Royal Arch.

HALIFAX . —Regularity Chapter ( No . 44 S ) . — The annual installation meeting of this chapter was held on Monday , thc 31 st ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , when Comp . C . T . ' Rhodes was installed as Fust Principal ; Comp . Councillor Richard Worsick as Second ; Comp . Holdsworth as Third , for thc ensuing year . The other officers invested by thc First Principal were Comps . VV . Cooke ,

P . Z ., & c , as S . E . ; VV . Sivale , N . ; Spencer , P . S . ; J . G . Lee , 1 st A . S . ; Sutclilfe . 2 nd A . S . ; G . Normantnn , P . Z ., & c , as Treas . ; J . Haigh , M . C ; Thomas Whittaker , Org . ; R . Jessop , P . Z ., and A . Roberts , P . Z ., Stewards ; John Greenwood , P . / .., Janitor . There was a numerous gathering of the companions from the various chapters in the district , amongst those present being Comps . John

Fisher , J . P ., P . Pi ' G . Treas ., & c . ; Tnomas Perkinton , P . Z ., & c ; John Marshall , P . Z . ; VV . Gaukroger , M . E . Z ., and P . Dickinson , Gi ,- E . Comps . J . C . Monckman , Atherton Riley , Crabtree , and Crowther , Goo , Bradford ; II . Beaumont , and others . After business the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed and responded to , and altogether tbe meeting was considered the most successful one ever held in connection with the chapter .

HAMPTON . —Lebanon Chapter ( No . 1326 ) . — The regular convocation of this chapter was held on Thursday , the 10 th inst ., at the Red Lion Hotel , Hampton . There were present Comps . VV . Hammond , P . Z ., as M . E . Z . ; J . Hammond , H . ; F . Walters , P . Z ., as J . ; E . Hopwood , P . Z . ; Moody , 1 st A . S . ; Errington ; and several others . The minutes of the last chapter were read , unanimously

confirmed , and signed by thc M . F .. Z . The bye-laws were read . 'The elections were unanimous in favour of Comps . J . Hammond , as M . E . Z . ; J . B . Shackleton , H . ; J . C Wooelrow , J . ; S . Wickcns , P . Z ., 'Treasurer ( re-elected ) ; VV . Hammond , P . Z ., S . E . ( re-elected ) ; Moody , S . N . ; Davey , P . S . ; anel Gilbert , Janitor ( re-elected ) . The

usual twelve guinea P . Z . s jewel was unanimously voted to Comp . Edwin Gilbert , M . E . Z . Comp . T . VV . ' Adams , M . E . Z . 1 G 23 , West Smithfield Chapter , was proposed as a joining member . Several candidates were proposed for exaltatiem . Business ended ' . the chapter was closed , and , thc ] usual banquet followed .

PAIGNTON . —Torbay Chapter ( No . 135 S ) . — Thc regular quarterly convocation of this chanter was held at the Masonic Rooms , Town Hall , on Tuesday , the gth inst . 'There were present Comps . J . T . Goodridgc , M . E . Z . ; Rev . R . Bowde-n , P . Z . 10 G , 32 S , 135 S , & c , thc I . P . Z ., as IL ; and J . Hurrell , Z . 32 S , as J . ( in thc absence of Ex . Comps . Piggott anel Greenfield , who were

prevented from attending ); VV . E . VV . Warren , P . Z ., who acted as S . E . fe > r Comp . Dr . Alexander , most ably performed thc duties of P . Soj . in the ceremony : West , S . N . ; VV . Taylor and C . Emmett , Asst . Sojs . ; F . Palk , J . T . Tozer , and others . Two of the three brethren balloted for at the last chapter meeting were in atte-nelance , viz ., Bros . VV . VV . Ellis , Sec

135 S , and Owens , Warden of 797 , anel they were duly exalted by Ex . Comp . Bowelen , acting for the M . E . Z . The three lectures wero respectively delivered by Ex . Comps . Warren , Goodridgc , and Bowden . Comp . J . Bradford , of Royal Alfred Chapter , Oxford , was favourably balloted for as a joining companion , and , after the usual enquiries , the chapter was closed in due and ancient form .

ALDERSHOT . —Aldershot Camp Chapter ( No . 1331 ) . —An emergency meeting of this chapter was held on the 14 th inst . Bro . Lieut . Kenison , R . A ., being a candidate for advancement , his name ; was submitted to the ballot , which proved unanimous ; he was then introduced , and duly

exalted to the Degree of a Royal Arch Mason , which ceremony was most ably performed by Comp . Fenn , M . E . Z . Bro . Chesterton was proposed for exaltation , subject to the ballot . Nothing further being offered for the advancement of R . A . Masonry , the chapter was closeel about S . ' . o .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

ERA LODGE ( No . 176 ) . —The regular meeting of this loelge was heltl at the Bridge House Hotel , South , wark , on Friday , | une nth . The bulge was opened b y Bro . Win . Hammond , P . I . G ., W . M . 'The minutes of the previous meeting were read , unanimously confirmed and signcel by the W . M . 'The new list of officers was arranged , and comprised the names of J . Hammond , S . W . ; J . B .

