Royal Arch.

they already occupy those offices in other Chapters the ceremony in their case was much abbreviated . The Companions were re-admitted , when the following Officers were invested : —John Almond I . P . Z , T . R . Ayres Treas ., James F . Perrins Scribe E ., Thomas J . Bolton Scribe N ., A . Haynes P . S ., George Bade and George H . Burns Assistants , William Howes D . C , and Edmonds Janitor .

Upon the proposition of Comp . Enos Howes , seconded by Comp . Almond , a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Dr . W . Cock , for his valuable services as Installing Principal , and the same was ordered to be entered on the minutes of the Chapter . Comp . Cock , in acknowledging the compliment , said it was always a great pleasure for him to attend the Duke of Cornwall meetings , as he had done for some years past , to perform the installation ceremonies , and his services would always be at the disposal of the Companions , whom he regarded as old friends .

Comp . Bolton gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that a sum of ten guineas be voted from the funds of the Chapter to the Boys School Centenary Celebration Fund . Comp . Almond stated that he ' was going up as a Steward at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution next February , and asked for a donation to head his list . Both these propositions will be considered afc the next convocation .

The M . E . Z . referred in feeling terms to the loss the Chapter had sustained by the death of Comp . Thomas Baxter , who was so well known to them , especially to those in the district of Clerkenwell . He had done much , and worked hard in the cause of Freemasonry , and would be greatly missed . In the name of the Chapter he had sent a wreath to be placed upon his grave in Abney Park Cemetery . The Chapter waa then closed in solemn form , and the Companions adjourned .

The installation banquet was served in the Commodore's Room , and reflected much credit both upon the management and the cuisine of the establishment . At its conclusion the customary Loyal and Royal Arch toasts were submitted from the chair , and heartily responded to . When proposing the Officers of Grand Chapter , the M . E . Z . referred to the sad loss sustained by the Earl of Lathom , who , he said , would-have the sincere sympathy of every Freemason .

•Comp . Almond , in eulogistic terms , proposed the health of Comp . Culver , whose work in the subordinate offices of the Chapter was well known to them . They would also remember that he was a P . M . and present Treasurer of the Duke of Cornwall Lodge , in which he was much respected ; The M . E . Z ., who was received with great applause ,, modestly returned thanks , saying that as he had succeeded so far he should hope to continue to perform his duties to the satisfaction of the Chapter . He asked them now

to drink to the health of his assistant Principals , H . and J .,, both of whom brought their previous experience in the offices for the benefit of the Chapter . . _ Comp . Scott Miller said he was " grateful to'the Companions ' for his election , and it would go without saying that he should perform his duties to the best of his ability , and always endeavour to promote the harmony and unity of the Chapter . Comp . Wright responded in similar terms .

The M . E . Z ; then submitted the Installing Principal , who had performed the ceremony that day in so able and impressive a manner ; in fact he might say he was the criterion of perfection . Dr . Cock was always ready to assist them , and they were equally glad to avail themselves of his services . Comp . Cock , in reply , said it was very gratifying to find his services so

highly appreciated , though personally he considered the Chapter paid him a great compliment in asking him to perform the ceremony . He had had that privilege now for some years past , ' and was ever at their command should circumstances require . He found the Chapter niost attractive , as they always welcomed him as an old friend , and ho was glad to perceive it was in so flourishing a condition .

In a highly humourous speech , to which no report would do . justice , the M . E . Z . then gave the health of Comp . Almond I . P . Z ., and in the name of the Chapter presented him with a very handsome P . Z . 's jewel , with a suitable inscription , in appreciation of his services during the past year . Comp . Almond suitably acknowledged the compliment . He had had a

record year of office , and had exalted six Brethren to the Degree . The funds had correspondingly flourished and he bequeathed a capital balance to his successor . He thanked the Companions most heartily for the jewel , and he could assure them that his wife , who appreciated his work in Freemasonry , would . be equally pleased .

Comp . J . W . Dewsnap responded for the P . Zs . of the Chapter , saying though they were few in number they made np in efficiency , and were always ready to render the assistance that was due from them to the Chapter . Comps . Orlton Cooper and C H . Cox expressed the thanks of the visitors for the bounteous hospitality and welcome extended to them ; and the Officers having been complimented , the Janitor ' s toast brought the pleasant proceedings to a close . During the evening a selection of music was given under the direction of Bro . Walter Perrins .

Holiday Arrangements.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS .

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY . T HIS Company issue tickets at their principal City . and West End offices , and this arrangement cannot fail to be a boon to those travellers who desire to avoid the trouble of obtaining tickets at a crowded Railway Station , particularly at holiday times . The Booking Office at Paddington Station will be open all day for the issue of tickets on 20 th , 21 sfc , 22 nd , 23 rd and 24 th December . Ordinary tickets obtained in London between December 20 th

and 24 th will be available for use on any day between and including those days . Cheap third class tickets at reduced fares will be issued at Paddington , Kensington ( Addison Road ) , Victoria ( L . C . & D . ) , Hammersmith , & c , to Bath , Bristol , Taunton , Barnstaple , llfracombe , Exeter , Torquay , Plymouth , Falmouth , Penzance , Yeovil , Dorchester , Weymouth , Guernsey , Jersey , & c . ; similar tickets will also be issued from those districts to London ( except the

Channel Islands ) . On Thursday , 23 rd December , cheap excursions will be run from Paddington to Belfast , Armagh , Giant ' s Causeway , Waterford , Cork , Limerick , Tralee , Kilkenny , Lakes of Killarney , Sec , and on Friday night , 24 th December , to Evesham , Worcester , Malvern , Hereford , Oxford , Banbury , Leamington , Birmingham , Wolverhampton , Shrewsbury , Chester , Liverpool , & c , for 3 or 4 days ; and to Bath , Bristol , Cirencester , Stroud , Stonehouse ,

Gloucester , Cheltenham , Cardiff , Swansea , Llanelly , Carmarthen Jctn ., Tenby , New Milford , & c , for 3 days . On the days immediately preceding Christmas day several of the trains from Paddington will be divided , and the first portion of some of them will start five minutes ' before the advertised time . On Friday , 24 th December , the 1 . 30 p . m . Corridor Express from Paddington will convey passengers to stations between Bala and Dolgelly ,

Holiday Arrangements.

and the S . O p . m . train to Plymouth will be extended to Truro . A special will leave Paddington at 6 . 20 p . m ., for Bath , Bristol , Exeter , Plymouth , Penzance , and other stations , and the 7 . 0 p . m . to Weston-Super-Mare will run to -Exeter , and will convey passengers for Marlboro ' , Tiverton , and for stations on the Barnstaple branch . The 9 . 0 p . m . to the West of England will convey passengers for the Bodmin , Wadebridge and Helston branches . A special fast train will leave Paddington at 10 . 0 p . m ., calling at the same

stations between Swindon and New Milford as the 9 . 15 p . m . ordinary train , with the addition of Newnham and Llantrissant , and a special express will depart at 11 . 50 p . m . for Reading , Swindon , Gloucester , Cheltenham , Newport , Cardiff , Swansea , & c . The 12 . 0 midnight express to Penzance will call at Chippenham and Brent , and in connection special trains will run on the Kingsbridge and St . Ives branches . Passengers will be conveyed by this train to stations between Maidenhead and High Wycombe . On Christmas day the usual Sundav service of trains will run , bur the 5 . 30 a . m . train from

Paddington will also be run as on week-days , to Oxford , Weston-Super-Mare , ' and Swansea . There will be connections to Trowbridge , Frome , Yeovil , Bridporfc , Weymouth , Banbury , Leamington , Birmingham , Worcester , Malvern , Kidderminster , Wolverhampton , & c . In order to meet the extraordinary demands upon the Company ' s resources occasioned by the enormous parcel traffic despatched both from and to London at Christmas time , special fast trains , carrying parcels only , and calling at the principal intermediate stations , will run between London and Plymouth , Birkenhead , Worcester and New Milford .

Parkhunst Theatre . —Next week is announced the Opera Comique version of the evergreen " East Lynne , " with Miss EssexDane as Lady Isabel , and a powerful company in support . Great preparations are being made for the production , on Christmas Eve , of the pantomime , "Cinderella , " which is to eclipse anything previously done in this line at the popular little North London theatre .

Masonry does a large amount of benevolent work , though the people iu outer darkness , who know nothing ; of the " mystic tie , " sometimes overlook the facfc . Its power to relieve the wants of Brethren who have met with misfortune in life depends , of course , upon the growth of the membership , and Lord Saltoun ,

the Grand Master of Scotland , was therefore justified in speaking afc a recent meeting -with some pride of the development of the organisation which had occurred in the first year of his term of office . There had been enrolled 6 , 579 members , as compared with 5 , 343 in 1896 , and 6 , 078 in 1891 , which until the present

occasion ; was the highest point ever reached in any one year . It is a curious testimony to the spread of the Order all over the world , and also to its vitality , that Yokohama , according to Lord Breadalbane , who has been there , possesses , in the Bising Star of the East , one of the best worked and most efficient Lodges at present in existence . — " Glasgow Evening Times . "

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