India.

INDIA .

BOMBAY . CONCORD LODOK ( No . 1059 ) . —Tho first meeting of this Lod ^ e was h-id in the Lodge room , on tho banks of tho Baboola Tank , on the 18 th February . At the request of the AV . M . elect , and the members of tlie Lodge , the chair was taken by AV . Bro . G . S . Judge ; Bros . J . Sandford , aud H . P / Oweu , the AVardens elect acting as AVardens ; Bro . J . G . Laurence , as Secretary ; Bro . E . Koily , as S D BroHHazells Marshall '

. . , as J . D . ; Bro . , as I . G . ; and Bro . A . Nelson , as Tyler A large concourse of brethren , members of other Lodges in Bombay , were also present ; among the most distinguished of whom were R . AV . Bros . W Blowns Prov . G . AV . of AVestern India ; V . AV . Bro . A . Jordan , Prov . G . Sec . of ' AVestern India ; and Bros . AV . H . S . Crawford , J . McKiulay , Manockjeo Cursetjee , aud J AA arc !; Mirza Ali Mahomed Shoostry , the Turkish consul ; aud Bros . Bo wen Rich Jamiesou , ancl Hodgart . The Lodge having been opened , and the AA ' arrant or Charter of Constitution read

beiug , the officiating Master , AV . Bro . G . L . Jud"e addressed the Lodge as follows : — " Brethren , It is [' customary at the consecration of a new Lodge , for some brother to deliver an oration in honour of Masonry ; but I wish for your sakes that on this occasion that pleasing duty had fallen ' into worthier hands than mine . I will , however , by tho brevity of my discourse endeavour to compensate for my deficiency in eloquence . Masonry , as every brother knows , is ' a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . ' Such being the true definition of our noble art , it naturallv follows

as a corollary , thereform , that wherever Masonry increases , there must then necessarily be a proportionate increase of moralit y and virtue . How greatly then ought every brother to rejoice in the formation of a new Lodge , for it is by means of our Lodges that the principles of our art , or , in other words , of morality and virtue , are propagated throughout the world . With mingled feelings , then of pride ancl pleasure , I call your attention to the stead y progress that Masonry has lon » been making over the whole face ofthe globe-marching hand in hand with civilizationand freel her hidden treasures

, y offering to all who possess the keythe tongue of good report . AVherever liberty ancl enlightenment prevail ther-Masonry flourishes ; and though she generally shims the haunts of despotism and superstition , yet even in regions darkened b y them favoured soots—like oases in the desert—are found illuminated by her presence . In ordcr ' that we may ' form some famt idea of the excellence of our institution , let us contemplate a few only of tho innumerable virtues bwhich it is adornedIts brotherllovelike oood

y . y , cement , firmly unites all true members of the fraternity into an impenetrable rampart of mutual defence and support . Its charity comforts ancl relieves the distressed and oppressed . Ancl its benevolence , extending its genial influence beyond the pale of the Craft , enfolds in its ample embrace tho whole family of man . in short , as that admirable Masonic writer , Dr . Oliver , most piously and justly

remarks—. tins Uoly teeling unites earth to heaven . AA'ith this love our profession will never bo m clangor of acquiring the appellation of hypocrisy ; but will bear the strictest scrutiny ; and , however severely tried , will be found a firm possession . With this love our devotion will be tho true devotion of the soul , in all its native simplicity and sincerity . This heavenly spark within our bosoms will catch that heavenly flame of divine and seraphic love , which alone can unite the creature with the Creator ; and thus alone can be formed and completed that true felicity of tho human soulthe union to its divine ori

, ginal . ' This being the opinion of our talented and reverend brother , is it then , I ask , assuming too much to say , that our Brother Milton alluded to Masonry , when ho so grandly and beautifully sung : — ' " ' Hail , holy light 1 offspring of heaven first-born 1 Or of the Eternal co-eternal beam , May I express thoe unblamed ? since God is light , And never but in tinapproached light