India.

you a stranger ( for I was exalted in an English Chapter far from hence ) , and I was well received . I had not long been a member of your Chapter before you unanimously elected me your Principal Z ., but not contented with that mark of your confidence and esteem , you joined with the other . Chapters of the province , in the year 1855 , iu petitioning the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland to appoint me Grand Superintendent of this province , and they complied with your request . Untiring in your

generosity to me , you have this evening added to your former favours by conferring upon me this most handsome testimonial of your esteem and regard . How , then , shall I find words to express my gratitude ? AVorcls cauuot express it . Imagine , then , I pray 3 'ou , what you would feel if honoured and rewarded as I have been , and you will then be able to form some idea of my present feelings ; and if you will indulge me still further by imagining those feelings expressed by an eloquent speaker in suitable and appropriate words , you will understand how I

would thank you if I coulcl . Companions—1 do thank you with all my heart , and I sincerely hope you may ever be happy and prosperous . Alay the Great I . A . bless you . " The Chapter was then closed iu clue form , and the Companions adjourned to a sumptuous banquet provided by the Chapter in honour of the occasion , and after "The Queen and the Craft , " and the other toasts of obligation had been drunk , the health of the Grand Superintendent of the province , AI . E . Comp . G . S . Judge , was proposed and drunk with enthusiastic cheersand suitably acknowledged

, I y him . After a very happy evening , enlivened by the spirit of song for - which this Chapter is so famous , the Companions separated at midnight , in peace and harmony . POONAH . — Chapter of St . Andrew ' s in the East ( No . US , Scotland ) . —An emergent meeting of this Chapter was held in the Alasonic Hall , on Saturday , tho 3 rd December , when Bros . Bannister ancl King , who hacl previously received the degrees of AlarkPast and Excellent Alaster

, , were exalted in due form . Present : —Comps . Dracup , Z . ; J . Hunt , H . ; Shencn , J . ; Collins , Scribe E . ; E . N . Bourke , P . S . ; Clabby , A . S . ; J . 0 . Randall , Janitor ; Mountain , Gould , and Gordon . Upon the conclusion of business the Companions adjourned to refreshment , and the evening was spent in a most agreeable manner .

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR . POONAH . —Ascalon , Encampment . —The opening meeting of this Encampment ( working under dispensation from the V . E . Provincial Grand ( . ' ommander of Bombay , Sir Knt . G . S . Judge ) took place at the Abisonic Hall , on Alonday , the 5 th December . The summons convening the meeting , and the dispensation authorizing it , were read and recorded . It was proposed by Fr . R . F . Gould , E . G ., as a preliminary measure , and

seconded by Fr . Hunt , 2 nd Capt , that the regulations of the Alelita Encampment ( A ' aletta , Malta ) , with the exception of the installation fee , should be adopted for the government of the Encampment , until another code , in course of compilation , should be ready for submission . Fr . AVillis , a candidate for joining , was unanimously elected a member . The following Companions ( members of Chapter St . Andrews in the East , and No . OS in the roll of Scotland ) , having previously intimated their desire to receive the Templar degree , ancl being in attendance ,

ivere duly installed in accordance with ancient usage and a resolution of the Encampment—viz ., Comps . J . Dracup , Z . ; F . C . Shenen , IT . ; the Hon . E . It . Bourke , Lieut . Emiiskillrog Dragoons . P . S . ; S . Gordon , A . S . ; J . IT . Clabby , P . Donohoe , S . IT . Clarke , AV . E . AVait , J . Bannister , ancl J . King , all of the Chapter of Sfc . Andrew , ( No . 68 , S . C . ) It was proposed by the E . G ., seconded by Fr . Summers , that Sir Knt . Hunt , 2 nd Captain , should be elected Chancellor , and carried unanimously . The B . C . then notified the following appointments : —Frs . J . K . Mountain , 1 st Captain ; J . Hunt , 2 nd Captain ; E . It . Bourke , Prelate ; G . A . Summers , Registrar ; AA . AA'illis , Hospitaller ; F . C . Shenen , AA ' arder or Captain of Lines ; J . DracupExpert ; JAV . ClabbyBanner Bearer

, . , 1 st ; , 1 . Bannister , Banner Bearer 2 nd ; S . Gordon , Almoner : J . King , Sword Bearer ; P . Donohoe , 1 st Herald ; AV . E . AVait , 2 nd Herald ; J . (') . Randall , Equerry . It was unanimously agreed that the V . K . Prov . G . C , and Fr . Boddam , be elected honorary members . A ' ofces of thanks were awarded to the A ' . E . Sir Knt . 0 . S . Judge , for his cordial cooperation with the members of the Encampment throughout the difficulties of establishment ; and to Fr . Hunt , for his unremitting zeal and diligence in having provided at so short a notice such supplies of furniture and

regalia , the brilliant clothing of the members , ancl the magnificent adornment of the Encampment , affording incontestible proofs of his industry . There being no further business before the Encampment , it was closed with prayer , and the members adjourned to refreshment , when the prescribed and time hallowed libations of the Order met with due compliance . The health of the E . C . was next given , aucl feelingly responded to . Sir Knt . AVillis then rose and said , that having obtained the permission of the presiding officerhe would as the next

, propose toast , "The newly Installed Knights . " As a Alason of thirty-five years standing , and he firmly believed the oldest representative of - Alasonry in Western India , so numerous Ell attendance at a meeting of Knights Templar , ancl such undisguised anxiety to receive the degree having been displayed by the newly admitted members , afforded him considerable satisfaction ; and he expressed a conviction that the amount of work announced and carried into effect hy the Ascalon Encampment . 'it its opening meeting , was unprecedented in the annals of the Order

