Mark Masonry.

Marks ; T . Sheppard , S . D . ; Robert Brewin , J . D . ; AV . S . Bithrey , Dir . of Music ancl Ceremonies ; AV . Johnson , I . G . ; Rev . J . 0 . Picton , Mastot Overseer ; J . G . AVilley , Senior Overseer ; J . 11 . Garner , Junior Overseer ; C . Bembridge , Tyler ; Bro . Clephan was unanimously reelected Treasurer ; The Lodge having been closed in antient form , tho brethren adjourned to refreshment .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPOLITAN CHA PTER . ROBERT BURNS CHAPTER ( Xo . 25 ) . —This Chapter met at tho Freemasons' Tavern , on Monday , March 26 th . The business consisted of five exaltations , ably performed by Comp . T . Allen , the retiring M . E . Z . ; and the installation of tho three Principals followed . Comp . Hewlett was installed M . E . Z . by Comp . Allen , and inducted Comp . Harrison as H . ; who , in turn , performed a like office for Comp . Collard , J . The first duty that devolved on Comp . Hewlett , the new M . E . Z ., was the

gratifying one of decorating his predecessor , Comp . T . Allen , with the Past Principal ' s jewel ivhich had been voted by the Chapter . Comp . Allen returned his warmest thanks to the Companions of the Chapter . Upon assembling for refreshment we recognized the following visiting Companions : —R . J . Gole , P . G . Standard Bearer ; Jos . Smith , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Nutt , C . J . Hillinan , AV . Smith , H . Potter , L . Engel , Matthew Cooke , aud they wore joined at a later period of the evening by Dr . Hinxman and Bro . Hyde ClarkeP . G . L . The musical Companions

, present were George . Genge , Shoubridge , and Hansford . After " Non , Nobis" had been sung , the M . E . Z . proposed "Tlio health of the Queen . " The next toast was "The Earl of Zetland , the Grand Z . of the Order , " whose many excellencies had endeared him to both Craft ancl Arch Masons . The M . E . Z . next gave "Lord Panmure , the Grand H ., and tho actual Past and Present Grand Officers , " of which there were three present , and said he must not be understood to overlook Comp . Savage in not coupling his name with tho toastbut having among their

, visitors a Grand Officer who was a child of the Chapter , he coulcl not refrain from offering them the toast coupled with the name of Comp . Jos . Smith . Comp . Jos . SMITH then rose , and said he regretted that it should fall to his lot to return thanks for the Grand Officers , because lie imagined that Comp . Savage , who was present , ivould have discharged the duty much better than he could hope to do ; however , as the M . E . Z . had called upon him , he could do no less than obey . On behalf of the Grand H . Lord Panmureand the other Grand Officers of the Order

, it ivas his pleasing duty , however poorly he might discharge ifc , to declare that thoy were proud of tlie honour with ivhich the Companions of the Royal Arch ever welcome the toast . For his own part he must say that he was gratified at the maimer in which the du ties of the officers hacl been that night performed . It was not a usual sight to witness three Principals each install his successor , but they had witnessed such au event that evening , and he was the more delighted , because the ceremonies were performed m

so irreproachable a manner . He felt this more as this was his parent Chapter , and although he - had travelled away from homo into various Chapters yet , he was bound to admit the Robert Burns had no small share of his regard , and he always felt particularly happy to be a visitor among them , as it was the constant care of the members to make all who sought their society happy and . comfortable both in the Chapter and in tho Lodge , and in each case they had the knowledge that in attending the meetings they were sure to find the best specimen of perfect Masonry .

Not to detain them further , ho ivould conclude by returning thanks for the honour conferred upon him by coupling his name with the health of the Grand Officers . The M . E . Z . next proposed tho health of the visiting Companions , who wore on no occasion more numerous : —Comp . Cole , as a Grand Officer , was well known aud stood high as a member of the Order ; Comp . Nutt , the actual M . E . Z . of the St . Alban's Chapter , a Mason known far and wide for his brotherly qualities , and a strenuous supporter of tho charities ; Comp . Jos . Smitha Grand Officerand a

, , host in himself , forward in every good work ; Comp . Potter ; Comp . Matthew Cooke , welcome everywhere , but no ivhere more so than in the Burn ' s Chapter ; Comp . Piatt , well known alike for his masonic and social qualities ; Comp . Engel , a new Companion , who it had been the good fortune of tho M . E . Z . to see exalted but a few evenings previouslythese ivere the visitors , ancl it gave him great pleasure to propose their healths . Comp . Gole returned thanks . The M . E . Z . next said , thafc the toast they had last drunk was always a leasing onebut there was

p , another as pleasing to follow it . They hacl toasted the old blood , but every one must admit the old blood could only circulate and revive by the incorporation of new blood . ( Hoar , hear . ) That evening they had exalted no less than five brethren to the companionship of Royal Arch Masons , ancl he tolcl them , from his own experience , that if they chose to make themselves proficient in the Arch mysteries , and seek its highest honours , which were open to every companion , they would find m Royal Arch Masonry fche summit of Craft knowledge , which in itself contained

something more than Craft Masonry . One of the newly exalted Companions , returned thanks on behalf of himself and friends . He said he was grateful for the kind notice that had been accorded them , and described the impression tho solemnities had produced upon him . Comp . ALLEN , immediate P . Z ., rose to propose the next toast , and antieipated the great satisfaction with which ifc would be hailed by the members of the Chapter , as well as by their visitors ; so general was the approbation iu which their M . E . Z . was deservedly held . There was no

