Straits Settlements.

The W . M . proposed "The Health of the I . P . M ., " whose zeal , hard work , and disregard of personal comfort had done so much to further the interests of the lodge . He was a thoroughly popular Master , and personally he felt assured that as l . P . M . during the coming year

his help would continue to be most valuable . Bro . Presgrave returned thanks , paying a compliment to his officers during the past year . " The Sister Lodges " was proposed by Bro . Knight , and responded to by Bros . Thompson , 508 , and Jennings ,

1505 . The toast of " The Present and Past Officers " was also drunk , being responded toby Bros . Derrick , Grigor Taylor , and C . E . Velge respectively . " The Ladies " was proposed in a characteristic and

eloquent speech by Bro . Khory . The Tyler ' s toast having been drunk in silence , the brethren then closed the evening with a concert , which is customary on these occasions , and parted at the hour of high twelve with that love and harmony which always characterises the brethren of the mystic tie .

Jamaica.

Jamaica .

CRAFT MASONRY KINGSTON . —Royal Lodge ( No . 207 , Dis . No . l ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge was held on Monday , the Gth ult . There was a large attendance of brethren , among whom were 30 Past Masters representing the English and Scotch Constitutions . The lodge having been opened , theW . M ., Bro . G . E . Burke , vacated the chair to Bro . J . M . Simpson , P . M ., to whom Bros . Thos .

Briscoe , jun ., S . W . and W . M . elect , was presented , and duly installed in a most impressive manner . The following is the administration for the present year : Bros . Thos . Briscoe , jun ., W . M . ; G . Eustace Burke , I . P . M . ; H . D . Bogle , S . W . ; A . Bogle , J . W . j T . M . Burke , Treas . j F . G . Sale , Sec . j F . A . Ritchie , S . D . ; C . Thompson , J . D . ; J . Cox , I . G . j F . McCullock and J . Facey ,

Stwds . ; and T . Damtnus , fyler . During the course of the evening , the brethren tendered a special vote of welcome to Bro . Wm . Andrews on his first appearance in a Craft lodge since his return to the Island from his visit to the mother country . Bro . Andrews replied in suitable terms . It having been mentioned by Bro . Burton that Bro . Ex

Leon , P . M . of the lodge and Treasurer of the District Grand Lodge , was about to visit Europe , and would leave in the Royal Mail steamer Para on the 8 th ult ., it was unanimously agreed " That the Worshipful Master be requested to forward to Bro . Ex Leon a document expressive of the esteem and regard in which that brother is held by the brethren , and their sincere wishes for his happiness and

good health during his absence from home , and his safe return after an enjoyable trip to the mother country . " Immediately before the sailing of the Para from Kingston , Bro . Thos . Briscoe forwarded to Bro . Ex Leon a beautifully-engrossed extract of the minutes of the lodge , accompanied with the following additional expressions signed by the Past Masters of the lodge , viz .:

"The brethren of the Royal Lodge , No . 207 , Dis . No . r , unite in tendering to W . Bro . Ex Leon , P . M . 207 , and Dist . Grand Treasurer , an expression of their affectionate regard for him as a man and a Mason ; their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the lodge ever since his initiation therein ; their hopes that his trip to the mother country may be agreeable and profitablej their ' Hearty good wishes' for his continued prosperity ; and

their earnest prayer that the G . A . O . T . U . may watch over him and insure his safe return to his loving family and faithful friends . Signed by Thos . Briscoe , W . M . ; G . E . Burke , l . P . M ., D . G . S . j C T . Burton , P . M ., D . G . P . ; C . M . Sherlock , P . M ., P . D . G . S . ; VV . Duff , P . M ., D . G . S . M . ; J . M . Simpson , P . M ., D . G . D . of C . j A . E . Langley , P . M ., P . D . G . S . j and G . M . Duff , P . M .. P . D . S . G . W . " ( Seal ) Royal Lodge , No . 207 , Dis . No . 1 .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

KINGSTON—Kingston Chapter ( No . 86 ) . — This chapter held their regular meeting at Sussex Hall , on the 23 rd April , 111 . Bro . E . J . Andiews , M . W . S ., presiding . The business before the chapter was the perfecting of several brethren , and the installation of M . W . S . and officers for the ensuing year . The first part of the programme having been gone through . 111 . Bro . William

