Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

rpHE annual meeting was held on the 19 th inst ., in the X Town Hall , Bury . Tho M . E . Prov . Grand Snpt . Col . Le Gendro Nicholas Stavkio , presided over a gathering numbering nearly 100 members of the degree . All the 38 Chapters wero represented , witli two exceptions .

Comp . J . Chadwick Prov . Grand Scribe E . read the annual report , which congratulated the Prov . Grand Snpt . upon tho continued prosperity of Royal Arch Masonry within tho Province . Tho number of subscribing members returned for the past vear was 978 , against 922

in the previous year , and tho finances of the Province bore an equally favourable comparison . During their periodical "visits to tbe various Chapters , the Provincial Grand Officers had observed in many instances that the attendance was good and the working highly creditable . There

wero some few Chapters where there was room for improvement in regularity in holding their meetings , and in their working generally , but promises made and assurances given led to the belief that more energy and diligence would bo displayed , and that a better result

might be anticipated . The accounts were passed by the meeting , and a sum of £ 20 was voted to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic and Benevolent Institution . Col . Starkie afterwards invested tho following as Provincial Grand Officers for the year ensuing : —

J . H . Sillitoa H . A . H . Jefferis J . John Chadwick S . E W . J . Cnnliffe S . N

W . S . Weeks Registrar . A . Hopkinson P . S . J . Loftus 1 st Assistant S . T . Mellor 2 nd Assistant S S . Warbnrton Sword Bearer .

Joseph Harhng Standard Bearer . C . E . Collingwood Dir . of Cors . Thomas Preston Assist . Dir . of Cors . H . Mellor Organist . James NOJVIOH Assist . S . E . Thomas Higson Janitor . The Chapter was succeeded by a dinner at tho Dorby Hotel , Col . Starkio in the chair .

CALEDONIAN CHAPTER , No . 204 ( MANCHESTER ) .

fPHE bi-monthly meeting was held in the Freemasons Hall , on JL Thursday , tho 19 th inst . Present—Comps . Eidersbsw M . E . Z ., Willis H ., Shatter J ., Swinn S . E ., Powell S . N ., Russell P . S ., Hughes A . S ., Aldred P . Z . Treasurer , Duinvillo P . Z . P . P . G . S . B . Dir . of Cers ., Millen P . G . O . Organist ; Comps . Sallon P . P . G . S . B ., Cliffe , Nathan , Molesworth P . P . G . S . N ., and Sohofield P . Z . 's ; Comps . Andrew ,

Millen , Naphtah Hill , Jackson , Watson , Foxoroft , Sawyer , Hargreaves , Sborrock , and Richardson j Visitors—Comps . Royle P . S . 1 ) 35 , Thomas P . Z . 377 , Smith H . 615 , Goddard 993 . The Chapter was opened at 5 * 15 in due form , aud the minutes of the previous convocation read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for Bros . Hardy ,

Thomas , Thomhill and Boothroyd , and announced favourable . Bros . Hardy and Thomas were subsequently exalted to the Holy Eoyal Arch degree by Comp . Eldershaw Z ., and Comps . Thomhill and Boothroyd by Comp . Cliffe P . Z . The beauty aud impreesivetiess of tbe ceremonies were much enhanced by tbe effective rendering of the musical programme , fiv which this Chapter is noted . The music

was arranged by Comp . Domviile P . Z . P . P . G . S . B ., and was admirably executed by Comp . Millen , the Chant und Anthenu being given by Comp ? . Dumvilie , Smith and Shorrock . The business concluded aud Chapter closed , the Companions spent n very enjoyable social honr listening to several songs and gleeB provided by tho musical Companions .

TRAFFORD CHAPTER , No . 149 G ( MANCHESTER )

fluIE bi-monthly meeting was held at tho Western Hotel , Most JL Side , on Wednesday , the ISth inst . Present—Comps . liiggs M . E . Z ., May bury H ., Rathbone J ., Jones S . E ., Thornason P . S ., Kershaw 1 st Assistant Soj ., Blows 2 nd Assistant Scj ., Burslem P . Z . Treasurer , Johnson P . Z . Dir . of Cers ., Long Organist , McKelltiu P . Z ., Golleman P . Z . P . P . G . T ., Lund , Battersby , Knight , Wilnon , aud

llampsori . Visitors—Kcbort Btirenfurd ' M ' J , and John Gnrside M . E . Z . 317 . The Chapter was opened iu due form at 6 * 15 , and thf minuter of the lust convocation read aud confirmed . There beiug no candidates to exalt , too three lectures wera delivered—tho fu-at by Comp . Burslem , the second by Gimp . Biggs , and the third by Comp . ilathbone , alter which the Chapter was formally closed .

Royal Arch.

