Important Masonic Gathering In Bombay.

a sketch of its formation and early history , complimenting the lodge upon the uniform support it had given to the Masonic Charities , and _ its services to English Masonry , which it had been the means of fostering in Bombay , and concluded by saying that in the hands of its present Master , Bro . Allen , who had brought to his task of guiding the destinies of the lodge during the current year energy , ability , and courtesy , equal to any of his

predecessors in the chair , there was every reason to believe that the lodge would continue to prosper . ( Loud cheers ) . The brethren having duly honoured the toast , sing " For he is a jolly good fellow , " and gave three cheers for the lodge and one for the Worshipful Master . Bro . F . C . ALLEN , the W . M ., in reply , said : Brethren , —It is a proud privilege for so young a Mason as myself to be placed in the position of

being able to return thanks to the toast which has been so eloquently proposed by Bro . Shields , and it is a still prouder privilege for the members of Lodge St . George to welcome as their guests this evening so many prominent members of the Craft to assist in celebrating the 50 th anniversary of the warrant under which our lodge has been permitted to work for the past half century in Bombay . ( Applause . ) Questions that have doubtless

been put to many of us at one time or another by the popular world who are not Masons are , " What is the good of Freemasonry ? " and , " What do you gain by becoming a member of the brotherhood ? " Such q lestions are difficult to answer in a convincing manner ; but I think that the present occasion is one which most of us might quote as pointing to an all-powerful tie which , in spite of 50 years of vicissitude in a country which must of

necessity see many changes in its European inhabitants—a tie which , I say , has enabled a Masonic lodge of Englishman to hold together in a foreign land for the long period of 50 years . ( Cheers . ) Many of us enter the bonds of Masonry from a feeling of curiosity and a desire to know what the peculiar secrets of the Craftare , and when those mysteries have once been ascertained , it is optional for any brother to take his vows away with him

and never again attend a lodge of Freemasons ; but , strange as it may appear to the outside world , the value of our art becomes greater as we know more of it , the great beauties of our faith grow , and we linger and remain , and , I venture to say , that no man who once becomes a Mason ever regrets the step he has taken . ( Cheers . ) The annals of Lodge St . George include the names of many men who have helped to build up the history of

this city of Bombay and to render it one of the foremost in the world . Many of the most prominent men of their time , whether it was in 1 S 48 or the present year , have had their names enrolled amongst its list of members , and , as I said just now , the bond of Masonry must be great indeed if a small lodge like this of St . George can boast a history which includes such names as the late Bros . James Gibbs , Tyrrel Leith , and Harold King

—( applause )—and of the present time H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and H . E . Lord Sandhurst . ( Cheers . ) . " Masonry universal , " is a sentiment which we brethren in this country can fully appreciate ; biit it was left to our Bro . Dunn to bring home to the Masons of England the true meaning of the expression on the occasion when our English brethren met together at the Albert Hall in London

to celebrate the 60 th year of the reign of her Majesty the Queen Empress . ( Applause . ) In responding to one of the toasts he was able to say that a long residence in the East had enabled him to discover that the ties of the Craft were more powerful than any other bond , whether it was creed , caste , or lineage , and that the lignt of Masonry had permitted him to meet men of all religions on the same grounds of equality and even to break down the prejudices of Shylock , who it will be remembered said :

" I will not eat , drink , nor pray with you , " because he was not of the Christian faith ; but the tenets of our peculiar laws render such restrictions impossible , and we brethren of the Craft meet on common ground—the ground of natural equality and mutual dependence . ( Applause . ) Brethren , I am glad to be able to say that the history of Lodge St . George in the present year is not likely to be dimmed by any of

