Knights Templar At Plymouth.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR AT PLYMOUTH .

11 HE Frater 3 of two Encampments of tha Knights Templar held their annual convocations on Monday , at tho Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Prov . G . Prior . Rev . Dr . Lemon , was through illness unable to attend . The b'isiuras commenced with a convocation of tho Holy Cross Preceptory and Priory of . Malta . S . Kt . Westcott P . P . G . W . II . M-osiilwl . Prater Penirelley P . P . G . R . tho E . C . elect was

installed . Prater Westcott officiated as the installing officer , assisted by Commanders E . Aickou-D . ivio .-i P . P . G . of tho National Great Priory of England and P . P . G . Const . of Devon , Griffin P . G . Reg ., Austin P . P . G . Ex . The Officers invested were Fraters Captain Strode-Lowe- I . P . E . C , Thomson Const ., Lavers Marsh ., Wostoott Treas ., Griffin Regis ., Regar CO ., Gidley Guard , Phillips Equerry Without .

The Convocation of the Royal Veterans Precoptory and Priory of Malta followed . Frater Dillon P . P . G . V . C . the E . C . elect was installed . Fraters P . E . C . Lord , Trevena , Jew P . P . G . T ., were the installing Officers , assisted by the P . E . C . present at the previous convocation and P . E . C . Grover P . P . G . Chairman . The Officers appointed were : — E . S . Knight Lord I . P . E . C , Fraters Wallis 1 st C

Kinton Bond 2 nd C , Cornish Prel ., Austin Treas ., Gover Regis ., Roberts Exp ., Hamilton C . L ., Trevena P . B ., Major Grey Skipwith R . M ., H . Phillips * Guard . E . S . Knight Dillon was installed as a Prior of Malta . In the evening the Knights dined togethor is- the refectory of the Freemason ^ Club . Frater Dillon presided . A oapital entertainment was fnrnished , and the two Encampments fraternised with very pleasant harmony .

East Lancashire Masonic Charities.

EAST LANCASHIRE MASONIC CHARITIES .

A MEETING of the Charity Committee of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Froomasons of East Lancashire was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on the 20 th inst ., Bro . Harwo od Chairman , presiding . The principal business was the adoption of candidates for tbe support of the Province at the forthcoming election on . the London Masonio charitable foundations , viz ., one for

the Royal Masonio Institution for Girls , and three old men and one widow for the Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons aud Widows . Bro . Harwood was re-elected Chairman , and Bro . Sillitoe was re-elected Vice-ohairman of the Committee for tho ensuing year , and these brethren , together with the Seoretary Bro . Chadwiok , wore appointed a deputation to attend the Masonio eleotions in

London . It was decided to recommend the Provincial Grand Lodge to make grants to the unsuccessful and accepted candidates for the Benevolent Institution . Afterwards a meeting was held of the General Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic , Masonio , Educational , and Benevolent Institution . It was reported that

dramatic performances in aid of the funds had resulted at Roobdale in £ 54 , and at Bolton in £ 53 being handed over to the charity . Bro . Kershaw was elected on the Finance Committee , in the room of Bro . Jaflery , tho Treasurer , and Bro . Hunt ' s place on the relief and eduoation boards was filled by the appointment of Bro . Thomaa . With these alterations the boards and committee named were re-constitnted as before .

Earl Amherst , the Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Freemasons of Kent , on Tuesday , 24 th inst ., consecrated tho Military Jubilee Chapter , at Dover , being assisted on

tho occasion by his Grand Officers . The three Principals of the new Chapter aro Surgeon G . F . A . S my the , Army Medical Staff , Major-General T . Cumings , late Royal Artillery , and Major G . F . Guyon , Ro \ 'al Fusiliers .

Those who take an interest in tho Royal Masonic Institution for Girls will be gratified to learn that the Executive have secured the services of Lord Carringfcon , Past Grand

Master of tho Freemasons of New Sonth Wales , and now Provincial Grand Master of Buckinghamshire , to preside at the forthcoming Annual Festival . The Festival will be held at Freemasons' Hall , in May next .

Our readers will be sorry to hoar that Bro . John Lane , of Torquay , is seriously ill , and was in a most dangerous state last Sunday . Our latest advice , however , says he is a shade better to-day , and his physician thinks he is out of danger .

At the last meeting of the Sykes Lodge , No . 1040 , Driffield , Bro . T . Dixon , of Beverley , was elected W . M , for the ensuing year .

SMr . Sidney Luska ' s Novel , entitled * ' As It was Written , " will be presented gratis , as an Extra Supplement , with No . 390 of Camel ' s Saturday Journal , published on the 18 ch inst . The same number will contain tho opening chapters of a New Serial Story of To-day , entitled "Olga ' s Crime , " by Frank Barrett , and the following , amongst other contributions : — " Political Leaders and their followers

, " with Fac-simile Letters from the Earl of Derby , the idarqms of Hartington , Mr . Gladstone , and Mr . Akers-Douglas , ^• P . ; Major Clay ' s Victim , " complete sensational story by Johc A . Leys ; "An Interview with Dr . Samuel Smiles "; "Mv Experiences with Graphologists "; " A Visit to tbe returned Parent umce . " Female Rogues of To-day" ; "Blind Man's Bull' on "orseback , compete Story of Adventure , by David Ivor ; & c .

Crystal Palace.

CRYSTAL PALACE .

