Australia.

may be thought paradoxical ( perhaps the ladies think so ?) that the "brethren of the mystic- tie" are as great adepts in the art of display as they are reputed to be in speculation ancl secresy ; and if their achievements in these be only equal to their successs in that , they must as a class be always as pleased with themselves as on occasions like the present they are pleasing to others . Slothing could be better calculated to impress the uninitiated with the force of this observation than the peculiar character of the decorations

of the ball room , the furnishing of the supper table , ancl the gorgeous attire of a numerous section of the company . Besides the ordinary hangings of festoons of evergreens and flowers around and between the pillars , there were disposed along the galleries the Knights Templars' elaborate silken banners , the banners of the Royal Arch Masons , and other insignia in the form of spears , shields , and ttatues , lending to the place somewhat the air of a feudal hall . In front of the recess formed by the

organloft stood the massive gilt pillars of Solomon's Temple , surmounted hy globes ; while upon the walls hung the chapter banners , and the tracing boards—rose croix ancl ordinary . A gas illumination of the square ancl compass , high in front of the organ , contrasted with the Royal Arms and an illumination of the letters V . R . on the opposite gallery . Instead of the dais at the eastern end of the hall , there was a verdant alcove enclosing a pretty fountain , which threw up its jets d ' eau to freshen and cool the air . A corresponding fountain , which , however , did nofc work , stood in front " of the western recess , where couches were nlaced for the vicerso-nl rai-f . v .

Large mirrors placed at intervals around the room , were found to be as convenient as effective in reflecting the various objects forming the naval ornature of the interior . Supper was laid in the galleries , ancl without exaggeration the tables were loaded with some of the highest achievements of the culinary art . Tlie works in sugar were of an extraordinary character , exhibiting structures such as heretofore we had reacl of , but not seen : —the Temple of Solomon , another of Thebes , the Tower of Babel , and other

memorials of the ante-Christian and mediaival eras . The company numbered between four hundred and fifty and five hundred ladie s and gentlemen , who had all arrived by eleven o'clock . His Excelency the Governor and Lady Barkly were present . It is bufc just to our fair readers to state that the ladies were attired in the most becoming style , the new spring fashions being for the first time shown in Melbourne . It appeared almost a reversal of the clue order of things for the gentlemen to have the gold and jewels so much

to themselves . Some of the Masons wore very rich regalia . Dancing commenced shortly after nine o ' clock , and was continued without intermission till midnight . The company then proceeded to supper . Captain Standish , the Prov . G . M ., ( E ^ C ) , occupied the chair , Sir Henry Barkly sitting on his right hand . The only toasts drunk were " The Queen and the Craffc , " with honours , aud " His Excellency the Governor " with three times three . His Excellency acknowledged the compliment , ancl , though not a brother Mason , passed a high eulogium upon the Craft . Dancing was resumed after supper , and kept up till an early hour in the morning . —Melbourne Herald .

Royal Arch,

ROYAL ARCH ,

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER . The following report ofthe Committee of General Purposes will be presented to Grand Chapter on Wednesday next . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have

examined the accounts from the 13 th July to the 16 th October , 1861 , which they find to be as follows -. — Balance , 13 th July , 18 G 1 £ 144 14 7 Subsequent receipts 120 7 6 £ 565 2 1 Disbursements , including a purchase of £ 300 3 per cent ; consols 359 9 11

Leaving a balance of £ 205 12 2 which balance is in the hands of Messrs . Willis , Percival ancl Co ., hankers of the Grand Treasurer . _ The committee beg also to report that , in pursuance of a resolution passed at the last quarterly convocation ofthe Grand Chapter , having reference to an objection raised by the Grand Chapter of Canada , against the recent grant of a Royal Arch Charter for a chapter to be attached to the Dalhousie Lodge ( No . 835 ) , at Ottawa ,

