The Palestine Exploration Fund.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

( h ' rom the "Quarterly Statement , " No . 2 ; April 1 *¦ to June 30 , 1869 . ) STATEMENT OF PROGRESS .

The Second number of the Quarterly Statement c the Palestine Exploration Fund is presented to subscribers a few weeks before it is due , mainly in order that it might be ready in time for the annual icetinK- It contains , besides the usual packet from

lieutenant Warren , papers from Captain Wilson , Mr . Dcutsch , and ethers which it is hoped will not only prove interesting , but will advance our knowledge of the Holy Laud . The main features of interest in the work of the last two months are the excavation at the " Golden

Gateway" and " Barclay ' s Gateway ' at Jerusalem , the discovery in the Dome of the Rock (" . Mosque of Omar" ) , and Mr . Deutsch's report on the marks found at the south-east angle of the Great Wall of the Harem es-Shereef . It is not the province of the Committee Ao draw deductions from facts . These are

laid before their supporters as found , leaving it for others to make inferences from them . They cannot , however , avoid calling attention to the conclusions arrived at by the eminent Semitic scholar just named from the marks in question , which he examined on the spot , and on which ho has favoured the Committee

with a letter , which will be found reprinted at p . o 3 . The stones appear to be in situ , some of the marks which they exhibit are similar to those on " absolutely undoubted antique Phoenician structures in Syria , " while " fantasias , " " identical" with others of the marks are observed in abundance on the " old Phoenician

stones " of the ruined citadel above Saida . It is greatly to be hoped that more marks will be found , and some nearer approximation to date arrived at . Lieut . Warren's tracings of those on which Mr . Deutsch has commented may be seen at the office of the Society . The shaft at the Golden Gateway has been

abandoned , owing to the danger of continuing the work . One of the chief obstacles , indeed , to the pursuance of the galleries is the way in which the shingle sometimes pours into them—not in small quantities , but in a continuous shower , which will last sometimes for days , choking up the narrow galleries , and forcing Lieutenant

Warren to abandon the work , or to continue it at the risk of life . The work which has to bo done is still very great . It is hoped that permission may be obtained to pursue the tantalising discovery below the surface accidentally made by Mr . Warren at the northern edge of the

platform of the Dome of the llock with : l the Ilaram Area in December last , and to expi ^ -e elsewhere within that saered enclosure ; failing this , reference to the report of the last Executive Committee will show some of the work whieh yet remains on the hands of the Society . At the meeting of the General Committee , held OIL

May 4 th at the Jerusalem Chamber , the Executive Committee resigned and a new Executive Committee were elected for the ensuing year . Their report was read and adopted , the thanks of the Committee were passed to Lieutenant Warren , to Mr . G . J . Eldridge , Dr . Chaplain , and Mr . Walter Morrison , M . P ., and it was resolved that an annual meetiuif should be held .

It has long been the desire of the Committee to open a Palestine Museum . They arc now enabled , by the arrival of several large eases from Lieutenant Warren , to carry this desire into effect for a short period . At the Dudley Gallery , Egyptian Hall , will be found all the objects of interest discovered by Lieutenant

Warren m his shafts , including lamps , pottery , glass , coin , weapons , tc-selated pavement , sculpture , sarcopphagi , and geological specimens . The tracings also of his work , and those , of "Captain Wilson , may also be seen there ; with objects lent by Mr . MacGregor and other gentlemen . To these will shortly be added , it

is hoped , the new collection of photographs and antiquities from Sinai , by the kindness of Colonel Sir Henry James , Director-General of the Ordnance Survey . The exhibition will be closed on August the •list . Should it prove so far successful as to warrant the repetition , it is hoped to reopen it on a future

, 'Hie receipts for the months April and May , with the first half of June , amount in all to . £ 1 , 081 6 s . 2 d ., including a donation of . £ 2 o 0 from the Marquis of Bute ; one of £ 100 from " Anonymous" '; and remittances from the local societies of Clifton , Bath , Tunbridgo Wells . Falmouth , Nottingham , Plymouth , and

Newcastle . The receipts for the first five months of the year amount , from all sources , and including the balance at the . end of 1808 , to about £ 2 , 150 . The Committee beg their readers most earnestly not to let the work f ' aiM ' or the want of funds . lii providing them , at considerable expense , with this quarterly publication , the committee invite them to wa it in

order to make their cause known . In all parts of the world interest is now aroused in the work , nor is it possible that England , were the work more widely known , would allow it to stop . But ill their efforts " to make the Fund national , the Committee rely on the co-operation , of their friends . If for a few years only these "will lend their aid to raise each a small sum . no difficulty wi || i ) c experienced . Meantime , the shafts have

The Palestine Exploration Fund.

to bo closed for want of money to buy fresh wood , the workmen have to be reduced in numbers , and Lieutenant Warren is obliged to content himself with one or two excavations at a time . Some of the most interesting explanations—e . g . , that of the canals atBir Eyub , have to be suspended ; and this at a time when

the most important results are being obtained , and we are apparently on the eve of solving the most interesting problems . The experience of four years' has proved that to collect the small sum necessary for this work requires nothing but leaders , and that amount of activity requisite to start a local movement .

