Grand Chapter.

GRAND CHAPTER .

THE Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter was held on Wednesday , at the Freemasons' Hall , and in the absence of the Prince of Wales , the Earl of Lathom , and Earl Amherst , the chairs of the three Grand Principals were taken by Companions W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Third Grand Principal ;

Lieutenant-General C . W . Randolph Grand Superintendent of Sussex , and Colonel J . C . Macglashan Grand Superintendent of the West Indies and Central America . The business set out in the agenda we published last week was regularly disposed of , the meeting being little else than a formal confirmation of the different reports .

By Royal Warrant the Queen has been graciously pleased to grant to Bro . Baron de Bush Her Majesty ' s Royal license and authority to bear and use in this country the hereditary title and dignity of Baron , conferred upon him by His Highness the late Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , and has directed that such license be recorded in the College of Arms .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

ON Tuesday , 3 rd inst ., the remains of Bro . Otto Willhelm Theodor Steffen , of Murray House , Loughton , a much respected resident , and son-in-law of Mr . Jas . Wilks , were interred in Loughton Churchyard . Deceased passed peacefully away , and comparatively free from pain on the 28 th ult ., after a series of painful and protracted sufferings extending over some eighteen

months , and resulting from a rupture of the principal artery in the region of the heart . Every mark of respect was shown by the clergy , choir , tradespeople , and parishoners generally . The burial service was solemnly rendered by the Vicar of St . Mary ' s , the Rev . W . Allen . The Choral portion of the service was

conducted by Messrs . Brand and Riding in a very impressive manner . Deceased was a prominent Mason , Past Master of the Bagshaw Lodge , No . 1457 , and many Brethren were present at the interment ; after the coffin was lowered they passed round the grave and each dropped upon it a sprig of acacia . A large

number of floral tributes were presented by the following relatives and friends : The widow and family , Mr . H . J . Croft , the staff of the Royal Insurance Office , the Foreign Department of the Royal , Mr . and Mrs . Thomas , Mr . Hambridge , the Bagshaw Lodge , Dr . Dring , Mr . and Mrs . Pagenkopf , Mr . C . Jackson ,

Mr . and Mrs . Presley , Mr . Gold , Mr . and Mrs . R . W . Muir , Mr . R . Taylor , Mr . and Mrs . T . J . Wilks , Mr . Riding , Mr . J . T . Ashby and family , Mr . F . Pink , Mr . and Mrs . Oscar Moll , Mr . F : Weininger . Amongst those present were Mr , G . B . Brightling and Mr . Houghton , representing the Royal Insurance

Company , whom deceased faithfully served for upwards of 30 years ; Messrs . Jas . and Samuel Wilks , Oscar Moll , Weininger , Pagenkopf , Forbes , C . Gussen , J . Bloues , F . H . Hayward , Wright , W . Lelebon , J . Macklin jun ., S . Salter , Looker , Howe , Fehn , and many others , also the following Members of the

Bagshaw , and other Lodges of Freemasons : Past Masters Tanner , Holloway , Nunn , Shadrake , Egan , Thompson , D . Langdon , and W . J . Cuthbert ; Bros . C . E . Skinner , C . S . Foster , J . Ambrose , Riding , Brand , Hambridge , Gostling , Taylor , Clinch , and several others . The loss of deceased will be deeply

deplored by his devoted wife and family , and those most intimately acquainted with him . Our deceased Brother was also a member of the Epping Lodge , No . 2077 , Secretary of the Bagshaw Lodge of

Instruction , and in many other ways evinced great interest in the doings of the Craft . We long had the pleasure of numbering him among our subscribers , and add our tribute of regret at his death . Bro . Steffen was fifty-four years of age .

ON Tuesday afternoon the remains of Bro . William Betts Page , aged forty-seven years , whose deeply regretted death took place on Friday , 30 th ult ., were interred in the Lowestoft Cemetery , in the presence of a number of Brother Freemasons , Oddfellows , and Buffaloes . The deceased was a member of Unity Lodge , No . 71 , and there were present : —Bros . S . C . Allerton ,

F . Kersey , J . Symes , H . Booty , W . H . Hunt , T . Home and F . W . Richards , as its representatives . The floral tokens on the coffin included a beautiful wreath inscribed , " With the deepest sympathy from the Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren of Lodge Unity , No . 71 , Lowestoft . "

AT Baildon , on Saturday afternoon , the remains of Bro . Richard Bell , a well-known and highly respected inhabitant of the village , were interred in the burial ground attached to the Moravian Chapel . There was a very large

attendance of the inhabitants , and a number of members of the Baildon Lodge , No . 1545 also followed the remains of their late Brother to the grave . Bro . Bell was seventy-niue years of age , and the oldest Mason in the Baildon Lodge .

