First Ladies' Night Of The Royal Kensington Lodge, No. 1627.

... „ Coleman ; Bro . E . Daoust , P . M . ; Bro . Wilson ; Bro . Butter ; Miss Millicent Prince and Bro . Gross ; Bro . Goswin and Mrs . Goswin ; Mr . and Mrs , Cook •Mr - Hayes and Bro . Wood ; Bro . Edwards and Bro . Mill ; Bro , Parsons , Miss Dimmock , Mr . G . Beet , Mr . Harold Anning , Mr . Edgar Anning , Bro . Diamant and Mrs . Diamant ; and Bros . Beet , Jones , and Choubry .

During dinner , bottles of scent were distributed to the ladies , the gift of the Wardens Bros . Ehrmann and Heinemann , and sprays of very beautiful orchids were g iven to all present by Bro . Sanders , of St . Albans . At the conclusion of the banquet , the usual toasts were given , those of " The Ladies" and " The W . M ., " both proposed by Bro . STEVENS , P . M ., Treas ., being received with special favour .

A concert followed , kindly provided by theW . M ., at which the following artistes assisted , under the direction of Bro Butter : Misses Edith Serpell , Emily Foxcroft , Winnifred Burgess , Kate Bunkell , and Millicent Prince ; Bros . W . H , Webb W . M . George , and Bob Rae ; and Mr . Geo . Nelson . The company separated about 11 o ' clock , the visitors having expressed themselves much gratified at the welcome given to them , and hoped that it would become an annual institution .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following additions to lists have been received since our report of last week .-Lodge LONDON . 1263 Bro . J . R . Reep ... ... ... ... 5 5 ° ( raising his list to / 160 ss . )

PROVINCES . Lodge and Chapter HERTFORDSHIRE . £ s . d . 403 Bro . C . E . Keyser ... ... ... ... 21 o o ( raising his list to £ 206 16 s . ) Lodge MIDDLESEX . 778 Bro . Guy G . Repton _ ... ... ... ... 21 o o ( raising his list to £ 37 16 s . )

Scotland.

Scotland .

ANNUAL BALL OF THE CALLENDAR LODGE , No . 588 , AT FALKIRK . The annual ball under the auspices of the above lodge was held in the Town Hall , Falkirk , on the nth instant . As in past years , the event had been looked forward to with much interest by the brethren of the lodge , and at the hands of the Committee entrusted with the preliminary arrangements everything was done that was necessary for making the ball at once attractive and successful . The hall was tastefully adorned with evergreens and other decorations . There was also a

neat arrangement of mirrors , which were placed on the walls on either side of the hall , and these again were pleasantly relieved with embellishments of a floral character . The platform and refreshment tables were pretilly set put with a number of beautiful palms , ferns , and pot plants . Besides this there Was a very nice display of " fairy " lamps , and these added much to the festive aspect of the platform and stalls . Altogether the hall presented a bright and pleasing appearance .

There were in all about 70 couples present , including the R . W . M . and Wardens of Lodge Carron , No . 139 ; Lodge Zetland , No . 391 ; Lodge Denny and Loanhead , No . 176 ; and Lodge Polmont , No . 793 . The grand march was led off by Bro . W . W . Barr , R . W . M ., with Miss Duckett as his partner , the band playing " The Merry Masons . " Thereafter the dance proceeded merrily , and was

continued with much enthusiasm till an early hour in the morning . The music was supplied by Mr . Johnston ' s Falkirk Orchestra , Bros . H . Johnston and Alex . Oliver officiating as Masters of the Ceremonies . There were in all 20 dances . Thc purveying was in the hands of Bro . Linn , of the Black Bull Inn , whose catering gave general satisfaction .

Ireland.

Ireland .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTH ' CONNAUGHT . There was a largely attended gathering at the stated communication of this province on Tuesday , the ioth instant , in Boyle , to dedicate a new Masonic Hall recentl y completed in that town , and although , to the general regret , Lord Harlech , Provincial Grand Master , was unable to be present , yet the proceedings were conducted with much Mat under the gavel of Bro . Rev . Dr . Clarke , 31 ° , Deputy Prov . Grand Master .

The brethren of Boyle , who , for over half a century , have carried on good Masonic work in all the Degrees in the Court Hou-se of their town , are to be congratulated on the acquisition of a very commodious Masonic Hall .

Secret Monitor.

Secret Monitor .

CONSECRATION OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS VICTORIA CONCLAVE , No . 27 .

, . . branch of the Order holding under the Grand Council of Great r | lain ( being the first in Australasia ) was opened at the Masonic Hall , elong , on Friday , 24 th January . The warrant was granted in answer to Petition signed by a number of M . Ms , and Bro . Henry Bannister was PPointed a Grand Officer to conduct the consecration and installation . The

Secret Monitor.

conclave was opened by Bros . Henry Bannister , as Supreme Ruler ; A . P . McMellan , as Councillor ; W . Denning , as Guide ; E . I . F . Sayers , as Guarder ; and T . Hooper , as Sentinel . The induction of 16 candidates was then proceeded with , and the Southern Cross Victoria Conclave , No . 27 , having been consecrated by the

Commissioning Officer , the Supreme Ruler installed the following officers : Bros . A , I . McMellan , Counsellor ; Wm . Denning , Guide ; H . Speed , Sec . ; E . I . F . Sayers , Treas . ; A . H . Bowman , VV . Nicholson , W . H . Kingsbury , and I . Bladiston , Visiting Deacons ; J . L . Massingham , Guarder ; S . Wrathall , D . C . ; T . Cooper , Steward ; and T . Hooper , Sentinel .

