Provincial.

George Symons , S . AA . ; J . Hargreaves , as S . AA . ; Dr . Armitage , S . D ., J . AV . ; D Middleton , J . D . ; Sandvas and Ash , Tylers , & c . The labours of the evening being ended ancl hearty good wishes proclaimed , the lodge was closed about nine o ' clock in harmony and with prayer .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

DEVONSHIRE . On Thursday last , 22 ud ult ., a Provincial Grand Chapter was held at Harmony Masonic Rooms , Treville-street , Plymouth , for the purpose of consecrating the Chapter ol Harmony . The room presented a very pleasing appearance , there being no fewer than sixty-seven Royal Arch Masons present , including thirty Principals and Past Principals . Tbe appointments were very good , ancl the arrangements were pronounced by the Provincial

Grand Superintendent to be perfect . The programme was strictly carried out . The companions assembled in the anteroom until the chapter was opened by the Past First Principals . When opened tbe Companions entered in procession in the following order : —Visitors , Members , Officers , and Principals of the Chapter of Harmony ; Grand Officers—all of whom took their seats , as appointed by the director of the ceremonies . An appropriate ode was then sung to the organ . After the

transaction of some formal business , including the reading and approval of minutes of all meetings held while under dispensation , the P . Prin . 2 , E . Comp . L . P . Metham , of Devonport , delivered an oration . This was one of great beauty ancl eloquence , the orator descanting at some length and with much force upon the excellence of the Masonic attributes . He dwelt fully on the objects of the three first degrees , and then passed on to notice with ecpial power and precision the . objects and

attributes of the higher order of the Holy Arch . To the l-eader who is versed in tho secrets of Freemasonry , the learned and'impassioned address of Comp . Metham was full of beauty and intelligence , but it would occupy too much of our space to give it at length . The consecration was performed by the M . E . Comp . Rev . John Huyshe , Prov . G . Superintendent , who is also the newly appointed Prov . Grand Master of Devon . He was accompanied bECompWDennisPGScribe EThe three

y . . . , .. . Principals of the new chapter are Isaac AA atts , Z ., P . Prov . G . T ., B . Sodda , H ., P . Prov . G . T . ; and Thomas Harvey , J . At the grand banquet which ivas afterwards held at the Royal Hotel , Devonport , the Rev . John Hctyshc , who has been connected with Lodge Fidelity for thirty years , ancl annually dines with the lodge , presented on behalf of the lodge a P . M . ' s jewel to Bro . Pursey , the I . P . M .

DURHAM . SUXDEEEAXD . — Chapter of Strict Benevolence , ( No . 97 ) . — The convocation of this Chapter postponed from the usual time of meeting on the 15 th was held on the 22 nd inst . After the Chapter had beeiropened by the three principals , the companions were admitted and Comp . Emra Holmes having given the usual seven days' notice , proposed Bro . AA'illiam Charles AVard JacksonJ . P ., of the Harbour of Refuge Lodge 764 as a fit and

, , , proper person to be exalted a companion of the Royal Arch Chapter ; Comp . J . Crossby , P . M . F . Z ., seconded the proposition , and Bro . Jackson having been elected , was duly exalted by P . M . E . Z . Levy , P . G . D . C , who conducted the beautiful ceremony in a manner calculated to impress very deeply the newly exalted brother , as it impressed with its great solemnity all ¦ who were present , Comp . Stainsby , 1 st Prin . Soj . assisting vei-y ably in his lace . M . E . C . Levy then proceeded to ive the

p g mystical lecture , which he delivered in a very effective manner . The following officers were then installed for the ensuing year Comps . James Hamilton , Z ..- F . H . Balm , PL ; J . Graham , J . ; J . Lindsay , Treas . ; M . H . AViseman , E . ; T . Younger , N . ; J . Stainsby , Prin . Soj . ; Laws , Jan ., George Lord , L . D . Chatt , Auditors . At the conclusion of the ceremony , the Companions to the number of about thirtysat down to a banquet served in

, very good style by mine host of the Bridge Hotel . M . E . 1 st . prin . Z . Jas . Hamilton , presided , and amongst those present with those mentioned above , were P . M . E . Comps . B . Levy , Prov . G . Dir . Crs . ; Crossb y , P . Prov . G . S . AV . ; J . H . Rahn , Evans ; Comps . AV . C . AVard , Jackson , Emra Holmes , K . T . and S . - . P . - . R . - . » Ji , & c . On the removal of the cloth , the M . E . 1 st Prin . proposed " The Queen , " which was given with all the

