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oloquent speech in reply to the toast of the Church . Among the other speakers were Mr . Pierrepoint , the new American Minister in London , who , to judge from this speech of his , will prove an amusing as well as an effective speaker at our public banquets . Mr . Pierrepoint has not

been among us very long , but already his experience is considerable . He finds himself moro frequently called upon to speak publicly in London than in New York , and he imagines the explanation of a countryman of his for stammering more in New York than in Baltimore , namely ,

a "larger place , ' will in a measure account for this . We fully reciprocate the Minister ' s hope , expressed at the close of his remarks , that England and the United States may go on hand-in-hahd extending the blessings of civilisation among the nations .

The National Rifle Association has been enjoying a succession of warm days in their Camp at Wimbledon , which is certainly one of the hottest places in the neighbourhood of London . So far as the purpose for which the meeting is held , everything appears to have passed off most

satisfactorily . To-day the proceedings close , but at the time of writing most of the important competitions have been determined . An Englishman , Serjeant Pullman , of the 2 nd or South Middlesex Rifles , and a member of the firm of R . and T . Pullman , leatherdressers , of Holborn , is

the fortunate winner of the Queen ' s Prize ( £ 250 ) , and the Gold Medal and Badge of the N . R . A . His score was 74 out of a possible total of 105 points , namely 23 at 800 , 28 at 900 , and 23 at a 1 , 000 yards , seven shots at each range .

A 3 rd Lanarkshire man came second with a score of 67 , and then a 37 th Middlesex , so that the Home County has brilliantly distinguished itself this year . In the match between the two Houses of Parliament the Commons

proved victorious . In the match that resulted from the challenge of the Australians , four teams of five each competed , representing England , Scotland , Canada , and Australia . The weapon used was the Martini-Henry , and Scotland took the place of honour with a score of 402 ,

England being next with 401 , the Australians with 389 , and then Canada with 364 . Ireland was not represented , as Captain Leech found himself at the last moment

unable to bring together the team he desired . Eor the Chancellor ' s Challenge Plate Oxford has beaten Cambridge by 552 to 534 , but the latter is still ahead on the general result by nine victories to six achieved by Oxford .

Mr . Lowe is in his element in dealing with matters Educational . On Wednesday , he presided at the distribution of prizes in the Middle Class School , Cowper Street , Knsbury . The pupils number thirteen hundred , and prizes were awarded to about one hundred of them . Mr .

Lowe ' s speech was admirable , and we trnst the advice he so freely and so forcibly tendered will be justly appreciated by the boys . In these days of progress a youth must enter life well provided with useful knowledge or he stands a poor chance of success . Mr . Lowe himself furnishes one

of the most brilliant proofs of the help that education affords . It is by talents early developed , by long , deep , and laborious study , that he has risen to his present high position , an ex-Cabinet Minister and Member for the University of London .

The second inquiry into what is known as the Balham mystery is likely to be a protracted one . Several days have already been consumed in the examination of some of the chief medical and other witnesses , and as yet there are no

signs of the end being near at hand . Every care is being taken to sift the matter thoroughly , and any doubts that may have existed in the public mind respecting the cause and manner of Mr . Bravo ' s death will , we trust , be for ever set at rest by this inquiry .

The struggle between Turkey andits vassals still continues . One day we read of Servian victories , the clay following , that the Turks are offering a successful resistance to the attacks of the hostile armies . There has been , no doubt , a good deal of hard fighting , but nothing decisive has yet occurred . The

general result , however , appears to be unfavourable to the smaller power . She has not made as yet any visible impression on the power of her adversary . All her available men , even to the very old aud the very young , have been sent to the front to serve as food for tho enemy ' s powder , and

the greatest dissatisfaction is said to prevail in Belgrade , the Servian Capital . Meanwhile fresh Turkish troops are being sent to the scene of war , a part of the Egyptian Contingent has already arrived , and it is quite possible that in a short time we may hear of Servia being utterl y defeated . As regards the Montenegrins , we hear less of

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their doings . They are reported to have gained several successes ; but Fame is a fickle jade , and it seems well nigh impossible amid the multitude of contradictory telegrams that reach this country to learn tho truth , tho whole truth , and nothing but tho truth . The recent statements made

by the Earl of Derby , in reply to certain influential deputations that waited upon his lordship , appear to have given general satisfaction not only here but in the leading foreign capitals . It will certainly not be tho fault of the English

Ministry if the struggle is not sh-ictly localised . England will not constitute herself the champion of the Turks , but she will leave no effort untried to bring about a just solution of the present difficulty .

