on the 19th April last. His Grace the Duke of Leinster presided on the occasion, which is represented to have been a very brilliant one, calculated, in all respects, to inspire the friends of Masonry in Ireland, of every grade, with a renewed interest in its advancement and stability. Among the members in attendance, were the Marquess of Kildare, Sir J. W. Hort, Bart., Sir James Stewart, Bart., and the venerable Archdeacon W. B. Mant, of the county of Down.

A Masonic Ball was given at Dublin on the 7th May, and another at Leinster on the 19th.

The performances at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, on the 7th June, were in aid of the Fund for the relief of the distressed Widows and Brethren of the Order.

SCOTLAND.

On the 17th Nov. last, the Metropolitan Priory of Knights Templars, met at Edinburgh, for the election of officers. The Prior, Sir Knt. W. Edmonstoune Aytown, was re-elected by general acclamation. The 17th Nov. is signalized in the history of the Scottish Order, as the epoch of the ordeal, or rather the mock trial, of Sir Walter de Clifton, Grand Prior of the Order in 1309.

The Right Honorable the EARL OF ROTHES, Grand Master of Masons in Scotland, died at his residence, on the 10th of March last, in the 32d year of his age, after a very short illness. He was much beloved by the Fraternity, and only a week previous to his death, attended a meeting of a private Lodge in Edinburgh. The office of Grand Master is at present sustained by the Right Hon. Sir John Forrest, Bart. a Past Grand Master.

On the 2d April, the Edinburgh and Leith Celtic Masonic Ball came off with great eclat in the Waterloo Rooms. There was a very full attendance. The R. W. Master and a number of the Brethren appeared in the full Highland costume, and the ladies, in compliment to their Masonic partners, had their dresses ornamented with the clan tartan of the Lodge, and other emblems of a national character. The ball and supper rooms were beautifully decorated with Masonic flags and other insignia of the Craft.

The Corner-Stone of the New Museum at Perth, was laid with Masonic honors, on the 5th May, in the presence of the Provincial Grand Lodge, several of the District Lodges, the Magistrates of the town, the Historical Society, and a large assembly of citizens.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland has appointed the R. W. Br. Comyns Loyd, M. D. to be Provincial Grand Master for New Zealand, at which place he has become a resident.

The Marquis of Douro has recently been initiated into the Lodge at Dunbar. His illustrious father is a member of the Fraternity in Ireland.

FRANCE.

In Paris and the

The general condition of Masonry in France is excellent. Provinces, it is rapidly increasing in numbers, and is of great respectability. We have a correspondent at Paris, but on account of the heavy charges attending the transmission of documents, have delayed availing ourselves of his kind offices, until the success of the Magazine shall have more decisively manifested itself.

Until recently, the Fraternity in Paris have had no building exclusively appro

priated to their meetings. Through the exertions of M. Thomas, the proprietor of extensive plots of ground near the landing warehouses of the Marais, a splendid Masonic Temple has been erected in the Rue Neuve Samson, on the site of the late Diorama. The corner stone was laid with all due Masonic ceremonies, in August, under the direction of a deputation from the Grand Orient of France, in the presence of a large assemblage of the Brethren.

The Grand Lodge of the Rite Ecossais, continues a separate body, greatly to the detriment of the interests of the Fraternity in France. Efforts have been frequently made to bring about a union of these two Grand Lodges, but without effect. Another attempt has recently been made by M. Rosemberg, a zealous and talented Brother, but with what success we are unable to say. It is however, most earnestly to be hoped, that the difficulty may be reconciled, and the anomalous distinction of "Scottish Rite," cease to exist.

66

GERMANY.

The Freemasons' Hall at Frankfort, is a noble building, and being situated in a public thoroughfare, it commands general attention. The Lodge Rooms of the Rising Sun" Lodge, which is under the constitution of England, are under ground, and no refreshment is ever allowed in them. Besides this Lodge, there are other Lodges in Frankfort, deriving their authority from Paris, Berlin, and, we believe, Hamburg. We have a copy of an address delivered before the Aufgehende Morgenroethe Lodge, by the late celebrated Dr Boerne, distinguished for his standing as a German Freemason, as well as for his eminent literary attainIt is characterized by all the peculiarities of German literature.

ments.

