Presentation To Capt. Beswicke-Royos.

you Sir Knights for your very handsome gift , which you may be sure I shall highly prize . Twenty-five years have quickly passed , and with those pass many worthy Templars whose gaps we cannot easily fill . I hope the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master credits us with being what we are—a most loyal Province , and one that has the interests of Masonry at heart .

When I accept a post , I endeavour to fulfil my duties to the best of my ability , and your presenting me with this handsome salver and illuminated address shows that what I have done has been appreciated , and I trust I may enjoy the honour of presiding over a body of Knights who have always shown me the greatest kindness and Brotherly affection . "

Bro . W . E . M . Tomlinson , Member of Parliament for Preston , added a few words . He said he was sure that all the Sir Knights would wish to offer to Colonel Starkie thanks for his present services . He had been worthily placed in a high position in Freemasonry , and it was natural that they should look up to him for guidance . This they could do in a double sense , for he was not only their head in all matters , but he was also essentially a true Lancashire man .

The Prov . Grand Master replied , after which , at the request of the Deputy Prov . G . M ., the company partook of light refreshments , and soon after dispersed .

We are pleased to hear that the merits of Bro . William Shurmur P . G . S . B . are locally recognised , he having just been unanimously elected Chairman and Treasurer of the Walthamstow Conservative Club , in succession to Mr . David Howard , J . P ., F . C . S ., F . I . C ., who has resigned .

As evidence of the national character of the recent celebration at St . Paul ' s we may point to the action of the great railway companies of the country—the London and North Western , the Great Northern and the Midland in particular—in offering reduced fares for parties of Freemasons journeying to

London for the event . It this sort of thing goes on , and is fostered as it deserves to be , the day may yet arrive when members of the Order will be able to carry into practice the joke of the tale wherein it is recorded that a certain initiate was instructed to give a special so-called Masonic sign at the Great Western terminus , and received a free first class ticket to Bath in

return . o o o Those who have enjoyed the North London Masonic Benevolent Balls ( and still would go ) will be interested in knowing that Bro . Frederick Humphreys ( a Clerkenwell vestryman now ) has sent out the preliminary circular , which states that Bro

Harry Randall is the president of this 13 th annual ; and that there is the same old list of patrons and committeemen as in the years that are gone , says the " Islington Gazette . " The ball is to be on the 27 th of January next , at the Freemasons' Tavern , and the tickets are 12 s 6 d each . 44 Canonbury-square is the

address of the Hon . Secretary . Bro . Hiram Henton ' s band in full uniform will again play for the " twinkling feet . " Bro . G . W . Edwards jun . will take care of the money , as Treasurer ; and A *

Humphreys , Fred . Nichols , M . De Leeuw , and Lawrence Dennett will officiate as Masters of the Ceremonies . Last year the ball realised £ 94 10 s for the Masonic charities , and then everybody received plenty of enjoyment for the money .

A more striking illustration of the " odiousness" of comparisons was probably never presented to Grand Lodge than at the last meeting , when the suggestion to augment the salary of the Grand Secretary came on for consideration-, and Bro Richard Eve sought to maintain his role of " official opposer " then of

He spoke what the late Bro . Shadwell Gierke received when he held the appointment of Grand Secretary ; and it is not too much to say the reference was very much out of place , and should have been omitted , in deference to the memory of a departed Brother ; for surely no one wifch a knowledge of the two

men would attempt to compare the actions of the late Grand Secretary with those of the present holder of the office , unless he desired to place the former in a most unfavourable light . We are fully of opinion that the proposed increase would have been granted in any case , but a reference to the fact that Bro . Gierke

received £ 1 , 000 a year must at once have convinced many of those at Grand Lodge that the present Grand Secretary fully merited the suggested augmentation , even if they did not heartily congratulate themselves on securing so desirable a successor at the

increased salary now decided upon . We are certainly surprised that Bro . Eve , usually so ready with arguments to support his views , had on this occasion to rattle the bones of a dead companion as a last resource .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

FRIENDSHIP CHAPTER , No . 202 . THE annual festival was held at the Granby Street Masonic Hall , Devonport , on Thursday , llth ult ., when Comps . H . Holman , John Bray , and G . A . Read installed Comps . W . G . Coombe , S . Martin , and M .

Axworthy , Z ., H ., and 3 . respectively . Tbe Treasurer made a satisfactory statement concerning the Chapter's financial position . The proceedings were followed by tho annual supper , Comp . Coombe presiding over a large gathering . The three newly installed Officers received the personal congratulations of those present .

VALE OF JEHOSAPHAT CHAPTER , No . 291 . THE annual convocation was held at the Masonic Booms , Railway Hotel , Highbridge . At the commencement , on the motion of fche M . E . Z . Comp . Hitchings Davies Prov . G . P . S . P . P . G . O ., seconded by fche Grand Superintendent of Somerset Comp . B . 0 . Else P . G . Standard Bearer England , a telegram was despatched to Lord Lathom Pro Grand Z ., expressing sincere sympathy with the family in their sad bereavement .

