The plea of seniority of lodges has nothing to do with the questionit is one of those pleas that are untenable in common sense-the brethren desired a charter, and properly petitioned for one. The declaration that Bro. Cameron received a note of introduction from Dr. Grant to the Grand Secretary of Scotland, and apparently made use of it in the face of his (Dr. Grant's) interdiction, must be altogether an accidental romance, for if Dr. G. gave such letter, why interdict its use? but hear Bro. Cameron himself, who has been applied to on the subject. "I again make my solemn declaration, that the assertion made by Dr. Grant is altogether wrong; I never received a note, letter, or introduction of any kind whatever from him to the Grand Secretary of Scotland." On this point, therefore, the memory of Dr. Grant is at fault. The allusion of Dr. G. to his appointment of G. I. G. of the 33° in Scotland, or as he terms it, the Grand Council of Rites, weakens his case sadly; for we know of no such system there, and if such extists, what business has the Doctor to bring the matter forward in a Craft lodge? we had hoped he was too cannie for such a plea. The dismissal of Bro. Townsend from a position in the Prov. Grand Lodge for an alleged offence as a Royal Arch Mason is ridiculous-Lord Dalhousie must be made to extend his mantle over his friend. Our readers have now before them, a synopsis of this haplessly extraordinary case; in the investigation, we have avoided touching some of its most unseemly proportions, and would encourage the hope, that we may not be compelled to advert further to the subject, for the sake of Freemasonry; but if we be so compelled, we shall, without hesitation, perform our duty, conscious that the best interests of the Order are promoted by speaking out truthfully and fearlessly. SINGAPORE.-Zetland in the East Lodge, No. 748, May 31.—The usual monthly meeting of this lodge took place at half-past seven o'clock, and after the regular business of the lodge had been concluded, the brethren sat down to a banquet, given on the occasion of the presentation of a service of plate to Bro. J. C. Smith. The Worshipful Master, Bro. W. H. Read, in the chair, and, after the customary public toasts, proposed the health of Bro. Smith, dwelling at considerable length upon his eminent services to the lodge from its first establishment, through his instrumentality, up to that time, and concluded by introducing and presenting to him, in the name of all the members of the lodge, a handsome table service of silver plate. Appropriate emblems were engraved on all, and upon one of them the following inscription:-" Presented to Worshipful Brother JOHN COLSON SMITH, P. M., No. 326 and No. 293, H. R. C. K. T. and M., &c., by his fellow-brethren of the Zetland Lodge, No. 748, Singapore; as a token of their most fraternal regard and esteem, and of their high appreciation of his valuable services during the past two years, in which he presided as Master of this Lodge. Singapore, St. John's day, A D. 1847. A. L. 5847." Bro. SMITH returned thanks for the munificent gift, and assured his brethren that during the twenty-five years he had been a member of their ancient and honourable fraternity, he had never experienced a moment of greater pride and satisfaction than that; and went on to say, that when a man finds that he has succeeded in the accomplishment of a favourite object, the success of his exertions is in itself a sufficient reward of his labours; but when in addition to this satisfaction he finds that he has not only met with the approval of his fellow-craftsmen, but is distinguished by the applause and credit which properly is only due to their united efforts, and receives from them such a splendid testimony of their regard as that which they had now presented to him, they might well believe that his pride and satisfaction were such that he could not find words to express, and therefore entreated them to believe he had the most grateful sense of their unmerited kindness, though he could not adequately express his feelings on the occasion. He said that he could not but feel conscious that his services had been very much overrated that he had done nothing more than what any other brother would have done in similar circumstances, and with similar opportunity; but without their co-operation and support he could have accomplished nothing; and the lodge was equally indebted to their worthy brother, James Cumming, and the other brethren, who had assisted him in its establishment, and for their active and zealous services in the various offices they had filled. He concluded by again assuring them of the extreme gratification he felt at being distinguished by so flattering a mark of their esteem, and for the many other proofs he had received of their good opinion and support, and especially from their much esteemed Worshipful Master, Bro. Read, to whom he felt that he was principally indebted for the personal kindness shown to him on this occasion, and for the