Metropolitan.

that brother the testimonial of their regard then before him . [ Here the same was uncovered . ] In doing so he should trespass on their time , and tell them what he knew of the history of that lodge of instruction . Thirty years since he became an initiate in the Koyal Athelsfan Lodge ( No . 19 ) , and joined the Percy Lodge ( No . 23-1 ) , when they were called , the twin brothers , and considered as the two best lodges in the Order . In the Percy Lodge of Instruction he-Bro . S . P . AVilsonfirst took the chair

, , under the guidance ot their late lamented brother , the renowned Peter Gilkes ; for that great Mason was a member of the Percy Lodge of Instruction , and so were many other distinguished Masons . Partly by deaths , inattention , and neglect , the Percy Lodge of Instruction fell into disuse and neglect , and was at a stand , when Pro . . ' .. K . Warren came to its aid , and mainly , by his exertions , it bad been restored to something nearly approaching

its past distinguished rank .. Three years since tho AV . M . of the present lodge had proposed that some recognition should be made of their Secretary's eminent services , and that a suitable present should be provided . This for a time fell into abeyance , until Bro . John Thomas again brought the subject before tbe lodge , and it had since been prosecuted to the result which they wore met that evening to celebrate . Turning to Bro . J . R . AVarren , the Chairman continued : Bro . Warren , yon have heard my

observations , and I have no need to express to you what the members of this lodge feci for your services ; they have given their feelings form , and thought it their duty to preaeut you with a testimonial , and deputed me to hand you this snuff-box , so that you may carry about you some token of their regard . ( Hear , hear . ) And as the Masonic feelings of your fair partner is so well known , she having chosen to clothe her twins with two Masonic aprons at their christening ( hear , hear , and laughter ) , I have the further pleasure in handing you this silver tea-pot and salver for your joint use . it hears the following inscription : —

" PEESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OT THE PSIICY LOD & E OU IXSTHTJCTKO' ( NO . 23-1 ) TO Biio . JAMES RICHABD AVABBEM , TO MAEIC THEIB AMUiECTATKEV 01 ' THE EMKCEKT SERVICES HE HAS BEXDEBED AS KOXOBABY SECBETAEY TO THE LODGE , AJS D TO EVINCE THE HIGH ESTEEM IS WHICH HE IS HELD 3 Y THEM

AS A WORTHY AMD TALENTED FBEEMASO }" . DECEMBER 18 TH , 1860 . " TThe articles were of a very chaste design , and of the value of £ 10 , and , by a fortuitous combination of circumstances , are called by what is known in the trade the " Percy , pattern . " ] The Chairman then went on to say—and nowmy worthbrotherfeeling

con-, y , vinced these g ifts will be accepted with that kindness that prompts tho "'ivers , may you and yours enjoy health and strength to use them for many years to come . ( Hear , hear . )—Pro . J . K . WABIIEN , who , on rising , was lustily cheered , . ' -aid—In endeavouring to return his thanks , he feared ha should fall very far short of what his heart prompted . In tho Percy Lodge they followed Bro . Peter Gilkes , and preserved his working . They were , next to the

Emulation Lodge , the strictest in London , and allowed no deviation from the landmarks . He had the good fortune to bo initiated at the same time , and in the same lodge , as Bro . Farmer , but said to himself , " I cannot learn all this , it is too much . " However , he

afterwards found diiierently , for at Bro . fhomas s house he learned it all , and Bro Thomas was his father in Masonry . Many young Masons broke heart as he first did : they found it difficult , and go away , and called themselves Freemasons , when they were no such thing . Looking around him be saw some not a twelvemonth old who were able to go through the whole of their ceremonies , and whom a lodge of instruction had taught all they knew . It was also the greatest assistance to the charitiesas every Mason

, must know . They had been kind enough to allude to his wife : he "begged to say she was as good Freemason us be was ( hear , hear ) , and " was at all times happy to see any that could call themselves brethren . As far as the testimonial went , it was undeserved . ( No , no . ) However , he know nothing of it until that evening . An allusion had been made to his wife ; she , he felt certain , would always appreciate their kindness , and , as ho before stated , she was

as good a Freemason as he was , and perhaps a better one at heart than himself . While on this topic he would take the liberty of indulging in a few words of caution . He hoped no brother would ever mislead his partner , and say he was going to a lodge when that ivas not the case . He had been in company and heard such things done , but they brought great scandal upon Freemasonry . For his own part , he was in Masonry every night of the week , and his Wife liked him to be so engaged ; but he could well understand the dislike many ladies expressed of the order , when they found it hut an excuse for their husbands absenting themselves from home .

