Great Priory.

acting Grand Master , before the motion is made to adopt the report may I allude to the reference made in it to the resuscitation of the De Tabley Preceptory . Thanks to the kindness of Great Priory we have made a good start , we have received a good amount of local assistance , and we hope thereby to live a successful life . ( Hear , hear ) . The report was adopted . Alms were then collected amounting to £ 3 Ss . 6 d ., and Great Pricry was closed in due form .

A Great Priory of the Order of Malta was opened in due form . The Very High and Eminent Great Seneschal , the Viscount Dungarvan , occupied the throne . The Great Chancellor , V . E . Knight C . F . MATIER , K . C . T ., read the minutes of the previous meeting , which were confirmed .

The GREAT CHANCELLOR then said that he had received the commands of the Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master to announce that he had made the following appointments : V . E . Knight R . Loveland Loveland ... Great Prior . „ The Earl of Yai brough ... Great Captain General . „ Col . F ; R . Sewell ... ... Great Lieut . General .

,, A . W . Orwin ... ... Great First Lieutenant . „ R . E . Baynts ... ... Great Second Lieut . „ Rev . C . E . L . Wri ght ... ... Great Prelate . ,, C . Belton ... ... ... Great Mareschal . „ Rtv . C . E . Lefroy Austin ... Great Hospitaller . „ Alfred Cooper ... ... Great Admiral .

„ Percy Hanis ... ... Great Conservator . „ Col . H . F . Pudsey ... ... Great Baillie . ,, J . A . Robinson ... ... Great Turcopolier . „ C . F . Matier ... ... Great Chancellor . ,, Ralph Clutton ... ... Great Treasurer .

„ Frederick Mead ... ... Great Banner Bearer . „ Capt . Geo . Hearn ... ... Great Sword Bearer . „ I . W . Howard Thompson ... ) r- . r . . r-, . „ Dr . Nathaniel Goodchild J Great Captain Outposts . „ Frederick Bevan ... ... Great Organist .

The Great Oflicers took their seats as follows : V . E . Knights R . Loveland Loveland , K . C . T ., as E . Prior ; Ralph Clutton , K . C . T ., as Capt .-General ; and Major J . W . Woodall , K . C . T ., as Lieut .-General ; E . Knights C . Morton Challender , as ist Lieut . ; Richard Clowes , as 2 nd Lieut . ; and C . Belton , K . C . T ., as Mareschal ; V . E . Knight C . Gooding , K . C . T ., as Hospitaller ; E . Knights T . Forrester , as Admiral ; Major H .

W . H . Elwes , as Conservator ; and Sir J . C . Dimsdale , as Biillie ; V . E . Knight Sir Geo . David Harris , K . C . T ., as Turcopolier ; E . Knights George Powell , as Chancellor ; and John Dimsdale , as Treasurer ; V . E . Knight Rev . C . E . L . Wri ght , as Prelate ; and E . Knight Major T . W . Richardson , as Capt . of Outposts .

The following knights were Guards to Banners : Knight J . S . Tarn - burini , Banner B . ; E . Kni ght R . A . Gowan , Banner L . ; Knight H . Thomson-Lyon , Banner D . j E . Knight Percy F . W . Simpson , Banner R . ; and E . Knight J . C . V . Tower , Banner A . , The following Kni ghts Templar then received the Mediterranean Pass and were admitted into the Order of Malta under the Banner of the Holy Sanctuary Preceptory , the Accolade being given by the Very Eminent the

Viscount Dungarvan , Acting Grand Master ; Ernest St . Clair , Faith and Fidelity Preceptory ; H . VV . lies , Stuart Preceptory ; W . J . Batho , United Kemeys Tynte Preceptory ; Rev . C . Chetwynde Atkinson , De Tabley Preceptory ; Christian Horsh , Mount Calvary Preceptory ; Dudley Cory-Wri g ht , Cccur de Li on Preceptory ; and Frederick Bivan , Da Warrene Preceptory . Great Priory was then closed in due form .

The Very High and Eminent the Viscount Dungarvan , Great Seneschal afterwards presided at the banquet supported by the V . E . Prov . Prior for N . and E . Yorkshire , the Great Officers , many Past Great Officers , Preceptors , and other knights .

"Send-Off" Dinner To Brother Will E. Chapman.

" SEND-OFF" DINNER TO BROTHER WILL E . CHAPMAN .

