Banquet To Bro. Darasha Rataujee Chichgur.

The toast was drunk with due honour and enthusiasm . The CHAIRMAN , in his reply , observed that , during his ^ ifour years' connection as President of the Hall Committee

• he had never had any occasion to differ with Bro . Darasha . Whatever he suggested was always good for the interest of Freemasonry , and he ( the Chairman ) always offered his

cordial co-operation . Other toasts followed including that of " Bro . Captain Morland , " and the meeting , which was most enjoyable throughout , terminated about midnight .

Laying The Corner Stone Of The New Hall, Wood Green.

LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE NEW HALL , WOOD GREEN .

The full progamme of the ceremony which will take ¦ p lace on Tuesday next , the nth inst ., when the corner ¦ stone of the new Assembly Hall of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Wood Green , will be laid by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , has been issued , and , to judge

from the arrangements which have been made by the Executive , the hopes we express elsewhere for the success of the gathering stand a very fair chance of being realised . The Stewards' list is 50 strong , and though we should like to have seen a more formidable one , it unquestionably includes the names of many of our most active and energetic brethren , men who have laboured zealously for many ,

many years in the interests of our Institutions , and who , if a thing has to be done , are as capable of doing it as any similar body of Stewards of equal , or even greater , numerical strength . Indeed , there is hardly a name in the list which is not familiar to our readers in connection with the proceedings of our different Festival celebrations , and if we mention those of Bros . R . Berridge , C . Belton , Edgar

Bowyer , R . Clowes , of Essex , C . F . Hogard , Capt . G . Lambert , H . B . MarshalI ,. J . L . Mather , T . Hastings Miller , W . Roebuck , W . A . Scurrah , A . Torkington , A . Williams , James Willing , jun ., as being in the list , it is not for the p urpose of exalting them by comparison with their fellow Stewards , but that our readers may be in a position to form a just estimate of the quality of the Board as a whole .

We say , in fact , ex his disce omnes , and if these 50 brethren do not make up a good return it will be owing to a concatenation of circumstances which no other similar Board of brethren would be in a position to overcome . We have said the function of laying the stone will be carried out by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , who will be assisted in her task by competent brethren , members of the

Board of Stewards , and of the House and Audit Committees . The active duties of the Chair will be in the hands of Bro . A . F . Godson , D . P . G . M . Worcestershire , rota Chairman of the House Committee , and we may be sure that under his auspices , assisted , as he will be , by such tried veterans as Bro . F . Binckes , the Secretary , who took part in the opening of the first

school premises , Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D ., Bro . Capt . George Lambert , P . G . S . B ., Bro . William Roebuck , P . G . Std ., & c , the function itself will be carried out most successfully . There is , however , one point to which it is our duty to draw especial attention . Our readers are aware that a special fund was raised for the purpose of defraying the cost of the new buildings . This fund amounted

to somewhat over £ 14 , 000 ; but when the whole of the work has been carried out , the expense will amount to £ 19 , 457 , of which £ 3200 will have been devoted to the purchase of freehold land and houses—an expenditure not included in the original scheme of the Preparatory School , while a further outlay of over £ 2000 will be in respect of a new laundry , & c , Sic , for the use of the whole

establishment . Thus the Preparatory School Fund , in its original dimensions , will not have been exceeded , and the deficit of between £ 5000 and £ 6000 will be found to have arisen—in respect of £ 3200 , from the necessity for purchasing the land adjoining , which would otherwise have fallen into other hands , and in respect of £ 2000 for what will benefit the main as well as the preparatory branch of

the School . In any circumstances cur readers should clearly understand that between £ 5000 and £ 6000 more is needed , if the Institution is to enter on its new stage of progress unembarrassed by serious liabilities . We have said we believe the Stewards who are working for Tuesday's Festival are as likely as any other body of brethren to raise this sum , and we elsewhere express our earnest hope that

what is required will be forthcoming . Let the Craft do their part of the work , and we have every confidence the School , once fairly started under the new regime , will hold its own . VVe trust all will go well , notwithstanding the shortness of the time that has elapsed since the meeting was sanctioned , and that it will be our duty to chronicle a brilliant success in our issue of next week .

