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alarming , its outlook more despairing than at the present hour . This painful and prevalent disregard of human life ; this fearful savagery to man and beast ; this repudiation of lawful contracts ; this resistance to lawful authority ; all this sad and veritable state of the country , except in some favoured districts , must make all very anxious in respect

of what the next few months will bring forth . There seems to be a call upon all loyal and patriotic citizens in Ireland , party associations forgotten , to give their hearty and united support to the Queen's Government in one of the " •reatest crises and most dangerous emergencies which Ireland , dark and troubled as her past has been , lias even witnessed . Everything should be

done to support the authorities in their laudable and needful efforts to vindicate law , to preserve order , to punish crime , to protect property , to uphold the constitutional union of Great Britain , and to safeguard the imperilled liberties of the many suffering classes of the Irish people . Since we wrote

the above , by one of those Providential acts which serve often to detect and prevent crime , the whole of the perpetrators of the horrible murders of the J OYCE family , ten in number , have been ascertained , and are arrested . The murderers of LEAHY will , it is also hoped , not long escape detection and

apprehension . * * * MANY of our readers have seen and laughed heartily at " Box and Cox " in its ludicrous situations , its amusing episodes , and its touching denouements . Oneof our contemporaries has kindly given us alia striking commentary on this

well-known interlude , showing us convincingly how that truth is often stranger even than fiction , and how that more improbable things come true here , than are sometimes dream ' t of in our mundane and normal philosophy . Let us listen to the Globe : " ' Box and Cox ' has just been enacted in real life . It was in Vienna , and the facts have been in an undramatic way disclosed at a

police-court . A Madame R OSENTHAL ( the Mrs . BOUNCER of the piece ) let a room to two men separately . One vas engaged at some gas works , and was out all night , including Sundays . The other was porter at the establishment of a tradesman ( not a hatter ) , and was employed all day . At last came the inevitable . One man , having a holiday , found the other in his

bed . Mrs . BOUNCER ( Madame ROSENTHAL ) tried to explain that she had let the room on the condition that one of them should use it only in the day and the other only at night . But the gasman carried the case to the

policecourt for the return of the caution-money he had lodged with her , and won the day . Plays are frequently founded on real incidents , but it is seldom that incidents , as in this case , appear to be founded on a play . "

* , * it WE call attention to a paragraph elsewhere which may interest many of our readers . It is the simple fact that 25 , 000 officers and men of the various branches of Her MAJESTY ' Service have raised a monument to the late Prince I MPERIAL in front of the Royal Military Academy , Woolwich . We

have always felt how very touching was the fact in itself , that one bearing the name of N APOLEON should have fallen wearing the British uniform . But the mournful circumstances attending his lamented and heroic death are such as ever to endear his memory to all those who admire deeds of gallantry , and prize the records of the brave , the loyal , and the true . No finer episode

in the days of chivalry ; no more stirring deed of arms is recorded , whether in the striking tales of FROissARTand MONSTRELET , or the later chroniclers , has ever marked the death of a soldier , or the sacrifice of a noble life . English soldiers , who are ever loyal and brave themselves , will long retain affectionate memories of their very noble and devoted comrade , the late and lamented Prince IMPERIAL .

* * * WE are amused to note that a certain amount of political capital is being made out of the Submarine Dover and Calais Tunnel question , and that , above all , it is sought to enlist the sympathies of working men in the matter ,

and get up an ag itation on the subject . Anything more unwise or injudicious we cannot well conceive . The question is one of the gravest patriotic and cosmopolitan importance , and can only be decided , after much serious consideration , not as a mere commerical speculation , but on the highest grounds of the national safety and welfare .

Communique.

COMMUNIQUE .

The more Bro . James Stevens' motion is thought over , the more all our readers , we think , must be convinced of its unreasonableness and of its unconstitutional character . Giving Bro . Stevens credit for good intentions , he has clearly made a great mistake . The alteration of the words " District Grand Lodges" into " Subordinate Grand Lodges , " & c , cannot serve him ,

inasmuch as he does not yet clearly understand , it is evident , the ruling of the Pro Grand Master upon the point . The Pro Grand Master never said that his only objection to the motion was the word " District , " & c , but he gave that expression as one sufficient reason ( without going into any others ) why the action of the President of the Board of Masters was perfectly

legitimate and proper . The gravest objection to Bro . Stevens motion lies in this that it is a direct and deliberate attempt to interfere with the absolute and unimpeachable prerogatives of the Grand Master . It is hoped , therefore , that the Craft has heard the last of such a proposition . If the

extension of the Provincial Grand Lodge system in the Metropolitan District is ever to take place , the proper and constitutional Initiative of the Grand Master and his advisers must be patiently awaited . It is hopeless for any one brother thus to attempt to forestall the regular action of our own authorities .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B ., President , Bro . James Brett , P . G . P ., Junior Vice-President , and tlie Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , occupied the chairs of Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents .

