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with the W . Masters , Wardens , and members of many private lodges in London and the country . Grand Lodge having been opened , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed , The Rt . Hon . Henry Howard Jlolyneux Herbert , Earl of Carnarvon , of Highclere Castle , in the county of Hants , and . and Pixtonin the county of Somersetwas proclaimed MAY .

, , Grand Master of Mark Masters of England and Wales , & c , for the year ensuing , and was saluted in ancient form . The G . M . thanked the brethren for the renewal of their confidence , which it was at all times his desire to merit , and then proceeded to appoint and invest the Grand Officers , viz .: — R . W . Bro . Viscount Holmesdale D . G . Master . Sir E . LechmereBart . I G . S . W .

„ „ , „ „ J . Rankin Stebbing , G . J . W . „ „ Rev . W . H . Davies " ( ,-, n , . . Y . W . „ Rev . David Shaboe > u - Chaplains . „ „ Rev . Geo . R . Portal G . Registrar . „ „ Frederick Binckes G . Secretary . W . „ F . G . Irwin G . M . Overseer . „ „ Henry Webster G . S . Overseer .

„ „ John Bradley G .. T . Overseer . „ „ H . A . Hammerbom G . S . Deacon . H . S . Wallace G . J . Deacon . „ „ Edmund Nolan , L . L . D G . Supt . of Works „ „ Samuel Chappie G . Dir . of Cers . „ „ Thomas Pickering G . A . Dir . of Cers 0 . A . Cottebrune G . S . B . „ „ Charles A enables G . Organist . „ „ H . J . Thompson Gr . I . Guard .

Bro . Smith Grand Tyler . The Grand Stewards for the year ancl the members of the General Board were afterwards nominated . The report of the General Board , in which the members of Grand Lodge were informed that during the past six months , warrants of confirmation had been granted to two lodges working from time immemorial , warrants of constitution to two new lodges—one at Aldershott Camp and one at Oxford—and that two lod in

ges London which had for some time been in abeyance , had recently resumed operations with prospects of great success , was read , adopted , and ordered to ho entered on the minutes . A resolution embodying an alteration in the law-s defining the duties of the Grand Registrar , and having for its object the facilitating the issue of certificates , was unanimously agreed to . The routine ancl other business before Grand Lodge having

been disposed of , the GRAND MASTEB rose and said that he had a communication to make which could properly only come from himself , inasmuch -as it so nearly concerned the members of Grand Lodge and himself in their personal relations to each other . It was a communication which ho assured them he should make with considerable regret , but which was tho result of long ancl dispassiounto consideration . In announcing his resolution to retire from the Grand Mastership at the close of the ensuing year , it was but right that he should acquaint them with Che grounds on which he had based his decision . They

were twofold : first , the inroad upon his time , occasioned by the increase of his public duties , deprived him of that leisure which lie would gladly have devoted to their service , and prevented his holding that frequent intercourse with the different members of the executive of the Order which a proper discharge of tho duties of his ^ high office imperatively required . Secondly , irrespective of this consideration , his sentiments and opinions with regard to a lengthened tenure of hih office were well

g known to many of those whom he now addressed . He would not subject himself to a charge of inconstancy by violating iu his own person a rule of conduct of the good elfects of which ho had so often endeavoured to convince others , and therefore he must beg to resign into their hands at tho expiration of the current year , the trust they had reposed in him . That trust he highly valued ; their confidence he warmly appreciated , and he assured them

that the course he intended to adopt , did not necessitate , nor would it cause- any diminution of that interest he had always felt , and sho-ild still continue to feel , in the prosperity of their Ancient Order , "l ie used these words advisedly , lor though their present organization was of recent formation , the Mark degree could pride itself on as great antiquity as any other branch of Freemasonry . Were it not so , were it but a

thing of yesterday , newly introduced , he could not feel in its success the interest he did . Thanking them for the welcome they had always accorded him , when his numerous duties permitted him the pleasure of meeting them , for the kiud support

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he had received at all times from those to whom ha had looked for counsel and advice ; and promising them that his services in any capacity in which they thought he could be most useful , should be at their disposal in the future ; he would formally announce his intention to resign the office of Grand Master , which ho made to this meeting , in order that the brethren may have ample time to consider their choice of a successor . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form , with solemn prayer , and adjourned . THE GKAND FESTIVAL

