Reviews.

Reviews .

¦ MASONIC TIDINGS "—Milwaukie , Wis . —The August number contains an ample supply of news , notes , and articles , both original and quoted . The principal leader contains " Something about Morgan , " which adds slightly to our knowledge of that oerson as a man and a Mason , but throws no new light upon the circumstances of his Jjjsappearance . There is also a short article on " The Past Master ' s Degree , " communicated by Bro . the Rev . John D . Vincil . But the news columns furnish the best reading , and include reports of the meetings at Sioux Falls during the second week in June of the Grand Lodge , Grand Chapter , and Grand Commandery of South Dakota , and the jjyinrf of the foundation-stone of a new Masonic Hall at Ashland by the Grand Master nf Wisconsin .

"T HE FREEMASON —Cowan and Co ., Toronto , Canada—for July contains a full account of the annual meetings of the Grand Chapter of Canada on Tuesday , the 16 th of that month , and of the Grand Lodge of Canada on the two following days . There appears to have been a large attendance at both gatherings , the most important feature in connection with the Chapter being the address of Comp . I . Ross Robertson , Grand /„ The reports of the various Committees were presented and adopted , and Grand rtflicers for the ensuing- year were elected , the Three Grand Principals—Comps . J . Ross

Robertson , M . Walsh , H . ; and W . G . Reid , J . —the Grand Scribe E . —Comp . T . Sargant—and the Grand Treasurer , Comp . Hugh Murray , being re-elected to their respective offices . At the 40 th Communication of Grand Lodge there appear to have been present about 1300 brethren . Bro . W . R . White , Q . C , M . W . G . M ., occupied the throne , and was supported by his Deputy , Bro . W . Gibson , M . P ., and Bros . Daniel Spry , the Hon . J . M . Gibson , Q . C , Henry Robertson , Q . C , J . K . Kerr , Q . C , R . T . Walkem , Q . C , Hugh Murray , A . A . Stevenson , and J . Ross Robertson , Past Grand

Masters . The first day was occupied chiefly in the delivery of the usual address by the Grand Master , who passed in review the principal events of the preceding 12 months . The next day was occupied in disposing of the various resolutions , of which due notice had been given , that of Bro . Ross Robertson—to which we referred in our " Notes " of last week—receiving the support of the majority of those present , but not of the twothirds majority which is required to give it legal effect . Bro . D . Spry ' s motion for the

abolition of the representative system was dropped , while of the two motions by Bro . R . Cuthbert—one for the appointment by the Grand Master of certain officers who are now elected by Grand Lodge , and the other for conducting the business of private lodges in the Third Degree—the former was rejected and the latter withdrawn . Most of the editorial notes and comments relate to these meetings or incidents which occurred at them , while the letters in the correspondence columns treat of subjects of interest to our Canadian brethren .

"THE AUSTRALASIAN KEYSTONE . "—Hearne and Co ., Paragon Printers , 20 S-210 , Little Lonsdale-street , Melbourne . —The interest in the J uly number of this ably conducted periodical centres in the report of the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Victoria , which was held in Freemasons' Hall , Melbourne , on the 17 th June last under the presidency of Bro . Sir W . J . Clarke , Bart ., M . W . G . M . The reports of the Boards of Benevolence and General Purposes were submitted , and the latter gave

rise to a considerable amount of discussion . The Grand Treasurer ' s balance-sheet showed an increase over the previous quarter , and there was an election of 14 brethren to serve on the Board of General Purposes . Sundry motions were not reached in time , and therefore , if dealt with at all , will have to be considered at the next Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge .

" THE NEW ZEALAND CRAFTSMAN "—Herbert James Williams , Featherstonslreet , Wellington . —The second number of this new issue is characterised by the same excellence as the first . This is particularly noticeable in the number and fulness of the reports of various Masonic bodies , but the most important feature is the full list of the ofiicers of the so-called Grand Lodge , and a roll of the lodges under its obedience arranged in their several districts . Reports of meetings of bodies belonging to the other Constitutions will also be found in the number .