Annual Address Of The Grand Master Of Canada.

ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE GRAND MASTER OF CANADA .

At the session of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Canada , A . F . and A . M ., here to-day the Grand Master , Hugh Murray , in his annual address , said decisions had been given during the year that Quaker's affirmation in lieu of the oath or obligation of Masonry is not admissible ; that 5 candidate before initiation must declare his belief in the

^ upreme Being , who has revealed His will to man in His Holy Book , which is one of the three great lights placed On the altar to rule and direct our faith ; that an agnostic who sa' / s , " There may be a God ; 1 do not deny it ; but I " 0 not know that there is , " cannot be made a Mason ; that Do person can be initiated who does not believe in the true - od , the Great Architect of the Universe , the creator and

preserver of all things , who has revealed His will to man a j > d who will punish vice and reward virtue ; that an , K St - ' denies tne existence of God , a free thinker , Who discards revelation , or who expressed contempt for J JOCI or religion , should he proceeded against according to the mode laid down in " Masonic trials ; " and , in reply to

Annual Address Of The Grand Master Of Canada.

a question , Can an Indian who is not enfranchised be made a Mason ? that colour , creed , or country is no bar to initiation ; the question of admitting a candidate , being one of expediency , is left to the judgment of the members of the lodge where such application is made . It was also held that the jurisdiction of a lodge extends half way in every direction to the nearest lodge , and that a resident of a city where there are a number of lodges having concurrent

jurisdiction may be made Masons in a lodge outside the city limits , provided their residence is nearest that lodge . The Grand Master condemns the use of Masonic emblems as trade marks , recommends a careful examination of visitors , and refers to special communications as to finance . The receipts and expenditure of the Grand Lodge for the year ending 31 st May , 1 S 85 , were—Receipts from lodges , 13 , 558 dols . 75 cents , interest investments , 31 S 4 dols .

8 cents—total 16 , 742 dols . 83 cents . Expenditure : general purposes , 5916 dols . 55 cents , benevolence , 10 , 625 dols . — total 16 , 091 dols . 55 cents . Cash capital of Grand Lodge , 68 , 394 dols . 49 cents . Notwithstanding the fact that there has been considerable increase in the payments on account of benevolence the total expenditure is less than during the previous year and the cash capital is greater . Reference is made to the North-west Rebellion and thanks to God

expressed for its being kept within small proportions , and to the brave men , many of them Masons , who fought for law and order . The Grand Master trusts that the D . D . G . M . ' s of the respective districts will take especial pains to see that the wives and families of brethren now on duty in the North-west are not permitted to want for the comforts of life . Referring to the question of a belief in the Supreme Being the Grand Master quotes approvingly the

deliverance of the Grand Master of the State of New York : "My brethren , Masonry wisely required no more than a belief in one great , all-powerlul God , the Great Architect of the Universe , its father and preserver , who has revealed His will to man and who will punish vice and reward virtue , but it requires that , and nothing less will be accepted . The man who denies the existence of a God is already excluded . Practical atheism

should also be excluded in the persons of those who only admit that there possibly may be a God , and that there may be a future life where men will be rewarded or punished for the deeds done in the body . " The Grand Master also makes reference to the difficulties as to the standing of certain lodges in Montreal , and says It is cause for regret that the brethren of St . Paul ' s , St . George ' s , and St . Lawrence Lodges have

not seen it to be their duty to remove all occasion for contention by surrendering their warrants and affiliating with the Grand Lodge of the province . I sympathise strongly with the Grand Lodge of Quebec in the struggle for what I believe to be a correct principle , and I admit that from her standpoint she is not bound by the conditions that applied to the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada . Further than this , however , I think our Grand Lodge

cannot go , for though we may regret that conditional recognition was accepted by our predecessors , who acted no doubt under circumstances peculiarly adverse , and at a time when the question of Grand Lodge sovereignty was not so prominent as in the present day , yet we are , I believe , bound honourably to carry out the agreement entered into by

them , and which has remained undisturbed for nearly 26 years . A case of clandestine Masonry is spoken of , and in his concluding remarks the Grand Master says the Grand Lodge has more lodges on its register than ever before , though two Grand Lodges—Quebec and Manitobahavebeenformed from the parentone . —Montreal Gazette , Hamilton , Ont ., July Sth .

