Consecration Of The Urban Chapter, No. 1196.

in this chapter that every one who was proposed as a member should be known to one or other of its members , not only well but intimately , not only feeling that he was simp ly a Mason , but that he was a Mason in whom they mig ht trust and upon whom they might rely . Adhering to such a rule the chapter would become second to none in the Metropolis . The great stumbling block at the

present day was for members to be anxious to enlist others in their lodges and chapters . Nothing could be more erroneous . To the companions present it was very well known that a man might be in a very respectable position in life , well to do , anel in many relations perfectly trustworthy , yet when he came into a Masonic lodge he might be one who

sowed dissensions , and of whom the members could not get rid . There he must remain ; and it did not matter how much he interfered with the ceremonies , and set the rules and regulations of the chapter or lodge at defiance , so long s he paid his subscriptions he might remain a thorn in their sides . He hoped the Urban Chapter might never have such a member . Comp . Hervey concluded by

proposing the toast . The M . E . Z . said he hoped the companions might never have to regret the time that they had made him the First Principal cf the chapter . It should be his most earnest , solemn , strict endeavour during his year as First Principal to carry out the principles of Royal Arch Masonry and to do honour and credit to that friendship which had subsisted between him and the other members ever since

he bad been a member of the Urban Loelge , 1196 . He would be unworthy to hold the position he now held , and the position he had held for the last ten years in lodge 119 6 , had he not endeavoured to the best of his ability to cairy out the principles of Freemasonry outside Freemasonry . If a man was a Mason merely for the purpose of saying he was a Mason , and for the purpose of attending

the numerous banquets which he ( theM . E . Z . ) in his public position , as an author and a Mason , had the honour to be invited to , he had better keep out of Masonry . It was his earnest endeavour and inner wish so to conform his life to the spirit of Freemasonry as to remain a worthy brother among them . H : had been a Mason now for nearly 40 years . In some

domestic and family circles he had been requested not to siy how long he had been a Mason , because it happened that at that very time he wis initiated his elelest daughter was born , and she did not altogether like it . She said "I hive no doubt that you enjoy Freemasonry , and that you are very much respected ; but as you wcre initiated when I was born , you need not mention the date . " He said to

her , " The date of your birth is registered in our family Bilile . The Bible is the great book that guides all Freemasons in their walks of life ; and when you turn to that family Bible when I em dead and gone , I hope that never will my conduct occasion you to be ashamed that on thc elay you were born I was made a Mason ; and if so , you ran refer to that Bible for the date of your birth without

fear . " Of course , he need not say what happened then , bhe saiel " All-right , Pa , but don't mention it . " To recur to the subject of the chapter he hoped he might be forgiven for assuming the office of a prophet , and predicting for the chapter very great results . They had set out with it in a very small way . Its nucleus was very small , although they might have proposed to take in large numbers j and

they would then have been able to get them , as their associates in Freemasonry were very numerous . But they said they would make a small beginning , and have only such Masons as they knew they could depend upon . They would not on the night of the consecration propose a large number of joining members and candidates for exaltation , because they felt it would be better to have only those who

wcre sure to do honour to the Order . Hence their joining members that night were limited to six . After the next night no doubt they would have more , and the Urban Chapter would probably become all that Comp . Hervey could wish . A lodge or chapter of 20 subscribing members , independent of thc P . Z . ' s , was sufficiently large . This would lead to general harmony .

I he M . E . Z . next proposed " The Consecrating Officers , " and said that every companion present had been highly delighted with the ceremony and with the admirable way in which it had been performed . Comp . Hervey responeled . The M . E . Z . having proposed the ' •H . and J . " Comps . 14 . H . Pearson and Jonathan Pearson replied .

Dr . Barringcr anil other companions acknowledged thc toast of " The Visitors , " anel Comp . Donald W . King , I' . Z ., replied for " The Officers . " " The Janitor ' s Toast " was given b y Comp . W . Stedman , and the companions then departed . Comps . Seymour Smith and Donald W . King entertained thc companions during the evening with some excellent singing .

London Masonic Club.

LONDON MASONIC CLUB .

The members and friends held their usual monthly dinner ( the first of the session for the winter season ) , on Wednesday , at 6 . 30 . Bro . Joseph Langton , Chairman of Committee , in the chair , and we noticed amongst others

Bros . Dabbing , Shand , Eelcll , Goswell , Langton , jun ., Rumpff , Homes , & c , Sec . The usual loyal toasts were given , also that of the Masonic press , but as this meeting was not strictl y confined to Masons the ceremonies of the Craft were of course omitted .

