Royal Arch.

the First Principal was most effectually performed by Comp . B . B . Alaison , P . Z ., who was supported by a capital complement of officers . Bros . E . Graham , 1609 ; J . H . Smith , 11 S 2 ; Joseph Fineberg , 1609 ; J . J . Monk , 1609 ; and W . Hildyard , 1 G 09 , were duly exalted liy the AI . E . Z ., who received valuable help from the Second and Third Principals and officers .

INSTRUCTION . METROPOLITAN CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT . —The weekly meeting of this chapter of improvement was held on Tuesday evening , the 12 th inst ., at the Jamaica Tavern , St . AlichaePs-alley , Cornhiil . Present : Comps . Brown , Z . ; Taylor , H . ; J . S . Fraser , L ; R . Payne , N . ; J . Payne , P . S . ; VV . Fraser , Gillard ,

G . Brown , W . Chicker , Goodchild , AI'Donell , Briggs , Walker , Turner , Burns , and H . Thompson ( Freemason ) . The ceremony of exaltation was ably worked , Comp . j . Steingreber being the candidate . All thc officers were well up to their duties . The chapter was then closed . Thc members of this chapter again assembled at the Jamaica Tavern , on Tuesday evening , thc 19 th inst ., but in

consequence of being holiday week thc attendance was not so numerous as usual . Comps . Catterson , Z . ; Taylor , IL ; J . R . Fraser , J . ; Walker , N . ; and Turner , P . S . There were also present Comps . Kirke , Veal , Thompson , R . Payne , Pulman , and VV . Fraser . Thc ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . VV . Fraser being the candidate .

Comp . Pulman , of the Bedford Chapter , No . 157 , was elected a member of this chapter of improvement . The election of officers for the next fortnight then took place as follows : Comps . Thompson , Z . ; Pulman , H . ; J . S . Fraser , J . ; W . Fraser , N . ; AI'Donell , P . S . The chapter vvas then closed .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

PLUMSTEAD . —Florence Nightingale Lodge ( No . 44 ) . —The installation meeting of this excellent lodge took place on Alonday , the nth inst ., at the Freemasons ' Hall , William-street , when Bro . Alajor E . S . Gordon , R . A ., Assistant Superintendent Carriage Department Royal Arsenal , was placed in the chair of the lodge as its ruler for the ensuing twelve months . The lodge was opened by the W . AL , Bro . Jas . Smyth , Bandmaster ' Roy al Artillery Band ,

W . M . 22 G , and P . G . J . O . Kent , and after the usual lodge business had been duly attended to , Bro . W . F . Catchside , 10 G 3 , was balloted for , and approved , as a candidate for advancement . Bros . R . King , P . AL and P . G . A . D . C . Tunis and Malta District , and R . Pidcock , P . AI . and P . G . R . of AL Sussex , were admitted as joining members . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . D . Dewar , P . AL and Asst . G . Sec . Grand Lodge ; and the new W . M .

having been saluted , invested his officers as follows : Bros . Eugene Sweny , P . P . G . A . D . C . Kent , S . VV . ; J . J . Donolly , Or . Mstr . and Adj . A . S . C , J . W . ; ] . Sculley , R . H . A ., P . G . Officer Kent , AI . O . ; Dr . C . II . Y . Godwin , ALD ., R . A ., P . G . Officer Kent , S . O . ; Sydney Clarke , J . O . ; J . C . Mathams , S . D . ; J . Harris , J . I ) . ; G . Risch , j . D . ; Baron Dc Worms , ALP ., R . of AL ; T . Alaxander , 'Treas . ; K . Ugland , Sec ; li . Denton , D . C ; and J . Lackland ,

