Royal Arch.

The Committee have received a report from the Grand Superintendent of Eoyal Aroh Masonry of Victoria , Australia , stating that the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Canada has recently thought fit to establish three Royal Arch Chapters in the Colony of Victoria , and that such Chapters are in aotive work .

The Committee feel it to be their duty to bring this serions matter at once before Grand Chapter , and to remind it that the Grand Lodge of England has always held and maintained that the jurisdiction of Colonial and Dominion Grand Lodges cannot be recognised as extending beyond their own territorial limits .

The Committee have therefore to recommend that Grand Chapter should declare these Royal Arch Chapters thus established by the Grand Chapter of Canada , in Victoria , to be irregular , and should direct that the English Royal Arch Chapters in that Colony—of

which there at present eleven—be informed of the same , and ordered to hold no communication with these Canadian Chapters and to refuse admission to their members ; and further , that a copy of such resolution of Grand Chapter be transmitted to the ¦ Grand ^ Royal Arch Chapter of Canada for its information .

The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a memorial from the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Brunswick , in British North Amerioa , reporting that they had been regularly established in March 1887 , aud asking recognition by the Grand Chapter of England , aud that fraternal communication may be established between the two Grand Chapters .

The Committee recommend that , inasmuch as the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick has been duly acknowledged by the Grand Lodge of England and representatives exchanged , the Grand Chapter of New Brunswick he also recognised . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : —

1 st . From Companions Ed ward Hyde Hewett , C . M . G ., as Z ., Lennox Browne as H ., Edward Luxmoore Marshall as J ., and seven others for a Chapter to be attached to the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 , London , to be called " The Empire Chapter , " and to meet at the Criterion , Piccadilly , London .

2 nd . From Companions Walter Hopekirk as Z ., Henry Albert Lovett as H ., James Kew as J ., and six others for a Chapter to be attached to the Manchester Lodge , No . 179 , London , to be called "The Manchester Chapter , " and to meet at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleetstreet , in the City of London .

3 rd . From Companions George Francis Crane as Z ., George Henry Cooper as H ., Hugh William Henry Elwes as J ., and six others for a Chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Unity , No . 71 , Lowestoft , to be called " The Lowestoft Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Lowestoft , Suffolk .

The foregoing Petitions being in all respects regular , the Com mittee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have further to report that they have received a

Memorial from the Companions of the Chapter of St . James , No . 2 , London , praying for a Charter authorising them to wear a Centenary Jewel , in accordance with the Resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st of February 1882 .

This Memorial being in form , and the Chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence which will complete 100 years in June , the Committee recommond that the prayer thereof be granted , the Charter to be dated the 13 th June 1888 . The Committee have also received memorials , with copies of minutes , for permission to remove the following Chapters : —

The Vane Chapter , No . 538 , from the Freemasons' Hall , to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn . The Meribah Chapter , No . 350 , from the Grapes Inn , Stoneclough , to the Church Hotel , Kearsley . The Queen ' s Westminster Chapter , No . 2021 , from 8 A Red Lion square , to the Holborn Restaurant , Holborn .

The Committee recommend that the removal of these Chapters be sanctioned . The Committee beg to recommend and the President will move : — That the sum of one hundred guineas be granted from the funds of this Grand Chapter as a donation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls .

The Committee also recommend that the trustees of the funds of Grand Chapter be authorised to consent to the conversion of the 3 per cent . Consols into the 2 J per cent . Stock . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY ,

President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 18 th April 1888 . Election of the Committee of General Purposes for : he ensuin " twelve months .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SUSSEX .

^ l ^ HE animal meeting oi : the Provincial Grand Chapter JL of Sussex was held on Saturday , the 14 fch inst ., at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton . The Provincial Grand Superintendent , Comp . Gerard Ford , presided , and was

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Sussex.

