Supreme Grand Council.

ing , to engage rooms ( not always very suitable ) , but for the future , we shall meet in our own home , free and independent , with all the conveniences of gooel office' -accommodation , anel a Masonic library of no ordinary excellence , to which all members of our Order are at all times

most heartily welcome . The work of this da }' may be considered as the completion of that commenced on the 8 th May , 1868 , on which occasion a general Chapter Rose > J » was bold for the first time . Our Most Illustrious Brother , Dr . Beaumont Leeson , P . M . P . S . G . O ., then detailed to you the

history of the A . and A . Rite in this country , from its commencement , and we all acknowledge the great zeal and ability with which he had managed its concerns , and that it was owing to the fostering care with which he had nurtured it through its infancy , that it had been enabled to survive all the perils of childhood , and arrive at its then rlourishinp- condition .

The Supreme Council have thought that this is a most appropriate occasion on which to offer to their Illustrious brother , a testimony of their high appreciation of his long services , by presenting lu ' m with an address engrossed on vellum .

At the meeting m iSfiS . the Council were able to inform the brethren that thev had , through careful nursing of the funds , a sum of money in hand , which it . was resolved should be invested in the Funds , and it was further resolved , that in order to provide an income , the annual subscriptions of the several degrees should be increased .

In order to meet the growing requirements of the Order , it xxas agreed , that suitable accommodation for office , library , and a general room for meeting of the members , he obtained in London , and that an Assistant Secretary , with adequate salary , should be appointed . Acting upon the above resolutions , the Council found suitable

rooms at 33 , Golden Square , and , in the first instance , merely took the first floor , which they furnished , and commenced accumulating books for the formation of a Masonic library . 111 . Bro . Hyde Pullen , 33 " , was appointed Assistant Secretary .

This small beginning , however , soon led lo such an extension of the Order , thai if became necessary to take the second floor , and , eventuall y the whole of the house , which is now held b y the Council on a long lease . Last ye'ar it was

considered desirable to convert a yard , at the back of the house , into a Hall , in which to perform our various ceremonies , and , in order to obtain as much space as possible , a house , . \ o . 2 , Upper John Street , was purchased on a least : ol 712 years .

A Building Committee was appointed to suwrintend the work of erecting and furnishing the Hall , and we' are this day witnesses how well they haxc discharged their duly . To meet this

expenditure , as well as thai ol the erection of the Hall , you last year approved ol' the Council selling out of the Funds thenioncv invested in 1 S 68 , as well as a further sum , which had been inve'sted subsequently .

As many membe'rs prefer to compound in place of paying an annual subscription , their compositions will be invested , and form part of the capital of the Order , in place of being considered an annual income .

In order to ensure legal eemtrol over the funds of the Order , the Supreme Council were last year formed into a corporate society , under the Board of Trade Acts of 1 S 72 and 1867 , The articles of agreement are known to most of you , it is not , therefore , necessary to refer further to them , and

we trust that the above financial statement will be found satisfactory to the members of the A . and A . Rite . The increase of the Order at home has been most satisfactory . In the year iSfiS there were twenty-seven chapters , and about 1 , 250 members of all degrees , under our banners . At

the present time there are forty-nine chapters , and 2 , 136 members . < > l * these , " thirty-two chapters are at home , and scvenleen in the colonies and dependencies . In the Dominion of Canada we have established a Consistory of the 32 ° , with

seven members of the . 33 ' as Deputy Grand Inspectors . In British India we hate five of the 33 , and a Council of K . H . 30 ' . All are in a flourishing condition . It afforded great pleasure to the Supreme

Supreme Grand Council.

Council to inaugurate the Hnyshe Rose » J 4 Chapter at Plymouth , in the month of February last . The fact of the chapter being named after so illustrious a Mason , one , who though not belonging to our Order , yet . has always evinced a friendly feeling towards it , and also that many

of its members had taken the Rose Croix degree under a Knight Templar Warrant ; but have nowjoined the A . and A . Rite , was an evidence of that love of harmony and good feeling which should always distinguish Masons , to whatever system they may belong . We may add , that

the Rougemont Chapter at Exeter , has also joined us in a similar manner , and is in a most prosperous condition , and we have no doubt that others will follow their good example . During the last few years the Supreme

Council have frequently visited the Rose Croix Chapters under their jurisdiction , and have in all cases been highly satisfied with the manner in which the chapters have been conducted , and with the cordial welcome thev received . They have also

held two Councils ol G . K . K . K . H . 30 " , one m Manchester , the either in Liverpool . Both were well attended , and the Council believe that , this plan of holding occasional meetings of the : 30 ° at other nlaces than in London is satisfactory to

the members ol the Order . A treaty of union has been entered into bet ween this Council , the G . M . of the Templars , and the G . M . of Mark Masters . With its terms you are all well acquainted , and we entertain no doubt but that it will be found to work well and preserve union amongst the different orders of

Masonry . Since our last meeting we have to deplore the deaths of two of our most eminent brethren , Bro . Col . Bowyer , and his brother the Rev . W . Bowyer . The former , asthe . M . P . S . G . C , presided at our general meeting in May 1868 . And all who had the p leasure of his acquaintance can testify to his urbanity of manner , as well as zeal for Freemasonry .

