Lodges Of Instruction.

doubt—he is unanimously elected a member of the Lodge of Instruction , which under many circumstances he may never be permitted to enter again . It is argued that the entrance fee is a mere bagatelle , and that tho small amount

received is devoted to Masonic Charity . That may be so ; but the principle involved is the same , and for a visitor to be swooped down upon and elected a member of a Lodge before ho can pronounce tho proverbial ** Jack Robinson " is to our mind both out of taste and indicative

of a spirit of black mail which should find no place in our Masonic ranks . In every case a brother should be asked beforehand whether it would be agreeable to him to be nominated as a member , aud in no instance should a man

have tho " honour conferred upon him" without his explicit consent . Otherwise the apparently increasing strength of Lodges of Instruction is merely a myth , for no man can belong to , and honestly perform the duties of , a

FCOVC of Lodges of Instruction , to which in a moment of jerhaps well-intended friendliness he has been unanimously elected . It is a very satisfactory feature that , connected with many of onr Lodges of Instruction , Associations are

being formed in aid of the Masonic Charities , and the ballots which so frequently take place in them are an evidence of the real spirit of benevolence which is engendered in theso " conservatories" of the Craft . We only

hope they may go on and prosper . Let us recollect that Lodges of Instruction are not primarily intended for the benefit of those worthy brethren who cater for their comfort

and enjoyment , but lor the weal of an Institution which it is our pride and boast to have so far carried on satisfactorily , and to the admiration of the world .

The Late Bro. Cursetjee Nusserwanjee Cama.

THE LATE BRO . CURSETJEE NUSSERWANJEE CAMA .

WE RE there no other tie to bind us , iu memory at least , to the noble Parsee , Bro . C . N . Cama , the interest he took in Press matters , and the enterprise he displayed in promoting the establishment of newspapers ,

would bo sufficient . In this , as in all other business matters , he displayed rare acumen and public spirit , and in his dealings with other subjects he proved that he pos - sessed high moral courage , a heart overflowing with

kindness , and a moral energy that demands for him a niche in the gallery of real heroes . Bro . Cama was born in 1815 , ancl was therefore 69 years of age at his death , which took place at Breach Candy , Bombay , on the 24 th

ult ., after a very brief illness . Originally in poor circumstances , by industry , integrity , and pluck , deceased worked his way up until he became one of the most successful merchants trading between England and China . He

united in one man the enterprising and successful trader , the social reformer , and the devoted patriot . A brief summary of his career will bear out this statement . It is almost like reading a romance , so full is it of eventful deeds

and noble purposes . Bro . Cama , in 1834 , when 19 years of age , began his commercial career in Bombay as an apprentice ; two years later he went to China , and having there finished his training , he returned to Bombay , where he commenced business as the head of a firm . Branches

were opened in Calcutta and China , and prosperity followed every enterprise . Two ships were built , and with proper patriotism Bro . Cama wished to have themofficered andmanned by a Parsee crew . In this he failed , but he showed the deep

interest he took in all matters that affected his race . He was the founder of two newspapers , and took a prominent part in the establishment of a third , all of which are successful . He was instrumental in opening a girls' school ,

in connection with the Students' Literary Society , and he continued to support it with his means . When Sir Erakine Perry , Chief Justice , retired from Bombay in 1851 , Bro . Cama contributed largely to a " Perry Professorship of

Jurisprudence , " for which he received high commendation from Sir Erskine for " the services rendered by Mr . Cama to the native community , " and for " his good qualities of head and heart . " The deceased started the Moola Feroze

Madrasa ( College ) in 1854 , and afterwards established schools for the poor at Trombay , Kerole , aud Worli . The former he helped with his money , the latter he entirely supported for ten years . Two years later Bro . Cama took the lead in opening a school for boys at Nowsaree , and rendered valuable services as chairman and treasurer of

The Late Bro. Cursetjee Nusserwanjee Cama.

