Staffordshire.

j ; . Jones - - - - - J . Mason - - - - - L stewaras VV H * . Newby ... . r XV . J . J . W . Heath - - - J \ V . Twist ----- Tyler .

At three o ' clock the Brethren went in procession to St . Paul ' Church , where Divine service was held . The prayers wera said by the Rev . R . F . Way ( curate ) , the lesson was read hv the Rev . 0 . M . Holden , M . A ., B . C . L ., vicar of

Gailey-cum-Hatherton , and the sermon preached by the Rev . W . Macgregor , M . A . i -P-G- Chaplains . Bro . Edwards , fche P . G . Organist , and Bro . A . Keay , the organist of the church , presided at the organ . The offertory , which amounted to £ 13 6 s , has been divided between the Blue Coat Schools and Sfc . Paul ' s Organ Fund .

On the return from church the Brethren again assembled in Lodge , and on the motion of Lord Dartmouth a sum of fifty guineas was formally voted towards the proposed Masonic foundation at the Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum , and his lordship promised a donation of fifty guineas to the same fund . The Deputy P . G . Master and Bro . Bailey promised ten guineas

each . Bro . Bodenbam brought before fche Lodge fche candidature 0 f Bro . W . H . Bailey P . M . ( Abbey Lodge , Burton ) P . P . G . S . W . for the Grand Treasurership of England next year . Bro . Bailey ,

he said , was a Brother of whom Staffordshire mi ght well be proud . He represents the Province on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and is a Vice-Patron of all the three Masonic Institutions .

On the motion of Bro . Bodenbam , seconded by fche Senior Warden , a resolution was unanimously passed recognising Bro . Bailey ' s fitness for the position , and his earnest efforts on behalf of the Masonic Charities , and pledging fche P . G . Lodge to give him its cordial support .

On the motion of Lieut-Col . Bindley , a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the St . Matthew and Hatherton Lodges for the efforts which they had put forth for the reception of P . G . Lodge , and the vote was entered on the minutes .

A vote of thanks was also passed to fche P . G . Chaplains for the able manner in which fchey had conducted the Service . The Lodge was closed in the usual manner , and in perfect harmony .

The annual banquet was provided in a reserved portion of the Drill Hall , the Earl of Dartmouth presiding . The catering was done by the landlord of fche Stork Hotel , who furnished an excellent repast .

Col . Bindley proposed fche Rt . Wor . the P . G . M . of Staffordshire the Earl of Dartmouth . He remarked thafc his lordship was a man of strong character and resource , and they might consider themselves singularly fortunate in having him at their head . His engagements were so numerous fchat he had to work very hard to cope with them all .

The P . G . Master , in responding , first acknowledged the kindly courtesy and consideration which he had received at all hands from the Freemasons of the Province . It was true tbat he had other duties which prevented him from taking so large a share in the work of fche Province as , were he a free manhe

, should hope fco do . Ifc was his intention to visit the various Lodges in the Province when he was able to do so . If he had not done so up to the present it was because he had been unable to throw over his o ' ther engagements for the purpose . He asked

them to believe that no action on his part with respect to Masonry was taken without deep anxiety , serious consideration , and an earnest desire to do what was best for the interests of the Craft .

Royal Arch.

EOYAL ARCH .

—tot-. — CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

II is announced that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has been pleased to appoint Brother Colonel F . R . Sewell Grand superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry for this Province .

Supreme Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

A MEETING of Royal Arch Masons was held in Glasgow on baturday afternoon , for the purpose of consummating the mion of the Grand Chapter of Earlv Grand Roval Arnh HW .

masons with the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of ^ cociand , the former body representing Chapters which formerly of tt ° m aected with the Early Grand Encampment of the Order the Temple in Scotland . The special Committee from the

iim U ' and Chapter , empowered to carry out the details of Grai ^ Si Mark ' s Hal 1 ' Buchanan Street , where a Special lanci Chapter was held , presided over by the Depute First GrTi Jf- " - P ' i ° -F- W . Allan , Glasgow . The Early -wa Chapter was convened in St . John ' s Hall adjoining , and

Supreme Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

presided over by M . M'Blain Thomson Grand First Principal , ten Chapters being represented . Preliminary business having been completed , the Early Grand Chapter was formally dissolved and declared closed for ever , and the Companions present thereupon proceeded to Sfc . Mark ' s Hall , where they were admitted and received into full communion aud fellowship with the Supreme Grand Chapter . — " Scotsman . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA ,

ONE of the most intimate friends of the late Bro . William Masters , whose sudden death was recorded in our last issue , has supplied us the following details of his Masonic career , justly remarking thafc in Bro . Masters the Craffc has lost one of its mosfc devoted members . He was initiated in the Lodge of

