Supreme Grand Chapter.

Which Balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : — ist . From Comps . George Arthur Montgomery Tapscott , as Z . ; Andries Selzer , as H . ; Thomas Melville Du Toit , as J . ; and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the Octahedron Lodge , No . 1417 , Barkley , South Africa , to be called the Octahedron Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Barkley , South Africa .

2 nd . From Comps . Stephen R . White , as Z . ; Richd . Thos . Middleton , asH . ; Henry Hagell Lowrie , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Southern Cross Lodge , No . 1590 , Uitenhage , Cape of Good Hope , to be called the Southern Cross Chapter , and to meet at Uitenhage , Cape of Good Hope ( East Division ) .

3 rd . From Comps . James Reginald Spence , as Z . ; Raphael Borg , as H . ; George Charles Peere Williams Freeman , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Bulwer Lodge , No . 1068 , Cairo , Egypt , to be called the Bulwer Chapter , and to meet at Cairo , Egypt .

4 th . From Comps . James Griffin , as Z . ; James Gilford , as H . ; Wm . Odam , as J . ; and 22 others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of St . George , No . 2025 , Stonehouse , to be called the St . George Chapter , and to meet at the St . George's Hall , Stonehouse , in the county of Devon .

5 th . From Comps . Henry John Atkins , as Z . ; William Bowring Rogers , as H . ; David Sydenham , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Hengist , No . 195 , Bournemouth , to be called the Hengist Chapter , and to meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Bournemouth , in the county of Hampshire .

6 th . From Comps . James Smith , as Z . ; Alexander Smith , as H . ; John Bray , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Broad Arrow Lodge , No . 1890 , St . George ' s , Bermuda , to be called the Royal Edward Chapter , and to meet at St . George's , Bermuda , West Indies .

7 th . From Comps . William Mason Stiles , as Z . ; William Alfred Scurrah , as H . ; James Willing , junior , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Henry Levander Lodge , No . 2048 , Harrow Station , to be called the Henry Levander Chapter , and to meet at the Railway Hotel , Harrow Station , in the county of Middlesex .

Sth . From Comps . George Lambert , as Z . ; Robert Payne , as H . ; Herbert C . Lambert , as J . ; and 12 others for a chapter to be attached to the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge , No . 2021 , London , to be called the Oueen ' s Westminster Chapter ,, and to meet at 8 A , Red Lion-square , Holborn , London .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have also to report that they have received a memorial from the companions of the Chapter of Fidelity . No . 3 , London , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the ist February , 1882 . This memorial being in form , and the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

The Committee have likewise to report that a chapter through neglect of the law as contained in Article 67 , page 22 , of the Royal Arch regulations ( Edit . 1879 ) , has recently exalted a brother at a less period than 12 calendar months from the date of his becoming a Master Mason . The Committee have admonished the chapter to be more observant of the law in the future , and have ordered the candidate in question to be reobligated .

The Committee have further to report the receipt of the two following communications : —

ist . An edict of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Quebecdated 16 th January , 1886—severing fraternal intercourse between its chapters and their members , and those of this Grand Chapter , in consequence of the continued existence within the territory exclusivel y claimed by the former of the two English Chapters , Nos . 374 and 440 , which have been working in Montreal long previously to the formation of their Grand Chapter .

2 nd . An edict to the same purport from the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of the State of Louisiana—dated ist March , 1886—to continue in force so long as the two chapters in Montreal shall remain under the Grand Chapter of England . These communications have been briefly acknowledged by the Grand

S-cribe E ., and as the Grand Chapter of England does not exchange Representatives with Grand Chapters of the Royal Arch Degree on the continent of America , these Bodies differing from that of England in their forms and qualifications , the Committee do not recommend that further notice be taken of these communications .

( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , P . A . G . Soj ., Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . President . 21 st April , 1886 . Comp . ROBERT GREY , President of the Committee , moved , and Comp . J . LEWIS THOMAS seconded , the granting of charters to thc ei ght sets of petitioners for new chapters , and the granting of a centenary warrant to the Chapter of Fidelity , No . 3 . All these were carried .

Comp . GREY said that , with respect to the chapter which had exalted a brother before he had been 12 months a Master Mason , it was only a few days within the 12 months , and it appeared in this case , as he believed it was in other instances , the companions took the date of initiation instead of the date of the raising , and that they had unwittingly fallen into error . Perhaps if this was made known among the Order generally the mistake would be avoided in the future . He did not propose to make any motion in

respect of the Committee ' s report on the communications which had been received from the Grand Chapters of Quebec and Louisiana . Comp . PHILBRICK said the next business being the election of the Committee of General Purposes , he might state that the new Royal Arch Regulations provided that the Committee was to consist of the Grand Principals , a President , and two other members to be nominated by the Grand First Principal at the Quarterly Convocation in May , and six other members to be elected by Grand Chapter at the same Convocation .

Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE informed the M . E . Z . that the Prince of Wales had appointed Comp . Robert Grey President , and Comps . E . Letchworth and Robert Turtle Pigott to be the two nominated members .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

The following six companions were then elected as members of the Committee : — Comp . C . F . Hogard . „ George Lambert , „ J . L . Mather . ,, F . Davison .

,, W . A . Dawson . ,, James Lewis Thomas . Comp . ROBERT GREY said he had to report that the new Royal Arch Regulations were now out and issued , and they could be had at any moment . Comp . PHICBRICK , remarked that he had been glad to find they had been so promptly sent out . The Provincial Grand Scribe E . of Essex had them in his hands at the Convocation of that province this week .

