Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — THE NICHOLSON CHAPTER , No . 371 , MARYPORT .

witnessed by a goodly number of Companions , who evidently thoroughly enjoyed the ritualistic treat . In the absence of the M . E . Z ., E . Comp . John Bowes P . Z . P . P . G . S . N ., took the first seat in the council of Comps . and was ably supported by the Officers , members , and Visitors . The exaltations completed , the principals elect wero dnly presented and installed , and the other Officers invested and charged . The following are the Officers for the ensuing year : —Comps . P . de E . Collin Z ., T .

WHEN we snggested , two or three years ago , in the CHRONICLE the formation of a Chapter at Maryport , to be called " the Nicholson Chapter , " wo did not expect that our suggestion would bring forth suoh early fruit . Wednesday , 21 st April , witnessed the first anniversary convocation , and it was a success in every respect . Four exaltations besides the installation of the principals were .

Mandle H ., W . Armstrong J ., J . R . Banks S . E ., Captain Sewell S . N ., A . Walters P . S ., R . Brown and W . G . Mitchell Assistant Sojs ., Jos . Nicholson Treas ., and J . Harrison Janitor . After the conclusion of the ceremonies a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Bowes for the efficient manner iu which he had rendered the long and important ceremonies . The Companions then adjourned to the Senhouse Arms Hotel , whore ample justioe -was done to an excellent banquet , well put on the tables .

Zetland Chapter , No . 236 . —The regular meeting of this strong Chapter was held on Wednesday evening , the 28 th ult ., at York , when there were present : —E . Comps . J . Todd P . Z . as Z ., H . W . T . Orde-Powlett H ,, G . Balmford J „ W . Lawton P . Z ., R . W . Hollins P . Z ., T . B . Whytehead Z . 1611 , J . S . Cumberland H . 1611 , & o . The first business was the installation of the principals elect , which

was performed very ably by E . Compg . J . Todd P . Z . Prov . G . J ., assisted by E . Comp . T . B . Whytehead Z . 1611 . The three chairs wero filled as follows -. —Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett Z ., G . Balmford H ., J . M . Meek J ., and the following Officers were afterwards invested : J . Todd P . Z . Treas ., J . Hollins S . E ., Rev . W . Valentine S . N ., A . Buckle P . S ., M . Rooke D . C ., T . W . Wilson and A . Hanson Assistant

S . S ., J . Redfare Janitor . Two brethren were subsequently exalted by the newly installed Z ., who performed the ceremony in an admirable manner , the latter portion of the mystical lectnre being given by E . Comp . Todd P . Z . There was a large muster of members and visitors at the supper table , and a most pleasant evening was passed . Amongst the visitors were Comps . Sbaw-Hellier and L . Murphy ( 4 th Dragoon Guards ) , Rev . J . Blake 1611 , W . P . Husband 1611 , and others .

North London Chapter of Improvement , No . 1471 . The anniversary meeting of this Chapter was held at the Jolly Farmers ' , Southgate-road , on Thursday , 15 th ult . Present—Comps . L . A . Leins M . E . Z ., R . H . Halford H ., W . Webb J ., Osbom S . E ., R , Pearcy S . N ., J . L . Mather P . S . ; also Comps . G . H . Hunter , J . W . Hobbs , J . E . Sheffield , W . Hirst , S . Hollidge , R . G .

Thomas , J . Eldridge , J . L . Cogan , J . Greenfield , W . Shurman , J . Garrod , J . Lenzell , W . Fysb , & c . The Chapter having been declared open , the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Comps . R . G . Thomas Org . 1602 , S . Hollidge 1602 , W . Webb 1471 , L . A . Leins M . E . Z . 1471 , W . Shurman 1471 , J . Garrod , Enfield , were elected members . The Chapter was then closed , and the Comps .

adjourned to dinner . After the usual Loyal and R . A . toasts , the M . E . Z . gave the toast of the evening , Prosperity to the North London Chapter of Improvement , -which -was ably responded to by the Preceptor , Comp . J . L . Mather . Other toasts followed—Past Principals , responded to by Comp . Hobbs ; The Officers , by Comps . Halford and

