Bombay.

BOMBAY .

We have been favoured with a copy of the report of the Freemasons ' Joint Hall Committee which was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Byculla , on the 21 st December last , under the presidency of W . Bro . James W . Smith , and was largely attended by most distinguished brethren of the district over which H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught is Grand Master under the English Constitution . It was

unanimously resolved that steps should be taken to build a Masonic Hall under the joint proprietorship , and for the joint use of the English and Scottish Constitutions , the M . W . the Grand Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India concurring with H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught in the proposed scheme . Lodge Rising Star of W . I . donates Rs . 10 , 000 towards the undertaking , which sum will be

placed at the disposal of the Building Committee as soon as the decision of the High Court for that purpose has been obtained . The president , Bro . Smith , announced that Rs . 108 , 095 in all had been promised by the several lodges and chapters working under the English and Scottish Constitutions . Votes of thanks to president , hon . secretary , and sub-committee terminated a most enthusiastic meeting , and one on which the craft in India are to be congratulated

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management of this Institution held its usual monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on the 13 th inst . Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Treasurer , P . A . G . D . C ., presided , and there were present Bros . W . B . Daniell ; C . J . Perceval ; C . II . Driver , P . P . G . S . of W . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P .: Joseph Freeman . W . H . Ferryman , P . G . P . ; S . Brooks ; C . H . Webb ; G . Bolton :

C . Daniel ; A . H . Tattershall : AY . Smith ; Hugh Cotter ; J . Newton ; W . Masters : Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Alex . Forsyth : W . M . Bvwater , P . G . S . B .: J . Dixon ; B . G . Blasby ; and Jas . terry , P . G . S . B ! ( Sec . ) The Secretary reported the deaths of six annuitants ( four men and two widows ) and one male candidate . A letter was also read from a male candidate , withdrawing his name from the list of

candidates for the May election . A letter from Bro . Raynham W . Stewart was read on the subject of erecting a boundary fence , and such a fence was ordered to be erected accordingly . Applications from the widows of two recently deceased annuitants for the half of their late husbands' annuities were read and

granted . A widow ' s petition which had been deferred for further information , was accepted , and the name ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for the election in May . A statement of receipts and expenditure having been submitted , the

Committee finally settled the lists of candidates for election on the two funds , and declared the vacancies on each , which will be filled up in May , viz .: Male Fund , 02 Candidates , 17 vacancies ( 11 immediate and 3 deferred ) ; Female Fund , 81 candidates , 10 vacancies ( 7 immediate and 3 deferred ) .

We Are Requested To Notify That :-

We are requested to notify that :-

The Windsor Castle Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , No . 771 , will hold a Convocation of the Chapter at the Masonic Hall , Windsor , this ( Thursday ) evening , at 5 p . m . Exaltation and other business . The fifteen sections will be worked on Tuesday , the 2 ( ith inst ., at 7 p . m ., in the Camden Lodge of Instruction , No , 704 , at the Lord Northbrook Hotel , Lee , S . E .. opposite Lee Station . Bro . E . C . Talbot , Preceptor , 65 , 1310 . W . M . ; G . J . Milbourn , P . M . 13 . S . W . ; R . Spreight , P . M . 147 , J . W . ; Walter Robin , 249 and 1350 , hon . sec .

A football match between the past and present pupils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , will take place in the school grounds at Wood Green , on Saturday next , at 3 p . m . A special Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies , & c , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . K . G ., M . W . Grand Master , will be held in the large Hall of the

Holborn Restaurant , London , on Monday next , the 25 th inst ., at 3 p . m ., to consider a motion by M . W . Bro . Rev . Canon Portal , M . A ., Past Grand Master and President of the General Board , for authorization to take a lease of the premises known as Bacon's Hotel , Great Queen Street , from the United Grand Lodge of England , for the purposes of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons .

A Royal Arch Chapter of Improvement , under the sanction of the principals of the Andrew Chapter , 834 , will be founded at the Windsor- Castle Hotel , King Street West , Hammersmith , on Wednesday next , the 27 th inst ,, and will afterwards be held at the same place on the second and fourth Wednesdays in each month , at 8 o ' clock p . m . Companion George Read , P . Z ., has consented to act as preceptor .

——At No . 8 a , Red Lion Square , London , W . C ., the following meetings will be held during the ensuing week , viz . : —Bon Accord Mark Master Masons' Lodge , this ( Thursday ) evening , the 21 st inst . ; Grand Masters Royal and Select Council , to-morrow evening , the 22 nd inst . ; and the Prince of Wales Ark Installation on Monday next , the 25 th inst .

A Masonic concert is to be held on Thursday , the 28 th inst ., at the Bow and Bromley Institute , in aid of the funds of the Royal . Masonic Benevolent Institution . The arrangements for the concert will be on the same lines as last year .

