Bombay.

present tho highest encomiums . When tho installation was completed , M . E . Z . Jamsetjeo Bnstomjee installed tho following as his office bearers for 1878 : —M . D . Wadia M . E . H ., M . N . Wadia M . E . J ., D . D . Shroff Scribe E ., H . J . Guzdar Scribe N ., M . C . Motiwallah 1 st Sojourner , Guzdar 2 nd Sojourner , M . Engineer 3 rd Sojourner , D . Pestonjeo Treasurer , C . Patel Janitor . After the

completion of tho interesting work , tho Companions retired from labour to rcfeshment , and spent a most pleasant evening under the hiram of tho newly installed M . E . Z ., who has well and worthily earned his promotion , and from his influential position , as a most respected member of a wealthy firm , commands the respect , whilst he merits the esteem of all the Companions of the Chapter , whilst he is held in the highest estimation by the heads of tho Craft .

Grand Lodge Of All Scottish Freemasonry In India.

GRAND LODGE OF ALL SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY IN INDIA .

AT the Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge , held at tho Masonic Hall , Byculla , on St . Andrew ' s Day , the 30 th November 1877 , thero wero present : —E . W . Bros . M . Balfour G . M . elect in the chair , H . Maxwell Sub . G . M ., Col . Mallaby S . G . W ., G . B . Thomson J . G . W ., Darasha Chichgar G . Treas ., Harry Geo . Eowell G . Sec , C . D . Wise S . G . D ., D . P . Mehta J . G . D ., A . E . Plumpton G . D . of Music , Henry Holland G . S . B ., F . W . Doolittle G . Bard , Cowasjee D . Furdonjec

Zend Avesta Bearer , W . F . Whitehead G . Asst . Sec ., W . H . Wilkinson G . D . of C , W . Jeffries G . I . G ., Chas . Houghland Tyler ; Bros . Freeborn , Jones , Appleton , Collins , Smith , Groves , Mapp , Sharpo , Clarke , Major P . Walshe , Allan , J . E . K . Johnston , and a great number of other brethren . The Grand Master elect having taken tho chair , the Grand Lodge was opened in ample form in the third degree . The

summons convening the meeting was read , and so much of tho minutes as related to the nomination of Grand Locige Officers of the last regular meeting having been printed and circulated , was taken as read , and confirmed . E . W . Bro . M . Balfour said : " In the first place I have to apologise for the absence of the Grand Master , who , I am sorry to say , has suddenly had an attack of tho gout , and is

quite unable to be present . Ihe first notice I had of it was late last night , and when I wrote to him to-day on matters connected with this meeting , he said in his reply , that ho suffered such agonies while writing that it was impossible for him to think of coming here this evening , and he very much regretted being obliged to stay at home . I have almost nothing , on his behalf , to communicate to you this

evening . I may mention that tho balance in hand to the credit of the Benevolent Fund amounts to Es . 3 , 769-8-0 . On this evening I had intended to announce to the M . W . the Grand Master that the subscription organised with a view to presenting him with somo recognition , on the part of Masons serving under him , of his service to Masonry in the capacity of Grand Master , has now , so far as we ¦

know , been completed and that the amount subscribed is Es . 907-8-0 . Yon will remember that the maximum subscription was limited iu order that all who chose might have an opportunity of subscribing , and I am very happy to tell you that every Lodge working under our Grand Master has sent its mite to this Fund , —with three exceptions only . I had intended to ask M . W . Bro . Morland this evening in

what form ho would like this amonnt invested , so as to serve as a reminder of his Graud Mastership in Bombay ; but as he is absent , I think I had better defer that until our next meeting . The subscription list being , I presume , closed , I havo taken this opportunity of naming tho sum subscribed . There is only one point affecting Masonry which has como to my knowledge since the last

