Royal Arch.

Cureton , P . Z ., as S . E . ; F . W . Mutton , S . N . ; B . Bramble , P . S . ; W . Palmer , ist A . S . ; T . B . Benton , as 2 nd A . S . ; and J . Whiteman , Janitor . The companions alter closing the chapter partook of a choice banquet , and honoured the customary toasts . Comp . Ihe Rev . W . R . Finlay , I . P . Z ., in proposing "The M . E . Z ., " slid he was able to do his work well , and the companions would have an opportunity of seeing what he could do during his year of office . Comp . Reed was a good companion and a good working Mason , who had Masonry at heart . He sincerely hoped and trusted that the Great Ruler of the Universe might give him good health during his ( year of

office . Comp . G . W . Reed , M . E . Z ., replying , said he was proud to be in the position of M . E . Z ., and the reception he had met with at the hands of the brethren gave him the confidence necessary for occupying that post . When he had the support and encouragement of all companions he thought he had started well , and it augured well for the prosperity of the chapter . Nothing should be wanting on his part to carry out the duties they had placed him there to discharge . He had had very fine samples of what M . E . Zs . ought to be , and it would be his fault if he did not follow the eit ample set him .

They had had some work at several meetings which had been faultlessly carried out . They had had visitors who had expressed their pleasure at seeing the work so well done—companions who had been able and willing to assist . He referred to Comps . Grummant and Stone , who attended at the Stirling Castle , Camberwell , at the chapter of instruction , and under their tuition it must be his own fault if he did not do his work properly . Comp . Cureton was a constant attendant there , and the Sterndale Bennett Chapter was a gainer by that attendance . He should rely upon him for assistance , but even if he were absent he had Comp . Hennings who was a glowing light in Royal Arch

Masonry , and was able in any emergency to take a part as they h ad seen that Highland a very important part in the installation . Comp . Hennings installed the M . E . Z . and the H . ; and then they had another able companion—Comp . Jackson , P . Z ., Treas . who initiated the J . Without such companions what would they do ? With such companions there was an encouragement to emulate their glorious example . He trusted the incoming officers would endeavour to follow out their working of the ritual that it

might not lose any of its gravity . Unfortunately , the chapter had lost four of its members that night , but they had been replaced by four others , so that it still retained its full strength . He sincerely and earnestly trusted as the chapter had started so well at this meeting that when he vacated the chair for his successor he would , with the assistance of the Great 1 Am , retire with the same honour as his predecessor , whose health he now asked the companions to drink .

Comp . the Rev . W . R . Finlay , I . P . Z ., replied , and said with respect to the work of R . A . he enjoyed it as much as any man , and he was very pleased to say that although the woik of the Sterndale Bennett Chapter had always been well done there was as gocd fruit on the tree as there had been before , and notwithstanding , they had lost three good men , before long they would gain three times three .

Comps . Grummant , Stone , Massey , Croft Wise , and Palmer responded to the toast of "The Visitors . " Comp . C . H . Kempling , H ., in his response to the toast of "The H . and ] ., " said he had to thank Comp . Jackson for installing Comp . Blake . For himself he might say he did not mean to shirk his work during the year , and he should give all the assistance he could to Comp . Reed .

Comp . Blake also responded . Comp . Reed , M . E . Z ., in proposing "The Past Principals , '' sympathetically referred to the illness of Comp . Harper , which was the cause of his absence from the chapter that evening . Comp . R . J . Hennings , P . Z ., in reply , said he took a pleasure in working for the chapter , and it gave him great satisfaction to instal the M . E . Z . and the H . He was exalted in the Sterndale Bennett Chapter . He hoped all the companions might be long spared to enjoy the pleasures of that chapter . He also trusted that the M . E . Z . and his

Principals might have a happy and enjoyable year of office . He very much regretted Comp . Harper's illness . Although suffering very much Comp . Harper did not forget the Sterndale Bennett Chapter , and he expressed his great grief at not being able to be present ; he sent his kind regards to the companions , and hoped they would have a pleasant evening . Comp . Jackson , P . Z ., as Treasurer , responded to the toast of "The Treasurer and S . E ., " and said as Comp . Kempling had re / erred to the installation ol Comp . Blake , he ( Comp . Jackson ) might observe that he had great pleasure in performing the ceremony . Comp . Blake was Master of the Sterndale Bennett Lodge , and he had thoroughly

carried out his duties in that position to the satisfaction of all the brethren . Concerning the chapter , it had had , he might say , times of trial , but the companions put their shoulders to the wheel and rallied round their Treasurer , and now the chapter owed no man anything . - It was necessary to use a little self-denial in order to accumulate a balance , but they did not deny themselves anything that was requisite . He felt sure the chapter would be in as good a position as any chapter in London .

