . The following Prov . G . Officers were also present : — The V . AV . Bros . L . P . Metham , X ) . Prov . G . M . ; V . W . R .

Dowse- P . M ., acting Prov . S . G . W .: Rev . J . C . Carwithen , P . M ., acting Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . R . Measham , Prov . G . Chap . ; S . Jew , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . G . Rogers , Prov . G . S . ; Isaac Latimer , Prov . A . G . S . ; George Glanfield , Prov . S . G . D . ; John Cock , Prov . J . G . D . ; T . B . Harvey , PI-OT . G . Dir . of Cera . ; J . R . H . Spry , Prov . Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Hallett , Prov . Acting G . Org . ; Captain Shanks , Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; J . B .

Witheridge , Prov . G . Purst . ; James Gregory , Prov . G . Tyler ; John Rogers , Prov . Assist- G . Tyler ; W . H . Maddoek , P . James , J . Sadler , and G . Nichols , Prov . G . Stewards . There were members of the following lodges also present : Nos . 39 ,

70 , 105 , 106 , 112 , 156 , 159 , 189 , 202 , 223 , 230 , 251 , 282 , 328 , 710 , 951 , 1 , 091 , 1 , 099 , 1 , 135 , and 1 , 138 . In all there were about 170 brethren present , among whom were the V . AY . Bros Dr . Hopkins , P . Prov . G . S . W . from Warwickshire ; I . C . Radford , P . Prov . G . D . ; J . Dupre , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Ca ¦? . ; S . Chappie , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; W . 'Matthews , P . Prov . G . D . W . ; R . Lose , P . Prov . G . Purst . ; Lieut .-Col . J . Elliott , P . M . 1 , 129 ; J . AVillia ' msAVM 70 ' V . BirdP . M . 954 J . FerrisP . M . 70 ;

, .. ; , ; , W . Bell , W . M . 156 ; J . J . Hambley , P . M . 70 ; E . Cole , P . if . 105 ; W . Browning , P . M . 223 ; J . Austin , W . M . 1 , 099 ; G . H . R . Carter , W . M . 159 . Bros . Col . Pickard , R . M . ; R . B . Oram , C . E . Cleverton , AV . Littleton , W . D Thomas . The organ lo . s was occupied by a party of musical brethren—Bros . Hallett Clemens , Goodridge , Goodall , and Mureh . The number of Metham Lodge is 1 , 205 , and of Elms Lodge 1 , 212 .

The Grand Lodge having been duly formed , the Secretary read the warrants of tbe Metham and the Elms Lodges , which the P . G . Master put for confirmation , and declared them valid and constitutional . , He then called on the brethren of the new lodges to signify their assent to the officers named in the warrants , and after some other proceedings , declared the Metham and tho Elms lodges to be regularly and duly constituted .

The consecration was then proceeded with in a very solemn and beautiful manner . Bro . Hallett , of Christ Church , Devonport , presided at the organ , and was assisted by an excellent choir of five or six brethren , who sang the responses , tbe chants , and the anthem admirably . The fine swell of the organ was heard and much appreciated by the brethren . The musical services added much to the beauty of the ceremony . The symbols of the two lodges

were placed in the centre of the hall , and covered with white satin ; and the D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . L . P . Metham , G . Deacon of England , at the request of the G . M ., then delivered the oration , which will be found in another page . The P . G . Chap , next delivered the opening invocation , and afterwards read a portion of Holy Scriptures from 1 st Kings vi . 11 to 14 . The P . G . M . then delivered an invocationall the brethren

, kneeling , after which the lodges were uncovered , and the P . G . M . offered up a prayer . Then followed the ceremony of consecrating the lodges with corn , wine , and oil , which was done respectively , with the customary form , by the P . G . M ., the D . Prov . G . M ., and the P . 8 . G . W ., who were attended by other officers . Solemn music accompanied this portion of the ceremonial , which was very

impressive . Tbe P . G , M . then offered up the consecrating prayer . After other ceremonies , the P . G . M . sprinkled the lodges with salt , the G . Chap , preceding him with the incense , after which the brethren chanted the Doxology . The choir , accompanied by the organ , then sang Psalm 133 , as au anthem . The P . G . M . gave the final benediction , thus bringing the

ceremonies to a close . The Grand Lodge , which had been opened in the first and second degrees , was then closed in tbe customary manner . When the special business had closed , Bro . Colonel Elliott , the W . M . of the Metham Lodge , called a meeting of his lodge , and proceeded at once to the appointment of bis officers . These were as follows : AV . Browning , I . P . M . ; Rev . R . Measham , P . G . Chap ., S . W . ; Captain Carlyon , 72 . 3 / ., J . W . ; Capt . Shanks , R . 3 L , S . D . ; J . Montgomerv , J . D . ; AV . Kennedy , P . M ., Treas . ;