Ar00902

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

KOYAL CUMBERLAND CHAPTER , No . 41 . lOlST ANNIVERSARY , AND PRESENTATION TO COLONEL . A . W . ADAIR . ON Thursday , the 11 th instant , the Royal Cumberland Chapter attained its 101 st anniversary , having been warranted on the 11 th Jan . 1782 . Advantage was taken of the occasion to present Colonel A . W . Adair , the Grand Superintendent of the Province , with a gold centenary jewel—the first of its kind ever issued—and an illuminated address . The proceedings were of an unusually interesting and pleasing oharaoter . At six o ' clock the Chapter was opened , and the following Officers , Companions , and Visitors ad .

mitted : —Lawson Howes M . E . Z . P . G . R ., F . Wilkinson H ., C . W . Radway J ., T . B . Moutrie Treasurer , E . J . B . Mercer Soribe E ., Francis Glover Scribe N ., William Peach P . S ., R . B . Cator lst Assistant S ., J . Knight 2 nd Assistant S ., C . Becket P . Z ., J . Hearne P . Z ., H .

Hopkins P . Z . 41 328 587 710 , T . P . Ashley P . Z ., T . Wilton P . Z ., W . Williamson I . P . Z . P . G . A . S ., E . L . Hill P . Z . P . P . G . A . S ., S . G . Mitohel P . Z . P . P . G . R ., R . E . Peaoh P . Z ., T . S . Keene P . Z . Members-F . H . Goldney , G . H . Bartlett , W . S . Wilcox , J . H . Macfarlane , J . Robin son , W . H . Young , W . H . Reynolds , J . Hayward , S . Bigwood , A . W . Adair ( Grand Superintendent ) , T . E . Wilton , Charles Wilkinson .

Visitors—J . A . Timmios Royal Sussex 53 Scribe E ., J . Snmsion Royal Sussex 53 , Ed . England Phillip Tynte 379 P . Z ., W . A . Scott P . F . P . 61 P . Z ., G . V . Law Royal Sussex 53 C , J . B . Wilson Royal Sussex 53 C .

After some preliminary business had been disposed of , Companion Thomas Wilton , one of the oldest P . Z . 's of the Chapter , advanced to the dais , and addressing the presiding Prinoipal , said owing to the unfortunate absence of their very old and esteemed P . Z ., Edmund White , who at his advanced age had been unable to undertake the

journey ^ from Weston-super-Mare in order to be present on that very interesting ocoasion , it had fallen to his lot to occupy a position which Companion White would no doubt have filled with more ability and efficiency than himself . He must , at the outset , congratulate the first Principal upon the very distinguished position that Chapter oconpied

in being the first in England able to prove a continuous working of 100 years . They were on that day commemorating the first year of another century , and it must be gratifying to all present to see the Chapter in such a vigorous and prosperous condition . Having obtained a centenary charter from the Supreme Grand Chapter of

England , signed by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , it was thought that the event should be celebrated by electing Colonel Adair , the Grand Superintendent , as a member of the Chapter . Turning to Colonel Adair Companion Wilton , addressing him personally , said that , he having graciously consented to join the Chapter , the

Companions determined to mark the event by presenting him with a gold centenary jewel , and he ( Companion Wilton ) now asked his acceptance of the jewel—which was the first of its kind presented to any Grand Superintendent in England—as a token of the kindly feeling entertained for him , and in recognition of the Masonic good work he

had done in the Province of Somerset . Although his dear friend , Edmund White , was not there to personally testify his appreciation of that ceremonial he had deputed him , on his behalf , to present the accompanying illuminated scroll commemorative of the presentation

of that jewel , and which wonld be a lasting record of the kindly feelings and generous sentiments entertained by the Companions towards Colonel Adair , not only in Bath , bnt by the Province generally . The address was as follows : —

ROYAL CUMBERLAND LODOE , NO . 41 , BATH . Warranted 11 th January , A . L . 1782 , Centenary Charter granted August , A . L . 1882 . To the Most Excellent Companion , Colonel Alexander Wm . Adair , Grand Superintendent of the Province of Somerset , and P . P . G . M . Somerset .

Most Excellent and very Dear Sir and Brother , We , the Principals , Past Principals , Officers and Companions of tho Royal Arch Cumberland Chapter , No . 41 , respectfully request your acceptance of the accompanying Centenary Jewel—the first of its kind issued—as a small , though marked , testimonial of the

great esteem in which you are deservedly held by tho Masonic body of which you are a distinguished ornament , and more especially of our own affection and respect for you personally , and for the manly and Masonic virtues of which you have given us so many proofs in all the high offices to which yon have been appointed , especially in that of Grand Superintendent of this Province ; in which we pray the Supreme Grand Architect of the Universe may long preserve you in peace , happiness and prosperity .