During the past nine months the amount of Ircsh meat received from abroad was 37 6 , 000 cwt ; in the corresponding ^ term of last year thc receipts were only 77 . 584 cwt . The respective values were £ 11031 , 025 , and R > , IU 7 »

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the agenda of business for Wednesday the 7 th inst .: — The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . The report of the Committece of General Purposes : — The Committe of General Purposes beg to report that

they have examined the accounts from the 18 th July to thc 16 th October , 1877 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : To Balance Grand Chapter ... " ... £ 21 ) 5 18 10 ,, „ Unappropriated Account ... 181 11 11 „ Subsequent Receipts 307 3 o

£ 7 S ± * 3 9 By Purchase of £ 300 Consols @ 94 J and Commission ... ... ... ... 283 17 6 „ Disbursements during the quarter ... 185 o 4 „ Balance 116 19 o „ „ in Unappropriated Account ... 198 19 11

. A 7 » 4 . « 3 9 which Balances are in the hands of Willis , Percival and Co ., Bankers of the Granel Treasurer . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : — ist . From Companions Hugh George Colvill as Z , Thomas Hawken as H , John Richard Collins as J , and

nine others for a Chapter to be attached to the One and All Lodge , No . 330 , Bodmin , to be called " The Saint Petrock Chapter , " and to meet at the Masonic Ha'l , Bodmin , in the County of Cornwall . 2 nd . From Comps . John Chalmers , as Z . ; William Nash , as H . ; Richard M . Blakcr , as J ., and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge Light of the

North , No . 1308 , Dalhousie , to be called " the Egerton Chapter , " and to meet at Dalhousie , Punjab , in the East Indies . 3 rd . From Comps . Major William Edward Williams , as Z . ' ; Henry Keeble , as H . ; Thomas Penidge , as J ., and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Star Lodge , No . 127 ; , Greenwich , to be called "The Stir Chapter , "

and to mettat thc Ship Hotel , ejreenwich , in the County of Kent . The foregoing petitions being in all resp : cts regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereeif be respectively granteel . The Committee have also received the following Pdition : —

4 th . Fiom Comps . Lient .-Coloml Hugh S ewyerSom . rville Burney , as Z . ; Frank Richardson , as II . ; Richard Philip Leeson , as J ., and twelve others for a chapter to be attacheel to the Bayard Lodge , Ne > . 1615 , London , to be called " The Bayard Chapter , " and to meet at No . 33 , Golelen Square , London . This petition is regular in form . It is however contrary

to thc usual custom of the Grand Chapter Committee to recommend an application for a chapter from so young a lodge , but under thc peculiar circumstances of the case thc subject is referred to thc Grand Chapter for its consideration . The Committee have also to report that they have received a memorial from the Wanderers Lodge , No . 1604 ,

praying that the petition for a chapter , to be attached to that louge , which was negatived at the last Grand Chapter , might be again submitted to the Grand Chapter , ami that the Committee would recommend Grand Chapter to reconsider its decision . The Committee taking into consideration the peculiar and special circumstances of the case , recommend that

Grand Chapter be asked to reconsider its former decision in this case . The following notices of motion have been received for the next quarterly convocation : — 1 . By Comp . John Mason , H . No . 73 : ( postponed from the last Grand Chapter . ) In order to harmonise the regulations of the Supreme

Grand Chapter with the Laws of Grand Lodge , and to accord with a recent decision of the Grand Registrar in reference to the powers of Grand Superintendents of districts or provinces , —That paragraph 37 , page 12 , of the R . A . Regulations , commencing at the words " they are also empowered " be expunged , and the following regulation substituted .

Thc Grand Superintendents may summon any Chapter or Companion within their District to attend them within the limits of such District , and to produce the Charter Books , Papers and Accounts of the Chapter , or the certificate of the Companion . If the summons be not complied with , nor a sufficient reason given for non-compliance , a peremptory summons

shall be issued ; and in case of contumacy , the Chapter or Companion may be suspended , anel the proceedings notified to the Supreme Grand Chapter . 'I he decision of the Grand Superintendents shall be final unless an appeal shall be made therefrom to the Supreme Grand Chapter , but no appeal shall be entertained unless transmitted to the Grand Scribe E , within . three calendar months from the date of the decision appealed against .

The Grand Superintendents are also empowered to visit the several subordinate Chapters in the province or district , to see that the laws and regulations of the Grand Chapter are observed . 2 . By E . Comp . Benjamin Head , P . SwnrJ Bearer" That the sum of three hunelred guineas be granted from the funels of the Grand Chapter in aid of the Indian Famine Relief Fund . "

The Indian Famine Fund on Wednesday night had reached £ 434 , , an increase during the week of £ 19 , 000 , —a very considerable falling-off .

Stand On The Old Platform.

STAND ON THE OLD PLATFORM .

