Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

INVICTA CHAPTER ( No . io ) . —A convocation of this chapter was held on Friday , the 20 th ult ., at 33 , Golden-square . The M . W . S . was too ill to attend so the chapter was opened by III . Bro . VV . M . By water , 30 , who performed the ceremony in a most able and impressive manner . There were present : Bros . G . Lambert , 32 ; James Glaisher , 32 '; Magnus Ohren , 32 ° ; J . Hughes , 30 ; P . Laird , G . F . Legg , VV . G . Lemon , G . Mickley , G .

Powell , Recorder ; John Read , Org-. ; C . W . Thompson , Major Dunbar , H . Lovegrove , W . Reeves , and others , The only visitor was Bro . the Rev . Stanton Moses . Bros , R . J . Mills , A . L . Bovven and J . Greenfield were perfected , It was announced that the chapter would celebrate its 25 th anniversary in December next . After the conclusion of the business the companions adjourned to a banquet at the Royal Hotel , Rupert-street .

ST . DUNSTAN'S CHAPTER ( No . 15 S 9 . )—This chapter met for the dispatch of business at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on the 25 th ult ., when there were presentations'others Comp . T . C . Walls , P . P . G . D . C . Middx ., the M . E . Z . ; \ V . Lake , P . P . G . R . Cornwall ; H . Tinney , P . Z ., acting J . ; Alfred Tisley , S . E . ; G . Manners , C . C ., S . N . ; H . Dalwood , P . Z ., Treas . ; VV . Farrington , Org . ;

J . H . Dod = on , P . Z . ; Col . Radcliffe , P . Z . ( hon . member ); Harrison , acting janitor ; Low , Clemow , C . Brown , VV . E . Farrington , F . Farrington , S . Slcelton , and . ' others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken upon behalf of Bro . F . J . Elliot , 15 S 9 , and VV . Phelps , 170 S , and it proving to be unanimous , those brethren were duly exalted to the

dfgree of R . A ., by the M . E . Z . The election of officers then took place with the following result : Comp . VV . Lake , M . E . Z . ; Turner , U . ; G . Manners , J . ; A . Tisley , S . ; E . Bristowe , S . N . ; F . Clemow , P . S . ; H . Dalwood , Tre'is . ; and H . Gilbert , Janitor . A notice of motion by th >; M . E . Z . " That the present night of meeting be altered to the fourth Tuesday in April , May , and June " was discussed

and it having been seconded , was put and carried nem . con . The Audit Committee having been appointed , and a Past Principal's jewel awarded to the M . E . Z . the consecration was duly closed and the companions adjourned to the banquet . Before the removal of the cloth , the customary toasts were duly honoured . " The Hi-alth of the M . E . Z . " was proposed by the

I . P . Z . in flattering terms . The M . K . Z . having responded , then gave "The Exalrees , " which drew from Comps . Elliot and Phelps able replies . The toast of " The M . E . Z . elect , " followed . In response Comp . Lake after thanking the companions for the honour they had done him by unanimously voting him to the chair of First Principal , said that although he

had enjoyed some years ago the distinction of being elected in another chapter as M . E . Z ., yet circumstances had prevented him subsequently from accepting the office . In the present instance he hoped that nothing untoward would occur to preclude him from filling the chair of i 5 Sg , the duties of which he would endeavour to discharge to the best

of his poor ability . "The Past Principals" was acknowledged by Comp , Dodson . " The Treasurer and S . E . " by Comps . Dalwood and Tisley ; and " The Officers" by Comp . F . Clemow . The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

SUNDERLAND . —Union Lodge ( No . 124 ) . — The annual mscting of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Park-terrace , on the 26 th ult ., for the purpose of installing Bro . T . M . Watson , W . M . for the ensuing year and the investiture of officers . Amongst the brethren present were Bros . T . Y . Strachan , D . P . G . M . M . ( Installing Master ); T . I . Armstrong , P . M ., P . G . J . W . ;

J . G . Youll , P . P . G . S . ; j . Wood , P . M . 48 ; VV . Brandt , 1 . P . M ., P . P . I . GJ . ; T . Twizell , P . M ., P . P . j . D . ; M , Framp ' xm , P . M ., P . P . S . O . ; J . S . Pierson ,, P . M ., P . P . S . O . ; F . Maddison , P . M ., P . P . M . O . ; and VV . Liddell , P . M ., P . P . M . O . The W . M . elect was then installed by Bro . Strachan , the ceremony being very ably and impressively performed . The following officers were then invested : Bro . Coxon , P P . J . G ., S . W . ; R . Kinmond , J . W . ; M . H . Dodd ,

M . O . ; C . McNamara , S . O . ; 1 . Pinkney , Pinkey , J . O . ; J . R . Pattison , R . of M . ; M . Frampton , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Pinkney , Hon . Sec . ; H . S . Halvorsen , S . D . ; H . Pinkey , J . D . ; H . Wrightson , I . G . ; and VV . Brown , Tyler . A letter was read from the P . G . M ., Bro . Canon Tristram , LL . D ., regretting his inability to attend owing to illness . The brethren afterwards adjourned to the Palatine Hotel for dinner , which was presided over by the newlyinstalled VV . M ., Bro . T . M . Watson .

