Royal Arch.

order to enable it to become a Life Governor of the three Masonic Institutions . The Association , which was founded hy the members ol the chapter , now numbers thirty-four subscribers ; and , two Life Governorships were drawn for , on this their first ballot , one ot which fell to the lot of a subscriber , who was educated iu one of the Institutions , and who out of a sense of chop gratitude , thus becomes qualified as a Life Governor of that Institution .

NEWPORT . —Silurian Chapter ( So . 471 . )—The usual monthly meeting took place on Friday last , and as it was tbe proper time for tbe election of principals and officers tbero was a very good attendance . Several Royal Arch Masons from the Newport Garrison were present , and they met with a hearty and Alasonic welcome . The M . E . Z . Companion Hellyer was in the chair , aud the following appointments were made for the ensuing year : —Comp .

Oliver , Z . ; Fox , II . ; Gratte , J . ; Jockford , Treasurer ; Williams , Assistant Secretary ; Randall , E . ; Tweedy , N . ; Lawrence , Princ . Soj . ; Fotbergill , Organist ; McFee and Fletcher , Janitors . The installation will take place on the last Friday in the present month , when the Comps . will diue together at the King' Head Hotel . Four new candidates for exaltation were proposed , and the Lodge was closed iu harmony at about 9 . 45 p . m .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

MONMOUTHSHIRE . NEWPORT . —Keystone Lodge ( No . 109 ) . —The usual bi-monthly meeting was held last Mouda ^ -, and in the absence , through , illness of the R . AV ., the P . G . M ., * who is W . M . of this lodge . Bro , Daniel Roberts , of Cardiff , G . S . B ., in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Mascns took the chair . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot , took placo when

Bro . Egbert Horlick , of Tredegar , Secretary to the St . George's Lodge , 1098 , was unanimously admitted , and that brother being in attendance , was advanced as a M . M . M ., the ceremony being most correctly rendered by the W . M . It was then proposed and carried that a congratulatory address be presented to tho W . M ., Colonel Lyne on his appointment as R . W . Prov . G . M ., for Monmouthshire , and a similar address was ordered to be presented to the D . Prov . G . M . Bro . Homfrayof Tredegar ( also a

, , , member of 10 ft ) . An address of ecuuloh-nco was directed to be sent to Bro . Fothergill , S . O ., on the death of his wife , and another to Bro . Charles D . Phillips , on the death of his wife . A vote of thanks was recorded to Bro . Roberts for presiding , and to two officers from the Bannock , M . M . M ., for their visit this evening , and the lodge was closed in harmony at 8 . 40 p . m .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Thursday Jan . 26 th ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . J . A . Ruckor , Y . P ., iu the chair . There were also present Bros . Thomas AA . AVhite , F . AAlilters , Major J . Creaton , H . Massey , and E . II . Patten , ( Secretary . ) On the motion of Bro . Major Creaton , seconded by Pro . F . AValters , the allowance tothe med cal attendant of the Institution was incrca ' -cd from £ 25 to £ 40 per annum .

The House Committee having rec . nnmended that , in consequence of tlie gre-. it attention paid by the medical attendant to the inmates of tho School during the late severe illness which has prevailed there , a gratuity of 100 guineas be presented to him . Bro . Major Creaton proposed , and Bro . Thomas W . AVhite , seconded , that the General Committe recommend the grant to the Quarterly Court ; which was carried unanimously .

Bro . Patten informed the Committee that the Directors of the Crystal Palace Company and the Lessees of Covent Garden Theatre had most kindly invited the pupils of tho Masonic Girls ' School to the entertainments at those establishments , but that the House Committee , taking into consideration the epidemic which had lately prevailed at the Institution , had deemed it advisible , though reluctantly , to decline the invitation . At the same time , however , they begged-to tender their warmest thanks for the kindness offered . One candidate was put on the list for the October election , and the Committee then adjourned .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

THE WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC BALL .

The annual ball , and the second of ifcs kind given under the favour of tho Freemasons of Preston , took place on Wednesday evening fche 18 th inst . The assembly was exceeded by ifcs predecessor ; but here anything like adverse comparison must cease , and room bo made for varied proofs wherein superiority might , if need arose , be asserted . Possiblfche o ily ground on which any weihty

y g regret could be based , -n Diild be that tbe special object of charity regarded by the brethren in their efforts this year , —the Infirmary , will benefit less largely than did the Soup Kitchen a twelvemo ; fch ago : but oven here it would be hasty to judge by appearances .

Ihe whole of tho building , Irom basement to root-tree , was for the nonce handed over to the committee for the purpose c ? the assembly . At tbe head of the first broad flight of stab's were displayed the four principal banners of the Eoyal . Arch Chapter , and on each side downwards to the doors wore the symbolical representations of the Twelve Tribes of Israel arranged on one side , and on the other the twelve bannerets of the Royal Arch Degree ,

intermixed with which wero those of the Knights Templar . The banners ofthe Lodge of Unanimity , " No . 113 , and of the Lodge of Concord , JN ' o . 843—the two Preston lodges of the Order—found effective places also in the display ; and groups of fine ferns exhibited their grace ' ul fronds , in pleasant relief to the richer hues ofthe painted emblems . Splendid contributions in the way of

natural ornamentation had been made by Lord tjkeltreradale , Lieut .-Col . Birchall , and Mr . W . Troughton . From Lathom House bad come a fine donation of camellias and azaleas for fche supper table , of which more anon : Mr . Troughton had furnished some of his choicest specimens of tropical and flowering ferns , and from Ribbletou Hall an abundance of similar treasures from the conservatory had been generously forwarded . The guests were

received by ranks ofthe brethren , in the costumes of their several degrees , stationed on the stairs ; and high above was lodged the band of the l-1 . 2 fch Regiment , who greeted the visitors with martial music as they were sat down in rapid succession . As last year , the supperroom , for which important department the Exchange news room had been set apart , was opened to the public

during fche afternoon ; and thus by a side stroke of charitable business an acceptable harvest of superfluous coppers was reaped in favour of fcbe Blind Institute . Masonic Benevolence is large-hearted and diffusive . At half-past ioiyi' o ' clock the tables were passed under review by a Stream of visiters . Mr . Robinson , of the King's . Arms , Church Street , supplied tho refreshments , and had

certainly entered on his duties spiritedly , and as spiritedly carried them out . Mr . Robinson had laden the couple of h i * ndred feet of tabling erected for him by his brother ci-altsiiiar , Mi * . Eichard Jackson , of Cannon Street , with an endless variety of things so good as to leave no room

lor hirthei' gracilication ; and under the control ot Al . ess-Sergotmfc Brown , of tho 3 rd Royal Lancashire Militia . Handsome presents of game had been made by Lord Skelmersdalc ; Sir Thomas George Fermor Hesketh , Bart ., M . P ., liufiord ; Edward Hermon , Esq ., AU' . ; J " . T . Clifton , Esq ., Lyoham Hall ; Lawrence Rawstron , Esq ., Hutton Hail ; and T . H . Miller , Esq ., Singleton . The "bill of fare " comprised pretty well everything that

could be brought into apposition ofa character comestible There was a liberal display of plate , lent by Mr . White- , head aud other friends ; and tho show of ferns and cut flowers was superb . The centre table , for the convenience of service , bore several finely raised ferns of the larger kinds ; and a well-grown acacia , a true Masonic plant , lent by Lieut .-Col . Birchall , amongst his other contributions , added greatly to the beauty of the scene . Speci-