Our Weekly Budget.

pect , but even so , we doubt if the conflict will be strictly limited to these two combatants—for any length of time . As in the last struggle between them , little more than half a year elapsed , when France and England took part in tho conflict . Russia invaded the Principalities in the autumn of 1853 , and in March 1854 war with Russia was

declared by the Emperor Napoleon and Queen Victoria . This is not exactly a good omen . We would far rather overlook it , but this is impossible . A day may come when the true designs of Russia will be moro apparent , and England will find it necessary to see that her important interests

in the East are not imperilled . All of us are anxious that the war may be localised , bnt just as all the efforts of the Great Powers have been powerless to prevent the armies of Russia and Turkey from confronting each other , so when the sword has been drawn , and the struggle between them

is raging furiously , it may be impossible to avoid engaging in it . Cassandra was not a very popular personage , but it was rig ht she should utter her warnings , though they boded no good to her country . We are happily outside the arena in which the contest , now imminent , must take place . How

long we may be able to remain outside is a question which , however unpleasant it may be , cannot be omitted from the reckoning .

Thanks to Bro . Dr . Strong ' s kindness , " our Patriarchs " had the opportunity afforded them of spending a most agreeable evening on Wednesday . A concert was given on that occasion , in the Hall of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , by the Croydon Symphonic Septett

Society , assisted by the Amateur Glee Society . ihe instrumentalists included Mr . Viotti Collins , and Bro . Dr . Strong as first violins , Messrs . James and Johns , second violins , Messrs . Bartlett and Tinson , tenors , Mr . W . Owen , violoncello , Mr . W . 0 . Strong , double bass , Messrs . De

Vine and Hatchwell , flutes , and Mrs . Dubois , pianoforte . Mr . Viotti Collins conducted . The Programme was in two parts , and was most successfully rendered . Under these circumstances , it may seem invidious , perhaps to ' select any for special notice , but we imagine even the artistes themselves will admit that Mr . Viotti Collins ' s

selection from " II Trovatore" was splendidly rendered , that Mesdames Strong and Dubois sang the familiar duet "I know a bank" with exquisite taste and feeling , and that Mr . Maitland Gard'ner ' s interpretation of the wellknown Buffo Song "Largo al factotum , " was beyond

praise . At intervals during the evening , light refreshments were handed round , and when the entertainment was ended , Bro . Terry rose and briefly proposed a vote of thanks to Bro . Dr . Strong for his kindness . The vote was

carried by acclamation and suitably acknowledged . Among the guests of the evening were Bro . and Mrs Terry , Miss and Master Terry , Bro . and Mrs . Pearcy , and Bro . and Mrs . E . G . Legge , Miss Strong very kindly charged herself with the task of distributing the programmes .

On Monday , Stratford-on-Avon will be the scene of an interesting Masonic ceremonial . Our readers are possibly aware that the day in question is the anniversary of Shakspeare ' s birth , and it has been resolved , in honour of the immortal Bard of Avon , to erect to his memory a block of

buildings , which shall include a theatre , library , and picture gallery . Accordingly , Lord Leig h will hold a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire , at the Corn Exchange , Stratford , at one p . m . on the day named . After the necessary preliminary business , and a collection has

been made towards the building fund , a procession will be formed , and the brethren will march to the site of the Memorial Building , where Bro . Lord Leigh P . G . M . will lay the north-east corner stone with the customary Masonic rites . Bro . the Rev . F . M . Beaumont Pro . G . Chaplain ,

and Bro . Creswick will then deliver addresses , at the termination of which the procession will reform , and return to the Corn Exchange where the P . G . Lodge will be closed . A cold collation is fixed for 3 " 15 , price of tickets five shillings each . A programme of the order of procession has been

issued , and special arrangements , as will be seen in our advertisement columns , has been made by the North Western Railway Company for the conveyance of visitors from the metropolis to the neighbourhood of Stratford . The ceremony cannot fail to be an interesting one , and ve doubt

not will be successfully carried out . We shall give a full report of the ceremony in our next issue .

Our Weekly Budget.

