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household circles , of dear faces and noble hearts , wanting alike in high and humble homes . While we exult in the return of so many gallant soldiers and sailors , and rejoice to think of the remarkable national ceremony of last

Saturday , let us sympathize with those to whom the very shouts of applause and admiration -will have but served to intensify for the moment the grief and the loss they have personally to endure , in patient submission to the decrees and the overruling Providence of T . G . A . O . T . U .

-Is 'I ' THE cheers with which our Gracious Sovereign , and the Royal Family , and various distinguished personages were greeted on Saturday last by all classes ,- are facts to be remembered and realized . The Queen received an ovation as spontaneous as it was sincere ; while the plaudits which

o-reeted H . R . H . the Prince of WALES , thc Princess of WALES and her three daughters , were not thc least noteworthy , as cxhibitivc of the loyal attachment and affection of all classes ' . Thc sailors and soldiers , as they defiled by Her MAJESTY , received most significant proofs of the admiration of all classes in which all classes equally shared , the highest in the land not excepted ;

while the enthusiasm which greeted the good old "Jollies , ' who went by in magnificent form , was a significant expression of that national regard and admiration which the deeds of that noble corps of marines , alike as light infantry and gunners , have long , and latterly more markedly than ever , secured for themselves . Our Royal Bro . the Duke of CONNAUGHT , at the

head of the brigade of Guards , was the recipient of a warm outburst of approval as well for his soldierly services , as for that noble body of men he led . And the other represented regiments , especially our Indian contingent , obtained enthusiastic expressions of admiration and applause . It was , indeed , an " alba dies to be long remembered with pleasant associations .

* * THE verdicts of the successive juries on the Maamtrasna murders , which in their awful intensity of deliberate cruelty and barbarous wickedness , sent a thrill of horror through a whole civilized community , will be entirely approved of by all who regard human life as a sacred thing , and loathe and

repudiate the horrible dominion and lawless violence of secret political societies . Let us hope that after this needful example which thc majesty of the law has made and still makes of such deliberate malefactors , peace , order , and prosperity may be restored to that beautiful country which has

long been given over to the schemes and outrages of the professional agitator and the determined law-breaker . We shall all wish for better days for Ireland , and for all connected with its land , its manufactures , and its general industry .

* * * OUR contemporar }' , the Standard , alludes to an amusing matrimonial advertisement , in which a lady of thirty seeks for a husband , assuring some ardent bachelor or widower that , though without means , she is " a fortune in herself . " It is just possible , we think , that many who are

" inveigled , as Mr . Weller liked to say , into the happy state of wedlock , find that there are " marriages and marriages , and "wives and wives , that all is " not gold that glitters , and that appearances are sometimes deceitful , and anticipations unfulfilled . II , therefore , the fair advertiser be as good as her words , we congratulate heartily some fortunate man who finds such a real treasure .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening last , at Freemasons Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . SB ., President , Bro . James Brett , P . G . P . Junior Vice President , and Bro . C A . Cottebrune , P . G . P ., occupied the chairs respectively of President , and Senior and Junior Vice-President . There were also present

Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , Grand Secretary , H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Sec ; W . Dodd ; W . H . Lee ; Henry Garrod , P . M . 749 ; G . P . Britten ; VV . Mann ; J . H . Matthews ; Frank Richardson ; Charles Dairy ; A . Stewart , District Grand Master , Punjab ; E . F . Storr ; Charles Atkins ; Thomas Wright , P . G . P . ; John Sampson Peirce , P . G . D . ; Charles F . Hogard ; Rev . John Edmund Cox , D . D ., P . G . C ; F . R . Spaull ; G . Bolton ; William P . Brown ; Charles D . Hoblyn ; Arthur E . Gladwell ; Abel Perrot ;

Thomas Smith ; J . H . Younghusband ; George Brown ; F . Earnest ; VV . Collard ; William Cripps ; Julius Quitmann ; William Holloway ; William Hancock ; H . F . Paget ; John E . Ranking ; VV . Bristow ; George Free ; Henry J . Tucker ; Rev . P . Tate ; Edward White ; George Smith , junr . ; James S . Brown ; C . A . Woods ; Edgar Bowyer ; 1 . N . Thompson ;; J . H . Taylor ; F . Brown ; R . F . Ouldj Henry Roberts ; Richard Trill : G . P . Festa ; Capt . A . Nicols ; W . H . Ferryman ; Thomas A . Harper ;

