India.

where interest would be allowed upon their deposit , which , tor some years past never been below say Rs . 4 , 000 , and for which the Bank of Bengal allows no interest . 3 . That an account be opened with the Agra and U . S . Bank in the name of the "Provincial Grand Treasurer of Free ancl Accepted Masons . " 4 . That appeals be made to the Provincial Grand Chapter

ancl Provincial Grand Conclave , for contributions towards the expenses of gas fittings and repairs , lately incurred in the Freemasons' Hull . The Provincial Grand Treasurer having reported that no payment had been as yet made by any lodge on account of the first quarter ofthe current year , was instructed to make endeavours to collect the outstandings before the quarterly communication -of the 24 th July .

The Provincial Grand Treasurer announced a donation of 100 rupees by Bro . Hoff , towards the expenses connected with laying on gas in Freemasons' Hall . The officiating Provincial Grand Secretary read a letter from Bro . Baxter , the custodian of Freemasons' Hall , stating that , ¦ owing to the introduction of gas , tbe hall servants had expressed dissatisfaction at being deprived of the perquisites which they -obtained when oil was burnt ; also stating that the pay of the

servants generally is below the ordinary rate of wages obtained in Calcutta , and proposing an increase , as shown in the following schedule : — PRESENT . RS . PROPOSED . Es . Sirdar Bearer 7 Sirdar Bearer 9 Mate Bearer 6 Mate Bearer 8 Ditto 6 Ditto 8 Durwan 6 Durwan 7 Mehtur 4 Melitur 6 Abdar S Abilar 8

Rupees 37 Rupees 46 He further proposed that the Sircar , whose wages are 10 rupees per mensem ( and who was of no possible use ) be dismissed . The committee recommend the adoption of the Custodian ' s proposal . JOHN W . BROAVN , President .

Tho PROV . G . MASTER requested the brethren to take each division ofthe above report separately into consideration . Proposed by Bro . \ A Y 3 iAN , that the accounts as audited be received . The motion was seconded by Bro . \\ . CiiARKE , and carried . Bro . ROBERTS moved , ancl Bro . PARXBX seconded , that with Teference to the proposition of the Finance Committee to open an account with tho Agra Bankthe available surplus of the

, funds of Grand Lodge be invested in Government Securities , as offering a higher rate of interest with the best security . Bro . J . B . KNIGHT proposed , as an amendment , that the original proposition of the Finance Committee be carried out , and -that it be left to the discretion of the Provincial Grand Treasurer as to what amount should be held as a fixed , and what as a floating deposit . The amendment was put to the vote and carried .

The PROA' . G . MASTER proposed that a vote of thanks be tendered to Bro Hoff , for his donation of 100 rupees towards the Gas Fund . The proposition was seconded by Bro . ROBERTS and unanimously carried . AVith reference to the fifth proposition contained in the Finance Report , it was moved hy Bro . DOA ' E , seconded by Bro . AVY 3 IAN , and carried , that the scale of wages of the servants st Freemasons' Hall be as follovjs : —•

Rs . Rs . Sirdar 8 Durwan 6 1 st Mate 7 Mehter 5 2 nd Mate 6 Abdar 8 Bro . ROBERTS expressed his opinion that it would not be just to dismiss the Sircar , who had served Grand Lodge faithfully for twenty-five years , and who , he submitted , was . of great use to the Grand Loclge . Bro . Roberts further testified to the

excellent character of the Sircar , which was fully endorsed by Bro . Pai-lby , and it was resolved , after some discussion , that the proposition of the Finance Committee on this point be negatived , and the services of the Sircar retained . AU business being concluded , the District Grand Loclge was closed in clue form .

The business of Grand Lodge being over at an early hour , the brethren adjourned to the banquetting-hall , where a repast Avorthy of the occasion had been arranged under the superintendence of the Grand Stewards . The brethren sat down about nine p . m ., ancl , after the conclusion of the repast , the PROV . G . MASTER gave the toast of "The Queen , " one which was , he said , always deserving of respect from Englishmen . He did not think it became us as loyal subjects to enter into the question

as to the bias which political relations were said to influence at tho present time the conduct of her Majesty . It was sufficient for us to know that she was the model ofa Queen , . nd a worthy example to all Englishwomen . The toast was received with due enthusiasm , and Bro . CLARKE followed by proposing tlie next toast—The M . \ A . the Earl of Zetland—who , he said , well deserved the support which the Masons of England , through so many years , had accorded him iu nominating him their ruler . The glee , " Lovely night , " was here most delicately rendered by Bros . Roberts , Knight , Callan , Wiggs , Kelvey , and Eiseley , who Avere loudly applauded by the brethren .

Bro . BROAVN , J . G . W ., next called on the brethren to do honour to the toast of the Sister Grand Lodges . The Grand Master of Scotland had indeed been called away to the Grand Lodge above by the G . A . O . T . U ., but , doubtless , the new ruler of Scottish Masonry would be likewise well deserving of their regard , and he would therefore ask the brethren to respond , with full honours , to the toast of the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland . The brethren showed their appreciation of these

sentiments by a hearty and fraternal response to this toast . The PROV . G . MASTER next called upon Bros . Callan and Risely to continue the harmony of the evening , and these brethren fhoired the desirableness of the call by rendering tbe well-known duet "Excelsior" in a style which left nothing to be desired except a repetition , which was loudly , but in vain , called for . Bro . ROBERTS havingin very appropriate termsproposed the

, , health of their Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sancleman—a toast which met with a thoroughly genuine acceptance by all present , Bro . SANDEMAN in acknowledgment said that he thought brevity was a great point , even in returning thanks ; but he

could not refrain from exjirossiug his deep sense of the co-operation which he had received from his brethren throughout the province in support of his Masonic rule . WitH ( . he example of such excellent predecessors as he had ever before him , he could not well go wrong ; but be would assure the brethren that the post of Provincial Grand Master was not exactly at all times a bed of roses . C . ises , not seldom , occurred in which the greatest case and caution were needed , and he was only happy to find

that so far he had secured the approbation of his brethren in the policy ho had generally adopted . The good of Masonry was a matter ho bad deeply at heart ; and although probably the brethren would believe him when he declared himself a tolerably amiable husband ( laughter ) , he must confess that he had somewhat tyrannically sought to prove to his wife on all and every occasion that Masonry was other than what the world supposed it to be . He was happy , however , to assure the brethren that

his teaching had been successful , and his wife , he was proud to say , was as good ancl zealous a Mason and as fond of the Order as " any of them . ( Hear , hear . ) It was only a few days since that Mrs . Sandeman , in writing from England , referred to the very happy occasion when she had had the great pleasure of meeting at her house tha representatives of Grand Loclge , and she had expressed the hope that , on her return in the ensuing cold weather , she might again have the like pleasure . As he had

already observed that brevity was a thing to be especially observed in speechifying , he would only again most heartily thank tho brethren for their good wishes , and do his best to keep them in good humour by asking our talented Bro . Callan and others once more to favour the brethren with a glee . With characteristic good nature Bros . Callan , Roberts , Kelvey , Eiseley , and Wigg , then sung , in their usual effective manner , the ' - 'Chough and Crow . "

The PROA ' . G . MASTER in again rising said , he would now ask the brethren to receive , with the applause it merited , the toast of the Provincial Grand Officers . Through their support he had alone been enabled to do all the good for Masonry that had been done . He would especialy mention the names of Bros . Roberts and Brown . The name of Bro . Brown was a household word in Masonry , and as to Bro . Roberts , whenever he got on his legs , it Avas to set Grand Lodge right . So long as the Order possessed such men supported by the other Grand