This nineteenth century is termed the age of progress , and correctly , for during its continuance human intellect has made more rapid and effective sirid . s than ever before . Art and science have been maele to contribute more lirgely to the comfort of min than the wildest dreamer could have imagined , anel the actual results far

surpass what was hoped from the philosopher ' s stone and other subjects of inquiry by the sages of antiquity . Chaining the lightning and practically annihilating space by the iron way are the more tangible results , but we shall find that in various ways we have marched far beyond the greatest wisdom of the past , so that we may well be astonished when we compare the facilities of the

present with even the state of society within a lifetime . It is within our recollection when a joui ney to Albany in Winter required more time than it now takes to reach Chicago , and when news only came from Europe by sailing packets , while now the daily newspapers give us the news from Europe as fully as it is found in the London papers of thc same date . Nor can we suppose that we have

reached the limit of human ingenuity or exhausted the capacities of science . What wtndcrs arc yet in store for us no one can siy nor will the mind consent to declare anything impossible seeing what has already been accomplished , and that the forward movement never ceases . But while we commend these efforts and accept them as gooel gifts from the Cre . itor , we should not

forget that in some matters we cinnot consistently pass beyond the lines fixed in the beginning , and to obliterate which would be to unsettle the very foundatons of morality ana religion . We believe in a free press , free speech free thorght , but not in their adusi * , for between liberty and license , there is a long disiance and the making apparent this distinction is the special work of

our institution . Masonry is the advocate and exemplar of free thought , but thought bounded always by the recognition of the existence of God . One step beyond this line is to get bejond Masonry and into the d 9 main of infidelity , where it is impossible for Masonry to follow , whatever some Masons may do . We are not , and iu the very nature of things cannot be , a sect , since

within our organisation all sects arc representee ! , but we are and ol no ncces itv must be , religious to the extent of writing on our door-posts the indispensable rceiuirement of a pronounced belief in the Deity . Wc cannot tamper with this , nor allow any argument to be urged against it because it is thc very corner-stone of our orgnaisation , which we accepted when we sought initiation , and which we have

agreed that it is not 111 the p . iwer of any man or body of men to change . Wc re . terate , then , that the recent action of the Grand Orient of France in suppressing from its constitution and rituals all allusion to thc existence of the Great Architect of the Universe is simply to have vaulted beyond Masonry and to recognise infidelity as an act of conscience , to lie

rcspeetcei as an individual right . As a man we utterly deny any such light , anil as a Mason our vocabulary fails , to furnish us words sufficiently strong to express our sense of thc wrong done the craft I y thc act of those professing to represent it in France . This is not a mere ma'tcr of opinion on their part because it is one positively and strxtly forbidden by the foundation principles of thc order

and hence we claim that , Masonry has ceased to have an organised existence in that country , for though thc Grand Orient still continues to exist , and there are lodges and other orgonisations there , they are not Masonic because there can be no Masonry without God . We areallthc more inclined to reiterate our views on this subject because they are those of all hngiish speaking Masons , and because we do not intend tint so far as we

can help it they shall be held responsible for the infidelity of others . Doubtless the attempt will be made to hold us responsible , but if the press is true to its mission , the attempt will fail , for by its aid and influence we shall be enabled to isolate the Grand Orient and its adherents from thc loyal and true . Let us stind on the old ways and have it understood that the free thought that forgets God is not Masonry .

There is something very ruthless about the shafts of wit occasionally dis : harged from the galelry . Charles Matthews has recently been on a tour in the north , playing "My Awful Dad . " The lively farce was preceded by a melodrama , long drawn out , at the prolongation of

which the galleiy , anxious for the appearance of their favourite , showed much impatience ; at length a voice from above was heard to say— " Look sharp , or Charley w ill be too old to play . "—May fair . THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS . —The death of

William Daver . port , the younger of the two Davenpoit Brothers , the pretended spiritualists , is announced by thc Sydney ( Australian ) News , which states that he died there of pulmonary consumption . THE STRIKE or RAILWAY MEN IN IRELAND .

—The ordinary night passenger trains on the Great Southern and Western Railway have commenced to run again the strike Leing over . The foundation stone of a new mission hall atSilverdale , ( Hastings ) , was hid by Bro . T . Brassey , M . P ., on Wednesday .

It is officially announced that Admiral Wellcsley , C . B ., will succeed Sir Hastings Yelveiton as Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty . MASONIC SONGS . —A selection of Masonic Songs set to popular airs , written by Bro . E . P . Philpots , M . D ., F . R . G . S . ' , is now icady , lorming a handsom * volume , bouinl in cleith , with gilt edges , 3 s . Sent post free from the office of this paper on receipt of stamps or post-office order value 3 s . 2 d . —ADVT .