Knights Cemplar.

Knights Cemplar .

BURT . —Edmund Plantagenet Preceptory . ¦ —This new encampment was opencel on Tuesday , the 21 st ult ., at the Co-operative Hall . About three o'clock in thc afternoon , the encampment was opened under the command of Sir Knight Clement Robert Nuttall Beswicke-Royds , thc Provincial Grand Prior of Lancashire , assisted by Lieut .-Colonel Birchall , Provincial Grand Sub-Prior

and the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers . The installation of Sir Knight W . O . Walker as thc Eminent Commander took place , by Lieut .-Colonel Shadwell Clarke , the Great Sub-Prior of England , assisted by other Grand Officers . There were present representatives from many of

the Provincial Grand Lodges of England , about eighty Sir Knights being in attendance . At the completion of the imposing ceremony , which occupied nearly three hours , the Grand Officers , Provincial Grand Officers , and Sir Knights adjourned to the Knowsley Hotel to a grand banquet .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The final meeting of the Stewards for the Festival of this Institution for 1878 , was held on Tuesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Edward Cox , Treasurer , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Joseph Smith , President , presided . There were also present Bros , the Rev . A . F .

A . Woodford , P . G . C ; G . Ward Verry ; C . J . Perceval , J . E . Walford ; R . B . Webster ; C . W . Noehmer ; Edward Terry ; Thos . Huntley ; T . S . Taylor ; W . Hicks ; F . C . White ; R . Y . Barton ; J . Newton ; C . A . Murton ; J . M . Klenck ; H . Massey ( Freemason ) , anel Jas . Terry , Secretary . Bro . Terry , after reading the minutes of thc last

meeting said that the Festival had been a great success , and that a much larger number of brethren and laelics attended than hc at first expected . At first he gave orders to Bro . Best , proprietor of the Freemason ' s Tavern to prepare for 350 gentlemen and 160 ladies ; but applications for tickets came in so much in excess of what hc expected , that he got Bro . Best to be

prepared for 400 gentlemen and 200 ladies . In the enel he found that his anticipations were correct , for 3 O 4 gentlemen attended , and 182 ladies . The total collections announced at the festival was £ 11 , 126 13 s . 6 d ., wilh nine lists to come in . Since then seven of these outstanding lists had reached him , with a total of £ 230 additional to what had already been announced , making

the sum realized by the festival above £ 11 , 350 . He did not think the remaining two lists woulel produce very much , but if rhey were anything like the others , he might expect a total result of the festival something like £ 11 , 300 . Last year the amount announced at the festival was £ 12 , 836 , with five lists to come in , anel when they had come in , the total was £ 13 , 320 ; but it must be

remembered tliat this year they had but 225 Stewards , to last year's 272 , or ncaily 30 less . ( Cheers . ) The Chairman said the first duty of the meeting would be to pass a vote of thanks to his Grace the Duke of Manchester . Bro . Terry saitl that at the last meeting of the Committee of thc Institution on the 14 th inst ., a similar vote

had been carried , as well as a vote of thanks to the President of thc Board of Stewards , to thc Treasurer , and to the Boarel of Stewards . At lhat meeting the votes were carried by acclamation . Bro . G . W . Verry moved , and Bro . R . B . Webster seconded , " That the cordial thanks of this Board arc due and

arc hereby given to his Grace the Duke of Manchester , Prov . G . M . for Norths and Hunts , for his great exertions in promoting the interests of this Institution by his powerful advocacy ol its claims whilst acting as Chairman of the annual Festival helel on thc 13 th inst ., in which hc was nobly supported by thc brethren freem all parts of thc country , resulting in the munificent sum of £ 11 , 126 13 s . 6 d ,

being announced on the occasion . That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to his Grace . " The motion was carried unanimously . The Chairman said that perhaps the brethren would allow him to state that hc knew his Grace the Duke of Manchester felt himself highly complimented hy being asked to presiele as Chairman at the late Festival , anil he

worked indefatigably in his province on behalf of the Instistution . He bilieved that these efforts woulel tenel very much to the benefit of the other Masonic Institutions . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Wooelforel , P . G . C , then moved , " That the best thanks of the Board of Stewards be given to the W . Bro . Joseph Smith , P . G . P ., the Presielent of the Board , for thc very admirable manner in which he

has discharged the duties of the office , and for thc kind courtesy hc has evinced towards thc brethren when presiding at their vaiious meetings . " lie said he was sure no words of his were necessary to commend this motion to the brethren , and he was very happy 10 find that it had been placed in his hands to propose it . They all knew Bro . Joseph Smith , and were all witnesses of his kindness ,

courtesy , and assiduity on all occasions . Hc would , therelove , simply move thc resolution he had just read . Bro . White secondeel the motion , whieh was then put and cariied unanimously . Bro . 11 . B . Webster moved : " That a vote e . f thanks ol thc Beearel of Sicwarels be given to W . Bro . Eilwarel Cox , Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden Noiths and Hunts ,

