Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

ON the 10 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Maple Street , Newcastle , Sir Matthew White Bidley , Bart ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Superintendent Designate of the Province of

Northumberland was duly installed in the office of first Principal , the ceremony being performed by Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Third Grand Principal England , who was accompanied by Comp . E . Letchworth Grand Scribe E .

A feeling reference was made by the presiding Officer to the loss sustained by the Grand Chapter in the death of Colonel Addison Potter , C . B ., the late Prov . Grand Superintendent . He then referred to the excellent choice of the First Grand Principal

of England ( H . B . H . the Prince of Wales ) in appointing Sir M . W . Bidley to the high office of First Principal of the Chapter of Northumberland . Sir Matthew White Bidley was installed to the chief office of Northumberland by Comp . Beach , who said he had the greatest pleasure in doing so .

After the installation , Comp . J . G . Youll , Newcastle , was appointed by the Prov . G . Superintendent as Prov . G . H ., and Comp . A . Winlaw , Berwick , as Prov . G . J ., Comp . G . E . Macarthy was elected Prov . G . Treasurer , and the I'rov . Grand Superintendent appointed the following Officers : —

Comp . Thos . Purvis - - - - Scribe E . W . M . Lyon .... Scribe N . T . J . Armstrong - - - Registrar W . F . Carmon - Principal Sojourner J . J . Forster lst Assistant Sojourner

A . T . Aitchison ... - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner R . G . Salmon ... - Sword Bearer W . Tweedy ... - Standard Bearer George Spain .... Director of Ceremonies

William Green - Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies Roger Brand .... Organist Wm . Davidson ... - Assistant Scribe E . Joshua Curry ... - Janitor .

Comp . J . G . Youll was appointed a Trustee , in the place of the late Comp . J . H . Bentham . The Prov . Grand Superintendent thanked Comps . Beach and Letchworth for their presence , and the ceremony in which they had taken the chief parfc that day . He expressed his thanks for

his appointment to that high office , which should have his best efforts according to his time , and he was sure he would have the help of many able and willing Officers . He referred with regret to the loss Masonry had sustained by the deaths of Col . Addison

Potter , C . B ., J . H . Bentham , Adam Eobertson , and Thomas Dinning , and made suitable allusion to the excellent work they had done in the Province . The Chapter was afterwards closed . — " Newcastle Daily Journal . "

Consecration: Sherborne Chapter.

CONSECRATION : SHERBORNE CHAPTER .

AN interesting ceremony was performed at Stroud , on the 8 th inst ., when a new Boyal Arch Chapter , for which a warrant was issued by the Grand Chapter of England nearly twelvemonths ago , was consecrated and formally constituted in accordance with the impressive ritual of the Order . The degree of the Holy Eoyal Arch is a recognised branch of Craft Masonry ,

fche complement of the three regular degrees , and its Chapters are usually affiliated to Craft' Lodges . The Chapter opened is attached to , and bears the name of , the senior of the two Lodges meeting at Stroud , the Sherborne , No . 702 ; but its membership will be supplied by both of the Stroud Lodges , and by the other Lodges of the mid Gloucestershire district to which it is

convenient . The Sherborne is the fourth Chapter in the Province of Gloucestershire . The three previously existing chapters are located , one at Cheltenham and two in the city of Gloucester . That at Cheltenham is known as the Chapter of Unanimity ,

and is attached to the Foundation Lodge , No . 82 . It holds the premier position by virtue of its seniority , and as being affiliated to a Lodge which was founded in Cheltenham in the year 1753 , and which has now met in the town of its origin and in a hall built by the liberality of its members for the past se ^ enty-five

years . The senior of the two Chapters at Gloucester is attached to the Eoyal Lebanon Lodge , No . 4 . 93 , and was consecrated in the year 1876 ; the other bears the name of the Lodge Boyal Gloucestershire , No . 839 , and was consecrated and opened

twelve years ago , the late Col . Shadwell Clerke Grand Scribe E . of England presiding at the ceremony . At that time the Prov . Grand Chapter of Gloucestershire had not been formed ; but Comp . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach was made the first head of the new Chapter with a view to its formation , which took place m the year following .

The present opening of a fourth Boyal Arch Chapter is therefore the first ceremony of the kind since Provincial Grand Chapter was constituted . Its foundation is justified by the prosperity of the Chapters already established ; but , as a fact

Consecration: Sherborne Chapter.

the increase of Boyal Arch Masonry is likely to be largely promoted by a recent relaxation of the conditions of membership on the parfc of the Grand Chapter , and no long interval is now likely to occur before the ceremony at Stroud is repeated in connection with other flourishing Lodges in the Province .

The warrant for the formation of the Sherborne Chapter was granted on "the petition of the following Companions of the Eoyal Arch degree , viz ., the Eev . C . J . Martyn P . G . Soj . of Eng . Grand Supt . of Suffolk , Dr . J . Partridge P . Z . P . P . G . D . C , W . Warman P . Z ., J . Albin Eoberts P . Z . P . P . G . J ., General

Vizard , A . E . Grieve P . Z . P . P . G . B ., James David P . Z . P . P . G . B ., E . N . Witchell P . Z . P . G . D . C , E . Lea , B . J . Weston Prov . G . S . B ., J . Kyle , Eev . W . Lyon , E . Hulbert , M . F . Wood , J . H . Daniels , J . Brown , A . G . Spire , and E . W . Northcott , who are founders and first Members of the Chapter .

The ceremony of consecration was performed by the Grand Superintendent the Bight Hon . Sir Michael E . Hicks Beach , Bart ., assisted by Comp . B . V . Vassar-Smith Prov . G . H ., and J . Bruton Prov . G . J ., as Principals . The usual formalities were observed in the opening of the

consecrating Chapter and then the charter or warrant of the new Chapter having been presented and read , Comp . Martyn , in eloquent terms , addressed the Companions on the origin and principles of the degree and on the lessons inculcated by its symbols .

Next followed the office of consecration as prescribed by the time-honoured ritual of the Order . The anthem , " Behold how good and joyful a thing " was succeeded by a dedicatory prayer and invocation , and then the three Principals perambulated the Chapter bearing richly chased vessels containing corn , wine , oil ,

and salt , with which in succession the floor of the Chapter room was sprinkled . Grains of corn were scattered as an emblem of Plenty ; wine was poured out as a sign of Joy and Cheerfulness ;

oil was sprinkled as a token of Peace and Unanimity , and salt was offered as a symbol of Hospitality and Friendship . Each oblation was marked by the reading of an appropriate Scripture extract and by the choral rendering of a verse of a hymn .

The ceremony closed with the formal dedication of the Chapter by prayer , and then an appropriate anthem was sung before the new Chapter was duly constituted by the installation of its futnre Principals and Officers . The service throughout was an impressive one , its effect being much added to by the excellence of the musical

arrangements , for which the Prov . G . Organist , Comp . J . A . Matthews was responsible . — " Cheltenham Examiner . "

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PANTOMIME SEASON . THE GAIETY RESTAURANT Adjoins THE GAIETY THEATEE , and is quite close to THE LYCEUM , DBUEY LANE , COVENT GARDEN , THE GLOBE , THE OPEBA COMIQUE , THE STBAND , THE ADELPHI , THE VAUDEVILLE , TEBBY ' , TOOLE ' , & C , & C . FOR MATINEES — BEFOEE THE PEEFOEMANCE . Hot Luncheons at popular prices in the EESTAUEANT ( lst floor ) . Chops , Steaks , Kidneys and all Grills in the GEILL ROOM . AFTEB THE PEEFOEMANCE . Dinners 3 / 6 , 5 / -, and a la Carte in the EESTAUEANT ( with band ) . Grills and Special Dishes in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAS IN THE RESTAURANT . FOR EVENINGS . — BEFOBE THE PEEFOEMANCE . Dinners 3 / 6 , 5 / -, and a la Carte in the EESTAUEANT ( with Band ) . Grills and Special Dishes in the GEILL ROOM . AFTER THE PEEFOEMANCE . Grills and Special Dishes in the GRILL ROOM until 12-30 . THE BAND PLAYS IN THE . RETAURANT FRCM 6 TILL 8 P . M . PRIVATE DIKING ECOMS fOE LAEGE AMD SMALL PAETIES Proprietors , SPIERS & POND , LIMITED .