Royal Arch.

as J ; Comps . C . J . Bannister , P . S . ; R . J . Banning , S . N . ; Gilles , S . E . The ballot was announced in favour of Bro . Stewart , but being away from home , the ceremony of exaltation was arranged to take place at next meeting . Business over , the chapter was closed in clue form . SOUTH SHIELDS . — ££ . Hilda Chapter ( No . 292 ) . —The regular

meeting of the Companions of this Chapter was held at the Golden Lion Hotel , on AVednesday , the 17 th ult ., and was opened in solemn form by the M . E . Principals A . Davis , Z . ; H . Hewison , H . ; J . J . Oliver , J . Present , M . E . Companions E . D . Davis , P . Z . ; R . B . Ridley , P . Z . ; and J . G . Tullock , H . ( No . 624 ); J . Hinde , E . ; J . N . Buekland , N . ; and J . Roddam , P . S ., and other companions of the Chapter . The minutes of the two last meetings were read and

confirmed . A ballot having been taken for a brother of St . Hilda ' s Lodge , who was exalted to R . A . degree , the historical and symbolical lectures were given by the M . E . Principal Z . ( A . Davis ) , and the mystical lecture by M . E . Principal E . D . Davis , P . Z . The ballot for officers for the ensuing year was taken , and resulted as follows : —Hewison , Z . ; J . J . Oliver , H . ; J . Hinde , J . ; J . Roddam , E . JNBueklandPSTGBuchananNRBRidleyre-elected

. . , .. ; . . , . ; . . , Treasurer '; and J . Docchar , appointed Janitor ; Auditors , J . Hutchinson , W . Twizell , and J . G . Tulloch . M . E . Principal Z . ( A . Davis ) , in the most liberal and handsome manner presented the Chapter with a complete set of R . A . clothing for tiie use of the Janitor . The Chapter was afterwards closed iu solemn form .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

BIRIIIKGUAM . —Home Encampment—The first meeting of the new Howe Encampment of Masonic Knights Templar , stationed at the Masonic Rooms , Newhall-street , Birmingham , was holden ou Wednesday , 24 th of April , at one o ' clock . Present , Sir Knt . M . H , Shuttleworth , P . E . C ., Grand Alee Chancellor and Almoner , on the Throne ; and Sir Kilts . B . AA . Goode , P . E . C . ; AA . Masfteld , P . E . C ., and Past Grand Sword Bearer ; AA . Roberts , R . H . Foster , C . RatclhTAV . B . GatesE . A . LingardT . F . GoodeR . Pariviso ,

, , , , W . AVeise , and other Knts . Companions . The Encampment being opened in due form , the warrant was read by Sir Knt . Lingard , the Registrar ; and the new Howe Encampment was consecrated by Sir Knt . Shuttleworth , assisted by Sir Knts . present , according to ancient usage . The Grand Alee Chancellor then installed Sir Knt . B . AV . Goode as First Eminent Commander of the encampment . After the proclamation by the Heralds , the r

E . C . nominated and invested his officers , and installed AAiHiaiu Greenway , Esq ., Sir John Ratclfif , Knt ., AVilliam H . Dawes , and James Broughton , Esqs ., into'tbe Order . Before closing the encampment , the E . C . proposeda vote of thanks to Sir Knt . Shuttleworth , for hiskindness in attending the Conclave at considerable personal inconvenience , and the able maimer in which he had conducted the ceremony of consecration , which , being put from the throne , was carried

unanimously . Sir Knt . Shuttleworth briefly returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him , adding , he felt considerable pride that the first encampment it had been his duty to consecrate , should be the first stationed in the town of Birmingham , one of the most important

seats of industry in the British empire ; and when he saw so numerous a muster of Knts . lining the Chapter-room , comprising individuals well known for their commercial enterprise , wealth , and liberality , and for promoting the best interests of the Craft , he felt that , under the auspices of so eminent a Commander as Sir Knt . Goode , and the authority of Sir Knt . Col . G . A . Vernon , who it was understood would add to the important duties he had so long and so efficientlperformed as Provincial Grand Commander for

y Staffordshire , the government of the new province of AA arwick . The Howe Encampment would rapidly take rank second to none on the long roll of the Order . The Knts . then adjourned to a sumptuous banquet ; having partaken of which , tlie health of Her Majesty the Queen was given by the E . C , followed by that of Sir Knt . AVilliam Stuart , Grand Master Elect in the Order ; Sir Knt . G . A . AmnionProvincial Grand Commander for Staffordshiremd

, , the officers of the Grand Conclave of England and AVales . The Grand Afee Chancellor returned thanks , and proposed ' ¦ ' Prosperity to the Howe Encampment , and health and happiness to the newly installed E . C . Sir Knt . W . B . Goode , " which , being received with enthusiasm , the proceedings terminated at an early hour . The Masonic Rooms were built by subscription , and are the property of the Howe Lod the premises comprise a well proportioned

ge ; Lodge or Chapter room , ante-chamber , robing-room , refectory , Registrar ' s Office , and separate apartments for au efficient staff of domestics , who dressed and served up the banquet in a manner which would be a credit to any establishment . The expenses are defrayed by a moderate contribution from the lodges and chapters who use

Knights Templar.

the rooms , aud great honour is due to the Howe Lodge for setting an example of liberating Freemasonry from the trammels of the tavern .

