India.

After the sermon , the Grand Stewards made a collection for the Masonic Fund of Benevolence , while suitable passages from the volume of the sacred law were being read from the altar . The collection amounted to 530 rupees . * The brethren returned to the marquee in the same order in ¦ which they had marched from it , aud then dispersed , leaving the bandmeu to enjoy some refreshments which had been provided for them . In the evening the quarterly communication of the District ¦ Grand Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Cossitollah .

BENGAL . DISTBICT GEAND LODGE . The Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge was held on Monday , the 26 th December , at six o'clock in the evening , at the Freemasons' Hall , Cossitollah . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Hugh Sandeman , supported by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Jennings , presided . The Provincial Grand Master addressed the brethren as

follows : — " WonsHirnil . BSETEBEN , —I make no apology for having summoned you somewhat earlier than usual this evening , for although I am fully aware of the convenience which is felt by many of you in having to take your seats in Grand Lodge by six o ' clock , yet the business before us is of too important a nature to be discussed hastily . The case of Bros . Jordan and O'Mealy isperhapswithout precedentand will require very

, , , careful consideration , in order , on the one hand , that the dignity of the Craft may be supported , and on the other , that no sentence may be passed that is not fully deserved as well as requisite under the circumstances of the case . Besides this case , some important questions are submitted by the Finance Committee . The rent of the building ive are occupying has been suddenly raised from 250 rupees to 400 rupees per mensem , and this increased demand upon our resources naturally requires a

corresponding proportional contribution from private lodges . I would also urge , in addition to the recommendation of the Finance Committee , that we should demand some rent or fee from the Royal Arch Chapters , the Knight Templar Encampments , and the Lodges of Instruction which occasionally make use of the Hall . Whatever be your decision , its adoption must necessarily be experimental , aud therefore I would suggest that the question be from time to time re-opened and reconsidered ,

especially as the item of rent- dues is one that falls very heavily upon those lodges whose funds , owing to a paucity of members , are not in a flourishing condition . It should , however , be remembered , that even with the increased rents , as proposed by the Finance Committee , it will he more advantageous for Masters to allow their lodges to meet in one building , than it would bo for them to separate , and thus , in addition to paying rent for hired houses , have to provide themselves with furniture

and other requisites for the working of their lodges and the conduct of their banquets . The Provincial Grand Secretary has communicated with the sub-tenants of our lower floor , Messrs . Sagriell and Co ., on the subject of the proposition of ihe Finance Committee to raise their rent from 80 rupees to 125 rupees per mensem . "The heavy outstandings of some of the Calcutta Lodges have been noticed by the Finance Committee . It is due to tbe

Grand Treasurer to notice that he has made very praiseworthy ¦ exertions to collect them , and the list is already very materially reduced . The item of house rent is especially noticeable as a large outstanding , in ivhich the Lodges of St . John and Marine are the principal debtors . " The ease of the Simla Lodge , noticed by the Finance Committee , was referred to by me at the last communication of this District Grand Lodge , as being one in which the Worshipful

Master had referred us to his predecessors for arrears of returns and dues . The Committee have reported clearly upon it , but have refrained from making any definite recommendation , owing to the paucity of members at their meeting . Your decision is therefore solicited as to what course should be adopted with reference to the lodge . "Since our last communication , I have done myself the pleasure of visiting some of the Mofussil lodges , and met with a very cordial reception at each of the stations which I visited , with

the exception only of Cawnpore . The circumstances of my inability to visit Lodge Harmony at that station are recorded in the printed pamphlet which has been circulated with the agenda papers . It is satisfactory to add that I have since received a communication from the brethren of the lodge , expressing a feeling of disappointment at my not having visited them , and adding that the whole action in the matter , including the closing of the lodge , was taken by the W . Master without either

their knowledge or consent . This circumstance , while it quite relieves the brethren of the lodge of anything like an imputation of wishing to act with discourtesy towards the District Grand Lodge , apparently aggravates the offence of ivhich Bro . Jordan stands charged ; and it is also to be regretted that both he and Bro . O'Mealy have been using the public press as a means of circulating perverted accounts of their respective cases among the general public , who obviously have no concern

with the transactions of a purely secret association , but who may , in many instances , have been led to form conclusions detrimental to the interests of our Order by not having both sides of the question before them . Extracts from the lodge minute books even have appeared in our newspapers , in violation of Masonic law generally , and of a positive order from England that no Masonic matters shall be discussed in any newspapers without the previouslobtained sanction of the Provincial

y Grand Master . Is is evident that it cannot be for the good of Masonry that differences arising within its body should be thrust before the eyes of the uninitiated ; and Bros . Jordan and O'Mealy , being in the present instance the aggressors , are personally and solely responsible for the case having become public . After the reading of the Finance Committe ' s Report on Bro . Jordan's case , a letter will be laid before you from the Senior

Warden in charge of the Cawnpore Lodge , detailing the conduct of the suspended brother after he ( the S . W . ) had received my instructions to take charge . 1 have nothing further to add on this painful subject , than my opinion that great credit is due to Bro . Allen , and to the officers of Lodge Harmony for their firm behaviour under very trying and exceptional circumstances . " I have already stated that I met with a most cordial reception at the stations of Lucknow . Allahabad , aud Benares . At the

latter I had the satisfaction of witnessing the working both of the Blue or Craft Lodge and of the Royal Arch Chapter ivhich is attached to it . I have made it my duty to visit also several of the lodges in and about Calcutta , and have found them generally in good working order , although discrepancies undoubtedly exist which can only be rectified by the establishment of lodges of instruction , or by Masters interchanging visits whenever they can find leisure to do so . I was specially gratified

one evening to see the excellence of the working of the Howrah Lodge , which was opened and closed not only with solemn prayer , but with the reading of appropriate passages of Scripture , which shares its building and its hospitality with a lodge working under another Constitution , ancl which , on the occasion of my casual visit , announced a donation of no less a sum than £ 258 to the window and orphan children of one of its deceased brethren . ( Alause . )

pp " It has been found again necessary to call the attention Masters , by circular , to the constitutional law which refers the fees of Grand Lodge . It is hoped that , after the settlemen , of the Simla case , there may be no repetition of such cases . Masters have been earnestly recommended to take under their immediate charge all fees and dues which are the property of the Grand Lodge in England , or the District Grand Lodge in

Bengal , and warned that if any loss should accrue from private arrangements made by them in opposition to the " Constitutions , " they cannot be absolved from the responsibility which they have voluntarily accepted . " You are aware that we shall be deprived of this hall for a short space of time , owing to the necessity of immediate repairs to the building . The Finance Committee having been unable to obtain any building for so short a time , it remains only for

lodges to make their own arrangements for their meetings during the few weeks that this hall will not be available . " I have to report the exclusion of Bro . Capt . E . F . Foster from Lodge Hope and Perseverance ( No . 782 ) , Lahore , for nonpayment of dues , notwithstanding repeated applications , and warnings that his name would be erased from the list of members of his lodge in case of continued default . " And , finally , I have lo express my satisfaction at the English and Scotch Masons having marched together to church this dav , and my earnest hope that the time when they repaired to