Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WEST LANCASHIRE .

IN accordance with the decision announced at Lancaster m 1894 , that the Provincial Grand Chapter of the Western Division of Lancashire would in future , for greater convenience , assemble for the annual business at JEaster , instead of

immediately after the Provincial Grand Lodge , as for many years past , the annual Convocation was held on Saturday at the Town Hall , Southport , when the attendance proved so large as almost to equal the accommodation . Owing to great unanimity , the business was rapidly despatched .

Considerable applause greeted the announcement that Lord Skelmersdale had been nominated for the senior office at the disposal of the Provincial Grand Superintendent the Earl of Lathom , who presided , supported by the Eev . T . Barton Spencer , W . E . Wylie , J . D . Murray , & c .

From Liverpool , Preston , Wigan , Lancaster , Warrington , Horwich , and Ormskirk , the Companions , added to the strong muster of members of Southport Chapters , totalled about 120 . The roll call showed that only three Chapters in the large Province had not sent representatives .

The accounts of the Prov . G . Treasurer Comp . H . Nail P . Z . 1587 , showing a substantial credit balance , were adopted . After the election of Treasurer , the Grand Superintendent nominated the rest of the Prov . G . Officers , and invested all who were present , as follow : —

Comp . Lord Skelmersdale - - - H . W . H . Arnott 148 - - - - J . William Goodacre - Scribe E . Rev . J . S . Gardner 613 - - - Scribe N . Charles Watson 613 ... Treasurer George Oakey 113 - Registrar

C . E . Hindley 1345 and 148 - - Deputy Registrar Edward Sherwell 682 ... Principal Sojourner Thomas Vernon 92 ... ist Assistant Sojourner John Armstrong 148 and 1350 - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner Charles Harding 1356 - - - ) 0 , _ Max Boyd 1040 - } Sword Bearers

I . Gabrielson .... Standard Bearer Roger White 241 - Director of Ceremonies J . Sweefcman - - - - } Willan - - - - - v Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies Thomas Mason 249 - - - S G . H . Whitaker - Organist J . Orritt 580 .... Assistant Scribe E . W . H . Ball ----- Janitor .

A vote of twenty-five guineas to the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution having been agreed to , Provincial Chapter was closed with due ceremony . — " Liverpool Mercury . "

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 890 . AT the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Bishop ' s Road , Paddington , W ., Comp . J . Cruttenden 779 Z ., J . Bailey P . Z . 1602 H ., G . E . Higginson J . 186 J ., H . Dehane P . Z . 890 Prov . G . P . S . Essex S . E ., J . C Tilt 2862 Treas ., R . T . Godfrey Z . 172 P . S ., G . March 733 Asst . S . The Chapter was declared open and the ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed .

A vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Higginson , for the able manner he had rehearsed the duties of third Principal for the first time—which compliment was duly acknowledged . Hearty good wishes were accorded and the Chapter was closed .

West Yorkshire.

WEST YORKSHIRE .

IN our issue of the 28 th ult . we announced that Bro . J . C . Malcolm would succeed Bro . Henry Smith as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and we are now able to give the following additional particulars from the local papers : Mr . J . C . Malcolm , solicitor , of Leeds , and the City Coroner , has been appointed Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West ¦ Yorkshire , in succession to Mr . H . Smith , of Wakefield , who recently resigned

the office on account of ill-health , after having held it for ten years . Mr . Malcolm will be duly invested by the Provincial Grand Master the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., at the next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , to be held at Doncaster , on the 22 nd inst . We understand that within a few dajs of his being invested as Deputy Provincial Grand Master , he will also receive office in the Grand Lodge of England—that of Junior Grand Deacon . Mr . Malcolm is a member of the Alfred Lodge , No . 306 , Leeds , having been initiated in February 1873 . He held the office of W . M .

of the Lodge in 1676 and 1891 , and was S . W . in 1694-95 , the centenary year of the Lodge . He was appointed Prov . G . Registrar in 1678 , and he is a P . Z . of the H . R . A ., and a Past Prov . G . Registrar in that degree . He has also held office in other degrees . During his connection with Freemasonry Mr . Malcolm has taken a great interest in the charities of that body , and has been a liberal subscriber to them . He is a Vice-President of both the Boys and Girls Schools , and a Life-Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Aged Masons .

FURN ITURE wanted ( second-hand ) for Royal Arch Chapter . —Address , " Furniture , " care of " Freemason ' s Chronicle , " New Barnet .

Craft: Provincial.

CRAFT : PROVINCIAL .

CARNARVON LODGE , No . 804 . T HIS Lodge held its ordinary monthly meeting on Tuesday , 7 th inst ., at Havant , the W . M . Bro . H . N . Price P . M . 177 being in his place . There was a good attendance , but some members were still absent on their Easter holidays . The usual preliminary business having been got through , a Fellow Craft was admitted to tbe third degree ; the Lodge was then resumed in fche first ,

and a candidate was initiated . The Secretary reported the death of two members since the last meeting , and having read sundry communications the Lodge was closed , and the Brethren , to the number of thirty , adjourned to supper , there being a goodly number of visitors , amongst whom were : —Bros . T . H . Hobbs W . M . 177 , E . H . Buck P . M . 2153 , J . J . Pakes P . M . 140 , G . L . Stobbs P . M . 175 , S . C . Baker 299 , G . C . Vernon-Inkpen P . M . 38 1834 , G . D . Birch S . W . 2153 , J . Robertson

669 . Some toasts and songs followed . Bro . H . G . Fryer , Portmouth Lodge , No . 487 , presided at the piano .

