West Indies.

On tho I 7 th July , 1789 , several brethren of thc mystic tic hold thenfirst meeting as a Lodge , by tho style and title of Mount Olive Lodgo , at St . Christopher , under warrant of constitution from tho Provincial Grand Lodge of St . Christopher ( of the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ) , dated 11 th July , 1769 ; this warrant was duly confirmed , ratified and approved by the M . AV . and Right Honourable the Grand . Master Mason of Scotland and the Grand Lodge thereof , by warrant of

confirmation given at the Grand Lodge held in the city of Edinburgh , hon to 7 th November , 1791 . It appears that at this time tho custom obtained in the Lodgo of electing the Master and Treasurer for six mouths only , on the feasts of St . John tho Baptist , and St . John the Evangelist . In the year 1799 , the Lodge being possessed of a sum of £ 500 currency ( then equal to £ 250 sterling ) , invested it on real security , and subsequently in the same year became the purchasers of its freehold ,

( situate at the east end of the town of Basseterre ) , commonly called " Baker ' s Corner , " which by deed , duly executed and registered , was conveyed to certain trustees , "to be used aud employed as a Freemasons ' Lodge , by all such persons as wore then , or at any time thereafter , should become , or be admitted subscribing members of the said Lodge , No . 241 , called or named 'Mount Olive , and for no other purpose whatsoever . " The records of the Lodge afford ample testimony of its flourishing condition for a series of years , when , owing to the death and tho emigration of many of tho members , it began to declare , and eventually

ceased to work . In the year 1834 the slumbering brethren wore aroused , and tho Lodge ( being at the time when it ceased its labours thou the survivor of tho other Lodges ) assembled for tho noble and glorious purpose of reviving Freemasonry iu St . Kitts , a memorial was presented to the Grand Lodge , praying it to revive the old charter or to grant another charter : the prayer was granted in the alternative , and by dispensation dated 10 th August , 1835 , authority was given to the memorialists to hold a

Lodge under tho name and title of " Mount Olive , No . 336 , formerly No . 241 . " On the 9 th day of November , of the same year , the Grand Lodge of Scotland issued a charter , under which the Lodge at present holds its meetings . The Lodge for some years continued its working , and gave promise that it ivould again shine in its pristine glory ; but a dark cloud appeared iu tho east , brethren became lukewarm , arrears to the mother Lodgo began to accumulate , and it bid fair to sink again and be forgotten ,

when happily , in 1844 , the laying of a foundation stone for a now church iu the parish of St . George , once more stimulated the brethren , and they resumed thoir labours . Arrears , however , had to be looked after , and iu 1847 these having been paid up , the Lodgo has steadily persevered and held together , though at times it has barely exceeded tho number to make it "just , perfect , and regular , " till it has found itself at thc close of the year 1859 having already initiated , passed , aud raised five brethren , with cloven candidates , of whom the tongue of good report has boon heard .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GILES . FONDA YATES . Tins distinguished American Mason and writerhasgoneto his last home . On Thursday , 15 th December , there gathered around his coffin , friends who had known and loved him in life , to pay the last tribute of respect which man can pay his fellow . He has lived long and well , and died as a Mason should die—in humble trust in the great Master , and iu the hope of a blissful immortality . Thoro are many who walked with him the Mosaic pavementto regret his loss ; none to cast a sti on his

, gma memory , lie was emphatically the man to be respected aud loved . His kind and gentle temper , his courteous and affable deportment , won tho hearts of all who associated with him . Tho unkind word , or harsh rebuke , never came from his lips . Conscious himself of tbe weakness of human nature , as every true man is , he could find something to praise , where others were lavish of censure . " I am not fit , myself , to judge another , " were the ready words , when objurgation and reproach came from other li

ps . As a Masonic writer , Bro . \ ates held high rank . His stylo was torso and concise , rather calculated to induce in the reader relleetion , and elicit mind , than to produce superficial admiration . Tho short poems ivhich he has left aro remarkably characteristic in this respect . These are deficient in musical rythui , but filled with sparkling gems of thought —all his productions show the pen of thc scholar , who hail durnk from the wells of English undcfiled . The subjects on which , in later years ,

especially , ho delighted to write , woro abstruse , and therefore not adapted to tho capacity of the many . 'The Masonic fame of Bro . Yatos rested principally on his antiquarian knowled ge . In this field ho had no rival . It was the passion of his later life to dig deep down and bring up rich ore , whieh he moulded into massive forms . To ineffable Masonry , ns illustrating thc history and philosophy of the Order , developing its symbolism , and thus strengthening its columns , he devoted years of study and research . To nis indefati

gable industry aud patient care , ineffable Masons , in this section of the country , are indebted for the prominent position they now occupy . He contended for year _ s against what appeared insuperable

Obituary.

