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shall be acquainted by the S . W . when it is ten o ' clock-, and shall immediately proceed to close the lodge . Either of them failing herein shall forfeit the sum of Is ., and any member who is in the lodge ( and not being a traveller or lodger in the house ) remaining in the same house after twelve o ' clock shall also forfeit the sum of Is . It is hoped and expected that no member will offend against this law , instituted to secure the honour and harmony of the lodge , to prevent uneasiness to our relations at

home , and to preserve the economy of our families . " Now the perusal of these by-laws convinced him that , after all , there was nothing neiv in Masonry , and so well would the provisions made for the welfare of the Craft applying to the present time . The D . Prov . G . M . then referred to the Charities , which he said compared favourably with those of any other institution , and of which they had reason to be proud . They that the Order was not a mere compact for social

purprove poses , but that it had a higher purpose , which was nobly carried out . It is the business of Masons to dispense light , and they were performing a sacred duty in providing education for the children of their poorer brethren . The Prov . G . Master , in proposing " The Provincial Grand Officers , Past and Present , " passed well-deserved encomiums upou those who were retiring from their labours , and held up their example to those brethren who were about to undertake

the work of the ensuing year . Bro . Allen responded , and assured tho Prov . G . JIaster and the brethren , that ou behalf of himself and brother officers , they would do their best to promote the intere ; ts of the Order ; and its charitable Institutions . Toe D . Prov . G . Master then proposed the "Health of the AA ' . M . and Brethren of the Emulation Lodge , which was most enthusiastically received .

Bro . Tinkler in reply , said that on behalf of his lodge , he heartily thanked the Prov . G . Lodge for having honoured them with their presence . They had doue all in their power to give the Prov . G . Lodge a hearty welcome , and they should long remember with gratification the visit of tlie Prov . G . Lodge to Dartford . Bro . Cater proposed the "Health of the A'i si tors , " coupling with the toast the name of Bro Clegg , D . G . Master of Pennsyl- j

vania . Bro . Clegg replied inappropriate terms . He congratulated the Prov . G . LoJge upon ilie excellence of the work , which he had not seen equalled in any Prov . G . Lodge —• scarcely even in Grand Lodge . He fully concurred in the remarks as to the advisablity of keeping a watchful eye upon the admission of candidates . He was glad to see in Kent that they looked first to quality . These were the sentiments of his own lodge , aud it

was a vital point for the prosperity of the order . Bro . proposed "Tlie Press . " Masonry , he remarked , had nothing to fear , as some were of opinion , from publicity being given to its doings . On the contrary , he considered it desirable that its principles and its work , as far as might be known to the outer world , could not be too widely disseminated and the result would be of the greatest advantage to society ancl to mankind generally .

Bro . Gaball responded on behalf of the Press . He thanked the brethren for the kind manner in which they had received the toast . At this advaiicad hour of the evening , he would not detain them with any lengthened remarks , but there was one subject which he could not pass over in silence , that was tlie discrimination recommended by the K . W . Prov . G . Master in the admission of candidates into the Order , so as to prevent the admission of persons into the Order whose position or conduct

might not afterwards reflect credit on the lodge and the Order . This was a subject in which the conductors of the FKEEJIASONS ' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBKOR had long taken a deep interest , and it was a source of gratification to ihein to see that their labours in that direction were bearing fruit . On all sides , brethren eminent for their zeal for the welfare of the Craft , had reiterated the sentiments this evening expressed by their R . W .

Prov . G . M ., Deputy Prov . G . M ., and also their visiting brother from Ameiica . In a very recent number of the MAGAZINE , would be found an article upon the subject . Before resuming his seat , he would mention but one other matter , and that w . is , to solicit from the brethren of this province , an increased meaof support to their journal , which had tor very many years been devoted to the promotion of the interests of the Craft and its charitable institutions , beyond the more consideration of pecuniary profit . If the brethren would extend to the MAGAZINE the increased patronage he solicited , he would sincerely assure i

Craft Masonry.

them that it would enable the proprietors to greatly extend its usefulness . He would conclude his remarks , by sincerely and heartily thanking the brethren for the kind manner in which they had drank the toast of the Press . Bro . Wates , Prov . G . Sec , in a humorous speech , proposed the ladies , which , as usual , was cordially responded to . The toast , given from the chair , of " Our next merry meeting , " concluded the evening ' s proceedings .