North Wales And The Masonic Charities.

NORTH WALES AND THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

A meeting of the Worshipful Masters of the lodges and a delegate from each lodge in the Province of North Wales and Shropshire was held on Friday , the 17 th ult ., at the Masonic Chambers , Public Hall , Wrexham , and was numerously attended . The purport of the meeting was to

elect a Sub-committee of six brethren , three from North Wales and three from Shropshire , who will be deputed to draw up a scheme for the equitable division of the funds in the hands of the Provincial Grand Treasurer , the votes for the Masonic Charities , the "Sir Watkin Presentation , " and the other property of the present Prov . Grand Lodge , which scheme will be submitted to a Provincial Grand

Lodge , to be held in September . The three brethren that were elected to represent North Wales were Bros . James Salmon , of the Rhyl Lodge ; John Davies , of Denbigh j and John Lloyd Griffith , of Holyhead . Those chosen to represent Shropshire were Bros . Rowland G . Venables , of Ludlow ; VV . Lascelles Southwell , of Bridgnorth ; and V . C . L . Crump , Shrewsbury . The first meeting of the above Committee was held on the 24 th ult .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

" The Theatre " for August contains photographs of Bro . and Mrs . Bancroft and a group of the chief ladies in " The Mikado , " now being played with so much success at the Savoy . The former will be a pleasant souvenir of the Haymarket management . The literary portion of the magazine is replete with interest , also containing as it does articles by many of those eminent in the drama .

# * * Bro . Lionel Brough has joined with Mr . Willie Edouin as lessees of the Novelty Theatre , Great Queenstreet , which they purpose re-opening in September , with a burlesque , in which they and Miss Alice Atherton ( Mrs .

Edouin ) , will be the chief performers . Bro . Harry Paulton is engaged in writing a new piece for them . If the author and the artistes be as successful in the contemplated work , as in "The babes , " they will be almost the first to make the Novelty pay . # #

* Bro . Terriss has engaged the Daly Company to play at the Strand , next spring , in their well known parts , and some new pieces also . We are sure our friends from the States will receive a hearty welcome—even more than they did last year , —now they are so well known .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JAMES CUTBUSH , P . M . We regret to announce the death under painful circumstances of Bro . James Cutbush , head of the firm of Messrs . VV . Cutbush and Son ( Limited ) , of the Highgate , Barnet , and Finchley Nurseries . Bro . Cutbush took great interest in all those societies which sought to promote a love for the cultivation of fruit and flowers among the working classes , and was present on Saturdav evening last at the distribution

ot prizes by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts in connection with the Brookfield Horticultural Society , South Highgate . He was in the act of seconding a vote of thanks to the officers of the society when he fell forward in an apoplectic fit , and , being removed home , died at midnight . Bro . Cutbush was a member of the Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 13 S 5 , Barnet , and served the office of W . M . in 1 S 76 . He was also a member of the Gladsmuir Chapter , No . 13 S 5 , and at the time of his

death occupied the chair of H . He was likewise a Past P . G . A . D . C . of Hertfordshire , had served once as Steward for the Girls' School and Benevolent Institution , and twice for the Boys' School , and was a Life Governor of all three Charities . It is somewhat singular that the deceased ' s brother , Bro . VVilliam Cutbush , also a Past Master of the Gladsmuir , died with equal suddenness while on a visit to Brighton . We offer our most respectful sympathy to the family of our late brother .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTHS . DALTON . —On the ist inst ., at Eton College , the wife of the Rev . T . Dalton , of a son . Hi AM . —On the 29 th ult ., at Windmill-road , West Croydon , the wife of W . J . Hiam , jun ., of a son . LEACH . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Hatherop Castle , Faitford , the wife of Colonel E . P . Leach , V . C , Royal Engineers , of a son .

