Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS <_ 93 Supreme Grand Chapter of England 593 Provincial Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Staffordshire 594 Consecration of the Egerton Lodge , No . 2316 , at Swinton , near Manchester 594 Provincial Grand Lodg " . of Hants and the Isle of Wight 595 Haute nnd tho l «'» r . f Witiht- Masonic

Educational and Benevolent Institution $ 93 Provincial Grand Mark Lodgeof Northumberland and Durham 1 . 96 Kennington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1381 597 Masonic Presentation and Soiree 597 Mark Masonry 597 Instruction 597 Ancient and Accepted Rite 597 Allied Masonic Degrees 597

The Craft Abroad J 97 CORRESPONDENCEThe London Masonic Charities 59 8 Attendance Books at Provincial Grand Lodge J 99 Early Evidence of the Royal Arch 599 Browne ' s Master Key 599 Notes and Queries iaa

Jubilee Celebration at Sheerness 599 KIPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry , 600 Instruction 6 c 3 Royal Arch 603 Instruction 603 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 603 Masonic and General Tidings 604 Lodge Meetings for Next Week iv .

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THERE was a much fuller attendance than usual at the Quar-Grand terly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on Wednesday , Chapter . jj ut jlac t not been that the bestowal of brevet rank in Grand Chapter to correspond with that conferred already in Grand Lodge in commemoration of the QUEEN ' Jubilee had been , of necessity , postponed in

the case of those belonging to Districts Abroad and in the Colonies , in order to enable the GRAND SECRETARY to ascertain who among the Craft Masons were qualified to receive honours in the Royal Arch , there would in ail probability have been less than the usual amount of business to transact . However , on this occasion GRAND SCRIBE E . was able to furnish the names of those companions who , having already received Craft Jubilee honours ,

were entitled to a similar favour in the Grand Chapter , and the rank which it had pleased his Royal Hig hness , the GRAND Z ., to confer upon each . Thus the list of those who have been honoured with brevet rank in the two branches of constitutional Masonry is completed , and we may now congratulate the Companions in the Colonies and Abroad who were foitunately qualified to receive it on VVednesday . There are some good men

amongst them , men who , though their names cannot be so familiar to us here as those of the leading members in our London lodges and the provinces , are known to have done good service to English Freemasonry ; and it is tolerably certain the bestowal of these Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter honours will have the effect of strengthening the ties which bind our Colonial and Anglo-foreign lodges to Freemasonry in the Old Country .

Festival of the AMONG the 44 provinces holding under the United Grand 1 Wi hfiB n Sleo £ Lodge of England there are some few which are numerically lent Association , stronger than Hampshire and the Isle of Wig ht , and there are many which equal it in point of energy and activity , the resolute loyalty with which they perlorm all manner of Masonic work , and their steadfast

observance of the principle of benevolence . But none excel it in these essentials of sound practical Freemasonry , and the report of the proceedings—which we publish elsewhere—of its Provincial Grand Lodge , as well as of the first Anniversary Festival of its Educational and Benevolent Association , will gladden the hearts not onl y of our Hants and Isle of Wight friends , but also of the whole body of Craftsmen throughout the country . The province is

oneof the most regular contnbutorsatallthe Festivals of ourthree Institutions , and there are occasions , as at this year ' s Anniversary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , when it both gives generously itself , and is an inducement to others to give generously likewise . Hitherto , however , it has had no organisation of its own that should be capable of dealing advantageously with thedistress prevailing within its own borders . It has refrained

from establishing any such body in the very excusable persuasion that to do so might have the effect of lessening its ability to render service to the general Charitable Institutions . But last year it altered its determination , and , though it were premature to judge thus early of the result , it seems to us there is very little doubt that in time , and under able management , the new Educational and Benevolent Association

which the province has set on foot , will prove , not antagonistic , but a most valuable auxiliary , to the Instititutions in and near London . At all events there can be no question as to one point , namely , that the brethren have set about their self imposed task with characteristic determination to make it as complete a success as possible , and the first Festival , which was celebrated in the South Western Hotel , Southampton , at the close of the Provincial