Shackleton , J . W . ; T . Morton , P . M ., 'Treasurer ; VV . Pennefather , Sec . ; T . VV . Adams . G . S ., P . G . l . G . Middx . and Surrey ; J . Allsops , R . P . Telib , II . Meyer , Edwin Boivley , anel others . The names of several candidates were given in for advancement . It was arranged to meet in future at 2 , Red Lion Square , Holborn . Business being completed , the loelge was closed . No banquet or refreshment followed .

HEREFORD . —St . Ethelbert Lodge ( No . 243 ) —The first anniversary meeting of this loelge was held on Monday , the 31 st ult ., at the Green Dragon Hotel , when the W . M . designate , Bro . W . Williams , was installed by the retiring W . M . Bro . J . C . Gregg , P . G . D ., & c , who performed the ceremony very impressively . The newly installed W . M . then invested his officers as follows : —Bros .

J . C Gregg . I . P . M . ; Theophilus Lane , S . VV . ; VV . M . D . Hill , J . W . ; W . R , „ ve , M . O . ; Orlando Shellard , S . O . ; T . Blinkhorn , J . O . ; 11 . Gurney , Tre .-. s . ; J . Pembridge , Sec ; J . Davies , Reg . of Marks ; G . Gregg , S . D . ; J . Marchant , J . D . ; VV . Groom , D . C . ; T . L . Lewis . Org . ; E . J . Baker , I . G . ; | . Barnes , Senior Stwd . ; E . George , Junior Stwel . ; E . James , 'T yler . 'The W . M . then

presented lire ) . J . C . Gregg with a handsome P . M . 's jewel , designed expressly for the- St . Ethelbert Mark Lodge anel bearing the followinginscription : — "Presented by the members of St . Ethelbert Lodge :, Ne > . 241 , to P . M . Brei . J . C Gregg , the first W . M . " The lodge being closed , ' the brethren retire-el to an excellent banquet , several distinguished visitors being present .

_ COCKERMOUTH . —Faithfull Lodge ( No . 299 ) . — 'The monthly meeting of this loelge was hold io the : Masonic Mall , on Weelnesd-V evening , the 9 th inst . There were present : Bros . R . ' Robinson , W . M ., P . G . Swd . Br . ; W . M . Lewthwaite , S . W ., P . G . Oig .: Capt . Sewcll ,

Mark Masonry.

J . W ., P . G . Reg . M . ; VV . F . Lamonby , P . M ., P . G . Sec . ; R . VV . Robinson , M . O . ; T . C . Robinson , S . O . ; H . Peacock , J . O . ; J . Black , Sec , Treas ., and Reg . M . ; VV . Shliton , S . D . " ; VV . Paisley , J . D . ; T . Mason , I . G . ; and J . Hewson , 'Tyler . The minutes having been read and confirmed , the P . G . Secretary took the chair , on the invitation of the W . M ., when the name of Bro . T . Bird , VV . M . Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 , was put to the ballot for advancement , and he

was unanimously accepted . The candidate was then admitted , and regularly advanced to the Honourable Degree , with the incidental music in full . 'The VV . M . in the chair mentioned that he had recently hael an interview with the R . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Col . Whitwell , M . P ., in London , and it was in every why likely that the Provincial Grand Lodge would assemble under the banner of the Faithfull Lodge in the first week of September . 'The lodge was closed with the usual address .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

LEICESTER . —Byzantine Con . clave ( No . 44 ) . —A regular assembly of this most flourishing conclave was held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , the gth inst ., for the purpose of enthroning the M . P . S . elect , Sir Knight Clement Edwin Stretton , and for the transaction of the general business of thc conclave . Amongst those present were M . ItLlSir Knight VV . Kelly , Chief Intcndent Gen . ;

111 . Sir Knight G . Toller , G . C . ; Sir Knights S . S . Partridge , K . G . C ; Clement Stretton , P . S . ; F . J . Baines , P . S . ; J . T . Thorp , P . S . ; T . Coltman , T . Worthington , VV . L . Ball , S . Knight , J . Hanger , H . Meadows , M . B . ; and T . R . Pickering . The conclave having been duly opened , a College of Viceroys , and subsequently a Senate of Sovereigns , were formed , in which latter the E . and P . Sir Knight C . E .

