Freemasonry In 1899.

his Prov . Grand Chapter , to impress upon Companions the desirability of working more and more strenuously to promote the interests and extend the popularity of this branch of pure and ancient Masonry . Moreover , we rejoice to say . there is in 18 99 no further decrease in the number of new Chapters for which

warrants have been granted , but rather a substantial increase which brings us more nearly to a level with the year 1894 , when 22 warrants were granted , six being for London , nine for the Provinces , and seven for the Colonies ancl Abroad . In 18 95 , two new London Chapters , 11 Provincial , and four Colonial ,

were warranted , making the total for the yearly ; in 18 9 6 . the number was 16 , comprising six London , eight Provincial , and two Colonial , while in 18 97 , there was a further reduction to 15 , seven of them being for the London District , seven for the Provinces , and one for Abroad . In itgS , only 12 were warranted ,

of which five were for the Provinces and seven for Abroad , but this year there has been a revival . As many as 18 warrants have been granted , four of them being for Chapters in London , eight for the Provinces , and six for our Colonies and Foreign parts . On the other hand , there are 16 Chapters that have been struck

from the roll of Supreme Grand Chapter , of which three were located in the Provinces—Cheshire , Cornwall , and West Yorkshire—and the other 13 in Districts , or at Stations Abroad . Thus , the net increase for the year is only two Chapters ; but , as according to the report of the Committee for General

Purposes , no returns had been received from the now erased Chapters " for many years , " their disappearance from the roll will entail no loss , while we all have fair reasons for hoping that , at ail events , the majority oi the iS Jicwly-warranted Chapters will be a distinct gain to Royal Arch Masonry .

The new London Chapters are the Strong Man Chapter , No . 45 , attached to the very old lodge bearing the same name and number , for which , as it has started on its career , under Comp . W . Briggs , as M . E . Z ., who has rendered such signal service to the lodge , there are fair grounds for expecting a

successful future ; the Excelsior Chapter , No . 1155 ; the Cator Chapter , No . 2266 , which was consecrated as recently as the 3 rd November , by Comp . F . Richardson ; and the Mizpah Chapter , No . 1 ( 371 . Of the new Provincial Chapters , two are located in Devonshire , namely , the Jordan Chapter , No . 1402 ,

which was started with a list of 17 founders , Comp . John Lane , Past A . G . D . C , the author of "Masonic Records , 1717-1894 , " being the first M . E . Z ., and the Sir Francis Drake Chapter , No . 2649 , Plymouth . Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been strengthened by the addition of the Beach Chapter ,

No . 2475 , Blaekwater , so named after Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Grand J ., and the G . Supeintendent of the Province , and attached to the Border Lodge ; and North Wales by that of the Conovium Chapter , No . 256 9 , Colwyn Bay , which was consecrated by Comp . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P .,

G . Superintendent of Cheshire . The Triangle Chapter , No . 184 , has been added to the roll of the Prov . Granel Chapter of Kent , and the Rees Lewis Chapter , No . no , attached to the Loyal Cambrian Lodge , Merthyr-Tydfil , and so named after the Companion , who , presides over it as the first

M . E . Z ., to that of the Prov . Grand Chapter of South Wales ( E . D ) , while the Armitage Chapter , No . 2261 , Milnsbridge , in the Province of West Yorkshire , will no doubt form a worth y addition to its Grand Chapter . Of the Chapters Abroad , the

Germiston , No . 249 8 , meeting in the town of the same name , and the Royal George , No . 2643 ,. Krugersdorp , have been added to the roll of the Dist . G . Chapter of the Transvaal , ancl the Metropolitan Chapter , No . 253 8 , Capetown , to that of South Africa ( W . D . ) .

Freemasonry In 1899.

The District of Queensland has been strengthened by the addition of the Toowong Chapter , No . 2308 , and that of Bengal by Prudence Chapter , No . 1490 , Assensole , while in the District oi Bombay , a new Chapter has been inaugurated under the style and title of the St . George , No . 549 , with Comps . His Excellency ,

Lord Sandhurst , as M . E . Z ., the Hon . Mr . Justice Parsons , Pro G . Superintendent of the District , as H ., and I . M . Shields , Dist . G . H ., as J . With such a trio of distinguished Companions to preside over it during the first year of its existence , there

can , we think , be little doubt as to its future fortunes , the First and Third Principals being the Pro Dist . G . M ., and Dep . Dist . G . M . of Bombay respectively , while the Second Principal is the Acting Chief of the Royal Arch .