The Grand Orient, at Brussels, at the last dates, was engaged in an attempt to effect a uniformity of work in the Lodges under its jurisdiction. Some local difficulties had arisen in consequence at Liege, but the prospect was that they would soon be amicably adjusted.

INDIA.

The Fraternity in Calcutta have recently met with a severe loss in the death of Maj. MACDONALD, " whose Masonic virtues were the theme of praise, and whose continuous exertions were a bright example." He died on the 11th April last, and was buried with military and Masonic honors. He was Master of the Lodge at Cawnpoor.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Bengal, held its quarterly communication on the 23d April. There was a large assembly present, and the proceedings indicate a high degree of prosperity. The address of the Prov. G. Master is an admirable performance.

The installation of the Right Honorable John LORD ELPHINSTONE as Provincial Grand Master for the Presidency of Madras, took place on the 16th March, at the new Masonic Temple. This jurisdiction has been enlarged, and now extends over all Lodges formed within the limits of the Madras Presidency, and is not confined, as heretofore, to Lodges working on the coast of Coromandel.

The Foundation Stone of "Metcalf Hall," at Calcutta, was laid by the Provin

cial Grand Masters of Bengal and Bombay, in December.

The number of Ma

sons in the procession is estimated at three hundred and fifty!

The Corner-Stone of the Scotch Presbyterian Kirk, at Colombo, in the island of Ceylon, was laid with Masonic ceremonies in March.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

ANECDOTE. The paper printed at Adelade, (Southern Australia,) tells the following capital anecdote:

"Woman's weakness.-Our old nurse used to tell us a wondrous story about a large clock and the terrible Freemasons and Queen Elizabeth. It ran thusthat the virgin Queen resolved to discover the grand secret, and for that purpose secreted herself in the case of an old-fashioned clock, which stood in the room in which the Lodge met. She was discovered by some means, and compelled to take the oath of secrecy, under pain of instant death. Now it seems that there are women in Sydney, who are equally anxious to find out this secret, for a night or two since, we were informed, that at a Lodge in Sydney, a somewhat similar occurrence took place. The Lodge met at a public house, and generally had something for the good of the house, as well as to comfort the inward man. something was usually carried up stairs to the door of the room, and handed inside by a woman, but she was allowed to see nothing. On the evening in question, however, she resolved that she would see, and instead of handing in the potables, she watched the moment when the door was ajar to admit her arm and what she carried, and making a violent and unexpected push, forced herself into the room in the presence of the astonished and indignant Masons! She was summarily ejected, and we are afraid that her curiosity was not in any way satisfied."

This

We learn that the Brethren at Rio de Janeiro, have in contemplation to petition the Grand Lodge of England, for the Charter of another Lodge, the one they have being insufficient to accommodate all who are desirous to connect themselves with the Fraternity.

TRINIDAD.—The Order in this Island is in a thriving condition. It is under the immediate supervision of the Hon. Wm. Stevenson, Prov. Grand Master of Grenada. On a late official visit to the Island, he was splendidly entertained by the Brethren. The last anniversary of St. John the Evangelist was celebrated by Philanthropic Lodge, No. 585, and other Brethren. The procession was formed at the Lodge room of the United Brothers, and marched to Trinity Church, where an appropriate Sermon was preached by the Rev. Br David Evans, and a collection taken in aid of the indigent poor.

GRENADA.-A Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter is held here. It exercises jurisdiction over ❝ Grenada and the adjacent Islands." It was consecrated on the 1st January, 1840; on which occasion the Companions walked in procession.

A very old Order or Degree of Masonry, is about to be introduced into the Island by the Prov. Grand Master, called "The Royal Order of Scotland." It consists of Knights and Squires, and was restored by King Robert Bruce after the

battle of Bannockburn, when he conferred the degree upon several persons in the field. There is a Chapter of the Order in the Island of Martinique.

Married, at ST. GEORGE'S, (Capital of Grenada,) on the 29th April, by the Rev. Br J. C. Barker, Prov. G. Chaplain and Rector of St. George's, Br John C. Collier, of the Lodge of Harmony, 527 (England), to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Br the Hon. Robert H. Church, of Loch-Lirich, county Antrim, late of St. George's Lodge, 252, Ireland. The bride was given away by Br. the Hon. Dr Steph

THE triennial communications of the above Institutions were held in the city of New York, on the 14th September last. The session of each body continued four days. Representatives were present from the States of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio.

