Supreme Grand Chapter.

Comp . BEACH , in bringing this recommendation to the notice of the companions , said : Companions , the first business on the agenda paper is for me to make a motion on behalf of the First Grand Principal , which I am quite sure will be most acceptable to Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons . _ It will be in the remembrance of _ the companions that at the last meeting of Grand Lodge the rank of Past Grand Master was conferred on the

Duke of Connaught and Strathearn . It is now proposed to confer therank of Past First Grand Principal on his Royal Highness , and I am certain that is a compliment which will be well merited and that it will be conferred in the most hearty manner by Royal Arch Masons . Since his first entrance into Freemasonry the Duke of Connaught has taken the most active interest in the welfare of the Craft . At the installation of the Prince of Wales .

as Grand Master the Duke of Connaught was a simple Master Mason , and he has . by great exertion since ascended to high position in our Order . He has attended : many Masonic meetings , he has taken an active interest in all that is going on ia Masonry , and he has served all the offices which entitle him to the highest rank in the Craft . I can testify from my own knowledge that the Duke of Connaught has been some time resident in the Province of Hampshire , and there in two parts

of that province he has attended Masonic gatherings and has taken an activeinterest in Freemasonry . It is well known that whatever the Duke of Connaught sets himself to he follows up with energy and ability , and fortunately for ns we may say that the Order is one to which he has devoted himself . He has become a most able and zealous brother among us . After taking great interest in Freemasonry in England he was appointed to the rank of Provincial Grand Master of Sussex

His duties then called him away to a distant part of the world , and in India he did not relax his interest in Freemasonry . He was appointed to high position there , and as First Grand Principal of Bombay he displayed the greatest ability , and took the greatest interest in the welfare of the Craft . Since his return to this country he has already shown the deepest interest in our Craft , and I feel

certain that when this motion is carried , which I am sure it will be , it will be cheerfully accepted by you , the representatives of Royal Arch Masonry throughout the country . It is well deserved and well merited . I have great pleasure in moving that the rank of Past First Grand Principal be conferred on H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G .

Comp . PHILBRICK : Companions , I beg to second that proposition which has been so well and eloquently placed before us by the M . E . First Grand Principal in the chair . Comp . BEACH . Companions , I ask you to carry it with unanimity .

The motion was carried unanimously , and amidst cheers . Comp . BFACH : Companions , I now beg to move that the insignia of the office be presented to his Royal Highness . Comp . PHILBRICK -. I second it . The motion was carried .

The following report of the Committee of General Purposes was then taken as read , received and ordered to be entered on the minutes , and the various recommendations contained in it were , on the motion of Comp . E . LETCHWOKTH , seconded by Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , adopted : — 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 15 th October , 1890 , to the 20 th January , 1891 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : —¦ To Balance , Grand Chapter £ 388 9 3 By Disbursements during ,, „ Unappropriated the Quarter ... •••;& 538 5 0

Account ... 179 14 1 ,, Balance ... ... 243 6 5 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 39 6 92 „ „ Unappropriated Account ... 18 3 1 1 £ 9 64 12 6 ^ 964 12 6

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 . William Webster , as Z . ; Edwin Broadbent , as H . ; James Henry Wells , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Prince Edward Lodge , No . 2109 , Heaton Moor , to be called the Prince Edward Chapter , and to meet at the Assembly Hall , Heaton Moor , Lancashire ( W . D . ) .

2 nd . From Comps . John Keith , as Z . ; Carl Heinrich August Ueckermann , as H . ; Edmund Watts Sprawson , as J . ; and nine others'for a chapter to be attached to the Transvaal Lodge , No . 1747 , Pretoria , to be called the Transvaal Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , St . Andries-street , Pretoria , South African Republic .

3 rd . From Comps . Henry Thomas Odell , as Z . ; William Macallister Duncan , as H . ; Theodore Menne , as J . ; and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the Southern Cross Lodge , No . 177 8 , Harrismith , to be called the Sir John Brand Chapter , and to meet at the _ Good Templars' flail , Harrismith , Orange Free State , South Africa .