[ The signatures of the whole of the members of the Chapter will oo appended to this address . Ifc shonld bo mentioned that it was Beautifull y illuminated , iu different colours , ' on vellum by Messrs . Wil-

Royal Arch.

kinson Bros ., Union-street . It is to be enclosed in a very handsome frame , carved with suitable Masonio emblems . ] The jewel having been pinned npon Colonel Adair ' s breast , and tho address having been handed him , —Colonel Adair , who was evidently very sensibly affected by the cordial manner in whioh he had been greeted on that occasion , and also at the thonghtfulness of

Bro . White—who has for close upon fifty years been a member of the Chapter—at the commencement of hia reply expressed the great gratification it afforded him to accede to the wishes of the Companions that he shonld become a joining member of the Chapter . He could most heartily Masonically thank them for their kindly expressions towards him , and assured them that the jewel would ever be worn by

him as a pledge of that Masonic friendship held towards him by tha Bath brethren , and that the illuminated address which had been prepared by the thonghtfulness of Brother White would most oertainly find a resting-place in his dwelling . He trusted that , in years to come—when , perhaps , he had passed away—those who followed him would view with satisfaction the testimony of those who had

that day Masonically banded themselves together to do him honour . He regretted exceedingly that Brother White was not present in person , but he felt assured he was there in heart . Every Companion wonld regret with him most heartily that increasing age had precluded him from a personal participation of the pleasures of that day . He ( Col . Adair ) could look baok to M isonio friendships

formed in Bath during a period of over thirty years , and he always felt , whenever he came into the good old city , that he was sure of meeting many friends , with whom he had had much intercourse , and who , equally with himself , were pleased to renew old associations . He again thanked them most heartily , and trusted that , at no distant date , he shonld be able to come amongst them again . After the business had been disposed of the Companions adjourned

to the Grand Pump Room Hotel , where they partook of refreshments . M . E . Z . Lawson Howes occupied the chair , supported by Colonel Adair and the other Officers , and thus an important event in the annals of this Chapter , of whioh all who had the privilege of being present will have grateful reminiscences , came to a satisfactory conolosion . Comp . Maofarlane , by his assistance in the musical arrangements , added very considerably to the pleasures of the evening .

The monthly meeting of the Lodge oi Benevolence waa held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bros . Joshua Nunn , James Brett and Thomas Cubitt occupied the three chairs . Bro . Nunn informed the brethren that

he had to give them the very satisfactory intelligence that since the last meeting letters had been received from four recipients of relief , thanking the Lodge for their grants . This was a circumstance which did not often occur . There

had been also two very gratifying acknowledgments from America , one a copy of resolutions passed by the Grand Lodge of Illinois , signed by the Grand Master , "Wardens and Secretary , thanking the Lodge of Benevolence for assisting an Illinois brother to return . A brother in

Chicago , also , who was relieved with £ 10 , in 1880 , to enable him to return to his native country , had also sent a letter thanking the Lodge and returning the £ 10 . Bro . Nunn said these were not the only instances the Lodge had had

of similar acts by American brethren , and it showed the brotherly feeling of American Freemasons . Bro . Nunn then stated that he bad given notice to Grand Secretary to move at the Special Grand Lodge which would be convened to consider the Revised Constitutions , that before a

brother could be eligible for relief he shonld be a subscribing member five years . Bro . W . Smallpeice said , he had g iven notice of motion thafc fche quarterages of both London and country brethren should be four shillings a year . The

Lodge then confirmed recommendations of grants at last Lodge to the amount of £ 180 , and granted a total of £ 685 to the new list , which consisted of 29 petitioners . Four of these were deferred , not being complete . The Lodge sat till near ten o ' clock .

The General Committee , for January , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , was held at Freemasons ' Hall , on the 25 th inst ., under fche presidency of Colonel Creaton . There were also the following brethren present : Col . Peters , J . H . Matthews , A . H . Tattershall , Arthur E .

Gladwell , Robert Grey , Peter de L . Long , and E . C . Massey . The minutes of the 28 th December . Were read and verified , and the minutes of the following Committees were read for information , viz ., Quarterly General Court , 13 th January ; House Committee , 18 th Jannary ; and Audit Committee ,

21 sfc January . The Chairman was authorised and requested to sign cheques to the amount of £ 1 , 379 14 s 5 d for tradesmen ' s bills , & c . for December . This was the only business before fche Committee , and a vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .