Sphinx Chapter

SPHINX CHAPTER

THE Convocation of tho Sp hinx Chapter , No . 1329 , was held at the Surrey Masouio Hall , on 23 rd Jane , when all the Officers , the Companions and Visitors assembled at 4 P . M . The M . E . Z ., Dr . Bedolie , opened the Chapter in due form , aud tho private affairs ot the Chapter being concluded , the candidates elect , viz .: Bros . Heller , Mercer and Goldschmidt , having been entrusted by the P . S . Middlemas ,

took their station as postulants in open Chapter . Before closing , the M . E . Z . proposed a rote of condolence to " our dear Comp . Uhver , expressive of deep sympathy with him under the fearful injuries himself and family had sustained in tho late Bath catastroptie . " The Companions then adjourned to the usual friendly repast the happy arrangement ol which proved the good taste possessed by

the Stewards , caterers and all concerned . On the completion ot the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts , which were heartily responded to , the I . M . P . Nairne proposed , in appropriate terms , the health of the M . E . Z ., Comp . Bedolfe M . D . Tue M . E . Z ., Dr . Bedolfe , in returning thanks said , He naturally felt satisfaction in presiding in a Koyal Arch Chapter . He must however apologise lor any want of def tuess ,

feeling himself a recluse , for his active life had been passed as a medical practitioner , struggling by night as well as by day with the powers of nature in a secluded district , amid emblems whioh had lost their significance , and much of whioh had changed nothing , either in scene , manners , or customs , since the Wars of the Koses , or even the Heptarchy itself , and to whioh Domesday Book was still an efficient

guide . VV hatever doubts , continued the M . E . Z ., an important foreign Grand Lodge had unhappily thrown upon the Divine Symbol of Masonry , there could be none here in the Boyal Arch , for ours was a symbol to which all who entered our portals must bow—the symbol even of that great Being who , before all creeds and temples , " prefers the upright heart and pure . " It was tbe idea that Masoury embodied

somo such universal principle which first led his attention to it . Many years since he had met , at the house of an intimate friend , the late Kajah Raminohun Roy , the first of the great Hindoo Reformers , and there he heard him acknowledge that , in the highest and truest sense , tbe God of his fathers was the God of Abraham . At the late Conversazione of the Royal College of Physicians ,

he had felt deeply interested in the Assyrian tablets brought home by the late lamented Smi . h . The word lor word translation , almost identical with our Biblical description of the deluge , showed the God of Abraham as the presiding power . Here , then , iu ages so distant , in races so distinct , do we trace belief in the one great •y mbol . Let us never then , as Masons , allow "free thought" to sully our

banner , and although the forms of Arch Masonry may sometimes induce weariness , yet the recollection of this symbol will ever give it freshness and delight , for Masonry , although not a religion , embraces at least the essential principle of all true philosophy . In reply to the toast of the second and third principals—Comps . Vockins and Goss—Comp . Yockins expressed the satisfaction he felt in holding

the position which the Chapter had entrusted to him , and in whion be assured them he earnestly ded . red to do bis duty . He believed that Masonry , if carried out in an enlightened manner , and with aeareful cultivation oi those gran < i principles on winch it was founded , was capable of piodnc . ng much good , it taught tiiem that , next to trust in God , oiau should trust in his ieliow , aud such he hoped

would always be the guiding principles of the Opniux Chapter . Comp . Goss— 3 rd principal—thanked the M . E . Z . tor tne kind maimer in which his health had been proposed ; whatever talents he possessed , Whether iu affording musical assistance , as he had bitnerto done , or otherwise , as principal , they would always be heartny at the disposal of the Chapter . 'Ihe next toast was , tue M . E . Z . remarked , tne boast

of the evening , viz ., that of Comps . Hiller , Mercer , ana uuidaohmidt , tbe exaltee * of that day's convocation . Of Comp . Heller he need nut repeat the value he placed upon him as an exaltee , for a London constituency had , in a must emphatic manner , declared him to be , as a member of the London School Board , the right man ia the right place . It was indeed an honour to the Chapter he should come

amongst them , aud spare a portion of the small leisure his arduous public dunes left him , to unbend himself in their social re-unions . VVe are told that at the present time there is a tendency to a divorce oi the Faith of the Age from its Intelligence . in the hue grand struggle he had himself beeu privileged to work hard for ( Jouip . Heller ( and it was quite Masonio to say it ) , not because he represented

the iaith of the Age as a grand principle merely , but because he rep-esenteu the principle ot Faith united to true Intelligence . Now Faith was a symbol j systems might change or fail , but eternal symbols never . Of Comp . Mercer he need only say , that he had recently wuu hia spars as a new member of our Camberwell Municipal Parliament ; aud having gallantly won them , & 11 felt sure he would wear them wisely . Of the

third exaltee , Comp . Goldschmidt , they had long known him iu the Lodge , and appreciated him lor his gentlemanly conduct , aud he ( BID sure he would always support amongst them the diguuy he had so justly earned . Comp . Heder , m returning thanks for muiseU and nia leiloW eiaaeus , expressed the pleasure he felt in being able to spend a poitiou of his scant leisure aiuuiig menus and companions he valued .

