Metropolitan.

following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . Charles Chard by the brethren of the Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , as a token of regard at his retirement from the chair , April 19 , 1 SH 9 . " Bro . Chard , in rising to reply , was received with prolonged applause . Most heartily he thanked the brethren for the princely presents they had made him , but , if bis year had been a successful one , it was as much due to his officers as himself . The health of the W . M . was proposed bBro . J . Smithwho referred to the fact

y , of Bro . Lewis having been initiated in the lodge and raised to his present high rank . The W . M ., in returning thanks , expressed his intention of endeavouring to perform his duties to the best of his ability , aud hoped they would think as well of him that day twelvemonth as they did that night . The toast , " The Masonic Charities , " was responded by Bro . W . Farnfield , See . Masonic Benevolent Institution , who urged the brethren

to give increased support to that institution . The other Masonic toasts were all drunk with the customary hearty responses , and the Tyler ' s toast brought a well-spent and happy evening to a termination .

DORIC LODGE ( NO . 933 . )—This lodge held its monthly meeting at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 13 th inst . —Bro . Bowronthe W . M ., assisted by his Wardens , Bros . Wainwright aud Yetton , opened the lodge and raised Bro . Digby to the degree ofM . M . The lodge was closed after some formal business and adjourned to the banquet , when after the usual loyal an . Masonic toasts bad been given and responded to , the W . M , requested the brethren to drink the health of Bro . BarnesP . M .

, , and said that the duty which then devolved upon him , was perhaps the most pleasant of all duties which fill to the lot of a Master to perform , it was to present to his predecessor Bro . Barnes , a P . M . ' s jewel , awarded to bim by the brethren of the Doric Lodge , as a token of their appreciation of his valuable services during , his Mastership . Ho believed this compliment was awarded to a retiring master in many lodges ns a matter of

course irrespective of the way he had discharged his duties , but in the Doric Lodge he was happy to say it was far otherwise , this compliment was paid only where it was justly due ; it was paid to merit only , none received it who had not earned it , he did not mean to say that all bad not been equally meritrions—far from it—for there were past masters in the lodge whose merits had been transcendent , and whose names would be remembered while the lodge existed—he believed those names would stand as a beacon light for emulation when many of us . " had shuffled off this mortal coil" and of whom we might say with Cowper ,

" Though time will wear them for they must grow old , Such men are not forgot as soon as cold ; Their fragrant memory will outlast the tomb Embalmed for ever in its own perfume . " And of none more could we say than our Bro . Barnes , all knew the zeal energy and ability he had brought to bear in the performance of his various dutiesfrom the time he took office

, to the moment of his leaving the chair , and he believed if ever a jewel was . honestly earned and might be proudly worn , it was eminently so in his case , for whether in the lodge or at the banquet-table , he had discharged his duties fearlessly and effectively . The W . M . then addressing Bro . Barnes , said " Bro . Barnes , "in calling to mind , how you and I have worked together in times past , and remembering the extent of Masonic

information I have obtained through you , I feel a peculiar pleasure in being the medium through which this jewel is presented to you , and in the name of the Doric Lodge I place it upon your breast , and I believe I echo the wish of every heart when I say may the Great Architect of the Universe give you length of days and health to wear it . " Bro . Barnes on rising was received with cheers—hesaid W . M . To your very neat

and eulogistic speech , I am sure I shall make but a poor response . I was about to say that this was the happiest moment of my life ; but if I were to say so it would not be true , for I believe the happiest moment of my Masonic life was the evening I was initiated into Masonry . I well remember that evening , and the remark made to me at the banqueting-tablo by the then W . M ., " that lie hoped to see tho time when I should fill his then post . I thought at the time that the hopethough kindl

, y expressed , was little likely to be realized . Six years have passed since then and I have not only attained the position of W . M ., but have passed the chair : and you have on behalf of the brethren , presented me with a P . M . 's jewel iu token of their approval of my conduct as master of the lodge . W . M . and brethren 1 sincerely thank you for this token of your approbation , and believe me when I say that I highly prize it , and shall wear it

with the greater pride because I feel thay have laboured hard not only to achieve its possession , but to deserve it ; and that you have not bestowed the decoration simply because I have filled the chair , but because I bare striven to perform the duties of tho office conscientiously ; for after all , whatever opinion a man may entertain of himself , the lodge must be the best judge of the way in which its officers perform their duties . Brethren , it is but a little over six years since this lodge was consecrated