Tyler . J he W . M . then proposed " lhat a Past Master ' s jewel , of the usual value , should bc presented to Bro . Smyth . P . AL , for the valuable services rendered by him to the lodge during the past year . " 'The S . VV . seconded , and it was carried unanimously . Bro . Smyth , P . M ., suitably returned thanks . A cordial vote of thanks was carried lo Bro . Dewar for his services as Installing Officer that day , and it was resolved that the vote should bc inscribed on the

minutes of the lodge . Bro . Dewar thanked thc brethren , and said he felt as much pleasure at having the opportunity of installing their Alaster as they had at his perfoimance of the ceremony . Among the brethren present not above mentioned were Bros . C . Coupland , P . M . 22 ( 1 and P . P . G . S . O . Kent ; A . Penfold , S . VV . 22 G and P . P . G . J . W . Kent ; T . Kirkbride , Lieut . R . A ., 226 , and P . G . O . ' Kent ; and C Jolly , 22 G

( Freemason ) . The brethren then sat down to a superb banquet , served by Bro . William Moulder , of Woolwich , who certainly deserved credit for the elegance and taste with which the whole affair was carried out . 'The toasts after dinner were commendably brief , but to the purpose . Afler " Our Sovereign Queen and Mark Alasonry " had been honoured , the toast of " The W . G . Alark Mastcr and Grand

Officers" was coupled with the name of Bro . Dewar , who said it was so difficult a thing to do honour to the toast , as they had such a glorious phalanx of good and worthy Alasons in charge of the destinies of Mark Alasonry , that he felt himself utterly inadequate to tell them one-half of the value of those ollieers or of the vast amount of work they did for the success of the Order . What the Grand Lodge always looked to in the selection of its officers was to

have serviceable brethren , who were not afraid ol" work , and the re-ults of that selection were shown in thc eminent strides Alark . Masonry had made under their guidance . As one of the executive oflicers , he could only say that he at all times did his best lo ensure the prosperity and progress of the Degree ; and in such a genial and excellent lodge as this—Florence Nightingale —he felt that the Grand Master und "Grand Officers had not only warm supporters , but

worthy and constant friends . 'The next toast was that of "The Provincial Grand Officers of the Province of Kent , " coupled with the name of Bro . Coupland , who , after expressing his opinion that the toast had better been coupled with the name of the VV . M ., said that at the present time they had eleven lodges in the province , and he felt it an honour to be present that night to see the success of the Florence Nightingale Lodge . Both that and the Excelsior

Lodge , of which he had the honour of being a Past Alaster , were well representing the " purple " of Provincial Grand Lodge . He trusted as they went on that many more honours would fall lo their lot . I le thanked them for the hearty reception the toast had met with at iV . eir hands . Bro . Sw ; ny then , by permission of the VV . M ., proposed "The Health of the two distinguished Brethren who had joined their ranks that day , Bros . King and Pidcock , " and Ihe

toast was drunk with honours , liros . Pidcock and King briefly returned thanks , expressing their pleasure at bring able to join such a lodge and lo meet such distinguished Alasons . ' is the brethren of it . 'The W . M . then proposed "The Health of lhe I . P . AI ., " and eloquently eulogised Bro . Smvtli ' sc . forts in the cause of Mark Masonry , especially in reference to lhe Florence Nightingale Lodge . IJro . Smyth , in reply , said that during thi > -, the first year of

Mark Masonry.

office of the lodge , he had received the most ample assistance from every member , and had also a most indefatigable Secretary . So that , white he could not claim all the credit for the prosperity of thc lodge , he could say faithfully that nothing he could do had been left undone in the past , and in the future he had but one object in view , so far as Alark Alasonry was concerned , and that was the success of thc

lodge . When he was made the first Alaster of the lodge he was the only living member of the old Florence Nightingale Lodge in the district , and he did not hesitate to say that it afforded him great pleasure to be placed in such a position now . 'The good old ship was rebuilt , and launched forth on the stream of Alark Alasonry ; and he would almost speak in the spirit of prophesy , and say that as years

rolled on she would increase , both in numbers , influence , and position , and take such rapid strides to the front that she would become a power and a shining light among her fellows , and carry onward the great and glorious principles of the Order with honour to the end . He concluded a long and eloquent speech , in which he reviewed the objects of Alark Alasonry , by cordially thanking the brethren for the

