Masonry In India.

Master , Royal Ark Mariner and Knight of the Babylonish Pass are conferred both in Bengal and Bombay under the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland . Bengal possesses 3 Knights Templar Encampments and 3 Priories of Malta ; Madras , 2 Encampments and 1 Priory " , Bombay , 5 Encampments and 5 Priories ; British Burmah 1 Encampment and 1 Priory ; and Ceylon and Singapore each 1 Encampment . Then turning to the Ancient

and Accepted Kite , we see a Rose Croix Chapter respectively in Madras , Bombay , the Punjab , and British Burmah . Lastly , there are in Bombay 4 Conclaves of Knights of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , and 1 at Calcutta . Such is a brief sketch of the present state of Masonry in India as exemplified by the number of Masonic bodies actually working in her midst . It is in our own Presidency , however , that we naturallleel the most livelinterestand here tbe vi

May y , gorous sonic life which meets our eye cannot fail to command attention . It is a proud thing for ns Masons in Bombay to be able to say that there is not a single degree worked in and under England that is not represented in our Island city . No other town in tbe whole of the British Empire can , as fur as we know , lay claim to a similar honour . The past year , as far as Bombay is concerned , has indeed seen a rapid progress in our Masonic world . Ou the accession of our present Provincial Grand Master

ot Mark Masons , a Provincial Grand Mark Lodge—which for five yeais Bombay has been forced to do without—has been opened with tbe warm approbation of all English Mark Masters , and the best results to the interests of Mark Masonry in this Presidency . AVe have no fear but that the degree will flourish bravely , and be a real institution among us . Already we hear oi one , it not two , new JIark Lodges about to be started in this Province under England . English Mark Masonry , as is well

known , has long suffered in India owing to the unfortunate differences which have hitherto existed between the Grand Mark Lodge of England and the Grand Chapter of Scotland . It is , we deem , unnecessary here to go into the origin and rights of the dispute . AA e need only add , we have it on the very best authority , that all difficulties standing in the way ot a union between English and Scotch Mark Master Masons are likely speedily to be smoothed over , and w-e look forward very shortly to an official announcement of the fact from the home poivers .

Lastly , within the last few months the Supreme Grand Council of the Ancieut aud Accepted Rite for England and Wales have paid Bombay tbe high honour of conferring on three brcllii-ea of distinguished position in this presidency the 33 rd degree , and of constituting them their representatives in India , with full power to confer the higher so-called " philosophical " degrees . A \ e may , therefore , shortly look forward to the 30 th degree being worked amongst us .

Before we close we trust that we may not be thought presumptuous if we express a hope that the interests of the Royal Arch degree under England may meet with the same attention as the other degrees at tbe hands of our very distinguished District Grand Superintendent , whose efforts for the cause of Masonry in all its branches are so widely known and so cordially acknowledged by all true brethren . AVere a judicious stimulus applied , we do not doubt for a moment but that twoor may be

three-, , new Royal Arch Chapters would at once be started in tbe Mofnssil , and a District Graud Chapter would then , we trust , at once he organized . Hitherto , to our shame be it spoken , this has been impossible , owing to the number of private English Royal Arch Chapters in this Presidency being limited to two . A \ c have thus endeavoured to cast a cursory glance around our Masonic world in the East . Owing to tbe constant changes which must naturalloccur iu a country like thiswhere most

y , Europeans are but dwellers for a tew years , tbe position of Masonry with us must perforce very greatly fluctuate . At present we , living in Bombay , may without arrogance claim to enjoy a higher amount of Masonic prosperity than India has ever known —the highest , possibly , that it can ever fairly expect . But we cannot conceal from ourselves the fact that these halcyon days are not likely to continue for ever . The results we now see are owing to tbe exertions of hard-working brethren who must , in ,

the ordinary course of events , make way for a younger race . AVe therefore earnestly express tbe hope that those who are shortly expected to come to the front , may work in their various spheres with equal assiduity and enthusiasm . Their prospects at present of advancement are far more favourable in this presidency than amidst the keen competition of the Masonic world at home . The prizes are within their grasp : palmam qui meruit ferat . One thing alone is now wanting—a Masonic Temple in a cen .

Masonry In India.

tral position of Bombay for the mutual benefit of English and Scotch Masonry . We sincerely hope that the exertions now being made towards this object will be crowned with success , and that it may be our good fortune to witness the laying of the foundation stone during the present year .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

VISIT OF THE PBINCE OF AVALES TO LINCOLN .

Although little more than a year has elapsed since the Prince of Wales paid a brief visit to his college friend , Mr . Chaplin , M . P ., it was thought when the Grand . National Hunt Committee determined to hold their annual meetin g at Burton , near Lincoln , his Eoyal Highness would again honour the neighbourhood withhis presence , and a hope was generally expressed that he

would be accompanied by his illustrious consort . Time has proved that the race meeting , coupled with the hospitality of Mr . Chaplin , proved a sufficient attraction to the Prince , but to the great regret of the citizens , the Princess of AVales was unable to leave home at a somewhat inclement season of the year . As the visit of his Eoyal Highness on this occasion could scarcely be

considered a private one , the Corporation were anxious to show their loyalty without being in any way obtrusive . Accordingly a meeting was held , and the Mayor announced that as the Prince would simply visit Lincoln in . his private capacity , he desired that no address of welcome should be offered to him , but he consented that the Mayor and a guard of honour of the volunteers should

receive him at the Great Northern Station . Advantage was taken of the Prince ' s visit by the Freemasons of the city to hold a full-dress Masonic Ball in aid of the funds of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls . The ball proved a great success , and leaves a handsome surplus . The number of Masons present was very large , and included the Duke of St . Albans , Prov .

G . JMJ ., Major Smith , D . Prov . G . M .. and members from every part of the province . The Prince of Wales arrivsd at the ball-room shortly before eleven o ' clock , and was received in the vestibule by the Duke of St . Albans ,

Major Smyth , the Mayor ( Bro . Pratt ) , and by the Masonic Stewards , viz .: Bros . W . Watkins , E . Hall , Chas . Harrison . M . D . ; J . Norton , F . E . Darken , B . 0 . Carline , R . Ward , and G . M . Lowe , M . D . ; and after a brief introduction entered the ball-room , preceded by the abovenamed officials in double file , the band playing the National Anthem , and advanced towards the upper end

of the room between two rows of Masons , who , in accordance with ancient custom , gave the Masonic royal sainte , followed by a deafening cheer . On arriving ab the Master ' s chair his Eoyal Highness graciously intimated to the Mayor his wish to dance with his daughter , whoaccoi-diiiglj-. oii beingintroduced , joinodthePrinceina quadrille that was immediatel formedHis Eoyal

y , Highness graciously taking for his next partner Miss Hulland . 'The dancing then proceeded with great vigour , and for nearly two hours the Eoyal party continued their exertions to please others as well as themselves . The Prince , who wore the distinguishing badge of a Past Grand Master of England , joined most heartily in every dance . Towards one o ' clock the Masons were made ,

aware that the Prince was about to retire- —and it was so arranged that this movement was carried out with the same ceremony which characterized the entry . Whilst waiting the arrival of Mr . Chaplin ' s carriage , the Dukeof St . Albans presented Bro . E . Hall , the honorarysecretary to the Ball Committee , to his Eoyal Highness , who , shaking him meanwhile warmly by the hand , thanked him for the pleasure that had been afforded to him during the evening , and pronounced tbe ball " a great success . " Then having shaken hands with each .