India.

Lahore ) , as J . D . ; John Robinson , Sec , Bro . AV . H . Fitze was advanced to the second degree by the AV . M . Bros . H . Humphrey and Simmons were raised to the M . M . ' s degree by Bro . John AV . Brown , who had been invited to attend for the purpose of assisting in the labours of the evening . LODGE HUMILITY WITH FORTITUDE . —This lodge met on the 21 st of September . Present—Bros . J . E . Knight , AV . M . ; J . G . Bowevman , P . M . ; F . Jennings , P . M . ; A . D'Cruz , as S . AV . ;

J . Bruce Gillon , J . W . ; F . M'Alpin , Treas . ; J . AValter Beatson , Sec ; J . Mackintosh , as S . D . ; C . S . Gcebbels , as J . D . ; E . Symonds , I . G . ; and B . Jacobs , Tyler , besides members aud visitors , amongst the latter of whom we were glad to see our Bro . J . AV . Brown . Bro . T . Holmes was raised to the third degree by Bro . Bowerman . An allowance to the widow of a Mason was renewed for six months . A letter was read from the G . Sec . to the Grand Lodge of Englandnotifying that the

, number of the lodge had been altered by the Grand Lodge from 279 to 229 . Another meeting of this lodge was held on the Sth October . Present—Bros . J . B . Knight , W . M . ; J . G . Bowerman and P . Jennings , P . M . ' s ; F . M'Alpin , Treas ., as S . AV . ; J . Bruce Gillon , J . AV . ; J . AValter Beatson , Sec ; J . Mackintosh , as S . D . ; E . Symonds , I . G . ; B . Jacobs , Tyler , besides members and

visitors . It being a quarterly meeting , the report of the Permanent Committee was read , and showed th lLt il dodge Avas in a prosperous condition . Notwithstanding . ae bad weather , the brethren mustered in pretty good numbers . The next meeting of the lodge will be held on the 2 nd No \ r ember , at half-past six p . m ., aud thenceforward there will be two meetings a month , on the first and third Mondays . LODGE COUEAGE WITH HUMANITI " . —A regular meeting -was

held on Thursday , the 10 th September , Bro . J . H . Linton , AV . M . presiding . Three candidates were initiated , viz ., Messrs . Joseph Renie Onraet , Edward Bernard Toussaint , and Thomas Dunlop . Bro . Barlow was raised to the M . M . 's degree by Bro . John W . Brown . LODGE SAINT JOHN . —A regular meeting was held on Friday , the 25 th of September , Bro . Dr . Frank Powell , AV . M ., presiding . Bro . Capt . G . F . P . VincentHer Majest's Indian Army ,

, y having applied to rejoin the lodge , was re-admitted by acclamation . The W . M . mentioned the discussion in District Grand Lodge as to the admission of Hindoos into Freemasonry , adding that tbe question had been fully discussed at the communication of the 22 nd September , the result being against that race of Asiatics being received into the fraternity . The AV . M . appointed Bro . George Chisholm I . G .

ROYAL ARCH . CHAPTER HOLT ZION . —A convocation Avas held on Saturday , the lOtli of October . Present—Comps . Hugh D . Sandeman , M . E . C ., Grand Superintendent ; John AVm . Brown , M . E . C ., PI . Z . of Chapter Hope , Honorary Principal of Holy Zion , presiding ; Linton , M . E . C ., Z . of Chapter Holy Zion ; J . Evans , E . G . ; Rambart , E . G ., Principal Sojourner ; E . Comps . C . T .

Davis and as Assist . Sojs . ; Taylor , E . C ., as Scribe E . ; Daniel , E . C ., Janitor . Bros . Coleman , of Lodge 392 , and Ponsland , of Essex , Lodge Selim , Massachusetts , Avere exalted to the R . A . degree by Bro . John AV . Brown , M . E . C .

