Notices Of Meetings

ceremony was beautifully worked by Bro . Wallington , who installed Bro . Brown into tho chair of K . S ., the latter investing the officers with the collars of their respective offices . Bros . F . Lorkin of 408 , Smyth 1524 , and Hunt 16 ( 32 , were elected members . To celebrate tho removal to new quarters , it had been arranged that a supper should take i ) laco after tho Lodge had been closed . To this abont

twenty-fivo brethren sat down and did ample justice . Bro . Wallington presided in his nsual genial manner , and , after the cloth had been cleared , proposed what ho termed tho only necessary toast at a Lodge of Instruction , that of tho Queen and tho Craft . Tho Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction like its Mother Lodgo is noted for its musical talent , and on this occasion lost none of its prestige .

William Preston Lodge of Instruction , No . 766 . — This Lodgo hold its usual weekly meeting on Friday , tho 24 th of August , at the Feathers Tavern , Upper George-streot , Edgwnreroad . Present : —Bros . Hall W . M ., Baker S . W ., Harris J . W ., Thompson J . D ., W . W . Morgan jun . as I . G . ; Rudderforth Preceptor , Evans , Adair , Ac . The Lodge having boon formally opened , the

ceremony of Initiation was worked , Bro . Evans being tho candidate , and tho Lodgo having been advanced to the second degree Bro . Baker worked the 1 st section of the lecture , assisted by tho brethren , after which ( he Lodgo was resumed to the 1 st degree . Bro . Baker the S . W . was chosen to fill the chair nt the next meeting , and the Lodge was closed .

The Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 1426 . — This Ledge held it usual weekly " meeting on Thursday , tho 30 th of Anpnst , afc Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons' Avenno , E . C . Present—Bros . James Stevens P . M . W . M ., Thomas Poore P . M . s . W ., Saul J . W ., G . W . Blackie Sec , J . W . Colmer Treas ., C . Taylor I . G . ; also Bros .

Gladwell , Beeton , Daniel , Francis and Parker . Business—The Lodge was opened in tho first degree , and minutes read and confirmed . The following sections were then worked : —First by Bro . Beeton , second C . Taylor , third Blackie , fourth Saul , fifth Francis , sixth Pooro P . M ., seventh Stevens P . M . All Masonic business being ended , Lodge was closed in duo form .

Installation Of Bro. J. C. Forrest As P.G.M. Of Lanarkshire, Middle Ward.

INSTALLATION OF BRO . J . C . FORREST AS P . G . M . OF LANARKSHIRE , MIDDLE WARD .

A MASONIC demonstration of an unusual description took place in Hamilton , on 20 th inst ., on the occasion of the installation of office bearers in connection with the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire , Middle Ward . Tho gentlemen whoso appointments were tho immediate cause of the demonstration wore Bro . John Clark Forrest of Auchinraitb , Provost of Hamilton , who was to bo installed as Provincial Grand Master : Bro . A . G . Simpson , of Carfin , to bo

Depnty Provincial Grand Master ; Bro . James Mackie , Town Treas ., to bo Sub . Prov . Grand Master , & c . Tho office to which Bro . Forrest was appointed in the course of the day , was rendered vacant by the death of tho lato Mr . Merry , M . P ., and it may bo stated that it was formerly held by tho grandfather of the present Duke of Hamilton . It was a high and flattering testimony to tho worth of these

gentlemen that representatives from no fewer than twenty-one different Ledges , in v rious parts of tho county , assembled to witness the ceremony . Ei om an early honr in the morning preparations were in progress for tho proper disposal of the business of the day . In the forenoon tho strangers from the surrounding towns and villages began to arrive , and by mid-dav the town presented a lively appearance .