the institution . He was one of the prime movers in founding the Victoria Museum , Chairman of the Native Music Club , and principal promoter of a Parsee dramatic company , the object of the latter movement being a means of introducing social reforms among his countrymen . To the foregoing long and eminent record of educational work must be added his labours in

favour of sending tho sons of Parsees to England to be educated . He set au example by committing his own sons to the hands of English teachers , and as a branch of

the firm was established in London , it was made the head

centre for counsel and encouragement to all those who were studying in England . Before closing this branch of our subject it should be mentioned that the third paper Bro . Cama was instrumental in starting , the Stri Badh , is now entirely written bv Parsee ladies .

While engaged in so much educational work , the deceased found time and opportunities for helping in numerous charitable undertakings . When an epidemic of

smallpox broke out in India , resulting in the destruction of hundreds of thousands of lives , Bro . Cama ** offered a handsome prize for a Gujrati essay on the use and

advantages of vaccination , and circulated the pamphlet at his

own expense far and wide in the remote corners of the Presidency . " He was foremost in the establishment of a charitable dispensary in the Fort , an institution he never ceased to help with his means and counsel . He also

assisted to found a similar institution at Bandora . Indeed , there was no movement of a benevolent character that Bro . Cama did not support . While reserving the first place in his heart for those of his own persuasion , he was

ever kindly disposed to listen to the call of the oppressed and afflicted . He furthered the cause of the Hindoos , especially with regard to widow remarriage , and no one engaged in literary pursuits sought his aid in vain . He

stretched out his hand to help his poorer brethren in Persia , and so highly was he regarded that he was elected a member of a " committee appointed to frame the Parsee law of succession and inheritance , " and " his suggestions ,

which were the results of his long worldly experience and strong common sense , were taken in a kindly spirit by the committee . " A citizen so active and large-hearted could not be a bad son , so no surprise need be felt at the fact

that , upon the death of his father , Bro . Cama and another member of his family contributed " Rs . 1 , 25 , 000 towards the nucleus of a charity fund to commemorate his memory . " Having sketched the career of the deceased thus far , we

may add that very early in his career he displayed business qualifications of a high order . He was brought prominently into notice by his skilful administration of an estate which was said to be insolvent . Subsequently he

hacl a hand in the formation of numerous public companies , and yet he never forgot his duties as a citizen nor the claims of humanity . Like many others , he suffered greatly

in the crisis of 1864 , from which he never wholly recovered , but it speaks well for the man that the change in worldly circumstances never caused his heart to falter in the

promotion and execution of deeds of charity . The Times of

India , to which paper we are indebted for the particulars here set forth , says of Bro . Cama that " he made the best of his rather unenviable position , and it is said that even in his latter days the needy and the indigent did not seek his

aid in vain . " Mr . Dosabhoy Framjee , in his history of the Parsees , writing about the Cama family , says : " It has been well distinguished for its commercial enterprise , honesty , and uprightness in Bombay . " Deceased was a

Justice of the Peace , a Fellow of the Bombay University , and an honorary member of the Students ' Literary Society . From the prefix to his name ,

it goes without saying that he was a Freemason . He was a member of the Lodge Rising Star of Western India , the first native Lodge in Bombay , and we believe that the brethren held a funeral service in his honour at the

meeting next following his death . Of course , his countrymen paid all honour to the dead . The Oothumna was duly performed by the High Priest of the Kadmce Parsees , in the presence of a large circle of relatives and friends . At the conclusion of the ceremony , says our authority ,

Tbe high priest proposed , thafc with a view to commemorate the memory of the deceased , his name shonld be included in the list of ancient Persian kings and leading Parsees who have rendered rare

nnd valuable services to their community , and should be recited a _ every public religions ceremony . This is one of the rarest hononr rendered to the memory of the dead by the Parsees , and ifc sa much for the esteem in which the deceased was held thafc fc .