Moreover , while the donations hitherto received have been chiefly of large amounts , it should not be forgotten that a good deal has been done , and that a great deal more might be done , by enlisting the interest of those who can give but little . And for these as well as for the larger subscribers , the following pages are printed . June 24 , 1869 .

West Lancashire Masonic Relief Committee.

WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC RELIEF COMMITTEE .

, We commend the following report of this excellent charity to the attention of our readers : —¦ Ninth Annual Report of the West Lancashire Jfasonic Relief Committee . " The Committee have much pleasure in again callin" - the attention of the W . Masters and Brethren to

the Ninth Annual Report of the Masonic Relief Committee , confident that the labours of past years will have convinced them of the satisfactory progress of this valuable institution . "Many of the applications have come before the Committee , which , upon investigation , have proved

unworthy , and consequently have been disregarded . " The mutual interchange of Reports between Birmingham and Manchester continues , and has been of essential service to the Committee in materially furthering the relief of brethren reported deserving , and of detecting , in some cases gross imposition , and the

Committee allude to this latter fact in order to urge the necessity of referring to them all applications for relief . " The Committee again thank the Secretaries of the other Relief Committees for their kind assistance . "The Committee being anxious to see the work of charity carried out , invite Lodges , & c , to elect those

who will attend to the duties of representing Lodges and Chapters on the Committee every Friday evening . " The Committee have been able to relieve 9 S individuals , in the amount of £ 71 lis . 6 d ., some of whom have been forwarded home or to get employment , and some have received temporary relief . " The Annual Grant is now due , and can be paid anv Friday evening at six o ' clock .

( On behalf of the Committee ) , "THOMAS ; MARSH , Secretary . "Committee Rooms , Masonic Temple , Liverpool , July " 2 nd , 1869 . "

Summer Banquet Of Albion Lodge , No. 9.

SUMMER BANQUET OF ALBION LODGE , No . 9 .

On Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., this excellent lodge , famed for its working , held their annual summer banquet at the Crown Hotel , Broxbourne . The W . M . Bro . S . Coste occupied the chair , supported by the Past Masters T . Buller , SAW ; and Baylis , J . W .

A very excellent banquet was provided , and after the usual toasts given on such occasions , Bro . IVillcy , P . M ., proposed the health of the W . M ., and alluded to the very excellent and efficient manner in which he had conducted the duties of the lodge in every respect . The W . M ., in suitable terms , returned

( hanks . Bro Lee , P . M . and Treas .. returned thanks for the Past Masters , and stated hi ; had been a member of the lodge for thirty years , and Iclt a great pleasure in congratulating the W . M . on the great success attending this banquet , not only for the number present , but fur the good feeling existing

among the Brethren . Bro . W . Meredith , of the Constitutional Lodge , returned thanks for the visitors , who were Bros . 0 . Meredith ( Antiquity Lodge ) , II . Thomas ( Urban Lodge ) , II . Clarke ( The Done ) , and several others . The Brethren returned to town earl y , after having passe 1 a deli ghtful day and evening .

IVKNT Liru AND Pnti' . ASSOCIATIOX . —On Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., the Directors of the Kent Life and Fire Association , and numerous friends , dined at the Cliftonville Hotel , Margate . A very elegant and recherche banquet was served , superintended by Bro . Sidney Spencer , the excellent manager . The chair was occupied by the Marquis Camden , supported by the Mayor of Margate , Sir E . Iloare , Bart ., --Furlcv ,

Esq ., the . Hon . E . Plumtrec , Hon . G . W . Millcs , M . P ., Major Wilkie , and the Mayor of Maidstone , after which the usual loyal and complimentary toasts were given and responded to . During the dinner the Promenade Band played some very excellent music . The hotel has recentl y had two wings added , affording sixty additional rooms , whieh have been furnished with excellent taste .

Pic-Nic Of Old Globe Lodge, No. 200, Scabborough.

PIC-NIC OF OLD GLOBE LODGE , No . 200 , SCABBOROUGH .