The other brethren present were Bros . Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D .,- J . H . Matthews , P . M . 143 ; G . P . Britten , P . M . 1 S 3 ,- L . F . Littell , A . G . P . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Thos . Cull , P . M . 1446 ; VV . Wilson , P . G . P . •J . D . Collier , P . M . 13 C 6 ; E . F . Storr , P . M . 22 ; Charles Atkins , P . M . 27 ; Charles Dairy , P . M . 141 ; C . VV . Peters , W . M . 507 ; Thos . Hosgood , W . M . 13 ; E . Spooner , P . M . 1420 ; Arthur E . Gladwell , P . M . 172 ; George Cole , VV . M . 742 ; A . M . Broadley , P . M . 1717 ,

W . M . 1 S 35 ; Walter Spencer , P . M . 263 ; G . Bolton , W . M . 1155 ; D . W . Finney , P . M ., P . P . G . D . N . VVales and Shrops ., 14 S and 1250 ; J . C . Smith , W . M . 1457 ; F . Davison , P . M . 10 and 70 S ; F . Marlet . W . M . 1 743 ; VV . Denison , VV . M . 1541 ; Robt . P . W . H . Ferryman , W . M . 1351 ; C . F . Matier , P . M . 645 ; D . M . Dewar , P . M . 1415 ; William Bramham , W . M . 1805 ; Joseph C . Green , W . M . 1150 ; J , McLean , W . M . 177 ; A . Grelecker , VV . M . 1349 ; John Cox , W . M . 157 ; George Brown ,

VV . M . 140 ; George A . Landy , W . M . 901 ; Joyce Murray , W . M . 706 ; J . Brockett Sorrell , VV . M . 17 C ; George P . Gillard , W . M . 657 ; Thomas Hithcinson , VV . M . 12 G 0 ; R . J . Taylor , I . P . M . 144 ; Nathaniel Goodchild , W . M . 704 ; F . Morgan , W . M . 1572 ¦; T . B . Linscott , VV . M . 55 ; E . W . Wilson , W . M . 169 ; J . H . Watts , VV . M . 633 J . Roberts , W . M . 65 ; G . Fehrenbaek , Treas . and P . M . 3 S 2 ; Tate , I . P . M . S 62 ; Joseph Claughton , W . M . 16 73 ; H . G . Buss , Assist . Grand Sec ; VV . Dodd , Neville Green , H . Sadler , Grand Tyler ; and H . Massey , VV . M . 192 S ( Freemason ) .

The brethren first met on a Board of Masters , when the draft of the agenda paper for Grand Lodge of 6 th September was submitted to them . At the Lodge of Benevolence they first confirmed the recommendations at the July meeting , to the amount of - £ 240 . The list of new cases contained only twenty-five , a smaller number than has been on the list for a long time .

Nevertheless , the consideration of these cases occupied the brethren nearl y four-hours . Two of the cases were deferred , and one was dismissed . The remainder were relieved as follows : One - £ 150 ; one £ 100 ; two £ 50 ( - £ 100 ); one £ 40 ; four £ 30 ( £ 120 ); five £ 25 ( £ 125 ) ; two £ 20 ( £ 40 ) ; one £ 15 ; four . £ 10 ( . £ 40 ); and one - £ 5—or a total of £ 735 . The Lodge was then closed in form .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of South Wales (Western Division).

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES ( WESTERN DIVISION ) .

We gave in our last issue a short account of this meeting , which took place at Haverfordwest , on Wednesday , the 16 th inst . We now suppfy further particulars . When the consideration of the Charity Committee ' s recommendation that the sum of twenty-five guineas be voted from the funds to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys came on , Bro . G .

GRIFFITHS made an urgent appeal on behalf of a distressed brother , a man who was well known and deservedly respected throughout the province . Unfortunately , this worthy Mason had been stricken down by paralysis , and it was deemed essentially necessary he should undergo a lengthened period of cessation from labour as the only chance of regaining his strength .

Before Prov . Grand Lodge voted the sum named above for the Boy ' s School , Bro . Griffiths begged they would consider the urgency of this case . He had no wish to oppose the proposed vote , but he feared the funds at their disposal would not enable them lo do what was required if the twenty-five guineas was thus absorbed .

Bro . J . LLEWELLYN DAVIES supported . What he thought it desirable to do was , that the Provincial Grand Lodge should undertake to provide a substitute who would perform the clerical duties of the afflicted brother for a period of six months . This would entail an outlay of say £ 50 . Some discussion followed , and several practical suggestions were made as

to how this amount could be realised . The claims of the Boys' School were fully recognised , and in view of the effort that must be made at the election in October next , when the candidate supported by the province—Geoffry Stuart Jones—will stand his last chance of admission , it was thought imperative that the proposed grant of twenty-five guineas should be made . On the

question being put , the a . mount was unanimously agreed to . Later on , however , - £ 20 was voted from the Provincial Fund of Benevolence , and a Committee was formed to collect the additional £ 30 requisite to carry out the

suggestion of Bro . Llewellyn Davies . The appeal was heartily responded to , and the brethren were enabled to return to Milford with the assurance that il repose would enable our afflicted brother to recruit his strength the means for enjoying it were secured .

The next business was to receive the report of the Charity Commissioners . This directed attention to the fact that the resources had been exhausted by the efforts made to elect a child into the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in 1881 , consequently they started without any reserve of votes . At the last meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge a candidate from this province was

adopted , a youth brought forward by the Pembroke brethren . The promotion of the interests of this boy—Geoffrey Stuart Jones—has been the sole care of the Commissioners during the past year , but they had not yet succeeded in securing his election . The delay is unavoidable—it arises in the

first place from this lad having been placed in charge so soon after efforts in favour of other candidates had placed the province in a weak position in regard to votes ; and in the second place , from the fact of an election of a candidate for the Boys' School being much more difficult than the election of a candidate for either of the other Institutions connected with

Freemasonry . I o make this clear it was pointed out , firstly , that at each election only some 150 Boys' votes and 120 Girls' votes were forthcoming from the province , which had succeeded in polling 1134 votes for the boy . The candi-