India.

account of debentures taken up when the hall was first opened , for the purpose of forming the funds required for the furnishing and fitting up of the place . The debentures have been paid off to the extent of Rs . 3 , 800 ; the rents charged against the different bodies meeting in the hall

have been reduced . There are now 60 debentures , xvhich now represent Rs . 3 , 000 outstanding and in a shore time , it is hoped , these will also be redeemed . In addition to this , the hall has been put into a state of repair , and all that remains is to decorate the I idge-room .

The District Grand Master announced that he ' had been favoured with a personal authority from the M . W . Grand Master of England , empowerin" - to grant provisional warrants to lodges formed in this District . Owing to the resignation of W . Bro . Percy

Leith , the hig h office of Deputy District Grand Master has become vacant , and in the exercise of the rig ht vested in him the D ' sC ' c : Grand Master appointed W . Bro . Andrew Hay to be the Deputy District Grand Master . W . liro . Andrew Hay was presented bv the Past District Grand Master ,

and invested with the insignia of his oflice . The report of the meeting of the subscribers to the " Bengal Masonic Association for educating Children of Indigent Freemasons , " held on the r ; th June , 1872 , was recorded . The District Grand Secretary stated that any member of Grand Lodge could have it lo read .

The District Giand Secretary stated that hi had some p'osp ctuses if Bro . Lyon ' s " Historx of Lodge Mary ' s Chapel , No . 1 , of Edinburgh , ' which he . should be happy to distribute to ail } brother xvho mig ht wish to register his name foi a copv ofthe work .

The District Grand Secretary said that the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab had sent a contribution of Rs . O towards our General Masonic Charity Fund , and that the money had been handed over to the Treasurer of that fund . The report of the Board of General Purposes was adopted .

The District Grand Secretary said it had been suggested at a meeting of Lodge " Truth" ( 944 ) that thc propriety of celebrating St . John ' s Day by the Masons in Bombay should be brought before the District Grand L' > dge , as it was thought that the festival mi g ht now be observed

successfully . The District Grand Alaster re- - niaiked that the principal objection to the proposal was that St . John would have his day on the 27 th Decemke- ( . laughter ) when most xiviv out of Bombay . The last time an attempt to celebrate the festival was made , it was a signal

failure . The Past District Grand Master rose ami pre - sented to the District Grand Master a beautiful work of art in shape of a Hiram in imry , turned in a lathe and decorate el wilh oriiaimn al de-signs and patterns , which he said hail been euliiel y fashioned and ornamented b y his own h .-md , for

the express purpose ol presentation to the District Grand Master . The Distiict Grand . Master suitably acknowledged the gift , and the Hiram , a perfect little work of art , carved xx-itii the most elaborate anil minute tracery , was then handed round for inspection . The District Grand Lodge was closed in peace at S o ' clock .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

ST .. UKIK Lonor ; ( Xo . i jij ) . ¦ —On Friday , 17 th inst ., the Starkie Lodge of Mark . Master . Masons was duly consecrate el at the Hi . d Li ,, 11 Haul , Aceringlon . 'Ihe lodge xvas opened at 2 , 30 p . m ., by Bro . 'ihi'inas Hargreaves , P . M . M ., 113 , Junior Grand Maik D .-acoti of Emdand .

There was a numerous attendance of Proxineial Grand Officers . In tlie absence of Bro . \ V Roinaine Callendcr , the Prov . G . M . M . M . of Lancashire , xx he ) was unable to be present through indisposition , anil the Prov . Giand Chaplain , their respective' offices wvre filled by

Bro . Giorge Akllor , Prov . S . G . W ., ; is Prox . G . M ., and liro . Thomas Hargreaves , Junior G . Deacon , as Prov . G . Chaplin ; the rest of the officers being Bro . G . P . Brockbank , Past Grand Warden , as Dep . Prov . G . M ; G . Galloway . Prov . S . GAV . ; W . H . Pnnce , Prov . J . G . W . ' ; John Chadwick , Prov . G . Sec .: Joseph ilandlev ,

Mark Masonry.

