Supreme Grand Chapter.

The acting M . E . Z . informed the companions that the Prince oE Wales had nominated as members to serve on the Committee of General Purposes —himself ( the M . E . Z . ) the Ear ! of Lathom , Lord Leigh , Comps . Robert Grey , as President ; Robert Turtle Piggott , D . C . L . ; and Comp . Edward Letchworth .

Grand Chapter then elected on the same Committee , Comps . W . H . Perryman , James Lewis Thomas , George Lambert , J . Sampson Peirce , Joseph Clever , and Charles Frederick Hogard . Grand Chapter was then closed .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SUSSEX .

The annual Provincial Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of Sussex Was held at the Pavilion , Brighton , on Thursday , the 30 th ult ., under the presidency of Sir W . W . Burrell , Bart ., M . P ., Grand Superintendent , who delivered an address and appointed and invested the following officers : —

Comp . John H . Scott , P . G . Std . Br . ... ... Prov . G . H . „ Lieut .-Gen . C . W . Randolph , P . Z . 1383 , 1466 Prov . G . J . V . P . Freeman . P . Z . 111 . m . 732 ... Prov . G . S . E .

O . N . Wyatt , P . Z . 38 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ F . Rossiler , P . Z . 40 ... ... ... Prov . G . Soj . W . H . Gibson , P . Z . 315 ... ... Prov . G . 1 st A . S .

S . R . Lcgg , P . Z . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . 2 nd A . S . „ R . Crosskey , P . Z . 311 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Gerard Ford , P . Z . 271 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . T . Packham , Z . 811 ... ... ... Prov . G . Swd . Br .

„ Jos . Farncombe , P . Z . 311 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . j . M . Kidd , P . Z . 732 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . King , 271 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . Comps . J . II . C . Coles , P . Z . 916 , and I . P . M . Smith Prov . G . Stwds . Comp . I . Hughes ... ... ... .... Prov . G . Janitor . From the statistics , read by Comp . V . P . FREEMAN , G . S . E ., the

province appears to be in a flourishing condition , the whole of the chapters being represented at this meeting . The report of the Audit Committee was read and adopted on the motion of Comp . Farncombe , and several sums were devoted to the Masonic Charities .

In the evening the companions partook of a sumptuous banquet served in the Royal Pavilion in elegant style by Messrs . Sayers and Marks . The loyal and Masonic toasts were cordially given . The proceedings were much enlivened by the singing of the Orpheus Glee Union , accompanied by Comp . King , Prov . Grand Organist .

Consecration Of The St. Clair Lodge, No. 2074.

CONSECRATION OF THE ST . CLAIR LODGE , NO . 2074 .

Portsmouth can certainly boast of promoting the welfare of the Order , for it can now boast of no less than eleven lodges in that town . On Tuesday , the 28 th ult ., the eleventh lodge was consecrated under the name of St . Clair Lodge , No . 2074 , under the Grand Lodge of England . The lodge is named after its first W . M ., Bro . Captain William Home Chisholme St . Clair , Royal Navy , who was born on the 9 th September , 1 S 41 ,

and entered her Majesty ' s service as a naval cadet October 12 th , 1 S 54 , and passed as a sub-lieutenant October 13 th , i 860 . On the 20 th December , the same year , he was promoted to lieutenant for passing meritorious examination at the Royal Naval College . On the 4 th December , 1 S 68 , he was promoted to commander , and in 1871 obtained a certificate in steam , and on the 31 st July , 1 S 80 , he was promoted to his present rank of captain . He has been for some years an ardent worker in Masonry , and three years ago was W . M . of the Phcenix Lodge , No . 257 .

