Supreme Grand Chapter.

Comp . R . HORTON SMITH , Q . C , brought up the appeal by Comp . G . C Coates , Past District Grand Registrar Punjab , against a decision of the Grand Superintendent of the Punjab , revoking Comp . Coates' appointment as District Grand Registrar . He said the appeal was entirely misconceived . It arose thus : The days for appointing Grand Officers in the Punjab were in March each year , and in March , 1805 , theappointment of G . Officers was made ,

both inthelodgeand in thechapter , and on that occasion in 1895 Comp . Coates was appointed to the office of Dist . G . Reg ., in the Craft and consequently he was under Sections 30 and 43 of the Royal Arch Regulations entitled to be , and was Grand Registrar in the Royal Arch . He was not , however , invested , because by a sort of vicious practise that had grown up in the Punjab—by inadvertance , no doubt , in the first instance—it had become the

habit to appoint different persons as Grand Registrar in the Craft and in the Arch , and Bro . Coates was appointed Provincial Grand Registrar in the Craft and another companion named Jackson was appointed District Grand Registrar in the Arch . Bro . Jackson was invested and paid his fees and did the work of Grand Registrar for 1 S 95 and 1896 . None the less his being that , Comp . Coates wanted to be Registrar in the Craft and in the

Arch also . What happened was simply this , that the wrong man took upon himself the obligations of Grand Registrar in the Arch , while the real Grand Registrar in the Arch was Comp . Coates . Things went on in this way until the next year , when it became necessary to appoint new Grand Officers . In March , 1896 , in the circumstances that happened , Comp . Coates was , in fact , Past District Grand Registrar , both in the Craft and in

the Arch . In the year 1 S 96 Comp . Gray was appointed Grand Registrar in the Craft , and he , of course , under the same Sections of the Regulations , was entitled to be , as he was , Grand Registrar in the Arch , and in due course applied to be invested , and he was invested ; and it was in consequence of his investiture as Grand Registrar in the Arch that this appeal arose , because at the time that Bro . Gray was appointed Grand Registrar

in the Craft Bro . Coates , the appellant in this particular case , was appointed Grand Registrar in the Arch . Well , it is the same thing over again as in the previous year—Comp . Coates was not the Grand Registrar in the Arch and Comp . Gray was , - and Comp . Coates , taking upon himself to pay the fees , he got himself invested and did the work of the Grand Registrar in the Arch . That did not make him any more Grand Registrar . He was

fulfilling this office in the Arch when this took place . Bro . Gray being appointed District Grand Registrar in the Craft , he caused the point to be mooted whether he was not , in fact , Grand Registrar in the Arch _ . He wrcte home — a reference was made to the home authorities , and a communication was made to the authorities in the Punjab by the Grand Scribe E ., and the consequence was that a letter

was sent by the Grand Scribe E . to Comp . Coates . The gist of the communication was—he did not profess to give the words—communications had been received by the Grand Scribe E . from the Grand Superintendent that he desired at once to rectify the inadvertance committed—that Comp Gray was the Registrar , in fact , and that Comp . Coates was the Past Grand Registrar . That communication was peifectly right . Comp . Gray

was the Registrar in the Arch , and Comp . Coates having been the Registrar in the Craft before he was Registrar in the Arch , and , therefore , was Grand Registrar in the Arch . Comp . Coates did not like the communications made to him , and he wrote back saying be had not seen the correspondence . The correspondence was between other people than himself ; it was brought about by the Grand

Scribe E . He said his opinion ought to have been taken before the communication was made . That was wrong ; he was not Grand Registrar then ; he thought he was but he was not . The inadvertence had grown up ; then Comp . Coates said the District Grand Superintendent had no power to deprive him and had no power to give him past rank . The answer to that was twofold . In the first place the District Grar . d Superintendent did not

deprive him of anything because he had no office to be deprived of , and as to conferring past rank the Grand Superintendent did not confer it because Comp . Coates had it already , and he said inasmuch , as he was virtually superseded he would not go to the District Grand Lodge or to District Grand Chapter . It was not a very nice thing to do . Another communication was made by the District Grand Scribe ; the District Grand

Superintendent had no option in the matter . No aspersion was intended or meant . The District Grand Superintendent said he regretted Comp . Coates ' s absence from the lodge and chapter , and the reason he gave for it was that he thought it was unmasonic . He ( Comp . Horton Smith ) agreed with that . Comp . Coates was still a member of Grand Chapter , but he was an actual Past Grand Officer of

Grand Chapter , and , whether or not , he ought to have gone . He ( ired up on that , and wrote—he said it was unsatisfactory , and said he should appeal against the expressions used by the Grand Master . He stated the case just mentioned . In the appeal he asked this—first of all he said he appealed against the removal of his office in 18 96-97 , and he asked that this matter should be referred ; that the Grand Superintendent should withdraw

the words which he considered reflected upon him . On these two grounds he ( Comp . Horton Smith ) thought Grand Chapter would see Comp . Coates was not removed from the oflice , because he had no office to be removed from ; he could not be removed . Then , as to the Grand Superintendent ' s remarks with respect to his conductGrand Chapter would no doubt agree

, that these remarks were perfectly justified and there was no reison why they should be withdrawn . The whole thing came to this that the appeal must be dismissed , but on the other hand Comp . Coates must have ihe rank of Past Grand Registrar by virtue of his holding the office in 1895-96 , He therefore moved that the appeal be dismissed .

