Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER ,

A QUAETEELY CONVOCATION of the Supreme Grand Chapter will be held afc Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday nexfc , 5 th May , at six o ' clock in the evening . BUSINESS . The Minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . Installation of Principals and Investiture of Officers for the ensuing year .

THE BEPOBT OP THE COMMITTEE OE GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Boyal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the Accounts from the 20 th January to the 20 th April 1897 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 1 , 304 7 3 Balance Unappropriated Account 196 3 2 Subsequent Receipts 630 10 4 £ 2 , 131 0 9 By Disbursements and investment of £ 1 , 000 during the Quarter £ 1 , 499 8 5 Balance 435 14 8 Balance Unappropriated Account 195 17 8 £ 2 , 131 0 9

which Balances are in the Bank of England , Law Courts Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following Petitions : — 1 st . From Companions His Excellency the Right Honorable William , Baron Sandhurst , G . C . I . E ., as Z , Dr . John Pollen as H , William Frederick Rhodes as J , and thirteen others for a Chapter to be attached to the Emulation Lodge , No . 1100 , Bombay , to be called " The Emulation Chapter , " and to meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Bombay .

2 nd . From Companions Walter Dyson as Z , Godfrey Woodhead as H , Edwin Dean as J , and nine others for a Chapter to be attached to the Colne Valley Lodge , No . 1645 , Slaithwaite , to be called " The Colne Valley Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Britannia Boad , Slaithwaite , in the County of Yorkshire , Western Division .

3 rd . From Companions Walter Bonwick as Z , John Bobort Cleave as H , Edward Newland as J , and twenty-three others for a Chapter to be attached to the Abbey Lodge , No . 2030 , London , to be called " The Abbey Chapter , " and to meet at the Town Hall , Westminster , London . 4 th . From Companions George J . Austin as Z , William Lewis as H , Emil Apelt as J , and twenty others for a Chapter to be attached to the Plucknett Lodge , No . 1708 , to be called " The Plucknett Chapter , " and to meet at Woodside Hall , North Finohley , in the County of Middlesex .

5 th . From Companions Enoch Wood as Z , George Bosomworth Buttery as H , Herbert Manley as J , and nineteen others for a Chapter to be attached to the Godson Lodge , No . 2385 , Oldbury , to be called " The Godson Chapter , " and to meet at the Talbot Hotel , Oldbury , in the County of Worcestershire .

6 th . From Companions Harry Clerk as Z , Charles P . Perry as H , Samuel George Mason as J , and nine others for a Chapter to be attached to the Masefield Lodge , No . 2034 , Moseley , to be called " The Masefield Chapter , " and to meet at the Moseley and Balsall Heath Institute , Moseley , in the County of Worcestershire .

The Committee also recommend thafc in view of a communication received from the Grand Superintendent of Essex , and the further information furnished by the petitioners , the prayer of the petition for a Chapter to be attached to the Beaeonslield Lodge , No . 1662 , London , to be called the Philbriek Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Walthamstow , be now unconditionally granted .

The Committee have likewise received a Memorial , with extracts of Minutes , for permission to remove the following Chapter : — The Duke of Cornwall Chapter , No . 1839 , from the Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , to the Holborn Bestaurant , High Holborn , London .

The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the above request , recommend that the removal of this Chapter be sanctioned . The Committee having received a communication from the Philanthropic Chapter , No . 405 , Port of Spain , recommend that further time be allowed to reply to the summons sent to it .

( Signed ) GEOEGE DAVID HARRIS , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 21 st April 1897 . After the ordinary business had been disposed of , the following resolution was passed :

"Tbat the cordial thanks of the Members of the Committee be tendered to B . Companion Sir George D . Harris , their President , for the very able and courteous manner in which he has presided over the meetings of the Committee during the past year . "

( Signed ) THOMAS CHARLES WALLS . APPEAL . By Companion G . C . Coates Past District Grand Begistrar Punjab , against a decision of the Grand Superintendent of the Punjab revoking his appointment as District Grand Begistrar . Election of the Committee of General Purposes for the ensuing Twelve Months .

VOLUBIAN CHAPTER , No . 75 . AT the annual convocation , held at Falmouth , on Tuesday , 20 th ult ., Comp . T . C . Polglase was installed _ ., G . H . B . Beed P . Z . P . P . G . T . H ., and J . M . Carne P . Z . J .

Royal Arch.

ST . ANNE CHAPTER , No . 970 . THE annual installation was held at tho Masonic Hall , East Looe , on Tuesday , 20 th ult ., when the following were installed Principals for the ensuing year : H . Shapcott Z ., E . V . Bryant H ., V . J . Maddock J . The banquet was afterwards held at the Ship Hotel , Comp . Thomas Cook catering in his usual efficient manner .

