Freemasonry In India.

FREEMASONRY IN INDIA .

WE learn from tbe Masonic Becord of Western India for the month of June that at the last half-yearly Convocation of the District Grand Lodge of Bombay , Right Worshipful Bro . E . Tyrrell Leith District Grand Master ,

who presided , was numerously supported by his District Grand Officers , as well as by representatives of the Lodges in his District , while the meeting was honoured by the presence of Captain Henry Morland Immediate Past * Grand

Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India and his Grand Officers . It appears from the address of Bro . Leith that the Craft in Bombay is in a very prosperous condition . The Alexandra Lodge at Jubbulpore , which for some years had been in an unhappy state , had resumed full

work , under the . auspices of a new Worshipful Master , and there seemed to be every prospect of its continuing its labours successfully . Other Lodges , which in the ° hnlf year then closing had been visited by his Depnty , were

also reported upon most favourably , but in the case of two Lodgps—those at Sholapore and Deesa respectively—ns they'had been in abeyance for two ypars , their warrants had been returned to England . Bro . Leith then expressed the great pleasure he experienced on finding 1 , on his rpturn

to Bombay , " that the appeals made to the English Masons in the District in favour of the new Bombay Masonic Association for the education , maintenance , and support , of the children of indigent and deceased Freemasons , had met with so much success . " A sum of 10 , 000 rupees already stood to its credit . —a fact which our readers

will allow , speaks volumes in favour of the zeal and energy of the Bombay brethren . It is scarcely possible indeed for a better beginning to have been made , and we endorse the hope expressed by Bro . Leith , that the brethren will not relax their efforts in behalf of the Charity . After

enumerating the sums subscribed by the different Lodges , and expressing his regret that the up-country Lodges had not more largely contributed , especially as the Fund was one that concerned the up-country brethren as much as , if not more than those resident in Bombay , he nis toanKS to

expressed JBro . nussey lor tbe pams he had taken in advocating the Charity . He concluded by stating that during his late visit to England he had taken the opportunity of visiting several Lodges , and be was proud to say their own Lodges in the way of work had nothing

to fear in respect of a comparison with those in the old country . After a few further remarks , expressing his hearty thanks for the kind reception he had met with on his return , the Reports on the various Committees were "read . . From that of the Committee of Benevolence , it

appeared that the Bombay Masonic Association , had 8 , 000 Rupees already invested in Government paper , on which interest to the extent of 345 Rupees was due at various dates , while a further ' 1 , 000 Rupees was shortly * o be invested . The Report of the Committee of

General Purposes wns vpry brief , being limited to a recommendation to the effect that the names of certain JJ . Grand Officers who had omitted to pav their fees of honour should be struck off the roll of District Grand Uincers . This ancl the previous report having been

" ¦" opted , Bro . H . R . Cormack was unanimously re-elected ^ 'strict Grand Treasurer , after which the Right Worshipful JJ'stricfc Grand Master proceeded to appoint and invest the following brethren as his District Grand Officers for the year , namely : — . Bros . J . W . Smith P . M . 649 S . G . W ., Bala Maugesh Wagle P . M .

Freemasonry In India.

1709 J . G . W ., the Rev . T . Corfield , M . A ., Grand Chaplain , H . R . Cormack G . Treasurer , P . M . Jeejeebhoy P . M . 1189 G . Registrar W . H . Hassey P . M . 944 , 1359 , and 1709 G . Secretary , B . T . Pox W . M . 415 S . G . D ., E . G . Davies P . M . 1508 S . G . D ., J . Greaves P . M . 944 J . G . D ., H . N . Ghista P . M . 1359 J . G . D ., C . P . Huard P . M . 1122 G . Sup . Wks ., D . M . Jeejeebhoy P . M . 1189 G . D . of C , Shantarum Nnrayan P . M . 1709 G . S . B ., J . G . Russell G . O ., W . Atherton W . M .

944 G . P ., W . C . H . Gill 549 G . S ., J . H . Wilbond 757 G . S ., Henry Stead 914 G . S ., W . B . Green 1100 G . S ., Pestonjee Muncherjee 1359

G . S ., J . W . Seager 757 G . Tyler . The appointment and election of brethren to serve on the Committees of General Purposes and Benevolence followed , after which the R . W . D . G . Master expressed his thanks to

Captain Morland and his Grand Officers for having hononred the D . G . Lodge with their presence . The compliment having been suitably acknowledged , and the other business of the day having been dispatched , the D . G . Lodge was closed with the accustomed formalities .

The Auditors' report in respect of the D . G . Treasurer a accounts was satisfactory . On the profit and loss account there was a balance to the good of over 347 rupees . In the statement of assets and liabilities , the former sbowed an item of " cash at Oriental Bank . Corporation 1927 Rupees . "

The balance sheet on 31 st December 18 b 0 , displays a total of 7 , 500 Rupees in government stock , aud cash at Bank of Bombay amounting to 577 Rupees . Wo gather from tbe rules of the Bombay Masonic Association that a donor of 1 , 000 Rupees becomes by virtue of

his donation a Vice-Patron , with thirty votes at all elections for life . He who gives 500 Rupees is constituted a Vice President , with fifteen votes ; of 100 Rupees a Life Governor , with two votes ; and of 50 Rupees a Life Subscriber , with one vote ; while a donation of 10 Rupees carries

with it one vote at such elections as may take place during tbe year in which the money is subscribed . Vice Patrons , Vice Presidents , and Life Governors may present their donations in one sum , or in successive amounts of not less than 50 Rupees ; while in the event of their paying over

the whole amount in the course of twelve months , and serving the office of Steward at one of the Festivals immediately following , they are allowed twenty , ten , and two votes respectively , a Life Subscriber serving the same office receiving one additional vot ; e . The qualifications of Masonic

bodies are double those of individual Masons ; while donors who are ladies , or non-Masons , acquire the same privileges on payment of half the above sums . A Festival , with or without a banquet , is to be held annually in the month of April , while the annual meeting at which theelection of

children to the benefit of the Fund takes place is fixed for March . Children of all religious denominations , and of both sexes , are eligible , provided they are not less than six , and not more than sixteen years of age , and provided also that in every case the father has been a registered

Mason for not less than five years , and a subscribing member of some Lodge for two years , " save and except where a child has been deprived of all support by reason of

the father during snch membership dying , or ^ being rendered destitute by shipwreck or fire , or being permanently incapacitated by ] bodily infirmity from earning a livelihood . "

From the accounts ofjjthe regular quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scottish , Freemasonry in India , at which , in the absence of the Grand Master , Captain Henry Morland Immediate P . G . Master presided , it seems that here

likewise the report for the past year is most favourable . There are , it appears , thirty Lodges on the roll , of which no less than twenty-four are in full activity , the aggregate of their subscribing members amounting to 604 . It further