Channel Islands.

and as Masons , the ballot was taken for each one separately , resulting in the nnanimous admission of the following brethren : James Grinnuond , P . M . 300 , and P . Prov . S . G . W . ; Frederick Brooks of St . John's Lodge , 214 , Scotch Registry ; Ph . Benest , of St . Buldrich Lodge , 313 , Scotch Registry ; and James Adams . The chair having , at the request of the AA . M ., been taken by Bro . Sehmitt , P . M ., the usual examination was made as to the progress of Ph . Le Brim in the preceding degree , and this

proving satisfactory , was , with the usual formalities , passed to the degree of Fellow-Craft . The chair having been resumed by the AV . M ., the candidates , Mr . Hardy and Mr . Chevalier , having received the benefit of initiation , expressed their intention to become subscribing members . The next business on the programme for the evening was the election of AV . M ., the Treasurer , and the Tyler for the ensuing year . The By-Laws having been read according to custom , a scrutiny took place , accompanied by considerable excitement . The Deacons having distributed the balloting papers , they were afterwards collected and placed in the hands of Bro . Ph . Le Cras and A . Sehmitt as

scrutineers , who declared Bro . John Durell almost unanimously elected to fill the President ' s chair . A general feeling of satisfaction was strongly manifested at the appointment of a brother so worthy in all respects to rule the lodge . Bro . DTJRELL , deeplymoved at so unexpected a demonstration of confidence and esteem , rose to thank the brethren for the honour just conferred upon him , and in appropriate terms expressed his firm deter-. mination to work with ardour and zeal , with the view of

promoting the prosperity of the Order in general , and of this lodge in particular ; not , however , ignorant of the difficulties and the responsibility of his exalted position . He solemnly declared his fixed intention to devote himself , soul and body , to the best interests of tho lodge , in order to prove to the brethren that , by giving their suffrages in his favour , they had not built their hopes and expectations on a false foundation . In concludinghe said "Be assuredmy brethrenthat my constant

, , , and anxious care will be to cause harmony , peace , and concord to reign among us at all times and under all circumstances . " The two other appointments were then made , namely , that of Bro . N . Le Goupillot , as Treas ., and of Bro . H . Du Jardin , as Tyler . An audit committee was completed hy the addition to it of Bros . Thos . C . Le Gros and F . Le Maistre for the

examination of the Treasurer's accounts during the past year , the W . M . being duly authorised to summon the members for the purpose at a suitable time . It was decided that the annual banquet should take place on May 26 th , instead of the 27 th , the latter falling on Saturday , at the Pomme d'Or , after the installation of the new AV . M . and his officers . Bros . Ph . Le Cras , G . F . Perrot , and Fr . J . Le Maistre were appointed stewards , and charged with the preparation of the necessary

arrangements . —Bro . SCHJIITT , P . M ., proposed that an address of condolence should be presented by the lodge to the highly esteemed Bro . Chas . J . Hocquard , in consequence of the calamity which had just fallen on him by the death of his excellent wife , as a mark of sincere sympathy , and of the esteem in which he is held by all the members . —The proposition was carried , and Bros . Sehmitt , Bandains , and Alavoine were appointed- to prepare the documentand to present it to the bereaved and

, honoured brother , in the name of the lodge , couched in the following terms : — "Dear Sir and Brother—The members of Lodge La Cesaree , at their regular meeting , on April 24 th , 1802 , have desired us to express to you . on the part of the whole body , its participation in the affliction by which yon have been lately visited , and in which it takes a deep interest . May this token

of sympathetic esteem afford some consolation to the grief of a brother , . whom we have all learned to love and respect . —Signed , & c—To the A . W . Bro . Chas . J . Hocquard , P . M . 306 , P . Prov . S . G . W ., & c . "—A donation of £ 2 was ordered to be made to a poor distressed widow . Mr . Berrest was proposed as a candidate for initiation at the next meeting of the lodge . The business having been concluded , the lodge was closed with the usual ceremonies . An adjournment having taken place to the

refreshment room , the evening was spent in a most cheerful manner , all present appearing to be inspired with joy and satisfaction at the proceedings of the meeting , and the future prospects of the lodge . On the withdrawal of the cloth , the usual toasts were given from the chair , including "The Queen and Craft , " "The M . W . G . M . and the Grand Lodge of England , " "The newly Initiated Brethren , " "The Joining Members , " & c . Bro . SCHMITT rose to state that he had just received a communication from Bro . Ratier , orator of Lodge La Cesaree , but now residing at Lorient , in France , whose name is always dear to the brethren ,

