Original Correspondence.

This is the first occasion in which this province ( which , for its size , has been a liberal supporter ofthe Masonic Charities ) has had a candidate to bring forward for any one ofthe charities , and consequently , its votes have on all previous occasions been given to other provinces , from all of which we had hoped

to receive a return of votes in favour of Alfred Nutt . It happened unfortunately , however , that each of those provinces , with the exception of Cornwall , which rendered us valuable aid , had a candidate of their own to support , and consequently Alfred Nutt , instead of receiving some 600 or 700 votes , as we

had hoped he would do , obtained only half that number . The case , as Bro . Hughan states , is really a very deserving one , the late Bro . John Nutt , who was much respected , dying only a few weeks after becoming a bankrupt , it may , I believe , truly be said

brokenhearted , thus leaving his widow and five children totally unprovided for . As this province has contributed handsomely towards the Boys' School without hitherto having derived any return , it is hoped that the claim which

we thus have upon the institution , will induce those subscribers who have no special interest in any candidate to give their support to Alfred Nutt , any votes for whom will be gratefully received by , Yours fraternally ,

WILLIAM KELLY . P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutland Leicester , August 16 th , 1 S 70 .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Somerset.

PRO VINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOMERSET .

The R . W . P . G . M ., Lord Carnarvon , held his Grand Lodge for Somerset on Monday last , at Highbridge , and visited thc Rural Philanthropic Lodge , when over a hundred distinguished members from the different lodges attended . It was observed with much pleasure that only one lodge in the

province omitted this opportunity of offering their respectful homage to the Earl of Carnarvon , whom the Masons of Somerset are proud to have as their chief , and who has recently been appointed by the Earl De Grey and Ripon to the exalted post of Deputy Grand Master ofthe Grand Lodge of England .

The following brethren were appointed officers ol the Grand Lodge for the year ensuing , Lord Carnarvon accompanying each qualifying investiture with appropriate compliments and admonitions : — Bro . Else , Bridgcwaler P . G . S . W . ,, Butler , Taunton P . G . J . W . ,, Pigott , Weston-super-Mare ... P . G . Chaplain . ,, Payne . Bath P . G . Treas .

„ Hobbs , Wells P . G . Reg . ,, Prideaux , Bridgewater P . G . Sec . ,, Major-General Dohertv , Bath ... P . G . S . D . ,, Shepherd , Wincanton ' P . G . J . D . ,, Vizard , Weston-super-Mare ... P . G . S . of Wks . ,, Galpin , Crewkerne P . G . 1 ) . of C . ,, Knott , Uminster P . G . A . D . olC . ,, Inskip , Weston-super-Mare ... P . G . S . 15 . ,, Brannan , Taunton ... ... ... P . G . O .

,, Keene , Bath P . G . Purst . „ Ilelliar , Bath P . G . Tyler . ,, Woodward , Burnham P . G . A . Tyler . ,, Cox , Weston-super-Mare ... 1 ,, Macfarlane , Bath HardingEast Bower 1

,, , ... n r > o . , ' , Jones , Weston-fiiper-Marc ' f P . G . Stew-arcs . ,, Clementson , Highbridge .. j ,, Vincent , Fromc ... ... j

After the . financial and Masonic arrangements hacl been satisfactorily disposed of , the brethren retired to the banquet room , where a sumptuous dinner was provided by Mr . Davidge , of thc Railway Hotel , under thc superintendence of Mr . Wickenclon , of Taunton . At thc banquet the P . G . M . presided , with his

wonted urbanity . Thc only drawback to the happiness ofthe company was the indisposition of thc D . P . G . M . Bro . Capt . Bridges , who , although present , was unable to take his usual part in the business of thc day . His lordship gave in rapid succession the usual toasts , and the loyalty ofthe brethren was especially asserted in drinking thc health of

'* The Queen and thc Craft . " Other brethren made appropriate speeches , cspcci illy thc Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Else , to whom thc best thanks of the province are clue for the admirable arrangements made . After spending a truly Masonic and happy evening the brethren separated early . —Brtdgewater Mercury .

