Knight Templary.

who are in readiness , enter tho hall and open the Conclave . ' * This course , once or twice adopted , Avould shame the dilatory and careless into better manners , and wo should no longer be painful Avitnesses of a kind-hearted , punctual , and venerable Grand Master dancing- attendance upon the pleasure , caprice , or convenience of Sir Tom ' a Nokes or Sir Jack a Styles . The first business should have been tho reception of the Report of the Committee , but instead oi which tho Grand Chancellor presented a report of

his own , in Avhich he recapitulated the various matters Avhich have from time to time engaged the attention of every studious Templar . It appeared to us that the Grand Chancellor , having- been out of England for some years , compiled a sketch of what had been done in his absence , and—like the ostrich , Avho is said to bury his head in the sand so that Ids pursuers may not see him , as he cannot see thorn—we were bored Avith an essay Avhich wo do not attempt to reproduce herebecause it will be issued officiallyand then it Avill be quite

, , time enough to criticise the Grand Chancellor ' s report . In May next AVC hope to hear no more of a Grand Chancellor ' s report , but that he will do his duty , properly , and read us a report—at least nominally , if not actuallythe production of the only legal authority of the Order , the Committee of Grand Conclave . It is either for use , or for ornament , that certain Sir Knts .

are nominated and elected , to form such a committee , and the Statutes are explicit enough on their duties , so that for the future , let us hope , no trifling Avith their prerogative may be allowed , or else let the farce of such an appointment cease , and the Grand Chancellor be invested with their powers . The report Avas received and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Sir Knt . Huyshe adding that it be printed and circulated by being sent to each Encampment before the next meeting- of Grand Conclave .

The V . H . and E . Deputy Grand Master , Colonel Vernon , seconded the proposition , and expressed himself to the effect , that the more generally knowledge was diffused the better , and , in order to carry out that principle , he Avished , in addition , that the report , Avhen printed , be sent to every Encampment , and to each past and present Grand Officer . This Avas put and carried unanimously . Tho Most Eminent and Supreme Grand Master said , it had been his

pleasure to appoint Colonel Clerk tn the vacant Provincial Grand command of the Province of Kent , but OAving to Prince Arthur visiting Woolwich that day , Colonel Clerk Avas unable to attend and do- homage for the appointment , but he Avould be present at tho next Grand ConclaA-e in May . The Almoner collected the Alms , AAIUCII amounted to 11 . 4 s . Od . Then came

"A weary dreary season , a season A ery weary , "The Grand Chancellor commenced to give , what ho called , a precis of certain appeals , but , it appeared to us , and many more , that had he read through the formidable mass of papers he produced , much less time would have been occupied . Lumping them altogether , they Avere complaints by the ProA . G . Commander Juge against tho Reverend J . Farnham . The latter against the former , and

Sir Knt . Rose , E . C . of the Pembroke Encampment , Victoria , against the Prov . G . Com . Sir Knt . F . T . Gell . Most of these wore judged with the utmost severity , the appellants snubbed , censured , and mirable diett . ! condemned in costs . The Grand Chancellor also incidentally mentioned that he had asked the opinion of both the bench and the bar of this country upon some one or other of these cases , a course which cannot be too strongly condemned—neither tho bench or the bar being competent to advise on matters appertaining to Masonic

Templary . If he Avas in doubt the Committee of Grand Conclave—and the Committee only—were the proper tribunal before Avhom any facts should have been laid . Our late Grand Chancellor , Sir Knt . Law , Avould have made short work with such matters , and have construed the law according to the spirit of Templary , and not have strained the letter as against absentees . But the present Grand Chancellor , who laid down most emphatically , that every one