4 th . From Comps . George Frederick Alexander Smythe , as Z . ; Thomas Cuming , as H . ; Gardiner Frederick Guyon , as J . ; and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the Military Jubilee Lodge , No . 2195 , Dover , to be called the Military Jubilee Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Dover , in the county of Kent .

5 th . From Comps . Walter Wingham , as Z . ; John Hattersley , as H . ; Charles Richard Williams , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Dagmar Lodge , No . 2262 , Wraysbury , to be called the Dagmar Chapter , and to meet at the Anglers' Rest Hotel , Wraysbury , Buckinghamshire .

6 th . From Comps . John Weighton , as Z . ; James Henry Isaacs , as H . ; John William Meason , as J . ; and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the Prince Alfred Lodge , No . 956 , Pietermaritzburg , Natal , South Africa , to be called the Prince Alfred Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Temple , Pietermaritzburg , Natal , South Africa .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee hive likewise to report that they have received a memorial from the companions of the Chapter of Judea , No . 265 , Keighley , in the county of York ( W . D . ) , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the Royal Arch Regulations , Rule 102 .

The memorial being in form , and the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence , which will complete 100 years on the 23 rd February , 1891 , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted , the charter to be dated 23 rd February , 1891 . The Committee have also received memorials with copies of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters : —

The Portsmouth Temperance Chapter , No . 2068 , from the Sailors' Institute , High-street , Portsmouth , to the Speedwell Coffee Palace , Commercial-road , Land , port , Hampshire . The Ubique Chapter , No . 178 9 , from the Cafe Royal , Air-street , Regentstreet , to the Criterion , Piccadilly , London .

I he Chapter of Good Intent , No . 307 , from the White Horse , Hebden Bridge , to the Masonic Rooms , New-road , Hebden Bridge . The Committee recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 24 th January , 1891 . Grand Chapter was then closed in form .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The January Quarterly Court of this Institution of Governors and Subscribers was held on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Alfred C . Spaull presided and there were also present Bros . J . S . Cumberland , C . H . Webb , James Brett , H . Massey , J . H . Matthews , W . H . Saunders , E . M . Money , J . Strachan , H . F . Nashj and F . R . W . Hedges ( Secretary ) .

Bro . I . H . MATTHEWS , for Bro . Henry Smith , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . West Yorks , Treasurer and Vice-Patron , upon the recommendation of the House Committee , moved— - "That the equivalent of £ 21 , viz ., two votes , be given to the Eccleston Lodge , No . 1624 , in consideration of the harmonium offered by them to the

Institution . " He said the harmonium was a luxury , not a necessity , and the Institution would not be justified in going to the expense of buying one . As , however , it had been presented , it was thought by the House Committee that it should be accepted , ancl therefore they proposed that the gift should be recognised by a grant of votes .

Bro . CUMBERLAND , in seconding the motion , said it was a very handsome present , and ought to be recognised . In answer to a question , Bro . MATTHEWS said Broadwoods had valued it at 20 guineas . It had cost £ 2 ios . to put in order . Bro . SAUNDERS thought the more the Institution had of these presents the better it would be .

The motion was carried . Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , P . G . Std . Br ., P . D . G . D . C , Patron , upon the recom . mendation of the House Committee , moved— " That in consideration of the good service rendered to the Institution by Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D . and Patron in conducting to so successful an issue the negotiations with the London , Brighton , and South Coast Railway Company , whereby amongst other advantages the

funds of the Institution have been benefited to the substantial extent of ^ 5000 and asa slight acknowledgment that the Tank and privileges of an Honorary Patron be conferred on Bro . Richardson . " He said it was a long story to travel to go through the whole of the circumstances , but to cut the narrative short , when the Committee got the ^ 5000 they thought they should make Bro . Richardson some recognition . The negotiations with the railway were very difficult , and involved

a great deal of time and trouble on the part of Bro . Richardson . He was fought by the company , which came before him from time to time , but ultimately he succeeded in coming to an arrangement . The Committee did not want the Institution to lose its ground , which was too small in any case . Well , it got nearly half an acre more than it had before , and the railway took none of the old land . Since terms had been arrived at the company admitted that though they

had fought hard tooth and nail , the Institution had made a very fair arrangement indeed . At first they laughed at the Institution asking ^ 5000 . In the Committee ^ 10 , 000 had been suggested , because it could be reduced if the company objected ; but the Committee came to the conclusion that £ 5000 would be a fair sum to ask , and it was obtained . This was not the onl y matter for which they had to thank Bro . Richardson . The Parish of St . Mary , Battersea , in the autumn of

