Rulers In The Craft.

RULERS IN THE CRAFT .

ENGLAND'S gain will be a severe blow to the Province of Sussex , the members of which will lose H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as their local Masonic chief as a consequence of his promotion to the chief Office in the English

Brotherhood , and the same may be said as regards the far off District of Bombay , of which the Duke has been the Masonic ruler since 1687 . Both of these sections of the Craft will doubtless hail the new Grand Master with the most loyal greetings ,

but they can hardly fail . to feel a pang of regret—especially Sussex—in losing so popular and painstaking a local ruler , albeit they will enjoy with their fellows the honour of serving directly under him , in his new and more exalted position .

It is understood the new Grand Master will pay a special visit to Brighton for the purpose of installing his successor in the chair of the Province of Sussex .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

A SPECIAL meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire was held at the Crewe Arms Hotel , Crewe , on Wednesday afternoon , under the presidency of the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master . On the proposition of the Chairman , seconded by Bro . F . Broadsmith Acting Dep . P . G . M . a resolution was adopted

expressing sympathy with the King and the Royal Family at the great and irreparable loss sustained by them and the nation by the death of the late Queen Victoria ; a further resolution of congratulation to the King , on his accession to the Throne , was carried .

At the close of the Provincial Grand Lodge , the Prov . G . M . presided over meetings of the various Charity representatives of the Benevolent Institution and Educational Committee of the Province . The Chairman read a letter from

Col . C . S . Dean , of Birkenhead , resigning his position as Chairman of the Charity Council . The meeting accepted the resignation with much regret . Brother Flenry Jackson will perform the duties of Chairman until the June meeting , when a resolution will be passed confirming his appointment .

Bro . H . Jackson reported on the voting strength of the Province . They had 2 , 300 votes 'for Boys , 600 for Girls , and 2 , 500 for Widows and Aged Masons in the Benevolent Institution . They had from the Province of Cheshire at present six boys in the Masonic School in Londoncosting

, about £ 200 a year ; 4 girls , costing about £ 150 a year ; with six Aged Masons and three widows , receiving from the funds of the Royal Benevolent Institution £ 336 a year , making a total of £ 716 which the Province of Cheshire was

receiving from the Central Charities in London . He expressed the hope that the forthcoming Masonic Festival , at Knutsford , would materially help the funds of the Province . T , ^ ° - F . Stevenson was re-appointed Hon . Secretary , and Bro . bimm Hon . Treasurer of the Educational Institute

Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND .

THE newly elected First Grand Principal of Scotland the Hon . C . Maule Ramsay , replying to the toast of his health , at the installation meeting of the Grand Chapter on the 20 th inst , said that now the Supreme Grand Chapter was established in its own home it was incumbent on them to follow

tne example they saw in the Grand Lod ge of Scotland during the last twenty-five years , which had steadily but surely put itself in a state of complete solvency and wealth . He thought

it was only fair that from time to time they should consider their position and see how they stood , not as compared with last year only , but as compared with afew years ago , and he bad a statement that embraced at least ten years , which

Grand Chapter Of Scotland.

showed that the funds of the Supreme Chapter had increased steadily from £ 5 , 300 in 1890 to over £ 8 , 000 in 1899 , so tnat the yearly increase during that time had averaged something like £ 300 . The number of Companions had also shown a steady increase , though during the last year the increase did

not equal either of the two preceding years . In 1897 , for instance , 1 , 237 were added , in 1898 1 , 244 , and in 1899 only 1 , 086 . He trusted that was owing to some temporary circumstances or conditions , because for the last year the registrations , though the accounts were not altogether closed ,

amounted to no less than 1 , 290 , which was in excess of any other year during the last ten years . That was certainly a matter of congratulation for them . It behoved those of them in Edinburgh and Glasgow , which were naturally , of course ,

the two greatest centres of Masonry in Scotland , to see that nothing was left undone that could continue to promote this steady increase , and to bring the Provinces into better working order .

We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday Bro . the Rev . F . C . Corbett , M . A ., Rector of Long Marton , Carlisle , was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature . We hope in our next issue to give a biographical sketch of Bro . Corbett , who is the author of several

volumes of a theological and poetical character . Brother Corbett ' s nomination certificate , recommending him for the distinction of F . R . S . L ., was signed by the following Fellows of the Society : Bro . Dr . Charles Forshaw , F . R . H . S ., Bro .

James Hartley , Bro . Robert Brown , Bro . Dr . Percy Lodge , M . A ., Bro . the Rev . J . E . Perkins , M . A ., Bro . Dr . Walter Kaye , M . A ., Bro . Dr . Kinsley Walker , F . R . C . P ., Bro . Dr . Erskine Stuart , F . S . A ., Bro . Prof . Miles , Rev . W . C . Minifie , D . D ., E . Gilbert Highton , Esq ., M . A ., and Bro . Mackenzie Bell .

The Fifteen Sections will be worked in the Royal Athelstan Lodge of Instruction , No . 19 , at the Clachan , 34 King Street , Regent Street , W ., to-morrow ( Sunday ) evening , commencing at 6 . 30 prompt . Bro . W . Cleghorn P . M . 1287

will act as W . M ., with Bro . R . Sandland S . D . 2398 S . W ., Bro . A . P . Lowthian W . M . 1900 J . W ., the veteran Bro . C . A . Cottebrune P . M . 1257 P . G . P . Preceptor , C . H . Denny 2076 P . M . 1671 Treasurer , and J . I . Moar 2076 P . M . 813 Secretary .

••• Bro . W . J . Carroll W . M . 1227 , who has been established as a watch and clock maker and repairer , at 17-19 Beer Lane ,

E . G ., for upwards of half a century , has acquired more central and convenient premises at 20 London Street , Fenchurch Street Station . The old premises will be retained for workshops . We wish our Brother every success in his new venture . •••

We are compelled to hold over several reports , including those of meetings of the Shepherds Bush Lodge , No . 1828 ; Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1524 ; together with other items of interest , in consequence of pressure on our space .

* * # Bro . J . Ernest Lane , F . R . C . S ., Sec . Sancta Maria Lodge , No . 2682 , appeals to other members of the medical profession , through the columns of the " Lancet , " on behalf of Doris Sail , aged nine years , daughter of E . W . H . Sail , M . R . C . S .

Eng ., till recently in practice at Southsea , who has been compelled to relinquish practice and to go on a sea voyage owing to the complete breakdown of his health , and is anxious to

secure the election of his little girl to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls at the election in April . Any votes will be thankfully received and acknowledged by Bro . Lane , 4 Queen Anne Street , W ,