Royal Arch.

need of comment on his manner , that was well known ; all were satisfied with him , and he had that night given a further proof of his proficiency in installing his successor—a practice which he hoped ivould never again fall into disuse and one which must do credit to tho Chapter . Ho would therefore cafl upon them to drink the health of their newly installed M . E . Z . Comp . HEWLETT , in returning thanks , said ho had to acknowledge himself under a deep obligation to every one present for tho warm manner in which the toast hacl been received . He was

particularly anxious to do his duty in the chair to which their suffrages had unanimously called him ; but he felt that after his predecessors had so ably fifled that office he should have a hard task to keep within their footsteps , yet , if he coulcl not achieve excellence , ho was determined to endeavour to do so ; and thus he hoped to deserve the favour , and merit the continuance of the regard of the Companions , as much as his predecessors ; he could assure them that nothing should be wanting on his part to transmit the honour of the Chapter unsulliedto his

suc-, cessor . The M . E . Z . then proceeded to propose tho health of the Past Principals , Comps . AV . AA ' atson , Robinson , Carpenter , and others . To Comp . AA ' atson , who might be considered the father of the Chapter , the Robert Burns members were under no slight degree of obligation . Comp . AA'atson was justly looked upon as the mainstay of the Chapter , ancl it was tho belief of the M . E . Z . that two thirds of the metropolitan Masons owed to Comp . AA ' atson most of their knowledge of Masonry . Comp . AVATSON rose on behalf of the Past Principals to express their thanks .

For himself , ho was the eldest son of the Chapter , aud ho was proud of being so , seeing the high and distiuguised position of the Robert Burns Chapter in Royal Arch Masonry . They hacl at all times been , and still were , a happy family party ; and he believed that character would lose none of its pleasant associations under tlie kind ancl gentle sway of their present M . E . Z ., to whom both he ancl every Companion was willing to tender their sincere homage ; for as he was now invested with the distinguished office of M . E . Z . he believed he would prove to be in reality ;

, the father of the rulers , ancl the elder of the elders , and though his power was great he felt assured that it would only be exercised as a loving parent exercises authority over his obedient children . He spoke this with the feelings of a Past Principal , and took credit to himself thafc on tho sixteenth , anniversary each Principal should have installed his

successor , an act that hacl only taken place once before about fifteen years since . He took credit to himself for this as he had aided them , ancl hoped to aid many more to do likewise ; he believed that thoy who aspired to that chair were as able and willing to receive the necessary instruction as he was to give it . On behalf of the Past Principals and himself he begged to return thanks for the honour paid to them . Tho M . E . Z . theu proposed a toast confined to the Robert Burns Chapter"Prosperity to the Royal Arch , and Comp . McLaughlin , " for which

the reverend Companion returned thanks in his usual style . The next was " The health of tho two Principals , H . aud J ., Cornps . Harrison and Collard . " Comp . HARRISON returned thanks for tho stop to which he had been advanced , and trusted to merit that kindness , so that when ho should solicit the highest honours they could grant him , they would continue to think him worthy of them . Comp . COLLARD said he had , as a matter of course , expected this toast , ancl accordingly had selected aud strung together some few observations

which he intended to havo made , but as he could not remember what he hacl intended to say , ho should tender them his thanks for the manner in ivhich the toast had been received . Comps . Hyde Clarke and Dr . Hinxman having just entered the room , the M . E . Z . rose and saicl he had another toast to propose . —one of a peculiar nature . Then- ceremonies , their rituals , make frequent allusion to the east . From the east learning camo into the west . From the east they hailed the rising of the sun that rejoiced them by its presence till it set in the west . From the east all their mysteries took their rise , aud were diffused into the remotest regions , the ultima thule of the west . And now they had

present a Companion who had only returned for a short period to his native laud , from the east . Then what was their duty ? AYas it not to welcome the Master of tho first regular Lodge in Smyrna , Comp . Hyde Clarke . He called upon the Companions to join him in a toast to one who has laboured to bring a Loclge within the legal pale of the constitution , aud one who , in the best interests of mankind , demanded their sympathy and best wishes . He gave them " Success to Freemasonry in the east and to Comp . Hyde Clarke . " Comp . HDYE CLARKE said he coulcl

hardly say how very much he felt complimented by the expressions that had fallen from the M . E . Z ., and for the welcome so cordially given to him by the Companions of the Robert Burns Chapter . He was sorry that he had not attended earlier , so as to have witnessed the working of the Chapter , and this loss he could not retrieve , but he hoped to profit by seeing so noble a body of Companions assembled for the purpose of doing honour to Royal Arch Masonry . In it he saw an encouragement to persevere in tlie mission in tho east , ancl as ho had been the

means of suppressing tho surreptitious Grand Lodge in Smyrna , and had rescued Masonry from irregular working , the reception they had given him that night would stimulate him to further endeavours . He also hoped to establish , on a firm basis Chapters of Royal Arch Masons both at Smyrna and Constantinople , ancl the sight of that evening was a great encouragement to him while working under difficulties of which they had no conception . To him it was a cheering spectacle to see so great an assembly brought together to practice the highest mysteries of the Craft , and when he returned to this country for a permanence , lie hoped ho should bo again amongst them to receive their fraternal salu-