Red Cross Of Constantine.

Sir Knt . H . Nelson , M . P . S ., occupied the throne ; and amongst those 'present were Sir Knts . J . T . Callow , V . E . ; W . Cottrell , J . G . ; H . Jackson , H . ' P . ' ; T . Ashmore , P . S .. Treas . ; J . McCarthy , Rec . ; T . J . Rosa , S . Prefect ; J . Skeaf , J . Prefect ; C . Leighton , Org . ; W .

Quayle , Herald ; J . Capell , S . Aide ; Peter Ball , Sentinel ; Dr . J . K . Smith , P . S ., D . Int . Gen . for West Lancashire ; J . Dawson , T . Large , J , Purvis , William Oldham , J . Wood ( Treas . 5 ^ , Liverpool Conclave ) , T . Garrett , H . Burrows , E . Dutch , H . Jones , and J . Gordon . The visitors

were 111 , Sir Knt . G . Turner , Int . Gen . for West Lancashire ; Sir Knts . T . Clark , V . E , 35 ( Liverpool Conclave ) ; W . Cron , 55 ; and G . H . Turner , 55 . After the usual preliminary business , Bros . Ysidore Alvarez , of Lodge 673 ; L . Johnson , of Lodge 673 ; and John Bivgess ,

of Lodge 1356 , were duly ballotted tor , and on being declared elected unanimously , were installed according to the impressive ritual of the Order . Very rarely has the working in any conclave been so complete crnd satisfactory in every respect , and therefore the greatest praise is due

to every officer connected with the " Skelmersdale , " especiaA notice being due to the delivery of the historical lecture by Sir Knt . H . Jackson , H . P . A veteran Mason said he was confident that the lodge-room of the Liverpool Temple never looked more striking than on this occasion .

and this opinion was doubtless justified by the superb fitting and furnishing of the conclave chamber b y Sir Knt . George Kenning , of London and Liverpool . There were several other installations due , and it was resolved that an

emergency should be held before the Masonic ball on the 15 th prox . The conclave was closed in the greatest harmony , and an excellent , repast was subsequently served to about 30 knights of the Order .

Freemasonry In The Mauritius.

FREEMASONRY IN THE MAURITIUS .

Monday , the fourteenth day of July , 1073 , was a red letter day in the Masonic annals of Lodge Friendship , and the gathering of the brethren on this interesting occasion was both numerous and influential .

This happy day was due to the presentation of a Past Master ' s jewel to Rig ht Worship ful Bro . George Dewison R . W . M . of Lodge Friendship for these last time years ; to him its members are indebted that this lodge is still extant , for a few years ago when it was on the brink of decay

the present Master , then W . S . M ., with a Masonic generosity and with much ability , conducted its allairs , and has now raised it to that pitch of respectability which it at present possesses amongst the ' other lodges of the Island . On that occasion the lodge was duly opened

by Brother Joseph Isaac Cohen de Lissa , tlie R . W . I . P . M . assisted by Bros . White , S . W . ; J . Furlong , J . W . ; Nagle , Treasurer ; Sharpe , Secretary ; Rev . Geo . M'Irvine , Chapkiin ; V . Crew , S . D . ; R . Jones , J . D . ; Haw tree , D . of C . ; Gelster , l . G . ; Giloh , Tyler . There

were also present on that auspicious day , Worshipful Bro . Jules Fery , together with many other members and vistors from other lodges . The business of the evening then commenced with the reception of the Masters , Past Masters , and brethren of different lodges in the Colony and beyond the seas , in the following order . 1 . The Worshipful Master , the Past Masters , Officers , and brethren of the British Lodge , No . 736 , E . C

2 . The Presiding Brother , Oflicers , and brethren of Lodge La Paix , G . O . of France . 3 . The Immediate Past Master and several brethren of the Lodge La Triple Esperance , G . O . _ of France . 4 . " Visiting Brethren of lodges beyond the

seas . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last regular meeting , and as well as that of the emergency meeting of the loth June last , were read letters from the Very