Us forerunners . We have many ardent members , and every meeting we hold speaks to the fervency of the brethren who belong to it . It is a long cry to 1948 , but when that year comes , and I hope that many of you will be present when it does —( laughter and applause )—and the lodge has completed a century of existence—( cheers)—I am confident that whoever has the honour to be the Master on that occasion will be able to render a good

account of the lodge in the meanwhile . ( Hear , hear . ) Before I sit down I would beg to thank you most heartily and humbly for the kind way in which you have drunk my health , and to say that whilst the welfare of this lodge is my welfare , it would be impossible for the lodge to be in its present state of prosperity were it not for the able and kind support I have received during the time I have been in the chair from my officers and the members as a

body . ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . SHIELDS then gave the toast of " The Visitors , " and while doing so observed that the W . M . had invited the visitors to the centenary of the lodge , and he ( Bro . Shields ) only hoped that they would all be able to attend . Laughter and cheers . ) In coupling with the toast the name of Bro . Darasha ' <•Chichgar , he said that that brother was well known to them all , and his

excellent services to Freemasonry were probably greater than those of any other brother in Bombay . ( Cheers . ) To Bro . Chichgar they owed a great oebt of gratitude for assisting them that evening in their preparations , and w . jim the Craft generally owed a great debt for the exertions he had made n ° tn in the past and present as Secretary and Treasurer of the Joint Hall ^ ommittee , and more especially for the very great help he had given in raising the

fund for the building of the new hall , which they soon hoped to « upy . ( Cheers . ) There was also another distinguished Mason presentro . late—who he hoped would be benefited in health by his being transitu to Bombay from S nd . ( Cheers . ) There was also Bro . Counsr II , who was one of the oldest Past Masters in English Freemasonry in Bombay , and "c 10 whom the lodge was particularly indebted . ( Cheers . ) He coupled e n imes of Bros . Chichgar , Tate , and Counsell with the toast of the » isi ars .

an ] ' j' DARASHA CHICHGAR , TATE , and COUNSELL responded to the toast , re „ . ' , ? Rso wished prosperity to the lodge , which was second to none as Th \ Charities and working the rituals . silem j ' then gave the toast of the TyIer ' whicn was clrunk in solemn h < ll 7 ' the br £ tnren separated sometime after midnight . —The Times of

T - * f ^ Mlwv ' ' RESS F ' <' DBKIC will be the truest of the Queen next month in Scotland . ^ 'Isincu-h , !; . ?? „ . rth s , " ¦ the K ' Jyal yacht Victoria and Albert , which leaves S'ess !; H iu lh 'f for Flushing , in order to convey her to England . The Amoral Prooab ' y make a short stay at Buckingham Palace on her way to

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their usual monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the business transacted being of a purely formal character . The Secretary reported the deaths of three annuitants ( two male and one widow ) and one accepted candidate , while the Warden's Report for the past month recorded the fact of Bro . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., having sent 18 brace of partridges for distribution among the inmates at Croydon .

Presentation To Bro. H. Hardman, P.M. 606, P.P.A.G. Sec. North Wales.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . H . HARDMAN , P . M . 606 , P . P . A . G . SEC . NORTH WALES .

The above pleasing event took place at the Ship Restaurant , Charing Cross on Saturday , the 10 th instant , on the occasion of Bro . H . Hardman , P . M . 606 , H , 1275 , P . P . A . G . Sec . North Wales , and P . P . S . G . W . ( Mark ) North Wales , leaving England for a Government appointment as master of a boarding school in India , Bengal Presidency .

Among those' present were Bros . T . Grummant , P . M . 1559 , President ; Wi Cowley , P . M . 1559 , Vice-President ; T . R . Cass , P . M . 1320 ; C . N . Mel . North , P . M . 1559 ; W . Eckersall , P . M . 217 ; C . H . Stone , P . M . 507 ; J . Witty , J . W . ; G . Benedetti , P . Z . 1275 ; Horley , P . M . ; Frank Swinford , W . M . elect 2272 ; and A . Bonaldi , S . D . 1559 .

After a recherche banquet , personally attended to by Bro . Bonaldi , the pro « prietor , Bro . GRUMMANT , President , gave the toast of "The Queen | " in loyal and Masonic terms , and , in proposing that of " H . R . H . the Prince of WalesJM . W . G . M ., " very feelingly alluded to his recent severe accident , and expressed an earnest wish for his speedy recovery .

