Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

THE Quarterly Convocation was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , London , and was presided over by Earl Amherst , Comp . W . W . Brampton Beach , M . P ., and Comp . J . Thornhill Morland as the three Principals . At the opening of the proceedings , Earl Amherst

informed the Companions that the Prince of Wales had been pleased to appoint him as Pro First Grand Principal , and the Earl of Warwick as Second Grand Principal .

Grand Chapter granted charters for seven new Chapters , and after transacting some other business referred to the Committee of General Purposes the question of creating a distinguishing mark for the collars of Past First Principals and installed First Principals .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

THE Quarterly Communication was held in Freemasons ' Hall ,. Edinburgh , on Thursday , 2 nd inst , the Grand Master Lord Saltoun presiding . As this was the meeting at which the annual election of members of Grand Committee took place there was a large attendance , nearly 500 members being present .

On the unanimous request of the Lodges in Glasgow , the Grand Lodge reappointed Brother John Graham of Broadstone to be Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow city , The proposal was received with applause , and the Grand Master said he was convinced no appointment could possibly be more popular in the city of Glasgow or in the whole of Scotland .

Brother P . L . Henderson , on behalf of the promoters of the amateur performance in the Lyceum Theatre , Edinburgh , handed over a cheque for £ 80 15 s 2 d for behoof of the Metropolitan District Benevolent Fund . The income had

been £ 381 4 s 6 d ' and the expenses £ 300 gs 4 d . A vote of thanks was , on the motion of the Grand Master , accorded to the artistes and to Bro . W . Davis , who had given his services as Secretary gratuitously . The election of members to fill the vacancies in Grand Committee then took place .

On Wednesday evening , x 8 th ult ., an enjoyable Cinderella was given under the auspices of the Lewisham Lodge , No . 2579 , Ladywell Baths , in aid of the Institution

for Aged Freemasons and Widows . Bro . R . R . Cook Organist , Bro . A . W . Metzner , and Bro . W . N . Cole were the M . Cs ., and the company—many of whom wore Masonic clothing—numbered 200 .

On Wednesday night , 1 st inst ., the annual " at home " and ball promoted by the members of the Constance Lodge , No . 2135 , to ° k place in the Consett New Town Hall , which had been prettily decorated for the occasion . Nearly 100 couples were present . The M . Cs . were Bros . M . Hobday ,

T . D . Dryden and J , Coulthard . The music was supplied by Bro . R . Smith ' s band from Newcastle . Bro . George Murray , of Dipton , catered for the supply of refreshments , and Bro . R . Charlton , Benfieldside Nurseries , furnished the decorative plants .

Under the patronage of his Excellency Lord Sandhurst District Grand Master under the English Constitution and Grand Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , a Masonic ball was held at the Town Hall , Bombay , on the 13 th ult . The dance , which was a very enjoyable one

throughout , was attended b y over three hundred persons , the Brethren wearing their regalia , which formed a pleasing relief to the evening dress of the gentlemen , and , blending with the delicate shades of the many pretty costumes worn by the ladies present , did much to add to the general attractiveness of the scene .

The W . M . and Brethren of Lodge Friendship , No . 202 , held their twenty-third annual " at home " at the Friendship Lodge , Granby Street , Devonport , on the nth ult . The refectory was converted into a charming ball room flaps

Spanish fans , and exotics being used in the decoration . Here the Brethren and their wives and friends participated in an enjoyable dance , music being supplied by Miss Chaff ' s orchestra . The Lodge Room was nicely furnished as a

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

drawing room , to which the company adjourned for light refreshments , and the added pleasure of listening to musical selections . About seventy Brethren and friends were present ,

the great regret of the W . M . Bro . A . Broom , and the Brethren of theLodge , being that owing to want of more space the invitations were obliged to be limited . The W . M . was ably assisted by the committee of the Lodge .

The annual ball in connection with the Sympathy Chapter and Lodge , No . 4 83 , Gravesend , which will be given under the patronage of Earl Amherst Pro G . M . of England

and Prov . G . M . Kent , will take place at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , on St . Valentine ' s Eve , 13 th inst ., which date is the birthday of the Worshipful Master ' s daughter .

We again notice the appointment of a " Lecture Master " among the Officers of Alexandra Lodge , No . 1511 , Hornsea . No doubt many of our readers , like ourselves , would like to know something of the duties and work attached to this unusual appointment .

The Jubilee of the Zetland Lodge , No . 567 , was celebrated at the Masonic Hall , Guisbrough , last month . Bro . W . Richardson P . M . P . P . J . G . W . was installed as

Worshipful Master , and in appointing his Officers selected a Past Master for each of the collars . We trust the worthy Brethren will make a record of success in this the jubilee year of the Lodge . .

We are pleased to hear that the opposition to the confirmation of the minutes at the last Quarterly Court of the Boys School—on the question of the grant of a one thousand guinea honorarium to the Secretary-r-was grossly

exaggerated in our report ; by no less than one hundred per cent . We take the opportunity of correcting the mistake , as the minutes were carried with but one dissentient voice , not two as we stated . Happy man this opponent , who thus stood alone among his fellows , a martyr to his principles- ! -

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

WE regret to record the death of Bro . Joseph Thackrah Beckett , the genial proprietor of the Railway Hotel , Dewsbury . Deceased was the eldest son of the late Mr . Adam Beckett , and was born at Ravensthorpe in 1857 , being therefore 41 years of age . The Beckett family are well

known in Dewsbury and district , and have been connected with the Railway Hotel for the past . 30 years . Bro . Beckett's genial manner had gained for him a -large circle of friends , and his death will be keenly felt . Although not taking an active interest in municipal affairs he identified himself with the candidature of several of the members of the Council .

He was a member ofthe St . John's Lodge , and was also an enthusiastic member of the Savile Bowling Club . Deceased took a keen interest in the Licensed Victuallers' Association , and was highly respected by that body . Much sympathy is felt for Mrs . Beckett and her two children . The funeral took

place on Tuesday , 17 th ult ., and was very largely attended . On arriving at the cemetery the cortege was met by about 40 members of the St . John's Lodge , who formed , with the representatives of the Licensed Victuallers' Association , a sort of escort from the cemetery gates to the church . •¦*•' ¦ *

THE death is announced of Bro . William Whalley , of Blackburn . The deceased was well known in Blackburn and district , especially amongst railway officials , having been a driver of the Manchester express for about a dozen years . He took a deep interest in the Perseverance Lodge of Freemasons , having been a member for over twenty years .

He retired about five years ago , and was highly respected in the neighbourhood . The deceased was interred at the Blackburn Cemetery on the 20 th ult ., wreaths being sent from the Perseverance Lodge and many others .

THE remains of the late Bro . David Reid were interred in the Nonconformist portion of Anfield Cemetery , on the 25 th ult . The deceased died suddenly on the previous Sunday morning , at the age of 49 years . He was a much

respected citizen , and there were a good number of sympathisers present at the gaveside , including a large attendance of Brethren , the deceased having been Inner Guard of the Derby Lodge , No . 724 , as well as a member of the Everton Chapter , No . 823 .