Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The General Committee of the Grand Lodge met , and afterwards the Lodge of Benevolence was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 15 th inst . Amongst the brethren present were : Bros . J . M .

Clabon , P . G . D ., President ( in the cfiair ); Colonel Cole , P . G . S . W . ; J . Hervey , P . G-. D ., G . S . ; J . Savage , P . G . D . ; N . Bradford , P . A . G . Dir . of Cers . ; W . Young , P . G . S . B . ; J . Nunn , P . G . S . B ., S . V . P . ; J . Brett , G . P ,

J . V . P . ; J . Smith , P . G . P . ; H . G . Buss , R . Wentworth Little , C . A . Cottebrune , George Kenning , H . Dumas , F . Walters , W . Mann , J . Weaver , J . W . Halsey , W . Smith , M . A . Loewenstark , T . F . Creswick , J . Boyd , & c .

Notice of motion was given by Bro . J . Rankin Stebbing , P . G . D , "That , at the Quarterly communication of March ist , £$ 0 be voted from the funds of this Grand

Lodge towards the purchase of a Masonic life-boat . " The grants voted at the previous meeting requiring confirmation were unanimously confirmed .

It was announced that the M . W . G . M . the Earl de Grey and Ripon had sanctioned that in future , on and after the 22 nd March , the Lodge of Benevolence be held at six o ' clock instead of seven .

There were twenty-one applications for relief . Two were deferred until next meeting , one was dismissed , and eighteen were relieved—one with ^" ioo , one . £ 40 , eight £ 20 each , seven £ 10 each , and one £ 5—

subject to the larger amounts being confirmed at the next meeting . The total sum voted was £ 375 , including £ \ 0 voted to an applicant who died before the amount was paid , but which was now transferred to the children .

A Masonic Tour.

A MASONIC TOUR .

( Continued from page 44 . J Richmond Va , U . S ., Nov . 22 , 1870 . Agreeably , to promise , I continue notes of my tour to this , the well-known rebel capital . I left New York ( 15 ) , for Albany , capital of the state , via " Hudson Railway ; " distance 142 miles ;

fare z }( dollars—about a penny a mile . The speed of the American railways average 25 miles per hour—slow , but most comfortable , travelling . The rail , or " track , " as our cousins call it here , runs parallel , and close to the river , on both sides of which there are numerous pretty villas , towns ,

cities , & c . Those I note are Yonkers , a favourite watering-place * , Singsing , a great convict depot ; Peek ' s Hill , where the ill-fated Major Andre was caught and hung as a spy by the Americans in 1777 ; Westpoint , noted for its military academy , fort , & c . ; Hudson , a large city , opposite which are the famous

Cats-kill Mountains and waterfall . Twenty-two miles further on wc cross the Hudson over a fine bridge and enter Albany . This is a fine , large populous place ; from the enormous quantities of goods , provisions , particularly on the wharves and markets , one sees the

trade is considerable . On my way to Albany , I visited thc postal " car , " as the Americans call those railway carriages ; two , out of three , of the clerks were Masons . There were Lodges at the various towns we passed . Albany , they informed me , had ten , and , like New York , was full of Masons . 1 visited

many of the public buildings ; the Treasury-court , State-house , and Museum are fine . Tbe new State-house , now building , is on a grand scale—will be one of the finest in the world . My time being limited , I could not visit any of the lodges . After six hours' stay , I went on board

the " Drew , " and sailed for New York . How will I describe tiiis grand steamer ? To be brief , the saloon is 380 x 80 ; engines 1 , 000 horse power ; speed 20 miles ; no motion perceptible . Wc had been 20 miles on our way before I was aware of her having started . The saloon is most gorgeously fitted up ; there are over 600 cabins , which

frequently accommodate as many as 1 , 000 persons . This magnificent floating palace , like the grand river we were sailing on , must be seen to be appreciated . The Hudson is , and deservedly , called the Rhine of America ; all the way it presents some fine points to admire . About Westpoint , the river is wide , bay-like , the fine bluff mountain ,

A Masonic Tour.

