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retired , bat on Tuesday renewed the attack with great vigour , and succeeded in expelling the enemy from formidable positions and capturing 18 guns . Tho evacuation of Jellalabad is stated upou official authority , and there is general belief that the Afghan troops have been withdrawn

to Cabul . The Khyber Pass has been re-opened to convoys , and in tho valleys the British forces receive abundant supplies . The definitive Treaty of Peace between Russia and Turkey appears now to be in course of negotiation , with some prospect of a satisfactory result . The

Emperor of Russia , after visiting Moscow , returned to St . Petersburg , and has publicly declared his expectation that a definitive arrangement with the Porte will shortly be effected . The Turkish General Suleiman Pasha , who

commanded tho Balkan Army , aud so strongly contested the Shipka Pass , has been found guilty by a Court-martial of military misconduct , and sentenced to 15 years' confinement in a fortress .

The Marquis and Marchioness of Lovno have arrived at Ottawa , where , as at every other poiut of their journey , they were received with the utmost cordiality .

Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT .

THE Animal Festival wns held in the Grand Hall , Freemasons ' Tavern , 29 th November 1878 . Present : Bros . T . Fenn P . G . D . as W . M . ; Bro . C . A . Murton P . G . D . as S . W . ; Bro . J . A . Rucker P . G . D . as J . W . ; Bro . A . 0 . Spaall as S . D . ; Bro . G . C . Pulsford as J . D . ; Bro . W . A . Dawson as I . G . ; Bro . W . Smallpeice as Secretary , and about 130 other brethren . Tho Lodge having been opened in the third degree , the whole of the sections of the first lecture were worked in an able and impressive manner by the undermentioned : —

Section 1 . By Bro . A . C . Spaull J . W . 1 , 768 . „ 2 . By Bro . G . 0 . Pulsford S . D . 1 , 593 . „ 3 . By Bro . A . D . Renshaw S . D . 191 . „ 4 . By Bro . E . Hornblower S . D . 1 , 604 . „ 5 . By Bro . E . G . Tattershall 165 . „ 6 . By Bro . F . R . Spanll S . W . 1 , 768 . „ 7 . By Bro . W . A . Dawson W . M . 1 , 768 .

About thirty . three brethren were then proposed as joining mem . bers of the Lodge , and Bro . Fenn having vacated the chair , Bro . The Right Hon . Lord Henniker R . W . S . G . W . took his place , and closed down tbe Lodge in the three degrees . The brethren then proceeded to an excellent and substantial supper , served by Bro . Best in the large Banquet Hall , the chair

being taken by Lord Henniker . Amongst the distinguished brethren who supported his Lordship we noticed Bros . John Hervey Grand Secretary , Captain Philips , Binckes Sec . R . M . I . B ., Case , H . J . P . Dumas , Murton , Clarke , Edwin March , and others . Grace having b en said , and the cloth removed , the Chairman gave the usual loyal toasts , which were duly honoured . In proposing

the health of the M . W . Grand Master , his Lordship made a fitting allusion to the many estimable qualities of His Royal Highness , and expressed a hope that they might soon havo an opportunity of repeating the welcome they had recently given him in that Hall . Passing to the toast of the Grand Officers , Lord Henniker trusted that they might lor many years have such rulers in the Craft as

the Earl of Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale , whose efforts for the welfare of Masonry conld not be too highly valned . In responding to this toast , Bro . Clarke said it must bo an especial pleasure and satisfaction to tho Grand Officers to attend the Emulation Lodge , whose proceedings cast such lustre upon English Masonry . Bro . John Hervey next proposed the health of the Chairman , Lord

Henniker , in flattering terms , and bore testimony to his Lordship ' s great services to the Craft in the Province of Suffolk , remarking that the Lodge of Emulation owed Lord Henniker a debt of gratitude for having , at much inconvenience , undertaken a long journey in order to preside over them that evening . Tho toast was received with acclamation . Lord Henniker , in responding , complimented the

Officers of the Lodge on tho splendid working he had witnessed , the gratification derived therefrom , fully repaying him for the journey he had undertaken in order to be present . He then proposed the toast of the evening : Success to the Emulation Lodge of Improve , ment . He considered the Emulation Lodge supplied one of the greit Masonio wants , and was becoming a great authority in this conntry

in matters of ritual . " Emulation " was a word wc , as Masons , should always have before us , and he could not r-efraiu from counecting with , this toast their highly valned friend , Bro . Jo in Hervey , who had been one of the chief supporters of tho Lodge wf Emulation for over thirty years . They should try , although they vould find it a difficult task , to emulate the services of Bro . Hervey . Bro . Hervev in respond .

ing , expressed the pleasure he felt in seeing so numerous an ass-einbly that evening , which convinced him that tho good which was being done by the Emulation Lodge would continno to increase . In conseqnence of failing health , ho had lately taken no active part in their working , but his Bro . Officers wero not likely to let tho Lodge fall off either in nnmbers or efficiency . The Chairnan then proposed tho

health of the Officers of the Emulation Lodge , Bro . Fenn and others , who had given them such a treat , thatevening by theirimpressn ' re working of tho first lecture . He looked upon Bro . Fenn as a model W . M ., and it was only due to Bro . Smallpeice , tho in lefatigable Secretary to tho Lodge , that they should accord him the jraise he deserved for bis active services in that capacity . Bro . Feur , in responding , said , that if they Lad earned any credit for their working , it must be

Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

shared alike by all the brothren who had taken part in it ; but ho might observe that the greater part of them wore young members , and it must bo gratifying to all present to know that thoy had received their education iu the Lodgo of Emulation . Bro . Murton thou proposed Prosperity to the Lodge of Unions , under whose Warrant they wore privileged to meet . Ho hoped that as thoy were proud of their

mother Lodge , she was also proud of her offspring , tho Lodgo of Emulation . Ho recommended brethren to spare no pains in learning tho leeture 3 , so as to arrive at a truo understanding of tho ceromonies . The toast was respouded to by the W . M . of the Lodgo of Unions , who gavo a short sketch of their history . 13 ro . Rucker next proposed the toast of thelloyal Masonic Institutions , remarking

that there wore two classes of Masous , namely , those who contributed to tho support of tlio Charities , and those who did not . In coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Binckes , he would leave him to say something on behalf of tho claims of the Charities , although advocacy of that kind ho looked upon as superfluous , when the advantages of the Charities wero so widely kuown and understood .

Bro . Binckes , in responding at somo length , mado an eloquent appeal to the brethren , obsorvimr , in allusion to tho remarks of Bro . Rncker , that he feared the class who did not give to the Masonic Charities was more numerous than the class who , acting up to their Masonic profession , contributed freely , lie hoped that that state of

things would bo reversed bofore long , and he had every confidence that tho great body of Masons wore alive to the importar . co and necessity of supporting by all means in their power the various Charities associated with Masonry . The health of tho Stewards of the evening , was proposed by Bro . Clarke , aud responded to by Bro . Pnlsford .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

rilHE half-yearly Communication of Grand Mark Lodge of England J- took place ou Tuesday evening , at Freemasons' Tavern . Lord Skelmersdale , Grand Master , waa uuable to bo present , and the throne was occupied by the Earl of Limerick , Past Grand Master . Thero waa a large attendance of brethren , among whom wero General J . Studholmo Brownrigg , Bros . Thos . Halsey , M . P ., Captain Philips , S . Rawson , Shadwell H . Clerke , Sir J . Halford , and J . Lewis Thomas . Tho following business was on tho agenda paper : —

Recommendations from tho General Board : — ( a ) " That in clause 63 of tho Book of Constitutions tho following words shall in future be omitted , ' Unless by special dispensation of tho Grand Master , have been previously installed as Master of some Craft Lodge of Freemasons , and also , '"

( b ) " That Grand Lodgo authorise a grant of £ 25 in aid of the brethren of the Mark dogree at Curacoa , who lost all their property , and have been reduced to a stato of great destitution by the hurricane of September 1877 . " ( c ) " Grants from Benevolent Fund—That £ 15 bo granted to Bro . R . H . ; that £ 10 be granted to the widow of Bro . H . "

( d ) " That the rules for tho management of the Education Fund , now submitted , be approved . " ( e ) " That the Grand Master be authorised to tako charge of certain other orders and degrees connected with Freemasonry , under such conditions as the General Board may from time to time recommend . "

After a long discussion on Recommendation a , in which the general feeling of the brethren was against the proposed alteration , t -e Earl of Limerick drew attention to the circumstance that this clause was not included in tho Report of tho General Board . It therefore conld not be put . This subject then foil to tho

ground . Recommendations b and c were agreed to . Recommendation d , was adopted , with a few minor alterations in some of the bye-laws . On Recommendation e , Brother Binckes explained that the strong argument in favour of it was the desirability of not multiplying supreme jurisdiction in the Degrees or Orders .

Several brethren disapproved of the proposition to take other Orders under Grand Mark Lodgo , aud the Earl of Limerick warned Grand Lodge that by giving tho power proposed they would be taking a very serions step , that might lead to discussion which would be inconvenient aud injurious to the Mark degree . Bro . C . J . Smith

strongly opposed adopting the Side degrees . Tho Mark degree did did not stand so free from dangers that it could afford to adopt further grounds of opposition by the Craft , and ib should endeavour to establish harmony rather than resistance . Tho motion was ultimately withdravvn , and the Report of the General Board , with this

exception , adopted . Bro . Montagu then nominated Lord Skelmersdale for Grand Masterfo . the ensuing year , and the Eavl of Limerick distributed charity jewels to Bros . Rev . D . Aco , Robt . Arnisou , H , Bagot , J . Barker , R . Bopgett , Rev . W . Bad ford , W . G . Brighton , E .

II . Coates , T . Clibit . t , R . Eve , J . Fawcett , J . Gardiner , J . R . Goepel , C . Harding , J . C . Mason , W . Nicholl , Capt . Perkins , C . H . Perrott , Capt . Ritchie , A . Scargill , J . L . Thomas , E . T . Tattershall , F . M . Tindall , F . Trickett , and Georgo Ward Verry . Grand Lodge was then closed .

A centenary warrant having been granted to the members of the Howard Lodgo of Brotherly Love , 50 , Arundel , Sussex—the Lodgo was constituted in London iu 17-3 o—¦ on 10 th December tlie Festival will bo held , aud the Prov . Graud Master Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., has consented to be present , accompanied by his Officers .