Provincial.

a nose and chin so enormously long , and so lovingly tending to embrace each other , that he acquired , by habit , the power of holding a piece of money between them . A servant at the Unicorn Inn , it was his business to wait on the travellers who arrived there , to assist them in taking off their boots . He usually introduced himself into the room with a pair of slippers in one hand ,

and a boot-jack in the other , exactly in the attitude represented in an old picture . The company in general were so diverted with his odd appearance , that they would frequently give him a piece of money on condition that he held it between his nose and chin . This requisition he was always ready enough to comply with—it being no less satisfactory to himself than to them . "

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

CONCORD CHAPTER , No . 223 . AT the annual meeting held at Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , for tho purpose of installing tho Principals T . C Hannaford Z ., T . C . Lewarn J ., and C B . Gale H ., tho ceremony was conducted by Comps . Cornish , Gidley , Hoyton , and Allsford .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

DERBY LODGE , No . 302 . THE anniversary of the Lodge was hold on Monday , Sth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Derby , when Bro . T . F . Yeomans was installed as W . M . A banquet followed .

Oeder Of The Secret Monitor.

OEDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR .

CHAMPION CONCLAVE , No . 26 . THE regular meeting was held at the Palatine Hotel , Manchester , on Tuesday , 2 nd inst ., Bro . T . H . Scholfield Supreme Ruler Grand Councillor . There , were also present : —Bros . Buckley Carr Councillor , F . Armstrong Guide , J . R . Ragdale Past Grand Councillor Treasurer , John

Marshall Past Grand Councillor Secretary , R . T . Redman Steward , H . T . Grundy 1 st Visiting Deacon , Nathan Heywood 2 nd Visiting Deacon , John E . Williams Organist , Arthur C . K . Smith Director of Ceremonies , William A . Boyer Guarder , W . Cockcroft G . C . S . R ., Thos . Plumpton Grand Steward , Edward Roberts S ., J . A . Kirkland . Visitor : —Brother David Bradley G . Cockcroft Conclave .

The Conclave having been regularly opened , and the minutes of the former meeting read and confirmed , Bro . Wm . Charlton , J . P ., who had already been elected , was now inducted , together with the following , whoso names appeared upon the summons to be balloted for and elected , viz ., Bros . W . B . Midgley W . M . and F . W . Maxwell J . W ., both of Craft Lodge Concord , No . 1534 .

The next business was the advancement to the second , or Prince ' s degree of Bros . Redman , Grundy , Heywood , Williams , Roberts , and Kirkland , which ceremony was performed by Brother John Marshall , assisted by other Officers . A number of draft Bye-Laws wero submitted , and after long consideration were deferred until a future meeting . Tho usual festive board followed , which was continued until a late hour of the evening .

R. A. O. B.

R . A . O . B .

IT is something unusal for our readers to see these columns devoted to the doings of Buffaloism , but it struck us that a description of a visit which we recently paid to a meeting of this character might be interesting to many Brethren of the Craft who belong to tho ranks of R . A . O . B ., and instructive to those who do not claim such affinity .

The meeting was held on Thursday , 28 th June , at an Hotel in Clayton , Lancashire , called after the founder of a celebrated college " Humphrey Chetham , " and the Lodge , which derives its name from the hostelry in question , is numbered 1078 under the Grand Lodge of England . Upon entering the hotel , our first observation was directed to the fact that the landlord was plying a remarkably steady trade , the various rooms

downstairs being filled by members and friends who were anxiously awaiting the call to supper . The latter took place in a large room upstairs , which , when all the guests were assembled , was filled to its utmost capacity . The banquet ( for the repast had been so desrribed upon the circular ) , although perhaps not of the elaborate description which we aro accustomed to , was still very excellent in its way , and appeared to give entire satisfaction . The proceedings which followed took the form of a smoking concert

the chairman being supported by a goodly arrav of Provincial Officers and the following Brethren of our own Order , viz ., " John Williams P . M . 1011 , John Gordon P . M . 300 443 S . C . P . G . S . Scotland , W . Forster Organist 2144 , John Archdeacon 667 , E . B . Etheridge ( Punjab ) 582 , Palmer 1077 , Chas . H . Griffiths and W . B . Gleave 581 , and others . The contributories to the concert were Messrs . Sutton , Raphael , Beryl , W . Forster , L . Roberts , T . W . Boden , & c

Very little time was wasted in speech making , the various utterances being mainly directed to appeals on behalf of charity , with the result that when the Widows' and Orphans' box was passed round a very substantial amount was collected . We were made acquainted with a very gratifying fact , viz ., that the above fund , commenced onl y a little over two years ago , has reached the handsome sum of £ 140 .

As Freemasons , our readers may not be in accord with the general principles of Buffaloism , thoy may even object to its taking any leading position amongst secret societies , and it is not our intention to advocate its claims or to defend its organisation in any way , nor shall we argue with those who may be somewhat sceptical as to the truth of the lines which tell us that it is possible to find " Tongues in the trees , books in the running brooks , Sermons in stones , and good in everything , "

R. A. O. B.

except to say that a moment ' s reflection will demonstrate the fact that when an institution like that just mentioned , and which embraces in its membership the major portion of those whose means will not allow them to join our Fraternity , can by voluntary subscriptions raise such a sum as £ 140 in about two years' time , there is an indication at least of an attempt , humble though it be , to emulate the noble principles of the Craft , and to do somethine towards the amelioration of the condition of mankind . °

Birkbeck Building Society.