Several candidates not being present , it was decided to call an emergency conclave for induction at any early date . The three principal officers were requested to prepare a code of by-laws and other necessary matters . It was resolved that for the first six months the induction fee , including certificate , should be fixed at one guinea and a half . Several propositions were received .

The SUPREME RULER mentioned that he had been applied to for information from different localities . The conclave was then closed . The brethren sat down to a banquet to celebrate the inauguration of the conclave .

The usual toasts being given , very complimentary remarks were made by several of the brethren on the energy and perseverance shown by Bro . Bannister , and so successful a result ; and pleasure was expressed that the Grand Supreme Ruler , the Earl of Warwick , had appointed him a Grand Counsellor of the Grand Council . , A very pleasant evening was spent by all present .

Premier Conclave . The ordinary meeting of this conclave , which is composed of Grand Office rs of the Order , was held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Monday , the oth inst . In the absence of the S . R ., Bro . A . Stewart Brown , P . G . V ., the proceedings of the conclave were conducted under the presidency of Bro . W . M . Bastone , P . G . V ., as S . R ., assisted by Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . G ., as Chancellor ; and Bro . W . J . Spratling , G . R ., as Guide ,

Among the brethren present were Bros . Capt . T . C . Walls , P . G . V . ; W . G . Lemon , P . G . S . R ., Treas . j J . J . Pakes , Sec . ; and Dr . Roberts , P . G . V . A proposal to change the day of meeting was brought up and referred to a Special Committee , with instructions to obtain the views of the brethren generally as to thc most convenient day . Feeling reference was made to the accidental death of Bro . Bradshaw Brown , a member of the Order , and formerly a member of this Conclave .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

Mount Calvary Encampment ( D ) . This ancient encampment met at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln ' s Inn-Fields , orl the 13 th inst ., when there were present , among others : Sir Knights the Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A ., E . C . : H . Hills , ist Caot . ; B . Johnson , 2 nd Capt . j Capt . T . C . Walls , P . E . C , P . G . C . of Gds ., Reg . ; B . Stewart , Expert ; F . W . Driver , M . A ., P . E . C .,- H . J . Lardner , P . E . C ; N . Prower , M . A ., P . E . C ; W . Maple , P . E . C . ; C . Slater , P . E . C ; L R . Carter , Egbert Roberts , Org ., and H . Lindus .

The minutes of the previous encampment having been read and confirmed , Sir Knight W . Maple , P . E . C ., was presented with a Past Commander ' s jewel . It was arranged that the summer banquet should be held at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , on the third Tuesday in June next A letter was read from Sir Knight J . Henwood Thomas , an old member of the ' encampment , who has been very ill for thc past six years , conveying to the sir knights the tidings that he wis improving in health . A vote of congratulation was passedand directed to be forwarded to him . Communications

regretting inability to attend were received from Sir Knights Lieut .-Col . F . Stohwasser , P . E . C , Treas . ; L . Steele , P . E . C . ; T . Wood , P . E . C . ; J . R . Ubsdell , O . Berry , and others . The encampment was then closed . A banquet followed . The E . C . presided in a most genial manner , his speeches being models of good taste and diction .

Sir Knight W . Maple responded on behalf of " The Past Commanders , " in w hich he thanked the sir knights for their sympathy in his recent illness , and particularly he expressed his acknowledgments to Sir Knight H . J . Lardner for performing the ceremony of installation for him . During the proceedings , Sir Knights Egbert Roberts , II . Hills , and F . W . Driver , P . E . C , entertained the sir knights . The latter recited a short , but very beautiful poetical composition of the Eminent Commander ' s , viz ., "The Requiem . "

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

Premier Conclave . A meeting of this distinguished conclave was held at Mark Masons' Hall on the 2 nd inst . Among those attending were Sir Knights J . J . Paltes , M . P . S . ; G . Graveley , V . C . ; H . J . Lardner , P . G . C , P . M . P . S ., Treas . ; Captain T . C . Walls , P . G . C , P . M . P . S ., Recorder ; J . Purrott , P . M . P . S . ; F . G . Robinson , P . M . P . S . ; and C Keyser , P . G . G ., P . M . P . S .

The minutes of the previous convocation having been read and confirmed , it was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimously , " That in future the conclave meet on the first Monday in February , instead of January as heretofore . " Communications were read from absent members , viz .: Sir Knights L . Steele , the Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A . ; T . Phillips ; H . C . Heard , P . M . P . S . ; and W . A . Scurrah . The conclave was closed .

The sir knights then attended the Grand Conclave , which was held under the presidency of the Grand Sovereign of the Order , Sir Knight the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston . The subsequent banquet took place at Freemasons' Tavern .

* AliviCES 1 'KO . M Copenhagen are to the effect that II . R . IL the Princess of Wales , the Princesses Victoria and Maud , and the Duke and Duchess of York will be present at the marriage of the Princess Louise of Denmark with Prince Frederick of Snhaunberg-Lippe in May .

A SALE WAS opened at Sotheby ' s on Monday of Greek coins from the collection formedbythelateBro . il . Montagu , Vice-President ofthe Numismatic Society , and some very good prices were obtained , a gold stater of -luo B . C . realising £ 100 ; a croton stater , circa 430 B . C ., £ 75 ; a gold drachm ( altic ) , with head of fossidon , £ 40 ios .,- and a gold diobol , £ 25 ios . The day ' s sale realised yt ' tjoo , giving an average of £ 10 per coin .