the absolute exigency of the case being, I should think, ample protection from the abuse of a deviation from a fixed rule necessary to be observed in England, but from which the peculiar circumstances of a foreign lodge may require some exemption; and the assimilation of the rules and practice of English to Scotch and Irish lodges on these not very material points, would be attended with an incalculable amount of good, and maintain the Catholic character of the Craft more integrally than the present different observances appear to characterize it.

Lodge No. 748 lately had a narrow escape from legal extinction by the Book of Constitutions, in consequence of the difficulty in procuring a duly qualified brother to relieve the W. M., who had served two years, and the non-receipt of any dispensation from the Grand Lodge, though applied for in the month of March last. In places like this, where the brethren are so frequently leaving the settlement, these emergencies must be expected, and lodges in such cases should have power to elect the W. M., or a brother who has been previously appointed a Warden, without reference to the time he has served in that office. It is fortunate that the lodge has been able to obtain the services of its present active and zealous Master without infringing the existing laws; but certainly we are not indebted to the care and attention of the Grand Lodge officials for our preservation from extinction, which the operation of this rule would otherwise have produced; and a flourishing lodge, which has received the highest commendations from numerous visitors from Calcutta, China, Batavia, and continental Europe, has thus been exposed to constitutional annihilation. Surely the rigidity of laws which may thus be attended with destructive effects should be modified to suit the peculiar circumstances of foreign lodges, who have nothing to depend upon for safety but hopeless references, which are seldom so much as acknowledged, and which I verily believe are systematically withheld from the notice of the Grand Master to save the trouble which must otherwise ensue to the Grand Secretary, and his subordinates, who I fancy are not sufficiently remunerated to attend to anything more than register and certificate fees, otherwise there is indeed most crying need of a radical reform in that department, and you who are nearest the fountain head of evil can better tell where it lies, and the most appropriate remedy. I should think the Grand Secretary, for his own ease and convenience, would advocate these relaxations, for they must be attended with the entire cessation of complaints like this, as the exciting cause will then be entirely removed.

The brethren here, I can venture to affirm, feel much regret that they are not supported in the question of the relaxation of the required interval between degrees by so high and respected an authority as the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review ;" and however reluctant they may be to oppose their sentiments to its views upon this or any other subject, they cannot in the face of their long felt need of this most useful reform alter their opinions upon a question of so much vital importance to the Craft on foreign stations; and I trust that the very different circumstances which exist in home and foreign lodges will eventually reconcile you to a measure which we conscientiously believe will be highly useful to us, and all other lodges in foreign parts.

In your remarks on my namesake's letter, you give us some very useful information on the law of expulsion, which has, to my certain knowledge, been for years in vain solicited from the Grand Lodge, by another lodge in the Straits. If that lodge did wrong in expelling one of its members, why, I would ask, was it not explicitly so told them

by the Grand Secretary. A brother, or a lodge of brothers, may err from ignorance of the established laws of the Craft, but surely it is not right that they should be permitted to remain in such ignorance after they had reported their procceedings in the particular case in question, for the information and decision of the Grand Lodge, and repeatedly, for years, solicited its confirmation.

In conclusion, I would ask what is the utility of requiring that certain acts shall obtain the sanction of the Grand Master, if, as my three years' experience as a Mason shows me, that such references are never made to that august authority, though submitted to the Grand Secretary, in due form, for that purpose-else a most lamentable system in the disposal of these questions exists, which must, if not altered, ere long prove extremely prejudicial to the character and interests of our ancient and honourable fraternity.

We are waiting in anxious expectation for the result of the transfusion experiment, and shall be delighted to find that some of the spirit andzeal of the editor and supporters of your Review has replaced the tardy current which now pervades the Grand Lodge officials.

Yours, fraternally,

A SINGAPORE ZETLANDER.