TWICKENHAM .-Sir Francis Burdett Chapter ( No . 1503 ) —the installation meeting of this properous chapter was held under the most favourable auspices at the Albany lotcl , on the 26 th ult . Among those in attendance were Comps . W . l ' aylor , M . E . Z . ; C . Rushworth , P . P . G . R . Middx ., H ., M . K . Z . elect , and Treas . ; VV . H . Saunders , J . ; Raymond lhrtipp , P . G . H . of Middx ., & c ,

LP . Z . ; T . C . Walls , P . P . G . D . C . Middx ., S . E . ; R . H . Saunders , S . N ' . ; S . Saunders , acting P . S . ; Smiles , 2 nd Assist . S . ; Cane , P . P . G . S . N . Middx ., I . P . Z . ; and Lane , acting Janitor . The visitors were Comps . Clark and ProfTitt . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken upon behalf of Bros , the Rev . R . F . Hosken , M . A ., S . W . 1 S 20 , G . VV . Speth

P . M . 129 , and VV . K . M . Tomlinson , M . P . 1 C 10 , and it proved to he unanimous in each case . At this stage of the proceedings the R . W . P . G . S . of Middx ., Comp . Col . Sir F , rancis Burdett was announced and was received With the customary honours , Tho ceremony of exalting Bros .

Hosken , Speth and Tomlinson was then most ably performed by the M . E . Z . The installation b y Comp . Thrupp of the Three Principals , viz . Comps . Rushworth , VV . H . Saundcts and Walls followed , and was carried out in a manner that left but little to he desired . The officers invested and appointed . for the year ensuing were : Comps . Walls , S . E . ;

Mark Masonry.

R . 11 . Saunders , S . N . ; VV . Taylor , Treas . ; S . Saunders , P . S . ; Smiles and Hosken , Assist . P . S . ' s ; and Harrison , Janitor . The report of the Audit Committee was then received and adopted . A vote of thanks having been passed to the Installing Officer and a Past Principal ' s jewel presented to ' . Comp . W . Taylor , the convocation was closed and the companions

adjourned to the banquet . The customary toasts followed , Comp . Sir F . Burdett acknowledged the toast of " The Grand Officers , " and Comp . R . Thrupp that of "The Prov . Grand Officers . " "The Health of the M . E . Z . " was proposed by Comp . R . Thrupp , Comp . Rushworth having replied , " The

Exaltees" followed . Comps . Hosken , Speth and Tomlinson responded . " The Health of the Visitors " came next in order , and in reply Comps . Clark and Proffitt passed some very flattering encomiums upon the working of the chapter . " The Officers , " coupled with the name of Comp . S . Saunders terminated the proceedings .

BATH . —Royal Cumberland Lodge ( T . l . )—A regular meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , on Tuesday , the 24 th ult ., the business being an advancement , the installation of the VV . M ., and the appointment of officers for the ensuing year . The lodge was opened by Bro . Radway , VV . M ., assisted by Bros . Dr . Hopkins , Chap ., as l . P . M . ; C . Wilkinson , P . M ., Sec ; John Dutton , P . M ., Treas . ; Jas . J . Dutton , P . M ., D . of

C ; F . Wilkinson , S . W . ; Dingle , J . W . ; L . Howes , M . O . ; Mercer , S . O . ; f . Dutton , as } . 0 . ; W . Peach , S . D . ; Rice , as J . D . ; W . H . Young , as I . G . ; Sparrow , Org . ; Bigwood , Tyler ; Rubie , P . M . ; Cater , P . M . ; P . Braham , P . M . ; and others not in office . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The presence in the ante-rooms of Bros . R . C .

Else , Prov . G . M ., and Colonel Ford , D . P . G . M ., having been announced , a deputation was formed to escort them , and on entering they were received with the usual honours . The Treasurer presented his accounts , which being very satisfactory were passed , on the proposition of the W . M ., seconded by the Chaplain . A ballot was taken for Bro . T . H . Bethell , and this being unanimously favourable he was

advanced to the rank of M . M . M . by the W . M . The ceremony was choral , and admirably performed by all the officers without exception ; it was brought to a conclusion by Bro . VV . Peach , who gave the Lecture on the Degree with the correctness and impressiveness which mark all his Masonic work . The Secretary read letters from many members apologising for their absence . The chair was then

taken by R . W . Bro . Dr . Hopkins , Past G . W ., this being the eighth year of his compliance with the request to perform the duty of installing the W . M . After Bro . Radway had been presented to him , he stated that though it was unnecessary to go through the whole of the ceremony , this being a re-election , he should do so by request of the VV . M . elect . After the usual preliminaries in a Board ot Installed

