Provincial Grand Chapter Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF OXFORDSHIRE

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Tuesday last . The Apollo University Lodge had kindly granted the use of their beautiful lod ge room for the ceremony , and the Provincial Grand Chapter was opened by Comp . the Rev . H . Adair Pickard , M . A ., Grand Superintendent , assisted by Comps . the Rig ht Hon . Viscount Valentia , Prov . G . H ., and Aid . James Jenkins , Prov . G . J . Comps . Weyland and Freeman were prevented by illness from being invested with the collars given them last year , when they were unavoidabl y absent .

The roll of the chapter in the province was then called and all were represented . The roll of officers was then called . The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Chapter were then read and confirmed . Comp . the Right Hon . Viscount VALENTIA , Prov . G . H ., gave a very satisfactory report on the state of the chapters in the province .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then proposed a vote of ^ 5 5 s ., which was seconded by Comp . the Right Hon . Viscount VALENTIA , Prov . G . H ., and carried .

The PROV . GRAND TREASURER then gave his report , which was very satisfactory , and it was proposed by the GRAND SUPERINTENDENT , seconded by the PROV . GRAND SCRIBE N ., and carried , that the rest of the jewels for the subordinate officers should be purchased . The steel die furnished by Comp . George Kenning was much approved of . The Prov . Grand Treasurer was re-elected . AH offices were then declared vacant .

The following officers were invested — Comp . the Rev . R . W . M . Pope , D . D ., P . G . P . S . Eng ., having been duly obligated : Comp . Viscount Valentia , P . G . S . N . Eng . ... Prov . G . H . „ Rev . R . W . M . Pope , D . D ., P . G . P . S . Eng . Prov . G . J . „ W . Lewis Morgan , P . Z . 357 ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ J . M . Dormor , P . Z . 340 ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ H . ( J . W . Dnnkwater , P . Z . 340 ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . E . Wood , M . E . Z . elect 599 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ F . Bacon , J . elect 340 ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ Rev . W . M . Hope , M . A ., P . S . 357 ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ E . H . Cartwright , B . A ., Org . 357 ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S .

„ E . Rice , D . M ., 357 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ H . Bartlett , 2 nd A . S . 599 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ W . T . Warner , D . C . 599 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ G . C . S y kes , Org . 599 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . „ G . R . Norwood , Janitor 357 ... ... Prov . G . Janitor .

The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT then briefly addressed the chaphr , expressing his regret that illness prevented some of the officers of the past year from being present in their places . He was quite sure that all the companions present would be sorry to hear that the General Purposes Committee of Grand Chapter had refused to accede to the request of the Marlborough Chapter that they might be allowed to hold their meetings on

certain occasions at Witney , but they rejoiced greatly to learn that Reg . 73 was to be altered , so that a M . M ., after four weeks , could be exalted to the Sublime Degree of R . A . Masonry , so that 73 and 74 now agree . After a few remarks about Comp . Fcnn ' s words in Grand Chapter , Prov . Grand Chapter was closed . The companions then dined at the Clarendon Hotel , and spent a very happy evening under the genial presidency of the Grand Superintendent .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WARWICKSHIRE .

A meeting of the above Provincial Grand Chapter was held under the banner of the Trinity Chapter , No . 254 , at the Queen ' s Hotel , Coventry , on Thursday , the 9 th inst ., when then there were present—Comps . the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , G . Supt . ; J . T . Collins , Prov . G . H . ; A . E . Friedlander , P . Z . 254 , P . P . G . H . ; F . G . Swinden , P . Z . 587 , Prov . G . S . E . ; J . H . Hawkes , Prov . G . S . N . ; W . F . Tolladay , Prov . G . Reg . ; W . G . Hills ,

Prov . G . P . S . ; W . M . Boddington , J . Wright Wilson , H . 43 j D . Archer , Z . 74 ; R . B . Morgan , P . Z . 74 ; S . Gordon , H . 74 ; W . W . Curtis , P . Z . 254 ; W . R . Goate , P . Z . 254 ; Dr . Lynes , Z . 254 ; M . J . DaVies , P . Z . 254 ; John Astley , P . Z . 254 ; Rev . Canon Beaumont , P . Z . 254 ; Dr . Davidson , J . 254 ; W . F . Wyley , G . J . C . Graham , 254 ; W . H . Skinner , P . Z . 3 ^ 0 ; T . S . Harvey , S . E . ;

