Knights Templar.

The sir knights having arranged themselves under their „ p < -tive banners , the procession entered the preceptory re „ derthe arch of steel at 5 . 15 p . m ., and the V . E . Sub-Prior of England having ascended the Throne , at once rnceeded to open Provincial Priory . The sir knights were then instructed by the acting Sub-Marshal to salute the f-. eat Sub-Prior and the Priors of other provinces , the tnis rrovinciai musici tun ui

quests or rnory . xue y . ceotories was called by the Registrar , all the preceptories asoonding . The minutes of the last meeting of Provincial priory and the Treasurer ' s Statement of Accounts having L en read , were respectively confirmed . The acting Sub-Marshal announced that the Provincial Prior designate of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire was without , and admission in order to be installed into the

claimed charge of his province . Sir Knight Major John Woodall Woodall , Provincial Prior designate , having been conducted to the foot of the sepulchre , the V . E . Great Sub-Prior addressed the meeting in terms highly eulogistic of Sir Knight VVoodall , and demanded his patent , which was read by the acting Registrar . Sir Knight Woodall then took the obligation of a Prov .

prior , and was escorted to the East under the arch of steel , where he was presented with his patent , and invested with his mantle , sword , abacus , ring , and statutes , and finally placed upon the throne . The V . E . PROV . PRIOR , addressing the knights , thanked them for the honour done him , and announced his intention of administering the government of his Provincial Priory in the best manner he was

able . The preceptories then communicated , after which the V . E . Prov . Prior appointed his officers as follows : Sir Knights T . B . Whytehead , P . G . C . of . G ., & c , Sub-Prior ; Rev . William Valentine , M . A ., Prelate ; Samuel Middleton , Chancellor ; Capt . Henry Darley , Constable ; George Simpson , Marshal ; W . Benson Richardson , Registrar ; William Brown , Sub-Marshal ; Christopher Palliser ,

Almoner ; William Ascough , Std . Br . ; John Marshall , Herald ; Thomas Gates , Org . ; H . E . Voigt , Swd . Br . ; Thomas Thompson , Captain of Guards ; Frater J . Verity , Equerry . Sir Knight Walter Reynolds , P . G . Aide-de-Camp ., & c , was then unanimously re-elected Treasurer , on the motion of Sir Knight MARWOOD , P . E . C , seconded by the SUBPRIOR . The V . E . PROV . PRIOR and the E . PROV .

SUBPRIOR respectively proposed and seconded "That the thanks of Provincial Priory be given to the V . E . Great Sub-Prior of England , and to the Priors of other provinces , for their presence and assistance in the ceremonies of the day , " which was carried by acclamation , and briefly responded to by the V . E . GREAT SUB-PRIOR and by the V . E . PRIOR of West Yorkshire . E . Sir Knight DARLEY ,

. Prov . Constable , invited Provincial Priory to hold its next meeting at Scarborough , under the banner of Godefroi de Bouillon Preceptory . Alms amounting to £ 2 is . 3 d . were then collected by the Almoner . Congratulations were offered by a large number of knights , and letters of

apology for non-attendance were also read from many knights . Prov . Priory was then closed . The Prov .-Prior , the Great Sub-Prior , and other Prov . Priors and Great Officers then retired under the arch of steel . A collation was subsequently partaken of in the refectory , and the customary toasts duly honoured .

India.

India .

PQONA . —Orion-in-the-West Lodge ( No . 415 , E . C . )—The annual installation meeting of this lodge was held at the _ Masonic Hall on Wednesday , the 18 th July The following brethren and visitors were present : Bros . R . Ilickie , D . S . G . D ., W . M . ; T . H . Lloyd , S . W . ; P . Curian , Sec . pro tem . ; J . McConachie , S . D . ; A . Morgan , ' G- * J . B . Brown , Tyler ; Maior F . B . Peile , P . M .

? t > 3 and 691 ( S . C ) , P . S . G . W ., G . Lodge A . S . F . in India ; H . C . Macnee , 343 ( S . C ); J . A . A . Turner , P . M . 343 ; Pallonjee Nusserwanjee , P . M . 343 ( S . C ); W . Fearn , P . M . 36 3 ( S . C ) , * G . D . H . Robottom , W . M . 475 ( S . C ); Capt . P . Nelson , D . M . 343 ( S . C . ); J . V . Splane , S . W . 343 ( S . C . ); and about 60 others . The meeting was more than usually interesting owing to the

presence of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , D . G . M . Bombay , who made it the occasion of his official visit . H . R . H . was attended by Bros . H . R . King , D . D . G . M . ; W . H . Hussey , P . D . D . G . M ., D . G . Sec ; H . Watson , D . S . G . W . ; F . J . Laville , P . D . S . G . D . ; C . D . Wise , P . D . S . G . D . ; R . Levingston , P . D . G . S . of W . ; W . B . Green , D . G . D . of C ; Col . Becher , Equerry , and