Andiews , 31 ° , P . M . W . S ., assumed the chair , and installed Bro . Chas . Plummer as M . W . S . for the ensuing year . The following are the officers of the administration : III . Bro . C . Plummer , M . W . S . ; E . Bros . R . W . C Mac Calla , H . P . j A . Robertson , 1 st Gen ., Dr . J . H . Peck , 2 nd Gen . ; G . Messiter , G . M . ; Rev . G . C . Linton , R . j Rev . R . Harding , 1 st Herald j A . C . McMillan , C . of G . ;

G . Ffrench , D . C . ; J . M . Simpson , 2 nd H . ; E . X . Leon , Recorder ; 111 . Bro . E . J . Andrews , Treas . ; E . Bro . B . Bolton , 1 st Lieut , of the G . j E . Ledward , 2 nd Lieut , of the G . j J . M . Gordon , Org . ; and John Hayes , Equerry . The occasion was used to tender a warm and hearty welcome to 111 . Bro . W . Andrews ( founder of the chapter ) on the safe return of himself and family , after a

sojourn in the mother country , and a resolution to that effect , and congratulating him on having attained further Masonic distinction , was unanimously passed and tendered to the worthy brother . III . Bro . W . Andrews informed the chapter of the cordial and fraternal reception accorded him by the M . W . S . and brethren of the Invicta R . C Chapter , No . 10 , and conveyed to the chapter the " Hearty

good wishes " and fraternal regards of the Invicta . The Chapter recorded its appreciation of the kindness and attention shown to its founder , and passed a resolution , which will be duly forwarded to III . Bros . Major Lambert , Earl , Head , and others , the members of the Invicta chapter . After the closing of the chapter , the brethren adjourned to a most sumptuous banquet .

Bro . Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Bro . Lord Ashbourne ( Lord Chancellor of Ireland ) , and Bros . Lord George Hamilton and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., attended the Cabinet Council held at the India Office on Saturday last ,

West Indies.

West Indies .

CRAFT MASONRY . ST . THOMAS . —Harmonic Lodge ( No . 356 ) . — The annual festival—St . George—of this progressive little lodge took place on the evening of the 23 rd April . It was a very enjoyable event , as besides the observance of the fete , there were five candidates admitted into the mysteries of Masonry . At the banquet , "The Health of their Majesties the

King and Queen of Denmark and the Danish Royal Family" was succeeded by that of "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , our Grand Master , " and it was most enthusiastically received . The geniality and apt working of Bro . S . H . Toledano , W . M ., continue to win great popularity for the Harmonic Lodge , and it is seldom a month passes without one or

two additions being made to its membership . [ Since the above has been written , this lodge has suffered a severe loss in the death of its Junior Warden , Bro . W . H . Mardenborough , who was a most efficient officer . The deceased brother saw the light in Lodge St . John ' s , Antigua , in 1863 , and in taking up his residence

here 12 years ago , became a member of the Harmonic Lodge . This is the second loss within eight days , that 356 has had to sustain—the first being that of Bro . Wm . Azular , Tyler , a very worthy man who had been 23 years connected with his lodge . Bro . Mardenborough assisted at his obsequies—none thinking that in a few short days he would follow . ]

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

ST . THOMAS ( DANISH ) . —Albert Edward Lodge ( No . 347 ) . —The members of this lodge held their annual installation meeting on Thursday , the 25 th April , for the purpose of installing Bro . Eduardo Henriquez Moron , W . M . elect , as W . M . for the present year . Bro . H . Michelsen opened the lodge , and on the confirmation of the minutes , assisted by Bro . A . J . Sasso , P . M ., installed

his successor . The following brethren were then invested by Bro . Moron as officers for the present year : Bros . S . H . Toledano , S . W . ; W . H . Mordenborough , J . W . j L . Monsanto , M . O . j A . R . Liggett , S . O . j O . La Beet , J . O . j A . J . Sasso , P . M ., Treas . j A . W . Bonelli , Sec . ; f . Sasso , S . D . ; A . Lugo , j . D . ; and S . H . Cappe , I . G .

After the lodge was duly closed , the brethren adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , at which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and responded to very effectively . After an otherwise agreeable evening , the brethren separated at an eariy hour .

Masonic Service At Beswick, Manchester.

MASONIC SERVICE AT BESWICK , MANCHESTER .