Comps . Bramble and Palmer responded to the toast of ' Ihe Officers , and the Janitor ' s toast closed the proceedings . During the evening the companions were entertained with some excellent singing by Comps . the Rev . W . Russell Finlay , I . P . Z . j Abel Hustler , and R . J . Hennings , P . Z ., and some beautiful solos on the pianoforte were performed by Comps . C . H . Kempling , H ., and G . A . N . Cullum . Comp . Kempling also accompanied the vocal performances .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE BAKER-SMALLPEICE , P . PROV . G . TREAS . SURREY . Woking loses an old and greatly respected resident by the death of Bro . George Baker Smallpeice , which occurred at Hockering , Heathside-lane , on Monday , the 27 th ult ., after an illness of some weeks , during which he was attended by Dr . B . H . Kingsford . The deceased , who was in his 51 st year , was the youngest son of the late Bro . George Smallpeice , of Kingfield House , a typical English yeoman . He had resided all his life in Woking , where he owned between 250

and 300 acres of land in the Village Ward , part of which he farmed himself , more as a hobby than a serious occupation . By profession he was an auctioneer and surveyor , with offices at Woking , and 9 and io , Tokenhouse-yard , E . C . Of hig h character and exemplary business habits , he enjoyed an extensive practice , and the imp licit confidence of all his clients . His personality was in many respects a striking one . He inherited from his father the fine qua ities which go to make the British yeoman , and he made many friends , and returned for theirs a

friendship essentially staunch and sincere . During the first three years of its existence Bro . Smallpeice was a member of the old Local Board , of which he was elected vicechairman , as well as chairman of the Finance Committee . At the end of his term of office he did not seek re-election , although urged to . do so by those who were able to estimate the value of his sound judgment and shrewd common-sense . The deceased had been a directorof the Woking Gas Company from its inception in 1892 , and in addition to being such a large property owner in Woking ,

he also owned land at Haslemere and in Suffolk . The funeral tooklplaceat Brookwood Cemetery on Thursday , the 31 st ult ., the service being conducted , by the Rev . C . A . Archer , the Necropolis Company ' s chaplain . Bro . Smallpeice , who was a nephew of Mr . Mark Smallpeice , of Guildford , leaves a widow and six children to mourn their loss—two sons and four daughters . General sympathy will be extended to them in their bereavement . The deceased was a prominent Freemason He was initiated in the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 370 , Chertsey , and

filled the chair in 1874 . He was exalted in the Cyrus Chapter , No . 21 , London , and installed as 1 st Principal in 1881 . He joined the St . George ' s Chapter , No . 370 , in 1873 , and was elected M . E . Z . in 18 75 . He was also a Founder and P . Z . of the Abbey Chapter , No . 2120 , Chertsey . Our late brother was likewise a member of the Weysidc Lodge , No . 1395 , and a few years ago held the important ollice of Treasurer inthe Prov . Grand Lodge and Chapter of Surrey . Of the various Charitable Institutions of the Craft he was a liberal and consistent supporter .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northants And Hunts.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF NORTHANTS AND HUNTS .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge took place on the 7 th instant , under the banner of the Wentworth Lodge , at the Central Hall , Wellingborough . The brethren having assembled , the Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , D . S ., was supported by the following Prov . Grand Officers : Bros . J . Haviland , P . M . ini 1 , Deputy Prov . G . M .: H .

Manfield , Prov . S . G . W . ; W . J . Hankin , Prov . J . G . W . ; Rev . W . H . Holding , Prov . A . G . Chap , ; A . CockeriH , Prov . G . Treas . ; A . J . Moyes Prov . G . Reg . ; G . C . Castor , Prov . A . G . Sec . ; G . F . Marshall , Prov . S . G . D . ; G . Ellard , Prov . G . D . C . ; W . Arkell , Prov . G . S . B . ; C . J . Wood , Prov . G . Org . ; C . H . White , Prov . G . Purst . ; and W . F . Ti pler , Prov . G . Stwd .

