Ancient And Accepted Rite.

M . AV . S . for the ensuing year and Bro . Hervey , AA'as re-elected Treasurer Avith the same gratifying unanimity . The chapter was then closed , and the brethren sat doAvn to an excellent banquet . During the course of the evening , a splendid gold

jeAvel as Past Al . AV . S ., Avas presented to Bro . Her \ ey by the Al . AV . S . in the name \> f the chapter amidst demonstrations of warm approval , and the worthy Treasurer expressed his acknoAvledgnicnt eif the compliment . Both Bros . Sanders and Collum returned thanks for

the reception of their names . When the toast of the "Neophytes" * Avas proposed , the former brother in a masterly speech replied with animation and point , and the latter , with brief but

appropriate allusions to the fraternal goodwill and fellowship , Avhich he had ever experienced from brother Alasons in every part of the globe . After a singularly pleasant and agreeable evening the brethren separated .

Consecration Of St. John's Chapter, Torquay.

CONSECRATION of ST . JOHN ' S CHAPTER , TORQUAY .

A Provincial Grand Chapter Avas held on Thursday , the 23 rd ult ., at the St . J ohn ' s Lodgeroom , Torquay , for the purpose of consecrating the St . John ' s Chapter . Amongst the company present Avere : ¦— -The Rev . J . Huyshe , Past J . of Grand Chapter , and Prov . G . Supt . of Devon ; L . P . Aletham , P . A . S . of Grand Chapter , and

Prov . G . H . ; R . H . Rae , P . Prov . G . J . ; T . Band , Prov . G . S . AV . ; G . Glanfield , P . Z . ; H . Hopkins , P . Z ; ; B . Bowden , P . Z . ; Josiah Austin , P . Z ., P . Prov . G . A . S . S . ; Edward A . Davies , H . ; J . Purse , Edward Appleton , AVm . Yates , Bovey , 106 ; C Piller . . 106 ; T . Oliver , 106 ; The warrant AV ; IS read by E . Comp Davies , S . E ., pro . lent .

The following oration Avas then ably given by the ALE . Comp . L . P . Aletham : — " Companions , —It is at till times desirable , when Freemasons meet to dedicate a building- or

a room to the purposes ot their Crait , that their attention should be recalled to the serious obligations to which , by taking part in the ceremony , they individually and collectively pledge themselves . And if this is true Avith reirarel to our

Craft Lodge , much more so is it true Avhen app lied to the Royal Arch Degree . The adtlress , therefore , which is usual on these occasions is most properly given at this early period of the proceedings , in order that , should , unfortunately , there be any companion present AVIIO has not thought seriously enough of the meaning of the sublime

ceremony in which he is about to take a part ; AVIIO is content to regard it only as a beautiful spectacle , or to join with lip service only in its ritual , he may be aroused to take a deeper and more personal interest in what Ave are about to sav and do . Beautiful , solemn , and full of significance as are the ceremonies and leadlines of

the other degrees , ' they lade into nothingness when compared with the objects of research pertaining to the Royal Arch . They speak of time , and the affairs of time , this speaks of wlint will be when time shall be no more . They take their stand on the life side of the narrow but deep

boundary Avhich divides death from life ; tins carries us across that boundary into the presence of the Infinite . They show us , as in a glass darkly , a dawn leading but to ephemeral light . This teaches us to reach the Eternal Land where dawn and morning , evening and night , cloud and

storm , are unknown—all swallowed up in the ever-enduring brig htness which floods its courts . Well would it be , then , for every Companion to reflect , that around the name of the Great I AAI centre the mysteries and teachings of this sublime degree , and that better Avould it be not to approach it in a light or unbecoming manner .

