Centenary Festival Of The Domatic Chapter, No. 177.

somewhat departing from thc order of things that night , but it vvas necessary in consideration of the very large attendance they had had , and the amount of business lo be gone through . Thc toast he had to submit was a very popular one , ancl he considered it a very great privilege and pleasure on an occasion of that kind to propose it , as it was that of "The Visitors , " vvho had honoured them with their presence . No less than io _» had sat down lo

the banquet table , and of that number 60 were visitors . Thc Domatic Chapter felt itself highly honoured that such a large number of visitors should have come forward to assist to celebrate its centenary . 'The custom which prevailed in Freemasonry of visiting lodges and chapters , to his mind was one of its most pleasurable phases ; it afforded an opportunity of cementing old friendships and forming new ones , and did much to promote

that brotherly love and regard which should at all times characterise Freemasons . Oil behalf of the chapter he offered the visitors a very hearty welcome indeed . There were too many present for him to describe thc particular merits of each , but he hoped that no visitor would take it as a slig ht if his name was omitted . He was requested to call upon Comps .

James Lewis Thomas , P . G . S . B ., Capt . T . C . Walls , VV . M . Stiles , Dr . Home , and Dr . Jackson to respond . He had again to repeat how pleased the members of the chapter were to see the visitors , and he wished to add that he hoped that notwithstanding lhc large number who had assembled thev had been comfortable .

Comp . J . LEWIS 'THOMAS said hc returned thanks with thc greatest pleasure for the great hospitality displayed by the chapter to its visitors that evening . He vvas one of those fortunate visitors who came early , and , therefore , saw the admirable working of thc chapter . Hc did not think in thc whole course of his experience he ever saw the exaltation ceremony done more perfectly . The lectures were beautifully rendered by thc H . and J ., and most masterly by thc M . E . Z ., who did thc installation afterwards . It would be a long , long time before he forgot il .

Comp . Capt . T . C . WALLS , in adding some remarks to those of Comp . Thomas , said he had to thank Comp . Briggs for giving him the opportunity of visiting the chapter . He rememembered attending it many , many years ago , when hc was a very young Royal Arch Mason , and he was very proud and pleased to say that the Domatic Chapter had increased , not only in regard to its numbers and its financial prosperity , but also in regard to the

manner in which the work of the Degree was carried out . He quite agreed with thc last speaker , his old friend , Comp . Lewis Thomas , that thc work of exaltation and installation was admirably done . He was speaking as an old R . A . Mason , lt was not so many years ago when thc installation ceremonies in the Royal Arch were performed by half-a-dozen companions who had a refresher for being called upon to assist chapters in placing their

Principals in thc chair . He was pleased to say that thc Domatic Chapter at thc present time had a very large and formidable phalanx , capable not only to instal their own Principals , but to go lo other chapters to perform thc ceremony . Many remarks had been made lhat night with regard to the Royal Arch Degree . They had heard lhat night , for the first time in his experience , a companion from mans' thousands of miles away—from Burma

•paying a very high compliment indeed , not only to the working of the Domatic Chapter , but also making a speech not altogether parliamentary but very charming . As one of the 60 visitors that companion agreed with the others in regard to thc chapter , and also ihe event they were met to celebrate the centenary of the chapter a remarkable occurrence in R . A . Masonry . There were only four R . A . Chaplers novv in London which had

thc honour of wearing the jewel , livery cock like lo crow on its own dunghill . He ( Comp . Walls 1 had thc honour to belong to the oldest chapter in London , No . 3 . Hc had a companion on his right who had thc honour to belong to No . _> . What did thc four metropolitan chapters , which had the honour of wearing thc centenary jewel , leach ' . ' Why , that Royal Arch Masonry was not of that antiquity which people supposed . He believed the first early record of Royal Arch Masonry in

lingland was in 1754 , and as thc Domatic dated from 171 ) 3 , '' must have been living at the time the first Roval Arch Chapter vvas inaugurated in lingland . lie had very great pleasure in being invited to the Domatic Chapter ; there vvas always au air of geniality about it , and the companions who were members of il never forgot thai it was an old chapter , that a great principle of the Order vvas hospitality , and thai the Domatic Chapter must keep up that old tradition . Comp . W . M . STILUS also replied , and said hc thoroughly endorsed what had been said by previous speakers .

