The Craft In Victoria.

Sir Charles Warren ( Past Grand Deacon ) . It should also not be forgotten that the Duke of Portland ( Past Grand Warden ) was running a Yeomanry hospital . Later on a special toast to " Our Brethren in South Africa " was proposed by Bro . A . E . Pridmore , C . C .

It is very gratifying to see that the new Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk continues to take an active interest in the different Lodges under his rule . Bro . Hamon le Strange was present at the installation meeting of the Friendship

Lodge , No . ioo , at Great Yarmouth on the 15 th ult ., and again at the installation meeting of the Baring Lodge , No . 2602 , at Cromer on the rst inst , being most cordially

received on each occasion . As we have wondered before , how is it more of our Provincial Grand Masters do not attend the Private Lodges under their rule ?

The occasion of the ladies night of the Upton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1227 , was taken advantage of to present to the Preceptor Bro . James Smith P . M . an illuminated address , accompanied by a handsome marble clock and a gold

ringboth supplied by Bro . W . J . Carroll S . W . of the Mother Lodge , and both evidencing the good taste we have previously had occasion to credit him with . The presentation was

made by Bro . H . J . Rowberry W . M . 1227 , in the presence of a company numbering about 120 , and formed a pleasing episode on a truly enjoyable evening .

The North London Masonic Benevolent Ball , held a few weeks back , resulted in a grand total being raised—despite the fact that this year it was shorn of the splendour of Masonic regalia . Mainly owing to the munificence of the President

Bro . Alfred Holder , who made a personal donation of one hundred guineas to the Fund , the surplus amounted to about £ 173 , which will be duly sent to the three Charities . Truly a magnificent contribution following a most enjoyable evening ' s entertainment !

Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the appoinment of the Duke of Portland Provincial Grand Master of Nottinghamshire to be a Knight of the Garter , in succession t © the late Duke of Westminster . His Grace , who is in his 43 rd

year , is Master of the Horse , and as popular in court circles as in the important Masonic Province over which he rules , and where he has already won the highest esteem and regard of his Brother Masons .

The annual dinner of the Bromley St . Leonard Lodge of Instruction , No . 1805 , will be held at the Bow Bells , Bow Road , on Wednesday next , 14 th inst ., when Bro . F . Thornton W . M . of the Mother Lodge will preside .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SYMPATHY CHAPTER , No . 483 . A CONVOCATION of this young but flourishing Chapter was held at the Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , on Tuesday of last week . Comp . Orlton Cooper M . E . Z . presided , and was assisted by Comps . B . J . Beamish H ., Henry Forss Prov . G . S . B . acting as J ., Arthur Eonaldson P . Z . Scribe B ., F . Hitchens V . Z . as S . N ., T . T . Hogg , W . S . Bowen P . S ., J . A . Gillett Assistant , Percy Bowen , A . J . Walklin , George Masters , George Eaokstraw , A . Lockhart , R . Matthews .

The Chapter was formally opened by the Principals , and the Companions were admitted . The minutes of the last convocation were read and

confirmed . The ballot was then taken on behalf of Bros . Joseph Davis and E . H . Wimpress , both of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , as candidates for exaltation , and they were both approved . Bro . Wimpress being present was admitted and was regularly exalted to the Supreme Degree of Royal Arch Masonry . The ceremony was carried out with the customary smoothness observed at this Chapter , Comp . Beamish supplementing his office of H . with that of P . S ., as Comp . W . S . Bowen was called away .

This being election night according to the bye-laws , the Companions then proceeded to ballot for the Officers for the ensuing year , with the following result : B . J . Beamish Z ., William Hawker J ., Orlton Cooper H ., B . Ingman S . E ., T . T . Hogg S . N ., J . A . Gillett P . S ., Percy Bowen and T . A . Mummery Assistants , Percy White V . Z . Treasurer , A . J . Walklin D . C ., George Masters and G . Vyvyan Stewards , J . N . Willis , John Solomon and B . B . Wilks Auditors , George Martin Janitor .

Dr . Thurnell , of the Lodge of Sympathy , was proposed as a candidate for exaltation at the next convocation . The Chapter was then closed and the meeting adjourned . The Companions afterwards dined together , and during the evening a telegram was received from Comps . White and Hawker , who were attending as Stewards at the Festival of the Boyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , stating the satisfactory total list of subscriptions . The Companions also " passed the hat" for the benefit of the War'Fund , and the amount was banded to Bro . Cosh , manager of the Clarendon Hotel , to add to his list .

