Colonial.

of the colony , which could never be forgotten . His name had been justly identified with Trinidad by Sir Charles Elliott and one or two Ordinances , in regard to " Hart's Cut , " and " Hart's Causeway . " Moreover , Bro . Hart ' s kind disposition and charitable acts were traits also to be recollected , and he knew not any man in the community who had so ably distinguished himself , either as a Mason , a private gentleman , or as a public officer , as Bro . Daniel Hart . He would therefore give

them "The Health of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Daniel Hart . " The toast was received and drunk with every demonstration of affection and good will . The PROV . G . MASTER rose , evidently with feelings of emotion , and returned thanks in a manner that drew down thunders of applause . The quiet , yet clear , and beautiful manner in which he spoke was feeling and eloquent .

Bro . O'BRIEN , D . Prov . G . M ., then gave "The Legislative Council , " coupling with the toast the name of the Acting Receiver General , a member of the board who was present . Bro . FITT returned thanks in a short but neat and appropriate speech . Bro . HART then gave " Prosperity to Trinidad . " In proposing the toast , Bro . Hart , vividly brought to the mind of those present their duties as natives of the islandor as sojourners

, or residents Of long standing . He enlarged on- the duties of all residents and inhabitants in a manner that frequently caused him to bo interrupted by acclamations of applause . Rarely has a speech been given at any meeting of men where their duties towards the "land in which they live , " or " were born , " heen so forcibly pictured , and he was indeed successful in the lucid manner in which he gave the toast . Bro . F . URICII , by permission of the chair , gave " Mrs . Keate

and the Ladies of Trinidad , " a toast which was drunk with every feeling of affection towards the beautiful sex . The PROV . G . MASTER in proposing the last toast— "Absent Friends" —certainly made every one feel the words he expressed , for when he said " Who is it that has not in distant shores some one towards whom he feels a love , a friendship , or a respect for , " it was easy to observe the feelings of those present ; and , as might be expected , the toast was drunk with all respect . At half-past eleven the company separated in joy and harmony .

China.

CHINA .

SHANGHAI . ( From our own Correspondent . ) NoRTnEitN LODGE OE CHINA ( NO . 570 . ) A meeting of this lodge took place on Friday , the 4 th of March , in connection with a farewell dinner given to Bro . Thorne , P . M ., on his approaching departure from Shanghai . Present—Bros . R . F . GouldW . M . C . ThorneP . MJNutt

, ; , . ; . , S . AV . ; J . Markham , J . AA . ; T . J . Birdseye , P . M ., Treas . ; Alex . Johnston , Sec ; 0 . K . Gordon , S . D . ; J . A . Maitland , J . D . ; J . F . Wallace , I . G . ; AV . Phillips , Tyler ; A . R . Tilhy , M . C . ; Alex . Levy , Steward ; II . A . Sidford , Acting Org . ; T . Bernard , J . J . Cami , J . Clark , 0 . R . Crockett , J . G . S . Coghill , S . Daly , H . AV . Dent , J . Gilfillan , J . M . Hockly , R . A . Jamieson , J . M , LloydG . LonreirsM . R . MercerC . E . ParkerD . Patrid

, , , , ge . E . H . de St . Croix , F . C . Sibbald , AV . Saunders , T . A incent . Visitors—C . M . Donaldson , P . M . ; Archibald Campbell , P . M . ; C . E . Hill , AV . Tarrant , - G . J . Pirkis , G . N . Yonge , F . Jehb , R . Hamilton , E . AVarden , E . J . Hogg , R . E . Westall , E . Marston , J . Thorne , and AV . Ramsbottom . At seven p . m . the brethren were summoned to refreshment , the arrangements of the Stewards affording unmixed satisfaction .