A " send-off" dinner to Bro . Will E . Chapman , who , to-day ( Saturday ) , will leave England for South Africa , was given on the 18 th inst . at the Hotel Cecil , and was attended by no less than 120 brethren , notwithstanding that only a week ' s notice of the projected compliment had been given . The idea was first started at the installation meeting of the Empress Lodge , of which Bro . Chapman was the first Secretary , its original suggester , and one of its founders . The

idea of paying a compliment was entertained with the greatest confidence from the fact that Bro . Chapman is a universal favourite , and for the last dozen years in England has been one of the most energetic workers for the good of Freemasonry ; that he has gone through all lodge offices , including that of W . M . ; has assisted in founding several lodges and chapters ; and has obtained from the M . W . G . Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , recognition of his services by

appointment to Grand Office . There were two Honorary Secretaries to the movement—Bros . J . D . Langton , D . G . D . C , and j . W . Clark , Assistant Secretary Empress Lodge , and these two brethren had , for five days previously to the dinner , unceasing work in attending to applications and making the arrangements for a successful evening . Their labours , however , were thoroughly rewarded , as he entertainment proved to be an unqualified triumph .

Bro . Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale , Past Grand Treasurer , took the chair , and had on his right the guest of the evening , Bro . Will E . Chapman . Among the other brethren present were Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; Thomas Fenn , P . G . W . j E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; R . Eve , P . G . T . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . T . ; Sir Somers Vine , P . G . D . ; J . D . Langton , D . G . D . C . ;

J . S . Cumberland , P . D . G . D . C ; C . Belton , P . D . G . D . C ; Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; E . St . Clair , P . A . G . D . C ; Dr . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C ; F . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; Thomas Bullock , P . G . S . B . ; W . Lake , A . G . Sec . ; Carson , W . M . 2190 ; Harrison , W . M . 2488 ; Kiralfy , W . M . 2581 ; W . S . Hooper , W . M . 1987 ; Dan Godfrey , Brandon Thomas , W . J . Fisher , S . Rosenthal , J . Passmore Edwards , Walter Beard , and W . J . Ebbetts , P . M . 2190 . Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE , in giving the toast of "The Queen and the Craft , " said the first toast , as usual , amongst Masons was that of our beloved

"Send-Off" Dinner To Brother Will E. Chapman.

Queen and Empress , whose vast experience , unerring wisdom , and unsurpissed judgment had obtained for her the affection and love of her subjects fur a period extending over nearly 60 years . That was attributable in no small degree to the fact that from the moment she ascepded the throne she resolved to be not the head of a party , but the ruler of a vast empire . " The Queen , God bless her , and the Cratfe . "

Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE next gave "The M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " a toast that required no words from any Chairman in the presence of Masons or in the presence of Britishers . What they owed to him they all knew . They appreciated what he had done , and might he long be spare ! to be the Grand Master , and retain the confidence , respect , and esteem of the Craft . Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE next gave the toast of " Our Guest . " He said : Brethren , I am not unmindful of the honour you have conferred upon me to-night

by placing me in this chair , but I am equally conscious of my inability to do justice to the honour . I recognise that this is an informal gathering ; it represents a few friends of our honoured guest gathered round this board at a very momentary notice ; the whole thing was got up in only five days , and Bro . Chapmin must , I think , deem it a compliment that around this table there are 120 brethren . That number would have been quadrupled if wc had had a few days more . I should be wanting if I did not comment upon the regrets of a few amone ; the miny

tonight who are not able to be here , hirst , there is our dear old friend and brother Robert Grey , then comes Bro . Everett and Bro . C . E . Keyser . There is also a very dear old friend appreciated by us all—Bro . Edward Terry . Then we regret the absence of Bro . Penley , but we are somewhat compensated for his loss by the fact that we have in Bro . Brandon Thomas , a member of the " Charley ' s Aunt Company . " Then we regret the absence of Bros . Fester , Sir Reginald Hanson , J . Lewis Thomas , T .

Brodie , and Vaughan Morgan . Those are only a few among the many brethren from whom we have letters of regret at not being able to be present , and last , but not least , we have a telegram forwarded by Bro . Shirley , from Geneva , sending greetings to our Bro . Chapman . ( Hear , hear . ) And , now , brethren , I have a serious , and at the same time , a pleasing task . We wish to pay a very safe compliment to Bro . Chapman . We realise in him one who ha ? done an immense amounc for Masonry . The fact that he belongs to 17 lodges of the Craft

and otherwise , testifies to his energy in the Craft . But those who have been with him in Masonry , and those who have seen him work our splendid ritual with a reverence that inspires respect for the Craft to which we all belong , know that that must benefit every initiate who comes within our fold ; those are the brethren who can really appreciate what our Bro . Chapman has done for Masonry . ( Heir , hear . ) And yet , brethren , that is only one side that we appreciate our Bro . Chapman for there are thousands who can act Masonically from the book and who can word

