Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

the new Freemasons' Hall about to he erected in the city . Unfortunately , the Prince ' s numerous engagements prevented the wishes of the Craft from being carried out . All that could be done , however , was clone . A few days before His Royal Highness ' s departure from Calcutta , a

deputation from the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , consisting of District Grand Master Roberts , the Deputy Grand Master and Past D . D . G . M ., together with the District Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary , had an interview , for th e purpose of presenting an address . This address was

beautifully engrossed and illuminated , and enclosed in a silver casket , appropriately ornamented with miniature Craft tools and jewels , and Royal Arch symbols and jewels , all in gold . The Prince expressed his acknowledgments in a few well-chosen and kindly words , and the deputation

retired , much gratified with their reception . These , however , as Ave have pointed out in the case of England , are merely the accidents of the year . The evidence of a substantial progress must be looked for in the ordinary labours of the various Lodges , but especially in the activity of the

several District Grand Lodges and other ruling bodies . If these pursue their work half-heartedly , and only as a matter of course , we justly conclude that the star of Freemasonry is under a cloud ; but if theLodges are well attended , if the duties required of members are fulfilled earnestly ,

as well as with ability , tho inference is that the Craft is prospering . We have this evidence in the case of India . The District GrandLodges meet regularly , aud are well attended . Moreover , not only aro the Lodges becoming numericall y stronger , they are likewise becoming more numerous .

There are now eighty-nine Lodges in the East Indies , grouped in six districts , namely , the Eastern Archipelago —which may certainly be regarded as East Indian—with three , Bengal with thirty-one , Bombay with sixteen , British Burmah with eight , the Punjaub with seventeen , and

Madras with fourteen Lodges . In addition , there are twenty-three Lodges under the Grand Lodge of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , with its head quarters at Bombay , and presided over by Bro . Henry Morland as Grand Master . Royal Arch Masonry is represented by thirty-five Chapters ,

including tho three warranted this year , arranged in five District Grand Chapters—namely , Bengal , Bombay , British Burmah , Madras , and Punjaub . All this is eminentl y satisfactory , and we take this opportunity of congratulating onr Indian brethren upon the earnest manner in whieh they

pursue their Masonic duties . Every year they grow stronger , meeting numerously , building themselves new Temples , and last , but most important feature of all , they

have their benevolent institutions , in order to meet the claims of the indigent and friendless members on the charity of the Society . We can only say to India , —Go on prospering in the future as heretofore .

In Australia and New Zealand , as well as in South Africa , tho same picture is presented . Australasia is divided info six districts , including Western Australia , which , however , at present has no District Grand Lodsre . First

comes New South Wales , with its 28 Lodges , 8 of which are located in Sydney , the capital of the colony . Queensland has 16 Lodges , of which 3 belong to Brisbane , the capital . South Australia has 14 Lodges , 4 of them being in Adelaide , while in Victoria there are no less than 63

Lodges , of which 9 are in Melbourne . Western Australia has 4 Lodges , and Tasmania 7 . This gives a total of 132 Lodges , distributed throughout our Australasian colonies . In New Zealand there are 36 in the five districts of

Canterbury , Otago , Southland , Westland—South Island—no District Grand Lodge as yet—and Northland . Of these 5 are located at Auckland , which is somewhat anxious to be constituted as a separate district , and two each at Christchurch , Dunedin , and Wellington . South Africa

embraces 3 districts—namely , Western Division with 5 Lodges , Eastern Division with 21 , and Griqualand with 3 —making together 29 ,- and there are besides 3 Lodges in Natal , 1 at Cape Coast Castle , 1 at Lagos , and 2 in St . Helena , making in all 36 Lodges in Africa , but omitting

the 9 English Lodges ( 3 at Alexandria , 5 at Cairo , and 1 at Ramleh ) in Egypt . There are as yet no District Grand Chapters in Africa , but there are 5 R . A . Chapters in Cape Colony , and 1 in St . Helena , besides certain others that have been warranted this year . But this is . very far from

representing the full extent of Masonry in these countries . Both the Irish and Scotch Grand Lodges have numerous Lodges under their respective jurisdictions . Under the Irish jurisdiction there are Provincial Grand Masters for Victoria , New South Wales , Queensland , and South Aus-

Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

tralia , as well as one for New Zealand , while under the jurisdiction of the Scottish Grand Lodgo there aro exactly the same districts presided over by officers of tho same rank .