We have had the following sent us for publication , and we publish it with great pleasure . It is a vigorously written letter , and should have tho desired effect of stifling onco and for ever the ill feeling which still appears to rankle in the minds of some of our West Yorkshire brethren anenfc

the management of the Boys' School . Surely it is enough that due inquiry has been made by a special committee , and that that inquiry has resulted in demonstrating the management to be worthy of all honourable support . We call upon West Yorkshire brethren , or rather upon those who

have taken a more or less pi'ominent part in the recent squabble , to observe the good old manly English custom of fair play . A committee has decided their report is based on erroneous views . All the agitation in the world will not overrule this decision . Indeed , the more urgent

in opposition to what is settled , and should be dead and buried , are D . P . Gr . M . Tew and his friends , the more disgusted , will the Craft bo generally , the more convinced that all such opposition is not meant to bo in the interest of the School , but simply factious . We abstain from

offering any opinion ourselves , beyond what we have already offered . It is high time , however , West Yorkshire should acquiesce in what has been done , and done openly in the light of day , or uneasiness will be generated as to the genuineness of our Masonic principles : —

To THE LIPE GOVERNORS or THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION TOR , BOYS IN THE PROVINCE or WEST YORKSHIRE . Audi Alteram Partem . GREAT GRIMSBY , 14 th July 1876 . Brethren , —I have beeu living in the vain hope that the strife aud

uncharitableness which a short time ago was stirred up in our Province would have subsided , but I am sorry to see a Notice on tho Agenda for our next Prov . Grand Lodge , re-opening aud renewing that illfeeling . It appears most strange to me that iu that once happy and proud

Province the . e is not one resident brother who will take up tho subject and endeavour to bring about an end to this unpleasantness . I received f ' rov . G . L . Summons on tho 12 th instant , and yesterday morning a brother voluntarily sent me a copy of a pamphlet , printed by Bro . Tew , and ready to be sent to any Lodge within tho

Province which considers it worth while to pass upon him a vote of thanks for tho prominent part he has recontly taken . Tho receipt of this has aroused iu ma a desire to say something on the subject , having , outside the Province , taken some little interest in tho movements of West Yorkshire . If time permitted I could say much , and

give you a considerable amouut of information on the un-Masonio proceedings of our D . P . G . M . He complains of tho short notice Bro . ( Mr . ) Binckes gave him of the Quarterly Court on the 10 th April . I do not know that it was the duty of Bro . Binckes to give him this notice at all , but I may tell you that our D . P . G . M . knew of Bro . Woodford's

notice on the 3 rd April , when he was at Hull . Tho notice of the motion was only given to the Committee in London on the 1 st , so that Bro . Tew had as much time to organise his forces as any man iu England , and all was done that possibly could be done to arouse the Province by a strong appeal in Prov . G . Lodge at Wakefield on the 5 th by

the S . W . aud J . W . What say you for the candour of your D . P . G . M ., in wishing it to be inferred that he did not know of Bro . Woodford's motion until four days before tho meeting of the Court ? It was advertised in the daily papers in tho usual way . Bro . Tew knows ( or ought to know ) the four fixed days on which Quarterly Court is held .

Shame on him then wishing to make it appear he knew nothing about if ; until four days before . In the same paragraph he talks about a packed meeting . How ridiculous to talk about a packed meeting in tho heart of London at mid-day ! That large meeting assembled to shew their indignation of tho un-Masonio conduct of our D . P . G . M .,

some of which I will expose toyou before our next P . G . Lodge in October , Talking about a packed meeting comes with the most wretched grace from him ! He and two of his satellites " stumping " the country , got together a meeting at Hull on the 3 rd April , and when told that I had been iuvited to attend , wrote by return of post to Hull objecting

to my being present ; why forsooth ? "Because John Sutcliffe of Grimsby is opposed to our movement . " What do you think of that from our D . P . G . M . ? But I was there notwithstanding his attempt to have a packed meeting , aud in my next will tell yon how he aud

his satellites conducted themselves . I will tell you some things , which I think will arouse that old spirit of Freemasonry and fair play , which , I feel certain still exists in W . Y . Defer your decision on the proposal of the " ex parte " statement of Bro , Booth on the