Channel Islands.

and calls forth delightful reminiscences of the past . He said that in anticipation of the election of Bro . John Durell , Bro . Ratier had commissioned him by proxy to propose a toast in his honour , and to the prosperity of the lodge under his guidance . This announcement was received with the most rapturous enthusiasm . The following is a translation of the document , which was written in French;— " To Lodge La Cesaree—to its AV . M . elect , Bro Durell . Lodge La Cesaree has prospered—it will

prosper . It has given to Freemasonry in the province of Jersey an impulse which it is impossible that any one can succeed in arresting . It has prospered , because it has contained and cherished in its bosom elements of force and of morality , because harmony has reigned in all its objects and desires , as it has prevailed in all its labours . It will prosper , because it still contains these same elements ; because it has comprehended the law of progress ; because it knows that though resistance may

for a time arrest its onward course , as the embankment stops the current of the waters , that resistance , like the embankment , will , in a short period , he broken through , and that then will roll from its bosom waves of light , increasing in intensity and brilliance in proportion as they have been restrained for a longer or shorter period . It will prosper , because its children , though temporarily alienated , will return to follow its fortunes , to guide it into good and pleasant paths , and to afford to Freemasons an example of self denials in the faee of injustice and error , thus preventing the severance of that chain of union , the enduring

symbol of the Fraternity . It will prosper , lastly , because deeply imbued with a sense of the sacredness of our institution , it has been convinced that a temple was needful , worthy of its greatness , without blemish , without- confusion , into which worldly thoughts may not enter , to turn it aside from the concentration necessary for the suecessful prosecution of its labours . To Lodge La Cesaree . —To Bro . Durell , the newly-elected AV . M . To him who , for so many years , little anxious about

his own advancement , has contented himself with a modest participation in the duties of the lodge ; who , without vanity and without pride , with a distrust of himself , has so often declined the honours of thc first chair ; who will make use of his gavel with so much the more independence , inasmuch as he has not been ambitions to grasp it . He , in his character as a benefactor , his heart expanding with love and with goodness , will know how in the minds of some to cast oblivion over the

pains of injustice , and to cause others to feel the vanity of triumph , in which morality and virtue do not form the escort to the car of the victors . To Bro . Durell , the hope of Lodge La Cesaree , who will be powerful to cause harmony , peace , and joy to reign in its bosom . GUSTAVE RATIER . " This toast was drunk with the most lively demonstrations of joy . The proceedings of the evening were brought to a termination by still one more toast in honour of the afflicted Bro . Hocquard , and to the memory of the departed partner of his life , which was appropriately received in solemn silence .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

GLASGOAV- —ST . MARK ' S LODGE FESTIVAL . The ninety-fifth annual festival of St . Mark ' s Lodge ( No . 102 ) was held on April 25 , in the Hall , 213 , Buchanan-street . Covers were laid for about sixty brethren , under the presidency of Bro . Dr . Edward W . Pritchard , K . AV . M ., who was supported by Bros . G . AValker Arnott , LL . D ., Professor of Botany in the University ; John Deuchar , G . B . B . ; Donald

Campbell , S . Prov . G . M . ; F . A . Burrow , P . M . ; Daniel Mackay , D . M . ; J . S . Clark , Treas . ; Adam M'Lellan ; Gordon Smith ; and John Davidson . Bros . William Scott , S . AV ., and Robert Scott , J . W ., were in their places ; and in the body of the hall we observed Bros . Councillor Binnie , R . AA . M . Glasgow Kilwinning ( No . < IA ; John Lawrie , R . W . M . Caledonian Railway Lodge ( No . 354 ); AV . H . Dingley , R . AV . M . Lodge Commercial ( No . 360 ); — SmithR . AV . M . Athol Lod Andrew Park ;

, , ge ; David Haire ; J . E . Swan ; Gebbie , Sec , St . Mark ' s , and others . Dinner was served up in excellent style by Bro . Charles Wilson , of the Royal Restaurant , AVest Nile-street ; and , after the removal of the cloth , the R . AV . M . gave in succession the usual loyal and Masonic toasts . These included " The Queen and Craft , " after which a Masonic version of the National Anthem , referring in appropriate terms to the death of the Prince Consort , was sung by the company ; " The Prince of Wales