G . M . Fayerman , P . Z . ; J . T . White , 395 ; A . G . Chamberlain , P . Z . 502 ; A . J . Lawrence , P . Z . 502 ; Thos . Duke . Z . 502 ; W . G . Atkinson , 502 ; Jas . Rooker , P . Z . 587 ; W . H . Wood , P . Z . 587 ; J . W . Matthews , P . Z . 5 87 ; Jas . Cooper , P . Z . 587 ; J . W . Martin , P . Z . 587 ; F . W . Bell , Z . 938 ; W . Bayley Marshall , P . Z . 938 ; W . A . Bindley , 93 8 ; H . W . Sambidge , 938 ; J . W . B . Brown , Z . 1031 ; E . Mallard , P . Z . 1031 ; G . N . Millward , 1031 ; A . Dalley , Janitor ; and others .

The Provincial Grand Chapter was opened , and the circular and minutes read and confirmed . The roll of Provincial Grand Officers and Chapters were called . The PROV . G . S . E . read his report of the state of the various chapters in the province , which showed a net increase of 24 companions in the year . After other remarks , he asked the Treasurers of each chapter to diligently

look up the subscriptions to try and prevent arrears . It is the duty of members to pay their subscriptions early in the financial year , and it is the only way in which we can prevent lack of interest , and then leaving or being excluded from the chapter . He continued : Let me remind the Principals that one of the first duties when appointed to office should be to make themselves thoroughly conversant with the rules and regulations of Royal Arch

Masonry , the by-laws of Provincial Grand Chapter , and also the by-laws of their own chapter and the duties and responsibilities of the office they fill . One of the first duties on the installation night after the investment of the officers , should be the filling up and returning to Grand Chapter and also to Provincial Grand Chapter the list of officers , as this requires the signatures

° f the M . E . Z . and also the Scribe E . Unless the Principals of the chapters take a personal interest in these things it is impossible to keep the work up to its proper standard . Every chapter is anxious to get candidates and work to do , but p lease remember that admitting an unsuitable brother , although a temporary gain in numbers , is really a great source of weakness , and always brings discredit not only on that

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Warwickshire.

chapter but on Royal Arch Masonry throughout the Kingdom . All the chapters have revised the by-laws where necessary to accord with those of Provincial Grand Chapter . I find that the companions at present in the Trinity Chapter , No . 254 , Coventry , are nearly all members of St . Michael ' s Lodge , and that their new members are likely to come from the

same lodge , therefore they have decided to petition Grand Chapter to alter their name to St . Michael ' s Chapter , in order that the members of the Trinity Lodge may come forward and establish a chapter of thoir own . The Shakespeare Chapter , No . 284 , will probably be removed to the Temperance Lodge , Birmingham .

The Provincial Grand Treasurer ' s report was presented , and showed a balance in hand that was quite satisfactory . Comp . W . G . Hills , P . Z . 938 , was then elected Prov . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The Prov . G . Janitor was re-appointed . The Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested his officers as follows : Comp . T . T . Collins , Past A . G . D . C . ( re-appointed ) Prov . G . H . „ j . Stevens , P . Z . 587 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ F . G . Swinden , P . Z . 587 ( re-apoointed ) ... Prov . G . S . E . „ I . Cooper , P . Z . 587 ... ' ... ... Prov . G . S . N .

„ W . G . Hills , P . Z . 938 ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . M . Boddington , P . Z . 1031 ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ D . Archer , P . Z . 74 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ W . H . Wood , P . Z . 587 ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ R . B . Morgan , P . Z . 74 ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S .

„ E . Lynes , P . Z . 254 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . H . Skinner , P . Z . 395 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ J . Rooker , P . Z . 587 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ A . J . Lawrence , P . Z . 502 ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ F . H . Bell , P . Z . 938 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org .