The proceedings of Supreme Grand Chapter have not been of a very eventful character . At the February Convocation , Comp . W . Sergeant Lee , P . Z ., brought forward a motion , more particularly with the view of according to Past First Principals , , a privilege as regards wearing a distinctive collar similar to

that which a few years since was accorded to Past Masters by United Grand Lodge , but on the suggestion of Comp . F . Richardson , who quite sympathised with the proposal , the matter was . postponed so that the Committee might deal with the whole question of collars once and for all . Accordingly in May , Comp .

Richardson proposed certain amendments in Regulations Nos . 94 , 95 , and 96 , providing that actual G . Officers , and G . Superintendents should henceforth wear their jewels of office suspended from chains of gold or metal gilt ; Past G . Officers from purple crimson , ancl pale blue collars four inches wide , and Present

and Past Prov . and Dist G . Officers , other than G . Superintendent , from purple , crimson and pale blue collars , two inches wide ; while Past First Principals should have the privilege of wearing the jewel suspended from a crimson collar four inches wide , with gold braid a quarter of an inch wide down the centre

on all occasions , when Royal Arch Clothing may be worn . These amendments were adopted . In November it was agreed to vote £ 2000 from the funds of Grand Chapter , towards the

cost of erecting the new premises at Freemasons' Hall , while on the motion of Comp . Sir J . B . Monckton , Past G . Scribe N ., a grant of £ 105 was voted amid loud cheers to the Transvaal Refugees' Fund .

It is perhaps the misfortune , not the fault , of Grand Chapter , that it has so little business to transact at its Quarterl y Meetings , but there are not a few who think that , if occasionally it went out of its way to impress upon the Craft the importance of the Royal Arch , our private chapters would be stronger and their

proceedings attract a greater measure of interest . At all events , there are Grand Superintendents who appear to consider it as part of their duty to call attention to the claims of the Chapter upon Craft Masons . Prominent among these is Comp . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., G . Superintendent of West Yorkshire , who at

the Annual Convocation of his Prov . Grand Chapter , at Dewsbury , on the 15 th May , spoke earnestly in favour of the desirability of placing the Royal Arch on a better footing . " We should like , " said he , " to see a little extension of the Royal Arch . It is almost a necessary complement to the Craft , and '

certainly no one who omits to become a member of the Royal Arch has the complete satisfaction of feeling that he has fully cpalilied himself for his province . " And he added later , " both from the point of view of the interesting ceremonial , and the

interesting work in connection with the chapter—certainly it is not the least interesting of the Degrees of the Order—it is to be regretted that it is not more taken advantage of than it is . " It must be remembered that these are the remarks of the ruler of

Ad00702

ROYALFEMALEORPHANASYLUM, BEDDIKTGTOJXT , JXTEA . ^ OROYiDOlSr , SURREY . flifltl'Olt-HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . pVCStbeilt—H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE , K . G . Established at Lambeth 1758 . Incorporated 1800 . Removed to Beddington 1866 . fJVHTS old and valuable Charit y Maintains and Educates 150 poor Fatherless Girls , Avho are received from all parts of Great Britain . They are admitted between tlie ages of 7 and 10 , and are placed out at the age of IG in respectable Private Families . Life Subscription ( 2 Votes ) ... £ 10 ios . od . Annual Subscription ( 2 Votes ) ... £ 1 is . od . Ditto ( 1 Vote ) ... £ 5 5 s . od . Ditto ( 1 Vote ) ... £ 0 ios . 6 d . The Committee mast urgently appeal for fuiuls to maintain this large family of 150 Girls , and especially for Additional Annual Subscriptions as being a more reliable source of Income for tlie Permanent Administration of the Institution . Cheques Crossed " Hoare & Co ., Bankers . " JOHN B . MONCKTON , Chairman of the Committee 32 , ESSEX STREET , STRAND , W . C . BKOUGH MALTBY , Secretary .