Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England vias held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . The three Principals' chairs were occupied by Comps . J . M . Pulteney Montagu , as M . E . Z . ; Col . John Creaton , as H . ; and the Rev . J . Studholme " Brownrigg , as J . ; ' Comp . Shadwell H . Clerke , S . E . ; Comp . Capt . N . G . Philips , as S . N . ; Comp . R . Grey , as P . S . ; Comp .

Frank Richardson , as First A . S . ; Comp . the Rev . Thomas Robinson , Second A . S . ; and Comps . James Lewis Thomas , as Sword Bearer ; James Glaisher , H . Maudsiay , J . S . Peirce , Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , H . J . P . Dumas , C . Greenwood , D . C . ; George Lambert , John Messent , Magnus Ohren , Frank Green , ] . M . Case , Peter de L . Long , Rev . J . E . Cox , D . D ., Wilhelm Ganz , and H . G . Buss were the other Grand and Past

Grand Officers present . The other companions were : Comps . D . P . Cama , J 255 ; George Drysdale , H . 7 ; W . H . Saunders , H . 1503 ; Edgar Bowyer , P . Z . 17 G ; Raymond H , Thrupp , P . Z . 255 and 1503 ; S . Pounceby , P . Z . 156 j G . Lambert , P . Z . 7 and 21 ; Lt .-Col . F . Goug-h , 419 , P . P . G . H . Staffordshire ; Alfred [ . Dottridge , J . 14 S 0 ; Edw . W . Braine , Z . 145 ; William Alfred Malony , H . 1 S 39 ; Rev . Dr . P . H . Ernest Brette , P . Z . 1194 , P . G . J . Middx . ; H . E . Frances , Z . 1339 ; J . VV . Brooke , M . E . Z . 1839 ; | ohn E . Davison , M . E . Z . 404 ; S . P . Catterson , P . Z . 79 ; C . J . Smith , M . E . Z . 5 S ; VV . Chicken , M . E . Z . 65 ; R . Brewin . P . Z . 112 , 279 , P . P . G . S . N .

Devon ; Charles Daniel , H . 65 ; E . F . Storr , Z . 192 , P . Z . 1044 ; N . Goodchild , Z . 704 ; F . H . Wilson lies , M . D ., P . Z ., Treas . 404 , P . P . G . H . Herts ; W . H . Lee , P . Z . 1524 ; C . H . Webb , J . 1549 ; Alfred A . Pendlebury , P . Z . 105 G ; Charles K . Killick , H . 22 S ; N . McCarthy , Z . S 20 ; W . II . Perryman , P . Z . 134 S ; Neville Green , P . Z . 1524 ; Henry P . Isaac , M . E . Z . iSS ; T . Dolling Bolton , P . Z . 77 S ; Henry G . Thompson , Z . 1556 ; W . J . Crutch , P . Z . 13 S 5 ; H . H . Locke , P . Z . 109 , 10 G , 112 ; C . A . Woods , J . 1572 ; E . Davies , J . 22 S ; R . S . Pigott , Z . 11 ; Frank Green , P . Z . S ; and H . Massey , P . Z . G 19 ( Freemason ) .

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was declared M . E . Z . by Comp . MONTAGU , who also announced that his Royal Highness had appointed Comp . The Earl of Carnarvon ... ... ... Pro G . Z . „ The Earl of Lathom ... ... ... G . H . „ The Duke of Albany , K . G . ... ... G . J . ( Lord de Tabley having requested to be relieved of that office on account

of ill-health . ) The other GrAnd Officers were—Comp . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke ... ... G . S . E . „ Colonel Stanley , M . P . ... ... ... G . S . N . „ Rev . Herbert G . Morse ... ... G . P . S . „ Thomas W . Tew ... ... ... G . 1 st A . S . „ Ralph Gooding , M . D . ... ... ... G . 2 nd A . S .

„ John Derby Allcroft ... ... ... G . Treas . „ JTL . J . Mclntyre , O . C . ... ... ... G . Reg . „ Frank Green ~ ... ... ... G . Swd . Br . „ Thomas Dolling Bolton ... ... G . 1 st Std . Br . „ Raymond Henry Thrupp ... ... G . 2 nd Std . Br .

„ Lieutenant-Colonel A . C . Foster Gough ... G . 3 rd Std . Br . „ Edgar Bowyer ... ... ... G . 4 th Std . Br .