Col . Cavaye . His Royal Highness , after making the usual enquiries , congratulated Bro . Dickie , W . M ., on the harmony which existed in the lodge , also upon the very successful year just terminated ; not only had the lodge increased numerically , it was also in a better position ? ( c ' " " " * was at " ie commencenient of his term of office . The business of the evening was then proceeded

A n \ the W * M- elect ' Br 0 * Malor T * H * L 1 ° yd ' R A i , u ' ' nsf ; a " ed by the retiring Master in a manner which afforded much pleasure to all present . The new W . M . then invested the following as his officers for the ensuing year : Bros . Major G . F . Guyon , S . W . ; j . McConachie , J . W . ; C D . Wise , P . M ., Treas . ( 4 th time ); £ J . Laville , P . M . 1122 , Sec ; De B . De Lisle , S . D . ;

V-- -. 'arquharson , J . D . ; P . Curran , I . G . ; and J . B . own , Tyler . Two brethren were proposed as joining members , and after transaction of some formal business "ie lod ge was closed , H . R . H . shortly afterwards taking nis departure , previously regretting his inability to be Tvi ' ' ^ l ow > ng to being in mourning . n J * , } 6 banquet was spread in the long corridor of the tlVu f lnstitute , which adjoins the Masonic Hall . About ¦ 30 brethren sat down to table .

To the toast of "The R . W . District Grand Master , g ' n ' p ' ., Duke of Connaught , " Bro . H . R . King , tip c -i , " > pl ' ed in a few well chosen words . He was sure , alr » !? V that nobody regretted the inability of H . R . H . to « cend the banquet more than did H . R . H . himself . It was that ^ that the P ^ ence of the D . G . M . in the lodge Ind j , even ' £ would give a fillip to Masonry in Western the C ft WOuld prove h'Sh ' y beneficial to the interests of V / IM 6 t 0 ast o £ " The D . D . G . M . " was proposed by the

to insn i ? ' " ' to this toast Bro * Kin S remarked that having Work ! " books and accounts of the various lodges Was no ? - t the Distr ! ct Grand Lodge of Bombay , he ° t infrequentl y regarded as anything but a welcome

India.

visitor , but he was happy to state that the members of Orion Lodge never need tear his visitation . Financially and socially , thelodge was in a highly creditable condition , l'he harmony that existed among Masons in Poona . could not be too highly commended ; there was scarcely any need to remind the members ot the Orion Lodge of the three grand principles of the Order . Brotherly love was apparent

in the fact of the large number of visitors—members ot the sister lodges—who were present at that table . He was well assured that the brethren well understood the principle of relief , as was evidenced by the amount of money disbursed for charitable purposes by the lodge during the past year . After a few concluding remarks , he proposed the toast of "The W . M . "

Bro . Lloyd , in replying , stated that he was fully sensible of the dignity of the high office to which he had been elected , and would do his best to maintain that highstandard of excellence which the Orion Lodge had attained to . It was , he said , his misfortune to come after Bro . Dickie , one of the most able Masters that had ever filled the chair in that lodge , and , though he could not hope to compare with

him , yet if perseverance and a sound determination to do his best could accomplish anything , he would not be far behind his predecessor . Bro . King had spoken in eloquent terms of the necessity of Masons keeping in mind the three grand principles of the Order , and particularly mentioned the principles of "Brotherly Love" and "Relief . " He had not said much about "Truth , " but to his

( the speaker ' s ) mind that was the most important principle ot all . Without truth , Masonry could cease to be , and its brethren would become disunited . After speaking at some length on this subject , Bro . Lloyd concluded by impressing on the members the necessity of strict punctuality in their attendance , and hoped they would all give him their support in this respect . He next proposed " The Health of

the Past Masters , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Dickie , I . P . M ., who replied that it was a matter of pride as well as pleasure to him to know from their own lips the estimation in which he was held by the brethren of the Orion Lodge . He was sorry to give up the chair ; he would like to have kept it for ever ; in fact , he was just beginning to like it when his year of office came to an end .

He felt certain , however , that in Bro . Lloyd he had more than a worthy successor , and one to whom it vvould be a duty and pleasure to forward the interests of Masonry in every conceivably legitimate manner . Bro . Lloyd next proposed " The Sister Lodge , St . Andrews in the East . " It gave him great pleasure , he said , to see so many brethren of the lodge present on the

occasion of his installation , and he trusted that the same good feeling of fellowship which now existed would always continue between the two lodges . He vvould like always to see them as visitors at his lodge . ' He vvould like better to see them all as members ; indeed , he saw no reason why they should not be . Bro . Turner replied for Lodge St . Andrews .

