Scottish Masonic Benevolent Association In India.

As regards the Benevolent Association proper , which is on larger scale than either of the two Funds we have just referred to , the total Receipts for the year to 30 th November , 1 S 97 , including a balance of over 3 615 Rupees brought forward from

the previous account , was 643 8 Rupees , while the expenditure reached a total of 1764 Rupees and upwards , the balance remaining towards the ensuing year being over 4673 Rupees . But , on . looking into the items of receipt , irrespective of the

balance brought forward , we find a very serious falling off in the Donations and Subscriptions , the amount received under this head being 114 ( 5 Rupees , or less by 29 8 Rupees than in the preceding year ; while , on comparing the amount with that

received in 1 S 94 , the diminution is not far short of 2000 Rupees . So , too , with the amount collected by the lodges from their members , the sum thus received from six lodges in 18 97 being only 112 Rupees , as compared with 1082 Rupees collected

in 18 93 from 13 lodges Wc are not surprised that the Committee in their report should describe this as " a very serious matter , " and express their regret that the appeal they addressed to thc brethren in ¦ their report for

the year to 30 th November , 1896 , had " not met with the response which was anticipated , and which it deserved . " On the other hand , the sum expended on annuitants was 840 Rupees , and for the education of children , S 60 Rupees , or

together 1700 Rupees , out of a total of 27 6 4 Rupees expended , the number of annuitants being the same as in the preceding year , namely , seven , while the number of children on the Fund was 10 , as compared with six in 18 9 6 . Under these

circumstances , the Committee make an urgent appeal for further support , pointing out , on the one hand , that the benefits conferred by the Association would have to be curtailed in the event of their appeal not being responded to ; and , on thc other

hand , that increased support would not be a very difficult matter if the claims of the Association were brought more prominently to the notice of the brethren by the Masters of lodges and the rulers of other Masonic bodies . At the close of the year , the

Association possessed in invested capital and cash in bank assets amounting to 23 , 873 Rupees , the assets of the three Associated Funds reaching a total of 28 , 515 Rupees . The effects of this appeal appears to have been so far satisfactory ,

that during the year ending 30 th November last the Donations and Subscrip tions reached 1842 Rupees , or nearly 700 Rupees more , the year ' s income , made up of this sum with the half percentages from lodges and interest , being

326 7 Rupees , as against 2823 Rupees the preceding year , and the difference would have been greater still but that the interest brought to account in 18 97 was for a period of 18 months , and in 1898 for 12 months . The expenditure during

18 9 8 reached 23 6 4 Rupees , of which 840 was disbursed in annuities—as in 1 S 97—and 1330 for education and maintenance , the remainder having been spent on bank charges , and for printing , postage , and other contingencies . Thc assets

of the Fund amounted at the close of the account to 27 , 622 Rupees—in which was included , however , a loan of 3000 Rupees from Grand Lodge and the Fund of Benevolence—while those of the three Associated Funds were 32 , 495 Rupees , which ,

leaving the 3000 Rupees loan out of the reckoning , shows an improvement of between 900 and 1000 Rupees . Rut , notwithstanding this , thc Committee are not less urgent in their appeal

for still further support , pointing out that the amount available under thc laws of the Association for thc expenses of the current year "falls short of the amount required lo pay the Educacation Fees and Annuities . " Wc sincerely trust that this

appeal will be favourably received , so that the Association may be able to continue , and even extend , the good work which it has been doing for several years past .

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Comps . Lieut .-Col . R . Townley Caldwell , M . A ., G . Superintendent Cambridge , acting as G . Z . ; Col . John W . Woodall , P . G . Treas ., as G . H . ; Baron de Fetrieres , P . A . G . Soj ., as G . J . ; W . Lake , Asst . G . S . E ., as G . S . N . ; W . Gardiner , G . S . N . ; Sir George D . Harris , President of the Committee of General Purposes ; E . Beaumont , Dep . G . Reg . ; Admiral William Sinclair , a s

Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

G . P . S . ; George Cowell , as ist A . G . S . ; W . Smithett , 2 nd A . G . S . ; George Parky , as 2 nd A . G . S . ; John Walford , ist G . Std . Br . ; James W . Burgess , 2 nd G . Std . Br . ; W . Cleghorn , 3 rd G . Std . Br . ; Henry Wright , 6 th G . Std . Br . Frank Richardson , P . A . G . S ., G . D . C ; J . Boulton , A . G . D . C ; W . Henry Thomas , G . Org . ; Wm . Fisher , A . G . D . C . ; Charles J . R . Tijou , 4 th A . G . D . C ; W . G . Kentish , P . G . Std . Br . ; LewisLazarus . P . A . G . D . C : A . C . Spaull , P . D . G . D . C ;

George Graveley , P . A . G . D . C ; Henry A . Tobias , P . G . Std . Br . ; C . D . Hoblyn , P . G . Std . Br . ; Lieut .-Col . and Sheriff Probyn , Walter Ebbetts , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . B . Purchas , P . G . S . B . ; S . Vallentine , P . A . G . D . C . ; E . Luxmoore Marshall , Charles E . Keyser , P . G . S . B . ; G . H . Newington Bridges , P . G . Std . Br . ; Wm . Vincent , P . A . G . D . C , ; T . Pcultney Griffin , W . J . Mason , P . G . S . B . ; W . M , Bywater , P . G . S . B . ; J . M . McLeod , P . G . Std . Br ., Sec . R . M . I . B . ; J . Leach

Barrett , P . G . S . B . ; Henry Lovegrove , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . R . Clipperton , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . J . Thomas , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . D . Langton , P . G . Std . Br . ; Reginald St . A . Roumieu , P . G . S . B . ; Howard H . Room , P . A . G . D . C ; Robert Gresley Hall , P . G . S . B . ; Richard Eve , P . G . Treas . ; Ralph Clutton , P . A . G . S . ; Edgar GoWe , P . G . Std . Br . j j . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . S . B . ; William Cowper , P . A . G . S . ; George C Kent , P . G . Std . Br . ; Gordon Smith , P . G . S . B . ; Harry Tipper , P . A .