„ George Lambert ... ... ... G . D . C . „ Robert Turtle Pigott , D . C . I ... G . Asst . D . C . „ Wilhelm Ganz ... ... ... G . Org . ,, Henry Gustavus Buss ..: ... ... G . Asst . S . E .

„ Henry Sadler ... ... ... G . Janitor .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes was taken as read , and received and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The report was as follows : To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the Accounts from the 17 th January , to the 17 th April , 1883 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : — To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 6 Si o 7 By Disbursements during-the

„ „ Unappropriated Quarter £ 223 19 11 Account 232 14 5 „ Balance 912 t 4 5 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 432 6 S „ „ in Unappropriated Account 209 7 4 £ 1340 1 S jL' 346 1 3

Which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : — 1 st . From Comps . John Derby Allcroft , as Z . ; the Rev . Philip Honore Ernest Brette , as H . ; Alfred Brookman , as J . ; and ten others for a chapter to be attached to the Aldersgate Lodge , No . 1657 , London , to be called the Aldersgate Chapter , and to meet at the Castle and Falcon Hotel , Aldersgate-street , in the City of London .

2 nd . From Comps . Frederick Howell , as Z . ; Edwin Farley , as H . ; James Gladwell , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Chiltern Lodge , No . 1470 , Dunstable , to be called the Chiltern Chapter , and to meet at the Sugar Loaf Hotel , Dunstable , Bedfordshire .

3 rd . From Comps . Walter Goddard Rogers , as Z . ; William Robert Woodman , M . D ., as H . ; Mark Farrant , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Union , No . 444 , Starcross , to be called the Chapter of Union , and to meet at the Courtenay Arms Hotel , Starcross , in the count } - of Devon .

4 th . From Comps . the Rev . Hayman Alfred James Cummings , as Z . ; the Rev . Robert Jamblin , as H . ; Henry Tuff , as J . ; and ten others for a chapter to be attached to the Lullingstone Lodge , No . 1837 , Farningham , to be called the Lullingstone Chapter , " and to meet at the Lullingstone Masonic Hall , Hawlcy , in the county of Kent .

5 th . From Comps . Arthur Edwin Taylor , as Z . ; William Howard Paddle , as H . ; George William Saul , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Ewell Lodge , No . 1851 , Kingston , to be called the Ewell Chapter , and to meet at the Sun Hotel , Kingston , in the county of Surrey . The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have further to report that they have received a memorial from the companions of the Cana Chapter , No . 116 , Colne , in the Eastern Division of Lancashire , praying for charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st February , 1882 . The memorial being in form and the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

The Committee have also to report that they have recently had before them several cases , where through neglect of the law as contained in Article 67 , page 22 of the Royal Arch Regulations ( Edit . 1879 ) , candidates have been exalted at a less period than 12 calendar months from the date of becoming Master Masons—one case in particular having occurred 20 years ago though having only now come to light . The Committee have in each case admonished the chapters to be more observant of the law in the future , and

have ordered the candidates in question to be re-obligated . They now call attention to this serious irregularity with view to greater care being taken in future that the " satisfactory proof" required by the abovequoted regulation be previously obtained in every instance . ( Signed ) J CREATON , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . P . P . G . Soj ., Grand Treas . iSth April , 1 SS 3 . President .

On the motion of Col . CREATON the several recommendations in the above report were carried . Comp . MONTAGU informed the companions that the Prince of Wales had nominated Comps . Col . Creaton , Robert Grey , and A . J . Duff Filer on the Committee of General Purposes .

The companions then elected Comps . George Lambert , James Lewis Thomas , Edward Letchworth , J . Sampson Peirce , Raymond Henry Thrupp , and J . H . Matthews on the Committee . Grand Chapter was then closed .

Next Wednesday's Festival: Its Chairman And His Province.

NEXT WEDNESDAY'S FESTIVAL : ITS CHAIRMAN AND HIS PROVINCE .