Treasurer to the Board , for the admirable manner in which he had discharged the duties of the office , and for the courtesy be has evinced towarels tbe brethren . Bro . C . J . Perceval seconded the motion . Carried unanimously . Thc Chairman said he felt highly complimented by the vote which had been passed , anel he begged to thank the r for it .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

Bro . C . J . Perceval said there was one motion which elid not appear on thc agenda paper wbich he wished to move . He thought they would not be doing justice to the host of the Frcc . _ asons' Tavern if they did not convey to him a mark of their appreciation of the very admirable manner in which hc had provided for the laelies and gentlemen who attended the Festival . As a laelies' Steward

he could himself speak of the excellent way in which thc ladies were provided for . Everything provided vvas very good , and the attendance vvas alt that could be wished or elesireel . He had been asked to express these views by several ladies who were at the Festival . Bro . R . B . Webster , in seconding the motion said thc festival was , in the way in which everything vvas done by

the Tavern , a great improvement upon any previous festival . The motion was carried nem . dis . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , said there was another motion which did not appear on the agenda paper , but he thought that the sense of justice of every Steward would prompt them to agree with him that they

ought not to separate before they put on their hooks , not as a mere matter of form , but as the sincere feeling of them all , a vote of thanks to all those connected with thc Institution , who had shewn the greatest care , zeal , anel assieiuity in carrying out the wishes of the Stewards and furthering the success of the Festival . He would , therefore , without any additional remarks , move

"That the thanks of the Board of Stewards be offered ta Bro . Terry and thc employe ' s in the office , for the great zeal , courtesy , kindness , anel assiduity with wbich all the needful arrangements for the late Festival have been carrieel out . " The motion having becn scconeled , The Chairman said he agreed most heartily with Bro .

Woodford's remarks , which embodied his own feelings , though they expressed them much more forcibly than he coultl have exprcsseel them himself . It vvas a source of immense gratification to the Stewards that they had such officers to assist them . The motion was then put and carried . Bro . Terry said it was very kind of the brethren to have

passed this resolution , which had come quite unexpectedly upon him . He certainly could say of his collector and of the clerk in the office that they hail vvorkeel very hard , very zealously and assiduous l y in assisting liim . It had not mattered to him what time he had asked them to attend at the office ; he had only had to ask them , and they attended and gave him their services ungrudgingly

and willingly . For h ' mself hc could only add that it vvas his duty to do thc best hc could to further the success of thc Festival and the interests of the Institution , besides endeavouring to second the efforts of the Stewarels . How zealously the Stewards hail workeel was evidenced by the result of the festival . It had produced £ 200 more than

he would have contemplated , and he thanked the Stewards very heartily and sincerely for thc efforts whicli they had made , and which hail been so successful , as well as for the kindness and courtesy which they had ever displayed towards himself . The following balance sheet was then read , received and adopted : —

£ s . d . To 225 Stewards'Fees at £ 2 2 s 472 10 5 ° To 113 Dinner Tickets at £ 1 is 118 13 *" o To 168 Laelies „ at io * . 6 d . ... 88 4 o

£ 679 7 o Feb . 26 th . By Tavern Bill : — 3 6 4 Gentlemen at £ 1 is ... 3 82 4 o 182 Ladies at 9 s . 6 d 86 9 o Stewards' Favours ... ... ... ... 53 8 o John Wills for elccorating [ lall ... ... 10 o o Baylis and Vetry , Scent ... ... ... 10 16 o

S . Lehmeyer for Music ... ... ... 26 3 o „ Bocks of Words ... ... 1 10 o Crutch , printing , ice 42 9 3 Secretary for postages , petty disbursements , Telegrams , and other expenses ... ... 3 6 1 6 Balance 843

£ 679 7 0 The balance of £ 8 was unanimously voteel to Bro . Terry , " To be disposed of as he thought fit . " Bro . Terry remarket ! that the item of £ 10 to Bro . Wills for elccorating the large hall with shrubs and flowers was for the conveyance by waggon eif these articles to the hall , anel for the men ' s labour and time in arranging them ,

but Bro . Wills generously gave the use of the elecorations free of expense , and everybody aelmittcd that the hall never looked so well before . Chei ] ues were then given for the different accounts named in the balance sheet , and the final act of the Festival of 1878 vvas brought to a close with a cordial vote of thanks 10 the Chaiiman of this Stewards' meeting for presieling .

Swedenborgian Rite.

SWEDENBORGIAN RITE .

