Yorkshire (West.)

YORKSHIRE ( WEST . )

BAILDON . —Airedale Lodge ( No . 543 . )—This lodge held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday , March 19 th . There was an average attendance of brethren , and amongst those present were the AV . M . Bro . J . C . Read ; S . Jackson , S . AV . ; J . Denby , J . AV . ; P . Ms ., Jo . Walker , John Walker , Henry Smith , Frederick Taylor , Nicholas AValker , Jesse Denby ; Bros . John Mann , J . Ambler , Smith , Renard , & c . After the minutes had been disposed ofa letter was read from the Secretary of the

, Lodge of Hope , ( No . 379 ) , ancl apologies from Bros . AVilliam and Wainman Holmes , absent in London . The W . M . called upon the P . Ms , to assist him in the ceremony of initiating Mr . Charlesworth into our ancient order , it being his desire to distribute the duties so as to keep off the rust necessarily accumulating on the minds of those seldom called upon for service , the ceremony being brought to a close by Bros . P . M . Henry Smith ,

Jno . AValker , ancl Nicholas AValker giving respectively the charge , working tools , and short lecture . The lodge was closed at nine o'clock , after which the brethren enjoyed a pleasant evening in the refreshment-room .

Channel Islands.

CHANNEL ISLANDS .

JERSEY . —Lodge La Cesaree ( No . 860 . )—An emergency meeting was held on AVednesday , March 19 th , for the purpose of initiating two candidates , one of whom is expected shortly to leave the island . The brethren assembled to the number of upwards of fifty , aboufc seven o'clock . ¦ The lodge was opened in the first degree by Bro . Schmitt , P . M ., Bro . John Durell acting as S . W ., and the J . W ., Bro . Le Sueur , occupying the third

chair . The W . M ., Bro . Baudains , having taken his place , . the Secretary read a letter in recommendation of the Rev . Francis De La Mare and Mr . Philip Le Brun as candidates for the privileges of Freemasonry . Several brethren having supported the proposition from personal knowledge of their character , the ballot was held and declared to be unanimous in their favour . An apology was received from the first-named gentleman , who was detained by indisposition . Mr . Le Brun was then

introduced , properly prepared , and duly initiated by the AV . M . The charge was effectively given by Bro . Schmitt . As no other business could be transacted at an emergency meeting , the lodge was closed at an early hour , and the brethren adjourned for refreshment . It may with propriety be added , that matters are still progressing in preparation for the erection of the Masonic Temple . The land was purchased long ago , and plans were prepared by Bro . Le Sueur , but as these involved too great an expense , he undertook to modify them . These , as amended , are now ready to lay before the Committee , for which Summonses have been issued .

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

A Quarterly Communication of the Ayr Lodges took place on March 21 st . R . AV . M . George AVilson , of the Operative Lodge , in the East ; Bro . AVilliam Martin and Charles Picken occupying respectively the South and AVest . The business coming before the meeting was of a routine character ; but when it is mentioned that only some four or five shillings hacl been dispensed hi charity since last communicationbrethren at a distance will

, be very apt to suppose that in Ayrshire there are few or no indigent Craftsmen , widows , or orphans to aid . There are many such , however , but this kind of charity seems to be at a discount among the fraternity here , for besides this close-fistedness iu the bestowal of casual doles of relief to " poor and indigent brethren , " not one of the Ayr Lodges contribute directly to the Benevolent Fund administered by the Grand Lodge . And this

apathy is not confined . to Ayrshire alone , but seems to pervade the whole country , for out of thirty . Masonic provinces , emhracing about 400 lodges , with a membership of somewhere about 30 , 000 , the total income of the Scottish Masonic Benevolence Fund , during the years 1860-61 amounted to the magnificent sum of £ 307 13 s . id . From last issued Grand Lodge Reports , £ 131 Zs . Od . of this sum was divided among 41 applicants , and £ 2 of it in casual charities .

Scotland.

