South Africa.

j urisdiction on his late trip to the Transvaal , and detailed accounts of the progress of each respectively . The Provincial Grand Secretary then read the annual report , which was very satisfactory , especially the announcement that active steps were being taken to form a general Orphan and Widows' Fund , in which desirable object the British Provincial Grand Lodge had been invited to co-operate , and bad made a ready response ; so that in a very short time a printed programme of tho proposed

scheme would be forwarded to all the lodges of the colony , inviting them to join in the movement . There seemed to he a general feoling of regret at the non-production of a circular which had been printed and circulated relating to a remission or release from the fees annually paid to the Grand East of the Netherlands ; but it appeared that the proper formularies had not been gone through as prescribed in the regulation . The Grand Treasurer read a very satisfactory financial statement ,

and the meeting proceeded to elect a Provincial Grand Master , Secretary , and Junior Warden , in the room of Bros . Van Breda , J . H . Hofmeyr , ancl C . H . Marting , who vacated office in terms of the by-laws , and who were again unanimously re-elected . The installation then took place , and Bro . Advocate cle Villiers , Provincial Grand Orator , then gave a short address , congratulating the Masonic world on its progress , closing with a vote of thanks to the Deputy Grand Master National for the interest he

had ever evinced in the cause of Masonry , and particularly on this occasion , for the interesting account of his travel and visitations of lodges . The proceedings then terminated . The brethren afterwards met at a banquet in the dining saloon of the building , and spent a most pleasant evening .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN . METROPOLITAN CHAPTER OF INSTRUCTION . —A convocation of this chapter was held at the George Hotel Aldermanbury , on the 28 th ult . The exaltation ceremony and the first clause of the first section were worked by the following : Comps . J . Brett , Preceptor ; Dr . Woodman , Z . ; L . Litteaur , H . ; Dr . Self , J . ; Taylor , Smith , Green , Hilliard , Boyd and Hosgood . Bro . Boyd then gave tho pleasing intelligence that the Deputy G . M . for China , would visit this Chapter of Instruction on Tuesday , the 12 th inst ,

DURHAM . DURHAM . —Chapter of Concord ( No . 124 ) . —The usual convocation of this chapter was held in the Freemasons' Hall on Tuesday , the 28 th ult . The chapter was opened shortly after seven o ' clock by Companions W . Brignall , P . Z ., as M . E . Z ., W . R . Fitzgerald , E . H ., and W . A . Malcolm , E . J . Amongst the companions present were T . W . HearonS . G . GBailesas SN

, , . , .., W . Brignall , jun ., Prin , Soj ., R . Cooke , 1 st Assist . Soj ., W . Donkin , 2 nd Assist . Soj ., J , J . Leigh , W . Ground , W . Sewell , & c , & c . The minutes of the previous convocation having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken with a satisfactory result for Bros . William Canney and James John Gustard Strong , both of the Wear and Valley Lodge , No . 1 , 121 , Bishop Auck . land . The candidatesbeing in attendancewere

separatelin-, , y troduced , and regularly exalted according to the ceremonies of this supreme degree . The several loctures were most impressively delivered by the officers in the respective chairs , and a proposition for exaltation having been made , the chapter was closed in the accustomed form until Tuesday , tho 30 th Novembor next .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METROPOLITAN . SOUTHWARK LODGE OE MARK MASTERS ( NO . 22 ) . —An emergency meeting of this rapidly increasing lodge was held on Saturday , the 25 th ult ., at the Queen ' s Arms Tavern , Westonstreet , Bermondsey . Bro . Henry Massey , G . Steward , W . M ., opened the lodge , assisted by the following brethren : —Bros . A . D . Loewenstark , P . G . Purst ; G . W . Wheeler ; T . J . Sabine , Assist

P . M ., G . . Dir . of Cers . ; W . Noak , J . Trickett , J . W . Avery ; M . A . Loewenstark , P . G . Steward , Sec , and several others . Through some cause not yet explained , the candidates tor whom the lodge was held , did not attend , but Bro . S .

Mark Masonry.

Frankenberg being in attendance , was duly advanced to this ancient degree by Bro . T . J . Sabine , P . M ., in an able and efficient manner . The lectnre of this degree , we were pleased to observe , was likewise given . The lodge being closed , the brethren spent a social hour together , under the able presidency of the AV . M ., Bro . Henry Massey . AVe understand that another lodge of emergency will shortly be held .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of Dumfries And Galloway New Royal Infirmary.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY NEW ROYAL INFIRMARY .

The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the New Royal Infirmary for the counties of Dumfries , Kirkcudbright , and Wigtown , was performed on the 16 th ult ., at Dumfries , amid most favourable circumstances , so far- as the weather was concerned , and with all the pomp and display which the institution of Freemasonry and a combination of the different trades of the town

could confer . A heavy shower of rain fell about midday , but afterwards the sky quickly brightened , and brilliant sunshine favoured the display made by the processionists , and the performance of the ceremony of laying the stone by Bro . Lauderdale Maitland , of Eccles , Provincial Grand Master of Dumfriesshire . The erection of the new Infirmary was rendered necessary by the

deficiency of the accommodation supplied by , and the unsatisfactory condition of , the present building , which was erected nearly one hundred years ago . About two years ago a report by the medical officers of the Infirmary was published in the governors' annual report , stating that the present house was badly ventilated and did not fulfil the requirements of a modern infirmary ; the

question then arose whether the wards of the existing establishment should be enlarged and generally improved , or a new edifice erected ; but ultimately the governors of the institution were encouraged to proceed with the new undertaking by the munificent donation of £ , 5 , 000 , contributed by Mrs . Laurie , of Maxwellton , and left to her for disposal to charitable purposes by her husband . Subsequently a public meeting , presided over by the Duke of Buccleuch , was held in Dumfries in support of the movement , and on that occasion nearly £ 2 , 000 were

subscribed . Since then between £ 3 , 000 and £ 4000 have been collected , principally in Dumfries and the Stewartry , and it is considered that other £ 3 , 000 or £ 4 , 000 will be required to cover the expenses of the new Infirmary . The cost of the building alone is estimated at about £ 10 , 000 ; and £ 4 , 000 or so will require to be expended upon the purchase of the site and the providingof the

requisite furnishing for the new edifice . The site selected for the new Infirmary is situated at Nithbank , on the opposite side of the road from the present institution ; and is in every respect suitable . The entrance-front faces the public road , and has in the centre a massive block of building devoted to administrative purposes , and which portion is only carried up

three storeys . The northern wing on the ground floor of this front is alloted to the out-patients , departments , containing the necessary waiting , examination , consulting , and other rooms , together with the dispensary , laboratory , & c , a separate entrance and exit being provided for this class of patients . In the southern wing is placed the accident wardhaving also a separate entrance ;

, and in close proximity to this ward , and conveniently situated for every part of the building , is the operating room , direct access to which is obtained from the accident lobby entrance . From the entrance hall extends a corridor measuring between 11 and 12 ft . wide , and about 210 ft . in length , from which the various wards and other apartments are reached on the right and left , and at the

extremity of this corridor are situated the kitchen and other offices . The whole of the wards are amply furnished with nurses' rooms , sculleries , baths , lavatories , and all sanitary arrangements , on the most approved principles ,