Masters Bro . Radway was again placed in the chair of A ., and afterwards appointed the following as his officers Bros . F . Wilkinson , S . W . ; L . Howes , J . W . ; John Dutton , Treas . ; J . J . Dutton , Dir . ofCers . ; Dingle , Sec ; Dr . Hopkins , Chap . ; Mercer , M . O . ; Penley , S . O . ; VV . Peach , J . O . ; Williamson , Reg . ; Knight , S . D . ; VV . H . Young , J . D . ; Rice , I . G . ; Sparrow ,

Org . ; and Bigwood , lyler . Ihe Installing Master concluded the ceremony by giving the usual addresses to the VV . M ., Wardens , Overseers and brethren . A vote of thanks for their attendance was carried by acclamation to the Prov . G . M . and the D . P . G . M . The former expressed the pleasure with which he had witnessed the perfect manner in which the ceremonies had been worked , certainlysuperior to that of any other lodge in the province , and the zest

which had been given to the whole by the very appropriate musical ritual published for general use in Mark lodges by Bro . Mercer . He also most favourably commented on the skill of the W . M . in performing the ceremony of advancement , and of the veteran lnstallmgMasterin the discharge of his duty , to whom a vote of thanks was carried by acclamation . No other business offering excepting the proposition of another candidate , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Castle Hotel for the annual

supper . BERWICK - ON - TWEED . —St . Cuthberts Lodge ( No . 192 ) . —On Wednesday the annual meeting of this lodge was held in the Freemasons'Hall , Parade . Bro . R . Thompson , VV . M ., occupied the chair , and opened the lodge in due form . Thereafter Bro . the Rev . Edward Marrett , P . P . G . C ., P . P . G . J . W ., P . M . 135 ( Vicar of Lesbury ) , installed Bro . G . F . Steven as W . M . tor the ensuing year . The VV . M . appointed his officers as follows : Bros .

R . Thompson , l . P . M . ; John Carr , S . W . ; B . Craik , J . W . ; A . L . Miller , M . O . ; T . M . Morrison , S . O . ; G . S . Riddle , LO . ; 1 . D . Gilchrist , Sec . ; A . Wintern , P . M .. Reg . of Mks . ; George Moor , Treas . ; J . J . Oliver , S . D . ; W . Green , J . D . ; R . Weddell , Org . ; H . T . Heron , I . G . j Sergt .-Major Grahame , Steward ; and F . Turnbull , Tyler ,

After the ceremony of installation , which was impressively rendered by Bro . Marrett , the brethren adjourned to the King ' s Arms Hotel , where a most recherche dinner was partaken of . Bro . G . F . Steven , W . M ., presided , and Bro . J . Carr , S . VV ., occupied the vice-chair . A very pleasant evening was spent .

HAMMERSMITH LODGE ( No . 2 riJ . —This lodge met at the Windsor Castle Hotel , King-street , Hammersmith , on the 27 th ult . Among those present were Bros . VV . H . Goodall , VV . M . ; Lawson , S . W . ; Skinner , acting J . W . ; T . C . Walls , P . G . Swd . Br ., P . M ., Sec ; J . Baldwin , P . P . G . S . Middlesex and Surrey , P . M ., Treas . ; Taylor , J . O . ; Rickwood , J . D . ; Sims , I . G . ; Potter , lanitor ; and Bro . F . Walters , P . G . I . G ., was a visitor .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , several letters of apology were read from absent members . Previously to the lodge being closed two names for advancement at the next meeting were handed in to the Secretary . The members then adjourned to refreshment . The only toasts proposed were " The Queen and Mark Masonry " and " The VV . M . " The proceedings then terminated .

Bros . Lord Balfour , of Burleigh , P . G . Warden , and Sir G . Macphetson Grant , Bart ., M . P ., were among those present when the foundation-stone of a new Scottish National Church was laid in Pont-street , Belgravia , on Wednesday .

Australia.

Australia .

