Devon Educational Fund.

DEVON EDUCATIONAL FUND

A SPECIAL meeting of subscribers is to be held at the Freemasons' Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth , on Thursday next , at 3 p . m ., for the purpose of electing two candidates on the Fund . The ballot will take place immediately after the ordinary business is completed , and the poll will close at five

o ' clock . At the last annual meeting , of the six candidates submitted three were successful in procuring election ; the others are now being brought forward with 529 , 30 , aud 26 votes respectively . From November next twenty-four children will be on this Fund ,

entailing a large annual expenditure . The yearly concerts given in the Plymouth Guildhall have added considerably to the resources , and the Committee feel confident that a similar event , which takes place next month , and which will be conducted by

Bro . B . Binding P . M . P . P . G . O ., Inspecting Bandmaster , E . N ., will be the means of still further assisting the Funds . A special appeal is made to Devonshire Freemasons for an increased amount of support towards this good object , and to do their best to maintain this truly Masonic Chanty , says " The Western Mercury . "

Centenary At Lewes.

CENTENARY AT LEWES .

THE meeting of the South Saxon Lodge to celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the dedication of the Lewes Freemasons ' Hall took place on Wednesday , 20 th inst . The minutes of the dedication were read , and proved to be a most interesting record of the proceedings of that ancient date .

The brethren afterwards adjourned to the White Hart Hotel to supper , which was ably presided over by the W . M . Bro . W . Flint . The company included many old Past Masters of the Lodge and several distinguished visiting brethren , in addition to the present Officers and members .

Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

riHHE Church of St . Martin-in-the-Fields having been recently I re-opened after decoration , it has been arranged to hold a Masonic Service on Sunday , 7 th November , at 3 . 30 in the afternoon , when the Ven . the Archdeacon of Essex P . G . ChapIain has kindly promised to preach the sermon . A collection will be made on behalf of the E . M . Institutions for Boys and Girls .

It is hoped that there will be a considerable attendance of the Brethren , and the Officers of the St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 2455 , who are arranging the details , venture to ask the personal

interest and influence of members of the Craft , in order to make the Service a complete success . A dispensation has been obtained for Brethren to appear in Masonic Clothing and Jewels , and accommodation will be provided for changing .

A SPECIAL Service is to be held to-morrow ( Sunday ) r \ afternoon at St . Andrew ' s , Holborn Viaduct , E . C , when a collection will be made on behalf of the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution . A dispensation has been granted for the wearing of Masonic Clothing and Jewels . The service will commence at 3-30 , the Sermon being preached by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair P . G . ChapIain .

There is certain to be a vigorous protest against the announcement that tickets for admission to St . Paul ' s Cathedral , when the bi-centenary celebration takes place , shall be limited to Freemasons . If the Masons consider that they can justify the holding of a special Masonic service well and good . But

why on earth , it is asked , should a celebration of national interest be monopolised by Freemasons ? What had their guild , which comprises an exceedingly meagre number of gentlemen competent to build a brick shed , to do with the building of St . Paul's Cathedral ? It must not be supposed that I am expressing

my own views in saying this . I am merely echoing the sentiments of persons who , on reverent , national , and archaeological grounds , fail to see what "locus standi " Freemasons have at all on such an occasion—still less , why these no doubt estimable gentlemen should be permitted to monopolise it . — " Manchester Chronicle . "

The Fifteen Sections will be worked at the Israel Lodge of Instruction , No . 205 , to-morrow ( Sunday ) evening , at the Eising Sun , Globe Eoad , Bethnal Green , commencing at 6 p . m ., Bro . L . Simmons 1278 presiding . The position of I . P . M . will be filled

by Bro . £ . Stewart P . M . 2411 , that , of S . W . by Bro . B . DaCosta P . M . 1349 , and that of J . W . by Bro . L . A ' . DaCosta P . M . 1349 . Some of the best known workers of the East End of London are included in the programme , and the ceremony promises to be equal to auy of the previous successes of this Lodge of Instruction .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

A QUAETEELY CONVOCATION will be held at the Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday next , 3 rd November , at six o ' clock in the evening .