BIRKBECK BUILDING SOCIETY .

THE Forty-fourth Annual Meeting was held on the 4 th inst ., at the Offices 29 and 30 Southampton Buildings , Chancery Lano . ' The Report adopted states that the receipts during the year which ended 31 st March last reached £ 12 , 437 , 517 , making a total from the commencement of the Society of more than One hundred and eighty-five millions ( £ 185 , 748 , 734 ) .

The deposits received wero £ 10 , 586 , 470 , and the subscriptions £ 201 , 383 . The balance increase after allowing for withdrawals is £ 843 , 815 , the gross profits amounting to £ 232 , 076 . The Surplus Funds have been augmented by £ 866 , 319 , and now stand at £ 6 , 755 , 446 , of which £ 1 , 576 , 458 , is invested in Consols and other Securities guaranteed by the British Government , and the Cash in the hands of the Bankers is £ 435 , 461 .

The sum invested in the Books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England is upwards of Two Millions Sterling ( £ 2 , 131 , 395 ) . The Permanent Guarantee Fund amounts to £ 175 , 0 u 0 , and the balance £ 174 , 496 making together £ 349 , 496 in excess of the Liabilities . The whole amount being invested in Consols .

The Subscriptions and Deposits withdrawable on demand are £ 6 , 932 , 256 and the total Assets amount to more than Seven Millions-and-a-quarter , the figures being £ 7 , 281 , 752 . The new accounts opened during the year were 10 , 539 , and there are altogether 71 , 461 Shareholders and Depositors on tho Books , while the number of Shares in existence is 56 . 299 .

Since its establishment the Society has returned to the Shareholders and Depositors more than One hundred and fifty-four millions ( £ 154 , 369 , 499 ) the whole amount having been repaid upon demand . The amount advanced to Borrowers has been £ 2 , 654 , 070 , and the amount of Interest and Bonus paid to Investors and Depositors is upwards of two and a half millions Sterling , the exact figures being £ 2 , 632 , 314 .

The Directors are glad to be able to congratulate the members on the result of the action of tho Board in reference to the Building Societies Act recently passed by the Legislature . As originally introduced , one of the Bills contained provisions seriously affecting the Birkbeck Societies , which , if passed , would have compelled them to have registered under the Act of 1874 , and they would then have been subject to its objectionable clauses . The

claims of these Societies for exemption from the operation of the Act were strongly urged by the Directors and the Manager upon the Government , and also upon the Parliamentary Select Committee to which the several Bills were referred ; and , notwithstanding considerable opposition , these claims were allowed . The Right Hon . Herbert Gladstone , M . P . stated in the House of Commons , on the Sth of August last , that " The

Government havo considered this question very carefully , and having regard to recent events in connection with the Birkbeck Societies , the Government have come to the conclusion that it would not be right to force them to come under the Building Societies Acts , and therefore they have inserted in the Bill this provision which exempts such Societies from the action of the Bill . ' i By this exemption the constitution and privileges of these Societies so long enjoyed under the Act of 1863 are left undisturbed .

Viscount Peel In The City.

VISCOUNT PEEL IN THE CITY .

THE following is a description of the casket presented with the Freedom of the City of London to the Right Honourable Viscount Peel , of Sandy , late Speaker of the House of Commons , on Thursday last : The body of the casket is oblong in shape and of sufficient size to receive the illuminated copy of the Freedom Certificate , and hears in the centre a

beautifully executed enamel painting of the Houses of Parliament as viewed from the river , surrounded by a band bearing between enamelled ornaments the names of the various qualities ascribed to the late Speaker . In the corners of centre panel are seen the rose , thistle , ' shamrock , and leek , in raised gold on blue ground . At each side is a sunken panel containing an ornamental design in relief .

The lid bears an ornamental arch , wherein are seen the maces in saltire , surrounded by an arrangement of oak and laurel leaves , and bearing the motto , "Pro bono publico . " Above this , on a highly raised throne , flanked by bracelets of light open work , appears a figure in rich modelled gold , symbolical of Justice and Prudence , represented by a female holding the scales and sword of Justice ancl the bit representing restraint or prudence . At each corner is a flaming vase .

The ends of the box contain ornamental medallions in form of enamelled monogram , A . W . P ., and the arms of the late Speaker in heraldic colours . The casket rests on a massive stand of silver guilt , London hall-marked , burnished and friczed , supported by four recumbent British lions , modelled in silver , richly gilt , and bears in the centre the full arms of the City of London , also in correct heraldic colours . The casket was designed and manufactured by George Kenning and Son , Goldsmiths , Little Britain , London , E . C .

Shall we ever , I wonder , have women Freemasons , with their own Lodges , in this country ? Tradition says that the secrets of the Craft have been revealed to at least one of our sex , but to the average woman Masonry , with all its rites and ceremonies ,

remains a mystery . Banquets and more or less gorgeous aprons are to the female mind the outward and visible signs of Freemasonry , and beyond this she knows nothing . —Lady ' s Pictorial . "

A serial story entitled " Hard Driven , " by E . S . Curry , the author of " Miss Gayle of Lescough , " will commence in the August issue pf "The Quiver . "