ably supported . The Provincial Grand Superintendent addressed those present as follows : — Companions , —It is now twelve months since , for the first time , it became my duty to address yoa from this chair , and although there is now little npon whioh I need dilate , yet you will agree that it ia

advisable for the usual custom to be adhered to of referring to the coudition of Royal Arch Masonry in the Province at this , our annual meeting . Since I last delivered an address to yoa we are less numerous by some seven Companions . This being so , it behoves ns more than ever to stand shoulder to shonlder , and , by our unity and

our Masonio conduct generally , to attract new acquisitions to Royal Arch Masonry . It does not follow that we are in a retrograding position because we have lost a few members , for as I have , I think , said before , a comparatively small bnt compact fraternity may have greater strength , do more good , and set a better example

in Masonry than a larger but , perhaps , less cohesive body ; whilst wa can recognise , on the brighter side of the picture , the satisfactory circumstance that there have been some twenty exaltations , and at least one in every Chapter of the Province . You have heard read the statistics , which shew that our finances are in a fair condition ,

and I trust that at the close of another year we may , by new accessions to our numbers , be able to show a still better balance sheet . I am sure all here will share my regret that amongst our visitors we cannot nnmber several Companions of distinction , who , but for the distribution of prizes at the Royal Masonio Institution

for Girls to-day , would have responded to my invitations . I am alto very sorry that our Prov . Grand Treasurer , Companion Crosskey , is unable to be present to-day . He spent the winter abroad , under medical advice , and returning , almost entirely to attend to Masonic duties , has suffered a relapse , but , although much better , is still

confined to his room . I hope he will soon be restored to health . I must thank the several Principals throughout the Province for their assistance , and I hope that they and their successors will continue to do their best to secure the abiding prosperity and popularity of this sublime degree .

The following Officers were elected for the ensuing year : — Comp . W . H . Hallett P . Z . 271 - H . W . Dawe . s P . Z . 40 - - J . Freeman P . Z . 311 315 732 - S . E . H . Abbey P . Z . 271 - - S . N .

R . Crosskey P . Z . 311 - - Treasurer R . Pidcock P . Z . 916 - - Registrar H . Davey P . Z . 732 - - Sojourner E . Broadbridge P . Z . 811 - Assistant Sojourner S . Tanner P . Z . 311 - - 2 nd Assistant Sojourner O . Lloyd P . Z . 38 - - Sword Bearer

G . R . Lockyer P . Z . 315 - Standard Bearer H . E . Price H . 1466 - - Director of Ceremonies A . King P . Z . 271 - - Organist C . Briscoe P . Z . 311 - " > Qi . „ , J . M . Reed Z . 732 - - j Stewards H . H . Hughes - - . - Janitor The Chapter having been formally closed , the Companions sat down to a banquet , served up in elegant style by Bro . Mutton .

Prov. Grand Chapter Of Cumberland And Westmoreland.

PROV . GRAND CHAPTER OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND .

THE annual Grand Chapter of this Province was held at Carlisle on Tuesday , 10 th inst ., in the County Hall , under the banner of the Union Chapter , No . 310 .

The Chapter was opened at 12 30 p . m . M . E . Comp . Jas . A . Wheatley P . Z . 310 P . P . G . J . presided as Z ., Comp . G . Dalrymple as H ., Ed . Tyson J ., George J . M'Kay S . E ., R . J . Nelson Treasurer , H . Court S . N ., J . J . Robinson P . S ., J . Paterson Dir . of Cers ., T . A . Argles , C . J . Nanson

J . Hall Stewards , W . B . Cowman Sword Bearer , R , Tyson , Charles Gowan , W . Pagen , Wm . Carlyle , T . Brakenridge , George Murchie , T . J . Richardson , H . Moser , J . G . Gandy , H . Bewes , G . P . Abrahams , James Gardiner , E . B . Mitchell

Ed . Armitage , and others . The minutes of last annual Chapter , held last April at Carlisle , was read and confirmed , when Comp . R . J . Nelson was again elected P . G . Treasurer ; Comp . Messenger was re-elected Janitor . The following Companions were then invested as Prov .

Grand Officers for the ensuing year , viz .: — Comp . George Dalrymple - - H . Dr . Charles Gore Ring - - J . George J . M'Kay - - S . E . Henry Court - - - S . N .

W . B . Cowman - - P . S . Robert Brown - - - 1 st Assistant Soj . Joseph Hall - - - 2 nd Assistant Soj . R . J . Nelson - - - Treasurer James G . Gandy - - Registrar

Thoma 3 A . Argles - - Sword Bearer James Wilson - - - Standard Bearer Joseph T . Ray S . E . 119 - Director of Ceremonies G . P . Abraham - - - Organist

J . C . Mason 310 - - ) Charles Gowan 119 - - > Stewards John Harris 327 - -3 John Messenger - Janitor