After the usual business of the Provincial Grand Lodge had been transacted , The PROV . G RAND M ASTER proposed that a letter of condolence be sent by the acting Prov . Grand Secretary to Bro . W . Buckle , the Prov . Grand Secretary , who was prevented from being present through illness . The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year as follows :

Bro . John Haviland . P . G-D . ... ... Dep . Prov . G . M . „ John J . Hart , P . M . 360 , W . M . 2431 ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Owen Parker , P . M . 737 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Rev . Henry H . Crawley , Ch ip . 2555 ... Prov . G . Chap . ., Rev . L . T . Jones , Chap . 442 ... ... Prov . A . G . Chap „ A . Ccckerill , P . M . 3 60 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ B . Beasley , jun ., P . M . 373 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . G . Buckle , P . M . 442 , P . P . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ G . Henson , P . M . 737 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . ,, T . Mattinson , W . M . 445 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ M . S . Young , P . M . 466 ... ... Prov . G . S . of VV . „ G . Ellard , P . M . 360 , 1764 . 2431 , P . P . S . G . W .... Prov . G . D . C . „ T . Ashdowne , LP . M . 1764 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ A . F . Love , P . M . 2283 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . ,, E . Areber , W . M . 360 ... ... ... " ) r > ^ J n „ W . W . Grasby , W . M . 23 S 0 ... ... j Frov > G - btd - Brs „ C . A . Lees , Org . 26 S 4 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Shelmerdine , P . M . 637 ... ... Prov . Purst . „ F . W . Perival , 442 .. . ... . ... " i

„ VV . F . Neilson , 455 ... ... ... „ W . G . Abbott , 737 ... ... ... I D n et , I , R . H . Cooper , 2533 j > Prov . G . Stwds „ C . H . Judkins , 2555 ... ... ... 1

„ H . J . Burt , 2684 ... ... . .. J „ J . A . Bates , Tyler 737 ... ... ,.. Prov . G . T yler . Later in the afternoon the annual banq'iet was provided at the Corn Exchange , about 170 being present , and the catering ol the Granville Coffee House Company gave every satisfaction . The customary Masonic toast list was given .

Gould's "Military Lodges."

GOULD'S " MILITARY LODGES . "

Some very interesting anecdotes are told b y Bro . R . F . Gould in his book on Military Lodges . Of the 4 th ( the King ' s Own ) Lancasters , now serving in South Africa , it is stated that Bro . Dr . Burnes , Provincial Grand Master for Western India , in an address on the duties of the Masonic soldier , said that everyone knew that even in the fury of the late war , the charters , diplomas , and insignia of lodges used to be returned with courtesy

after an engagement . He further said in his address that it was only last night that Colonel Logan , a brave officer of the Peninsula , mentioned to him an authentic anecdote that would interest them . A whole battalion of the Fourth Foot had been taken prisoners , and the officers stripped of everything . Several of them were bemoaning their lot in a dreary abode , when , to their surprise , they saw a subaltern of their corps passing along with a

gay step , in full dress . The explanation was very simple ; having been discovered to be a Mason , his uniform and baggage had been immediatel y restored to him , and he was then going , by special invitation , to dine with the French Field-Marshal . In 1815 , while the same regiment was passing through the Bermudas on its way to take part in the last war with America , both the officers and men experienced the utmost inconvenience and distress , their

pay being greatly in arrear , and their rations extremely limited . At this crisis in their affairs the officers were one day invited to Ihe table of a merchant residing in one of the principal towns . In the course of the entertainment the generous host did not fail to discover that amongst his guests there was one for whom he felt the warmth of friendship , and with whom though a foreigner , he felt the ties of brotherhood . In a word , they were

Masons . To draw the brother aside , to hear the record of sufferings and privations , and to furnish ample means of relief and consolation , was but the work of a few moments . A considerable sum of money was advanced by the merchant for the use of the regiment , and thus—by the existence of a certain principle of action in two individuals—a multitude were raised from a state of suffering ana destitution to one of comparative ease and enjoyment .

MR . G . T . NEWSHOLME , of Sheffield , has been elected President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain ; Mr . C . B . Allen , of Kilburn , Vice-President ; and Mr . S . R . Atkins , of Salisbury , Treasurer for the ensuing year . ON THE 14 m INSTANT the East London Church Fund held its annual festival in St . Paul ' s Cathedral . The service was fully choral and excellently rendered , the music being led by the combined choirs of the Rural Deanery of St . Sepulchre , under the

conductorship of Dr . Charles W . Pearce . The processional hymn , " Forward ! be our watchword "—the refrain of which was specially written for the festival service by the composer , Mr . Samuel Smith—was very fine . There were about 110 clergy present , and clad in their cassocks , surplices , and many-coloured hoods , added to the beauty of the scene in the cathedral . The Bishop of Bath and Wells preached the sermon , and emphasised the need of everybody to give their utmost in order to raise the i , 20 , 000 which was required duiing the present year in order to cope with the work in hand ,