" LETTER from a Brother in England to a Brother in Scotland , " W . P . Biirhan ' s leitcr on " Am ' npiily o Freemasonry , " Report of Rowley Chapter , 10 51 , So ., Ac ., shall appear next week . HOPE . —Hope is an anchor of thc soul , both sure

an 1 steal fast ; then lei a firm reliance of ihe Alnvghly ' s goodness animate our endeavours , and enable us lo fix our hope within thc limits of his most gracious promises so shall success attend us ; if we believe a thing impossible our despondency may render it so , hut if we persevere to the end , we shall finally overcome aU difficulties . —Old , Mm .

Installation Of The District Grand Master Of Bombay.

INSTALLATION OF THE DISTRICT GRAND MASTER OF BOMBAY .

( From the Masonic Record of Western India . ) The installation of R . W . Bro . the Honourable James Gibbs to the office of District Grand Master of Bombay and its territories , which took place on thc 2 nd July , will be the dawning of a new era in Freemasonry in Western India , and

will afford the hig hest satisfaction to the Fraternity far and near . For the last six years Masonry in Bombay was in a transition state , and onl y for the influence for good exercised over the Craft by this distinguished brother and a few others , both in the Masonic and social circle , tlie Order

would have received a death-blow from which it would never have recovered . Who is there amongst the Fraternity that does not remember the reckless and heartle . * -s speculations that swept like an avalanche over Bombay in 1864-5 , which brought ruin and misery on

many poor widows avid oxphcuis ? Masonry was dragged into the vortex , and many a good and true man , who would have joined the Order then , stood aghast at the demoralising influence exercised by several of those who , as '' Masters in Israel , " should have shown a better example .

R . W . Bro . Gibbs , who was in England during this eventful period , arrived in Bombay at the crisis , and but for the great interest he openly displayed in the cause of our Holy Order , and which has been unremittingly continued from that time to this , we should not now have had

on our rolls the names of His Excellency the Governor and a host of other influential and distinguished brethren , who have joined within the last few years . The eminent services rendered to the Craft by our present District Grand Master , and the high

honours he has attained , have all been duly chronicled in this journal , and are too well-known to need any recapitulation here . The selection of W . Bro . Dr . Diver as Deputy District Grand Master has been a very just one so far as seniority in the District Grand Lodge

is concerned , and we doubt not that he is able and willing to do every justice to the office ; for he has worked hard , the best proof of which is in the substantial acknowledgments he has received from tlie different lodges over which he ruled . But there is such a thing as public opinion , and this—as fiir as we can learn—is somehow

against W . Hro . Diver being " the right man in tlie ri ght place . " The office should be held by one possessing ability and experience , as also a social position such as to comma id the respect of all the brethren . The Distric' Grand Masterhad a very delicate task to perform , and he did his duty in fixing his choice on the Senior Grand Warden .

We extract the following brief report of the proceedings from a local journal : — " On Saturday last a ceremony was performed in Bombay which possesses great interest and importance to the numerous and powerful body of Freemasons in Western India . Wc refer to the

installation ofthe Honourable Mr . Justice Gibbs as District Grand Master of Bombay and its terrritories . The Honourable Mr . Gibbs had for a considerable period occupied the post of Deputy District Grand Master , and it bad often fallen lo bim to perform the duties pertaining to his present high office in

thc absence of the District Grand Master . The office he n ivv ' . ills was therefor , regarded as his right , and all who know what Freemasonry is , and who de-ire its advancement , will rejoice to sec him on thc Grancl Master ' s throne . A special communication of the District Grand Lodge was held on

Saturday for the installation of thc District Grand Master . Mr . Taylor , the retiring incumbent , formally announced his resignation , and read a letter from the Grand Secretary , intimating tint the Grand Mister M ison of England ( at that time Earl of Zetland ) had been pleased

to accept til it re'ignition , Mr . Justice Gibbs was then con luctcd into th- * District Grind Lodge , and , having pro luced his patent fro n the Grand Master of Englairl . was duly inst ille I , proclaimed , an . l saluted as District Grand M ist .-rof B-nn ' j iyan . l its territories—' . lie first District (" ran 1 Mister ever

thus honiu ed . Mr . T iylnr then link his seat as Past D . G . M .. an I D . \ Diver was appointed as IJ'pu ' y D . 'I . M . In -inivi'inciiig this appointment , th- * D ' strict G . - in 1 M ister bine I th it it woi'd in all proabbility be m 1 le m > * e freq-i ; mly than hitherto . in order that Masons who deserved well ofthe Craft may thus more frequently be advanced to its honours .

