West Indies.

WEST INDIES .

TRINIDAD . BURNING OE THE MASONIC LODGE . Between two and three o ' clock on 24 th February the town was alarmed by the fu-e-bell , and the news spread that the Masonic Lodge on Mount Zion—an isolated building on a hill-top to the east—was on fire . Long before assistance could arrive the

flames had thoroughly mastered the building , and as there was little danger of the conflagration spreading , no very serious feelings of alarm were excited . Nothing definite is known as to the cause of the fire . But as there was a meeting on the evening before , and the sitting may have been prolonged to a late hour , there are half a dozen possibilties and probabilities , iniy one of which would account for the accident . The

foundation of the building was laid in 1850 by Lord Harris , and its cost , exclusive of its internal fittings , was 6 , 000 dollars . The following appeal is made to the Craft -. — 27 th February , 1 S 6 S . WORSHIPFUL Slits AND BRETHREN , —It is our painful duty to announce to you the total destruction , by fire , of our Masonic

Hall , on the evening of Monday , the 24 th inst . The building was erectsd in 1 S 50 at considerable expense , indeed , an amount much larger than can again bo raised in this community , consequent on the distress which prevails .

At a special meeting of the brethren , held on the 26 th inst ., it was agreed , amongst other measures adopted , that an appeal should be made to the Masonic Body abroad , and we were accordingly appointed to carry out those measures . We , therefore , in announcing the calamity which has befallen us , at the same time beg to solicit your fraternal aid in assisting with such amount as may be in your power to subscribe , so as

to enable us to rebuild our Hall . The undermentioned parties have been appointed to receive subscriptions in aid of our object , viz .: Bro . Wm . Gray Clarke , Grand Secretary , Freemasons' Hall , London ; Messrs . Maitland , Phelps , and Co ., Bankers , New York ; and Bro . Robert Scott in this island . Yours Fraternally ,

DANIEL HABT , D . G . M . JOHN BLACK , D . S . G . W . JAMES MCCEACKEN , W . M ., Royal Philanthropic Lodge , No . 405 . To the Worshipful Masters , Officers and Members of the Lodge of the United Kingdom and elsewhere ,

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

DURHAM . Sor / Tir SHIELDS . —St . Hilda Chapter ( No . 240 ) . —A regular convocation of the companions was held on the 15 th ult . After the preliminary business had been disposed of the companions proceeded to ballot for the Principals and officers for the ensuing year . The following were elected : —Comps . Wright , Hewison

Z . ; Lawson , H . ; , P . Z ., J . ; Roddam , Treas . ; Buchanan , E . ; White , N . ; Bootiman , P . S . ; and Dacchar , Janitor . Two auditors were also appointed , and the chapter was afterwards closed in solemn form . WARWICKSHIRE . BIRMINGHAM . —Howe Chapter ( No . 587 ) . —The regular

quarterly meeting of this chapter was held at the Masonic Rooms , on the 7 th inst . The chapter having been opened in due form , and the minutes read and confirmed properly , Bro . W . Short was admitted , properly prepared , and exalted to the supreme degree ; at the conclusion of that ceremony Comp . W . H . Sproston installed Comps . Helbert , Warriol , and Genever , into the principal chairs . The officers elect were then duly invested . The companions , numbering about twenty-five , then adjourned to refreshment .

Make Masonry.

MAKE MASONRY .

DURHAM . WEST HAETLEPOOL . —Eclectic Lodge . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held in the Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday , the 28 th ult ., when there were present : —Bros . W . W . Brunton , W , M . ; G . Kirk , M . D ., S . W . ; R . B . Harpley , J . W . ; S . Gourlev , M . L ., M . O . ; Emra Holmes , 30 ° , J . O ., as S . O . ; E . Hudson , Sec ,