After the usual toasts had been honoured the Companions joined in conviviality , and an enjoyable evening was spent .

TRUTH CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE second regular meeting of this Chapter was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Thursday , 22 nd ult ., Comp . Buckley Carr Z .

After the reading and confirmation of minutes , Comp . William Eichardson , St . John ' s Chapter , No . 325 , was successfully balloted for as a joining member . A ballot was taken for Bro . Joseph Day , and he being regularly approved , was exalted by Comp . Carr .

At the festive board which followed , Loyal and other toasts were duly honoured , that of the candidates being proposed by Comp . Carr , who heartily welcomed them into their ranks . Comp . Carr also proposed the health of the second Principal Comp . Robert Caldwell , while Comp . Geo . T . Lenard introduced that of the first Principal , the toasts being fittingly responded to .

Musical and other contributions were furnished by Comps . Carr , W . Allen Smith , Thos . Threlfall , and E . Roberts , a pleasant evening being spent . Besides those already mentioned , were noticed Comps . H . Hellewell S . E ., H . G . Ward P . S ., Thos . Hy . Hall P . Z ., J . J . Dean . Visitors : Comps . E . A . Ehlinger P . Z . 993 , and Jno . Rathbone Z . 1496 .

ADAIR CHAPTER , No . 1750 . ON Thursday , 22 nd ult ., a meeting was held afc the Public Hall , Olevedon , to instal the Principals and invest the Officers for the ensuing year . The ceremony was ably performed by Comp . Col . W . Long P . Z . P . P . G . H ., the new rulers being Comp . A . B . Wickenden Z ., M . Clark H ., and H . S . Newnham J .

We are this week compelled to hold over several reports and general items of interest , in consequence of the pressure of other matter upon our space .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE are sorry to record the death of Bro . E . P . Mead P . M . Concord Lodge , No . 1534 , which took place at his residence , 2 Moor Lane , Kersal , ou Sunday , 18 th inst . Our deceased Brother had been in indifferent health for some time , still his death came rather as a surprise at the last . He was a

partner in the mercantile firm of John Kay , King Street , Manchester , and was very highly respected . As a Freemason he was a power in the Concord Lodge , with which he had been connected for thirteen years , having gone through the various offices . He was also a P . Z . of the Derby Chapter , No . 1055 ,

and both in Craft and Eoyal Arch Masonry could be confidently relied upon , he being an authority on all matters of ceremonial . Our deceased Brother was interred on Wednesday , the 21 st ulfc ., his lasfc resting place being the old parish church of Prestwich . In a steady downfall of rain ( which , however , did not deter a

large number of sincere friends from being present ) , the funeral cortege left the residence of Bro . Mead , at 11-30 a . m ., preceded by two broughams , containing Brethren of the Concord Lodge and Companions of the Derby Chapter , and on arriving in the vicinity of the church was joined by a contingent of Brethren

who had met at the Lodge room . The Masonic friends consisted of Bros . F . W . Maxwell W . M ., Ed . S . Done I . P . M ., Past Masters W . H . Norton , Wm . B . Midgley , W . W . Briggs , J . W . Thompson P . P . G . S . B ., B . Hothersall P . P . G . D . D . C ., John

Wardle Sec , Alan Mercer , Edwd . Eoberts ; Bros . Ashton Whitworth , Hy . Pleasance , and Danl . McCarthy . The body was borne upon an open Victoria car , and was enclosed in two coffins , the outer one being of polished pannelled oak . Upon the breastplate was inscribed . —

" EDWAED PABKEB MEAD , Born 22 nd Sept . 1862 , Died 18 th April 1897 . " The chief mourners were as follow : —Messrs . J . Walter Mead , Jos . Bles , Philip Bles , S . D . Bles , G . M . Bles , Bros . S . F .

Simons P . M ., and Clement Walmsley P . M . The coffin and car were literally covered with floral emblems of sympathy and esteem , the principal donors being Mrs . E . P . Mead , Master Leonard Mead , Mr . W . H . Mead , Bro . and Mrs . 8 . F . Simons , Bro . and Mrs . Eobt . J . Bennett , Mr . W . Simons , Employees of

John Kay , The Brethren of the Concord Lodge , The Companions of the Derby Chapter , Mr . and Mrs . Benwick , All at the Beeches , Mr . and Mrs . Tracey , The maids at Westbourne and Palm Houses , and Mrs . C . B . Tyerman . The Eev . Eobt . Catterall ,

M . A ., St . Mary ' s , Crumpsall , was the officiating clergyman , and the service was of a simple character . The remains were afterwards placed in a new brick vault , made for the occasion . The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs . John Satterfield and Co ., St . Ann ' s Square , Manchester .