DEATH OF THE R . W . DISTRICT GRAND MASTER OF VICTORIA . liro . Captain Frederick Charles Standish , R . W . District Grand Master of Victoria , under the English Constitution , died in Melbourne on the 19 th of March last . For some months the condition of his health had been such as to leave little hope of other than a fatal ending . About two years ago he had a slight attack of apoplexy , and since

that time he has been gradually failing . He was suffering from disease of the heart and of the liver , and there were also indications of softening of the brain . The immediate cause of death was disease of the heart , aided by a general break-up of the system . Our deceased brother was initiated in a Dublin lodge , and joined the Golden and Corinthian Lodge of Bendigo , No . 641 , E . C ., at Sandhurst , in 1 S 5 S , and subsequently the

chapter working under the same lodge . He was also a member of the Meridian Lodge of St . John , No . 729 , E . G ., Melbourne , for many years . In the year 1 S 61 the late Earl of Zetland appointed Capt . Standish R . W . District Grand Master of Victoria , and the following year he received his patent as M . E . District Grand Superintendent . He was a regular attendant at the Quarterly Communications of the district , and his last Masonic act ( within three

days of his death ) was to sign the certificate of his new officers for the meeting summoned for the day of his death . The Quarterly communication was held as announced , under the presidency of Bro . Dr . H . St . John Clarke , W . Deputy District Grand Master ; hut no business , as a matter of course , was transacted . A life-size portrait of the deceased . broVher vias VVJO years ago placed in the Masonic Hall , by subscription . The

funeral took place the following Wednesday . Originally it was intended to have accompanied the interment with Masonic honours ; but as the deceased gentleman belonged to the Roman Catholic Church no steps were taken in the matter . He was 5 S years of age and unmarried . The following notice appeared in the Melbourne Argus of March 21 st : "The deceased gentleman was the son of Mr . Charles Standish , of Standish - hall , Wigan , Lancashire ,

England , one of the companions of George IV . when he was Prince Regent . He was born in the year 1 S 24 , and was educated at Prior-park College , and was subsequently transferred to the Royal Military Academy , Woolwich . He obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery , and served as a lieutenant in the artillery for nine years , during a portion of which time he was on the staff of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , and retired with the rank of captain . Shortly

after his arrival in this colony , in the year 1852 , he made his way to the goldfields , and during the greater portion of two years worked on the M'lvor ( now Heathcote ) , Fryerstown , Castlemaine , and Beechworth diggings . In 18 54 he was appointed assistant commissioner of gofd / ields at Sandhurst , and subsequently Chinese protector . The latter position he held until 1 S 5 S , when he was nominated by Mr . K .. D . Ireland , then Solicitor-General in the O'Shanassv

Administration , for the office of chief commissioner of police . On the 1 st of Septemberof that year he succeeded Captain ( now Sir Charles ) MacMahon , who resigned in consequence of a disagreement with Sir John O'Shanassy respecting the transfer of an officer of police from Kilmore to the Richmond deput . Captain Standish remained at the head of the Victorian police force until the t ith September , 1 SS 0 , when he retired on a pension of £ A 6 S per annum .

The force was thus under his control for a period of 22 years . When in the full vigour of health Captain Standish ivas credited with the possession of considerable ability as an administraror , but during his closing years he evinced a lack of firmness which resulted in the police force falling into a state of disorganisation . This became painfully manifest during the Kelly outbreak , when the

conduct of the pursuit was carried out in a manner which led to severe reflections being cast on the higher officers of the force . It is evident now that at that time Capt . Standish was suffering from the disease which subsequently developed itself unmistakably . Personally he was popular with the members of the force , and on his retirement was presented with a handsome testimonial and address , in recognition of their appreciation of his services .

THE MYSTIC TIE . A writer in the Sydney Mail sa . ys : —Amongst the various designations under which Freemasons delight in being known to one another is that of "the brethren of the Mystic Tie . " To the uninitiated the import of the phrase does not appear obvious ; but judging from the publicity which the brethren nowadays appear to court there would

seem to be rather less of the " mystic " than the "tie " in their proceedings . Scarcely a day passes that there does not occur somewhere in the columns of the daily press a paragraph ( and occasionally , indeed , more than one ) describing jn rlourishing terms the ceremonial at some lodge meeting . The report usually furnishes a sketch of the evening ' s business , with the names of as many of the

members as can conveniently be brought in , garnished with divers initial letters , supposed to be of solemn import , but which are to the uninitiated rather provocativeof amusement . Whether this sort of craving for notoriety be in accordance with the ancient traditions of the Craft ( which is said " to do good by stealth and blush to find it fame " ) we do not assume to decide ; but certainly there can be very

little worth concealment beyond what usually appears in print . One significant circumstance never fails to be announced , namely , that " the brethren adjourned to the social board , " implying , we suppose , that they proceeded to enjoy a hearty good supper . Judging from the details of the toasts given , and so forth , this portion of the evening's

solemnities appears to be conducted con amore , and must be very social and festive ; and altogether the accounts of these ceremonies are calculated in a great measure to remind one of a vulgar old song , entitled , " The Churchwarden's Dinner , " the refrain to each verse of which is , " So they gobbled and drank for the good of the poor . "

In consequence of the alterations , including a hall room , which are to be immediately commenced at Sandringham , the intended visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Whitsuntide , has been deferred , and it is improbable that their Royal Highnesses will be at ^ Sandringham again until about November