Craft Masonry.

close official connection of nearly fourteen years , moved that the following address be presented to Lord Howe : — "To the Right Honourable Richard William Penn , Earl Howe , Viscount and Baron Curzon of Penn , aud Baron Howe of Langar , G . C . H . and D . C . L ., & c , P . Prov . Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland , and Past Dep . Grand Master of England . AVe , the Grand Officers , Past Grand Officers and members of the Prov . Grand Lodof Ancient Free and Accepted

ge Masons of Leicestershire and Rutland , in open lodge assembled , beg to approach your lordship with the expression of our sincere and deep regret at the severance of tbe tie which lor nearly fourteen years has bound your lordship to us as our chief j a regret the more poignant that failing health is the cause of your retirement from the Grand Mastership of the Province . During your Lordship ' s long connection of nearly half a century with the

Craft in Leicestershire , you have ever been , both by precept and example , its zealous promoter , from the time when as AVorshipful Master of St . John's Lodge , in the year 1823 , you laid , with Masonic honours , the foundation-stone of St . George ' s Church in this town ; but it is more especially since your Lordship's accession to the more important office of Grand Master of the Province that your beneficial influence has been felt . Under your Lordship's rule Masonry has flourished greatly , and the

number of lodges m Leicestershire has been doubled ; whilst , as tbe sun— " that glorious emblem of God ' s goodness " —often shines the brightest at its setting , at the last Grand Lodgo held under your Lordship's authority the crowning-point of success was attained by the consecration , for the first time , of a Masonic lodge in the county of Rutland , and the annexation of that county by the M . AV . G . M . to the rule of this province . Nor has it been through your Lordshi ' s direct influence alone

p that Masonry has prospered . The many virtues which have ennobled your private life , no less than your illustrious name and high rank—and especially that truly Masonic virtue , charity , which you have so munificently displayed—have shed a reflected lustre on our Order , which from your position as our head , has tended to raise it in the estimation of the popular world . In now regretfully taking our farewell of your

Lordship as our chief with the deepest feelings of love and reverence for your Lordship personally , and of gratitude for your long and valuable services to Masonry , we fervently trust that you maybe spared for years to come in better health ; and that when , in the course of time , you shall be summoned fiom this sublunary abode , you may receive a bright and everlasting crown in the Grand Lodge above , where tbe world ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for ever . Done in open lodge tills tenth day of February , A . L . 5870 , A . D . 1870 . "

Ihe address was carried by acclamation , ordered to be entered on the minutes , and a copy of it to be at once signed by the principal officers , and transmitted to Lord Howe . In the earlier part of the pioceedings letters had been read from several brethren apologising for their absence , and among others from the Rev . Bro . Langley , I . P . M . 2130 , the late Prov . G . S . AA ., and Bro . Mammatt , W . M . 779 , the newly-appointed G . J . AA . — the former on account of the recent death of his sister , and the latter of his uncle .

On the motion of tho Prov . Grand Alaster , votes of condolence with those brethren were passed , and a vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Charles Morris , P . AI . of 279 , and P . Prov . G . S . W ., for his valuable services as Prov . G . Secretary during the last ten years . After some further business of a routine character , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form and with prayer . At four o ' clock about seventbrethren sat down to the

bany quet , the Prov . G . M . being supported on tbe right by Bros . Innes , D . Prov . G . M ' ., Northampton and Hunts , F . Bhickes , Dr . Moore , George Brown ( Cottesmore Hall ) , Alajor Brewin , Capt . Bailey ( Hainblcton ) , and others ; aud on the left by the Revs . J . Spittal , Dr . Hayeroft , F . Orine , and John Denton , H . Etherington Smith , Dr . Buck , E . Chipbam , & c . AVant of space prevents our reporting the addresses which were delivered . The

brethren separated at an early hour to meet shortly afterwards at the Masonic hall at the Assembly Rooms , under very distinguished patronage , for the benefit of the Leicester Infirmary and tbe Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons and their widows . The ball-room presented a brilliant scene . Dancing commenced at half-past nine o ' clock , and was kept no with unflagging vigour until five o'clock in the morning . The whole of the proceedings were most successful , and we trust there will he a handsome surplus from the ball to be divided between the two excellent charities .

Scottish Constitution.

SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION .

GLASGOAV . PAETIOK . —St . Mary ' s Lodge ( No . 117 ) . —Tho meeting of this lodge was held on the 11 th inst ., Bro . T . Granger , R . AV . M ., in the chair . Bro . Bnreland , S . AA ., and Bro . Milne acting J . W . Inter alia , the R . AV . M . referred to the untimely death of their late See , Bro . Al'Donald , whose funeral he had that day attended , and feelingly referred to the distressing circumstances

of his poor widow and family . Bro . Campbell , P . M ., proposed that five pounds be given from the funds of the lodge ; the S . AV . seconded the proposition , which was unanimously agreed to . Thereafter a subscription was also opened by tbe individual members . AVhile living Bro . M'Donald received about £ 8 from the lodge , so that as this is only a specimen of their good deeds , No . 117 is an honour to the province ; it not only inculcates the principles of beneficence and charitbutwhat is better

y , , , strives to practise them . Thereafter two brethren were raised , by Bro . J . B . AValker , P . M ., No . 3 bis , in his usual able and impressive manner . It having been settled that the annual festival of the lodge was to he held next month , and a committee appointed , the lodge was afterwards closed in dus and ancient form .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

STOAV . MASONIC BABE . —The brethren of Stow Lodge , No . 216 , held their annual ball in tho Hall here , on tbe evening of Friday last , the 11 th inst . The hall was very tastefully decorated with evergreens , & c , by Bro . Gerrard , of Torsonce . Nearly forty couples were present , and the ball was opened a little after nine o ' clock bBro . H . InglesP . G . M . of the province . The music

y , was by the Messrs . Crosby , Hawick . Deputations from Dalkeith , Lauder , & c , were present , and dancing was kept up till an advanced hour in the morning . Bro . Kerr , R . AV . M ., was absent through indisposition , and his place was filled by Bro . Hossack , S . A-1 . The greatest order and harmony characterised the entire proceedings .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . CAPT . HARLEY BARBER , AVe regret to announce the death , on the 6 th inst ., of AV . Bro . Capt . Hurley Barber , AV . M . of the Marquess of Dalhousie Lodge , and Secretary of tbe East India Association . Capt . Barber belonged to the Madras service , and was initiated in India . He was one of the founders of the Marquess of Dalhousie Lodge , as a lodge for

Indians iu London . Having served J . W ., he was this year elected AV . M . Bro . Barber was a zealous Mason , and attended to the duties of his lodge , even down to a recent occasion , when already prostrate by illness . He was greatly esteemed by a largo circle of friends .

A Lecture

A LECTURE

Delivered by Bro . JAMES FUEDEBICK Sruitii , P . M ., at the Old Globe Lodge , Scarborough . ( Continued from page 139 ) . About the time of our Saviour ' s nativity , the eastern schools used a set form of discipline , the scholar was first termed disciple , in respect of his learning , a junior

in respect of his minority , bnch . ur , ( i . e . one chosen or elected ) in respect of his qualification or election into the number of disciples ; and after he proved himself a proficient in their studies , and was thought worthy of some degree , by imposition of hands , ho was made a graduate . At the east end of every school or synagogue , the Jews had a chest called Avon , or Ark , in which was locked up the pentateuch in manuscript written on