India.

Bengal is against it , not liking to give up four lodges out of twenty-seven . The reason is plain . The subscriptions and fees to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bengal are very heavy , and all the Provincial Grand Lodge gets is clear gain ; for although there are charities here and also objects deserving of relief , we . get not a halfpenny from the Provincial Grand Benevolent Fund , though we pay , and have done so for years , large sums to Bengal . This is

particularly hard ; therefore we need a Provincial Grand Lodge of British Burmah , and trust to our M . W . Grand Master looking upon our application in a Masonic spirit , though the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Bengal does object . This land of the Bhoodhists now under English rule is very extensive , and is rising daily in importance . We have now a Chief who is to be Deputy Governor ; three Commissioners over the three

. provinces , with many officers under them ; a Recorder and a High Court , a General commanding a large force , aud some eighty or ninety ships in the river . This will be a rising , large , and important province . The whole of these provinces are officially designated " The Province of British Burmah . " Under these circumstances we feel that we ought also to be a province , Bach of the two lod in musters upwards of fort

ges Rangoon ytwo members ; and if Col . Greenlaw succeed in filling up the Arch and Templars as he has done the Mark , many more will no doubt join us . Each lodge pays to the Bengal Provincial Grand Lodge for every subscribing member , 2 rs . ; for initiation , 2 rs . ; for joining , 1 r . —and gets , in return , no charity ; so that forty-. two members pay 84 rs ., besides the initiation and joining fees .

MARK MASONRY . RANGOON . —Victoria in Burmah Lodge ( So . 68 ) . —This lodge vtns opened on Thursday , February 23 , by Bro . Col . Greenlaw , W . M ., assisted by Bros . Wilkins as S . W ., O'Donnell as J . W ., •Simpson , M . O ., and a full attendance of members . Although this lodge has only met three times , it numbers twenty-five members ; anda great many brethren are solicitous of advancement , for this is the first Mark lodge in these provinces—nor is therebelieve

, _ I , one in Calcutta working under the English Constitution . There is one at Madras , and two more will shortly be opened in British Burmah . The ballot having been taken for Bros . Bei-rill , Godfrey , Blenkin , Balthazar , Doughty , Gregory , and White , and proving satisfactory , they were severally advanced to the honourable degree of Mark Masters b y the W . M . with great solemnity , which elicited the highest satisfaction from all present . Some other candidates having been proposed for advancement to this degree , the lodge was closed with prayer and in solemn form .

China.

CHINA .

( From our own Correspondent . ) INSTRUCTION . _ SrrANGHAI . —Lodge of Assiduity ( No . 570 ) . —A meeting of this lodge of instruction took place on the 25 th of February . The following brethren acted as officers for the evening . Bros . Jamieson , W . M . ; Mai Hand , S . W . ; Johnson , J . W . ; Brown , S . D . ; Lloyd , J . D . ; Wheelock , I . G . After an introductory address from the preceptor , Bro . Gould , P . M ., elucidatory of the scope

and utility of lodges of instruction , the ceremony of initiation was proceeded with . The two first sections of the first lecture were worked by Bros . Dunlop and Parker , P . M . 's , and the explanation of the tracing board terminated the business of the evening . The attendance was very numerous , aud several brethren were proposed as joining members . SHANGHAI .

ROYAL SUSSEX LODGE ( No . 501 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this lodge took place on the 2 Sth February . Present —Bros . C . E . Parker , P . M ., in the chair ; Holdsworth , S . W . ; Martin , Acting J . W . ; Seaman , Sec . and Treas . ; Andrews , S . D . ; Fellowes , J . D . ; Wheelock , I . G . ; Adams , M . C . ; Phillips , Tyler . Bro . Gonld , P . M ., Northern Lodge of China ( No . 570 ); Spencer , Endriott , Eckfeldt , Roggen , Oppert , Day , King , Croad . Jury ,

Reeve , Crooni , Gilmour , Dudfield , Stephenson , and Morriil . Visitors—Bros . Blanchard , Eyles , Brockham , Runble , Lloyd , Keir , Maekay , Smith , Johnston , Baldwin , and Birchnard . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes having been confirmed of the two previous meetings , Bro . Gould , P . M ., requested the use of the gavel for a few minutes , which was granted by the W . M . Bro . Gould then addressed the brethren as follows : —I have solicited the use of the Master ' s hiram ,

