Our Weekly Budget.

Chancellor arrived afc the Castle in the course of tho afternoon , and had the honour of dining with Her Majesty , ¦ who returned from London shortly before 8 p . m . Last week , we noted the great activity which prevails in Masonic circles just now , making our ordinarily dull season

one of unwonted brilliancy . We noted that during that time two Provincial gatherings were held in Kent and Berks and Bucks respectively . On Monday , was celebrated the Eightieth Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . The Duke of Connaught presided at

a well-served banquet , followed by a garden party . Everything passed off excellently well , the one drawback , as AVO note more fully elsewhere , being the smallness of the receipts . On "Wednesday , the Albert Edward Life-boat , being one of the two voted by our Grand

Lodge to commemorate the Grand Master ' s visit to , and safe return from , India , was launched with much ceremony at Clacton-on-Sea , the place where ifc will be stationed . Lord Skelmersdale , the Deputy Grand Master , played the chief part in the interesting ceremony , and tho day was

made one of great rejoicing , not only in the new seaside resort itself , but in the immediate neighbourhood , while the Mayor and members of the several Corporations of Maldon , Harwich , Ipswich , and Colchester mustered in considerable numbers . The Craft was largely represented , and the day

was one of general rejoicing . A full report will be found elsewhere . On Wednesday , sundry summer banquets were held , and Thursday and Friday were each fixed for the consecration of a new Chapter . Next week , too , though it may not be so generally important , promises to be a very

active one . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey will meet at Croydon on Tuesday , and the Mark Grand Lodge will hold its annual Festival in aid of the funds of the Mark Benevolent Fund on Wednesday , when the chair will

be taken by Lord Skelmersdale , the M . W . Grand Mark Master Mason . Nor must we forget to add that the election of Secretary to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held on Thursday . The result is given elsewhere .

On Monday , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , when passing from one of the rooms of his official residence into the garden , struck his head with considerable violence against the upper portion of the window , which had not been sufficiently raised . For a time the right honourable gentleman

was stunned by the force of the blow , and was unable to be present at a dinner which had been fixed for that evening at his house . The Queen and Prince of Wales , on hearing of the accident , telegraphed for tidings , and likewise for the purpose of expressing their sympathy . No

serious consequences have ensued . During this week and next , Wimbledon will be in full holiday garb , as this is the annual gathering of our Volunteers for the purpose of competing for the many and

valuable prizes offered for Rifle competition . The first stage for the Queen ' s Prize will be finished this week , when the fortunate sixty who will compete for the Prize and the Association Gold Medal will be known . A few of

the contests have been already settled , but the interest in the proceedings will be reserved for next week , when the Lords and Commons , the International , and other interesting competitions will be decided . The political news of the week has been the publication and confirmation in both Houses of Parliament of the

Anglo-Turkish defensive Treaty . The purport of this instrument is easily explained . In the event of Russia claiming to retain her conquests in Armenia , and in such event only , the high contracting Powers have resolved to conclude a defensive alliance with a view to maintaining the integrity

of Asiatic Turkey , and in order to enable England to render material assistance in securing this object , the island of Cyprus will be placed under her administration , so that she may occupy it militarily , and take such steps for improving the condition of its people as may

be thought desirable . If the revenue shall , exceed the expenditure , the surplus will be paid into tbe Turkish exchequer , and it is expected that the cost of administration will be defrayed out of the

revenues , and will leave a considerable margin . Sir Garnet Wolsey has already been appointed to the important post of Administrator of the island , and such an appointment augurs well for the future . Scon also , no doubt , we shall hear of the commencement of a railway system , by

which the amazing mineral and cereal resources of these Asiatic regions will be developed . All who have read any . thing of the aBQieot liiatpry pf tk § egwifcry ausfc b , e able

Our Weekly Budget.

to form some idea of its gieat natural wealth . In what is known as Turkey in Asia , thero onco flourished some of the richest kingdoms of ancient times , and it is only in consequence partly of Turkish apathy , and partly of the disturbances promoted by Russian agents , that a

fresh development has nofc been given to the products and manufactures of the country . All this will bo changed now . Russia will no longer have it in her power to cause disturbances . The railway and the telegraph and our commercial navy will speedily change the aspect

of the country , what has been barren and unproductive will very soon be converted into a rich and smiling territory . We wonder what the Russian Bear must think of this veritable coup d ' etat of our Government . However , let him like ifc or not like it , he must make the best he can of it henceforth .

