Turkey.

evening was the installation of Bro . Dr . Caracoussi as W . M . of the St . George ' s ( Greek ) Lodge for the ensuing year . W . Bro . S . Stab , P . D . G . W ., P . M . St . John ' s and Dekran Lodges , acted on this occasion as installing officer . The whole ceremony was conducted with great solemnity . After closing the works of the evening , the brethren adjourned to refreshment , at which several speeches were made with reference to the great advantages derived from the introduction of Preemasonry into this country . The band of the Smyrna Theatre was in attendance during the evening . The usual Masonic toasts were given , after which the company separated .

Royal Arch .

ROYAL ARCH .

NORFOLK . YARMOUTH . —Friendship Royal Arch Chapter ( No . 100 ) . — The quarterly meeting of this chapter was held on Thursday , 11 th ult ., at the Crown and Anchor Hotel , at which there was an excellent attendance . The newly-elected 3 rd Principle Comp . Hanlon , passed Scribe E ., was installed in the chair of J . by Comp . Henry John Mason , P . Z . The companions were

then admitted , when two brethren of the lodge were exalted companions of the order . The chair of IC , in the absence of the 1 st principal , was taken by Comp . W . Wicks , P . Z . Comp . H . J . Mason , Prin . Soj ., who , on this occasion , gave the mystic symbolic lectnres . Too much praise cannot be given to Comp . Hanlon , P . S . E ., Z ., of the chapter , who , during his year of office , furnished the chapter with a complete set of new furniture , floor cloth & c . A vote of thanks was ordered for his

, exertions to he entered on the books of the chapter . Thanks was accorded to Comps . Mason aud Wicks ( or their attendance , coming from Norwich on purpose to assist the chapter on this and various other occasions . Amongst the visitors were Comp . H . W . Aylmer Williams , 105 th Regiment of Light Infantry ; and Comp . Loftus , of the Cabbel Chapter . Every prospect now exists of an entire revival of this chapter , there being three

candidates for exaltation . The chapter was then closed in solemn prayer , after which an excellent banquet was supplied by Comp . Franklin . The companions separated after one of the most satisfactory evenings spent in Masonry .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METROPOLITAN . SAMSON AND LION MARK MASONRY ( NO . 86 ) . —This lodge met on Wednesday , the 24 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Bro . M . A . Loewenstark , G . S ., W . M ., presiding . Many candidates were expected , but owing to unforseen ciicumstances only one was present , Bro . J . Arnold , of No . 177 , who was favoured with this advanced degree . Among the brethren present were Pros

J . J . Hay hoe , S . W . ; Barrett , P . G . O ., M . O . ; J . Rosenthal , S . O . ; M . Pilcher , , 1 . 0 . ; A . D . Loewenstark , G . P ., P . M ., Treas . ; H . W . Pilcher , Reg . ; F . Walters , P . G . P ., S . M ., Sec . ; & c . The visitor was Bro . P . A . Latham , No . 55 .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

SCOTLAND . VISIT OP THE LODGE OP GLASGOW ST . JOHN NO . 3- TO MELKOSE AND ABBOTSFOHD . The annual midsummer trip of the Lodge of Glasgow St . John took place this year to Melrose aiid Abbotsford , via , Edinburgh , on 25 th ult . ; the brethren and their

friends numbered about eighty . On arrival at Melrose , about 11 A . M . breakfast was served in the hall of the Melrose St . John ' s Lodge ( tho ball in the hotel noli being large enough ); after " which the brethren adjourned to the Abbey ruins , where , after viewing the rains , and getting the popular version of their age , & c , those present had tho pleasure of hearing an essay road by Bro- Baird , architect , giving a historical and technical description of the ruins , which , although it

Masonic Festivities.

made sad havoc of the ides , that David I . founded the present building , was taken in good part by the Melrose brethren , and quite possibly gave sufficient light to some of them to change their former ideas . Abbotsford was also visited , and the beauties and interesting objects therein seen . The day was beautiful , and it is hoped that when next

the brethren of the Glasgow St . John ' s visit Melrose , they . will find that Melrose St . John ' s , following the example of its elder brother , has also got itself enrolled under the banner of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which would enable both to fraternize together more fully than can be done under the present circumstances . Time going on , the brethren had to turn back to

Edinburgh again for dinner , which was served in splendid style by the brother vrho is the proprietor of the Cafe Royal . Everything going off well , they started for Glasgow , and arrived home again all safe , and highly satisfied with the day ' s excursion .

The. Royal Albert Idiot Asylum, Lancaster.

THE . ROYAL ALBERT IDIOT ASYLUM , LANCASTER .

LAVING THE FOUNDATION STOKE . The grand ceremonial for laying the foundation stone of the Asylum , with full Masonic honours , which took place on the 17 th ult ., in the neighbourhood of Lancaster , was looked forward to with much interest by all interested in the philanthropic work which has been begun . Long before the time appointed for the ceremony , the

streets presented a very bustling appearance , and during the morning visitors began to pour in from all parts of Lancashire and adjoining counties , special trains being run from Manchester , Liverpool , Preston , Leeds , Carlisle , and other towns of importance- There was a large muster of brethren from neighbouring lodges , numbering altogether about 1 , 100 . The inhabitants of Lancaster

must feel highly honoured , when they remember that , under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of England , onlyfour such ceremonials have taken place in the provinces since the laying of the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s Cathedral , London , in 1673 . Erom records of the last 60 years , we find that the foundation stone of the following institutions , & c , has been laid with Masonic honours , by the Grand Lodge : —The Freemasons' Hall , London , in 1864 ; the North Biding Infirmary , at Middlesbro ' , in 1860 ; St . George ' s

Hall , Bradford , 1851 ; monument at Penshaw , in 1844 , to the memory of the late Earl of Durham , P . Prov . G . M- ; the suspension bridge at Hammersmith , in 1825 ; the London University and Caledonian Asylum , in 1827 ; the Licensed Victuallers ' Asylum , in 1828 ; Charing Cross Hospital , London , in 1831 ; and Covent Garden Theatre , London , in 1808 . Prior to those dates there does not

appear to be a record of any foundation stone being laid by a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge since 1673 . At an earl y hour of the day appointed for the ceremony , lodge was opened in the Palatine Hall in ample form , when at least 300 Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens were assembled . The M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , presided , assisted by the Marquis of

Harkingdon , as D . G . M . ; Bros . Le Gendre , N . Starkie , as S . G . W . ; H . Grissell , as J . G . W . ; Dr . Senior and the Eev . W . Bramwell Smith , as G . Chaps . ; Cape . Cope as G . Treas . ; Savage , as G . Eeg . ; W . Gray Clarke , G . Sec . ; Bentley Shaw , S . G . D . ; H . Browne and W . Latham , as J . G . Deacons ; H . Cooke , as G . Supt . of Works ; A . W . Wood , as G . Dir . of Cers . ; Eenn , Assist . G . D . O . ; E . Busher , as G . S . B . ; P- Dean , as G . Org . ; U . Nicholls , G . Purs . ; C . B . Payne , G . Tyler ; and Prov . G . Masters , Lord de Tabley and Lord Kenlis .

The M . W . G . M . called upon Bro . W . Gray Clarke to read the circular convening the meeting . The W . G . M then explained to the Grand Lod ge assembled the reason for this meeting , viz ., to lay with Masonic ceremonial