It had been arranged that the place of rendezvous should bo tlie front of tho Palace . Between ono and two o ' clock accordingly , the Masons , to the merry strains of music , marched in the direction of the ducal demesne , and as they arrived in tho large open space iu front of the palace they were marshalled into position by Bros . Forrest and Thompson . As is customary on such occasions , the

Grand Lodge brought np the rear , preceded by the oldest lodge , which on this occasion was Hamilton Kilwinning , No . 7 , and so on in order of seniority . Proceeding by way of the Almada-street entrance to tho Palace , the procession speedily emerged on tho Bothwell-road at the head of the Muir , and then turning eastwards , marched down p sfc tho Provost ' s house , —the procession being joined at

the Provost's by tho deputation from the Grand Lodge . The following is a list of the respective Lodges , who took part in tho proceedings : — Livingstone Stonefield , Blantyro No . 599 , Sfc . Brydo , liddingstono No . 579 , Livingstone St . Andrews , Motherwell No . 573 , Kilwinning High Blantyro No . 557 , Clydesdale , Larkhall No . 551 ,

St . Clair , Cambusnethan No . 427 , Dalziel St . John ~ No . 4 QG , Larkhall , St . Thomas No . 30 G , Woodhall St . John ' s No . 305 , Mid-Calder St . John's No . 272 , Hamilton St . Andrews No . 233 , St . Andrews , Strathaven No . 115 , Airdrio St . John's Operative No . 203 , Sfc . James ' Old Monk-land No . 177 , Airdrie , St . John ' s No . 100 , Royal Arch , Rutherglen , Royal Arch , Cambuslang No . 114 . New Monkland Montrose No . 88 , Wishaw St . Mary ' s No . 31 , Hamilton Kilwinning

No . 7 . Deputation from Grand Lodge , headed by Bro . Henry Inglis , of Torsonce , R . W . Depnto Grand Master Mason of Scotland . Arriving at the Town Hall , the yonnger Lodges opened np and lined each side of the road , and allowed the representatives of the Grand Lodgo to enter tho building . Tho other Lodges , in the order of their seniority followed , so that the order of procession

was entirely reversed as the brethren entered tho hall , Aa soon as the brethren were seated , the Grand Lodge was opened in due and ancient form by Brother Inglis , and a selection of music having been played by Heir Schroder , organist to the Craft in the district , the ceremony of installing Bro . Forrest , a & well as tho other office bearers , was proceeded with , prayer havinnfirst been offered up by Brother the Rev . Robert Dickson Grand Chaplain , Bro . IogliSj with his accustomed efficiency ,

Installation Of Bro. J. C. Forrest As P.G.M. Of Lanarkshire, Middle Ward.

performed the ceremony , and described to each of tho new officebearers the nature of their duties and tho obligation pertaining to thoir offices . Grand honours followed . Subsequently the Lod <* o was called from labour to partake of refreshments ,

lavishly provided by tho newly-elected Provincial Grand Master The usnal Loyal and Masonic toasts wore given and heartily responded to . Then tho Depute Grand Master of Scotland proposed " The Provincial Grand Lodgo of tho Middle Ward , " conplin ? the toast with the namo of Bro . Forrest . The Provincial Grand Master

suitable replied . Ho thanked tho brethren for tho high honour which had been conferred on him that clay in appointing him to such an important office , and remarked that ho felt all tho more flattered that his immediate predecessors had been tho lato Mr . Merry of Uelladrnm , and tho member of Parliament for tho Falkirk Burghs , and

the present Dnke of Hamilton s grandfather . Some further selec tions having been played by Bro . Schriider , the Brethren stood to order while tho Depute Grand Master and office bearers of tho Grand Lodgo retired from tho hall . This brought a ceremony of "reafc interest to a close .