Bro . Lloyd next proposed "The Visitors , " to which Bro . Major Babington Peile replied in felicitous terms . In the course of his speech he remarked on the unity which ought to exist among Masons of all Constitutions ; he referred to the unity of our Kingdom and Government , which was composed of English , Irish , and Scotch , and said he hoped the day was coming when the

grand interests of Freemasonry would be consolidated into a harmonious whole ; when Scotch , Irish , English , and other Constitutions would be content to work together for the common good of the whole . Thoughtful and intelligent Masons were beginning to see the necessity for this , and he was assured that the day was not far distant when it would become an accomplished fact .

He was followed by Bro . H . Watson , who returned thanks in a brief speech . In proposing " The Office Bearers , Present and Past , " Bro . Lloyd spoke feelingly of Bro . Wise , whose labours in the cause of Masonry were well known throughout the Bombay Presidency . He had been fortunate enough , he said , to secure his valuable services as Treasurer during

his year of office . He did not think , therefore , that any fear need be entertained regarding the financial prosperity of the lodge during the coming year . With Bro . Wise at the head of affairs that prosperity was already a certainty . Bro . Wise responded briefly for the Past Office Bearers , and Bro . Major Guyon for the Present . Both speeches were to to the point , and received well-merited applause .

The Tyler ' s toast was then drunk in the customary manner , and the brethren dispersed . During the evening the proceedings were enlivened by musical contributions from Bros . Livermore , Stanley , Musskett , Hussey , and Wise . The arrangements for the banquet were admirably carried out by the Committee appointed for the purpose .

Banquet And Presentation To W. Bro. Capt. Williams.Freeman, Prov. G.M.M. Of North Africa.

BANQUET AND PRESENTATION TO W . BRO . CAPT . WILLIAMS . FREEMAN , PROV . G . M . M . OF NORTH AFRICA .

The brethren of the Bulwer Lodge of Cairo , No . 1068 ( E . C . ) , and the Mark Lodge of Egypt , No . 311 , entertained W . Bro . Capt . Williams-Freeman , the I . P . M . of the Craft lodge and Prov . Grand Mark Master of North Africa , at a banquet in the Esbekeeyeh Gardens , Cairo , on the iSth ult ., tor the purpose of presenting him with a

testimonial of their high regard and esteem on the occasion of his departure from Egypt . Forty-eight brethren sat down to dinner , amongst whom were Bro . Surgeon-Major McCreery , W . M . of the Bulwer Lodge , on whose right sat the guest of the evening ; Bros . R . Borg , Past District Grand Master of Egypt , and Wilson Bey , both old members and P . M . ' s of the lodge ; Bro . Bacoum

Bey , W . M . of Lodge Sabah ( Arabic Constitution ); Bro . Mukhtar Pasha , Bros . H . J . Scott , S . W ., and A . J . H . Large , J . W . of the lodge ; Bro . the Very Rev . Dean Butcher , Bro . the Rev . G . N . Godwin , Chaplain of the lodge ; and numerous other well-known brethren of Cairo , " quos nunc prjescribere Jongum est . " After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been

drunk , the W . M . rose to propose the toast of the evening . In a few brief words he reminded the brethren present of the great services that W . Bro . Williams-Freeman had rendered to English Freemasonry in Cairo , and how by his indefatigable zeal and energy he had raised the Bulwer Lodge from a state of practical extinction to its present flourishing condition . He also referred to the very high position which he had attained in Mark Masonry , being

Banquet And Presentation To W. Bro. Capt. Williams.Freeman, Prov. G.M.M. Of North Africa.

Prov . G . M . M . for North Africa . He wished him every happiness and success in his next station , and while he deeply regretted the loss that Freemasonry in Cairo would sustain by his departure , he trusted that that might in some measure be compensated for by the wider field for Masonic usefulness which would lie before him in England . He could not let that opportunity pass without referring

to the great interest which Mrs . Williams-Freeman always took in the Bulwer Lodge , as testified by some of the ornamentation of the Iodge room , which the brethren owed to her kindness . The W . AIaster then presented W . Bro . Williams-Freeman , in the name of the brethren , with a handsome bracelet of antique scarabs , set in gold , which he hoped

Mrs . Williams-Freeman would accept and wear in remembrance of the Cairo Freemasons , and a photograph of the worshipful brother himself , taken in the full costume of P . G . Mark Master and framed in mooshrabeeyeh . He then called upon the brethren to drink the healths of W . Bro . and Mrs . Williams-Freeman , accompanying the former toast with the usual Masonic honours .

