Metropolitan.

lodge ; and that so good a Master should have sueh able officers . He thanked the brethren for the cordial manner in ivhich they had been received ; and although the Master of the Eastern Star Lodge , he could well understand the arduous duties their TV . M . had to undergo that evening . The W . M . said the next toast he had to propose was , " Prosperity to the Old Concord Lodge , " from which their lodge had emanated , and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Swainston , its TV . M . Bro . SWAINSTON thanked the brethren

sincerely on his own part ancl that of the officers ofthe Old Concord Lodge for the toast , and said it was a satisfaction to him to propose success to the New Concord Lodge , ivhich he trusted would continue to be a standing toast . He thanked the brethren for the cordial manner in which the toast had been received . The W . M . then gave "Tho Health of the Officers , " for which Bro . Svcimiock , J . TV ., returned thanks . Bro . SHABOE proposed , "The Masonic Charities" aud impressed upon the brethren the necessity of using

, every means to support Bro . Estwick , who was to be their steward at the coming festival . The toast having been drunk , the proceedings terminated , and the brethren separated soon after eleven e'clock . Some excellent songs were sung in the course of the evening by Bros . Lawrence , Farthing , ancl Brown .

CONSECRATION OE THE RANEEAGU LODGE ( NO . 113 G ) . — This new lodge was formally consecrated on Tuesday last at the Windsor Castle , King-street , Hammersmith . The business of the day was taken in the following order -. —Consecration , at 2 . p . m ., Installation , at 3 , Initiations at 3 . 30 , and banquet at 6 p . m . The business of the clay was performed by Bro . William Watson , assisted by Bro . Matthew Cooke , who presided at the harmonium . On Bro . Watson's assuming the chair he requested Bro . Henry S . Cooper to undertake

the S . W ., ancl Bro . Farmer , Ass . G . Purs ., the J . W . ' s duties . Dr . Hinxmau , of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , also attended , ancl gave the same oration that elicited such praise at the late extra public meeting of the Grand Stewards' Lodge . The petitioners named in the warrant were Bros . H . J . Pnrbrook , 1044 , W . M . ; George T . Clarke , 104-1 , S . W . ; John Thompson , 752 , J . W . ; George Jones , Henry Hampstead , Thomas Jordan , ancl J . J . Hurst , all of No . 752 . —The consecration , which was never better performed by Bro .

Watson , being closed to the satisfaction of every one present , that brother commenced the Installation , but no board was formed , as the W . M . hacl but recently left the chair of another lodge . When placed in full possession of his prerogative , he , the TV . M ., appointed ancl invested the following officers—Bro . Clarke , S . W . Bro . Thompson , J . W ., ^ both as named in the warrant ; Bro . Grimes , Treas . ; Rowley , S . D . ; Goddard , J . D . ; Jones , I . G . ; Amos , Org . ; and DalyTler . After the investitureBro . Watsonwith great good

, y , , taste , called upon Bro . H . S . Cooper to deliver the charge to the TV . M . Bro . Farmer , that to the Wardens , and Bro . Hewlett , to address the hrethren . —There ivere five candidates initiated , which arduous task Bro . Watson , undertook , in addition to his previous labours , and accomplished with all that ease for ivhich he is so well known ; the TV . M ., who is reputed as an excellent worker , having the misfortune to sit quietly by owing to such a frightful attack of

hoarseness that it was painful to hear him endeavour to do anything ; but it is to be hoped that , long ere this , he has entirely recovered the use of his speech . —The lodge being closed , sometime elapsed while the banquet table was spread , and a list was taken of the following visitors : —Bro . Farmer , Ass . G . Purs . ; Bros . Hewlett , ancl Dr . Hinxman , G . Stewards' Lodge ; Osborne , TV . M . 1082 ; Hammett , P . G . 9 , and 752 ; Faithful , 165 ; Hayward ; Jones , 752 ; Hackman 752 ; Matthew Cooke 29 H . S . CooperP . M .

, , ; , 276 ; G . T . Haskins , 7-1-5 ; Richards , P . M . 9 ; Hamilton , 752 ; Thomas , 745 ; Lidgard , 752 ; Copus , P . M . 752 ; Piatt , W . M . 168 ; Scott , W . M . 886 ; Collard , P . M . 168 ; Moses , 247 ; Palmer , 1044 ; Fry , 1082 ; H . G . Buss , P . M . 29 ; Durrant , P . M . 752 ; and several others . — -After a very elegant and liberal banquet , provided by Bro . Clayton , the landlord of the Windsor Castle , and one of the initiates on that occasion , the cloth was withdrawn , and

the TV . M . gave the toast of " The Queen ancl the Craft , " followed by "The Health of the M . W . G . M ., "The Earl of Zetland , " both having heen received with that loyalty and obedience that always characterize the brethren . " The Health of Lord Panmure , D . G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers , past and present , " was coupled with Bro . Farmer ' s name , and the Asst . G . Purst ., in reply , said , on behalf of his lordship and the Grancl Officers , he was much