Canada , West , on the alleged grounds that the establishing of such chapter was in contravention of the terms on which the Grand Chapter of Canada had been recognised by the Supreme Grand Chapter , they have carefully examined all the correspondence that has passed between the Grand Masters ancl Grand Lodges of England and of Canada , and also between the respective authorities on behalf of the Grand Chapters ofthe two countries ; and they beg to

call the attention of Grand Chapter to the fact that , in the letter of the Grand Secretary , of the 16 th December , 1858 , written by command of tho M . W . Grand Master , the rights and privileges of all lodges and individual Masons holding under the Grand Loelge of England , were especially reserved , in the following words : — "As , however , there are some few lodges in Canada West who have signified their desire to retain their attachment toand immediate

con-, nection with , the Grand Lodge of England , from whom they received the warrants , the Grand Lodge and fche Grand Master feel that they are not at liberty to withdraw their protection from such lodges against their will , and therefore claim for them , from the Grand Lodge of Canada , recognition of their present position with all their Masonic privileges , and those of their members respectively . The M . W . Grand Master feels that this is simply an act of justice ,

and based on the same principle as that enunciated in your communication . " And these rights ancl privileges were acknowledged by the Grand Master of Canada ( Bro . Wm . M . AVilson ) , in a letter , dated the 9 th February , 1859 , addressed to the M . W . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , in the following words : —¦ " I have ever held and frequently expressed , the opinion that any subordinate lodge preferring to continue under their English warrant had a perfect ancl undoubted right to do so ; ancl were entitled , not only to a

recognition from us , but to all their Masonic privileges . " The committee also find in the letter ofthe Grand Scribe E , dated bhe 10 th of February , 1860 , announcing the recognition of the Grand Chapter of Canada by the Supreme Grand Chapter , the following words , viz .: — " I am instructed to state that , in the name and on behalf of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England , they , the Grand Principals , fully recognise , the Grand Chapter of Canada ; reserving , however , to all chapters now in Canada who are still holding nnnrfann ,, M . l / ,.. + ! , / , # i ,. i ,...-l / M . n v . I-n , > n £ I . ,. mi n « , 1 .... nlnn 4-.. .. 1 ! "I ? .-. ™ 11 . 1 HillULia UUUlii 1 UJLlllIU \ Ul UlllCllll 1 ita till

,, . UJC jllrtpi . CL . ^ ., IUOU LU Jillgliail Royal Arch Masons , all their rights , titles , and privileges , as fully and freely as though the Grand Chapter of Canada had not been formed . " : It will therefore be seen that in every instance have the rights and privileges of lodges , and of the members of those lodges , been fully reserved ; ancl the committee are of opinion that the great privilege of every Mason initiated under the Constitution of the

Grand Lodge of England , is that of taking all his degrees in full under that constitution ; and it is " declared and pronounced "—in accordance with the arrangements entered into under the Act of Union , in 1813 , that— " pure Ancient Masonry consists of three degrees and no more , viz ..- those of the Entered Apprentice , the Fellow Craffc , and the Master Mason , including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch . " It has always been held by the Grand Chapter that the brethren

of every lodge have the inalienable right of seeking to have a Royal Arch Chapter attached to the lodge , in order to enable them to complete their degrees , if they wish to do so , and in case of there not being sufficient Royal Arch Chapters in the neighbourhood . The Committee therefore feel that under the arrangements entered into between the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England , and the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Canada , they have not only the rihtbufc are bound to afford to all lod and

g , ges Masons in Canada , holding under the Grand Lodge of England , the means of completing under the English Constitution their degrees , if they do not already possess them , by attaching a chapter to each lodge . But it is perfectly clear that , inasmuch as the Grand Master of England has pledged himself not to grant any new warrants for lodges in Canada , the power of the Grand Chapter is limited to those lodges already existing in Canada ; and no new chapter can be granted , excepting in connection with a lodge existing prior to

the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Canada bj' the Grand Lodge of England , at the quarterly communication holden on the 1 st December , 1858 . The Committee havo further to report that they have received a petition from the Chapter of Harmony ( No . 3 S 7 ) , _ Gosporfc , praying for permission to remove the chapter to Fareham , in consequence of the Lodge of Harmony , to which the chapter is attached , having been removed to that town ; and they , therefore , recommend that the prayer of tho petition he granted .

METROPOLITAN . ROBERT B UESS CHAPTER ( NO . 25 ) . —This numerous Chapter held their first convocation for the season at the Freemasons ' Tavern , on Monday last , Comps . Harrison , M . E . Z . ; Collard , H . ; quest , J . ; Watson , ~ & . pro tern ; L . Gassick , N . ; Kirby , P . S . pro tern .