Metropolitan.

in one of the magnificent rooms of the hotel , aud the viands , wines , and attendance left nothing to be desired . Due honour was paid to the usual toasts , especially to that of the W . M ., who responded in a most effective manner . The visitors were numerous , and included amongst other well-known brethren , Bros . W . Paas . P . M . 28 and 534 ; R . W . Little , P . M . 975 ; F . Walters , P . M . 73 ; G . Carter , P . M . 145 ; Forster , 157 , and thenhealth was dru & k with enthusiasm . The P . M . 's were also

warmly greeted , particularly Bros . Hosgood , the indefatigable Secretary , to whose perseverance and influence the lodge is much indebted for its present proud position . A most agreeable evening was brought to a close by the Tyler ' s toast , and the brethren separated , mutually congratulating each other upon the advantages derived from their change of quarters .

BEIGBAVE LODGE ( NO . 749 ) . —The installation meeting of this celebrated lodge took place on the 11 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . Bro . Potter , P . M ., in tho absence of the W . M ., took the chair at half-past three . All the officers being present , Bros . J . G- Froud , Grogau , Hunting , H . Garrod , Evendon , Ongh ( Assist . G . Purst ) , Woodstock , W . Watson , T . Nash , all P . M . ' s of the Belgrave ; Strip , Wickham , ScottCacmurCarterLefeberHarperMacrillElliot ( 2 ) and

, , , , , , , about sixty brethren , and the following visitors , Bros . W . Farnfield , P . Assist . G , Sec . R . M . B . I . ; T . Lewis , G . Purst ., P . M . Royal Albert ; C . W . Porter and H . Johnson , P . M . 's 134 ; W . Johnson , 134 ; J . G . Bond , P . If . 87 ; R . Brown , P . M . 145 ; D . H . Pulsford , W . M . 1 , 158 ; S . May , W . M . 101 ; W . Godfrey , 511 ; J . Leary and W . E . West , 907 ; A . Flint , 180 ; S . Carey , 901 ; G . Horton 205 GNewman and EMoore 192 Imme

, ; . . , . - diately after the confirmation of the minutes Bro . Gar-rod , P . M ., presented Bro . W . Bourne , W . M . elect , to the Installing Master , Bro . W . Ough , P . M ., Assist , G . Purst ., to receive from his hands the benefit of installation . This most impressive ceremony was executed in a style that elicited the warmest plaudits of the brethren . After saluting the W . M . in the three degrees , be appointed and invested his officers as follows : —Bros . H . Watkinson

. S . W . ; G . Pymm- J . W . ; J . G . Froud , Treas . ; H . Garrod , Sec ; W . Hester , S . D . ; P . Parsons , J . D . ; S . Homewood , I . G . ; and Daly , Tyler . The W . M . had a few aptly chosen words for each officer on their appointment and promotion . Immediately after the installation the W . M . entered upon his duties by initiating Mr . Ludlow , after which Bro . Forscutt was passed to the second degree , and one brother , W . T . Marchant , was raised to the sublime degree in such a masterly manner that the brethren were loud in their expressions of approbation . Five pounds was voted to the "Zetland Testimonial . " The lodge having been closed in due form , tlm mnnWi rnrmii- » rl t-n +. i , a

banquet table , and we must compliment Bro . Smith , the indefatigable manager , upon the marked change from the prior meeting . A most sumptuous banquet was laid before the eighty members who sat down . The cloth having been drawn , the W . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts with all the novelty which a man of original ideas could give to them . The toast of "The M . W . the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , " followediu which tribute

, a graceful of respect and gratitude was paid to the noble earl in acknowledgment of his twentyfive years of zeal and labour in the cause of humanity and Masonry . An appropriate tribute of respect was also paid to the Deputy Grand Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , coupling with his name those of the Grand Officers present , which was the onlrecognition that could be made in return for the zeal and

y assiduity which they had always displayed in the discharge of their onerous duties . The W . M . most cordially wished them well . Bro . Farnfield returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers present . In giving the health of Bvo . Ludlow , the newly-made initiate , the W . M . reminded him , that although he was but an initiate at present , yet that was an honour of which kings might well be proud , and that no one need be ashamed to the bad

wear ge with which lie had been invested . In returning thanks Bro . Ludlow said , though I have been invested to night , I have for many years been accustomed to meet Masons , very many of whom I have had great reason to respect . I could do no more than follow their example . Bro . Froud , P . M ., then , in a few terse and happy terms , proposed " The Health of the Worshipful Master" No words which he