, and it is only six years since I was initiated ; I was the sixth initiate , and the sixth Master of the lodge ; thus reaching the goal for which some five years ago I started . If I have performed the duties that have fallen to me with moderate efficiency I have been helped on in my course by not being satisfied with merely learning our beautiful allegorical formularies by rote , but by endeavouring to understand themand to acquire a knowledge of

, their significance and import , for there is a vast difference between saying what one knows , or has learned by rote , and knowing what one is talking about ; and a Mason can never deliver our mystic ceremonies with effect unless he has , more or les * , imbibed their symbolical teaching . You have truly said that no brother can hope to attain to the position of W . M . in this lodge unless he is capable of discharging the duties of the chair with

respectable efficiency . This lodge was founded upon that very principle and 1 hopo the lodge will never deviate from the principle upon which it was founded . What can be more pitiful or mnnasonic than to see a brother in the chair of W . M ., who is unable to perform its duties , an J yet receives nnblushingly the encomiums which courtesy bestows upon him . In conclusion there is a brother to whom I am deeply indebted for my

position of Master , and for this valued jewel . He did not appoint me to office for he was never an officer in this lodge , but he did furnish the means by which I attained to the highest office in the lodge ; and I should be very ungrateful if I could orget the obligation 1 am under lo him . That brother is Bro . Saqui , the preceptor to the Doric Lodge of Instruction . But my obligation to him does not consist of what I learned from

him in tiie Lodge of Instruction , but for tho time and . attention bestowed upon me in private . Almost day by day , for two years and seven months , I received instruction at his hands . W . M . and brethren , I again thank you , and will endeavour to merit it , continuance of your esteem , 'fhe brethren spent a pleasant evening , and separated at 11 o'clock .

STRAWBERRY HILL LODGE ( No . 9 . 1-G ) . —This excellent working lodge met on Wednesday the 14 th inst ., at the Grotto Hotel , Cross Deep , Twickenham . The W . M ., Bro . H . J . Smith , having taken the chair , supported by P . M . ' s Smced and Faithfull , the minutes of the former lodge were read and confirmed . Bro . Mclllwain , S . W ., who on a former occasion was unanimously elected , was then presented lor the purpose of installationand that ceremony was performed by Bro . SmcedP . M ..

, , , in a very solemn and impressive manner , that elicited the warmest encomiums from every brother present . The W . M . then invested his officers , viz : —Bros , llopgood , S . W . ; Whetley , J . W . ; Smced , P . M ., at the solicitation of the W . M ., consented , to accept the office of S . D . ; Stedwell . P . M ., Treas . ; Piatt , P . M ., Sec ; Kipling , I . G . ; Waghoru , J . D . ; Foresight , B . C . ; RileyTler . The newlinstalled . W . M . then passed Bro .

, y y Wigley in a very excellent ; manner , and all the newly-appointed officers were perfect in their working . The brethren then adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , provided by Bro . Bendy . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to , Bro . Smced , P . M ., proposed tho health of the W . M ., who by the manner in which he returned thanks , fully justified the remarks , of Bro . Smeed , P . M ., as to his efficiency , at its conclusion he

was loudly applauded . The AV . M ., iu proposing the visitors , remarked he Had great pleasure in proposing the healths of the several brethren who bad honoured them that evening , who were Bros . W . Harnett , St . Andrew's Lodge ; C . Brustling , 813 ; H . M . Levy , P . M ., 188 ; S . Cahlclech , 175 ; C . Sloman , 25 ; Vernon , S 13 ; Stevens , 65 . The visiting brethren severally returned thanks . Bro . Smith , I . P . M ., in a very eloquent

manueiretnrned thanks for the P . M . ' s , and stated he thanked the brethren for the very elegant jewel they had presented to him . Bro . Smeed , P . M ., also stated he had accepted the office of S . D . only for the purpose of being useful to the brethren of the lodge . The harmony of the lodge was greatly enhanced by the excellent singing of Bros . Smeed , P . M ., Charles Sloman—whose improvisatore song was loudly applauded—H . M . Levy , Vernon , Stevens , & c . After spending a very delightful evening , the brethren returned to town at an earlv hour .