The Supreme Grand Council has approved and the Supreme Grand Secretary has issued proper forms for making occasional anil annual returns of members in this Rite , which is steadily increasing . Bro . Samuel Beswick , whose wcrk on Svveelenborgian Freemasonry is familiar to most Masonic students , has been elected an honorary

member e > f thc Hermes Lodge , No . 8 , London , and appointed Granel Representative at the Supreme Granel Lodge and Temple of Canada , of which Bro . Col . McLeod Moore is the Supreme Grand Master . We understand that Bro . Beswick has an important wcrk in the press in connection with the true , length of the Egyptian cubit anel the proportions of the Great Pyramiel .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

Herr Schiitt , who has been dispatched by the Deutsche Afrikauische Gesellschaft to ee [ uatorial Africa , has safely arrived iu San Paul de Loanelo , and starts at once ior the interior to complete the work of exploration commenced by Edward Mohr , whose untimely fate was lately recorded .

The late George Cruikshank had , we are informed , made considerable progress with an autobiography , comprising his recollections of manyliterary men , commencing from a date of nearly 80 years-go . He had also executed a number of illustrations , in his well-known style , expressly for this work . We understand that arrangements have already been made for its publication ,

and that it will appear under the editorship of his widow , Mrs . Eliza Cruikshank , who had been assisting him before his death in the preparation of the book . — Academy . The scientific world have been deprived of a most valuable servant by the death of Mr . John Mabey , te > whom as a special compositor is owing the creation of a

fount of type by means of which the results of the researches of coniform scholars can be conveyed to the general public . Mr . Mabey vvas also celebrated for the publication of thc famous " Harris Papyrus" for the trustees of the British Musuem , as well as for the manufacture of a fount of type by which the Cypriote writing was made known .

An expedition recently organised for exploration in the northern territory of South Australia has returned to Port Darwin , after tracing a portion of the course of the Victoria River , which runs into the sea in Queen ' s Channel , on the west coast of the territory . Mr . Sergisnn , the leader of the party , reports that on this river , as well as near the Fitzmaurice River , flowing further north , and on the banks

of the Daly River—or Daly waters—which runs into Anson Bay , a fine country exists , well watered with the peculiar " creeks" so characteristic of Central Australia , and possessing very rich soil and a comparatively cool climate . The district explored lies principally between 130 deg . and 135 eleg . E . anil 12 deg . and 17 deg . S . —The Colon ' es and India . The British Archneological Association is

expecteel lo visit Wisbeach in thc summer , and the Prince of Wales will probably be the President on tlie occasion . Gi . osy _ i . oi . GALLERY . —We are informed that , in Ceimpliance with a very general request . Sir Coutts Lindsay has obtained the consent of the contributors to retain iheir drawings until March 15 , and that the Exhibition will in consequence remain open until that day .

The French African traveller and missionary , the Abbe Deb _ - > , is about to undertake a journey across Africa , from Zanzibar , via the Congo , and a grant of 100 , 000 francs ( 4 , 000 ) has been made by the French Chamber in aid of the undertaking . The two German African Exploration societies have amalgamated , and the united bodv is about to despatch another expedition to the interior of Africa . It has resolved to devote its attention to

the development cf commercial enterprise in that ceintment , and calls on German merchants , manufacturers , ami others to aid in opening up the country to German trade , The German Government has promised the sum of £ 3000 in aid of the objects thus indicated by the society . M . de Flotow has brought two new operas to

Paris for production this year . " The Enchantress " is tn be brought out during the Exhibition , and "Rosellana " will be produced in the winter . The Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy opened on Saturday week . The exhibition contains 1082 works , and is considerably above the average . The productions of local artists show a noticable

improvement , and there are numerous contributions from London painters . Wagner ' s " Rheingold , " the first part of the " Nicbelungen Ring , " has been produced at the Vienna O jera with great success . An Industrial Exhibition has been opened at Bailarat by the Governor of Victoria .

The fine reception rooms of the Government House at Bruges were completely consumed on the 20 th ult . by fitc , which is supposed to have originated from the over-heating of flues preparatory to a magnificent ball which vvas to have been given by the recently-appointed Governor of West Flanders , and which was to have been atteiid . il by the elite from all parts of Belgium and by the

principal English rcsielcnts at Bruges , 'ihe destruction of property is very great , including all the splendid furniture , plate , library , and paintings , which have been entirely destroyed with the building . The Atkinson Free Library and Art Gallery at Southport has been opencel by . thej Mayor , and the event was celebrated hy a popular elemonstration . The

new building has been erecteel at thc sole expense of Mr . W . Atkinson , D . L ., at a cost of over £ 8000 . In the evening there was a banquet . The . St . Gothard Tunnel is getting on very slowly as thc work is just now very difficult . " For the last three months , " s . iys Ensrhiecring , "the boring has

passed through serpentine rock on the north side anti broken rock on the south , which has required the greatest possible precaution . The mean progress lately has not excecelcil thirteen feet per diem , and up to the ist inst ., 321 , 108 feet had been perforated . MASONIC SONGS . —A selection of Masonic

Songs , set to popular airs , written by Bro . E . Philpots , M . D ., F . R . G . S .. is now ready , forming a hantlsome volume , bound in cloth , with gilt edges , 3 s . Sent post free from thc office of this paper on receipt of stamps or post-office oreler value 3 s . 2 d . —ADVT .