Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

GRAND MASTER'S CHAPTER , No . 1 . ON Tuesday , 5 th inst ., Comp . H . Homewood Crawford M . E . Z ., the City Solicitor , presided at a convocation at tho Hotel Victoria , and subsequently , with Mrs . Crawford , entertained the members of the Chapter , with their wives and several Grand Officers , at dinner .

A concert followed under the direction of tho Grand Organist ( Companion Rose ) , says the "City Press , " Madame Clara Samuel , Madame Marian McKe ' nzie , Mr . K . Rumford , and Mr . Reginald Groome taking part .

o u u CHAPTER OF FIDELITY , No . 3 . THE annual installation festival of this Chapter took place at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , on New Year's Day , with considerable success . Comp . William Radcliffe P . Z . presided in the absence of the M . E . Z ., and was assisted by Comps . Major T . 0 . Walls as H ., C . W . Mapleton as J ., W . J . Collens P . Z . Scribe E ., Wyndham Hart P . S ., and the rest of the Officers . There were also present Comps . Harry Nash , Col . H . J . Lardner , Alfred H . Larcombe I . P . Z ., Joseph Homing P . Z . Treasurer , W . J . Dyer ,

Orlton Cooper , J . Nash . After the Chapter had been opened by the Principals , the Companions were admitted and the minutes of the last convocation were read and oonfirmed . Bro . Arthur B . Spawforth W . M . of St . Michael's Lodge , No . 211 , being a candidate for exaltation was then balloted for , and being found worthy was formally admitted into the ranks of the Companions . The beautiful ceremony was rendered by the Officers in a most perfect manner , the Lectures being admirably delivered by the three Principals above mentioned .

At the conclusion of the ceremony Comp . W . Radcliffe installed Comp . T . C . Walls as Z ., 0 . W . Mapleton as H ., H . J . Lardner as J ., in accordance with the ancient ritual . The following Officers were appointed : —Comps . W . J . Collens Scribe E ., Wyndham Hart Scribe N ., Harry Nash P . S ., J . I . Birch and J . 0 . Pratt Assist . S ., G . W . Larter D . C , A . B . Spawforth Steward , R . H . Goddard Janitor .

A very handsome P . Z . ' s jewel was presented to Companion Alfred H . Larcombe , in recognition of his services during the past year ; another candidate was proposed for exaltation at the next convocation , and the Chapter was duly closed . The banquet was served in the Gloucester Room of the Freemasons ' Tavern , and a very pleasant evening was subsequently spent .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

WILTSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held last month at Salisbury , under the banner of the Elias de Derham Lodge , No . 443 . There was a good attendance of Brethren , representing Salisbury , Swindon , and Devizes , who were presided over by the Earl of Radnor Provincial Grand Master , who appointed the

following as his Officers for the ensuing year : Bros . H . House ----- Senior Warden J . A . Randall ... - Junior Warden F . S . Hancock - Master Overseer J . Campbell McLean - - - Senior Overseer Edward Waters - - - - Junior Overseer

Rev . F . W . Macdonald - - - Chaplain H . Bevir ----- Treasurer J . A . Chandler ... - Registrar of Marks G . M . Wilson ... - Secretary A . Plummer .... Senior Deacon F . Griffin ----- Junior Deacon B . W . Crees .... Inspeotor of Works

John Chandler - - - - Director of Ceremonies F . G . Billingham .... Sword Bearer W . S . Bambridge .... Organist A . Barnes --- - - Inner Guard W . Dear ----- Tyler . The Brethren afterwards adjourned to the White Hart Hotel , where luncheon was partaken of and the usual Mark toasts were honoured .

INDUSTRY LODGE , No . 293 . THE annual meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , Jackson Street , Gateshead , on Monday , 4 th inst ., Bro . Adam Dodds W . M . presiding . There was a good attendance of members and visitors . After the ordinary business of the Lodge had been transacted Bro . W . Stafford J . W . was installed into the chair of W . M . by the retiring W . M ., and then invested the Officers of the Lodge for the ensuing year .

Bro . R . B . Reed P . M . gave the charges to the principal Officers and Brethren in a very able and impressive manner . The Lodge was afterwards closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the Central Restaurant , Half Moon Lane , Gateshead , where the annual festival was held , Brother Stafford occupying the chair .

GORDON LODGE , No . 364 . THE usual monthly meeting of this Lodge of Instruction was held on Tuesday , 5 th inst ., at the New Falcon Hotel , Gravesend . Bro . J . P . White P . M . 455 acted as W . M ., with W . Russell S . W ., R . C , Fowle J . W ., F . Hitchens . M . O ., J . Simpson S . O ., E . B . Wilks J . O ., R ,

Matthews Sec , G . Masters S . D ., J . Davis J . D ., J . Solomon I . G ., G . Martin Tyler , R . J . Beamish P . M ., W . Barlow P . M ., and J . Fitch . The advancement ceremony was rehearsed . The Brethren discussed the advisability of forming a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge in connection with tht Gordon . Lodge , and agreed to do their , best for that object .

Masonry's Influence.

MASONRY'S INFLUENCE .

MOST institutions which are the work of man are influenced by the so called spirit of the times . They must , perforce , be modernised brought up to date—in order to fulfil the mission for which they were organised . Not so with the honoured Institution of Masonry . An Institution so ancient that its origin is involved in mystery is sufficient unto itself , and they who have studied it most , who have gone to the fountain

springs to learn of its plans and its philosophy , are most zealous to resist innovations , and to transmit it unchanged to the next generation . An Institution so extensive that the sun never sets upon its temples , must indeed satisfy something inherent in all men . The very fact that men differing in thought , customs , speech , separated by diverse opinions as to religion and all

questions coming within the range of their daily lives , can here stand upon a common level ; the evidence that men , tossed by the tempests of passion , until all ties seemingly have been broken , can , even do , meet in harmony around a common shrine and kneel before the same altar ; all declare , in language more eloquent than words can express , the existence of a kinship

universal , a bond of friendship binding every man to his fellow . While this silent influence cannot be described it is nevertheless an entity . I may as well attempt to define the beauty of the lily to one who has never seen , or the harmony of music to one who has never heard , yet the beauty is there for the eye to behold , the harmony present for the ear to hear ; so ths

sympathy , the fraternal feeling , if it but arouse and quicken similar impulses in the breast of another , at once becomes a living reality , although it cannot be determined by means applicable to material things . Finally , we , who at the very threshold of Masonry declare our trust to be in God , accept the truth that there must be above and over all a Ruler of heaven and earth who guides and directs in the affairs and destinies of men , yea , who " holds us in the hollow of His hand . "—Frederic H . Files , Grand Master South Dakota .

. THE Directors of the West London Conservatoire of Music , 75 The Grove , Hammersmith , W ., have much pleasure in announcing that they have secured the services of Mr . Isidore de Solla as conductor of the Operatio Class . The rehearsals will take place on Saturday afternoons from three o ' clock . In addition to the performances at the Conservatoire , there will be an annual performance at a West London Theatre .

WE understand a Reporting and Type-Writing Office has heen . opened in connection with the Church House , Dean ' s Yard , Westminster , for the sole use of the Clergy , Societies and members of the Church of England .

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, STZR ^ nsriD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)— -At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a , la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till 12-30 . PEIYATE DOttxTG- BOOMS POR LAKGE AND SMALL PARTIES . SPIERS A 3 STD POND , Ltd ., Proprietors .