. could use could express the pleasure which it gave him to see Bro . Bourn in that position . He ( Bro . Froud ) had had the pleasure of initiating him , and he felt pride in having done so . The W . M . had exceeded the most sanguine expectations of his friends , and he felt confident that he would be a credit and

honour to any lodge to which he might belong . He had hitherto discharged all the duties of the various offices he had held most creditably to himself , and in a manner which reflected great credit to Masonry in general , and to the Belgrave Lodge in particular . He could point out Bro . Bourne , W . M ., to all brothers as an example of what a Mason should be . The W . M ., in his reply , said : You have conferred ou me the honour of an unanimous election to this chair . I should be ill fitted to discharge

the duties I have taken , did I not place myself at the service of any brother who might need my help in any way whatsoeveranything I could do to help the lodge generally or the individual members of it , they may rely upon me to do it . In having taken this post I have pledged myself to be ready to assist every member of the fraternity who may require my aid , and I trust that you will not have cause to say otherwise at the expiration

of my year of office . ( The brethren of the Belgrave Lodge well know that this was not a mere empty promise ou the part of the W . M . ) "The Health of the Visitors" followed , for whom Bro . S . May returned thanks , aud said : This night four years I returned thanks for myself and friends . At that timo this was a very small lodge . It was now so great that it could challenge the whole of the Masonic world to find its equal both in its numbers and efficiency . He could pledge his

Masonic word , that he never saw the duties so well done as he did at the Belgrave Lodge . The members might well feel proud of their Master aud of the manner in which he had net-formed his uart on this the first niehfc of his taking : office

as its W . M . Of the officers , also , he knew , for a positive fact , that every one of them could work the three ceremonies perfectly . Another great cause which the members had justly to congratulate themselves upon , was on the large sums which they gave to the Masonic Charities . For himself and brother visitors he could only thank the lodge deeply . The W . M . then gave " The Health of the Past Masters . " In doing this he had a difficult task to perform . ( It may ha here remarked that the

late W . M . had only attended the lodge but once since his installation ) . This of course did not apply to those brothers who had left the post in previous years . Bro . Watson , P . M ., in . acknowledging this toast , said it was a source of great pride to himself and Bro . P . M . ' s ; to look back upon the progress which this lodge had made , how it had grown from small beginnings to rank a first place amongst lodges . The amounts

which had been giveu in Charity ( £ 200 ) , and the hospitality which they accorded were done with such liberality as to be a credit and honour to any member who might belong to it any time . "The Lay Member ' s Health " was duly acknowledged , the brother who returned thanks saying that though they were bat lay members they hoped in time to become clerical , especially as they served under such efficient officerswho not only worked

, themselves , hut were the cause of work in others . The proceedings were interspersed with some excellent singing by the brethren . The banquet was most exeellent , and the attendance perfect . In fact there was not a single hitch to mar theenjoyment of what was one of the most pleasent evenings ever known to the members of this lodge .

MERCHANT ' NAVY , ( NO . 781 ) . —This lodge held the second meeting of the season on Wednesday the 11 th inst ., at the Silver Tavern , Burdett-road , Limehouse . Bro . Bracebridge , W . M . presiding . The lodge having been opened iu due form and with solemn prayer , the minutes of the last lodge were read and confirmed . A ballot was then taken and declared unanimous in favour of J . Harris , Jun . and A . Hay ward . Bros . Glinister and Brown being candidates for the second degree were asked the

usual questions , entrusted , and withdrew . Lodge being opened in the second degree Bros . Glinister and Brown were passed to the degree of fellow Crafts . Bro . C . 11 . Newman of Lodge British Oak , 831 , was a candidate for raising , and answered the usual questions . Lodge opened in the third degree and Bro . Newman was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . Lodge resumed to the first degree and Messrs Harris and Hayward were duly initiated into the mysteries of ancient Freemasonry ,

nothing further being offered , lodge was closed in dne form and with solemn prayer . WHITTINGTON LODGE , ( NO . 862 ) . —The installation meeting of this flourishing lodge was held on Monday , the 16 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , when a very large number of brethren mustered to do honour to the incoming W . M ., Bro . D . J . Davis . The business of the evening comprised the raising of Bro . Williams , the passing of Bros . Dix and Oliver , and the initiation of Mr . JohnHargrave Stevens . Bro . Brett then took