Excursion Of American Knights Templar To Europe.

After a short stay at Lucerne , the ascent of the Rhig i will be made . some seven thousand feet , by one of the most wonderful inclined railways in the world , for a night ' s sleep among the clouds ; descending to Lucerne and Bale ; then passing over some of the late famous batt ! efields , to Pans ,

for a week's stop at the Grand Hotel . Leave Paris for London via Rouen and Dieppe . Fnim London to Liverpool , stopping at Haddon Hall , one of the oldest castles in England , and at Chatsworth , the Palace of the Duke of Devonshire , and grandest in all Great Britian ; then to

Manchester and Liverpool , where steamship will be taken for New York . The only feature in the last Templar excursion that detracted from its pleasure was the absence of ladies . It is therefore proposed to admit ladies as members of this excursion , and

any who wish to take then- wives or daughters are at perfect liberty to do so . The Committee do not wish the impression to go abroad that Cyrene Commandery goes on this excursion for the purpose of exhibiting to the world its drill , uniforms , and fine banners .

When in the Old World , they expect to visit , to meet with , and to mingle among their Masonic brethren of all degrees . Under these circumstances , they are not selfish enough to confine its pleasures exclusively to Templars . They extend a fiee and hearty invitation to any member

of the Masonic fraternity to accompany them , that being the only passport required , and a sufficient guarantee to the committee that its applicants are gentlemen . All letters in relation to the excursion are to be addressed to A . M . Rambo , Coitrunl ollice , Columbia , Pa . U . S .

Grand Commandery Of Pennsylvanla.

GRAND COMMANDERY OF PENNSYLVANLA .

We have before us the " Proceedings " of 1872 of the . Grand Commandery for the State of Pennsylvania , jof which R . E . Sir Knight C . E . Howel is Grand Commander , and E . Sir C . E . Mayer , the Grand Recorder . We unhesitatingly pronounce it to be one of tbe best accounts of the

progress of the Order we have ever had the pleasure of reading . Such a work , in the hands of an intelligent Knight , cannot fail to be exceedingly useful , and of itself is sufficient to afford even a foreign member quite an act ;' .. rate and most interesting history of that flourishing Order of Masonic Knighthood in the "Keystone State . " The minutes of the nineteenth annual Conclave

of Pennsylvania , held at Reading , June 11 , 12 and J , 3 , 1872 , were written by the Grand Recorder , Sir Charles Eugene Mayer , than whom a more painstaking and enthusiastic Mason could not be found . Our brother is also Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania , anel is officially connected with several other Masonic

bodies , and yet everything is done well , 111 order , and even fuller in detail than could reasonabl y be expected . We should think that the prefix Sir Knight , adopted in this country , is dropped for that of Sir , which is certainly correct , as Sir Knight is

an absurd title . "Sir W ' . S . Gardner , Knight , " is all very well ; but "SirKnight W . Tinkler" is decidedly wrong , for there is not any evidence that we know of for such a prefix in the annals of knighthood . Sir Grant Weidman presented the report on

behalf of the Committee of Correspondence , which embraced the proceedings of twentv-two S' . a . es or G m nanderics . The report is worth -a careful perusal , and the compilers , as they state , " in the path of duty plungcil boldly into

stream , and proceeded at once in gather tin floating gems which have come down to thorn . ' As they also felicitously observe llii-v have done this without following the example of ihe Mutual Admiration Society , or us outsiders term them , the " Mutuals . "

Ihe Constitutions of the Grand Encampment of the United States are appended to ' . he " Proceedings , " likewise that of the Grand Commandery in question , and various ceremonies and charges of constituting and dedicating a Commandery . Altogether it is a most excellent publication .

Madras Masonic Orphan Fund.

MADRAS MASONIC ORPHAN FUND .

Projected by R . W . Bro . Col . A . J . Grcenaw Hon . P . S . G . W . of England , P . D . S . G . W . Madras , P . P . G . D . Devon , kc , kc .

RULES . r . That there being a general wish that the Masons of India should come prominently forward in the work of charity , it is proposed that

a Fund be formed in the Masonic Province of Madras , specially for the support and education of the orphans t > f Masons , and for the education of the children of distressed Masons , to be styled

"Tun MADRAS MASONIC ORL ' IIAN FUND . " 3 . That this Fund be kept separate and distinct from all other funds or charities . 3 . That its administration be conducted by a

Board of Trustee's , the . R . W . Provincial Grand Master as President , the R . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master as Vice-President , and the Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Lodges in the Province as members .

4 . That the Governor of Madras be requested to become Patron of the Institution , and should he decline , the request to be made to the Lord Bishop . [ y That the sums received go to placing the

children as wards at . such schools as the Trustees may select , in communication with the relatives and guardians of the children , and in accordance with their reli gious opinions . 6 . That the following subscriptions and payments be fixed on : —

Tor every Initiation Rs . 2 Joining „ 1 Passing „ J » Raising „ 3 „ Installation of Master „ 10 „ Appointment of Wden ,, ¦¦;

,, Member monthl y ,, 1 ,, Lodge-annually , if able „ 30 Collection—St . John ' s Day . It is also proposed that each Mark Lodge , Royal Arch Chapter , and Templar ' s Encampment should contribute , say as follows : —

Marl : Lndgi 1 . For every Advancement Rs . 1 For each Joining ,, 1 installation of W . M r .

