Knights Templar.

The officiating Prov . G . M ., adverting to the subscription which had been raised for presenting a testimonial to the Prov . G . M ., R . AA ' . Bro . Ramsay , read the following extract from a letter from him , elated London , the 25 th July , ISoO : — " I had almost forgotten to mention about the Masonic Testimonial , which is not yet finished . It is a handsome silver salver , of rich design , in alto-relief , representing Masonic characters , a Master receiving an Apprentice , with all the appropriate adjuncts , encircled

by the Grand Master ' s Collar and Jewel , with my coat of arms , eve , ancl an inscription in the centre—very handsome . AA'hen finished , I will send you out some photographs of it ; a copy for each lodge in the province . Kind regards to all the brethren . " The officiating Prov . G . M . reminded the brethren that , at the last Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge they had expected to have the pleasure of receiving R . AA' . Bro . the Bev . T . C . Smyth , D . Prov . G . M . of the Eastern Archipelago ancl

P . Prov . J . G . AA ' . of Bengal . He now regretted to inform them that he had received a letter from the reverend brother , written on boarcl the Peninsular ancl Oriental Company ' s steamer Ganges , between Malacca ancl Penang , stating that he was proceeding to England for eighteen months , on medical certificate . The brethren at Singapore hacl been desirous of entertaining him at a Masonic banquet previous to his departure ; but the state of his health had prevented him from accepting the honour .

The officiating Prov . G . M . stated that the decision of the Supreme Authority in England had been received on the question of jurisdiction arising out of the establishment of n lodge at Rangoon under a dispensation from the Prov . G . M . of Madras . It- being an important question , the following correspondence relating to it was read : —

To the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bengal , DEAE SIE AXD AA' . BEOTHEE , —I am induced to address you , from hearing that the Prov . G . M . of Bengal has objected to a lodge working under Madras being established in this station . I beg you to lay my explanation before the AA ' orshipful G . M ., to assure him that no disrespect was ever intended in making our application ; nor do I think that he will continue his objection after hearing from you this explanation . AA'hen Rangoon was taken , a

lodge was established in Rangoon . At that time the army was chiefly Bengal ; now ifc is all Madras , some eighteen regiments , and a lodge is therefore wanted in our cantonment , which is some three miles from the lodge in Rangoon town . Many join who cannot do so to the other lodge , and already both lodges number a gooclly lodge , showing that there is ample room for two lodges ; and many are joining the new lodge that could not ancl would not join the town one . There could be no objection to working under Bengal

were it at all feasible ; but as all are Madras , aud well known to our Prov . G . M ., and as all draw pay ancl all accounts go to Madras , it is to the advantage of Masonry , and the convenience of ourselves , that we wish to work under our own presidency . Ancl under these circumstances I sincerely trust that the Prov . G . JI . will not object to the establishment of our lodge . AA ' e all wish to work under the Grand Lodge of England ; but if it cannot be accorded to us as we desire , the application will be made to work under Scotland or Ireland . I feel sure that the E . AA ' . G . JI . will take the above into

his consideration , and under the circumstances , remove his objections . Trusting to a speedy reply , I am , Dear Sir , yours faithfully and fraternally , A . S . GEEEXLAW , Captain , Pavmaster , Rangoon . Baugco . i , May 27 / 7 / , I 860 . No . 183 of 1860 . To Captain ASGreenlawPaymasterP

. . , , . angoon . DEAE SIB AXD AA . BIIOTUEE , —I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter , dated 27 th ult ., respecting the lodge established at Rangoon under a ivarrant of dispensation granteefby the Prov . G . M . of Southern India . In reply , 1 am directed to state , that as it appears from the proceedings of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Southern India ( a printed copy of which has been recently received here ) that the Prov . GJIintends to make another reference to

, .. the M . AA' . G . M . of England on the subject , the officiating Prov . G . M . will await the decision of that ' Supreme Authority . He is , therefore , of opinion that no useful purpose would be ' served if he were to enter into a discussion as to whether it is , or is not , proper or desirable that a lod ge should be established within the jurisdiction of the Prov . G . M . of Bengal , by the Prov . G . M . of another province . He , however , desires ine to

observe that lie does not deny that there may be a necessity for the establishment of another lodge in Rangoon . The only question is , as to ivhether that necessity should not lie properly met by the authority which has already established , and has ' for some years been exercising its jurisdiction in a territory included within the presidency from which the designation of the ' Prov . G . M . of Bengal is derived . * I am , & c ., June \ Wi , I 860 . AA'n . H . Horr . Prov . G . Sec .

