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twenty-eight candidates , and twenty boys we ' re elected out of a list of seventy-six candidates in the latter . Tre voting was unprecedentedly heavy , and the " outlook" for future elections becomes serious indeed . The corner-stone of the new Parish Church of Egremont was laid in this month by Bro . Jonas Lindow Burns-Lindow . A most successful banquet in

honour of R . W . Bro . R . W . H . Giddy was given in the Masonic Hall , Pieterni . iritzburg , Natal , by the united lodges , Prince Alfred , 956 , Natalia Lodge , 1668 , and the Skelmersdale Lodge , 1729 . The Grand Festival took place when Lo * d March and Bro . Justice Cave were appointed Grand Wardens , our old friend , Bro . Ambrose Hall Grand Chaplain , and among the ether

new Grand Officers we noticed Bros . Levander , Sampson Peirce , George Lambert , Scott , and others . The gathering was a great success , and reflected much credit on the Board of Grand Stewards . The foundation stone of a new Masonic Hall was laid at Jarrow by Bro . George Spain . The sixtyfourth Anniversary Festival of the Stability Lodge of Instruction was held

under the presidency of the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C , where earnest testimony was borne to the eminent services of " Old Mug , " as a " Preceptor " in the Craft . The following lodges and chapters were consecrated in April : The Lumley Lodge , No . 1893 , Skegness ; Selwyn Lodge ,

No . 1901 , at East Dulwich ; the Breadalbane Lodge , No . 657 ( S . C ) , at Abergeldy ; also St . Matthew Chapter , 1447 , at Barton-on-Humber ; and Loyalty Chapter , 879 , at St . Helen ' s , in Liverpool . The Lodge of Benevolence voted £ 535 .

MAY . In May thc Grand Chapter met as usual , when warrants for ten new chapters were granted . The new Grand Officers were duly invested . Sir M . H , Beach was installed as Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , by Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master for

Hampshire and the Isle ' of Wight . I he festival of the Royal Masonic Institution took place under the able presidency of Sir Michael Hickes Beach , M . P ., when the sum of ^ 11 , 400 was announced . A previous visit to the Girls' School by the Stewards , ancl a presentation of the prizes by the Chairman of the festival had manifested the wonderfully efficient state

of the school , and had given an unalloyed satisfaction and pleasure ; indeed , afforded most justifiable pride to all who were present . A presentation to our esteemed and hardworking Sampson Peirce took place , by the members of the Britannic Lodge . The annual election of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place , when twenty-five men , and fifteen widows

were elected out of thirty-seven candidates and sixty-one candidates respectively . The installation of Bro . R . D . Poulett Harris , as District Grand Master of Tasmania , took place in the Masonic Hall , Hobart Town . In this month the distribution of prizes at the' Royal Masonic Female Orphan School , Dublin , by the Countess of Cowper , wife of the Lord Lieutenant ,

took place . We are glad to mention it , as our accounts of Irish Masonic doings is most meagre and unsatisfactory , through no fault of ours , we beg once for all to observe . During this month the consecration of Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar Lodge , No . 1903 , took place at Portsmouth , and

which was most numerously attended bya distinguished circle of the Craft ; and the Audley Lodge , No . 1896 , at Newport , Mon . The Mediterranean Mark Lodge was also consecrated at Gibraltar . The Lodge of Benevolence voted - £ 760 ,

J . In June the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place . There was not much important business . Fourteen new lodges were announced . The Grand Mark Lodge was also held in this month . Bro . T . W . Tew , D . Prov . G . M . lor West Yorkshire , laid the foundation stone of . 1 new

Masonic Hall at Meltham . Lord Ebrington was installed as Grand Superintendent of Devonshire , before a large gathering of thc companions . The foundation stone of a new Masonic Hall was laid at Auckland , New Zealand , by Bro . G . S . Graham , D . G . M . Auckland . The summer festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place at Croydon . Thc

festival of thc Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was held at Brighton , by way of " change of venue , " when , under thc distinguished presidency of the Marquis of Londonderry , Prov . G . M . for Durham , the sum of £ 11 , 600 was announced , The whole gathering appears to have been a complete

success , and the visit to Londonon-the-Sea , " highly approved of . The Thames Lodge . No . 1895 , was consectrated at Henley-on-Thames , while the Eastern Star Chapter was also consecrated at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street . The sum of £ 960 was voted by the Lodge of Benevolence .

JULY . In July Bro . W . H . Smyth , Prov . G . M . for Lincolnshire , and the Prov . Grand Officers , laid the foundation-stone of the Church of St . John the Divine , at Gainsborough . A handsome presentation took place to Bro . George Taylor in Worcestershire . The Festival of the Grand Mark

Benevolent Fund took place at Crystal Palace , when £ 300 was collected . 1 he presentation of plate , value 500 guineas , was made to Bro . Lord Holmesdale , Prov . G . M . for Kent , to commemorate his Prov . Grand Mastership of twenty-one years . The unveiling of a monument , erected to the memory of the late Bro . C . Coote , P . P . G . Org . Middlesex , took place at Kensal Green ,

The corner-stone of a Masonic Hall at Poole was laid , and a presentation of Grand Mark Lodge clothing , jewels , and illuminated address to Bro . T . B . Whytehead , of York , was announced . The consecration of the Montague Guest Lodge , No . 1900 , and of the United Brethren Lod ^ e , at Malta , took p lace in this month ; and the consecration of the Derwent Mark Lodge , No . 282 , at Workington . The Lodgeof Benevolence voted £ 735 .

