The Masonic Mirror.

held ou Wednesday , February 23 rd , at the Manor House , Walworth . Bro . Farmer , P . M ., presided as W . M ., ( in the absence of Bro . Neates ) , supported by Bro . Dean , S . W ., aud Batiey , J . W . The Lodge having been opened , and some business transacted , the members proceeded to the election of W . M . for the ensuing year , and Bro . Dean declining the office , the choice fell upon Bro . Batiey , who returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him . Bro . Farmer was re-elected Treasurer . The Lodge was then closedand the Brethren sat down to a banquet . This having

, been disposed of , the usual loyal and Masonie toasts were given and responded to . Bros . H . Thompson and H . Francis responded for " The Visitors . " Bro . Cooke , P . M ., proposed " The Health of tho W .-M ., " and said no words of his could add to the lustre of his name , both as a man and a Mason . The W . M . sincerely thanked them for the honour conferred upon him , and hoped that ho should be many years amongst them . The W . M . next gave " The P . Ms , of the Lodge , " and alluded to the pleasure ho derived from seeing present Bro . Cookethe father of the Lod

, ge , and also Bro . Pratnell , both of whom had done good suit and service to the Lodge . As to Bro . Thomas , had he the rhetoric of Demosthenes , he could not say enough of him . He could say that he was a true Mason , and that was sufficient . It was to Bro . Thomas , both in and out of the Lodge , that he was indebted for the instruction which enabled him to take the position he then had the honour to hold in the Lodge . He concluded by giving tho P . Ms , of the Lodge . Bro . Dean respondedand having alluded to the vicissitudes of the Lodsaid he rejoiced

, ge , that the great principles of Masonry carried out in that Lodge by many who were now no more , especially their late Bro . Lockings , were continued by those who were still members of the Lodge , as well as of Lodges of Instruction . In the name of the Past Masters , ho returned thanks for the honour conferred upon them . The W . M ., in giving ' " The Masonie Charities , " denied the imputation that Mason 3 spent all their money in eating and drinking , for the last time they met at their festival , at the Freemasons' Tavern , they collected £ 2 , 100 , which was a large sum to be

collected . Bro . Thomas was tho steward on that occasion , for the second time , aud the greatest honour was due to him for his services . He would say no more upon this subject , believing that the greatest of all Masonic virtues were the unpublished acts of charity , and doing good to their fellow man , and should at once give ' them "Their Masonic Charities , " which toast was duly honoured . The W . M . said he could not part with them without giving them " Tho Health of their Secretary , Bro . Thomas , " who , whether as regarded keeping their Lodge together—for his assistance in Lodges offfnstructiou—for his actions in private life

, not ouly as a Mason , but in his profession—in every respect ; wherever he was known , he was respected . The toast was drunk in the most enthusiastic manner . Bro . Thomas said he would on all occasions do his best , not only to promote the interests of the Lodge , but the welfare of his fellow creatures . Tho more he saw of Masonry , the more he respected the members of the order . Ho might bo well disposed towards others , but there was that among Masons which claimed his best affection . He was glad to see the able maimer in which the charities were

conducted , and the response which the Brethren had given to them . As they had four charites , those calls came pretty frequently , but still avastainonnt was subscribed , from time to time , and the universal feeling of charity amongst Masons appeared to be on the increase by the increased subscriptions to these institutions . In proportion to the dernaud , so much greater had been the exertions of the Brethren to meet the demand . He thought the Brethren would nob feci satisfied with holding this festival at intervals of two years , and that they would urge the Grand Master

to give the Benevolent Institution the same benefits as were now given to the Boys ' aud Girls' Schools , by holding an annual festival . He hoped they would get rid of the long list of candidates they had before them , and , instead of candidates waiting six , seven , and eight years for admission , that , ere long , there would be no necessity for goiug to a poll , but they would be able to place them at once on the funds , and to say that there was room enough for all . The W . M . said that through the Board of Benevolence more than , £ 3 , 000 , was given every year , in addition to their uther charities . The evening's proceedings wore closed in perfect harmony . PMKOE FREDERICK WILLIAM LODGE ( No . 1 , 055 ) . —An emergency meeting of