SMITH . —On the ist inst ., at Dunedin , Chichester-road , Croydon , the wife of J . Smith , of a daughter .

MARRIAGES . GREEN—MACDONALD . —On the 4 thinst ., atSt . Matthew's , Upper Clapton , G . W . F . Neville , eldest son of the late George Henry Green , of Wakefield , to Margaret , eldest daughter of William Chambers Macdonald , of

Evering-road , Upper Clapton . HETLEV—HARRISON . —On the 4 th inst ., at the Church o £ St . John Evangelist , Upper Norwood , Dr . H . Hetley , of Upper Norwood , to Lilian Josepha , daughter of E . F . Harrison , Esq ., C . S . I ., of South Norwood-hill , and late of the Bengal Civil Service .

DEATHS . BREE . —On the 4 th inst ., at the Charing-cross Hotel , the Rev . C . II . Bree , rector of Washford Pyne , N . Devon , son of the Bishop of Barbadoes and of the Windward Islands , aged 34 .

The London And North Western Railway Company's Programmes Of Tours.

THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY'S PROGRAMMES OF TOURS .

( 1 ) NORTH WALES , THE ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT , & c . ( 2 ) SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND . It is the habit now-a-days for our principal railway companies to issue programmes , or what may more reasonably be described as elaborate guide-books to the districts they traverse or are connected with . These guide-books make

their appearance annually in good time for the tourist season , and they are very welcome , both on account of the explicit information they contain as regards the mere arrangements for travelling and for the really interesting particulars they furnish as to the most notable places on the different railway systems they relate to . The London and North Western Company is specially fortunate in the programmes it issues , which this year would seem to be far

more elaborate than usual if we may judge from the two which are now before us . The first treats of North Wales and the English Lake District , showing the arrangements the Company has succeeded in making for the convenience of the public during the current season , and the terms on which it is prepared to carry them out . Of the beauty and picturesqueness of the country in these localities , of their amazing wealth of historical associations , there never can

have been the slightest doubt , but travellers have probably missed many sights they would gladly have seen , had they known , as they may know , from this guide-book how easy of access they are by the L . and N . W . Railway , and what facilities are within their reach for breaking their journey . One general idea governs this in common with the whole of these programmes , namely , that of issuing tickets available for two calendar months , the terms charged being all the

more reasonable from the fact that holders may content themselves with visiting a locality if they wish to remain stationary or traverse a district if they prefer moving about , permission being accorded them to break their journey at certain stated places , where they may sojourn for as long or as short a portion of the time allowed as they please . It is also open to them , if they are so disposed , to extend the period of their tour by paying such further sum as is

announced in the fare tables , but under no circumstances will the period for which tickets are issued be allowed to extend beyond the 31 st December of the present year . The guidebook to Scotland describes the country traversed by the Caledonian Railway , and contains full particulars of all the places of interest to which , directly or indirectly , it has access . Both books are abundantly illustrated , and both are furnished with a series of maps carerully and minutely

drawn . Both likewise contain all the requisite particulars as to the train service and such other means of conveyance as are associated with it , and both supply trustworty information as to the hotel accommodation to be met with and the different tariffs which tourists will have to meet . In fact , so complete is the information contained in these books that it does not occur to us there is anything the traveller

may be desirous of learning which is not fully described by them . But should there be any other matters into which he may be desirous of obtaining further insight , he has but to apply at the Company ' s offices , at the Euston terminus , at its stations , or , if in London , at any of its receiving offices , and full particulars will be most courteously supplied .