Fforest Lodge.

FFOREST LODGE .

A SPECIAL meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales Eastern Division was held on Wednesday , 28 th ult ., at the Public Hall , Treharris , for the purpose of consecrating the Fforest Lodge , No . 2606 , and installing Bro . George F . Harris P . P . S . G . Warden P . M . 110 , Merthyr , as its first Worshipful Master .

The ceremony was conducted by Lord Llangattock Provincial Grand Master , and the attendance of Provincial Officers and other members of the Craft was large and influential . The proceedings took place in the large room of the hall , which was specially fitted up in view of the numerous company expected

to be present . The Lodge hereafter will be located in a room above the Coffee Tavern . Some excellent addresses were delivered bv various Officers , the music and dedicatory portions

of the services being exceedingly impressive . The Lodge having been constituted , the P . G . Chaplain gave the oration customary to these rare occasions , and proposals for initiation and joining were received .

The Officers of the new Lodge are Bros . G . F . Harris W . M ., D . E . Jones acting I . P . M ., David Roberts S . W ., W . Cuthbert Thomas J . W ., J . RayTreas ., M . P . Morris Sec , D . E . Jones S . D ., T . Dowdeswell J . D ., R . Edwards D . C ., A . C . Botterilll . G .,

John Jones Org ., J . Aurelius and Thomas Williams Stewards , J . P . Gibbon Charity Steward . The consecration banquet was afterwards held at the Navigation Hotel . — " South Wales Daily News . "

Allied Masonic Degrees.

ALLIED MASONIC DEGREES .

rriHE Grand Council will assemble at Mark Masons' Hall , I ' Great Queen Street , on Tuesday next , 10 th inst ., at 6 o ' clock in the afternoon . By permission of the M . W . G . M . all regularly registered members of the Allied Degrees are invited to be present . The business , beyond that of a routine description , includes the appointment and investiture of the Grand Officers .

Before the opening of Grand Council , the Degree of Grand Tiler of King Solomon will be conferred in full on all Members of the Order of St . Lawrence the Martyr , who may forward their names to the Grand Sec . not later than 9 th inst . Fee , including

certificate , 10 s 6 d . Candidates must be present at 5-15 . A banquet will be provided at the Freemasons' Tavern , at 7 o ' clock , at which the Earl of Euston Grand Master has kindly consented to preside . Tickets 21 s each .

The South Saxon Lodge , No . 311 , Lewes , having attained its Centenary—the Warrant of the Lodge being dated 15 th October 1796—it is proposed to celebrate the event in a fitting

manner . The South Saxon is one of the largest Lodges in the county of Sussex and , according to the " Brighton Observer , " there are no less than twenty of its Past Masters now living . An interesting celebration is anticipated .

Among the Brethren seeking admission to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is Bro . A . W . Fenner Past Master of the Upton Lodge , No . 1227 , one of the founders and Past Master of the Kingsland Lodge , No . 1693 , P . Z ., & c , who will make his second application at the next election , in May

1897 . Bro . Fenner was an active Mason in his day , and won a host of friends , who rallied to his assistance in May last , when 2 , 456 votes were recorded on his behalf , giving him the fourth place among the unsuccessful . We hope he will be equally

fortunate next year , as in that case his election would be assured . His case is well recommended by influential Brethren . Promises of support will be gladly received by Bro . Fenner , whose address is 21 Clinton Road , West Green , N .

At a meeting of representatives of the six Bury Craft Lodges Bro . F . W . Purcell P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . ( E . L . ) , one of the most widely-known Masons of the East Lancashire district , was , on the 29 th ult ., presented with illuminated addresses from all the Lodges , expressive of their appreciation of his work on behalf of

the charitable Institutions of the Order . Brother Purcell was formerly proprietor of the Bury , Rochdale , and Derby Theatres . He has sold the first-named two theatres to the Northern Counties Theatre Syndicate , and he is now engaged in building a large theatre in Stoke Newington , London , which he

expects to open next Easter . Mr . Purcell gave the local Lodges of Bury an annual benefit night , by which means about £ 400 has been raised on behalf of the charities . He was also presented with a Provincial Officer ' s jewel , and Mrs . Purcell with a tea-urn of exquisite design . — " Leeds Mercury . "