Knights Templar.

the Grand Master ' s throne , have been completed , and when occupied by the Knights , in full regalia , with their banners properly arranged , and the seats on the floor filled by about sixty ladies in elegant toilets , tho great hall presented a coup d ' ceil unequalled in the metropolis . About half-past seven , the Knights Companions entered the hall in procession , and formed the arch of steel . The Grand Master , preceded by the Grand Officers and bSir Kniht Shuttleworthwho carried his

y g , banner , and Sir Knight Lemanski , Grand Sword Bearer , entered and took his place on the throne , supported on his right by Sir Knight Binckes , B . C ., ancl on his left by Sir Knight W . Summars , Prelate . The stalls on the dais were occupied by Mrs . Stuart and her friends , and the Graud Officer ^ The two stalls on the south east aud south west angles of the hall , were tastefully arranged as temporary altars , on ivhich were

displayed the magnificent crucifixes presented by the Grand Master to the Grand Conclave and Encampment of Observance of seven degrees . A temporary platform was erected under the gallery for the accommodation of Frater Donald XV . King , who , assisted by Miss Jane Wells , Miss King , Frater T . Young , and Bro . Wilkinson , directed the musical arrangements . Mr . Sidney Baylor presided at the harmonium , in the absence of Sir Knight M . Cooke , Grand Organist , occasioned by serious indisposition . The following is the programme of the proceedings : —

Introductory Music . Opening prayer by the B . C . Anthem— " In Thee 0 Lord have I put my Trust . " — Weldon . The 6 th chapter of Ephesians , verse 10 to 17 . Read by tbe Rev . Prelate . Anthem— " Hear my Prayer . "—Kent . Solos by Miss Jane Wells , and Frater Donald XV . King . Prelate—Prayer from the Ancient Knights Templar Burial

Service . Hymn set to the music of " Dead March in Saul . "—PCandel . Prelate—1 st Epistle of St . Peter , chapter 2 , verse 1 to 17 . Anthem— " My Song shall be of Mercy . " —Kent . Solos by Miss Jane Wells , and Frater Donald XV . King . By the E . G . —The beautiful Prayer , translated from an ancient MS . found in 1540 , in an oak box , under the high altar in the

Temple Church , in London . Anthem— " Who is this that cometh from Edom ( " —Dr . Arnold . The trio by Fraters Donald King , T . Young , and Mr . Wilkinson . Sir Knight BINCKES then delivered , in a most impressive manner , an eloquent and original paper containing a brief history of the rise and progress of the Order , the services rendered by it to Christendom , and the cruel persecutions of the

Knights under Philip the Fair , concluding with an affecting picture of the martyrdom of Jaques de Molay . Sir Knight Binckes' oration was received with loud applause , and the thanks of the Knights assembled was , on the motion of Sir Knight Meymott , Grand Director of Ceremonies , unanimously voted to him , and the Grand Master then most graciously commanded that the paper should be printed for private circulation at his expense .

Martin Luther ' s Hymn , Sung by Frater Donald King , and afterwards by the full choir . The Grand Master and Officers then quitted the hall , and refreshments were supplied to the ladies , who appeared exceedingly gratified by the ceremony they had witnessed for the first time , and it is to be hoped that the next anniversary will be commemorated by some other Encampment , and be the cause of a rivalry between the Encampments of the

generous Order . The Grand Master then returned to the hall . The health of the ladies was given from the throne , and received with clue honours hy the assembled Knights , and the meeting broke up between ten and eleven o'clock .

GLOUCESTERSHIRE . CitEl / TENHAii . — Coteswold Encampment of St . Auguslin . — An emergency meeting was held on Thursday , 12 th inst ., at the Masonic-hall , Cheltenham , Sir Knt . G . F . Newmarch , E . G ., presiding , with Sir Knts . F . Binckes , 1 st Capt . ; W . S . Wallace , 2 nd Capt . ; T . J . Cottle , Reg . ; Ridge , as Expert ; Amos Steed , as Capt . of Line , and Herald . Comps . H . R . Lukes , Rev . H .