Both toasts were drunk with great enthusiasm . W . Bro . Williams-Freeman responded in an eloquent and feeling manner . He said—If you agree with me , as I feel sure you do , that a speech is an evil mitigated only by its brevity , 1 fear I am about to inflict on you an unmitigated evil , as 1 cannot sufficiently thank you for your very kind reception of me this evening and the

handsome presents you have given me , in a brief speech , having in some measure to return thanks in a threefold capacity , first , for my wife , secondly , for myself as I am , and thirdly , for myself as I shall be . Mrs . Williams-Freeman , as the daughter of a Mason , the sister of a Mason , the wife of a Mason , and the mother of one who I hope in future time will become a Mason , cannot fail to feel a

real interest in the welfare of the Craft , and I am sure she will greatly appreciate the recognition of that interest by the brethren of Cairo . As for myself as I am , I have always felt it my duty to endeavour , as far as in me lay , to show that English Freemasonry does truly consist in brotherly love , relief , and truth , and in research into those questions of Masonic philosophy which lie open to the

inquiries of all Masons—old and young—and which so well repay the labour bestowed upon them . But I feel that my success in Masonry in Cairo has been greatly aided by the interest shown in the work by everyone with whom I have been associated , without which interest and co-operation every effort of mine must have failed ; while cordial good-fellowship and fraternal feeling have rendered my

connection with the lodges a very pleasant one to look back on . I have never before had so good an opportunity of thanking the brethren collectively for that good feeling and ready support , and I gladly avail myself of the present occasion to do so most heartily and sincerely . And lastly , as regards myself in the future , I can find no more fitting way of expressing my feelings than in the words of the great bard of Masonry :

" Farewell , dear brethren of the mystic tie 1 # ** * # ' # " A last request permit me here , When yearly ye assemble a ' , One toast—I ask it with a tear—To me , the brother far awa' . " Throughout this speech , the Worshipful brother was frequently interrupted by loud and hearty applause .

The following toasts were then proposed in due course , viz : — " The Sister Lodges , responded to by his Excellency Bro . Mukhtar Pasha , who spoke in French , and concluded by proposing "The W . M ., P . M . 's , Officers , and Brethren of the Bulwer Lodge , " and "The Ladies , " responded to by Bro . Vivian , the whole concluding with the Tyler ' s toast

and " Happy to meet , sorry to part , and happy to meet again . " The intervals between the toasts were pleasantly filled by both vocal and instrumental music , rendered by several amateurs amongst the brethren . Altogether a very pleasant evening was spent , and one which we are sure will long remain as a kindly reminiscence in the minds of both guest and hosts .

Re-Opening Of The Masonic Hall , Weymouth.

RE-OPENING OF THE MASONIC HALL , WEYMOUTH .

A meeting ot" more than usual interest and importance marked the re-opening on Friday , the ioth inst ., in Weymouth , after extensive alterations , of the Masonic Hall belonging to All Souls' Lodge , No . 170 . The W . M ., Bro . Zillwood Milledge ^ P . M ., f . P . G . D . C Dorsetshire , a name connected with Freemasonry in Weymouth for close upon a century , threw himself with characteristic vigour and earnestness into the work of renovation and the

formality of re-opening , and the result was in every way a great success . The alterations include the re-arrangement of the form of the lodge , placing it due east and west , the erection of a new dais for the Master and Past Masters , general redecoration throughout , and the construction of a kitchen with all necessary appliances . This has been carried ou

from the designs and under the personal supervision of Bro . VV . Barlow-Morgan , P . M ., the contractor for the builders ' work being Mr . Whettam , and for painting and decoration Mr . James Jesty . The dais has been erected in an apse under an arch supported by Ionic columns with characteristic frieze , cornice , and capitals , the spandrils being filled in and the mouldings ornamented with appropriate Masonic

designs in paper mache , embracing pomegranates , lilies , wheat , and other emblematical suojecrs , and the whole painted in white and picked out in gold . The fast Masters ' landing is approached by nve steps , with two others leading to the chair of the W . M ., and the back has been draped with an exceptionally rich curtain in blue and gold . The centre of the floor has been repainted in a Masonic pattern

and the sides covered with linoleum , the walls repainted in Vermillion , and the ceiling blue , the ornaments being in white and gold ; and the pictures having been re-hung under the supervision of Bro . Sidney Milledge . The gathering to mark the realisation of this long-felt need was alike gratifying and influential , and thoroughly

testified to the fraternal teeling for which our Weymouth brethren are distinguished . Several who had given conditional promises to attend , notably Right Worshipful Bro . Montague Guest , P . G . M . Dorsetshire ; Right Worshipful Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight ; and Bro . Col . Hambro , M . P ., sent letters of apology , but the following were present , namely :. Bros .