Colonial.

sirous to express the regret we feel , that failing health should render such a communication to this Lodge necessary . " You will , I think , also join heartily in expressing the sentiments of respect and esteem we entertain for our departing Prov . G . M . I therefore propose"That this District Grand Lodge do express and record its deep regret that a necessity should exist for the immediate departure from India of our respected Prov . G . M ., and our sorrow at the cause

which renders that departure imperative . " That this District Grand Lodge , in its collective capacity , recognizes with deep feelings of affectionate gratitude , the dignified and impartial manner hi which our R W . Prov . G . M . has , for a period oi upwards of five years , administered the duties of his high office ; the Masonic social feeling which has characterized his communications with the Craft generally ; and the urbanity of his manner towards all Brethren who have had occasion individually to seek advice at his hands personally .

" That these resolutions be recorded in the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge , and that a copy thereof be forwarded , with a suitable letter , to the R . W . the Prov . G . M . of Bengal , Lieut .-Col . James Ramsay . " Tho above propositions having been seconded by R . W . Bro . Judge , P . Prov . J . G . W ., were put to the vote and carried unanimously . The D . Prov . G . M ., with reference to the arrangement made by the Prov . G . M . for the conduct of business during his absence from

India , expressed his hope that ( though this would not be the first time that the executive duties of this province would devolve upon him ) during the short time that he would rule over the District Grand Lodge , he would meet with its support . The District Grand Lodge was then closed hi form . The M . W . G . M . has been pleased to appoint the R . W . Bro . Robt . Hamilton , M . D ., of Clifton Mount , Kingston , as Prov . G . M . for East

Jamaica . The province , we believe , includes Lodges Nos . 250 , 291 , 447 , 449 , 686 , 746 , and 754 . Since the publication of the Calendar for 1859 , warrants have been granted for nine new Lodges , viz .: —No . 1064 , Concord Lodge , Castlemaine , Victoria ; No . 1065 , Marine of Newcastle , Newcastle , New South Wales ; No . 1066 , not completed owing to an informality ; No . 1067 , St . James , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey ; No . 1068 , Preston , Star and Garter , Putney ; 1069 , Union , Kmrachee , East Indies ; 1070 , Sandridge Marine , Sandridge , Victoria ; 1071 ,

Maryborough , Victoria ; 1072 , Corinthian , Sandhurst , Victoria . We understand that the number of new certificates of initiation issued from the Grand Secretary ' s office during the last twelve months has been within twenty or thirty of 4 , 000 , being about a hundred and fifty less than in 1857 . This , though an apparent loss , evidences an increase in the numbers admitted into the Order , the former province of West Canada being now under an independent constitution ; and by the new regulations of Grand Lodge , numbers of certificates have been forwarded in blank to the colonies , the disposal of which has not yet been accounted for , excepting in one or two instances .

A CORRESPONDENT , who gives us his name and the locality he alludes to , writes the following anecdote , tending to show how Masons may baffle persecution by prudent conduct : — "A Lodge working in Spain under the English constitution [ the exact locality I for obvious reasons suppress ] meets at the house of the Master , a merchant of the place . Now , somehow the police got information of it , and as Masomy is strictly prohibited in Spain , the fraternity were in great consternation . The Master , however , gave out that lie should hold a Lodge on the next Thursdayand instead of doing so asked the alcalde

, and all the principal persons of the place to dinner on that evening . Well , the evening came , and so did the alcalde ; the police also were lurking about to take down the name of eveiy person who entered the house ; but when the officer of police saw the list , he was astounded , and said to himself , ' Dear me , if all these influential people are Masons , the less I say about it the better , or I shall lose my place !' . So the Masons are suffered to meet undisturbed . " — Masonic Mirror .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

BON ACCORD LODGE ( No . 1 ) . —At a meeting held on Wednesday , December 15 th , present—Bro . George Harcourt , J \( . D ., W . M . ; Bro . J . T . Keddell , as S . W . ; Bro . Alex . W . Adair , J . W . ; Bro . G . B . Cole , P . M .: Bro . Dr . Norton , Treas . ; Bro . W . L . Collins , Sec ; Bros . G . Lambert , W . H . Davis , J . H . Hammerton , and others—a ballot was

