Grand Lodge.

man here is loyal and a good subject , sworn to obey the laws of the land , and protect the life of our Soverign , which is more dear to us than anything else perhaps . I , therefore , ask you to join with me in drinking most cordially on this occasion , as on all other occasions , " The health of our Sovereign the Queen . " The toast having been drunk ,

The M . W . G . M . again rose and said -. The next toast I have to propose is one which is only second to that you have just drunk : and it also is more interesting on this occasion than usual , for while the Duke of Edinburgh was performing his duties at the Antipodes , where he was shot by an assassin , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales were winning " golden

opinions" in Ireland , doing their duty to their Sovereign and their country , and reconciling in a great degree Ireland to England . We must rejoice that their Eoyal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales met with no such barbarous and atrocious assassin in Ireland as their brother did in Australia . No doubt they underwent risks , because when af the Antipodes and in America persons are found aiming at the life of a son of our Sovereign , and at the life of a Senator , such a thing might

have occurred in Ireland . In saying this I mean no reflection whatever on the loyalty of Ireland ; but we must all acknowledge that a wide-spread conspiracy exists , and there is no knowing where the fatal blow may fall . The Prince and Princess of Wales hesitated not to do their duty in the hope of pacification , and reconciling Ireland to England . In my opinion

they deserve the highest credit for their patriotism and the admirable manner in which they performed their part in Ireland . It is this which makes the toast I am now about to propose more interesting than usual , and I am sure you will join with me in drinking with heartfelt satisfaction , "The health of the Prince and Princess of Wales , aud the other members of

the Eoyal Family . " The toast was enthusiastically drunk . Br . Alex . Dobie : I have the honour to propose to you the next toast . I regret the absence of the D . G . M ., who would , if he had been present , have proposed it . But the duty now falls upon me , and I am sure you will give the toast a hearty welcome . It is , indeed , the toast of the evening , for it " The health of our excellent and esteemed Grand Master . " I was

present at the noble lord ' s initiation into Freemasonry , and 1 have been on terms of intimate friendship with him from that day to this , and have seen his progress throughout . This day he has been installed for the twenty-fifth time . The noble lord has told you in Grand Lodge to-day that years are growing upon him . He and I are not far off , but I think from his IOOKS this day—and I have not seen him lor some time—he is as stout and as strong

as he was twenty-five years ago . Though years may increase upon him in number , I hope they will not have any effect upon his constitution . He announced to-day his intention of retiring . I hope he will think better of it , and give us an opportunity of electing him for the twenty-sixth time . I will not detain you longer , brethren , but hope you will drink with equal sincerity as you have the other toasts " The health of the Grand Master . " The toast was drunk with three times three .

The M . W . G . M .: Brethren , I thank you most sincerely for the kind manner in which you have received the toast which has just been proposed by my worthy friend , Bro . Dobie , Prov . G . M . for Surrey . I have invariably received that kindness at your hands which I never can forget , for which I shall always be thankful , and which I assure you it will be , as it ever has beon ,

my earnest endeavour to deserve . Bro . Dobie has reminded you of what I said in Grand Lodge , that I thought I was getting too old to be G . M ., and that I wished it were in the hands of a

Grand Lodge.

younger and more able man ; bnt at the same time , Brethren , I may add that I have always said that whenever I find myself incapable of performing my duties , I should only he too glad to resign ; yet I know that I may require to be reminded of that fact ; and a very small hint from the Brethren of the Grand Lodge would make me aware of it , and I should haste to resign

that office which you have now for the twenty-fifth time placed in my hands . Brethren , I confess that I feel it a great honour to be at the head of the Craft , and as long as I think myself capable of serving you I shall be too happy to do it ; but I always have felt that if I am not able to fulfil those duties effectually I would rather not attempt to do them . I have

constantly received kindness at the hands of the Craft , and it has been my highest ambition to deserve your good opinion . I hope I have succeded . At the same time it would be a much greater sorrow to me to find that the Craft suffered in any way from ray presence ; and I should esteem it a kindness and a favour from any of my best and oldest friends , if they were to

tell me that I was incapable of performing my duties . But I feel that confidence in Grand Lodge assembled that I know they would without hesitation , if they saw that I in any way could not do those duties which I ought to do properly , propose some other Brother as G . M . It is a great honour to be elected for the twenty-fifth time . If I complete this year I shall have completed a quarter of a century as Grand Master . 1 need not tell you that I should feel very proud at having presided over

the Craft for five-and-twenty years , and by the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe , I hope I may be permitted to accomplish that . I thank you most sincerly for the kindness you have always shown me , and which on this occasion perhaps you have shown me in a more marked manner than before . I thank you most heartily for your kindness and shall ever hold

you in my most affectionate remembrance . Bro . Lord de Tabley proposed " The Sister Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland . " The M . W . G . M . then gave " the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers . " Bro . Earl Vane responded .

Miss Poole here sang " Tapping at the garden gate , " and , on being encored , gave " Wapping Old Stairs . " The M . W . G . M . proposed " The Provincial Grand Masters , " and Bro . A . Dobto responded . Bro . the Earl of Limerick proposed " The Masonic Charities . "

Bro . E . H . Patten returned thanks on behalf of the Charities and in the course of his speech referred to the anniversary festival of the Girl ' s School , which is appointed to take place on the 13 th inst . The M . W . G . M . proposed " The Board of Grand Stewards , ' ' for which Bro . Jabez Tepper returned thanks . "The Ladies

who have honoured us with their presence , " for which Bro . Bennoch replied , concluded the toasts . Bro . Spencer was , as usual , an able toastmaster .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ROYAL ALBERT LODGE ( NO . 907 ) . —The brethren of this lodge assembled on Monday , tbe 4 th inst ., at the Freemasons ' Tavern ; more than ordinary interest was attached to the gathering from the fact that it was installation night , and nearly all the brethren , with a large number of visitors , were in attendance , to do honour to Bro . Charles Chard , the W . M . elect , who had been unanimously called by his brethren to occupy the ancient chair of King Solomon . Among the visitors were Bros . W . Farnfield , P . A . G . Sec , Howe , Potter , Hilton ,