India.

There ivas a very numerous assemblage , and among the guests were the Prov . G . M ., Bros . Clark , D . Prov , G . M . ; Anderson , Prov . J . G . W . ; W . H . Hoff , Prov . G . Sec ; E . K . 0 . Gilbert , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; the W . M . 's of nearly all the Calcutta Lodges , and many other distinguished brethren in the Craft . On the Prov . G . M . entering the lodge , the W . M . descended from the dais and offered the Hiram to him . The Prov . G . M ., after complimenting the W . M . on his successful administration of the

lodge , requested him to resume the Hiram , which he hacl so ably held for the past two years . After the appointment of officers , Bro . Fergusson , in a very neat and appropriate speech , requested the W . M . to accept the testimonial offered by the brethren of the lodge , and read an address . The W . M . replied in very feeling terms , and then the lodge closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The testimonial is a very beautiful solid silver

presentation set , consisting of a salver , a jug , and a pair of goblets , of pure Grecian outline , and embellished ivith chased classical figures and groups . The whole centre of the salver is taken up with the following inscription : " Presented to Bro . AVilliam Henry Abbott , by the brethren of Lodge Excelsior ( No . 1127 ) , as a mark of their kindly feeling and regard , and as a slight recognition of his services for the two past years , during which he has held the Hiram of the lodge : 16 th December , 1862 . " The inscription is surmounted by Bro . Abbott ' s crest and motto .

LUCKNOW . TESTIMONIAL TO BEO . E . R . MONEY . An address and testimonial was lately presented to R . W . Bro . E . K . Money . The testimonial is a solid silver claret jug of Pompeian design , engraved with the following inscription : " Presented to R . W . Bro . E . K . Money , P . M . A ., as a fareivell token of esteem ancl regard , by the undersigned members of Lodge No . 810 and brethren at Lucknow . " Then follows a list of the names of the thirty donors in full .

CALCUTTA . ST . JOHN ' S DAW ( From the Englishman . ) The day opened unpropitiously for a procession . There was a drizzling fall of rain at intervals during the morning , till about nine o ' clock ; and although the rain held up then , it left the roads in such a state of mire and slush , as to make the wading through them destructive to polished leather boots and the nether

garments of the pedestrians , to say nothing of the attempts made to tread lightly and avoid the piools of ivater ivhieh had gathered right in the path of the procession , ivhieh made the line of march swerve in " serpent curves , " not unlike the course of the River Nile , to which ive afterwards heard Masonry compared in the sermon , in respect to its rise and progress through past ages . Nothing daunted , however , the whole body ,

consisting of nearly 200 Masons , led by their intrepid Grand Master , biaved the inconveniences that stood before them , and dashed into the miry path with a magnanimity and obedience to orders worthy of themselves . On reaching St . John ' s Church from the Freemasons' Hall , preceded by the band of the 92 nd Regiment playing the Masonic March , the banners were clipped as directed , a street was formed

by the brethren dividing on either side of the road within the Church enclosure , and the Prov . G . M . and District Grand Lodge walked through into the Church , folloivecl by the different lodges "in reverse order , leaving the banners of the lodges , ivith great propriety , outside at the entrance . Presently , the service commenced ; the Rev . Bro . Dr . Mazuchelli intoned theprayers , a very full and efficient choir chanting the responses in beautiful style under the management of

Mr . Bennett , the talented organist of that church . In the entoning of the service , we are bound in candour to say , that a variety of keys were tried , and occasionally a few were bound to fit . The choral part of the service ivas , in every respect , excellent , and left nothing to be desired . The Amens and responses ivere given ivith a precision that might Avell be compared to the harmony drawn from a rich-toned and well-attuned

accordion . The Psalms were chanted alternately by two sections of the choir , with correct ancl clear enunciation , and the Te Eeum and Jubilate , both written by Mr . Bennett , the former for the occasion , introduced that gentleman to the public as a composer of no ordinary ability , and ivere admirably performed by the choir , the solos and leading parts of the single voice concerted passages being sustained by Miss Clinger , ivho , Avith a rich and melodious voice , rendered them with most impressive

