Masonic Ceremony At Ballater.

MASONIC CEREMONY AT BALLATER .

AN impressive and highly interesting function took place on the 19 th ult ., in connection with the laying of the foundation stone of the new Masonic Lodge . The building now in course of erection is being carried on by the St . Nathalan Lodge , from the proceeds of a two days' bazaar held in the

autumn of 1894 , when a sum approaching £ 400 was raised . This sum has been augmented by other smaller sums , and thus enabled the Lodge to erect a new room . The ground floors of the building wili be used as dwelling house , with accommodation for two tenants . — " Aberdeen Free Press . "

The Enthusiast In Masonry.

THE ENTHUSIAST IN MASONRY .

WITH a good strong safety valve attachment , the enthusiast in Masonry is a healthy institution . Most of these are new and generally young men , who enter our Lodges ambitious to advance , ambitious to shine as leaders in the Craft , and , to their credit be it said , mostly with honest intentions to do good and advance the interests of their respective Lodges , and if incidentally thereby they advance their own ambition , why not ? We need these

ambitious young men in the Craft , as all other institutions need them , and if the elders will only supply the safety valves and stand by the Lodge , ready to use the breaks whenever the enthusiast attempts to go too fast , and above all , if his honesty is unquestioned , then let him have full sway in his laudable ambition and let him go ahead with any scheme to glorify himself if he will only glorify his Lodge and Masonry in general at the same

time . The only danger in such cases is that often the straw fire of enthusiasm does not last , and too soon exhausts itself , and then comes cold , barren indifference , which often has a bad effect upon those who may come in after the enthusiast has burned himself out ; and here again the older Brethren can do much

good by pointing to the fact of their own standing , their own labours these many years , and thereby counteract the bad example the young , fiery enthusiast may have given to some new comers . Encourage , then , the enthusiast in Masonry ; he is doing good , and fills a niche in our Craft that needs him , and he may by

careful training become as useful and as good a Mason as you are . Give him full scope ; let him work in our quarries ; watch him , and examine the specimens of his skill carefully before throwing them or him aside . The enthusiast in Masonry is a good and very useful member . — " New York Tribune . "

By the kind invitation of Bro . John Turton , the members of the Masonic Lodges in St . Helens , on Thursday , 20 th ult ., spent a most enjoyable evening in the Masonic Hall , when a smoking concert was held . Bro . Turton occupied the chair , and there was a large gathering of members and friends .

As supplementary to the announcement we made last week , as to the success of pupils of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls at the recent Cambridge University Local Examination , it may be added that of a total number in the Upper School of 214 , no less than 108 girls presented themselves last December for

public examination , seventy-eight for the College of Preceptors , of whom seventy-seven successfully passed ; eleven for the Cambridge Preliminary , in which all were successful ; and nineteen for the Cambridge Local Junior , in which all passed , with six honours and eleven distinctions .

We have much pleasure in appending the following , given by the Institution , as the examination results , 1895-6 : — Cambridge Local—Preliminery 11 entered ) 30 . All passed—6 Honours and 11 Junior 19 „ J Distinctions . College of Preceptors , 78 entered , 77 passed .

Associated Board of the Royal College and the Royal Academy of Music , School Examination , 9 entered , all passed . Swimming , at the recent annual test , 3 Silver Medals and 28 Certificates were obtained .

It will be seen from the above that out of 117 entries during the year there were 116 passes . The total number of pupils on the books of the Institution being 269 , which includes 43 admitted during the year , together with 7 girls retained for further educational purposes .

This is the fourth year in succession in which all the Candidates entered for the Cambridge Local Examination have passed , and during the last seven years 140 out of the 143 Candidates have passed the Examination , many with honours and distinctions .

It may also be stated that Miss Louisa Pincombe , one of the teachers , an ex-pupil who received the whole of her musical training in the Institution , has been successful in obtaining , by the highest number of marks possible , a diploma giving her the rank of Associate of the London College of Music .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PANMURE CHAPTER , No . 723 . THE Companions met on the 13 th ult ., at Aldershot , to instal as Principals for the year : —Companions Colonel J . Mead P . Z . Z ., J . Youd P . Z . H ., and Henry Stone J . Owing to the illness of the latter it was impossible to instal him into the third chair as desired , but as soon as he has made sufficient progress towards recovery application will be made for a dispensation , in order that he may be placed there in accordance with the unanimous wishes of the Chapter .