On Sunday afternoon , the 19 th ult ., a special Masonic service was held in the parish church of St . Mary , Beswick , in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Educational and Benevolent Institution . A musical service , entitled " Gems from the Oratorios , " was rendered . The music was

performed by Bro . J . H . Greenwood , the accomplished organist of All Saint's , Manchester , assisted by some of the leading artistes of the city , and the arrangement was as follows : — A shortened liturgy commenced and concluded the service , and the following programme was carried out : Hymn , "Thine for ever , God of love ; " "I know that my Redeemer liveth , " Miss Pethybridge ; "If with all your

hearts , " & c , Mr . Barton ; "Thou art gone up on high , " Mr . A . S . Kinnell ; "He shall feed His flock , " Miss Elgin ; "In native worth , " Mr . Kendal Thompson ; " Widow ' s duett , " Miss Vickers and Mr . Kinnell j " Arm , arm , ye brave , " Mr . Griffiths ; "Angels ever bright and fair , " Miss Lizzie Stansfield ; "God is a spirit , " Madame Webster , Mr . Greenwood , Mr . Crabtree , and Mr . Warren ;

"Ruth , " Madame Webster j and hymn , "Oh , help us Lord , each hour of need , " The sermon was preached by the rector , Bro . the Rev . E . BIGOE BAGOT , Prov . Grand Chaplain of East Lancashire , P . P . G . C . of Cheshire , from 1 . Cor ., xii ., v . 21 and 26— "The eye cannot say unto the hand , 1 have no need of thee , nor again the head to the feet . I have no need of

you . . . . Whether one member suffer , all the members suffer with it , or one member be honoured , all the members rejoice with it . " He said that the Masonic body was a great organisation , which bore witness to an universal principle which runs through all creation , and was traceable in the dealings of the great Creator with His creatures — the idea of association ,

co-operation , and mutual dependency . Human society was a net work , a vast system whose threads interlaced in a marvellous union . The joy and pleasure , the advancement and material progress , the saiety and security of society would be arrested and imperilled if men were not every where drawn together by the ties of mutual interest and mutual sympathy . The great ocean cannot be fenced off

into private pastures . The firmament cannot be partitioned into household lots . All truths , all discoveries , all inventions , all things good and worthy , in due time are as sure to diffuse themselves abroad in every direction as water to find its level , or the free air of heaven to flow into every open space . The origin of Freemasonry was probably due to that love of association and mutual co-operation which

permeated all nature and human society ,- but which found its highest expression and development in the Church of Christ , that greatest of all societies , in which hu-nan creatures are joined in the noblest , purest , and most sacred bonds . The word " Freemasonry " was now domiciled in the family of familiar English current expressions , and was used to denote that union and touch of sympathy , that

mysterious and indescribable bond , which , wherever it existed , ensured the success and prosperity of any cause . The Masonic body was a great moral and benevolent society , which set forth the highest moral precepts and placed its members upon an elevation sufficiently high to beat back any discordancies which the waves of sectarian or political controversy might raise around us . The hearts

of men grow sick at the spectacle of a divided and a dividing human family ,- while we are living on the edge of a social revolution we are contending with unwearied vigour , pertinacity , and ability about words and trifles , barren orthodoxies and futile and profitless ceremonialism . What covert scoin lurks beneath the civil word and the courteous manner ! What prejudices

Masonic Service At Beswick, Manchester.

and bitterness and unfairness are bandied about ! What exaltation of man meets us everywhere , and what hiding of God ! Does not the great and healing influence of f peaceful community like ours command cordial acceptance and a genial welcome from all loyal Christians and patriots ' The broad and comprehensive character of the Craft is calculated to enlarge our field of vision and purify and expand our

sympathy" In Vedic verse , in dull Koran , Are messages of good for man j The angels to our Aryan sites , Talked by the earliest household fires ; The prophets of the earlier day , The slant-eyed sages of Cathay j Read not the riddle all amiss , Of higher life evolved from this . "

