Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROV . G . CHAPTER OF MIDDLESEX . nHHE Annual Convocation was held on Saturday last , at X the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court . Comp . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., G . Supt ., presided , and he was supported by

Comps . Raymond H . Thrupp Prov . G . H ., J . F . H . Woodward acting Prov . G . J ., W . H . Lee Prov . G . S . E ., Bentley Haynes Prov . G . 1 st A . S ., W . G . Kentish Prov . G . S . B ., F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Supt . Essex , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke G . S . E ., Frank Richardson P . A . G . S . and G . D . C , Chaa . Greenwood Prov . G . S . E . Surrey , W . F . Laxton

P . P . G . Reg ., J . M . Stedwell P . P . G . J ., J . T . Briggs P . P . G . P . S ., C H . Webb P . P . G . S . B ., D . P . Cama P . P . G . S . B ., R . W . Forge P . P . G . P . S ., T . W . Ockenden P . P . G . D . C , G . Cordwell P . P . A . G . S ., E . Hopwood P . P . G . Reg ., J . G . Langton J . 1194 , Geo . Gregory P . Z ., R . Vincent 1777 , E . Y . Jolliffe , H . W . Roberts M . E . Z . 1293 , G . S . Elliott P . Z . 1423 , R . H . Blackford J . 1549 , F . 0 . Austin 1793 , Jas . Willing

jun . P . Z . 1507 1000 , A . C . Spaull P . Z . 382 , A . A . Higerty H . 946 , Simeon Jacoba P . Z . 946 , W . J . Porter Org . 1793 , W . M . Tegg P . Z . 1237 , G . L . Wingate P . P . A . G . S ., G . J . Dunkley P . P . G . Org ., A . Lingard Z . 1691 , R . R . Collick Z . 946 , H . Sapsworth S . N . 946 , W . W . Lee

1524 , W . W . Morgan , & o . After Provincial G . Chapter had been formally opened , the roll of Chapters was called , and the minutes of last Convocation were read and confirmed , and the Audit Committee's report received and unanimously adopted . Comp . Eaymond H . Thrupp was re-appointed Prov .

G . H ., and Comp . E . Y . Jolliffe was invested as G . J ., while Comp . G . Gregory was unanimously elected Treasurer . The following Officers were invested : —

Comp . W . H . Lee ... ... S . E . A . C Spanll ... ... S . N . H . W . Roberts ... ... Reg . A . Lingard .. ... P . S .

G . L . Elliott ... ... 1 st A . S . J . Willing jun . „ . ... 2 nd A . S . Capt . J . R . Vincent ; ... S . B . Wm . Tegg ... ... Sfcd . Br . R . Collick ......D . ofC

F , C Austin ... ...A . D . of 0 . 0 . Stevens ,.: ... Organist Gilbert ......Janitor After the Audit Committee had been appointed , the Prov . Grand Chapter was closed .

Later on an excellent banquet was served , under the personal superintendence of Bro . Mella . After the loyal toasts , Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , replying for the Grand Officers said , the G . Superintendent had honoured the Grand Officers of England , and he begged , on their behalf , to say a few words . He assured the Companions thafc the G .

Officers wore highly hononred by holding thoir positions , and serving under the illustiious Prince whose great exertions and services in Masonry had been alluded to by the G . Superintendent . No matter in what Degree , H . R . H . evinced the same marvellous interest , and it was a wonder , considerinj' the amount of extraneous work ho had to

perform , that he found the timo he did for his Masonic duties . The Grand Officers were very fortunate in serving under so illustrious a chief . It was a pleasure to thoso present to witness tho continued prosperity of the Prov . G . Chapter of Middlesex , and although ho ( Comp . Gierke ) had not been in attendance for years , he felt great

pleasure in being onco again under tho control of their dear old friend aud most excellent Mason , Col . Sir Francis Burdett . So long—and let it be very long—aa they had hia genial sway , Masonry would be ungrateful if it did not carry on its work well , and progress , as it ought to do , nnder his auspices . Comp . Raymond H . Thrupp P . G .

2 nd Principal , said be had next to propose what they in Middlesex considered a very important toast—it was tho health of their Grand Suporintoudent . Tho G . S . E . had taken the bread out of his mouth by passing eulogiums upon Sir Francis Bardett , but any one who knew that distinguished Companion was ready to pay tribute to his

good qualities as a Mason . He asked the Companions to greet the Grand Snperintendent with that hearty welcome he always received in the Province ; he had ruled over them for a number of years with tho utmost kindness and succors , aud had done much to promote R . A . Masonry in Middlesex * . Sir Francis BardettBart ., in icply

, , said he could not express his gratitude for the manner , net only in whieh the Companions had received the kind proposition of th ' ; - Prov . G . H ., but also for the manner in which that Companion had spoken of him . Tho promotion of Royal Arch Masonry in Middlesex had been at his heart , bnt ho could nofc have dono what ho

hacl but for Comp . Thrupp and the rest of tho Prov . Grand Officers . Ho was grateful to them for many obligations . It was pleasing to find that the Officers of Grand Chaptor visited them occasionally , nnd wore kind enough to ( latter them . It had taken a considerable time to make the Provineo what it is , and he trusted ii

would uot only further progress , but thafc they would mako it as prosperous and as good in working as any under the ruling of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . In speaking to the toast of tho Visi t ors , Sir Francis said he wonld couple the name of Comp . Philbrick , who ' ,

though arriving late , had paid them a high compliment in showing he hnd not fiarg ^ tlen their Provincial Giund Ch ^ iLcr . Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Snpt , Essex , in response , said , there was an old adage that thc end of a feast was better than the beginning of a fray , and there was a deal of wisdom in