Freemasonry In Western India

FREEMASONRY IN WESTERN INDIA

CoaiAIUtflCATEP . RECENT reports from the Cottonopolis of our empire in the East tend most strongly to corroborate and confirm the solidity of tho progress of tho "Antient Craft" in this portion of its extended dominion ; and tho transactions of its principal Lodges , which wo havo from time to timo been enabled to publish , prove thafc tho

march of Masonry is onwards and upwards . Onwards , as regards numerical strength , combined with the carefnl and discreet selection and admission of its neophants ; and upwards , as regards the improvement and advancement ; of tho intellectual status of its rulers and ofhVoi-s . Indeed , it cannot bo gainsaid that in no part of Her Majesty's Colonial Possessions can be found a more nnmorous ,

influential , and intellectual body of true and zealous Craftsmen , of all grades , than aro to be met with afc the regular meetings and social seances of tho various Lodges in tho circle of tho Western Presidency . Here , also , ifc may be observed , that it is as interesting as it ia instructive to pornso the Masonic journals which aro published monthly at Jubbnlpore and in Bombay , both of which , whilst giving

publicity and circulation to a faithful record of tho proceedings of the different Lodges , R . A . Chapters , K . T . Encampments , & c , afford a favourable channel for all brethren , prompted with pure motives , to give free expression to their opinions as regards the interior economy , ritual , working , antient nsages and formula ) of the several grades . Tho " Sayings and Doings" at the several meetings are

briefly bnt faithfully recorded and published , but only after being submitted to the higher authorities of the Craft . India being the reputed Oodfathcr of Gup , or Gossip , it is desirable that edirors and publishers should be kept within the bounds of their cable tow . Whilst , however , this precaution is insisted npon , and , to the credit of all concerned , willingly and scrupulously observed , it tends to

secure a reliable record of all that transpires considered of sufficient interest for general publication , at the same time it fetters the frco expression of private opinion which is ol ten valuable . Be that as ifc may , it cannot bo denied that our Masonic Standard , published by Bro . Trant monthly , is conducted in a judicious and discreet manner , and with an ability and earnestness which commands the

support of the brethren throughout India and the East . To direct attention , however , to the several most important changes which have taken place within the past two months in tho Masonic Kaleidescopo of Bombay , tho first noteworthy event has been the resignation of the Deputy Grand Mastership , under the English Constitntion , of the Right Worshipful Bro . Macintosh Balfour . As this

distinguished brother held a similar position in tho Scottish Grand Lod"e forall Asia , this voluntary act did not causo much surpise , or attract more than passing attention from those who wore not " behind the scenes . " This was particularly tho caso when ifc was currentlv surmised thafc he had vacated tho appointment with a view to make way for tho elevation of so popular and talented a member of tho Craft as

Worshipfnl Bro . Tyrrel Lcith , barrister-at-law . It was not nnjus ' tly considered thafc Bro . Balfour was acting with much discrimination iu retiring , so as to leave an opening for tho preferment of a brother , who , from his energy and zeal , was regarded as pre-eminently entitled to any additional honour that could be conferred on him by the District Grand Mastei " , who has always bad the happy facility of

selecting for his officers gentlemen of intrinsic merit , moral worth , and bearing the genuine impress of the true nobility of the Craft . Worshipfnl Bro . Balf ' onr ' s farewell address was couched in terms which commanded the sympathy , respect , anil admiration of all who had tho privilege to listen to them in tho District Grand Lodge , or to read them in the official report , published iu the Standard

" Hnmannm est erraro was a plea which , although put forward so meekly by himself , was certainly nofc applicable under tho circumstances , considering the efficient and brilliant manner in which he had acquitted himself on every occasion when his talents wore brought into requisition , having never dnring his Masonic career swerved from the rectilinear path , or been swayed by faction , or tho

obtuse opinions of those not so thoroughly informed as himself , or so capable of arriving at a just and impartial conclusion . Under all circumstance ? , therefore , it is considered by the Masonic Fraternity in Western India , who at the present time owe their allegiance to the Mother Grand Lodgo of Scotland , that no member of the Craft is so pre-eminently fitted , by prestige , position and

ability , to succeed R . W . Bvo . Morland as Wor . Brother Balfour . Tho brethren of the Craft Lodges will rally round him to a man , well knowing that he , above all his confreres , will jealously guard the ancient landmarks , will zealously maintain the dignity of the Order and will reflect honour on the eminent position which ho is HO ably qualified to hold .