Our Weekly Budget.

sorry apology for snow , which , tho next morning , in those places where traffic had nofc disturbed it , had a very dirty , disreputable look about it . Boxing-day , however , was an improvement on Christmas-day—at least till the evening came , when tho rain again descended in torrents .

Holidaymakers , however , made themselves as merry as circumstances would permit . If Englishmen had not the knack of enjoying themselves under most depressing circumstances , this happy little country of ours would be about the most miserable on the face of the earth . Of course in the

evening the said holiday-makers flocked in numbers to the different theatres , especially to those among them which , like Old Drury , Covent Garden , the Standard , Britannia , & c , made a point of having Pantomime for the entertainment . At the first of tho theatres we havo enumerated the

piece may bo described by its short title of The Forty Thieves , and here tho Yokes family are in their glory . Mr . Fred . Yokes turns his legs , if nofc inside out , at all events in such strange ways that at times they may be mistaken for a revolving spindleshaffc . His three sisters comport

themselves as genially , and act as well as ever we have seen them , and so does his brother , Mr . Fawdon Yokes . The harlequinade is under the direction of the veteran Mr . John Cormack , whose name for years has been quite a household

word in connection with pantomime . At Covent Garden the piece is called Robinson Crusoe , afc the Standard Open Sesame , at the Surrey Jach and Gill , at ] the Britannia Titrlutuht , at the Grecian Grim Goblin .

But while in our cosy homes and at our various places of amusement there have been all kinds of feasting and merriment , there have been many disastrous occurrences both by sea and land . The weather—which we have already described as unseasonable as regards Christmas—has been

terrible along our coasts , and even inland places have suffered considerably . There have been several wrecks , attended in some cases with loss of life as well as of property , while in others the latter only has perished , the men havingj been rescued from impending death by the

gallant services of our life-boat crews . Then , on Saturday , a fatal collision occurred on the Great Northern Bailway , within a short distance of Hitchin , by which five persons—namely , the driver and stoker and three passengers , were killed outright , while a number of other

passengers , somo dangerously , somo seriously , injured . The accident was caused by an express- dashing at full speed into a luggage train , which was being shunted across the down line . The destruction of the company ' s property

was very great , and the scene immediately after the catastrophe is described by eye-witnesses to have been appalling . These are sad things to record at the festive season of Christmas .

But to pass to livelier themes . On Wednesday , our patriarchs will have their annual entertainment at Croydon , and doubtless there will be a sufficient muster of visitors to do honour to so important an occasion . We sincerely hope so , for nothing gives us greater pleasure than to

witness the rejoicing of our old friends . A goodly programme was prepared for them at the last summer and winter festivals , and a bird whispers to us that the present will not fall short in merit of either of its immediate predecessors .

The same day a special communication of Grand Lodge has been appointed , by Lord Carnarvon , to be held , in order to receive tho report of the Special Committee appointed to consider the best plan for commemorating the Prince of Wales ' s safe return from India .

Weston ' s second attempt , at the Agricultural Hall , to walk 500 miles—or rather on this occasion tho distance

was 50 f > miles—has proved a failure , only 4 G 0 miles having been covered within the allotted time . Considering that he had completed 400 miles by the end of the fifth day , this is less than was generally expected . His three

opponents , Parry , Ide and Grassland , among them accomplished about 486 miles , thus exceeding Weston ' s distance by 26 miles . They became , therefore , entitled to the three prizes of £ G 0 , £ 30 , and £ 20 respectively , together with the additional £ 25 each as their united distances

exceeded Weston's . From an observation the latter made in a short speech at tho end of his performance , we should gather that a match to cover 505 miles in six days , is in contemplation , when our pedestrians will have a chance of pitting themselves against him .

