Metropolitan.

YAIUIOEOH G-T LODGE ( NO . 551 ) . —This lodge held its regular monthly meeting on the 6 th inst ., at Bro . Walters' , Green Dragon , Stepney . Bro . Hamilton , P . M ., as W . M ., in the absence of Bro . Car ; -, W . M . ; also Bros . Kindred , Wynn , Vasey , Hampton , and Shaboe , P . M . ' s ; Hudson , S . W . ; Clarke , J . W . ; Stevens , S . D . ; Roberts , J . D . ; and the following visitors — Bro . Saqui , P . M . ; Mundy , 193 ; Stevenson , 810 ; and several others . The lodge was opened in due form , the minutes read

. and confirmed , and the ballot declared to be unanimous in favour of Mr . John Smyth Till and Mr . Frederick Robert Tate , 'both gentlemen being introduced by Bro . J . Green . The ballot was also declared in favour of Bro . Power as a joining member , -introduced by Bro . Hamilton , P . M . Messrs . Till and Tate were . then ably initiated into Freemasonry by Bro . Hamilton , P . M ., who threw into the exordium that pathos that at all times delighted the ears of the brethren during his of officeBro

year . . Vasey , P . M ., Sec ., then put the usual questions to Bros . Martinez , ICell , and Power , which were then answered , and those brethren passed to the degree of P . C . 's . Bro . Cousins having answered the questions qualifying him for the third degree , was passed to the sublime degree " of M . M . Both ceremonies were most efficiently performed by Bro . Vasey , P . M . Five guineas were voted to an unfortunate member . All Masonic business

being ended , the lodj , e was closed in perfect harmony at eight ^ o'clock , and the brethren sat down , about forty in number , to banquet . The W . M . then proposed the usual toasts , which were responded to with Masonic honours . The healths of the brother initiates and our joining brother were next proposed and : responed to . Bro . Scott and Stevenson each sang a good song , and the Tyler ' s toast being given , the brethren broke up . at eleven o ' clock .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHESHIRE . CKEWE . —Lodge of Four Cardinal Virtues ( No . 97 £ >) .- * -Tliis lodge met on the 21 st . inst . in the Town Hall . The lodge was ' opened by Bro . Bullock , W . M ., assisted by Bros . Dr . Lord , S . W . ; Geo . Lord , J . W . ; Mould , I . P . M . ; Eardlev , Soe . ; Read , Treas . ; Price , S . D . ; Moody , J . D . ; Doyle , I . G . ; Broddbent , Org . ; and other members . Bro . Poole , who hailed from Massachusetts ,

• and Bro . D . Jones , who was initiated above fifty years ago , were visitors . The business of the evening svas the passing of Bro . RatelifFc , and the raising of Bro . Cope , both ceremonies being performed by the W . M . and his officers ( with musical accompaniment ) in such a solemn and impressive manner as to leave ' -ct most favourable impression , not only on the candidates , but on all who heard them . The American brother seemed delihted with the English working . The lodge was closed down

g to the first degree , when the W . M ., in a most feeling and Masonic speech , called upon the oldest P . M ., Bro . Reade , to place a P . M . ' s jewel on the breast of Bro . Mould , the first P . M . of the lodge , it being a present from the members . Bro . Mould responded in an appropriate manner . The resolution for changing the day of meeting from the third Thursday to the : "first Wednesday in the monthwas confirmed . . A gentleman

, ¦ -was proposed for initiation , and Bro . Welsh as a joining member . The lodge was closed at half-past nine , and all pro-¦ 'iiounced it to be one of the most favourable yet held . It was i-esolved that the members of the Nantwich lodge be invited as guests at the next meeting , when a banquet will be given .

DEVONSHIRE . Monies TOWN , DEVOKPOKT . —Lodge St . Aubyn ( No . 95 'i ) . — The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on the 11 th inst . Two brethren were raised to the sublime or Master ' s degree ; one passed to the second degree ; and three gentlemen , who were regularly proposed at the previous meeting , were , after a unanimous ballot , initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry .

The question of a Tyler for the lodge was referred to a committee of the lodge to report at the next meeting . The business terminated by the proposal of two gentlemen for initiation at the next regular lodge meeting .