At the consecration , which took place at the Masonic Hall , Commercialroad , Landport , there were present : Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . Prov . Grand Master ; J . E . Le Feuvre , J . P ., Deputy Prov . Grand Master ; Major W . Shalden Smith , P . G . S . W . ; M . E . Frost , P . P . G . S . W ., acting P . G . J . W . ; Rev . A . C . Hervey , P . G . Chaplain ; E . Goble , P . G . Secretary , F . P . R . J . Rastrick , P . G . Treas . ; T . Page , P . G . S . D . ; G . Sylvester , R . N .,

P . G . Org . ; E . Hall , P . G . Supt . Works ; R . W . Mitchell , P . G . D . of C ; Major Hooper , P . P . G . W . ; Rev . G . H . De Fraine , P . P . G . Chap . ; H . Cawte , P . P . G . W . ; H . W . Townsend , P . P . G . D . ; R . Beale ; Rev . E . K . Kendall , P . G . Chap . Cornwall ; G . Bond , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Wodehouse , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . W . Willmott , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Johns , P . P . G . S . B . ; F . Powell , P . P . G . Purst . ; J . W . Laverty , P . P . G . D . of C ; Past Masters E . Goldsmith , A . R . Holbrook , 309 ; T . P . Palsgrave , 4 S 7 ; T . H .

Williame , 177 G ; W . Stanley , G . R . Stnck , 142 S ; J . E . Buck , 1776 ; W . D . Parkhouse , 1 S 34 ; J . Pomeroy , 723 ; T . D . Askew , S 04 ; Latimer H . Saunders , 6 gS ; J . Lind , T . Francis , S 04 ; and S . Hyne ; Worshipful Masters A . Jolliffe , 257 ; J . W . Gieve , 309 ; W . Gunnell , 342 ; H . E . Loide , 4 S 7 ; J . Dempey , 903 ; E . Naylor , 92 S ; W . Mills , 1776 ; J . C . Arlidge , 163 S ; and H . Long , W . M . elect 1903 ; Lieut . Parker , R . N . ; E . Hopkins , W . Beckley , C . D . Lovegrove , A . W . Hewett , G . Young ,

J . Aylon , H . M . Richards , J . Godding , W . Miller , T . Stretton , G . D . Lovegrove , J , Ludwig , R . Hyde , J . Jackson , J . Green , W . A . Hill , T . Heyes , W . Atkinson , E . Herbert Cooper , Major W . Campbell , A . Fletcher , A . C . Brookland , G . Sylvester , J , Armstrong , G . F . Williams , F . W . C . Waters , C . W . Bevis , W . Warne , J . W . Boughton , J . Jenkins , W . H . Bolitho , J . S . Senior , T . Palmer , J . Fowler , T . F . Wilton , W . H . Baker , P . H . Emanuel ^ recmason ) ; and the following founders Bros . Capt . W . H . C . St . Clair , R . N ., P . M . ; J . Brickwood , P . M . ; C . V . Birch

Wm . Dart , P . M . ; H . Kimber , P . M . ; G . P . Arnold , P . M . ; T . H . Woodrow , J . Wickens , Otway C . Cox , J . S . Gurden , A . R . Jones , G . Attrill , W . Hicken , E . Boorman , T . Drury , W . llolloway , J . Agnew , J . G . Harris , J . Dyson , B . J . Donnellan , Dr . C . F . Garrett , W . Gunnell , P . M . ; and S . Baker . The lodge was opened in the three Degrees at three o ' clock p . m . The PROV . GRAND MASTER , in addressing the brethren on the nature of the meeting , congratulated the founders on having started under such favourable auspices . He remarked . ; that the petition for the warrant was

Consecration Of The St. Clair Lodge, No. 2074.

unanimous , every lodge in the district having recommended the prayer such a thing was never known before , and it was also on that account that he felt so highly gratified at being present that day . He impressed on the brethren when introducing members into the Order not to look for numbers but quality . Masonry was free , and every one was free to be a Mason , but great care should be exercised in admitting them .

The CHAPLAIN then gave the introductory prayer . An ode , " Hail Eternal , by whose aid , " was sung . The DEPUTY PROV . GRAND MASTER briefly addressed the P . G . M ., who replied . The brethren of the new lodge having been arranged in order , the PROV . G . SECRETARY read the petition and warrant .

