India.

" The report of the Committee of General Purposes is satisfactory , shoAving on the aggregate of our funds a balance of upAvards of Rs . 2 , 000 , against a deficit under one head onlv of nearly Rs . 800 . " It is a matter of congratulation to observe the increased regularity of Lodges in the payment of their dues , and I am glad to report the resuscitation of Lod 'Dalhousie' at

ge Mussoorie , under the able superintendence of AA . Bro . J . H . Clarke , Past Master of Lodge 391 , at Allahabad , and an old member of the Lodge . " Tbe amended bye-laws of this District Grand Lodge , as passed at our quarterly communication in March , have been received from England , duly approved > y the Grand Master , and are now in the hands of the printer . Referring to this circumstance

, I Avould notice a clerical error in para . 4 of the paper of agenda for this evening , \ vhere it is stated that the quarterly report of the fund of benevolence will be read for the information of District Grand Lodge . The general control of the fund is UOAV vested by this District Grand Lodge in a committee composed as before of the Masters and Immediate Past Masters of Lodges , and the report of the Committee , together ivith the accounts of the fundwas to be submitted to aud therefore

con-; firmed by you . " You AA'iil be glad to learn by the report of the Bengal Masonic Association for the Education of Children of Indigent Freemasons , that that excellent charity is progressing favourably ; I would earnestly recommend it to the favourable consideration of all Freemasons , and vA-ould especially ask Masters to assist us by obtaining subscritions from members of their lod

p ges . "The office of Grand Organist having become vacant during the quarter , I have selected Bro . Compton to fill tho post . Bro . Compton has justified my selection by the interest Avhich he has taken in the musical arrangements of Grand Lodge , and the prominent position AA'hich he has filled in fnrthermg the objects of the local Masouic charity for the education of children .

" I have to report the folloAA'ing exclusions for nonpayment of dues : — " Bros . P . T . Mooney , from Lodge ' Marine , ' No . 232 ; Wm . Hosey , from Lodge ' St . John / No . 486 . "I am requested by the Master of Lodge 404 of Scotland to report the exclusion from bis lodge of AV . Bro . James Davidson , a Past Master ; Bros . J . AV . Puudt ; F . Anvell ; J . R . Cousin ; and AV . Bro . A . J . Sharpe , a Past Master of Lodge 392 of England . " The report of the Committee of General Purposes ivas read : —

"The committee have much satisfaction in bringing to the notice of the District Grrnd Lodge the fact that there is only one Lodge in the district in arrears , and the District Grand Secretary anticipates that this will be settled before the meeting of the District Grand Lodge . "There has been for a considerable time past a Avish to obtain a neiv piano in lieu of tbe present old and almost unserviceable one '; the Musical Instrument Fund being now in a position to

bear such a change , the committee recommend that the District Grand Organist be requested to obtain the best instrument obtainable for the money at command , and also draAV up a set of rules for the guidance of Masters and brethren using the instrument on lodge nights . " The committee haA'e learnt Avith much satisfaction that the Lodge ' Dalhousie , ' No . 649 , at Mussoorie , has resumed work , and in order to afford every facility for the carrying on of this

lodge , they recommend that all dues for the several year * AA'hich heve elapsed since their last returns to District Grand Lodge , be remitted except the fee of Rs . 4 for each Initiation , it being also distinctly understood that that the sum of 7 s . 6 d . be likewise fonvarded by the lodge to the Grand Lodge of England for the the registration and certificate of each initiate admitted ¦ since the date of their last return to home authorities . " It Avas proposed by AV . Bro . G . H . Daly , and seconded by Bro . Col Tennant

