Royal Arch.

have been placed in that chair—an honour which he never expected , and did not wish to have conferred upon him , because he felt that it would be most difficult for him to fulfil the duties properly , following as he did in the steps

of their late beloved Companion Lord de Tabley . The gathering around him that day showed that there was still a great deal of life in Royal Arch Masonry in Cheshire , and their feeling towards him , as expressed by their presence , was most gratifying . He promised that as long

as health and strength were given to him ho would do

whatever he could to promote the interests of the Royal Arch degree in the Province , and he felt assured that they would all give him their kind sympathy and support . He was glad to know that the Province of Cheshire was in a

flourishing condition . They did not perhaps figure so prominently at head quarters in London as they might do if their returns on the charity lists were larger , bnt it

should be borne in mind that they had a most deserving system in that Province of helping children in the matter of education . They had a very good educational fund , which was doing a great deal of good , and he hoped that

the members of that Provincial Grand Chapter would

attend in large numbers at the next meeting of the institution in March . In conclusion , he thanked them again for the very hearty reception they had given him . Comp . Colonel Shadwell Clerke drew attention to the rule which prohibits the wearing of Royal Arch Collars in Craft Lodges . The jewel , however , could be worn . The minutes

of the Provincial Grand Chapter held at Crewe in October

last were read and confirmed . The report of the Committee was presented , and showed the Province to be in a prosperous condition . The Committee congratulated M . E . Comp . Stanhope upon his appointment as Prov .

Grand Superintendent , which they felt sure would be received with the warmest feelings of approval . They sincerely hoped that the Most High might grant him many years of health to continue his rule . The report was adopted and ordered to be entered upon the minutes . On

the motion of Comp . Yaughan , seconded by the Grand

Superintendent , it was resolved that a Committee be formed for the purpose of revising the bye-laws in connection with the Province of Cheshire . The following were elected members of the Committee : —The Grand

Superintendent , the Scribe E ., Comps . Goodacre , Clayton , Bellyse , Vaughan , and Johnson . On the proposition of the P . G . S . a very cordial vote of thanks was passed to the Installing Officer and the other Grand Officers for having attended to

take part in the ceremony . Comp . Shadwell Clerke , in reply , said it had been a sincere pleasure to them to have been able to come amongst them that day to make fresh acquaintances and resume old ones , and above all to place

the P . G . Superintendent m the chair which he now so Worthily occupied . The Treasurer ' s accounts having been read and passed , the Prov . Grand Chapter was closed in the customary manner . A banquet was subsequently served at the hotel , the nsual Loyal and Masonic toasts being duly honoured .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF LANCASHIRE .

nHHE Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter was opened ¦ *• at the Masonic Chambers , Lord-street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , the 3 rd inst ., which were filled by a large number of Companions . The Right Worshipful Superintendent the Earl of Lathom presided . The minutes of tho

last convocations at Eccles and Preston were read and confirmed , and the Treasurer ' s accounts were also passed , and Companion Gaskin was elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . The R . W . Superintendent invested his Officers , as follow : —

H . James ... Principal Sojourner W . Elton ... 1 st Assistant Soj ourner S . M'Kellar ... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner A . Beattie ... Sword Bearer A . Crossley ... Standard Bearer

David Caugley - - - Director of Ceremonies E . Littler . - - Assistant D . C . R . Johnson ... Organist J . C . Robinson ... Assistant S . E . Peter Ball - - - Janitor

Comp . Earl of Crawford and Balcarres H . Dr : D . Dunlop Costine - J . W . Goodacre - - - S . E . Charles P . Richards - - S . N . James Lambert - - - Registrar

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Lancashire.

The P . G . Scribe E . presented no formal report , bnt stated

that it was with regret he noticed that some of the Chapters had no bye-laws , and he hoped that this would be rectified by some expression of opinion from the P . G . Supt . The Earl of Lathom remarked that he quite endorsed the remarks of the P . G . Scribe E ., as he thought the adoption of this course would be conducive to the welfare of the various Chapters . The convocation was then closed .

Centenary Of The Vigilance Chapter.

CENTENARY OF THE VIGILANCE CHAPTER .

CONSIDERABLE interest was manifested iu the ranks of local Royal Arch Masons in the celebration , on the 28 fch ult ., of the centenary of Vigilance Chapter , No . Ill , as a working chapter . Com « plete success attended the function and also the reception of the distinguished Grand Superintendent of the Province of Durham ,

Sir Hed worth Williamson . Punctually at half-past four the Vigilance Chapter was duly constituted by Companion S . F . Bonsfield M . E . Z ., assisted by the other office-bearers—Companions S . Wilson H ., T . M . Barron J ., P . Tovey I . P . Z ., C . D . Hill-Drury , M . D ., S . E ., T . Watson S . W ., H . A . Massingberg Treasurer and Prinoipal Soj ., J .