The higher religions of the non-Christian world contain a thousand elements of what is noble and Gad-like , and a growing civilization and a more philosophic view of life might show us the grand solidarity of the world , and teach us that he who lives by others should live for others j but the true Christian is swayed a thousand-fold by the force of a higher thought , and inspiration—humanity to him was

a Divinely-formed family . No one member of it is to be despised j the same Father made allj the same Father loved j the same Saviour redeemed all . From the earliest period the great Father has joined together the members of the human family , and saved them , not merely by their personal individual laith , but by joining them in a bod y , or family , or association , or church . We are regenerated

by baptism , and sanctified and cleansed by the waters of the Holy Font , and when we are incorporated into that family , we are sustained and fed by the means of grace which he has instituted . And by the sacraments the mystical union of the whole body with the Redeemer is inaugurated and cemented . The Masonic association , excellent and profitable as it is , is terminated , as far as

individuals are concerned , by death . But the Christian ' s hope tells him to look forward to the vision of God j the society of the good and great ; the restorations of lost friendships and too early severed loves ; but , above all , to that holiness without which no man shall see God ,- to that character which has been slowly formed here j but which will be possessed in its fulness and beauty hereafter .

Wry-mouthed disdain , and corner-hunting lust , And toady-faced fraud , and beetle-brow ' d distrust , Soul-boiling rage , and trouble state sedition , And giddy doubt , and goggle-eyed suspicion , And lumpish sorrow , and degenerous fear Are banished thence , and death ' s a stranger there . " But simple love and sempiternal joys .

Whose sweetness never gluts , nor fulness cloys j Where , face to face , our ravish'd eye shall see , Great God , that glorious One in Three , And 1 hree in One—And seeing Him , shall bless Him , And blessing , love him—and in love possess Him 1 " The Preacher concluded with an earnest appeal to the

brethren present to realize their moral responsibilities , social obligations , and Charitable duties , to take a high and exalted view of their organisations , and to convince the world of the reality , genuineness , and sincerity of their professions . "Be Just and fear not . Let all the ends thou aim ' st at be thy Country ' s , Thy God's , and truth ' s . "

Presentation To Bro. Metham, P. Prov. D.G.M. Devon.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . METHAM , P . PROV . D . G . M . DEVON .

The friends of the Royal British Female Orphan Asylum —an institution for the clothing , education , and maintenance of the orphan children of soldiers , sailors , and Marines who have fallen in the service of their country—celebrated , on the 24 th ult ., the jubilee anniversary of its foundation .

1 ne occasion was one ot very singular interest in every respect . It is singular in having for its patron her Majesty the Queen , one of whose earliest charitable works it was to contribute to its foundation and to have continued a subscriber ever since j in its having connected with it as a donor or subscriber almost every member of the elder branches of the Royal Family ; in having for its Honorary Secretary Metham

Bro . L . P . , who has been its faithful worker from the beginning ( it having been started by his mother ) , and in having at its jubilee meeting three of the Old Girls out of the five with which the work of the asylum was commenced . When it was determined by the Committee to celebrate the anniversary with more than usual ceremony , Bro . Metham pressed

upon the committee that besides the home arrangements there should be an invitation to all the Old Girls who were within a reasonable distance to put in an appearance , and the Committee voted a sum of money to meet their railway expenses . As a proof how that invitation was appreciated , there were on the 24 th ult . present more than a hundred women who had passed through the institutionand who

, are now married or filling situations . Bro . Latimer , of Plymouth , who is an old member of the Committee , thought that as Bro . Metham had given fifty years' service to the asylum , and as it had grown up to its flourishing state under his fostering care , there should be something left as an abiding testimony of such a valuable hfes work , and on Tuesday , the 26 th of March ,

he called upon the late Rev . G , E . Carwithen , and suggested _ that it would be a kind thing to raise a subscription and have a portrait of Bro . Metham painted and presented to the institution . Mr . Carwithen received the proposal most kindly , and Bro . Latimer left the matter in his hands for him to see other friends and consult them upon it . The result was most satisfactory .

Capt . A . Edye , R . N ., agreed , and consented to act as Hon . Treasurer of the fund . The work was set going , and , although the valuable aid of Mr . Carwithen was lost by his short illness and death , Capt . Edye , with other assistance , sent out letters to the subscribers and donors to the institution , and very soon received subscriptions so satisfactory that they felt they might commission Mr . E . Prynne

to paint the portrait . Admiral Hickley took the position of chairman which had become vacant . This was not all-The Old Girls , on hearing of what was being done , determined that they would present a token of their affectionate regard . Furthermore , as Bro . Metham was an old Freemason , who had served the hig hest rank in the province but one , and was Past Grand