INDIA . CALCUTTA . —A Provincial Grand Conclave of tiie Province of Bengal was held at the Freemasons' Hall , in Calcutta , on AVednesday , the 6 th of March , 1 S 61 . Present , A . E . Sir Knights Hugh D . Sandeman , Prov . G . Commander ; J . G . Llewelyn , D . Prov . G . Commander ; Sir Knights 0 . P . L . AA atson , Prov . G . Prelate ; J . B . Roberts , as 1 st Prov . G . Captain ; A ^ . E . Sir Knight F . J . Mouat , AIDas 2 nd ProvGCaptainSir Knihts AMDowleans

., . . ; g . . , Prov . G . Chancellor ; J . AA . Browne , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . Duncan , Prov . G . Almoner ; F . Jennings , as Prov . G . Captain of the Lines ; D . J . Daniel , Prov . G . Equerry , & c . The Provincial Grand Conclave was opened in due and ancient form . The poor box was presented to the Sir Knights by the Prov . G . Almoner , while the Prov . G . Prelate read appropriate sentences from the Holy Scriptures . The minutes of the last meeting were duly and regularly

confirmed . The Prov . G . Commander made the following appointments for the ensuing year : —Sir Knights F . F . Mazuchelli , D . D ., P . G . Prelate . ; J . B . Roberts , 1 st Prov . G . Captain ; E . Sir Knights F . J . Mouat , 2 nd Prov . G . Captain ; A . M . Dowleans , Prov . G . Chancellor ; W H . Abbott , Prov . G . Reg . ; J . AV . Browne , Prov . G . Treas . ; AV . E . Ball , Prov . G . Expert ; AV . Duncan , 1 st Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; G . Stone , 2 nd Prov . G . Standard Bearer ; R . JCallanProv . G . Almoner ; J . C . CurtisProv . G . Captain of the

, , Lines ; J . Martin , Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; H . S . Gaye , 1 st Prov . G . Herald ; F . Jennings , 2 nd Prov . G . Herald ; D . J . Daniel and W . T . Goose , Prov . G . Equerries . The Prov . G . Commander was glad to be able to inform the Sir Knights that the Order was progressing very favourably . The muster roll which he held in his hand showed a return of 66 Sir Knights , viz : —Sepulchre 28 , St . Augustine 20 St . John ' s IS . These Encampments were all

work-, ing prosperously , and were commanded by Masons who had the good of the Order at heart . He was also glad to say that the principle on which all three Encampments had been founded , viz ., that of holding out this exalted degree as a reward only to those who had been conspicuous in their zeal for the interests of

Freemasonry , bad , to the best of his knowledge , been fully carried out . It was the wish of the Prov . G . Commander , and he knew that he had the concurrence of the members of the Provincial Grand Conclave in that wish , that this rule should always be strictly adhered to . The returns of the three Encampments had been submitted to him . There was nothing calling for special remark in any of them , except that the Eminent Commander of St . John's deemed it unadvisable to submit ( for tbe future ) his annual returns before

all May in each year , as it would not be possible at a Hill Station like Simla , which is only frequented in the summer months , to appoint officers in the winter . As any delay in the submission of returns may cause confusion in the general report to be submitted annually to London , the Prov . G . Commander had instructed the Eminent Commander of St . John's to exhibit the list of officers in his future annual returns for the past instead of the ensuing year . The Prov . G . Commander was sure that all present would be

heartily sorry to learn officially of the death of their Supreme Grand Master , the late Colonel Charles Kemys Kemys-Tynte . He would read from THE FUEMIASOXS' MAGAZINE , published in England , an article , which gave a brief but excellent account of the worldly career of that eminent brother , his object being not only that the Sir Knights present on this occasion should have information regarding tlie history of their deceased ruler , but that a

sketch of his life might be permanently recorded in the archives of the several Encampments in the district of Bengal . Having read the article , the Prov . G . Commander said they had also to record the decease of Bro . Sir Knight Matthew Dawes , who was an Honorary Member of the St . Augustine Encampment of Lahore . The deceased brother was Prov . G . Commander of Knights Templar for Lancashire and a Member of the Supreme Council of the 33 rd degree . He was initiated into Freemasonry in 1853 and hadup

, , to the time of his decease , taken a lively interest in the affairs of the Order . The cash account of the Provincial Grand Conclave for the past year was duly passed . There being no other work before the Provincial Grand Conclave , it was closed according to due and ancient form .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

i NORTHUMBERLAND . NEWCASTLE . —Northumberland and Berwick Lodge—This lodge I was opened by the R . AV . M . Bro ., H . Hotham , assisted by P . R . W . M . i Lei ) . Bell ; If . Ludwig , S . AA . ; Gillespie , J . AV ., Lambtou , Treas .,