India.

ness of the hour , the W . M . said he would defer the business of passing and raising to an emergent meeting , Avhich would be held on the 25 th inst . A letter was then read from Bro . Oliver , resigning the office of JIaster , owing to his being about to leave India . The Prov . G . JI . said that he wished to say a few ivords about Bro . Oliver , who is one of his oldest and best friends , and who he Avas sorry to say had to leave India for England owing to ill healthprobably never to reach there .

, He considered the lodge had lost a worthy and esteemed man , and a good JIason . He concluded by proposing Bro . Oliver . as an honorary member of the lodge . This proposition Avas seconded by Bro . J . Jlackinlay and carried unanimously . Propositions were then put forward for several candidates for initiation and affiliation . ¦ There being no further business before the lodge , it was closed in harmony at 9 p . m . -An

emergent meeting of Lodge Perseverance was held on the 25 th March . Present : —Bro . J . Jamieson , as AV . JI . ; Bro . J . Hodgart , P . JI . ; Bros . J . H . Irvine , as S . AV . ; S . Patterson , J . AV . ; C . Jones , Treasurer and oflig . Secretary ; J . Reynell , S . D . ; B . Field , J . D . ; J . Lockley , I . G . ; IT . Bailey , Tyler . Jlembers : T . Slynn , G . Patterson , T . Patterson , II . Showell , Hermann , JIasson , Davies , Innes , J . C . Hbughland , D . Jlacneil , IT . Krease , Jjawson ,

Chilcott , Green , Lockley , S . Hodgart , W . Smith , J . Reeves , Jlackenzie , and Gray . Visitors : Bros . H . AA ickham , J . Coulter , H . Winekler . The lodge having been duly opened iu the first degree , the summons convening the meeting was read . Messrs . Rydlo , Henderson , and Armstrong were duly prepared and initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry . Bros . C . E . Green , Alcock , Krease , Smith , Innes , and Chilcott , were then

passed to the second degree . Bros . Reeves , Abbott , Elder , Hermann , Smith , Green , Chilcott , Krease , Alcock , Innes , were next examined as to their proficiency in the Fellow Craft's degree . The lodge was raised to the third degree , and the above brethren duly raised to the sublime degree of JIaster Jlasons . The lodge was then lowered to the second and first degree and closed in peace and harmony at 10 p . m . LODGE RISING STAR ( NO . 342 , S . C . )—At a quarterly meeting of the above lodge , held at the JIasonic Hall , Colaba , on

Wednesday , JIarch 22 , there were present Bros . D . R . Colah , AV . M . ; JI . JI . Sethua , P . JI . ; C . J . Tarachund , S . AA . ; E . C . Bhadoorjee , J . AV . ; M . 0 . Jlurzban , Sec . ; F . C . Jlehta , officiating S . D . ; JI . Framroz , J . D . ; D . B . Paseckakana , I . G . ; C . S . Patell , Tyler . Jlembers—Bros . D . IT . Cawasjee , S . David , Jehangir Merwanjee , Jamsetjee Furdoonjee , and J . IT . Irvine . A isitors—Bros . IT . AVickham , F . D . Parker , 11 . B . Bermedy , and Hodgart . The lodge having been opened in the first degree , the minutes

of the regular meeting of the 20 th February , and those of the Standing Committee of the 3 rd , Sth , and 17 th inst . were read and confirmed . The immediate business on the summons being to ballot for Bro . F . L . Brown , and Bros . Dadabhoy Dinshawe Ghandy and IT . II . Avron for affiliation , and Bro . Burjorjee Sorabjee Ashburner for re-joining , it was duly proceeded with , and found all quite clear . The lecture on the tracing hoard of

the first degree was next given by the AA . JI . The next business beiii ^; to pass Bro . Jehangir Merwanjee , he was examined as to his proficiency in the first degree , and , having passed the examination , the Entered Apprentices were asked to retire , and Bro . Jehangir Jlerwanjee was passed to the Fellow Craft degree in due and ancient form , alter which the W . M . gave the charge appertaining to the degreeand read an appeal from

, Bro . H . Prescott on behalf of the widow and four children of the late Bro . Thomas AVright . The AV . JI . proposed that fifty rupees be contributed from the charity fund of this lodge for the relief of the widow and orphans of our lamented Bro . Thomas AVright , which was carried unanimously . The Secretary was about to read a letter from Bro . N . N . Framjee , but the AV . M . observed that there was no necessity for reading it ,

and said for the information of the brethren that , owing to a certain part of the proceedings of the regular meeting of January last having been inserted in the minutes , Bro . N . N . Framjee ' s feelings seem to have been hurt , which part was read over , and on Bro . Merwanjee JIanoekjee Sethna proposing , seconded by the AV . M ., it was carried unanimously that that part of the minutes which referred to the subject be expunged . There being no further business before the lodge , it was closed in peace and harmony .

Ar01502

Tnu cloudy Aveather melts at lenght into beauty , and the brightest smiles of the heart are born of its tears !

Poetry.

Poetry .

SEEK FOR IT . Darkly hid beneath the quarry , Jlasons , many a true block lies ; Hands must shape and hands must carry , Ere the Overseer will prize . Seek ; for it , measure it , Fashion it , polish it ;

Then the Overseer will prize . AA'hat though shapeless , rough , and heavy , Think ye God his work will lose ? Raise the block with strength he gave ye , Fit it for the JIaster ' s use . Seek for it , measure it , Fashion ifc , polish it ;

Then the Overseer will use . 'Twas for this our fathers banded—Through life ' s quarries they did roam ; Faithful-hearted , skilful-handed , Bearing many a true block home . Noticing , measuring , Fashioning , polishing , For the glorious temple-home !

FAITH . Away to the golden sunset , In the shadow long and deep , Afar in the misty clouds I see The face of a child asleep . Her brow is pure as the lilies white That ope on the lighted lake ,

And her hair , in shaded , Avaving folds , Into golden sunbeams break . The smile of heaven is on her face , In her peaceful silent rest ; She seemeth to me as once I loved , AA'ith her white hands on her breast . In the holtwiliht ' s shadow } calm

y g , AA hen the evening hours have come , I see her face in the embers bright , AVho hath gone to the beautiful home . And then , in the dreamy hours of night , Her form beside me stands , I feel her light breath on my face , And the touch of her childish hands .

I see her ever , in my dreams , On the hills , by the sounding sea ; In the forest aisles and the opening flowers , And I know she will come for me . H . JI .

HOPE . ( From the German of SCHILLER . ) Unceasingly we talk and dream Of the heavenly days in store ; Some golden aim before us place , Then labour earnestly and soar . The world grows oldand then its youth renews

, , And still mankind a better hope pursues . Kind hope attends us all the way , She hovers round our childhood ' s bed . The young man feels her magic charms , She sheds her light e ' en round the dead . The tree of life blooms ever on the grave Of him whom sure and steadfast hope doth save .

This is no vain , no baseless thought Begotten in the foolish breast ; It is the heart's loud earnest voice That tells us of a future rest . And when that inner , living voice she hears , The soul Avithin us banishes her fears . —J . K ., P . Prov , Gt . Chap .