consideration which had prompted them, under the peculiar circumstances in which he had lately been placed, to make the gift as substantially useful as it was intrinsically valuable. On the anniversary of the festival of St. John the Baptist, the brethren of the Lodge Zetland in the East, No. 748, held a special meeting for the purpose of receiving in due form His Excellency Sir James Brooke, . Governor, and the Hon. W. Napier, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of Laboan, who afterwards remained to witness the initiation of a new candidate for admission to the masonic mysteries and privileges. In the evening these distinguished visitors, with Captain the Hon. H. Keppel, were invited to meet the Past Master and brethren at a farewell banquet given to the Worshipful Master, W. H. Read, on the occasion of his departure to Europe. The Worshipful Past Master was in the chair; the Worshipful Master on his right, His Excellency Bro. Brooke on his left. The Senior Warden acted as croupier; the Hon. Captain Keppel on his right, the Hon. Bro. Napier on his left. All the other officers of the lodge were in their appropriate seats, and the other brethren took their places under the direction of the Stewards for the occasion, Bros. J. B. Cumming and M. F. Davidson; the arrangement of the table was most elegant, and, with the advantage of the beautiful canopy and other embellishments of the lodge-room, the tout ensemble was decidedly superior to anything of the kind we have witnessed in Singapore. Great credit is due to the taste of Bro. J. B. Cumming, who kindly undertook to superintend the arrangements. Much of the success of the evening's entertainment is to be attributed to the complacency of Bro. Brooke. He had no difficulty in exhibiting to perfection the beautiful masonic lesson, that all Masons are, as brethren, upon the same level-yet Masonry takes no honour from any man that he had before, for Masons are bound not to derogate from that respect which is due to any brother were he not a Mason; these great truths and principles were most happily illustrated on this occasion. VOL. VI. 3Q The other guests also appeared to be well pleased with their entertainment, and the wish to be happy was conspicuous alike in them and their hosts. We may venture to say, that this festival will be a red letter day in the annals of Zetland in the East, and in the memory of every one who had the gratification of participating in its enjoyment. The company broke up a little before twelve. Toasts and appropriate airs were given and performed during the evening, and some of the speeches were extremely good and suitable to the occasion. Among the various toasts were" the Queen, a Mason's daughter;"" the Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland, the Grand Master of England ;” "the Worshipful Brother, W. H. Read;" "His Excellency Brother James Brooke;" "Brother the Hon. W. Napier;" "Captain the Hon. H. Keppel;"" the Right Hon. the Earl of Dalhousie, late Grand Master of Scotland, and now the most Worshipful Lord Patron of Freemasons in India;" "the Worshipful Past Master Bro. J. C. Smith;"" Bro. J. B. Cumming ;"" Bro. Frommurze Sorabjee, and the Native Brethren of India;" ;” “Our German Brethren present, and Members of other Lodges." To His Excellency Sir James Brooke, K. C. B., Governor of Laboan, &c. &c. &c. Lodge Zetland in the East, No. 748, Dear Sir and Brother,—I have the honour to wait upon you with the following extract from the minutes of the proceedings of a special lodge, held on Saturday the 15th instant, and I am instructed by the Acting Worshipful Master to solicit that your Excellency will permit this lodge the honour of enrolling among the number of its members so esteemed a brother and so eminent a philanthropist. 6 Proposed by the Acting Worshipful Master, seconded by the Senior Warden, and resolved unanimously, That His Excellency Bro. Sir James Brooke, K. C. B., Governor of Laboan, be elected an honorary member of this lodge, and that he be solicited to accept a nomination which will be a source of the highest gratification to the brethren, and it is hoped of the greatest utility to the Craft in these parts, as enjoying the distinction of his patronage and support." I have the honour to be, dear Sir and Brother, your faithful and obedient Brother in Masonry, Dear Sir and Brother,—I beg you will return my acknowledgments to the Acting Worshipful Master and brethren of the Lodge Zetland in the East, and assure them that I esteem it an honour to become an honorary member of the lodge, and shall at all times be ready to forward the interests of the Craft as far as lies in my power. Believe me, dear Sir and Brother, very faithfully yours, THE GENERAL ASSURANCE ADVOCATE. 