Provincial Grand Chapter Of Devon.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVON .

THE Eoyal Arch Masons of this Province held a Provincial Grand Chapter on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Tiverton . Through the hospitality of the Mayor Companion T . Ford jun . P . Z . 1125 P . P . G . T .,

a large number of the Companions lunched with his Worship at the Town Hall , on their arrival early in the afternoon . The Mayor presided , and amongst others present were : —

Companions W . G . Rogers Prov . Grand Second Principal , the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., Prov . Grand Third Principal , J . Brewer P . G . S . E ., W . Vicary P . G . S . N ., J . Kinton Bond P . G . T ., J . A . Orchard P . G . P . S ., Maior J . J . Daw P . G . S . B .. Geo . Hnxham P . G . D . C , H . L . Friend

P . G . O ., John Stocker P . P . G . First A . S ., J . B . Crabb P . P . G . First A . S ., A . Bodley P . P . G . S . N ., A . Andrews J . 1125 , W . B . Haydon H . 1125 , J . H . Lloyd P . Z . 1125 , C . G . Vicary H . 1136 , Thos . Parkhonae , P . Z . 1125 , E . Aitken-Davies P . P . G . Reg ., James Griffin P . Z . 70 ,

H . Stocker Z . 112 , W . E . Williams P . Z . 1125 , W . Packham J . 112 , J . Page P . Z . 112 , W . Gregory P . Z . and Treas . 112 , W . Densham P . Z . 112 , H . S . Gill First S . B . 112 , John Lane J . 328 , Geo . Pollard H . 251 , John Dodge P . Z . 328 , W . Easton P . Z . 112 , W . Taylor Z . 328 , W . Bartlett D . C . 1125 , R . F . Loosemore First A . S . 1125 , J . F .

EHerfcon Second A . S . 1125 , J . Searle Steward 1125 , R . B . Catlin , C . Marshall Hole and Maokoy . After lunch was concluded , the health of Comp . Ford was heartily drunk , and the Companions then adjourned to

the Masonic Hall . There the handsome and elegantlyfitted Lodge-room of the St . Peter ' s Lodge , No . 1125 , was arranged as a Chapter room for the occasion , and the Convocation was opened . The Most Ex . Comp . Viscount

Ebrington , the Provincial Superintendent , was unavoidably absent in Wales , and the Provincial Grand Chapter was opened by Comp . W . G . Rogers Prov . 2 nd G . P ., supported by the Officers for the year : —Comps . the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., Prov . 3 rd G . P . acting as 2 nd G . P ., T . Ford jun .

Prov . 3 rd G . P ., J . Brewer P . G . S . E ., W . Vicary P . G . S . N ., J . Kinton Bond P . G . Treasurer , J . A . Orchard P . G . P . S ., J . B . Crabb P . G . 1 st A . S ., John Lane P . G . 2 nd A . S ., Major J . J . Daw P . G . S . B ., T . B . Patterson P . G . St . B .,

George Huxham P . G . D . C , and H . L . Friend P . G . O . Comp . A . Andrews presided at the organ . There was also a large attendance of Companions who , in addition to those at the luncheon , included J . Olver P . P . G . P . S ., J . Jerman

P . Z . 112 , J . Howell H . 1284 , T . Prust D . C . 328 . The

Prov . G . Treasurer presented his statement of accounts , which , after payments of 42 guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and current expenses , shewed a balance in hand of £ 29 . The accounts were adopted . Comp . W .

Densham , on the proposition of Comp . J . Stocker , seconded by Comp . R . Hambly , was unanimously elected Treasurer . Comp . J . Stocker and Comp . E . T . Fulford were elected auditors . The sum of 25 guineas was voted to the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , the money to be placed to the lists of the Stewards , Comps . J . Brewer and the Rev . W . Whittley . A vote of condolence to Companion Blanchard , expressive of sympathy with him at his

continued ill-health , was carried , and a gratuity of two guineas was voted to the Grand Janitor ' s usual allowance . The Bye-Laws Revision Committee reported that they had not

yet been able to complete their work . They were reappointed to continue the revision . The acting Prov . G . Superintendent announced that the Companions invested as the Officers for the ensuing year were : —

Comp . W . G . Rogers 444 - - 2 nd Principal Jno . Brewer 251 - - 3 rd Principal Major G . C . Davie 251 - - S . E . J . H . Lloyd 1125 - - S . N . W . Densham 112 - - Treasurer R . Hambly 156 - - Registrar G . R , Barratt 1 S 9 - - P . S .

Jas . Jerman 112 - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner Jas . Griffin 2025 - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner J . T . Browning 105 - - Sword Bearer J . W . Stanbury 1099 - - Standard Bearer

J . Dodge 328 - - - Director of Ceremonies R . Cawsey 230 - - - Asst . Dir . of Ceremonies T . Brooks 328 - - - Organist P . L . Blanchard 444 - - Janitor

Thanks were voted to the Companions of the St . Peter ' s Chapter , and to the Mayor , for tho cordial and hospitable manner in which they had received the Provincial Chapter . This closed the business of the Convocation .

Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., had this week a serious fall , when going to a meeting at Kidderminster . He severely sprained his right leg , and will be compelled to remain indoors for some time .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for tha opinions of our Correspondents . All letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I assume that Bro . Norton's letter in your last issue is a bit of excellent " chaff , " and meant as an ironical commentary on what he conceives to be ( Bostonically ) the condition of the Philadelphian evidences .

Did he seriously intend it as a renewed claim for Bostonian primacy in Masonic life and progress , it will nofc escape yonr penetration or that of your readers that as amusing a reply is afc once forthcoming .

I therefore await Bro . Jacob Norton ' s answer to this little query of mine before I take up your space , and weary perhaps your readers , witli a reiteration of the contrasted claims of Philadelphia and Boston . Fraternally yours , PHILADELPHOS .

THE HIRAM LODGE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I shonld not have trespassed on yonr space so much had I not been afraid that the high authority of Bro . W . J . Hughan , and deservedly so , might induce many , at once and prima facie , to decide the matter in debate as againsfc the Hiram

Lodge . I therefore put in a plea , on tbe good Masonio ground of fair play and fraternal consideration , to hear both sides and not to prejudge the graver question at issue . To suppose that fche hasty action of the G . L . of Connecticut , ( ill-advised and ill-founded as I believe ifc to be ) , can settle the

question , is , to my mind , an utter impossibility . If it were so , any such conclusion would be pregnant with resnltg , fatal to the best interests of Freemasonry . In his natural anxiety to support the American view and decision onr able Bro . W . J . Hnghan stated , as it seems to me , the case far

too broadly . Whether we have regard to legal , historical , or precedential ground , I see nothing in his reply which militates with the humble protest I have raised Masonically , using a free Masonic Press for that purpose . On the contrary , as I read his words , his very reply strengthens , instead of weakens , the foundation truths of my entire argument , and protest .

I need not , for many reasons , do more to-day than simply re-explain what it is I am really contending for . Bro . Hughan , in his original clear statement , laid down three points , as follows : — 1 . That all Lodges joining a Grand Lodgo gave up their old Charter and took ont a new one .

2 . That as all Lodges were incorporated thus in a Grand Lodge they were bound to that Grancl Lodge ; and , 3 . That to a vote passed by a constitutional majority obedience was due , and with its reasonableness , or the contrary , wo had nothing to do . To this I replied that though the custom was to a certain extent

so , no doubt there was really no law ou the subject , and that this custom had its exceptions . In the case of Canada , the English Lodges officially and ostentatiously surrendered their Charters . In the case of the Lodge Hiram no surrender was made , asked , or contemplated . The Charter was registered as the evidence of Masonic legal

existence . In the great union of 1813 , ( not , of course , ignoring the treaty between two equal Grand Bodies ) , all the antient Lodges still worked under their original Charters . By this I meant there could be no such universal law of surrender of Charters , and therefore ifc must be limited .

Bro . Hughan contends the caso is nofc relevant . I think it is very relevant " quoad " his original averment . As regards Lord Zetland ' s interference , it seems to me by no means to justify tho positive allegation of Bro . Hughan . Lord Zetland , G . M . of tho English Grancl Lodge , insisted that the Hebrew members of the Grand Lodge of England should be received as Visitors in a foreign body , where Hebrews were non-receivable . Why ? Bro . Hnghan I submit hardly , for somo reason , sees the force of hia own admission . Lord Zetland held that by the landmarks of

Freemasonry thero was properly no exclusion of Hebrews , and yet he considered ho hacl a right to demand and enforce , ( on the possibility of non-intercourse ) , on a foreign Grand Lodge governed by a " constitutional majority , " the admission of brethren barred by fchnir own unwise laws .

Surely tins is " going behind the constitutional , ( as regards their own laws ) , decision of a Grand Lodge with a vengeance . Bro . Hughan virtually concedes the point I contended for by introducing in his reply the words "any vital matter " in respect of

a Grand Lodge decision . Aa Bro . Hughan oi lKiufilly put it , —a very acute correspondent understood hia words like myself , —there waa no re-consideration possible of a constitutional voto of a Grand Lodgo by others . I said there surely must be , especially aa regards the landmarks .