G . D . C ; E . M . Money , P . G . Std . Br .: C . F . Matier , P . D . G . D . C ; A . J . R Trendell , P . G . Std . Br . ; Charles Belton , P . G . Std . Br . ; Herbert J . Adams , P . D . G . D . C . ; Perceval A . Nairne , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . H . Matthews , P . G . D . C ; W . B . Fendick , P . G . S . B . ; Henry R . Rose , P . G . Org . ; Peter de L . Long , P . G . P . S . ; T . H . Gardiner , P . G . S . B . ; Dr . F . Lawrance , W . Martin , P . A . G . D . C . ; Lennox Browne , P . G . S . B . ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . S . B . ; H . Sadler , G . Janitor ; H . E . Francis , P . Z . 1149 ; M . Spiegel , W . Woodiwiss , P . Z . 8 34 , P . Z . 265 ,

M . E . Z . 408 , P . P . G . Std . Br . Surrey , P . P . G . Std . Br . W . Yorks ; H . Massey , P . Z . 619 and 192 S ; George Whitaker , J . 408 ; Charles Kempton , P . Z . 753 ; James Irvine , P . Z . 862 ; William Dodd , P . Z . 1194 ; . J . Pickett , P . Z . 2410 ; John Songhurst , P . Z . 7 ; John J . White , J . 2005 ; J . H . Cleave , P . Z . 2030 , M . E . Z . 2096 ; H . Thomson Lyon , J . 1789 ; L . V . Duien Anley , P . Z . 1201 ; R . C Davis , P . Z . 1216 "; J . C . Osterstock , P . Z . 11 S 5 ; W . H . Toye , P . Z . 554 ; William John Hewett , P . Z . 1185 ; Adam Berrv , and G . S . Recknell .

After Grand Chapter had been opened and the minutes read and confirmed , Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . D . C , said that the alterations in R . A . Regulations as to the collars and decorations to be worn by companions which bad been arrived at by the May convocation , had been submitted to the M . E . G . Z . for his approval , and it was expected that the assent of his

Royal Highness would be received before he left London . On the motion of Comp . Sir G . D . HARRIS , seconded by Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , the Report of the Committee of General Purposes was taken as read , ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , and a charter was granted to Comps . John Christian Osterstock as Z ., John James White as H ., William John Hewett as J ., and 10 others for a chapter to be

attached to the Cator Lodge , No . 2266 , Beckenham , to be called the Cator Chapter , and to meet at the Holborn Restaurant , London . Permission was a / so given to remove the Urmston Chapter , No . 1 730 , Stretford , Lancashire , from the Longford Coffee House , to the Club Assembly Rooms , 20 , King-street ; and lo the James Terry Chapter , No . 2372 , Waltham Cross , Herls , to remove from the Four Swans Hotel to the Falcon Hotel . Grand Chapter was then closed in ancient and solemn form .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Essex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ESSEX .

INTERESTING PRESENTATION TO THE EARL OF WARWICK .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held on the 26 th ult ., at Tilbury , under the presidency of the P . G . M ., the Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick and Brooke , Deputy Grand Master . The arrangements for the meeting were made by the members of the Tilbury Lodge , No . 2006 , who spared no expense or trouble to render it a success .

By the kindness of the Dock Company one of their spacious examining sheds was placed at the disposal of the brethren for a lodge-room , and handsomely decorated , and when between 200 and 300 brethren were assembled therein , wearing the insignia of the Order , the spectacle was a most brilliant one .

The Earl of Warwick reached Tilbury by special train at two o ' clock , and was received at the station by Bro . Plumer C . Walker , W . M . of the Tilbury Lodge , who was accompanied by Bros . Dudgeon and Bruton , Treasurer and Secretary , and Bro . Railing , Piov . G . Sec , and by these brethren his lordship was conducted to the Tilbury Hotel close by . This hotel is charmingly situated in a pretty garden on the banks of the Thames opposite Gravesend , and the weather being delightfully fine and the tide at the full , nothing was wanting to complete the enjoyment of the visitors .

At three o'clock the Karl of Warwick , accompanied by a brilliant array of Grand and Prov . Grand Officers , entered the Prov . Grand Lodge , and the business of thelday commenced . The minutes of the last annual meeting , held at Brentwood , having been confirmed ,

Bro . RICHAIU ) CLOWES , P . G . Std . Br . ( who , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Col . Lockwood , M . P ., acted as Deputy P . G . M . ) , rose , and said before they proceeded any further he had been asked to do something which he was sure would meet with the hearty approval of all present . It would be fresh in their minds that since Provincial Grand Lodge last met , his Royal Highness the Grand Master had conferred upon the Earl ol

Warwick the distinguished position of Deputy Grand Master of Eng land —( hear , hear , and applause)—and the Prov . Board of General Purposes had , most wisely , he thought , come to the conclusion that that meeting should not pass without some recognition by the province of their intense satisfaction at that appointment , and of their devotion to the earl , who had so ably presided over them for the past 16 years . ( Applause . ) The appointment

of Lord Warwick as D . G . M . had been hailed with satisfaction all over England , hut nowhere more so than in his own county of E ? sex —( app laiss ) —the members of which trusted his lordship might long be spared to fill both positions . Bro . Clowes then read the address ( which was handsomely illuminated in album form by Bro . George Kenning , of Great Qjsen-street , and bore the Warwick Arms on the title page ) as follows ;