Craft Masonry.

the greatest credit on all concerned , and the banquet gave com plete satisfaction , Among the vi * itoi-s present were Bros . Dob sou , D . Prov . G . M . fur Kent ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . J . D . ; H U . BUSS , P . M . 27 : and Puller , W . M . 9 .

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND . LEICESTER . —John of Gaunt Lodge ( So . 523 ) . —An emergency meeting of this flourishing lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., and was attended by between thirty and forty brethren , among whom were the Prov . G . Master aud Senior P . M . of the lodge , Bro . Kelly ; George Toller , jun ., W . M . ; Duff , G . II . Hodges , ancl W . li . Smith , P . M . ' s ; Buzzard , S . AV . and W . M . elect ; Seulthorpe , J . AV . ;

Baines , Sec ; C . Johnson , P . M ., Org '; M'AUisteras , S . D . ( in the absence of the Rev . Dr . Hay croft ); Partridge , J . D . ; Atkins and Sergeant , Stewards ; Lewin , I . G ., and other members . The visitors were : —Bros . Stanley , W . M . ; Stretton , S . AV- ; Crow , J . AV . ; Palmer , J . D . ; AVilliams , Halford , Santer , Barber , and Gurden , of No . 279 . The lodge having been opened , a ballot was taken for Messrs . Thomas Charlesivorth , William 'fortius Rowlett , and Alfred George Jackson , of Leicester , ancl AVilliam

Bunney and Lewis George Wynne , of Oadby , all of whom were duly elected . The lodge was then opened in tho second degree , and Bro . AVilliam Penn Cos , having passed the usual examination , was afterwards raised to the sublime degree of M . M . in an impressive manner , the W . M . performing the ceremony most efficiently , with the addition of tbe musical chants , conducted by Bvo . Charles John Johnston ( p . Prov . G . S . AV . Jersey ) , on the organ , assisted by the musical brethren . The lod

ge was then lowered to the first degree , when five candidates were initiated into tho Order , the ceremony being taken alternately by the AV . M . and the P . G . M . On the lodge being closed an unusually large number of brethren sat down to refreshment , as a mark of their respect aud esteem for the retiring AV . M ., Iiro . George Toller , jun ., who lias " ivon golden opinions" during his tenure of oflice , both by the admirable manner in which he has discharged his official duties and b y the modesty of his

demeanour and the amibility of his disposition . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts duly honoured , ancl several songs sung ' by tbe musical brethren . The festival is to take place on the 24 th inst ., St . John's Day .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWPOET . —Silurian Lodge ( No . 4-71 ) . —On Friday evening last a special iiodge of Emergency was held , at tlie Masonic Hall , Newport , the Rev . S . Fox , AA . M ., in the chair , and there was also a very large attendance of Newport Masons . The minutes of the last meeting having been read , as also the requisition to the AV . M . to call this emerg-eney . Tho ballot tool : placewhen the three following gentlemensons of Freemasons

, , , where unanimously admitted , viz .: —Mr Charles David Phillips , of Newport ; Mr AV . Henry Pickford , of Newport , son of the respected Treasurer of 471 ; and Mr Anthony Phillips AVilliams , of Newport , son of the worthy Secretary to the above ledge . There gentlemen being in attendance they were this evening initiated into Masonry , the ceremony being most ably rendered by the AA . M . We may add that members of the Craft

many attended out of respect to the Treasurer and Secretary . Tho Secretary , on behalf Bro . Bridges , A . W . D . P . G . M . for Somerse-t , presented a bust of that gentleman to this lodge , and Ihe same will be placed in a prominent part ot the hall as soon as the decorations are completed .

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

ADELAIDE . DISTRICT GIJAND LODGE . A Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Loilgc of South Australia was held at the Freemasons' Hall Adelaide ! on Wednesday , April 6 , 1870 . There were present : —Bros , the R . AV . Arthur Hardy , J . P ., D . G . M ., in the chair ; Henry E . DownerS . M . Deputy D . G . M His -Honor Jud

, , . ; ge Gwynne , D . G . S . AV . ; AA ' . Charles R . Uarton , D . G . J . W . ; Frederic Wicksteed , P . D . G . S . W . ; John T . Sagar , P . D . J . G . W . ; Rev . G . II . Farr , D . G . Chap . ; AVilliam H . Graham , P . D . G . Treas . ; John R . Gurner , D . G . Reg . ; Ralph E . Lucy , D . G . Sec ; A . E Davies , P . M . 872 , as D . G . S . D . ; Jaffa , as D . G . J . J ) . ; William Hill , D . G . Dir . of Cers . ; H . L . Durieu , D . G . Org . ; John C .