Comp . PHILBRICK then submitted the appeal of Comp . Joseph Dawson , P . Z . No . S 32 , Rangoon , the Past District Grand H ., against a ruling of the Grand Superintendent in the District Grand Chapter of Burma , at Rangoon , on the 10 th May , 1885 , declaring an amendment carried . After explaining the circumstances out of which the appeal arose , he moved that the appeal be dfsmissed .

Comp . ROBERT G REY seconded the motion , which was carried , and the appeal was therefore dismissed . Grand Chapter was then closed .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SUSSEX .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Sussex was held on the 29 th ult ., at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton . Through the death of Sir Walter W . Burrell , Bart ., the post of Grand Superintendent is vacant , and the meeting was convened by Comp . J . Henderson Scott , Provincial Grand H „ but he was unfortunately unable to attend through illhealth . Comp . General Randolph , therefore , presided , and there was a good attendance of members .

The usual routine business having been disposed of , the ACTING SUPERINTENDENT proposed that a vote of sympathy should be sent to the family of Sir Walter Burrell on the great loss sustained by his death . Comp . FARNCO . MBE ( Mayor of Lewis ) seconded , and spoke of the high position which the deceased baronet held in the affections of Masons throughout the province . The motion was carried unanimously .

There was no change in the appointment of Provincial Grand Officers , and Comp . Crosskey ( Lewes ) was unanimously re-elected Treasurer . In consequence of the mournful ciocumstances under which the Provincial Grand Chapter was convened there was no banquet .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF CORNWALL .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Cornwall was held at the Masonic Hall , Fowey , on the 19 th ult ., and the following were present , viz .: Bros . R . W . Sir Charles Brune Graves-Sawle , Bart , P . G . M . ; T . Chirgwin , D . P . G . M . ; Rev . T . W . Lemon , Grand Chaplain of England ; Alfred Luke , P . G . J . W . ; W . J . Johns , 78 , P . G . Secretary ; G . H . B . Reed , S . G . M . O . ; G . T . Olver , 94 , P . G . S . B . ; William Mason , P . P . G . J . W . ; J . W . Higman , P . P . Grand Steward ; S . Mitchell ,

P . G . S . O . ; I . A . Collins , P . G . A . D . C ; W . Grey , P . P . G . J . W . ; Richard Carter , P . P . G . S . of Works ; F . B . Williams , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . Kent , P . G . S . ; W . Rooks , P . G . P . ; J . Langdon , Tyler ; H . P . Vivian , M . O . ; W . B . Morris , J . W . ; F . W . Thomas , J . D . ; Norman Gray , S . W . ; Joseph Tregea ,. S . D . ; J . W . Richards , W . M . ; J . H . Willey , Secretary ; J . W . L . Deedley , J . D . ; W . H . Pope , S . W . ; John Stribley , S . O . ; W . H . Roberts , P . M . ; Thomas Hicks , P . M . ; | . W . Higman , W . M . ;

T . H . Lukes , P . M . ; J . A . Collins , W . M . ; J . DeCressy Treffry , S . W . ; F . B . Williams , P . J . W . ; N . C . S . Couch , S . O . ; A . Cossentine , J . O . ; j . Williams , Secretary ; J . M . Williams , S . D . ; W . Andrews , J . D . ; C . Slade , Organist ; P . Giles , D . C ; J . Mitchell . Stwd . ; W . B . Graham , Tyler ; J . T . Baker , I . G . ; Alfred P . Davis , J . W . ; J . R . Beatt , S . D . ; and Arthur Percy Davis , M . O . The Provincial Grand Master , Sir C . G . Sawle , Bart ., invested the following as his officers for the ensuing year , viz .:

Bro . Thos . Chirgwin ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ Thomas Hicks ( Fort Lodge ) ... ... Prov . G . S . W . „ G . H . B . Reed ( Love and Honour , Falmouth ) ... Prov . G . J . W . „ C . Kent ( Boscawen ) ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . A . Collins ( Fowey ) ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . „ Couch ( St . Ann ' s ) ... ... ... Prov . G . J . O . „ Rev . G . L . Church ( Boscawen ) ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ N . J . West ( Cornubian ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . J . Johns ( Fortitude ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . H . Higman ( St . Austell ) ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . B . Morris ( Fortitude ) ... ... Prov . G . S . D . „ T . Lukes ( St . Austell ) ... ... ... Prov . G . J . D . „ F . W . Thomas ( Cornubian ) ... ... Prov . G . J . W . „ G . Olver ( Love and Honour ) ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

,, W . Grey ( Love and Honour ) ... ... Prov . G . A . D . C . „ J . DeCressy Treffry ( Fowey ) ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br . „ S . Truscott ( St . Austell ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ W . Rooks ( Fortitude ) ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G .

„ J . M . Richards ( St . Michael ' s ) ... ... ) " )\ W ( F ° rtitud ?) [ Prov . G . Stwds . „ John Williams ( Fowey ) ... ... ... V ,, Arthur Percy Davis ( Fowey ) ... ... ' „ John Langdon ( Fortitude ) ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . After the business of the lodge was over the brethren adjourned to Bro . J . M . Williams ' s Ship Hotel , to the banquet , which was admirably served . The band of the No . 3 D . C . A . V . played during the banquet .

More About The Country Stewards.

MORE ABOUT THE COUNTRY STEWARDS .

By BRO . H . SADLER . In my last communication on this subject , on the 16 th January , I expressed an opinion that the Country Feast was inaugurated in 1749 . I was evidently wrong in that conclusion , for the Master of the Country Stewards Lodge , in 179 6 states in a printed circular that the custom dates as far back as 1732 . This document was no doubt intended to whipup the supporters of the Country Stewards on the green apron question , as