Worshipful Bro . Williamson , P . G . J . W ., of the Grand Lodge of England , Past Masters Bewsher , Kyshe , and Rickwood of lodges under the Irish Constitution , regretting their not being able to attend the meeting , and expressing their approval of the presentation of a Past Master ' s

Freemasonry In The Mauritius.

jewel to the R . W . Bro . Levison , and congratulating him on the honour conferred upon him on that auspicious day . Letters of the same tenour and etl ' ect were also read from Bro . Sir diaries Farquhar Shand , Knt ., Chief Justice , and Bro . Robertson , District Magistrate of Port

Louis , as well as from several other distinguished brethren . The R . W , Bro . in the chair next thanked the Masters , Past Masters , and visiting brethren foi the honour of their attendance . At this stage of the proceedings W . W . B . B .

Aitchison , Butler , and Cannomille withdrew from the temple , and subsequently W . Bro . Levison , accompanied by the former , was duly announced , admitted , and received with ample honours , and conducted to his seat by the Masters and Past Masters present in lodge . The R . W . Bro . De Lissa then addressed the

R . W . M . in about the following terms : " R . W . Sir , —It is a most pleasing duty to me on this occasion to have been commissioned by the brethren of this lodge to present to you a testimony of their sympathy and esteem and believe

me , Worshi pful Sir , it is not through favour that this medal has been subscribed by the members of this lodge , but it is through merit and through the unrelenting zeal and exertion which you have at all times displayed in fulfilling the arduous duties that have devolved upon you for

these past three years . It is to my personal knowledge that you joined the Craft in the " British Lodge" at the Cape ; since then thirtyfive years have elapsed . On your arrival at Mauritius , propelled by the Masonic principles which have since been one of the most

distinguished features of your life ; you have been one of the founders of the British Lodge , the name of your mother lodge , and have thereby introduced English Masonry in this Island . In that lodge you have already received testimony of the heartfelt sympathy of its members , for whilst

lreasurer of that lodge you were presented with a jewel set in diamonds , for your able services during three years , subsequently you have been elected Master of that same lodge for three years , and through your impartiality and your amenity of character , and the display of your

Masonic talents , the same voted to you a P . M . s jewel made of massive gold , which I see at this moment adorns your breast . Another reward awaits your perseverance this evening , Worshipful Sir , for by your ability in conducting the proceedings of tl . iis lodge you have raised it to the height

it now possesses , you have cast a lustre upon it and moreover have made it respected and revered by all the lodges of this island , for whilst Master or this lodge , from November 186 9 , to November 1872 , you have attended sixty nine meetings , with the exception of one , and ii

grieves me to say it was owing to the sad calamity that had befallen you at that time , I mean the death of your beloved wife . Twenty-three committees you have presided over during thai time , you have made sixty-seven initiations , fifty-three passings , fifty-four raisings , and fifteen

affiliations . Judging from the amount of work accomplished by you , Worship ful Sir , we have been led to believe that with your usual modesty you will be pleased to accept this , the P . M . ' s jewel subscribed by the members of this lodge for it allbrds to each and all of us great pleasure

to honour him who has with such zeal and im partiality conducted the business of this lodge , lor upwards of three years . May the Almightv ever keep you amongst our midst , and bestou every happiness on you . Bro . de Lissa then advanced to the cast , and

invested him with P . M . ' s jewel presented to him by Lodge Friendship . 1 he jewel is a massive piece of work in gold , of beautiful design . It lias three clasps for the three years' services , as R . W . M ., of Bro . Levison , and on the back is

engraved the following inscription : — " Presented to George Levison , R . W . M . No . 439 , S . C ., P . M . No . 736 ., by Lodge Friendship , in testimony of his able services as Rig ht Worshipful Master during three years , and as a token of respect , esteem , and affection . Mauritius , 1873 . "