Australia.

Bray , D . G . Purst . ; - AV . M . ' s 423 , 842 , and 875 ; S . AV . 583 ; J . AV . 's 5 S 3 and S-43 ; and several visiting brethren . The officer's roll was called , and the D . G . Treas ., D . G . Assist . Dir . of Cers ., ancl three D . G . Stewards were fined for nonattendance . The minutes of tho last meeting were read and confirmed . The report of the general committee for the last three months was then read as follows : —

" To the R . AV . the D . G . Master and District Grand Lodge of South Australia . " Your committee report -. —1 , That the necessary notices regarding the increase of Quarterage and Joining Fees have been duly given , and no notice of objection having been sent in due course , it will remain for this lodge by a simple majority to confirm or disallow the resolution of the Sth of January last , viz : — "That tho quarterage , or fees paid by the different lodges

within the District , ho increased to Nincpence per quarter on each and every subscribing member of each lodge , and that the fee payable to this lodge on account of joining members be increased to Two Shillings and Sixpence for each member . ' 2 . They lay before you the Balance Sheet for the year 1869 , duly audited ; and have satisfaction in stating that returns from all tho lodges to December 31 , 1869 , to Grand Lodge have been dispatched with remittance of clues by tho last mail . They trust

that the returns to June will be forwarded with less delay . 3 . They recommend that the fines against Bros . English and Durieu , inflicted at the last meeting , be remitted ; and regret to state that many brothers have distinctly refused to pay their fines , aud have not stated any reason why they should not be enforced . 4-. l'bey hope for the approval of this lodge in the step they taken , in resolving- to call for the books of the various lodges in rotation , for the purpose of examination by the general committee . This step beinar necessary , in their opinion , in

consequence of several manifest irregularities which have taken place , not only in the new but in some of the older lodges . 5 . Your committee congratulate the brethren iijjon the successful completion and solemn consecration of the New Hall , in Adelaide ; and trust they will second the efforts ol the Trustees to free the Building from debt and secure the revenue to tho charities of the Craft . "CHAS . B . DABTON , D . G . J . W ., Vice Chairman .

"FUEDE'IC WICKSTEED , P . D . G . S . W ., Sec . to Gen . Committee , "Adelaide , April 6 th , 1870 . " Bro . Darton , D . G . J . W ., proposed and Bro . Sagar , P . D . G . J . W ., seconded— " That the report be received and adopted" which was carried unanimously . The Balance Sheet for the year 1869 was then read , received , and adopted unanimously . " Pm-s-. int to noticeBro . Wicksteed P . D . G . S . AV . moved and

, Bro . Gurner D . G . Reg . seconded— "That the resolution contained iu minute 128 of the Sth clay of January last , viz .: — "That the quarterage , or fees paid by the different lodges within the District , he increased to Ninepence per quarter on each and every Siib .-cribing- Member of each loelge , and that the fee payable to this lodge on account of Joining Members be increased to Two Shillings and Sixpence for each member' be confirmed . ' Carried unanimously .

" W . Bro . Lotchford gave the following notices of motion for the the next cemmunication : — -That the interest of this lodge in tho furniture recently useelin . the Hall , Ruddle Street , be a , nd is hereby vested in tho Trustees of Freemasons' Hall . That the offer of tho Trustees for the use of this Hall , Antee . rooms , Furniture , Lighting , Cleaning , & c ., for the sum of £ 25 per annum , payable quarterly , be accepted . There being no further business , the District Grand Lodge was closed in due form and with solemn prayer .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN . A ' ICTOHIA CIIAPTEB ( No . 1 , 050 ) . —The regular convocation of this well-known and prosperous chapter took place on Monday , the 6 fh inst ., at the George Hotel , Aldermanbury . Comps . Oliver , M . E . Z . ; Pendlebury , P . Z . S ., as IL ; Comp . Brett , P . Z ., a ; J . ; E . Gottheil , S . N . ; J . D . Taylor , as P . S . Comp . C . Hos-Hosgood , I . P . Z ., was unavoidably absent on account of a domestic affliction . Tho minutes of the former convocation were read and confirmed , anel Bros , llogurd , S . D . 205 , George Parker , and J . W . Green , were exalted . The chapter was then closed , and the companions adjourned to the b . m < iuet . The