" THE KEVSTONE "—Masonic Publishing Company , 237 , Dock-street , Philadelphia —for the 3 rd August contains , in addition Jo the article on "The Presiding Genius at a Banquet , " which we quote elsewhere , a highly interesting budget of news , interspersed among which are to be found at intervals excerpts from other Masonic periodicals , with editorial comments , where deemed necessary , appended . Among these excerpts is an article headed " Friends or Foes ? " which originally appeared in these columns , but

which is ascribed by our worthy contemporary to the Indian Masonic Review , which only borrowed it , and that , we presume , without acknowledgment . The Keystone also quotes from us the valuable paper by Bro . W . J . Hughan , on " Masonic Templary i 1 England . " Bro . D . Murray Lyon ' s interesting article on some " Curiosities of Discipine , " which originally appeared in the Scottish Freemason , " finds an honoured place in this issue uf our contemporary .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

As usual , the result of the Science and Art Examinations are satisfactory , and our Girls have scored as follows 1 Freehand Drawing ... ... ... 28 certificates . Model Drawing ... ... ... 24 „ Light and Shade ... ,., ... 3 ,, Mathematics ... ... ... 9 „

District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL .

The Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was held at Freemasons' Hall on Monday , the 24 th June , under the presidency of Bro . thc Hon . Sir H . T . Prinsep , District Grand Master . Among those present were Bros . P . C . Dutt , Dep . Dist . Grand Master ; W . B . Mactavish , Past Dep . Dist , Grand Master ; A . R . Westerhout , Dist . S . G . W . ; J . C . G . Kiernauder , Dist

J ' 'W . ; S . P . Sarbadhicary , Past D . J . G . W . ; R . F . Dedrickson , Past Pres . District Board of General Purposes ; J . R . Maples , Past Pres . District Board of General Purposes ; H . M . Rustomjee , Past D . S . G . W ., D . G . Sec ; W . H . Miles , D . S . G . D . ; W . Franks , D . J . G . D . j T . S . Cecil , Past D . J . G . D . ; C . N . Banerjee . P . G . S . of Wks . ; J . ClarkeD . G . D . C ; G . HopewellP . D . G . D . C ;

, , W- B . Chambers , P . D . G . D . C . ; M . A . Valenza , D . G . S . B . j J . C . Hopper , D . G . Std . Br . ; W . H . Cole , D . G . Org . ; M . M . Massom , D . G . Purst . ; J . S . Booth , p- McN . Urquhart , C . M . Rustomjee , and S . B . Wells , Dist . G . Stwds . ; and H . 1 Herbert , Dist . G . Tyler ; together with the representatives of sundry lodges , and several visitors .

District Grand Lodge having been opened and the minutes of the District urand Lodge held on the 21 st March taken-as read and confirmed , the DISTRICT "H AND MASTER delivered his usual address , in the course of which , after "" inouncing formally that Nripendra Narayan Lodge , No . 2446 , had been conse" at id at Cooch Behar on the 7 th May by the Dist . Grand Secretary , assisted by other lst - Grand Officers , and tbat sundry lodges which he had visited were in a P'osperous state , while two had had the misfortune to lose their registers of e mbers , Bro . Prinsep proceeded as follows 1 " I was particularly pleased with

District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.

my visit to Lodge Temperance and Benevolence , No . 1160 . I found it in a most prosperous condition , with a very large number of members , who regularly attended . The work vvas correctly done , the books were all regularly kept , and the goodfellowship amongst its members was very remarkable . Every one combined in a desire to make the Iodge successful and its meetings agreeable . For this the lodge owes lasting gratitude to the late Master , Wor . Bro . W . Gosling , who has imparted to it the true Masonic feeling and goodfellowship , in which he

was pre-eminent , and he has a worthy successor in the person of Wor . Bro . H . White . " Having impressed upon lodges the necessity of placing their lodge funds , if they amount to a considerable sum , in some bank to the credit , not of the Treasurer , but of the Iodge , Bro . Prinsep spoke as follows respecting the lodge returns of members , & c , & c .: " And now I wish to make some observations on the practice which I introduced many years ago into this District Grand Lodge and carried out at our last meeting in