On Saturday , afc the very time the Plenary Conference at Constantinople was holding its first meeting , a number of salutes announced to tho Plenipotentiaries and the

Our Weekly Budget.

inhabitants of the Turkish capital that a new and extremely liberal Constitution had been granted to all his subjects by the Sultan . This , then , is the first act of the new Grand Yizier , Midhat Pacha . His second has been to annul the Irade issued some time since by his predecessor ,

Abdul Aziz , declaring that only one-half of the interest payable to the holders of Turkish Bonds would bo paid them . As regards important news relating to the crisis , there is little that is trustworthy . A monstrous shave appeared a day or two since , to the effect that Lord

Salisbury had had an interview with the Sultan , and announced that if the programme agreed to by the six Powers was not accepted , he and the embassy would leave Constantinople , and the British fleet be withdrawn from Turkish waters . We do not imagine that Lord Salisbury

is tho man to have taken newspaper correspondents into his confidence , and have told them what he had nofc yet told the Sovereign to whom he is accredited . There is an etiquette in all these matters which an English gentleman is not likely to overlook . Beyond other vague rumours , there is nothing to record at the moment of writing .

It is announced in tho Keystone thafc the regular Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was held on the 6 fch instant , when the usual election of Grand Officers for the year , commencing on St . John the Evangelist ' s Day , the 27 th instant . M . W . Bro . Eobert

Clark was re-elected Grand Master , Bro . James Madison Porter Deputy Grand Master , Bros . Nisbet and Dick Grand Wardens , and Bros . Patten and Thompson Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary respectively . At the same time Bros . Landenslager , Griscom , Britain , Harrold and

Strickland were re-elected Trustees of the Grand Lodge Charity Fund , and Bros . Perkins , Thompson , Prevosfc , Howell , and Roberts Trustees of the Girard Bequest . The next important business of the meeting was the reception of the Report submitted b y the Committee as to the

proposed revision of Ahiman Eezon . On the motion of Past Grand Master Lamberton , and afc the instance of the Committee itself , the Report was referred back to the Committee , which , till June next , will receive through the Grand Master all amendments thafc may be suggested by Lodges

or individual brethren , and report thereon at tho Communication to be held next September , when five printed copies of Ahiman Bexon , as finall y determined by the said Committee , will be forwarded to all Lodges under tho jurisdiction of the Pennsylvanian Grand Lodge .

Meanwhile , a circular letter will be addressed by the Grand Master to all the Lodges , earnestly requesting their consideration of the revision of the work , and their fraternal help in the suggestions of any further amendments that may

seem advisable . It is further arranged that the Committee , which had hitherto consisted of seven members , should bo enlarged to thirteen . The attendance was numerous , and everything passed off most harmoniously .

A Masonic Conference , which was attended by the representatives of nearly every Lodgo in the eastern districts , has been held at Grahamstown , for the purpose of considering a letter which had been received from tho Grand Lodge of England , recommending tho district to

select one of its most able men for the office of District Grand Master for the Eastern Province of South Africa . The Conference took place in the Albany Lodge , No . 389 , and out of 20 Lodges on the roll 13 were duly represented .

Bro . C . J . Egan , M . D ., M . A ., of King William ' s Town , and P . M . of British Kaffrarian Lodge , No . 853 , was nominated and recommended to the Pro Grand Master Earl of Carnarvon as tho designate of R . W . District Grand Master for the Eastern Province of tho Capo of Good Hope .

The P . W . Prov . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P . ) and the D . P . G . M . ( Bro . W . Hickman ) , performed the ceremony of installing the W . M . of the Clausentum Lodge , Woolston , near Southampton , on Monday , the 18 th of December . The W . M . ( Bro .

E . A . Rosomau ) appointed his officers for tho ensuing year as follows : —Bro . Captain T . H . M . Martin , R . N ., I . P . M . ; Bro . George J . Tilling S . W ., Bro . R . R . L . Rosomau J . W ., Bro . Captain R . W . Evans Treasurer , Bro . H . Phillips P . M . Secretary , Bro . E . A . Andrews S . D ., Bro . W . H . Chapman J . D ., Bro . J . Methven I . G . ; Bro . E . Waters D , C . Subsequently the brethren adjourned to the Woolston