India.

C Secretary read the paper issued by Bro . Hoff , previous to his departure from Calcutta , regarding the mode in which business should be conducted during his absence . Bro . Hoff was obliged to proceed to sea under medical advice ; but he has just returned , somewhat sooner than he intended . As , hoivever , he is not sufficiently restored to health , he has requested that the arrangements made previous to his departure should continue in till this evening . I am sure you will all unite Avith me in

^ orce dep loring the cause of the absence from the District Grand Lod"e of a brother so worthy of our regard and esteem , and wl ) 0 ° _ rom his exalted position in the Craft , is so Avell entitled to our respect , and that you will also join Avith me in the fervent hone that he may speedily be restored to health and strength , and be able to come again amongst us , to assume the functions of his high office . "

The PROV . G . SECRETARY read the document alluded to by Bro . Howe . The arrangements made in it , ivith the sanction of the Prov . G . M ., Avere , that orders ivould continue to he issued in the name of the D . Prov . G . M ., during his absence , and that the P . D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Howe , would supervise the disposal of ordinary business by the Prov . G . Sec , consulting his colleagues Av-henever necessary , and would preside in the Deputy Grand Lodge at the next quarterly communication .

The exclusion of Bros . Leisk and Berry from Lodge Star of Burmah , Eangoon , and of Bro . Luke Dillon from Lodge Morning Star , Lucknow , Avas announced . Bead the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Southern India on the 30 th of April , 1862 . Bead the Finance Committee ' s Eeport . The balance in hand of the District Grand Lodge Fund , at the end of the second quarter of 1862 , Avas Es . 4338 , and of the Fund of Benevolence ,

Bs . 3632 . Bro . Howe said : " Brethren , Ave seldom meet in District Grand Lodge without having to deplore the loss of some Avorthy Brother Mason , AVIIO , in his day , bore a distinguished part in the sei-A'ice and history of the Craft . Since our last meeting , tidings have been received from home of the death of one , who , for a long time , held a very prominent position in this city , in science , art , and literature , and as the head of Masonry and the first Provincial Grand Master of the present District Grand

Lodge of Bengal . Of the distinguished and talented brethren AA-ho have held that high post , none have shone Avith a brighter lustre than he AVIIO has lately passed aAvay from among us , and ivhose name I Avill noiv / pronounce— Bro . Dr . John Grant . I regret that Bro . Hoff , AA-IIO Avas intimately acquainted AA'ith the Masonic career of the late Bro . Grant , and AA'ho Avas for so many years associated Avith him in the management of the Craft , is not himself present to lament him , and to acquaint you Avith

his many excellent qualities . I see around me , hoAvever , many brethren ivho Avere the contemporaries of Bro . Grant , and they will hear witness to the truth of Avhat I have said concerning him . Bro . Grant Avas a man esteemed and respected by the ivorld at large , as Avell as Avithin the borders of Masonry . He was a man of great ability , ancl , better still , of benevolence ; and I Avell remember hearing from Masons , on more than one occasionhowin their hour of distresstheir Grand Master

, , , , Bro . Grant , had sought them out and administered the kindly word of sympathy and comfort , or help from the open hand , as the circumstances of the case needed the one or the other . It was thus Bro . Grant Avon tiie esteem ancl affection ofthe brethren , faking these high qualities into consideration , and the position which Bro . Grant occupied in the Craft in this country , I feel that it is becoming in the District Grand Lodto place

ge on record in its proceedings an expression of its high sense of the worth and excellencies of our departed brother , and of the deep regret ivith Avhich we have heard of his death . " The PEOV . G . SEC . suggested that a copy of the proposed lesolution should be forwarded to Mrs . Grant , through Bro . Henry Fraser , AA-IIO had lately proceeded to England . This ivas "greed to .

