Instruction.

Cundick Section 3 , Meadway ; Section 4 , Bro . Barnes ; Section 5 , Verry . 3 rd Lecture : Section 1 , Bro . Roberts ; Section 2 , Bro . Bowron ; Section 3 , Bro . Austin . There were also present Bros . Middleton , Weatherall , and W . Musto . Bros . Pace and Colliver were elected joining members .

The visitors were Bros . Watts , 916 ; Finlay , 1259 ; Rowe , 1259 ; Engle , 1 S 8 ; and Matts , 1076 . A vote of thanks to Bro . Scurr for the able manner he had worked the fifteen sections terminated the proceedings , and the lodge was closed in due form .

Belgrave Lodge of Instruction , No . 749 . —The usual weekly meeting of this well-known lodge was held on Friday , the 27 th ult ., at the Wellington Hotel , Spring Gardens . Present : Bros . T . Darke , W . M . ; Binnie , S . W . ; Beresford , J . W . ; Waghorne , S . D . ; Geo . Pymm , P . M . 749 , I . G . ' Bourne , P . M .

749 ; Elliott Smith , P . M . 157 ; Sennett , 405 ; Pulsford , Preceptor ; Harper , Secretary . The W . M ., in a very able manner , performed the ceremony of initiation , and seven sections were ably worked . At the last meeting but one this lodge voted the sum of £ 5 to Bro . Geo . Pymm ' s list , who is acting as

Steward for the mother lodge at the annual Festival for the Aged Freemasons . Several of the brethren made a present to Bro . Harper as a small token of their regard and esteem for the way in which he had discharged the duties of Secretary .

We strongly recommend those brethren who seek Masonic knowledge to attend this lodge . We need hardly say that under the instruction Bro . Pulsford , assisted by Bro . Bourne , one ofthe P . M . ' s of the mother lodge , the business is conducted in the most able manner .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

• THE CRAFT .

ANCIENT BRAZEN LODGE , No . 17 , LIN LITHGOW . The brethren of this ancient lodge commemorated the 112 th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns , the Scottish national poet , in their lodgeroom , Linlithgow , on Wednesday , the 25 th ult . The R . W . Master , Bro . David B . Buglass , occup ied

the chair . After refreshment , The Worshipful Master gave the usual loyal toasts , followed by the healths of the Grand Masters of England , Ireland , and Scotland . On charging the brethren to fill their glasses to " The Memory of Robert Burns , " he spoke as follows : —

Brethren , we come now to the toast of the evening , and I am about to ask you to drink to the memory of Scotland ' s greatest poet , Robert Burns . It says something for a nation , I humbly think , when the memories of the good and great of bygone times , who have lived and died in it , are held in

sacred remembrance ; and yet , after all , when one looks chrefully into the matter , there seems to be but little gratitude underlying such a feeling , unless , indeed , we term that gratitude which is but the natural expression of public approbation for noble work—well and nobly done . If it is true that all

men find their level in the course of thc struggle for what is thought to be most desirable in this life , it is equally true , and even more palpably so , that when they have gone the way of all living , their life-work will be appraised at its real value , and thus also find its true level . Past history tells us '

and our own experience confirms the fact , that it is only the life-work of a few in each generation thc standard of excellence of whom towers above that of the great crowd , and in consequence become meet for a nation ' s homage . They , from their very singularity and rareness , must ever remain

the resultant monuments of God-like power ; and as such , will ever have an upward and ennobling tendency on mankind . Such a monument Burns has left us in his works . Public scrutiny has not marred its comeliness—not even effaced its polish . It has withstood thc shocks of many a storm of criticism in the past ; and in our own day , thc

little puff of a Ferguson , though it had its rise in a pulpit , has not dimmed its lustre . The strictures and detractions of the tight-laced , in things moral and religious , have been powerless to lower thc works of Burns in thc estimation of his countrymen , and 1 may say of thc civilised world ; they have become classic , and what more can wc say for them—truly , brethren ,

A thing of beauty is a joy forever . Ofthe man himself much has been said , especially as to his moral character and deportment generally . These , wc admit , were not perfection ; but when wc consider the times in which he lived , and thc influences by which he was surrounded ,

they dwindle into a small matter ; or if wc contrast them with the noble aspirations of his great spirit , and that contrition of soul with which he ever deplored his human weaknesses , they absolutel y become swallowed up in a flood of deep atoning penitence . . Surely , then , the memory of such a man is well worthy a place in the nation's

Scotland.

heart , and I need scarcely say that upon us , as brethren of the " mystic tie , " it has strong claims to our affectionate remembrance , and in that light I am sure we will ever continue to hold it . Brethren , allow me , in the poet ' s own spirit-stirring words , to ask you to discharge a pleasing duty to his immortal

memory—One last request , permit me here , When yearly ye assemble a' ; One round—I ask it with a tear—To him , the bard , that ' s far awa' . Bro . A . Crocket having sung " Rantin Robin " The Junior Warden gave " The Poets of Eng

land . " The Senior Warden then proposed " The Poets of Ireland , " and spoke of the beauty and pathos of Irish minstrelsy , and of the wit and humour of Irish character .