DURHAM . PBOv ___ . crA __ GUAM . LODGE . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham met at South Shields , on Tuesday last , the 25 tb inst . About 200 brethren attended . Grand Lodge was held in the Central Hall—the St . Hilda's Lodge Room not being sufficiently commodious—and amongst

the most distinguished Grand Officers we noticed—Bros . John Fawcett , R . W . Prov . G . M . ; Henry Fenwick , M . P ., R . W . D . Prov . G . M . ; Sir Hedu-orth Williamson , Bart ., M . P ., P . S . G . W . of England , acting Prov . S . G W . ; the Kev . John Cundell , Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Durham , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . H . Crookes , Prov . G . See . ; Settle , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . Tilman , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; BanisterP . G . S . B ; Rev . J . Du Pledge , P .

, Prov . G . Chap . ; S . Davis , & c . Lodge being opened in due form in the first degree , the usual ceremonies were gone through bs-a most impressive manner by the R . W . Prov . G . M ., and the minutes of the last Grand Lodge were read and confirmed . After the conclusion of the other business , the Prov . G . Master proceeded to invest the following brethren as his officers for the

ensuing year : — Bro . Henry Fenwick , M . P . D . Prov . G . M . „ John Crossby Prov . S . G . W . „ Dr . Kirk „ J . G . W . „ Rev . Jas . Milner „ G . Chap . „ Rev . John Cundell „ G . Treas . „ John Graham „ G . Reg . „ W . H . Crookes „ G . Sec .

„ Henry Hedley „ S . G . D . „ Thos . Nicholson „ J . G . D . „ Thos . Younger „ G . Supt . of Works . „ Benjamin Levy „ G . Dir . of Cert . „ J . S . Stiles „ G . Sword Bearer . „ W . Ferry „ G . Org . „ Halfnight „ G . Pursfc . „ W . M . Law „ G . Tyler .

The Masters of the following lodges being called upon to name Grand Stewards , they were nominated as follows : —Tees Lodge , W . Smith ; St . John's , Jas . Murray ; Restoration , John Bailey ; St . Helen's , Emra Holmes ; Granby , J . Hearon ; Phcanix , R . VV . Wilson . These lodges , with the Palatine , St . Hilda ' s , and the Lambton , were well represented . At the banquet , which was attended by about 120 of the brethrenBro . John FawcettR . W . Prov . G . M .

presidedsup-, , , , ported on his right by Bro . Henry Fenwick , and on the left by Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson and other members of the Provincial Grand Lodge . The dinner was served in very good style at the Golden Lion Hotel , and on the removal of the cloth the CHAIRMAN , in a few well-chosen sentences , proposed "The Queen , " which was responded to with great Masonic loyalty . This was followed b" The Earl of ZetlandM . G . W . M . of

Engy , land ; " "The Deputy Grand Master , aud the rest of the Grand Lodge of England , coupled with the name of Sir Hedworth Williamson , Prou . S . G . W . of England , " who briefly but happily responded to the toast . Bro . FENWICK next proposed " The Health of the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , " amidst loud applause . He dilated upon the many excellencies of the R . W . Prov . G . M ., who had governed

the province to the satisfaction of the brotherhood and the manifest advantage of the Craft . Bro . FAWCETT stated that he had been installed seventeen years , and briefly but fervently returned thanks . The other toasts , " The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , " "Our Visiting Brethren , " "Prosperity to the three Masonic Charities , " & c , followed in quick succession , and the large

assembly did not break up till a late hour . The musical arrangements were of a most satisfactory character , the glees and choruses being given in very excellent style by Bros . Ferry Windham , Chayton , and Williamson .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . _ PBOVINCIAI GEAND LODGE . The annual meeting was held at- the Masonic Hall , Cheltenham , on Wednesday , tho 12 th instant , and was attended by about sixty of the fraternity , among whom we observed , in addition to the Acting Prov . G . Officers , a large number of the Past G . Officers of the province . The R . W . Lord Sherborne

presided , supported by the much respected and esteemed D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Ncwmarch . All the lodges in the province were fairly represented , and it was satisfactory to find , from the statements of the various Worshipful Masters , that the ancient and royal Craft is flourishing in all parts of the country . Grants of £ 21 to the Boys' School , and of £ 5 to the Girls ' School , were made , and the sum of £ 10 was voted to the widow of a deceased brother who had laboured indefatigably to extend