, aud he sincerely hoped that the knowledge of so gratifying an occurrence \ vordd not be confined to the Knights present ; the installation of

ten Companions in a station in a single evening , when iu the entire presidency two months ago , but five Knights Templar were supposed to exist , was a subject for great exultation . Fr . AVillis addressed the Sir Knights at considerable length , aucl interspersed his harangue wifch divers anecdotes of a Alasonic and humorous nature , occasioning great merriment by a quaint disparagement of a former friend's prowess , whieh appeared in unfavourable contrast to his own . Fr . Dracup

briefly returned thanks on behalf of the newly installed . The E . L ' . then proposed the health of Fr . Hunt , 2 nd Captain , expressing with evident sincerity liis high gratification at being supported in the duties of his office by so enthusiastic aucl experienced a member of the Alasonic Order . He was of opinion that the entire credit of the evening lay with Fr . Hunt , he having personally superintended the preparation of the furniture and regalia peculiar to the Encampment It was true that . Sir Kut Mountain aud himself had been associated with Fr . Hunt

throughout tho period of applying for and obtaining a dispensation to commence work , their having restricted themselves to an acquaintance with their own duties , could only be considered iu the light of sleepingpartners . After passing a glowing eulogium on his zeal and abilities , the E . C . proposed health ancl long life to the 2 nd Captain . The toast , was drunk with Alasonic and musical honours . Fr . Hunt said that his exertions hacl been considerably overrated ; he was always desirous of working hard in the cause of Alasonry , and if ( possibly ) ho had taken

more than ordinary pains to advocate the interests of tho Templar degree , the vote of thanks awarded to him so unanimously , and the kind expressions of esteem which had fallen from the E . C . and members of the Encampment , as well as the heartiness with which the toast of his health was greeted , would have amply repaid a much more deserving person , and merited his warmest acknowledgments , which he begged leave to tender . Various other toasts were given in the course of the evening ; those most worthy of note being "The Prelate" " 1 st Captain . "

, and "Prosperity to the Ascalon Encampment" In proposing tho last mentioned , after expatiating upon the advantages accruing to Poonah Alasons from the establishment of an Encampment , thereby being enabled to progress uninterruptedly to so high and valued a degree , the E . C . expressed a hope that so gratifying an occurrence might ever be kept in remembrance , by an annual festival to be held on each sneccedhu '

anniversary of the opening meeting . The toast of "All poor and distressed Knights Templar , " broke up the assembly , and the Sir Knights dispersed , highly satisfied with the result of their labours . POONAH . —Mount Zian , Encampment . —The members of this Encampment met on Saturday evening , October 29 th , at the Alasonic Hall . The charter was signed by the AI . E . Grancl Alaster early in the year ,-but owing to the scarcity of Knights Templar in the immediate vicinity of Bombay ( for which town it was granted ) , the V . E . Com . Sir Knight .

G . S . Judge , who also holds the office of Provincial Grancl Commander of Bombay , was unable to open the new Encampment . It was at length happily resolved to hold tbe first meeting at Poonah , the attendance being thus ensured of several stray Knights Companions therein located . The praiseworthy ancl untiring efforts of the Provincial Grand Commander were at last crowned with success . Punctually at the hour specified in the summons , the muster roll was called , and the Knights Companions answered to their names , constitutionally attired in the garb

of their military and monastic order , and assisted at the opening of the first Encampment established in AA ' estern India . The AA ' arrant of Constitution having beeu read , the by-laws approved of , aud other preliminary business satisfactorily disposed of , four Companions presented themselves for installation ; and the necessary formularies being complied with , the Em . Com ., especially fitted for the duties of his office on account of an extremely retentive memory aud great practice in the conferral of high grades in Alasonry , communicated the mysteries of this exalted degree in a manner both impressive and instructive , ably supported by tbe attendant Knights Companions . Tbe ceremony of

installation being over , Sir Knights Gould aud Alountaiti respeetiv eh-, firsl and second Captains of the Encampment , proposed and seconded u vole of thanks to the Em . Commander for his great exertions in the cause of Templar Alasonry , exemplified that evening by his presence at an assembly of Knights Companions distant upwards of one hundred miles from the town of his residence . The proposition was put , and unanimously carried by acclamation . The Em . Commander , in acknowledgment , expressed his high gratification at being the humble means of

introducing , or rather of spreading , the Templar degree in AA ' estern India . For nearly six years he had been devising how to establish an Encampment , but until December , 1 S 5 S , could not take any decisive steps in the matter from the want of a competent number of applicants for a charter . However , he coulcl at length rejoice that facilities were afforded his Bombay brethren of taking the degree which had been rightly termed the summit of Christian Masonry . Before concluding , however the princile of iving honour to whom honour was due

, upon p g , he begged to call the attention ofthe Knights Companions to the kindness and promptitude with which tho Grand Chancellor , the Km . Sir Knight J . Alasson , had responded to every call for advice and assistance , without which it would have been impossible for him ( the Em . Com . ) to have conducted the ceremonies in a manner satisfactory to himself , or to the Knights Companions . The following Knights Companions wore present : —A ' . E . Knight Com . G . S . Judge , E . G . ; Knights Comps . — 1 st Column

R . F . Gould , Capt . Com . ; J . K . Aiountain , 2 ndCa . pt Com . Column ¦ J . Hunt , Registrar and Treasurer ; C . T . Bod . bun , Expert ; G . L Siinnuers , Capt . of Lines ; and J . 0 . Randall , Equerry . Tlnj bu-