Our Weekly Budget.

that character . Mr . Phelps will give her his support , as Sir Peter Teazle . Mr . Henry Neville and Mr . CresAvick will also appear respectively as Charles and Joseph Surface .

We gather from the Standard that " the Freemasons assembled in ' Convent' at Lausanne have thought proper to reply to the attacks and insults levelled against them , chiefly by the Pope and the organs of the Papacy in France , by the publication of a declaration of principles . Subjoined is the text of this curious document : —

' Freemasonry proclaims , as it has already proclaimed from the time of its origin , 'the existence of a creative principle under the name of Great Architect of the Universe . It places no limits to the research of truth , and it is in order to guarantee that liberty to all that it exacts from all toleration . In its -workshops it prohibits all political and religious discussion ; it receives all the profane , whatever

be their religious or political opinions , which are things that do not concern it , provided they should be free and their morality good . The object of Freemasonry is to fight intolerance in every shape ; it is a mutual school whose programme may be thus summed up : 'To obey the laws of one ' s country ; live in conformity Avith the precepts of honour ; love one ' s neighbours ; work incessantly to promote the

happiness of mankind , and prosecute its progressive and peaceful emancipation . ' These are the rules Freemasonry adopts , and the adoption of which it imposes upon those who wish to belong to the Masonic family . But simultaneously with this declaration of principles , the Convent deems it necessary to proclaim the truths and doctrines on which Masonry is founded ; it desires that every man

should know them . To raise man in his own eyes , to render him worthy of his mission upon earth , Masonry lays down the principle that the Creator has given him liberty as the most precious of all blessings—liberty , the patrimony of the whole of mankind , a ray from above which no power has the right to diminish or suppress , and which is the source of all feelings of honour and dignity . From the

preparation for the first degree to the attainment of the highest degree in Scotch Masonry the first condition , without which nothing is granted to the claimant , is an unblemished reputation for honour and honesty . To these men , for whom religion is a supreme consolation , Masonry says : — ' Practice your religion without let or hindrance ; follow the dictates of your conscience . ' Freemasonry is

not a religion ; it has no form of worship ; therefore it wishes for the establishment of lay education , and its doctrine may be summed up in the beautiful tenet—love thy neighbour . To those who dread with so much reason political dissensions . Freemasonry says— 'I banish all discussions from my meetings ; be for thy country a faithful and devoted servant ; thou hast no account to render us . ' The love

of country , moreover , accords Avith the practice of all virtues . Masonry has been charged with immorality ! Our morality is the purest morality , the holiest morality ! It is based on the first of all virtues—humanity . The real Mason does good ; he extends his benevolence to all the unfortunate without distinction , within tho limit of his means ; he therefore rejects immorality with disgust and

contempt . Such are the foundations on which Freemasonry is built up , and which secure among all members of that great family the closest union , whatever be the distance that separates the various countries they dwell in ; fraternal love reigns among them . AVhat can better prove that truth than the meeting of our Convent , unknown to each other , coming from Avidely different countries ? Hardly had Ave exchanged the first woods of welcome when the most

intimate union prevailed between ns ; hands were fraternally grasped , and it was in the midst of the most touching concord that our most important resolutions were passed with unanimous assent . Freemasons of all countries , citizens of all nations , such are the precepts , such are the laws of Freemasonry , such are its mysteries ! Against it the effects of calumny will remain unavailing , and insults without echo ; marching peacefully from victory to victory , Freemasonry will extend each day its civilising and moral influence over the world . '"

On Tuesday evening Mr . Denzil OnsloAV , M . P ., at a special Lodge of Emergency of the Royal Alfred Lodge , Avas initiated into the Order . A numerous and influential assemblage of the brethren took place on the occasion .

Bro . J . S . Sweasey , the respected proprietor of the Royal Music Hall , Holborn , announces his 10 th Anniversary Concert on Tuesday , 12 th October . On that occasion , in addition to the regular company , a host of talent will appear .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SUSSEX .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Sussex , was held in tho Musicroom , at the Koyal Pavilion , Brighton , on Thursday afternoon . Bro . E . J . Furner P . G . D . Deputy Prov . G . M . presided , and there were about 130 members present . Two o ' clock was the time fixed for the

commencement of the proceedings , but it was nearly three before the meeting begun . The first business on the agenda was to receive a letter from Lord Pelham Prov . G . M . requesting Bro . Furrier Dcp . Prov . G . M . to transact the entire business of tho province in his stead and during his pleasure . The letter was read , aud tho Dun . Prov .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Sussex.

