Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

BOLTON . —St . John ' s Chapter ( No . 34 8 ) . —The installation meeting of the above chapter was held on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall . The companions present included Comps . Wm . Cooper , Z . j Jas . Newton , Prov . Assist . G . S . E ., as H . ; John Kenyon , J . ; Thos . Nightingale , E . ; Robert Harwood , P . P . G . S . N . ; lohn Alcock , P . Z . ; Thos . Higson , Janitor ;

C . B . Wingfield , and Robt . Johnson . Also , as visitors , Comps . G . P . Brockbank , 37 and 221 , P . A . G . D . C ; and Nathl . Nicholson , 221 , P . P . G . S . B . The chapter having been opened , the minutes were read and confirmed . Comp . Nicholson then proceeded in an impressive manner to install the Principals elect , viz . : Comps . John Kenyon , H . ; and Thos . Nightingale , J . ( the first . Principal elect was unable to be present in

consequence of illness ) . Comp . Nicholson also invested the other officers , viz .: Comps . Wm . Cooper , E . ; Jas . Newton , N . ; C B . Wins-field , P . S . ; Robt . Johnson , ist A . S . ; John Whitaker , 2 nd A . S . ; Robt . Harwood , Treas . ; and Thos . Higson , Janitor . A cordial vote of thanks vvas given to Comp . Nicholson for his kindness in attending to conduct the ceremony that evening . " Hearty good wishes" were tendered by the visitors , and the chapter was then closed .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT ( No . 890 * 1 . —A convocation was held on Friday , the 9 th inst ., at the Porchester Hotel , Leinster-place , Cleveland-square , Paddington , VV ., when there were present Comps . H . E . Dehane , H . Sgo , ist A . S . 862 , M . E . Z . ; H . Purdue , J . 834 , H . ; M . Speigel , 834 , I . J VV . H . Dean , P . Z . 77 , 417 , P . P . G . R . Dorset , S . E . ; ( . Sim ' s , S . N . 834 , S . N . ; C . R . Wickens , P . S . 07 s , P . S . ; J . Davies , 733 , ist A . S . ; W . H . Chalfont , P . S . 975 , P . Z . ; and T . C . Edmonds , 890 , S . N .

15 * 07 , P . Z . The chapter was declared open , and the minutes of the last convocation were read and confirmed . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Chalfont being candidate . The officers were elected for the ensuing fortnight—Comp . Dean as M . E . Z . A vote of thanks to Comp . Purdue was passed for the admirable manner in which he had rehearsed the duties of H . for the first time , which compliment he suitably acknowledged * After " Hearty good wishes , " the chapter vvas closed .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

SANDOWN ( I . of W . )—William Hickman Lodge ( No . 320 ) . —The installation meeting of this lodge took place at George-street Hall on Friday , the gth inst ., when a goodly attendance of members and visitors put in an appearance , amongst whom were the Dep . Prov . G . M . M . ( Bro . R . Loveland Loveland ) , Bros . Rev . J . N . Palmer , G . Chap . ; G . F . Lancaster , P . P . G . W . ; H .

Crisp , Prov . G . D . ; F . Powell , P . P . G . O . ; J . Conner , P . M . ( S . C . ); H . Pigeon , jun ., Prov . G . Organist ; and many other brethren . Bro . Fisher vvas advanced to the Degree of M . M . M ., and then the W . M ., Bro . F . Newman , P . P . G . W ., proceeded to install his successor , Bro . S . Salter , as VV . M . This ceremony was carried out by Bro . Newman in a most

impressive manner , as , in fact , are all the ceremonies he performs . Freemasonry in the island vvould indeed severely feel the loss were he ever to leave it , and too much tribute of praise cannot be awarded to so accurate and good a worker . The officers appointed were Bros . A . Dashwood , S . W . ; R . Dampier-Child , J . W . ; M . Willis , M . O . ; C . Carter , S . O . ; H . Durrant , J . O . ; Rev . J .

N . Palmer , Chap . ; H . Pigeon , jun ., Reg . of Marks ; j , Conner , Sec ; J . H . McQueen , S . D . ; J . Bunt , jun ., J . D . ; E . Loveland , D . C ; J . B . Boucher , I . C ; and Izod , Stwd . Bro . W . H . VVooldridge vvas re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . A . Calloway , Tyler . The brethren dined together afterwards at the Sandown Hotel , where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were drank .

South Africa.

South Africa .