Royal Arch.

ifc . He believed it waa nofc on record for a Maaon to respond for this toasfc before he had had his soup . On fche present occasion he ventured on the unknown ground of endeavouring to express his thanks for fche kind and hospitable welcome extended fco the strangers , and for what he waa abont to receive he felfc trnly

thankful . He hoped his dear old friend , fche Grand Snperintendent , would not think he had nofc been desirous of paying a proper respect to him and the Province ; he had arranged to accompany fcho Grand Scribo E ., bufc when he told them he had been detained at Freemasons' Hall with business connected with the Boya' School , he

thought he shonld be pardoned . He waa glad to see Royal Arch Masonry flourishing in the Province of Middlesex . As the Lodges , so the Chapters , for the Chapter was tho quintessence of the Lodge , and drew the working brethren and put fche copestone on the work of the Craft . He was glad to see their Grand

Superintendent in the full enjoyment of health , and to know the Province waa prospering under his beneficent sway . He ( Comp . Philbrick ) hacl something to do with Royal Arch Masonry in an adjacent Province , and speaking in the name of that Province he assured them they had a hearty and sincere regard to see the work

thoroughly carried oufc . ' He wished to offer their best wishes and to express their congratulations on the state of this Province . For the kind and hearty welcome extended to the visitors , he feelingly tendered sincere and grateful thanks . The proceedings shortly afterwards were brought to a conclusion .

GUNDULPH CHAPTEE , No . 1050

THE annual festival was held on Friday , tho 21 st ultimo , at the King ' s Head Hotel , Rochester , Comps . T . Watson Z ., V . Brown II ., and F . Horman J ., were duly installed in tbe principal chairs by Comp . T . S . Warne . Other appointmenfca were afterwards made , aa follows .- —Comps . YV . Watson S . E ., F . Nioholla N ., J . W . Nash P . S ., E . Burrell and S . Brice A . S . The usual banquet aabsequently took place , at the King's Hotel .

DUNDAS CHAPTEENo . 1255

THE annnal meeting was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Princesssquare , Plymouth , to instal Comps . Geo . Lee as Z ., G . Diner aa H ., and S . J . Daniel aa J ., the principals for the ensuing year . The installing officers were Comps . J . R , Lord P . Z . 70 , W . Allaford P . Z . 202 , and Pillar . The other Offioera invested were Comps . W . L .

Lavers P . S ., W . Wallis 1 st Assfc . S ., W . S . Warren 2 nd Asst ., J . Hammond S . E ., S . J . Hearle Treasurer , W . H . Phillips Janitor Afc the close of the Chapter the companions adjourned to the refec tory in the building , where an excellent supper was laid by Comp Harvey .

DOESET MASONIC CHAEITY .

THE ninth annual meeting of the General Committee was held afc the Lodge Room , Wimborne , on Thursday , the 4 th inst ., Bro . W . D . Dugdale P . P . G . J . W ., the Chairman of the Charity , being supported by Bros . Montague J . Guest P . G . M ., R . Case P . G . Secretary Treasurer , S . R . Baskett P . P . G . R . Hon . Sec , W . Mortimer Heath P . G . Chaplain of England , L . H . Ruegg P . P . G . S . W ., G . J . G .

Gregory P . P . G . S . W ., J . W . Luff P . P . G . S . W ., J . Whitehead Smith P . P . G . J . W ., C H . W . Parkinson P . P . G . J . W ., W . W . Stickland P . P . G . J . D ., 0 . G . Target !; P . P . G . J . D ., T . Giles P . P . G . Supt . Works , J . A . Atkins P . P . G . Supt . Works , A . 0 . Todd P . P . G . Supt . Works , J . S . Stroud I . P . M . 417 , C J . Woodford W . M . 137 , J . Harold W . M .

622 , E . Mills W . M . 1037 , and Bro A . Taylor J . W . 1146 . Only three Lodges in tho Province were unrepresented . The half yearly meeting of the Relief and Assistance Sub-Committee , consisting of one member from each Lodgo , was first held , and investigated tho Petitions for Relief , 5 in number . Afc the meeting of the General

Committeo several letters and telegrams , apologising for unavoidable absence , were read from various brethren , including Bro . Z . Milledge P . G . D . C . the Vice Chairman , Bro . C J . Hambro P . D . P . G . M ., and other distinguished brethren . On the recommendation of the Relief and Assistance Sub-Committee grants , varying in amount , wero

made to six Petitioners , amounting together to £ S 5 . Tho Draft Report to Provincial Grand Lodge was then considered , and showed a most satisfactory progress had been made , and it wns ordered to bo printed for distribution at the next Provincial Grand Lodgo , viz ., at Wareham , on tho 26 th September . Some slight alteration in the

Bye Laws having been proposed and carried , ifc was arranged that tho Midwinter meeting should be held at Dorchester , and the meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman , on tho proposition of tho P . G . M . On the invitation of Bro . J . Harold , the

VV . M . of tho Wimuorne Lodge , who had thoughtfully remembered that many of tho brethren had como u long distance , tho Committee then adjourned to a . substantial cold collation , afc his expense , under fche presidency of tho P . G . M .

INTEE-MASONIC VOLUNTEER EIFLE MATCH

ON Thursday , 20 fch ult ., tho annnal match between fche Masonic Lodges attached to several of the Metropolitan Volunteer Rifle Corps was hold at the ranges at Citerhaui , in very fiuo weather , and

resulted in a victory for the Qur-r-n ' n Westminster , with 010 points , made at thc usual distances of 200 , 500 , and GOO yard ? , seven shots at each rarge . The London Rifle Brigade team was second with 571 , and the South Middlesex third with 500 .

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