Royal Arch.

GIBRALTAR . CAIPEAN CHAPTEE , ( No . 278 ) . —The regular meeting of this chapter was hold in the rooms of the Friendship Lodge ou tho 13 th ult . In the unavoidable absence of the M . E . Z ., Comp . Henry , P . Z ., Comp . Cornwell presided , supported by Comps . Ellison and Beal as H . and J . respectively . Tho business of the evening , in addition to the exaltation of Bro . Beck , of Adam ' s

Lodgo , Slioerness , included tbe election of officers for tho ensuing year . From a long list of candidates , Comp . Balfour Cockburn was elected 1 st Principal , Comp . Dantz , was elected to tho second chair , and Comp . Hector Cavaima , to the third chair . Comp . Richardson , who , during the past year , performed the duties of Principal Sojourner iu an effective aud able manner , was elected Scribe N . ; Comp . Heppe , Scribe E . ; and Comp . Andrews , Principal Sojourner . Comp . Marin , was unanimously

re-elected Treasurer . Count Pelcskie was also re-elected Janitor . The labours of the evening being ended , the chapter was closed , when the companions retired to refreshment , the remainder of tho evening being spent in social intercourse .

SUFFOLK . IPSWICH . —The Quarterly Convocation , of the St . Lukes Chapter was held at the Coach and Horses Hotel on AVednesday the 27 th ult . when there wero present : — Companions James Franks , P . Z ., Acting Z , ; Herman Harris , P . Z ., Acting J . ; James Richmond , P . Z ., Acting II . ; James Turner , P . Z . Acting P . L . ; A . K . Taylor , Acting N . ; G . S . Findlay , P . Z . ;

J . Tracey , P . Z . ; S . B . King , P . Z . Scribe E . ; James Clark , Treasurer . ; C . Godbold , J . Godbold , J . Whitehead , A'isitor , Bro . Emra Holmes . The chapter having been opened , the ballot was taken for Comp . J . AVhitehead as a joining member aud Bro . Charles Byford of tbe St . Lukes Lodge as a candidate for exaltation . Both brethren were unanimously elected and Bro . Byford being in attendance he was duly exalted to the degree of HolRoyal Arch . The ceremony was most impressivel

y y performed by Comp . Franks , who afterwards gave the symbolical and mystical lectures in a maimer which have never been excelled and rarely equalled . Comp . Richmond , P . Z . gave the interesting historical lecture . Comp . King , proposed Comp . Emra Holmes as a joining member of this Chapter , which was seconded by Comp . Franks . The usual routine business of the Chapter having been disposed of it was closed iu ancient form , and the Companions retired to partake of the simple refreshment

provided for the occasion . Comp . Franks as the M . E . Z ., occupied tbe chair . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , the M . E . Z ., proposed " our newly exalted Companion Bro . By lord , " who briefly replied . He next gave Tire A'isrtor Comp . Emra Holmes , whoso health ho proposed in flattering terms . Comp . Holmes in

responding , begged to thank the Companions for- the kind way in which his name had been received . He had been induced to attend the Chapter that evening to see the ceremonies performed by their esteemed M . E' Comp . Pranks , whose admirable working lie had witnessed with great pleasure at the Royal Sussex Chapter recently . He was bound to say that lie had neyer seen the beautiful ritual of the Royal Arch more ably exemplified than on that occasion by Comps . Franks and King ,

They were told by some Alasons , as they might read in the Masonic Magazines , that the Royal Arch did not exist before the beginning of the last century , but he would advise his younger companions not to believe one word of such statements . There was the impress of a great antiquity upon the cermonios of that degree , and without doubt it was a very ancient and beautiful order . The fact was a Freemason who was not a member of the Royal Arch was only half a Masonaud it was as necessary to

, tbe completion of the third degree , as the Alark was to tho second . They must have felt in becoming Fellow Crafts that there was a blank hiatus somewhere , a something wanting to complete the degree . AVell that hiatus was filled by the Mark degree , and the same might be said of the Master Alasons degree , which was only truly exemplified and ' perfected iu the Holy Royal Arch . Comp . King begged leave to propose the Acting Principals of the Chapterand Comp . Richmondin responding

, , expressed the great pleasure it always gave him to be of use in the Chapter . He expatiated on the beauty of the ceremony in which they had recently taken part , aud insisted that with the Royal Areli the scheme of Alasonry was complete ; there was nothing beyond it . Comp . Emra Holmes ventured to demur to

tho statement of Comp . Richmond , and reminded the companions that Masonry without Christianity in a Christian country could not be said to be complete . This was recognised in the fact that before tho union of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 , the Knights Templar degree was especially recognised by the Grand Lodge of all England at York previous to 1870 , at which . times the Rose Croix and auotherChristian degree was also w orked .

