The Late Bro. Cursetjee Nusserwanjee Cama.

proposal met wifch universal approbation . Tha sons and relations of the deceased subscribed among themselves Rs . 8 , 000 to form tho nucleus of a fund for the purpose of supporting Parsee students in indigent circumstances . So ended life ' s journey , so full of incident and fraught with

good . In prosperity and adversity Bro . Cama never neglected thebest instincts of the humanheart ; nought depressed

him except the misfortune he could not relieve , and nothing made him so happy as rendering help where it was needed , regardless of creed or country . No doubt charity was an inborn quality of our deceased brother ' s heart , but its

exercise was stimulated and strengthened by tho Masonic teaching he could not fail to learn . What an example does Bro . Cama ' s life present to all , to the young especially ;

and what hope does it not inspire in the breasts of all true Masons , who can point to such a noblo disciple of the Craft . Bro . Cama ' s career was the spirit of Freemasonry

put into action ; the embodiment of its loftiest teaching , and the lesson we should learn is that what was possible in his

case is also possible in that of others . The deceased was a bright and shining light , the lustre of which has been somewhat dimmed by the death of the mortal body . When the mists caused by sorrow shall have cleared away ; when

memory recalls the noble deeds done in the flesh , then will the light shine more brilliant that ever , then will it become the beacon for all who desire to emulate their grand prototype . At this time and under present circumstances

it seems almost impertinent to mix up the living with the dead , but we cannot resist the opportunity of offering condolence to one member of the deceased ' s family now amongst ns . Our own Bro . Cama has made a name in the

Fraternity , and if he but possesses one tithe of his lamented uncle ' s virtues , he is worthy of all the honour that tho Craft can bestow upon him . He comes of a good stock , as we have seen , and if virtue as well as evil be hereditary ,

then the claims of Bro . Cama stand high indeed . His loss just now must be a deep grief , but in the testimony of worth comes the consolation ; and in the bright career of his uncle he will find an example which , if followed , cannot fail to lead him to honour and renown .

A Convocation of the North London Chapter of Im . provement was held on Thursday evening , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , Canonbury , at eight o ' clock . These meetings invariably command a good attendance ; indeed , this has been so since the foundation of the Chapter of

Improvement . As will be seen by Advertisement appearing in another

column , the proprietors of the Holborn Restaurant will make special provision for the visit of our Provincial brethren to United Grand Lodge on Wednesday next , The Holborn

Restaurant has been justly described " as one of the sights of London , " and we do not think our visitors—many of whom , perhaps , will be in the metropolis for the first time —could do better than make arrangements to dino at this deservedly popular establishment .

The unfortunate Press regulations which , as the official authority of the House of Commons , the Speaker felt himself compelled to issue , doubtless at the instance of the Home Secretary , Sir Wm . Harcourt , and others , having

now become to a certain extent a dead letter , we cannot but congratulate the Gallery Committee ( elected annually by the journalists in the Houses of Parliament ) upon the very firm stand which they made in defence of the

privileges of their colleagues . There were present at the meeting of the Committee , when the determination was arrived at to see the Speaker , amongst others , Bros . Henry Massey , T . Minstrel ! , Herbert Wright , and J .

Heckther . It may be mentioned that the efforts to deprive the journalists of No . 18 Committe room for transcribing purposes is only one of a series of attempts which have been made in the same direction . There seems to be a

little jealousy on the part of some of the officials of the House at the privilege which is given to the Press by sanctioning the use of this room .

We regret to announce the death , which occurred at Ealing , on Wednesday , 18 th inst ., of Captain A . P . Hobson , the manager of the Royal Aqnarium . Ho had been suffering from blood poisoning , but his condition had not been considered sei'ious .

The Benevolent Institution Festival.

THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FESTIVAL .

THE Anniversary Festival of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons was held on Wednesday , at Freemaions' Tavern , London , under the presidency of Bro . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , if . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Gloucestershire . There was a very strong attendance

both of London and Provincial brethren , the large Hall of the Tavern being filled to its fullest extent . Tho banquet was well served , and , considering the large number of guests , reflected tho greatest credit on the caterers , Messrs Spiers an 1 Pond . A "; its conclusion

grace was suncr . Sir Michael Hicks Beach proposed the health of Her Majesty tl e Queen . This was tin first toast at every festive gathering of

Englishmen , bnt would be doubly welcomed at a meeting of tho Craft , the proud boast of whoso members was thafc loyalty was one of tho first attributes of a true Mason . It would be trebly welcomed when ifc was remembered , tbat tho occasion of their nieetiner was one of

Charity ; for when any one remembered the history of Her Majesty's reign they must see in her nofc merely a great constitutional monarch , but also the true and loving heart of a good woman . Whether it bo

to high or to low , to rich or to poor , the time of distress always brought Her Majesty's kindly sympathy , and thus ifc was she reigned iu the hear ! s of her people by a prouder title than thafc of long descent .

