Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

gave the " Navy , Army , and Reserve Forces , " which was cordially received , Dr . Coghill replying for the Navy , General Sir James Alexander for the Army , and Colonel Campbell of Blythes wood . M . P . ( who was received with loud and prolonged cheering ) , acknowledged the toast on behalf of the Reserve Forces .

The M . W . G . M . next gave "The Craft and Freemasonry all over the World , " which was received with enthusiasm . The M . W . G . M . next proposed the " Grand Lodge of England and the Marquess of Ripon . " In doing so , he read a letter from the Earl of

Dalhousie , K . T ., whase name was to have been coupled with the toast , regretting his being unable to be present . In the noble earl ' s absence , the toast was responded to b y Lord Balfour of Burleigh . The W . M . G . M . next gave "The Grand

Lodge of Ireland and Duke of Leinster , " which was responded to by Dr . S . Somerville . The Earl of Rosslyn , on rising to propose the toast of " The Grand Master , " Sir Robert Shaw Stewart , was received with prolonged cheering . Lie said he had to congratulate them on the

election of that brother to the throne ; for whether they took the associations connected with his family , or the position which he himself had so long occupied among the Masons of the west , they would find that he was eminentl y fitted to occupy that position . ( Loud cheers . ) From

his experience of him , he was certain that he would be found eminently qualified , and extremely anxious to carry out everything tending to the advancement and advantage of the Craft . ( Cheers . )

At this appropriate stage of the proceedings an excellent song , composed for the occasion b y Brother James Ballantine ( the Grand Bard ) , was sung by Brother Davidson , Leith . " The Auld Stewart ' s back again " was received with much applause .

The M . W . G . Master , who on rising was again loudly cheered , sincerely thanked the brethren for the high distinction conferred upon him , and assured them of his earnest desire to follow in the footsteps of his distinguished predecessors in that hi gh and honourable position . ( Loud

cheers . ) The M . W . Grand Master next gave "The Past Grand Master , " in a happy and eulogistic speech , referring to the Earl of Rosslyn ' s long connection with Masonry , the esteem in which

he was universally held , both b y those connected with Masonry and outside the brotherhood , and the great efforts he had made during his long connection with the Craft to promote its best interests .

The toast was received with vociferous cheering . The Earl of Rosslyn , after some preliminary remarks , stated that during his three years of o ffice theie had been forty-four new charters granted , and 7583 entrants for registration . The

debt liquidation fund had been going on satisfactorily , and £ 200 a year had been saved to the lodge by the re-arrangement of the offices . His Lordship also took advantage of the opportunity of impressing on the Masonic brethren the

propriety of still more striving to combine with Masonry some schemes of benevolence or charity , or for the furtherance of educational objects , so that they might be the more able to benefit their fellow men .

Among the other toasts were— " The Foreign Grand Lodges , " given by the Chairman , and acknowledged by Bro . Robiuow , representative of the Grand Lodge of Hamburg ; "The Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . Lord James C . P . Murray , " who replied ; "The Grand

Wardens , " which the Earl of Kellie acknowledged ; " Lady Octavia Shaw Stewart , " by the Past Grand Master , replied to by Sir Michael Shaw Stewart ; and "The Memory of St . Clair of Rosslyn . " The company separated shortly before eleven o ' clock .

We would draw the attention of our many readers to the fact that the Cosmopolitan Alasonie Calendar for 1874 , is now ready , price 2 s . od . post-free 2 s . 2 d ., and may be had at Bro . Kenning ' s Masonic Depots , or through any respectable book-ieller or newsagent .

District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF BENGAL .

A Quarterl y Communication of the District Grand Lodge ot Bengal , was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on Saturday , the 19 th day of September , 1873 . There were present : —Bros . John Pitt Kennedy , Acting District Grand Master ; H . H . Locke , Past

Deputy D . P . G . M ., as Deputy D . G . ML , I . L . Taylor , D . G . S Warden ; W . B . Mactavish , as D . G . J . Warden ; C . J . Zemin , D . G . Secretary ; A . J . Hughes , as D . G . Treasurer : W . G . Amos , D . G . S . Deacon ; J . C . Parker , D . G . Dir . of Ceremonies ; W . H . Jones , D . G . A . Dir . of

Ceremonies ; W . Nicholls , as D . G . Sword Bearer ; C . H . Compton , D . G . Organist ; J . Beer , as D . G . Pursuivant ; W . H . Ayres , J . F . Barns , J . M . Evans , D . G . Stewards ; G . Alexander , D . G . Ty ler . The following lodges were represented , Star in

the East , No . 57 ; True Friendship , No . 218 ; Humility and Fortitude , No . 229 ; Lodge Marine ; No . 232 ; Lodge Anchor and Hope , No . 234 ; Lodge St . John , No . 486 ; Lodge Excelsior , No . 826 ; Lodge Star of Orissa , No . 1106 ; Lodge of Temperance and Benevolence , No . 1160 ; and

Lodge Sandeman , No . 1374 . The following visitors were present . —W . Bros . A . B . Mitchell , W . M . No . 401 , S . C . ; R . Graham Birch , No . 40 ; B . St . Leger Halsted , No . 229 ; J . B . Norton , No . 232 ; S . Emanuel , No . 232 ; J . Craighead , No . 232 ; B . W . Haves ,

No . 486 ; Abromovitch , No . 1160 ; Armstrong , No . 371 , S . C ; Grevelink , No . 401 , S . C . ; W . Burroughs , Ed . Masonic Herald . The District Grand Lodge was opened in due form at 7 p . m . Apologies were read from several brethren for unavoidable non-attendance .