In attei-ding to his labouis at the School Board , he teit aumuued tu the discharge ol his duties by the general approval nhichiuuch ol the Wuik of that Board had on all sides met wiin . He trusted tho tune wou . d tome wiien the union oj the new with the old would seem as liutinul as had lately been their divergence . He believed that religiuu and true knowled ge were one and indivisible ; lor that knowledge , which alone enables ns to appieciate duly the works oi God , enlarges

our iotas ol God hiiuoeif , aim lor hinisell hoieltpruud to be a nuuiule helper in the great woik oi education . 'Ihe M . E . Z . next proposed tue htauh oi the oihctrs , viz ., Comps . Temple , Miudiomas , aud the 'Juaturer J . C . lieynulds . The M . H .. Z . said that he had spuken of Gimp , litlkr as itpieseining the symbol of Faith united tu Intelligence , but as s-yn . bois teemed uppermost ihisevening , he should relei to Letup . AliuoJiumsus repiebentmg the symbol cf Intelligence united to Faith . It was a happy circumstance that in Masoury politics never

Sphinx Chapter

entered , aud that sectarian religion stood outside the door ; and as iu our great Temple of saured repose the tear shed upon the bier of Fox ! might trickle to that of Pitt , so in the repose of our system our sympathies were with all and each ot those who manfully obeyed the call of duty . Comp . Middlemas was a politician ; he had heard him called a cyuio philosopher ; but no mau had a kinder heart , or was a

truer trieud . Comp . Middlouias , as Steward for the " Boys , had kindly taken charge of our contributions to that fund . Comp . Middlouias , in i eplyiug to the toast , said he was not only willing to obey the M . E . Z . when called upon to reply , but also to perform his duty in open Chapter ; for , when tho office was well done , althonp'h now au old ha .. d , ho still found a freshness in it . As for two of tho exal

tees ot the evening , he had worked tor Comp . Heller for the School Board , believing him to be a souud man . As to Comp . Mercer he had also assisted him in his election to Camberwell Vestry , aud had had great satisfaction iu welcoming him iuto that p—pa—he begged pardon for stuttering—parliament , where our new companion was sure to learn good manners . He had supported them—not because

they were Masons , but because he approved of them as men , and especially of their independent way of thinking . He believed there was much good sense iu the Chapter , and it it continued so , supported as it was by both tho Sphinx and Crichtou Lodges , he had no doubt it would prosper . Comp . J . 0 . Reynolds , in a neat speech , replied aa Treasurer , when the gavel of the M . E . Z . summoned tbe Janitor , who , with bated breath and measured tones , closed the scene .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

STEWARDS' LISTS , 1877 .

THE following amounts have been received since the publication , last week , of the Subscription List at the recent festival : — ' £ B d List of Bro . W . W . Baxter P . M . No . 742 ... 13 13 0

Addition to List of Bro . Geo . Angold P . M . No . 12 - - 110 Do do Marstou Buszard P . M . No . 26 - 2 2 0 Do do Geo . Gard Pye W . M . No . 51 , & c . - 5 5 0

Do do W . P . T . Phillips i - . M . No . 81 . 5 5 0 Do do John Constable P . M . No . 185 - 21 0 0 Do do Charles J . Curtis P . M . No . 231 - 15 15 0

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

jV / TARK Master Masons will be pleased to learn that the first regular -L'X . meeting uf the Duke of Connaught Mark Lodge of instruction was held at the Havelock Hotel , Albion-ruad , UaistunE ., on Thursday , 5 tu July , at 8 . 30 p . m ., when there were present—Bros . J . B . ibhackieton VV . M ., Jauies Lovelock S . W ., J . Stokes J . W ., Ernest Dietr . ch M . O .,

O . Dietrich S . O ., Geo . ierrar J . O ., h \ Bonner 6 . D ., U . Johnson J . D ., h \ Deiafuns i . li ., and otuer bretnren . Lodge was duly opened , aud the ceremony of advancement was rehearsed . Bye-laws were discussed , aud it was arranged that the future mtet . ngs for instruction should be held ou tne first and third Thursdays in every mouth . Ludge was then closed , and adjourned until the lath inst . at 8 . 30 p . m .

Hall-by-the-Sea , Margate . —This popular place of amusement , possessing vocal , terpsichorean , and zoological attractions , opened on Saturday , under the proprietorship ol Bros . G . and J . Sanger , who , as caterers for the public , are well known . Since last season , additions nave been made to the zoological collection , and the gardens have beeu tastefull y laid out . An artistically-designed stage been erected

uas , and during the week Miss Grace Harrington sang some charming songs , aud the Kelliuo troupe of acrobats gave some clever exhibitions , both at the day and evening performances , bro . Arthur Reeve is again manager , Mr . Gus Foster assistant manager , while the baud is under the direction of Mr . John Barnard , of Druryiane Theatre . At nine o ' clock dancing began , undei the direction of Mr . VV " . Chapman . The hall has beeu well attended .

The Margate Aquarium Bink and Skating Company opened its uataoiisuuieuD ou riaturuay . A crowded audience wai present , both at the day and evening performances . Amongst too artistes engaged are Miss ilessie Bonehill , Bro . Herbert Ca . npbeli , aud Messis . ijlurray aud Wane . The now floor has a very dat sur-, aee , aud alford ? attraction for those who are fond of riuKiu " . The dimensions of the Hatl are ioO feet by 60 . Mr . Knight is tho manager .

HOLLOWAY s OisiMEjrr ASD PILLS . —Gout . Rheamatixm , Sciatica . —TUeso maladies are always more or loss connected with disorder or disease of tho uigooiive organs , hence the facility with widen tuey yield to Hoiloway ' s remedies , lemporar . y alleviation immedUvely follows tne proper application oi tais soothing Ointment , while tue fills , taken internally , red . ice tue digestive ictions to oi \ and tivrt all leniences

m uu- ^ inflainmiiiovy . Nervous iu . alias will derive ease and consolation from the iuHnence of theoo me- icauients , which are irou from mercury and all noxious ingredients . Holloway s elebratett umtment a , d -Puis preseut , at a trihin , ' ouday , tne raeaus of preserving tne neaitn or uprooting diseases which nave assailed" liie uody , through accident , luxury , indolence , or other causes ,