St. Augustine Lodge, No. 972.

the Lodge of a sum of fifty guineas , which he proposed to give in the name nf \' - „< Lodgo to fcho Masonic Charities . Ho stated his ai . \' cty that the Lodge , which hold tho )) reinior position on the roll of Prov . Grand [ jud ge , should also occupy as honourable a position towards tho Masonic Charities . Already the Lodge was Vice-President of two of tho three Charities , and ho should bo glad to see it occupy a similar

position towards the third . Bro . Brook-Smith Prov . Grand Tr ., as the oldest P . M . of tho Lodge , proposed a cordial expression of thanks to the W . M . for his generous and unexpected gift , and Bro . the Baron do Ferrieres , in seconding it , asked to bo allowed to contribute the balance of seventeen guineas required for the acquisition of the third

Vice-Presidentship , Bro . Brook-Smith then moved , and Bro . Bryant I . P . M . seconded , a similar vote of thanks to this second donor , and both votes were carried by hearty acclamation . The Eoyal Union Lodge thus becomes Vice-President of all three of tho Masonic Charities—a position which will probably provoke friendly emulation among the other Lodges of tho province .

Lodge Of Union , No . 414 . —This Lodge held its monthly meeting on Tuesday , 18 th Nov ., at tho Masonio Hall , Reading . Present — Bros . Chas . Oades W . M ., Saml . Bradley S . W ., Chas . Stephens J . W ., M . J . Withers Sec , J . A . Straohan P . M . Treas ., E . 0 . Mount S . D ., F . J . Ferguson J . D ., A . W . Parry D . C , D . H . Withering , ton Steward , Saml . Wheeler I . G ., W . Hemmings Tyler ; Bros . C . G .

Hawkes , 0 . G . Butler , W . 0 . Moffafcfc , Edw . Davis , H . Higgs , J . R . Hayward , F . W . Albury , Doran Webb . Tho Lodge was opened , aud the minutes of last meeting were road and confirmed . Bro . John Robert Hayward , a candidate to be raised to the third degree , gave proof of his proficiency in the former degrees , was entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in the third , aud Bro . J . E . Hayward

was raised to the sublime degree of M . M . The ceremony was performed in an admirable manner both by the Master and Officers . Lodge was closed from the third to the first degree . Two candidates for initiation were proposed and seconded . The W . M . gave notice of motion , that a gratuity to tho E . M . B . I . be given . After the usual closing ceremonies , tho Lodge was closed and adjourned to tho third Tuesday in December .

West Kent Lodge , No . 1277 . —The brethren of this Lodge assembled on Saturday last , for the second timo at their new place of meeting , viz ., the Crystal Palace . Bro . E . H . Crowden the W . M . was supported by all his Officers , who arrived in dne time to be present afc the opening of the Lodge . They included the Eev . Dr . Rosenthal , D . D ., Chaplain , fche Senior and Junior Wardens , & a ., and

Past Masters C . K . Crouch , G . Clements , John Allen and J . K . Stead Amongst the Visitors were Bros . E . B . Grabham Royal Athelst . ane 19 P . S . G . W . Middlesex , H . H . Spede Andrews Egyptian 27 , and J . Hammond Hermon 1572 . Bro . B . Fullwood P . M . St . John's , Torquay , was unanimously elected a joining member , and Dr . William Lomas and Mr . P . S . Philps , surgeon , duly elected for initiation .

Tho latter named candidate was then duly initiated , and tho Rov . Arthur E . Druco , M . A ., and James Orange were passed . Bro . Crowden W . M . was appointed Steward on behalf of the Lodge for tho ensuing Festival of the Girls' School , and on the proposition of the Treasurer , Bro . Stead P . M ., ten guineas was voted from the Lodge funds . Later

on the subscription list was passed round , and though there wero not more than twenty present , the total subscriptions amounted to £ 58 , which is tho more creditable , as—though the Lodge was consecratedin 1869—this will be the first time ifc has sent a Steward to any of the various Charities . Ifc is to be hoped thafc the example thus set will be followed by each succeeding Master .

Burdett Coutts Lodge , No . 1278 . —Tho usual meeting of this very prosperous Lodge was held on Thursday , 20 th inst ., at the Approach Tavern , Victoria-park , Bro . Abraham Lazarus , the W . M ., presiding , who was assisted by his Officers mosfc efficiently . There was a fair attendance of P . M . 's . Bro . Berry officiated as Acting Secretary in the absence of Bro . G . W . Verry . Bro . W . J . Bonner received his M . M . degree , the ceremony being mosfc impressively

worked , and Mr . Basil Stewart was duly ballotted for and initiated . The brethren then adjourned to the banquetting-room , where the festivities were interrupted by a communication being made to the W . M . to the effect that a fire was raging next to his premises , which information naturally necessitated his leaving , but he desired the brethren nofc to break up or allow the untoward circumstance to mar the enjoyment of those present , and asked the I . P . M . Bro . Crouch to preside and carry out the usual programme , which was done .

Marquess of Ripon Lodge of Instruction . —The annual banquet took place afc the Pembury Tavern , Amhurst - road , Hackney , on Monday , 24 th November . Bros . C . Lorkin W . M ., Grist S . W ., McDowall J . W . Tho following brethren were present — W . Wallington P . M . 860 , R . Dallas , J . Lorkin , Smyth , High , Long , Toombs , Bailey , Marsh , Thos . Jonos , Heldrith , Gittels ,

Slaiter , McMillan , Coubro , Jacob , Pinder , R . Olley , Garrod , Tho . Cox , Grimbley , F . Cox , Harding . After the repast the usual toasts were given . The healfch of the W . M . was proposed and suitably acknowledged . Speaking of the Lodge of Instruction , the W . M . wished it every prosperity . The next toast was that of Bro . Slaiter , late Secretary , who

is leaving for India . Bro . Slaiter , in feeling terms , thanked the brethren for fche kind way in which they had drank his health . The banquet was served by Mr . Clifford , the worthy host ,, in excellent style . Bros . Coubro , McMillan , Pinder , P . M . Wallington , Grist , C . Lorkin , Smyth and 11 . Olley , added to fche p leasures of the evening \> j some capital Bongs ,

St. Augustine Lodge, No. 972.

