Leicestershire And Rutland.

lodges thc necessity for exercising extreme caution as to whom they admit into their ranks . It was only last week that we expressed our hearty approval of similar advice tendered by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire at thc

consecration of a new lodge , while the necessity for the strictest caution in this respect is a theme which Consecrating Officers and brethren in authority never weary of dilating upon when the opportunity presents itself . It is , indeed , a subject to which it

is impossible that too great prominence can be g iven , and it is b y no means improbable , as Bro . PARTRIDGE suggested , that the present strain on the accommodation at our Boys' Schoolhe would not have been very far out in his statement had he

spoken generally of the strain upon the resources of all our Institutions—was due in a great measure to the lack , in past years , of such proper care and judgment on the part of lodges . The report of the Charity Committee of the Province was also

most creditable to our Leicestershire and Rutland brethren . Bro . S . S . PARTRIDGE , as the Provincial Representative at the Boys ' School , had taken up a list , whicii , though it was undoubtedly smaller than at previous Festivals , nevertheless amounted to thc ;

goodly sum of £ , 2 V , while thc same brother was able to announce that the sum actually subscribed to the WILLIAM KELLY Memorial Fund already exceeded £ 230 , and that several further sums had been promised . Thus the Province , though

it showed to less advantage at the Festival it elected to support , has , in fact , gone beyond its average figure , the amounts raised for the Boys' School ancl the KELLY Memorial Fund being too-ether not far short of £ 500 . Considering that Leicestershire

and Rutland has onl y 14 lodges on its roll , these returns reflect the greatest credit on the brethren , and fully justif y the encomiums passed upon them by their Deputy Provincial Grand Master and other critics on this and other occasions . In line ,

the Province has acquitted itself ri g ht loyally during the past year , and we trust it may be our privilege in future years to publish reports of similar meetings whicii shall prove equally worthy of commendation .

The Craft In Kentucky.

THE CRAFT IN KENTUCKY .

'flu ; general condition of Freemasonry in Kentucky , to judge from the various accounts we have read of the Proceedings at the annual Communication of the Grand Lodge in October of last year , appears to be one of great prosperity , there being 4 61 lodges on the roll , with an aggregate

membershi p of 17 , 399 , whicii number includes 68 4 what are called "free members , " consisting of ministers and 50 yearmembers . But the subject whicii appears to engross the attention of tbe brethren in this jurisdiction is that of their Masonic Home , which now has within its walls 265 widows and

orphans , the maintenance of whom at about loo dollars per annum costs 26 , 500 dollars . During the year 18 94-5 , however , sundry extraordinary expenditures for grading and paving the street in whicii the Home is located , and ( or replacing worn out waterand steam pipes , & c , left a deficit of about 4000 dollars , and

in consequence the Grand Master addressed a circular to the Masters , Wardens , and brethren of the several lodges , setting forth the facts we . have quoted , and appealing to them to

render all the assistance in their power in order to restore the financial equilibrium of the Institution and enable it to continue its beneficent work . As the 97 th annual communication was doubtless held in the course of last month , we shall in all

probability hear that thc appeal of Grand Master HAl . MAN , on the 4 II 1 June , 1895 , has proved successful , and that his successor , Grand Master FRANK C- GiiRAUl ) , was in a position to congratulate Grand Lodge on thc improved condition of the Home Funds . But our Kentucky brethren are apparentl y not content

with making such provision as is possible for the Widow and the Orphan , ancl as the Centenary Celebration of the formation of their Grand Lodge is now onl y three years distant , they have resolved to mark the occurrence of that auspicious event

by erecting an " Infirmary and Home" for aged , infirm , and penniless brethren . They have alread y commenced the task of raising the necessary funds for the purpose , and it is . announced that at the date of the cifith communication in October , 18 95 , no less than 74 6

The Craft In Kentucky.

subscriptions , representing in the aggregate nearl y 12 , 700 dollars had been secured . This is a brave beginning and we trust that when the great anniversary comes it will be found that such an amount has been obtained as will enable Kentuck y to

make decent provision for the maintenance of their aged and indigent members during the closing years of their existence , as well as for the widow and orphan children . There is onl y one matter in the accounts we have read of Kentucky Freemasonry

and its proceedings to which we take exception . We refer to the passing of a resolution to the effect that the Grand Lod ge " disapproves" of the " retail of spirituous liquors . " It is in the

power of the lodges to accept or reject persons engaged in that business who offer themselves as candidates for initiation , but neither Iodge nor Grand Lodge has the rig ht to interfere with a man ' s private avocations .