The R . W . M . then with emotion returned thanks to the worshipful and other brethren present for the honour ot their attendance , in the following terms , addressing himself to Bro . De Lissa •—R . W . Sir , it is difficult for me to thank

Freemasonry In The Mauritius.

you sufficiently for having presided over the lodge on this occasion , and it is difficult for me to express my gratification at seeing so large a number of distinguished visitors at a meeting held in my honour ; still more is it difficult for me to find becoming words to imDart my sense

of gratitude to the brethren of Lodge Friendship for the high distinction they have conferred upon me this evening . It would be affectation on my part were I to declare that I consider mvself altogether unworthy of the testimony of respect and esteem which I have received in their name

and at your hands , but I can sincerely assure you that I feel that so costly a recognition of the services I have , happily , been able to render the lodge is far beyond my real deserts . Certainly I have worked hard , and I do not think in vain , to

maintain the dignity and honour of Lodge Friendship , to encourage fraternal affection among its members , and to promote , as far as laid in my power , the honour and progress of our beloved Craft . But I am fully aware that I have been sometimes wantins in that tact and

judgment so necessary to the quiet and successful onward movement of a lodge in a country such as is Mauritius , and impressed with my occasional shortcomings in this respect , I can only appreciate the more the kind feeling and indulgence which , except in rare instances , have been evinced towards me , and the unanimity and

hearty good will which have characterised the proceedings of the brethren when deciding to bestow on me the highest honour the Master of a lodge can hope to attain . I am the more happy and grateful at receiving from them so marked a proof of their satisfacti on at the manner I have conducted the affairs and

directed the working of the lodge , for now nearly four rears , since , as is well known to you , my labours of late have , unfortunately been rendered more than usually onerous and anxious , owing to an individual case in our midst of insubordination and an impetfect knowledge of

wdiat the principles of Freemasonry demand of all and every one of its members . If I did not resign my position as your Master some time ago it was because I believed I had reason to be proud of what it had been acknowledged I had accomplished for Lodge Friendship , and because

I was fully convinced although my decisions were at the moment looked upon as severe , that soonerorlateritwouldbe owned they were actually arrived at after an impartial examination of every circumstance connected with the matters brought under my notice , and that I persisted in them in

a spirit ot perfect honesty , and with a view to the continued honour and dignity of the lodge . — I thank you most sincerely , Ri ght Worshipful Sir , for your kind and flattering notice of my endeavours to be of use to this and other lodges , and to aid in the spread of the grand principles

of our Order . I thank you most sincerely , Worshipful Masters and Past Masters , brethren of the sister lodges , and brethren of lodges beyond the seas , for your attendance at this meeting , and I thank you most sincerely , dear colleagues , officers , and brethren of Lodge Friendship , for

the ever-to-be-valued jewel which you yourselves have characterised as a " memento " of esteem , respect , and affection . h \ reply to the above address , W . Bro . James Cannonville S . P . R . and Immediate Past Master of the Lodge . La Triple Esperance , G . O . of

France , spoke to the following effect : — " Dear Brethren of Lodge Friendship , when I recollect the kind and fraternal reception I have always met at your hands , I find that I cannot remain silent on this occasion . It would be indeed very difficult for me , nay more , I may say

impossible to add anything to the kind , fraternal , and friendly expressions which have just fallen from the lips of Bro . De Lissa , on presenting Bro . Levison , in your name , a jewel as a test of the ability with which he has governed your lodge for the last three or four years , and also as a proof of the hisrh sense of your esteem and

respect . Dear Bro . Levison , I beg you will accept these few words as an echo of the feeling 1 also entertain for you personally , and I hope that your successors in office will follow your good example and thereby obtain the same favour conferred on you on this ccc . ision , and allow me to add that this testimonial cannot fail but to reflect great honour on you , especially as