Stretton was in due form enthroned as M . P . S . for the ensuing year , after which , the other knight companions having been admitted , he at once proceeded to appoint and invest his officers , and subsequently toinstal Bro . J . D . Harris , of the Albert Edward Lodge , 15 G 0 , and Bro . F . Griffiths , of the St . John's Lodge , 279 , as knights of the Red Cross of Constantino , in which latter ceremony he was ably assisted

by Sir Knight Thorp and the 111 . Chief Int . General , Sir Knight VV . Kelly , the latter of whom delivered to the newly-installed Sir Knights , in a most impressive manner , the charge of thc Order— . 1 most beautiful address composed by the late esteemed Sir Knight the Rev . N . Haycroft , D . D ., and peculiar to this conclave . The Treasurer ' s account was then received , and adopted with the usual

vote of thanks . I he account again bears evidence of the continued prosperity of the conclave financially , and , under the able directions and influenced by the zeal and assuidity of the M . P . S ., it is certain that the high position of the conclave will , during the ensuing year , be maintained and advanced . The remaining business having been transacted , the Sir Knights retired to the refectory , where an excellent banquet was served .

France .

France .

PARIS . —The Alliance Lodge ( No . 70 , S . R . ) . — This lodge helel its usual monthly meeting on Tuesday , June 2 nd , at the Masonic Temple , Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau . The hour set down on the summons for the commencement of ordinary Masonic business was eight o ' clock , but it was after nine o ' clock before work began . This was owing to the fact that the lodge should have met in committee the same evening at seven o ' clockbut , as the

, brethren did not begin to assemble until half-past seven , the committee meeting was not concluded until nine o ' clock . English lodges are not perfection as regards sharp time , but they arc far and away in advance of French ones , for here no one seems to attempt to put in an appearance until half an hour after the advertised time , and , as often business goes on slowly at the commencement , the result of

this want of punctuality often is , that some of thc work set down has cither to be postponed until the next meeting , or , worse still , hurried over . This last alternative occurred last week at an influential lodge under the Grand Orient , where the Second and Third Degrees were conferred " by steam , " as the VV . M . himself expressed it , addressing a visiting brother , and even this expression , good figure

though it be , cannot convey an adequate idea to an English Mason of the terrific speed with which the ceremonies were hurried through . However , the Alliance Lodge , as we were going to say , was a little after nineo ' clock opened in the name of T . G . A . O . T . U . in the First Degree . 'There were present Bros . Saunier , VV . M . ; Ferrand and Decourcellc , Wardens ; Pierron and Del vert , "Experts ;"

Herbert , Orator ; and Ferrand , Secretary , together with a fair assemblage of other brethren—among the visitors , Bro . G . C . Dickey , 1 744 , England . The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed , and the correspondence read by the VV . M . Among other communications was a circular from Grand Lodge formally disavowing the newly-formed Grand Lodge Symbolique . The VV . M .

explained , in answer to a question put by one of thc brethren present , that an application which had been made by a brother to be admitted a joining member of the lodge must be refused , as such admission would be directly opposed to the Constitutions of Grand Lodge , one of which distinctl y states that no brother can be admitted a joining member of any lodge if he , at the time of seeking such

admission , be an active member of any other Masonic body , and the brother who was seeking admission amongst them being in this position , however much it might be regretted , they had no alternative but to act as he ( the W . M . ) had indicated , as a dispensation woulel not be granted . We cannot but pause to point out that this law of Grand Lodge is not altogether in keeping- with the broad principles of

r rcemasonry , and , besides , is really inconsistent with other laws and usages which appl y generally to foregn brothers , for a foreign brother may visit any one of the lodges whenever he may wish to do so , and is always well and freely received , anel often he is allowed to vote as to the admission

of a " profane , and is even permitted to put questions to the proposed member on his initiation , and yet such visiting brother cannot join that lod ge if he continues his allegiance to another dispensation . The use or reason of this law , considered frejm a Masonic point of view , we fail to see , and cannot but think that Grand Lodge would do well to take

France .

into serious consideration thc revision of this and perhaps some others of its statutes , as there can be little doubt that the expunging of the one in question would add to the prosperity of Masonry in France , and would secure the approval of true brethren the world over . The business of the lodge was then continued by the reading of thc papers referring to the initiation of M . Parrain , and " Lowton " Emile Levy ( the term Lowton , English Masons may be

aware , is used in France to designate the son of a Mason ) , after which the third ballot was taken and declared to be in favour of their admission . They were accordingly at once admitted , and , after a few preliminary questions , were conducted through the First Voyage , the symbolic meaning of which was concisely explained by the VV . M . After more questions the Second Voyage was taken a . id explained , and then the Third Voyage made , after which the candidates were unanimously declared worthy of reception , and were ,

therefore , entrusted , and received the fraternal accolade from the W . M ., and a triple battery was fired in their honour . The VV . M . then called upon the brethren to welcome the visitors in the same manner , which was done most heartily . It being now half-past eleven o ' clock it was announced by the W . M . that the ceremony of raising , which should have been worked that evening , on account of the lateness of the hour would be postponed until that evening fortnight , when a meeting of emergency would be held . The lodge was then closed in the usual manner .

