Notes On The Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.

Given at our Imperial residence of St . Petersburg , on the 16 th of March , 1801 , in the first year of our reign . ( Signed ) ALEXANDER . ( Countersigned ) The Grand Chancellor , COUNT DE PABLUS .

Decree of the Sacred Council of the Sovereign Order of St . John of Jerusalem , in accordance with the preceding Proclamation . In order to contribute as soon as possible to the restoration of a Grand Master , and the primitive Constitution to the Order of St . John of

Jerusalem , the Sovereign Council of the said Order , in the meeting of the 22 nd of June , 1801 , has inquired into the form of convocation for a General Chapter , and finds that the Statutes are as follows upon the subject : — " A General Chapter must consist of the Grand

Master , the Bishop of Malta , the Prior of the Church , the Conventual Bailiff ' s or Pillars of the Languages , the Grand Priors or Capitular Bailiff ' s who have a decisive vote , a Solicitor for the Kni g hts of each language , and a Solicitor for the Commanders of each Priory . The Sovereign

Council , in consideration that all the elements of a general chapter are dispersed , and knowing that in the present situation of things , it would be impossible to assemble them , according to the form expressed in the Statutes , has resolved to adopt a mode of election which shall differ as

little as possible from the ancient one , prevent delay , spare the priories all unnecessary expense and inconvenience , and immediatel y fix upon a chief for the Sovereign Order , to govern it and to take possession of the Island of Malta whenever circumstances shall make it possible to do

so : — For this purpose , the Sovereign Council enjoins all the Grand Priors immediatel y to convene their Chapters , and to carry before them the following propositions : —

ist—The Provincial Chapter shall mark out among the professed Kni g hts of every language , those whom they think most capable of filling the dignity of Grand Master with due courage and firmness . The Grand Priors shall acquai nt the Sovereign Council as soon as possible with

this opinion , that a list may be formed b y all the different priories of those who are candidates for the Grand Mastership . 2 nd . —The Council proposes to send this list to the Court of Rome and his Holiness , as Supreme Chief of the Romish Church , and as

superior of all reli gious orders , shall be entreated to select a Grand Master from among the candidates ; specif y ing at the same time that this is only to be the case on this one occasion , and without derogating in any degree from the rights and privileges of the Sovereign Order .

His Holiness shall also be requested to notify this election to all Catholic countries b y a Pontificial Brief , commanding the Kni g hts to obey the Grand Master thus chosen , according to the statutes of hol y obedience . All the Sovereign Chapters shall be summoned

by their Grand Priors to declare their opinions formall y and with precision , on the question of referring to the Pope to elect a Grand Master from the number of professed Knights pointed out b y the different priories . B y these means the Order will be assured of having a Grand Master

of its own choice , and from among its own members ; and the Sovereign Council may proceed with confidence , according to the wishes and opinions of all the Capitular Chapters . Moreover , the Sovereign Council represents to all the Grand Priors , that it is more important than ever to

employ all their authority and prudence to prevent every kind of division and intrigue , to choose a candidate truly worthy of the sovereign command , endowed with the necessary qualities to make the Order of general utility , and to restore a severe disci pline .

Lastly , the Sovereign Council has in its wisdom judged that this was the onl y method to conciliate the members in general , to avoid all pretences for schisms , and to unite all the scattered members of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem . Given at St . Petersburg , the 20 th day of July , 1801 .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Kent.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF KENT .

A special meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at Hiscocks' Royal Hotel , Ramsgate , on Friday , the 14 th inst . There were present the R . W . Bros , the Rev . Geo . Sickleman , M . A ., Prov . G . M . M . M . ; T . H . Grove Snowdon , Dep . Pro . G . M . M . M . ; R .

J . Emmerson , S . W . ; S . G . Fairlough , P . M . 152 , J . W . ' ; D . S . Osment , W . M . 152 , S . O . ; H . Wootton , J . O . ; Lewis Finch , W . M . 129 , Treasurer ; James W . Smith , G . M . Steward , Secretary ; Thomas S . Clarke , Assistant Secretary ; Wm . T . C . Harrison , J . D . ; Edward J .

Smith , D . C . ; J ohn Finch , A . D . C . ; George Page , Sword Bearer ; and George Menger , Ty ler . Bros . George Neall , G . M . J . Works , Fuhr , J . W . 152 , and other brethren attended . A procession of Prov . G . M . Officers was formed at a little before 3 o ' clock , and entered

the spacious lodge room . The R . W . Prov . G . M . M . ascended the throne , and , the door being properly tyled , Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was opened in due form , and with solemn prayer . The Prov . G . M . M . and Deputy Master

were saluted with five and three respectively . The minutes of the meeting held on the 22 nd day of October last having been read and confirmed , the Secretary read Sec . 60 of the Book of Constitutions , which empowers Prov . Grand Mark Lodge to make bye-laws for its

government . The Secretary then read the bye-laws which had been prepared by him , making a pause at the end of each .