The Annual Pic-nic of this lodge took place on Tuesday , the 29 th ult . The beautiful grounds of Hayburn-Wyke were , by the kind permission ot the Worshipful the Major , ( Bro . J . W . Woodall , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W . ) , thrown open to the brethren and their ¦ friends for the occasiou . Leaving Scarborough

about 12 o ' clock , the grounds were reached in the early part of the afternoon , and the enjoyment of the day at once commenced , many wandering through the grounds , and along the walks winding down the cliff to old Ocean's shore , others at once falling to cricket on the Green , while some had evidently great

intention to master that most erratic steed the Bicycle , on which two of the visitors had conveyed themselves during the morning from Scarborough ; but truth to tell , the position attained by most of the would-be riders , was that indicated "by the level , rather than the plumb rule . Dancing in the

meantime had commenced , and at 5 o ' clock all sat down on the ground to partake of tea , served in splendid style by Bro . Parker , J . D ., of the George Hotel . Ample justice having been done to the good things of this life ( and good and plentiful they really were ) , dancing was resumed in good earnest . The worthy

W . M .., Bro . William Peacock , acted as his own . Master of Cers ., and to the way in which the duties of that delicate post were performed , was greatly due the-enjoyment all derived from this pleasant outing . Bro . Peacock was evidently determined to make every one enjoy themselves to the utmost ; indeed , he filled the office of M . C ., with as much efficiency

as he does that of the exalted Masonic post he has been called to fill , to say which is to award the Ingest praise that can be bestowed . All things human have an end , even the most enjoyable Masonic Pie-uics , and at 9 o ' clock the time-honored " Sir Roger , " followed by the National Anthem , brought the long-looked for day to a close .

DINNER TO Bi : o . GOOD ( 20-1 ) . —The members o f the Caledonian Lodge ( 201 ) and Chapter , on Monday se ' nnight , gave a dinner to Bro . J . II . M . Good , at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , on his leaving this country for New Zealand . The chair was occupied by Bro . John Mountain , the AV . M ., who , in

an able speech , complimented the guest of the evening on his high character and courteous bearing , which had endeared him to the members of the lodge and made him many friends . He was sure that in the land of his adoption , the excellent qualities possessed by Bro . Good could not fail to cause him to be respected

wherever he should become known . After expressing the regret of himself and brethren at so soon having to part , the W . M ., in appropriate terms , presented Bro . Good with an address engrossed on vellum , accompanied with a valuable silver cup bearing an inscription

suitable to the occasion . The speech of the chairman was supplemented by Brothers Affleck , Petty , Ilindc , Brocklehurst , Pratt , Muirhcad , and others , all expressing in the like warm terms flip regard they felt for Bro . Good , and the regret they had at parting with such a valued friend .

ON Monday last an amateur performance took place at the Lyceum Theatre , Strand , in aid of a most deserving charity—the Aged Destitute . The programme , commenced with the play of " The Lady of Lyons , " and never , in our experience , have iv « seen an amateur performance better sustained . The part of

Claude Melnotte was played by our respected brother , II . Lawrence , who exhibited great feeling and delivery in his rendering of the character , and he , in conjunction with Miss Carlisle , who played the pari of Pauline , shared the honours cf the evening , and were loudly called for at the conclusion of each act . It is to be

regretted that this lady and gentleman are amateurs , otherwise they would really be an acquisition to our lyric stage . The other characters were well sustained by Messrs . Faulkner , Montague , Barnett , Druid ' , S . E . Phillips , tSfcc , & c . We must also compliment Miss Ellen Cowle on the excellent manner in which she

played the part of Madame Descliappelles . A concert followed supported by Mesdames Hose Jlcrsee , Bailey , Emely Mnir , Helen Muir , Phoebe Cowen , and Lawrence ; Wignors (' aravoligr ! and Agretti , and Air . Alfred Flemming . Especial thanks are due to Miss Lawrence and Miss Cohen for their excellent singing .

We understood them to be the only lady nmntcurs . Not the least noticeable was the excellent playing of Signor Tito Mattel on the pianoforte , anil Signor Risi-gari on the violin . We think the evening ' s entertainment doubly deserving of success—first , on the ground of the good purpose that prompted it , and , secondly , the excellence of the entertainment . The

committee ( of which Bro . Israel Abrahams , P . M . 188 , was the energetic chairman ) deserve great praise for their earnestness and exertions . The conductors ware Signor Tito Mattei , Bro . Van Noorden ( Org . 188 ) , and Bro . Louis Emanuel . EitUATira . —In our report of St . John ' s Lodge , Leicester last week , the name of a visiting brother was incorrectly printed "Moir , " instead of Moor .