Westbourne Lodge Ball.

. F Norris , Bro . Earton and Mrs . Welford , Bro . and I ! Drew , Bro . and Mrs . Wiggins , Bro . S . R . Walker " j Mi .. Walker , Bro . and Mrs . Curtis , Bro . Gurr , Mrs . _ _! -. Mr . Arnold , MissGard , Mr . Durrans , Miss Weast , un Arthur Roberts ( Drury Lane Theatre ) , Bro . R . Reeder , and Bro . Kelly ( Freemason ) .

Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge Ball.

EARL OF CARNARVON LODGE BALL .

The fifth annual select private Masonic ball of this nonular Went-end lodge was held on Thursday week , the i 7 th inst . at the Town Hall , Kensington , upon which occa-. ionalarge and fashionable company were present . Notwithstanding the fact that the previous ball had been held as recently as November last , the one now under notice was 'II attended and pre-eminently successful . As already

w announced in the Freemason , the whole of the proceeds accruing from the sale of tickets will be devoted to the Roval Masonic Institution for Girls . The list of the Stewards , on whom the success of the ball depended , included the names of Bros . Samuel Smout , sen ., VV . M . of the lodge ; George Penn , P . M ., Hon treas . ; W . J . Murlis , P . M ., Hon . Sec . ; S . H . Wood

Parkhouse , P . M . ; E . M . Lander , P . M . ; C . E . - ward P . M . ; R . H . Pearson , P . M . ; S . Smout , jun ., J . Woodmason , W . W . Buckland , C . B . Broad , F . J . Broad , and J . Linscott . By permission of Col . Cecil Ives , the string band of the Royal Horse Guards were present and played under the ' able direction of Bro . Charles Godfrey . Mr . Sheridan

Lin <* s proved an efficient M . C ., Brq . George Inghsh giving good services as Asst . M . C . The thanks of the lodge . ' ¦ are due to B ros . Woodmason , French , and Adkins for the ? i generous and courteous manner in which they acted as ' ; Door Stewards . « The company present included Bro . S . Smout , sen ., and . Mrs . and Miss Smout , Bro . George Penn and Mrs . and

Miss Penn , Bro . W . J . Murlis and Mrs . and Miss Murlis , ' * ' Bro . and Mrs . S . H . Parkhouse , Bro ., Mrs ., and Miss ' • - Oliver , Bro . and Mrs . Woodward , Bro . E . C . Cave , - family , and friends , Bro . and Mrs . Rogers , Bro . and Mrs . r Webster , Bro . and Mrs . S . Smout , jun ., Bro . and Mrs . ? Mesrowze , Bro . Bosworth and son , Mr . and Airs . James I Bailev . Mr . and the Misses Gazzana , Mr . and Mrs ,

Kerst ley , Mr . and Mrs . Cave , Bro . E . M . Lander , Bro . G . C . . Harding and sister , Bro . Empson , Mrs . Empson , and . family , Bro . R . C . Green and family , Bro . J . D . Adkins , - Mrs . Adkins , and family , Bro . J . Bartle and family , Bro . _ Elborn and daughter , Bro . Cooper and family , Bro . Walter . and family , Bro . Keen and family , Bro . Sampson and familv . Bro . Overseer Butler , family , and friends , Bros .

5 Heath , Rogers , J . French , VV . O . Wadham , G . Wilkinson , 5 Dr . F . E . Pocock , ] . Bartle , R . King , C . Manchester , J . I Empson , W . R . Hatton , C . D . Cowland , Mr . and Mrs . I Foakes , Mr . H . Isaacs and family , Mr . Townsend and family , Mr . and Mrs . Morrison , Mr . Swadwick and p " family , Mr . and Mrs . Johnstone , Mr . Howard , Mr . Par-* geter , and Bro . F . A . Kelly ( Freemason ) .

Burdett-Coutts Lodge Ball.