P . G . M . O . ; T . J . Lancashire , P . G . S . 0 . 5 W . Walker , P . G . D . C ; AV . Roberts , P . G . A . D . C ., and others . After the reading of the warrant b y Bro . John Chadwick , P . G . Sec , the acting Prov . G . M . proceeded to consecrate and constitute the brethren into a regular lodge . The ceremony of

consecration xvas most ably performed , and was of the most solemn ami impressive character , Tile acting P . G . M . afterwards ca . lecl upon Bro . Thomas Hargreaves to install the first W . M . Bro . Thomas liindle , the W . M . desig ., having been presented , a Board of Installed Masters was

formed , and the AV . M . was then installed according to ancient form . The appointment and investiture of officers was next proceeded wiih ; Bro . Redin , S . W . ; Bro . Royston , J . W . ; Bro . Boothman , Ai . O . ; Bro . Hiiulle , S . O . ; Brei . Parker , J . O . ; Bro . Ward , Sec . ; Bro . Halstead ,

Treas . ; Bro . Biggs , S . D . ; and Bro . Barnes , I . G . Hearty good wishes for the future prosperity of the lodge were expressed b y Bro . Hargreaves , on behalf of Grand Lodge ; Bro . Chadwick , Prov . Grand Lodge of Lancashire ; Bro . Roberts , Prov . Grand Lodge eif AVest Yorkshire ;

aud by many other brethren , on behalf of private lodges . Tlie loelge was honoured on the occasion by the aiteinlance , as a visitor , of Bro . . Major Le-Gendre N . Starkie , the V . W . Prov . Grand Master ( Craft ) of Fast Lancashire , after whom the lodge is named , and whose

Lancashire residence is only a fexv miles distant . Upon the lodge being closed the brethren adjourned to banquet which , was most bounlilully supplied by the host , Bro . W . Harrison . 'I'he usual loyal and Masonic toasts were then duly given and honoured b y the brethren . " The Queen , the

Prince and the Princess of AVales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " " The Rev . G . Raymond Portal , M . A ., Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master of England . " " The Earl of Limerick , W . Dep . G . Master , and the rest of Grand Officers . " To the latter toast Bro . G . P . Brockbank , Past

Grand \ Varderi , responded on behalf of himself , Bro . Hargreaves , and the rest of Grand Ollicers . He begged to thank them for the very kind reception , and at the same time to congratulate them upon the choice of a name for their new lodge ; lie was sure they would all agree wilh him in

saying that ihe name ol Starkie was very much iv veieil ainongsl the Craft Masons in the province , t uit he was g lad to see that xve in tliefuuire sliouhl luiwme name ol Staikie associ iitecl with the Maik j cgree . Bro , Redin , ihe i > . W . , proposed "Ihe Heath of W .

Romaine-Calleiid . tr , Est ) .. P .. W . Prov . G . Master ol Lancashire , " ami in doing so , tele riv el in feeling terms to the indisposition which had prevented his being pie sent ; he said the biclhivii of the new lodge , along xx iih hiin . si . lf , hail been looking ieirwaiil 10 the time , of ihe consecration ihat the

thai the } might 0 c able to give- linn a true Aoeriiigtoii xxvlcomc . In consequence ol the P . G . M ., leaving .. t ; m eaily pel iod ol the evening to catch the train , tne leiasi was not lespunded lo . 'ihe W . M . next piopose-d " J he Health of Fail Ske lmersd . de ami the rest of Prov . G .

Oihceis , 111 a neat and appropriate speech . Bros , lhmdley and W . 11 . Prince , lesjuHided 011 behalf uf present and pa .-t ollicers rcsp .. cli \ vlv . Bio . Prince in speaking at length , and IK- could could no ; see how anx one could be ctherw ise

ihan a good Prov . Officer under such a good coininandc" - as their P . G . M ., Bro . W . Roinaine Cullender , 'ihe Junior Giand De-aeon , by the command ofthe W . AL , proposed the next toast . "The Health of the Prov . ( irand Master , ( Craft ) , of East I . aneashiie , Bro . Major Le-Gendre

Siarkie-. He said , xve lime amongst us lo-el . i } as a visitor no less a 1 ersonage than the he . iel 01 ruler ol Craft Mi . sons in ihe province , and though .-iiicil y sj . caking , this toast is not generally inserted in the list of Maik toasis , it affords the brethren very great pleasure . I am stnv , teigixe a kind and hearty icceptiou to the

toast , in more- than cue account . It shows 011 the one hand tluu theie is a unity of fc , ling between the rulers in th . Craft and th ¦ Mark , ami lietxveeli the two brandies 01 the science themselves , lor though the Grand Lodge of England

does not recognise us as . Mark Masons still we recognise them , for all Mark Masons , iniisl be full Craft Masons There is also another reason ) why this toast xxill be veil needed , which is the fact that it bears the iamj uf

Mark Masonry.

