Knights Templar.

of Cambridge , the members have , by resolution , regucsted that their province should be amalgamated with Suffolk , under the V . E . Prov . G . Commander , Capt . Philips , to which petition you have been graciously pleased to assent . "You have also been pleased to constitute South Wales a province , and placed it under the command ot the Provincial Grand Commander Theodore Mausel Talbot . "The King Baldwyn Encampment of Belleville , in the

dominion of Canada , has beeu reported as revived , and a warrant has been granted for a new encampment at Ballarut , in the province of Melbourne , Victoria , named tlie St . George . " It is very satisfactory to your committee t »> be in a position to report that tbe diligence , intelligence , and strict adherence of your Grand Alce-Chancellor to the rules established by your Committee ancl Grand Conclave , have led to an improvement in the funds , notwithstanding which your Committee finds , with so

limited an exchequer , great difficulty in making the income meet the expenditure . "The Grand Treasurer reports the gross balance ou tbe General Account to be £ 270 10 s . 9 d ., less £ 15 G 13 s . 4 d ., to the credit of the Almoners' Fund . Motions for benevolences from this fund in favour of Sir Knts P , 0 , and D , will be formally moved , pursuant to notice to that effect . "By order of the Committee of Grand Conclave , "X P . MAC C . DE COLQUHOUN , Grand Chancellor . "

On the motion of Sir Knt . R . Costa , Past 1 st G . Capt ., seconded by Sir Knt . G . Lambert , it was resolved that the report be received and adopted . Tbe several grants from the Benevolent Fund were then moved by the G . Treas . Sir Knt . J . Topper , and duly seconded and passed by Grand Conclave . The D . G . M . then rose to propose the election of G . Master of the Order according to ancient custom , and prefacing the motion

that tbe time bad arrived to make a proposition which bad fallen to bis lot before , he felt certain that none would meet with such acclamation , and that he could not select a better than Sir Knt . William Stuart , their present G . M ., who had kindly allowed himself to be again put in nomination to fill chat high ancl responsible office . Sir Knt . J . Meymott seconded the proposition . Sir Knt . the Earl of Limerick wished to add to the motion

that the election bo carried by acclamation , as there was none more worthy to fill the throne than Sir Knt . AVilliam Stuart , who received from the Knights not only the outward respect due to him as Grand Master , but the homage of their hearts . The D . G . M . inquired if anyone had any other Knight to propose for the office , but there was no reply . The election of Sir Knt . William Stuart as G . M . was then formally put , and carried by acclamation . Tlie G . M ., in a few sentences , very feelingly acknowledged the honour that had again been conferred on him by Grand Conclave .

The G . Tresis , gave notices of motion for the Grand Conclave in May next , witli reference to a proposed alteration in the scale of fees and dues . The G . Almoner collected the alms , and Grand Conclave vvas then closed in ample form . The necessary alterations in the setting out of the Hall having been made . The Grand Prior the Rev . J . Huyshe opened a Priory of Malta under tbe banner of the Faith and Fidelity , or

Early Grand Encampment of England , when the following Knights received tbe Mediteraneaii Pass , and were admitted into the Order of Knights of Malta , the beautiful ceremony being most impressively given by the Grand Prior : —F . AV . Ramsay of the Faith aucl Fidelity Encampment ; W . S . Webster , Observance ; several Sir Knightsof the Kemys Tynte ; H . AV . AVilliams , of the Palestine ; J . Dyer , Temple Crossing ; S . Lloyd Foster , Howe ancl Beauceant ; J . T . Agg Gardner , Coteswold ; G . A . F . Norris , St . Georges , G . V . C . China ; . E . J . Leveson , United ; J . S . Aufrey , Calpe ; J . Keene , Pembroke .

GRAND Piuoifir os THE ORDEK OE MALTA . The Grand Master then opened the Grand Priory in ample form . The minutes of tbe Grand Priory in December last were read by the G . A . Chancellor , ancl confirmed . The report of the Committee was read by the Grand Chancellor as tollows : — " Most Eminent and Supreme Sir , —Your Committee begs to

Knights Templar.

report that the state of this order is satisfactory , but no circumstance has arisen which calls for special remark . " By Order of the Committee of Grand Priory . " J P . JIAC C . DE COLCIUJIOU-J , Grand Chancellor . " The report was formally received and adopted . The Grand Priory was then closed in ample form . Tbe knights adjourned to a banquet , at the Freemasons- '

Tavern , at which the Grand Master pre ^ dod . AVe may add that the manner in which the various arrangements were carried out , reflects much credit upon the G . Dir . of Cers ., Sir Knt . J . L . Sim , who has evidently taken great pains to master the duties of an office , upon tlie proper discharge of which , the comfort of those present so materially depends ,

Fenianism And Freemasonry.

FENIANISM AND FREEMASONRY .

Tbe following appears as a letter from a correspondent in the Limerich Chronicle .- — Siu , —Permit me space to make a few observations upon what it appears , are two of the great questions of the day . Father LavaAlo has shown to the satisfaction of thousands of newspaper readers , that Fenianism is not condemned . It is a maxim in all law courts , in every

civilized country , that a criminal shall be heard in his own defence , in order to prove the justness , or otherwise , of his being indicted for an offence against the laws of his country ; this defence is made either personally or through an advocate . Father Lav ' elle has stood forward in defence of Fenianism , because he is convinced that Fenianism is not what

its enemies have striven hard to make it— -viz ., a crime of the highest order , amounting to treason . I , on the other hand , although an humble representative of Freemasonry , still having , attained its highest degree , and anxious to remove from the minds of those who have condemned Freemasonry , by explaining why it is not the sinful society it has been designated ; but the

reverse . It is called a secret society , and because it is so ; it merits condemnation . Let us take a peep into a few things which surround us , and endeavour , if possible , to prove that most things in this world are done secretly . A member of the legal profession , has certain secrets by which he earns his reputation , and his bread , but any person aspiring to the mysteries of the bar , can be initiated into them by payment of fees ;

passing examinations , and obtaining the license to practice , as others have done before him . A tradesman , no matter what he manufactures , or what description of goods he vends , has a host of secrets in his trade , none of which will he impart to the world , without compensation ; but any aspirant with sufficient means , may obtain his secrets , if he is properly introduced to him , according to

the custom of that trade . An apothecary has numberless secrets , by which he can dispose of his nostrums , which are to benefit mankind in general , and himself in particular . Those secrets are kept inviolably within his own breast , but they will be imparted to others iu the regular course of events by payment of fines or fees ; the terms of an indenture

, the attendance at lectures , and obtaining a license to practice . In every profession , and in every trade , there are secrets , only obtainable by legitimately connecting oneself with those persons competent to impart them . In our households we have secrets , which are not made known indiscriminately to others . An outcry has been made against Freemasons , owing to the secrets

they keep from tho world . Now , what are those secrets ? Eemove from Masonry the passwords , the signs and tokens , together with the mode of conferring degrees , and tbe secrets are done away with . It is said Freemasonry is an exclusive institution ; this is untrue . Freemasonry is spread over the universe and includes in its ranks men of all grades and creedsfrom the prince to the peasant ; therefore , it cannot be exclusive . The door of a Freemason ' s lodge is open to