Excommunication Of Freemasons.

any members of our communion to be Freemasons , and if they are , " ^ they " " lose the privileges of the Roman Communion , but the Archbishop can have no right

whatever , no legal qualification to excommunicate Freemasons generally in Belgium , without rhyme or reason in the lump , so to say , it being known , that , there are many members of the

Order who are not Roman Catholics ai all . As an act of authority , therefore , such an excommunication we believe to be utterly " hors de la loi . "

It is very doubtful , indeed , whether any ecclesiastical sentence can be promulgated in Belgium , without the consentjof the civil authorities , but even if it can be so , the law courts would only

recognise a sentence passed after due hearing . We can imag ine what our Lord Chief Justice wonld say and those eminent judges of the Court of Queen ' s Bench , if our Archbishop of

Canterbury proceeded to issue , ( which we admit is an absurdity ) , such a bituminous pastoral , or if any religious body whatever in England , excommunicated any of its members , without

any hearing , and simply " Mero motu . " We recommend the members of the Belgian Grand Lodge to raise the question in the Belgian Law Courts by suing the Archbishop of

Malines for damages done to them , as Belgian citizens , by the offensive publication of a sentence of excommunication . The Grand . Lodge being the recognised representative of the whole body ,

can do so , and they will then make it clear to their " concitoyens , " that , the laws of their country do not sanction such proceedings , which are now assuming a frequency and position , to make us

remember that , " du sublime au ridicule il n ' y a q ' un pas . " Most painful are they to all serious and

soberminded people , because endorsing the outburst of a hopeless religious fanaticism on the one hand , or the resuscitation in 1874 of the dark princip les of a sinful Inquisition , on the other .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual festival of this society took place on Wednesday , the 28 th ult ., but as according to our present arrangements , we shall not be able

to give a full account of the proceedings in this impression , we prefer simply to express our earnest hopes , that , this first anniversary meeting of our charities . for 1874 may _ be both a successful

and a satisfactory one . There is no Institution in our Order , or anywhere , indeed , more useful , or more needed in itself , or which does , so modestly and

unpretendingly such a large amount of good in the welcome aid it affords to many a struggling and stricken brother , who not only has fallen into the " sere and yellow leaf" of advancing years , but

has also had to experience the hard lot of failing fortune , and decayed prosperity . We sincerely trust , that not only will the response of the Craft enable this valuable

institution of our Order , to increase its benefits to a still further enlarged number of applicants , but in these " dear days" in which we live , perhaps before long , to augment somewhat the pensions we offer to those whom age or sickness

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

or a reverse of fortune most surely gives a great claim on Masonic Benevolence and sympathy . We trust next week to be able to inform our readers of a very successful anniversary .

Weekly Summary.

WEEKLY SUMMARY .

Her Majesty remains at Osborne . The marriage of H . R . H . the Duke of Edinburgh and the Grand Duchess Marie of Russia , took place on Friday , amid much of religious ceremony , ^ according to the rites of the Greek

Church , and all the splendour of the Russian Court , and the rejoicings of the Russian people . Having been married , first according to the ceremonial of the Greek Church , the august couple were afterwards married , also by Dean

Stanley , according to the simple ritual of the English Church . After a long day of court ceremonial they proceeded with a small suite to Yarsko Selo , to spend a three days' honeymoon , and having gone through a round of public

receptions and festivities at St Petersburg , this week , they are to proceed to Moscow next week , to be again feted and welcomed there . May all of happiness attend them in their voyage through life . The rejoicings throughout the country have been marked and universal .

Our home news has received a great impetus by the announcement of an immediate dissolution of Parliament . For the next two months our English people will be plunged into all the

turmoil and excitement of a political contest . Formerly French writers delighted to term English elections " recurringfperiods of insanity , " but under the new arrangement all seems to proceed with unbroken order , quietness and

peacefulness . Mr . Whalley , M . P ., has been very properly censured by Lord Chief Justice Cockburn for contempt of court , and fined £ ~ - $ o , but was committed to Holloway Prison for refusing to

pay the amount . No one can understand his profound belief in the convict Jean Luie . That very interesting individual seems , by the strange perversity of human nature , still , however , to use a sporting phrase , to find "backers . " Beyond this there is little to report .

Sir Samuel Martin has taken leave ofthe Bar , after a neat touching speech from the Attorney-General , and a feeling and simple reply from himself . No news from the Gold Coast has arrived

though any hour may bring decisive tidings . The relief ofthe Indian population threatened by famine occupies the constant attention of the

Government of India . It seems to be hoped on good grounds , that by timely preparation this dreadful scourge may be greatly alleviated , if not entirely removed .

