Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Captain CRAWFORD would detain them but a tew minutes . He had derived great gratification and profit , that day , from the very J heautiful ceremony he and his excellent Bro . Stewart had passed through . His professional duties prevented him from entering upon a steady course of attendance , but he felt that he had arrived at a degree of Freemasonry which ivas of the greatest possible advantage , and with which it AA-as his intention to make himself thoroughly acquaintedAs a Rose Croix brother he had added

, greatly to his knowledge and enjoyment , and the degree itself was sufficient to raise the character of Freemasonry in every recipient . On behalf of the neiA-ly installed , he returned thanks for the honour done them in the proposition of the toast . —The M . W . S . would now turn to the veterans who had preceded him in the office he held . No one would feel satisfied if he should be such a ilireliet from his duty to omit the healths of those 111 . brethren , Dr . Hinxman and

Colonel Clerk ; and it Avould be extremely improper to do so on the night of his installation . He Avas sorry tliat Colonel Clerk ivas absentjbut it made his task easier ; for he could say , that all agreed in that a more excellent Mason , a more worthy man , a move sincere friend , to everything and everybody in Masonry , Avas not to be found . . { Hear , hear . ) Dr . Hinxman ivas present . He had been their first M . AV . S ., and his worth was well known to every one round that tabletherefore he should as the next toast" The Health of

; propose , , the M . AA ' . S ., who had passed the Chair " , —The 111 . Bro . Dr . Hinxman ielfc himself incompetent to do justice in returning thanks , and expressed his very deep regret at the absence of the 111 . Bro . Colonel Clerk who ivas much more competent ; still , as his locum teuens , he would say that , however hard their late M . AV . S . had worked , if he VA-ere present , ho , Dr . Hinxman , knew he would only declare he had done Ills duty , and was amply repaid iu the prosperity of the

chapter , which he had much at heart , in seeing it flourish . On his own part , he had worked hard , but had been most energetically supported ; and it was admitted that the 18 ' n-as much wanted in AVoolwich . AVhen the chapter AA-as established it , was intimated that it was too near London , and so it had been removed from Blackheath to Woolwich , in which latter toAA-n they were without the prescribed radius . As the first M . W . S ., he -was gratified to Had such a spirit of emulation pervaded the members of the Chapter who were willing to shoiv

to others that they sought the ennobling and perfect representation of that degree . He need scarcely say that no province could boast of a better Masonic Hall . It ivas set apart for the purpose of Freemasonry , and entirely removed from all other influences . Its

-establishment had been croivned Avith signal success , and there had been no retrograde motion , but an . onward striving by lodges , and chapters , to improve their position by making it their place of meeting . The Hall had done much for Freemasonry in AVoohvich ; it elevated the science , and took aivay the reproach too often made against the Craft . The Invicta Chapter occupied a position second to none , and inculcated those holy truths AA-hich Avere laid down in that most valuable of all books—the Bible ; and the man AA'I IO

perfected himself in that book AA-as truly most wise , for it inculcated those principles which taught him to answer for the deeds done in the body . AVhilst that ivas their guide ^ the chapter would flourish ; aud he hoped he was not saying too much , or taking too high ground , when he assured them that it had been the endeavour of both those who had filled that high office , and AA-hich , he believed , they would also find to actuate their present M . W . S . Thanking them for the liment on behalf of Colonel Clerk and himselfhe resumed

comp , his seat . —The M . AA ' . S . said there was a toast which was usual at all Masonic meetings , that of " The Officers , " Avithout AA-IIOSC aid nothing could be done . He hoped they ivould all be punctual in j their attendance , and those whom he had appointed had ahvays sliOAvna ready disposition to attend , hi the toast he should inchuleone who had that eveniug acted as their prelate , and was extremely sorry to hear they were about to lose him , lamenting that his neiv sphere of usefulness ivas at such a distance . He then gave

" The Officers , " coupling the same with the mime of tlie excellent Bro ., the Rev . E . J . Wade . —Tlie excellent Bro . the Rev . E . J . WADE said he Ai-as not going to return thanks for the officei'S , because he had only acted as one pro . tern ., and should reserve their right to those who chose to follow- him . He could not say but what he had hoped to have been numbered ivith the officers , although he harl not expected to have been called on that day ; but ho supposed they they thought it most becoming to have one in holy orders to do

that portion of the duty he had done . It was a great pleasure to him to have found himself likely to learn that beautiful rite , and it was also a great disappointment to find his connection ivith the Invicta Chapter so soon severed . AVhen he was installed nothing was further from his thoughts than the idea of quitting London . He was not going to say that he had not obtained a better appointment , but he was going to say that he extremely regretted leaving behind him such brethren as he found in the Invicta Chapter , and as a proof that he ivas sincere , one of his oldest personal friends , Capt . Crawford , had been accepted on his proposition , that day , and I he had also proposed his oivn brother as a member . He had pro- :