DURBAN . —Addington Lodge ( No . 1937 ) . — The regular monthly meeting of this lodge vvas held on Thursday evening , July 28 th , and was an exceptionally interesting gathering , as vvill be gathered from the following account . Amongst the visitors present were Bro . Hulston , D . G . M . S . E . Africa ( S . C ); Past Masters Cook , Crowe , and Marriott , of 73 8 ; Rycroft , 73 S ; Pullock , 1076 ; I . E .

Brown , 4472 ; Wood , P . M ., of the same lodge , and others , whilst the following lodges were aiso represented—Prince Alfred , No . 956 ; Natalia , No . 1665 ; Richard Giddy ( Kimberley ) , Skelmersdale , Manda , Rothesay , 712 ( S . C ) , and Blytheswood , 731 ( S . C . ) The lodge vvas duly opened , and after the usual routine business had been transacted , Bros . Ballard and Bingham

were passed to the F . C . Degree , the ceremony being impressivel y rendered by the W . M ., Bro . T . N . Price , assisted in the S . E . corner by Bro . Crowder , D . C , who also presented the working tools . At the conclusion of this ceremony the lodge was called off for refreshments , and on re-assembling the W . M . briefly introduced to the brethren Bro . the Rev . J . Oxley

Oxland , P . M ., District Grand Chaplain of Natal , & c , who had kindly consented to deliver a lecture on "Freemasonry in Palestine . " In his introductory remarks the lecturer touched upon the connection between modern speculative Freemasonry and the ancient guilds of architects and builders . He said that though the brethren looked back with pride to

their connection with the building of King Solomon's Temple at Jerusalem , yet there were works more ancient and on a larger scale than even those stupendous works , which had rendered it possible to set up on a narrow ridge of rock an edifice such as that erected hy King Solomon . Passing to the consideration of the practical use of Freemasonry in the present century , the lecturer expressed a hope that the lodges of Natal might be led to follow a

movement vvhich had been lately initiated in London , whereby lectures and papers on scientific subjects had been introduced into the programme of lodge vvork . The brethren of the Order would thus be enabled to keep pace in a certain measure with the extraordinary development of knowledge , which vvas one of the phenomena of the present age . Touching briefly upon recent discoveries in Egypt , those at Pithom at the irrigation works of Joseph , and in certain newly discovered tombs—especially the find-

South Africa.

ing of the remains of a funeral tent of an Egyptian queen , the leather covering of vvhich appeared to have been dyed and otherwise prepared in a manner similar to one of the coverings of the tabernacle of Moses—the lecturer showed that the great tent of the Arabs had been the prototype of the great tent in which the Israelites had worshipped God in unity in obedience to the revelation of Himself made by

the Great Architect of the Universe to Abraham when calling him out from a nation of idolaters . . The Ground Floor of the Lodge . —Under this head the lecturer drew a word picture of Mount Moriah as it appeared in the days of Abraham on the occasion of the first grand offering . Detailing the vast changes vvhich had taken place in and around the sacred mount between the

day of the first grand offering and that of the third grand offering at the dedication of the Temple by King Solomon , he proceeded to show how that by the energy of the ancient Masons a vast platform of splendid stonework had been built up around the precipitous scrub-covered sides ot the ridge of morial—leaving as " an outcrop through the marble pavement of the platform a small portion only of

the original rock—the flat-topped pinnacle on which the angel of the Lord had stood when executing judgment on King David for his offence in numbering Israel . The Noble Sanctuary—Haram es Shereef . —Starting from the gate now known as that of St . Stephen , the lecturer led his audience from point to point of interest round the walls ofthe Temple platform . Halting at the

south-east angle , the lecturer drew attention to the great changes of level which had taken place at that point , and in the Kidron Valley below . At the south-east angle the debris of the destroyed city had accumulated around the walls of the platform to a depth of nearly 70 feet , while in the valley below , the channel of the brook Kidron had been completely obliterated , the present channel being

raised nearly 60 feet above its original level and moved a long distance up the slope of Mount Olivet . The great height of the south-east angle vvas then commented upon , and a quotation given from josephus in support of the view that the south-ea ^ t angle was the Pinnacle of the Temple—its position , towering some 500 feet above the brook Kidron and its own elevation of some 200 feet of

masonry from its foundation , leaving little doubt upon the point . Details were then given of the vvork carried out at this point by the Palestine Exploration Society . The lecturer took his hearers with him down the deep shaft sunk at the south-east angle , giving them minute details of the careful examination to vvhich the foundations at the point had been subjected . Some very interesting points in

connection vvith the rock laid foundations , the enormous size of the hewn stone with which the courses of masonry are built up ( some exceeding 100 tons in weight ) , the care and skill with which the stones were drafted , the peculiarity of the draft or Jewish bevel , and the ancient Masonic or Phoenician marks were dwelt upon in detail . Passing along the west wall , the position of Ophel , of the King ' s