giving you a succinct account of the state of Masonry in the District , our Funds and Institutions , the number of the lodges working , as well as their strength , and the amount of work done . Our example has been followed in other Districts ; and as comparisons are to be made , I think it necessary to mention that the numbers of members of the different lodges are the actual numbers of subscribing members . It is an old custom in Indian lodges to place members on the absent list at a nominal subscription , if they leave India or the neighbourhood of

the particular lodge , so as to be unable to attend its meetings , in order that they may be in a position to resume membership if they return to the place in which the lodge is held . The returns which I place before you , year by year , do not include such absent members , for what I desire to report to you is the actual numbers of the resident full subscribing members of our lodges . I know , however , that this is not the practice elsewhere , at least in one other District . I mention this because a comparison with our returns without this information will

naturally not be a fair comparison to us . In the next place , I must confess my surprise at finding that the accuracy of the summary of our returns which I communicated to you at our March meeting has been doubted by a Masonic periodical in another part of India . I think that you will agree with me that before such doubt was publicly expressed , some inquiry should have been made , and that the person responsible for this statement should have at least given some reason for it . To act thus is not in accordance with the principles upon which our Order

is founded . Our returns are open to examination by any member of our Order , and I challenge the strictest enquiry . The best corroboration of my statement of the returns is afforded by the large increase to our funds , which depend upon capitation fees on members of Lodges and on fees for degrees conferred . " Having announced that by the receipt of sundry donations , their Building Fund had increased to 45 , 500 rupees , and having referred to the deaths of certain

prominent members of the Order and other matters , Bro . Prinsep brought his address to a close . The Reports of the District Board of General Purposes and of the Grand Committee of the Bengal Masonic Fund of Benevolence having been taken as read and adopted , and apologies for non-attendance from many brethren having been read , a resolution of sympathy with the District Grand Lodge of Bombay on the death of Bro . W . H . Hussey , Past Deputy D . G . M ., their District Grand Secretary , was unanimously passed , and the proceedings terminated .

Links Of Life.

LINKS OF LIFE .

How precious are the links of life Which bind us one by one , Forming a lengthen'd golden chain , In Childhood's years begun . Time , who with sure , unerring force Loosens material ties . Rivets anew affection ' s chain , And weakening power defies .

Closely , more closely , do we draw The chain around our hearts , And fondly hope , unbroken still , To keep till liie departs . But ah 1 in vain—it may not be , — When nearer is enwrapt Around our hearts some precious link , By death's rude hand is snapt ,

The dearest tie that bound our lives , Now severed and in twain , Still must wc mourn the vacant place , Still bear our broken chain . And thus , when from our shatter'd hearts—Link after link is fled , When , cheerless , hopeless , all alone , Stern Duty ' s path we tread .

God oer our dark despairing souls Still sheds His glorious light , Assures us He our broken links In Heaven will re-unite . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The General Committee of Grand Lodge and also the Board of Benevolence met on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , President , in the chair . Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice President , acted as Senior Vice President , and Bro . D . D . Mercer , P . G . P ., as Junior Vice President . Bros . E . Letchworth , Grand Sec . ; W . Lake , Asst . Grand Sec . ; W . H . Lee , and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler , represented the Grand Secretary ' s department ; and the

other brethren present were Bros . Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Henry Garrod , S . Vallentine , S . V . Abraham , R . Loveland Loveland , George B . Chapman , Charles Dairy , George R . Langley , W . Fisher , R . H . Evans , J . H . Matthews , George Graveley ] Robert A . Gowan , William Vincent , T . W . Whitmarsh , Walter Martin , William F . Smithson , W . M . Bywater , Joseph Mansfield , John L , Bewsey , W . F . Lamonby

George W . Mitchell , James Joseph Hall , E . W . R . Smith , C . H . Webb , H . S . Timpson , Hy . K . Cheese , H . Wilkinson , D . H . McGowan , Stephen Richardson , J , W . Benyon , G . H . Newington Bridges , J . G . W . James , R . T . Whaites , H Hooper , H . Keeble , Sidney W . Larkin , W . R . Boswell , C . R . Lyne , W . W . ' Butcher , Thomas Eastcrbrook , Robert Robinson , H . Massey , Henry S . Windsor John K . Gwyn , John E . Pells , and Paul J . Kilby .