Zetland Lodge, No. 748, December 27.-The brethren of this lodge assembled in their masonic rooms in Bridge-street, at three p.m., when four candidates were admitted, and the ceremony of installing the Worshipful Bro. W. H. Read into the chair of the lodge for the ensuing year was duly performed by the Past Master Bro. J. C. Smith; after which the following brethren were duly invested with their insignia of office:-Bro. R. Bain, S. W.; Bro. W. Rodyk, J. W.; Bro. J. C. Smith, Treasurer; Bro. S. F. Cumming, Secretary; Bro. W. C. Leisk, S. D.; Bro. C. J. Curties, J. D.; Bro. H. W. Hewetson, J. G.; Bro. J. G. Barnes Tyler.

At seven, the brethren, with several visitors from foreign and other lodges, sat down to banquet.

The cloth having been removed, the W. M., Bro. Read, proposed the usual loyal and public toasts, viz,, "The Queen, the daughter of a Mason; The M. W. the Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland, and the Grand Lodge of England;" "The M. W. Grand Masters of Scotland and Ireland, the Dukes of Athol and Leinster;" "The Provincial Grand Lodges and Masons in India," with appropriate remarks, which were warmly responded to, and drank with masonic honours.

The P. M., Bro. J. C. Smith, requested permission from the chair to give the next toast, the toast of the evening, the health of their newlyinstalled Master, the Worshipful Bro. Read, one to whom the lodge was much indebted for the zeal and interest in its welfare he had displayed from the day of his initiation, and more particularly during the time he had held the office of Warden. He congratulated the brethren on the happy choice they had made, and him on this auspicious and gratifying commencement of his rule, which he had no doubt would be followed by that increased success and prosperity of the lodge, which his position and zeal for the Craft were alike calculated to insure-(drank with all the honours, and great enthusiasm).

The Worshipful Master, in reply, thanked his brethren most sincerely for the great honour they had done him, and for the hearty manner in which they had drank his health. He felt much indebted to the Past Master for the flattering mention he had made of him. He was but a young Mason, and could only say that he regretted that

the management of the lodge could not, by the rules of the Order, be continued in the hands of their excellent brother, the Past Master, on whose superior skill and experience he must necessarily depend for much assistance; but, as far as he was personally concerned, he could assure the brethren that no exertion should be wanting on his part to deserve their good opinion-now so flatteringly expressed-and to promote the welfare of the lodge in every way in his power. Having said this much for himself, he would not trespass unnecessarily upon their time and attention to detail what was already so well known and acknowledged by them all-the merits of their Past Master, to whom, he might justly say, the lodge was entirely indebted for its first establishment and continued prosperity. He would, therefore, at once propose his health, and he had no doubt it would be warmly responded to(drank with all honours).

He

The Past Master returned thanks for the honour thus conferred upon him, and felt himself unable suitably to acknowledge it, from the consciousness he had that the very complimentary notices of his services to the lodge by the worshipful brother in the chair, and the flattering response of all his brethren, were scarcely deserved by him. would not attempt to deny that he had endeavoured to secure the permanent prosperity of the lodge during the various struggles and difficulties it had had to contend with; and if he had been so fortunate as to weather the storm of adversity that had more than once assailed them, he could not for a moment lay the flattering unction to his soul that his individual exertions had accomplished it. It is true he had the good fortune to be at the helm, but the success of his exertions was mainly owing to the assistance he had received from other active and zealous hands; and whilst the lodge could boast of such members as Bro. J. B. Cumming, our late excellent Senior Warden; Bro. Rodyk, our late zealous Secretary; and Bro. Leisk, our late worthy Junior Deacon, its success might be considered as sure and certain as human means could make it. It might, perhaps, appear invidious to mention these brethren in particular, when others, if not all, had exhibited similar goodwill and zeal; but he could not forego the opportunity he thus possessed of acknowledging the personal obligations he was under to these brethren, and requested the Worshipful Master's permission to propose their healths, individually and collectively, with masonic honours.

This was gladly accorded by the Worshipful Master, and the health of these excellent brethren was drank with loud cheers.

Bro. J. B. Cumming returned for himself and Bros. Rodyk and Leisk, and proposed the health of "Mrs. Smith," with the addition of "Masons' wives and Masons' bairns," which was warmly responded to by the brethren, and duly acknowledged by the Past Master.

