Our Weekly Budget.

The Bulgarian atrocities are still the common talk . We think nine-tenths of the people who speak of them have but the faintest notion what an atrocity is , or where

Bulgaria is situated . We believe , indeed it is admitted , that a vast number of lives have been lost , and we think it most probable that the slaughtering Circassians and Bashi-Bazonks have not shown much refinement in their mode of

killing people . We neither deny nor palliate the cruelties these very irregular subjects of Turkey havo committed . We do not forget , however , that these people were living quietly and inoffensively enough till their country was over-run by the equally irregular emissaries of Servia and

the insurgent provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina , who had not even the excuse of provocation for the ruffianly excesses of which they were guilty . It is terrible to think of people slaughtering each other , and burning each other out of house and home , but we have never yet heard of

war without bloodshed , or of an insurrection without bloodshed and a greater or less amount of cruelty superadded . We do not wish to speak lightly of the status quo in Eastern Europe . But we ask our readers to bear in mind that in 1853 these same Turks , of whom we cannot now

say too many bitter things , were among the finest fellows in tho world . The "bono johnnies" were "thorough bricks . " Even the Bashi-Bazouks , though it was acknowledged they were not perhaps eligible for admission into Belgravian drawing-rooms , had all their little escapades in

the way of " looting " —we believe this word was adopted into our language a few years later—and slaughtering in some measure excused on the score of patriotism . The case is now pretty much what it was then . The Crimean war would never have taken place but for the ambition of

Russia ; the present war would never have broken out but for Russian intrigue . The difference lies rather in the views of the on-lookers , who are less favourably disposed towards Turkey now than in 1853 . Turkey ' s indifference to treaty obligations—which all the Great Powers exhibit

when it suits them—her repudiation , her faults generally , indeed—as if no other country had faults!—have made people fight shy of countenancing her sturdy resistance to attacks against her power , fomented by the Russ , but delivered by the Serb and the vagabond population of her

outlying provinces . We are firmly convinced , had Russia chosen to do so in the interests of that peace her Czar affects to prize so highly , she might have prevented the present bloodshed , and any atrocities by which it may have been accompanied . It is late in the day now to

swear at 1 nrkey , who only Avantcd to live on quietly , and call her hard names , because foreign lawless vagabonds have stirred the fiercer passions of her least civilised subjects . We believe the Turk to be a gentleman . We are not ignorant of the first Napoleon ' s remark ; ' Grallez le Ittisse ,

et vous trouverez le Tart are . " We were pleased to read a few days ago in one of the daily papers a letter from one of its correspondents , in which he gave a sample of Russian atrocities at the storming of Ismail only about eighty years since , and brought to mind the needless slaughter of

nearly 4 , 000 Turks at Sinope by Admiral Nachimoff ' s fleet in 1853 . We must not forget that Turkey is the recipient of nearly all the provocation , and that it took a very long time and a good deal of stirring to excite her to her present angry mood . Referring , however , once again to

the Bulgarian atrocities . We have no wish to shock the feelings of dilettante humanitarians , but we think an enterprising showman of the Barnum school would find it profitable to open a " Bulgarian Atrocities Exhibition ? " A few of the Arabas which carried the three or four thousand

heads , a lock of hair of a slaughtered lady , the toe of a murdered Bulgarian peasant , the skin of a Bashi-bazouk taken red-handed and executed on the spot , a few scimitars used iu committing the atrocities , and other similar mementoes : and if to these were added the scissors with

which mad Abdul-Aziz terminated his existence , Ave feel convinced the show Avould become popular . Wc commend the suggestion to some Exeter Hall enthusiast . Thousands

daily Avould pay their shilling to see the unexampled collection , and fancy they Avere so expressing their sympathy Avith a cause they understand not , aud a people of which thoy knoAv nothing .

C ' HixrsE UARVI 5 T .. —For Sale , nn elaborately cawed set of Ivory Chessmen ; The Kings stand 8 J- inches high , the other pieces in proportion . Knights and i ' awns on horseback , all mounted on stands , with concentric balls . Can be seen , and full particulars obtained , on application to W . W . MOKQAW , 07 Barbican , —ddcl ,

Consecration Of The Eccleston Lodge, No. 1624.

CONSECRATION OF THE ECCLESTON LODGE , No . 1624 .

