Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Supreme Grand Council , " coupled with the name of the 111 . Bro . Col . Clerk . —Col . CLEEK was very happy that it was in the Invicta Chapter he first had the honour to respond to that toast as a member of the Supreme Grand Council . He could assure them it was with great pleasure that every member of that body felt how cordially their names were received and themselves esteemed . ( Hear , hear ) . Dr . Leeson , the head of the order , worked night and day for its good , and every member

of the Supreme Grand Council , did his utmost in seconding their chief . Nothing gave him , personally , more pleasure than to see that chapter , which he might call his own , adding to its strength not only numerically , but those who were g-ood Masons at heart . In the name of Dr . Leeson and the members of the Supreme Grand Council , as well as his own , he returned them many thanks for the toast . —TheM . W . S . proposed "The Health of the Visitors . " They were honoured by the presence of the

Ex . Bro . L . D . Spence , of the Metropolitan Chapter , the 111 . Bros . Shuttleworth and Thompson , and were very happy to see them on that occasion , and at all others convenient to themselves . —The Ex . Bro . SrENCE was not quite certain that he ought to reply to the toast which had been so kindly proposed . But if Ue was out of order in so doing he could not resist the opportunity of adding that which his brethren , the visitors , would readily endorse , in stating how agreeably surprised he had been

at the very superior working of the ceremonies , and he could not help contrasting their working with that of the Metropolitan Chapter , to which he belonged , and state that the Metropolitan Chapter could not come anything near the Invicta for precision and accurate performance of the ceremony . On behalf of the visitors , he tendered their hearty thanks for the toast , and the great treat they had in that day ' s ceremonial . —The Ex . Bro . CAETEEPastM . W . S . had liberty to propose a toast . They all

, , knew there was no one better fitted than the 111 . Bro . Figg to preside over the chapter . When he ( Bro . Carter ) vacated the chair , he was delighted to be succeeded by such an enthusiastic Mason as Bro . Figg , and , as one of their visitors had said , the work was never better performed , so he believed the name of the Invicta Chapter would , in Bro . Figg ' s hands be still what its imported , " unconquered , " and it must prosper under his rule . He concluded by proposing the "Health of the M . W . S . the

111 . Bro . Figg . "—The M . W . S . was much obliged for the mention of his name , and he had certainly tried to do his best , but was not satisfied with himself , for he felt his voice was not powerful enough —( no , no)—but his anxiety to perform his duties were not to be measured by his ability to do them . —The M . W . S . had another toast to x > ropose which he was sure would be most satisfactorily received ; those whom they hap newly perfected that day ; they were Bros . Dr . Hughes , the Rev . Dr . Richards , and E . J .

Eraser , all of them great acquisitions to the Order . He xvas always glad to see clergymen in their meetings , and was delighted to have introduced the Rev . Dr . Richards . He then gave the toast of the " Newly Perfected S . P . R . > Jf , coupled witli long life , happiness , and prosperity to them , individually and collectively . "—The Rev . Dr . RICHAEDS having been deputed to acknowledge the toast , did so with the greatest satisfaction to himselfbecause he had derived not only pleasure but profit from

, the very interesting ceremony of their reception . He regarded it , as he believed they all did , as one of the most solemn character , and something more than they were accustomed to , for , as Masons , they were disposed to take a very broad and comprehensive view of religion , and merely regard the cross as a symbol , but in that degree they looked upon it as Christians , and not only were they enjoined to wear it on their breastsbut in their heartsas a cross fleury

, , and a true passion cross . The Scottisli Masons of old held that when that emblem was presented to them , the bridegroom had to leave his bride , the baron his castle , and the monk his cloister . He was glad to find Christian hope and Christian fath in Masonry . Hitherto when non-Masonic Christian friends had spoken to hiin of Masonry he had been at a loss to reply to them , but now he felt that he could give a good account for the faith that was in

him , and join the Old Testament working of Craft Masonry with the new Testament faith of that Order , and show that the one was . not repugnant to the other , which would be the legitimate result if all worked together in a Christian spirit . He was truly gratified in being admitted to that degree and as they had called upon him to act in his clerical capacity there , so at all times they would find him ready to perform every duty they might require . On behalf of his new brethren and himself , he was pleased to be so kindly received . —The M . W . S . next gave "The PastM . W . S ' s . of the Chapter , Dr . Hinxman , Colonel Clerk , and

