India.

INDIA .

BOMBAY . THE BUBNS CENTENAKY FESTIVAL . THE Masonic ball , given by the brethren of the Lodge of Perseverance , in honour of the centenary of the birth of Burns , was a very successful demonstration . NoAvirajec Ardascer Davur kindly lent his splendid mansion at Tardeo for the occasion ; and a more magnificent ball room than it contained could hardly have beeu procured . The grounds were brilliantllihted upwhile the interior was

y g , one mass of splendour . The company began to assemble at about half-past eight ; and at nine dancing commenced with great spirit , and was vigorously sustained until twelve o ' clock , at which hour all adjourned to supper . Upwards ol two hundred and fifty ladies and gentlemen sat down to a table laden ivith every delicacy of the season , aud so laid out with , fruit , flowers , and lustres , that the scene seemed one of enchantment rather than of reality . After ample justice had been done to tho viands , tho toasts next churned

attention . R . AV . Bro . AA ' . H . S . Crawford , Master of the Lodge of Perseverance , who presided on the occasion , rose and gave " The Queen and the Craft . " After this toast bad been suitably responded to , R . AA . Bro . Crawford again rose and proposed , " The three Grancl Lodges of Scotland , England , and Ireland , " with which he associated " The health of the Prov . G , M . of AVestern ^ ndia , R . AV . Bro . Henry D . CartAvright" on whomas a true and upright Masonhe passed a

, , , brief but ivarm and well merited eulogy . R . AV . Bro . Cartwright , Proi ' . G . Master under the Scottish Constitution , responded as follows : — " R . AV . sir , ladies , gentlemen , and brethren , I thank you most heartily for the honour you have done me in drinking my health—an honour greatly enhanced by the association of my name with those of the noble and

supreme rulers of the Craft in England , Scotland , and Ireland . I am not about to make you a long speech ; but I think that it would bo unbecoming in me to alloiv this opportunity to pass without assuring you all of our happiness and joy iu this festive meeting . As tbe representative head of Crait Masonry in AVestern India , I bid you all most hearty Avelcome in the name of all the Masons present , many of whom are of much older standing than I am ; I cannot boast of much more than ten years , during which I have served in the good cause , but during those ten years I have devoted the best of my energiesaudI hopean honest

, , , heart , to the interests of Masonry , and . I trust , not altogether without beneficial results . Iu Bombay I have generally found my exertions most ably seconded , and by none more so than by the present E . AA , Master of Lodge Perseverance ; aud whilst returning you my acknowledgments for the honour clone to me , as Prov . Grand Master , I have great pleasure in calling upon you to drink to " The health of Bro . Crawford , and the Officers , present and past , of Lodge Perseverance , and great success to them . "

R . AV . Bro . AY . H . S . Crawford responded for himself and office bearers . Bro . Craig , in rising to propose the next toast , said—The toast ivhich I have been asked to propose is one to ivhich both the lateness of tbe hour and the festivity of the evening will prevent me doing justice . AVe must not forget , that however alluring the charms o £ song may be , we have assembled to-night to do honour to the poetry of motion . But my toast is happily ono which requires neither au encroachment upon pleasurethe pomp of languagenor the lendour

, , sp of eloquence ; and its best response is silence . The memory I would recall , the shade I Avould invoke , is that of Robert Burns—the poet , the Mason , and the man . Yesterday was tho centenary of his birth , and the sympathies of the cii'ilisecl Avorld vibrated at tho mere mention of his name . B y an accident we have been obliged to celebrate his nativity to-night instead of yesternight ; but the enthu-