Scottish Constitution.

is not my mother lodge , and on several occasions when visiting the lodge , I was so much struck by the kindness aud courtesy displayed by Bro . Mitchell , who was then your Worshipful Master ; and the rest of the office-bearers and brethren , that I could not resist the desire of becoming an affiliated member . It is now five years since then , and with my poor abilities , I have done my best at all times , which I know " nave been finshort from the mark , to forward the interests of the Union Lodge ,

which I hold near and dear to me . I belong to several lodges in this province , but I may truly say that tbe Union is my mother lodge iu Glasgow . During my acquaintanceshi p with the lodge , I have created many warm-hearted friends , whose kindness can never be blotted out from my book of memory , and wherever , through God's providence , my lot may be cast , the members of the Union Lodge will ever find a warm place in my affections . We , as a lodge , have had our difficulties , and when

they presented themselves , the members' ready assistance and united endeavours , encouraged me onward , and gave to me a renewed spirit for the good work to be attained , to clear our lodge of these difficulties , and to put it on au equal standing with the other lodges in tbe province , which I am proud to state has now been done , and that by careful study and cautious perseverance . Bro . Mitchell , as your R . W . Alaster , with tho cooperation of the other office-bearers , and brethren , is now in a

fair way of making this one of the most flourishing lodges in the province of Glasgow . This handsome jewel , which you have just put into my hands , is an instrument made use of by all , to mark out the days and years that are passing away ; let us be reminded by this of the value and the shortness of our own existence ; let us examine ourselves well , and the days , and

years , in our voyage through life , so that we may safel y cast our ancnor on that blessed shore , where si ghing aud sorrow shall be no more ; it is then we will be honoured by our country , our families , and society . This valuable offering , I esteem the more precious , by the addition of this mark of respect which you have kindly bestowed on my spouse . I can only thank you on her behalf , and it will yield her the most infinite pleasure to he made aware that she is made a participator in tbe honours you

have felt proper to confer on me . I will now conclude , again thanking you for these very kind compliments I shall always look upon with becoming pride and satisfaction ; andiu the time to come , as you say Air . Chairman , will be a proof to my own family of the esteem in which their parent was held among his fellow mon . I also thank you , Air . Chairman , for the complimentary terms in which you have accompanied tbe gifts , which I scarcely deserve , aud I can assure you an impression has been

made upon my heart to-night , from tho kindness which I have received from my Alasonic brethren iu Glasgow , and in particular from the members of the Union Lodge , which will be long remembered by me ; accept my warmest thanks . The usual toasts followed , and during the evening an excellent vocal programme was sustained b y Bros . Gordon , Clarke , Alexander , AIcNair , and Mullen . Remarks were also made by Bros . Watt , StewartAIcEwan & c .

, , The toast for tlle prosperity of the Union Lodge , hy Bro . Stewart , in very eulogistic terms , which was gracefully and appropriately responded to by the chairman . An assembly followed , which was sustained with great vigour until an hour or two past tbe " wee short hours ayont the twelve . " All departed to their respective homes highl y satisfied with their evening ' s entertainment .

India.

INDIA .

BENGAL . DISTEIOT GEAND LODGE . A Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was bebl at the Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on Wednesday , the 2 Gi . li . January , 1870 . There were present : Tbe R . W . Bros . Hugh David Snndoman ,

D . G . AI . ; and William J . Judge , Dep . D . G . M . ; AV . Bros . F . Powell , M . D ., D . G . S . W . ; J . B . Knight , Past D . G . S . W . ; AV . Clark , CE ., Past D . S . G . 'W . ; J . Mackintosh , D . J . G . W . ; J . 11 . Linton , D . G . Treas . ; J . PUt Kennedy , D . G . Reg . ; C . K . Dove , Past D . G . Reg . ; II . II . Locke , D . G . See . ; W . B . Farr , D . S . G . D . ; Bro . J . C . Parker , as D . J . G . D . ; W . Bros . J . B . Gillon , Past D . G . D . ; C . II . Wilson . Past D . G . D . ; T . H . Girling , Oil ' g . D . G . Supt . of Works ; J . Conway , D . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Bros . W . G

India.