China.

brethren , in order that the fevi- observations I am about to make may be addressed directly to you instead of , as is customary , to the W . M . The proposition I am introducing need be a surprise to no member of the lodge , save him whom it especially concerns , Bro . C . E . Parker . Bro . Parker's year of office has been in every way a mest successful one , and those brethren who have conversed on the subject are agreed that the lodge ' s appreciation of his admirable mastership ought to be signified

by the award of a Past Master's jewel , on the reverse of which should be inscribed our brother's valuable services to the Royal Sussex Lodge , together with tho esteem in which lie was held , both personally and Masonically , by those whose good fortune it was to be situated under his rule in the year just concluded . As the oldest resident member of the lodge present this evening , I beg to lay this proposal before you . It will be seconded by the Senior Wardenin the unavoidable absence of

, Bro . Heard , W . M . The year 1864 was a most critical period in the history of the Royal Sussex Lodge , and to Bro . Parkeris justly due the merit of having raised its prestige to the level of the other Masonic bodies in China . Bro . Rawson , in his farewell speech , paid Bro . Parker no undue compliment in speaking of his services in lodge , chapter , and encampment , as second to those of no member of the Craft in Shanghai . I am

particularly opposed to an indiscriminate voting of testimonial jewels , yet I offer the proposition now before you under a firm conviction that our Brother Parker has , by most distinguished Craft services , amply merited some special acknowledgment at the hands of this lodge . "—Bro . GOULD then formally piuposed that a Past-Master's jewel of the value of 25 guineas be presented to Brother Parker , which motion , cordially seconded by

Bro . Holdworth , S . W ., was put to the lodge by Bro . E . Martin , Acting J . W ., and carried most enthusiastically . Bro . Gould having requested the Secretary to take a note of the resolution , briefly communicated the decision of the lodge to the W . M . , and resigning the gavel into the hands of that brother , resumed his seat . —Bro . PARKER , on resuming again the gavel , rose after an interval of a few moments , and said , —Brethren , for the first time , I believe , I rise from this chair without being in a measure prepared for what I have to say . This is so complete a surprise to me that I can with difficulty find words to express

to you my thanks , and my sense of the high honour and compliment you have just paid me . During the past year , I feel I can conscieneiously say , I'have striven to do my duty as your Master , and faithfully fill the chair of your lodge , and I accept your kind present as an earnest of your approval , and shall ever value it as a token of your friendship , and a memento of the kind assistance , support , and encouragement , you have given me in my labour . These latter are what enable a Master

worthily to discharge his duties , and although you have been kind enough to attribute the present successful working of the Royal Sussex to my exertions , it is to you I feel I am indebted and upon you that I would call to continue the exercise of that harmonious and energetic spirit you have thus far displayed , and extending to your new Master the right hand of fellowship and fidelity , foster and support him during the coming year . That you will do this , I feel assured , and I look

forward to a future of success and prosperity for our lodge . For myself , I can only again give you my best thanks for the honour you have done me , and assure you that I shall cherish the jewel as a token , I trust , of many friendships aud a memento of my year of office as your Master , which I shall look backjto as oncof the happiesttwelveinouths of my life . Bro Parker then resumed his seat amidst the subdued applause of tho brethren . The ceremony of the first degree was then workedand

, Messrs . Kent , Geary , Talbot , and Grinnell were severally initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry , after which tho lodge was opened in the second degree , and Bros . Endicott , Croone , and Gilmour separately passed to the degree of F . C . All labour being finished , the W . M ., before closing , called to tho minds of the brethren that Bro . Rawson had requested that his name might be put upon the list of absentee members , as he had

returned to England . In consideration , however , of the many valuable services which they had received from Bro . Rawson , and as a mark of their esteem , he begged to propose that Bro . Rawson be elected an honorary member of the lodge . This was seconded by Bro . Fellowes , J . D ., and carried unanimously . The W . M . then called the attention of the brethren to the meetings of the Assiduity Lodge of Instruction , under the auspices of the Northern Lodge of China , aud recommended a constant attendance of the members . Nothing more offering for the good of the Craft , the lodge was closed in due form at 11 . 45 p . m .