Starkie . It has often been said that the Mark Degree is an anomaly , that as it is not recognised by Grand Lodge , of England , it has no ri ght to an existence , or a separate Grand Lodge ; but to shoxvthe fallacy of such views , and that there is no antagonism between Craft and Mark Masons ,

it is onl y necessary to mention the names of some brethren of hi g h repute in the Mark degree , and who have taken a great interest in the Grand Mark Lodge , to find that the same brethren occupy an equall y hi gh position in Craft Masonry . This shoxx's that there reall y is no

antagonism between the txvo branches . As to the choice of a name , the brethren of the new lodge , have made , in my own opinion , a verv wise selection ; this is not the only town , which has been for some time , considering the advisability of opening a new Mark Lodge , under the title of the

Starkie Lodge . Blackburn has for some time been talking about a Mark Lodge under this name , but the despatch of the Accrington brethren in maturing their plans will cause the Blackburn brethren to select another name , when they finally resolve to open a new lodge . They

cannot do better than take a leaf from your book . He xvas glad to see Bro . Starkie there in person , as it would shew b y the manner in which the toast was received , the great amount of respect which they entertained towards him . The toast was then drunk with great enthusiasm . Bro .

Major Starkie in responding , made a very brilliant speech ; he entered at length into the matter of his taking the command of the Province ( Craft ) and . said , he little thought at the time of the onerous duties which would devolve upon him . As to his being a Mark Mason , he had to thank

Bro . Hargreaves for that honour , for it was at his suggestion , that he first took the degree , upon the occasion of the consecration of Blair Mark Lodge at Haslingden . Bro . Hargreaves invited him to join the lodge and take part in the ceremonies , he did so , and he then had the

opportunity of meeting thc M . W . Grand Master , Bro . Portal , for the first time . He was sorry to say that since that time he had not paid much attention to Mark Masonry , but he had just promised Bro . Hargreaves to take another degree in the Mark . He spoke of the articles of Union in

1 S 1 . 3 , as excluding the Grand Lodge from any possibility of acknowled ging the Mark degree , !> xw this xfwl not prevent the hi gh authorities in one degree from paying their respects to the supreme authorities in another . He mentioned the fact that his famil y had for many generations

past been Masons ; for within the last few days lie had visited the tomb of one of his ancestors , ' in the nei g hbouring county of Cheshire , who was Gentleman Usher to King Henry VIII . and one ofthe first Kni ghts of Malta . And he hoped that the little boy , whose health along with his

own , the } ' had so kindly drunk , — would follow in his iWsieps . He had now a very pleasing duty to perforin , thai of proposing "The Health of Bro . Thomas Hindle , the first W . M . of the Markie Mark Lodge , " after speaking at

considerable length , the toast was hunoiired in the usual way . 'Ihe W . M ., F . Hindle , responded ina ^ very suitable manner . A number of other toasts were guv 11 during the evening , including the " Installing Master , ihe Visitors , ' the Officers of the Lodge ami the Mark Benevolent Fund .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

SCOTLAND . Eii 1 MJI ' lie ; 11 CONCLAVE ( No . 4 ) . —it is very gratif ying lo be alii , to record ihe progress of ihe Reel Creiss Order in Edinburgh . During the financial year now eh sing No . 4 has prospered ina hi ghly satisfactory digiee under the able

guidance ol lis excellent M . P . S ., Sir Knt . Christie , who has performed his duties in a most zealous spirit , besides attending attending the Lodge St . David , where he has bvin again elected to the chair of K . S . He has received the able

assistance of his Viceroy , sir Knt . Grant , a P . M , of Lodge- St . Clair ( 340 ); also the Recorder , Sir Knt . R . S . Brown , P . V ., R . W . M . ofthe Lodge St . Stephen fi . ls ) ; the Prelate , Sir Knt . Taylor .

whose ability and zeal is well known , is also a P . M . of St . Stephens . A host of companions ire also in attendance at the roll call to aid and issist in the harmony of the conclave . At a