Provincial.

and , apart from other modes of progress and of education , this was one which many intelligent men in the town bad long seen was not to be neglected . ( Hear , hear . ) He hoped and expected that when the great difficulties were overcome which he was afraid applied to almost all the world at the present moment—and particularly that fearful social struggle which was going on across the Atlanticwhatever the solution of that difficulty might be , he

believed "that the trade of this town and of the country must revive , and that when it did revive it would depend upon those men who had established and maintained these schools through evil report and good report—to further their objects and to extend that trade which , without the advantages and the accessories of art , must decline , and ultimately fail . ( Hear , hear . ) To those gentlemen in Nottingham who had assisted and advocated these schoolsthe gratitude of its inhabitantsand

parti-, , cularly of the working classes , was due . ( Hear , hear . ) It was not only the extension of trade and manufactures which was concerned in the well-being of these schools , but they materially affected the pecuniary interests of the workmen , and had a material bearing on their civilisation . ( Hear , bear . ) The instruction in art which was given at these schools permeating the various grades of society , and descending to the very lowest and tbe humblest , materially assisted tbe clergyman , the

schoolmaster , and all who were engaged , in the great work of education . ( Hear , hear . ) These were times of very eventful importance ; and whether we were studying the education of the humbler clases in the ordinary sense of the word , or whether we were endeavouring to elevate them hy an instruction in art to artistic tastes , or whether we were making any other advance , we were materially aiding the great work of preparing the mass of the people of this country for any struggle which might

come , for we saw in various countries iu Europe what be hardly knew whether to call civil war or rebellion—despotism struggling with the desire for freedom—and we saw the most frightful scene tbe world had ever witnessed , two divisions of the same people engaged in a war which in the eyes of both parties appeared to be a war of extermination . AVe might well prepare ourselves for some contest , although he hoped it would be a bloodless one in this country . ( Hearhearand cheers . ) He

, , concluded by proposing tbe health of the Mayor and Corporation , and , in so doing spoke highly of the municipalities generally throughout the kingdom , although , like all other institutions , they were susceptible of improvement ; and expressed bis regret that men of wealth and position and leisure did not come more prominently forward to take their proper share in the duties of municipal government . ( Cheers . ) Several other toasts were afterwards given and responded to .

SUSSEX . LEWES . —South Saxon Lodge ( No 311 , late 390 ) . —The brethren of this lodgo , to the number of forty , met at Freemasons' Hall , High-street , on Wednesday , 21 st October , when the minutes of the last meeting being read and confirmed , the AV . M ., Bro . B . U . Hearn , then proceeded to the installation of Bro . G . \ A . Cooke , the W . M . elect , assisted by Bro . Corder , AV . M . Royal Brunswick , Brighton , which being completed , the

AV . M . then appointed his officers for the year ensuing : —Bros . R . Turner , S . W . ; J . C . Lucas , J . W . ; Briscoe , S . D . ; Capt . Settle , J . D . ; T . J . Monk , I . G . ; Barratt was invested as Treas . ; Little as Chaplain , and Bro . Cooper as Organist . Two raisings were ably performed by the retiring AV . M ., as well as one passing . Two propositions were made for initiation , and one for a joining member . All business being concluded the brethren retired to Bro . AAlngliam's } Crown Hotel , where a banquet , in

his first-class style , awaited them . Among those present , we noticed Bros . F . H . Gill , Col . Makay , Capt . Settle , Z . S . M ., Corder , Hales , F . P . Freeman , Prov . S . G . W . ; R . W . Wood , Prov . G . Sec . ; Fraser , from the Grand Steward's Lodge ; Challen , Prov . G . Purst . ; Dr . Haswell , from Hartington Lodge ; Lawes , Hiscock , Newnham , & c . After the cloth was removed and thanks returned , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given from the chair , and duly responded to by the brethren . Altogether a pleasant evening was spent , and will be long remembered among the red-letter days of South Saxon Lodge .

Ar01601

FINE sensibilities are like woodbines , delightful luxuries of beauty , to twine round a solid , upright stem of understanding ; but very poor things if , unsustained by strength , they are left to creep along the ground .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER . The following is the report of the Committee of General Purposes to be presented to Grand Chapter on AVednesday next , November 4 th . To the Suprmne Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England .

The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 14 th July to the 21 st October , 1 S 63 , which they find to be as follows : — Balance 14 th July , 1 S 63 £ 496 5 2 Subsequent Receipts 150 0 0 £ 646 5 2

Disbursements , including a purchase of £ 300 Three per Cent . Consols 37 S 18 0 Leaving a Balance of £ 267 7 2

which balance is in the hands of Messrs . AVillis , Percival , and Co ., bankers of the Grand Treasurer . The Committee beg also to report , and they do it with much regret , that they have found it necessary to suspend the Alfred Chapter , No . 306 ( late No . 384 ) , Leeds , from all Masonic functions . The circumstances that have compelled your

Committee to this course are briefly as follows : — A complaint was made in September , 1862 , by a companion who had been exalted in the chapter , that he was unable to obtain his Grand Chapter certificate , notwithstanding repeated applications made to the chapter to obtain the same . Your Committee finding that the chapter had made no regular return

for nearly twenty years , summoned the principals to attend the next meeting , and produce their charter , minute books , & c . At the same time your Committee notified to the principals that they would not require their personal attendance provided the charter and books were sent up , and further that the President had signified his readiness to call a special meeting to inquire

into the complaint . In the month of November following a return was sent in , which , however , appears not to have been thoroughly examined

at the tune , and which did not come before your committee till their next meeting , when they again drew the attention of the principals of the chapter to the fact that no proper return had been made after the year 1 S 41 and they therefore required information as to what proceedings had taken place between that date and the time when the chapter was said to have been re-opened , with a copy of the minutes at such alleged

reopening , and requiring that such information should be furnished by their regular meeting iu April last . The order of the Committee not having been complied with , another summons was issued , requiring the attendance of the principals with the charter and books at the quarterly meeting of the Committee to be holden in July . At the end of the

month of April the minute book was sent up , but unaccompanied by the charter and other books that had been required , and without any explanation as to the proceedings of the chapter subsequent to 1844 . The repeated orders of the Committee for the production of the charter and books not having been complied with and no

explanation having been offered , your Committee , at their quarterly meeting held in July last , ordered that a peremptory summons should be issued requiring the attendance of the principals . This peremptory summons has , like the others , been disregarded , and your Committee therefore , in pursuance of the authority vested in them by the Supreme Grand Chapter , and