Installation Of The District Grand Master Of Bombay.

Mr . J . J . Winton was unanimously elected District Grand Treasurer . It was resolved on the motion of the District Grand Master , to present to the Past D . G . M . an address on vellum , together with the jewel and clothing of his present rank , in testimony ofthe service he has rendered to the Craft in Western

India , and of the esteem in which he is held by its members . The speeches delivered in the course of of the evening were able and instructive , particularly that of the newly-installed District Grand Master , who impressed upon ail present the responsibility

that rests upon them as Masons—a responsibility that he considered all the weightier , as Freemasonry has yet a great work to do among all classes , all creeds , and all colours in India . No more popular appointment than that of Mr . Justice Gibbs to the post he fills could have been made . " —TimesofIndia .

Poetry.

Poetry .

STANZAS . " Are Maconnes Gudder Men than olhers ?" Ancient Manuscript . Go to the widow's home ,

Where want has gone before : Ask her if ever Masons' hearts Forget the needy poor ? Ask her if ever Masons' hands Contribute to her store ?

Goto the Masons'bed When death is hov'ring nigh , Ask him who smooths his pillow ? Who stands in waiting by ? Ask who will feed his orphans When he ' s beyond the sky ?

Go to the Mason ' s grave Affection there to find ; When to its long , last resting-place His body is consigned . Who utters then a fervent prayer ? Whose eyes with tears are blind ?

Go to the battle-field , Where Hate has drawn his blade , And ask that wounded soldier Who flew to give him aid ? Ask him who with his friendly arms The lifted weapon stayed ?

Go to the House of God , Where prayer is often heard ; And see whose supplicating hands Are elapsed on bosoms stirred—On bosoms stirred with hope Divine , That God their prayers has heard .

Go to the Mystic Lodge , Where Masons love to meet , And mark if e ' er an impure word , Your list ' ning cars shall greet . And mark if on thc level there , Thc high and low do meet .

Go , scan thc Mason's life ; From discord ever free And as he journeys to the "bourne " O ' er Time ' s tumultuous sea ; 1 f better than the world he's not , As good he ought to be . SELMA .

Jottings From Masonic Journals.

Jottings from Masonic Journals .

—*—WE arc pleased to welcome again our namesake The Freem . isoii , of St . Louis , Missouri—the number for June having reached us . It is as vigorous as ever , and although we differ with Bro . Gouley upon the Quebec question , we are delighted lo find that his valuable labours are so highly appreciated by the Missouri fraternity . Next week we shall quote from The Freemason a very

interesting address on "Chapter Work , by Comp . Little , Grand High Priest of Virginia . Our best thanks are due to R . W . Bro . Gouley—who , as our readers are aware , is also Grand Secretary of all the Masonic bodies in his State—for an extremely handsome volume of the transactions of the Missouri Grand Chapter since its formation in 1846 . This must prove invaluable as a reference to the Masons of that important jurisdiction .

Till * Masonic Tiding * , of Warsaw , New York , contains a fine oration by Bro . George II . Weils . This excellent publication is edited hy Bros . J . W . Simons , P . G . M ., an . l John Ransom , thc latter being also the proprietor . Tin-: installation of W . Bro . S . Cook as W . M . of Lo Ige Orion in ihe West took place at Poona , India , on tlie 2 pit June , an I the following offieers were appointed :

W . Iiro . L . W . Penn , I . P . M . ; Bros . Smith , S . W . i B irnett , J . W . : Wilnur , Secretary ; Haylett , Treasurer ; Ne . vp > rt , S . D . ; Il . mter , J . I ) . ; Humphreys , I . G . ; K . rby , Tyler . Biii ) . CAPTAIN C . AONP . W , Her Majesty ' s 16 th Lancers , has been elected Wjrshiplul Master of L > Ige Bangalore , at Bangalore , India , and was installed on the 24 th June ( St . John ' s Day ) .