Knights Templar.

opinions by the impressive manner in which he conducted the ceremony throughout . The Knights dined together in the evening at the Castle Hotel , the E . G . presiding , and a most agreeable party of about thirty assembled to do honour to the occasion . The Palestine Encampment has thus started most successfully , and has , it is confidently believed , a career of great prosperity and usefulness marked out . The appointments and

decorations are of the best and most tasteful descriptions , and the care and attention bestowed by the managing committee upon the preliminary proceedings augurs well for the future good conduct and working of the encampment . WARWICKSHIRE . BIRMINGHAM . — -Howe Encampment : —The quarterly meeting

of this encampment was held at the held at the Masonic Rooms , on the Sth inst . Tho Sir Knights assembled at four o ' clock , and tho usual preliminaries having been gone through , Comp . W . Warren was admitted and installed into the Order The M . E . C . elect not being present , his installation was postponed until the next conclave . Two companions were proposed for installation . This encampment , which has been languishing

for some time , is now in a fair way to progress ; in a short time no doubt many influential and worthy Masons will range under its banners .

Red Cross Knights.

RED CROSS KNIGHTS .

METROPOLITAN . PLANTAGENET CONCLAVE ( NO . 2 ) . —The third anniversary assembly of this conclave was held at the George Hotol , Aldermanbury , on the 30 th ult . The conclave was opened by Sir Knt . R . W . Little , G . Reg ., as M . P . Sov . ( owing to the recent decease of Sir Knt . Turner , who occupied that position ); Sir Knts . WescombeG . Heraldas V . E . ; T . Cubittas S . G . ; J .

, , , Brett , P . Sov ., J . G . ; A . A . Pendlebury , P . Sov ., as H . P . ; D . G . Berri , Prefect ; G . F . Cook , Standard Bearer ; J . G . Marsh , G . A . Recorder ; B . Cook , as Herald ; B . P . Todd , P . Sov . ; H . Parker , Org ., and others . Ballots were then taken for several candidates , ancl Bros . W . Norman Leslie , of the Cotteswold Lodge ( No . 592 ) , Cirencester , ancl David E . Still , of the Eoyal Union Lodge ( No . 382 ) , Uxbridge , being in attendance , were

then regularly admitted aud installed as Knights of the Order . The next ceremony performed was the enthronement of Sir Knt . Wescombe as M . P . Sov . for the ensuing year , and the remainder of the officers were invested aa follows : —Sir Knts . D . G . Berri , V . E . ; J . Brett , S . G . ; G . F . Cook , J . G . ; E . W . Little , H . P . ; T . Cubitt , Treas . ; J . G . Marsh , Recorder ; T . G . MurrayPrefect ; H . ParkerOrg . ; B . CookS . B . ; D . R . Still

, , , , Herald . It was then unanimously resolved to record upon the minutes a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Sir Knt . Turner , G . Std . Bearer , who held the office of M . P . Sov . at the time of his death , and also of the regret felt by every companion at the loss the conclave had thereby sustained . The nights of meeting of the Plantagenets were altered , and the conclave was closed , when the chevaliers adjourned to a capital

banquet under the presidency of Sir Knt . Wescombe , M . P . Sov ., and a most agreeable evening was spent , enlivened by the masterly performances of Sir Knt . Parker on the pianoforte , and the speeches aud songs of the other members present .

Poetry.

Poetry .

NEW YEAR'S EVE . By T . J . SWAIN . Now Year ' s Eve—what difroront feelings Agitato tho human broast , As its advent finds us happy , Or with misery distrest .

Some look back with swoot emotions On a past of joyous hours , Some havo—through tho year just ended , Trod a pathway strewn with flowers .

Poetry.

Others hearts aro sadly aching , Pain'd by heavy trials and cares , Mournful—as tho Old Year closes , Aro their feelings and their prayers . Some—by Death—from loved ones sevor'd , O ' or their frosb bereavements grieve , Littlo wonder that in sadness

They aro found on Now Year ' s Evo . Ought not all ondow'd with blessings To romombor thoso who mourn , Ancl alloviato tho anguish Of each heart by sorrow torn ? Oh ! it is our boiuidon duty Other ' s suffering to roliovo , If wo would with joyous feelings Welcome ovory Now Year ' s Eve .

Meetings Of The Learned Societies For The Week Ending May 23rd, 1868.

MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 23 RD , 1868 .

TUESDAY , 19 th . —Institution of Civil Engineers , at 8 . "WEDNESDAY , 20 th . —Society of Arts , at 8 . WEDNESDAY , 20 th . —Geological Society , at 8 .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending May 23rd, 1868.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 23 RD , 1868 .

MONDAY , May 18 th . —Lodges : —Grand Masters , 1 , Ereemasons' Hall . British , 8 , Freemasons'Hall . Emulation , 21 , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Felicity , 58 , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . Pannxure , 720 , Balham Hotel , Balham . Whittington , 862 , 14 , Bedfordrow . Chapter : —Prudence , 12 , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street .

TUESDAY ' , May 19 th . —Board of Gen . Purposes , at 3 . Lodges : ¦— -Mount Lebanon , 73 , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . Eastern Star , 95 , Ship ancl Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street . Honour and Generosity , 165 , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . St . Paul's , 194 , Cannonstreet Hotel . Salisbury , 435 , 71 , Dean-street , Soho . Camden , 704 , Lamb Hotel , Metropolitan Cattle Market . St . Mark's , 857 , Horns' Tavern , Kennington , Surrey . Chapter -. —Mount Sinai , 19 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet .

WEDNESDAY , May 20 th . —Gen . Com . of Grand Lodge and Lodge of Benevolence , at 7 . Lodges : —Sincerity , 174 , Cheshire Cheese Tavern , Crutchedfriars . Beadon , 719 , Greyhound Tavern , Dulwich . Nelson , 700 , Masonic Hall , William-street . Woolwich . Maybury , 969 , Freemasons' Hall . Marquis of Dalhousie , 1 , 159 , Freemasons ' Hall .

THURSDAY , May 21 st . —House Com . Female School , afc 4 . Lodges : —Constitutional , 55 , Ship and Turtle Tavern . Leadenhall-street . St . Mary ' s , 63 , Freemasons' Hall , Temperance , 169 , White Swan Tavern , High-street , Deptford . FIUDAY , May 22 nd . —Lodges : —Universal , 181 , Freemasons'Hall . Jerusalem , 197 , Freemasons'Hall , Royal Alfred , 780 , Star and Garter , Kew-bridge , Ealing .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

* * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C . T . B . HARRIS ( Canada West ) . —Tho numbers you requested aro forwarded by tho usual route . J . T . ( St . Thomas ) . —Portraits forwarded per book post . It will always givo us pleasure to receive reports of your Masonic doings . J . W . ( Hull )—Tho advertisement noting tho result o £ election was not sont to our office , hence tho omission .