Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

AA ' OOLWICH . —Zwicla Chapter of Sovereign Princes Rose Croix . —This chapter held au emergency meeting at the Freemason ' s Hall , William-street , AA ' oolwich , on Friday , the 1 st inst . There were present Licut .-Col . Clerk , S . G . I . G ., 33 ; J . AA * . Figg , 30 ° , M . AV . S . ; Rev . Dr . Richards , 18 ° , Prelate ; Capt . King , 31 ° , 1 st General ; AA * . Carter , P . M . AV . S ., 18 ° , as 2 nd General ; P . Laird , 18 ° , Grand Marshal ; E . J . Cockcraft , 18 ° , Raphael ; AV . Hewitt 18 ° Capt . of the GuardMatthew Cooke 30 ° Org . ;

, , ; , , Dr . Hinxman , P . M . AV . S ., and Capt . Boyle , 31 ° ; Hon . Dr . Hamilton , 30 ° ; Dr . Normandy , AV . Piatt , Dr . Hughes , I-I . B . Bayly , and Lyons , 18 ° . The chapter was opened , and Captain Douglas received into the Order . Some matters of routine were disposed of and the chapter was closed . The brethren then adjourned to Bro . De Grey ' s , the Freemasons' Tavern , where they partook of an excellent dinner . After the cloth had been

removed , the 111 . Bro . Figg , M . AV . S ., gave The Queen . " This was followed by that of the "M . P . Sov . G . Com . of the Order , Dr . Leeson , and the Supreme Grand Council , " one of whom , Col . Clerk , they had always the pleasure of having amongst thom —( heat , hear , )—and to whose influence and exertion the chapter was greatly indebted for its permanent success . —Colonel CIEEK said , knowing they always felt they ought to drink the health of the M . P . Sov . Com . and his associates , it was a pleasing duty to acknowledge their good wishes . To the researches of Dr . Leeson , they , the Supreme Grand Council , owed their

position . He had studied most deeply , and every member of the Council were ready to acknowledge his labours and second him hy every means in their power . For the toast , and in the name of the Supreme Grand Council , he returned thanks . ( Hear , hear . )—The S . G . I . G . Colonel GLEBE , 33 ° , proposed the "Health of their newly received member , Captain Douglas . " He then went into a most interesting and lucid , account of the riteits historyusesand privilegesancl proved

, , , , that if Dr . Leeson had been the first to study it in Colonel Clerk , he had no moan disciple . Colonel Clerk concluded an address which was frequently interrupted by approving cheers , by proposing the toast—Bro . Captain DOUGLAS , 18 ° , tersely and happily returned thank . —Bro . CABTEB , P . M . AV . S , claimed bis privilege to propose the health of their present M . AV . S . Bro . Pigg , who , without prejudice to those who had preceded him

in that office , was one oi the best officers any Rose Croix Chapter could boast . —The 111 . Bro . PIGG , 30 ° , AV . AV . S ., who was warmly received upon rising , said he should have been pleased if the toast had been omitted , as he was not in good health to respond . He thanked them for their kindness to him on all occasions , and was ever ready to do his best for the prosperity of that degree and chapter . Dr . HINXMAH , 31 ° , proposed

the Masonic Press , which waa replied to by Bro . Matthew Cooke , 30 ° , in the absence of Bro . Henry George AA ' arren . There being no other formal toasts , the members , after friendly and interesting discussion of many Masonic matters , retired .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

SOMERSETSHIRE . Pic-Nic ON THE QUAOTOCK HILLS . The Yen . Archdeacon Denison , the other day , when alluding to social pleasures and friendly gatherings , remarked that those persons , who objected * to such festivals had better seek a residence in another planetwhore men were not made to meet

, together and enjoy each other ' s company . These sentiments were warmly applauded , as they deserved to be , and their practicability has been illustrated on several occasions since in Bridgewater . The last gathering was the Masonic pic-nic , and a right merry gathering it was . It is a fact , admitted by all reasonable persons , that men need a change—a variation from the pursuits of every-day life . In a wordthe physical and

