India.

that he had met with a sli g ht accident at Matheran , which he much regretted would prevent bis being present . The District Grand Secretary reported that during the year 1869 there had been 9 S initiations into Masonry in the District , and that on the 1 st ihiy of the present year there were 535 Subscribing members of Lodges . Lodge " Union " still remains the weakest Lodge , but the

more recent returns of " Star of India " show that tbe Lodge lias increased iu strength considerably . Since the last half-yearly Communication 54 Grand Lodge Certificates were issued from the District Grand Secretary ' s Office ; and 7 dispensations for conferring degrees within the regular period wese granted . Lodge " Corinth , " No . 1122 , of Nagpore , not having rendered any return for this year , tiie District Grand Secretary was

requested to warn tbe AVorshipful Master that if returns are delayed beyond two months more , the Lodge would bo liable to be erased . The District Grand Secretary said that the question of Masonic jurisdiction in India was still unsettled as regarded Bengal and Madras , but that the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab had agreed to the boundary proposed for the Bombay District .

Read a letter from the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , announcing the exclusion from Masonry iu that District of Bro . C in consequence of unmasonic conduct . The District Grand Master requested AA'orshipful Masters m this district not to admit this erring In-other into their Lodges , or to a

participation m the Masonic charities . Read , the following letter from the Grand Secretary , in reply to tbe petition to tbe Most AA ' orshipful tbe Grand Master , that up-country Lodges be permitted to appoint delegates iu Bombay to represent them at the Communications of the District Grand Lodge . "Freemasons' Hall , London , AA ' . C , 4 th March , 1870 . "

To the Right Worshipinl Brother the District Grand Master of Bombay , GEOEGE TATLOE , Esq . Right Worshiplul Sir and Brother , — "Your memorial and that ofthe Officers of your Grand Lodge , received in the summer of tbe past year , praying that the Lodges which are situated at distances from tho Presidency town of Bombay should be permitted to appoint representatives to attend in District Grand Lodge and be there acknowledged as representing the brethren

of the said Lodges , " has been under tbe serious consideration of the M . W . the Grand Master . In the present state of the law the request made by yourself and the District Grand Officers of Bombay is inadmissible , and I am commanded to inform you that after the most anxious consideration , the Grand Master does not feel that it would be advisable to recommend Grand Lodge to make any alteration of the law iu this particular . I may add that it is usual in this

country to hold the Provincial Grand Lodges alternately in the various towns , where there are Lodges , in the province . A similar proceeding might perhaps be adopted with advantage in the District of Bombay . I have the honour to be ,

Right AA ' orshipful Sir and Brother , A ours fraternally , ( Signed ) JonN HEEA'EV Grand Secretary . The District Grand Master observed that from the last sentence of the Grand Secretary's letter it was evident that the position was misunderstood by the M ost AVorshipful the Grand Master . A Provincial Grand Lodge in England could travel

from one end of the province to the other by railway in the space of a couple of hours , but District Grand Lodges in India were very differently situated ; for instance , this District Grand Lodge rules over Lodges so far as 700 miles from tbe Presidency town , some of the Lodges were 1000 miles or more apart from each other , having no railways to connect them , so that the Grand Secretary's suggestion was totally impracticable ; besides it would be imiv'ssihi- + ' - «¦ VntWivn to !«»» rhoir business and

. go on such excursions without incurring serious loss ot noui time and money . 'Die other District Grand Lodges had been written to on the subject , and it was probable that a further representation would be made to Grand Lodge . W . Bro . Gumpert made mention of the death of Right AA ' orshipful Bro . A . J . Greenlaw , one of the most eminent Freemasons in India . He thought that the District Grand Lodge

India.

should take tbe first opportunity of expressing their sympathy with the sister Grand Lodge ovor which R . AA' . Bro . Greenlaw had presided with so much ability . Their late brother had ahvays been spoken of as one of the most distinguished members of the Craft in India , especially in reference to his contributions to Alasonic literature . He ( AA ' . Bvo . Gumpert ) bogged to propose that a vote of condolence be recorded on the demise

of R . AA ' . Bro . Greenlaw , a most worthy brother , whohad occupied one of the highest positions in Masonry in India , and deservedly so . The R . AV . Bro . Taylor said it was certainly highly proper that this District Grand Lodge should put on record an expression of the v . gret felt by all Lodges in the Bombay District at the loss sustained by the District Grand Lodge of British Burmah , and he begged to second tbe motion made to that effect . —Carried uniinimonslv .