numerous islands , beautiful villas , fort , shipping boats , & c , & c , all combine to make the scene charmingly grand . Near New York , it is over a mile wide , known there as the North River . Numerous steamers , ships , pleasure boats , & c , crowd its bosom ; several ships and forts defend it . The

battery at Westpoint appears most formidable . On the whole , my trip to Albany was most pleasant . 1 shall not forget the " Drew " and the kind friend I met in her—Chief Steward Bro . W . Armstrong ; fare 2 ^ dollars , including berth . Back again in New York , where I slept ; pushed

on next day ( 17 ) , to city of Philadelphia . The country en route is flat , not picturesque or interesting , numerous towns and rivers on our way . Crossed the Delaware , and into the city of Brotherly Love (" as Philadelphia is called ) in four hours ; distance 88 miles ; fare Vl dollars from New

York . The city is large , populous , and well laid out ; the streets most regular , " Chesnut , " " Walnut , " "Pine , " and "Market" being the chief avenues ; fine they are , the latter particularly , wide and lined with rows of trees , hence the names . Smaller streets intersect , and are all numbered , hence no

going astray . Like New York , tramway cars are all the " go , " comfortable and cheap ; for 5 cents you can ride 5 miles , equal to yi & . a mile . Fine houses , hotels , shops ; people civil and obli ging everywhere . I visited the Masonic Temple , in " Chestnut "

street , a fine Gothic building ; numerous Chapters and Lodges , & c , meet here . The rooms , as in New York , are beautifully fitted up . I went to No . 72 , " Philadelphia , " and another Lodge room , both grand , but through a mistake did not remain to see the working . The Masons are numerous , their fine

halls , & c ., shows what wealth and numbers can do . Although they have a splendid hall , the Craft is now building another thr . t bids fair to be the grandest in the world . It is now 4 years under construction ( began in 1867 ) and will be 3 more before completed . The building is 250 X 150 , an immense height , of

granite , girders of iron , porch and pillars , tower , & c , in fact the edifice is a second Solomon ' s Temple . Bro . J . Windrim is the architect , and the cost is estimated at 2 , 000 , 000 dollars . The New York and Boston Temple are put in the shade , but of this more bye-and-by .

I also visited several of the public buildings . The Treasury is fine , but the " Hall of Independence " merits notice from the rare collection of paintings and relics it contains , many reminding us of days and people forming links in our own history . The fine paintings , statues , banners , & c , of the early

settlers , the portraits of Columbus , Penn , Washington , the statue of the latter , relics of Washington and Columbus's ship , the tree under which Penn signed the treaty with the ( now nearly extinct ) Indians , the original draft of declaration of independence and the table on which it was signed by

the American chiefs , the bell which tolled the same is also carefully preserved . These , with numerons relics of the old war , remind us of our claims on , and the relationship with the Americans . There is a curious coincidence attached to the old bell alluded

to , viz ., on the rim , in large raised letters , is the following quotation : —* ' Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof ( Lev . xxv" ) , and the old bell ( cast in 1753 ) did proclaim American liberty in the year 1777 . ( To be continued . )

Theatrical.

THEATRICAL .

OPERA COMIQUE— " Our Mutual Friend , " has been dramatised , and is now presented at this elegant establishment under the title of " Found Drowned , " and is likely to be performed for a considerable time , it being a genuine success . The other pieces are Mr . J . R . Planche ' - ; Play "The

Welsh Girl , " concluding with Mr . Brough ' s laughable farce " The Comical Countess . " An original burlesque is in active preparation ; it is to be a parody on Verdi ' s opera " tin Ballo in Maschera , " entitled " The Grand Duke of Camberwell , " and will shortly be produced .

ST . J AMES ' S . —Mrs . John Wood has produced " Vesta , " a grand new classical burlesque , at this fashionable theatre ; it has proved a great success . It is preceded by " To Oblige Benson " and * 'Naval Engagements . "

STRAND . —The grand burlesque " Cceur dc Lion , " by Mr . Strachan , is a great success , and proves that the lessee has again made a good selection for her patrons . It is necessary to make arrangements beforehand for those who wish to possess good scats , as the house is crowded nightly .

SURREY . —The . very popular pantomime of " My Son Jack " continues to draw crowded houses , and is pronounced to be equal to any of its predecessors .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending February 25 , 1871 . MONDAY , FEB . 20 .