On Wednesday next the ninety-fifth anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls will be held at the great hall of Freemasons ' Tavern , under the presidency of R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , and we hope , for the sake of the School , the Chairman , and all who take part in the event , that it will be our duty next week to record a highly successful meeting . There are , at all

events , many reasons in favour ot our hopes being realised . The Institution is a great and deserved favourite with the Craft . The brother who has undertaken to preside is a Mason of thirty-five years'standing ; of high rank and acknowledged zeal and ability . H e is popular in Grand Lodge , but especially in the province he has ruled so admirably since the summer of 1869 ; and , moreover , his province is numerically a strong one , and fully reciprocates the kindly feeling entertained towards it by its chief . In these

circumstances we look forward with confidence to the results of next Wednesday's gathering , and , in sporting parlance , we trust the festival of 1883 will prove a bumper . We have spoken in general terms of Bro . Beach ' s claims to the support of the Craft on Wednesday next ; a few particulars as to his Masonic career will make them more apparent and , at the same time , will prove not a little

interesting to our readers . Like many others of our foremost Masons , Bro . Beach acquired his earliest knowledge of our mysteries in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , having been initiated in it in the year 18 4 8 , when it stood as No . 460 on the roll of Grand Lodge ; in the years 1852 and 1854 he occupied the Master's chair . He was Prov . Grand Junior Deacon of Oxfordshire in 1851 ; Prov . Grand Senior Deacon in 1 S 52 ; and Prov .

Grand Senior Warden in 1853 . He appears to have been exalted in the Alfred Chapter , No . 340—in those days No . 425—Oxford , and was elected to fill the several Principals' chairs in consecutive years , namely , that of J . in 1853 , H . in 1854 , and Z . in 1855 . He was W . M . of the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 , in 1863 and has served thrice as M . E . Z . of the Royal Arch Chapter attached to it , namely in the years 1864 , 1874 , and 18 75 . On

the death in January , 1869 , of . RVV . Bro . Sir Lucius Curtis , Admiral of the Fleet , and Prov . Grand Master of Hampshire , a successor to him was found in the person of Bro . Beach , M . P ., whose patent of appointment is dated 1 st June , 1869 , and on the 29 th of the same month he became Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Masons in the same province . Since then the lodges and chapters in the Isle of Wight have been placed under

his control and with those of his original province constitute a Masonic subdivision of England , which is second to none in its support and advocacy of our principles , while there are only a few , such as the two Lancashires , West Yorkshire , Devonshire , Kent and Cheshire , which are its superiors in point of numerical strength . In the Mark Degree , Bro . Beach has won still higher distinction . He was W . M . during the years 1862-3-4 of the University Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 55 , Oxford , is a P . M . of the

Economy Lodge . No . 52 , Winchester , and was Grand Mark Master Mason of England and Wales during the triennial period 1866 . 9 . In the United Orders of the Temple and Malta , he is V . E . Provincial Prior of Hampshire . He is a supporter of all our Institutions , and in 18 77 acted as Chairman at the Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , on which occasion Bro . Binckes had the good fortune to be able to announce a list of over ^ 13 , 000 in donations and subscriptions . We regard this as a favourable omen for Bro . Hedges .

As regards the province , which , as we have said , is second to none in ? eal and surpassed by only a few in point of numbers , it is not surprising that Freemasonry should have found its way into it at an early dale . In the earliest list in the appendix to Bro . Gould's '' Four Old Lodges" is an entry of a lodge at the " East India Arms , at Gosporl , Mr . Timothy Raggett , 27 th Ffeb ., 1728 , " and it is certainly a curious coincidence that in the

next two lists in order this lodge bears the same number—No . 35—as the present oldest lodge in the province , namely , the Medina , No . 35 , Cowes , of the year 1732—according to Grand Lodge Calendar 1733—which was originally a London lodge , whence it migrated to its present abode in 1773 . In the second of these two lists it is placed at the "Two Posts , Portsmouth , " and among lodges of the year 1724 . In 1740 the Portsmouth Lodge , No .

35 , of 1724 , had become No . 31 , while the Uosport Lodge , of February , 1720 , would seem to have disappeared . However , we have no intention of entering on this occasion upon a description of the ramifications of early Freemasonry in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire . It is enough for us to state that our Society made for itself homes in this part of England under the banners of both "Moderns" and " Ancients , " and

that several of them are still in existence , and doing good service to the Craft . These are the aforesaid Medina Lodge , No . 35 , Cowes , the date of whose creation is variously assigned to the years 1731 , 1732 , and 1733 , and whose first place of meeting appears to have been the " Theatre Tavern , Goodman ' s-fields ; " Economy Lodge , No . 76 , Winchester , of the year 17 61 , and "Ancient" origin ; Royal Gloucester , No . 130 , Southamp-