Bro . Little gave " The Poets of America , " otter which song and sentiment flowed till the lodge was closed at eleven o ' clock—the brethren congratulating themselves on having spent one of the happiest evenings they had enjoyed for a long period .

ABOYNE . —The annual general meeting of the Charlestown Lodge of Aboyne was held within the Huntly Arms Hotel , when the following were appointed office-bearers : —Bros . Lord J . F . G . Hallyburton , R . W . M . ; Geo . Paterson , P . M . ; Geo . Middleton , D . M . ; Joseph Smith , S . W . ; Adam

Begg , J . W . ; Alex . Gray , Treas . ; John Birss , Sec ; John Milne , G . S . ; George Young , S . S .: William Begg , J . S . ; Alex . Gray , Clerk ; Peter Esson , D . Todd , John Burgess , and W . Macintosh , Councillors ; J . Cunningham , Proxy M . ; John Brown

and John Beaton , Auditors ; Joseph Grant , Tyler ; after which the brethren partook of an excellent supper . A happy evening was spent , which was enlivened with the appropriate toasts and some excellent songs .

ROYAL ARCH . GLASGOW . —On Tuesday , the 31 st ult ., Chapter 73 met in their Hall , Buchanan-street . Present : Comps . D . Gilchrist , Z . ; J . Balfour , P . Z .. as H . ; Craske , Z . of 322 acting as J . ; J . M'Leod , Scribe E . ; G . W . Wheeler and VV . Donaldson , Sojourners ; G . M . Donald , 1 st Captain of the Veils . Bro .

Andrew Bell received the degree of Most Excellent Master , and was afterwards exalted into the Holy Royal Arch ; both ceremonies were very effectively worked by Comp . Gilchrist and his officers , and the chapter was closed according to ancient custom .

Masonic Miscellaner.

Masonic Miscellaner .

—?—THE R . W . Bro . Earl Percy , M . P ., S . G . W ., has consented to preside at thc next anniversary festival of the British Orphan Asylum , Slough , to take place some time in March next .

A SPECIAL Mark Lodge will be held at the White Hart Inn , Brislington , on thc 9 th day of February , at 1 . 30 p . m . precisely . Bro . RANSFORD , P . G . Organist , announces that his Annual Evening Concert will take place on Tuesday , the 28 th inst ., at St . James ' s Hall , Piccadilly , at 8 p . m . Eminent artistes are engaged to appear .

AT a numerously attended meeting of the Plantaganet Conclave , No . 2 , Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , held at the Caledonian Hotel , Adelphi Terrace , Strand , on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., Sir Knight James Lewis Thomas , Sov .-elect ., in the

chair , it was resolved that a requisition should be addressed to Sir Knight Col . Burdett , to convene a meeting for thc purpose of appointing a General Committee to adopt the best means of promoting the success of the " R . Wentworth Little Testimonial . "

WE have much pleasure in announcing that the only matter in difference between the members of thc Headon Lodge ( 619 ) has been adjusted , and that the harmony which always prevailed in the lodge prior to July , 1869 , has been restored . It is not necessary now to do more than simply allude to the

subject ofthe difference which existed ; but it is of great importance that it should be known that the proper step for bringing back thc prestige of this famous lodge has at length been taken , ancl that thc removal of the great obstacle to thc happiness of thc brethren will withdraw that shyness ancl suspicion with which some very old friends have for

thc last eighteen months viewed each other . It is very gratifying also to find that at the next mectingin May several candidates for initiation will present themselves , and that Bro . Samuel Wells , the present W . M ., who began his year of office in darkest cloud , is likely to terminate it in brightest sunshine .

Theatrical.

THEATRICAL .