Lodge 1 , Grand Masters ' , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 8 , British , Freemasons' Hall . „ 21 , Emulation , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . ,, 58 , Felicity , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-street . ,, 185 , Tranquility , Radley ' s , Blackfriars . ,, 720 , Panmure , Balham Hotel , Balham . ,, 862 , Whittington , Anderton '? Hotel , Fleet-street . ,, 901 , City of London , Guildhall Coffee House , rir / scli a m -sf rpi » r

,, 907 , Royal Albert , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 1159 , Marquis of Dalhousie , Freemasons'Hall . ,, 1201 , Eclectic , Freemasons' Hall . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at S ; Bro . Dilley , Preceptor . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern-Haverstock-hill . at S : Bro . T . A . Adams . Precpntnr .

Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mile , end-road , at 7 . 30 , Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Mile End , at 7 for 8 . St . James' Union Lodge of Instruction ( 180 ) , Swan Tavern , Mount-street , Grosvenor-square , at 8 .

TUESDAY , FEB . 21 . Lodge 73 , Mount Lebanon , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . ,, 95 , Eastern Star , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . ,, 162 , Cadogan , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 165 , Honour and Generosity , London Tavern ,

Bishopsgate-street . ,, 194 , St Paul's , Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street . ,, 435 , Salisbury , 71 , Dean-street , Soho . Chap . 11 , Enoch , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 19 , Mount Sinai , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . ,, 186 , Industry , Freemasons' Hall . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Domatic Lodee of Instruction , Palmerston Tav .,

Grosvenorpark , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction ( 382 ) , Hotel de Cologne , 60 and 61 , Haymarket , at 8 ; Bro . T . AAdams , Preceptor . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria Station , at S ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 : Bro . Isaac Saqui . Preceptor .

Royal Union Lodge of Instruction , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-strect , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) Knights of St . John's Tavern , St . John ' s-wood ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Sydney Lodge of Instruction ( 829 ) , Cambridge Hotel ,

Upper . Norwood , at 7 . 30 . WEDNESDAY , FEB . 22 . Ash Wednesday .

Lodge 2 , Antiquity , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 212 , Euphrates , Masons' Hall , Masons' Avenue , Basinghall-street , ,, 507 , United Pilgrims , Horns Tavern , Kennington . ,, 754 , High Cross , Seven Sisters Tav , Tottenham . „ 871 , Royal Oak , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . ,, 898 , Temperance in the East , 6 , Newby-place , Ponlar .

Chap . 13 , Union Waterloo , Masonic Hall , Woolwich . ,, 820 , Lily of Richmond , Greyhound , Richmond . Mark Lodge , Bon Accord , Freemasons' Tavern . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich , at 8 ; J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodgeof Instruction , ( 228 ) , Bull & Gate , Kentish Town-road , at 8 : Bro . I . N . Frost . Precentor .

Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globeroad , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 . Confidence Lodge of Instruction , Railway Tav ., Londonstreet , City , at TA . Peckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Parkroad , Peckham ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , George the Fourth . Catherine-street . Ponlar .

Stanhope Lodge of Instruction , Thicket Hotel , Anerley , at 7 . 30 p . m . ; Bro . II . W . Lindus , Preceptor . THURSDAY , FEB . 23 .

General Committee Girls' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Lodge 22 , Neptune , Kadley's Hotel , Blackfriars . >> 34 > Mount Moriah , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 65 , Prosperity , Guildhall Coffee House ,

Greshamstreet . ,, C 6 , Grenadiers , Freemason . ' llall . ,, 99 , Shakespeare , Albion Tavern , Aldersgatc-st . ,, 858 . South Middlesex , Beaufort House , Fulham . Chap . 657 , Canonbury , Masons' Arms , Mason ' s-avenue , Basinghall-street .

St . George's Red + Cross Conclave , No . 18 , Palmerston Arms , Camberwell . The R . A . Chapter of Improvement , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 j Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Goat and Compasses ,

Euston-road , at b ; Uro . 1 . A . Adams , Preceptor . Finsbury Lodge of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' 'lavern , Bath-street , City-road ; Bro . Stean , Preceptor . United Mariners' Lodee of Instruction , Three Cranes , Mile-end-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor .