Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

Victoria Chapter , No . 1056 . In observing the rapid spread of Freemasonry throughout the length and breadth of the land , there are few indications of its prosperity more gratifying to thoughtful brethren than the formation

of Royal Arch Chapters . For many years in the history of the Order , a lethargy seems to have pre . vailed with reference to Royal Arch Masonry , and the proper study of its ceremonies appears to have been neglected in a manner unaccountable to the

few who appreciated the beauties of the system . This torpor is now being dispelled by the light of better instruction , and it is no longer the rule for installed Principals to discharge their duties by deputy . Both in the metropolis and in the provinces

we now posses Chapters where real work is done va . masterly style , and with all the accessories of proper apartments and furniture . Among the new Chapters in London conspicuous for the Masonic abilities of its members the " Victoria " Chapter , No . 1056 , may

justly be quoted . An emergency Convocation of the " Victorians " was held on Thursday the 29 th ult ., at the George Hotel , Aldermanbury , upon which occasion the splendid new funiture manufactured by Comp . Caney was used for the first time . The tout

ensemble was all that could be desired , as every requisite for the use of the Chapter was provided . The officers and members present at the meeting were : — Comps . C . Hosgood , M . E . Z . ; G . H . Oliver , H . ; E . Clark , J . ; A . A . Pendlebury , P . Z ., Scribe E . ; AV . Long ,

Scribe N . ; E . Gottheil , P . S . ; R . AA entworth Little , P . Z . and Past Scribe ; James Brett , P . Z ., Treasurer ; W . H . Hubbard , P . Z . ; Geo . Kenning , J . D . Taylor , C . W . Noehmer , AV . Musto , J . J . Caney , II . Bolleter , and J . W . Forge .

The visitors were Companions Joseph Smith , P . G . D . C , P . Z . 177 ; C . A . Cottebrune , Z . 733 , P . Z . 177 ; AV . Smith , C . E ., P . Z . 33 ; R . Tanner , P . S . 975 ; G . Ruthven , 249 ; C . AVillcox , 975 ; and J . Harvey .

After the confirmation of the minutes , ballots were taken for several candidates , and , proving favourable , Bros . R . R . Baker , W . Ashby , E . Roberts , AV . J . Ferguson , and R . E . Bright , were then admitted into the supreme Order of capitular

Masonry by the M . E . Z ., and it is but bare justice to Companion Hosgood to say that tho ceremony was rendered by him and his able officers in a most admirable and impressive manner , indeed the proficiency shown cannot be surpassed .

Votes of thanks were then unanimously aud heartily accorded to Comp . Georgo Kenning , who presented the chapter with a superb Bible and complete set of books ; to Comp . Caney for an elegant solid silver trowel ; and to Comp . Long , for a

handsomely emblazoned scroll . Thc chapter having been closed with the usual solemnities , the companions proceeded to the banquet hall , where , after " the feast of reason and the flow of soul , " substantial creature comforts were provided

to recruit the physical man . Toasts in honour of the candidates , the M . E . Z ., the visitors , officers , & c , followed the usual formal observances ; and when

the hour for departure arrived , all separated with a thorough conviction that in the Victoria Chapter they had not laboured in vain , or wasted their strength for nought .

Masonic Gathering At Skibbereen.

MASONIC GATHERING AT SKIBBEREEN .

On Thursday last week the Brethren of Lodge 15 gave a supper to Bros . J . AVatcrs and John Evans , on the eve of their departure from Skibbereen . The The former has for many years been manager of Messrs . Grant & Go's , establishment here , which

position he filled with much credit to himself and satisfaction to thc public , by whom his departure is much felt . Mr . Evans has not been so long iu our midst , his first visit to Skibbereen being to erect

the Gas AVorks . But short though his stay has been , he too was fortunate in gaining the good wishes and respect of all classes . As Masons , both these gentlemen were all that the Craft could desire , and by whom their absence will long be felt . The The chair was occupied by Bro . C . Gierke , and the

Masonic Gathering At Skibbereen.

viee-chair by Bro . J . F . Levis . After the usual Masonic and loyal toasts were disposed of the chairman gave the toast of the evening in suitable language , expressing his sorrow at losing their excellent member , sentiments which were fully endorsed by the brethren .

Mr . Waters , in reply said , Worshipful Sir , —Accept my very sincere thanks for the very kind manner in which you have proposed my health , and you , brethren , for the hearty and kind manner with which you have received it . I have sometimes heard speakers say that such and

such moments were the happiest of their lives , and that their feelings so overcame them that their tongues refused to utter the thought and feeling of their hearts I do assure you , worshipful sir , and dear brethren , such is my case to night . Words of mine cannot convey the feeling of my heart

fortheflattering but unmerited eulogium , which you , worshipful sir , have passed on me , and which the brethren have endorsed by their hearty approval of every sentence as it fell from the Master ' s lips . I trust I shall so conduct myself towards my fellow men as to | merit the approbation of all good men and worthy Masons .

It is with feelings of much regret that I am about to sever the tie which has for so long a time subsisted between us as friends , but , in doing so , I have the consolation that Masons are bound by a tie that cannot be broken , for whenever you find a member of our Order there you find a brother . Since I

joined your most honourable society of free aud accepted Masons , you , brethren , have exemplified in your conduct towards me one of the first great principles of our most noble Order—brotherly love . You , sir , have expressed yourself in words of hope and encouragement for my success in my new

sphere of duties . I can quite reciprocate such kind words and wishes . Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to hear of the prosperity of my friends in Skibbereen , and of the brethren of Lodge 15 in particular , wherever my lot iu after life may be . I shall always look back with pleasure to the years

I spent among you . If , in the order of Divine Providence , we are never again permitted to meet in a Masonic Lodge , I sincerely trust and pray that we shall all live such lives that , when the last summons from our Great Master shall sound in our ears , we shall be fcund ready to enter the Grand Lodge above , when parting shall be no more .

Mr . EVANS , in a short but appropriate speech , warmly thanked the brethren for the great kindness he had received at their hands , and assured tliem that his parent Lodge would ever be looked back on by him with feelings of true ailection . After several other toasts the meeting separated about eleven o ' clock .

Proceedings Of The Two Grand Lodges Of England In Ratification Of The Union, 1813.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWO GRAND LODGES OF ENGLAND IN RATIFICATION OF THE UNION , 1813 .

Grand Assembly of Freemasons , for the Union of thc two Grand Lodges of England , on St . John ' s Day , Hth December , 1813 .

( Continued . ) Thc cornucopia , the wine , and oil , were in like manner presented to the Grand Masters , who , according to ancient rite , poured forth corn , wine , and oil , on the said Ark , saying— "As we pour forth corn , wine , and oil on this Ark of the Masonic

Covenant , may * . he bountiful hand of Heaven ever supply this United Kingdom with abundance of corn , wine , and oil ; with all the necessaries and comforts of life . Anil may lie dispose our hearts to be grateful for all His gilts I " And the Assembly said" Amen . "

, The Grand Officers then resumed their places . A letter was read from the R . W . Brother Laurie , Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , transmitting Resolutions of that Grand Lodge in answer to the letter of the M . AV . the Grand

Master of the two Grand Lodges , announcing to them the happy event of the Union and requesting them to appoint a deputation agreeably to Art IV . of the Act of Union . And it was ordered that these Resolutions be inserted on tho minutes of this

day . A letter was also read from the AV . Brother AV . F . Graham , Dep . G , Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , transmitting Resolutions of that Grand Lodge , in answer to a similar communication from their Royal Highnesses the two Grand Masters of

the respective Fraternities in England . It was ordered that these Resolutions be entered on the minutes of this day . In consequence of its having been found impracticable from the shortness of the notice for the sister Grand Lodges to send deputations to this Assembly , according to tho

urgent request of thc two Fraternities , conferences had been held with all the most distinguished Grand Officers and enlightened Masons resident in and near London , in order to establish perfect agreement upon all the essential points of Masonry , according to the Ancient Traditions and general practice of the Craft .

Proceedings Of The Two Grand Lodges Of England In Ratification Of The Union, 1813.