30TH DECEMBER, 1848. THE EMPIRE OF LIFE ASSURANCE. THIS title may appear to be a quaint one, and probably to some it will appear meaningless; but, nevertheless, it represents a truth, the germ of which appeared in the seventeenth century, and has been, with that slow and steady, but certain progress, which characterises the advance of good continually developing itself; and the quaintness which apparently distinguishes our heading will vanish when the rays of thought are brought to bear upon it. We have not been in the habit of viewing the great world of thought and public opinion as we have the material world in its empires, kingdoms, principalities, and republics; but they exist, notwithstanding, and have, amid all their divisions, a wonderful principle of UNITY, striving, as they all do, to arrive by many routes at one goal-the good of humanity. Of these empires, that ruled over by Life Insurance has grown into great and paramount importance, and requires earnest attention. The European world has been shaken to its very foundations; the fierce breath of agitation has blown together mobs, and kindled insurrections to overthrow governments, as the winds of Heaven roll up the waves of the great deep to submerge the labouring ship with its despairing crew. The eruptions of political feeling have been volcanic; and as the volcanoes of the earth arise from the fires smothered within its bosom, so these volcanoes of democracy owe their origin to the pent-up flames of discontent, urged on by the goad of despotic wrong into actual and visible combustion; and from those vast craters-the minds of many people of the earth-has poured the lava torrent of indignation and resistance, which, like another deluge of vengeance, has flowed over mountain and plain, devastating alike the places of the high and low, and sacrificing the present interests of all. The heavings of the earthquake of thought have riven and split the social system of modern civilisation, which was vainly thought so secure as to defy time and change, and from the chasms torn in panting humanity have arisen new elements, which must mingle in every future scheme of social life. But amid all the evil with which we are surrounded-with kings flying from their capitals, ministers murdered, governments falling into wrecks, blood spilt by brother's hands, and those distresses which violent changes always produce, there is this comfort and consolation-that these vast convulsions are natural ones, which have been for a long series of years preparing for development, and that as the throes of nature are always beneficial-as the tempests which give the mariner an unconsecrated grave in the caves of ocean disperse the pestilence floating in the air ; as the lightning which strikes the tall tree down, and tears soul from body, relieves the oppressed atmosphere; as the flood, which sweeps man and his wealth from the earth retiring, leaves the ground fertilised, so we are justified in hoping that when the political storms shall have been hushed, when the lightnings of revolution shall have ceased to play, when the waters of agitation shall have subsided, we shall find that fell disease despotism vanished, the political atmosphere clear, bracing, and unclouded, and the minds of nations fitted to foster the growth of true liberty and the development of Christian virtue. The British nation has watched the progress of the dread tempest of change passing from kingdom to kingdom, not so much with fearful apprehension for itself as with humane anxiety for the interests of humanity and liberty, and with thoughtful consideration, seeking to extract from the chaos that experience and wisdom which would help her to render still more secure her own elevated and comparatively safe position; and we have but ill succeeded if we have not learned that, the true prosperity and peace of a state must rest principally upon its social institutions. Among the most important of our institutions is Assurance, and that and its most important branch, Life Assurance in particular, has been strangely disregarded and often mismanaged. The high in place among assurance offices have suffered, if not encouraged, a state of things to grow up which threatens to whelm a system, so transcendantly excellent in itself, under unnatural evil results. A sort of aristocratic local power has arisen, which tends to overawe and beat down the social impulses, and to render that exclusive and confined in its operation, of which Democracy is the very principle, Combination the life-blood, and widespread Diffusion a necessity of existence; and hence has arisen an effort among many thoughtful men to bring about a bloodless and beneficial revolution in the sub-empire of Life Assurance. We are no levellers, but simply honest reasoners; we hate and detest the creed which, powerful to destroy, is wanting in that Divine attribute of humanity-the power to create. We have no sympathy with those who would raze the mental edifices of this world, without striving to build on surer foundations superstructures of greater beauty, strength, and usefulness. We have no fellow feeling with those who merely seek to pull down all to one level, and such shall have no aid from our hands; but we will range ourselves under the same banner |