. J . F . — "That the Accounts asshoivn in the report of the Committee of General Purposes , be accepted and passed as correct . Carried unanimously . Bro . C . II . Compton proposed , and Bro . Capt . G . G . Nelson , seconded— " That the recommendation of the Committee as regards the purchase of a new piano be adopted . Carried unanimously . Bro . Harvey proposed , and Bro . G . F . Longley

seconded" That the recommendation of the Committee as regards tho remission of dues by Lodge 'Dalhousie , ' No . 639 , at Mussoorie , bo adopted . " Carried unanimously . The following report , submitted for the information of District Grand Lodge , i \* as laid on the table , aud ordered to be recorded At a General Meeting of Subscribers to the Bengal Masonic Association for the Education of the Children of Indigent Freemasons , held in pursuance of the provisions of the 10 th Bye-La-v ,

at the Freemasons' Hall , No . 55 , Bentiuck Street , on AVedncsday , 7 th June , 1871 , at 4 o'clock in the afternoon , Bro , Hugh D . Sandemiiii , President , iu the . chair— "The proceedings of the general meeting , held oil the 7 th December last Avere read and confirmed . " The accounts from the 1 st December 1870 , to the 31 st May , 1871 , shoAving a balance of Rs . 13 , 500 in Government Securitiesand Rs . 1724-12-8 in cashAvere examined and

, , , passed . "The President laid on the table an abstract of the cash transactions of the Association during the past half-year , with balance sheet , prepared according to the provisions of tbe byelaAv 25 , shoAving a sum of Rs . 903-13-0 available for expenditure during the remaining half of the year ending 30 th November , 1871 . "The President in addressing the meeting observed that their

progress though sloiv , Avas steady , that since their last general meeting the trustees invested Rs . 2 , 000 in Government Securities , and they Avere HOAV investing a further sum of Rs . 1 , 000 He desired to notice one liberal gift of Rs . 300 among the list of donations , and also a very handsome donation of Rs . 900 from a party of gentlemen ivho conceived tbe liberal idea of giving a Theatrical Performance at the Opera House for the benefit of the Associationto which their nett proceeds as

, above ivere devoted . The donation Avas accompanied by a letter from the Theatrical Company , which Avas composed partly . of gentlemen amateurs , and partly of gentlemen and ladies attached to tbe Theatrical Company which Avas in Calcutta during the cold season , announcing that the experiment might probably be repeated from year to year . The Trustees had addressed a special letter of thanks to the Chairman of the Theatrical

Committee for the very liberal aid Avhich he and his colleagues had rendered to the Association , and the President thought that a vote of thanks should also be tendered to the Committee by this General Meeting . " The receipts of the Association during the past year ivere Rs . 1 , 720 on account of donations , and Rs . 656 on account of subscriptions . Three children Avere receiving education at the expense of the Association , of ivhom tivo ( girls ) Avere placed at .

the Girls' Martiniere School in Calcutta , and one ( boy ) at St . Paul ' s School in Darjeeling . He ivas happy to say that good accounts ivere received of the progress of all three children from their teachers . No applications for admission to the benefits of the Fund had been received during the half-year under review . " Upon the proposition of Bro . D . J . Zemin , seconded by Bro . A . G . Roussac , it ivas resolved that a cordial vote of thanks be tendered to the Chairman and Committee of the Theatrical

Company , for their generous aid in behalf of this Association , in arranging a Benefit Performance , by which a sum of Rs . 900 had been added to the Funds of the Association . " After the usual vote of thanks to the Chair , the meeting separated . " The R . AV . the District Grand Master again addressed the District Grand Lodge as folloivs : — W . Brethren—Before closing Grand LodgeI have a duty to

, , perform , Avhich I have purposely kept back till IIOAV , in order that I may conclude our work Avith the most pleasing portion of our business for the evening . I need not recapitulate the many and valuable services which have been rendered to Freemasonry in Bengal by your Deputy Grand Master , AVIIO , although even IIOAV but a young Mason , has served you with fidelity and unceasing labour as Grand Secretary for five years . It AA'Ould be a waste of AA-ords , although an excusable and a pleasant one ,

to go over lvhat is so well knoivn to you all , and what must be conscientiously felt by our worthy Brother . A feiv of his friends , not content that he should lay doivn his office of Grand Secret ary Avithout some token of regard , have joined together in purchasing for his acceptance a testimonial , which although of no great intrinsic value , is yet intended to serve him as a memento of their fraternal love and regard . It is my province , and I have rarely had a more gratifying office to perform , to