The Palestine Exploration Fund.

THE PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND .

( From the " Quarterly Statement , " No . 2 ; April 1 K to June 30 , 1869 . ) STATEMENT OF PROGRESS . The Second number of the Quarterly Statement * •the Palestine Exploration Fund is presented to

„ subscribers a few weeks before it is due , mainl y in order that it might be ready in time for the annual lectins- It contains , besides the usual packet from

Lieutenant Warren , papers from Captain Wilson , Sir . Deutsch , and others which it is hoped will not only prove interesting , but will advance our knowledge of the Holy Land . 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 £ o 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 he has favoured the Committee with a letter , which will be found reprinted at p . 83 .

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 tho " old Phoenician stones " of the ruined citadel above Saida . It is greatl y

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 abandou the work , or to continue it at the

risk of life . The work which has to be done is still very great . It is hoped that permission may be obtained to pursue tho tantalising discovery below the surface accidentall y made by Mr . Warren at tho northern edge of the platform of the Dome of the Rock within the Harain

Area in December last , and to explore elsewhere within that sacred enclosure ; failing this , reference to the report of the last Executive Committee will show some of the work which yet remains on the hands of the Society . At the meeting of the General Committee , held

on-May 4 th at the Jerusalem Chamber , the Executive Committee resigned and a now 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 meeting should be held .

It has long been the desire ol the Committee to open a Palestine Museum . They arc now enabled , by the arrivalof 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 in his shafts , including lamps , pottery , glass , coin , weapons , toseluted pavement , sculpture , sareopphagi , and geological specimens . The tracings also of his work , and those of "Captain Wilson , may also be seen there ; with objects lent by Mr . MacGrcgor 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 •' 1 st . Should it prove so iiir successful as to warrant the repetition , it is hoped to reopen it ou a future occasion .

Hie receipts for the months April and May , with the first half of June , amount in all to . £ 1 , 081 ' tis . 2 d ., including a donation of , £ 2 o <) from the Marquis of Bute ; one of £ 100 from "Anonymous "; and remittances from the local societies of " Clifton , Bath , Tunbridge 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 ( he end of 1868 , to about £ 2 , 150 . The Couiinitteo beg their readers most earnestly not to let 1 he work fail for the want of funds , iii providing theiii , 5 l t eonsUlcvable expanse , with this qu-. wtevly pmihcation , the committee invite them to ufii it in

order to make their cause known . In all parts of the * ll , , * ' s ll 0 W aroused in the work , nor is it possible that England , were the work more widely known , would allow it to stop . But in their efforts ' to make the 1-und national , the Committee rely on tho co-operation ^ of their friends . If for a few years onlv these will lend their , ii , l fo r , . " c , [ Ca ( l s , „ ., ) i S [ 1 Illi ,, ' „ ( jj ()[ . •'ulty will bo experienced . . Meantime , the shafts have

The Palestine Exploration Fund.

to be 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 at Bir 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 mig ht 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 Masonic Relief Committee . " The Committee have much pleasure in again

calling 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 materiall y 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 £ 74 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 any 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 . Buffer , S . W . ; and Baylis , J . W .

A very excellent banquet was provided , and after the usual toasts given on such occasions , Uro . Willey , 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

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

among the Brethren . Bro . W . Meredith , of the Constitutional Lodge , returned thanks lor the visitors , who were Bros . G . Meredith ( Antiquity Lodge ) , 11 . Thomas ( Urban Lodge ) , II . Clarke ( The Done ) , anil several others . The . Brethren returned to town earl y , after having passe : ! a delightful day and evening .

KKNT Lin-: ANI > Finn ASSOCIATION * . —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 .,- —Fnrlev ,

Esq ., the Hon . E . Pluintree , 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 Baud played some very excellent music . The hotel has recently had two wings added , affording sixty additional rooms , which have been furnished with excellent taste .

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

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

The Annual Pic-nic of this lodge took place on Tuesday , the 29 th wit . The beautiful grounds of Hayburn-Wyke were , by the kind permission of 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 occasion . Leiwing 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 Pic-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 , BRO . GOOD ( 204 ) . —The members ot the Caledonian Lodge ( 204 ) and Chapter , on Monday se'nnight , gave a dinner to Bro . J . II . M . Good , at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester , oil his leaving this country for New Zealand . The chair was occupied by Bro . John Mountain , the W . M ., who , in

an able speech , complimented the guest of the evening on his hi gh 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 b y Brothers Affleck , Petty , llinde , Bi'oeklehurst , Pratt , Muirhead , and others , all expressing in the like warm terms this regard they felt for Bro . Good , and the regret they had at parting with such a valued friend .

Ox 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 we 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 In ' s rendering of the character , and he , in conjunction with Miss Carlisle , who played the part of Pauline , shared the honours cf the evening , and were loudl y 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 , Burnett , Druiff ' , S . E . Phillips , etc ., & c . We must also compliment Miss Ellen Cowle on the excellent manner in which she

played the part , of Madame Deschappelles . A concert followed supported by Mesdaiues Rose Ilersee , Bailey , Finel y Mnir , Helen Muir , Pha ; bc Cowen , and Lawrence ; Hignors Caravoligri and Agretti , and Mr . Alfred Fleinming . Especial thanks are due to Miss Lawrence and Miss Cohen for their excellent singing .

We understood them to be the only lady amateurs . Not the least noticeable was the excellent playing of Signor Tito Mattel on the pianoforte , and Signor Risegari on the violin . We think the evening ' s entertainment doubl y 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 were Signor Tito Mattei , Bro . Van Noordcn ( Org . 188 ) , and Bro . Louis Emanuel .

EititATUM In our report of St . John ' s Lodge , Leicester last week , the name of a visiting brother was incorrectly printed " Moir , " instead of Aloor .