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

PORTLAND . LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF THE NEW COUNCIL CHAMBEB . The imposing and interesting ceremony of laying the foun . dation-stone of the new Council Chamber in Cliff-street , was performed in accordance Avith Masonic custom , on the 21 st . September . The early part of the day Avas showery , but nature

proved propitious , and ere the time for commencing proceedings tbe clouds had cleared away , and the sun was shining , and throughout the Avhole of the time occupied in procession and the ceremony , the Aveather was all that could be desired . Nearly all places of public business Avere closed , and by eleven o ' clock the townspeople , who were early astir , had thronged the streets , anxiously awaiting the appearance of those on Avhom , by arrangement , devolved the initiative and chief responsibility in forming tbe procession and conducting the proceedings . The brethren of the Ancient Order of Foresters , Courts Hope and

Prosperity ; of the Independent Order of Oddfellows , Manchester Unity ; and of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons , assembled at the Lamb Inn ( Bro . Machonachy's ) , at eleven o'clock , and the procession being partially formed , proceeded thence to the Market-square , where they Avere joined by a Guard of Honour of the Volunteer Rifle Company , magistrates , members of the Town Council , clergy , and schools . Such a gathering , including all the various orders , in their regalia , and

representatives of so many institutions , and of every class , Avas never before witnessed in Portland , and most heartily all seemed to enter into the spirit of the occasion and to enjoy it . * - In the Market-square , at twelve o ' clock , the procession formed and got in motion , marshalled ( Captain Learmonth taking place in the procession ) by Sergeant Major Aran . The Volunteer Rifles , preceded by their band , and under the command of Sergeant Hyland , took the lead . The Ancient Order

of Foresters , the Independent Order of Oddfellows , the Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons followed , each in' the costume and with the banners and regalia peculiar to them ; then followed the members of the Town Council , the Town-Clerk , carrying the trowel ; and Mr . A . Rose , architect , the plans ; then came the clergy ; next followed the schools ; and iu the rear such of the citizens as chose to follow . The course ofthe processionwhich extended in one unbroken line a

, greater length than Julia-street , was along Percy-street , Juliastreet , Bentinck-street , Cliff-street , to the site of the proposed building . Already a number of people had assembled to witness the ceremony , including a number of ladies , for whose accommodation and to protect the procession and ceremony from interruption , a space had been enclosed with iron hurdles . Outside these stood a multitude of the inhabitants , of all ranks and

ages . Long before the rear of the procession had reached the ground , those who preceded had taken up their positions . To allow their proper assigned position to the Masons , on Avhom from time immemorial had devolved the performance of a ceremony which has been one of their peculiar functions , the Volunteer Rifles , the Foresters , and the Oddfellows Avho preceded them opened their linespassing through which the AVorshipful

, Master , officers , and brethren grouped themselves round the stone . The Worshipful Master ( C . G . Thompson ) then stated the purpose for which they had assembled , and addressing the Chairman of Council ( AV . Learmonth ) said that as he was a brother Mason , the Masons of the Portland Lodge had come to assist him in the interesting ceremony he had been appointed to perform . Near the stone stood the volume of the sacred law ,

which had been carried in procession by Bro . H . Smith . The A \ orshipful Master then called on the Treasurer ( P . Scott , P . M ) , who offered up the following prayer : — " Almighty and Eternal Father , Architect and Ruler of the Universe , deign to help us in our present , undertaking that the Avork we now perforin may be to our advantage and to Thy glory . " Mr . T . Finn , member of the Municipal Council , then presented a beautiful silver trOAvel to the Chairman , and said" Mr . Chairman , in behalf of the Municipal Council , I have

great pleasure in presenting to you this trowel , on an occasion so gratifying to yourself personally and to the inhabitants generally . " The following is the inscription : — Presented hy the Municipal Council of Portland , to AVilliam Learmonth , Esq ., their Chairman , on the occasion of his laying the foundation-stone of the Council Chamber , 21 st September , 1 S 63 . " The Chairman expressed his thankful appreciation of the

token of respect and his good Avishes for the success of the work in behalf of which it had to be employed . Mr . Marriott , in the name of the contractors for the building , then presented a handsome mallet to the chairman , Avho acknowledged this compliment in terms similar to the former . The mallet bore a similar inscription to that on the trowel . The W . M . then called upon the Treasurer , Avho deposited in .

in the cavity of the stone the scroll , Avhich was neatly engrossed on parchment , ancl enclosed in an hermetically sealed glass jar with copies of the Chronicle and Guardian of the 18 th and 17 th Sept ., and British coins of the reign of Victoria , gold sovereign and half-sovereign , Sydney mint ; silver crown , half-crown , florin , shilling , sixpence , fourpence , threepence ; copper penny , halfpenny , farthing . The AV . M . then called upon the Secretary ( P . W . Shevill ) , who read the following translation of the scroll : — " William Learmonth , Chairman of the Municipal Council ,