The Worship ful Acting District Grand Master informed the brethren , that the first work before the meeting was to consider and confirm the Minutes of the Communication of the 21 st June last ; but that as printed copies of those Minutes had been circulated , he proposed to

consider them as read , and moved that they be confirmed . W . Bro . Mactavish said , he had been asked to point out that the report in para . 13 of the Minutes in question , about Lodge Industry and Perseverance being in arrears with its dues and

its return for one quarter , was not correct , as those arrears were cleared off" prior to the last meeting of District Grand Lodge . The District Grand Secretary explained that the reference to the arrears of Lodge Industry , and Perseverance , objected to by W . Bro .

Mactavish , appeared only in the Report of the Committee of General Purposes , at the date of meeting of which , it was not , he believed , questioned that the lodge was actually in arrears as reported . W . Bro . J . L . Taylor then proposed , and Bro .

C H . Compton seconded : —That the Minutes of the Communication of the 21 st June last , as printed and circulated , be confirmed . On being put to the vote , they were confirmed . Ihe W . the Acting District Grand Master then addressed the Grand Lodge as follows : —

" Worshipful Brethren : —I come before you on this occasion under circumstances which compel me to express much regret . I understand that at the meeting of the Committee of General Purposes there were certain reports made of a most unpleasant character . In the course of

these theCommittee have expressed their opinion on the conduct of some of the brethren in very strong terms . These matters will need to be carefully considered by you after you have had the report of the Committee read to you . It is indeed much to be regretted that subjects of this

character should have to be brought before you , tending as they must do to disturb the peace and harmony of Grand Lodge , on occasions like the present . I am bound to tell you , however , that one of the brethren , whose conduct it was proposed to censure , has addressed a letter to me through the District Grand Secretary , wherein

he expresses his regret at his silence and explains the cause of it . I must confess that it was to me a matter of astonishment that a brother , in the position of Bro . Lloyd , should have shown such disregard , as for some time he did , to the repeated requisitions addressed to him by the District Grand Secretary . I must say , however ,

District Grand Lodge Of Bengal.

that that brother has now explained himself fully in the matter , and in a manner which induces me to believe that his silence was not intended in any way as a slight to the Craft . It will therefore be pleasing to me to pass over in silence that portion of the report of the

Committee of General Purposes which refers to this particular case , as the offending brother having acknowledged his fault and apologised for it , I do not consider that it will be needful for you to proceed further against him . "Of the other matters which will come before

you , that which will need your attention in a special degree is the circumstance that some of the lod ges are reported to be in arrears with their returns and dues . I cannot help expressing my regret that this should have occurred in so many instances , as the Masters of lodges , must be

aware that it is impossible to carry on District Grand Lodge unless their dues are fully and regularly paid . In some cases payments have been made , but unfortunately they have not been accompanied with the necessary returns , and unless these are sent in , it cannot be determined

whether the proper amount has been paid , or if any balance still exists . The Bye-laws of the District Grand Lodge are strict on the point , and require that both the returns and the dues should be rendered at the same time ; the submission therefore of the one without the other

does not absolve a lodge from the charge of being in arrears or unmindful of one of its important duties to the District Grand Lodge . " Regarding the other matters which will be brought before you , I need make no remark . I must express my regret at having been unable to

attend the last meeting of the Committee of General Purposes ; had I been present at it , I would have suggested to the members of the Committee to recommend milder measures in the cases to which I have referred , as I do not consider that it is essential to the interests of

the Craft that any violent steps should be taken against an erring brother while there is yet any hope of his reformation or his return to a sense of his duty . " It will be seen that the Committee of General Purposes have referred in their report to the

appointment of an Acting District Grand Treasurer . I am happy to say that I have been able to obtain the services of a brother well suited for the appointment , and if the selection made by me be such as to recommend itself to

you , I feel sure you will readily confirm it , otherwise it will be open to you to elect some other brother for the office , a motion to which effect will be brought forward hereafter , as set down in the agenda of business for this evenin sr .

" These are the principal matters on which / have thought it needful to comment . I have again to express my regret that so much business of an unpleasant nature should have to be transacted on this occasion in Grand Lodge . "

The reports of the Audit Committee of General Purposes were read and considered . The reports of the Grand Committee of the Fund of Benevolence was read and adopted . The business being concluded , the lodge was closed at 9 p . m .

THE CATTLE Snow held this week at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , will , doubtless , bring up our country friends to see the si ghts and scenes of London . Quadrant House , Regentstreet , will meet with a large share of their

patronage . The proprietor , Mr . Ahlborn , whose name has become a household word , has a display of winter furs unequalled in the world . The inspection of this stock , so varied , so rich ,

and so suggestive of warmth and luxury , will reward the most refined and most fastidious taste , Mr . Ahlborn has the hi ghest name as a just dealer , as well as being remarkable for Ids extensive knowledge and good taste as a designer .

LILY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION ( NO . S 20 ) . — On Thursday , December 11 th , at j p . m ., the Fifteen Sections will be worked at the " Greyhound Hotel , " George-street , Richmond , by

brethren of the United Mariners' and Dorii Lodges of Instruction . Bro . Wm . Vetto 1 P . M . 933 , will preside ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , P . 1 554 and 933 , Sjiiior Warden ,