Grand Lodge on the 24 th ult ., has been the means of raising towards the funds of the new local Charity the very handsome sum of £ 7 86 , which added to the ^ 595 already in the bank , gives an available capital of not far short of ^ 1400 , with which to commence operations . This is , indeed , a most gratif ying achievement even for such a Province as Hants and the Isle of Wight ; more especially as during the current year it has raised

close on £ 1800 for the Benevolent Institution , and lesser sums for the Schools ; and if only moderate totals are obtained annually , the Association will be able to carry out its objects without in the slightest degree trenching unduly on the claims of the central Institutions 10 the continued support of the Province . To Bro . G . FELTON L ANCASTER , Past Prov . G . Reg ., it seems , the chief honour belongs of originating this

association , and to him accordingly we tender our sincere congratulations on his success . Nor must we lose sig ht of the fact that such a result as has attended his efforts could not have been possible except in so strong and Well-ordered a Province and under the patronage of so distinguished a Mason as Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., its Prov . G . Master , who has alread y seen nearl y 40 years of Masonry , and who we trust will be spared still

many more years to preside over the destinies of the Craft in Hants and the Isle of Wig ht . Therefore to the Province generally and to its *; rov . G . Master , as well as to Bro . LANCASTER , we present our congratulations of their latest success . May the Anniversary Festivals of this new Association be always as productive as the one held at Southampton towards the close of last month !

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..... THERE is no province in England which , for its size , is more Leicestershire . . r ° ' and influential for good than that of Leicestershire and Rutland , an . j t |_ _ as j __ a ( j ^ e g 00 cj fortune t 0 be presided over by a succession cf able and popular rulers , and it numbers in its ranks many brethren who would have made their mark even in provinces that have a longer muster roll . The lodges , too , are characterised by a loyal obedience to the

Constitutions , and do their work admirably ; while , as an active promoter of the great principle of benevolence , it is surpassed by none . Last week we gave a very full report of the proceedings at the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on the 19 th ult ., when , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Earl FERRERS , P . G . M ., the chair was occupied by his respected Deputy , Bro . S . S . PARTRIDGE , the veteran Bro .

W . KELLY , Past P . G . M . ; Bro . G . TOLLER , P . G . S . B . England ; and the Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , being in attendance . The business transacted was of a more than usually interesting and satisfactory nature . The returns showed a total number of 502 subscribing members , or an average of nearl y 40 members per lodge , and the financial statement was equally gratifying . FYom the very large number of 2566 votes , which ,

according to the Report of the Charity Committee , are available for future elections , there can be no doubt , even if we were without the evidence furnished by our annual Festival Returns , that the province must contribute generously to our Institutions ; indeed , it is on record that for years past Leicestershire and Rutland has subscribed between ^ 300 and ^ 400 to our Charities , and its wealth in votes is consequently not surprising . It has ,

too , a Calendar of its own , published annually , and containing a store of information , which is useful as well generally as locally . Above all , it is a model of caution in the matter of accepting candidates , and this perhaps is one great reason wh y it succeeds so well in all its undertakings , and the spirit which prevails among the biethren is so harmonious . All this is most creditable to the province , which fully deserves all , and more than all , the

good fortune it has experienced . There was , however , one feature which will distinguish the meeting of the present from those of ordinary years . An experienced and capable member , Bro . S . S . PARTRIDGE , whose name must be familiar enough with our readers as having successively held the responsible offices of Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Master of the province , was among those on whom it was the pleasure of the M . W . G .

MASTER to bestow Past Grand rank at the Jubilee commemoration in June last , and our Leicestershire and Rutland lriends very naturally regarded this as affording them an opportunity of showing their gratitude for Bro . PARTRIDGE ' valuable services b y presenting him with a complete suit of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter clothing , & c , and the gift was handed to him on this occasion , the duty of presentation being entrusted to Bro .

KELLY , Past Prov . Grand Master , who performed his task both gracefully and kindly , and whose address , brief as it was , must have considerably enhanced the value of the testimonial in the eyes ot the recip ient . VVe congratulate Bro . PARTRIDGE on this further mar . kof the respect and esteem in which he is held by the lodges and brethren throughout his province .

