Our Weekly Budget

use Servia as they are using Roumania and make it a point from which more effectually to attack the Turks . As to the Montenegrins , they have been having a bad time of it . In spite of the stories current about the defeat of largo Turkish forces by two or threo battalions of the

mountaineers , the little principality has been successfully invaded , and we should not be surprised to hear of its capital being occupied . All we have to say is , so much the better , seeing that the principality might have had honourable terms of peace in the spring of this year .

There is said to be considerable agitation in Greece , where tho party appears to be gainiug strength , and Hungary is excitecj . Indeed , in the event of Servia being occupied by any Russian force , it is quite possible that Austro-Hungary may look after her interests somewhat seriously .

Still , we must bear all that is happening and may happen with resignation . The Czar has declared it is all for the good of religion and humanity , and , we repeat , the Czar is " an honourable man ; so are they all" —Prince Milan , Prince Charles of Roumania , Prince Nikita , and the rest of them— " all honourable men . "

The Board of Stewards for the Festival of Wednesday next met on Monday , at four p . m ., at Freemasons' Hall . The business transacted was confined to balloting for seats ,

and this done , the meeting separated . Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson occupied the chair , and among thoso present were Bros . J . Constable , C . F . Matier , J . D . Massey , Tanuer , Lucking , Murley , and J . G . Berry .

It is announced , by command of the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe , Prov . G . Master , that a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall will be held on the 5 th prox ., at the Western Subscription Rooms , Launceston , at 10 a . m . precisely . The business paper is a very full one . After

receiving a communication from Sir William Knollys and the annual statements of P . G . Treasurer and Secretary , reports respecting the " Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund , " and from "tbe Committee of Relief , " will be submitted . A report wi'l also be received from Bro . W . J .

Hughan , as to his management of the votes for the London Masonic Charities , on behalf of the Province . The same worthy brother will then propose that the fees payable to

P . G . Lodge shall be increased in the case of initiations from three to five shillings , and in the case of joining members from one to three shillings . Such grants as may be considered desirable will be made to the " Cornwall Masonic

Annuity and Benevolent Fund , and the " Great Masonic Charities , " after which a Treasurer , Secretary , and two Auditors to the former will be elected . Bro . Hughan has likewise given notice , on behalf of the committee appointed to revise the bye-laws of the local Masonic A . and B . Fuud , that certain alterations and additions thereto will be made

in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee . Two annuitants will next be elected to local Annuity Fund . After dedicating the Masonic Hall of Duuheved , Lodge No . 789 , to Masonic purposes , the P . G . M . will nominate and invest his officers , a P . G . Treasurer and two Auditors

will be elected , and likewise a Committee of Relief . The remaining busiuess having been disposed of , the P . G . Lodge will be closed . A banquet will be served at 3 p . m ., at the Central Subscription Rooms . Tickets—price five shillings , exclusive of wine—may be obtained at the King ' s Arms

Hotel , of Bros . Chegwidden and T . Gill , or of the P . G . Stewards . Special arrangements have been made with the Great Western and Cornwall Railway Companies for the

conveyance ot members at single fares , available for the return journey , from the 4 th to the 7 th , both inclusive . A special train will leave Truro for Launceston at 5 . 50 a . m . on the 8 th prox .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Surrey , will be held at the Town Hall , Farnham , in the county of Surrey , on Tuesday , the 10 th July , at 2 P . M .

At the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemansons in all India , held on the 28 th April , at ' tho Masonic Hall , Khumballa Hill-road , Bro . Henry Morlaud Grand Master , who presided , announced his intention of resigning the office he had held so many years .

Our Weekly Budget

The announcement was quite unexpected , and was received with general expressions of regret , Bro . Turnex-, on behalf of those present , giving utterance , in a few but well chosen sentences , to this feeling , Bro . Morland , without attempt , ing any interference with members , very strongly

recommended as his successor , Bro . Macintosh Balfour , Deputy Grand M ., from whom he had received such valuable assistance . It was resolved , in tho course of the meeting , to make the P . G . Secretary a monthly office allowance for tho future . Full particulars of the communication will be fonnd in the Masonic Hecovd of Western India for May .

The Grand Commandery of Tennessee held its annual Conclave at Memphis on the " 3 rd and 4 th instant . Tho following , according to the Masonic Jeivel , are the Grand officers for the ensuing year : —Sir Knights Ed . R , T , Worsham G . Commander , Wilbur F . Foster Dep . G .

Commander , Geo . C . Connor G . Generalissimo , Joseph H , Fussell G . C . General , Will . A . Nelson G . Prelate , W . D . Robinson G . Sen . Warden , Benj . F . Haller G . Jun . Warden , N . P . Woodward G . Treasurer , Morton B . Howell G .

Recorder , W . P . Robertson G . Standard Bearer , W . H . Albers G . Sword Bearer , and A . C . McKissick G . Warder . The next annual Conclave will be held at Nashville , early in May 1878 .

The Right Hon . Lord Londesborough V . E . Provincial Prior of North and East Yorkshire ( K . T . ) will hold a Provincial Priory , under the banner of the Ancient York

Conclave of Redemption , at Hull , on Thursday eveningnext , the 28 th inst . This is the first meeting since the appointment of his lordship , who is a P . E . P . of the Ancient York Preceptory , No . 101 .

The first regular meeting of the Eboracum Conclave , No . 137 , of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine , of the consecration of which we gave an account a few weeks since , will be held at York on the 5 th prox .

The Voice of Masonry for this month contains an essay , entitled " Lights and Shadows , " by Bro . J . R . Hardy , Dist . Dep . G . M ., 14 th Dist . Mo ., before Charity Lodge , No . 331 , of St . Joseph Mo ., and an article headed " A

Masonic Glance at Pennsylvania , " written for the Bauhiilte by Bro . Richard Bartholmcss , aud translated by Bro . A . Roesler . Both these , and , indeed , the contents generally , are in every way worthy of the high reputation the Voice has so deservedly obtained .

The Freemasons' Repository announces that the ei ghtyseventh Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island was held in Masons' Hall , Providence , on the 21 st ult . Bro . Nicholas Van Slyck , M . W . G . M ., presided , and some two hundred brethren were present . After the

usual address , the election of Grand Officers was proceeded with , Bro . Van Slyck , who has held tho office of Grand Master for a term of four years , vacating the chair . A successor was found in the person of Bro . Charles R . Cutler , who was accordingly installed M . W . G . M .. while

the following were chosen and invested as officers , namely , Bros . E . L . Freeman D . G . M ., T . Vincent and W . J . Underwood Senior and Junior Grand Wardens , Nelson W . Aldrich Grand Treasurer , E . Baker Grand Secretary , A . Greene and James M . Davis Senior and Junior G . Deacons ,

John B . Pierce and Sam T . Whipple Grand Stewards , Rev . Henry W . Rugg Grand Chaplain , Sam . G . Stiness Grand Marshal . : ;; id Edward W . Brunsen Grand Sword Beaver . It was stated that dispensations had been issued during the past year for four new Lodgesnamely ,

, Nos . 31 , 32 , 33 , and 14 ; the last being a re-issue . All these were working admirabl y , and gave promise of realising tlm expectations formed of them . The jurisdiction is divided into live districts , each of which is governed b y a District Deputy Grand Master . We note also , with pleasure ,

that it is in contemplation to publish the Proceedings of this Grand Lodge from its Constitution down to the year 1800 . Unfortunately , it seems the materials for a complete reco' -I are not likely to be forthcoming . Still , it will be an uc / antago to have thoso that still exist made public .