The P . G . M . having enquired if the brethren approved of the officers named in the warrant , and a satisfactory reply being given , the P . G . CHAP , delivered an oration on the nature and design of the Institution , which was , he said , at once the most ancient and most progressive ; the most local , by virtue of the association of every brother with his own lodge , and , at the

same time , the most cosmopolitan throughout the compass of the whole world . A Mason might everywhere find a brother , and receive that help and fraternal sympathy of which he stood in need . With regard to the ancient character of Freemasonry , institutions which were really Masonic , whatever their Egyptian or Greek or Phoenician names might be , existed more than

3000 years ago . A writer of authority stated that , without entertaining any extravagant opinion respecting the antiquity of the Order , it must be universally acknowledged that there is a striking resemblance between the institution of Freemasonry and the Dionysian mysteries , as well as between the more recent institutions of the Pythagorean . The Dionysians of Asia

Minor , 1500 years B . C ., possessed the exclusive right of building all temples and other stately edifices . They had attained considerable reputation , and were known to each other throughout all Asia , and as far as India , by appropriate signs ; they were , moreover , formed into lodges , and it was their regular practice to assist and relieve their poorer brethren . Flourishing

as they did in the immediate neighbourhood of Judea , it was not at all unlikely that they would labour with the Jewish nations in the construction of a temple at Jerusalem . As to the nature and design of Freemasonry , they were taught that it was a perfect system of morality . It was more than this —it was a society of men bound together for the purpose of carrying out

that system of morality , and for practising Charity in its widest sense . Their signs and symbols were not frivolous and vain , but were calculated to teach important lessons to the thoughtful mind . They reminded them of their morality , and taught them how to conduct themselves . It was objected by some against Masonry that it was a secret society . But they did not keep

their object secret ; they only concealed their forms and ceremonies . The efforts of the Society were patent to every man in the existence of their noble Institutions for the relief of the aged and the education of the young . He was sure that that occasion must be a source of gratification to the Prov . Grand Master , as showing that the noble principles of their Order were so

spicading themselves , and the W . M . and officers of the St . Clair Lodge must be gratified at the large attendance on that occasion ; but , while it was a source of gratification , it was also one of anxiety . Under certain conditions Masonry refused no man , but he feared many crowded into it under the belief that it partook of the nature of a benefit society , and it was therefore their duty to use caution in the selection of members .

The first portion of the dedication prayer was then read and hymn sung , " Glory be to Thee , O Lord , " after which the P . G . M . gave the solemn invocation , and the P . G . Chaplain followed by reading II . Chronicles , 2 nd chap ., 1 to 16 verses . The elementsof consecration were carried round the lodge three times , and the P . G . M . then dedicated the lodge . After

reading the second portion of the dedication prayer the P . G . M . constituted the lodge , and the consecration hymn , " Great Source of Light and Love " was sung . The W . M . designate , Bro . Capt . W . H . C . St . Clair , R . N ., P . M ., was then installed in the chair of K . S . The following were the

officers appointed for the ensuing year : Bros . W . Dart , I . P . M . ; J . Brickwood , P . M . ; C . V . Birch , J . W . ; H . Kimber , P . M ., Treas . ; G . P . Arnold , P . M ., Sec . ; F . Woodrow , S . D . ; H . Stockall , J . D . ; Otway Cox , I . G . ; A . R . Jones , Org . ; J . Wickens and J . S . Gurden , Stwds .

A large number of candidates for initiation was proposed , and also some joining members . Votes of thanks were accorded to the P . G . M . and Prov . G . Officers for their attendance , and the P . G . M ., D . P . G . M ., ; P . G . Sec , and P . G . Treas . were proposed as honorary members . The lodge was closed in due form .

At 5 . 30 p . m ., the brethren sat down to a banquet , which was well served . In consequence of the P . G . M . having to leave for an important engagement in London , he was unavoidably absent . Bro . St . Clair , W . M * , presided , and was supported on his right by the D . P . G . M ., and on the left by Bro . Dart , I . P . M . Grace before and after was said bv Bro . the Rev . G .

H . De Fraine , P . P . G . Chap . Bro . St . CLAIR , in proposing "The Health of the Queen , " said that at the present time more enthusiasm was evinced at this toast than is usual , 011 account of the troubled limes , when there was no knowing whether it was " peace or war . " It was the duty of every Mason to rally round and support her Majesty . ( Cheers . )

Solo by Bro . Jones— " God save the Queen , " •Bro . St . CLAIR proposed " The Health of the M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . t ! lC

Prince of Wales , which he said brought them more fully into Masonry . " any man was har dworking in the kingddom it was his Royal Hig hness . No one went through more exertions than he did . Not one momentwas his own , Masonically or otherwise . His tour through Irelan d was a great success . ( Applause . ) He had come to the front , and been entertained everywhere .