Masonic Intelligence.

occupied the Master s chair and directed the working of the Lodge which consisted of the sections of the first lecture . These were given with beautiful precision , and elicited the warmest applause from all the visiting brethren . A sum of £ b 5 s . was voted to the Girls' School , the same amount to the Widows' Fund , two guineas to the Boys' Institution , and a like sum to tho Annuity Fund . The Lodge having been closed for the season , adjourned to the first Friday in September . The brethren sat down to an excellent supperover which Br . HaversP . G . D . presided with great

, , , ability . The cloth having been removed and Grace having been said . The Chairman gave the " Queen and Craft " a toast which was received with all the masonic honors . The Chairman then said that , in proposing to them the next toast , he was aware that he was in some degree departing from Masonic precedent , but he was sure that ere he was done he would strike a chord which would

meet with a generous , response in the heart of each one present . As Masons , they were men of peace ; but they were also patriots , and he was sure that when they bore in mind the present situation of our troops in the East , and that there were both in the Army and Navy some of the brightest ornaments of Masonry , they would feel no reluctance to drink the toast he was about to propose to them . Whether they contemplated the bravery of the British soldier storming the heights of Alma , sustaining the attack on Inkermann , ancl participating in the glorious charge of

Balaklava , or bearing without a murmur the dreadful horrors of sickness , exposure , and disease , they would find him equally entitled to their admiration , for it was impossible in the whole range of history to point to anything to equal such bravery and such endurance . They should not , then , forget their soldiers and sailors on an occasion like the present . Two members of his own Lodge were among them in the Crimea , and it might be that there were those present knew other brethren similarl y situated , and nobly doing their country's service . With these remarks , he would give

them " The Army and Navy , " wishing them a speedy victory . The toast having been received with enthusiasm , Br . Donald King sang in admirable style the popular song , "the Queen's Letter . " In proposing the next toast , " the health of the Earl of Zetland , " the M . W . G . M . the Chairman , said that they had now for the twelfth time elected him to the high office of G . M ., a proof of the respect entertained towards him by the Craft . Coming from a good old Masonic stock , he felt the greatest interest in Masonry and was as accessible to the humblest Mason in the Craft as to the highest in the land . Next followed the health of the '' Earl of Yarborough and of the other Grand Officers , " in proposing which the Chairman observed that to any one acquainted with

the noble Lord s urbanity to all , but to Masons in particular , it would be unnecessary for him to say a single word in recommendation of that portion of the toast which related to him . Of the Grand Officers they had before them a goodly array , and it was with peculiar pleasure he saw so many of them present , for if there was one society more than another which their attendance could promote , it was the Lodge of Instruction meeting under the Lodge of Stability . Having highly complimented each of the Grand Officers present , he concluded by associating with the toast the name of

" Br . Evans , P . G . S . B . " The toasts having been duly honoured Br . Evans briefly expressed his acknowledgements of the compliment , after which tho Chairman proceeded to give the toast of the evening , and in doing so said that if he thought any words of his could add dignity to the toast he would wish to be possessed of the eloquence of Demosthenes ancl to be able to speak in impressive tones . His duty however , was but a simple one , being merely to propose a toast and in the list of toasts before him he saw none more worth y of their attention than "Prosperity to the of Instruction

Stability Lodge . " He believed from his heart that there existed in Masonry one of the kindest of bonds—a bond which bound them together as creatures willing to acknowledge their want and to pay due reverence to the Great Power of their Creator . It was necessary , he thought , that there sliould . be some forms and observances in carrying out Masonry . Hence it was desirable that they should agree together on one form of ritual which they would adopt . It was , he knew , impossible that they could have any form which would be universally observed to the letter , but they could have an unity of principle of thought and of idea . He would , therefore , impress upon the youngei brethren the policy of their trying to