Germany.

the same having Uceu traushited into German , and deprived of all antiquated and useless appendages , which movement seems likely to bo followed by the other German Lodges . FREIBURG . Tho Lodge Fair Prospect lately elected Bro . A . Redlieh , the worthy Jlaster of thc Lodge Eleusis at Bayreuth , an honorary member .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

CONCERT AT BRIDGEAVATER . Ox Jlonday evening , Bro . G . Andrews , of Lodge No . 157 , gave a concert , assisted by some members of his family and amateurs , at the Assembly Rooms , Royal Clarence Hotel , Bridgewater . By permission of Colonel Tynte , Prov . G . JI . of Somerset , the brethren of the several Lodges who attended wore their jewels and tho clothing of their Order . Bro . Henry Bridges , P . JI . and Secretary of Lodge No . 307 , having kindly prepared a room at the Clarence Hotel for tho brethren of the Rural

Philanthropic Lodge to meet him , and we can say that not only the brethren of No . 307 were made heartily welcome as his guests , but the brethren of Lodge No . 157 , Bridgewater , were invited to take a cup of good fellowship with the Highbridge Lodge brethren ; the brethren having arranged , entered the room in a body , preceded by the banner of the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 307 . In addition to the above distinguished patronage , it is pleasing to record that au unsolicited donation of two pounds has been handed over to the AA ' orshipful JIaster of

the Bridgewater Lodge , by Bro . Henry Westrapp , of Jjodge No . 12 , Dublin . Amongst the brethren assembled , we noticed from the Lodge of Perpetual Friendship , No . 157—Bros . J . Lovibolid , AV . JI . ; J , Ricks , P . M . ; AV . Robinson , P . JI . ; J . Murlis , P . JI . ; G . Knight , P . JI . ; J . Leaker , P . JI . ; C . Babbagc , S . AV . ; S . A . Bailey , Secretary ; 0 . Symons , J . Stone , F . JB . JIcDonald , ancl C . Knoivles . From tho Rural Philanthropic Lodge , No . 307—Bros . H . Bridges , P . JI . ancl Secretary ; C . HallidayP . Jf . J . DukeJ . AV . J . S . BroderipChaplain ; J . Burnett

, ; , ; , , Treasurer ; A . H . AA'alklev , J . D . ; H . T . Swan , D . C ; E . Philipps , I . G . ; F . C . Hernet and H . Phillips , Stewards ; J . E . Poole , AV . 11 . Holmes , E . Barbara , AV . Symons , S . B . AA ' est , J . D . Jarman , H . Leaker , R . C . Else , and J . Doel . From the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity , No . 327—Bros . Blewett , P . JI . ; Hellarcl , P . JI . ; Captain Byron ancl Mitchell .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . AVILLIAM KETTLE . Tins brother , who has long held a high position in our Order in the province of Warwickshire , was carried to his last home on Jlonday , the Oth of this month . AVe are unable to ascertain the date of his initiation , but we find him recorded in 18-18 as a P . JI . of St . Paul ' s Lodge , No . 51 , in which he first saw the light of Freemasonry , ancl of which he continued a member till his death ; his active exertions in its behalf having been sustained so long as his physical powers permitted . He was

educated at the same school as the Recorder of Birmingham , ancl Sir Rowland Hill , K . C . B ., the inventor of the penny postage system . Bro . Kettle was brought up as an accountant iu the town , and in his management of public accounts as well as in the transaction of bankruptcy business , and that of private firms , he maintained a very higdi character , his tact , judgment , accuracy , and despatch procuring for him the confidence and esteem of his clients . He always made it a rule never to do that himself which being mechanical could be deputed to others , thus leaving

bis mind free to contrive , control ancl direct . AVhile tho unremitting efforts of our deceased brother secured his object for the time , and upheld his reputation , on the other hand the mental strain was too great , the duration of his life was shortened , and if he had acted otherwise , we should iu all human probability not have now to mourn his loss . Two years ago , when he began to feel the pressure of anxious labour and its effect on his health , he took a partner , but , unhappily , it was too late to save his health .

Bro . JKettlc never took ,-. prominent part iu . Masonic working , his mind being so fully occupied by other matters . Any shortcomings in this respect were however fully compensated for by efforts of another kind . He filled the important situation of Secretary of St . Paul ' s Lodge for some years , and also that of Grand Secretary in the province of Warwickshire since the year 1851 , where his services were publicly acknowledged by a testitnoiiiai but : _ short time ago . In 1 S 57 he was installed as ProvGrand Senior AVardenretaining the office in which he hacl

. , proved so useful , not only by a bare punctual record of _ the minutes and the transaction of the ordinary business , but also by his readiness at all times to assist the Prov . Grand JIaster iu obtaining such information as he desired as to the various Lodges , and in drawing up statistical tables for his guidance . AVhenevci- his aid was required for the furtherance of JIasonie objects , it was most cheerfully given , and his judgment being good , much deference was at all times paid to his opinion . Besides the distinction he gained many years ago of AV . JI . iu his Lodge , he has also

filled the chairs of the three Principals of the Royal Arch Chapter connected with it , and we believe gained honours in the degrees of Knights Templar and Rose Croix . N ' c ) Masonic demonstration was made at his funeral , but at the call of

Obituary.