AUGUST . In August Grand Chapter met , and warrants for six new chapters were granted . The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of a Masonic Hall at Antrim , by Bro . Sir C . I . anyon , D . P . G . M . for Antrim , took place . The

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Quarterly Communication of the Scottish Grand Lodge also was held in due course . Sir Charles Brut * e Graves-Sawle , Bart ., was installed as Prov . Grand Mark Master for Cornwall . it Truro . The Graystone Lodge , No . 1915 , was consecrated at . Whitstable ; the Mozart Lodge , No . 1929 , at Croydo 1 ; and the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , . at Brixton , were also consecrated this month . The Lodge of Benevolence voted X 500 .

SEPTEMBER . In September a presentation of a jewel to Bro . J . J . Delves , Preceptor , took place at the Corinthian Lodge of Instruction . The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place , when twenty-five new lodges were announced . A grand reception was arranged at York to the Masonic members

of the British Association , which was most unique and successful , and reflects no little credit on its proposers and promoters . A Masonic reception to King Kalakaua took place at Edinburgh ; the Movable Grand Mark Lodge was held at Sheffield ; and the installation of Bro . Sir Pryse-Pryse as Prov .

Grand Mark Master of South Wales vvas completed . The consecration of the Herschell Lodge , No . 1 S 94 , was effected at Slough ; of the St . Thomas's Lodge , No . 1914 , at Kidsgrove ; of the Thynne Chapter , No . 1478 , at Warminster ; and of the Hesketh Chapter , No . 1350 , 31 Liverpool . The Lodge of Benevolence voted ^ 365 .

OCTOBER . October witnessed the dedication of a Masonic Hall for the Boscawen Lodge , No . 699 , at Chacewater , by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Prov . G . M . for Cornwall . The Frederick Lodge of Unity presented Bro . Magnus Ohren with his portrait . The Masonic Hall at Weston-super-Mare was dedicated

by Bro . Else , D . Prov . G . M . The half-yearly election for the Girls' and Boys ' Schools took place in this month , when in the former case fifteen were elected out of twenty-four candidates , and twelve elected out of a list of sixty-five . Never before was the voting so high , or the votes so many ; and each election , unless some great change occurs , only increases the difficulty of success , and

the severity of the struggle . Thc Britannia Chapter presented his portrait to Comp . Glaisher , F . R . S . The Masonic Hall at Shanklin was dedicated , as is his wont , most ably and effectively by our distinguished Bro . W . W . Beach ,

M . P ., Prov . G . M . for Hants and the Isle of Wight . The Wickham Lodge , No . 1924 , was consecrated at New Cross in this month and the Fitzroy Chapter , No . 569 , at Finsbury . The consecration of the Driffield Mark Lodge , No . 291 , was also announced . Lodge of Benevolence voted £ 810 .

NOVEMBER . In November Grand Chapter was held , when five new chapters were announced . At the Grand Lodgeof Scotland the Earl of Mar and Kellie was elected as Grand Master" A presentation of his portrait to Lord de Tabby , Prov . G . M . Cheshire , took plice by the Cheshire brethren on the

occasion of hiss seventieth birthday , amid many marks of esteem and affectum , also the presentation of a portrait of our good old friend , Miss Jarwood , the excellent matron at the Girls' School , at the School . Thc portrait is most effectively painted by our esteemed brother and able artist , Bro . { . Stephen Pearce . The consecration of four chapters took place ;

Gilbert Greenall Chapter , No . 1250 , at Warrington ; the Cable Chapter , No . 1704 , at thc Cannon-street Hotel ; the Te . nple Chapter , No . 558 , at Folkestone ; and the : Alexander Chapter , No . 1661 , at Newark-on-Trent . A Prov . Grind Mark Lodge for North and East Yorkshire . vas formed . The Lodge of Benevolence voted , £ 1030 .

DECEMBER . In December was the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , when much important business was transacted . " Inter alia , " the recognition of the so-called Grand Lodge of New South Wales wns unanimously refused ; and Grand Lodge , on the motion of Bro . Raynham Stewart , agreed

to certain alterations in the laws of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and doubled its annual grant to that meritorious Charily , making it / , ' i 600 per annum . H . R . H . thc Prince of Wales was re-nominated as Grand Master amid loud applause , and Bro . Joshua Nunn was appointed Chairman of the Board of Benevolence , in the room of Bro . J . M . Clabon , whose resignation

was received with deep regret . The annval festival of the Lodge of Improvement took place , the Lord Mayor in the chair . H . R . H . the Duke of Albany was installed as Past Grand Master at the Mark Grand Lodge , by Lord Henniker . H . R . H . the Duke of Albany was also installed First Principal of the Apollo Chapter , Oxford , at the Friends-in-Council

Chapter , 33 , Golden-square , before forty-seven Grand Officers , by M . E . Scribe , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , as is his wont , most effectively and strikingly . Bro . J . M . Martin was installed as Provincial Grand Master for Dumbartonshire . The consecration of the Castle Chapter of Harmony , and Israel Chapter , Liverpool , were effected in this month . Thc Board of Benevolence voted / 890 .

Thus it will be seen that , unmarked by great events and unaffected by startling occurrences , the normal life of English Masonry has proceeded in peace and prosperity , giving undoubted evidences of material well-being , and steady , though not adventitious , progress . If occasional signs of weakness

may be noted by the keen and anxious observer , if there " crop up" every now and then " indicia : " to the practised eye , that there are some disturbing under-currents accompanying the proud bark of , Freemasonry , yet they are only such , after all , which are incidental to all earthly institutions , and may be coi . trolled with care and removed by caution . There is , perhaps , too great

a tendency , on the one hand , to exalt the mere respectability of Freemasonry ; on the other , to make it a Benefit Society . There is perhaps , too little attention paid to the aesthetic influences and the literary interests of Masonry ; and lodges and brethren are perhaps too often and too much accustomed to a mere routine of work and sociality . But " Rome was not built in a day , " and we cannot amend and improve everything at once . The last quarter of a