Communication of the Grand Lodge , and it is one I am sure that had the Grand Master been present he would have commented upon . I am sorry to say that in a Lodge working in Bombay a case of blackballing has recently taken place . I mention it because tho character of the candidate blackballed is , I think I may justly say , immaculate , and I regret that any spirit of the kind , which was once shown in the

same Lodgo before , should have broken out again . That Locige sank very much after the occurrence , which took place some years ago , when a now Very Worshipful Brother was treated in the same way ; and I regret indeed to hear—though I cannot be surprised at it—that there have been many resignations since this second case of the same nature occurred . It is truly a pity that brethren working

as Masons shonld forget the first principle of Masoury , and that instead of blackballing they should , as they ought , first give notice to the brother who proposes the candidate , and discuss with him whether or not the caudidate proposed is or is not a fit man to be made a Mason . I think that for tho members of a Locige who blackball a deserving ancl worthy candidate no constire can bo too

severe . I venture to make these remarks as the representative of our Grand Master , and I am quite sure that if he had been present this evening he would have noticed the occurrence to which I have referred . I have only two other matteis to bring specially before yon . In the first place you aro all aware , no doubt , of the sad loss that E . W . Bro . Gibbs , District Grand Master under England , has sustained

by the . ( . tenth ot his son . That loss was most sudden ; the deceased gentleman left Bombay , only a few clays before his death , lull of health , aud looking forward to promotion iu his services , and all of a sudden Bro . Gibbs heard that he was dead . There was no preparation , the blow camo upon him most suddenly , and ho felt it keenly . I need not say that the brethren of the Masonic communit y sympathise deeply with Bro . Gibbs . I have here a resolution which 1 shall

ask you to pass in the name of tho M . W . the Grand Master ; ic is in his own words , aud expresses his own feeling—as follows : — " That the Office-bearers aud Members of the Grancl Lodge of all Scottish Freemasonry in India do tender to our Eight Worshipful Bro . and Honorary Past Grand Master , tho Honorable James Gibbs , and to Mrs . Gibbs , our unanimous expression of sincere sorrow and pf cui' deep -sympathy ancl condgleaco upon the severe bereavement

Grand Lodge Of All Scottish Freemasonry In India.

with which it has pleased the Almighty Architect of the Universe to visit them , by the sudden demise of his amiable and talented eldest son . Oar prayer is that He , to whom alone in tho hour of trial and of darkness wo must look for consolation , will comfort in His own good time our Eight Worshipful Brother and his respected Lady under tho severe dispensation with which they have been afflicted . "

E . W . Bro . H . Maxwell said : "I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution , for all know Bro . Gibbs so well that I am certain you will sympathise heartily with him in his sad bereavement . I had the pleasure of knowing his son , who was a very able—and so far as his service had gone—successful young man j he was in the Eoyal Engineers , and working on the Trigonometrical Survey of Goozerat j

and had only left Bombay and joined his department two days when he was struck down with Cholera . " The resolution was carried unanimously . E . W . Bro . Balfour : " The Most Worshipful the Grand Master mentioned in a letter that he wrote to mo to-day that our Grand Secretary had resigned his office , a fact which I have no doubt you

awaro of from tho fact that a successor was nominated at the last Communication , but unfortunately the M . W , the Grand Master forgot to bring it forward at the last meeting , and he has forgotten to send mo our Secretary ' s letter of resignation to-day . I only take this opportunity of alluding to the matter to say that our Grand Master has appointed Eight Worshipful Bro . Eowell an Honorary Member of

this Grand Lodge , and will on the next occasion the Grand Lodge may meet , or at a special meeting if necessary , present him with a gold medal in token of his honorary membership . I think it is right that the Grand Lodge should know this , and that a record should appear in the proceedings of this meeting , because I am sure no Grand Lodge ever had a more enthusiastic Secretary than Bro .