R . AV . Bro . Taylor vacated the chair for AV . Bro . Diver , Deputy District Grand Master , who said : Right AA'orshipful Sir , I thank you very much for the honour you have done me in banding me the Hiram this evening ; I very mueh regret the absence of the District Grand Master through illness , for I am quite sure that he would have been deli ghted to have presided upon such a pleasing occasion as tbe one for which we have come together to-night ; yet I feel that to be called upon to act for the

District Grand Master this evening for the first time since I have occupied the position I hold , is a very great honour indeed , placing mo iu the position to present to you , sir—the first District Grand Master—the congratulations , and to express the gratitude of the Masons of Bombay , and fo clothe you with the Collar , Badge , and Jewel of a Past District Graud Master , which have been ' voted to you by this District Graud Lodge . You have been nine years our District Grand Alaster , and during

that time Freemasonry has been most prosperous , and tiie brethren of this District are gtateful to you for the manner in which you have ruled them , and for the success which tbey have received . The Deputy District Grand Master then presented R . AA' . Bro . Taylor with the Address of tho District Grand Lodge , and—amidst hearty and continued cheering—invested him with tbo elegant ( presentation ) costume of a Past District Grand Master . When the cheers bad abated , the Deputy District Grand Alaster concluded by saying that he hoped R . W .

Bro . Taylor would live long to wear it , and to give the District Grand Lodge the benefit of his advice and Masonic experience . Tbe brethren renewed the cheering , aud saluted R . W . Bro . Taylor with the honours due to his rank . Adddresses elegantly emblazoned on vellum , were then presented to R . AV . Bro . Taylor from several lodges , tbe AA' orshi pful Masters adding a few appropriate words . The order in which they were presented is as follows : —

"Orion in the AVest , " ( hy AV . Bro . Colonel L . W . Penn . ) " St . George , " ( by AV . Bro . A . C . Gumbert . ) " Truth , " ( by AV . Bro . AV . II . Hussey . ) " Star nf India , " ( by Bro . II . I . P . Thompson . ) ' Emulation , " ( by AV . Bro . C . Beard . ) R . AA' . Bro . Taylor said : AVorshipful Deputy District Grand Master , Worshipful Brethren , Masters of Lodges , and AVardens of Lodges—what shall I say to you in return for all those

hearty good wishes and for these marked compliments , so undeserved by me , yon have been pleased to shower upon me this evening ? I can only ask you to accept my thanks . Oa the last occasion of my meeting you here I bad the pleasure of inducting in tbe chair tbe present District Grand Alaster , and now for tbe first time I appear among you as the Past District Grand Alaster of Bombay . When I was elected to the high office of District Grand Alaster of Bombay , I was appointed by the

unanimous vote of all the English Masons in Western India , and I took upon myself to recommend to the ruling powers in England , the Right AA ' . Bro . James Gibbs as my successor , feeling as I did that such an appointment would be acceptable to you . for he acted as Deputy during my entire reign , with the exception of a few months whilst lie was in England , and not only gave satisfaction in the discharge of his duties , but won golden opinions . It seemed to methereforethat lie could not but be

, , acfppi- 'ilo when placed in a higher position over vou . At the last meeting or t >___ , a .-.,. a x . _ . d .. i iose in my place , and endeavoured to convey to yon the sentiments of pride I entertained at leaving such a successor . You now call upon me again to express tbe pleasure I ( eel , and when you present to me this very handsome suit , by which you invoke my presence upon future occasions as your Past Grand Master , and when 1 find mysell once more ruling over you , wuich I little thought of twenty-