A Masonic ball , in connection with the Bromley St . Leonard Lodge , No . 1805 , is to take place on the 5 th March , at the Bromley Vestry Hall . Bow Road , London , E . Brethren desiring to be present should communicate with Bro . W . M . Mead , Sec . 1805 , 24 , Tomlin ' s Grove , Bow .

An Evening With " Our Boys."

AN EVENING WITH " OUR BOYS . "

On Friday last , the 15 th inst ., another social evening concert of " The Old Masonians " took place at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , E . G ., under the chairmanship of Mr . R . Stanley Chandler . This gathering was the sixth of eight social meetings arranged to be given by the society during the season 1888-9 , and was attended by about 70 members and their friends . Among the old masonians

present were Bros . S . R . Speight and Glass , Messrs . Gardner , Gedge , Johnson , Williams , Stephenson , O'Doherty ,. Barnes , and others . The songs , recitations , and solos were carefully selected so as to suit the taste of all . A very enjoyable evening" was spent , and it would have delighted the hearts of many an old mason to have seen the manly , fresh , honest-looking features , and well set-up bearing of the old masonians present , taking their pleasure rationally

and modestly with their feAV friends , after the toil and business of the day was done . The next social meeting Avill take place on March the 1 st , at 8 o'clock , the chairman being Mr . A . B . Whiteley . We have seen the programme , and can testify as to the excellent quality of the entertainment and the talent of the performers . The secretary of the society is Mr . Alfred Watkins . of 17 . Abbey Gardens . St . John ' s Wood . N . W .

The Masonic " Poet's Corner."

The Masonic " Poet's Corner . "

{ Original and Selected . ) MASONS' VOWS .

By the late BRO . DR . ROBERT MORRIS , of Kentucky . IN fllasons' Lodge , Avith darkened eyes , And cable-toAV about me , I sAvore to hele all Mysteries , That Masons keep and Masons prize : The Brothers' secret Avhispered IOAV , The words they speak , the things they do . In mystic manner taught me !

I SAvore to answer and obey The summons sent me duly , By Brothers' hand , or Lodge array : I SAvore that I Avould never stray From ancient rules , or laws that bound Freemasons in the days renoAvned , But Avould observe them truly .

I SAA'ore , Avith generous gifts , to care For those in SOITOAV stricken ; The Brother on the darkened square , The Mourner , Avith dishevelled hair , The Orphan , doomed alas ! to stray Along Life ' s cold and cheerless Avay , Whose tears gush forth unbidden .

I SAvore Avith honesty to deal With each true heart around me , That " honour bright" should ever be Unbroken bond 'twixt him and me ; Nor wrong , nor guile , nor cruel fraud , Shall ever break the holy cord With Avhich that VOAV hath bound me !

I SAvore the Chastity to keep , Of woman true and tender , Of Mason's Widow , Wife and Child , His Mother , Sister , undefiled , ( Those , pure and innocent , Avhose love Makes Mason ' s Homes like that above ) I am the sAvorn defender !

I SAvore to guard the Portals close , Of the Masonic Temple , To purge the quarries from the dross , And build the Mystic Walls of those hi body perfect , honest heart , And mind secure in Royal Art , By precept and example !

These Avere our Vows , be these our care ! And may such Light be given In ansAA er to our earnest prayer . That Ave may ever do and dare All that God ' s Sacred LaAvs enjoin 1 So , Avhen the evening shades decline , We may be found— in Heaven !

[ Private instructions for recitation of this admirable poem Avi be forwarded by the Editor of this Journal to any brother sendin name , address , and number of lodge , accompanied by a stampe envelope for reply . ]

MARRIAGE OF BRO . H . B . MARSHALL , JUN . —On the 12 th inst ., the marriage of Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , jun ., B . A . ( only son of Bro . H . B . Marshall , J . P ., C . C , P . G . Treas . ) , with Miss Laura R . Siggs ( second daughter of Bro . G . Siggs , of SouthAvark and Brixton ) Avas solemnised at the Wesleyan church , Mostyn Road , Brixton , in the presence of a large number of friem s and Avellwishers , the fine building which Avas beautifully decorated Avith ferns

and evergreens , being thronged almost to the doors . The marriage service was read by the Rev . Joseph Nettleton ( superintendent of the circuit ) , assisted by the Rev . Hugh Price Hughes , M . A ., and the service was fully choral . Amongst the numerous presents made to the newly-married couple was an elegant silver salver , the gift of the brethren of the Union Lodge , No . 127 , and Avhich Avas accompanied with earnest expressions of " hearty good Avishes , " and many kind congratulations to the bridegroom .