toast . "The Health of the VV . M . " was , by special permission , placed in the hands of Bro . Alaxander , who , in giving it , said that the gallant W . M . was one of the best Alasons in the Province of Kent . Bro . Gordon returned thanks , and promised to so rule and govern the lodge that his successor would , if possible , receive it from his hands

more powerful and prosperous than it was at the present moment . The toast of "The Excelsior Lodge" was responded to by Bro . Smyth . Bro . Ugland responded for "The Banquet Committee ; " and after Bro . Jolly had replied to a very flattering mention cf his services in connection with the " Masonic Press " and as a visitor , the meeting broke up .

BRIGHTON . —Royal Sussex Lodge ( No . 75 ) . —An emergency meeting of this lodge was held at the Royal Pavilion on Tuesday , the 12 th inst ., for the purpose of electing Bro . II . A . Swan , M . AI . AL 54 , a joining member ; also ' Bros . W . Roe , M . M . 1 G 3 G ; H . Anscombe , M . AI . 1 S 21 ; and Capt . H . Alorgan , AI . AL 1 S 29 , for advancement , and aU were unanimously elected . Bro . W . Roe being in

attendance he was advanced to the Honourable Degree of M . M . M . according to ancient custom . The AV . M . moved very feelingly a vote of condolence to Bro . T . Cable , J . W ., he having lost his wife since the last meeting of thc lodge , which was seconded by Bro . Capt . J . Braithwaite , P . AL , & c . The following brethren were present : Bros . T . J . Pulley ,

W . AL ; VV . T . Clarke , S . W . ; T . Cable , J . VV . ; H . VV . Charrington , I . P . M ., as AI . O . ; R . Paige , S . O . ; T . Packham , J . O . ; J . Braithwaite , as Chap . ; G . Smith , P . AL , Treas ., I . G . ; W . G . Bayliss , Sec ; A . Burrows , R . of AI . ; li . Bridges , S . D . ; R . Y . B . Powell , as J . D . ; T . Holloway , Steward ; nnd T . Hughes , Tyler .

Visitors : Bros . J . Pearson , P . M . ; VV . Collins , I . G . 235 ; and VV . D . Lcmmon , 272 . All business being ended , the brethren adjourned to the Unicorn Hotel , North-street , where a splendid supper was prepared by Bro . Paige , and a most enjoyable evening was spent .

COCKERMOUTH . —Faithfull Lodge ( No . 229 ) , — The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Wednesday , the 13 II 1 inst ., in the Alasonic Hall , Station-street . There were present ; Bros . Capt . Sewell , W . M ., P . G . S . O . ; R . VV . Robinson , S . W . ; T . C . Robinson , M . O . ; II . Pearock , S . O . ; VV . Shilton , J . O . ; R . Robinson . P . AL , P . G . S . D . ; VV . F . Lamonby , P . M ., P . G . Sec . ; VV . II .

Lewthwaitc , Org ., P . P . G . Org . ; T . Alason , Secretary and Reg . AL ; T . Bird , S . D . ; VV . ' Paisley , J . D . ; I . livening , I . G . ; and Hewson , 'T yler , P . G . Tyler . " Bro , T . Weatherston , S . D . Whitwell Lodge , No . 151 , ivas present as a visitor , and kindly assisted in the subsequent ceremony . After the minutes had been read and confirmed , a ballot was taken for Bro . Ii . L . Waugh , Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 , and he

being unanimously elected a candidate , was admitted , and regularly advanced to the Honourable Degree by Bro . Lamonby , P . AI . For the first time in this lodge , Bro . E . J . Crow ' s music incidental to the Degree was given in full , and greatly embellished thc interesting ceremony . Bro . Alason ' s adjourned notice of motion , "That no part of the lodge funds be spent for the purposes of the installation ,

except for the entertainment of visiting brethren , unless there be a clear balance of £ 10 in hand , " was unanimously agreed to , Bro . Capt . Sewell , in seconding the motion , remarking that was the only way to provide surplus funds for the chaiities . Upon the proclamation being put , Bro . Capt . Sewell presented thc lodge with a framed facsimile

of a tombstone ( 13 th century ) in Dearham Parish Church , on which are discernible at least one Alasonic emblem . On Ihe motion of Bro . Lamonby , P . AL , seconded by Bro . R . Robinson , P . AL , a vote of thanks was accorded to the W . AI . for his interesting gift , and ordered to be recorded on the minutes . A very pleasant evening's work was brought to a close with the customary parting address by a P . AL