Was held at Freemasons' Tavern , at six o ' clock . The Right Hon . Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . G . M ., in the chair ; supported by R . W . Bros . Yiscount Holmesdale , D . Grand Master ; XV . XV . Beach , M . F ., Prov . G . M ., Hants , and Berks . ; Sir Edmund Lechmere , Bart ., G . S . W . ; J . R . Stebbing , G . J . W . ; Ralph A . Benson , P . GW . ; Wm . Louis Collins , P . G . W ; Rev . D . Shaboe , Grand Chaplain ; Dr . Jones , G . Tieas . ; Rev . J . R . Portal , G . Reg . ; Preclk . BinckesG . Sec ; Eras . G . Irwin , G . M . Overseer ;

, Geo . Ha ward , P . G . Overseer ; Ed . Nolan , LL . D ., G . Supt . of AVorks ; C . A . Cottebrune , G . Sword Bearer ; Joseph Levander , Past Grand Deacon ; Thos . Pickering , Grand Assist . Dir . of Cers , ; H . J . Thompson , Grand Inner Guard ; Capt . Barlow , J . Cole , Grand Stewards ; Richard Spencer , Past G . Steward , Bon Accord Lodge ; Middleton and Walker , Old Kent Lodge ; Harris , W . M ., Turner , Sec , Mallet ancl Chisel Lodge ( No . 5 )

II . Carpenter , J . W ., Rev . Geo . Richards , Chaplain , ancl J . Abrahams , Thistle Lodge ( No . 8 ) ; W . Reynolds , J . O ., Minerva Lodge ( No . 12 ); XV . Thompson , J . W ., University Lodge ( No . 55 ); XV . E . Gumbleton , & c . The banquet , dinner and wines , provided by Messrs . Elkington and Co ., were in every respect satisfactory to the tastes of the most fastidious , and calculated , il possible , to enhance the

wellearned reputation of those liberal judicious caterers . The musical exertions of Bros . Edney and Tedder , contributed to the enjoyment of the brethren , who experienced a really intellectual treat in listening as they did with marked attention to the finished oratory of the noble Grand Master , aud to the many excellent speeches delivered in connection with the various toasts . The proceedings , from first to last , were of such a character as could not but be productive of the highest gratification to every friend and well-wisher of Mark Masonry .

India.

INDIA .

KAPC-NDA . —A complimentary dinner was given to Dr . M . H . S . Blood , at the Sir John Franklin Hotel , on "Wednesday , the 5 th March , previous to his departure for New South Wales . About fifty persons assembled to do honour to their worthy guest , and the dinner , as usual , was got up in Host Jones's best style . Mr . Bagot , M . P ., occupied the chair , and was supported by the guest of the evening and Mr . Townsend , M . P . ; Mr .

Buchanan and Mr . AY . Lewis , Mr . James AVhite , Mr . C . S . Hare , and several other leading and influential gentlemen . The vicechair was ably filled by Mr . D . Shannon . Tho CHAIRMAN , in proposing the toast of the evening—the health of their worthy guest—said that he felt as if he could only say a few words , but in doing so they would be from his heart . 'They would , he was sura , drink tho toast with grief at the prospect of the long time

it might ho before they would again have amongst them their respected friend and guest , Dr . Blood . He had known the Doctor intimately for more than twelve years , and while ho was not in the habit of employing the language of eulogy , he would remark , with great respect , that Dr . Blood's hand was amongst the first held to welcome him to these shores . ( Loud applause . ) It was a public loss to see a gentleman of Dr . Blood's class leave

the colony . ( Hear . ) It was indeed a great public loss for a man like their guest to wander far away into other lands , and to part with so many warm friends as had here assembled , and not only would his loss be felt , but that of his estimable and worthy partner from the social circle of this neighbourhood . ( Loncl Cheers . ) There could be no doubt that where tho Doctor was going to reside ho would rise into a becoming-position , and make

himself active and useful in public affairs—when he could look back and say a good word for South Australia and of the friends he left behind . The chairman here presented the snuff-box , with a few appropriate remarks . The following inscription was on the box : — " Presented to M . 11 . S . Blood , " Esq ., M . D ., by IKS Kapunda friends , as a token of esteem , on his departure from South Australia , Gth March , 1 S 62 . " He , in his capacity as