Bro . AVm . Barwell , AV . JI . of No . 51 , a large number of the brethren assembled , clothed in black with ivhite gloves , to follow his remains to their resting place in the cemetery . Iteqicicsca . in ' pace . —H . H .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —The Queen held a privy council , on AVednesday , at Buckingham Palace , at which several important matters of public business were despatched . Her Majesty and the princesses take daily horse exercise in the riding-house of Buckingham Palace ; the ivhole of the Queen ' s family continue in good health . The Prince Consort has been very busy this week at the AVelliugton College , and also at the South Kensington Museum , where he is superintending the plans for laying out the now horticultural gardens at Kensington-gore . The Queeu and

Prince Consort , accompanied by the Princess Alice , have honoured Jlr . Theed with a visit , at his studio , iu Henrietta-street , Cavendish-square . The dramatic art also receives increased patronage from the royal family . On Saturday , tho Queen and Prince were at the Haymarket ; on Jlonday , at Covent Garden ( with the Princesses Alice and Helena ); on Tuesday , at the Olympic—the little ones , Prince Arthur and Princess Louisa , being sent to the pantomime at Covent Garden the same night : and on Thursday , the " Dead Heart" was performed , by " special desire , " at the Adelphi .

Lui'ERiAL PARLIAMENT . —Iii the HOL-SB OF LOIIDS , ou Jlonday , the Earl de Grey and Ripon replied to Lord Vivian that the Government adhered to their intention to pay adjutants for volunteer corps , and not to pay drill Serjeants . They thought it would be of great value to volunteer corps to provide them with efficient adjutants . The Earl of Derby asked what steps tho Government intended to take in order to carry ont the 20 th Article of the Commercial Treaty ivith France . He would not ask whether the Treaty was consistent with the principles of free trade

, but demanded that the precedent set by Jlr . Pitt , in 17 S 7 , should be strictly followed . The Treaty was so unpopular in Fance , that the Emperor , powerful as he is , will be scarcely able to carry it . Lord Granville replied that the Treaty of 1787 referred to France alone , ivhile in the present case the provisions of the Treaty referred to all the world .- On Tuesday , in reply to Lord Carnarvon , the Duke of Newcastle said that , after some hesitation , he hacl advised Her Majesty to agree to a bill for amending tho constitution o ' f the Legislative Council of

Tasmania . Lord Elgin took an opportunity to vindicate his conduct against the aspersions ivhieh hacl been recently cast upon it in the House of Commons . He denied that he had been guilty of harshness or injustice towards the Chinese , and said that he had advocated the appointment of a resident minister at Pekin , as the only way to preserve permanent commercial relations between China and England . In the Hoi / SK of Coiiiiroxs on Jlonday night the great contest ou the new financial measures was inaugurated . On the motion for going into

committee of supply , Jlr . Disraeli moved the following amendment : — "That this house does not think fit to go into committee on the Customs Acts , with a view to the reduction or repeal of the duties referred to in the Treaty of Commerce between her Majesty and the Emperor of the French , until it shall have considered , and assented to , the engagements in that Treaty . " The right hon . gentleman disclaimed any intention of making the motion a party question , but said that the proposal of the government placed the house in an unprecedented and peculiar position

which was by no means favourable to its privileges or to that freedom of debate of which the house was so jealous . He contended that the Treaty hacl been concluded in a manner that was altogether unprecedented , ancl that it usurped the right of Parliament to exercise its undoubted functions of judgment , revision and control . The position was humiliating , and the only means of extrication was to go back to the precedent established by Jlr . Pitt , and to the give the house time for ample consideration . Jlr . Pitt did not mix up financial considerations

with the treaty , ancl ministers should follow his example . The right hon . gentleman then criticised severely several provisions of the treaty , wliich seemed to be an instrument devised to silence the voice of one branch of the Legislature , and ivhieh might deprive of its privileges another branch of the Legislature . Ho urged , iu conclusion , that it was tho right of the llou . _ e of Commons , to have the whole treaty frankly submitted to its critical and constitutional control . The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that if ministers

accepted Jlr . Disraeli ' s proposition they ivould place themselves in an attitude not of dignity , but of dependence on an adversary for their deliverance from a difficulty . He defended vigorously the course proposed to be pursued by government , and urged that the twentieth article in the treaty , that which made its success dependent on the sanction of parliament , was sufficient for all the objects aimed at bv Jlr . Disraeli . The intention of ministers was , if the house thought fit to adopt those portions of the treaty which required its sanction , to ask the of the

opinion parliament on treaty as a whole . Sir Hindi Cairns contended that the eleventh article of tho treat y , relative to the exportation of coal , could not be considered in committee , and insisted that the proper course would he to take the opinion of the house on the treaty as a ivhole , before proceeding to consider the several engagements . The Attorney General said the amendment was puerile , and called upon the hosue to proceed without further dely . Sir F . Kelly said that according to the twentieth article , if a single provision were rejected the whole treaty would fall to the ground . Mr . Bright , continuing the