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" Tho Installing Master and I . P . M . " was proposed by the W . M ., who referred to Bro . Court ' s valuable services to the Phccnix Lodge . The toast was well received , and duly acknowledged . Other toasts followed , including "the Visitors , " proposed by Bro . De Fraine , and " The Past Masters of tho Phoenix Lodge , " proposed by the W . M ., and responded to by Bro . Pineo .

De Loraine Lodge , No . 541 . —Installation meeting of this Lodge took place on the 21 st of December , in the Freemasons' Hall , Grainger-street , Newcastlo-on-Tyno . There was an unusual large attendance of Past Masters and brethren . The Lodge was opened by Bro . N . Mein P . G . S . D . W . M ., and tho minutes of the last meeting wero read and confirmed . Bro . George T . Dean W . M . elect was then

presented to Bro . E . D . Davis P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., to receive at his hands the benefit of installation . A Board of Installed Blasters being forme ; , ho was duly inducted into the chair of K . S . according to ancient form . The W . M . then invested tho following brethren as his Officers : —Bros . N . Mein I . P . M ., E . J . Gibbon S . W .. T . R . Richardson J . W ., S . O'Flaherty Chaplain , R . Smaile P . P . G . S . W . Treasurer ,

G . Blandford Secretary , R . Wightman S . D ., Grnit J . D ., E . D . Davis P . M . D . C , R . Watson Organist , J . A . Baty I . G ., J . Curry Tyler , H . Usher S . S ., R . Reed J . S . After the business of the Lodge was concluded , the brethren adjourned to the Queen's Head Hotel , Pilgrimstreet , where thoy sat clown to a sumptuous banquet , after which tho usual Loyal ancl ifasonio toasts were given from tho chair , and duly

responded to . The Masonic Charities wore most eloquently advocated by Bro . E . D . Davis , the Installing Master , when a brother very generously intimated his intention of subscribing 5 guineas to the Schools . Amongst the visitors pressnt were—Bros . J . S . Challoner P . P . G . S . W ., T . Anderson W . M . 1712 Provincial Grand Treasurer , T . B . Winter 24 P . P . G . S . W ., R . Smaile P . P . G . S . W ., G . Tompson P . M . 481 P . P . G . S . W ., W . Fonlshnm W . M . 1626 P . P . G . J . W ., T . Blenkinsop

P . P . G . J . D ., W . Cockburn P . M . 24 P . G . Registrar , P . 0 . Smith P . P . G . P ., G . Cockburn P . M . 24 , A . M . Loades W . M . 24 , J . Gibson Tonll W . M . 685 , W . A . Malcolm 124 P . P . G . S . B . Durham , W . Coxon 124 P . P . A . D . C , A . Wilson P . P . G . P ., J . Bolam W . M . elect 24 , J . Walker 124 P . P . G . O . Durham , J . Cnrry P . G . Tyler . The evening was enlivened with songs and glees by Bros . Gibbon , Donnison , and Ferry , assisted by Bros . Walker and Nntfcon , of Durham .

Eoyal Oak Lodge , No . 871 . —An emergency meeting was held on Friday , 21 st December , at the White Swan Hotel , Deptford . There were present Bros . J . J . Pakes W . M ., G . T . Limn S . W ., R . Harman J . W ., F . Walters P . P . G . D . Middlesex P . M . Sec ., G . Harvey S . D ., J . G . Vohmann J . D ., W . A . R . Harris I . G ., G . Andrews P . M . D . C , and several others . The W . M . Bro . J . J . Pakes initiated Messrs . George Hill and J . Stanley , and passed Bro . Weston . All

the work was well done . On motion duly made and seconded , it was unanimously resolved—Thafc a letter of condolence bo sent to Mr . William Myatt , the father of Bro . W . Myatt P . M ., who had died since the last meeting of the Locige . The Lodge was closed and adjourned till Thursday , 24 th January , to meet at 5 o ' clock . There was no banquet . The father of the Lodge , Bro . F . Walters , wished tho members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year , which was echoed by all present .