difficulties , until success crowned his efforts , and the old man ' s eyes were blessed with the sight of what his imagination had often pictured —a fitting home for his cherished branch of thc Order . Ilad he lived a little longer he would have left to ineffable Masonry a rich legacy . He had been gleaning , for many years , material for a manual . It would have comprised all that an ineffable Mason can want ; history , philosophy and work . He had just prepared to put tho matter in shape , when the summons came . Ho had long before received the " token " that the

golden bowl would soon be broken , and that he must be prepared for the coming of tho '' messenger , " for trouble had pressed heavily upon ' him , and sickness had weakened , his frame ; still he hoped and prayed that life might linger on until life ' s work was completed . Bro . Yates , in civil life , had held high position . Ho was for many years surrogate of his county ( Schenectady ) and as editor of a loading paper , exerted great influence in his district . But ho desired to bo known as a Mason . He cared but little for worldly honours . Ho

disliked the glitter of show , and the pomp of fashion . His aim was , what should be the aim of every true man and Mason—a life of truth and virtue . Ho was not righteous in his own eyes , but God fearing and God serving , he passed from time into eternity . — American Mirror and KTeyslonc . [ AVe , though unacquainted with Bvo . Yatos personally , havo had the honour of corresponding with him , aud must bo allowed to bear our testimony to thc talent ancl amiability which shone through even the lines of a private letter , and the great consideration ho appeared to have for the opinions of others . —En . ]

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

ST . JAMES'S UNION ( No . 211 ) BALL . This annual treat came off on Tuesday , January 17 , at St . James ' s Halt , Regent Street , under the presidency of Bro . H . A . Stacoy , AV . M . ot the Lodge , assisted by Bro . J . Gurton , P . M ., as Alee President , and the following stewards : —Bros . E . S . Garner , P . M . ; AA . Carruthers , P . M . ; Smethurst , S . AV . ; T . Simpson , Sec . ; T . AV . Sedgwick , J . D . ; H . Robinson , I . G . ; G . AV . C . Dean , J . AV . ; H . King , J . S . ; H . Hart , C . Annoot , E . C . Cockcraft , J . Clarke , AV . Kreteschmar , AV . Luce , J . F . Paul ,

J . Price , and C . Jackson , S . AV ., Hon . Sec . The baud was under the direction of our esteemed Bro . Adams , A . G . P . and P . M . The music was of thc best description , and was played with precision and vigour , and thc president , stewards , and the M . C . were all indefatigable in their attentions to their guests , and they , as they fully deserved to be , wore very successful in their endeavours to please every ono . AVo heard several ladies express their opinion that it was the best conducted ball that they had ever at tendedand it gave all satisfaction . About

, three hundred aud fifty brethren sat down to supper , comprising everything that the most fastidious could desire . After partaking of thc repast , the president rose and said—Ladies aud gentlemen , thc first toast I shall introduce to your notice is that of an illustrious lady , who by her many virtues has endeared herself to every subject of those realms , and I would state that by no society or institution is it received with greater loyalty , respect , or cordiality , than by the Freemasons . I

therefore ask you to be standing , aud drink thc health ot Our Most Gracious Majesty , the Queen , and thc rest of the Royal Family . " This was received with acclamations . The president then gave ' ' The Ladies" in tho following ivords : —Gentlemen—It is with great gratification I . call upon you to drink to this all important toast ; it is really the toast of the evening , for without the'kind aid and smiling faces of tho laches , how tamo and unsuccessful ivould bo our annual gatherings , lt is entirely owing to their delightful presence we feel so happy , and we are

particularly desirous of giving them a hearty welcome , and we sincerely trust we shall , have the great pleasure of meeting thoni all again on many similar occasions . We know all ladies admire and practise , charity ; therefore , it may be interesting for them to know that by our three former balls we realized a surplus of nearly £ 100 , ivhich sum has been devoted to the charities , so that while we are enjoying ourselves wc are contributing to the happiness of our unfortunate brethren and sistersAVith these few observationsI ask to drink to tho ladies

. , you , aud wish them every happiness . ( Cheers . ) This was done with all . the honours . Bro . E . C . Cockcraft , AV . M . ( 103 ) , and a member of this Lodge , returned thanks in a neat and effective speech . The vice-president gave "The President , " who returned thanks in a suitable manner , and gave ' ' The Vice-President and Stewards . " Bro . Gurton , P . JL , returned thanks in an eloquent manner . Dancing was resumed ivith groat spirit , which was kept up till a lute hour , every one leaving highly pleased and delighted with the whole arrangements .

GRAND MASONIC BALL AT LIVERPOOL . 'Till , eleventh annual ball of our Liverpool brethren took place oil Tuesday evening , tho 10 th . instant , ill the spacious and magnificent suite of rooms at the Town Hall , the use of which had been kindly granted by the town council . The ball was iu aid of the funds of tho West Lancashire Masonic Institution for the Education and Advancement in Life of Children of Distressed Masons , thc funds , of which