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 . Cotrp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., G . Superintendent of Hants and the Isle of Wight , G . J ., tccupicd thc chair of G . Z . ; Comp . Lieut .-General C . W . Ranc ' clph , G . Svj erinter . dent of Sussex , took the chair of G . H . ; and Comp . Col . John Charles Marglasham , G . Superintendent of the West

Indies and Central America , acted as G J . Amongst a large nun ber of Grand and Fast Grand Officers were Comps . Jan-es Smith Easles , who acted as G . S . N . ; E . Letchworth , G . S . E . ; C . & Kejser , Baton de Ferrieres , W . M . Stiles , P . G . T . ; J . Lewis Thomas , Peler de Larde Long , W . Lake , R . Clowes , J . M . McLeod , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; W .

F . Smithson , Sir G . D . Harris , Frank Richardson , Gen . Gadsden , Walter Hopekirk , R . Clay Sudlow , G orge Boulton , George Graveley , S . V . Abraham , H . Tipper , S VaIIent ne ; George Everett , T . W . Whitmarsh , R , Hot ton Smith , Q . C ., Dr . Clement Godson , Charles Belton , W . E . Chapman , and Henry Lovegiove .

On the motion of Comp . ST GEORGE D . HARRIS , President of the Committee of General Purposes , seconded by Comp . FRANK RICHARDSON , charters were granted for new chapters , according to the following petitions : ist . From Comps . John Gordon , as Z . ; John Harold Milton , as H . ; James Pinder , as J . ; and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the St . John at Hackney Lodge , No . 2511 , to be called the St . John at Hackney Chapter , and to meet at the Old Town Hall , Hackney , London .

2 nd . From Comps . Frederick A . Bowles , as Z . ; Walter Hailes , as H . ; Charles W . Garraway , as J . ; and seven others lor a chapter to be attached to the Mount Everest Lodge , No . 2439 , to be called the Mount Everest Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Darjeeling , in the District of Bengal . 3 rd . From Comps . Augustus Frederick Lay , as Z . ; Henry Burton Chamber , lain , as H . ; Edward James Anning , as J . ; and 10 others for a chapter to be attached to Earl of Zetland Ledge , No . 1364 , to be called the Earl of Zetland Chapter , and to meet at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham street , London .

4 th . From Comps . the Earl of Portarlington , as Z . ; Capt . George Hearn , as H . ; Lieut . Robert Andiew Marshall , as J . ; and 15 others for a chapter to he attached to the Military Lodge , No . 2621 , to be called the Military Chapter , and to mett at the New Trocadero , Piccadilly , London . 5 th . From Comps . Rev . William Morris , as Z . ; William Calder Aiken , as H . ; John Wetherston , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Tyrian Lod f e , No . I 6 J 8 , to be called the Tyrian Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Butidabere , Queensland .

6 th . From Comps . VV . Trevor Parkins , as Z . ; James Daniel Murray , as H . ; Ji , hn Hackett , as J . ; and seven othets for a chapter to be attached to the St . Augustine ' s Lod ^ e , No . 1941 , to be called the St . Augustine's Chapter , and to meet at the Shrewsbury Arms Hotel , Rugeley , in the county of Stafford . Sanction was also given to the removal of the place of meeting of each of the following chapters :

The Cray Valley Chapter , No . 2147 , from 'he Institute , St . Mary Cray , to the Crown Hotel , Chislehurst . The Addiscombe Chapter , No . 1556 , from the Masonic Hall , High street , to the Public Hall , Croydon . The Punjab Chapter , No . 7 82 , to meet at Meean Meer , and at Lahore ,

alternately or as occasion may arise . A charier was alio granted to the companions of the Fortitude Chapter , No . 279 Leicester , authorising ihem to wear a centenary jewel , the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years . G-ard Chapter was then closed in ancient and solemn form .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Northumberland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF NORTHUMBERLAND .

The annual convocation of the above Prov . Grand Chapter was held at tl-e Central M isonie Hall , Pilgrim-street , Newcastle , on the 26 th ultimo , when there was a large af . endance cf companions from all parts of the provirce . Comp . the Right . Hon . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Birr ., M . P ., Grand

Superintendent , presided , and was supported by the following , among other Prov . Grand Officers : Comps . John Nesbitt , W . F . Carmon , T . Purvis , A . T . Aitchison , G . 1 ? . Macarthy , T . J . Armstrong , G . C . Coates , George

Spam , J . Gibson Youll , John Spearmin , Thos . Blenkinsop , R . W > Cummings , J . Sttaker Wilson , John Page , Dr . C . D . Hill D . ury , S . M . Harris , J . W . Gibson , John Strachan , J . C . Moor , W . Mures Lyon , Capt . Forbes , and Jacob Barker . The roll of chapters was called , and the reports presented were very satisfactory .