Bro . GRUMMANT next proposed the toast of the evening—that of " Taking a Loving Farewell of our dear Bro . Hardman and wishing him God-speed . " He said he was delighted to see such a happy gathering , so quickly cil led together and most readily responded to , to wish success and prosperity to on e so deserving . Bro . Hardman had endeared himself to many , but to none more than to the members of the Star Chapter , of which he was H ., and would have been installed First Principal in January next . He was one of those companions whom once knowing

you would love and respect , and if ever a brother left his native land with every good feeling towards him that was Bro . Hardman . Although he had accepted an excellent appointment some 16 , 000 miles away , it was the hearty desire of all present , and many others who were not Masons who were unable to attend , that his future career would be one of great success and happiness , and that the G . A .

O . T . U . would spare him to return to his native land . In order that he might feel in touch with his many friends , although in India , but still a part of the Mother Country , the companions of the Star Chapter and others had placed their photos in a beautifully-bound album , which he ( the President ) had the greatest pleasure in presenting , with the feeling that he might look upon the faces of many who were dearest to him and who were present with him in spirit .

Bro . WM . ECKERSALL , P . M ., also most feelingly eulogised the many excellent qualities of Bro . H . Hardmin , whom he had known for upwards of 21 years and had always admired . They hid worked together for several years , he never had a better co-worker , or one so modest yet still so masterful . In reply , Bro . HARDMAN , with feelings of emotion , said his remarks would be very few . He had no idea of meeting such a number of brethren and hearing so many kind remarks from the President and Bro . Eckersallfor

, whom he had the highest respect . His services would be given to the country tt which he had been appointed but which was no foreign one . His salary he was pleased to state would be bettered about three times and at the expiration he hoped to return to the bosom of his friends again and receive the pension he would be entitled to . For their kindness in presenting the splendid album he expressed his heartfelt thanks , and which he was assured would keep him in touch with so many dear friends .

Bro . C . H . STONK , P . M ., next proposed the toast of " The Bro . President" in terms of high appreciation , both for geniality and excellent services rendered to Freemasonry , especially the Royal Arch . For the manner he had conducted tha whole of the circumstances connected with the happy meeting he deservsd the highest praise . The toast was most cordially received .

In reply , Bro . GRUMMANT thanked all present and remarked it was one of the most pleasant meetings he had ever presided over . There was no one for whom he could do more than Bro . Hardman , and again he wished him God-speed and asked him to remember that although in India he was still an Englishman , under the control of the Grand Lodge of England , and that we were still fully in touch with him whenever we went to Great Queen-street . He was thankful to preside over the meeting for such an object , and it was the earnest wish of all present that Bro . Hardman would be blessed with health and strength and have a most successful career .

" The Health of Bro . Bonaldi and Mrs . Bonaldi " was drunk and very suitably replied to by Bro . BONALDI . Bro . Frank Swinford added considerably to the harmony by singing a com * position of his own , entitled * ' Night patrol , " which was rapturously received .

The Old Masonians' Visit To Bushey.

THE OLD MASONIANS' VISIT TO BUSHEY .

The Old Masonians'Cricket Club concluded their season on Saturday last , with their third annual summer gathering , which took place at Northwood . Favoured with delightful weather , a very enjoyable time was spent by the Old Masonians and their friends , the feature of the outing being the drive taken to Bushey , where the Old Boys had an opportunity of visiting the site of the new School , which they considered a magnificent spot for so worthy an Institution .

After leaving Bushey , they continued their drive through Watford , Rickmans , worth , Backer Heath , and Moor Park , returning thence to the Northwood Hotel . The Northwood Hotel was found to be a very suitable rendezvous . Mr . Higgs , the proprietor , catered for his visitors in a pleasing manner , whilst the surrounding country walks added to the attractions of the place . Various games , & c , were indulged in , amongst which an egg and spoon race caused much merriment . In the evening songs and selections on the piano and mindolina brought another enjoyable gathering to a close .

Mr . J . Swinford Francis , the President of the club , was unavoidably prevented from being present , but Bro . Sholto H . Hare , Vice-President , accompanied the party . We hear that Bro . Hare has taken a very kindly interest in the Old Masonians , therefore , it was a source of great pleasure to have their Vice-President amongst them on this occasion . Bro . Henry Stiles was also present , and took a photograph of those present . The arrangements of the gathering were ably cirried out by Messrs . Gough , Lewis , and Barber , Hon . Sec .