Provincial.

Greaves responded , and " The Prov . G . Stewards , " on behalf of whom Bro . lea replied . The speeches after dinner were interspersed with some excellent vocal music by Bro . "William Clydon , Bro . J . Senior , Mr . Farrell , and Mr . Stilliard , under the direction of Bro . E . Shargool , who presided at the pianoforte . A most harmonious and agreeable evening was spent .

India.

INDIA .

CALCUTTA . —Excelsior Lodge ( No . 1127 ) . —This lodge celebrated its second anniversary at the Freemasons' Hall on the 15 th May . Bro . Peter Anderson presided in the lodge-room , and Bro . Abbott at the banquet . Tho town band played a selection of music during dinner . A superb banquet was laid out by tho Great Eastern Hotel Company . A variety of toasts were given . In returning thanks for the Knights Templar , Bro . Sandeman , Prov . G . Comsaid : —I thank youAVorshipful Sirfor the kind

., , , manner in which yon have been pleased to propose a toast to the Order of Knight Templars , and the compliment you have paid me as its head in Bengal . The honour you have done us will be appreciated , not only by myself and those of the Order who are present at your hospitable board this evening , but by every Knight Templar in the Province , who may see an account of your festive proceedings . At your last anniversary meeting ,

where I had the pleasure of responding to this same toast , I ventured to say that the circumstance of its not being usually introduced at the banquet table of a Craft Lodge , enhanced the value of the compliment ; and I endeavoured to show that our Order , which is by many believed to be opposed to the principles of genuine Freemasonry , was not only not antagonistic to the Craft , but formed a powerful adjunct to it . AVorshipful Sir ,

there is no Order in Freemasonry more jealous of the fair name , or more anxious for the welfare of the Craft , than that of the Knights Templars . Our legends serve to prove this , and the general conduct of Knights Templars in past as well as in modern times is in favour of my assertion . As regards the past , I need but allude to the persecutions , and even to the martyrdom suffered by many of our predecessor , in the reign of Philip the Fair of France , in defence of their Order , and which

they preferred to undergo rather than betray their trust , to prove that they were Masons in deed as well as in . word ; and the history of the Crusades teaches us that to the Order of Knights Templars , Craft Masonry was not improbably indebted

for the preservation of its ancient system , which might otherwise have perished in those trying times , when our ancient brethren banded themselves together as soldiers of the Cross , stood alone in the world as champions of charity , liberty , and oi truth . If it is objected that the degree of the Knight Templar is inconsistent with the principles of universal Masonry as practised in the probationary degrees , we have our reply , not in a mere negative assertion , but in the assurance that we do but

follow up those degrees from the old to the new dispensation , and that , not content with their beauties , perfected , as many of you will urge , in the Royal Arch , we pass on to the enjoyment of contemplating that true light , which is alluded to throughout the primary degrees , and without which many of our Masonic ceremonies would be meaningless and unintelligible . AVe force the Christian degrees upon none . Wo do not even search for proselytes ; but the door of our encampment is

open to the knock of any worthy Royal Arch Mason , who professes a belief in the Christian faith , and who has endeavoured , to the best of his ability , to fulfil the obligation which ho voluntarily took an his initiation , that he would support and maintain our ancient and honourable fraternity , which , only ou that understanding , condescended to extend to him its privileges I could wish that this principle were more fully acted up to , and

that every Mason would support the Craft through life , instead of neglecting the science when prompted by personal convenience or indifference to its interests . I again thank you , AVorshipful Sir , on my own behalf , as well as on the behalf of those whom I have the honour to represent , for the kind maimer in which our toast has been both proposed and received this evening . CAWNPOBE . —Lodge of Harmony ( No . 641 ) . —A meeting of this

lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Cawnpore , on AVednesday , 4 th June . Present—Bros . E . Mackintosh , AV . M .,- F . J . Jordan , S . AV . ; Capt . A . S . Allen , J . AV . Bros . Edmonds , Blake , Little , Burns , Speke , Leslie , Haga-n , Clark , Morrow , & e . The lodge

India.

being opened in due form , the minutes , & c , of last meeting were read and con firmed , after which a candidate , Mr . Branigan , proposed at the last meeting , was approved hy ballot and initiated . After the initiation , Bro . Leslie was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason . It was proposed by Bro . Jordan , S . AV ., that the monument erected over the remains of our departed Bro . Cavanagh , previous to the mutiny , by the brethren of old lodge " Harmony , " but which was disfigured b y

the rebels , should be repaired , and a suitable marble tablet again erected to mark his resting-place . This proposition was seconded and carried unanimously by the lodge . Also proposed by the same brother that a number of Masonic books , & c , now for sale in the Punjab , he bought for the use of Lodge Harmony . Also carried unanimously . Proposed hy the W . M ., that the Indian Freemasons' Friend , and also the English Masonic Mirrorbe taken for the use of the lodge ..