Abroad we have little to tell ; Lord Lyons and M . Decazes have signed a supplementary convention to the Anglo-French Treaty of Commerce , on the 24 th January .

A scientific expedition is about to start from St . Petersburg for the Amour-Daria , the Grand Duke Nicholas Constantinovitch will accompany it .

The Carhsts have taken Portugalete , and a large number of prisoners . Otherwise Spain is tranquil . The Dutch seem to be successfully operating against the insurgents in their colonial

posses-. We have to announce the deaths of Lord Stewart de Decies , of the Countess of Loudoun , and of Mr . Adam Black , of Edinburgh .

Russia . One ofthe most striking of these was Quadrant House , Regeut-street ; the taste of the design and the success with which it was carried out are to be " attributed ^ to the originality and skill of the proprietor , Mr . Augustus Ahlborn ,

THE DUKE OI * EDINBUBGH ' MARRIAGE . — La-it week the West End of London presented a very brilliant appearance . All the club-houses and most of the shops were illuminated and decked with the flags and arms of England and

Provincial Grand Lodge Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

The usual quarterly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was held in the Masonic Hall , Great George-street , Leeds , on the 2 ist inst . The preliminary lodge was opened in the several stages by the W . M . and officers of the Excelsior Lodge , 1042—Bros . J

W . Beedle , W . M . ; S . Stead , S . W . and George Heuthwaite , J . W . The Provincial Grand Lodge comprised the Right Hon . the Marquess of Ripon , K . G ., M . W . G . M . of England and P . G . M . of West Yorkshire ; J . Craven ( 290 ) , P . S . G . W .: Captain

Wordsworth ( 3 80 ) , P . J . G . W .: W . H . B . Tomlinson ( 154 ) , P . G . Registrar ; Henry Smith ( 387 ) , P . G . Sec ; T . Schofield ( 306 ) , P . G . Purst . ; A . Titley ( 304 ) , P . G . Steward , & c . After the Provincial Grand Master had declared

the Provincial Grand Lodge opened , and a portion of Scripture had been read and prayer offered , the brethren saluted the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master according to ancient custom .

The Prov . G . M ., the Marquess of Ripon , in acknowledging his reception , expressed his thankfulness at being permitted to meet them once more . He said it was about three years since he had the pleasure of meeting the brethren

in Leeds ; but it gave him pleasure to meet them under the banner of one of the youngest lodges in the province—a lodge , he hoped , that would bring honour on the Craft in the future , as he had reason to believe it had striven to do in the

past . In the course of his remarks the Prov . G . M . urged upon the W . M . to use every care lest an evil might crop up of which he had seen an indication , viz ., that of admitting persons into

the Order in large towns to which those persons do not belong . Too much caution cannot be exercised in that direction . After a passing remark on initiation fees , his lordship congratulated the brethren on the condition of the

Masonic chanties , but urged those who had hitherto done nothing to make a beginning . Before resuming his seat his lordship informed the lodge that Bro . Dr . Spark , P . P . Grand Organist , kad that day presented to the Prov . Grand Lodge a handsomely-bound copy of his valuable

work of Masonic music , entitled " The Liber Musicus . " In conclusion , his lordship again thanked the brethren for their hearty welcome , which always encouraged him in the discharge of the duties appertaining to his office . The roll of lodges was then called over , and

about fifty lodges were represented by about three hundred brethren . The Prov . Grand Master said he now rose to discharge a duty painful in the extreme . No Mason in the province of West Yorkshire , nor any other person who had ever come in contact

with him , could be otherwise than greatly troubled at the loss which had befallen tha Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Bentley Shaw . A loss so great , so irreparable as that of his eldest son , could not otherwise than strike down in sorrow the whole family of the D . P . G . Master .

Personally he felt very deeply impressed on hearing the painful intelligence . In proposing a vote of sympathy from the lodge he felt sure he expressed the feelings of every brother in the province ; and whilst expressing their sympathy they should also express their high estimation of

his ability and kindl y disposition when among them . They all knew that to one of so warm and affectionate a nature as that of Bro . Bentley Shaw the loss he had sustained would be heavy . Alread y 50 lodges had presented their deep regret at his loss , and sympathy in his bereavement ,

and he now proposed that the Provincial Grand Lodge express its deep sympathy with Bro . Bentley Shaw , Past Grand Deacon , and D . Prov . G . M . of West Yorkshire , in his bereavement and deep suffering ; and , at the same time , express its appreciation of the great ability he has always displayed in the duties of his office , and

his courteousness to all . His Lordship concluded by anticipating the hearty approval by the brethren of the resolution . The resolution was seconded by Bro . Manoah Rhodes , Mayor of Bradford , who had been appointed to act for the D . P . G . M . in the duties of the day , and carried unanimously .