Royal Arch.

Comp . SEIG-JIT as a Past Master of the Lodge ( No . 38 ) thought that the present Avas not the time to consider the petition , which had never been submitted to the lodge . That lodge , would meet on Friday , when the matter might be taken into careful consideration , and until after that time he considered the petition should be postponed , and at the same time he must remark that its adoption had been moved by two companions neither of whom were members of the lodge . He therefore moved that the consideration of the

petitition be postponed . Comp . BRIDGES , G . D . C , being also a Past Master of the lodge , bore out the statement of Comp . Slight that the petition had not been brought before their lodge , and seconded the amendment . Comp . AVAKEEN in reference to the observations of Comp . Slight , explained that he had brought forward his motion for granting the petition as a member of the General Committee of Grand Chapter , in order to show his opinion that this case was exceptional to the

general rule with regard to London lodges . Comp . HISXAIAN also explained that he had seconded the motion on the merits of the case , and as an independent member of Grand Chapter . Comp . HAVERS , acting G . J ., felt strongly that since the Grand Master had relaxed the rule against the granting of warrauts for new lodges in consequence of the large increase in the number of Ireemasons , the Grand Chapter would do well to follow thc example Avith regard to new chapters . He knew also that the Britannic was a very large and respectable lodge of influential brethren , but seeing that this was a petition only of a small number of them , and

not of the lodge in its corporate capacity he thought they would he best consulting the interest and harmony of thc lodge to postpone the further consideration of it until it had been brought before the lodge . In reply to a question tho G . S . E . stated that the petition was recommended by the Master , the two AVardens , the Treasurer , the t \ ro Deacons , the Secretary and a number of other brethren . Bro . GOLE referred to rule 2 page 14 , of the Royal Arch

regulations to show that it did not appear requisite that the petition should be recommended in open lodge , or even by tho Master or AVardens of the lodge , all that was required being th ^ t a charter should be applied for by . nine regular Royal Arch Masons . The M . E . Z . stated that in that case any nine Royal Arch Masons might apply for a charter to attach a warrant to a lodge in which they had no interest . Comp . LCVEAC had never disguised his feelings in favour of

extending Royal Arch Masonry by the granting of warrants whenever properly applied for , but seeing that in this instance the petition was merely recommended by a few of the members instead of the lodge itsolt he thought it would be for the interest of the lodge and the future prosperity of the chapter , should the charter be granted , that the consideration of the petition should be postponed . On tho show of hands being taken the amendment was carried by seventeen to thirteen . On the motion of Comp . AA'Inte , acting G . H . the circular alluded to in the early part of the proceedings was referred to the General Committee for consideration .

THE AVELLIN'GTOX LODGE . The next petition brought forward was for a chapter to be attached to the AVellington Lodge ( No . 10 S 6 ) Deal , which the Committee roported ' was regular in all respects , excepting that the three principals nominated were not installed Masters as required by the regulations of the order , and that therefore they could not recommend the granting the application . On tho petition being read ,

Comp . II . G . AV . UiiiEX- called attention to the fact that the recommendation did not say that it was agreed to in open lodge , but only at a meeefmg " of brethren of the lodge . " He did not wish to raise any technical objection to the petition , but only to point out the course which must be adopted in future if Grand Chapters were to abide by the decision they had come to with regard to the petition last before them . Comp . S . B . AAlXSOjr , P . G . S . B ., said he had a letter in his pocket

which showed that the recommendation had been arrived at in open lodge . Comp . AAIIITE , acting G . J ., moved that the petition be granted and contended that rule 7 of the regulations of Private Chapters upon which the Committee appeared to have acted did not refer to new Chapters . That rule said : — "All officers are to be elected annually , except the assistant sojourners , who are to be appointed by the principal sojourner . No

companion of any subordinate chapter shall be eligible to be elected to either of the principal chairs , who is not at the time ot such election the actual master or past master of a craft lodge , nor until he shall have served the office of scribe or sojourner of a private chapter for a year . Itwas certainly laid down in that rule that no companion should be elected to a principal ' s ehair who had not filled certain offices—but

in a new chapter the Principals were appointed by Grand Chapter ,, and not elected—the same as in a new lodge the principal officers were appointed by the Grand Master , and though no lodge could elect a brother as master who had not served the office of Warden , yet the Grand Master , on the formation of a new lodge could appoint a master who had never filled a AVarden ' s chair , and in like manner Grand Chapter might appoint Companions as Principals of a new chapter AVIIO had not held the subordinate offices .