„ Appointment of Warden „ 2 ,, ,, ol M . ( ) ver .- ; cer „ 2 Each Lodge , yearly , as able . Rut / til Anii Chapter . For each Exaltation Rs . 2

„ Joining „ 2 ,, Installation of Principals „ 10 K . ' ]' . Encampment . Each installation of ( Jump Rs . 2 Joining „ 1 „ Installation of E . C ,, JO

„ Appointment of Captain ... „ , ¦¦; anel one rupee monthl y for every member of a degree that does not contribute the rupee in some lodge or elegree in the Province . 7 . That if this Fund be established , the detail be left to the Trustees , subject to the approval

ol the R . W . Provincial Grand Master , in open P . G . Lodge . 8 , That vacancies be filled up by orphans , and if there arenoclaimants . the children of distressed Masons to be elected . 9 . That the above be submitted to eacli lodge

( with the permission of the R . W . P . G . Master ) for the opinions and suggestions of each , and with the request that if they agree to the payments to stale their concurrence , that the same may be cm bod ieel in the Provincial Grand Lod . / ebve

laws , so that if once established , the good woik may not tail to the ground for want of funds . 10 . That the accounts of the fund and the report of the progress of the wards be published in the proceedings of the P . G . Lot-lire annually .

j \ lKTo :-i-n ; j .. \ il in ' , e > tin . ition li . 'is proven' Out tin Mik-laiues uliitli rimir . krl . 'rU- i . eiv . eeii the teeth cnnl . iiu ; inim : il . mil veitvl .-ihle | i ; ir ; i .,. nil-.-., irnil Oi . n 1 in : i „ ,. [! , pmuiiM-,., ] M ~ te-, .-mil u ..-i : e- in wrier ; il 1 I-. L- ll . iu- 1 :., elkvl in ,.,:, tin . . .-.,:. Mi-.. . ]> ( i .-ilirid' :. t ' r . r .-rli :, . I ' n „! l | . i > : ; -k ; , r : il K . njl [ leliklliie Mil'l !> v nil eliemi-, 1-: » ul milium- !' , . ;!

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Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New Church At Pontefract.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW CHURCH AT PONTEFRACT .

On Wednesday , the 2 , 3 rd ult ., the foundation stone of a new church at East Hardwick , near Pontefract , was laid by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , the Marquess of Ripon , in his capacity of Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire .

His Lordship was assisted in the ceremony by Deputy Provincial Grand Master of West Yorkshire , the W . Bro . Bentley Shaw , D . L ., P . G . D . of England , and the officers and brethren of the Order , dressed in Masonic costume , and accompanied by their banners and regalia . The church

has been designed by Mr . J . A . Davies , of Leeds . It will be cruciform in shape , and have regular transepts . In it there will be accommodation for about 230 worshippers , and the total cost , it is estimated , will be about Jiz 100 . Towards this sum about ^ 1700 has already been obtained ,

between / . ' 500 and . £ 600 having been raised last October , by means of a bazaar , and £ 163 having been granted by the Diocesan Church Building Society , in addition to which several handsome subscriptions have been given by the leading residents in Pontefract and the district . The

proceedings in connection with the ceremony commenced at Pontefract in the morning , when a Provincial Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall . This was attended by members of the order from Wakefield , Halifax , Huelderslield ,

Bradlorel , Hoimlirth , I teckmondwiko , Dewsbui ) Doncaster , Goole , Leeds , anel other places . The oliicers of the St . Oswald Lodge , No . 910 , Pontefract , opened the lodge in the three degrees , and at noon the R . W . P . G . M ., the W . Deputy Prov . G . M ., anel the Provincial Grand Officers

entered . Immediately alter closing the Provincial Grand Lodge , the brethren , of whom there was a very large attendance , formed in front of the Town Hall , and marched to the end of Ropergate , and thence they went in conveyances to East Hardwick . The unusual procession was the

cause of much interest amongst the residents in the ancient borough , and there was a large gathering in the street .- , to witness the assembly and departure of the members of the Craft . The two miles l ying between Pontefract ami East Hardwick having been traversed , the members of the

Order Ielt the com eyances anel walked in procession lo the site of the new-church , accompanied by the clergy and residents of the nei ghbourhood , For the accommodation of the spectators , the number of whom were large , a temporary gallery had been ereele'd , and this was occupied for the

most part by ladies . For this Masonic ceremony there was a special musical programme , the pieces composing which had been extracted from ihe " Fiveinasons' Liber Musicus , " edited by Bro . Dr . William Spark , of Leeels ; and under that gentleman ' s direction , the vocal music was

contributed by an efficient choir , including Mr Archibald Ramsden , Mr . Dothls , anil others , of Leeds , and the members of the choir of East Hardwick Church .. The Marquess of Ripon and the members of the Provincial Grand Lodge haying taken their places at the site of the church , the choir

sang " All people that on earth do dwell , " after which Lord Houghton , addressing the Marquess of Ripon , said , in the name of the parish and of the nei ghbourhood , he had to request his lordship to do them honour by laying the first stone of that church . ( Hear , hear . )

The Marquess of Ripon said it was with great pleasure lhat , on behalf of the brethren anel members of the Provincial Grand Lodge in this province , he' undertook the eluty he was asked to perform . ( Cheers . )

Ihe Mayor of Pontefract ( Bro . Richard Moxon ) presented the Marquess of Ripon with a mallet lor llie purpose of the ceremony . Mr . K . Loni ( W ' . M . of the St . Oswald ' s Lodge ) next proseire . l to his lordship a silver trowel , bearing a suitable inscription . He said the occasion was one of great moment to the interests

of this village , inaugurating , as they hoped and believed , a new state of things greatly superior to those of the past . That auspxious day had been eagerly looked forward to lor many years pasi . For seven long year : ; have they " worked and waited for this Rachael of their desires , and well they might rejoice to see their hopes and purposes