Duke of Connaught Lodge of Instruction , No . 1524 . —At the Havelock Hotel , Albion-road , Dalston , E ., on Wednesday , 2 nd January 1878 . Present—Bros . J . Lorkin W . M ., J . McMillan S . W ., Wolley J . W ., Brasted S . D ., C Lorkin J . D ., Maples I . G ., Fieldwick Preceptor , G . Ferrar Treas ., E . Dietrich Secretary ; ancl Bros . Jones , Carver , Cracknell , 0 . Dietrich , Little , Thornhill , Jamieson ,

Pollack , R . Olley , Lee , & c , & c . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed by tho W . M . Bro . J , Lorkin , Bro . Thornhill being tho candidate . Fro . Fieldwick worked the sections of the Lecture , assisted by the brethren . Bro . McMillan was appointed W . M . for next week . Bros . Carver and Thornhill became members . Notice was given that the Fifteen Sections would bo worked" in this Lodge on the first Wednesday in February .

Chaucer Lod g e , No . 1540 . —The regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Wednesday , 26 th ult ., at the Bridge House Hotel , Borough High-street , Southwark . Bro . E . S . Stidolph W . M . presided . Ho was supported by Bros . F . Walters P . P . G . D . Middlesex P . M . Sec , J . G . Hooper Wilkins P . M ., H . Faija S . D ., and others ,

The work , done in an admirable manner , compnsed the initiation of Mr . E . J . L . Sandilands and passing Bro . Hall . Some business was deferred until the next regular meeting . There was only one visitor present . The W . M . Bro . E . S . Stidolph , in his usual genial manner , presided at the festive board .

District Grand Lodge Of Northern China.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF NORTHERN CHINA .

THE necessary power having been received from tho Most Worshipful Grand Master , the new District Grand Lodgo of Northern China was formally inaugurated on 9 th November last , with the ceremonial customary on such occasions . All Master Masons residing or staying in Shanghai were invited to assemble at the Masonic Hall at 4 o'clock , and about eighty responded to the invitation .

Lod <* e having been opened in the three degrees , Bro . Thorne formally announced tho appointment ; and having laid tho patent on the altar , proceeded to open the District Grand Lodge in duo form ; tbe Very Rev . Dean Butcher , acting as District Grand Chaplain , offered a prayer . Bro . Thorne retired from the Locige , and Bro . Gundry , as Senior Past Master , then took the chair , and having read the patent , announced that under that authority he was about to pro-

District Grand Lodge Of Northern China.

oeed with the ceremony of installation . Certain of the Grand Officers were deputed to request Bro . Thorne to re-enter ; and he having been received with the ceremony befitting his rank , Bro . Gundry administered to him the obligation , and installed him in the chair of District Grand Master . After prayer by tho District Grand Chaplain , grand honours were given , and solemn music played by

the District Grand Organist , after whioh the District Grand Chaplain read tho 132 nd Psalm . The District Grand Master then proceeded to instal the following officers : —R . S . Gundry D . D . G . M ., W . A . Tnrnbull D . G . S . W ., J . Hart D . G . J . W ., The Very Rev . Dean Butcher , D . D . Acting D . G . Chaplain , J . I . Miller D . G . Registrar , T . W . Kingsmill President of Board of General Purposes , P . Orme D . G .

Secretary , R . Fergusson D . G . S . D ., II . Evans D . G . J . D ., H . S . Morris D . G . D . of Ceremonies , W . II . Anderson Acting Assistant Ditto , L . Moore D . G . Sword Bearer , G . B . Foutum D . G . Organist , J . Brown D . G . Pursuivant ; II . D . Camajee , Goldspink , Palamountain , Hughes , D . G . Stewards , T . Horo D . G . Tyler . The first seven versos of the 95 th Psalm ( Venite ) were then chanted , and prayer was again

offered by tho Grand Chaplain . The brethren were now requested by tho Deputy D . G . M . to form procession and salute the D . G . M . ; and the Chaplain having read certain portions of Scripture , an Anthem was sung ; and tho first meeting of the District Grand Lodgo in Shanghai formally closed . Tho number of brethren pre . sent at the ceremony was a proof of the influence which

