Royal Arch.

excused from serving the office of Z . again , the choice of fche companions was unanimously in favour of the re-election of Comps . W . Battye , as Z . ; Woodman , as H . ; and J . Strapp as J . The election of the other officers was then proceeded with , and Comp . Crombie was elected Treas . ; J . Glegg , as E . ; Shields , as N . ; J . Glaisher , as Prin . Soj . Bro . Bailey was then exalted aud obligited , and the usual business of the chapter was gone through , and the companions adjourned to banquet .

DORSETSHIRE . WIMBORNE . —St . Cuthberga Chapter ( No . 622 ) . —A convocation of this chapter was held on the Sth iust . The chapter was opened in ancient and solemn form by tho acting Principals , Comps . Rowe , P . Z ., as M . E . Z . ; the Rev . W . M . Heath , as M . E . H . ; Kerridge , as M . E . J . ; Ward , as Prin . Soj . ; C . W . WyndhamE . ; F . TannerN . & c . The minutes of the last two

, , , convocations were read and confirmed . The companions then proceeded to ballot for Bro . Smith , Lodge St . Cuthberga ( No . 622 ) , as a candidate for exaltation , the same being unanimous in his favour . He was then introduced and exalted to this supreme degree . At the conclusion of the ceremony a conclave of Installed Principals having been opened , the Principals for the ensuing year were installed in a most impressive manner by

Comps . Jacob , P . G . H . Dorset ; Ward , M . E . Z . ; tho Rev . W . M . Heath , M . E . H . ; Wyndham , M . E J . The companion having been admitted the following officers were invested : —Comps . C . Kerridge , P . Z ., F . C . Clifton , N . ; C Tanner , Prin . Soj . ; and Wallingford , Janitor . The M . E . Z . then proposed that the thanks of the chapter be tendered to M . E . Comp . Jacob , for his services on this and all occasions , and that he be constituted a life member of the chapter ; seconded by the M . E . H ., carried

unanimously . Comp . Jacob then thanked the companions for the honour they had done him , and expressed the pleasure it afforded him on all occasions to assist the chapter . Comp . Heath proposed a vote of thanks to Comp . Wyndham for his present of a handsome frame for the charter of constitution ; seconded by Comp . Rowe , [ and carried unanimously . There being no further business the chapter was closed in ancient form . The companions then adjourned to an elegant banquet ,

at which the M . E . Z . presided , supported by other Principals ; Comp . Tanner P . S ., in the vice-chair . The usual toasts having been given and duly honoured , the companions separated , after having spent a most enjoyable evening .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

HULL . HUMBER . LODGE ( NO- 57)—The fifth annual picnic in connexion with , this lodge took place on the 8 fch inst . The committee of management , to whom too much praise cannot be given , engaged the commodious steamer Liverpoolfrom the Manchester , Sheffield , and

Lincoln-, shire Railway Company , for the occasion , and a large number of the brethren and friends ( including several members from the sister lodges in the town ) left the Corporation Pier at about half-past eight o ' clock , and proceeded direct to the Trent Falls and Alkbro' Hills . The arrangements of the committee did not fail to afford the most genuine enjoyment to all on board . Ample

shelter was provided , and dancing was kept up almost incessantly until the arrival of the steamer at Burton Stather , where cricket , croquet , and a variety of rural sports were engaged in . Dancing on the green , for which the excellent quadrille band of Mr . R . Close was engaged , engrossed a large share of attention . The dinner , which was an excellent one , was provided by

Bro . George Peacock , and which was admirably served up on board the steamer , in order to meet the convenience of all parties , at twelve , one , and two o ' clock respectively . On each occasion the customary loyal toasts were proposed , as was also the toast of "The Ladies , "—the gentlemen called upon to respond being Messrs . McLeve } -, White , and J . Martin . On the wayhome dancing was again kept up with unflagging interest on the fore-part of tho vessel , while abaft , the

Masonic Festivities.

visitors wore entertained by selections of vocal music rendered by Bros . Chas . Leggolt and E . T . Vivian , and Mr . W- J . Piper , ancl other gentlemen , who were accompanied on the piano by Mr . Petty . Prior to the landing of the party at the pier , three cheers were given for the W . M . ( Bro- John Walker ) and the visitors .

SOMERSETSHIRE . The brethren of Wincanton and Bruton organized a very agreeable pic-nic at Stourton on the 25 th ult ., to which they invited their brethren in Erome and the neighbouring towns . The afternoon was devoted to an inspection of Stourton House and grounds , which Sir Henry Hoare , with accustomed liberalityhad thrown

, open for the occasion . In groups of twenties the visitors were conducted through the state rooms , and shown the rich art treasures for which Stourton House is famed . Ifc was , however , but a passing view . Party succeeded party , and the visitors had but time to glance at the marvellous array of the gems which the taste and the wealth of the hoare familhave collected in their

y sweet Wiltshire seat . On leaving the house the visitors were conducted through the grounds , fche beauties of which , especially at this season , are enchanting' At six o ' clock the company sat down to dinner , and Bro . Frapwell provided a first-class repast , which , we need hardly say , his guests very heartily enjoyed after their rambles . The after-dinner proceedings were not of a formal

character . The party was a pleasure one , and only a few toasts were given . The Queen , the Grand Master of England , the Earl of Zetland , the Deputy Grand Master , and the Provincial Grand Masters were toasted with enthusiasm . "The Health of Sir Henry Hoare" was especially honoured , and the worthy baronet found a representative in Bro . Fry . The visiting brethren from

the Shaftesbury and Erome Lodges were represented respectively by Bro . Sutton , S . W ., ' and Bro . Mason , J . W . " The Ladies , " and " The Chairman " were the only remaining toasts . Bro . Andrews presided . The arrangements of the committee of management , Bros . Russell , Sheppard , and Fry , were in every way admirable , and the meeting was throughout a very enjoyable one .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE ILLUSTRIOUS BRO . M . VIEMET . Ereemasonry has just experienced a severe loss by thedeath of the illustrious head of the Supreme Grand Council of France . We only received by post on Tuesday last a hastily-written announcement of the lamented death of Bro . M . Viennet , and must therefore defer until

a future issue giving a more complete obituary notice and a record of his Masonic career ; but we cannot allow the present opportunity to pass without giving such particulars of the known history of this illustrious and very remarkable man as are at hand ; and , as the Times has in its issue of Wednesday , the 15 th inst ., devoted nearly a column and a half to a notice of the late M .

Viennet , written by their Paris correspondent , we cannot do better than re-produce that notice verbatim : — " The death is announced of M . Viennet , of the French Academy , and member of . the Chamber of Deputies , afterwards Peer of France under the Orleans Government . He was born at Beziers , in the department of the Herault , in—so say the papers—1777 . I always

understood from himself that he was some years older ; and I have heard him speak jocosely of his friend Lord Brougham as a young man in comparison . I have , howover , remarked that , while some men , before reaching a certain age , do not much like to dilate on this delicate subject , yet , after that limit is passed , they affect a sort of coquetry iu making themselves older than they really