Australia.

* ' The Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free ancl Accepted Masons . "To His Royal Highness Prince Alfred Ernest Albert , Duke of Edinburgh , Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter , & c , & c , & c . " May it please your Royal Highness" We , the brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity

of Free and Accepted Masons resident in South Australia desire to approach your Royal Highness on this auspicious occasion , and to offer our warmest and heartfelt congratulations on your safe arrival in this province " In your Royal Highness Ave recognise ivith great satisfaction not only the representative and Son of our beloved Queen , but also the grandson of a former Grand Master of our distinguished Order , namely , the late illustrious Prince Edward , Duke of Kent .

The brethren of this ancient fraternity have ever been distinguished by their loyalty to the Crown and devotion to their country , ancl ire earnestly beg your Royal Highness to accept our assurance that the Freemasons of South Australia yield to none of the sujects of your royal and loA'ing mother in fidelity to those principles which the most ivelcome visit of your Royal Highness to these shores cannot fail to strengthen ancl cement —reminding us , as it so forcibly does , that these remote lands are united to the mother-country by identity of language , laws , and institutions .

I hat it may please the Most High to bless your Royal Highness with His grace , to protect you by His providence , and to encompass you with His favour , until summoned to that Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for ever , is the sincere prayer of " Your Royal Highness ' s most obedient servants , "On behalf of Ihe Order , "AETHTTB HAISDYD . GM . South Australia .

, ., "JOHN HAKT , P . G . M ., S . C . "J . T . BAGOT , P . G . M ., I . C . "Adelaide , November 1 st , 1867 . " The address having been presented , H . R . Highness gave the folloAving reply -. — "Gentlemen—I return you my sincere thanks for the conspicuous part you have taken in the hearty ivelcome I have

received on my arrival in this province . "The principles of fidelity and union which characterise so particularly the Ancient Order of Freemasons ensure , as I am well aware , the sincerest feelings of loyalty to their sovereign and affection for their country . " I rejoice to see so heartfelt an expression of these sentiments from the Freemasons of South Australiawhose prayer to the

, Great Ruler of all things for my welfare will remain treasured in my memory . " AIMED . "To the Ancient Fraternity of Freemasons , of South Australia . "

The deputation then retired , and having rejoined theii brethren , the procession returned in order , all being well pleased Avith the spectacle , and the reception they had met ivith . A large photograph copy of the address aud reply has been retained by each of the three P . G . lodges in tlie province in remembrance of the Prince ' s visit to onr shores ; .

Turkey.

TURKEY .

CONSTANTINOP LE . OEIENTAL LODGE ( No . 687 ) . —Tbe celebration of the festival of St . John ancl tbe installation of the W . M . of this lodge took place at tbe Masonic Hall , Peru , ou the 27 th Dec . Bro . H . Neivbolt , a veteran member of i . ho Craft , was duly placed in the chair of K . S ., Bro . E . C . Silly , the senior P . M ., ably performing the ceremony of installation . After the customary honours had

been paid to the chair , the W . AI . ini'ested the following as his officers for the ensuing year : —Bros . II . Arnold , S . \ A ' . ; W . Stock , J . W . ; A . W . Mountain , Treas . ; If . A . Carleton , Sec . ; R . T . Buck , S . D . ; W . B . Hopper , J . D . ; C . Driver , I . G . ; AV . George , Steward ; T . Cipristi , Tyler . Mr . Henry Graham , a candidate for admission to the mysteries of Freemasonry , haviuobeen initiated , the loclge ivas duly closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet , which was held at the Luxembourg

Turkey.

Hotel . Covers were laid for sixty . Bro . Newbolt , W . M ., presided , ancl among those present ivere Bros . J . P . Broivn , D . G . Treas . of Turkey ; A . Thompson , W . M . Bulwer Lodge ( No . 891 ); Aznevour , Sev Lodge ( French ); G . Laurie , Bulwer Loclge ; A . W . Mountain , 687 ; J . F . Walcbe , S . W . 6 ; Airamides , 1 , 0-11 ; I <\ W . Smythe , S 91 ; Hanly , AVytham Lodge ; Captain . Gurqulu , J . O . Nary , Mears , ancl George , Leinster Lodge . The vice chairs ivere occupied bBro . H . ArnoldS . W . and Bro . W .