Comp . PuiLiiRicK , Q . C , G . Reg ., agrted with the D puty Grand Registrar , and for the same reasons . It was most unfortunate there should have been this lax practice in that district , but he hoped now it would be different .

The appeal was dismissed . Comp . E . LETCHWORTH , G . S . E ., said the M . E . G . Z . had been pleased to appoint Sir J . D . Harris , President of the Committee of General Purposes , and Comps . Robert Grey and Richard Horton Smith , Q . C , members of the Committee . ~

The following companions were elected—Comps . L . G . Gordon Robbins , Major T . C Walls , Edwin W . Lewcock , Mihill -Slaughter , Henry Garrod , and George Graveley . Grand Chapter was then closed in ancient and solemn form . EARL FITZWILLIA . M has contributed £ 1000 to the National HospiUI for Consumption for Ireland in commemoration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee ,

Grand Chapter Officers.

GRAND CHAPTER OFFICERS .

GRAND STANDARD BEARERS . Comp . ARTHUR STUBBS was initiated in St . Oswald Lodge , No . 850 , Derby , in 1873 , and had the honour of being installed W . M . in 1877 . Two years later his services were recognised by his appointment as Grand A . D . C . of the Prov . G . Lodge of Derbyshire , while in 1880 he secured the collar of the more important post of Prov . G . Registrar . But his best work has been done in behalf of the Province of Nottinghamshire , in the Prov . G . Lodge of which he was appointed

Prov . J . G . Warden , as far back as 1 SS 4 , while in 18 S 5 he took upon himself the duties of Prov . Asst . G . Secretary . In 1 SS 8 he presided as W . M over the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 402 , Nottingham , while in 18 SS he was elected to the office of Prov . G . Secretary , and has held it uninterruptedly ever since , so much to the satisfaction ofthe Prov . G . M . ( Bro . the Dukeof St . Albans ) , that last year his Grace selected him to receive the brevet rank of Past Prov . S . G . Warden , in commemoration of the 21 st installation of the Prince of Wales , as M . W . G . Master . Comp .

Stubbs was exalted a Royal Arch Mason in the Abbey Chapter , No . 47 , Notting . ham , in 1 S 79 , and in 1881 assisted in founding the Royal Sussex Chapter , No , 402 , of which the year following he was installed in the chair of First Principal In 1 S 82 he took a prominent part in promoting the establishment of a Prov . G . Chapter for Nottinghamshire , and the late Comp . Sir Henry Bromley , Bart ., who was installed as G . Superintendent , singled him forthe office of Prov . G . Scribe E ., in which he has continued his labours to the present time , white in 18 92 he served as Prov . G . H . His services to R . A . Masonry in this province have , indeed , been

of great value , as he has helped in the formation of nearly all the chapters on the roll of Prov , G . Chapter , and it is mainly through his exertions that the number of R . A . Masons in Notts has been more than trebled during the last 15 years , having in that time been augmented from 74 to 252 . Thus , his appointment as 2 nd G . Standard Bearer in Supreme G . Chapter , is richly deserved , and will be made the subject of hearty congratulations among his Notts companions . Be it added , that Comp . Stubbs is a Life Governor of our three Institutions , and has served three Stewardships in their behalf .

Comp . H . W . KIALLMARK has taken a prominent part in Freemasonry during the 40 years that have elapsed since he joined the ranks of our Society . He was initiated in September , 1856 , in the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , now No . 291 , Highbridge , Somersetshire , and at the present time is a P . M . of the Kilburn Lodge , No . 1608 , J . W . of / Esculapius Lodge , No . 2410 , and S . D . of the University of London Lodge , No . 2033 . In Royal Arch Masonry he is P . Z . of the St . James ' s Union Chapter , No . 180 , having thrice occupied the chair of First Principal , and

a founder and present M . E . Z . of / "Esculapius Chapter , No . 2410 . In the Mark Degree he is a P . M . of the Egerton of Tatton Lodge , No . 400 ; P . M ., Treasurer Earl of Carnarvon Lodge , No . 211 ; a Past G . Steward and P . P . S . G . W . of the late Province of Middlesex and Surrey . He is in addition a Royal Ark Mariner , being P . C . N , of Lodge , No . 400 j Past E . P . of the Holy Sanctuary Preceptory in

the Order of the Temple ; Past M . W . S . of the Belgrave Chapter of Rose Croix , 18 , under the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite j a P . S . R . in the Order of the Secret Monitor , and was G . V . in 1 S 95 •and a member of the Constantine Council Royal and Select Masters and Rose and Lily Council of the Allied Degrees . He has done good service to our Institutions , for which he has served in all nine Stewardships , and of each of which he is a Life Governor .