In addition , there are sundry Dutch Lodges in Cape Colony . But perhaps it is in New Zealand that the Craft has made tho greatest strides this year . Ifc is only recently that the North Island of New Zealand has been erected

into a separate District Grand Lodge , and the most memorable event we have to record is the installation , on the 20 th June , of Sir Donald McLean K . C . M . G . as the first District Grand Master . The ceremony was very ably performed b y Bro . John Lazar , District Grand Master of

Westland , South Island , in the presence of a large concourse of brethren . Bro . Sir D . McLean , having been formally proclaimed and congratulated , expressed his sense of the honour conferred , and his determination to spare no effort in order to carry out the arduous duties

of his office . We regret to say , however , this election has not given universal satisfaction . The Brethren at Auckland muster strongly , and they consider this would justify the establishment of an Auckland District Grand Lodge . We believe , indeed , that steps are being taken—they are

certainly in contemplation— to secure this result . If Masonry will be still further strengthened hereby , we see no reason why their wishes should not be gratified . This , however , is the sole cause of dissatisfaction , as in all other respects the appointment of Sir D . Maclean has been well received by tho New Zealand Craftsmen .

Still one e \ ent remains to be chronicled in connection with

New Zealand , which especially illustrates the deep sense our brethren there entertain of tho duties of hospitality . Early in the year a submarine telegraph was successfully laid between Australasia and New Zealand , and when the cable ships " Hibernia" and " Edinburgh" arrived in

Nelson Harbour , it was known this task was completed . The members of the Southern Star Lodge , No . 735 , located in that town , held an emergency meeting , for the express purpose of inviting those among the officers of the ships who wero Craftsmen to a banquet . This , accordingly , was

held in the month of March , at the Commercial Hotel , when the W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . Moutray , presided , and a most agreeable evening was passed . The example thus set b y the Masons was quickly followed by the general public ,

and a picnic and ball were held , to which the officers of the expedition were invited . This , of course , was the " right thing" for the citizens of Nelson to do , but the merit of having led the way puts another bright feather in the cap of New Zealand Freemasonry .

We are now approaching the close of this portion of onr record of the year ' s events . The balls and picnics and other pleasant reunions which have been held at different times in different parts of the country do not need to be referred to particularly . There is one , perhaps , which

deserves special mention , and that is the dramatic entertainment given under the auspices of sundry Cheshire Lodges , when Bro . Charles Duval took the lion ' s share of the work of entertainment , and generously placed tho lion ' s share of the proceeds to the credit of the Cheshire

Masonic Educational Institute . When we find a brother turning his talents to so excellent an account , it wero churlish , indeed , if we did not express to him our heart y thanks for his devotion to the cause of charity . This cannot , of course , be clone very frequently , bat when it is

clone , the event must be recognised . Other items there are , which are likewise worthy of introduction . On his return from India , the Prince of Wales put in at Gibraltar , and during his brief stay there his Royal Highness laid the first stone of a new Market , with Masonic ceremonies .

There was , too , a Masonic ball in honour of the occasion , at which both he and his brother the Duke of Connanghfc were present . It is well , also , to note that among the first to welcome the Prince on landing at Portsmouth were the brethren of the Province of Hants and the Isle of Wi ght ,

under their respected Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . B . Beach , M . P . On this occasion an address of welcome was presented , at the railway station , at tho moment of the Prince ' s departure for London . Last * bub nob leasb , Sheffield enjoys the honour of

havingset an admirable example to brethren in other parts of the country . Early in tho year a scheme waa prepared for the establishment of a Masonic Library , and a

goodly array of useful Masonic works were annnonnced as having been collected for the purpose . We should like to see this example very generally followed . Good must come if the doings of the Craft are—within proper limits , of