Extract from a letter from the Grand Secretary , United . Grand Dodge of England , to the D . Prov . G . 3 L , Bengal , dated London , 3 Iay 2 bth , I 860 . " In one of your letters to General Ramsay , you refer to an application that has been made for establishing a lodge at Rangoon , and very properly call his attention to the fact that the petition ought to have been sent to him , or to yourself as his Deputy , as the place where the lodge is intended to be held is in the province

of Bengal . This did not escape my notice afc the time the petition was sent in ; ancl in my letter to Colonel Macdonald , of the 25 th February last , while pointing out in what respects the petition was informal , I made use of the following words : — 'And further , Rangoon being under the jurisdiction ofthe Prov . G . M . of Beno-al , the petition must be submitted to him , or his Deputy . ' " AA ' M . GEAY CLAEKE , Grand ' Secretary . " The officiating Prov . G . M . alluded to the recent- demise of Bro .

P . AA ' . LeGeyt and Bro . J . E . Amory , and after paying a tribute to their memory , directed that tbe following resolutions , which had been passed in their respective lodges , should be read ancl recorded in the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge . Bro . LeGeyt having held the high office of Prov . G . JI . of AA ' estern India , a copy of the resolution of his lodge had been forwarded by the officiating-Prov . G . JI . to the Prov . Grand Lodge at Bonibay : — Copy of Resolutions riassed in Dodge Star in- the East , Ko . SO , on

July Uth , I 860 . Proposed by Bro . H . Howe , E . AV . JL , seconded by Bro . F . J . Mouat , S . AA ' ., —That Lodge Star in the East deeply laments the death of Bro . LeGeyt , P . JI ., by which the lodge has sustained the loss of a worthy ancl highly-esteemed member . The principal part of Bro . LeGeyt ' s JIasonie career was spent in the Bombay Presidency ; but during the last five years he has been connected with the Craft in Bengal , and has held the offices of JIaster and .

Past JIaster . The high reputation which our lamented P . JI . brought with ltini from Bombay prepared the brethren here for that display of JIasonie worth wliich Bro . LeGeyt's conduct in connection with the Craft always exhibited . In his intercourse with the brethren of this lodge , his unvarying kindness and urbanity endeared him to all , while his zeal for the best interests of Masonry , and his integrity in all matters connected with the Craftwon for him the confidence and esteem of the brotherhood .

, Entertaining these sentiments , the members of this lodge desire to place on record the expression of their high sense of the late Bro . LeGeyt's Masonic excellencies , and whilst bowing to the dispensation of the G . A . 0 . T . V ., of their deep regret at the loss they have sustained by the removal of so excellent a brother from amongst them , resolved that a copy of this minute be transmitted to the officiatine . Prov . G . JI . for his information .

( True Copy . ) B . BOYCOTT , Secretary , No . 80 . Extracts from the Dodge Industry and Perseverance ( lYo . 126 ) , July & . '/_ , ' lSGO . Bro . John Martin , S . AA ' . in charge , rose and addressed the brethren on the sad bereavement the lodge had sustained by the untimely demise , since their last meeting , of their esteemed brother

and J . AA' ., John E . Amory , and begged to propose that the following minute be recorded : " The brethren of this lodge desire to place on record the expression of their sincere regret at the sudden and unexpected demise of their well beloved brother , John Ellery Amory , J . AA' . of Industry and Perseverance ( No . 126 ) . His kindliness of disposition ancl JIasonie zeal endeared him to ns all . He well exlified in his brief but bright career thatby square conduct

emp , , level steps , and upright intentions , he looked with the eye of faith ancl hope to attain to those mansions from whence all goodness emanates . The officiating J . AA' . seconded the proposition , which was carried unnuiniously .

( True Extract . ) Joux S . unn . Secretary , No . 126 . The officiating Prov . G . M . appointed Bro . AA ' . L . AVilmer to be a Prov . G . S . in the room of the late Bro . Amory , and invested him with the badge of the office , expressing regret at the same time that , as in the case of Bro . Mouat , there was nothing better to oiler him than an appointment which he had already once filled . It was announced that Bro . IL 1 ) . Sandemanp . Prov . J . G . AA ' .

, , had been appointed a member of the committee appointed to carry out the scheme for the erection of a JIasonie Hall in Calcutta . The officiating Prov . G . JI . stated that there had been differences between one of the lodges at the Presidency ( the Marine , No . 282 ) and its immediate Past JIaster . The lodge had excluded that brother ; but the officiating Prov . G . JI ., on clue consideration , and aided by the opinion of the Prov . tl . Officers' Lodgo , had reversed the sentence . The JIaster hacl then reported that the excluded