Hoping none among them would ever resort to such a disreputable practice when they wished to go to a theatre or elsewhere , and believing from his own domestic comfort that every woman would be pleased to have her husband improving himself and others , and when , having done so , return to his home at a proper hour , and that much of the unfavourable opinion with which ladies looked upon Freemasonry would be mitigated by such a course of conduct ; he must again , in his partner's and his own name , thank them

gratefully and sincerely for the very handsome testimonial they had thatjeveniugpresented him with . ( Hear , hear . )—The CIIAIUIIAST then said , —Ho was not quite sure he ought to propose tho health of the Committee , seeing he was one of the number . But as they had done their duty he must not forbear to do his , and to state that Bro . Thomas , their Treasurer , and Bro . Southall , the Secretary , deserved great praise for their exertions and happy selection . He should therefore propose "The health of the Committee , "

irrespective of his own . —Bro . THOMAS thanked tliem very sincerely for the very kind way their labours had been appreciated . In what they had done they had done their best , and if their exertions had met with approval , they were too happy to have been able to do their duty , and give satisfaction . —Bro . SOUTHALL , the Secretary , had hoped that Bro . Thomas would have answered for both , but as he had not done so , he could only say his own share had bean a labour of love . He was but an humble individual , and could but compare himself

to a stereoscope in which Bro . Thomas had set him , and so brought him out the more fully . On his own behalf , and that of the entire Committee , they were well pleased to have the opportunity of doing as they had done , and if they had satisfied the subscribers they were themselves highly gratified . —The . C ' IIAIEMAN said , they must not forget the parent Lodge , the Percy . He well remembered he was initiated on a AVednesday , and on the following Monday visited the Percy Lodge , and whilst he was a member of the Athelstan

Lodge he always used to consider himself a , member of the Percy Lodge . He should give as the next toast , " Prosperity to the Percy Lodge , and Bro . Thome , one of its P . M . s and Treasurer . "Bro . THOHNE said , Nos . 19 and 23-1 were still twin brothers .

He was happy to see the lodge of instruction in such a flourishing state , at which the parent lodge was greatly rejoiced . — He had now the pleasing duty to speak of a brother well known to all , one who was most indefatigable as well as one of the best of Masons . His goodness of heart , in readily undertaking whatever he was asked ; his anxiety in watching over the interests of the Craft , so that no innovations might creep in , were patent to all that knew him . He could well understand Bro . Peter

Gilkes catching the eye of the brother to whom he alluded , and , saying to himself . " Let me get hold of him , I'll take the modest y out of him . " The Grand Lodge of England were much indebted to him for so worthily supporting the Emulation Lodge of Instruction , which could not go wrong ; and he should at once propose "Tbe Health of Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson , and may he be spared for many years to carry out those duties he had so well rendered to the Craft at large . " The Chairman having taught them

the history of his Masonic career , would endeavour to deserve their good opinion , as he believed he might call himself the father of that lodge of instruction , and therefore somewhat entitled to the place he occupied that night . He was a member of iit'fceon re- 'iilar lodges , aud there was scarcely a lodge of instruction in tile metropolis to which he did not belong . Of course out of such a number he must have made a selection of some two or three in particular ; and of course the Emulation was the foremost : next followed the

Percy , for he had an affection for the parent lodge , and in the instruction lodge the general working was so good . True , there were trifling differences , mere words , hut he felt bound to follow Bro . Peter Gilkes , who was the best and most , indefatigable Mason ; and , although he had been dead twenty-seven years , yet there had been nothing better than his system . ' He felt he had a right to spenk , and thought that all should follow the example of Peter Gilkes ; aud he hoped thatas the Percy Loddid follow that liht

, ge g , it might prosper for many years . —The SICCBETAKY asked , ancl obtained leave to propose "The Health of Bro . Ireland . "—Bro . J . I' . Wii . 'itE - vieltit to lie his duty to return thaiiks for the Percy Lodge of Instruction . Its antiquity was indisputable , and when he had attempted its resuscitation , it had very nearly escaped losing its identity , aud wa . s about to bo called the Manchester Lodge of Instruction . He , as Secretary , had to thank their

Chairman and brethren for their good wishes , and he believed it was so carried on as to make it a pattern lodge ibr regularity and propriety . The practice of regularity was so strictly adhered to , that he challenged every lodge of instruction in tho Craft to show u better system , aud invited every Mason to visit it , and observe the regularity that pervaded the whole of its arrangements . —The Cj . iAiBM . iy said , they wore a tiled body , and none but Masons were admitted ; still it was desirable that all shouldknow what had been done there that night , and the only means by which that could be brought about was by a particular organ of the press , THE PBEE-