BURDETT-COUTTS LODGE BALL .

- The annual ball in connection with the Burdett-Coutts " - ' Lodge , No . 127 S , was held , under the patronage of the I Right Hon . the Baroness Burdett-Coutts , on Monday last , I at the Cannon-street Hotel , the company numbering " upwards of 100 . The ball was opened by the President , Bro . Dr . J . G . Defriez , W . M ., and among the company

were Bros ! Crutch , Treas . ; Self , S . W . ; ° W . H . Smith , Miss Temple , Miss Annie Temple , Bro . and Mrs . R . L . t Sturtevant , Bro . and Mrs . Chitson , Bro . and Mrs . Albert I Jones , Bro . and Mrs . Hammond , Bro . Morgan and Miss I Baxter , Bro . and Mrs . Stewart , Bros . R . Brittain , Richard I Conder , Mrs . King and daughter , Mr . King and Miss a Cooper , Mr . and Miss Loveday , Mr . and Miss Perrin , Mr .

I and Miss Francis , Mr . Francis , jun ., Mr . and Mrs . Chrisi ' tian , Mr ., Mrs ., and the Misses Cook , Mr . and Mrs . Peck , I Mr . and Mrs . McGragh , Mr . and the Misses Miller , Mr . I and the three Misses Crutch , Mr . Wilson and party , Mr . 1 and Mrs . Wooding , Mr . Percival , Mr . T . Cox , and Bro . 1 F . A . Kelly ( Freemason ) . I Dancing commenced about nine o'clock to a well arranged

g , programme , the first part being as follows : 1 . Polka—I" Bonne Bouche . " 2 . Quadrille— " Chilperic . " 3- Waltz R"LaBerce „ se . " 4 . Caledonians—" Argyle . " 5- Redowa I — " Sentimentale . " 6 . Lancers — "Tambour Major . " § 7 . Waltz— " Dolores . " 8 . Parisian Quadrille— "Olivette . " 9 . Highland Schottische—Selected Airs . 10 . Caledonians — "Borderers . " 11 . Waltz— "Souviens Toi . " 12 . Lan-I cers— " Pirates of Penzance . "

I About twelve o ' clock the company adjourned to the Pillar Room , where a choice collation awaited them , provided and served in Bro . Rand's well known superior manner , and to which ample justice was done . After Grace , the President , Bro . Dr . Defriez , proposed the few customary toasts , remarking that as he knew all present were yery anxious to return to the ball-room , he would

gDe brief in his remarks . As loyal subjects , he would BB ' . upon the company to drink to "The Health of Her If £ J , ajesty the Queen , their R . H . the Prince and Princess of If Wales , and the rest of the Royal Family . " The toast : ; naving been heartily received , the Vice-Chairman , Bro . >'• j V j ^ urtevant , proposed , in complimentary terms , "The i : Health of the President , " the company receiving his

f re" > ar _ s with the greatest enthusiasm , and singing in a I rf ? - „ ty . manner " He ' s a Jolly Good Fellow . " Bro . uetnez , having expressed his surprise at , and his thanks ior , the very cordial manner in which the toast had been J i , * Prosed " The Health of the Ladies , " which was duly acknowled ged by Bro . Morgan . The Secretary , « ro . oturtevant , havinrr . in an amusinc manner , reminded

aw v " v that the bal 1 room was below , and the band awaiting their return , dancing was resumed , and continued until the small hours , when all separated , delighted with the j music and the entire proceedings . Bro . Wm . Perrin was > an excellent M . C . 1 l _„ T- s , econd part of the programme consisted of the following ; dances : 13 . Waltz— "Touiours ou lamois . " 14 .