effect . But tbe anthem by Wesley , written on the 3 rd and some following verses of the 1 st chapter , 1 st Epistle of Peter , " Blessed be the God and Father , " was the greatest effort of the choir . The solo , with the sub-chorus on the words , " See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently , " was a charming performance ; and the burst of voices in the concluding chorus , " For the word of the Lord , " producing a stirring effect . The music selected on this occasion was very

appropriate , and although the attempt to produce it was ambitious , the effort ivas rewarded with a full measure of success . The sermon by the Rev . Bro . J . Cave-Broivne was founded on the text of the 15 th verse of the 13 th chapter of Nehemiah . The rev . gentleman seemed to feel that he was treacling on uncertain ground when he traced the origin of Masonry to the Middle Ages ; but the sermon , on the whole , was euiinently

Masonic and eloquent , referring to the practical purpose to which Masonry was applied in former times , as the teacher and builder of the people , and that to which it ivas now found to dei'ote itself as the almoner for the poor ancl needy , in the active exercise of the sacred grace of charity . It is to be hoped that the rev . gentleman ivill permit his sermon to be published , as affording a faithful exposition of the . true spirit and genius

of Freemasonry . The collection for the Fund of Benevolence was somewhat smaller than in former years . After tho service , the brethren returned to the Hall , ivinding cheerfully through the mire as they came , and then separated till the evening .

BENGAL . DISTEICT GEAND LODGE . A communication of the District Grand Lodge was held atthe Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on St . John ' s Day , the 27 th December , 1862 , at 6 J p . m . The Prov . G . M ., Bro . Saiideman , presided . The exclusion of certain members of Lodges Excelsior and Marine , Calcutta , and of Lodge Morning Star , Lucknow , for non-payment of dues , was announced .

The Hoff Testimonial was presented . The next motion on the agenda paper was , " that R . W . Bro . J . J . L . Hoff be elected an honorary member of the District Grand Lodge , under No . 8 of the bye-laws . " The Prov . G . M . proposed the election . The motion was seconded by Bro . Howe , and carried . The report of the finance committee ivas read . The balance in hand of the District Grand Lodge Fund amounted to lis .

2559 , ancl of the Fund of Benevolence Rs . 2989 . The purchase of a complete set of plated-ivare , including a handsome set of candelabra , was confirmed . The question of the rate at AA-liich Lodge Marine ( No . 282 ) , should pay rent from the month of April , 1861 , for the use of Freemasons' Hall , was taken into consideration , and the recommendation of the finance committee was adopted , that the lodge should be assessed at the rate of 8 annas per mensem for each subscribing member from the above period , according to the present mode of computing rent payable by private lodges .

An allowance to the Prov . G . Sec . for office establishment was sanctioned . The finance committee had recommended that , " to meet emergency cases of distress , subject to the confirmation of the committee of the Fund of Benevolence , 100 Rs . a quarter from that fund be placed at the disposal of the Prov . G . M ., the Prov . G . Treas ., and the Prov . G . Sec" After a discussion as to whether it was competent for the District Grand Lod to adopt the

ge suggestion of the committee , and whether the power to do so did not properly rest ivith the committee of the Fund of Benevolence , the proposition was negatived . Bro . Abbott movecl , in pursuance of notice , " that in future the use of Freemasons' Hall be not given for religious purposes . " He referred to nnpleasant circumstances which hacl occurred several years before , arising out of the permission given to a

certain religious sect to meet in the hall for the performance of Divine Service . He had therefore felt regret at seeing that the use of tiie hall had again recently been allowed for religious purposes , and he made his proposition with a view to prevent the recurrence of such unpleasantness as that to which he had referred . Bro . Roberts stated , with regard to the recent occurrence

referred to , that , previous to the appointment of a successor to the late Prov . G . M ., he , as a custodian of the building , had taken upon himself the responsibility of allowing some Wesleyan ministers to have service in the hall ; but his permission had been given ivith great reservations , and on the distinct under-