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

YORK . —Eboracum Conclave ( No . 137 ) . —The installation meeting of this conclave was held on Thursday , the 7 th inst ., when thc following brethren were appointed to office : Bros . C G . Padel , S . ; Rev . VV . Valentine , H . P . ; G . Simpson , V . ; M . Millington , ist G . ; A . T . B . Turner , 2 nd G . ; T " . Humphries , P . ; R . Walker , S . B . ; S . F . Bousfield , II . The ceremonies were performed by Bros . T . B . Whytehead , P . S ., and J . S . Cumberland , P . S .

Scotland.

Scotland .

PAISLEY . —St . Mirren Lodge ( No . i : ? r , ) . —A meeting of the members of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Moss-street , on Monday , the 1 Sth inst . The following brethren were present : Bros . Alex . . McPherson , R . W . M . ; Matthew Jamison , S . VV . ; John Caldwell , J . W . ;

I ) . Orr , 'Treas . ; I . lilacldey , S . I ) . ; William Craig , I . G . : Alexander . Tyler ; Geo . Fisher , P . M .. G . Bible Rearer G . L . Scotland , and Prov . G . S . W . Renfrewshire ; 11 . S . Edmonds , P . M ., P . G . J . D . Renfrewshire ; and about twenty oilier brethren . Visitor : llro . R . R . Lisenden , 317 ( Frccmasor . ) .

The lodge was ! opened at eight o'clock , and the minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed . Mr . Duncan was afterwards balloted for to become a member of the lodge , and was declared unanimously elected , and was afterwards initiated into Freemasonry by Bro . George Fisher in such a style as has not been our good fortune to witness for a considerable time , and which comes exceptionally surprising to us after being as it were schooled to think that nothing can be surpassed by what is done in our

own province . I he ceremony was a much longer one than we have before seen performed , and took something over an hour , but long as it was , it was done with the greatest exactness and never-failing memory , and reflected the highest credit on Bro . Fisher , whom , we afterwards found , the brethren of his lodge are truly and justly proud of . Thc ceremony having concluded , and " Hearty good wishes" expressed , the lodge was closed in peace and harmony at g . 40 .

South Africa.

South Africa .

MASONIC BANQUET AT NATAL . A joint banquet was given by the Prince Alfred Lodge , No . 956 , the Natalia Lodge , No . 1665 , and the Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1729 , in the Alasonic Hall , Pietermaritzburg , Natal , on Tuesday evening , March 15 th , in honour of R . W . Bro . Giddy , 33 , D . G . AI . " Griqualand West , & c , on a visit from England . W . Bro . R . I . Finnemore , P . AL and VV . M . elect 1 GG 5 , occupied the chair ; R . W . Bro . Giddy

sitting on his right hand , and W . Bro . R . Stewart , General Alanager Standard Bank , on his left . There were also present liros . J . Roseveare , P . AL ; S . Stranack , P . AL ; C . J . Harmsivorth , P . AL ; W . Cook , P . AL ; li . S . Stantial , P . AL ; VV . Bros . W . F . Stanton , W . AL 956 ; E . I-I . Wiltshicr , W . AL 1 SG 7 , and a considerable number of other members ofthe Craft . The first toasts were " Thc Oueen and the Craft , " by the Chairman ; "H . R . H . the PrTnce of Wales