Sincerity , No . 458 , Northwich , about 25 years ago , and after serving the office of W . M . removed to London . A founder and P . M . of the United Northern Counties Lodge , No . 2128 , he became its Secretary , and the many splendid meetings of that Lodge were due in great measure to his strong individuality ,

genial presence , and business aptitude . A joining member of Peace and Harmony , No . 60 , after serving the minor offices , he has died whilst actually the W . M . Nominated as Grand Steward in 1893 , our Brother will be remembered as one of the besfc Secretaries of the Board of Grand Stewards ever known . But it

is with regard to the splendid work Bro . Masters has done in connection with our Charitable Institutions , and particularly the Boys School , that his memory will live green . He was a Life-Governor of the Girls School with two Stewardships , a Vice-President of the Benevolent with seven Stewardships , aud a

Vice-President of the Boys with five Stewardships . Bro . Masters was one of the early members of the Provisional Management Committee appointed in 1889 to re-constitute the Boys School —elected one of the Board of Management in 1891 , and again in 1892 , and so recently as April last without opposition for a

further period of three years . During the whole of that period Bro . Masters' record of attendance at the Board , and various Committees of which he was a member , was invariably fche premier . As Chairman of the Buildings Committee , his practical knowledge served the Institution to good purpose , and the many

improvements in sanitary , lighting , and other matters , were largely done under his supervision . The loss to the Boys School is truly expressed by the sentiment on the wreath sent by the Board of Management— " A much loved and valued member . " The funeral , as already reported in our columns , took

place afc Sfc . Albans Cemetery , on Friday , the 10 th insfc ., being preceded by a service in the Parish Boom , conducted ( by request ) by Bro . the Rev . Philip Deedes P . P . G .

Chap . Herts , assisted by the Rev . D . Carteret , and Bro . the Rev . H . A . Hebb , Head Master of the Boys School . Brother Gitfin , the Organist of St . Peter ' s , presided at the organ , and the choir of St . Peter ' s also assisted . The church of St . Peter ' s is

undergoing repairs by Lord Grimthorpe , so was nofc available . The funeral cortege was preceded by the choir of the Boys School , who , to the number of eighteen , attended to pay a lasfc mark of respect ; to one who had ever been kind to them . The scene at the cemetery was most impressive , and our Boys gave a happy

and beautiful rendering of "Rock of Ages" at fche side of the grave . Amongst those who attended were Bros . W . F . Smithson P . G . D . Vice-Cbairman of fche Board of Management , Charles E . Keyser P . G . D . Treasurer , G . E . Fairchild A . G . D . C , F . Burgess , G . Corbie , H . E . Diamond , H . Pritchard , W . A . Scurrah ,

C . Pulman , J . Stephens , J . J . Thomas , and J . M . McLeod Sec . as representing the Boys School ; Bros . Kempster P . M . P . G . Stwd ., H . Slade P . M . P . G . Stwd ., A . H . Debenham , E . Rogers P . M . Secretary , 0 . Polenz , and H . and F . Slade , of Lodge No . 60 ; Bro . McLeod ( by desire ) , representing Lodge No . 458 ; Bros .

Smithson , Giller , Davidson S . W ., Haydon , Chant , Davis , Munro , Bourne , Moysey , and Nundv , representing Lodge No . 2128 ; Bros . Dixon P . M . 231 , Watts 108 , E . P . Debenham J . W ., and others , representing the Rose and Lily Lodge of Mark Masons , No . 354 ( of which Bro . Masters was P . M . and Secretary ); Dr

Bates W . M ., and others , representing the Halsey Lodge , No . 1479 ; and others . Wreaths were sent by the following : Mrs . Masters ( wife ) , Mr . T . Masters ( brother ) , Mrs . Stelfox ( sister-inlaw ) , Mr . S . R . Bolas ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . S . B . Bolas ( brotherin-law ) , Bro . Horace Slade , Alderman and Mrs . Slade , Sydney Mabel , Gerty , and Leslie Slade ( basket of flowers ) , Bro . and Mrs .

Smithson , Mr . R . Porter Keates , Bro . McLeod , Mr . Davidson , Mrs . F . Parker Dixon , Mr . and Mrs . F . Blanks , Mr . and Mrs . James Dickson , Mr . and Mrs . Wright ( box of orchids ) , Mr . and Mrs . Tagnon , Mrs . Godden , and Mrs . Harvey , and MissBagshawe ; Lodge of Sincerity , No . 458 , Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 60

United Northern Counties , Lodge , No . 2128 , Rose and Lily Mark Lodge , No . 354 , Halsey Lodge , No . 1479 , St . Albans , the Board of Management Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , the Boys from the Masonic School , the Employees in London , and the Campbell Tile Co ., Stoke-upon-Trent ( box of lilies ) .