Metropolitan.

was initiated into the 1 st Degree . Bro . Owen was duly passed into the 2 nd Degree ; the business being ably conducted by the W . M . On closing the Lodge , the Brethren adjourned to the Crown and Sceptre , at Greenwich , and partook of a sumptuous banquet . St . John ' s Lodge ( No . 196 ) . —This Lodge held its third meeting for the season on the 8 th July , at Hampstead . The meeting was rendered more than usually interesting by the presentation to the Lodge of a photographic likeness of himself in full Masonic costume , by Bro . Thos . A . Adams , P . M . The W . M . Bro .

Samuel Aldrich , in the chair . Bros . Hazard , S . W . ; Johnson , J . W . ; G . Pritchard , S . D . ; J . H . Smith , J . D . ; and W . Aspinall , I . G . The Lodge having been opened , the minutes read and confirmed , Bro . W . Pitt , P . M ., of the St . Michael Lodge , No . 12 , was unanimously elected a joining member . In consequence of a severe cold and hoarseness , from which he was suffering , the W . M . requested the favour of Bro . Adams taking the chair , and performing the ceremonies , when Bros . Stopher and Douglas were raised to the 3 rd Degree , and Bros . Purkiss and Phillips to the Degree of Fellow Craft , which Bro . Adams performed in his usual effective style . Two gentlemen were proposed for initiation at the next meeting in August .

The W . M . Bro . Aldrich then rose and said , that the Brethren had been informed of the intention of their respected Brother to present the Lodge with a testimonial of his regard ( a portrait of himself ) , through Bro . H . G . Warren . In the unavoidable absence of that excellent Brother , Bro . Pitt had undertaken the honourable office of presenting it . Bro . Pitt said , that not having been a member of the Lodge for more than a few minutes , he had not had the slightest idea of having to play so honourable a

part . But being called upon by the W . M . Bro . Aldrich , he would cheerfully respond . The portrait he held in his hand was a faithful representation of one he had intimately known for thirty years , —of one whose virtues commanded the esteem of all who had the honour of his acquaintance . He was a gentleman of high moral principles ; courteous at all times ; and his philanthropy was such as to excite the esteem of all who knew him . As a Freemason he was second to none .

There were , he was proud to say , many bright luminaries in their noble Order , among whom Bro . Adams shone with peculiar splendour , —a splendour of which the benign influence was felt and appreciated from east to west , and from north to south , in this vast metropolis , the centre and focus of Masonic talent . Bro . Hazard having been requested by the W . M . to return thanks , said , — Bro . Pitt , in an assembly like this , and on such an occasion , it is usual to couch our observations in terms of eulogy . The observations which I have to offer will be those of unadorned sincerity , though indeed the enthusiastic manner in

which the Brethren have received this flattering mark of the esteem of Bro . Adams renders it unnecessary for him to say much , for it could not fail to convince him—even if he had not had many previous proofs—of their high respect for him personally , and of their admiration of his many Masonic qualifications . Some of the Brethren had been recently initiated into the Order , and therefore knew of Bro . Adams ' s antecedents only by repute . He would state that Bro . Adams joined the Lodge in 1851 ( at the same time as Bro . Thompson , now a P . M . of the Lodge ,- —whose absence on this interesting occasion he sincerely regretted , —their

present W . M . Bro . Aldrich , and himself ) ; and from that time to the present he had attended all its meetings except two , and , occasionally , at personal as well as professional inconvenience . But such was his love of Freemasonry generally , and for this Lodge in particular , that he considered he should not have discharged his duty to either unless he was punctual and regular in his attendance . The efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of the several offices ,

had justly endeared him to the hearts of the Brethren . Another fact he would remind them of , namely , that in 1853 , when W . M ., he granted a warrant to hold a Lodge of Instruction , by which many present had greatly benefited . Nor was this all . Although the meetings throughout the year were weekly , there were but few at which he was not present . In the first year he had worked sections in the first Lecture no less than sixty-two times : in the second , eleven ; and iu