Our Weekly Budget.

afc the bottom of the resistance . This , however , may well be doubted , and we prefer to think that the resistance is that of a number of individuals banded together against , the foreigner . The insurrection in the Rhodope Mountains still continues , in spite of all attempts to quell it .

In short , matters iu Turkey might go moro smoothly than they are going , though , no doubt , tho disturbances may be set clown as both local and temporary in their character . In other respects the Berlin Treaty is being duly carried out , and without serious difficulty .

No doubt our readers are aware that for some time past the Board of General Purposes has been investigating some very ugly circumstances in connection with one of the elections \ at the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , an erroneous statement having been made of

the result of one of the scrutinies . They are probably aware , likewise , that at a meeting of the Board , specially convened for tho purpose , the principal offender , himself a member of the said Board , and a Past Grand Officeralbeit of rank of little or no account—was sentenced to

two years' suspension from all his Masonic rights and privileges . In other words , the offender in question will , during that period of time , be reduced to the same level as the cowan or profane . The offence , which was of a heinous character , having been proved , the punishment , which is far from being excessive , has quickly followed .

As Horace hath it : — " Hiiro anteceilonteni scelcstuui Deseruit pede Pcona claudo . It may be as well to state that the verdict and sentence

were passed by a unanimous vote , so that there cannot possibly be the slightest shadow of a shade of doubt as to the guilt of the accused person . We propose offering a few general remarks on the subject of Masonic offences and punishments next week .

We beg to acknowledge , with fraternal thanks , copy of the report delivered by the Hon . Judge Townshend , LL . D ., to the Grand Chapter of the Rose Croix Degree in Ireland , at tbe Triennial Convocation held on the 19 th of June last , at Dublin . We learn from this , and with great pleasure ,

that the Degree is in a very flourishing condition , and though the number of Chapters is still twelve , as it was afc the Convocation in 1875 , namely , seven in Dublin and five in the Provinces , still , the number of members has increased from 290 to 340 , or at the rate of 13 per annum

Wc learn , from the same source , thafc the Grand Lodge pf New York haa in its jurisdiction as many as 78 Lodges ,

as compared with 10 per annum during the period from 1872 to 1875 . It is equally satisfactory to know that financially likewise the Degree is flourishing , for , although a heavy expenditure was incurred last year for printing

and furniture for Grand Chapter , there was , at the beginning of 1878 , a handsome sum in hand for current expenses , as well as a reserve fund of £ ' 3 b 0 in Government Stock .

An oration on the beauties and claims of Freemasonry will be delivered in the Large Hall of the Surrey Masonic Club , on Saturday , 17 th August 1878 , at 8 p . m . precisely , by Bro . William Darley , P . M . Lodge No . 158 , and late Assessor to the Honourable Board of Trade .

Sr . vopsis of OKAIIOX . —FKEKJIASO . VRIT—Its Loyalty—Its Venera . tion for tbe Deity—Its enconragement of Art 3 and Sciences—Its moral excellence— Its advancement of civil and religious liberty—Its cementing influence—Its adaptation as a basis for the peace , happi . ness , aud prosperity of all nations—Its crowning influence and claims .

We note from the Keystone that the corner stone of a rew Masonio Temple at St . John ' s , New Brunswick , was laid on the 2 nd July , by Grand Master Clinch , with imposing ceremonial . Twelve Lodges and three Chapters took part en the occasion , two Commanderies and five bands

beingpresent and acting as an escort . 1 'he oration was delivered ly Past Grand Master Wedderburn . Both the Comlaanderics gave banquets , and later in the evening there

vas a promenade concert , at which some 1 , 500 persons - \ 'ere present . It will be remembered that the Masonic Temple shared the fate of pretty well the whole of the City of St . John afc tho recent terrible conflagration .

Our Weekly Budget.

with an aggregate membership of 78 , 050 brethren . Last year , 2 , 954 candidates were made Masons , and 1 , 048 brethren died . Over 5 , 000 brethren are unaffiliated , owing to the fact of their nofc having paid up their dues .