Comp . HoRNir was also called for , and in answer to the demand , said it did him great pleasure to bc present on such an ' almost unique occasion , and to sec so many Grand Officers grace thc proceedings , and also so many other excellent companions . Hailing , as hc did from the provinces , his invitation vvas thc greater honour , lt always gave him great pleasure to bc present . 'it . Masonic meetings in London , for this reason : companions in

the provinces had very small idea , probably of the way Masonry , and particularl y Koyal Arch . Masonry was carried out there . In ihe provinces ihey endeavoured to carry out the principle rather strictly . In Oxfordshire they endeavoured to carry it out with all the ritual of the Craft , lie must sav the work he had seen that night had quite surpassed what they thev had

in the provinces . In the provinces ihey looked to Comp . Fenn as the guide , the instructor , and the ruler in this branch of Freemasonry ; they believed him the lather and teacher of this work . He vvas in hope lo have heard from Comp . Fenn a remark lhat he ( Comp . Home ) could have taken home , but such vvas not thc case . But he should take home the memory of this visit to the Domatic Chapter , and say what a grand evening he had had .

Comp . Di . J ACKSON said il vvas not the first time . he had attended the Domatic Chapter , but the last time vvas when it celebrated its 90 th

anniversary . Comp . VVooui ) , replying lo the toast of " 'The Exaltees , " said he appreciated thc manner in which lhc honour of Koyal Arch Masonry vvas conferred upon him , and he felt he could not value il too hi ghly , especially when it had been conferred on the day the chapter celebrated its centenary . 'The ceremony vvas very impressive , more impressive even than the ceremony of initiation . He hoped he should see more of it and to profit b y it and the duties to be learned from il .

Comp . liATTirirsLirr gave "The Past Principals ol the Domatic Chapter , and the Scribe li ., and the 'Treasurer and ihe other Officers , " as the hour vvas gelling late . 'They had a goodly array of Pasl Principals , and very good Pasl Principals llury were ; they paid great attention to the

Chairman , and made excellent arrangements for the meetings . 'There were Comps . Austin , Hubbard , Win . 'Thomas , George Everett , Harrison , Nolan , and Charles G . Hill . Then there vvas the indefatigable Scribe li ., Comp . Cottebrune , and the genial and loving 'Treasurer , Comp . Briggs . All the officers vvere willing - and able to carry out all the duties . 'There was a good feeling between the Principals , and the Past Principals , and the ollicers .

Centenary Festival Of The Domatic Chapter, No. 177.

Comp . THOMAS NOTON , in acknowledging the toast , said that , called upon to respond to that most important toast on behalf of his services in the chair , he really did not know what to say . If somebody else had said something before him he knew he ought to say something to follow . He had been going to say that he intended to make the longest speech on record ; that might have been if someone had preceded him , but he thought he had better leave unsaid what he should have said .

Comp . Hoisns said he should endeavour to carry out whatever duties he was asked to perform , and he should do it to the best of his ability . He hoped the Principals would be satisfied vvith his endeavours . Comp . SMITH said , for the whole of the officers , each would try to do credit to the Domatic Chapter in the office to which he was appointed . Comp . J AMES VERY gave the Janitor ' s toast , the drinking of which terminated the evening ' s proceedings .

Comp . Harry Nelson Price , who had thc dual honour of occupying the chair of both the Domatic Lodge and the Domatic Chapter during the centenary years , was initiated in thc Carnarvon Lodge , No . S 34 , Havant , in 1870 . He joined the Domatic Lodge in 1 S 73 , on the proposition of Bro . George Everett , P . G . Treas . After filling various offices he became W . M . in 1 SS 6 , thc year in vvhich the centenary of the lodge vvas celebrated . In

188 7 110 was exalted m the Domatic Chapter , and was M . E . / ,. in 1892-3 . Bro . Price has been an active worker in metropolitan Masonic circles , haying been founder and first W . M . of the Viator Lodge , No . 2308 , also of the Carrington Lodge , No . 2421 , and first Secretary of the Chiswick Lodge , No . 2012 . Three Stewardships and the qualification of Life

Governor of each of the Charities must also be added . To Bro . Price the credit is mainly due of successful ! } ' establishing the claim of the Domatic Chapter to the centenary warrant and jewel , he having been able to bridge over a space from 1797 10 1805 , vvhich vvas somewhat obscure , and by so doing proving thc continuous working of the chapter for a period of 100 years .