The following toasts having been duly honoured , " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Grand Master , " " The Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , " ( replied to by Bro . A . Campbell , P . M . No . 570 , P . Prov . G . D . ) , "The Army and Navy ( responded to hy Bros . Col . Yonge , 67 th Regiment , and J . Hockley , R . N . ) The AV . MASTER , in introducing the toast of the evening , " Health and Prosperity to Bro . Cornelius Thorne"

re-, gretted that the task had not devolved upon a more able speaker , and trusted that where he failed as a faithful exponent of the brethren ' s sentiments he might meet with their charitable indulgence . With Bro . Thome's efforts and successes in the cause of Freemssonry at Shanghai , many were familiar ; but it would be his duty to

recapitulate briefly the nature and extent of the services he had rendered . At Bro . Thome ' s arrival in Shanghai early iu 1855 , now nine years ago , the Northern Lodge of China , then the only lodge in the place , held its meetings in a small building in Church-street , and it was with great difficulty that those meetings were sustained . At the termination of the year his exertions induced the other members to designate him as Master for the ensuing twelve months ; hut in consequence of his

never having filled the office of Warden a dispensation was required , which the Provincial Grand Master declined to grant , recommending that Bro . Thome be appointed Senior AVarden , so as to be qualified at the next election . This was done ; hut in the sequel Bro . Thorne proved to be not exempt from the vicissitudes which beset our paths in the other relations of life ; and , by his energy , the lodge having been restored to an efficient order of working , older members preferred prior claims

to the chair , and , so far from progressing , at the next appointment of officers , he went down to Senior Deacon , being , however , eventually installed Master in 1858 . By degrees the advancement of Masonry became impeded , and a reference to the minute-book would show that during the year 1859 the apathy of the brethren was such that though the then AVorshipful Master , their now much respected Treasurer , with praiseworthy pertinacity , convened meeting after meeting , it

seldom . happened that there was a sufficient attendance to proceed with tho business of the evening ; indeed , it stood recorded in Bro . Birdseye's handwriting that on several occasions the lodge could not even be opened . In 1860 , Bro . Thorne was again called to the chair , and , though hut seven hrethren were regular attendants , the turning point was reached , and from his second mastership the prosperity of the Northern Lodge of China realldated . At the expiry of

y his term of office , Bro . Thorne Was presented with the P . M . 's jewel which he now wears , and was worthily succeeded in the chair by Bios . Campbell , Dunlop , and Underwood , the meetings meanwhile being held in a temporary Masonic hall , in the library , and in the Germania . In 1861 , during Bro . Campbell's mastership , a project was suhmitted for the erection of a Masonic hall , an explanation of which would be best given in Bro . Thome ' s own words . ( The AV . M . here proceeded to read

from a letter addressed to his predecessor in office . ) " It having been agreed to erect premises , I was directed to look out for a suitable piece of ground and negotiate for the purchase ; accordingly , after looking around the settlement , the present site seemed to be most eligible , and I arranged the purchase . The transfer was made at H . B . M . Consulate , by J . AVhittall , Esq ., to the AVorshipful Master and Wardens of the Northern Lod of China ( No 832 ) Plans for the building

ge . . were then obtained , and a contract entered into by Mr . C . AA . Gribble , architect , and Outzaling , a Chinese builder , for its erection . Several of the members lent the funds to defray the expenses free of interest , as shown in the Treasurer's hook ; the mode of repayment was stated iu heading to the subscription list ; and , by a vote in lodge , it was determined that no unnecessary expenses should be incurred until the whole

debt is paid off , which , it is calculated , will be within three years from date . The building , in the meantime , has been mortgaged to Messrs . Dent , Underwood , and Birdseye , as Trustees , who are to arrange the paying off the loans , and then to retransfer the ground and building to the AVorshipful Master and Wardens of the Northern Lodge of China ( No . 832 ) . It was originally intended , if practicable , to secure by deed tho payment annually of £ 50 to each of the Masonic Charities , viz .,

the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children , the Royal Masonic Institution for the Sons of Indigent and Deceased Freemasons , the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their AVidows , such amounts to be transmitted so as to arrive in England on or about the 1 st January in each year , the first amount to be forwarded so soon as the loan is paid off ; hut , as this could not be legally entailed , a by-law is about to bo passed to secure this desirable object . AVhen the building

was first planned , the idea was to have a lodge , reception , and preparation room on one floor , but it having afterwards been proposed that an organ bo obtained from England , it was determined , in open lodge , to have the upper floor as one large hall , with a small room for Tyler and a preparation room adjoining , as , when the organ is erected , a proper dais placed at the east end , and the walls properly coloured , the room will be nicely proportioned . The reading room was intended for a small lodge room , and the book room as a reception or banqueting room , the lower floor or godown has been ceiled and moulded , and a