M . W . G . M ., " by the Chairman ; and "The Pro Grand Alaster , the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Alaster , the Earl of Lathom , and the officers of the Grand Lodge , " proposed by : be Chairman . R . W . Bro . GIDDV , in thanking the brethren for the way in which the latter toast had been honoured , said he was greatly pleased that , although the services of thc Grand Officers were necessarily not so well known here as they

arc to brethren in England , yet the toast had been very warmly received . He referred , by name , to individual members of the Grand Lodge who had rendered and are rendering valuable services to Alasonry , and more particularly to Bro . the liarl of Lathom , Bro . Sir John Alonckton , President of the Board of General Purposes , a very good man and good Alason , and Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , the present Grand Secretary , a personal friend of the

speaker , and a worthy successor to the late Bro . Hervey . They were all the best men who could have been chosen to fill their several positions in thc Order . The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of the Guest of the Evening , R . W . Bro . Giddy . " Bro . Giddy was , he said , well known to all Freemasons in Natal as a zealous and enthusiastic member of thc Craft , one . who had done a great deal for the brethren in thst colony , and one to

whom they had been in the habit of looking for help many Alasonic difficulty . 'Their all recognized and ' appreciated most heartily thc good service which our guest had done for Masonry in general , and for South Africa in particular . He need only add that R . W . Bto . Giddy was now endeavouring to bring about the establishment of a Grand Lodge which should include the Natal lodges , under circumstances favourable to the colony , and he was glad that the joint

committee of the City Lodge had agreed to thc principle contained in the proposal of thc Grand Lodge on this subject . R . W . Bro . Ginnv : I desire very heartily to thank the Alasons of Maritzburg for the cordial reception which has been given me on my first visit to the city . I felt specially your kindness in receiving me at the train on my arrival , which caused mc to feel at once that I had come amongst

friends . The honour conferred upon me by the invitation to this banquet also shows how much my small services for Freemasonry in Natal have been appreciated by the 13 . U . here . With regard to the proposed establishment of a District Grand Lodge to include Natal , on which a circular letter has been sent to all the lodges of this colony , I may mention that some six or eight months ago a distinguished brother in Nalal addressed me on thc . subject of a District

Grand Lodge for Natal . I submitted the letter to thc Grand Secretary . 'That officer ' s idea was that the time had scarcely come for Natal to move in that direction , but thought I might hold out some hope for Natal in the future . Resolutions were subsequently passed by ' certain lodges in Natal expressing their desire for a District Grand Lodge these were referred to mc for report , and 1 was reluctantl compelled to report against the proposal . 'The decision wa

thereupon arrived at that no further District Grand Lodge should bc granted in S . Africa , at any rate , for some years to come , as the requirements were considered to be fully met . But since that tii . ie circumstances , with regard to Kimberley , the present seat of a District Grand Lodge , have changed ; Kimberley is no longer the capital of the colony , and it has been suggested to Grand Lodge that Griqualand West as a district should cease to exist , and

that a new district , thc Northern District of South Africa , should be formed , including the lodges in Natal , Free State , Griqualand West , and the Transvaal . 'The AI . W . Grand Master has asked the several lodges in those provinces to state whether they arc willing to join in this movement . 1 have attended a meeting of a joint committee from the city lodges this afternoon , and I am glad to find , by a resolution adopted thereat , that there is a desire to join in this

proposal ; and I sincerely and heartily trust , as far as the interests of Alasonry in Natal are concerned , lhat this movement will be carried to completion , because I know full well that the Alasons of Natal must benefit very largely indeed by the carrying out ol r . uch an arrangement . R . W . Bro . Gmnv : I rise again with very great p leasure to propose " Prosperity to Freemasonry in Natal . " I may

say that , from what I have heard and now seen of the doings of our Craft ill this colony , and especially in this citv , I think I may commend the Masons of Natal for their zeal in llu- cause of Masonry . I think I am right in saying that live years ago there was only one . Ciaft lodge in Alarit / bui-g , ami the higher Degrees were unknown in this city . 'The extent of your zeal in the cause is shown by the fact that you have now three lodges in the city , and a very