BUSINESS . The Minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the Accounts from the 21 st July to the 19 th October 1897 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To Balance , Grand Chapter - - - £ 485 2 11 ,, „ Unappropriated Account - 194 11 0 „ ' ,, Subsequent Receipts - - 363 5 10 £ 1 , 042 19 9 By Disbursements during the Quarter - 377 17 4 „ Balance - - - - - 477 2 S „ „ Unappropriated Account - 188 0 0

£ 1 , 042 19 9 which Balances are in the Bank of England , Law Courts Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following Petitions : — 1 st . From Companions Lord Addington as Z , Rev . William Miles Myres as H , Richard Frederick Shillingford as J , and eight others for a Chapter to be attached to the Grenville Lodge , No . 1787 , and to meet at the Grenville Lodge Hall , High Street , Buckingham , in the County of Buckinghamshire .

2 nd . From Companions George Frederick Busbridge as Z , Frederick William Robinson as H , Bertrand Grant as J , and twenty others for a Chapter to be attached to the Papyrus Lodge , No . 2562 , to be called " The Papyrus Chapter , " and to meet at Freemasons' Hall , London . The foregoing Petitions being regular the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have likewise received Memorials , with extracts of Minutes , for permission to remove the following Chapters : — " The Lewis Chapter , " No . 1185 , London , from the King ' s Arms ' Hotel , Wood Green , to the Holborn Restaurant , W . C .

" The Studholme Brownrigg Chapter , " No . 2421 , from the British Schools , to the Station Hotel , Amersham . " The Lome Chapter , " No . 1347 , Sutton , from the Greyhound Hotel , to the Masonic Hall . " The Chapter of Felicity , " No . 58 , London , from the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall Street , to the Grafton Rooms , Beak Street , W .

The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommend that the removal of these Chapters be sanctioned . The Committee have also received a memorial from the Joyce Chapter , No . 942 , Port Chalmers , New Zealand , asking for permission to change the name from the " Joyce Chapter , " to the " Port Chalmers Marine Chapter , " and the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

NOTICES OF MOTION . By Ex . Companion John Strachan , Q . G ., Past Deputy Grand Registrar : 1 —To add to Regulation 43 the following words : — " And Regulations 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , and 32 are hereby declared not to be applicable to Provincial and District Grand Chapters . "

2— " That whereas doubts have arisen as to the right to past rank of certain Provincial and District Grand Chapter Officers who have been appointed to office while not holding corresponding rank in their respective Provincial and District Grand Lodges , it is hereby Resolved that His Royal Highness the Most Excellent First Grand Principal be respeefcfully requested to confirm in

the rank respectively attaching to their appointments , all such present and past holders of office in Provincial and District Grand Chapters . " By Ex . Companion J . E . Le Feuvre , Past Grand Sword Bearer : — "That the following words bo ro-introduccd in the General Regulations , previous to No . 12 : — ' Regulations for the Government of

the Supreme Grand Chapter during the time of public business . ' " By Ex . Companion Samuel R . Baskett , Past Provincial Grand Registrar , Dorset : — " That whereas a question has arisen as to the true construction of No . 43 of the General Regulations , it is hereby Resolved and declared that Regulation 43 relates only to the Government of

Provincial and District Grand Chapters during the time of public business , and does not apply , and never has applied , to the appointment of Provincial and District Grand Officers . " ( Signed ) GEORGE D . HARRIS , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 20 th October 1897 .

Things Masonic have been very much to the fore in South Africa of late . First in importance is the fact that the new and handsome Masonic Temple at Johannesburg is now open . It has been erected in Plein Street by a committee representative of the Brethren of the English , Scotch , and Netherlands Constitutions on the Eand . The building is an imposing

threestoried edifice decorated with Ionic pillars of freestone , and embracing banqueting hall , Chapter rooms , and numerous other apartments and offices , all beautifully fitted . The Craft throughout South Africa are taking a keen interest in the new home of their Transvaal Brethren , says the " African Critic , " and the opening festivities were made the occasion of much mutual congratulation .