On Sunday , May 30 th , at the Theatre Chateau d'Eau , a grand fete defamille was given by the Lodge " La Libert-Masonique " for the benefit of the widows and orphans . During the entertainment the poem " Pour les Pauvrcs , " by Victor Hugo , was finely ; recited by Madame Marie Laurent .

Literary And Antiquarian Notes.

Literary and Antiquarian Notes .

At . 1 meeting- of the Council of thc Tonic Sol-Fa College on Saturday , the 12 th inst , Mr . J . Spencer Curwen was unanimously elected president in place of his father , the late Mr . John Curwen . M . TourguenicfF , the Russian novelist , has been seriously ill , and has been obliged to leave Paris , where he

usually resides , for his native air . He is now recovering . The Sydney Exhibition realised £ 45 , 000 , and though the receipts are £ 5000 below thc estimate they will probably cover the working expenses . The number of admissions amounted to 1 , 022 , 000 , and exceeded all expectations .

A Parliamentary paper has been issued containing the copy of a report from the inspectors of experiments on living animals showing the names of all persons who held licences and certificates under the Act 39 and 40 Vict ., cap . 77 , during any part of the year 1 S 79 , together with thc registered places at which the experiments were performed ; also the total number of experiments performeel under the

provisions of the Act during the same period , and the number of experiments in which there is reason to believe that any appreciable suffering was caused . We arc informed that thc Brighton Railway Company , through their agent , Mr . Hudson , have for these last ten years conveyed sea water from Brighton to London for the use of private families and large

establishments , including a supply for several years since of many thousands of gallons of Brighton sea water to thc Crystal Palace and Westminster Aquariam , and a regular monthly supply to the Zoological Gardens , Regent's Park . Angling for coarse fish re-opens on thc 16 th inst ., the fence period ending on the 15 th at sunset . It is often supposed that the angling can commence on the 15 th

but the Act of Parliament makes the fence period from the 15 th of March to the 15 th of June , " both dates inclusive . " Cologne Cathedral is now the hi ghest building in the world , the towers , though still 51 ft . short of their definitive altitude , being 5 ft . above the Church of St . Nicholas , Hamburg , which has hitherto been the loftiest of the globe . The cathedral towers are now 524 ft . 11 in .

high from the pavement of thc cloisters , or 515 ft . from the church floor , while St . Peter's , at Rome , has a height of 4 C 9 ft . 1 in ., and the Pyramids of 449 ft . 5 in . ; St . Paul's is 365 ft . 1 in high , and Notre Dame at Paris 232 ft . 11 in . A descriptive catalogue of the helmets lately exhitcd at the rooms of the Arch .-cological Institute is being

prepared by the Baron de Cosson and Mr . VV . Burges . It will be illustrated with plates copied from photographs , and will probably contain representations of about eighty or ninety specimens . The book will be published by subscri p tion among members of the Jarch .-eological and antiqanan world .

The l ^ ducational Committee of the Privy Council have issued a new code of thc minutes of the Education Department , containing regulations for the present year . All articles modified and all new articles arc shown separately in an appendix . Other appendices contain the

regulations as to payment of school fees for children holding honour certificates and the revised regulations as to certificates for school attendance , and proficiency . llerr Makart ' s picture of " Diana , " which has only recently been | finished , has been sold to a Munich dealer for £ 5000 .

An appeal on behalf of the " Oldest man in Scotland " is made to us by Mr . Chalmers of Dunoon , who states that Archibald M'Arthur is now 103 years of age , and has never received parish reli f . 'Though still in good health and able to work in his g .-: len , this centenarian needs support in his declining years ,:: id contributions will be received by Mr . Chalmers . —Graph ! . ¦ . An Alfred de Mussel Museum had been formed

by the poet ' s brother , Paul de Musset , who died last week in Paris . One of his apart nents was filled with portraits , busts , and medallions of the : young writer , a cabinet having its panels painted with portraits of Alfred at divers ages , while his bust as a child stood on the top , a life-size portrait surmounting a figure of Fame on the mantelpiece , and over thc writing table hung an autograph sonnet composed in 1 S 44 .

Sir Richard Wallace ' s collection of p ictures and curiosities in Paris is to be opened to the public onco 3 week .