HAYMARKET . —This fashionable little theatre flourishes , with a good programme that requires no change . "The Poor Soldier , " "The Palace of Truth / 1 followed by " Uncle ' s Will , *' and concluding with " The Spectre Bridegroom , " are the pieces provided for the crowded audiences who patronise

this theatre every evening . Mr . Buckstone announces that " The Palace of Truth " will be performed during the whole of February . QUEEN ' . —It is with great pleasure we are able to notice the reappearance of Mr . and Mrs . Rousby in " 'Twixt Axe and Crown , " with all its original and powerful effects . "Joan of Arc , " a new

historical play , by Tom Taylor , is in active preparation , and will shortly be produced . COVENT GARDEN . —We must remind our readers that the last morning performance of the great pantomime , " The Sleeping Beauty , " will take place at two o'clock this day ( Saturday , 4 th inst ) . This pantomime still retains its attractiveness , and the house is well filled by a large audience every

evening . ROYAL COURT THEATRE . —This new theatre was opened in Sloane-square on the 25 th January . It was once a chapel , but is now a pretty theatre . The lessee and manager is Mr . Litton , underwhose auspices ' a successful season may be anticipated .

Punctually at the specified time the curtain drew up on the old Strand farce of " Turn him out . ' ' Mrs . Herman Vezin delivered the inaugural address , expressly written for the occasion by Mr . J . Oxenford . The great attraction of the evening was " Randall's Thumb , " written for this theatre by Mr .

W . S . Gilbert . This was a most successful piece , and was well received by all present . The whole was concluded by a new comedietta by Mr . F Marshall , called " O . E . D . " The house has been crowded every night since it has been opened . ST . J AMES ' S . —Mrs John Wood made her

reappearance in the operatic bagatelle , by Mr . Anges B . Reach , of "Jenny Lind at Last , " and gave for the first time in London her imitations of Titiens , Patti , Mario , and Karl Formes with very great success , the theatre being well filled by a fashionable audience . The performance commenced with the

comedietta , by Tom Taylor , " To Oblige Benson , " followed by the new comedy , by Mr . T . W . Robertson , " War , " which , in spite of adverse criticism , maintains its place on the boards , and when . more fully understood , is likely to prove a great success . "Jenny Lind at Last" followed , and "An Unhappy Pair" finished an agreeable evening ' s

programme . ADELPHI . —Mr . Burnard ' s new drama , " Deadman ' s Point , or the Lighthouse on Cam Ruth , " will be produced this ( Saturday ) evening , 4 th inst , the new and magnificent scenery by Mr . F . Lloyds . "One Touch of Nature" and "The Miseltoe Bough" are the other pieces performed at this popular theatre .

India.

INDIA .

CALCUTTA . —Lodge Star iu the East , No . 67 . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on Wednesday evening , thc 14 th December . Amongst the distinguished brethren present were : R . W . Bros . Judge , P . D . D . G . M . ; Dr . Daly , D . D . G . M ., M . P . S . Red Cross ; Clark , P . D . G . W . ; Brown , P . D . G W . Burmah ; and Farr , D . G . W ., Red Cross ; V . W . Bros .

Captain Murray , D . G . S ., V . E . Red Cross ; and Pitt Kennedy , D . G . R . ; W . Bros . Colonel Ford , D . G . D . ; and Dove , P . D . G . D . ; Bro . Van Gelder , D . G . O . ; Sc . Captain Monies ( Bengal Army ) was initiated into thc mysteries of the Craft by W . M . Goodricke , assisted by R . W . Bro . Daly and V . W . Bro . Murray . A ballot then took place for the election of Master , Treasurer , and

Tyler for the ensuing year , thc result being that Bro . William Osmond Allender , S . W . of this lodge , and member of Lodge No . 145 ( Prudent Brethren ) , S . Red Cross , & c , was unanimously elected to the chair of K . S ., and Bro . Edmond Hcaley was elected Treasurer . The brethren then adjourned to refreshment , ancl after thc usual banquet and the toasts of obligation , " The health

of the Master" was proposed by R . W . Bro . Clark , and responded lo by Bro . Allender , who briefly expressed his gratification at being thus elected to the chair of the oldest lodge in India . "The health ofthe W . Past Master" was then proposed by Bro . Roberts , and responded to hy R . W . Bro . Judge , as thc oldest Mason ami Past Master in thc district . After many other toasts

and much harmony , the parting toast was proposed at 10 p . m ., " Happy to meet , sorry to part , happy to meet again , " and . 1 very pleasant meeting was brought to a close . The R . W . Ihe D . G . M . has conferred two purple aprons and one crimson one on brethren of Lodge Star in the East for the ensuing year—tlie recipients being Bros . Allender , Van Gelder , and Hcaly . ——The regular meeting of Lodge Star in ihe East , which should have

been held on the evening of the 2 S 1 I 1 December , was held on the morning of that day , on account of the drawingroom al Government House having been fixed to take place in ihe evening . W . Bro . W . O . Allender , Master of Lodge Marine , Xo . 232 , was duly inducted as Master of this lodge ( N ' n . 67 ) by special dispensation from the R . W . thc D . G . M ., ihe ceremony being performed by V . W . Bro . Captain W . G . Murray , D . G . Sec .