The Chairman At The Approaching R.M.B.I. Festival And His Province.

Glamorgan Lodge in 1 S 11 , was successively placed at No . 50 in 1814 , xjo , 43 in 1832 , and at No . 36—its present number in 1863 . The second "Ancient" Lodge was No . 126 , constituted at the Green Dragon , in Newport , Monmonthshire , on 12 th June , 1764 . This warrant having lapsed soon after , was assigned to the Ancient Britons ' Lodge , Caerfilly , Glamorganshire , on the 12 th December , 1 S 07 ,

and having been re-numbered as No . 150 after the Union , was erased on the tth March , 1828 . The third lodge , No . 144 , was originally granted to brethren in London , and cancelled in 1773 . On 20 th June , 1810 , it was assigned to brethren with authority to meet at the Castle , Merthyr Tydvil . After the Union it became No . 175 , in 1832 , No . 127 , and in 1 S 63 , No . no , the name of Loyal Cambrian Lodge being adopted by its members in 1837 .

Thus at the Union , South Wales had five lodges on its roll , all being in the Eastern Division of the Province . Now the Province which Bro . Sir George Elliot so ably presides over has 16 lodges , while the Western Division , under Bro . Lord Kensington , has 10 lodges . The following are those not already enumerated in the Eastern Division in their order of seniority according to date of constitution , viz .: The Cambrian , No . 364 , Neath ,

constituted as No . 726 on 31 st Jan ., 1821 , and promoted to No . 472 in 1832 , and its present position in 1 S 63 ; the Brecknock Lodge , No . 65 r , Brecon , founded as No . 936 on 14 th May , 1 S 35 ; the St . David's Lodge , No . 679 , Aberdare , warranted as No . 977 on 16 th May , 1 S 56 ; the Afan Lodge , No . 833 , Aberavon , constituted 29 th Sept ., i 860 , as No . 1135 : and the Bute Lodge , No . 9 60 , Cardiff , originally No . 1262 , warranted 13 th April , 1863 .

On 20 th June , 1870 , the Talbot Lodge , No . 1323 , Swansea , was constituted , and in 1875 the roll was lengthened by the addition of the Caradoc Lodge , No . 1573 . Swansea , and the Merlin Lodge , No . 1578 , Pontypridd , the warrant of the former bearing date Sth , and that of the latter the 23 rd October of that year . All the above lodges were on the roll when Bro . Sir George Elliot was appointed G . M . of the Province in 1876 , in succession to the late Bro . T . M . Talbot , and since then five other lodges have been

consecrated , viz . : The Ogmore Lodge , No . 1754 , Bridgend , and the Windsor , No . 1754 , Penarth , in 1878 ; the Loyal Wye , No . 1807 , Builth , and the St . Quintin's Lodge , No . 1822 , in 1 S 79 ; and the Tennant Lodge , No . 1992 , Cardiff , in 1883 . In 18 S 6 it was revived as a Royal Arch Province with Comp . Marmaduke Tennant , the popular Craft deputy of Sir George , as Grand Superintendent , and it forms part of the Mark Province of South Wales under Bro . Sir Pryse Pryse , Bart ., Prov . G . Mark Master .

It is clear from these details that , though the number of lodges is somewhat limited considering the large area of the Province and the number of important and prosperous towns it contains , the zeal and energy of the brethren must be considerable , while a glance at the Festival Returns and the Subscribers' lists , annually published by the several Institutions , will suffice to show that the lodges and brethren are frequent and oftentimes most generous in their contributions . At this particular Festival ,

therefore , when their respected ruler will preside at the celebration and take the lead in appealing to the Stewards and through them to the brethren generally , for that support which is imperatively necessary and without which indeed our Institutions would be unable to satisfy their obligations , we feel justified in assuming that our friends in the Eastern Division of South Wales will set a brilliant example to their brethren in the Metropolis and the other Provinces , and contribute a total which shall be worthy of the second oldest Province in England .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

The Grand Chapter of this province was held , by command of the M . E . Grand Superintendent , Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., on Friday afternoon , the 27 th ult ., at the Red Lion Hotel , Fareham , when there were

