India.

Lodge should be deposited with the Master , and not with the Treasurer , ancl that they should be kept separate and distinct from the moneys belonging to the Lodge . It follows , obviously , that the Master is personally responsible for such fees and clues , and if he accepts office and takes the chair of a lodge , such dues , although owing by his predecessor , are carried to bis debit , ancl it is his duty to ascertain , in the first instance , whether any such fees or dues are outstanding . The remaining lodges , both in

Calcutta and in tbe Mofussil , are , I am glad to report , generally working well and satisfactorily . I have much pleasure in reporting to the Grand Lodge a very praiseworthy ancl charitable action on tbe part of Miss Clinger , the daughter of a mason , who , in his lifetime , was held in high esteem by the craft , in giving a public concert in aid of tbe Masonic Fund of Benevolence . The nett proceeds of this concert amount to 1050 rupees , and I think that our special thanks are due to this

excellent lady for having so handsomely contributed to our charity , seeing that she proposed the concert unsolicited , and solely from a feeling of admiration of our order , ancl an ardent desire to do good . During tbe past quarter I have paid several official visits to private lodges , and while I have , been much gratified at the kind ancl cordial manner in which I have , without exception , been received , I am enabled to state , with great leasurethat I have invariablfound our lodges well ancl abl

p , y y conducted , ancl their books kept in a methodical and businesslike manner . Our A . AV . Bro . Callan , Past Provincial Grand Registrar , who is now in the North-Western Provinces , has kindly undertaken to visit any lodges that he may meet with during his tour , and to give information regarding their welfare . It is hoped that a stimulus will thus be afforded , both in Calcutta and in the Mofussil , to energy and to zeal on tbe part of our

brethren in the craft , while it cannot fail to be interesting to members of Grand Lodge to bear from time to time how our order is progressing generally throughout the Province . I have two remarks to make , which have suggested themselves to me in the course of my official visits ; the first of these is on the subject of printed rituals or memoranda , intended to assist Masons in the study of what should only be communicated orally . I was surprised at one lodge ( and it is hut fair to say that the AV . M . at once checked and condemned the proceeding ) to see a

candidate for a higher degree standing up for his examination with a printed set of questions and answers in his hand . I need scarcely dilate upon the extreme irregularity of such a course , or upon the impropriety of introducing into a lodge any written or printed matter connected with those secrets which we have all solemnly promised never to commit to paper . I sincerely hope that the W . M . s will not allow such a practice , which is fortunately exceptional"to creep into their lodgesand I

, , would solicit their attention to a circular issued on the 31 st of May , 1861 , by Bro . Hoff , late D . Prov . G . M . on the subject . It is true that tbe circular refers to manuals only , but the subject is a general ono , and it may he made to apply with equal force to any description of Masonic work which is thus improperly rendered both legible ancl intelligible . 1 observe that in many lodges it is the custom to present newliuitiated members with

y the bye-laws of tbe lodge only , and not with the Book of Constitutions , although the ceremony of initiation provides that both should be presented . It certainly appears anomalous that the Booh of Constitutions should be formally presented to a candidate , and then recovered from him immediately after he has been charged to study it with care ; ancl I would , therefore , suggest to AV . M . s whether it would not be advisable to obtain

from England a sufficient supply of the Booh of Constitutions , to enable them to present each candidate with a copy , either at his own cost or at that of the lodge . I may mention that a neat pocket edition ' of the Constitutions is published by the Grand Secretary in London , by the authority of tbe United Grand Lodge , and may be obtained from Bro . Spencer , of 26 , Great Queen streetat the small cost of 2 s . Qui . per copy . I regret

