The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . A Prov . G . Lodge of AVest Yorkshire will be held at Sheffield on Wednesday next , for the transaction of general business and the consecration of the new Masonic Hall in Surrey-street . A banquet will afterwards take place in the Cutlers' Hall , at which ladies will be admitted—for the entertaiment of whom , after the banquet , revolving

stereoscopes and other objects of interest are to be exhibited in the drawing-room . Admission will also be given free to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens . Our friends of the Britannic Lodge , under whose auspices the affairs appear to be arranged , are doubtless anxious that the consecration of their new hall shall go off with eclat ; but we think that in the " amusements" provided they are

stepping a little beyond the line , and popularising their entertainment too much for Masonry . Indeed , one brother suggests that all is required to make the affair complete is the engagement of Blondin and a balloon ascent . The Britannic Chapter ( Xo . 3 S ) , the charter of which was lately granted , is to be consecrated at "Willis's Rooms , King-street , St James ' s , on Friday , the 12 th of July .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

BRITISH OAK LODGE ( XO . 1133 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this ledge was held on Monday , June 21-th , at Guriiey's Hotel , Stratford Bridge ; Bro . Richard Fairbairn , W . M ., presided . The Summons announced two initiations , two passings , and three raisings ; but the candidates for the first and second degrees were not in attendi ! nee . The AA ' . M ., after the minutes had been read , said on taking tbe chair ofthe British Oak as its first Master , he made a resolution that , excepting from sickness or some cause over which be had

on control , he ivould never give up tho chair during his year of office ; but , on that occasion , his friend , Bro . How , had presented one of his sons , just returned lrom the East , to receive his Master ' s degree in their lodge ; as a father , he knew what would be his own desire under like circumstances , and he ivould , therefore , allow Bro . How to confer the third degree on his son Alfred , whom he congratulated on his return to his native land . Accordingly , Bro . How raised bis son to the third degreeand the WMperformed the same office for

, .. Bro . Arnold . Previous to the lodge being closed , the AA . M . announced that , although their lodge was little more than six months old , they had held eleven meetings , and , after that quantity of work , he though they deserved some recreation , he , therefore , proposed they should have a festive meeting in some rural locality on the LUli of August , this proposition be intended to submit to the next regular meeting of the lodge in July . The AA ' . M . then , as a

preparative to the matter , appointed Capt . "Wright Henivood as Steward . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren , after making a collection to assist a distressed brother from the sister countrv , separated .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

HERTFORDSHIRE . W . VLTllAir . —The Gresham Lodge ( Xo . 1171 ) . —The opening- of this new lodge , on AVednesday , June 13 , was most auspicious ; the day ivas fine , and over twenty brethren were in attendance at the Four Swans ' " Hotel to do honour to the occasion . The lodge was opened by Bro . George Francis , Prov . G . Reg ., who then resigned the chair to Bro . HowProv . P . D . who had been appointed

, , to conduct the ceremony of consecration . The Rev . Bro . J . W . Laughlin , AV . M ., Xo . 201 , one of the petitioners for the warrant , was the Chaplain in the Consecration Ceremony , and delivered a most eloquent and impressive oration on the principles of the Institution , this and the excellence of the music , under the direction of "Bro . Eduey , gave the highest satisfaction to all present . Bro . How mentionedin reference to the name ofthe lodthat it ivas in

, ge , memory -of the great merchant prince of London , who , in 15 G 7 , was by consent of Queen Elizabeth , appointed the Grand Master of the ' southern part of England , the Duke of Bedford governing the northern at York . 'That on the occasion of the opening of the Royal Exchange , the Queen dined at Sir Thomas Greshaiu's House , when he appeared publicly as the Grand Muster of the Order . Ho gave the

greatestencouragement to the Institution , and held the office until his death , in 1579 . Tho ceremony of constituting the lodge being concluded , Rev . Bro . Laughlin presented the W . M . nominated in the warrant , Bro . Joseph Braitheivaite , for installation , and he was , with the accustomed rites , placed in thechair . The W . M . then initiated the Wardens , Bro . Joseph Ansoll Hatch , as Senior ; Bro . Charles Swan , as Junior ; and appointed as the other officers , Rev . Bro . J . AV . Laughlin ,