Kent.

KENT .

T 71 ARL AMHERST , as Provincial Grand Master of Kent , Xh has fixed the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge for Wednesday , 13 th June next , at Gravesend . The meeting will be held under the banner of the Lodge of Freedom , No . 77 , to celebrate the 150 th anniversary of its Consecration , and also the fortieth year of his Lordship ' s initiation in the Lodge .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

rnHE Quarterly Communication was held on Wednesday , X at Freemasons' Hall , London , when Major-General Laurie , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of South Wales occupied the throne , supported by Bro . George Richards District Grand Master of the Transvaal as Deputy Grand Master , and a very large number of Officers and other members of Grand Lodge .

The message from the Grand Master , in regard to Masonic assistance for Brethren in South Africa , was most cordially received , and the proposal of the Prince of Wales to vote a sum of one thousand guineas for the purpose most enthusiastically agreed to .

Bro . Edward Beaumont P . G . Steward proposed the reelection of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , a suggestion which was unanimously supported , and His Royal Highness was formally proclaimed . Bro . Harry Manfield , of Northampton , as the only candidate for the Office of Grand Treasurer , was declared duly elected to that post , and the other business as set out in the Agenda we published last week was disposed of .

The following is the Report of the Board of General Purposes which , on account of the pressure on our space last week , we were compelled to hold over :

BEPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PUBPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board begs to report that pursuant to a resolution passed by Grand Lodge at the last Quarterly Communication , it has very fully considered the proposal of V . W . Brother the Bev . F . N . Bethune Norman-Lee Grand Chaplain , that the following addition be made to Bule 165 , Book of Constitutions : —

" And if in any Lodge it should become impossible to hold the regular meeting upon the day named in the Bye-Laws lor that purpose , the Grand Master , and m Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a Dispensation for the holding of such meeting upon a day not more than ' seven ' days before or after that day fixed by the Bye-Laws , which day shall for all purposes be deemed the regular day of meeting . "

The Board beg to recommend that the proposed addition be made to Bule 165 , and that Bule 130 , Book of Constitutions , be amended by expunging that portion of it , commencing with the word " If " in the fifth line on page 65 , and ending with the word " meeting " in the fifteenth line . The provision contained in such portion of the rule being no longer necessary .

The Board has further to report that it has received the following communication from B . W . Bro . Sir Albert Woods , K . G . B ., K . C . M . G ., Garter , P . G . Warden , Grand Director of Ceremonies : —

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES , " V . W . SIE AND BEOTHEB , —Will you kindly bring before the Board , with the view of the matter being authoritatively dealt with , a growing practice of some English Brethren , who have been accorded honorary rank in Foreign , or other Grand Lodges wearing the clothing of such Foreign or other Grand Lodges while attending the meetings of English Lodges . This irregular

practice leads to confusion and irritation by reason of precedence being given to the offending Brethren which they are not entitled to ; and this constitutes a distinct invasion of the prerogative of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England . By Rule 282 of the Book of Constitutions , ' no Brother shall bo admitted into the Grand Lodge or any subordinate Lodge without his proper clothing , ' and the subsequent rules prescribe what that proper clothing is . If His Boyal Highness the Grand Master desires to give Masonic precedence to

any Brother , the rank in Grand Lodge of England . is accorded , and no Foreign or other Grand Lodge can , by appointments made by it , disturb the order of our Grand Master ' s appointments within this jurisdiction . In other words , Foreign or Colonial appointments conferred on English Masons give ' no rank' in England , and while the clothing may he appropriate for those who are members of the conferring ; Body even while visiting here , it is not the ' proper clothing ' prescribed by the Constitutions for English Masons .

" I have already given instructions to prevent the admission into Grand Lodge of English members who infringe Bule 282 , and if the Masters of Private Lodges were reminded of the Law upon the subject , they would doubtless take care that its provisions are respected . If the Board were to authorise the issue of a notice to the Lodges , no doubt the . duties of Directors of Ceremonies would be lightened , and the appointments of our Most Worshipful Grand Master preserved iu their integrity .

I remain , Faithfully and fraternally yours , ALBERT W . WOODS , G . D . C . " 69 St . George's Road , 8 . W ., 23 rd December 1899 . "

The Board being of opinion that the complaint of the Grand Director of Ceremonies was a very proper one , has given directions for copies of his communication to bo sent to the W . Masters of all Lodges under the English