Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

The foregoing petitions being regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The following petitions being regular , except as to the sanction of the lodges to which they are to be attached , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be granted subject to such sanction being received . 4 th . From Comps . John William Howard , as Z . ; Llewellyn Powys Jones , as j-I . ; Ernest Charles Baxter , as J . ; and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the Bulawayo Lodge , No . 2566 , Bulawayo , to be called the Bulawayo Chapter , nndto meet at Bulawayo , South Africa .

5 th . From Comps . Kdward Hancock , as ' / ,. ; William Dodds , as H . ; George Samuel Burt Andrews , as J . ; and 14 others for a chapter to be attached to the leppe Town Lodge , No . 24 S 1 , Jeppe Town , to be cilled the jeppeTown Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Temple , Jeppe Town Transvaal . 6 th . From Comps . Charles Aburrow , as Z . ; Mark Louis Harris , as H . ; George Ernest Hands , as J . ; and nine others for a chapter to be attached to the Doornfontein Lodge , No . 25 S 5 , Doornfontein , Transvaal , to be called the Doornfontein Chapter , and to meet at the Freemasons' Hall , Jeppe-street , Johannesburg , Transvaal .

The Committee have likewise received a memorial , with extracts of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapter : The Cyclist Chapter , No . 2246 , from the Greyhound Hotel , Croydon , to the Castle Hotel , East Molesey , Surrey . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the request , recommend that the removal of this chapter be sanctioned .

The Provincial Grand Scribe E . of Durham having returned the charter of the Norman Chapter , No . 1334 , Durham , which had made no returns since 17 th October , 18 SS , the Committee beg to recommend that the chapter be removed from the roll of chapters . The following chapters have made no returns to Grand Chapter for miny years , and no replies having been received to numerous communications addressed to them , the Committee resolved to recommend that they be removed from the

roll of chapters , viz . : The Amity Chapter , No . 171 , London . The United Strength Chapter , No . 228 . The Perseverance Chapter , No . 460 , Newcastle-under-Lyme . The St . George ' s Chapter , No . 549 , Bombay . The Oriental Chapter , No . 6 S 7 , Constantinople . The Combermere Chapter , No . 752 , Melbourne .

The St . Mark's Chapter , No . S 57 , London . The Brownrigg Chapter , No . 1 564 , Woking . The Southern Cross Chapter , No . 1590 , Utinage . The Ancient Carthage Chapter , No . 1717 , Tunis . The Committee beg to recommend and the President will move" That the sum of 100 guineas be granted from the funds of this Grand Chapter as a donation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " ( Signed ) GEORGE D . HARMS , President .

The Re-Opening ' Of St. John's Church.

THE RE-OPENING ' OF ST . JOHN'S CHURCH .

A MASONIC SERVICE . St . John's , West Chelsea , was recently re-opened after being closed for six weeks for the purpose of cleaning and repair . At the morning service a large congregation attended to hear a sermon by the Lord Bishop of London . An appropriate addition has been made in the Chancel in the form of neat Gothic stone arches round the apse with marble panels . Over the Communion

Table the arches form a triptych , the panels of which are of a deep red , with the monogram I . H . S . for the centre and the Greek signs of Alpha and Omega on either side wrought in gold . This is Hanked by six arches on either hand with white maible panels . There is also a new Communion Table of appropriate design in oak . For this and the lectern a member of the congregation has given handsome covers wrought with gold thread .

Favoured by fine weather , the brethren " clothed' in the Vicarage Garden , and were surrounded by a guard of the St . John's Company of the Church Lad's Brigade . At the time appointed for the service to commence , Mr . W . J . Hacker gave a selection from Handel ' s " Messiah . " Shortly after the choir headed the procession , and entered the church by the west door , followed by the churchwardens bearing their wands of pllice . These were followed by the clergy , the W . M . of the Earl Spencer Lodge , the Grand Officers , Provincial Grand Ollicers , Masters if lodges , Wardens , and officers of lodges , and Master Masons , while the guard of honour brought up the rear .

Sullivan ' s grand processional , " Onward , Christian soldiers , was sung as the brethren were marshalled to their places by Bros . R . Q . Moody , P . M . 1420 , 1853 , i ' . Z . 177 , M . E . Z . 1 C 04 , and IT . J . Ollive , P . M . 1420 . The service was read by Hro . the Rev . F . W . A . Wilkinson , Chap . 1420 , while the lessons were read by the ( ina ' es—Revf . T . F . Vickers and J . C . F . Wimberley . Special Psalms were sung , vv ., xcviii . and c ) ., and the anthem was taken from Psalm exxii .- — " I was glad when they said unto me . "

The seimon was preached by Bro . the Rev . J . SEAVER , B . D ., P . M ., and llie reverend fientleman tock for his text " A Holy Temple in the Lord , " i ^ phesians ii . 26 . Before the sermon the well-known hymn " O God , our help in ages past , " was sung , and " O Lord of heaven , and earth and sea " as the offertory hymn .

After the Benediction , the Lads' Brigade and choir lined the nave and the brethren left the church in single file in the order in which they entered to the inging of ihe hymn "The Church ' s one foundation . " As the concluding voluntary Mr . W . J . Hacker played " The Holy City . " The collections throughout the day amounted to over ^ 22 , more than ^ 12 being collected at the Masonic service .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

FREEMASONRY IN THE WEST INDIES . The annual communication of the District Grand Lodge of Barbadoes was held on the evening cf the 7 th instant , under the banner of the Victoria Lodge , No . 2196 , ( E . C ) , at the Masonic Hall , in Spry-street , Bridgetown , where , notwithslanding the inclemency of the weather , a number of brethren had assembled under their respective banners to greet with acclamation the newly-invested District Grand Lodge Officers who were members of their respective lodges .