During the day the band of the Kent Volunteers played at intervals in the front of the hotel , accompanied the procession , to the church , and during the banquet played a selection of enlivening airs outside the marquee . The musical arrangements were admirably conducted , under the management of Bro . Theodore Distin , whose fame as enterpreneur on these occasions is too well known to need praise . He was ably assisted by Miss Jane Wells , Bro . Fred . AValker , and Air . Baxter . Bro . Spencer was , as usual , an efficient toastmaster .

LANCASHIRE ( AA'EST ) . PBESTON . —Concord ( No . 343 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of the above nourishing lodge was held on Thursday evening , the 21 st ., Bro . J . Porter , AV . M ., in the chair , assisted by Bros . Baring , S . W . ; Moss , P . AI . as J . AV . ; Cockshott , S . D . ; Pearson as J . D . ; Wilson , I . G . ; Robinson . Tres . On the unavoidable absence of Rev . Bro . Taylor , Sec . and Chaplain , through domestic afflictionthe Rev . Bro . Burrowslate Chaplnin 1242

, , , kindly and ably discharged his duties for him . There were forty brethren present . The lodge was opened at seven , and after the minutes of the previous meeting hrd been read and confirmed , tho lodge was opened in tlie second degree , when Bros . Kerfoot aud Evans being candidates for the third degree , were examined and entrusted . The lodge was then opened in the third degree and they were severally admitted and raised to tho sublime

degree of Af . AI . by the AV . M ., the working tools being ably given by the S . AA ' . The lodge was then resumed to the first degree , when the W . Ai . alluded in feeling terms to the absence of the chaplain , through the lamented death of his mother . There being no other business , and hearty good wishes having been tendered from several visiting brethren , the lodge was closed at 9-30 with solemn prayer , according to ancient custom . Tho brethren thou adjourned to refreshmentaud a very leasant and

, p profitable evening was spent , the brethren retiring to their homes at eleven o'clock- The AV . M . during the evening made an appeal ou behalf of the AA ' est Lancashire Education Fund , when the handsome sum of twelve pounds was received in response .

India.

INDIA .

CALCUTTA . LODGE OF TEMPERANCE AND BENEVOLENCE ( NO . 1 , 160 ) . — The regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons ' Hull , Calcutta , on Wednesday , the 4 th of June , when there were present W . Pro . T . II . Girling , AV . M . ; Bros . E . B . Toussant , P . M . ; R . AI . Wibrow , S . AV . ; C . Bernard , J . AV . ; J . Sharp , S . D ; A . Collier , J . D . ; AV . E . Hillier , Dir- of Cers . ;

Geo . G . Hiley , Sec ; A . Harris , I . G . ; G . Alexander , Tyler . AV . Girling , J . Tuck , A . Freideman , AV . Barker , H . Gaunt , J . Farthing , J . Scott , J . Anderson , E . Green , AV . H . Russell , A . Paxton , and A . J . Meyer , Treas . Visitors : Bros . AA ' . Greenhorn , of Lodge Kirkealdie , No . 72 , S . C ; E . Heins , 229 ; R . Turner , 370 ; W . Smith , 232 . Lodge was opened , the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for Air . R . Myers , which proved unanimous . Ho was then

admitted , and initiated into our ancient Order by AA' , Bi : o . T . II . Girling in a very impressive manner . Bros . Scott and M'Kay , candidates for the second degree , were examined , and having answered satisfactorily , they were advanced to the degree of F . C . by P . M . E . B . Toussant . The W . M . drew the attention of the brethren to the satisfactory state of the Bengal Masonic Association for Indigent Freemasons . He had that afternoon , attended a meetingand ivas pleased with the result . The child

, of a deceased brother had that afternoon beeu admitted to partake of our bounty ; and he urged upou the brethren the necessity of increased donations ; and those that had not already subscribed to come forward and do so . Collectively we could do a great deal , whereas individually it would come heavy upon our pursos . There being nothing further before the lodge , it was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the ban-