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Bro . Carter . 'I heir merits and exertions were too well known , for him to dilate upon them . —Bro . CAETEE said it had been the delight of each of them , whilst officiating in the chair , to do their duty , and if that had met with the approval of the chapter they had their best reward . —The 111 . Bro . W . SMITH , C . E ., suggested that it Colonel Clerk would favour the newly perfected with some remarks on the degrees they had that day received , he felt

sure such information would be highly esteemed . —Colonel CLEEK very kindly acceded to this request and gave certain historical facts , reasons , and customs of the degree , to the delight of all present , but which we are unable to offer to offer to our readers .- —The M . W . S . had to propose "The health of ths officers , the 111 . Bro . Smith , C . TS ., 1 st Gen . ; the Ex . Bro . Laird , Treas . and Sec , the Ex . Bro . Matthew Cooke , Org . and Captain of Lines , and their new Prelate had each done well . —The 111 .

Bro . W . SMITH , C . E ., begged to be allowed to return thanks in the name of the officers . They were ever ready and willing to do their duty , and the toast was none the less acceptable on that account . They each highly esteemed the honour , and as reference had already been made to another chapter , they all felt , their work would stand comparison with any chapter . He hoped the members would accept from each their kind thanks . Afterone or two other toasts , the S . P ' s . separated-

Masonic Festivities

MASONIC FESTIVITIES

CAMDEN LODGE ( No . 1006 ) . —The members of this lodge held their annual ball with a very select circle of friends , on Thursday , the 27 th ult ., at the Whittington Club , Arundel-street , Strand . The dancing commenced at 9 o ' clock in the welllighted and well-ventilated ball-room of the club , and was continued with much spirit under the excellent arrangements of the honorary M . C . ( Bro . J . N . Frost , P . M . 276 , S . W . 1006 ,

S . D . 1167 ) , both before and after the supper , until the 24 dances comprised in the programme were each done the fullest justice to . At half past twelve the whole party sat down to regale themselves from an excellent supper , served in the newly-decorated banquetting-room of the club by Bro . Clegborn ( Steward of the club ) . Here , as in the ball-room , the incentives to merriment were liberally supplied , and as liberally partaken of by those present . Enjoyment was the object of the meeting , and .

each seemed determined that nothing should prevent its consummation , and this determination was happily an entire success . Bro . Tyrrell the Senior P . M . of the lodge , P . M . 168 , and President of the Stewards' Committee , presided at the supper table and after supper , previous to the ladies returning to the ballroom , proposed , " The Health of the Queen . " After alluding to the loyalty of Freemasons , in a few appropriate remarks , he referred to her Majest's recent melancholbereavement . The

y y Anthem followed . He then gave " The health of the Ladies , " and added that their presence always spread a halo of happinessavound Freemasons , and although they could not be permitted to mingle in all their assemblies , yet , that no men more highly appreciated their gentle sex . Bro . Dr . Jones , the senior bachelor present , in a very gallant but somewhat comic manner , responded . On introducing the next and last toast , "The Camden Lodge , " he stated that since the existence of the lodge

( 5 years ) , it had annually given a similar ball and that he had no doubt that so long as the fair ones bestowed upon it their patronage , with each succeeding year there would be a recurrence of these happy meetings . Bro . Best , P . M ., briefly acknowledged the toast . Thanks were then awarded to the worthy President and the party returned to the ball-room and resumed dancing , which continued until the hour for separation arrived , when all left apparently well satisfied with the evening ' s entertainment .

AN OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN . —Then the old gentlemanstout , yet old—his spectacles cocked on the top of his head , his broad-tailed coat and flapped waistcoat being covered with powder from his scanty hair , which , though naturally white as the snow which was wreathing the hall in its wintry shroud outside , he still wore , because he thought that all estated gentlemen of standing in the countshould support the Government

y by paying the Queen ' s taxes—one of the few aristocratic privileges which the" people " had not encroached upon . He smiled as each well-known face met his eye , patted the young girls on the check and the boys on the head , and spoke an encouragingword to all . —Life Scenes and Social Sketches , by J . T . Burgess *