Osborn ; the New Members ; the Visitors ,-by Comp . Lenzell , & o . During the evening some excellent singing wa 3 rendered by Comps . Hirst , Shurman , Pearcy , Sheffield , Hobbs , Halford , Cogan , & c . Comp . Thomas presided at the pianoforte . The Comps . separated at an early hour , after having spent a very enjovable evening

Eboracum Eoyal Arch Chapter , No . 1611 . — An emergency meeting of this Chapter was held at York , on Tuesday evening , when there were present Comps . T . B . Whytehead Z ., J . S . Cumberland H ., G . Balmford H . 236 as J ., J . Todd P . Z . Prov . G . J ., R . W . Hollon P . Z . Past G . D . C , Rev . James Blake as S . E ., C . G . Padel S . N ., A . T . B . Turner 1 st Asst . S ., W . P . Husband 2 nd Asst . S .,

P . Pearson Jan ., W . Lackenby , R . Ware , A . Hanson , and other Visitors and members . The Chapter having been opened tho M . E . Z . said that they all regretted the absence of their Principal Sojourner , occasioned by a sudden and painful domestic affliction . It had necessitated an alteration in the arrangements for the evening , but he was glad to be able to fall back on the assistance of their E . Comp . Todd , who wonld take the ohair of Z ., whilst he would undertake

the duties of P . S . This was accordingly done , and Bro . Humphries of the Eboracum Lodge was introduced and duly exalted , the historical lecture being delivered by E . Comp . J . S . Cumberland . After the ceremony , E . Comp . T . B . Whytehead again assumed the chair , and the report of the Bye-laws Committee was brought up and adopted , after which the Chapter was closed and the Comps . adjourned to supper , provided by Comp . H . Churchill , at which the principal toasts were honoured .

Mr . AUGUSTUS HARRIS will , this evening , produce , at Drury Lane , on a very grand scale , a new ballet , entitled " Les Sirdnes . " Nothing , ¦ wo understand , ¦ will be spared in any department to make it worthy of the boards on which it is to be produced , and of tho reputation for spectacle the present able management has already acquired .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

Eboracum Conclave , No . 13 . —On 29 th nit ., a meeting of this body was held at York for the enthronement and consecration of Sovereign and Viceroy elect . 111 . Sir Knt . T . B . Whytehead P . S . and Intendant-Gen . Uuat . presided , in tho unavoidable absence of the M . P . S . the Earl of Zetland , and thero were also present 111 . Sir Knts . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett Intendant General of the Province ,

J . W . Woodall Intendant General Unat . and E . Sir Knts . J . S . Cumberland V . E ., C . G . Padel S . G ., Geo . Simpson I . G ., L . Murphy H . P ., A . T . B . Turner Recorder , T . Humphries as Standard Bearer , W . P . Husband as Herald , S . F . Bonsfield , R . Walker , W . B . Dyson , J . Ward , G . Balmford , H . Churchill , H . Jackson , & o . Bro . E . T . Clark of the St . Oswald ' s Lodge , 910 , was installed a Knight of the Order .

The Auditor ' s report was adopted , showing a balanoe of over £ 3 on tho right side . The Viceroy elect and the Sovereign oleot Sir Knts . C . G . Padel and J . S . Cumberland were then respectively consecrated and enthroued in the chairs of Eusebius and Constantine by 111 . Sir Kut . T . B . Whytehead , assisted by 111 . Sir Knts . Orde-Powlett and Woodall , and were afterwards

saluted . E . Sir Knt . J . S . Cumberland then appointed and invested the Officers , as follow : —G . Simpson S . G ., M . Millington J . G ., T . Murphy H . P ., G . Simpson Treas ., W . P . Husband Beoorder , W . B . Dyson Assist . Recorder , A . T . B . Turner Prefect , T . Humphries Std Bearer , S . F . Bousfield Herald , J . J . Wilkes 1 st Aide , R . Walker 2 nd Aide , Geo . Balmford Organist , H . Jackson Sentinel . On the

proposition of Sir Knt . T . B . Whytehead M . 111 . Sir Knt . C . E . . Meyer Grand Sovereign of the Order in the United States , and V . 111 . Sir Knt . R . S . Brown Grand Recorder of the Order in Scotland , were elected honorary members of tho Conclave . The name of a candidate was proposed and seconded , and the Conclave was closed . The

St . Peter Sanctuary K . H . S . and Commandery of St . John were afterwards opened , and the degrees conferred npon Sir Knts . C . G . Padel , W . P . Husband and E . T . Clark . The Commander elect Sir Knt . Cumberland was installed on the throne , and the Sanctuary and Commandery were dosed .