dale , and other points of interest , received due attention . Halting at the south-west angle , the lecturer called attention to the enormous size of the stones at this angle—some of which exceed 23 feet in length , with a height of 4 feet , and a breadth of 7 feet . The great beauty of the masonry at this point was especially commented upon . Premising that the Jews of those days had but little

knowledge of architecture , the lecturer went on to show how deeply Solomon vvas indebted to his friend Hiram , King of Tyre , for the vast arm of skill Phoenician workman , Masons ar . d other Craftsman enrolled by him in all the cities of Phoenicia , Tyre , Gebal , & c , and marched by him to the Lebanon , on the one hand , and Mount Moriah on the other . The strange discoveries made in connection

vvith what is now known as Robinson's arch were gone into . This magnificent arch , of which , only one course of stones springing out , the west wall remains intact , vvas fully described . Having a span of 45 feet vvith a height of 86 feet from the rocky bed of the Tyropcean gully , and carrying a road 54 feet in breadth , this bridge or viaduct leading from the Temple platform to the King ' s palace on Zion

must have been the wonder of all beholders . The so-called Wilson's arch , a magnificent viaduct still existing , and though now concealed by the debris of ruined Jerusalem and partly covered by modern houses , received due attention ; one noteworthy point in connection with it being the dam built beneath it across the Tyropcean Valley—cutting off the flow of water and directing it into a channel

piercing the south wall and passing into the vast system of vaults vvhich support the platform of the noble sanctuary . Halting at an enclosure abutting on the west wall , and knovvn as the Jews' Wailing place , the lecturer described what he had witnessed on the occasion of what is known as the White Feast , when Jews of all ages and nations gathered in the Wailing place to touch and kiss the only

part of their ancient temple to which they now have free access . A quotation from the Litany used on this occasion by God ' s ancient people gave occasion for some touching and pathetic remarks on the present position of our ancient brethren the Jews , and their ruined Temple and city . In continuation of the lecture from this point to the end of the section there vvas much that had reference to the esoteric

teachings of Freemasonry , and which consequently cannot be published . The Quarries of the King . —Leaving the City of Jerusalem by the Damascus Gate , the lecturer led his hearers along the city wall to a point some 200 yards from the gate , where , by a gap or crevice in the wall some two feet only in height , they entered what is now kno"vn as the Ouarry of

the Kings . Here in a vault of some 30 feet in height , supported by rough pillars of stone left by thequarrymen , are still to be seen stones of vast bulk in various stages of preparation for the intended building . Many of the stones bear Masons' marks similar in shape and character to those met vvith on the lower courses of the walls at the south-east and south-west

angles of the noble sanctuary . The skill and care of the ancient Masons is here very distinctly shown , and the existence of this quarry explains the tradition that at the building of King Solomon's Temple " no sound of metal tool was heard . " The means used for the transport of the enormous masses of stone still to be seen in position in the walls of the noble sanctuary , and in this quarry , was

commented upon . An inclined plane leads apparently from the quarry to the temple area , and it vvas doubtless up this inclined plane , by means of rollers and wedges , that the prepared mateiial vvas conveyed to the site of the Temple . Heavy falls of rock , some of recent date , and foul air have deterred explorers from venturing into the inner depths of the Quarries of the King .

South Africa.

The Cedars of Lebanon . —The tombs of Hiram , King of Tyre , and other points of interest were dilated upon by the lecturer , who finally closed with an exhortation to his hearers to seek to emulate their ancient brethren by giving to the work of their daily life that loving care and attention and earnest striving atter perfection which is apparent in all works of ancient Masons . The lecture vvas illustrated throughout by carefully

prepared diagrams . At the conclusion of the lecture , which occupied over one hour and a half in delivery , and vvhich vvas followed with eager and intelligent interest by the brethren present , a hearty vote of thanks vvas accorded to the reverend lecturer , on the motion of Bro . Coltam , P . M . and Treasurer of the Addington Lodge , seconded by Bro . Crowe , I . P . M .