G . M . explained that the Prov . G . M . was led to make this request in consequence of continued indisposition . The letter was ordered to be recorded in the minute book . Bro . C . J . Smith , of Cliftonville , moved that the letter should be re-considered . He thought that the long continued illness of the Prov . G . M . was one reason why he should resign the reins of office to the man upon whom its

labours really devolved . His proposition , was , however , ruled out of order . A letter respecting the funeral of the late Bro . Pocock having been read , the Acting Prov . G . M . proposed the following resolution : — " It is with feelings of deep regret that the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex record in their Minute Book the decease of Bro . Gavin Elliott Pocock , which took place on

the first day of the present year . His untiring exertions during the twenty years of his Provincial Grand Secretaryship were duly acknowledged by a unanimous vote of thanks at the annual meeting , two years ago , and the high estimation in Avhich he was held by his Masonic brethren was evinced by the testimonial which was presented to him last year ; so that it is unnecessary now

to dilate upon his worth . Tho melancholy duty , however , of formally declaring the loss Freemasonry has sustained by the removal from its ranks of so distinguished and so devoted a brother still remains , and , therefore , the members of this Provincial Grand Lodge resolve to place on their minutes this record of their sorrow at the death of Bro . Pocock ; and further , in order to perpetuate the

recollection of the high regard in which he was held by them , and in recognition of the great services he rendered to Freemasonry , both as regards its ceremonies and its charities , they vote from the funda of this Provincial Grand Lodge the sum of fifty guineas to the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls , to be registered in the books of that Institution as the ' Pocock Memorial , ' the privileges of th >>

donation to be exercised in perpetuity by the Provincial Grand Master for the time being . " Bro . S . E . Ade proposed that the word " Deputy " before ' the term " Prov . Grand Master , " be retained in the last clause of tho resolution , but subsequently withdrew his proposition , and the resolution was agreed to in its original form . Tho report of the Finance Committee was presented , and ordered to be

entered on the minutes . Bro . G . Tatham was re-elected Pro Grand Treasurer ; and the following Prov . Grand Officers were appointed and invested : —Bro . E . J . Furner Deputy Prov . G . M . aoting aa Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . Cunningham as Dep . Prov . G . M ., Bro . AV . H . Hallett Prov . G . S . AV ., Bro . L . J . Brigden Prov . G . J . W ., Bro . C . A . AVoolley Prov . G . Eegistrar , Bro . J . H . Scott Prov .

Secretary , Bro . AV . H . German Prov . G . S . D ., Bro . J . Dorman Prov . G . J . D ., Bro . J . O'Brien Prov . G . Chaplain , Bro . J . Dixon Pror . G . D . of C , Bro . E . Pidcock Prov . G . A . D . of C , Bro . J . M . Eeed Prov . G . Sup . of AT ., Bro . C . Walker Prov . G . S . B ., Bro . Bostock Prov . G . Purst ., and Bros . AV . Smith , J . Eberall , Crouch , and AV . Bead Prov . G . Stewards . Bro . Trollope P . Prov . G . J . AVarden ,

proposed the following motion , of which he had given notice : — " That Bro . John H . Scott and Bro . V . P . Freeman , the brethren appointed to act as Stewards for the Province of Sussex on the occasion of tho installation of his Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales as M . AV . G . M ., be presented from the funds of this Prov . Grand Lodge with the jewel , struck by order of Grand Lodge , to bo worn only by thoso

who acted as Stewards on that memorable day . " The resolution was unanimously agreed to , tho Prov . Grand Secretary following it up with a few appropriate remarks . There was no ordinary business to be transacted . The Lodge was closed in proper form and with solemn prayer . It was followed by a banquet , served by Messrs . Mutton Brothers , King ' s-road , Brighton , in the Banqueting-voom ) in their best style , about one hundred brethren partaking of it .

Railway Traffic Returns.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS .

The following statement shows the receipts for traffic on the undermentioned railways for the past week , as compared with the corresponding week in 1874 : — Miles open . "Receipts . Railway . 1876 1875 1874

£ £ Caledonian 739 57 , 772 56 , 528 Glasgow and South Western . . 315 J 20 , 725 20 , 595 Great Eastern .... 763 51 , 628 52 , 337 Great Northern .... 523 58 , 723 60 , 784 Great AVestern .... 1 , 534 113 , 984 116 , 010 Lancashire and Yorkshire . . 431 68 , 052 65 , 966

London and Brighton . . . 376 * 39 , 673 36 , 592 London , Chatham and Dover . . 153 £ 22 , 261 21 , 706 London and North Western . . 1 , 586 180 , 802 187 , 501 London and South AVestern . . 626 J 38 , 416 36 , 302 London , Tilbury and Southend . 45 2 , 364 — Manchester and Sheffield . . 259 | - 33 , 668 33 , 186

Midland 975 f 119 , 168 117 , 067 Metropolitan 8 8 , 753 8 , 12-1 „ „ District ... 8 4 , 415 4 , 034 „ St . John's AVood . . U 394 37 G

North British 844 J 44 , 740 42 , 972 North Eastern .... 1 , 400 J- 133 , 917 135 , 111 North London .... 12 6 , 765 6 , 967 North Staffordshire Eailway . . 191 10 , 512 10 , 920 „ „ Canal . 113 1 , 554 1 , 650 South Eastern .. .. 350 43 , 159 41 , 890

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