The Cliftonville Hotel, Margate.

The General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Saturday , 7 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D .

The usual formalities in reference to the minutes of the last meeting having been observed , the minutes of the last Quarterly Court , and of the House Committee , were read for information , as also was a letter from the solicitors

of Mrs . Creaton , thanking the Institution for the resolution of sympathy with her on the death of Colonel Creaton . The Report of the Audit Committee was next submitted , and then two petitions on behalf of candidates seeking

admission to the School were considered ; one of these was accepted , the other rejected . Two vacancies on the House Committee were reported , and the following brethren were nominated to fill them : —Charles Bolton

T . Hastings Miller , Henry Venn , and W . H . Saunders . Other formal business , including a vote of thanks to the Chairman , having been attended to , the proceedings were brought to a conclusion .

The Committee of tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday , the 11 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , London , under the presidency of Bro . Raynham W . Stewart P . G . D . The minutes having been

confirmed , the death of three annuitants and of one approved candidate was announced . A letter was read from the solicitors of Mrs . Creaton , thanking the

Institution for their sympathy with her on the death of Colonel Creaton ; and another from Miss Norris , acknowledging the vote of condolence with her on the death of Brother James Norris the late Warden of tho Institution . Both

were ordered to be entered on the minutes . A letter from Bro . G . B . Abbott , thanking the Committee for the compliment paid him in connection with his History of the Institution , was also received . The report of the

Institution to be presented to Sir Michael Hicks Beaeh , Bart ., M . P . was then passed , as also were the thanks of the Committee for his promised presidency at the coming-Festival . The question of the number of vacancies to be filled afc the next election was then considered . Brother

Terry reported that there would be 43 male candidates and 14 vacancies at the next election , aud 75 widows and 2 vacancies . The state of the finances was as follows : Ho did not expect the Festival would be as successful as the

last by £ 2000 ; the last year's was the most successful tho Institution ever had . On the 1 st January 1884 there was a balance on the male fund of £ 875 13 s lid . On the 1 st January 1885 . the balance was £ 480 10 s lOd , so that

the income had been exceeded by £ 389 3 s Id . £ 1000 had been invested , and the total invested funds on the male branch was £ 39 , 450 . It was thereupon proposed by Bro . Charles Lacey , and seconded by Bro . George Bolton , that ,

twenty males be elected on to the funds of tho Institution afc the May Election . Speaking in reference to this matter Dr . Jabez Hogg opposed the principle of investing money , which he considered ought to be spent

year by year as received . They had more applicants before them than ever , and he thought the whole of the money subscribed should be expended in relief , to the best of their ability . He thought that

those who came after should provide for the wants of their times , feeling sure that the liberality of the Craft might be relied on to meet every contingency . Whatever sum was placed in the hands of the Committee by the Craft at

large , the Committee were justified in spending it in relief of distress , but he did not think they were equally justified in saving it up . He hoped it would be decided t > increase the number of vacancies . Broth or Edward F .

Storr P . M . and Treasurer No . 22 followed , supporting Bro . Hogg ' s rrgmnents , and urging that the Institntio i had no right to accumulate a large reserve fund . Bro . Kayuliam Stewart pointed out it must be remembered tiu

annuitants were elected for life , and asked what was to h done if in the future they had not pufficient funds to pa ; the annuities with ? Bro . C . II . Webb adopted a siirnhu

course of argument , and thought the Committee would be justified iu adhering to the original proposition—to elect 14 male annuitants . Ulcimatelv a vote was taken , when it was found that the amendment—to increase the number lo

twenty—had been carried by a majority of one . Bro . Terry then explained the position of the Widows' Fund , as follows : — On the 1 st January 1884 there was a

The Cliftonville Hotel, Margate.

balance ot £ / 42 2 s Gd , and on tho 1 st January 1885 £ 2072 9 s lOd , or a balance of £ 1833 7 s 4 d , besides £ 1000 which had been invested . The total capital invested in this fund was £ 26 , 000 . The candidates were 77 and tho

vacancies two . Ultimately it was resolved to elect fifteen widows at the May ballot , twelve to be entitled to immediate annuities , and threo to be deferred . A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded tho proceedings .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

GROVE CHAPTER , No . 410 . A CONVOCATION of this old and flourishing Chapter was held afc tho Swan Hotel , Leafchorhead , Surrey , on Saturday , the 31 st January . Comps . G . D . Lister M . E . Z ., C . B . Fo 3 ter P . Z . as H .,

C . Greenwood jun . J ., P . Z . s II . J . Dumas , Charles Greenwood , G . H . Haydon , C . Litchfield , Rhys Williams , J . Dyer , and others . Comp . John Charlton M . E . Z . elect was nufortnnatoly unable to attend in consequence of illness . Comps . C . Groenwood jun . and T . Dyer were respectively installed in tho chairs of II . and J ., with great

improssiveeess aud solemnity . A ballot took place for Bro . Henry Harris 1361 as a candidate for exaltation , which rosultod unanimously in his favour . A P . Z . ' s jewel was presented to Comp . Lister in recognition of his services to tho Chapter as M . E . Z . during thi past year . The P . Z . ' s jewel , which was voted to Ex . Comp . Rhys Williams , M . D ., for

his services as M . E . Z , was duly presented to him in open Chapter . We much regret to stato that since tho last meetiug of this Chapter , the highly-esteemed and beloved M . E . Z . elect , Comp . John Charlton ,

has been called to tho Grand Lodge above . Little did his Compsnions think when mooting that thoir friend and Companion was so near his end . Ho hadouly recently returned from the East , and his illness was thonghfconly to be of a temporary nature .