Eowell , no Grand Lodgo ever had a Secretary whose efforts havo been moro successful , and I think I may add that no Lodgo ever had a Secretary more appreciated by those in whoso good behalf he worked , ( Applause ) . The position to which Scotch Freemasonry in India has attained during his term of office must bo thoroughly known for tho importance of his work to be realised ; almost every thing is , I

heheve , in perfect order at this moment ; our subscriptions come in very regularly , and , the greatest result of all , I think , our Charity Fund has a large sum to our credit . ( Hear , hear . ) This , I think , — and I am sure you will all agree with me , — is a proof that our Grand Secretary has worked hard in the best interests of Freemasonry , and has used all the influence he possesses

to cany out the great aims and objects of our Order . I will leave it for our Grand Master to tell you in his own way and in his own words , what is his opinion of our distinguished Bro . Secretary ; but having worked with Bro . Eowell often and long , not only occasionally , during the absence of our Most Worshipful Grand Master , but regularly as Chairman of the Masonic Hall Committee , I know with what

vigour he has entered into every scheme for tho benefit of the Craft , and how much time and labour he has bestowed in the carrying out of these schemes . " ( Applause . ) E . W . Bro . Eowell then said : " I have received invitations for the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , Officers , and Members of Grand Lodge to attend and instal the Worshi pful Master elect of " Morland , "

E . W . Bro . Major E . H . Campbell ; the date is fixed for the 28 th December , to make it convenient for those brethren who are engaged in commerce that they may go and return between the mail days . I have also received an invitation from the E . W . Master elect of Lodgo " Islam , " requesting the honour of this Grand Lodge ' s company at his installation . I have received also several letters from

members of this Grand Locige from out-stations , regretting their inability to be present this evening , through press of business hi their several stations . " The Grand Secretary also announced that he had just received from the Secretary of the Joint Hall Committee a report of their proceedings , and he was glad to see from it that while the comforts of the Hall had been added to , the rents to the

several bodies had been reduced 20 per cent ., and that Craft Lodges would now only havo to pay Es . 40 per month each . The Grand Master elect then requested the Grand Secretary to call out the names of those brethren who had been nominated for office in the Grand Lodge for 1878 , and after obligating them , our E . W . Bro . invested them with their several collars , speaking a few appropriate words to each .

GEAND LODGE OFFICEES , 1878 .

Hamilton Maxwell , D . G . M . Col . Mallaby , S . G . M . J . D . Wadia , S . G . W . Dr . B . T . Giraud , J . G . W .

Darasha E . Chichgar , G . Treas . Edwin E . Freeborn , G . Sec . D . P . Mehta , S . G . D . C . D . Wise , S . G . D .

W . H . Wilkinson , J . G . D . John Y . Lang , J . G . D . Adolphe Freidemann , G . B . B . Fred . T . Atkins , G . Bard .

AV . F . Whitehead , Assist . G . Sec . A . W . E . Plumpton , G . D . of Music Capt . A . Clarke , G . Dir . of Cer .

Cowasjee D . Furdonjee , Gd . Ay . B * Johann F . Fasting , 2 nd D . of C . Henry Holland , G . S . B . F . Allan , G . Jeweller .

E , De Souza , G . Organist , J . P . Baird , G . S . B . B . H . J . Eastomjee , 2 nd G . S . B . Alex . Campbell , 3 rd G . S . B . Major P . Walshe , Pr . of G . Std . E . Beynon , Vice-Pr . of G . Std .

F . Cooper , G . Marshal . E . Sharpe , 2 nd G . Marshal . W . Jeffries , G . I . G . Charles Houghland , G . Tyler .

The Grand Secretary then announced that , according to tbe Bye-Laws , it was necessary on this occasion to elect three members to serve on the Grand Standing Committee , but as this had been loft out of the summons , it was resolved that it should stand over until the next regular Quarterly Communication .

Bro . Johnston then announced that the Choral Festival , held at the Byculla Church previous to the meeting , had been a great success in a monetary point of view , as well as everything else , the collections having amounted to Es , 407-0-0 . There being no further business before the meeting , ifc was closed ia peace ayd . harnjouy with solemn prayev at 9 p . m (