, mental systems need recreation . About this latter word much has been said and ' written ; but the most learned of lexicographers declare that it represents a re-creation or re-buildingthat those who partake of innocent enjoyment take in a new stock of health , strengthen and invigorate the body and stimulate the mind . Upon such authority as this , we may safely declare that recreation is essential to human existence , happi-

Masonic Festivities.

ness depending more or less upon the character of the pleasure and the opportunities of enjoyment . All writers on the moral and social condition of mankind assert this fact , and . if it were needed , divine authority might be adduced to support the proposition . There is an inherent disposition in human nature to seek pleasure and companionship . AA'ith ivhat avidity the dwellers in the smokydingymetropolis flas it werebeyond

, , y , , the confines of tbeir gigantic city , to enjoy the exhilirating and bracing breezes of Brighton and Margate . The inhabitants of Bridgewater have not a crowded city to plead for a holiday ; but there are the delightful hills , valleys , and glades , standing with an inviting aspect , impossible to resist , ancl who can be blamed for putting into practice the words of the oft-quoted song ,

"Away to the hills , away . " Or , to say with Thomson , " Hence , let me haste into the mldwood shade , AA'here scarce a sunbeam wanders through tlie gloom Ancl on the dark green grass , beside the brink Of haunted stream , that by the roots of oak Rolls o'er the rocky channelslie at large

, , And sing tho glories of the circling year . " There is also something besides mere pleasure in holidays and social gatherings . They cause joy , but they create joyousness . There is a feeling of pleasure caused at the time , but , when rightly viewed , a lasting impression is left behind , which is reflected in every day life . As the genial kindly Hartley Coleridge wrote : —

" Little , little joys on earth , Passing gleams of restless mirth , Momentary fits of laughter , Still bequeath a blessing after , Flitting on by angel's wing , And like voices perishing , At the instant of their birth . Never , never test their worth

By the time of their enduring , They are garners in a dearth , Pleasant thoughts , for age securing , Rich deposits . "

This seemed to he the spirit with which the festivities of the Masonic pie-nics were entered into last week . The gathering had its origin in a friendly discussion between those who attended the Masonic meeting at Wells . AVith a spirit of unselfishness , it was asked why the wives of Masons and their friends might not participate in an united holiday , when the mysteries of the Craft could he laid aside . The question was practically answered by a proposition for a pic-nicthe brethren to invite their

, families and friends . A committee was arranged , Bro . J . D . Jarman being appointed secretary , ancl he discharged his duties right well . It was agreed that each person should provide refreshments thus obviating the trouble of organising a commissariat . Bro . Bridges , the gallant Captain of tbe 26 th Somerset ( Bridgewater ) volunteers , and the D . Prov . G . M . for Somerset , kindly placed the fine band of his corps at the disposal of the

committee . But after so lengthy a prelude , we will proceed to notice the festivities . That all-important matter , the weather , was everything that could be desired . The morning broke rather dull ancl lowering , and there were apprehensions as to what kind of weather the clay would bring forth . Old Sol , however , speedily dissipated all fears , ancl shone forth with great brilliancy . There

was no organisation of any kind , each person selecting his own particular mode of reaching the spot , and pleasing his own fancy as to the means of locomotion . Some , therefore , started in style , driving dashing carriages and pairs , others sported tandem , many preferred a gig or ordinary four-wheel , while not a few had large covered vans , and travelled enfamille , in happy , pleasant , merry parties . The road lay through AA ' embdon and

Cannington , and on the main turnpike to Keynthorne , where the road diverges to Quantock Lodge , the beautiful seat of the Right Hon . Lord Taunton . The permission to hold the pic-nic on the hills was kindly granted by H . Robertson , Esq ., the esteemed steward of the noble owner , and he kindly gave instructions that the convenience of his brother Masons and their friends should be consulted . This was done to the letter , the lodge gates being

thrown open to allow vehicles wishing to pass that way to enter , and on the top of the hills , near Quantock farm , in a position commanding a splendid view , the ferns and grass had been mown from a large plot , for the visitors to assemble . The view from