Masonic Festivities.

" The A'isitors" was responded to at considerable length by Bro . the Rev . J . AL McLaughlin , in an able anel witty speech , ivhich was warmly app lauded . " The health of tlie AVorshipful Alaster , " as chairman , was proposed by Bro . FAitirart , P . AL , and Asst . G . Purs . He said— "Bro . Gladwin , during the time in whicli you have acted as AA'orshipful Master of the Robert Burns Lodge , your faithfulness in the discharge of your duties and devotion to the great principles of Alasonry deserve the

commendation of tho brethren ; it is therefore ivith much pleasure I propose your health . Bro . Gr . Anivtx ' , in reply , thanked the brethren for this unanimous mark of their esteem , anel although ho believed that his services had been over estimated , he ivould say that as presiding officer he had endeavoured faithfully to discharge iris duties fco the brethren and to the Lodge ; he was conscious of having committed errors , but he hoped and believed the brethren would consider them errors of the head and not

of fche heart—the result of misapprehension and not of intent ; he cordially thanked them for their kind wishes . " The health of the Vice-Chairman , " Bro . Caldwell , followed , and was suitably acknowledged by him in a very rreat and brief speech . fn proposing"The healths of the Stewards , " the chairman paid ajust compliment—the arrangements of the clay had proved their excellent management—and although they were enabled to sit quietly and enjoy themselvesstill the duties that had occupied them previously were of

, no ordinary character ; for himself ho was deeply indebted to his brother stewards , and in the name of the company he very gratefully thanked them . Bro . APTED , P . AL , said—I wish , ladies and gentlemen , I could do justice to the enthusiastic manner in which you have received the last

toast , as my heart bids me ; what is impossible must therefore yield to that which is possible , and I can honestly declare thafc wo are grateful to you for the very flattering compliment . AVorshipful Alaster , I thank you for the honour you have conferred on us by this toast . It is indeed an honour to be noticed by so distinguished a company as that I am now addressing—and that honour is enhanced by thc manner in which the toast had been responded to . I wish I could express to you what we feel on this occasion ; but there are instances , and this is one ,

iu which the head is nofc capable of doing justice to the heart . AA ' e certainly took some pains to discharge our duties to thc best of our judgment , and we are highly pleased and amply repaid for our labours by the compliment which has just been passed upon us . I will not sit down without apologizing for some little deficiencies ivhieh AA-O could not possibly avert or supply . The meeting has been larger than ive anticipated , bufc I assure you thc omissions , whatever they ivere or are , have not been intentional ( Loud cheer's )

. . In proposing the toast of " The Ladies , " Bvo . \ Y . IVAISO- , P . AL , said—It Avas true that ladies were not permitted within the walls of their Lodges , but he could assure them if they were good wives , affectionate daughters and sisters—and there were probably some present who were glad thafc those near them were not so , wishing to call them by another anel dearer name ( cheers and laughter)—they might rest assured that Masons had heartsanel would ever be an honour to any societ

, y . Alasonry , in its effects on mankind , was no mystery . It was true they had secret signs by which to distinguish each other , and to guard them from imposition ; but the great principles upon ivhich the order was founded , was to do their duty to God and man , to love their neighbour as themselves , and to be ever ready to lend a helping hand to the poor and distressed .

Bro . Br-xxr- 'TT , P . AL , replied on behalf of " The Ladies . "—Ho ivas happy to see so many smiling and beautiful faces around him , andto know that they and their happy partners so thoroughly enjoyed themselves as he thought and hoped they did . ( Cheers ) . He begged to thank the company present for coinciding in his views , arrd be hoped fco meet them again this time twelve months . On behalf of the ladies lie returned them their sincere thanks for the honour clone them , and to assure the of the toast that they would endeavour to merit the kind

proposer approbation of the stewards and friends , by a careful discharge of the duties of any position they might be called on to fulfil . The company broke up at an early hour , and wo congratulate the Lodge and the fraternity ou the growing disposition that exists to celebrate these anniversaries , which do much to enhance and support the principles of our order .

^ EASTI-IIM STAB LODGE ( NO . 11-2 ) . —On AA'ednesday , July ll . h , the Eastern Star was in the ascendant , that clay having been fixed for the first summer festival , the place selected being the Crown Inn , at the village of Broxboui'iie . The practice is now becoming general with the Craft to have once a year a meeting at which the fair sex should be present , it taking with some the form of a ball , with others a summer bmcpiefc . Under the Mastership of Bro . E . IV . Davis , the " Stars" decided on a summer day among "fresh fields and pastures new . " The day

being propitious , the brethren and sisters were at Bro . Beniugfield ' s ho- 'tel by an early train , and after- partaking of a slight refresh men fc dispersed themselves over tlie extensive gardens and grounds of the establialini-snt , and wi th archery , erickes , and quoits , spent with much •¦• 'joymciit the few sunny hours that passed till the hour of dinner . The gaitlniH , although in consequence of the lateness of the season are , according to tin- worthy host , below the mark , are yet , in the eyes of the townsman very delightful ; for ourselves , we elo not ; hesitate to affirm thoy excel any belonging to a house for file accommodation of the public

Masonic Festivities.

ive havo ever seen ; there is no small amount of taste displayed in the arrangement of colour , and there aro flowers of every hue . Bro . Beningfieldjivho is a member ofthe Horticultural Society , takes great pride in his gardens , and wo strongly recommend such of our friends who seek a pleasant trip to visit the "Crown" in August , when the floral beauties will put on their gayest attire . However , the bell rings , 'tis four o ' clock , and in a spacious conservatory , bedecked with flowers , the banquet is spread . Bro . E . W . Davisthe AV . M . presiding ; the Senior AVardenBro .

