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Avere a groat many who were in the habit of looking upon Freemasonry as mere mysterious nonsense , and he said , therefore , that the open co-operation of a gentleman in the position of their Chaplain was a . great anil lasting benefit to the Order . Bro . Bennett had been a tower of strength to them , and he Avould propose his very good health , and long might he live to be an criiament to Christianity and to Masonry . ( Chews . ) Bro . BENNETT said he \ va _ s very much obliged to the

brethren present for having drunk bis health , and especially to tho brother who had spoken of him in such laudatory terms . He had been a Mason before he came to Ceylon . He had on his arrival attached himself to the members of the Craft here , and ho meant to stick to them to the end , for , throughout all his intercourse with Masons and Masonry , he could find nothing to regret . He believed that a Christian Mason was a good Christian , and that Masonry helped them to do that

which the law of God inculcated . But he was at a loss to know how to speak to them on such an occasion . If he spoke seriously they might not be inclined to listen —( " Yes , we will" ) —and if he spoke jocularly the Observer would be sure to be down upon him . ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) As he had not yet discovered the via media between these , he would content himself with thanking them once more for their kindness . Bro . GKINDKOD proposed " The Present Officers of the

Lodges " in a few words respecting the work they would have to do . Bro . BISCHOPP replied . He considered it an honour to hold office , and promised for himself and brother officers that they Avould strive to support the honour of the lodge , by working punctually and correctly . Bro . \ VILLIAJIS proposed "The Visitors . " He said there were not so many present as they could have wishedbut the

, paucity of Masonic visitors was a proof how few Masons there Avere in Colombo who did not belong to one or other of the lodges . They were also peculiarly fortunate in having two such visitors as Bro . Joseph , the Past Master of an English lodge , and Bro . Somerville , who had assisted their chaplain in the service that evening , and he begged to couple their names with the toast .

Bro . JOSEPH regretted that the reply had not fallen to more able hands . He was very pleased , indeed , to have been present , and very much obliged for the honour they had done him . He complimented the lodges upon their admirable working , and suggested the formation of a benevolent fund in connection therewith .

Bro . SOMERVILLE said , that as a fresh arrival amongst them , it bad been a great gratification to him to receive an invitation to attend their St . John's Day banquet . Truly , he said , the sun never sets upon Masonry . I found Masons all over England , of course ; I met them again on board ship , and here , in the far East , I find all conditions of the Craft ; some , in what may be called , the chrysalis stage of "Entered Apprentices ;" some in the transition stageas " Fellow Crafts" and a number

, , of those full-flown butterflies—the " Master Masons . " He had been a Mason for some time himself , and always felt pleasure in associating with them . Bro . SENDALL said , that without the least notice , preface , or provocation , he had been called upon to propose the next toast by a malicious W . M ., who was himself not only a Master of Masonsbut of the art of public speakingof which ha ( Bvo . S . )

, , was not even an Entered Apprentice . That toast was "The Health of the Ladies , " and he considered it should take precedence of almost all the others . 'The Army and Navy were acknowledged to be ruled by the ladies , and the Past and Present Masters and officers whom they had been toasting were similarly situated ; thus , though the ladies came last in order , they were by no means least in importance . But where ladies

ivere mentioned , imagination flew at oiiee to two or three in particular ; he would therefore propose " The Craft in general , and each Lady in particular . " ' ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . II . M . EA'AI . 3 returned thanks in fitting terms , and referred especially to the debt of gratitude the brethren owed to those ladies who had ably assisted the choir at church that eA'ening . Bro . GOB-MAS' said that before they separatedthere was one

, other toast he wished to propose . Ho would ask them to drink to the health of the brother whom a few weeks ago they had hoped would occupy the chief position that evening , a position which he was sure no Mason in Ceylon would dispute him . He Avasa true , honest , and faithful friend—a thorough gentleman , and a most zealous good Mason . ( Hear , hear . ) But it was not neces-

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sary that he ( Bro . Gorman ) should eulogise Bro . Col . Sim , P . M . He was Avell-known , and respected and beloved by most of those present , and he Avas certain that there Avas not one who did not sincerely regret his absence . He was sure , also , that wherever Bro . Sim went , he would always look back with pleasure to his intercourse with the brethren in Ceylon . He would give them " Bro . Col . Sim , " and may God restore him to perfect health and to us . ( Loud cheers . ) After the Tyler ' s toast had been drunk in solemn silence , the brethren separated in peace and harmony .