Freemasonry exerts , and of the interest taken in it in Shanghai . Wo do not remember to have ever seen the great room of the Masonic Hall so well filled ; and it was noteworthy that tho assembly comprised nearly as many members of American , German , and Scottish Lodges , as of those working under the English Constitution . This fact was happily alluded to by the District Grand Master , as illustrating the perfect brotherhood and good feeling prevailing among Freemasons

in Shanghai ; and the sentiment was cordially endorsed by W . Bro . Birt , who , as the senior among the visiting Masters , acknowledged Bro . Thome ' s welcome , and congratulated the members of tho Dis . trict Grand Lodge npon its constitution . Many other brethren had expressed their intention of being present ; but for the unpropitions state of the weather , no doubt an even larger attendance would havo been secured . —Nortli China Daily News .

Valley Of New Zealand.

VALLEY OF NEW ZEALAND .

SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL 33 ° . THE following letter of interest to Freemasons , is published in the Otago Guardian , of the 21 sfc October : —

SIE , —The following communication has como by this mail relative to the body in New Zealand calling itself the Snpreme Council of New Zealand : — " Extract of minutes of Supreme Council , 33 o , for England , Wales , and the Dependencies of the British Crown , dated

10 th October 1876 . —Now Zealand . This Supreme Council having been informed that a body has been established in Now Zealand styling itself tho Snpreme Council 33 ° A . and A . Scottish Rite for New Zealand ; and whereas no such body can legally exist in the dependencies of the British Crown under tho Constitutions , whioh recite that there

shall be but one Supreme Council 33 ° in each State or Nation , do now decide that instructions be sent to the Star of tho South Chapter Rose Croix , at Greymouth , New Zealand , pointing out that tho said body is illegal , and thafc no Masonio communication can be held with its members by Masons holding allegiance to this Supreme Council ;

and it is resolved thafc a copy of this minute be forwarded to Lausanne for communication to tho Confederated Councils , and thafc copies of tho samo bo transmitted likewise to the Supreme Councils nofc members of the Confederation . True extract—SFIADWETVT , H .

CIAIIKK 33 ° , Grand Secretary General . —Grand East , 33 Goldensquare , London , W ., 12 th October 1876 . " Ifc was unanimously resolved that no countenance shonld be given to the body in question , ROBERT PA'L'KKSON 30 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite .

St . John's Lodge , Melrose . —The annual demonstration and festival of the above Lodge was observed on Thursday , tho 27 th ult . The business meeting was held in the Lodge room , when the election of Office Bearers , & c , took place . After dining in the Corn Exchange , about 100 of the brethren , who were decorated with insignia ,

& c , and each carrying a flaming torch , assembled afc the Lodge room and marched in procession through the streets to Melrose Abbey , where the usual customs wero observed , returning by Abbey-street to the Hall . The Hawick Volunteer band was in attendance . Large numbers of spectators assembled to view the procession , which waa considerably larger than in former years .

St . David ' s Lodge , Berwick . —Oa Thursday , the 27 th ult ., being the Festival of St . John , the members of this Lodge met in their hall , and the Office Bearers for the ensuing year were iustalled , Bro . Henry Trotter Heron being appointed Worshipful Master . A dinner was afterwards held .

St . John ' s Lodge , No . 65 , Stonehaven . —Met in the Masonic Lodge room on Thursday , the 27 th ult ., when the following Office Bearers wero installed : —Bros . James Crockatfc R . W . M ., William Soddy P . M ., R . B . Tawse Substitute Master , Wm . K . Wilson

S . W ., James Smarfc J . W ., Alexander Greig S . D ., John Watt jun . J . D ., John Anderson I . G ., James M'Gregor Secretary and Trcasm-or , James Murray sen . Architect , Robert Brechin Bible Bearer , and George Tawse Tyler . After the installation the brethren supped together in the Lodge room .

Thurso . —The Freemasons held their accustomed procession on the 27 th ultimo , and made an excellent appearance . The brethren supped together in tho Drill Hall , ancl afterwards held a ball and assembly .