The meetings were unusually interesting, and the business transacted was of a character eminently calculated to promote the permanent interests of that portion of the Fraternity which legitimately belongs to their respective jurisdictions. The reports of the doings of the Grand Officers for the past three years, indicated an unexpected and most gratifying degree of prosperity in the Institution throughout the country, but especially in the Western and Southern States.

In the General Grand Encampment, Charters were granted for the establishment of subordinate Encampments at Louisville, Ky., and at Cincinnati, Ohio. A petition presented for the formation of an Encampment in the State of Alabama, was referred to the General Grand Officers. And authority was granted for the organization of a Grand Encampment for the State of Ohio.

An amendment of the General Grand Constitution was proposed and adopted, by which the Past Commanders of disbanded subordinate Encampments, are excluded from holding permanent membership in State Grand Encampments. A vote was also passed, approbating and recommending to the adoption of the State and subordinate Encampments in the United States, a rich and beautiful TEMPLARS' DIPLOMA, recently published by the Boston Encampment, under the sanction of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We should be happy to aid our Companions in distant sections of the Union, in availing themselves of this splendid design. It is a purely classical production, and is unequalled by any thing of the kind heretofore published in this country.

In the General Grand Chapter, a Charter was granted for the establishment of a Chapter at Logansport, in the State of Indiana. It also appeared from the report of the Deputy General Grand High Priest, that, during the recess, he had, in discharge of his official duties, granted Dispensations for Chapters to be holden at Fayetteville, in the State of Arkansas; at Vicksburg, in Mississippi; and at Springfield, in Illinois. All of which were (we believe, for we write from mem

ory,) returned to the General Grand Chapter, and Charters prayed for and granted, agreeably to the provisions of the Constitution.

We shall avail ourselves of the earliest opportunity, after the receipt of a copy of the doings of these bodies, to lay before our readers a more particular account of their proceedings. A list of their officers will appear in our next. Their next triennial meeting will be held at New Haven, Conn., on the second Tuesday of September, 1844.

Agreeably to previous arrangements, an invitation was given, by the Brethren of the city of New York, to the General Grand Bodies, and the principal officers of the Grand Lodges of the neighboring States, to unite with them in a Grand Masonic Festival. The invitation was cheerfully accepted, and Thursday, the 17th, fixed upon for the occasion. The day was exceedingly fine; and at about 12 o'clock, a procession was formed on the South side of Canal-street, in the following order:

Martial Music. Knights Templars with Standard.-Lodges according to seniority, with standard of Grand Lodge.-Royal Arch Chapters.-General Grand Encampment.-General Grand Chapter, and invited Guests, in open carriages.Music-Grand Tyler.-Grand Stewards.-Visiting Masters, and Past Masters of Foreign Lodges.-Representatives of Foreign Grand Lodges, with small banners of arms.-Grand Sword Bearer, with sword of State.-Grand Standard Bearer, with two supporters.-Past Grand Wardens.-Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian lights, borne by three Past Masters.-The LODGE, borne by four Past Masters.—Grand Pursuivant, with book of Constitutions on a velvet cushion, supported by Deacons.-Grand Stewards, &c. &c.

The procession moved through several of the principal streets of the city, to the Tabernacle Church, in Broadway. The services here commenced with a Voluntary on the Organ, by Br Charles E. Horn, and the singing of an appropriate Psalm. At the conclusion of which, the Rev. Robert Punshon, of Ohio, General Grand Prelate, invoked the blessing of heaven upon the Assembly and the occasion. The following beautiful ODE, written for the occasion by our talented friend and brother, THOMAS POWER, Esq. of this city, was then sung.

When darkness veiled the hopes of man,
Then Light with radiant beams began,
To cheer his clouded way;

In graceful Form, to soothe his woes,
Then Beauty to his vision rose,
In bright and gentle ray.

Immortal order stood confessed,

From farthest East to distant West,
In columns just and true;

The faithful Plumb and Level there,

Uniting with the mystic Square,

The temple brought to view.

Descending then from Heaven Most High,

Came Charity with tearful eye,

To dwell with feeble man;