, This was also unanimously carried . The Brigadier commanding this station has expressed a wish that the foundation-stone of the great Memorial Church should be laid by the Freemasons , for which purpose the Prov . G . M ., R . AV . Bro . General Boilean , has been requested to attend and perform the ceremony . The lodge has unfurled its banners . The brethren are preparing their sashes , & c , and , as many of the neighbouring lodges will he invited to attendwe may expect this great national

monu-, ment will be commenced with all due solemnity . The brethren then retired to the banquet-room , where a cold supper awaited them , to which they did ample justice . The cloth having been removed , the well-known toasts of obligation were given and responded to . Many choice songs were sung by Bros . Jordan , Morrow , Blake , Fasan , & c .

DUM-DUM . — Lodge St . Luke ( No . 1150 ) . —At a regular meeting held on AVednesday , the 4 th day of June , Bro . John AVilliam Brown , Honorary P . M ., presiding , the following gentlemen , candidates for initiation , were duly accepted by the ordeal of the ballot -. —Messrs . Albert Robinson Bulman , John Donald Berkeley , and Captain Thomas Carnegy Anderson . Of the above Mr . ISulmnn alone being present , was initiated by Bro . Brown . Bro . Richard Spear O'Connor , who was initiated

last September , and subsequently passed , received the M . M . degree from Bro . Brown , who had presided at the ceremony of his initiation . Bro . O'Connor leaves by steamer for Assam , having obtained an appointment in the New Police . There were i ' cur hrethren proposed as joining members . On a motion by Bro . Captain G . R . Fenwick , Past Warden of the lodge , a vote of thanks was proposed to R . W . Bro . John AVm . Brown , Honorary P . M ., for the services rendered to tho lodge that

evening . Pro . Fenwick spoke with great kindness of the aid given to the lodge by Bro . Brown at different times , laying much stress on the personal inconvenience Bro . Brown experienced in riding out such a distance from Calcutta to assist Saint Luke . Tho vote was carried by acclamation . Bro . Captain Patterson , immediate P . M . of the lodge , was elected as honorary member . Bro . Patterson is on the eve of departure from Dmm-Dum to join his new appointment at Gondii , in Oudh . The Master of the lodge , Captain AV . AV . Clark , was

detained by military duty at Barrackpore . The meeting was very full , notwithstanding a nor ' -wester and heavy rain . These are trifles that deter not the zealous . The rain was refreshing after the grilling heat of the day . CALCUTTA . —Lodge St . John ( No . 715 ) . —At a regular meeting hold on the 16 th May , Bro . AVilliam Robert Burkitt received tho M . M . degree , which was administered by Bro . John William Brown , P . M . of the lodge . Bro . lumsdaine , of Tjodge

Saint Luke ( No . 1150 ) , holding at Dum-Dum , was duly elected a joining member of the lodge . Owing to the departure of Bro . John Knott , J . W ., from Calcutta , the following changes in the Officers of the lodge ensued : —Bros . Captain AVilliam Durham , S . D .. appointed J . W . ; P . P . John , J . D ., to be S . D . ; A . T . Morgan , I . G ., succeeds Bro . John as J . D . ; and Bro . Rambart appointed I . G . The P . M . suitably admonished these brethren when investing them with tho insignia of their

respective offices . CALCUTTA .- —Lodge Industry and Perseverance ( No . 126 ) . — This lodge held a regular meeting on June 6 th . Mr . leon Curtis 'Jissendie was elected by ballot for initiation . Bro . Stephen Nation was elected a joining member . Bro . Nation was initiated , passed , and raised many years back in lodge Independence with Philanthropy ( No . 550 ) , at Allahabad . The meeting was a very pleasant one . After refreshment , we had some capital songs " from visiting Bras . AA eston , Peach , and Teil .