present—Comps . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., G . Supt . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , H . ; G . Felton Lancaster , acting ] . ( in the unavoidable absence of Comp . R . Loveland Loveland ); E . c . ° , A ° 9 > P . G . S . E . ; R . J . H . Rastrick , 487 , P . G . Treas . ; G . B . Irons , 903 , P . G . iw . Br . ; Rev . A . A . Headley , 309 , P . A . G . S . E . ; J . Exell , 4 S 7 , P . G . Janitor ; J . u 1 . ? . ' J- ' J- T - Doswell , S . E ., of 76 ; S . Wheeler , H . 151 ; A . Scott , Z . ; ft . H . Wheeler , J . ; R . Cullingford , S . N . ; and Rev . J . N . Palmer , P . P . G . J ., P Z ., of 175 ; H . J . Atkins , P . Z . 360 , P . P . G . S . N . Norths and Hunts , Z ., and J . Harvey , J ., of { 95 ; J . B . MacKay , 257 ; G . R . Holbrook , Treas . ; J . W . Gieve , S . E . ; H . E . DrTA-o BroughalI , and H . Cooke , of 309 ; W . Beuttell , S . N . 342 ; D . O . Hobbs , P . P . G . Std . Br ., Z ., and VV . Berry , P . P . G . Std . Br ., P . Z ., of 359 : J . Robertson , Z . 394 J H . P . Holley , Z . ; H . E . Loader , H . ; J . W . Boughton , S . E . ; W . M . Out-AP * - -GR P-Z . ; and G . VVoodthorpe , of 4 S 7 ; G . Payne , Z . 723 ; T . D . askew , Z . ; T . Francis , P . P . G . S ., and P . H . Emanuel , P . S ., of S 04 ; R . VV . Mitchell , P . P . G . bwd . Br ., P . Z . ; F . Powell , P . P . G . S ., P . Z . ; and J . Butt , of 903 j T . H . A AT ' \ ' 33 «; J- Laverty , Z ., and VV . Miller , S . E ., of 142 S ; Buckle , S . N . 1776 ; «•Algar , J . i s 0 ; and J . Burns , 17 S 8 .

The minutes of the Provincial Grand Chapter , held at Winchester , January 31 st , 1887 , were read and confirmed , and the Treasurer ' s account was received and adopted . Comp . HOBBS , 394 , proposed , and Comp . MARKS , 3 S 0 , seconded , the ¦ eiection

e- of Comp . R . J . Hooper Rastrick as Prov . Grand Treasurer . Comp . W . W . B . BEACH , G . Supt ., supported the proposition , and said ne province was much indebted to Comp . Hooper Rastrick for the trouble e l £ taken in the Prov . Grand Chapter . t he resolution was carried unanimously .

vvoiiMk t .- 0 FER RASTRICK returned thanks , assuring the companions it i be "is earnest endeavours to have a large balance . forth " ]? ' RoBERTSON > l 3 ° > proposed that the sum of £ 10 ios . be voted list of r ° Masonic Institution for Girls , and the same be placed on the p estYorn P- J- E . Le Feuvre , H ., who would represent the province at the

ATr , ° x mp BERRY » 1781 , seconded , and was supported by Comps . MITCHEL , ^ KINSON , and W . W . B . BEACH , G . Supt . TlTTn unanimousl y . and Comp . J . E . LE FEUVRE returned thanks , enin . - n tollowin g were then appointed Provincial Grand Officers for the ^ buin g year •. — ° " i' K , Feu vre ' 394 ••¦ ... ... Prov . G . H . ' R r > L , lns ' ' •¦ ¦•••Prov . G . l . T «; J & ° - - •" Prov - G-S-E-, \ R V \ V leve 'i " 3 ° 9 •••... ... Prov . G . S . N . ., c \ A - ,, , P er Rastrick ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . £ •Wheeler , 151 ... ... .,, p . G . Reg . U Payne , 723 ... „ . ... Prov . G . Soj ! H wW 4 * 8 Prov . G . ist A . S . ,. A AI 0 ader ' 7 •••¦••¦••Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . *• Algar , i 77 8 , „ _ Prov , G . Swd . Br .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight.

Comp . J . H . Gowers , 1331 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Pr , „ T . D . Askew , 804 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . T . Doswell , 76 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ H . Pigeon , jun . ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Rev . A . A . Headley , 309 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ J . Exell , 487 ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitcr .

Comp . W . W . B . BEACH said they had every reason to believe that Royal Arch Masonry was thriving in the province . There were good reports and he hoped that Royal Arch Masonry would be still furthermore encouraged . He considered himself indebted to the Provincial Grand Chapter for their munificent grant last year towards the Institution over which he presided at the annual festival .

The Provincial Grand Chapter was then closed , and the brethren partook of a banquet , well catered by Comp . Bond , of the Red Lion Hotel . Owing to the companions having to catch a certain train the only toasts g iven were the usual loyal and Masonic , and very briefly .

Freemasonry In Ireland.

FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

The publication of the "Calendar and Directory , " by the "Sanction of the R . W . the Grand Lodge of Ireland , " for the year 1888 , enables outsiders to judge of the condition of that Body , about whose progress we hear and know so little . The work is undoubtedly useful , but might easily be

made much more so , without entailing much additional labour . Some ninety pages are made to suffice for all the particulars vouchsafed respecting Craft Masonry , as well as the Royal Arch , Knight Templar , and Ancient and Accepted Rite Degrees , for all these are recognised , or , in other words , mutually recognise each other , to the exclusion of all othev Degrees

whatsoever . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales is Patron , his Grace the Duke of Abercorn is Grand Master , R . W . Bro . R . W . Shekleton , Q . C ., is D . G . M ., and the other officers continue much "as you were . " Eighteen Grand Officers are all that are elected and appointed for Ireland , and twenty-one Past Grand

Officers form the total possible attendance of Present and Past Grand Officers , a number so small as to lead us to wonder ! These 34 brethren might be outnumbered by its Representatives from other Grand Lodges , for if all were appointed with whom the Grand Lodge " exchanges , " the Grand Representatives would exceed forty !

There are apparently 376 lodges on the roll , being slightly less in number than for 1887 , and these are distributed as follows : 37 lodges in the Dublin District ; 268 in the Provinces ( Antrim , 83 ; Down , 46 ; Londonderry and Donegal , 26 ; Armagh , 23 ; Tyrone and Fermanagh , 20 ; Minister , 17 ; Meath , 11 ; Midland Comities , 11 ; North Minister , 7 ; South Eastern , 7 ;

Wicklow and Wexford , 7 ; North Connauglit , 5 , - ind South Connav . ght , 5 ); 57 in the Colonies , & c . ; and 7 in Military Corps ( 4 th and 5 th Dragoons , 12 th Royal Lancers , and 20 th , 23 rd , 26 th , and 29 th Regiments ) . In Victoria there are 17 lodges ; in New Zealand , 15 ; in Brisbane , 13 ; Tasmania , 8 ; and Ceylon , 4 .

Of Royal Arch Chapters there are 147 on the roll , two less than last year , the Grand Officers generally being composed of different brethren to those of the Grand Lodge . The Hon . Judge Townshend , LL . D ., is the " King , " which corresponds with our Z . The High Priest is Dr . Griffin , and the " Chief Scribe " is Comp . Welland . The Titles differ in part ,

from all other Grand Chapters , the 2 nd in Ireland being the first in America . In no country , however , and in few so much as in Ireland , is there more attention paid to Instruction by official sanction , both for the " Craft " and " Arch . " Of the K . T . Preceptories there are 41 , twelve being held in Dublin . H . R . H . Duke of Connaught is the Great Prior . There are 13

Rose Croix Chapters , 7 meeting in Dublin . The names of all the members are given in the Calendar under each Chapter , as also those of the 28 th ( Knight of the Sun ) , 30 th , 31 st 32 nd , and 33 rd Degrees . The 32 nd is limited to 16 , the 31 st to 15 , and the 30 th to 30 , exclusive , in each case , of those who belong to the Degrees beyond . The "Ancient and Accepted

Rite of Freemasonry , " as respects Ireland , has some peculiar features about which we may have a few words to say another time . The " Masonic F ' emale Orphan School" was founded in 1798 , there being now 72 pupils

provided for . The "Boys , " started in 186 7 , has now 45 m the School . The Archbishop of Dublin , Grand Chaplain , is one oi the Chaplains for each Institution . The subscriptions are , in part , collected by Honorary " Local Treasurers . " An excellent plan , we think .

Colonel Clerke's Ms. ("Old Charges.")

COLONEL CLERKE'S MS . (" OLD CHARGES . " )

BY BRO . W . J . HUGHAN . It affords me great pleasure to introduce to the Craft another complete copy of the " Old Charges , " now the property of our esteemed Grand Secretary , hence my selection of the Title . Bro . Colonel Clerke tells me it was found some fourteen years ago in an old chest in a village of South

Wales , and was presented to him . Beyond that he knows nothing of its origin , but fraternally sent it to me in 1879 , for examination and transcription , * and it is thus through his courtesy and kindness that I am able to present the following copy to Masonic Students through the columns of the Freemason .

Colonel Clerke placed it in the valuable Library of the "Supreme Council " —on loan—some years since , where it still remains , and it is only for brethren to make their wishes known , to obtain a sight of that and numerous other treasures , carefully preserved in the Museum of Masonic Antiquities in Golden-square .

The MS . in question , is written on two parchment skins , running together to nearly five feet in length , the width exceeding 13 inches . There is a fine Illumination at the head of the Roll , consisting of the Royal Arms , having in portions on either side the inscription " J 2 d R 1686 , " and below Freemasony October nth , 1879 .