Charges Of A Freemason.

4 rules , if strictly obeyed in the spirit in which they are given , would unite the Craft in one " indissoluble bond of sincere affection , " and diffuse a spirit of peace and goodwill throughout the entire family of man . Further than this : if disputes and differences should unfortunately arise , a wise provision is made for their adjustment . The matter

should be brought before your Lodge or his for adjustment , and hut few cases need go any further . If , however , it cannot be satisfactorily settled there , then an appeal may be taken to the Grand Lodge 'or final decision . Disputes between the members of the Order should never be taken before the legal tribunals for decision , unless they " cannot be otherwise decided . " But even then , the Master and

members of the Lodge should kindly offer their mediation , and try to " put a speedy period to all lawsuits , " that all may be prepared to discharge their Masonic duties with " alacrity and success . " Such is the advice which Masonry gives ; such the kindly admonitions which her Charges breathe ; and if they are heeded , as they should be by every brother , they will have a most favourable influence , not

only upon the Craft , but upon society at large . " Amen , so mote it he . "—This is the crowning wish , the earnest prayer breathed from the heart , that these Charges may be heeded by the Craft , and that " the benign influence of Masonry " may be seen and felt for good in all the world , and to the end of time . So be it now , and so may it ever bp . This is the spirit of the closing

invocation , and every generous and manly heart must echo the sentiment . This ends the "OLD CHARGES . " We have carefully examined them , and find nothing objectionable , but much that is wholesome in tendency , healthful in influence , and of sound , as well as great , practical importance . They bespeak a clear insight into human nature , and , as far as anything short of inspired wisdom can , meet

the necessities of social life , restrain the passions of men , throw light along the dreary path in which we travel on earth , and awaken the best feelings of our nature in behalf of our brother man . They do not pretend to provide for our eternal welfare , but they are well calculated to prepare us for the reception of those higher and still more important truths which God has revealed , and which are sufficient to direct us into that path which "leads to a glorious immortality . "

Royal Arch Masonry.

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

EXALTATION or LOKD ZETLAND . ON Wednesday last an emergency meeting of the Zetland Chapter ( No . 236 ) was held at the Masonic Hall , Buncombe Place , York , for the purpose of exalting the Eight Hon . Lawrence Dundas , Earl of Zetland , P . G . M . of the North and East Sidings of Yorkshire . The Chapter was opened in form at 4 r . Jf ., the following Companions being present : —Comp . J . Todd P . Z . as Z ., Comp . C . Smith Z . as H .,

Comp . T . Smurthwaite J ., Comp . T . B . Whytehead S . E ., Comp . Balmford S . N ., Comp . W . Lawton P . Z . P . S ., Comp . J . S . Walton 1 st Ass ., Comp . T . W . Wilson 2 nd Ass ., Comp . W . Cowling P . Z . Treasurer , Comp . P . S . Camidge Org ., Comp . J . Eedfore Jan ., Comp . E . W . Hallon P . D . C . England , Comp . Sir James Meek P . G . P . H ., Comp . Rev . J . E . M . Young P . Z ., Comp . E . Davison P . Z ., Comp . Eev . H . V . Palmer , Comp . The Hon . W . P . Orde-Powlett , and a number of other

Companions , members of the Chapter and visitors . Scribe E . read the summons convening the Chapter , and a ballot was then taken for Bro . Lord Zetland , which proved successful . His Lordship being in attendance , was then duly exalted to the supreme degree of thoHoly Eoyal Arch of Jerusalem . The Historical Lecture was delivered by Comp . Smurthwaite , the Symbolical Lecture by Comp . Sir James Meek P . Z ., and the Mystical Lecture by Comp . J . Todd P . Z . Tho Chapter was then closed in form , and with solemn

prayer . Tho Companions afterwards adjourned to the banquetting-room , where they partook of a cold collation , which had been provided by Comp . C . Abbott , in his usual good style . The chair was occupied by Comp . C . Smith Z ., who was supported by Companions J . Todd and T . Smurthwaite , and the rest of the P . Z . ' s .

The loyal and patriotic toasts having been duly honoured , the M . E . Z . proposed the health of tho newly exalted Companion , which was received with the greatest enthusiasm . He said that it was both a pleasure and an honour to the Zetland Chapter to have , that day , received into its ranks the representative of a family so long known and honoured in Yorkshire , and in the City of York , m that of Dundas . ( Applause . ) He was confident that the honours so noblv borne by his

predecessor , tho loved aud respected old Earl , would be handed down by the present Earl in unsullied purity , and that , Masonically speaking , this day would be one to be remembered , both by their new Companion , and by those who were present that evening . ( Continued applause . ) The Earl of Zetland said that he wished to return his most cordial thanks for the hearty manner in which the toast had been received , and also for tho kind manner in which allusion had been made to the

memory of his late uncle , who was indeed beloved , not only by his own family , but by all who had known him . He regretted that trains and time would not wait , and that ho should be compelled to make his remarks as brief as possible , but he wished to say that he had felt it a very great pleasure to be present that evening , and he might also take the opportunity of stating that it had long been his opinion , and now it was his conviction , as he had learnt from the evening ' s

proceedings , that the Royal Arch degree was the climax of Masonry , and that it was a degree that every good Mason should take . He thanked the Companions most cordially for their kind reception of the toast . His lordship was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm during his speech , and shortly afterwards took his departure . The M . E . Z . then proposed the health of the G . M . of England . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , a toast which , he said , should at this