y , , Stock , J . W . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts , including "The Queen , " "The Sultan , " "The Most Worshipful Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , " "The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , the Earl de Grey and Ripon , " ivere duly honoured . Bro . Thompson , in a very felicitous speech , proposed "The Health of tho newly-installed W . M ., Bro . Newbolt , " which Avas drank with all the honours . In lthe "VV .

repy , Bro . expressed his lively sense of the manner in ivhich his name had been received , and IIOAV legitimately proud he felt in occupying the chair of the pioneer lodge of Masonry in Turkey . He trusted they Avould have a year of increasing prosperity . In conclusion he proposed "The Past Masters of the Lodge . " Bro . Mountain returned thanks in appropriate terms , expressing his gratification at seeing so many

distinguished brethren seated around the banquet table . The A \ . M . having proposed " The Visitors , " Bro . J . L . Hanley , in returning thanks , made some very quaint and original remarkson the status of Masonry in the Ottoman capital , pointing out in a forcible manner a variety of changes ivhich he thought might be advantageously introduced . Bro . Carleton in proposing " Prosperity to the Grand Lodges of all nations , " alluded to the flourishing condition of the Oriental Lodgethe great

diffi-, culties it had had to contend with , and tbe excellent example it bad shown as the first established Masonic lodge in Turkey . He emphatically stated that tbe lodge would bear comparison ivith any established in any part of the ivorld . Bro . J . P . BroiA'n returned thanks , expressing a hope that their District Grand Lodge would soon be called into activity , and pass from its now dormant state . After the toasts of " The officers of the lodge , "

replied to by Bro . S . AV . Arnold ; " The Neivly Initiated , " responded to by Bro . Graham ; *¦ The A \ . M . of the Sev Lodge , " proposed by Bro . Laurie , and responded to by the W . M ., the 'Tyler's toast ivas duly honoured . The musical arrangements , under Bro . Louis Blair , ivere admirable , and the Avhole entertainment left an agreeable souvenir , forming one of those brilliant reunions ivhich have now obtained for tbe Oriental lodge a wide-spread celebrity in the east .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN . SUPEEAIE GRAND CHAPTER . A Supreme Grand Chapter Avas held at the Freemasons ' Hall , on Wednesday , 5 th inst . Present : —G . Comp ., John Havers , J ., as Z . ; Comps . J . LI . Evans , P . N ., as II . ; Frederick Pattison , P . N ., as J . ; Rev . J . Huvshe , Prov . G . Supt , for Djvon ; W . G . Clarke , E . ; W . P . Scott , as N . ; G . W . K ..

-Potter , P . Soj . ; llcv . II . J . Simpson ami E . S . Snel ) , Assistant Sojs . ; E . J . Eraser , Swordbearer ; J . Savage , G . H . Patten , W . E . Walmisley , G . Cox , and B . Head , P . G . Swordbearers ; J . Smith , N . Bradford , and W . Young , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Symonds and R . J . Spiers , P . G . ' Standardboarers ; V . A , Williamson , P . Assist . Soj . ; and many others . Report of the Committee of General Purposes .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Eoyal Arch Masons of England , —The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 16 th October to the 14 th December , 1867 , both inclusive , Avhich they find to be as follows : —• To balance , 16 th October , £ 41117 s . Gel ; subsequent receipts , £ 351 2 s . 9 d . ; sale of £ 1 , 000 3 per cent . Consols , at 94 f , £ 943 15 less commission

s . ; , £ 1 5 s ., £ 942 10 s . £ 1 , 005 10 s . 3 d . By disbursements during tbe quarter , £ 107 18 s . ; purchase of £ 200 , 3 per cent . Consols , at 94 $ , £ 189 ; donation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , per vote of Grand Chapter , £ 943 15 s . ; less commission , £ 1 5 s . ; £ 942 10 s . ; £ 1 , 239 8 s . ; balance , £ 306 2 s . 3 d . ; £ 1 , 605 10 s . 3 d . ; which balance is in the hands of Messrs . Willis , Percival , and Co ., bankers of the Grand Treasurer . This report was received , and entered on the minutes .