An Old Maid's Mistake.

He waited not for a second bidding , but seized his hat and rushed out amid the anathemas breathed out upon him from any thing but loving lips . * * " Why , aunt , Avhat is the matter ?" cried out Anne Bell , as she came into the

room and saw her aunt ' s angry looks and flushed countenance a few minutes after our friend's sudden exit . Annie Avas niece of Miss Prim , and Avas then on a visit to her aunt . " That gawkey clown of a Pray , " replied

Miss Prim , " had the effrontery to ask me to help him make his preserves . " " Didn ' t you tell him you would ! " asked Annie . "No , indeed , I didn't , " replied Miss Prim , tartly .

" I Avill then , " said Annie , as she Avithdreiv to find Mr . Pray . Annie fulfilled her promise . But there must have been other business going on , for in a few Aveeks the village minister received a handsome fee for his services in making Mr . Pray and Annie husband and ivife .

General Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Masons, U.S.A., 1874.

GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS , U . S . A ., 1874 .

AVILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . THE tAventy-second Triennial Collocation of the " General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for the United States of

America , " Avas held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Nashville , Tennessee , on Tuesday the 24 th November , 1874 , ancl tAvo following days . The G . G . H . P ., Josiah II . Drummond , presided throughout the meetings , and was supported by several Avell-known brethren

including our good friends Parvin and Bower of Iowa , Brown of Kansas , Fellows of New Hampshire , Caldwell of Ohio , lb B . Porter of Minnesota , Earner of District of Columbia , and many other worthies , whom though Ave have not seen ni the flesh

we love as Craftsmen and Companions . Twenty-four Grand Chapters were represented out of thirty-four connected with the society . Including those Grand Chapters which declined joining the G . G- . Chapter , there are now some 2 , 000 subordinate chapters in the United States ,

with a membership of more than 120 , 000 Companions , and in which some 10 , 000 were exalted during the past year . The figures afford us an insig ht into the character and extent of Royal Arch Masonry iu the United States , ancl what interest is taken

in the degree for so many Brethren to muster in Nashville from such distances . The north , the south , the east ancl the west , all contributed their quota to swell tbe sum total . A General Grand Lodge for such a A'ast

country has often been advocated , but has as often fallen through ; but a similar body for the Royal Arch Grand Chapter has so far been fairly successful , and from its establishment on the 9 th of January , 1806 has done much to introduce the degree

, on virgin soil . Its origin may be said to date from 1797 , but only in a partial sense , as Dr . Mackay states in his excellent " Masonic Encyclopedia . " In 1826 ¦ its septennial meetings Avere abolished for the triennial assembliesAvhich have since been

, continued . A few Grand Chaptersnotably that of Pennsylvania—have refused to recognise this authority , but into the reasons pro or con Ave do not intend to

delve at present . The latter meeting appear to have been most successful , and the recent resolution to constitute all Past-Grand Hig h Priests ( Past First Grand Principals ) of Grand Chapters life members of the G . G . O ., Avill doubtless add much to to its prosperity in the future .

The supreme bead is M . E . Comp . Josiah H . Drummond of Maine , who is without doubt one of the uncrowned kings of the Masonic World , and Avhois knoAvn , respected ancl beloved throughout the United States ; his chief officers also are

most enthusiastic ancl able Masons Avho haA'e earned a right to participate in the honours of Freemasonry by long and continuous service in their respective States , and deep sympathies with the Avelfare of the Craft universal .

M . E . Comp . Dru ' mniond delivered a vigorous address , alluding to the progress ancl vicissitudes of Royal Arch Masonry in the United States , describing the condition of several chapters , and Grand Chapters , exlaining the action of some of the latter

p informing IIOAV Grand Chapters , ancl generally presenting to his hearers a masterly sketch of the present state of tho degree , not forgetting to glance at the orig in , con-