Our Weekly Budget.

Ave doubt not , find some means of solacing themselves Avith . a more than usually vigorous attack on the good things . We hope they wili have a thoroughly good time of it . In France the Legislative Assembly has at length completed its task of electing its twenty-five Life Senators ,

among whom is our very violent friend , Bishop Dupanloup . At Rome , the Lord Mayor of Dublin , Avho made himself so publicly offensive at the O'Connell Festival , by proposing the health of the Pope before that of the Queen , has been received by His Holiness , who conferred upon bis municipal

worship the Order of Gregory the Great , and who further requested his visitor to convey his blessing to the good City of Dublin . According to Russian news , the insurrection in Khokand may be said to have been suppressed , General Kaufman n , having despatched a force Avhich

successfully stormed the insurgent positions . The leaders are said to have fled beyond the frontier , Avhile the followers have pleaded for mercy . Further success has been gained

over the Malays by the British troops , and there is every prospect of the murder of Mr . Birch being amply avenged , and that at a very early date . The Sultan has appointed a , committee in order to see that the reforms authorised in

his recent Firman are carried out properly . It is rumoured that the Khedive is negotiating the cession of his founder ' s shares in the Suez Canal . Both the British Government

and a French Company or combination , with M . de Lesseps at its head , are said to be bidding for them . There is little news from Spain , the Aveather being unfavourable to military operations .

A Merry Christmas.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS .

WHEN this number comes before our readers , the Christ mas of 1875 will have been inaugurated , and our youngei friends , especially , will be looking forward Avith an eager ness that is quite natural to enjoying the pleasures o : the gay and festive board . We Avish them , one and all

" a happy Christmas , " or to be more en regie perhaps , the Compliments of the Season . May all success attend then in their efforts to achieve good fortune ! May they , anc their belongings , enjoy all happiness , both noAV and hera after !

The Grand Lodge of Benevolence Avas held on Wednesday , the 22 nd inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , Bro . J . M . Clabon , P . G . D ., President , in the chair , the vice-chairs being occupied by Bro . J . Nunn P . G . S . B , V . P ., and J . Brett P . G . P . Bro . J . Hervey G . S . read the

various grants requiring confirmation , and 26 UCAV cases Avere relieved to the amount of £ 500 , Avhile 3 cases Avere deferred . There were present Bros . S . RaAVSon P . D . G . M . China , J . Smith P . G . P ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., E . P . Albert A . G . P ., J . Boyd P . G . P ., S . Hickman , C . Hogard ,

Bartlett , H . Dicketts P . G . S ., W . Stephens , W . C . Crick , W . Mann , W . H . Myers , Griffiths Smith , HOAVC , S . Poynter , H . Massey , Munyard , Neall , Hemsworth , NeAvton , Baldwin , Bergmann , H . G . Buss , Pendlebury , Pullmann , West , & c .

The Auckland ( NCAV Zealand ) Evening Star of 26 th October publishes the folloAving : — The funeral of tlie late Mr . E . Gratton , of the Thames Hotel , took place this afternoon . The melancholy cortege left the deceased ' s private residence in Emil y Place shortly after three o ' clock . In front of the hearse the members of the various Masonic Lodges marched

m procession . All appeared in regalia . Prominent among the insignia were tho distinguishing badges of the Ara Lodge , of Avhich Lodge Mr . Gratton was a member . Mr . Eobinson , the worth y Master of this Lodge , was present . After the corpse followed the relatives and friends of the deceased and the Oddfellows in procession . A large number of the general public swelled the funeral train .

Preparations for receiving the bod y had been made in the Protestant burying ground , and there tho interment Avas made , the officiating minister being Dr . Kidd . As Mr . Gratton Avas a Eoman Catholic this statement will no doubt cause some surprise , and we therefore give the following facts in explanation . On Sunday some of the Masons heard that there existed among the Catholic clergy a disinclination

to perform the funeral ceremony on account of the deceased ' s membershi p among tho Freemasons . Mr . Robinson waited on Father W . McDonald and now states that he Avas led to believe that so long as the Craft did not make a demonstration by appearing in regalia they eie

" wining to penortn tne rite . A final answer Avas not given at 11 o ' clock yesterday morning . At three in tlie afternoon the clergy absolutel y declined to have anything to do with the obsequies . The Masons then took the matter tip , and in the short time allowed them wade preparations for conducting the funeral in their own state . Mr . Hay ward conducted the f tmeral arrangements .

Diary For The Week.

DIARY FOR THE WEEK .

"We shall be obliged if the Secretaries of the various Lodges throughout the Kingdom will favour us with a list of their Days of Meeting , & c . as we have decided to insert only those that are verified by the Officers of the several Lodges .

I MONDAY , 27 th DECEMBER . 39—St . John the Baptist , Masonic Hall , Fore-street-hill , Exeter . 13—St . Paul ' s . Masonic HaU , Birmingham . B 8—Royal Clarence . Freemasons' Hall , Bristol . 70—St . John ' s , Huyshe Masonic Temple , Plymouth . 137—Amity , Masonic Hall , Thames-street , Poole .