Chaplain ; Bros . How , Secretary ; How , S . D . ; Clarence Harcourt , J . D . ; H . J . Thompson , D . C . Bro . How , after thanking tbe Prov . G . M ., Bro . Stuart for the honour he had done the lodge in giving , it his sanction and attendance , called on the brethren to acknowledge his presence n-ith the customary salute , after which the lodge was closed . At half-past five the brethren assembled around the W . M . at the banquet . Due honour was paid to the customary loyal and Masonic toasts , Bro . Pulteney Scott acknowledged that

of the Grand Officers of England . The Prov . Grand Master , in reply to the warm reception given to his health , expressed the pleasure he felt in witnessing the opening of a new lodge in the province . Bro . Dr . Barringer , in proposing prosperity to the Gresham Lodge , united with that wish the name of Bro . How , the Founder and Consecrating Master . The visitors , Chaplain , and officers were also greeted , songs and glees attending tbe toasts ; but "pleasures are like poppies shed , " railway time was too brief for the happiness of the brethren , and at nine o ' clock , the last train broke up the meeting .

STAFFORDSHIRE . AA ' oLVEKHAAirxoy . —Lodge of Honour ( Xo . 7 G 9 . )—The installation of Bro . Charles Matthews , S . AV ., as Master of the Lodge of Honour , took place on Friday , the 14-th hist ., at the Star and Garter Hotel , Wolverhampton , at 3 p . m . There was a very full attendance of members and visitors . Bro . Colonel Vernon , HAY . Prov . G . M ., arrived by a morning train from

Londonex-, pressly to be present . He was joined by Bro . Dr . Barton , D . Prov . G . M ., and several past and present members of Prov . Grand Lodge . Amongst the P . M . ' s of 700 were Bros . Lewis , Hicklin , and Humphrey ; of G 07 ( St . Peter ' s ) , King , andBctts ; and many others from various lodges . The ceremony of installation being concluded , Bro . Matthews appointed the followingofficers—Bros . F . Sollom , S . W . ; C . A . Xewnham , J . W . ; Captain

Segrave , S . D . ; Lieut . W . H . Tudor , J . D . ; Henry Kvtson , Solicitor , I . G . ; Dr . Eraser , M . A ., and Manton , Stewards . The banquet was served at five . On the removal of the cloth , Bro . Matthews , AV . M " ., gave with much feeling and good taste the usual routine of loyal and characteristic toasts , which ever receive a hearty response from Masons . Bro . Col . Vernon , in proposing the health of Bro . Matthews , passed a high oulogium on him , and then , as in

returning thanks for his own health ( which was , as usual , drank with marked enthusiasm ) , referred to the Lodge of Honour as one of the best worked and conducted in the province . Bro . Dr . Burton ,. I ) . Prov . G . M ., in replying to the toast of his health , gave some interesting statistics of Scotch Masonry . He said that the records of the lodge in which he was initiated have been regularly kept for three centuries , and that , from a perusal of some of the earliest

of them , he discovered entries of the initiation of brethren iu loS-i and 15 S ( i having taken place in the parish church . We will endeavour to obtain some more particulars from the R . W ., Bro . Dr . Burton , and present them to our readers in a future number .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . HrDDEiisrIEI . D . —Huddersfield Lodge ( Xo . 3 G 5 ) . —It is but seldom that an event which has for a long time been looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation , passes off without evidencing , how fallacious human expectations are ; this was not the case on Friday evening last , for once the exception , and not the rule , held good . On that evening banquet iven to hihl

a was g our gy respected Bro .. Joseph Hainsworth , P . M . and " P . Z ., to celebrate his jubilee , hehaving completed his 50 th year as a regularly subscribing Mason . The Huddersfield Lodge ( Xo . 3 G 5 ) assembled at the Zetland Hotel at G o ' clock . It was opened by the AA . M . Bro . Hutchinson , and after the routine business had been transacted , the brethren were called from labour to refreshment , according to ancient form , and sat down in full Masonic clothing to a tuous dinnerprovided by

sump , the worthy Host , Bro . George Millies , in his very best style . When full justice had been done to the good things before them , the labour of the evening was resumed at the call of the W . M ., Bro . W . Shaw , the next P . M . to Bro . Hainsworth in point of seniority , presented in ths name of the Lodge a testimonial , beautifully illuminated on vellum , and appropriately framed , bearing the following inscription : — "To Bro . Joseph Hainsworth , Past Master

of the Huddersfield Lodge Xo . 3 G 5 on the Registrar of the Grand Lodge of England of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . AVe , the AVorshipful Master , Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren ofthe Hudderslieh ! Lodge ( Xo 305 ) in open lodge assembled , present you