Comp . Hattersley , the present M . li . Z . of thc Domatic Chapter , was good enough to offer Comp . H . Price the Chairmanship of the festival to celebrate the centenary thai he might have the honour of presiding over the festival of thc Domatic Lodge and the Domatic Chapter .

Freemasonry In India.

FREEMASONRY IN INDIA .

The publication of Bro . P . C . Dutt ' s annual * affords abundant material for a brief article on thc Craft in India and Burma . The work covers over 200 pages of closely printed matter , and it is not only thc largest Masonic directory issued under the English Constitution , but is also 011 c of the best . There arc two diaries , one being for the meetings of all the Masonic bodies in Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , and the other for the English and

Scottish lodges generally . These compilations mean a lot of labour , and , being carefully done , arc of considerable utility , so also are the rolls of the District Grand Masters and District Grand Officers , beginning in 172 S and brought down to thc present year . Bengal leads off at the year noted , and then . Madras follows from 1767 . Other Provinces are also mentioned , but

not at such length . Bombay began in 1763 , Burma in 1868 , and the Punjab in 1868 , so the Grand Lodge Calendar states . From thc same source wc learn that the lodges in thc several Districts concerned are thus located—Bengal , 42 ; Bombay , 24 ; Burma , 8 ; Madras , 22 ; and the Punjab , 22 ; total , 118 . Under the Grand Lodge of Scotland there are also 33 lodges ,

raising the grand total to 151 lodges . Masonically , India is thus practically governed by five District G . Lodges constituted by England , and one by Scotland , the latter being for " All Scottish Freemasonry in India . " It appears thc better plan thus to

have this vast country divided into five Districts rather than extended over thc whole area , for even now it must be difficult lo keep in touch with not a few of the lodges far away from populous centres , and for District Grand Masters lo thoroughly do their duty must entail no little labour for themselves and their Deputy District Grand Masters .

Bro . Dutt aims al catering for thc whole of this vast body , and , vvhat is more , actually docs so in a most creditable and satisfactory manner , not that his large Directory is intended to supersede separate Calendars like the one edited by Captain Leslie . There is room for each and all , and all arc much needed to communicate lig ht and information to thc Craft dispersed throughout India and Burma , even more so than in lingland , because the opportunities of visitation and fraternal conference are fewer , and must bc often a

veritable rarity in some lone spots . Not only , however , arc thc names of the chief officers of these lodges duly given in this truly wonderful annual , but similar imformation is afforded as to the Royal Arch , thc Mark , thc Knight Templar , the Ancient and Accepted Rile , the Royal Order of Scotland , and other Degrees ; and the " Masonic Notabilia" is a most interesting compilation , and valuable for the iruidance of District Grand Masters . Masters of lodsres , and other

brethren who desire accurate particulars as to the Indian Craft , for thc preparation of speeches and addresses to lodges , kc . I entirely object to the statement that certain lodges 1797-1801 , " threw off their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of lingland and obtained warrants from the Ancient York Constitution . " Bro . Dutt should put this matter right another year , by altering the term to " Ancient Grand Lodge , or "Atholl Grand Lodge , " vvhich never had any connection with York , and

issued their warrants from London . He has several works published «> late years , dealing vvith this point , and vvill doubtless correct the error m another year . So also as to " Ancient York Lodges . " Either drop VOIR entirely , or use another term such as " Atholl Lodges . " Thc mistake occur * again as lhc Union of December , 1 S 13 , relative lo the " York

Constitution . , There are also two lodges noted by Bro . Dutt , under thc Grand J * " ^ , of Ireland , viz ., Nos . 263 and 322 , in regiments , both domiciled for t " - time at Poona . * Assuredly Bro . Dull deserves thc hearty thanks and earnest support all zealous Craftsmen in India , for nothing but a large sale can cov the cosl of production of this important and valuable volume . VV . J . HUGHAN .