Metropolitan.

MOUNT LEBANON LODGE ( SO . 73 ) . —An emergency meeting of this lodge was held on the 2 nd inst ., at the Green Man Tavern , Tooley-street , Southwark ( Bro . C . A . Cathie's ) . Punctually at five o ' clock p . m . the AV . M . Bro . George Jlorris opened the lodge , and there were present Bros . T . J- Sabine , S . AV . ; F . H . Ebsworth , J . AA ' . ; E . Harris , P . M ., Treas . ; J . Donken , P . AI . Sec ; D . Rose , S . D . ; M . A . Loewenstark , J . D . ; G . Free , I . G . ; R . OrdDir . of Cers . ; G . J . GraceW . S . ; F . Walters . P . M . ;

, , J . Brookhouse , T . Knott , C . A . Cathie , R . Williams , E . Halfpenny , T . Fames , E . Browning , Freebody , T . Baker , and others too numerous to mention . Amongst a large number of visitors were Bros . Rule , P . M . ( I . C . ) ; D . Davies , 14-7 ; R . AVilson , 810 ; J . Hawker , S . D . 871 ; A . Thompson , and others whose names we were unable to ascertain . Mr . Saunders was initiated into ancient Freemasonry . BrosFreebodyHalfpennyand Fames

. , , passed to the second degree . Bros . Browning :, Knott , AVilliams , and Baker were raised to the third degree . The W . M . acquitted himself very well in all the work which he done , more especially as it was the first attempt since his installation last January . Bro . D . Rose , S . D ., was complimented by several brethren on 'his successful working ofthe fifteen sections , at the St . James's Lodge of Instruction , a few nights previous to this meeting .

The lodge was duly closed . ROYAL OAK LODGE ( No . 871 ) . —On Wednesday , the 23 rd ¦ ult ., this lodge met at the Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , iDeptford . Bro . H . A . Collington , AV . M ., presided , and there -were present—W . Andrews , S . W . ; F . Walters , P . M ., Sac ; Jeffery , J . D . ; AV . H . Truelove . G . H . Honey , J . Truelove , AA ' . J . "Honey , H . Whittle , J . Barrett , M . Concanen , G . S . Ditton , G .

'Ellis , S . G . Cook , H . Carter , T . C . King , and others . Amongst -the visitors were—AV . Noak , W . M . HO ; J . AVhiffen , I . G . 147 ; J . Roper , 147 , and others . The work done was one raising , one passing , and four initiations , all of which were ably rendered . One joining member was admitted . The audit committee was -elected . Bros . W . Andrews was unanimously elected AV . M ., -Collington , Treas . ; and Garrett , P . M ., Tyler . The lodge was then closed . It was unanimously agreed to increase the in ' itia' tion fee to six guineas , and the joining fee to two guineas .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

BRISTOL . INSTALLATION or THE EABL OE LIJIEEICK AS PEOV . G . M . On Tuesday , the 29 th ult ., a Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Victoria Rooms , Clifton , at half-past one o'clock , for the purpose of installing the Earl of Limerick as Prov . Grand Master , and as successor to the lamented late Prov . G . M . Bro . Major Shutewho hadup to the time of his deathin December

, , , , 1865 , held the office of Prov . G . M . for some twenty years . The smaller ofthe two principal-saloons were adapted so as to 'be used for the ceremony . At the upper end was constructed a dais forthe different Prov . G-M . ' s and distinguished brethren from a distance , the centre of the dais being occupied by a handsome presidential seat for the Earl of Limerick , while on the right was a chair for the D . Prov . G M . Bro . Powell , and on the left

on « for the Prov . G . Chap ., the Rev . Bro . Morris . Above the Earl of Limerick ' s seat floated a banner containing his coat of arms , while on the right of this were the arms of the D , Prov . G . M . Bro . Powell , and on the left those of the city of Bristol . Below the dais to the right was the treasurer ' s table , at which sat the Prov . G . Treas ., Bro . S . E . Taylor , and to the left of the ¦ dais was the secretary's seat , rilled by Bro . Henry Merrick .

From the walls of the room were suspended the banners of the different lodges in the province , viz ., Clarence , Beaufort , Sussex , Moira , Colston , and Jerusalem , and the members of each lodge sat beneath their respective banners . The apartment was arranged in the cnstomary form for Masonic ceremonials . The octagon had been carpetted and otherwise prepared as a reception room , and the committee room was converted into a private loom for the Prov . G . Master .

Upwards of 400 brethren were present at the imposing ceremonial , inclusive of fifty visiting brethren standing high in the Craft . The business of the lodge was opened by the D . Prov . G . M . Bro- AV . A . Powell , who was supported by Bros . Major Adair , Prov . G . M . Somerset ; Lord Sherbourne , Prov . G . M . Dorset ; the Rev . J . Huyshe , Prov . G . M . Devon ; Newmarsh , D . Prov G . M . Dorset ; H . Bridges , D . Prov . G . M . Somerset : E . J .