John Harper ; Joseph House ; Rudolph Fandrel ; R . J . Leamar ; R . W . Pearcy ; W . H . Dean ; William Kirkness ; J . Mason ; J . Lancaster ; William Charles Hall ; Edward B . Grabham ; Simeon Jacobs ; F . W . Koch ; R . J . Pigott ; William F . Smart ; E . Kell ; A . Posener ; F . Wallis ; VV . Hitchcock ; Charles Denton ; A . VV . Carrington ; James Willing , junr . ; John Sanders ; Thomas Blackland ; H . J . Johnson ; John VV . Freeman ; G . Anderson ; 1 . H . Watts ; John White ; H . Potter ; William Perrin ;

A . Snellgrove ; William Robinson ; G . Smout , junr . ; C . Wellard ; L . C . Hashp ; C . VV . Kent ; W . J . Beck ; James Kers ; T . Hosgood ; Joyce Murray ; Aug . Darch ; H . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . The Board of Masters was first held , and the agenda paper for Grand Lodge next Wednesday week was settled . At the Lodge of Benevolence , the brethren first confirmed grants recommended at the former meeting to of

the amount of ^ 160 . new list contained enormous number fiftysix cases . Dealing with these cases , occupied the lodge till half-past ten , by which time the brethren had voted . £ 1 , 340 . This was composed of one grant of ^ 100 ; nine of £ 50 each ; four of £ 40 each ; eight of £ 30 each ; eleven of , £ 20 each ; five of £ 15 each ; nine of £ 10 each ; and one ol £ 5 One case was dismissed , and the remainder were deferred . The Lodge was then closed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW MASONIC HALL BY THE DUKE OF ALBANY , P . G . M .

Friday , the 17 th inst ., was a-great day at Banbury . On that day the good town , so deservedly famous for its cakes , was all alive with cheerful faces , flying flags , guards of honour , and brilliant sunshine to enliven a bitterl y cold day , and save a Masonic procession and ceremony from being miserable . His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany , Prov . Grand Master for Oxfordshire , held a Provincial Grand Lodge at Banbury Town Hall , at

which he was supported by Bros . Col . Shadwell I-I . Clerke , Grand Secretary ; Sir John B . Monckton , President of the Board of General Purposes ; Rev . H . A . Pickard , Past Grand Chaplain ; Rev . S . R . Wigram , Past Grand Chaplain ; F . P . Morrell , Past Grand Deacon ; and other ofliccrs of the Grand Lodgeof England . Bro . R . H . Collins , C . B ., wns in

attendance as Equerry to His Royal Highness , who travelled from London by the 10 a . m . train , stopping only at Oxford , which was reached at 11 . 4 . 5 , and arriving at Banbury at 12 . 17 , where he was received by Bro . Reginald Bird , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , and a guard of honour , and , accompanied by a military escort , at once proceeded to the Red Lion Hotel .

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master in the Town Hall , the following brethren being present in addition to those above-mentioned : — John Potts , Prov . S . G . W . ; J . J . Hughes , Prov . J . G . W . ; W . H . White , P . G . R . ; Alfred Winkfield , P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec ; H . Houghton , P . P . G . W ., Prov . G . A . Sec ; W . Ellis , P . G . S . D . ; R . E . Baynes , P . G . D . C ; H .

Drinkwater , P . G . S . B . ; A . Rowley , P . G . Org . j T . Lucas , P . G . Steward ; Archibald Brakspear , P . G . Steward ; F . VV . Ansell , 340 , P . P . G . S . VV . ; J . N . Palmer , P . P . G . Chap . ; R . T . Hodge , P . P . G . S . W . ; E . L . Hawkins , VV . M . 357 , P . P . G . R . ; Stuart Angel Smith , P . G . Chap . ; S . D . Darbishire , 357 , P . G . Steward ; E . J . Hartley , P . P . G . Steward ; G . Norwood , Prov . G . Tyler ; VV . Biggs , Prov . G . A . Tyler ; G . Osmond , W . M . 17 G 3 ; 1 . Seary , P . M . 1763 ; J . A . Acock .

John Griffin , M . D . ; J . M . Stone-Wegg ; J . M . Dormor , W . M . 340 ; F . Ryman Hall , P . M . 340 ; Thos . Elcy , S . W . 340 ; J . Calcutt , VV . M . 1 399 ; T . H . Holland , P . M . 1763 ; John Scroggs , P . M . ; C . Park , P . M . 340 ; A . Raymond , 1515 ; R . H . Humfrey ; VV . L . Morgan , 357 ; Thos . Fowler , 599 ; W . Chanvberlin , 599 ; J . Wells , 599 ; J . G . Cowper , 599 ; G . Strover . 599 ; D . Snell , 1763 ; T . H . White , 1763 ; B . Hunn , 1 S 95 ; G . VV . Rolfe , Chap . 1895 ; F . T . Robinson , 103 G ; G . S .

