Our Weekly Budget.

homely , Avelcome . " We rejoice to learn that Scotchmen in our colonies and abroad are generously responding to R . W . Bro . Harriott's appeal , and also that the most hopeful prospects aro opening up in Ayrshire ,

Renfrewshire , GlasgOAv , Lanarkshire and Dumbarton . Stirling , Forfar , Aberdeen and Fife , Avill , Ave may be ' sure , not be behind in the race . To assure the commencement of so grandly patriotic an undertaking as the " Royal Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution" our brethren

should be polled Lodge by Lodge , and man by man . More than the erection of a gorgeous temple , more than any pompous and glittering ceremonial , more than the highest flights of national literature , this project

will groAV in glory as generation after generation shall bless its founders , the " single-minded in a selfish age , " who did not hesitate for so good an end to take upon themselves the burden and heat of the day .

The Scottish Freemasons' Magazine , the fourth number of Avhich is noAv before us , is a modest but ably conducted paper , Avhich aspires to represent that large and important section of our brethren who are located North of the Tweed . It contains some good articles , and the reports of Lodge

meetings are excellent . We wish our contemporary success . We notice that the brethren of St . James ' s Lodge , Tarbolton , celebrated their anniversary by a grand

supper and ball . The toast of the evening Avas " The immortal memory of Burns , " Avhich Avas given by Bro . Neil Munchie , the R . W . M ., who presided . It Avas drunk with all the honours . Burns was master of the St . James ' s

Lodge , and in some valedictory verses to Avhich Ave recently referred he begged his brethren : — " When yearly ye assemble a '; One round , I ask it with a tear , To him , the Bard that's far awa' ? "

This solemn request appears to be religiously complied with by the Masons of Tarbolton , Avho may Avell be proud of the connection of their Lodge Avith the name and fame < of the greatest poet Scotland has ever produced .

-During the past ten years the sum of £ 20 , 000 has been expended on the restoration of the Old Abbey Church at Bath . The work of renovation has been nearly accomplished , but as the funds did not provide for the repair of the curious carving and sculpture on the Avcst

front , the local brotherhood of Freemasons have recently decided to undertake that portion of the re-embellishment . The subject was brought forward at a large gathering of Masons in Bath , a Aveek or two ago , and nearly £ 200 was subscribed .

Tuesday was quite a gala day at the Roy til Military Academy , Woolwich . The list of Cadets recommended for commissions and the distribution of prizes to the successful candidates dreAV together a most distinguished assembly . The Duke of Cambridge , attended by his staff , first

inspected the Cadets , Avho Avere then put through different exercises , by sundry of the Commission , and among them Avas the Prince Imperial , Avho obtained the seventh place in the examination , and thus Avon a commission in the

Engineers , though he did not accept it . The Duke of Cambridge , after the distribution of the prizes , addressed the Cadets in terms highly flattering to their efficiency , and equallv encouraging to their future career .

A four days sale took place , last Aveek , at Messrs . Puttick and Simpson ' s , Leicester Square , of the music , & c , of the late Bros . Hopwood and OreAV , New Bond Street . Bro . C . Coote inn . purchased the lease and goodAvill of the

business of that Avell-knovvn firm . It is Avorthy of notice that the "Prince Imperial Galop , " composed by Bro . Coote , realised the enormous sum of £ 990 , the largest sum ever paid for a piece of Dance Music .

The army estimates of 1875-G present nothing of a startling character . No new "fad " is introduced . No considerable alterations in any branch of the service proposed . The expenses are a little in advance of last year ,

and the total effective strength also slightly increased . The latter appears Avonderfully insignificant , however , Avhen AVC hear of the total increase of men being 1060 , and that 21 men and 20 horses are to be added to the cavalrj ' of fchc line . We sec with regret that the Horse Artillery

Our Weekly Budget.

is to be reduced by an entire batteiy , and the infantry by a whole battalion . An increase of 284 in the Royal Artillery must be placed against these losses . In the Reserve forces , effective Militia is to be reduced by 1000 men . The

nominal strength of the Yeomanry increased by 248 , and Mr . Hardy reckons upon an increase of about 8 , 000 in the Volunteers . The monetary part of the estimates also shows

an increase , from £ 14 , 485 , 300 in 1874 to £ 14 , 077 , 700 in 1875 . It is perhaps Avorthy of remark that Leap Year should account for no less than £ 13 , 000 of the excess .

Advertisements are not , generally speaking , a lively class of literature , still Ave occasionally extract a little merriment from the strange phraseology Avhich advertisers think fit to adopt . We noticed the folloAving , a few days since , in the columns of a daily contemporary : —

TO Clerks and others : —A first class position can always be commanded by any ono who knows a shorthand , learn therefore , RITCHIE ' S AKIIKEVIATED LONGHAND , by which speeches can be reported in a fortnight . ( The Italics are our own !) Post free , & c , & c . We know Avhat short-hand is—roAvs of svmbols , like the

pothooks and hangers of our early days—apparently in a state of intoxication . We think we mi g ht manage , at a pinch , to define "Abbreviated longhand . But Avhat is an abbreviated Longhand , by Avhich speeches can be reported

in a fortnight ? The Longhand must have been terribly long —or tho abbreviations hardly worthy of mentioning—if it requires a whole fortnight to report a speech . Or else our public spears have grown unconscionably long-winded .

It is incumbent on all people Avho have the means to insure their lives . Death is no respecter of persons—nor has he any regard for time in paying his visits . The uninsured man—especially if he be married , and have a family—runs a great risk of leaving them to the tender

mercies of the Avorld if he make no money provision for them at his death . Hence Life Insurance Companies ; amongst Avhich one Avhose title indicates its connection Avith the Brotherhood , viz ., the " Masonic and General Life Assurance Company , " is in every Avay Avorthy of the support of all Masons .

Our contemporary , the Civilian , devoted a great portion of its space last Aveek to the subject of the report of the Civil Service Enquiry Commission . It is' instructive to observe the different view Avhich an organ devoted to the particular interests and conversant with the innermost

workings of the Service takes as compared Avith those of the press generally . We feel sure the outside public has very little idea of Government offices if they suppose , as the Commission recommends that so much patronage Ayill be judiciously exercised by the heads of Departments .

We beg to state that Bro . Valleton ' s Readings in French literature , to Avhich Ave referred last week , are held every Monday and Friday evening , betAveen 9 p . m . and 10 p . m ., at 25 Castle Street East , Oxford Market , opposite the Princess ' s Theatre .

At the festival of the Apollo University Masonic Lodge , held 17 th February , the Rev H . A . Rickard , Christchurch , was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . He appointed

Prince Leopold S . W ., and said he hoped his Royal Highness Avould be able to spend the next term in Oxford , and fulfil his duties in the Lodge . Lord Skelmersdale D . G . M . was present .

Bro . Schuberth ( No . 180 ) , the Director of the Schuberth Society , announces the 9 th Season of this Musical and Classical Society , at the Beethoven Rooms , Cavendish Square , on 24 th February , 31 st March , 28 th April , 2 nd and 30 th June .

A committee has been formed ,- which held its first meeting on the 12 th inst ., at the Temple Club , Arundelstreet , Strand , for the purpose of organising a benefit performance for Bro . E . P . Kingston , formerly lessee of " the

Opera Comique , late manager of the Criterion Theatre , who has for many years , in England , America and the Colonies , been connected with literary and theatrical pursuits , and who is noAV , and has been for some time past , in failing health . Bro . F . B . Chatterton has kindly given the use of the Theatre Eojal Drury Lane , for a morning performance ,