Morris , D . Prov . G . M . South AVales ; the Mayor of Bath , Bro , Thompson ; Rev . C . R- Davy and R . F . Thomas , G . Chaps . The business of the lodge having been opened by the D . Prov G . M ., he introduced Bro . Major Adair into the chair , who then proceeded to instal the Earl of Limerick as Prov . G . M . of Bristol . The noble Earl , who was suffering from a severe cold , appropriatelreturned thanks for the honour which had been

cony ferred upon him , and having annonuced , amidst the cheers of those present , that Bro . AV . A . F . Powell , who had so long and so worthily served as D . Prov . G . M ., had again been appointed to that office , proceeded to appoint his officers in the following order : —Bros . T . H . Pritcliard , S . W . ; Bobert Fendick , J . AV . ; Rev . — Morris , 'Chap . ; S . E . Taylor , Treas .-, A . Henderson , Reg . ; H . Merrick , Sec . ; G . T . Martin , S . D . ; AV . C . Jarrett ,

J . D . ; R . Compton , Dir . of Cers . ; J . R . Bramble , Assist Dir . of Cers . ; J . A . Clark , Supt . of Works ; AA' . Lemon , Sword Bearer ; J . M . Stevens , Purs . ; Joseph Churchill , Org . At the dinner which followed at the conclusion of the lodge proceedings some 120 sat down . The chair was taken by the newly-elected Prov . G . M ., Earl Limerick , who was supported by Lord SherborneProv . G . M . Devonshirethe Rev . J . Huyshe ,

, ; Prov . G . M . Devon ; A . AV . Adair , Prov . G . M . Somerset ; Uev . C . R . Davy and R . T . Thomas , G . Chaps . ; Henry Bridges , D . Prov . G . M . Somerset ; AV . A . F . Powell , D . Prov . G . M . Bristol ; S . E . Taylor , Prov . G . Treas-, and many other brethren of distinction . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , Bro . Major Adair proposed "The Health of the Provincial Grand Master Earl

Limerick , " commented upon the admirable manner in which the D . Prov . G . JI ., Bro . Powell , had performed his duties under singularly trying circumstances ; he also paid a handsome and touching tribute of respect to the former Prov . G . M ., Major Shute . He congratulated the Province of Bristol upon having selected as their chief a brother who added to the distinction he inherited , and whose merits were well known to the brethren present

. Bro . Earl Limerick returned thanks in an earnest speech , in wliich he entreated the brethren not to measure his feelings on that occasion by the words he uttered . He expressed his deep sense of the honour conferred upon him , and his conviction that such gatherings as had taken place that day were calculated beneficially to promote and foster the growth of Masonry . His Lordship concluded by proposing " The Health of Major Adair ,

the Provincial Grand Master of Somersetshire . " Bro . Major Adair responded to the toast , observing that the closer Somersetshire and Bristol were united in the bonds of fraternal fellowship , the greater would be the advantage to the brethren of both provinces ' . A ' arious other toasts followed , and altogether the days proceedings passed off most satisfactorily , although we regret to learn that a considerable number of brethren

from the Silurian and Isca Lodges at Newport , and the lodges at Cardiff who attended the installation of the Prov . G . M ., not being aware of the regulation as to taking tickets before a particular time for the dinner , they were unable , through the crowding of members from the immediate district , to dine at the Montague , as they hoped to have done .

CHESHIRE . CHESIEE . —Lodge of Independence ( No . 721 ) . The celebration of the festival of St . John WHS held at the Bars Hotel on Tuesday , the 29 th ult . The lodge havina been opened in the first degree hy the AA ' . M . Bro . AV . K . fjainbridge , assisted by Bros . AVilliams , S . W . ; Brown , J . IV . ; H . Allsop , S . D ., AV . B . A . Bainbridge , I . G . ;

and Brisland , Tyler , The AA ' . M . said -. The time has now arrived for me to vacate this chair , but I cannot do this with entire satisfaction until I have testified the grateful sense I entertain of the honour I received in being advanced to it . Your generous and unanimous choice of me for your Master demands my thankful acknowledgments , though at tlle same time I sincerely wish that my abilities had been more adequate to the charge you kindly

confided to my care . But this has always been , and still is , my greatest consolation—that however deficient I may have been in the discharge of my duty , no one can boast a heart more devoted to the good of the Institution in general , or the reputation of this lodge in particular . My next duty is to proceed to instal the AV . M . of this lodge for this year , or depute some expert brother to do so . I therefore call upon upon our excellent Bros . J . P . Piatt , P . Prov . J . G . D ., and T . Platfc , P . Prov . J . G . D ., to