Metropolitan.

laticn that evening , which was carried unanimously . Bro . Emmens returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , making one more to the many he had already received from the brethren of that loclge , and he could assure them that if it was in his power to advance tbe interests of that loclge in particular , or of Freemasonry in general , they might always command his services . The loclge was then closed in clue form , ancl the brethren adjourned at ten o'clock .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BUCKS . AYLESBURY . —Buckingham Lodge ( No . 861 ) . —This lodge met on Tuesday , 21 st i May , at the AVhite Hart Hotel . This being tho period for installation of AV . M . for the ensuing year , all the officers were in their places , and the lodge was opened by the AV . M ., the Rev . 0 . J . Grace . Bro . Thomas Lewis was passed to the second

degree . The ceremony of installation followed , whieh was most ably performed by Bro . George States , Prov . G . Standard-bearer , and P . M ., who placed in the chair of King Solomon Bro . Howard . The installing Master , hy command of the AV . M ., then invested the following brethren , and delivered the appropriate addresses to each , viz .: —J . AVilliams , S . AV . ; AV . Beauchamp , J . AV . ; Chaplain , Bev . J . B . Read , P . M . ; Treas ., J . James ; Sec , Charles Hooper |; J . D ., Charles Beauchamp ; Dr . H . LovellI . G . ; StewardsEev . J . C .

Farn-, , borough , P . M ., and AV . H . Baker , P . M . j ; and as a mark of respect to the installing master for the trouble he had taken , and the efficient way he had performed the duties of the day , the AV . M . personally invested Bro . States with the collar of S . D . The visitors on the occasion were Bros . W . AVatson , P . G . Steward , and Joseph Denyer , P . M . 902 . All Masonic business having been disposed ofj the brethreu adjourned to a very excellent banquet , provided by

the host , Mr . Fowler . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been given , " The Health of the Prov . G . Officers , " coupled witb tbe name of Bro . Geo . States , G . S . B ., Bro . States replied , and thanked the AV . M . for the compliment that had been paid him , not only in coupling his name with the distinguished toast just drunk , but in having allowed him the high privilege of installing their AV . Master on that occasion . He never felt happier than when he was in the performance of his Masonic

duties ; and if at any time he could he of any service to the brethren of that or any other lodge , he should never think it a trouble to come amongst them , but would most cheerfully undertake any duties that might he required from him . He regretted that , owing to the early hour at which the train left , he should soon have to leave , but could assure them that nothing would givo him greater pride than again to meet the brethren on an earl y opportunity . Bro . AVarren acknowledged the toast oftlie visitors ; ancl various other toasts having been drunk , the brethren separated at an early hour .

HAMPSHIRE . AVlNCllESTER . —Lodge of Economy ( No . 90 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on AVednesday , May 22 , when there were present Bro . J . L . Hasleham , W . M . ; Bro . A . Smith , S . W . ; Bro . H . Huggins , J . AV . and Sec ; Bros . S . Everitt , P . M . ; C . Sherry , P . M . ; J . Naish , P . M . ; E . Sheppard , I . G . ; J . Snnry , and J . Hook . The lodge having been duly opened , and the minutes

of the last monthly loclge having been confirmed , the W . M . read some Grand Lodge papers . Bro . Sherry , P . M . called the attention of the brethren to a notice of motion inserted in the FBHEIIASONS MAGAZINE of the previous Saturday , from Bro . Gregory . It had heen proposed that Bro . AVatson should have a testimonial presented to him , and it was agreed , that tbe sum of £ 200 should be voted for that object from the funds of the Board of General Purposes . The appropriation of the money from that source would have been a

proper and constitutional course to adopt , and as such it was carried in Grand Lodgo by a large majority . Now it appeared that a motion was to be made to transfer the vote of the money from the Fund of General Purposes to the Fund of Benevolence , but the funds of the latter could not constitutionally be used for the purposes of testimonials of respect . He begged to move the following resolution . — " That this loclge has seenwith great regretan

, , announcement in the FREEMASONS MAGAZINE , that at the eiisuin " Grand Lodge a proposition will he made to take the £ 200 voted at the Inst Quarterly Communication to the AVatson Testimonial from the Fund of Benevolence , instead of the Fund of General Purposes .