"West Middlesex Lodge of Instruction , No . 1612 . —Afc the Feathers' Hotel . Ealing , on Thursday , ' J . 0 th inst . Present : — Bros . H . E . Tucker W . M ., W . Seward S . W ., E . C . Porter J . W ., H . Youens S . D ., C . E . Botley J . D ., F . Botley I . G . ; also Bros . TI . Stephens , W . M . Wyville , G . Wills , E . J . Acworth , A . Jones , Gardner P . M . 780 , Gunner . Bro . F . Botley volunteered as a

candidate , and tho ceremony of initiation was rehearsed . Tho Lodge was called off for refreshment . On resuming labour , Bro . Seward took tho chair . Lodge was opened in the second degree , and the ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Acworth candidate . Bro . Gardner P . M . 780 took the chair , aud fcho Lodgo was opened in the third degree . Bro . Tucker re-occupied the chair , and rehearsed the ceremony of raising , Bro . Gunner candidate . Bro . Gunner referred

to the case of a distressed brother , whose condition was fully ex . plained some months previously . Bro . Tucker now asked the brethren fco again assist , and on tho motion of Bro . F . Botley , seconded by Bro . H . Youons , £ 1 was voted from the funds of the Lodge in aid of our distressed brother . Bro . Seward was unani . mously elected W . M . for the next meeting , and the Lodgo was closed in due form .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

Will he worked as under : Afc tho Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 , Moorgate Station Restaurant , on Tuesday , 2 nd December . Bro . T . A . Adams P . G . P . in the chair . Those of our brethren who have nofc visited tho comfortable quarters the members of tho Metropolitan Lodgo of Instruction have secured , should avail themesolvcs of this opportunity .

TFIE TWO-HKADED EAGLE . —The origin of the device of the Eagle on National and Royal Banners may bo traced to very early times . It was an ensign of tho Ancient Kings of Persia and Babylon . The Romans adopted many other figures on their Camp standards ; bnt Masons ( B . C . 102 ) made the Eagle alone the ensign of the legions and confined fche other figures to the cohorts . From tho Rnmnna tha

French , under the empire , adopted tho Eaglo . Tho Emperors of the Roman western empire used a black eagle ; those of fcho East a golden ono . The sign of tho golden eagle ' met with in taverns is an allusion to the emperors of the East . Since the timo of the Romans almost every State that has assumed the designation of an empire has taken tho Eagle for its onsign—Austria , Prussia , RussiaPoland

, and Franco , all took tho Eaglo . Tho two-headed Eagle signifies a double empire . Tho Emperors of Austria , who claim to ° be considered the successors of the Caiaars of Rome , use tho double-headed Eagle , which is tho Eagle of the Eastern Emperors , with that of tho Western ' typifying the " Holy Roman Empire , " of which tho Emperors of Germany , now merged in tho house of Austria , considered themselves

as representatives . Charlemagne was the first to use ifc , for when he became master of the whole of tho German empire ho added the second head to tho cagto , A . D . 802 , to denoto that the emperors of Rome and Germany were united in him . As it is among birds the king , and being tho emblem of a noble nature , from its strength of

wing , and eyo and courage , and also of conscious strength and innate power , the eagle his boon universally preferred ns tho continental emblem of sovereignty . Of tho different eagles of heraldry , the black eagle is considered tho mosfc noble , especially when blazoned on a gold shield .

"Tho Antiquary" is the title of a new Monthly Magazine which ia to be pnblished by Mr . Elliot Stock early in December . It is to be devoted to such subjects as Folk Lore , Numismatics , Early Voyages , Bibliography , Genealogy , Heraldry , Parish Registers , Provincial Dialects , Church Restoration , Early Printing , the Transactions of Provincial Archaeological Societies , Engravings and Paintings , Cnriosa & c , & c " The Antiquary" is to be edited by Edward Walford , Editor of the " Connty Families . "

HOIMWAT ' Pitta . —Health or Wealth . —No sano person would hesitate an instant in the choice between these two conditions . Now is tho season to secure tho former either by restoring or confirming it . These Pills expel all impurities from the system which fogs , foul vapours , and variable temperatures engender during winter ; this medicine also acts most wholesomely upon the skin by disgorging the liver of its accumulated bile , and by exciting the kidneys' to more energetic notion ; it increases tho appetite for foo : l and strengthens the digestive process . The stomach and liver , with which most disorders ° originate are fully under the control of these regenerative Pill , which act very kindly yet most efficiently on the tendorest bowels .

We must crave the indulgence of our friends , many of whom we shall disappoint through being obliged to hold over so many items of news . The demands on onr space at this season of the year are so great that we have no option ; at the same time we tender our regret to those brethren

whose indulgence we seek , and promise we will do our best to rectify shortcomings in our next . An article on the recent Special Court of the Girls School , reports of the

Installation Meetings of the Royal Savoy , William Preston , ancl City of Westminster Lodges , and of the complimentary dinner at the Metropolitan Hetel , on the 19 th inst ., are among the items we are compelled to hold over ,