Lambert and J . Graham Assistant Soj ., R . Luck , M . A ., P . M . Dir . of Cer ., W . C . Barron Steward , and T . Prince Janitor . The following past first Principals and Companions were also present : —fl . Maddison , Wm . Hobson , Chris . Jackson , G . Wilson , H . E . 0 . Miiller , R . A . Luck P . P . G . J ., and John Bailey P . P . G . S . N . Companions M . Love , R .

Cooltar , Wm . Mitford , John Hodgson , Edwin Cowper , C . H . Sharp , and J . K . Wilkes . The 105 th Psalm having been sang , the S . E . read the minutes , from which it appeared that on the 10 th April last , the S . E . and Comp . G . Wilson were requested to prepare a petition to the Grand Chapter , showing that the Vigilance Chapter had had an

uninterrupted existence for 100 years , and praying that a centenary warrant shonld therefore be issued . The S . E . reported that Grand Chapter had found their existence for 100 years to be proved , and had issued a warrant accordingly . At this stage the Grand Superintendent and Officers of the P . G . C . were announced and admitted .

The Officers were : —Sir Hedworfch Williamson G . S ., Canon Tristram P . P . G . H ., Babington Boulton G . P . H ., Comp . Levy Acting P . J ., R . Hudson S . S . E ., W . Logan D . C ., T . J . Johnson Prino . Soj ., Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., Grand Superintendent of Northumberland , and W . Mayson G . Sword Bearer . The following Visiting Companions

were also present : —G . S . Shaw 1334 , W . H . Cowper 602 , R . H . Coulton 72 , E . S . Spencer 509 , and J . Wann 134 . Sir Hed worth Williamson having now occupied the chair ( vacated by the M . E . Z . ) , said that he need hardly tell them the great pleasure he felt in paying them his first visit , and on such an important occasion . This

Chapter , as they would be aware , was the oldest aciive Chapter in the Province of Durham , although not the oldest according to the Masonic Almanack He observed from their own records that they claimed to have existence from the year 1769 , and as a working Chapter from 1788 . It must be a great satisfaction to them that

evening to know that they had thus completed 100 years of a prosperous career , and he heartily wished that the next hundred would be as successful . The Supreme Grand Chapter having now admitted their claim to a centenary warrant , he had pleasure in handing them the same . The S . E . having read the warrant , the

M . E . Z . acknowledged the same in suitable terms . The Masonio anthem having been sung by Mr . Whitehead , of Durham Cathedral , the S . E . read an interesting paper on "Early Royal Arch Masonry in Darlington . " The earliest records of the Chapter are contained in a small copy-book , lost for a long time , but discovered about two

years since by Bro . Bailey . Inscribed on the first page is " Transactions of the Hierarchical Lodge at Darlington from the 27 th Aug . 1769 . " Comp . Levy Acting P . J . then presented to Comp . G . Wilson the centenary jewel , and referred in sympathetic terms to his long connection with Masonry and with the Vigilance Chapter , and trusted

he would long be spared to wear the jewel . Comp . Wilson , who has been a Royal Arch Mason for fifty-four years , responded , thanking the Chapter for the hononr they had conferred . A jewel was also presented by the G . P . H . to Dr . Hill-Drury S . E ., who suitably acknowledged the honour , after which and the customary

congratulations the Chapter was closed in due form . These proceedings were followed by a banquet in the Masonic Hall . The chair was occupied by Comp . S . P . Bonsfield , who was supported on his right by Sir Hedworth . Williamson , Comps . Levy and S . Wilson , and on the left by Col . Addison Potter , C . B ., Canon Tristram , B . Boulton , T . M .

Barron , & c , & c . After the Loyal and Masonio toasts , Comp . Bousfield proposed the health of Sir Hed worth Williamson and the G . C . Officers of the Province of Durham . Sir Hedworfch ( received with great applause ) in his reply remarked that he did not pretend to kuow so much about Royal Arch Masonry as he did about Craft

Masonry , but certainly if he desired to extend hia knowledge he could not possibly do better than come to the Vigilance Chapter . No one could help being struck by the way in which matters were carried

out in the V igilance Chapter , and he did not think he ever took part in such an impressive ceremony in hia life as the one which had just taken place . Before he concluded , he desired to testify to the successful manner in which Mr . Whitehead had contributed to the

pleasantness of the evening by his marvellous vocal powers , and gratefully acknowledged the presence among them of Col . Addison Potter G . S . of Northumberland . He was glad to meet so old a Mason as Comp . Wilson , and certainly nobody was more delighted than he ( the speaker ) to hear from the lips of the worthy Scribe E .

the history of the Chapter . Canon Tristram P . P . G . H . proposed Prosperity to the Vigilance Chapter , and in doing so remarked that , however the fact might be explained , a fact ifc was that the Quaker town seemed to concentrate and intensify and treasure the interest of Durham county in all tbafc pertained to its local history . Darling , ton had given us Allan aud Longstuff , aud to their treasures should