, , , Sharp , being in his proper place at tho other end . The worthy Treasurer , Bro . AV . AA' . Davis , of course was present ,-and so also were Bros . Edinger , the Dir . of Cers ., and Holt , Vousley , Freeman , Goode , and several of the junior members , and a feiv visitors . The dinner and dessert were excellent . On the removal of the cloth , the accustomed toasts of " The Queen . " and " The Royal Family" were duly honoured , and the ladies retired . Bro . Vousley , P . AL , then rose , and after remarking that the preceding toasts were devoted to tbe honour of tho exalted

personages , to the knowledge of whose excellence they were indebted to public report , asked the brethren to jean him in a toast to the health of the AA' . AI . of No . 112 , being sure to meet with a ready response ; they all knew the admirable manner in ivhich he discharged his duties in the Lodge , which were rivalled by thc arrangements forthe very agreeable festival at which they ivere then assembled . Bro . Davis , in a brief reply , acknowledged the compliment , and expressed his gratification that all were satisfied with his efforts to please . " The Ladies

who had honoured them with their company" was drunk with cheers . The AA ' . AI . then proposed "The Visitors , " and expressed a hope that they Ai-ere all so Avell pleased , that next summer the same happy faces ivould surround the board . He called on Bro . . How to respond , who in a few Avor-ds referred to the change Alasonry had undergone of late years , as their forefathers used , like bats and owls , to assemble in holes anel corners , afraid to be seen , whilst it was at meetings like the present they were enabled to dispel many of the absurd ideas entertained of the

Craft by the outer world . In conclusion , he tendered the thanks of himself and other visitors for the very pleasant day they had passeel , and especially noticed the attention paid to every one by the worthy Treasurer . The party then broke up , aud after another ramble in the grounds the railway whistle gave warning of the hour of departure .

YAUEOHOUGII -LOIKIE ( No , 812 ) . —The annual summer festival of this flourishing Lodge was held at the Star and Garter , Richmond Hill , on Thursday , July 5 th , and fortunately , looking at our uncertain clime , the d . cy was most propitious . A party of aboufc forty attended , nearly half the number consisting of the fair sex . Bro . S . Vasey , the W . AI ., presided , and was supported by most of his officers and several members of tlie Loelge . Bros . Taylor , P . AI . No . 33 , and H . Thompson , J . AA ' . No . 227 , were ( if we except the ladies ) the only visitors ; aucl although some of

the old accustomed faces were missing , there was no lack of enjoyment . The cloth removed , dessert Avas placed on the table , and after a brief pause , the AVorshipful Alaster called on all present to pay due honour to the first toast , " Our Alost Gracious Queen , " aud f hen " The Prince , and the rest of the Royal Family " —with allusion to the generally entertained expectation of the heir apparent becoming a member of the Order . The health of the AA ' orshipful Alaster was proposed by Bro . Hamptonand the due meed of praise was bestowed on Bro . Ynsey ' s

, attainments ; to this the AA ' orshipful Alaster modestly replied in a brief address , and proposed "The Past Alasters of No . S 12 , " especially referring to the services of his predecessor in the chair , which had been acknoivledgrfd by the Loelge by fche vote of an elegant jeivel , and lie ( the AA' . AI . ) had that day the pleasure of placing it on Bro . Hampton ' s breast , as a due reward of merit . Bro . Hampton , in tendering his heartfelt thanks to the members of the Lodge for so bountiful an acknowledgment of his servicesregretted he could not find words commensurate with the ift .

, g " The Visitors " was greeted with a hearty AA-elcoine , and " The Ladies " of course was hailed wifch cheers , and also "The Officers , " for the Yarborough is always well attended . A pleasing sunset noiv dreAV the party into the garden , and all prepared to return to town , having passeel a most agreeable dai / .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

Tun : COURT . —Her Alajesty and suite have been enjoying themselves in the Isle of AA'ighfc . On Alonday morning their royal highnesses the Prince Consort and the Prince of AA ' ales left Osborne to embark in the royal yacht Victoria and Albert for Plymouth , ivhere her Majesty ' s ship Hero , Captain Henry Seymour * , was waiting to convey the ' Prince of AVales to Canada . On Tuesday his royal highness the Duke of Snxc-Cobourg , attended by Colonel Francis Seymour , C . B ., Groom iu AA ' aiting

to the Prince Consort , ind Baron de Hochivaeuhtei-, left Buckingham Palace for Dover , on his return to thc continent . On the same clay his royal highness the Prince of AA ' ales anil suite sailed in the Hero , accompanied by a largo portion of the channel fleet . _ I-. iPF . ivtXL PAIITAA-MKXT . —The HOUSE of LOUDS on Thursday was occupied with a debate on Garibaldi , in which testimony was borne to his love and generosity . —On Friday the Jews slot Amendment bill was read second time and the Zealand Bill

a New passeel through committee . —On Monday the Laiv and Equity Bill passeel through committee , and other bills advanced a stage . —Gn Tuesday Lord Stratford de Bedeh ' iTe called attention to the recent massacre in Asiatic Turkey , and contended that