Scottish Freemasonry In India.

Manockjee Cursetjee" be invited to sit for his portrait , and that it be hung up in Freemasons' Hall . The proposition having been , seconded by Bro . Captain Morland I . P . G . M .,

and carried by acclamation amid great enthusiasm , Bro . Manockjee Cursetjee rose and said it would be affectation on his part not to feel extremely gratified for the honour done him — an honour which was all

the greater because it had come upon him unexpectedly , and he considered it a great privilege that that honour had been conferred by the M . W . Grand Master in a manner so gratifying . Bro . Morland next rose for the purpose of expressing the mingled feelings of regret and

happiness he experienced at the announcement by the M . W . Grand Master of his resignation of office . It was , he said , much to be regretted that they were about to lose the personal presence and personal friendship of one whom they had learnt to esteem and respect for years past . At the

same time it was a happy circumstance that he was about to be restored to his family and to his friends , and to the land of his birth , where he wonld be able to recruit his health , in a measure injured by a long residence in an Indian climate . He hoped that the Most Worshipfnl

tho Grand Master would soon be restored to his pristine vigour , and enjoy his old age amongst his friends and relations . As to his ( Bro . Morland ' s ) resumption to the

Hiram , he was by no means anxious to hold it . They all knew the old saying , " Uneasy is the head that wears a crown , " and the honourable position of Grand Master was not without its anxieties . He would not shirk the honour

if it were bestowed upon him , for it had been his great , aim ever since he bad been a Mason nnder the Scotch banner to do all in his power to promote the integrity and honour of the Scottish constitution . He trusted , however , they would , in the exercise of their unbiassed judgment , select the

brother they considered fittest for the office . Letters of thanks from Bros , the Earl of Haddington and Sir James Fergusson for the votes of condolence with them in their bereavement were read , and directed to be recorded on the

minutes , after which the report of the Standing Committee was read and confirmed , and other business of purely local interest having been dispatched , Grand Lodge "was closed in ample form , and the brethren separated .

A Quiet Day In The Country Among The Roach And Dace.

A QUIET DAY IN THE COUNTRY AMONG THE ROACH AND DACE .

BY A NON-PROFESSIONAL BROTHER . THAT there are spots of surpassing loveliness in the county of Surrey I had always understood ; and of the truth of the assertion I have now no reason to doubt , having had confirmation of the fact in the most agreeable and unexpected fashion . To a man snch as I am , " in populous city pent , " a whiff of tho pure country air , and a peep at green fields and luxuriant woods , are in themselves a treat :

but when the pleasure is enhanced by the addition of good sport and unbounded hospitality , it leaves an impression upon the mind not easily to be forgotten . I am not going to indicate the precise locality of which I am about to speak , for it is certain I could not place my finger npon the exact spot upon the map if I tried . But this I will say , that although ,

when the days were young , I have revelled amongst some of the finest scenery of which the country can boast , I had never discovered a spot so full of quiet romantic beauty , so exquisitely lovely in its Serenity and isolation from the world as thafc npon wbich I feasted my enraptured gaze last week . " Come down and have a day's fishing , " was the terse invitation I re .

ceived that brilliant Wednesday afternoon when quitting my musty chambers in Lincoln ' s Inn Fields for a breath of air on a day when the birds were chirruping and Nature seemed donning her brightest livery . " I can't promise yon much sport ; but what is wanting in that respect we will endeavour to make up in other ways . " It needed no second invite , for London was unbearable , and one

could scarcely reconcile oneself to the soft warm winds and the pellucid skies which seduced one away to the fresh woods and pas . tures new which must needs be found within a few miles' ride from the monotonous hum of the metropolis . So , putting hastily together my old friend Kod , which had not been used for I am afraid to say how long , and trusting to my host to supply the rest , I took train

early next morning for Redhill , previously announcing my advent by telegram . We had just an hour to inspect the pretty little town—grown out of knowledge since I had visited it twenty years ago—and to note the signs of increasing prosperity it presented on all sides . Instead of a few houses dotted about here and there , commanding streets

have grown np , with shops as natty and thnving-Iooking as one conld wish to see in any flourishing suburb of ever . ontstretching London ; whilst the surroundings are fringed with pretty villas and gardens auoh as the City man loves , when the din and bustle of office work are over . 'Cute and business-like as I found those of the tradesmen and

A Quiet Day In The Country Among The Roach And Dace.