The ceremony of installation of the Principals and Officers for the ensuing year followed , the Principals installed being Comp . T . G . Coggan Z ., Comp . J . H . Sharpe H ., and Comp . A . E . Burnett 3 .

STAR OF GWYNEDD CHAPTER , No . 384 . ON Wednesday , 24 th ult ., a convocation -was held at the Masonic Hall , Bangor , when the following were installed as the three Principals for the ensuing year , fche installation ceremony being performed by Comp . Colonel the Hon . W . E . Sackville West Prov . G . Superintendent : M . E . Z . Comp . R . Langford Jones , H . Comp H . Grey Edwards , J . Comp . W . A . Foster .

WELCHPOOL CHAPTER , No . 998 . A CONVOCATION was held at the Masonic Temple , Newtown , North Wales , on Friday , 26 th ult ., when the following Brethren were exalted and admitted as Companions of the Chapter : —Bros . T . H . Johnson P . M . Fitz-Alan Lodge ; E . O . Jones P . M ., W . D . Roberts S . W ., J . F . Lake J . W . and E . Lewis-Lloyd S . D . Llanidloes Lodge .

The ceremony was performed by Comp . W . P . Hole Eirst Principal , and R . James Past Principal . The lectures were delivered by Comps . T . M . Taylor P . Z ., James Tomlins Second Principal , and Dr . Morgan acting Third Principal . The duties of P . S . were performed by Comp . G . H . Ellison , and the charge was given by Comp . T . M . Taylor . After the ceremony the Companions sat down to luncheon .

ATHOLE CHAPTER , No . 1004 . NO order in Freemasonry in the Isle of Man , has , at the present time , brighter prospects than those attending the Athole Chapter , says the local paper . The Chapter numbers altogether some forty members , and , amongst these are many of the most enthusiastic Masons , " not only in Douglas , but in Ramsey and Peel . At the annual installation meeting , held on Thursday , 25 th ult ., there was a very satisfactory gathering .

Comp . A . H . Fayle was installed Z ., F . A . Greville H ., -J . Watterson J . Afterwards the Companions celebrated the occasion by dining together afc the Granville Hotel . During the evening a special vote of thanks was tendered to the Installing Principals for their services ; and a Past Principal ' s gold jewel was presented to Comp . Kelly P . Z ., in token of the Chapter ' s appreciation of his successful year ' s presidency .

CLAPTON CHAPTER , No . 1365 . THE installation meeting was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , B . C ., on Tuesday , 23 rd ult ., when Comps . Hugh Taylor , J . A . Stenner , and G . Beamenfc were installed respectively in the chairs of Z ., ' H „ and J . The ceremonies were performed By Comps . H . E . Herman I . P . Z ., Joseph Wilson

P . Z ., and David Legg P . Z ., to the great satisfaction of the Chapter . Comp . Wilson was elected Treasurer , and invested with the collar of that office , while Comps . H . Ffrench Bromhead S . E ., H . Groome S . N ., J . Vaile P . S ., J . Backer Assist . S ., and D . Legg P . Z . Janitor were appointed Officers for the ensuing year .

DUKE OF CORNWALL CHAPTER , No . 1839 . THE annual festival of this Chapter was held on Friday , 26 th ult ., when the Companions met for the first time in the gorgeously beautiful Temple of the Jiolborn Restaurant , W . C , which was kindly placed at the disposal of the members by the manager , Comp . Hamp .

The Principals' chairs were occupied by Comps . John Almond M . E . Z ., John Culver H ., and George Scott Miller J . There were also present Comps . J . W . Dewsnap P . Z ., Enos Howes P . Z ., T . R . Ayres Treas ., James F . Perrins Scribe E ., T . M . Wright , T . J . Bolton , A . Haynes , H . E . Holmes , George

Eade , G . H . Burns , W . Howes , G . W . Preston , G . F . Broad , T . H . Palmer , W . H . Butler , W . V . Jull , H . W . Mellor , Geo . Trapps , F . J . Holdsworth , & c . The visitors wero Comps . Dr . William Cock P . Z . 1297 and 1537 P . P . S . N . of Essex , W . J . McQueen P . S . 11 , C . H . Cox P . Z . 1839 , and Orlton Cooper 1928 and 483 .

The Chapter was opened in due form by the r-nncipals , and the Companions were admitted , after which tho minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee was received , approved , and adopted , upon the proposition of Comp . Butler , seconded by Comp . Burns .

The only business before the Chapter was the installation of the three new Principals , who had been elected at the previous meeting . All below the rank of M . E . Z . having retired , a Conclave of Past Principals was formed , and Comp . John Culver was presented and regularly installed in the chair of Z . by Comp . William Cock , -who performed the ceremony in an altogether admirable manner . Comps . Geo . Scott Miller and T . Moore Wright were then introduced and installed in the chairs of H . and J . respectively , but as