Let each remember and try to imitate the reverence with which the holy name of Jehovah Avas ever pronounced by our Jewish brethren , to whom years of trial and penance were enjoined before they were allowed to participate in the mysteries of the Order . It is indeed the climax of Freemasonry ,-and it is intimately blended with all that is near and dear to us in another state of

existence , but to reach it m spirit Ave . must practice through life that self-denial and that constant labour which is { forcibly represented to

Consecration Of St. John's Chapter, Torquay.

us in the case of our ancient brethren , to Avhom Avas committed the task of clearing away the rubbish and ruin which concealed the foundation of the Temple . AVe must cast off self-indulgence ; Ave must come out of the slough of idleness , immorality , and the mortal sins which

so easily beset us , before , like our antient brethren , Ave can reach the only true foundationstone on which is to be built up that new living and eternal temple which is so beautifully figured to us in this degree . Of itself Alasonry is not religion , although the most reli gious man may

Avell select Alasonry as an instrument with which to improve himself , reclaim the erring , reform the depraved , and , above all , to leach and practice that charity without Avhich real religion cannot exist . Up to this point Alasonry is but the handmaid of religion , deriving the lessons

she expounds in morality , wisdom , and charity , from a source indeed Avhich cannot pour forth turbid Avaters or utter an uncertain sound , the volume of the Sacred LIIAV . But when we have reached this point she bids us raise our eyes to that bright morning star , whose rising shall bring

down peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient ofthe human race . And if Ave have , as Alasons , acknowledged and obeyed the moral government of the Great Architect of the Universe , if we have followed the strai ght and undeviatinsr line of conduct marked out for us in

the volume of the Sacred Law , by His unerring and impartial justice , Ave may contemplate without fear the setting of our little sun of life in the dark valley to the shadoAV of death . By a proper study of Alasonry we shall ri ghtly learn our duty to God and man ; commencing with an

avowal of belief in an omnipresent Providence , and the practice of every social and moral virtue , we shall work onwards , as it Avere , from the circumference to thc centre of the soul , until Ave ( eel and acknowledge in our science a clear corroboration of the truth of religion . As the

historical facts recorded in the Bible , Avhich constitute the sacred landmarks of our order , are palpable in their truth , so do the lessons they teach , gradually lead the upright Alason to imbibe those spiritual doctrines , Avhich , in their essence , and in their practice , insure for him atonement and

eternal salvation . But again and again , this sublime degree urges on ils members the practice of the most wide and catholic charity . In short , to him Avho has ri ghtly considered Alasonry , it is as the ladder Avhich Jacob saw in his vision , its lowest round was set on the earth , but thc toil

reached to heaven . And as on every step of that ladder were angels ascending and descending , forming one bright chain connecting heaven and earth , so docs this , the highest , the noblest , and the sub ' . imest degree , teach its graduates the same lesson thev- were taught at their initiation , the

practice of the most wiele and catholic charity , to enforce this upon us as a duty to be practised in our daily life and conversation . I conclude in the words of that ancient charge which is too often omitted at the closing of our chapter— " Companions , —A ' ou arc about to quit this sacred

retreat of peace and friendship , and to mix a » 'ain with the world . Amid all its cares and employments forget not the sacred duties which have been so frequently inculcated and so strongly recommended in this supreme convocation ; be ye , therefore , discreel , prudent , and

temperate' . Remember , also , that around this altar you have voluntarily and solemnly vowed to befriend and relieve with unhesitating cordiality , every brother who shall need your assistance ; that you have promised to remind him in the most gentle manner of his failings , and to aid

his reformation—to defend and vindicate his character whenever Avrongftilly traduced , and to suggest the most candid , the most palliating , and the most favourable circumstances , even Avhen it is most liable to reprehension and blame ; thus shall the Avorld see how dearl y Alasons love one

another . But , my brethren and companions , you are to extend these noble and generous sentiments even further . Let me impress upon your minds , and let it be instilled into your hearts , that every human being has an undoubted claim to your

kind offices . A \ e , therefore , strictly enjoin you to do good to all , Avhile we more particularly recommend to your care , the house'VioLl of the faithful , so that by diligence and fidelity in the duties of your respective avocations , by liberal

Consecration Of St. John's Chapter, Torquay.