Comp . A . Savill P . Z . had the following notice of motion standing in his name : " That the regular meetings of this Chapter be held on the second Thursday in February , May , August , and November , instead of the five meetings as now provided . " The proposed alteration was supported by the members , and carried unanimously .

A further proposition was carried that a P . Z ' s . jewel should be voted from the Chapter funds , and presented to Companion J . Mead P . Z ., in recognition of services rendered in 1895 and many previous years . A new member was duly proposed and seconded for exaltation at the next regular meeting , which will be held in May .

CARNARVON CHAPTER , No . 804 . THE quarterly meeting was held on Tuesday , 18 th ult ., for the purpose of installing the Officers , Companion H . W . Smith Parsons P . P . G . S . B . conducting the ceremony . The respective Principals were installed as follows : J . T . Slade P . P . A . D . C . Z ., J . Mew Godfrey H ., G . Cox J . The appointment and investment of the subordinate Officers was as follows : H . W . Smith Parsons E ., H . B . Pullen Burry N ., C . J . Morris P . Soj ., F . Hales and W . W . Blake Asst . Soj ., T . Francis P . Z . Treasurer , and W . Burrows Janitor .

The usual addresses were given by tne Installing Officer . Several apologies were read from members and visitors . Seven candidates were proposed for exaltation , and the Chapter was closed . The members adjourned to the banquet , and the usual toasts followed . There were also present Comps . L . J . Morey , W . A . Morley , C . Brassfield , Visitors : Comps . Geo . Williams P . Z . 2068 , J . N . Snell Z . 487 P . G . St . B ., E . Godwin H . 1776 .

ROSE OF SHARON CHAPTER , No . 1006 . AT the annual convocation at Redruth , Comp . Thomas Richard Mills was installed Z ., E . M . Milford H ., and Joseph Sarah J ., the ceremony of installation being ably performed by Comps . Richard Rowe P . Z ., and G . S . Bray P . Z ., assisted by E . D . Anderton P . Z . Prov . G . S . E ., and Joseph G . Osborne P . Z . 450 .

ST . ANDREW LODGE , No . 34 . THE annual meeting and Festival of St . John ( for which , on account of a change of night , a special dispensation had been granted ) , took place at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Tuesday , 18 th ult ., Bro . Arthur Kemp Boothroyd W . M .

MAEK MASONRY

Bro . Joseph Truelove Richardson P . M . P . P . I . W . P . G . Steward England was the Installing Master , and the ceremony of placing Brother J . M . Veal J . W . in the principal chair was performed in his usual careful manner . The various Officers for the year were invested .

We note that Bros . J . M . Sinclair P . M . P . P . G . M . O ., and Wm . Nicholl P . M . P . G . D . Eng ., who have held the positions of Treasurer and Secretary for several years , are now succeeded by Bros . Boothroyd and G . E . Towell respectively .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 35 . THE installation meeting was held on Monday , 2 nd inst ., at the Town Hall , Stonehouse , when Bro . G . H . Clark was placed in the chair as ruler for the year . The regular meeting of the Sincerity Royal Ark Mariners Lodge was subsequently held , under the presidency of Bro . J . Parker .

JOHN O'GAUNT LODGE , No . 172 . THE Brethren , at their meeting on Tuesday , 25 th ult ., re-elected Bro . B . T . Adlard W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Baines was chosen Treasurer , and Bro . Scott Tyler .

SEWELL LODGE , No . 421 . THE annual meeting was held in the Oddfellows' Hall , Egremont , on Thursday , 27 th ult ., Bro . Dr . Braithwaite occupying the chair . At a previous meeting of the Lodge Bro . Dr . Braithwaite was unanimously re-elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , and at this meeting he appointed his Officers .

EOSB CROIX

HUYSHE CHAPTER . THE annual meeting was held on Monday , 24 th ult ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , Plymouth , when Bro . Major G . S . S . Lowe 18 ° was installed M . W . S .

ST . AUBYN CHAPTER . TT 1 HE members celebrated the annual meeting at Morice Town , on 1 Wednesday , 26 th ult ., when Bro . Captain J . R . W . Quinn , R . N ., was installed as M . W . S . for another year .