I ourdett-Coutts Quadrille . " —1 . 2 nd Caledonians ; 2 . 3 rd C _ f . _ " 3- St" Quadrille . 4 . 5 th Lancers . 5 . Waltz Jj Ot'Uion . IS . Redowa— "Blue Bell . " 16 . Lancers—_ . « ^ P- « 7- Waltz— "Baden Baden . " 18 . Quadrille __ y ° <* es _ deCorneviIle . » 19 . Polka— "Tout aTaJoie . " f 0 . Caledonians — « Tullochgorum . " 21 . Schottische — ' a . -S <_ M . mcnts . " 22 . Lancers— "Madame Favart . " ; - « Waft - -. " Les Sirens . " 24 . Galop- " Just Once More . "

A Farewell Gathering.

A FAREWELL GATHERING .

Among the many calls that have recently taken place upon our gallant soldiers to go to the Cape to assist in quelling the rebellion of the Boers in the Transvaal , none has been more regretted than that of Assistant Commissary D . Deeves , of the Ordnance Branch of the Army Service Corps , stationed at Woolwich , and who is at the present

time W . M . of the United Military Lodge , No . 1536 . A telegram from the War Office , followed by an official letter , warned our esteemed and worthy brother that he must hold himself in readiness at once to proceed to the Transvaal . No sooner was this known to the Masons of Woolwich and the district than a , farewell meeting was decided upon . On Saturday evening , the 19 th inst ., the spare room at

the Lord Raglan , Burrage-road , Plumstead , saw a gathering of the" tribes , " such as proved indubitably thc " esteem and affection in which our excellent Bro . Deeves is held by his brother Masons in this district . Bro . Deeves , as W . M . of the lodge , filled the chair , faced by Bro . Wilding , S . W ., and supported by Bros . Holleyman , J . W . ; Shaw , P . M . ; Picken , P . M . ; and later on Bro . Weston , P . M ., was

present . A letter from Bro . Penfold , P . M . of the Pattison Lodge , was read , regretting his unavoidable absence . In eloquent language , Bro . SHAW proposed " God speed to Bro . Deeves , _ ind a safe return to his native land . " He promised him that when that happy day arrived there would be such a welcome home for him as would repay him for all his toils in fighting the battles of his country .

Bros . PICKEN , C . J OLLY , WILDING , HOLLEYMAN , CLEAL , and DURNELL also added their good wishes ; the toast of Bro . Deeves' health being drunk " most enthusiastically and with musical honours . In reply , Bro . DEEVES deeply regretted leaving Woolwich and his lodge , but bowed to the call of duty . He had

been offered the opportunity of exchanging ; but , " no , never should it be said that a British soldier shirked the call of duty when danger was in the front . " ( Loud cheers . ) Bro . WESTON subsequently spoke , and wished Bro . Deeves the same compliments ; and after a few songs the company broke up with " Auld Lang Syne" and " God Save the Oueen . "

Bro . Deeves leaves Woolwich with the best wishes of all who know and can appreciate the sterling qualities of a good man , a good Mason , and a gallant soldier , and we heartily wish him " God speed and a safe return . "

Freemasonry And The Boers.

FREEMASONRY AND THE BOERS .

It is a happy thing for the venerable Craft in England that its members are strictly precluded as Freemasons from taking part in any struggle , either political or religious . Had it not been for this wise regulation the Freemasonry of England would not at present stand in the strong and unassailable position which it proudly and undeniably occupies . On the Continent of Europe , unfortunately , the

prudent line of conduct adopted by the Grand Lodge of England has not been followed , and the Grand Lodges there , or " Grand Orients " as they are frequently called , have mixed themselves up with party politics and religious questions in a manner which has had a most prejudicial effect upon their success , and _ that of their subordinate lodges . It is principally on this account that Continental Freemasonry has found itself for the past century and a

half from time to time at loggerheads with Churches and Governments . Hence it has been regarded with suspicion and distrust , and its votaries have sometimes suffered cruel persecution at the hands of the Roman Church , in most cases quite undeservedly . In England it is the proud boast of the Order that its portals are open to all but Atheists , that its basis rests on the Volume of the Sacred Law , and that Universal Beneficence and Charity aie its