THE NAVAL BATTLE OF 1813 UETWEEN THE " S HANNON " AND THE " CHESAl'EAKE , " IN FlREWOKkS . THE Easter Monday Free Entertainments at the Crystal Palace will include a grand and early display of Fireworks by Messrs . C . T . Brock and Co . The greatest novelty will be a Naval Device representing the battle between the " Shannon " and " Chesapeake , "

which took place ou 1 st Juue 1813 . A series of naval disasters sua . tained by British vessels in fights with those of the United States Navy determined Captain Broke , of the " Shannon" to attempt to avenge them . He accordingly challenged Captain Lawrence , commanding the American frigate " Chesapeake , " then in Boston

Harbour , to meet the " Shannon" iu the open sea , and deoide the superiority in a stand-up fight between the two vessels . The American captain , flushed with previous victories , aocepted tho challenge without hesitation , and the battle , fought about fifteen miles from Boston , in the presence of a large uamber of smaller

oraft , who had come out to witness yet another British defeat , resulted in the capture of the " Chesapeake" after a moat desperate and sanguinary fight , whioh , though lasting only thirteen minutes , cost victor aud vauquished no leaa than 252 men , killed and wounded . Amongst the former were the captain aud first lieutenant of the " Chesapeake , " and the first lieutenant of the " Shannon , " while the

British Captain was dangerously wounded . At the close of the fight , therefore , the command of the " Shannon" and the vanquished " Chesapeake " devolved on Lieutenant Wallis , who successfully disoharged the task of bringing the two vessels , crowded with wounded and dying , safely to Halifax , after a six days' voyage close to an enemy ' s coast . After a long and distinguished naval career , Lieut . Wallis attained the rank of Admiral of the Fleet in 1875 , and is now

the senior officer on tho Navy List . He will reach the age of 100 years next month . ' Two Fire Portraits will form part of the display , one of Lieutenant Wallis in 1813 , the other of Admiral Sir Provo Wallis , G . C . B ., 1891 . The fire portrait at the earlier age ia from a fine oil painting kindly lent to Messrs . C . T . Brock and Co . by Sir

Provo Wallis himself for the purpose ; the later fire portrait is from a recent photograph . Messrs . Brook ' s great novelty , " Whistling Fireworks , " together with a sixfold device , " The True Lover ' s Knot , " and the usual unequalled aerial display , will all be included on Easter Monday .

The Exmouth Freemasons , who form a very large body , are determined not to be outdone by neighbouring towns in the matter of Lodge accommodation . A movement is now on foot to provide not only a Lodge-room , but also rooms for a Masonio CJub , and the building will , in all probability , be completed before the close of the present year . The Hon . Mark Rolle has acted very generously in

the matter , giving up some old houses for whioh he ia reoeiving £ 27 a year in rent , is not asking any price for the old buildings , and is willing to grant the site at a ground rent of £ 2 a year for tbe first two years , and £ 1 for the remainder of a 99 years' lease . Messrs . Kerley and Ellis and Mr . Sberwin have offered to provide plans free of cost , and they havo been asked to submit , as quickly as possible ,

drawings for the buildings . The successful arohiteot will then be instructed to superintend the erection of the Club . The funds are being raised by members of the Fraternity taking up shares . Already £ 720 worth are subscribed for . The building , when completed , will most likely be a three storied one , will be an ornament to the neighbourhood in which it is to be built , aud will certainly be of immense advantage to the Freemasons living in and aronnd Exmouth

Mr . R . D . M . Littler , Q . C ., C . B ., who has recently tilted lancaa in tho lists with Mr . Hanbury aud a Parliamentary Committee with reference to the privileges aud dutios of counsel , is now standing counsel to half the great Eoglish railway companies , besides having one of the most varied practices at the English Bar . He first became prominent from his successful advocacy in defence of the captive

Confederate Commissioners in tbe days of the American Civil War , his efforts earning him the thanks of Mr . Jefferson Davis , the President of the Confederacy . Mr . Littler has a charming residence st Southgate . Tradition has it that James I . once hunted at " Broom * field " when the Jaoksons owned it , and the ceilings of the old hall , which is the great feature of the house , were painted by Sir Jas . Thornhill . Here the emiuent Q . C . Jas a delightful sanctum , with a rare

collection of china , ivory tusks , inkstands formed from the hoofs of favourite horses , ancient bronzes , a choice library , and a billiard table . He is very fond of the cigar and the company of an aged coolie and a splendid dachsuud . A considerable part of his leisure time—and despite the Bar , aud the Middlesex County Council , and the Wood Green Local Board , he does find leisure—he devotes to Freemasonry . Ho was one of the Founders of the Northern Bar Lodge , and the Bank of England Lodge has known his Mastership .

GIVING ALODOEK NOTICE TO QUIT . —Mr . Punch , Perpetual Universal Graud Post , Present and Future Master , congratulutea H . R . H ., Grand Master of English Freemasons , on his plucky and straigluforwurd action with regard to the G . 1 I . of Otago and Southland

New Zealand , who , having contravened the resolution of Grand Lodge , 6 th March 1878 , may now exclaim in bitterness of spirit , " O for a Lodge in some vast Wilderness ! " " for , " says in effect , H . R . H ., G . M ., aa th jnce frequently quoted Somabody observed to a person whose name was not Dr . Ferguaon , " you dou't lodge here ' . "

On Sunday last a special musical service was held in St . Paul ' s Church , Heaton Moor , under the auspices of the Prince Edward Lodge of Freemasons , No . 2107 . The brethren met at their Lodgeroom , at the Heaton Moor Conservative Club , and , wearing their

regalia , marched in proceasiou to the church , where a sermon waa preached by Bro . Rev . John Watson , rector of St . Judo ' s , Manchester , P . Prov . Grand Chaplain E . L ., at tha close of which a collection was caksii in aid of the Royal Masjuic Institution for Boys , tho offertory amounting to £ 20 . .. ... ^