Royal Arch Masonry.

time be Peculiarly welcome . His Masonic brethren all watched his progress in India with an eye of especial interest , and were convinced that the journey would be fraught with great advantages both to England and her Indian Empire . Tho toast was drank enthusiastically with the Grand Honours . Sir James Meek P . Z ., who was cordially received , rose to propose

tho toast of the " Three Principals . " He congratulated the Zetland Chapter on its present and future prospects , which , he said , were at this time especially bright . It had been , he was sure , a great satisfaction to them to have that evening exalted their P . G . M ., and it could not be regarded as otherwise than an honour to the Chapter that his lordship should have elected to have been exalted through its

medium . For himself he trusted that he always made a point of attending the meetings of the Chapter on all occasions when the in . terests of the Chapter demanded his presence , and when it was in his power to do so . To the Principals was largely owing the success of the Chapter , and the able manner in which the ceremony had been conducted that evening . He was sure that it could not fail of being gratifying to his Lordship , who would have no misgivings as to his

selection of tho Zetland Chapter . ( Loud applause ) . The toast was drank with the honours , and was acknowledged in felicitous terms by Comps . C . Smith J . Todd and T . Smurthwaite , Comp . Smith acknowledging the great and kind assistance he had received from Comp . Todd during his term of office . Comp . Todd also returned thanks , expressing the great pleasure it had been to him to perform the duties that evening , and the hope that Lord Zetland would before long occupy an exalted position in Eoyal Arch Masonry in that

province . Comp . Terry proposed the toast of the P . Z ' s ., coupling with it the names of Comps . Cowling , Sir J . Meek , Davison and Todd , a toast which was received with great Mat . Comp . Cowling , in returning thanks , said that it could not but be regarded as a great honour for the Chapter to have had the privilege

of exalting their P . G . M . In York , the name of Dundas had been honoured for many generations . Years ago a member of that family had occupied the Civic chair in York , ^ and had represented the City in Parliament , and York had a sort of right to them . Tho times had now changed , but he hoped that some means would yet be found to bind once more together in a common interest the country and the City

families and their interests , and he could not but regard tho Institution of Freemasonry as an important means to that end . At any rate , the step taken by Lord Zetland that evening was a proof that the interests of the Dundas family in York was not altogether a thing of the past . He begged to thank the members of the Chapter for the cordial spirit of assistance and support they had always shown . This spirit had

made the York Lodge a pattern to all Lodges in the country , and he hoped it would long continue to flourish and bear good fruit . Comp . Dawson P . Z . proposed the health of the two Scribes , and a number of other toasts were duly proposed and heartily received . The proceedings were enlivened by the singing of Comp . E . S . Cumberland and others , and a pleasant evening was spent .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

—so : — We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our dorrespondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , hut as a guarantee of good faith .

THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR SCHOOLS , & c . To the Editor of THE FREBMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Dear Sir and Bro ., —Although your columns are very properly closed for the present to further discussion of the past management of the Boys' School , I earnestly hope that that closing does not extend to a consideration of the very excellent suggestions of M . A . in your paper of 20 th of November .

The constitution of the present governing bodies of our schools seems to combine the vices of unwicldiness , irnpcrmaucnce , and impotence ! The General Committee includes several hundred Lifo Governors ( permanent enough , this feature , but rather too big for business ) , and twelve subscribers annually elected . These , doubtless ,

are many of them annually re-elected , and are practically the managers ; but they can scarcely feel strong enough to initiate and carry through any definite policy , when they may , at any meeting , bo outvoted by a tithe of a tithe of the Life Governors , and are by no means sure that any one of them will be able to represent their views at their Board twelve months after deciding on any course of action .

The House Committee of the Boys' School ( which one may suppose to be a stife-committee ) , did not , in Jnne 1874 , include even one of the elected members of the General Committee . If you will favour me with space , I shall be glad to show , in a future letter , how among the first fruits easily gathered by a strong governing body , such as that proposed by M . A ., would be an ample provision for all approved candidates for election . Yours fraternall y , HEIIEOWEABD .

CtuB HOCSK PIATIXG GAUDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , 14 a per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen packs . If by post lid per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , BCziqne , Ecart < S , Ac , Woeu ' CJiuvlity 1 < M poi pack . 9 « pur rtnzpn p : vki » . —( nmdon : W . w" Mfcah 67 biirljisan , K . iJ ¦ '