, , that our Bro . J . B . Roberts has resigned his office of Custodian of Freemasons' Hall . The duties of the office are somewhat onerous , ancl I feel that I am not asking too much in soliciting the Grand Lodge to pass a cordial vote of thanks to our excellent brother for the energetic manner in which he has performed those duties , involving , as they frequently do , the necessity of considerable tact and sound judgmentwhich he has always

ex-, ercised with impartial justice and discrimination . Bro . Hoff has kindly consented to become interim Custodian of our Hall , until a successor to Bro . Roberts is appointed . It is satisfactory to add , that there are no cases of Masonic complaint or punishment to lay before you ; so that with increasing good on the one hand ,

and an absence of all oflence on tbe other , we may fairly hope that the science of Ereemasonry in Bengal is really progressing favourably , and that in addition to the benefits which we derive from her instructions , she may rise in the estimation of those of the outward world , who , without understanding our art , or appreciating our motives , from uncharitable conclusions of our body , by aatributing frequently individual shortcomings to a defect in our collective system . May we be so united and knit

together , saying or doing nothing which may hinder brotherly love and good offices to be renewed and continued , tba all may see the benign influence of Masonry , as true Masons have done from the beginning of the world , ancl will do to the end of time . So mote it be !" A letter was read from Miss Clinger , forwarding the nett proceeds of the concert given by her iu aid ofthe Masonic Fund of Benevolence , amounting to 1050 rupees . As an acknowledgment

of the exertions which had produced this handsome result , the District Grand Lodge resolved that a bracelet should be purchased from the jewellers to the District Grand Lodge , and presented to Miss Clinger by tbe Prov . G . M . Tbe Prov . G . M . then proceeded to appoint the Officers of the District Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , and to invest them with their badges of office . The following brethren were appointed , and suitable remarks were addressed to each by the P . G . M .:

—Bros . Fred . Jennings , 279 D . Prov . G . M . „ John W . Brown , 715 Prov . S . G . W . „ AVilliam Clark , C . E .. 80 Prov . J . G . W . „ AVilliam H . Abbott , 1127 Prov . G . Reg . „ AVilliam H . Holf , 279 Prov . G . Sec . „ Charles J . Evans , 282 Prov . S . G . D . „ J . H . Linton , 551 Prov . J . G . D . „ AV . Bourne , C . E ., 80 Prov . G . 3 . of Works

„ AV . M . Benwell , 265 Prov . G . Dir . of Cers „ J . B . Knight , 279 Prov . Asst . D , C „ John Bennett , 281 Prov . G . S . B . „ Thomas Risely , 80 Prov . G . Org . „ Alexander Simson , 80 Prov . G . Purst . „ W . Bourne , M . D . SO ^ „ F . F . Wyman , 282 Baxter

„ W . G . , 715 „ n „ , , < H , „ , „„ iv i '„ $ ¦ ion -Prov . G . Stewards . „ ihomas Dickson * , 12 o ... „ T . A . Rampart , 551 „ Charles K . Dove , 265 „ D . J . Daniel Prov . G . Tyler .

Tho Prov . G . M . intimated that RW . Bro . Clark , havingjust received from Government an appointment at Lahore , was consequently unable to stand for re-election to the office of Prov . G . Treasurer , which he bad ably filled for many years , and that it was therefore necessary that some other brother should be nominated . Bro . Roberts stated that the retirement of Bro . Clark from the office of Prov . G . Treasurerallbi-decl him the opportunitof

, y expressing his opinion that the duties should not be entrusted to a brother holding an office in the District Grand Lodge , although he saw no objection to tbe election of a Past Grand Officer . Two Past Grand Officers were then successively nominated ; bnt as they declined tbe office , Bro . Jennings proposed Bro . Thomas Dickson , one of the newly-appointed Prov . G . Stewards ,

who signified his willingness to stand for election . The Prov . G . M . Supported the proposition , and there being no other nominee , Bro . Dickson was elected Prov . G . Treasurer by acclamation . Bro . Howe was of opinion that Bro . Clark should not be allowed to retire from the duties of Prov . G . Treasurer without some mark of the sense entertained by the District Grand Lodge

of the trouble be had taken for many years iu that onerous and responsible office . He remembered that , when a former Prov . G . Treasurer , Bro . King , was about to leave Calcutta for Australia , a testimonial was presented to him . He therefore proposed that a testimonial , not exceeding Rs . 500 in value , be presented to Bro . Clark by the District Grand Lodge . The proposition was heartily seconded by Bro . Roberts , and was unanimously carried . The Prov . G . Secretary read the Report of the Finance Committee . The balance in hand of the District Grand Lodge Fund