by word and letter by letter carry out the ritual to a nicety , bat there are fewer who act up to those principles in the domestic life , and that to my mind is the reason of this banquet to-night . We realise in Bro . Chapman one who his done his utmost to inculcate our great principles of Masonry into the hearts of ' all who have come before him ; the initiates have carried away the best side of Masonry , and see that it is not only the Fourth Degree ; that we believe there is a great morality taught by Masonry ; that our great doctrine is that we believe and must

proclaim as Masons our affection , love , and loyalty to the Great Being of the Universe , so it is equally necessary for us to carry those great doctrines into our daily life , and that is what we appreciate in our Bro . Chapman . ( Applause . ) We see in him uprightness . Whenever we meet him in Masonic life we see there the friend , and the true brother , and we feel that however distant he may be from us , however many thousands of miles may separate him from us—that although we give him what we call a " send-off" dinner , we shall bs hoping that the time

will be very very short when we shall give him a " home-coming . " ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) As I said this is an informal gathering ; I have prepared nothing to-night ; I will not profess to adequately express your feelings ; ( but this I do say , Bro . Chapman , and I say what is in the breast of every brother here present , we wish you God speed , and give you our best wishes for your future , whether in the distant land you are going to visit for a short time , that you may be prosperous

that you may have an opportunity of spreading the broad and great principles that we Masons look upon Masonry being useful in promoting , and may God ' s blessing rest upon you in all your undertakings ! I cannot say more . I wish someone more competent thr . n myself at this table was addressing you . We regret to say " good-bye ; " we do not like the time that is coming ; it is far too near ; but we wish you God speed and say " God bless you . " The toast was drunk enthusiastically and with musical honours .

Bro . WILL E . CHAPMAN , in reply , said : Bro . Chairman and Brethren , —You have said , Sir , that I should feel complimented by this gathering which has come here to-night to say good-bye and an revoir to me . I am complimented . There are no words adequate at my command to tell you , brethren , how pleased and how gratified I am to-night to see you before me assembled for the purpose which has brought you here . But we do not want words to-night . This is a time which to me is one in which heart meets heart and in which there are ties which have

brought us together and binds us together , which words cannot adequately describe . There are faces before me to-night which have been fimiliar to me for a quarter of a century ; there are others with which I have been familiar a few months , and yet I feel no difference ; that the old friends , who are dear old friends before me to-night have become a part of my life ; that wherever I go , whether to Africa or wherever it may be , you will be with me in spirit , and that as long as God gives me senses , and health , and life , I shall never forget your kindness in

coming to me so voluntarily , so kindly to say g 03 d-bye to me , and it eases the pang which I feel in leaving you . ( Hear , hear . ) The Chairman has referred to my Masonic career , and perhaps as you have come to see me I may say one word or two without preparation for the subject . You know the Masonic life I have led in the last doz ? n years . I was made a Mason 25 years ago , and I was always saying goodbye in those days ; 1 had n . tt time to make friends before I said good-bye to them ; and so I went to

Australia , the West Indies , and other countries ; hut I was only meeting men today and parting from them to-morrow . A year being the longest time I had in one place , I naturally could not make much progress in Masonic work . But that 1 did not forsake Masonry , that 1 did not regard Masonry as a thing to be taken up and put off at a moment I may evidence , without flattery to myself , I must not have done so when in 1884 I visited one lodge—the Royal Solomon Lodge at Jerusalem—not having been an officer in my life , I acted as S . W . and

was made an honorary member for the work done by me that evening . I was not an appointed officer , but I had been at some pains to learn the work and to perfect myself as far as 1 could in my Masonic career . Then I came here when 1 thought to leave again , and then 1 took up Masonry seriously . I have taken great interest in Masonry ; it has been to me almost everything . It has been obliged by my unfortunate religion—I speak respectfully and advisedly — by my unfortunate religion , to accept Masonry as my reli gion ; I have tried to live up to its principles as far as I could , and ,

please God , I shall do so as long as I live . ( Applause . ) I belong , as the Chairman has s . iid , to seven Craft lodges , three of them my own children . I am leaving them to-night ; 1 am saying good-bye to the W . M . and brethren of those lodges with regret . I acknowledge it ; it is true ; 1 should be wanting in feeling if I left you to-night or the lodges I belong to if I did not say I leave you with regret and sadness . In fact , I may s ly if I had known what 1 know now ; if I had known the feelings , the ties which bind me to all of you , 1 do not think I could have said good-bye to you . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) But it must be said . 1 have received in return for my work , which has not been work ; it has been pleasure to