The Congress , it is generally anticipated , will have completed its labours this week . With the general character of the arrangements our readers are already acquainted . Servia , Roumania , —shorn of Bessarabia , bufc with the addition of the Dobrudscha , and Montenegro

become independent . Bulgaria is erected into a principality , but will remain nominall y under tho authority of the Sultan . Austria will " occupy" Bosnia and Herzegovina , and the frontier line between Turkey and Greece will be rectified favourably to the latter power . The

Straits Question remains as before , and Russia retains her Armenian conquests , except Bayazid . However , what we have said in the preceding paragragh as to the Anglo-Turkish Treaty must likewise be taken into account in estimating the general result , at least as far as our interests are concerned .

Owing to the length to which our Analysis of the Subscription List has extended , we have been compelled to hold over the latter half till next week .

Bro . Turquand , the Preceptor of the Merchant Navy Lodge of Instruction , will , on Wednesday , the 31 st July , give a lecture on the Landmarks of Freemasonry . We

are sure the many friends of our esteemed brother will welcome this announcement , and that there will be a good assemblage of members of the Craft at the Silver Tavern , Burdett-road , Limehouse , on this occasion .

On Wednesday next , the 17 th inst ., the Surrey Masonio Club has arranged with Mr . F . H . Macklin of the Duke ' s and other London Theatres , to g ive a dramatic and musical Costume recital . The entertainment will include songs , recitations , selections in character from the Sappy Pair ,

Still Waters Bun Deep , and the Hunchback , and among the artists who will appear will be found Mr . F . H . Macklin , and Miss Agnes Leonard ( by permission of Mr . James Mortimer of the Duke ' s ) , Messrs . L . Earle , R . Markby ,

and C . H . Jesse , Miss Plowden , and Madame G . A . Cooper . Stage Director , Mr . Vyner Robinson . To commence afc 8 p . m . Carriages afc 10 . 15 . Tickets afc 3 s , 2 s and Is each may be had of members of the Club , or of its Hon . Secretary Bro . Jas . Stevens , prior to entertainment .

West Lancashire Make Lodge No. 65.

WEST LANCASHIRE MAKE LODGE No . 65 .

rpHE regular meeting was held at the Masonic Temple , Hope-street , J - Liverpool , on Wednesday , the 3 rd insb . Present—Bros . John Hayes W . M ., R . H . Evans as S . W ., H . P . Jennings as J . W ., W . H . Cooper Sec , J . R . Gocpel P . M . P . G . S . O . Eng . Treasurer , A . C . Wylie M . O ., R . Reader S . O ., W . Thomson J . O ., J . Fletcher I . G ., W . H . Ball Tyler : Fast Masters Bros . H . Jackson P . P . G . S . O ., J . K .

Smith P . G . S . B . Eng . and P . G . S . O . West Lancashire . After the usual introductory business , the ballot was taken for Bros . Poyser , Blott and Russell , and Bros . Poyser and Blott being in attendance , were advanced to the honourable degree of M . M . M ., the W . Master , iiro . Hayes , performing the ceremony in a faultless manner , which

might well be imitated . The labours of tho evening being ended , the Lodge was closed , and tha brethren adjourned to refreshnient . Brother Hayes was compelled to vacate the chair at a very early hour , but ho trusted the brethren would enjoy

themselves . It was our intention to note several pleasing passages which occurred dnring the evening , and to give an account of the interest taken by Bros . Smith , Wylie , Vines , and Houlding in the Charities connected with the Stanley Hospital . We cannot , however , do ao . We havo been so overcrowded with important items for the paat threo wrcty we , art ; comneM to oxtail Qw nprts ,