That in the opinion of this lodge such a course would be

unconstitutional and a misappropriation of the Benevolent Fund . " —Bro . " Smith seconded the motion . He had , at first , an objection to it , but from feelings of delicacy in reference to the case of Bro . AVatson , who was quite unknown to him and tho rest of the brethren , he should be very sorry to clo or say anything to hurt that brother ' s feelings . He had learnt that Bro . AVatson was a brother possessing great claims upon the Order , being pre-eminent for his

Masonic lore , and his skill and success as a Masonic instructor , and of a character warranting him to the title of one of the most eminent Masons in the country . It was proposed to give this brother £ 200 , as a testimonial of respect , but it was at the same time now meditated to draw the sum from the Benevolent Fund , like a grant of relief . They were told the real idea was a grant of relief to tbe brother ' s distress . He did not mention this to parade the brother's griefsnor bad he objection to relief being granted

, any ; , but he must protest , on reading the Constitutions , against taking money for any other purpose from the Benevolent Fund , which was sacred to works of charity . Bro . Sherry ' s motion was therefore founded on justice , for the carrying of Bro Gregory's motion of transfer would be establishing a precedent for evading all restrictions at present placed upon them , in protection of the Fund of Benevolence ; and at the same time it would be giving to the

London brethren a power not possessed by those in the provinces . — Bro . Sheppard asked what reason had been adduced for making the transfer . He certainly could not reconcile in his mind a testimonial of respect to a benevolent grant . —Bros . Naish and Smith gave explanations that the reasons would , as supposed , be given on making ' thejnotioii of transfer , but the principles . of the Constitutions would , be infringed by the change . The motion was then carried unanimously . A committee was formed to collect the subscritions and

p carry out the erection of the Masonic monument in memory of the late Secretary , Bro . Cowen , deceased . A portrait of the deceased , from his widow , was presented to the lodge , through Bro . Everitt , and tho same accepted with unanimous thanks of the lodge . The lodge closed at the hour of high twelve .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . ABERGAVENNY . —Philanthropic Lodge ( No . 1120 ) . —At a lodgeheld on Friday , the 17 th May , it was proposed , seconded , and carried by acclamation that the following letter of congratulation be sent to Bro . Henry Bridges , au honorary member of the Philanthropic Loclge : — "To Bro . Henry Bridges , A . W . Dep . Prov . Grand Master for

Somerset , & c . "Very Worshipful Sir , —The Brethren of this lodge , assembled this day , desire to record their thanks to you for the interest yon have taken in their welfare , and at the same time to offer their warmest congratulations on ' your being appointed to the high officeof Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Somerset . The brethren feel that that appointment is one which reflects honour on Freemasonry , ancl they cannot but think with pride that one who

is a member of their lodge should thus have received a reward which his merits so justly deserve . " ( Signed in open loclge ) "H . S . HIGGINSON , AV . M . " S . BROWNING , See . "

SURREY " . EWEIX . —The Grove Lodge ( No . 593 ) . —This loclge held its . installation meeting on Saturday , the 25 th of May ; present , tbe AV . M ., AV . J . Meymott , ancl a large number of P . M ' s ., including Bros . King , P . G . D . ; Blake , Prov . 'S . G . W . Surrey ; Andrew GreenwoodProv . G . See .

SurreyFisherAVhiteBentliamMoatesVisi-, ; , , , . tors , Bros . Truscott , dipt . Hastie , J . Levinson , Stevens , and two or three others , and about thirty brethren . The AV . M . opened the loclge in the first degree , and then passed Bro . Amos into the degree of a F . C . The loclge was resumed to the first degree , ancl the ballot taken for Mr . Frederick James Blake , the son of Bro . James Joseph Blake , P . M ., who has been a member of the loclge for more than twenty years ; for W . Goddardof Ewelland for Bro

, , . Watkins , of the Grenadier Loclge . The two former gentlemen were initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry , and the latter elected a joining member of this old and not unimportant loclge in the province . Bro . Frederick Blake , being a minor about eighteen years old , was of course unable to be made a Mason without a dispensation . This , however , having been obtained from the AV . Bro . Dobiethe Prov . G . M . for Surreyit was read in open locl

, , ge previous to the interesting ceremony of initiation . After the minutes of the last meeting of the lodge , and the audit , had been read , Bro . Henry Prince , the S . AV ., was presented by Bro . Blake , P . M ., and Bro . Meymott then performed the ceremony of installation , being assisted by a board of ten P . M ' s . Bro . Meymott was then

invested with the P . M ' s . collar , and assisted at the investiture of Bro .