The 16 th anniversary of the Lodge of Instruction which meets under the sanction of the Lodge of Stability , No . 217 , will be held at the City Terminus Hotel , ou the 27 th inst ., at half past 5 o ' clock . Selections from the Lectures will be worked by the following brethren : —1 st

Lecture—1 st Section by Bro . E . H . Hewett S . W . 235 ; 2 nd b y Bro . J . W . Clever J . W . 171 ; 3 rd by Bro . E . F . Storr W . M . 22 ; 7 th by Bro . A . H . Diaper P . M . 5 . 2 nd Lecture—Bro . H . Muggeridge will lecture on the six Grand Periods ,

and the moral advantages of Geometry . 3 rd Lecture—Bro . J . B . Scriven will lecture on the Lodge Board of the degree . A banquet will take place at 8 o ' clock ; tickets , 5 s each . The attendance of the brethren is requested . Masonic Craft costume will bo worn .

A new Lodge , the Mornington , No . 1672 , will bo consecrated at the Eagle Tavern , Snaresbrook , on Monday , the 30 th inst . The names of the officers given in the Warrant are Bros . William Robert Marsh P . M . 9 , 993 , 1000 W . M .

designate , J . Edward Cockett 1364 S . W ., Georgo Blackman 9 J . W . The Consecrating Officer will be the V . W . Bro . John Hervey P . G . D . Grand Secretary . The brethren will assemble at 3 o ' clock p . m . punctually .

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

— : o : — No . 63 . No . 5 , " Anoients " ( A . D . 1774 ); No . 9 from the Union of A . D . 1813 to the present time . ATHOLLGRAND MASTER .

LAU . DERMOTT , D . G . M . JOHN CHRISTIAN , S . G . W . PETER SHATWELL , J . G . W .

€ a nil togom it man roiucni . WE , the Grand Lodge of the most Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons ( according to the Old Con . stitutions granted by His Royal Highness Prince EDWIN , at York , Anno Domini Nine hundred twenty and six , and in the Year of

Masonry Four thousand Nine hundred twenty and six ) in ample form assembled , viz ., The Eight Worshipful and most Noblo Prince John , Duke and Marquis of Atholl , Marquis and Earl of Tullibardine , Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle , Viscount of Balquider , Gleualmond and Glenlyon , Lord Murray , Belveny and Gask , Heritable Captain

and Constable of tho Castle and Constabulary of Kincleavon , one of the Sixteen Peers of Scotland , Knight of the most Noble and moBt Ancient Order of the Thistle , and in that part of Great Uritain called England and Masonical jurisdiction thereunto belonging , GRAND MASTER OF MASONS , Tho Right Worshipful Laurence

Dermott , Esq -, Deputy Grand Master , The Right Worshipful John Christian , Esq -, Senior Grand Warden , and the Right Worshipful Peter Shatwell , Esq ., Junior Grand Warden ( with the Approbation and Consent of the Warrented Lodges held within the Cities No . 5 and Suburbs of London and Westminster ) , Do hereby

authorise and impower our Trusty and Well beloved brethren , viz ., The Worshipful Edward Williams one of our Master Masons , The Worshipful John Jones his Senior Warden , and the Worshipful James Cooke his Junior Warden , to Form and Hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons aforesaid , at tho Castle Eating

House , St . Michael ' s Alley , Comhill ( or elsewhere ) , in London , upon the Second and Fourth Wednesday of each Kalender Month , and on all seasonable Times and lawful Occasions . And in tho said Lodge ( when duly congregated ) to admit and make Free Masons according to the most Ancient and Honourable Custom of the Royal Craft in

all Ages and Nations throughout the known world . And We do hereby farther authorise and impower our said Trusty and Wellbeloved Brethren Edward Williams , John Jones and James Cooke ( with the Consent of the Members of their Lodge ) to nominate , chuse and install their Successors , to whom they shall deliver this Warrant ,

and invest them with their Powers and Dignities as Free Masons , & c . And such Successors shall in like manner nominate , chuse , and install their Successors , itc , & c , & c . Such installations to bo upon ( or near ) every ST . JOHN ' DAY , during the continuance of this Lodge for ever . Providing the above named Brethren and all

their Successors always pay due Respect to this Right Worshipful Grand Lodge , otherwise this Warrant to he of no Force nor Virtue .

Given under our Hands and the Seal of our Grand Lodge in London , this Thirtieth day of June , in the year of Onr Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-four , and in the Year of Masonry Five Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-four .

W - DICKET , Grand Seoretary . NOTE . —This Warrant is Registered ~ \ in the Grand Lodge , Vol . 1 , { Letter A , and bears date , July C 17 th 1751—5751 . J The present No ., title , & o . are , No . 9 , Albion Lodge , Freemason ** Ball , London ,