benevolence and diffusive charity , by constancy and sincerity in your friendship , by beinguniformly kind , just , amiable , and virtuous in your deportment , yon may prove to theAvorld the happy and beneficent effects of our antient and

honourable institution . Let it not be said that you laboured in vain , or Avasted your strength for nought—for your work is before the Lord , and your recompense is Avith your God . Finally , brethren and companions , be all of one mind ,

live in peace , and may the God of love and mercy deli ght to dwell among you and bless you for evermore . " If individually and collectively Ave act on the principles thus clearly laid down

and thus strongly enforced , then shall Ave have nobly ansAvered the great end of our existence , then shall AVC have conscientiously fulfilled our obligations as true Royal Arch Alasons , and our Alasonic life and death will be

" Like some bri ght ri \ -er from fall to fall . In many a maze descending , bright through all , Finds some fair regions AA-here each labyrinth past , In one full lake of light it rests at last . " The M . E . Z . declared the Chapter duly constituted and consecrated .

The Acting Z . then installed the folloAving companions , nominated by warrant : —E . Comps . Robert Bowden , Z . ; Henry Hawker , H . ;

Thomas Oliver , J . The following Comps . Avere then invested : ¦—AAcatson , S . E . ; Bovey , S . AV . - , Lyner , P . S . ; Greenfield , A . S . S . j and Yates , J . A . S .

The ceremony being concluded , the Chapter Avas closed , and the companions adjourned to the . Ship and Albert Hotel . Avhere a banquet Avas provided , Avhich gave credit to the proprietor , and the companions spent a pleasant evening .

Freemasonry In Trinidad.

FREEMASONRY IN TRINIDAD .

The consecration of the new hall of the Caledonian Lodge ( No . 324 ) , S . C . Granada , Trinidad , took place on Thursday , April 2 c , th . The following members of the Craft were in attendance : —Bros . John AI . Aird , G . Palmer , G . Humphreys , A . Simmons , AL G .

Stephenson , AV . Kerr , D . G . Garraway , J . P . G . Munro , P . Aludie , J . R . Bertram : ! , AV . ) j . AVells , F . R . Baker , J . T . Otway , A . B . Campbell , J . F . Preudhomme , A \ . E . Alayers , D . R . Preudhomnie , A . J . Nugent , J . G . AVells , W . J . Mitchell , J . ' Steele , AV . S . Comissiong , Geo . Simon , C . J . Wells , and G . A . Munro .

The lodge was opened in the first , second , and third degrees ; and the Consecration ceremony commenced . After prayer , solemn music was performed on the . harmonium b y Bro . J . P . Alunro , and grand honours given . AVhereupon , Bro . Aird , R . AV . AL , delivered the following

oration : — " Aly dear Brethren , —Having met on •this auspicious occasion as fellow labourers in thp laudable vvork of consecrating a temple for the dedication of the solemn rites of Freemasonry , AVC

may not unprohtabl y devote a lew moments to a rapid review of the principles and tenets of our ancient institution . AVe have no authentic account of the time Avhen it Avas first instituted . In a Avork entitled " Illustrations of Alasonry ,

pubhsned in 17112 , by Bro . AV . Preston , Alaster of the Lodge of Antiquity in London , the ori gin of Masonry is traced from the Creation . " Ever since the symmetry began , and harmony displayed her charms , our order had a beintr . " By

other accounts the antiquity oi Alasonry is carried up no further than the building of King Solomon ' s temple . In Dr . Henry ' s History of Great Britain , we find the ori gin of the Freemason ' s society attributed to the difficulty found in former

times ol . procuring workmen to build the vast number of churches , monasteries , and other edifices Avhich the reli gious opinions entertained in those ages , prompted the people to raise . Hence the Alasons Avere greatly favoured by the .

I opes , who granted them man ) ' indulgences , with a view to augment their numbers . In those times , it may be Avell supposed that such encouragements from the supreme pastors ofthe church must have been productive of most beneficial effects to the fraternity , and in consequence