COVENT GARDEN CHAPTER , No . 1614 . \ CONVOCATION of this Chapter ( the fifth since the oonseoration - £ * . in July last ) was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly Circus , S . W ., un the 19 th inst . Present—Comps . Hewett M . E . Z ., Cox acting as H ., Kedge J ., Uoncock P . S ., Colturt P . Z . as N ., Burgess Acting Scribe E . ( in the absence of Comp . G . Reynolds , throii . ; h illness ) , Clarke 1 st Assistant Soj ., Jacobs 2 ud Assistant Soj ., Fromholtz Steward , Stacey P . Z . Organist , Potter Jauitor , Dawson , Foan , Bullen ,

Hoggins , Graham , Rowe , Woodward , Blyth , Bergholz , Stanley Spooner , Harris , Throssell , and Kirk Visitors—James J . Wool ley H . 2191 , F . Harrisou T . Z . 177 , and G . H . Reynolds 1321 . The Chapter having been formally opened , the minutes wero read and cotiflrmed . Bros . Stanley , Spoouer , G . A . Ber « hoIz , and A . Harris , of tbe Anglo-American Lodge , 2191 , were impressively exalted into

tho Royal Arch Degree by tho M . E . Z ., ably assisted by tho Principals and Officers . Letters regretting enforced absence , tbrongh illness , were read from Comps . G . Reynolds Scribe E . and J . Skinner Scribe N . After hearty good wishes the Chapter was closed , and the Companions adjourned to a banquet , ably served by Bro . G . P . Bertini . The customary Loyal and Royal Aroh toaBta

were proposed in a cordial manner and heartily responded to . For tho Visitors , Comps . James J . Wool ley , F . Harrison , and George H . Reynolds replied , and expressed themselves in terms of approval at the manner in which tho Chapter work had been rendered , and of tho hospitality aud good fellowship whioh permeated the Covent Garden Chapter . After a pleasant evouing tho proceedings terminated with the Janitor ' s toast .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METHAM LODGE , No . 96 . ''PHE members held their annual meeting on the 24 th inst .. at the JL Masonio Rooms , Home Park , Stoke . Bro . Dillon P . P . G . A . Secretary ( the W . M . eleot ) was installed . Bros . W . J . Stanbury P . P . G . D . C . and Gillman P . P . G . D . C . were the installing Officers . The Officers invested were Bros . Pengelly I . P . M ., Poster S . W ., Fry

J . W ., Rev . Dr . Lemon P . P . G . S . W . Chaplain , Miller M . O ., Davis S . O ., Booth J . O ., May S . D ., Osmond J . D ., Stanbury Treasurer , Painter Seoretary , Blaokall Registrar of Works , Gillman I . G ., Rashbrook Tyler ,

LYEGROVE LODGE , No . 218 . fjHIK animal festival took plaeo on Monday , tho lGth inst ., nt the JL Town H . i . Chipping Sodbnry . Auionpst thosa preseufc wero Bros . Baron do ferric-res Prof . Grand Mar' .- Master ot the Province , \ V . Forth P . D . P . G . Mark Master , W . R . Fulton Prov . Mark Master P . G . Steward , aud several other influential brethren from tha Province and Bristol . The ceremony of installing Bro . C . Roberts

Prov . Graud Sword Bearer as W . M . of the Lodge WUB performed by Bro . Forth , assisted by the R . W . Prov . Grand Mark Master , and other Prov . Mark Masters . The musical portion of the ceremony was efficiently performed by Bro . Shrapnel ) , npon an organ kindly provided lor tho occasion by Bro . Bennett . The following Officers

were afterwards invested by the W . M ., viz .: —Bros . Gunning I . P . M ., Milligan S . W ., Merrick J . W . , King M . O , Owner S . O ., Rossiter J . O ., Nnysmith Treasurer , Newman Secretary , Hughes Registrar of Marks , Evans S . D ., Bennett J . D ., Ferris Dir . of Cers ., Lea I . G ., lies Tyler . The brethren afterwards sat down to an excellent banquet , provided by Mrs . Codrington , at the Grapes Hotel .

Obituary.

Obituary .

MR . HUGH WILLIAMS . THE remains of this worthy brother , who died at his residence , Lathom View , Egremont , were conveyed to tho grave , on the 19 th iust . The place of interment was the deceased ' s family vanlt in Walton Churchyard , and at tho

chnrcb where the funeral service took place there was a large congregation , including members of the Masonic Order , the pilot service ( of which the deceased was a retired Master ) , and representatives of other public bodies , who had been associated with Mr . Hugh Williams . As a

Freemason the deceased had originally been initiated in the Mariners' Lodgo , No . 240 , home thirty-six years ago ( then held in Duke Street ) , and rose to the position of P . M ., and upon a strong desire being evinced to form another Lodge an offshoot of the Mariners , Bro . * Williams assisted

some twenty-two years ago in forming tho now popular Neptune Lodge , No . 1264 , of which he was tho first f . P . M . Subsequently he attained the Provincial rank of Assist . Grand Dir . of Cera . Bro . Williams was a Life

Governor of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution . The service at the grave was made additionally impressive by the W . M . of 126 M-, Bro . Kohn , giving a . Masonic address to tho brethren present .