Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — BERKSHIRE .

ADVANTAGE was taken of the important gathering of Freemasons in Reading on Friday of last week to hold the Provincial Grand Chapter at the Masonic Hall , Greyfrairs Road , in the early part of the afternoon . The principal business was the appointment and investiture of the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing

year , as follow : — Comp . S . G . Kirchhofier H . Bev . J . S . Stewart - - J . ¦ J . W . Martin .... Scribe E . W . G . Flanagan .... Scribe N .

C . Stephens - - - Treasurer iO . 13 . Hewett .... Begistrar CF . Dyson .... Principal Sojourner W . 3 . ftfaurice - - - - 1 st Assist . Sojourner

B .. Maples - . - - - 2 nd Assist . Sojourner Major G . C . Bicardo ... Sword Bearer E . B . 'Ormbnd A - - - Standard Bearer G . H . JR . Holden - - - - Director of Ceremonies G . T . Phillips - ... . Organist W . Hemmings - - - - Janitor .

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 890 . A CONVOCATION was held on the 7 th inst ., at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Paddington , W ., -when there were present Comps . j . Bailey P . Z . 160 as Z ., A . 3 . Turner H 1196 as H ., W . P . Hatton P . S . 2246 as J ., -J . Till P . Z . 862 Treas ., H . Foskett 1 st A . S . 1642 P . Soj ., Snlegel P . Z . 834 1556 P . P . G . S . B . Surrey , and A . Clark Z . 2021 .

The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Clark acting as the candidate .

TRUTH CHAPTER OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1458 . iTflHE thirteenth meeting was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on A . Tuesday , llth inst ., Comp . Buckley Carr P . Z . 993 Prov . G . J . Assistant Preceptor .

After the reading and confirmation of minutes the ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , the following Officers assisting , viz .: Comps . Geo . T . Lenard J ., H . Hellewell S . E ., John T . Beynolds H ., and John Benwick P . Soj . This was" followed by the historical lecture delivered by Comp .

Lenard , the same being listened to by an appreciative audience . Among others there were present Comps . Fletcher Armstrong P . Z . 935 P . P . G . A . D . C . D . C , Councillor Saml . I . Mills Treas ., C . W . Godby P . Z ., Thos . Threlfall , Hy . G . Walker , Jas . Cooper , and John J . Dean .

The Late Bro. Thomas Valentine, J.P.

THE LATE BRO . THOMAS VALENTINE , J . P .

IN the Ulster Hall , Belfast , on Sunday afternoon there was a Masonic service , under the patronage of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim and the auspices of Lodgo 51 . The service was fully choral , and , in tribute to the memory of the late Deputy Grand Master Bro . Thomas Valentine , J . P ., some choice musical selections were performed . A silver collection -was taken

up on behalf of the Masonic Orphan Schools of Ireland . There was an immense assemblage , every part of the hall being inconveniently filled . Four o ' clock was the hour announced for the commencement of the service , bufc from shortly after three people began to crowd into the edifice from both Bedford Street

and Linenhall Street . About half-past three it was found that really no more could be admitted , and accordingly the doors afc front and back alike had to be closed . Great numbers were turned away unable fco gain admittance . The orchestra presented a very pretty appearance , being occupied almost entirely by

Freemasons of high rank , all wearing their gay and brightlycoloured abfcire ; Amongst them were many of the Knights Templar in their long snow-white robes , and wifch their belts , swords , & c . But of Masonic garments there was great diversity both in shape and shade . The choir , which consisted of some

forty male voices , was conducted by Bro . Alexander Cotter W . M . 51 , and afc the Mulholland organ Bro . Wm . Hill presided . As the auditors entered they were supplied , as far as possible , with copies of fche service and hymns , compiled in pamphlet form , and a quartet of military bandsmen were present who assisted in the service at various points .

The preacher was Bio . the Eev . L . A . Pooler , B . D . ( Downpatrick Cathedral ) , and prayers were said by Bro . the Eev . F . W . Hogan , M . A . The 100 th Psalm was given as the opening hymn , after which the service was proceeded with in due course ,

and at its close Bro . Sylvester Smith sang very sweetly fche recifc . " And God created man , " and air , "In native worth , " from Haydn ' s oratorio " Creation . " Then followed Mendelssohn ' s " Fesfcgesang , " and the hymn before the sermon was " Lord of our life" ( Garrett ) .

Bro . the Eev . L . A . Pooler took as his text II Peter i , 7 , and . said he had been asked to speak to them that afternoon in tbat place , where they were assembled together not merely as Christians to worship the Mosfc High God , but also as members of a great world-wide Brotherhood , the members of which are

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