„ W . R . Goate , P . Z . 254 ... ... Prov . A . G . S . E . ,, A . Dalley , ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . Letters of apology were received from Comps . G . Beech , C . F . Rowe , and many others . Prov . Grand Chapter was then closed . The members afterwards partook of an excellent banquet , at which the usual toasts were given , interspersed with songs and recitations , a most enjoyable evening being spent .

Constitutional Lodge, Beverley.

CONSTITUTIONAL LODGE , BEVERLEY .

A special feature of the present decade will be Lodge Histories . Every year new ones are being published , and at the present time there are several in preparation , some giving promise of surpassing all previous efforts . So long , however , as the main facts are reproduced , and thus made the common property of the Craft—I care not so much for mere style—for we want , above all things , authentic and carefully prepared accounts of our

old Lodges . Not that I deprecate sumptuous copies of such works , but , rather than the cost should prove a bar to their issue , it would be far belter to have Histories printed in the simplest form , and at the least possible expense . Bro . Thomson Foley , P . M ., fcc , has just sent me " The Records of the Constitutional Lodge , No . 294 , Beverley" ( his Masonic Alma Mater ) , to

add to my complete collection of Histories of Lodges in England and Scotland , and I am very glad to have the copy thus thoughtfully forwarded to me for acceptance . At the celebration of the centenary of this Lodge , 14 th September last , Bro . John Kemp , P . M ., read a sketch of its history , and the brethren

agreed to have the paper printed , the book now before me being the result of the labours of a Committee , no doubt based upon Bro . Kemp ' s interesting brochure . It is nicely printed , but in an inexpensive form , which mi ght well be adopted as a model by brethren who think of writing particulars of their own Lodges , dating from last century , but are deterred b y fears as to the necessary cost .

The copy of the warrant of No . 294 shows that it was issued by authority of the Prov . Grand Master of Yorkshire , Bro . S . Milnes , and was then numbered 525 . Meetings were held by dispensation from the ist March , 1793 , but the consecration did not take place until the 17 th June . The charter bearsdate 6 th March , 1793 . Dr . Spencer , Past D . Prov . G . M ., was the consecrating officer , about whom those who have my " History of the Apollo Lodge , York , " will need no information .

Many of the minutes are both curious and interesting . The frequent use of the word " universal , " evidently as synonymous with unanimous , is singular , e . g ., June 18 , 179 6 , " Captain Richard Harrison was this evening balloted for universal , and received the three degrees . " The early members were very devoted to their duties , and were not averse to being seen in public wearing their Masonic clothing , whenever any special occasion

occurred for a Craft procession . July 3 rd , 1810 , a letter was read from the Grand Secretary ( Bro . William White ) respecting the proposition of a Quaker for Initiation . The communication was to the effect that " There can be no objection to a Quaker beingreceived into the Society under his solemn affirmation . " I should like to know if the Friend was initiated , having been

present once at a reception of another member of that respected bod y , of whom we cannot well have too many . The details arc all arranged in chronological order , but are not "woven " together as with the ordinary Histories . Many of these are well worthy of publication , and their perusal and study have much pleased mc .

A silver loving cup was presented by the " Liberty Lodge , " Beverly , Massachusetts , U . S . A ., to this lodge , as a souvenir of their good wishes for the centenary celebration . It seems that some two years ago the lodge " across the big pond " had written for a stone "from the ruins of Beverley Minster" to use as a " rough ashlar . " Their request was complied with ( though the Minster , happily , is not in ruins ) , and this led to a correspondence which has culminated in such an appropriate gift . Bro . H . Adams ,

P . M ., kc , was the medium of the presentation being made to the lodge . Bro . Thomson Foley handed the centenary jewel warrant to No . 294 as a g ift from himself . The W . M . for lliis auspicious year is the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of l . ondesborough , P . M ., P . S . G . W . of England , who was installed on the day of the celebration . 1 wish every old lodge had printed such a faithful history of its proceedings . W . J . HUGHAN .