The Rev . W . Bowyer , was Chaplain to our Council , and also P . G . Chap , of the Grand Lodge of England , and was deeply interested in all that concerned the welfare of the order . By the death of both of these brethren the order has

lost 1 wo great supporters , and we all mourn the loss of txx ' o dear friends and brothers . The happy recovery of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales from his dangerous illness has given die Supreme Council an opportunity , in common with all other bodies

of Freemasons , of testifying their loyalily and a'dei'lion lo the Queen and Royal Family . Congratulatory addresses have tlierefore'been prepared in the name of the whole order , as well as in that of the Supreme Council , one to Her Majesty the Queen , the other to their Royal 1 litihnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales .

We tire happy lo be able to inform the meeting thai we are on most friendl y terms with all the recognised Supreme Councils in the world , and are in constant communication with them , and have recently bail the pleasure of establishing a Supreme Council , 33 ' , in Chile , under III . Bro . Bcnexentc . who too ); all the d .-irrces of the

A . and A . Rite under us . The Supreme Council of Chile has been recognised by all our sister councils . Last year we had the pleasure of receiving as visitors Illustrious Brothers Goodall , Sickle , Chase , anil Thompson , members ' of the 33

of the Northern jurisdiction , U . S ., and E . H . Shaw , 33 ° of the Southern jurisdiction , U . S . 111 . Bro . Goodall has on several previous occasions visited us , anel as our representaaive at the Supreme Council , N . J ., has frequently afforded us most useful information .

lucre being . Supreme Councils of the 33 ' in Scotland and ire-land , as well as England , it became necessary , to prevent any confusion arising in the Colonies from degrees of the A . and A . Rite being administered under different jurisdictions , to come to some agreement with our sister councils on the subject . We therefore

proposed thai whenexer one of the three Councils had established the A . and A . Kite in any one of the colonies or dependencies of the British Crown , that Council should have exclusive jurisdiction in thai colony or dependency so long as the Chapters or Councils established b y it continued in active existence . The Supreme Council ol" Ireland at , once acceded to this proposal ; that

Supreme Grand Council.

of Scotland has asked for further information , and we regret to say has established a Rose > J < Chapter and Council of , 30 ° , K . H . in St . John ' s , New Brunswick where we already had a Rose Croix Chapter in full work . We trust that the Supreme Council of Scotland will see the

propriety ot our proposal , and desist from establishing chapters of its own where there are already chapters under the banner of this Council . Such , Illustrious Brethren , is a brief statement of the progress of our Order since our meeting in 1868 , as well of its present condition , by which you will see that the A . & A . Rite , in this

country is on a firm and satisfactory footing , and we . feci that we cannot conclude without expressing that in which you will all most heartily concur , namely , the great debt of gratitude we owe to our Illustrious Brother , Capt . N . G . Philips ,

the Lieutenant Grand Commander of the Order , to whose untiring exertions our prosperity is mainly due . We have also to thank the whole of the brethren for the unvarying support we have at

all times received from them , and to assure them that no exertions shall be spared on our part to merit a continuance of their confidence , as well as to ensure the welfare and prosperity of the A . & A . Rite .

The address was listened to with great interest by Jthe brethren , and the General was warmly applauded as he took his scat .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

PRACTICAL FREEMASONRY . ( To the Editor of the Freenmson . J DEAR SIR AMI BROTHER , — As a Mason , truly loving our Ancient Older , allow me to point out the great fault of Metropolitan ( and indeed English ) Masonry generally . I mean the utter want of active sympath y for brethren , who though not actually in starvation , are in a fair wav to that condition from want of

employment . It is true that ihere are several noble Benevolent Institutions connected with the Order , but they do not in any way meet the pressing necessity for some organisation lo assist brethren ,

not pecuniarly ( which always has the effect of lowering the recipient ' s self-respect ) but by a little exertion on the part of the members of the Craft towards procuring suitable employment for worthy brethren .

How often have J met with brethren , who , like myself , have to complain bitterly t > f the coldness of men , who seem altogether to forget that true Masonry demands much more than merely subscribing to a lodge or chapter , or even acting as an official at a charity dinner .

Hoping that some prominent brethren may devise a plan to remove this shameful slur , and prevent brethren in difficulty from being exposed to the taunts of those outside the Oreier , J am , yours fraternally , An ' Unemployed P . M ., M . M ., R . A .

LODGE OF PERSEVERANCE ( No . 164 ) , SIDMOUTH . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) Sidmout . h , Devon , May 8 th , 18 72 . DEAR SIR AXD BROTHER , — 1 must apologise for trespassing on your valuable space , but having seen by your issue of J une nth , 1870 , that honourable mention is

made of two very handsome and valuable presents , in the form of W . M . ' s and S . W . ' s chairs to Lodge Perseverence , No . 164 , Sidmouth , I thought it might interest your readers to learn that a similar present , in the shape of a very handsomely carved oak J . W . ' s chair , to match the

others , has just been made to the same lodge by the W . M ., Capt . J . W . Key worth , a zealous and generous hearted Mason , and an officer of the P . G . E . of K . T . A short time since a magnificent parian bust of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was also presented to this lodge through Bro . B . J . 0

Hodge , P . M ., P . Prov . G . S . D ., 30 , by a friend to Masonry . 1 need scarcely add that the brethren . ire justly proud of their recent acquisitions . 1 am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours obediently and fraternally , S . W