In the course of the evening several other toasts were given"Absent Brethren;" "Poor and distressed Masons, and speedy relief to them;""The Lodges of Hamburgh and Batavia (respectively acknowledged by Bros. Julius Meyer and L. Wysman), and the brethren finally separated at half-past ten o'clock, after enjoying a most delightful evening, the arranpements having been most excellent-the harmony of the brethren perfect to the last, and the just medium between pleasure and intemperance happily preserved by every individual present.

THE

GENERAL ASSURANCE ADVOCATE.

30TH JUNE, 1848.

TO OUR READERS AND THE PUBLIC.

On entering upon a new sphere of action by adding the General Assurance Advocate to the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review," we feel it to be right, while stating the claims which we hope to be able to show to the support of the public at large, especially to address some explanation of our plans and motives to those numerous Masonic readers who have so long gone hand-in-hand with us in our efforts to advance the prosperity and usefulness of that ancient Order to which both they and we belong, and we enter upon the task not only as one of duty, but also as one of rightfulness, and that term comprehends, to well constituted minds, both duty and pleasure.

In addressing Masons as apart from the public, we feel that we may confidently rest and rely upon it as an ascertained fact, that those who in their hearts hold fast to the great principle of brotherhood and mutual assistance for securing a happy and enlightened progress, which is the foundation rock of the whole superstructure of the Order, will not be disposed to cavil, or take offence, or look "asklant" with the eye of dissatisfaction at the introduction into that periodical, which has been hitherto devoted exclusively to their interests, of a new topic which, although entirely separate and apart from the details of their Order, nevertheless rests with it upon a common basis, and has in common the same great though simple principle-the principle of "Association" for the mutual good of all, by the concentration in one system, the application in one direction of the powers of all. It is true that in the Order the principle of Association is applied in an exclusively benevolent direction, there being neither the fear of loss nor the hope of gain, while in Assurance commercial motives obtain if they do not predominate; but should that be used as an objection against the proposed combination which has led to this addition to the "Review," it

VOL. VI.

G G

may be sufficient to say that reflecting men, while rejecting that which is intrinsically bad, see the impossibility of urging on the world to its own good by trusting to mere philanthropic motives, and not only feel justified in, but see the necessity of, setting about the work with such instruments as are ready to their hands, by waking the interested feelings and hopes of individual interest which prompt commercial movements, and which, though when misdirected and abused, produce avarice, selfishness, and hardness of heart, are capable of being directed for the good of all, in consonance with the design of that power which has done nothing unwisely, and has implanted feelings tending to the aggrandizement of self in the human mind for the best and wisest purposes. If all men were benevolent and disinterested-if all were truly wise—if all saw that the good of all is not only consistent with, but necessary to the good of the individual, it would be unnecessary to advocate Assurance as a means of progress, as a measure of security, or as a safeguard against destitution; for then the loss of one would be regarded as the loss of all, and the common stock of a people would be applied to obviate the suffering and loss arising from exceptional mischance or misfortune. But that is not the case; and when disinterested philanthropic charity—when feelings of universal brotherhood cannot be relied upon, it is not only excusable, but we are imperatively called upon to endeavour, if possible, to produce these beneficial results by an appeal to hope and fear-to a desire for reward, and a dread of suffering qualities not bad in themselves, although founded upon the selfish part of human nature, and not so estimable or loveable as those which take their rise in the higher regions of moral and sympathetic feeling. The truth is, that there is work to be done for the good of humanity beyond the pale of the controversies of theologians, out of the sphere of the bickerings of political partizans, within the boundaries of which it is neither our desire nor our intention to enter; and those who look upon the suffering which is rampant around, and who see that by foresight and sagacity much of it might, by the sufferers themselves, be prevented, feel that they should not be particularly squeamish about the tools, but that relying upon the rightfulness of their own feelings, the propriety of their own objects, they should use those instruments which are ready to their hands, without waiting for the development of those higher moral agents which it would be more satisfactory to deal with, but which are not at present to be found in the elements of society in sufficient abundance to be efficiently acted upon. When to these explanations it is added that the addition of the “General Assurance Advocate" will not in any way interfere with the efficiency of the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review," that the same care for the interests of the Order, the same watchfulness over the proceedings of its authorities,