Comp . WALTER J . EBBETTS , F . R . I . B . A ., was initiated in the Tuscan Lod ge , No . 14 , in 1 S 81 , and has since presided over it as W . M ., and represented it on the Board of Stewards in 1890 . He is also a P . M . of the Savage Club Lodge , No . 2190 , a founder and P . M . of the Runnymede Lodge , No . 2430 , Wraysbury , and a founder of the Hiram Lodge , No . 2416 . In Royal Arch Masonry , he is P . Z . of Asaph Chapter , No . 1319 , and founder , P . '/ .., and Treasurer of the Savage Club Chapter , No . 2190 . He is a Grand Steward in the Mark Degree , S . O . of the Ruspini Lodge , No . 3 63 , and founder , P . M ., and Secretary of the Tuscan and

Savage Club Lodges , Nos . 454 and 46 9 respectively , besides bein <; a member of the Croydon Lodge , No . 198 , of Royal Ark Mariners . He has taken the 30 " in the Ancient and Accepted Rite , having been perfected Rose Croix , 18 ° , in the Metropolitan Chapter , No . I , and being a founder , P . M . W . S ., and Reorder of the Tuscan Chapter . He is likewise a Knight Templar—officer of the Bird of Avon Preceptory—has taken all the Allied Degrees , and is a Past G . Marshal of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters . As regards our Institutions , he is a Life Governor of each , and has served in all three Stewardships .

Comp . PIERREI-ONT HARRIS was initiated in the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality . No . 187 , Bristol . was installed its W . Master , in 1883 , andon vacating the chair was elected and ever since has been annually re-elected its Treasurer . He joined the Vale of Brislington , No . 1296 , meeting at Brislington , in the adjoining Province of Somerset , in 1880 , and was installed its W . M . two years later . In 1888 , he was a founder and first W . M . of the Powell Lodge , No . 2257 , and the following year was re-elected for a second term . He has been Prov . G . Secretary

of Bristol since 1883 , and in commemoration of the Queen ' s Jubilee in 188 7 , had the rank of Past Prov . S . G . Warden conferred upon him . He was exalted a Royal Arch in Charity Chapter , No . 187 , in 1881 , and was installed in the chair of Z . in 1887 , and since 1884 , has served as Prov . G . Scribe E . In the Mark Degree , to which he was advanced in the Baldwyn Lodge , No . 183 , in 1 SS 0 , he served as W . M . of that lodge in 1883-4-5-6 , was Prov . S . G . W . Bristol , in i 8 S 6 , and is the present Prov . G . Secretary , and in Grand Lodge was G . Steward in 18 S 6 , and S . G . Deacon in 1887 . He is also a Royal Ark Mariner , a K . Temp ' arand

Knight of Malta , having been installed as K . T . in the famous T . L Baldwyn Preceptory , of which he was E . P . in i 8 S 5 , was Prov . Treasurer in the Prov . Priory of Bristol and Gloucestershire in 18 S 7 , a "d Prov . Chancellor in 18 94 . He was perfected Rose Croix in the Baldwyn Chapter T . I . in 1881 , and installed M . W . S . in 18 S 9 , having in the interim taken the 30 in 1886 , and the 31 " in 1888 , in the A . and A . Rite . He is a Life Governor of our three central Institutions and the Mark Benevolent Fund , and has served twice as Steward for the Girls' School and Benevolent Institution , once for the Boys' School , and once for the Mark Benevolent Fund .

Comp . Major G . H . NEWINGTON BRIDGES ' S appointment as Grand Standard Bearer , will give wide-spread satisfaction to a large number of Royal Arch Masons not only in his mother Province of Somersetshire but also in South London , where he is well known and esteemed as an excellent worker of the ceremonies , and a brother and companion of extended influence and great ability and experience . He was initiated 3 rd July , 1868 , in the Rural Philanthropic Lodge , Highbridge , by his uncle , Bro . Capt . Henry Bridges , P . G . S . B ., then Deputy Prov .

G . M . of Somersetshire , and the sam ; year joined the Macdonald Lodge , No . 1216 ( First Surrey Rifles ) , of which he was W . M . in 1873 , after serving all the lower offices , and has been its D . C . ever since . He joined the Pilgrims' Li . dge , No . 772 , Glastonbury , in 1869 , was appointed S . W . in the same year , and was installed as Master the year following . He was founder and first W . M . of the Royal Leopold Lodge , No . 166 9 ( now an honorary member ) , and founder and First Secretary of the Military Lodge , No . 2621 , in 1896 . In 1878 he was rr . ade Prov . G . D . of Somerset . As a Royal Arch Mason he is a P , Z . of the Panmure