Hedges , 1036 ; G . VV . Doming , 340 ; G . Gillman , 340 ; A . Hill , 340 ; A . Badcock , 340 ; H . E . Beech , 357 ; VV . Edwards , 599 ; W . E . VVood , 599 ; F . Marsh , 1 S 95 ; J . Bray , 340 ; W . A . Samman , 599 ; J . Tillyer , 599 ; C . Claridge , 599 ; F . Codd , 1515 ; J . Reade , VV . M . 1036 ; H . Birch , P . M . 1763 ; R . Bunting ; C Daniel , P . M . 755 . W . Y . Paul , 1036 ; F . Shayler , 103 G ; E . Taylor , 103 G ; VV . R . Cooper , 599 ; VV . J . Birkbeck , 357 ; J . Greenshields , 103 G ; H . C . Rogers , 357 ; J . W . Rhodes , 1 S 95 ; G . Parker , 357 ; J . Payne , D . C . L ., Chap . 1 703 ; I . S . Kimberley , 599 ; J .

N ' > 1515 ; G . H . Horn , 1703 ; VV . Atkins , 1703 ; J . Bartlett , 1703 ; VV . Whadcote , ' 703 » J- Church , 1703 ; R . C . Lever ( Surgeon-Major Hussars ) , 47 8 ; J . S . Palmer , W . M . 599 ; T . W . Holland , P . M . 599 ; VV . R . Bowden , 340 ; Walter Peppercorn , P . M . 47 S ; C . A . Robinson , 1 S 95 ; F . C . Wakefield , 1703 ; T . P . Barford , 599 i J- J- Hill , 1703 ; A . D'Oyley Brooks , 1 S 95 ; E . Elms , 1703 ; D . Preston , 1515 ,- A . T . Matthews , 1703 ; T . C Early , 1703 ; T . Moss , Tyler 599 ; G . R . Norwood , Asst , Tyler 357 ; and G . Field , Asst . Tyler 340 .

The following were among the visitors : Bros . Lord Leigh , P . G . M . VVaiwickshire ; Colonel Machen , D . P . G . M . Warwickshire » Edwd . Worrall , P . P . G . W . Warwickshire ; H . J . Couchafer , P . P . G . Chap . Warwickshire ; J . Moffatt , P . G . Chap . Warwickshire ; E , A . Webster , P . J . G . D . Warwickshire ; T . VV . Bladon , P . G . O . Warwickshire ; N . xMerridew , P . G . S . W . Warwickshire ; S . Srawley , P . G . P . Warwickshire ; E . R . Kimpton , A . P . G . P . Warwickshire ; G . Cuffe ,

P . G . Chap . Warwickshire ; W . Corder , P . G . S . B . Warwickshire ; C . F . Brown , P . G . S . Warwickshire ; B . J . Allsop , P . G . S . Warwickshire ; C Edwards , A . D . C . Warwickshire ; C . Thompson , P . D . C Essex ; C . II . Lloyd , P . P . G . O . Gloucester ; W . A , Ayton , 10 ; C . Duffell Faulkner , P . M . 390 ; VV . B . Newton , 445 ; C . Bye , 18 93 ; N , Ruby , 1 S 3 G ; T . Oldham , 345 ; VV . H . Harrison , 1295 ; C Harding , 56 7 ; S . Hitchcox , 725 ; E . Stokes , 1585 ; J . Compton , 105 G ; J . Wells , 1612 ; E . Fogg , 350 ; and C , C Cole , 450 .

A procession of the brethren was formed , and proceeded to the site of the new Masonic Hall , where they took up their places as pointed out by the Directors of Ceremonies . H . R . H . joined the procession as it passed the hotel . All being in order : — The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER addressed the brethren as follows :

Brethen here assembled to behold this ceremony : You know that we , as Masons , are engaged by solemn obligations to be true and faithful to the laws of our country , to erect handsome lodges to be serviceable to the brethren , and to fear God the Great Architect of the Universe . We have among us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may not be revealed , and which no man has discovered ; but these secrets are lawful

and honourable , and not repugnant to the laws of God or man . They were entrusted in peace and honour to Masons of ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries ; nor should we have had so many illustrious brothers in our Order , ready to promote our laws and further our interests . Wcare assembled here to-day , in the name of Him who is the

Wisdom and the Light , to lay the foundation stone of a building in which the rites and ceremonies of our Order may be performed in accordance with the ancient charges and constitutions ; and , as the first duty of Masons in any undertaking is to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe on their work , I call upon you to unite with our Provincial Grand Chaplain in an address to the throne of grace . The PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPLAIN having offered up prayer ,

His ROYAL HIGHNESS said , —1 now declare it to Ue my will and pleasure that the corner stone of this building be laid . Bro . Provincial Grand Treasurer , you will deposit the coins in this cavity . The upper stone was then raised and the lower one adjusted , and a phial containing specimens of each of the silver and bronze current coins struck