188 9 , behaved very badly to the Institution with respect to a bridge they were building , and they were extremely disagreeable . Bro . Richardson fought them and brought them to terms , and the Institution was enabled to make a road . One other matter Bro . Richardson had fought for them . The parish had raised the rateable value of the School premises , and the Institution appealed , and the appeal

was given against the Institution in the first instance . The Institution then appealed to a higher Court , where no doubt the assessment would be reduced very considerably if it was heard , but it was thought the parish would not drive them to that . Taking all these things into consideration , especially the affair with the Brighton Railway , the House Committee proposed the recognition of Bro . Frank Richardson ' s services in the form contained in the notice of motion .

Ihe motion was seconded by Bro . SAUNDERS , and carried unanimously . The CHAIRMAN , for his brother—Bro . W . H . Spaull , J . P ., P . A . G . D . of C , P . P . G . W ., and Prov . G . Sec . Shropshire , Vice-President—moved— "That 'Thursday before the second Friday' be substituted for ' Saturday following the last Friday' in line 3 of Law 29 . " " That ' Thursday immediately before ' be

substituted for ' Saturday immediately following' in the 4 th line of same law . " "That the word ' next' in 5 th line of same law be omitted , and the word ' week' be added after Saturday in same line . " He pointed out that this would be going back to the old days of election , and was intended for the convenience of brethren from the provinces , who would be thereby enabled to get home on the Saturday .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND seconded the motion , and concurred in the observations of the Chairman . The motion was carried , and a requisition was signed for a Special General Court to be called to confirm the above . resolution for Thursday , the 12 th inst ., at four p . m ., so that the next Quarterly Court may be held in conformity with the resolution .

The Court subsequently considered and adopted the following recommendation of the General Committee : "That the 15 candidates remaining from the last election , together with the 10 whose petitions have been since approved , be placed on the list of candidates for the April election , and that 19 vacancies caused by girls leaving be declared . " A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

A Quarterl y Court of Subscribers to this Institution was held on the 30 th ult . at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve , Past Grand Treasurer , in the chair . The other brethren who attended were Bros . Wm . Shurmur , Geo . Plucknett , James Brett , J . G . E . Le Feuvre , J . W . Burgess , J . Glass , H . Dickey , Geo . Mordey , W . Slyman , Thos . Cull , Geo . Everett , Rev . Harry Hebb , George GardnerE . Hobbs ,

, Robert VV . Bourne , H . Massey , J . S . Cumberland , C . H . Webb , VV . A . Scurrah , W . H . Saunders , j . W . Klenck , James Terry , George Motion , W . W . Morgan , John Mason , W . Masters , W . Alpass , John Jones , Arthur H . Scurrah , W . H . PJowson , Geo . Corbie , J . Strachan , C . F . Pope , J . G . Stevens , and J . M . M'Leod ( Secretary ) .

The minutes having been read , the following alteration , proposed by the CHAIRMAN , was carried : That March be substituted lor April in the second line oi Law 50 . Law 50 will , therefore , now read " Nominations of brethren to serve on this Board [ Board of Management ] shall be made at the Council in Marcli preceding "—the Quarterly Court in April at which the election of the Board is taken

Bro . J GLASS moved an amendment to the effect that the hour of meeting of the General Committee be four o ' clock instead of two . Formerly the meetings were held at three o ' clock , but , owing to agitation and for the convenience of brethren attending , four o ' clock was substituted . The reasons for continuing hold those meetings at four were so numerous that it was hardly necessary w detail them . The early hour of two was manifestl y for the convenience of only

the few . The many would certainly prefer four . He might remind the brethren that from time to time there would be held the investigation meeting of the Pc 11 ' tions Committee , and the duties of the General Committee would be lessened t 0 that extent . Besides the hour of four had already been advertised in the Calendar and it would be very hard if a brother who supported a petition which had been unfavourably reported upon were to come up at four o ' clock , and then to find tha