Royal Arch.

honours , the National Anthem being sung by Comp . Emra Holmes , the companions joining in the chorus in the usual hearty and loyal style of Royal Arch Masons . The M . E . Prov . G . Superindent John Fawcett was then proposed , and then the toast of the evening , that of " Our Newly Exalted Brother aud Companion , Wm . Charles Ward-Jackson . " Comp . Ward-Jackson who rose to lamidst lause' thanked the

Comrepy app , panions for the way in which his health had been proposed and assured them that the more he saw of Masonry the more he liked it , and lie was sure that he should long continue to admire its precepts and remember its obligations . Comp . Emra Holmesamused the company with the song of " Poor Susan , "_ and the evening was spent in that harmony ancl good fellowship which is always the characteristic feature in the social gatherings of

the Royal Arch Masons of Sunderland . It is intended , we believe , to memoralise the Prov . G . Superintendent to form a Provincial Grand Chapter for Durham , the number of Royal Arch Masons and Chapters having inci eased to such an extent as to warrant such a procedure . We wish success to the movement , and cannot but think that the time has now arrived , when Durham ought to take rank in the Royal Arch Degree .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

AVoowiCH . —lnvicia Chapter of Sovereign Princes Rose Croix . —A meeting of this chapter was held on the 16 th ult . Present :-J . R . Thomson , M . W . S . ; Lieut .-Colonel H . Clerk , S . G . I . G . 33 ° , as Prelate ; Captain N . Philips , S . G . I . G . 33 ° j W . J . Meymott , 1 st Gen . ; AV . P . Ward , as 2 nd Gen . ; W . Carter , as G . Marshall ; Captain Boyle , as Raphael ; Laird , Treas . ; Figg , Sec ; Cook , Org , and Dir . of Cers . ; and Bros . Captain Dadson , Cockle , James Forrester , Fraser , Dr . Hughes . Bro . Chas . Allen ,

of the Mount Calvary Chapter , was elected a joining member . Bro . Major II . Trew was advanced to the degree of S . P . R ., and Bro . Meymott . was installed M . AV . S . of the chapter . A sum of five guineas was voted to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows . The M . AV . S . then made the following appointments : —Bros . Thomson , Prelate ; Captain Dadson , 1 st Gen . ; G . Lambert , 2 nd General ; D . AVens , G . Marshal ; J . Hometon , Raphael ; Cockle , Herald ; Taylor , Capt . of Guard ; Cook , Org . and Dir . of Cers . The chapter being , closed the brethren adjourned to Bro . De Grey's , where they dined and passed a very pleasant evening .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL . ANNTJAII DISTRIBUTION OE PRIZES . The brilliant aud imposing ceremony usually observed ^ on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes to the children of the Masonic Orphan School , took place on the 10 th ult ., in the Grand Concert Hall of the Exhibition Palace , Dublin . A more magnificent spectacleor more peculiarlimpressive

demonstra-, y tion , Dublin has seldom witnessed . In the splendour of the array , the rank , beauty , and fashion of the assemblage , the number of distinguished brethren present , and the admirable carrying out of the general arrangements , it eclipsed any previous , festival of the kind , and exceeded the anticipations of the most sanguine . AVhen all were assembled the tout ensemble presented on all

sides was truly magnificent . Tbe rich and varied hues of the ladies' apparel , tho quaint and peculiar dresses of the brethren in all the paraphernalia of the Order , lighted up beneath the blaze of the gasaliers , was something dazzling . The gallery could only he compared to a bank of flowers of tropical luxuriance and beauty , while the body of the hall was , if possible , even more resplendent . At a quarter to eight about forty Knights

Templars , preceded by two bearing Hags , entered the hall , and lined the passage to the plattorm during the approach of the procession . Their martial bearing , no less than their picturesque garb , rendered them at once the cynosure ot ladies ' eyes . There was a general press forward to obtain the best view , and fortunate were they who held commanding positions . In the meanwhile the Grand Officers , the representatives of . foreign ancl Provincial Grand Lodges , and the Masters , AVardens , and Secretaries of the several Dublin lodges , assembled