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

posed both , feeling that the degree offered a high tone of interest to every Christian Mason , and in Ireland , to which he Avas bound by kindred ties , and where he ivas going-, those high degrees were held in high honour . He felt that a minister of the Church AA-as heartily Avelcomerl in Freemasonry , and as such had looked forward to a pleasant career ; and although this ivas but his second appearance , he did hope to meet them again , and assured them the Invicta Chapter harl his hearty good wishes . Though absent , he

should be alivays present ivith them in fraternal spirit , and hoped when next he appeared among them to find it increased hy more such valuable members as he saw around him , and that the M . AA ' . S . AA-ould pass as happily through his year of office as his predecessors hail done . Thanking them for' their kindness , and thc honour they had done him , the excellent brother concluded amid considerable applause . —The 111 . Bro . FIGG- ivas sensible of thc honour of being appointed first General , and likewise re-elected Treas . Ho had

also tho satisfaction to announce that the chapter had a balance in its favour in his hands . He had been acting as secretary heretofore , and as they were getting rather numerous , being above thirty strong , he thought the offices might UOAV be divided . —The excellent Bro , COCKCIIAFT was exceedingly obliged for his appointment , and believed the degree to be one of the greatest honours Masonry could boast . His anxious desire ivould bo to render himself worth ' of itand hoped to be enabled to fulfil the duties attached

y , to his position with credit to himself and satisfaction to the chapter . —The Sovereign Princes then drew round the fire , and passed the remainder of the evening in that agreeable and instructive converse which renders the meetings of the Invicta Chapter one of the most pleasant and intellectual re-unions in Freemasonry .

Colonial.

COLONIAL .

GIBRALTAR , —IXIIABITANIS' LODGE ( No . l 7 S . )—This lodge met on Monday evening , 17 th Dec , Bro . IrAvin , P . M ., acting for the AV . M ., absent in England . Bro . Jackman , S . W ., and Bro . Wilkinson , J . AV ., were at their posts , and about fifty of tho brethren . An officer of the Spanish Navy was initiated , and Bros . Prior ( Lieut . R . A . ) , Duulop ( Lieut . R . A . ) , and Belling were raised to the sublime degree ; after which the lodge proceeded to the election of AV . M . and Treasurer , for thc ensuing j ear . Tlie voting papers having been

collected , it appeared that the votes were equally divided between Bro . Jackman , S . AV ., and Bro . Ingram , P . M ., Treas ., whereupon Bro . Irwin was pressed to exercise his rights of giving a casting vote , ivhieh he at last consented to do , declaring Bro . Jackman duly elected . —Bro . Ingram having obtained permission to address the lodge , thanked the brethren for the confidence so many of them placed in him ; he ivas quite unprepared for it . They had a long list of eligible candidates for the proud position of AV . M ., and he had

not the least idea that they would have singled him out for one-half their votes . He greatly congratulated the lodge upon the easting vote of Bro . Irwin and that for several reasons : —1 st however proud he ( Bro . Ingram ) , would have been to bo their AV . M ., yet he had already so much Masonic work on his hand that he could not possibly have given that attention and time to the affairs of No . 17 S which he conscientiously ivould wish to give to any lodge over Avhich it might be his lot to preside . 2 nd , lie thought , as a general rule , it ivas much better for the Craft thai a Warden should be promoted than that a P . M . should be elected to the chair , as thus

the number of P . M . s ivould be increased , ivhieh always tended to promote the stability of the lodge , —and as the position of AA' . M . was one of the prizes held out for good aspiring Masons , it would bo discouraging if zealous Masons saw that prize repeatedly bcstoAved ou the same person . 3 rd . Bro . Jackman had proved so very constant in his attendance , and so efficient in his duties , that ho could not do otherwise than make a good Master : it Avas a subject of congratulation that the lodge had elected a master AA-IIO had

regularly earned the distinction in such a manner that it had almost become his right to be elected . —A good deal of other business was transacted , and but little time ivas left for refreshment . LODGE OF FRIENDSHIP ( No . 345 ) . —A numerously attended meeting of this lodge took place on Saturday , December 15 th , Bro . Sivain , W . M . in the chair . —Bro . Kempsou ( Royal Fusiliers ) , No . 17 S , was elected as a joining member , alter ivhieh the brethren proceeded to elect AV . M ., Treas ., and Tyler for the ensuing vear . Tho AA ' . M .,

in reading the list of members eligible , regretted that both Bro . iSTeivcome ( Lieut . R . A . ) , and Bro . \ Vheatley ( Lieut . R . B . ) , J . AV ., had left this station on military duty . The choice of the lodge must therefore fall on a P . M . or P . W . On the votes being registered tho voice of the lodge proved to be uuanimous in favour of the election of Bro . Major F . D . Middleton , A . ' D . C , as W . M ., Bro . Weir , Treas ., aud Bros . D , Bcatubo imcl J . Romero , joint Tylers . A deputation ivas appointed to intimate the vote of the lodge to the W . M . elect , consisting of Bros . Ingram , P . M ., AVilkinson , and Patterson .