Many similar testimonials have at different times been bestowed on others who have shown themselves worthy of such honour ; but on none of them have they been bestowed more worthil y than in this case , and we trust our worthy brother may be spared yet many years to occupy his present position in Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge .

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 the Freemasons ' Hall , when the following companions were present : — Comps . Rev . C . J . Martyn , G . Supt . Suffolk , actingZ . ; Rev . H . A . Pickhard , G . Supt Oxon , as H . ; F . H . Caldwell , G . Supt . Cambridge , acting-J . ; Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , G . S . E . ; Sir j . B . Monckton , as G . S . N . ; K . Grey , President Committee General Purposes ; R . Eve , G . Treas . ; Baron de Ferrieres , as P . S . ; Dr . R . Gooding ,

as ist A . S . ; G . Cooper , as 2 nd A . S . ; F . S . Knyvett , Swd . Br . ; V . P . Freeman , ist Std . Br . ; E . L . Baylis , 2 nd Std . Br . ; VV . M . Bywater , 4 th Std . Br . ; F . Richardson , D . of C ; E . M . Lott , Mus . Doc , as Org . ; J . Glaisher , P . A . G . S . ; H . Maudslay , P . G . S . B . ; C . Egan , P . G . Supt . South Africa ; A . Spencer , P . G . S . B . ; J . H . Matthews , P . G . D . of C . ; A . B . Cook , P . G . Std . Br . ; Rev . J . N . Palmer , P . A . G . S . ; R . Glutton , P . A . G . S . ; Col . H . S . Somerville Burney , P . G . S . B . ; Frederick West , P . A . G . S . ; 1 . M . Case . P . G . D . ot C . ; B . Kelly Thorpe , P . Asst . G . D . of C . ;

Magnus Ohren , P . A . G . D . of C . ; John L . Mather ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . S . B . ; William Edward Slewart , P . G . S . B . ; Charles VV . Driver , P . G . S . B . ; Wm . Roebuck , P . G . S . B . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . D . D . C ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; William Clarke , P . A . G . D . C ; Dr . W . R . Woodman , P . G . D . C ; Thos . Fenn , P . P . C . G . P . ; John E . Dawson , Charles F . Hogard , P . G . D . D . C ; Charles Martin , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , P . G . S . B . ; James Lewis Thomas , P . G . S . B . ; Thos . J . Railing , P . G . Swd . Br . ; W . F . Nettleship , P . G . Std . Br . ; James Terry , P . G . Std . Br . ; Col .

Charles Harding , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Sir Reginald Hanson ( Lord Mayor ) , P . G . N . ; James S .-Eastes , P . G . Swd Br . ; F . R . VV . Hedges , P . G . Std . Br . ; Rudolph G . Glover , E . Mallet , H . 1623 ; Harry Tipper , H . 141 ; J . R . Clipperton , Z . 19 ; H . Massey , P . Z . 619 and 192 S , J . 192 S ; J . S . Cumbeiland , P . Z . 236 and 1611 , P . P . G . J . ; A . Lucking , P . Z . 1000 , P . G . D . C Essex ; VV . H . Perryman , P . Z . and Z . 134 S ; Geo .

Gardner , J . Kennington Chapter ; H . M . Baldwin , Z . 720 ; Bentley Haynes , Z . 65 ; VV . A . Scurrah , Z . 204 S ; Edward Terry , P . Z . 1319 ; Charles Belton , P . Z . 59 ; W . H . Spaull , P . Z . 262 , P . G . S . E . ; John Roberts , P . Z . 65 ; S . G . Gilbert , Z . 47 ; Geo . Stanton , P . Z . 1 S 1 ; VV . Alfred Dawson , P . Z . 3 S 2 ; Henry Garrod , P . Z . 507 , 749 , and 766 ; Geo . D . Wingate , P . Z . 1423 ; Joseph House , Z . 1716 ; and H . Sadler , G . Janitor .

After the formal opening of Grand Chapter , Comp . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , G . S . E ., read the minutes of the convocation of August , which were then put and confirmed . The following report of the Committee of General Purposes was , on the motion of Comp . ROBERT GREY , President , seconded by Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . D . C , taken as read , received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes : —