The Degrees Of Freemasonry And The Royal Arch.

England ( if a Eoyal Arch Mason ) becomes , or is made also , an Officer in Grand Chapter . Cases are known of Brethren who have not entered a Chapter for years , who , though they have nominally passed through the Principals' Chairs , could not even open a Chapter , still less go through a ceremony ; and yet to

these Brethren are awarded high honours in Grand Chapter Can we be surprised at the little interest taken in the degree ? and is this likely to stimulate enthusiasm ? How must it affect those who have spent , and are willing to spend , their time and their energies in diffusing the knowledge they have carefully gathered in regard to Eoyal Arch Masonry ? Of course it is

easy to say that work so performed should be disinterested and that virtue is its own reward , but you and I , Companions , know better .- We know that human nature revolts when it sees honour bestowed where it is neither sought nor deserved , whilst at the same time the labourer , let him be never so worthy , does not even obtain his well earned hire . Conducted on lines like

these , how can we expect the Eoyal Arch to be popular ? And what is the remedy ? Many suggestions have been offered . One is that Grand Chapter should go back to what it was originally , and sever its connection as an organisation with Grand Lodge altogether . If this is not considered praticable ,

then , at least , Grand Chapter should take care that Office m that body should be conferred not on nominal , but upon real Eoyal Arch Masons ; not upon the indifferent drones , but upon the working bees of the Chapters . Let those in authority remove

this injustice—for such it 13—let them offer some encouragement to the band of deserving enthusiasts , without whose stedfast application and devotion Eoyal Arch Masonry would speedily die of inanition , and there may then be some hope of an improved condition of matters .

I fear , Companions , I have tried your patience , have perhaps wearied you . Let me , however , briefly sum up . I have pointed out the time and circumstances under which our present three degrees probably originated . I have sketched , so far as it is known , the rise of the Eoyal Arch degree as a degree . I have

looked at our great Masonic system from a philosophic point of view , as well as from its practical side . I have touched upon the lack of interest in the Eoyal Arch , discussed the supposed causes , and even put forth suggested remedies . And now , so far as this Province is concerned , the conduct and progress of Eoyal Arch Masonry is in your own hands . If it is worthy of support ,

which I honestly believe , then let us use our utmost endeavours to place it in the position of power and dignity which the beauties of its ceremonial and the excellence of its teaching so eminently fit it to assume , and let West Yorkshire , at least ,-no longer lie under the stigma of indifference to this , the most sublime and impressive of our Masonic degrees .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILL be worked at the Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , No . 834 , at the Six Bells Hotel , Queen Street , Hammersmith , on Fridays , 8 th and 15 th inst ., commencing at 8 o ' clock each evening . Bro . W . Hillier W . M . 1637 Preceptor of the Kensington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1767 will preside as W . M ., with Bros . J . Knight W . M . 861 S . W ., Robert Reid P . M . 1275 J . W ., A . Williams P . M . 834 2090 Preceptor of the Lodge I . P . M ., W . Hinds P . M . 185 Treasurer , F . Craggs P . M . 834 Secretary . The sections will be worked by

the following ; First Lecture ( Friday , 8 th inst . )—Bros . W . C . Palmer 1612 , W * Hide P . M . 1275 , W , Hinds P . M . 185 , R . H . Williams P . P . J . G . D . Middx ., W . 3 . Coplestone P . M . 834 , M . Speigel P . M . 1981 , and Robert Reid P . M . 1275 . Second Lecture ( Friday , 15 th inst . )—Bros . J . Worth W . M . 834 , J . Knight W . M . 861 , R . Reid P . M . 1275 , W . T . Ridgway 1275 , and F . Craggs P . M . 834 . Third Lecture . —Bros . H . J . Cousens W . M . 172 , A . Williams P . M . 834 , and R . H . Williams P . P . J . G . D . Middx .

At the Chiswick Lodge of Instruction , No . 2012 , at the Windsor Castle Hotel , King Street , Hammersmith , on Saturdays , 9 th and 16 th inst ., commencing at 7 . 30 p . m . each evening . The same Brethren will occupy the chairs and act as I . P . M ., with Bro . F . Craggs P . M . 834 as Treasurer , and R . Josey P . M . 1828 as Secretary . The sections will be worked by the following :

First Lecture ( Saturday , 9 th inst . )—Bros . Ross 1686 , W . Hide P . M . 1275 , P . Cronin P . M . 1512 , L . J . Powell W . M . 2246 , R . Josey P . M . 1828 , R . Reid P . M . 1275 , and W . T . Ridgway 1275 . Second Lecture ( Saturday , 16 th inst . )—Bros . T . Harrington P . M . 1686 , R . Reid P . M . 1275 , W . T . Ridgway 1275 , J . Knight W . M . 861 , and F . Craggs P . M . 834 . Third Lecture . — Bros . H . 3 . Cousens W . M . 172 , A . Williams P . M . 834 , and F . Craggs P . M . 834 .

List of Lodges for which Warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since ohe last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge . No . 2785 . —Prince of Wales Lodge , Indwe , S . Africa . 2786 . —St . Albans Lodge , St . Albans , Herts . 2787 . —Kathiawar Lodge , Raikot , Kathiawar .

2788 . —Abercrombie Lodge , St . Lucia , West Indies . 2739 . —Royal Warrant Holders Lodge , London . 2790 . —Merton Lodge , London . 2791 . —Hudson Lodge , Walsingham . 2792 . —Cecil Rhodes Lodge , Buluwayo . 2793 . —Assheton Egerton Lodge , Altrincham , Cheshire .

THE old-established advertisement agents , Messrs . C . Mitchell and Co ., after spending upwards of sixty years at their well-known quarters in Red Lion Court , Fleet Street , have removed to larger and more convenient premises at Mitchell House , 1 and 2 Snow Hill , Holborn Viaduct . We congratulate our Bro . Wellsman , the head of the firm , on this evidence of prosperity and progression .

New Music.

NEW MUSIC .

Lady Ursula . —Intermezzo for the pianoforte . By Jules Thereso ( Edwin Ashdown ) . —A very , pretty and interesting melody ; of easy compass , yet attractive and pleasing . The Egyptian Patrol passes ! Piano solo by Jasper Vale-Lana ( Jefferys , Limited ) . —A characteristic rendering , suited to the spirit of the times , and which , played with good effect by the best military bands , has deservedly vvon its way into popularity , and is likely to long enjoy a prominent position .

Africano March . —By James B . Smart ( Edwin Ashdown ) . —A wall arranged march , with some taking snatches of melody and many pleasing points . To Victory . —March for the pianoforte by Jessie Bradford ( Edwin

Ashdown ) . —An inspiriting melody well suited to illustrate the theme of the composer . Some very pretty and original arrangements . Madame Sans Gene . —Valse by Jasper Vale-Lane ( Jefferys , Limited ) . —A very taking valse arrangement of the pretty music of this popular piece . Sure to take on at our dances .

Fresken und Miniaturen . —Pianoforte pieces by Nicolai von Wihn ( 4 ) Moderato con rigore in D . ( 5 ) Andante in A minor . ( 6 ) Presto in F ( Edwin Ashdown ) . —Well executed works , worthy of foremost places in any selection .

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

Mrs . Leicester ' s School , written by Charles and Mary Lamb , illustrated by Winifred Green . —J . M . Dent and Co . Fairy Tales from Hans Christian Andersen , translated by Mrs . E . Lucas , and illustrated by Thomas , Charles , and William Robinson . —J . M . Dent and Co .

Temple Classics : Laxdsela Saga , translated from the Icelandic b y Muriel A . C . Press ( Is 6 d ) ; Microcosmographie or a piece of the world dlsoovered in essays and characters , by John Earle ( Is 6 d ) . —J . M . Dent and Co . Modern English Writers : Robert Louis Stephenson , by L . Cope Cornford . — Blackwood and Sons .

A Voice from Nazareth , by the Wandering Jew , Part 1 . ( Is)—Simpkin , Marshall and Co . The Orange Girl , by Walter Besant . Fifth edition , with eight illustrations by Fred . Pegram ( 6 s ) . —Chatto and Windus . The Young Master of Hyson Hall , by Frank K . Stockton , with illustrations

by Virginia H . Davisson and Charles H . Stephens ( 6 s ) . —Chatto and Windus . The Parson ' s Daughter , her early recollections and how Mr . Romney painted her . A story by Emma Marshall , with illustrations ( 5 s ) . —Seeley and Co . Wolf ' s Head , a story of the Prince of Outlaws , by the Rev . E . Gilliat , M . A ., with illustrations ( 5 s ) . —Seeley and Co .

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