West Indies.

show that they wore nofc behind the old hands in zeal and activity . Several other speeches followed , and fche brethren adjourned afc an early hour . ROYAL ARCH . UNION CnAPEEB ( No . 247 ) . —The companions of this very flourishing chapter assembled on the 27 th December , 1 S 64 ( St . John ' s Bay ) for the purpose of installing the Principals elect

, for the ensuing year . Present— -Comps . Haley , M . E . Z . ; Klein , H . ; Luckie , J . ; Iinlach , P . Z ., E . ; Abraham , N . ; Duff , P . Z . ; Ingram , P . Z . ( 278 ); Lovegrove , P . S . ( acting ) Soj . ; Arthur anil Jacobs , Assist . Sojs . The chapter having been opened in solemn form , Comp . Klein , Z . elect , Luckie , IT . elect , and Abraham , J . elect , were presented to the M . E . Z . A council of Installed First Principals was then formed , consisting of M . E . Comps . Ingram , Z . ; Hale }' , H . ; Imlach , J . ; Duff , P . Z ., and the

Principals elect were then severally installed in due anel ancient form . M . E . Comp . Haley was regularly invested as P . Z . The companions having been readmitted , the M . E . Z . invested the following officers : —M . E . Comp . Imlach , P . Z ., E . ; Comp . Arthur , N . ; Comp . Shine , Treas . ; and stated that he much regretted that Comp . Oliver was too ill to attend for investiture as Pvin . Soj . ; that ho had nominated Comps . Lovegrove anel Cox Asst . Sojs . These companions were invested accordingly , anel M . E . Comp . Ingram having given the installation charge , the chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to refreshment . The remainder of the evening was passeel iu social enjoyment .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BEO . EDMUND BANNTSTEE , P . Puov . G . S . B HANTS . The death of this A'efceran member of the Craft , which took place on Saturday , the 4 th insfc ., has caused deep regret among the brethren , by whom he Avas well known and much respected , as an honesb and upright man ,

and , in every sense of fche Avord , a good Mason . His Masonic career , extending over a period of forty years , was most distinguished , and he was afc all times afc the call of every brother and lodge in the province . As a Avorking Mason his loss ivill be most severely felt . He had passed the chair , and had held a variety of offices in different chapters in Hampshire . He had also filled the office of Provincial Grand Sword Bearer , being held in the highest , respect by the Prov . G . M ., Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis . He bad at different times been

presented Avith testimonials , including a silver snuffbox by fche Eoyal Sussex Lodge , a P . M . ' s jewel by the Phcemx Lodge , and a P . P . s jeAvel by the Portsmouth Chapter . His mortal remains Avere consigned to their last resting-place on tho 10 th inst ., when the brethren of tho Craft , to tho number of nearly a hundred , attended to pay the last tribute of respect to their

lamented brother . They assembled afc the Eoyal Sussex lodge-room , St . George ' s-squaro , at two o ' clock , and proceeded in moui'ning coaches to Kingston Cemetery , preceded by the hearse and coaches containing the deceased ' s relatives . On arriving afc the cemetery , the brethren , each of whom carried a sprig of myrtle , walked in procession to the chapel , the junior members

being first , and having formed iu line on each side , the corpse Avas conveyed into the chapel , followed by the relatives . Afc the conclusion of the service in the chapel , the brethren again formed in line on either side of the path . After the corpse had been carried past , they reformed in procession , the senior members noAV taking Jirecedence , and followed to fche grave , around which they

formed a circle , and during the service , Avhich Avas most impressivel y performed by the Eev . E . Burton , each brothel * deposited his sprig of myrtle in the grave . Tho pall-bearers Avere Bros . White , Bradley , Ogburn , Sfcapleford , T . Batchelor , and Hollingsworth , P . M . ' s . The brethren present included members of the Phoenix , Eoyal Sussex , Gosporfc , Havanfc , and Chichester Lodges , and fche W . M . ' s and their officers .

Bro. Henry Miles.

BRO . HENRY MILES .

On the 2 ofch ult ; ., afc his chambers , Eaymond-buildmgs , Gray ' s Inn , Bro . Henry Miles , of the Middle Temple , Barrisfcer-at-Law , aged seventy-one . The estimation in which he was held in the Watford Lodge will be seen by a reference to our report of the proceedings of the lodge in another page .

Poetry.

Poetry .

ADIEU . To those Brethren of the Sight Wing of H . M . ' s 95 th Regiment who ivere Memlers of Lodge Felix ( No . 335 ) , on ihe occasion of their enibartcation at Aden , en route for Kurraeliee . Adieu ! when many years have pasfc I'll fondly think of you and thine ;

And feel assured , unto the last , That you'll remember me and mine . For though wide oceans do us part , And many a hill may rise between , No space can change the faithful heart , Or friendship such as ours has been .

Through life , its varied tints and shade , Its every turn for weal or woe , Perchance , we'll move through every grade , Its every phase we yet may know . Still should this be , no change of sphere Effaces from the constant mind ,

Pond memories of the friendship clear , Held once for those we leave behind . Should rumour falsely thee defame , Or strive to lay thine errors bare , I will , in thy defence , declaim , E ' en by the sacred ties we share .

For what has life so sweet to give As constancy and friendship true ? Dear brethren , wheresoe ' er you live . Remember , I'll remember you . —C . MCMILLAN .

Literary Extracts.

LITERARY EXTRACTS .

A MAOHI PJXEACIIEK . —Among fche prisoners Avas an old fellow of fche name of Paul , a native preacher , who Avas found lying on his back in the field of battle . Being seventy years of age and very decrepit , none of our soldiers thought it Avorth Avhile fco give him the coup de grace ; at length one more humane than the others , being attracted by his groans , raised him up from the

ground and found a rifle concealed beneath his body . We often had a quiet joke with old Paul the preacher about the rifle found under his body . We more than insinuated thafc he thought ifc quite consistent with his position as chaplain-general to the rebel forces fco have an occasional shot afc the Pakehas , and thafc he had proved himself literally a true member of the church militant .

There was often a sly Avinkle in the old fellow ' s eye , Avhich showed that ; he had a certain sense of humour and understood our allusions . We have no doubt that he took part in tho flight—as Avell as an old lady , who Avas seen to fire more than a dozen shots from the verandah of her house at our men . And yet Paul the preacher Avas a man of distinguished piety , whose good report Avas in all tho churches . —Frazer ' s Magazine . THE GENERAL ' S WINE-GLASS . —General Grosdos , Avho retained many of his army habits , was dining afc a