Gretton , Rev . J . I ' urnell , John Mullings , and W . Skyrme were received in ancient form , examined , and installed as Knights Companions of the Religious and Military Order of the Temple . Knts . Comp . W . S . Wallace , 2 nd Capt ., was unanimously elected

Knights Templar.

E . G . ; Cottle , Treas . ; and Wiggins , Equerry , for the year ensuing . The Treasurer presented his financial report , which was exceedingly satisfactory , showing that his successor will commence his year of office , not only with the encampment free from debt , notwithstanding the heavy outlay incurred in its establishment , but with a working balance in hand . Notices of motion were given by Sir Knts . Newmarch and Binckes , the

effect of which will be to render the encampment an annual subscriber to all the Masonic Charities . The encampment having been closed , the fraters partook of refreshment , with cheerfulness and moderation , and separated with congratulations on theprosperity of the encampment . The installation meeting will be held in April , at which there is every probability of a visit being paid by the M . E . S . G . Master , and . many Sir Knights of eminence and position from the metropolis and neighbouring provinces .

India.

INDIA .

( From ihe Indian Freemasons' Friend . ) ST . JOHN'S DAY AT CALCUTTA . The brethren of Calcutta , Howrah , and Dum-Dum assembled on Monday , the 28 th December , at a marquee pitched near Elliott's Tank , and walked in procession at half-past ten o ' clock to St . Paul ' s Cathedral . It was a fine clear morning , unlike that of the previous St .

John's day . The tent was not pitched exactly on the spot mentioned in the Provincial Grand Secretary ' s Notification , but a little closer to the Cathedral ; and when we reached it , the classies had not finished fixing tho hanauts , or outer wall . The brethren of the Scotch Lodges , in pretty good force , were already on the ground . The Grand Director of Ceremonies had some difficulty , in the confused throng in and out of the tentin finding brethren to fill the places of absenteesand in

, , his search he . ran some risk of having his heels tripped up or his hat knocked off by the treacherous tent ropes . At last , when every apron , collar , gauntlet , wand , column , banner , sword , plumb-rule , level , square , and book had been allotted , the brethren were formed into a coil round the tent , within the hanauts , the Band of H . M . ' s 13 th Regiment struck up a livelyair ( not the Entered Apprentice ' s , the music of which had somehow not been furnished to the men ) and away ive marched

, out of the enclosure , uncoiling ourselves like a huge glittering serpent , the tail , represented by the members of the Grand Lodge , being still in the act of unwinding itself , while the junior lodges were far ahead , formed into a column . First came two of the English lodges , followed by two of the Scotch ; then another English lodge and the third Scotch lodge , followed by

six English lodges and the District Grand Lodge . One of the strongest English lodges , we were sorry to observe , was represented by only three of its members ; while another English lodge was not represented at all , ancl , as we moved out , we saw its banner lying disconsolately iu the tent . Nevertheless it was an exceedingly good muster . On reaching the entrance of the Church , the brethren dipped their bannershaltedopened outand entered the building in

, , , inverted order , all wands and banners being left outside in the porch , on stands provided for the purpose . After the Director of Ceremonies had conducted the Grand Master and the Officers of the Grand Lodge to their seats , and the officers and members of the several lodges had taken their seats as they entered , according to seniority , tbe service ( Cathedral ) commenced , the prayers being intoned by Bvo . the Rev . Dr . Mazuchelli , aided

by a well-trained band of choristers , who were under the able management of the Provincial Grand Organist , Bro . Thomas Riseley . Bro . the Rev . J . Cave-Browne also officiated . The anthem was taken from Psalm exxxiii ., " Behold how good and joyful a tiling it is , " & c . The words , " It is like the dew of Hermon , which fell upon the Hill of Zion , for there the Lord promised His blessing and life for evermore , " as well as the concluding words of each verse of the hymn"Let there be

, light , " struck us as being particularly well delivered . ' * The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . . 1 . C . Thompson , from the text , " Now abideth Faith , Hope , Charity , these three ; but the greatest of these is Charity . " The discourse had the great merit of containing , in a few words , many suggestive ideas .