73 S , both of whom spoke feelingly of the service rendered that night to Freemasonry in Natal , and expressed the hope that the lecture would be the forerunner of many others of a similarly instructive character . The Lecturer , in responding , promised that he vvould repeat the lecture both in Durban and Pietmaritzburg , and also give another one to M . M . 's only , which

announcements received the cordial approbation of all the brethren present . The lodge closed at a late hour , the unanimous verdict being that a more thoroughly instructive and enjoyable evening had never been spent by Masons in Natal . On the following night the brethren of the above lodge , taking an example from the recent accounts of similar

meetings reported in the Freemason , held a " ladies ' evening , " at vvhich none but Masons , Masons' sons , and their lady friends were admitted . The idea being a new one in this part of the world , it vvas eagerly looked forward to , not only by the ladies , but also by the brethren , to whom the proposal vvas decidedly novel . The evening commenced with a banquet , at vvhich about

120 of the brethren and their guests sat down and did full justice to the excellent menu , catered for in his usual style by Bro . J . E . Browne , after which the W . M . proposed the following toasts : — "The Queen and the Craft , " " H . R . H . the Piince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the Grand Officers of the United Kingdom , " and " The District Grand Masters of Natal and District Grand Officers , Present and Past . "

Bros . J . Oxley Oxland , D . G . Chap ., and Hulston , Dist . G . M . S . E . Africa ( S . C . ) responded . " Our Guests—the Ladies , " most eloquently proposed by Bro . Coltam , was responded to by Bro . H . W . Hampton . " Our Sons , " proposed by Bro . J . Oxley Oxland , vvas responded to by Mr . H . C . Coltam , son of the highly

respected P . M . of the Addington Lodge , who in times of difficulty has rendered much valuable service to the Iodge . "The Sister Lodges and Visitors" vvas proposed by Bro . Kinsman , I . P . M ., and responded to by Bro . Emanuel ( Manda ) .

"The W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Addington Lodge " was proposed by Bro . Crowe , and responded to by Bro . T . N . Price . "Absent Brethren " vvas proposed by Bro . J . Fletcher , J . W . This portion of the evening concluding with the Tyler ' s toast .

We must not omit to say that the toasts were interspersed vvith songs and recitations by the following : Bros . Carter , J . Warre Smith , Hawes , Hampton , Behr , Robinson , Henochsburg , Brittain , Kinsmann , Wright , and Fletcher . At about 11 p . m . the room was cleared , and a few hours were pleasently spent in the " mystic whirl , " and as the D . G . M , 's had graciously granted dispensations for that purpose

the brethren appeared in the varied regalia of the Craft and Allied Degrees . Those vvho belonged to the higher Degrees appearing in the respective regalia belonging to each of those Degrees . For example -. Bro . Oxland , at different periods of the evening appeared in the following : 1 , "P . M . W . Sovereign University Chapter of Rose Croix "; 2 , " Preceptor of the Order of the Temple "; 3 , "Prior of Malta "; 4 , "Prelate of the Order of the Temple ,

Province of South Atnca" ; 5 , "S . P . of the Royal Secret , 32 , of Portugal and England . " The morning was far advanced when the company finally separated , the prevailing feeling being best expressed by words of the well-known song"Happy to meet , Sorry to part , Happy to meet again . "

The Queen's Jubilee In Queensland.

THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE IN QUEENSLAND .

The following is a speech delivered at a meeting of Masons , at Rockhampton , Queensland , on Monday , June 20 th , in connection vvith the raising of a memorial of her Majesty ' s Jubilee , by Bro . Ballard , a relativeof a respected resident of Alcester : —

At this time loyal subjects of her Majesty the Queen , in every corner of the globe , in every part of her vast dominions , are devising schemes to commemorate her Jubilee ; and to many societies , no doubt , it has been a difficult and puzzling task to decide upon a fitting and permanent memorial . The Freemasons of Rockhampton , however , thanks to the glorious harmony vvhich exists among them , and for

other reasons to which I shall refer , have , without difficulty , arrived at an unanimous conclusion . The Oueen and the Craft are intimately and inseparably connected . She belongs to a family of Masons . Her illustrious father , the Duke of Kent , had been two and thirty years a Mason when the Princess Victoria vvas born , and was a Past Grand Master of the Order . The Grand Master of the English

Freemasons in the twenty-fifth year of his high othce , H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , vvas one of the first to receive the Royal infant in his arms , as the official witness of her nativity—and under the same roof they lived together until the very day of her coronation , her youthful mind expanding under his wise and watchful eye . Her Royal uncle King William IV ., the Sailor King of England , to whose throne she succeeded , had been a his

Mason 50 years when ( 50 years ago to-day ) he received summons from On High to appear before the Supreme Grand Lodge . The present most revered Grand Master ot the English Constitution is her son , and all her other sons are Masons of good report and high repute . The Eng lish Masonic Charities are contemporary with these illustrious and Royal personages . A little more than 100 years ago was established , on the proposition of the Duke 01