The members of the Lodge of Reconciliation , accompanied by the Most AVorshipful His Excellency Count De Lagardje , Grand Master of the first Lodge of Freemasons in the North , the Most Worshipful Brother

Dr . Van Hess , of the Grand Lodge of Hamburgh , and _ other distinguished Masons , withdrew to an adjoining apartment , where , being congregated and tiled , the result of all the previous conferences was made known .

_ The members of the Lodge of Reconciliation , and distinguished visitors , on their return , proceeded slowly up the centre in double file ; and as they approached the two Grand Masters they opened , and the Grand Visitors advanced , when His Excellenry the Grand Master of the First Lodge of the North , audibly

pronounced that the forms settled and agreed on by the Lodge of Reconciliation were pure and correct . This being declared , tho same was recognised as the forms to be alono observed and practised in the United Granc Lodge and all thc Lodges dependant thereon , unttl time shall be no more .

The Holy Bible spread open , with the square and compass thereon , was lard on the Ark of the Covenant , and the two Grand Chaplains approached the same . Thc recognized obligation was then pronounced aloud by the Rov . Dr . Hemming , one of the Masters of the

Lodge of Reconciliation , the whole Fraternity repeatthc same , with joined hands , and declaring— " By this solemn obligation wc vow to abide , and the regulations of Ancient Freemasonry now recognized strictly to observe . "

The Assembly then proceeded to constitute one Grand Lodge , in order to which the Grand Masters , Deputy Grand Masters , Grand AVardcns , and other acting Grand Officers of both Fraternities , divested themselves of their insignia , and Past Grand Ofiicers

took the chairs ; viz ., the R . W . Past Deputy Grand Master Perry in the chair as Deputy Grand Master ; the R . AA . Robert Gill , as Senior Grand AVarden ; and the R . AV . James Deans , as Junior Grand Warden .

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent , then in an eloquent address , in which he stated that the great view with which he had taken upon himself the important office of Grand Master of the Ancient Fraternity , as declared at the time , was to facilitate the important object of the Union which had been that day

so happily concluded . And now it was his intention to propose his illustrious and dear relative to be the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge , for which high office ho was in every respect so eminently qualified . Ac therefore proposed His Royal Highness the

Duke of Sussex to be Grand Master of tlie United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England for tho year ensuing . This was seconded by the R . AV . the Hon . A \ ashington Shirley , and being put to thc vote , was unanimously carried in the affirmative , with masonic honours . ( To be Continued . )

THE ANCIENT BRITONS . —Those numerous writers who represent the brave Ancient Britons as being totally without roads of any kind , arc evidently in error . The cannibals who , according to recent researches in ancient sepulchres by industrious antiquaries like the Kev . AVilliam Greenwell cf Durham

appear , at some remote period , to havo inhabited our country , previous to what has been hitherto regarded as the Aborigines , and who have had , in the course of nature , been forced to give place to a superior race called Celts , themselves doomed to give place to a still superior race , may possibly have been in

that deplorable condition . But a peoplo who understood so well how to fortify their fords , that the strong stakes they had driven into the bod of tho Thames remained for many centuries ; and whose enduring earthworks still show how overy mountain top in Britain had been chosen as their " coigne of

vantage ; " whose courage in war struck the veteran Roman legions with surprise , and whose skill in riding their small hardy horses and dexterity in driving their scythe-armed chariots would be now viewed with admiration in any circus in Europe ; whose careful casting of many metal articles , of both use and ornament , as well as the construction of their vehicles , show

considerable mechanical ability and artistic skill ; whose knowledge of agriculture extended to the cultivation and garnering of corn , and to the use of marl as a manure ; and whose Bardo-Druidical system of religion , if we may form any notion of it by tho Historical Triads of the Cymry ( tho numbers three and seven

being apparently , from remotest ages , dear to supcrstitution ) , was a higher and a holier thing than much that yet passes current among men as sacred ;—that such a people , I say , should havo possessed no rude roads even , to enable them to pass with oaso through

their interminable forests , is no article of my historical creed , and I can only express my surprise that it should form any portion of my belief of so many other authors . —The History of the Stockton and Darlington Jtailwag , by Bro . George Markham Twcddcll , F . S . A . Scot , and Newc , & c .