Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

EAST LANCASHIRE .

THE annual Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Town Hall , Bury , on Wednesday , 24 th ult . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie Prov . G . Superintendent presided . There was a full attendance of members , all the Chapters in the Province being represented . Companion J . B . Goulburn moved the adoption of the

financial statement , which showed a substantial balance m hand . Comp . F . W . Lean seconded the motion , which was passed . Upon the motion of Comp . C . D . Cheetham , seconded by Comp . J . T . Newbold , Comp . R . Pollitt ( Bury ) was unanimously . elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year .

Colonel Starkie made sympathetic reference to the loss sustained by Freemasonry in East Lancashire by the death of Companion J . H . Sillitoe P . G . H ., which occurred a few days before . He referred to the great assistance the deceased had always rendered to him in the discbarge of the duties of his office as head of the Masonic body in East Lancashire , and to his untiring labours in the cause of the Masonic charities .

Colonel Starkie invested the Officers of Provincial Grand Chapter for the ensuing year , as follow : Comp . C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds 62 - - H . James Heelis 62 - - - J . J . Newton 37 Scribe E . 0 . D . Cheetham 993 - - - Scribe N .

R . Pollitt 42 ~ - - - - Treasurer W . F . Chambers 210 - - - Registrar J . S . Scott 345 - - - - Deputy Registrar F . W . Lean 935 - - - - Principal Sojourner C . H . Woods 381 - - - - 1 st Assist . Sojourner

O . C . Crompton - - - - 2 nd Assist . Sojourner Max Weigenthaler 645 - - - Sword Bearer A . B . Bennett 204 - - - - Deputy Sword Bearer J . Bottomley 277 - - - - " ) G . Whowell 344 - - - - >•Standard Bearers

P . Ratcliffe 219 - - - - > James Shuttleworth 286 - - - Director of Ceremonies

W . T . Allitt - - - - ) 3 . Corney 325 - - - -J- Assist Dirs . of Cers . "W . Ormerod 462 - - - - ) E . H . Flower 1055 - - - - Janitor . Comps . S . Newton and G . W . Davies were afterwards elected Auditors .

Upon the motion of Comp . Lean , seconded by Comp . A . H . Jeffris , and supported by Colonel Starkie , a letter of condolence was directed to be sent to the widow and family of the late Comp . Sillitoe . It was also resolved , on the motion of Comp . Cheetham ,

seconded by Comp . Hooper , that the sum of £ 10 be given to the funds of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution . At the close of the meeting there was a banquet at the Derby Hoteil . — " Manchester Guardian , "

The Companions afterwards celebrated the festival of tbe Vernal Equinox , when the toast of the First Grand Principal and other Office bearers of the Supreme Grand Chapter was proposed by Comp . C . C . Torstoun .

GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND . A MEETING was held in Edinburgh on the 22 nd ulfc ., when Lord Haddington was elected First Grand Principal , and Comp . C . C . Nisbett , W . S ., Deputy .

Replying , the Chairman mentioned that the income for the past year had been £ 956—an increase of £ 142 over the previous year ; and that the membership had been 1031 , against 929 .

HOPE CHAPTER , No . 574 . WEDNESDAY , the 17 th ult ., was a busy day in Newbury trom a Masonic point of view , the Hope Chapter assembling in the Temperance Hall at three o ' clock , under the able presidency of Comp . C .

B . Keyser M . E . Z ., the attendance also including several distinguished visitors , who had come to Newbury for the purpose of being present at the installation of the newly-elected Worshi pful Master of the Porchester Lodge of Mark Masons , which took place subsequently .

The business comprised the election of Bros . Herbert Ravenor , George Elms , and Edward Hill , members of the Craft Lodge , each of whom was exalted with the usual ceremonial . Auditors for the ensuing year were appointed , and other business was transacted , after which the Chapter was closed in due form .

DERBY CHAPTER , No . 1055 . THE regular meeting was held at Chester Bank , Prestwich , on Thursday , 25 th ult ., Comp . J . W . Hallam Z . In consequence of former absence ,

Royal Arch.

the installation of Comp . F . W . Maxwell as J . now took place , the ceremony being performed by Comp . John Marshall P . P . G . P . S ., who afterwards addressed the Principals , Officers , and Companions . The following Brethren were balloted for and afterwards exalted to the Royal Arch degree , viz : Bros . Dr . Frederick Stephenson , D . McCarthy , and Thomas E . Collier , all of the Concord Lodge , No . 1534 .

Supper followed , which was in turn succeeded by the festive board , where Loyal and Royal Arch toasts were honoured , a very pleasant evening being spent .

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 890 . AT the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Paddington , on the 19 th ult ., Comp . C . J- Butler Z . 1196 Z ., J . H . Roberts H . 1196 H ., J . Almond Z . 1837 J ., H . Dehane P . Z . 890 P . P . G . P . S . Essex Scribe E ., and others . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Watts as candidate . A vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Butler , for the able manner in whioh he had performed the duties of President .

SUN WORSHIP AND FREEMASONRY . A LECTURE was given on Thursday , 25 th ult ., at the St . John ' s Lodge of Instruction , No . 1306 , held at the Queen Victoria , Exmouth Street , Stepney , by Bro . J . J . Hall P . M . 1278 , on " Sun Worship and the Ancient Mysteries , and their resemblance to Freemasonry , " the chair being taken by Bro . John Stevens P . M . Bro . Hall prefaced his address by stating he was desirous of showing how similar certain signs and symbols used in Freemasonry were to those used by the ancient sun worshippers . The lecturer began with a long

account of the Egyptians , their religion , morals , myths , and symbols . The origin of the signs of the Zodiac was next given , and an account of the Crux Ansata , the Tau and Blazing Star followed . Another symbol was traced to the Phonecian Sun God " Baal . " This symbol the lecturer stated was discovered by the Spaniards on their arrival at the temple of the Sun at Cuzco , in Peru , and it may also be seen at one of our English cathedrals . A lengthened dissertation was next given of the Svastica and other sun symbols , which , have been discovered on ancient coins and pre-historic remains .

The lecturer concluded by giving a short account of the rise of Gothic architecture and operative Masonry , and showed how Pagan symbols were introduced into Christianity and thus handed into Freemasonry . Several photos , illustrations , and rough drawings were exhibited , which helped to explain the lecture . A hearty vote of thanks was proposed by the W . M ., and accorded by the Brethren to Bro . Hall , and on the proposition of Bro . Preceptor Arter he was made an honorary member of the Lodge .

Bro . HaU expressed his sincere appreciation of the honour conferred upon him , and said he was pleased to have given the Brethren a pleasant evening ' s entertainment .

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