Comp . AVnsox , P . G . S . B . agreeing with Comp . AVhite as to the powers of Grand Chapter , seconded the motion . Comp . HAYEKS , acting G . J ., was astonished to hear the doctrineadvanced by the late Grand Scribe , for nothing in bis opinion could be more opposed to the law , and even the Grand Master could not override the law . He considered that it Avas a very different thing for a Master Mason who had not filled any office to be nominated as the Master of a lodge , and the placing of

such a brother in a Principal ' s chair of a Royal Arch Chapter . It was perfectly true that the regulations stated that a chapter might be granted on the petition of nine regular Royal Arch Masons , but it was equally true that they said that no person should be eligible to a Principal's chair until he was the installed Master of a Craft Lodge . He was aware that Grand Chapter could nominate to either of the Principal ' s chairs a companion who had not previously filled any one of them , but they had no power to raise to those chairs acompanion not being an installed Master , having no power to give

them the secrets ot that degree without the possession of winch they could not perform the duties of a Principal in a Chapter . It was one of their ancient landmarks that no companion could fill the office of Principal without being first placed in possession of the secrets of an Installed Master , and if Grand Chapter had no powerof giving those secrets , as he did not believe anyone would contend ' Supreme G Chap 2 they had , it was impossible that any brethren who had not been

regularly installed into the chair iu a regular lodge , could be installed into the office of Principal of a chapter . After some conversation in which it was stated that there would be little difficulty in obtaining duly qualified comps . to take the chairs of the chapters , Comp . H . G . AVAKBEK , stated that he should be very sorry fertile petition to be altogether dismissed , aud he would therefore move that it be remitted to the lodge with a view to its amendment , with

regard to appointment of Principals , and its further consideration postponed for the present . Comp . BiiACKBt-BN-, P . Z . 25 , seconded the amendment , which , after a few observations , was put and carried . A resolution was then carried , that the recent alterations andamendments in the Royal Arch regulations , be printed and givengratuitously to all companions applying for them . The business of the Grand Chapter being ended , it was closed in ample form .

NORTHUMBERLAND . NORTH SHIELDS . — Ogle Chapter ( A o . 62 i-. J— The Annual Convocation of this flourishing Chapter , was held in the Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 25 th ult ., when a good assemblage of companions took place . Amongst those present were M . E . Comps ., E . 1 ) . Davis , Z . ; AV . Berkley , P . Z . ; B . J . Thompson , P . Z ., Prov . Gr . Sc . E .,-li . B . Ridley , P . Z ., 292 ; AA . Morrow , Z . 01-1 ; AA . Twizell , H . 621 ; J . G . Tulloch , P . H . 62-1 ; II . Hewison , II . 292 ; C . J . Banister , H .

267 ; A . Clapham , H . 614 ; J . J . Oliver , J . 292 ; T . Alexander , J , 614 ; S . Bell , J . 21 ; J . N . Buckland , & c . After the confirmation of the minutes of last convocation , M . E . Comp . E . D . Davis ; Z ., proceeded to instal the officers for the ensuing year : —M . E . Comps . AVilliam Twizell , as Z . ; John Graham Tulloch , P . H . as J ; Edward Shotton , as E . ; Hans Christian Hansen , as N . ; James Nathaniel Buckland , as P . S . ; and John Evans Janitor . M . E " Comp . Crawford , the H . electAvas unavoidably absent . The

fol-, lowing M . E . Companions having been duly elected in their respective chapters , and the minutes of election confirmed , were presented to the Board of Principals and duly installed as follows : —M . E . Comps - Anthony Clapham , as Z ., and Thomas Alexander , as II . of " De Burghi , " Chapter ( No . 614 ) , Gateshead—and Septimus Bell , as H ., of " De Swinburne , " Chapter ( No . 24 ) , Newcastle . After the labours of the day , the Companions adjourned to Bro . Manning's , Albion Hotel , and sat down to a sumptuous dinner , after which , M . E .

Comp . Twizell , Z ., on behalf of the Companions of the Ogle Chapter , presented a handsome piece of silver plate to M . E . Comp . Edward Dean Davis , P . Z ., in consideration of the valuable services rendered to the chapter since its consecration .

A Life of Ddward Forbes , the Naturalist , is in the press , by-George Wilson , M . D ., late professor of Technology in the University of Edinburgh , and Archibald Seikie , F . S . T . of the Geological Survey .