170—All Souls , Masonic Hall , Melcomhe Re ^ is , Weymouth . 195—Hengist , Belle Vue House , Bournemouth . 377—Hope and Charity , Lion Hotel , High-street , Kidderminster . 707—St . Mary ' s , Bull Inn , Bridport . 737— Wentworth , Town Hall , AVollingborough , Northampton . 999—Robert Burns , Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester .

TUESDAY , 28 th DECEMBER . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Jamaica Coffee House , St . Michael's-alley , Cornhill , at 6 . 30 . 299—Emulation , Bull Hotel , Dartford , Kent . 573—Perseverance , Shenstono House , Hales Owen , AVorcester . 1228—Beacontreo , Red Lion , Loytonstone , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1393—Htunor , 92 Everton-road , Liverpool .

WEDNESDAY , 29 th DECEMBER . 193—Confidence , AVhito Hart , Abchurch-Iano , E . G ., at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction . )! 1521—Duke of Connaught , Havelock Tavern , Albion-road , Dalston , at 8 . 0 . ( Instruction . ) 137—Royal Sussex of Hospitality , Freemasons' Hall , Bristol . 301—Philanthropic , Masonic Hall , Great George-street , Leeds . 503—Belvidere , Star Hotel , High-street , Maidstone . ( Instruction . ) 99 ( 3—Sondes , AssemU ' y Rooms , East Dereham .

THURSDAY , 30 th DECEMBER . General Committee , Girls' School , Freemasons' Hall , at i . 27—Egyptian , Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall-stveet , E . C . ( Instruction . ) 435—Salisbury , Union Tavern , Aiv-stvcet , Regent-street , AV . at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1200—Hervey , 152 Fulham-road , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 100—Friendship , Crown and Anchor , Great Yarmouth . 280—AVorcester , Bell Hotel , AVorcester . 286—Samaritan , Green Man Hotel , Bacup . 901—Phoenix , Ship Hotel , AVestgate , Rotlierham . 960—St . Edward , Literary Institute , Leek , Staffordshire . R . A . — Sir—Hope , Spread Eagle , Rochdale .

FRIDAY , 31 st DECEMBER . 1278—Burdett Coutts , Approach Tavern , Victoria Park . ( Instruction . ) 1507—Metropolitan , 269 Pentonville-road . ( Instruction . ) SATURDAY , 1 st JANUARY . R . A . —Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-street , Regont-stroefc , at 8 .

IRELAND . MONDAY—66—Star of Kihvarlin , Masonic Rooms , Hillsborough , Co . Down . „ 116—Curlow , Masonic Hall , C & rlow . „ 202—Desmond , Masonic Hall , Newcastle AVest , Co . Limerick . „ 308—Ballymahon , Court House , Ballymahon . ,, 372—OUltn . lt , Priuces-scretit , Dvomorc , Co . D . iwn . „ 795—Ashfield ( Cootehill ) Private Room , Cootehill , Co . Cavan . TUESDAY—121—Scapatrick , Masonic Hall , Bridge-street , Banbridgo , Co . Down . „ 195—St . Patrick's , Masonic Rooms , Belfast .

EDINBURGH DISTRICT . MONDAY—319-St . Clair , Freemasons' Hall . TUESDAY—151—Defensive Band , Alexander Hall , Cockburn-street . ,, R . A . -10—Naval and Military , Freemasons' Hall . FRIDAY—223—Trafalgar , 51 Bernard-street , Leith .

GLASGOW DISTRICT . MONDAY—102—St . Mark , 213 Buchanan-street , „ 103—Union and Crown , 170 Buchanan-street . „ 219—Star , 12 Trongate . „ R . A . —I ";?—Thetis , 35 St . James-street . TUESDAY . —119—Neptune , 35 James-street . „ R . A . —67—Cathedral , 2-t Struthers-street . „ R . A . —73—Caledonian of Unity , 170 Buchanan-street . THURSDAY—R . A . —117 Govan , Portland Hall , Govan . FRIDAY— -103—Clyde , 170 Buchanan-street .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

Conclave Of Sorrow . — Sir Knight John Johnson I ' . M . Natal , H . of Chapter No . 122 , M . of St . Mango Encampment of K . T ., a member of No . 4 Conclave , Edinburgh , of the Red Cross of Constantino , E . V . E . Ill , Ghsgow Conclave . Deputy ¦ Commander K . H . S ., and Hon . Sovereign of Lilly of the Valley , 127 , Ilolytoun , having died after only four days' illness , tho members of the two

last-named bodies determined to testify their respect for departed worth by holding a Conclave of Sorrow , which was done on Saturday , 11 th of December . A raised platform was constructed , suitably draped with black cloth and crape ; in the West was placed the chair of the deceased Ensebins , tho East was occupic cl by the two SoVJi'eigns , Sir Knights Shields and Wheeler , the former presiding , the latter acting aa High Prelate , Wm . McMurdo as & us ., D . Baker S . G ., J ,