as J . O . ; M . Rickinson , Treas ., as Reg . ; J . W . Cameron , S . D . ; J . Miller , I . G . ; J . Mowbray , Tyler , & c . The lodge was opened in due form , ancl with solemn prayer , and the minutes of the two previous meetings having been read and confirmed , Bro . Ernest Julius Berner , of the St . Helen ' s Lodge ( No . 531 ) , Hartlepool , having been balloted for and accepted , was presented and advanced to tho degree of Mark Master . Tbe business of the evening being ended , the lodge was closed , and the brethren retired for refreshment .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . —FowJre Lodr / e ( No . 19 );—An emergency meeting of this lodge was held at tbe Freemasons' Hail , on Tuesday evening , the 28 th ult ., iiro . Kelly , W . AI ., Prov . G . M ., in the chair . The following ollieers being-also present . — Bros . Pettifor , P . M . ; Brewin , S . W . ; Smith , J . W . ; Duff , M . O . ; Herbert , J . O . ; Sculthorpeas Sec ; L . A . Clarkeas Registrar ; WearoSD

, , , .. ; Bithrey , as Dir . of Cers . ; Manning , I . G . ; Bainbridge , Tyler . The lodge having been opened a ballot was taken for Bros . Baines , Bichardson , and Turner , of the John of Gaunt Lod « -e ( No . 523 ) , who were duly elected ; aud Bros . B-. unes and Richardson being in attendance were advanced as Mark Masters , as were also Bro ? . Hunt , Moor , and Wardle , elected at a former meeting . Bro . Bithrey presided at tho instrument during the

musical portion of the ceremony . The advancement of nine other candidates was postponed until the regular meeting in May . The lodge having heen closed the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST ) . SCARBOROUGH— Star in the East ( No . 95 ) . —This lodge of Mark Masters was held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday evening , the 22 nd ult . Present : —Bros . J . W . Woodall , W . M . ; W . Foster Rooke , P . M . ; , H . A . Williamson , S . W . ; W . T . Farthing , J . W . ; J . F . Spurr , P . M . O . ; W . H . Garnett , S . O . ; D .

Fletcher , J . O . ; W . Peacock and Hardgrave , as Deacons ; H . C . Martin , Reg . of Marks . ; J . A . Chapman , Treas . ; and several other brethren . The lodge was opened at seven o ' clock in the evening , when the minutes were read and confirmed . Bro . J . W . D . Middleton , previously balloted for and approved , was advanced to the degree of Mark Master , after which the lodo-e was closed in due form at nine o ' clock .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

SOUTH WALES . SWANSEA . —Palestine Encampment . —This encampment was formally consecrated and opened on Monday the 27 th ult ., with every observance of detail required by the statutes and customs of the Order . The ceremony of consecration was most beautifully and effectively performed by Sir Knt . Richard James Spiers , P . G . CaptainD . Prov . G . Com . Oxfordshire & cSir KntC

, , , . . E . Davey , D . Prov . G . Com ., Somerset , acted as Prelate on the occasion . The other offices being temporarily filled by Sir Knts . T . Mansel Talbot , P . G . Herald , and P . E . C . Cceur de Lion Encampment ; W . L . Lawson , E . C . Bladeed Encampment ; Edward J . Morris , St . George ' s Encampment ; T . G . South , and G . E . Robinson , Baldwyn Encampment ; T . B . Hosken , Cceur de Lion Encampment , & c . The consecrating commander

afterwards installed Sir Knt . T . Mansel Talbot , as first E . C . of the Palestine Encampment , who at once appointed his officers for the ensuing year as follows : —Sir Knts . Edward J . Morris , 1 st Capt . ; T . G . South , 2 nd Capt . ; Rev . T . B . Hosken , Prelate ; W . Cox , Reg . ; D . Williams , Treas . ; Chas . Bath , Dir . of Cers . ; Rev . C . S . Heartley , Almoner ; G . E . Robinson , Expert ; Rev . D . Thomas , and S . B . Power , Standard Bearers ; F . A .

Hopwood , and George Bradford , Heralds ; James G . Hall , Capt . of Lines . The E . C . then immediately proceeded to instal seven duly qualified companions as Knts . of the Order , winning golden