IT is seldom our good fortune to be in a position to record anything unusual in connection with the Consecration of a new Lodgo . The ceremony , of course , never varies , and the antecedent circumstances generally present a somewhat similar aspect . A number of brethren living in or abont the same neighbourhood think the institution of a new Lodge will be for their benefit and convenience . Representations aro mado in the proper quarter , and in the manner

prescribed by law . Tho prayer of the brethren is acceded to , and in due timo wo havo the honour to wish a hearty welcome and a long career of prosperity to " Tho Little Stranger " Lodge . This , we repeat , is what usually happens , but on Wednesday a new Lodgo was consecrated in that part of London known of all men as Belgravia , and a few words may properly be

said as to its origin and the circumstances under which it has been ushered into tho Masonio Avorld . Be it known then to whom it may concern , that is , to tho whole body of our readers , both regular and occasional , that this Lodgo meets at the Grosvenor Club ; that its founders are all members of that club ; aud that the club itself numbers close upon 1 , 600 members , a formidable array , whether we regard it

from tho more point of numbers , or from the social position which club-men usually occupy . It is here , then , that Freemasonry has established for itself a new abiding . place . Here , in quarters , tho comfort and propriety of which ai-o beyond all question , will henceforth be held the meetings of a Lodge , composed entirely of men occupying the same position in society , who , outside as well as within tho

Lodge precincts , have learned to entertain for each other the friendliest possible feelings , and who will necessarily , therefore , be animated by a certain kindred spirit in promoting tho cause of Masonry . Wo must not be understood as even suggesting that , in other Lodges , not , perhaps , so favourably circumstanced as this , tho members , when once they aro brought together , are not influenced by the same mutual ties of

friendship and fraternal respect and love . Our meaning is , that the members of the Eccleston have , as it were , a double claim ou our hearty good wishes for their welfare . They are of tho same club , where they meet and enjoy tho delights of social intercourse at all seasons of the year , and they assemble iu tho same Lodgo room , carrying Avith them into it the same sentiments of respect and

friendship which , mark the tenour of their daily life . A Lodge thus constituted , whose members know each other so Avell , and havo already about them all those comforts and conveniences which mak « club life so enjoyable , such a Lodge , we say , can hardly fail to prove a brilliant success . One other subject for congratulation remains . Masonry sends out no apostles to bring

members into its fold , but AVO should bo running directl y in the face of common sense if we did not express the pleasure wo feel that Freemasonry has established a firm foothold in such favourable quarters . The fame of our Society will be still further extended among a body of men who are bettor ablo than others to appreciate its benefits , and AVIIOSO appreciation on that very account will bo

doubly welcome . We may have occasion in somo future number to refer again , and more particularly , to the quarters of tho new Lodge , but it is timo we passed to the more important duty of recording the events of Wednesday . Ilaviug assembled in the ante-room , the brethren wero marshalled in procession by Bro . Steward , acting as D . C , and entered the Lodgo

room . Bro . Hyde Pnllen then took tho chair as Consecrating Officer , and appointed Bros . Coutts P . G . P . and Verity W . M . of the Ebury Lodgo as S . W . aud J . W . respectively , tho Secretary pro tem being Bro . William Vincent . Tho Lodge was then opened successively in the three degrees , and tho ceremony of consecration was carried out

with the usual formalitiefl . Tho musical arrangements were under the management of Bro . E . 'Coles ; Bros . Baxter , G . F . Carter , Thurley Beale and H . Parker P . P . G . O . Midtl ., fulfilling their parts very effectively . Bro . the Rev . A . W . Hall then rose , and addressed the Lodge in the following terms : —

WORSHIPFUL MASTER AND BRETHREN , —I have been asked to say a few words upon the nature and principles of our Order , It is tho custom for the Consecrating Chaplain to do this , so that at the dedication of a new Lodgo the brethren who aro to form it may be reminded of the important duties and responsibilities that arc about to devolve upon them , that they may bo tho better enabled , when

their Masonic barque is fairly launched , to carry out thoso sacred teachings to the benefit of tbe cause , the instruction of the brethren , nnd the glory of tho Great Architect of the Universe . Wo are well aware that the principles of our Order aro to be found iu every grade of society , in every country , in every clime , amongst mon of every creed , and they are beloved by all . And Avhy ? Because

they aro principles of duty that command attention ; they teach ua the good and the right way ; they teach us to take for onr support the pillars of Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty , based upon a sure foundation . And I feel quite sure , from Avhat I know , and what I have heard of tho brethreu who are about to be appointed to tin ' s Lodge's offices , that these duties and these principles will bo ably

and fairly carried out to the best of their ability , and that this Lodge will , in its transit through the world , shine brightly , and emerge in tbe Grand Lodge abovo to lifo eternal . I Avould now call your minds back to somo thousands of years ago , when there might have been seen a young man flying from his country , and seeking , in a far distant land , a shelter and hospitality , flying from a brother ' s anger ; when he , by deceit and fraud , obtained that brother ' s birthright . That

young man s name was Jacob . When he lay down to rest at night , the earth his bed , a stone his pillow , his covering tho canopy of heaven , in his sleep a vision appeared to him ; ho saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven ; on it angels ascending to the Great Architect , and descending , bringing down from Him messages of love and mercy , for the benefit and comfort of man below . That ladder wo take as oac of the great emblems of our Order , as wo fihftll