India.

INDIA .

( From the Masonic ' Record of Western India . ) BOMBAY . LODGE TRUTH ( No . 91-9 E . C . )—The monthly meeting of this prosperous lodge was held in the Masonic Hall near Baboola Tank , on Monday , tho Srd of April . In the absence of tho AV . M ., the lodge was opened by Bro . II . AVickbam , P . M ., assisted by Bros . C . E . Mitchell . S . W . ; R . RobertsJ . W . ; J .

, Key , S . D . ; R . Newton , J . D . ; J . J . Farnliam , Treas . ; F . D . Parker , Sec . ; R . C . Stovin , as I . G . ; W . G . King , Tyler . Members : —Bros . W . S . Crawford , R . A . Passmore , Dixon , A . Gumming , Hayes , Sykes , and others members and visitors . The lodge having been duly opened in the first degree , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot Avas then taken for Messrs . A . R . Macdonald , C . S ., and W . St . Leger ,

which proved clear . Mr . Smith , AVIIO had been balloted for at a previous meeting , being in attendance , was regularly introduced , and initiated into the mysteries of the Order . The lodge was then passed to the second degree , when Bros . Hayes and Sykes were examined as to their proficiency , which , proving satisfactory , they were desired to retire for preparation . The lodge was then raised to the third degree , and the above-named brethren were readmittedand raised to the sublime degree of

, Master Masons . The AV . M ., Bro . Cornforth , having arrived , assumed the hiram , and the lodge was lowered to the second and first degrees . An allowance of fifteen rupees per month for six months was voted to the widow of a deceased brother . A letter of condolence Avas directed to be forwarded to Lodge Perseverance , on the great loss that lodge bad sustained by the death of its excellent Master , Bro . N . AV . Oliver . There being

no further business before the lodge , it was closed in harmony , aud the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The usual loyal and constitutional toasts having been given and received with all the honours , Bro . AVickbam rose , and , in his usual happy style , proposed " The Health of the AVorshipful Master , " under Avhose auspices the lodge was progressing so favourably . The kindness ot heart and generous feeling of their AV . M . were too well known to the brethren to need any encomiums from him

, and he was sure that the toast would be received with the honours it deserved . ( The toast was responded to Avith great enthusiasm . ) The W . M ., in acknowledging the compliment , expressed his sincere thanks for the very cordial manner in which the toast had been received . He felt gratified to find that his humble efforts were so highly appreciated by the brethren , and it \ rould be his constant study to promote tha

honour and best interests of the lodge . The W . M . then proposed " The Health of the Officers of the Lodge , " and complimented them on the steady and cordial assistance they had at all times rendered him -in their several duties , which considerably lightened his own labours . Bro . C . E . Mitchell returned thanks , and expressed a determination on his part , and that of his brother officers , to do their duty to the best of their abilityand to support the AV . M . in carrying on the work of

, the lodge . "The Health of the Newly Initiated" was responded to in appropriate terms by Bro . Smith ; and that of "The Newly Raised" by Bros . Hayes and Sykes . The brethren then separated , after having spent the evening in that harmony and good-fellowship which ever distinguish this lodgo .

ROYAL ARCH . CHAPTEE KEYSTONE ( NO . 757 E . C . )—The adjourned regular convocation of the above chapter was holden at the Baboola Tank , on Tuesday , the ISth April . Present : —Comps . J . Anderson , P . Z . ; A . King , P . H . ; J . J . Farnliam , P . J . ; II . AVickbam , Past P . J . ; A . Gumming , Scribe E . ; W . H . Walker , P . Soj . ; J . Key and J . W . Seager , Assist . Soj . ; C . E . Burden , officiating