Considerable discussion followed upon two or three points , and amendments were made . Some divergence of opinion was manifested as to the bye-law ' providing that the Treasurer should , when required , execute a Bond with two sureties some considering that the Treasurer should

positivel y be required by the bye-law to do so , so that the onus of proposing , at a future time , that a Bond should be entered into , should not fall upon any member of Prov . Grand Mark Lodge , while others thought that a Bond was unnecessary , and that the question might , at least for the

present , be altogether omitted from the bye-law . Eventually it was agreed that the Treasurer should enter into a Bond with one Surety . The remainder of the bye-laws were read , and the whole passed unanimously , as amended . Bros . Wootton and Page were then appointed

Auditors , and Bros . Neall , Emmerson , Fairtlough , and Hiscocks to act , with the Prov . G . M . Master , the Deputy Master , the Treasurer , the Registrar , and the Secretary , as a Committee of General Purposes . The roll of private Mark lodges and that of

Prov . G . M . Officers were then called over . Bro . Fairtlough suggested that a certificate on vellum should , when desired , be granted b y the Prov . G . M . M . to any brother who may have served the office of Master , Warden or Overseer ,

or been appointed to any office in Prov . Grand Mark Lodge . He thought that such a certificate mi g ht be found very useful to a brother removing at any time from one province to another . The question was referred to the Committee of General Purposes .

Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was closed in due form . The brethren then adjourned to the banqueting hall of the hotel , and an excellent dinner was served by Bro , Hiscocks . Numerous toasts were proposed and heartil y responded to , and the brethren having spent a most agreeable evening , separated at an earl y hour .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

ending rriuay , April , 11 , 1073 . The Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time of meeting .

Saturday , April 5 . General Committee Boys' School , Freemasons'Hall , at 4 . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , Preceptor ,

Mount Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , All street , at 8 j Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Manchester Lodge of Instruction , Yorkshire Grey , London street , Fitzroy-square , at 8 ; Bro , Ash , P . M ., Prccep tor .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Sphinx Lodge of Instruction ( 1 , 329 ) , Castle Tavern , Camberwell-road , at 7 ; Bros . John Thomas and E . Worthington , Preceptors . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey , at 7 .

Monday , April 7 . Lodge 12 , Fortitude and Old Cumberland , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-street . „ 6 9 , Unity London Tavern , Bishopsgate-stree ' - » / 2 , Royal Jubilee , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st . „ 144 , St . Luke ' s , Masons' Mall , Basinghall-street .

„ 188 , Joppa , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . „ 256 , Unions , Freemasons' Hall . „ 1319 , Asaph , Freemasons' Hall . Cha . 28 , Old Kings Arms , Freemasons' Hall . Mark Lodge 22 , Southwark , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark .

Strong Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem . Tavern , St . John's-gate , Clerkenwell , at 8 ; Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern

Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mile end-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendshi p Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 . St . James ' s Union Lodge of Instruction C 180 ) , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street ( opposite the Pantheon ) ,

Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 , Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge of Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun

I avern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlock , Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W , Lindus , Precentor .

High Cross Lodge of Instruction , White Hart Tavern , Tottenham . Tuesday , April 8 . Lodge 96 , Burlington , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 198 , Percy , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhail-st . „ 211 , St . Michael's , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 228 , United Strength , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St ,

John ' s Gate , Clerkenwell . „ 23 ; Nine Muses , Clarendon I lotel , Bond-st . „ 54 8 , Wellington , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . „ 834 , Ranelagh , Clarendon Hotel , Hammersmith . „ 917 , Cosmopolitan , City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-st . >» 9 . W 1 Uoric , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st . , > 1383 , Friends in Council , Golden Square .

Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tav ., Grosvenor . park , Camberwell , at 8 ; Bro . John Thomas , Preceptor . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st . ( opposite Westminster Palace 1 lotel ) , at 8 : Bro . C . A .

Cottebrune , Preceptor , yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 J , Knights of St . John Tavern , St . John ' s-wood ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , ICing Edward , Triangle ,

Hackney , at 1 . ^ 0 ; Bro . J . Saunders , Preceptor . Florence Nightingale Lodge of Instruction , Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , at 7 . 30 . Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , Gladstone Tavern , Bishopsgate-st . Within , a 7 . 30 ; Bro . liolton ( W . M . 1227 ) , Preceptor . St . Marylebone Lodge of Instruction fi 3 o ;) , British Stores

Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s wood , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Constitutional Lodge of Instruction ( 55 ) , Wheatsheaf Hotel , Hand-court , Holbom , at 7 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey ( P . M . 180 ) , Preceptor . Wednesday , April 9 . Committee of Masonic Benevolent Institution , at 3 o ' clock . Lodge 3 , Fidelity , Freemasons' Hall .

„ it , Enoch , Freemasons' Hall . „ 13 , Union of Waterloo , Masonic Hall , Williamstreet , Woolwich . „ 15 , Kent , Guildhall Tavern , Gn : sham-st . „ 87 , Vitruvian , White Hart , College-st ., Lambeth . „ 147 , Justice , White Swan , High-st ., Deptford . „ 238 , Pilgrim , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 749 , Belgrave , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-St .

„ 781 , Merchant Navy , Silver Tavern , Burdett-rd ., Lime . house . „ 820 , Lily , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond . ,, 1017 , Montefiore , Freemasons' Hall .

„ 121 U , Macdonald , Head Quarters First Surrey RiHes Camberwell . „ 1260 , Ilervey , Swan Hotel , Walham Green . „ 1305 , St . Marylebone , Eyre Arms Tavern , St . John ' s Wood .

„ 1300 , St . John of Wapping , Gun 1 avern , High-st . Wapping . Rose Croix Chapter Mount Calvary , 33 , Golden-suuare . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich , at 8 ; Bro . J . Hobt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 228 ) , the Grafton

Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , Kintish-town , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road , at 7 . 30 ; New Concord Lodge oi Instruction , Rosemary Branch Tavern , ! Hoiton , ftt 8 ,