GlASGOiv . —Lodge Athole ( No . 413 . )—The fifth , and last lecture of the winter series in connection with this lodge , was delivered on Tuesday evening last , the 11 th inst ., by Bro . E . T . Smith , the Junior AVarden . The attendance was all that could be desired , and the brethren were more than satisfied with the rich intellectual treat which it was their privilege to enjoy . The lecturer selected " The Passions " as the subject of his orationandfrom the manner in ivhich he treated this department

, , of our inner being , betrayed a keen knowledge of the many dark windings and secret recesses of the human heart , while throughout the lecture there was Mended that wholesome chastening advice , which is the true end ofallmetaphyiscal disquisition . Thelecturer had this subject so completely at his fingers' end , thatit seemed as if he had ranged the whole of the human passions on an imaginary key-hoard there to exert his manipulatory

cunning for the delight and benefit of his audience . The deep bass of the baser passions was told out with a horrible grandeur , while the sweet psalm of the higher and holier affections wasbreathed with a winning charm , which effectually led a listenerheavenward . The general style ancl diction of the lecture werealike pure , terse , ancl elegant , and delivered with a rhetorical power of no mean order . Although the subject was perhapsrafcker metaphysical for a general audience , yet the frequent plaudits of the brethren testified their appreciation ot

themanner in which it was treated by Bro . Smith . AVe beg to append a short extract , which although but a small modicum ,, may convey an idea ofthe whole . Under the head ol love hesaid : — " AVhen the Almighty Architect , with the strong right hand of His Majesty , began to put iu execution the vast designof creation , He united the multitudinous portions of His great handiwork by an all-powerful cement , extracted from his own divine essence of loveAVith the trowel of His omnipotence

. , the Great Master Builder spread that universal bond of union ,, which combines in such magnificent harmony the great system . His divine manipulation has called into existence . Every new discovery in science ancl philosophy but tends to fill the puny mind of man with wonder and admiration at the wisdom , strengh ., and beauty displayed in the mighty grandeur of this sublime undertaking , united in one grand whole by that primary

principle of gravity or attraction , that bond of union , that cement , which is neither more nor less than the great principle of love . This great principle reigns universally in heaven above and earth beneath , ancl when the lungs of man were first inflated , ifc was by a breath of that divine essence , that great principle of love breathed into his nostrils by his creator , and thereby imparting to his undying soul an infinite blessing , by which when released from its earthly tenement , it might soar upwards and again seek its divine source . "

India.

INDIA .

BENGAL . DISTRICT GRAND LODGE . ( Abridged from the Indian Freemasons Friend . ) The Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodgeof Bengal , held at the Freemason's Hall , on the 27 th December 1861 , St . John the Evangelist's Day , was fully attended . R . W . Bro . J . J . L . Hoff , D . Prov . G . M ., presided in the Eastern Chair .

Bro . the Rev . T . C . Smyth , D . E ., P . D . Prov . G . M . ofthe Eastern Archipelago , was conducted into the District Grand Lodge by a deputation appointed by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . The D . PROV . G . M .: — " Brethren I Since we last met , R . W . Bro . Ramsay has retired from the high office of Prov . G . M . of this Province , which he so long and so worthily filled : and I have now to announce to you the appointment , as his successor ,,

of one who has held high Masonic rank , and who , when he was in Calcutta , was universally esteemed . Indeed , to know him isto like him . I allude to R . W . Bro . Major-General A . H . E . Boileau . The Prov . G . Sec . will read the correspondence between the Grand Secretary in England ancl Bro . Boileau , and the Patent of Appointment . " The various documents were here read . The D . PROV . G . M . — " I believe it is the intention of Bro .

Boileau to take the up-country lodges under his own control , leaving the Lower Provinces to his Deputy . " I have received photographs ofthe Testimonial voted by us to Bro . Ramsay when he was leaving India ; ancl as the brethren would no doubt be glad to see the design , I will thank the S . G . D . to carry one of the impressions round to all . "