We gather from le Monde Maconnique , which takes its information from El Universe , that a new Lodge has been founded at Cadiz , under the title of the Lodge of Peace . It appears , likewise , that this El Universe is a new journal whose self-imposed mission is " to expound unceasingly

the lofty and generous principles of Freemasonry , to propagate instruction in accordance with those princi ples , and to compel their practical introduction into real life , so that Freemasonry may prove to be an institution which is truly instructive and beneficent . " It also considers Freemasonry

is an eminently progressive institution , and ifc is this character which makes ifc loved and welcomed by all welldisposed people . Le Monde Maconnique considers that

a journal which is animated by such sentiments , and maintains the strictest impartiality , is capable of rendering real service , and wishes ifc all prosperity in its career . We re-echo the wish .

Committee Meeting, Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING , BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE General Committee met ou the 3 rd inst ., when Bro . H . W . Hunt was elected chairman . There wero also present Eros . Hyde Pullen , l \ A . Adlarcl , W . 11 . Ferryman , H . Browse , R . T . Morris , Donald M . Dewar , E . C . Massey , J . W . M . Dosell . After the confirmation of tha minntes of the last General Committee , the minutes of the Quarterly General Court and of the House Committee wore also read , together

with the report of the Audit Committee , and the bills passed by thafc committee wero ordered for payment . A petition on behalf of a son of the late Bro . F . W . Steinam was accepted , and an outfit the valne of £ 5 ordered for a former scholar , W . P . Barrett . The Secretary reported as the resnlt of the late Festival , that all the lists but one had como in , and that the snm so received exceeded £ 10 , 400 . A vote of thanks to tbe chairman closed the proceedings .

Royal Arch Masons Of England.

ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF ENGLAND .

THE Quarterly Convocation was held at Freemasons' Hall on the 7 th inst . Present—Comps . Samuel Rawson Z ., Capt . Platte H ., Capt . Philips J ., Col . Gierke P . S . ; Rev . C . W . Arnold Assistant S . E ., Erasmus Wilson N ., H . G . Bass as E ., J . L . Thomas Sword Bearer , Robertson D . C . There were also many others present ,

among whom were Comps . Col . Creaton , Nunn , Long , Ruoker , Pullen , Glaisher , Gray , Filer and Holman . The report of the Com . rnittee of General Purposes was read , and petitions for five new Chapters were granted , to be attached to Lodges No . 142 , 1044 , 1066 , 1399 and 1533 .

Reading Masons.

READING MASONS .

FROM THB "VOICE OF MASONRY . "

ONE of the greatest drawbacks to the Craft is that its members , as a rule , do not read sufficiently ; we mean by that , do not study the periodical literature of the day which is devoted to the development of Masonic lore . This is greatl y to be deplored , as , at the present period of our history , the diffusion of light is required to a greater extent than it has , perhaps , been for many years , and never before were there so many of tho leading minds of the

Fraternity , devoting their time , energies and talent to the dissemina . tion of Masonio knowled ge . The ignorance displayed by the majority of the Order with regard to the traditions , the history , the jurisprudence and the principles of Freemasonry , is truly lament , able , and the fault lies entirely at onr own doors ; we initiate , pass and raise a man , give him certain signs and tokens , administer to

him certain obligations , tell him to read the Book of the Constitntion of the Graud Lodge , and tho by-laws of his own Lodge , and then inform him he is a full-fledged Master Mason . What a mockery ! The brother is on the very threshold of the Institution , and barely understands its first principles . This is the timo to impress npon his mind that onr symbolism is a stud y in itself ; that onr history has

absorbed tho attention of the most erudite antiquarians , and is still shrouded iu mystery ; that our jurisprudence is written , unwritten , general and local ; that our traditions are sublitno truths elucidated and developed under the shades of fancy and poetry . This shonld be told to tho neophyte ; the works of standard Masonic writers should be recommended to him , and he should be advised to at once

subscribe tor one or more of tho leading Masonic journals of the day . If this courso were pursued a healthy interest would be excited , aud the Mason having discovered there waa something more in the Institution than mere ritual , day aftf r day , month after month , and year after year , wonld become more ardent in his researches , more diligent in his a : udies , more anxious to become a Master in tho Craft . In former days , when Masonry was * forced to hide its head to pre , serve its vitality , and it yras necessary fov brethren t