GUNDULPH LODGE , No . 1050 . THE Brethren held their annual festival ( under special dispensation ) on Wednesday , 8 th inst ., instead of on Easter Monday , the appointed day . The Council-Chamber , at the Guildhall , Rochester , had been kindly allowed by the Mayor to be used for the occasion , and here the Lodge assembled , the Brethren attending in full numbers , while several distinguished Provincial Officers of Kent were also present .

The Master for the year is Bro . Albert W . Hodge , who was installed in the principal chair in an able manner by his immediate predecessor , Bro . J . W . IS ash , who was later on in the proceedings presented with the jewel of a Past Master , in the name of the Lodge , in testimony of the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties during the past year . The newly-elected W . M . received the salutations of the Brethren , and afterwards appointed and invested the Officers for the year .

The valuable services rendered to the Lodge by Bro . E . Barrell P . P . G . S . B . as Secretary—a post he has held for a number of years—was recognised by the brethren presenting him with a Secretary ' s jewel , which was handed him by the W . M ., amid the plaudits of the Brethren . At the close of the business , the Brethren held their annual banquet at

the King ' s Head Hotel , under the presidency of the new Master , when the customary toasts were honoured . It was announced during the evening that the Prince of Wales had selected . Bro . Earl Amherst . Provincial Grand Master for Kent as Deputy Grand Master of England , in the place of the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe , resigned .

LEWISES LODGE , No . 1209 . ON Wednesday , 8 th inst ., the annual installation was held at the Royal Hotel , Ramsgate , when a large number of Brethren were present . The W . M .-elect Bro . J . Roe S . W . was installed into the chair , according to the ancient rites , by Bro . G . J . Baldwin the retiring W . M ., the ceremony being ably and most impressively performed .

After tbe Lodge had been closed , the Brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall , where Bro . Roach ' had prepared the annual banquet . The W . M . presided , being supported by his Officers . After the cloth had been cleared , the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and honoured , songs and music being interspersed , the vocalists being Bros . Hosking , A . W . Larkin , Wilson , Solly , and Messrs . Ofield and Greey . Bros . Grunhold and Hughes also gave some capital recitations . Bro . Sandford Moore played the accompaniments .

TRAFFORD LODGE , No . 1496 . THE regular meeting was held at the Western Hotel , Moss Side , Manchester , on the 13 th inst ., Brother Ramsey Knight W . M . There were also present : Bros . Percy Land I . P . M ., Chris . Preston S . W ., William

Yeadon J . W ., -Geo . Burslem P . M . Treas ., J . 0 . Gillman P . P . S . G . D . Sec , J . S . Done S . D ., Walter Lees I . G ., Fras . Long P . M . Organist , Jno . Rathbone P . M ., 3 . Kershaw P . M ., Walter Biggs P . M ., A . H . Norbury , C . H . Moss , 3 . H . Bowse , H . Preston , E . H . Seddon , S . Woollam , T . Turnbull , E . Dewsbury , Thos . Jackson .

Visitors : Saml . Richards 1161 , E . T . Douglas 1381 , Thos . Shaw S . W . 1387 , T . W . Travers W . M . 1354 , W . Bransby 1773 , J . Allin Org . 2231 , W . Chesshyre Tyler . The Lodge being opened and the minutes of the last regular meeting

confirmed , the ancient charge ( which for want of time was not given last meeting ) was delivered to Brothers Turnbull and Seddon by the J . W ., in a manner which was highly applauded by the visitors and Brethren . After Bros . Turnbull and Seddon had answered the questions leading to the second degree , the Brethren adjourned for tea .

On re-assembling the Lodge was opened in the second degree , when Bros . Turnbull and Seddon were advanced as Fellow Crafts , the former by the W . M ., and the latter by Brother Burslem P . M ., the working tools being presented by the S . W . The Lodge having been closed down , Bro . Gillman took the chair and proposed a vote of thanks to the W . M . for a very handsome oak chest he had presented to the Lodge , which was carried with acclamation .

The Worshipful Master having resumed his chair , and after having received the hearty good wishes of the visiting Brethren , closed the Lodge . The Brethren then adjourned to the festive hoard , when the S . W . proposed the health of the newly passed Brothers , and in doing so expressed his opinion that he believed thoy would prove good and true Masons . Bros . Turnbull and Seddon suitably replied .

Bro . Land I . P . M . proposed the health of the visitors , and they m reply highly complimented the W . M . upon his working and also that of the Officers . Bro . Rathbone proposed the health of the W . M ., who , in reply , thanked the visitors for the very kind allusion they had made as to the working of himself and his Officers .

Other toasts followed , and were heartily acknowledged . The intervals between the toasts were enlhened with songs and recitations from Brothers Long , Allin , Bransby , Lees , Rowso , and Seddon .