Eboracum Chapter, No. 1611.

EBORACUM CHAPTER , No . 1611 .

THE anuual meeting of this Chapter was held afc York , on the . 3 rd instant , when thcro were present Comps . J . P . Seller M . E . Z ., George Simpson II ., J . Todd P . Z . as J ., J . Kav S . E ., T . B . Whytohead P . Z . as S . N ., A . T . 13 . Turner as P . S ., W . Lackenby and S . J . Dal ton Assfc . Sojs ., and several other Companions . The installation of Principals took place , and Comp . George Simpson was placed in the

chair of Z ., by T . B . Whytohead P . Z . Comp . Millington II . elect being absent through illness , his chair was filled pro torn by Comp . Seller P . Z ., and Comp . T . B Whyfcehead P . Z . was placed in tho chair of J . by Comp . J . Todd P . Z . Successful ballots were taken for Bro 3 . W . Stephenson , E . Thackray , and C . L . Foster , and these brethren wore

duly exalted by Comp . Seller P . Z ., the mystical lecture being given by Comp . Whyteho'id P . Z . Tho rest of tho Officers elect ; worn invested , as follows : —Comps . Jas . Kay S . E ., J . Bloiikiu S . N ' ., W . Brown P . S ., G . Ohanman and S . J . D . alton Assfc . Soj * ,, G . Limb and

W . Stephenson Stewards . Lettjrs of apongy woro real from C-v . np J . S . Cumberland P . Z ., and other Companions , and after "hearty good wishes" the Chaptir was closed , tho rmmbor . s afterwards supping together afc the Queen ' s Ilofcol .

Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement . — Th's Chapter , which since its removal 'o tho Whita Hart , at the corner of Abohurch Lane , in Caution Strong has corisidprablv increased in numbers , hel I its usual weekly rneefcimr on Tuesday , 10 th insfc ., when thero were present , Comps . Li I ley Z ., Child It ., I'oborts I , Levy S . N ' ., I ) ,

jwsnap P . S ., and many oilier comp uimns . Iho ovrr-c-iiirl urns Comp . Brown occupied his usual pis ' l ' on ns S . E . and Preceptor of tho Chapter . The ceremony of exaltation was efficiently and ( wefnlly rendered , Comp . Wells . being the candidate , -and under such able tuition it is almost needless to say that ; the Supreme Degree was

gon-i through in a manner which in any Chapter would justify the high reputation which this school ofirisf i-acti-m has sec ired . At the conclusion of the ceremony Comp . Martin , of the S \ Thomas ' s Chapter , No . 142 , and Oomp . Sfok >« , of lb . " S'ookwell Chapter , N > 1 S 39 , wfire nn . inimnuslv elected members . It is intended to work

fch'i ceremonies of Installn * - ; > n of Principals on t , h « s ^ ennd Tuesday in the months of March , April , « nd Maw That of M . nvsh will b > worked by the Preceptor Gamp . Rri ' -vn , whilst thns'i of April an 1 May will b ¦ work ¦(! by tin P i ^ fc a-i 1 Presarit I ' riaeip ils wh > aiv in mib . 'r-i . T > t ' uo 3 . Roya . 1 Arch Mas ^ ivs whi : iv > n-jpiri'n / roodi ^ ' ai honours , tho

Metropolitan Chapfc'r of T-npr . vomeafc rlfi'S a ! vaa ' a / es which are vare . ly to !)• ' . met with , inasmuch t *' -at , unlike Lohjos , of Instrucfchvi , the Chnpti rs of Improvement are " 1 % : » v and far i > ; t . voeii . " Indupcjndeutly of this , at nil time- ; the true spirit of I'Yeonu 3 mry p-waila , for when once ; i brofclra - is admitted into this conclave he is kindly receive . ! , and he feels tluifc brotherly love here reign ;; sapr-me .

The following Dinners were held at the Freemasons Tavern during the week ending 14 th Fobriniry : —¦ Monday—S " . George ' s and Corner Stone f , o'l ^ e , L > igh Lilg-Tuesday—National Peristeraiu ' . ; Society , Jerusalem Chtr . it ¦;•

Urban Lo . d . cc , \ Va . ! d .- ? ck In l ^ n . Vvavlnead . ry—Lm \_ :- ni' !¦ ¦ ' . ' . lrditw Thursday—Caledoni in Society , Lodgo of Llogularit y , Polish Xi . ii an : Lodee , Pilgrim Lo'lvje . Frday- -Britannic Lodgo , BHfimi Lai---, Eclectic Lodge . Saturday—Duke of Cornwall Lol ., -e , Phuj ii . \ Lodge .