watchwords . As was truly said a few weeks ago by the Dean of York , himself an honoured member of the Craft , Freemasonry offers a common platform on which men of all shades of opinion and from all ranks of society can meet in harmonious converse , and they are these its peculiar features which give it its chief value as being a powerful medium for softening the acerbities of life , and maintaining the misrhty principles of the Universal Brotherhood of God

and the Common Brotherhood of Man . We have been led into these remarks by noticing the announcement in the Continental telegrams that "the Grand Orient Masonic Lodge at the Hague , at which the Grand Master , Prince Frederick , presides , has resolved to send an address to the Grand Orient of England in favour of the Transvaal independence . We need hardly say it is quite impossible that the Grand Lodge of England can take

any such step as that suggested in the telegram . Such an act would be a direct infringement of one of its cardinal doctrines , and would be condemned by every member of the Order . No class of Her Majesty ' s subjects are more loyal than those who so frequently toast their Sovereign under the title of " The Daughter of a Mason and the Mother of Masons , " nor is it possible for any set of men to prize true freedom , or to deplore the horrors of war more than those who themselves are known as Freemasons , and whoselodges

are dedicated to Peace and Harmony ; but to interfere in any way whatever with any political question , or to range themselves on either side in a matter of international religious or political dispute , would be entirely contrary to the first principles on which the English Craft is founded . English Freemasonry will , we trust , always be found labouring for the welfare of mankind by the practice of that most excellent gift of Charity , leaving the jealousies of politicians and the squabbles of religionists to be settled outside its portals . —Yorkshire Gazette ,

The Commission of Artists has limited the pictures in the next Salon to 2500 , and every work deposited between the xothand 20 th of March will undergo the ordeal of a jury of admission , the exemption of medallists being abolished .

We understand that a third volume of the letters of Charles Dickens is being prepared by Miss Dickens and Miss Hogarth , and will probably bepublished early in the autumn . It will contain an interesting literary correspondence between Dickens and Lord Lytton , besides many letters from the former to Sir A . H . Layard . Old Matured Wines and Spirits . —J . E . SHANH & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts and Valuers ) , 3 , Albert Mansions , Victoria-Street . London . S . W . Price lists on application . —[ ADVT . 1

Scotland.

Scotland .

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . At the Quarterly Communication , held at Freemasons ' Hall , Edinburgh , on Thursday , the 4 th of November , 1 SS 0 , the Grand Secretary tabled the documents in connection with complaints against the action of the office bearers of Lodge The Gael , Glasgow , No . 609 , aad other brethren

, for having issued and recommended the following " petition , " viz . : — "Glasgow , 10 th August , 1 SS 0 . ' " The petition of the Masonic Lodge ' The Gael , ' No . G 09 , Glasgow , sheweth that , owing to the dulness of trade for a number of years , and few candidates coming forward for initiation to the Craft , this particular lodgefounded for

, the express purpose of rendering the mysteries of initiation , - Sic , in the native Gaelic tongue , has suffered severely , and having a great deal of expenses connected therewith , have fallen into debt . For the purpose of liquidating the same , the R . VV . M ., office bearers , and members have resolved to

lay their case before the brethren , hoping , from the wellknown charity of the Order , they will be enabled to clear off the debt , and place themselves on as stable a footing as the sister lodges , so that the lodge will be enabled to keep up the original intention of the founders , i . e ., promote the ceremonies in their native language .

" Subscnptionswill be thankfully receivedby the R . W . M ., D . Cowan , 5 , Oswald-street , Glasgow . " D . COWAN , R . VV . M . DUNCAN SHARP , D . M . A . SINCLAIR , S . M . DUNCAN MACGREGOR , Sec . Ross T . MUNRO . 'Treas .