nth PI * S with whom I conversed to be , there appeared to be a credit , able absence of that " sticking it on" principle in the prices charged to strangers that often renders country towns so devoutly to be avoided . On resting a-while at the Eailway Hotel—reminding one very mud- of a recherche little Swiss cottage , only that the tariff and

cuisine are very mnch to be preferred here—we found in mine host , Bvo . Laker , the very personification of a bluff , good-humoured English landlord ; and , but for tho fear thafc he may read theso lines , I might be tempted to say much more about hia charming little villa . like hotel , oloso by the railway , and belted with pretty gardens and flowerbeds , whilst the interior scenery of the establishment

presents an air of quiet luxury and ease . I can only in thia brief sketch say this much , and advise any who are seeking country retirement and real enjoyment to " put my principles to the test . " After smoking a qniet cigar afc the prettily embowered window , from whioh the rising sand-hills and heavily-wooded landscape around Bedhill can be seen to perfection , our dog-oart was ready ,

and off we started . Eight on , past the villa-terraced slopes , and over the undulating country , through the stately old town of Beigate and far out beyond the heath , where fche windmills were flinging their gaunt arms around , as if in gleeful welcome to summer breezes , until we reached my friend's abode . The village hostelry , from wihch the aforesaid

invitation had come , stands a little aside from the highway , and is literally in itself a sylvan retreat . Bnt more of that anon . Our tackle had been all got ready , and there was no time to waste , for the slight showers of the few preceding nights had just coloured the water and given our finny friends an appetite . Winding our way throu 7 h some tangled underwood , amidst whioh

hnge trunks of trees lay ready for the sawyer , in order to relieve the almost forest growth , a broad expanse of ornamental water burst suddenly upon our view in a scene of almost entrancing loveliness . Bur so completely had it been shut in by the thiokly . tangled branches of the trees thafc no passer along fche public road adjacent would ever have dreamt of the existence of so splendid a scene—fit theme for

the pencil of an artist . On the glassy bosom of the lake , in which were reflected a myriad fantastic forms and shades of green from the surrounding foliage , water lilies lay like a thick carpet , resetted with gold , the swans sailed round and round in their majestic circles , whilst from the recesses of the mossy banks , shaded by boughs which bent over to

lave in the cool water , moorhens and other wild fowl gambolled in all the gladness of their tranquil freedom . " This is about the best spot , I fancy , " observed my host , whose name by the bye is Bro . Bill , and by which cognomen be he henceforth known . "The water is over ten feet deep , and the old gardener tells me , now that the pike are spawning , up in the shallows

yonder , the roach and dace have leisure to grow fat , under their own oak and elm . tree , none daring to make them afraid . " So saying , we stepped into the boat whioh was moored under the rustic boat-house , Just as the sun was rising over the tree-tops , gilding the edges of the light green buds and leaves , and glistening down upon the tiny wavelets thafc the wind raised upon fche surface of

fche water . " Bather slow , " quoth I , as the first quarter of an hour passed without a nibble , " and the fellow was right who described a fishingrod as having a hook afc one end and a fool afc tbe other . " " Patience , my boy , " rejoined Bro . Bill , "is one of the lessons incnlcated by old Izaak Walton . Ton should couple thafc maxim wifch

smother , imputed by Charles Dickens to Squeers , the Schoolmaster , when he enjoined upon his hungry pupils to ' moderate their transports . '" Ah ! bob goes the float , sailing gently out from the shore . Now strike ! Aye ! how the little rascal fights , turning his finny broadside in a curve to the water . Gently , now , for fche tackle is very fine ,

and the least turn of the wrist may do it . Here she comes , in graceful rings , until close by the side , and in a twinkling a half-pound roach is beating a merry tattoo upon the floor of the boat , making a sound thafc is music in the angler ' s ear . " My tnrn next , " says Bro . Bill , as the float was bobbing np and down at a furious rate , " They ' re at it now . Yon see the value of

patience , my boy ! " Confound the tough little urchin , he has got underneath a sunken branch in the water , and means to break my line ! No j here he comes again , and by an adroit twist the capture was soon made , in the form of a handsome perch . There yon are again , both at once this time . Now , be very careful , for yours is a big one . Heigho ! how he resists . Give him plenty of

line . That ' s it . Now he comes , and sure enough we presently had a quartette of as pretty fish , though small , as ever gave a whet to the angler ' s appetite . A short lull , during which old friendships and old adventures were recounted , recalling the pleasantries of schoolboy days , when away goes the float again : the line tightens and the wheel whizzes round .

By Jove ! a shark this time , old man ! Steady , or you'll lose him . Twice as he neared the boat we could see his silvery sides glistening in the sunlight , but he does'nt mean to capitulate without a tussle . Off again , into the unseen depths , only to return and wink at us in mischievous glee , and then with a plunge away he goes , carrying the hook and a yard of gut wifch him .

" Lost ! by all that's blue ! " we shout in unison . " Ifc must ; have been a whacker . " By the bye , it always is a " whacker " when you lose a fish . Never mind , there is no good in moralising . " There you are again , Bill ! " and away goes the line on the other side , my companion , more dexterous than I had been , landing a rotund dace , in sp lendid

condition . Thus the game went on , with alternate luck and quiet , the scene all bathed in the golden sunny hues , and affording amp le time for reminiscences and cheerful reflection , mingled with not a thoug ht of business care or moody melancholy . On the gentle breeze came wafted the sweet country odours , almost overpowering in their de-