At the union of tho two Grand Lodges it was expressly declared in the Articles of Union that whilst Ancient Craft Alasonry consisted of three degrees and no more , including the Holy Royal Arch , yet " this article is not meant to prevent tho meeting of the Chavalrio degrees in our lodges as heretofore" or words that effect . This used to be printed in the old copies of the constitutions he believed , and he should wish to know by whose

authority so important a provision should have been eliminated from the copy now published . A very learned brother , whom they all knew , had recently given a lecture ou tbe ancient mysteries of tbe Egyptians and Greeks , and bad shown that throughout all of them there was a trace , a sort of antetype of a Death and Resurrection , pointing out and prophecying a coming Messiah . They all heard how far Alasonry was connected with these ancient mysteries , bow in fact it was based upon them .

And ho for one was inclined to think that the perfection of Masonry and its Christian characteristic could Only be obtained in tho Ancient , and Accepted Rite and in tbe Templar degrees . Comp . Heinle ' s remarks were listened to with great attention and provoked an amicable discussion , aud the majority of those present pronounced themselves in favour of his view of the scheme of Freemasonry . An agreeable evening was spent and it w-as at a late hour that tho Companions separated .

AA'ILTSHIRE . KIDDEEJIISSTEE . — Chapter Hope and Charity , ( No 377 ) . — On Friday , Sth nit , a Royal Arch Chapter attached to Lodgo Hope and Charity , No 377 , was consecrated , the M . E . Prov . Grand Superintendent , Comp . A . H . Royds . Several Officers of Grand Chapter attended , and took part in the ceremony . The chapter having been opened by E . Comps .

AV . Bristow , P . Z . 252 , as Z . ; E . M . Warmington , Z . 498 , as H . ; and AV . H . Jones , P . Z . 498 , as J . the Prov . Grand Supt . and his Grand Officers entered the chapter room in procession , and took the chairs as follows : the M . E . Prov . G . Supt . asZ ., E . Comp . J . Barber as H ., aud E . Comp . AA ' . Maxfield as J . E . Comp . C . C . AV . Griffiths , acting D . of C , having called upon the companions to salute the Pro . G . Supt , and Graud Officers indue form . B . Comp . AV . Bristow-, acting Scribe E .,

read the warrant , and the M . E . Prov . G . Supt . then proceeded with the impressive consecration service , during which the anthem , " Let there be light , " the ode , " Hail , universal Lord ! " and tire 122 nd Psalm were sung , and most effectively accompanied on the harmonium by Comp . T . Troman , Prov . G . Organist . At the conclusion of the consecration service , the Prov . G . Supt . called upon Comp . AV . Bristow to instal the Principals as follows : —Comps . A . J . HancockZJames

Fitz-, . ; gerald , H , ; W . L . Faucett , J . ; after which the following companions were nominated to fill tiie respective offices in the chapter , viz ., G . AV . Grosvenor , S . E . ; P . Bellitzay , N . ; A . T . Hancock , P . S . Four companions were proposed as joining members , and eight candidates for exaltation . On Monday , 11 th ult ., the first regular meeting of tho chapter was held , when three candidates were exalted .

SCOTLAND . PAETICK . —Particle Royal Arch Chapter ( No . 113 ) . —The annual meeting for the election aud installation of Office Bearers was held on Friday evening , 22 nd inst ., when the following companions were elected : Comps . Thomas Hacket , AI . E . Z . j Alex . Campbell , II . AVilliam Christie , J . AVilliam AVhite , S . E . ; John Bain , S . N . ; David Stevenson , Treas . ; Robert Anderson ,

1 st . Soj . ; I " . H . Remmors , 2 nd Soj . ; John Dawson , 3 rd Soj . ; and AA'illiam Latimer , Janitor . A Board of First Principals was constituted , and Comp . Thomas Hacket , was duly installed as Z . A Board of Second Principals was constituted , and Comp . Alex . Campbell was installed as II ., and the other Office-Bearers were thereafter duly invested . Tbe installation ceremonies were performed in a very able and eloquent manner by Comp . James Crabbe , M . E . Z . No . 50 . The chapter having beeu duly