taken for the election of some candidates for advancement , none of whom , however , wore present . After the disposal of sundry routine business , the Worshipful Master rose and said , a most pleasing duty fell to his lot , in presenting , in the name of the Bon Accord Lodge , the testimonials voted at its previous meeting , to Bros . Cole and Collins . Masons were told that the hope of reward sweetened labour ; the reward they sought was the acknowledgment they had well discharged their duties . To that acknowledgment this Lod

ge had been pleased to add the elegant presents before him . Bro . Dr . Norton , as one of the co-founders of the Lodge , remarked , that each of its Masters had not only been able , but had thoroughly discharged the duties of his office ; and he had no doubt , the Worshipful Master then presiding would , as faithfully as his predecessors , perform the duties of his station . With regard to the Secretary ( Bro . Collins ) , no one knew so well as himself ( the Treasurer ) , the arduous duties he had to discharge ; his services were invaluable , and richly

deserved the testimonial of the Brethren . Bro . Cole said , he was much gratified in having bis services recognized in so marked a manner . It was pleasing to carry , on his retirement from the chair , the approbation of his Brethren . He certainly never contemplated , that in addition to their commendation , he should receive such elegant testimonials . They would be heirlooms , which his children might with pride exhibit in testimony alike of his fidelity and their generosity . Bro . Collins acknowledged his inability to find words adequate for expression of his feelings on the occasionThe

testi-, monial had with him a double value ; it not only was a reward for past services , but was given while he was still in office . The present to Bro . Cole was a silver gilt wine cup , and tea cup and saucer , the former bearing this inscription : — "Presented to Bro . George Beauchamp Cole , by the Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters , in acknowledgment of his services as W . M . in the years 1856 and 1857 . " The testimonial to Bro . Collins , was a silver wine-cup , bearing this inscription : — " Presented to Brother William Louis CollinsHonorary

, Secretary , by the Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters , December 15 , 1868 . " BON ACCORD LODGE ( NO . 1 ) . —This celebrated Lodge held its first meeting for the year , under the presidency of its able R . W . M ., Bro . George Harcourt , 11 . D . ; Bro . J . T . Keddell , S . W . ; Bro . Alex . W . Adair , J . W . ; and Bro . Barker , P . M . ; when , after the confirmation of the minutes , Bro . E . S . Cossens , of No . 7 , and S . W ., Reg . Sec ., and

Almoner , No . 27 , was unanimously approved and admitted as a joining member . ST . MARK ' S LODGE . —( Scottish Constitution , No . 1 . )—At a Meeting of this Lodge on the 26 th January , Bro . Riseborough Sharman , R . W . M ., in a very able speech recommended a union with the G . L . of Mark Masters , and a resolution was come to , authorising him to confer with the R . W . M . ' s of the other Scotch Lodges in England , with that object , and to report to the Lodge . THISTLE . LODGE OF MARX MASTERS . —At the meeting of this

Lodge , on Friday last , six brethren were advanced to this ancient degree , the ceremony being conducted by Bro . Cotterell , W . M ., most correctly and impressively . The meeting itself is noteworthy , as being the first meeting of the first Lodge which has given in its allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters lately established in this country , it having originally worked under the Scottish Constitution . It is unnecessary to enter into the details of the proceedings , which have so long been going on with a view to unite under one head the

increasing body of Mark Masons ; suffice it to say that they eventuated in a report signed by the W . M . of the Scottish Lodges in London , and which has appeared in our columns , recommending Union . In pursuance of this report , which was adopted at the last meeting of this Lodge , the W . M . was duly authorised to take such steps as ho may deem best for the more speedy consummation of the desired union , and most admirably has he executed his delegated trust , for which a vote of thanks was ordered to be placed on the

minutes . At the opening of the Lodge , the warrant from the G . L . was read , and , after the usual preliminaries and formalities , the W . M . declared " the Thistle Lodge a duly constituted Lodge , under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and Wales , & c ., tho number on the register to be hereafter determined . " It is earnestly hoped that the other Scottish Lodges , which have con , curred in the advisability of the course adopted by tin ' s Lodge , will speedily follow its example and complete what has been so happily commenced . Bro . Alex . Rid Grand Regwas present at the

gway , ., banquet , and stated that the G . M ., Lord Leigh , had derived the highest satisfaction from the event that evening celebrated , adding tho assurance of his own gratification , and of that of the Grand Lodge which ho represented , at the reception amongst them of the Brethren of the Thistle Lodge . LEICESTERSHIRE PROVINCIAL GKAKR LODGE OP MARK MASTERS . —The first mectinjr of tills Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Boll Hotel , Leicester , on the loth February .