tne motion Avas then seconded by Bro . Peter Anderson , Prov . J . G . W ., and AA-as carried unanimously . & o . F . JENNINGS , P . Prov . S . G . W ., with reference to the oalanee in hand of the District Grand Lodge Fund , proposed a Conation of 500 rupees to the Lancashire Belief Fund . The Motion ivas seconded by by Bro . W . J . Judge , P . Prov . J . G . W . Bro . C . J . EVANS , Prov . G . Steward , seconded by Bro . C . T . uavis , Master of Lodge No . 126 , proposed an amendment , that Me donation should be 1000 rupees . Bro . EOBERTS , P . Prov . S . G . W ., opposed the amendment , reminding the brethren that the balance alluded to had been

accumulating for a considerable time , and that , considering there Avere local charities and many more legitimate objects to be attended to , £ 50 ivas not a small donation to be given away to those at a distance , Avho were within easy reach of many Provincial Grand Lodges . The amendment was put to the vote and Avas lost , and the original motion Avas carried . Bro . ANDERSON suggested that the donation should be sent ,

not to London , but , ivith other contributions from Masonic funds , to some gentleman residing in Lancashire . Bro . SANDEMAN stated that , at an encampment of Knights Templar , a brother had mentioned that Mr . Murray Gladstone , a gentleman living in the neighbourhood of the operatives , would willingly receive money and apply it Avith a greater knoAvledge of individual cases than it was possible that the Lord Mayorovei-AA'helmed as he Avas with businesscould do .

, , Bro . EOBEETS feared that if all contributions were not sent to the same quarter and Avere not distributed from the same source , one person Avould be receiving relief tAvo or three times . This Avouldbe creating the very hydra AA'hich he had been trying to knock on the head in Calcutta , where one person , by applying simultaneously to the Fund of Benevolence and the several lodges for relief , sometimes diverted more money than he ought properly to do .

Bro . HUGH MCLARDY , of Lodge 284 , ivas of opinion that it would be better to send money for the distressed operatives in Great Britain than to limit is distribution to Lancashire . At last the motion , seconded by Bro . Judge , was put to the vote and ivas carried , that the donation from the District Grand Lodge Fund be forwarded , Avith other contributions from the Masonic funds , to Mr . Murray Gladstone , for the purpose of being distributed by him among the operatives in Lancashire .

Bro . SANDEITAI * suggested that the above resolution be communicated to the several lodges and chapters . On the District Grand Lodge being closed in form , the brethren moved doivn to the banquet room .

CALCUTTA . Some of the lodges have placed their jeivels in mourning , as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Provincial Grand Master , Bro . A . H . E . Boileau . Lodge True Friendship and Lodge Humility with Fortitude have expressed their desire to Bro . J . J . L . Hoff , that he should continue to exercise the poivers of Deputy Provincial Grand Master , until permanent arrangements are made by the Earl of

Zetland for the administration of the province . We have received a " memo . " informing us that a Scotch Lodge , named St . Kilda in the Erst , has been established at Bhaugulpore . LODGE INDUSTRY AND PERSEVERANCE . —A regular meeting of this lodge Avas held on Friday , the 4 th July . There Avas an initiation on the paper , but the candidate ivas not present . The lodge Avas visited by some of the members of the Worshiful

p Lodges Saint Luke and Excelsior , and by Bros . Ellis and Halliday , temporary residents in this place . We Avere gladdened with the presence of some of the worthy brethren of old Humility Avith Fortitude . The evening ivas rainy and gloomy out of doors ; but warmth and good-humour prevailed inside . LODGE HUMIDITY WITH FORTITUDE . —A meeting of this

lodge AA-as held on the 16 th June . Among the visitors Ave were glacl to greet our Bro . Jno . W . Brown , the social gathering at the banquet table was enlivened by Bro . Chardon's violin . He played , Avith a skill rare in Calcutta , the last aria in Lucia di Lammermoor and a selection from the Carnival of Venice His harmonies were especially good . At an emergent meeting held on the 30 th June , Capt . John Gaby , Commander of the Peninsular and Oriental SteamerNubiaand MrWilmot

, , . Wilkinson , of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's Service , were initiated ; Bro . Wallace Avas passed ; and Bro . Hunt was raised . Among the vistors was Bro . Hugh McLardy , who made a very good speech . At a regular meeting of thelodge held on the 7 th July , Mr . Woodivard , of the East India raihvay , and Messrs . EdAvards and Morgan , of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's serA * iceAvere initiated . On the perusal by the Secretaryof the

, , printed circular of the Prov . G . Secretary , officially announcing the death of the Provincial Grand Master and the consequent cessation of the functions of the D . Prov . G . M ., the Master , Bro . J . B . Knight , passed a high , but Avell deserved , eulogium on Bro . Boileau , and proposed that the lodge should place on record an expression of the sincere sorrow ivith which it had heard of his death . The W . M . also suggested that the lodge