The District Grand Lodge Officers , preceded by the Dist . G . Sword and Standard Bearers , having entered the lodge room in procession , the Dist . G . M ., Bro . the Right Hon . John Locke ( who was accompanied by his Excellency Bro . Sir James Hay , K . C . M . G ., the Governor of the island ) , then opened the District Grand Lodge in due form , with prayer .

The DIST . G . SECRETARV having read the summons , called the roll of lodges , and read all letters and other matters of detail , was followed by the DIST G . TREASI'R ER , who read his financial statement from his books . The DIST . G . MASTER then called on the Worshi pful Masters of the several lodges to stale , for the information of the District Grand Lodge , the progress of the work in their respective lodges .

The PRESIDENT of the Board of General Purposes then read his report on the general working and harmonious relations of the Craft in the District , and stated his belief that there would shortl y be another lodge established in the Island at Speightstown . The DIST . G . MASTER then briefly reviewed the work of the past 12

months , and expressed the pleas are aiud pride it afforded him to preside over a District in which such thorough harmony and good fellowshi p existed , not only among the brethren , but betwixt the lodges , which , he thought , was very much promoted by the frequent interchange of visits to each other ' s lodges .

The D . G . M . then proceeded to invest the following Dist . G . Officers for the ensuing 12 months , with a few kindly remarks as to the present and past Masonic work of each recipient of the honour :

Bro . W . S . Osmint , P . M . 2616 ... ... Dist . S . G . W . „ H . R . Melvil . ' c , W . M . 2616 ... ... Dist . J . G . W . „ James Gibbons , P . M . 196 ... ... Disc . G . Treas . „ R . J . Clinckett , P . M . 196 and 2253 , P . Dist . S . G . W . ... . ' .. ... Dist . G . Sec . ,, Jeremiah Walton , P . M . 219 ( 1 •¦••••Dist . S . G . D . „ J . C . McQueen , W . M . 196 ... ... Dist . J . G . D .

„ J . I . Grayfoot , S . W . 196 ... ... Dist . G . S . of W . „ J . J . Warner , P . M . 2196 ... ... Dist . G . D . C . „ l <\ N . A . Clairmonte . P . M . 2196 ... ... Dist . Pres . B . G . P . ,, Peter P . Spencer , W . M . 2196 ... ... Dist . G . L . B . ,, The Hon . F . C . Wells Durrani , S . W . 2616 ... Dist . G . Std . Br . „ W . J . Proudfoot , 2616 ... ... ... Dist . A . G . Sec . „ F . Helmsley , 2196 ... ... ... Dist . G . Purst . „ J . W . Croncy , 2196 , P . Dist . G . W . ... Dist . A . G . D . C .

The offices of Dist . G . Registrar and Chaplain were left over , as the officers designate were absent . Bro . R . j . Clinckett , the Dist . G . Secretary , was appointed proxy representative ol St . George ' s Lodge , No . 2 G 16 . The District Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the refreshment room , where they were hospitably entertained by the brethren of the Victoria Lodge .

The usual Masonic and friendly toasts were interchanged , interspersed with music , kc , thus ending a very pleasant Masonic function . We are indebted to Bro . R . J . Clinkett , Past Dist . G . S . W ., the Dist . G . Secretary , Barbadoes , West Indies , lor the above .

Obituary

Obituary

BRO . J . T . CRAVEN , SEN . The funeral of the late Bro . J . T . Craven , sen ., of St . Mary ' s-road , a very highly-respected Portsmouthian , took place on Wednesday , Ihe 20 th inst ., at the Kingston Ceremony . The deceased was an old and valued member of the Royal Sussex Lodge and Chapter of Freemasons , having been initiated as far back as

1 S 63 , and served the office of Worshipful Master in 18 73 . Among the brethren presi-nt to pay their last token of respect were the Worshi pful Master , Bro . T . W . li . Evans ; Bros . J . I ' riedebjrg , C . Knott , A . VV . Hewett , Rand , Robinson Davis , Samphire , and Nock . A very beautiful wreath was sent by the officers ' and brethren .

MIDDLESEX ROVAI . ARCH MASONS are reminded that ths Provinciil Grand Chapter will be held at the Mitre IT itel , Himpton C mrt , on Siturday , the G : h prox . when the Grand Superintendent , Lord George Himilton , M . P ., has promised to preside .

Ad01104

COITMTTY-- Z = ^ . _ , FOUNDED 1807 . i50REGENTST,W,,&riK^- :14CORMLL,E.C,L0MD0M.OFFIOE* The Distinguishing Feature of this Office is THE RETURN SYSTEM . On Ordinary Insurances , under which Policyholders who have been insured for Seven Years uml who continue insured—whether ; ! " , ll'r an Aiiiinul or Septennial Policy—become entitled to 11 RETURN OF 25 PER CENT , ol '( he Premiums they have paid during each - ( , ven Years , provided 110 loss litis arisen under their Policies in thai , Period . Insurances on Farming Stocks and on other than Ordinary Risks do not participate in the Returns , nor are tho lleturns given on ill » oiiut s which , being in excess of its own holding , are not retained b y the Ollice . Policies may be effected or transferred without any extra expenses . Q . \ y . STEVENS , ' ) T . , „ •> B # E . HATLIFFE , j ' 0 M , < Secre ^™* -