Amos , D . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; G . A . AVallace , as D . G . S . B . ; Ii . S . T . MacEwen and S . Carritt , as Srandard Bearers ; Alack , as D . G . On ; . ; W . 0 . AHender , as D . G . Purst ; J . D . . Maclean , Past IJ . G / Pursl . ; W . Urns . W . Ii . McT . ivisU , J . Liudlev , W . Nicuolls , II . B . Lewis , If . II . Lewis , aud Bro . T . Stewards ; Bros . D . J . Daniel and G . Alexander , D . G . T y lers . Tne 1 ' o'lowing lodg-.-s were represented : —Star in the East , No . 67 ; Industry ami Perseverance , 1 . 09 ; True Friendship , 218 ; Humilty wiili Fortitude , 229 : . Marine , 232 ; Anchor aud Hope , 234 ; Courage with Humanity , 392 ; St . John , 4 S 1 ; Excelisor , 825 ; Star of Orissa , 1 , 106 ; and Temperance and Benevolence ,

1 , 160 . The District Grand Lodge was opened in due form at G-30 p . m . The District Grand Alaster informed the District Grand Lodge that his Excellency the E ; irl of Mayo would , as Lord Patron , visit the District Grand Lodge that evening ; and directed a deputation to proceed to tiie entrance ball to receive and conduct his lordshi p and suite to the Temple . Shortl y after , the arrival of bis lordship was announced , tho

D . G . M ., descending from the dais , advanced to meet his lordship on the centre ; and after greeting him ia the name of the fraternity , conducted him to a . throne on the right hand of his own in the East , where he was saluted by G . Lodge in Alasonic form . His lordship and suite being seated , the business of D . G . Lodge was proceeded with . The D . G . Sec . reported the receipt of apologies from several D . G . Officers , for unavoidable non-attendance that evening . The minutes of the quarterly

communication of the 25 th September , 1869 , were taken as read , and , ou being put to the vote , were confirmed . The K . 1 V . the D . G . AI . addressed tbe D . G . Lodge as follows : — . " W . Brethren , —Yon were informed by a circular letter from the office of the D . G . Sec , of the reason of the postponement of our quarterly communication , which should have been held , under ordinary circumstances , ou tbe 27 th of last month . Tbe presence of a member of the Royal Family in Calcutta entailed

so many engagements , that it seemed impossible to hope for any tiling like a fair gathering of brethren on St . John ' s Day ; and I was fin ther induced to postpone our meeting because , although I could not publicly state them , I bad grounds for believing that His Excellency the Lord Patron was not unwilling to honour G . Lodge with a visit ; and this it was quite impossible for us to expect so long as his Royal guest was in the capital . If there was any feeling of disappointment in the mind of anyone at seeing our day of meeting altered , I venture to think that it will have disappeared at the sight of this large meeting , which has been called for the ordinary transaction of business , as we'd

as for the purpose of offering a fitting tribute of respect to the noble brother who has honoured us with his presence . I am also glad to see G . Lodge attended by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor , who readily and cordiall y aacepted my invitation to come for one evening amongst us , and join in our Alasonic work . "The report of the finance committee is satisfactory ; and I have little to say upon the general position of Alasonry , further

than that the Order is progressing unostentatiously and evenly throughout theprovinee . There are twenty-two lodges working , and the majority of them are punctual in rendering their returns and dues . We have no returns from the Alorar Lodge , which was worked during the past year by Bro . Kirkhain , but I hope that we shall ere long have satisfactory intelligence regarding it . I have been unable to do much in the inspection of lodges during the past year , but I purpose resuming my official visits

and inspecting the working of lodges in and near Calcutta during the current twelve months . I believe that such visits are not without benefit , and I look for the active co-operation of my G . Oflicers in this important branch of my Alasonic duties . " The inability of the D . G . Chapter to meet the proportion of the expenses of the Secretary's office , at which they are assessed , happens inopportunely at a time when our finances have suffered hy the severance of the provinces of the Punjab and British

lsurmab from the jurisdiction of the D . G . Lodge of Bengal . They have , however , made out a good case , which your finance committee have felt themselves compelled to admit ; and we have , therefore , as far as I can see , no alternative but to adopt the recommendation which is embodied in the report . " I am sorry to have to tell yon that the sale of our almanac aud diary has not been what might have been expected from its greater completeness and the increased information which it contains as compared with last year ' s issue . The D . G . Sec . lias devoted considerable labour to its preparation , and tbe work has elicited extremely favourable notices from the press ; it is ,