" We have much pleasure in recommending the above petition" THOMAS M . CAMPBELL , P . M . 41 S , Pros . M . 4 S 9 * J . HEALY FASH , I . P . M . 332 , Prox . M . 546 . WM . PASCOE , R . VV . M . St . Clair , 362 . "

GRAND SECRETARY stated that in addition to the letter from the Provincial Grand Secretary of Wiltshire , animadverting on the impropriety of a Scotch lodge sending a "begging circular" to lodges out of its own country , another had been received from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England and forwarded to the Provincial Grand Secretary of Glasgow . There had also been received

, at a date subsequent to the remit being made to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , a printed circular from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lod ge of Nebraska , in which the Grand Master recommends to all lodges within his jurisdiction to favourably consider the said petition , and directs " that such sums as may he deemed proper to contribute to the relief of The Gael Lodge be transmitted to

the Grand Secretary's office . " Grand Secretary stated that , in acknowledging receipt of the circular from Ne braska , he had written in the following terms : " I beg to assure the Grand Master and brethren of Nebraska that the ' begging letter' in question was issued by ' The Gael ' without the consent or knowledge of any Masonic authority in Scotland , and that the step is by Grand Committee

held to be derogatory and highly prejudicial to the Craft . The matter is being inquired into , and will shortly be adjudicated upon by Grand Lodge . I beg respectfully to ask that your recommendation of said petition be withdrawn . I can safely say that , when made public , the good intentions and fraternal courtesy of the Most Worshi pful Bro . Tulleys , in connection with this business , will be warmly

appreciated by the Scottish Craft . " The following report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow , under remit of date 30 th September last , was read : "The Provincial Grand Secretary having- read a copy of the letter issued by Lodge The Gael , No . 609 , also letters sent to the Grand Secretary from the Grand Secretary of England and from the Provincial Grand

Secretary of Wiltshire , and having heard Bro . Cowan's statement in defence , find that on Bro . Cowan taking over tho Mastership of the Lodge The Gael , in the early part of this year , he knew that the lodge was in debt to the extent of £ 50 , but that he expected with perseverance this might be overcome—that matters had gone from bad to worse , and that the present liabilities were about £ 100—that Bro .

Cowan had called a meeting of the lodge to see what was to be done in the matter , when it was unanimously resolved to issue letters to lodges and brethren ( as per copy of letter read ) , asking assistance . Bro . Cowan stated he was advised to have the letter got up on his business . paper , but seeing the error of this he regretted having done so , and now apologises . The Provincial Grand Lodire forward

their report with an expression of strong disapproval of the conduct of the office-bearers of thc Lodge Gael , No . 609 , and the other signatories to the letter of the said lodge as to the issuing of said letter , which was done without the knowledge or sanction of the Provincial Grand Lodgeand they consider that a stop should be put to lodges or

brethren issuing begging letters or circulars , which is excessively derogatory to the Order . " In answer to a question , GRAND SECRETARY stated that The Gael was chartered in August , 1877 , that it had registered twenty-eight intrants , and that ten shillings was the amount of its debt to Grand Lodge . [ This debt has since been paid . ]

After consideration , it was unanimously resolved— " ( 1 ) That the report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow City Province and the action of Grand Secretary be approved and confirmed ; ( 2 ) That the Provincial Grand Lodge be thanked for its diligence in the matter . And ( 3 ) That a vote of censure be recorded , expressive of Grand Committee ' s reprehension of the course which had been

adopted b y the office-bearers and members of the Lodge The Gael in issuing , and of the conduct of those brethren who had attached their si gnatures as recommending the before-mentioned petition , not only to Scotch-holdinglodges , but to lodges outside the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and to Grand Lodges of other Constitutions . "

Grand Secretary was instructed to direct the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow to call before it and admonish the office-bearers of the Lodge The Gael , and the other brethren included in the Grand Committee ' s vote of censure of date 25 th November last . 1 * This lodge is not on the roll of Grand Lodge .