The Mohawk Minstrels.

THE MOHAWK MINSTRELS .

FAREWELL BENEFIT OF BROTHER R . G' THOMAS . THE farewell benefit of Bro . R . G . Thomas , the oourteous and talented Manager of the Mokawk Minstrels took place on 28 th ult ., a special and excellent programme being provided for the occasion , the rendering of whioh-was everything that could be desired . Among the most noticeable features of the entertainment mnst be mentioned two new songs composed by Bro . Thomas himself , one of

whioh , " When thy lay at eve thou singest , " found a most admirable interpreter in Mr . C . Temple , while the other , a new vocal valse entitled " My love and I , " was given with the greatest success by Mr . G . Clare . Conspicuous among the numbers were several of Henry Russell ' s songs , which it is hardly necessary to say were sung with their wonted ability by those members of the Company to whom they

were severally allotted . Where all acquitted themselves so well it seems invidious to make any selection , but" A Life on the Ocean Wave , " by Mr . C . G arlaud went splendidly . Mr . J . Kavanagh was most deservedly applauded for his rendering of " Man the Life Boat , " while Mr . Chester and Mr . Vincent Lay ton were very effective in " To the West , " and " Cheer , Boys , Cheer , " respectively . Bro . J . Francis evoked

well-merited applause by his humorous rendering of " Emancipation Day , " and Harry Hunter ' s new Military Absurdity , "Victoria ' s Black Hussars . " Mr . W . Ray was amusing in his comic Refrain , " Daffney , do you love me ? " and Mr . W . Freeman , both in " Quips the Quaker , " and his banjo song , " The Rustic Young Damsel , " was , as invariably happens , most heartily appreciated . Bro . Egbert Robert's fine voice

was heard to great advantage in " The Gambler ' s Wife , " his admirable singing and expression eliciting a chorus of approval from those present . Little Thomas and Mr . J . Kavanagh were duly appreciated in the screaming absurdity , entitled "The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers , " and a Grand Chorus— " Let ' s be gay , Boys , " arranged expressly by Mr . W . Williams , and sung for the first time at this Concert ,

was grandly given by the Mohawk Choir and Orchestra . Mr . Arthur Lloyd , Fred Kent , the so-called "Mad Artist , " who , to the wonderment of the audience , then and there painted a picture , while the orchestra played a galop by way of accompaniment , and Mr . T . Maclagan contributed to the entertainment in a manner worthy of their known ability , and reaped a rich and fervent burst of applause

in consequence . As an interlude between the Grand Chorus aforementioned and the concluding item , " The Simple Moketeers , " another screaming absurdity , which derives its parentage from the ever-fertile genius of Harry Hunter , the able Interlocutor of the Mohawks , Bro . Thomas appeared at the footlights , and in a few well-chosen sentences , and with great feeling , expressed his thanks to all who had done him the honour to attend that evening . Let ns hope that Bro . Thomas , the

severance of whose connection with the Mohawks is unquestionably their loss , will continue to fare as prosperously in tho future as he has done hitherto . His managerial and musical ability is well known , and appreciated not only by the Minstrels with whom he had been so long connected , and who evinced their sense of his merits by doing their utmost ou Wednesday to achieve the diffioult task of surpassing themselves , but also by the public , with whom as manager he has been continually brought into contact .

As was announced in our columns last week , to-day ( Saturday ) has been chosen for the Convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Surrey . The place chosen for the gathering is the Spring Hotel , Ewell , and the hour

12 . 30 p . m . The business will include the appointment and investiture of the Prov . Grand Officers , and a luncheon has been arranged to follow at 2 p . m . Gen . Brownrigg , C . B ., is the Prov . Grand Superintendent .