gratified to see Masonry progress as it had clone of late . He complimented the Officers on the manner in which they had performed their duties that day , for many of them belonged to a young lodge that had been formed about two years , and the progress they had made was highly creditable to them ; and in the names of those who had been honoured by the toast he begged to return his thanks . The W . M . again craved their indulgence , as he was nearly inaudible to himself , and hoped they would not take it amiss if , while he presided , he asked Bro . Watson to perform the vest of his duties . Bro . WATSON said , the next toast was one that was always well

received , as it was in honour of those gentlemen , now brethren , that had joined their Order that day . They had five initiates , the largest number allowed by Masonie law , and from their attention to the ceremony he augured they ivould make good Masons , and called upon the brethren the drink the health of the Initiates . —One of them replied , and said , their position was a novel one , ancl he should only express a hope that they would each one be found good ancl dutiful apprentices . —Bro . WATSON next . alluded to the

friendlygreeting which visiting brethren always experienced in all loclges . On that occasion they had some of distinction among them , but they were more than usually indebted to one of that number , Dr . Hinxman , who had come all the way from Blaekheath on purpose to deliver the oration they had that day heard , and he begged to propose the health of the visitors , and thanks for their attendance that day . —Bi-o . Dr . HINXMAN said the WM . had termed it a kindness to be a visitor . He dissented from this viewand looked

, , upon it ' as a pleasurable duty , ancl he believed that it was this feeling that prompted the brethren who stood up with him on that occasion . He was sure he expressed the wishes of all the visitors , when he gave utterance to the hope that the Ranelagh Lodge would prosper , and prosperity could only be advanced by perfect unanimity , by charity , both in and out of the lodge , and the practice of those duties ivhich Masonry taught them ; and then

they would learn that in being Masons they had become better men . He hacl also a few words to address to their newly initiated brethren , and he hoped that their admission to the Order would cause them to think deeply . They had not entered a light or futile Order , but one calculated to make them still better men then they were . Not that the mere fact of initiation made them Masons in the- ' widest acception of the term : they must be Masons at heart , in thoughtwordand deed . If they were asked what Masonry

, , was , their reply should he that it was a brotherly and charitable institution , founded on universal peace and good-will to allmen . Its secrets were for the purposes of recognition , ancl the detection of impostors . These few particulars , he hoped , they would lay up in their hearts , and he felt sure they were worthy men

and Masons , or they never would _ have gained admission to that lodge . He was not an advocate for numerical strength alone , but that was a great test of the prosperity of a lodge ; and , iii the names of the visitors , he hoped thev ni' > ht ha' . 'c the . f ' . dl ccr . ' . yli .-. ment of initiations ' every succeeding lodge night , and long exist in unity , charity , and brotherly love . —Bro . WATSON said ' that the TV . M . in the chair was well able to do his duty , but was suffering from an almost total loss of voice . He was well knownand had

, on his list five initiates for several lodges to come , and he , therefore , proposed " The Health of the W . M . Bro . Purbrook . " —The W . M . said he was not in that position for the first time , but he was in the position of being unable to perform his duties for the first time , and he felt it the more that it should have occurred on that day , above all others ; but hoped to be in proper voice when next tbey met . For the honour they had done him he returned

them his best thanks . —Bro . WATSON next proposed " The Officers , " which was responded to b y the S . W . in a very neat speech . —Bro . Dr . HINXMAN said , through the W . M . ' s indisposition , the next toast had been delegated to him to propose . Though not a P . M . of that lodge , yet Bro . Watson was a P . M . of numberless lodges , and had officiated that day as constituting ancl installing master . There were few Masons ignorant of his merits and worth . His knowledge and powers of imparting ; instruction were unequalled , and he was always as ready to help the

neophyte as those of more mature experience . Whilst as a Masonic star he was never afraid of any amount of trouble or fatigue ; and they hacl experienced a pretty good proof of that assertion that day , when they had seen him consecrate , install , ancl initiate no less than five candidates . He thought he need not say more , becausethey must all feel that their thanks were eminently due to Bro . Win . Watson , whose health he had the pleasure of proposing . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . WATSON said he did not feel he had deserved such an

eulogium from Bro . Hinxman , for although he was over ready to aid all who sought him , yet he felt that Bro . Hinxman had expressed too much of a fraternal regard for him . They most of them knew him , and would believe it was always his wish to carry out Freemasonry as far as his powers permitted him . He believed he was oiten too desirous , ancl anxious to give instruction , and some might say he thrust himself upon the brethren . ( No , no . ) Really he wished to be

moro retiring , but he felt every endeavour should at times be made ; and it had been his good fortune lately to assist in restoring the prestige of an honoured name to the Grancl Stewards ' Lodge . At tho last public night of that lodge , thanks to Bros . Hewlett , H . G . Warren , and the working members of the lodge , they had such an array of visitors as had not been equalled for twenty-one years . He had alluded to this fact because he believed that it was in consideration of his services there that Dr . Hinxman hacl given him such a character ; ancl in conclusion he assured them that he was grateful for the way in which his name had been