Tlie next toasfc was thafc of fcho Prince and Princess of Wales , and tho rest of the Eoyal Family . Tho Chairman felt thoso present would drink tho health of tbe Princo of Wales , not only with the loyalty due to tho member of tho Royal Family who was heir to the throne , but also with that peculiar loyalty which as Masons they felt towards

their Grand Master . His ability and geniality , ho ventured to say had made him popular with every member of tho Order . It was a remarkable testimony to the activity with which his Royal Highness performed his public duties , thafc ifc hardly ever happened amon _ the numerous occasions when his health was drank

at public meetings , thafc ifc was nofc possible to find some new duties he had undertaken , or some fresh idea that had occurred to him for the benefit of tbo country . It was but a few days back thafc the press had announced the issuing of treasonable and insulting mani . festoes on the other sido of the Atlantic , by traitors against the

life or liberty of his Royal Highness , who sheltered themselves under the protection of a foreign country , and shortly after came the announcement that tbe Prince aud Princess of Wales intended to pay an early visit to Ireland . This answer of His Royal Higbne ; s to tho threats of his foes was worthy of him and of our future king

—he accepts the challenge—ho will visit Ireland . Tho speaker ventured to think that from tho warm-hearted and generous , though often mistaken people of Ireland , he would receive that cordial welcome which his courage

and his genial character deserved , and that the Princess of Wales would exercise over this susceptible race that charm wifch which she had enslaved us from tho first moment she sefc foot on our shores . The third toasfc waa thafc of the Pro Grand Master Lord Carnarvon .

The Chairman was quite snro he need say nothing to commend the toast to the sympathy of the brethren . They had often witnessed the ability with which tho Earl of Carnarvon presided in the absence of the Grand Master in Grand Lodgo , and knew full well the

eloquence wLh which it was possible for Lord Carnarvon to expound matters that might be for the welfare of tho Craft , or demolish foolish prejudices arising from ignorance of what Masonry really was . The brethren bad appreciated his labours for the Craft in tho past , and hoped they might long bo continued in the future .

In proposing the health of tbe Deputy G . M . Loi * d Lathom , and ( he Present and Pasfc Grand Officers , the Chairman felt he need say little of Lord Lathom . His interest in Masonry and his popularity among the brethren was known to all . He also felt sure there was no necessity to bespeak from those around him a hearty welcome for fche

Officers of the Grand Lodge of England . He spoke of tho Grand Officers as he had found them . Whenever any Masonic work bad to be done in the Province with which it was his good fortune to be connected—requiring special care in its performance—he had always found the Officers of Grand Lodge most prompt and anxious

to help . Their assistance was also given mosb zealously in the cause of Charity . Only lasfc year , on the similar occasion to that they were then celebrating , one of their nnmber ( Sir John Monckton ) , afc a moment ' s notice took the place of a brother who wns absent in consequence of ill health , and nobly pleaded the canse of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institntion . In coupling the namo of Bro . Monckton with the toast the speaker felt he was sure of a hearty welcome , not merely because of that brother ' s past services to Grand Lodge and to Masonry at large , bnt also becanse of what he achieved lasfc year on behalf of tho Benevolent Institution .

Sir John B . Monckton responded . He did so with great gratitude , both to tbe Chairman for proposing the toast , and to th © brethren for the way in which they had received it . The toast was ono which any brother might be proud to respond to , associated as it was with the name of the Earl of Lathom , than whom a better Mason , a better

man , or a better friend to the Craft , never existed . The Chairman had very kindly referred to the Festival of lasfc year , aud had spoken of its result as being unprecedented . He ( Sir J . B . Monckton ) was

not ungenerous when he hoped that honour might not be attached to ifc much longer . Without ; betraying any secret , he might predict that the Festival presided over by Sir M . Hicks Beach wonld prove to be fche mosfc successful of all tho Festivals held on behalf of the

Benevolent Institution . The toast of the evening—Success to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons—was nexfc proposed . Tbe President did nofc donbfc that nearly every one

present knew as much of the benefits of the Institution as he conld convey to them ; still ifc was his duty as Chairman to remember tbat there " might be a brother among them who ought to know more than ho did know . Therefore he should tell them , as