Grand Masonic Gathering At Bagshot.

lasted all these centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious brothers in our Order , ready to promote our laws and to further our interests . Wo are assembled to-day , in the midst of all you here present , for the erection of a house to the glory ancl the worship of the Most High , which we pray God may bless and prosper as it seems good to Him . ( So mote it be . ) As if is the dnty'of all Masons in

any undertaking to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe , I will call upon you to unite with our Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace . The Prov . Grand Chaplain having offered prayer , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught said , It is my will and pleasure thafc the foundation-stone of thia church bo laid , and Brother the Provincial Grand Secretary will read the

inscription on the plate . Brother Charles Greenwood jun ., the Provincial Graud Secretary , then read : — "This foundation , stone was laid by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , with Masonio honours , A . D . 1883 . Henry A . Cheers , architect . " The Prov . Grancl Treasurer deposited coins of the realm and other articles in the cavity of the stone , after whioh mortar was

spread , ancl the stone lowered to its restinsr place . His Royal Highness having tested it with the plumb-rule said , " I find this stone to be plumb , and the Craftsmen have prepared it trne and trusty . " Applying the level , he said , " I find this stone to be level , and the Craftsmen have laboured skilfully . " Trying it with the square , he said , " I find this stone to be plumb , level and square , and I declare

it to be truly prepared and duly laid , and thafc the Craftsmen have done their work well . " He then gave three knocks with the maul , and declared the stone truly laid . Corn , wine and oil were placed on the stone , emblematical of plenty and abundance , joy and peace and unanimity . Might peace , prosperity , happiness and good , will ever prevail amongst those who should minister in that place , to

the glory of the Most High , till time shonld be no more . ( So mote ifc be . ) The Bishop then prayed that true faith , the fear of God , and brotherly love might always abide , and that the place might remain ever consecrated to prayer and the praise of His Holy Name . As the offertory was being taken , the ohoir and congregation sang the hymn , " Christ is our Corner stone . " A pleasing incident here occurred , her Royal

Highness the Duchess receiving at the hands of several children , some of whom were very diminutive , and appeared timid and abashed in the presence of royalty , purses containing sums collected towards the building fund . The first to place a purse upon the stone was the rosy-faced little infant Princess Margaret , only a few months old , and who appeared charmingly oblivious of the prominent part she

was taking in the ceremony . Her father , the Duke , patted her lovingly on the cheek as she was being taken up to the stone in the arms of her nurse . The anthem , " How dreadful is the place ! " and Psalm Ixxxvii ., " His foundations are upon the holy hills , " were sung , and the concluding prayers were said by the Vicar , tbe Bishop pronouncing the Benediction . Soon afterwards the company dispersed , the

Royal party , accompanied by the Bishop of Winchester and Mrs . Harold Browne , and the Bishop's Chaplain , driving home to Bagshot Park . The clergy and other friends were entertained at the Vicarage , and the brethren having re-assembled in Provincial Grand Lodge , were thanked for fcheir attendance in such numbers , and dismissed , returning by the 4 ' 30 train for home .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of the Royal Masonic Institntion for Boys was held on Saturday , the 7 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . Edgar Bowyer ( in the chair ) , Joyce Murray , J . L . Mather , L . Ruff , Arthur E . Gladwell , Rev . Richard

Morris , D . D . ( Head Master ) , Donald M . Dewar , H . Massey , Raynham W . Stewart , W . Maple , Alfred Williams , E . Baxter , George Cooper , F . Adlard , John Palmer , Thomas Cubitt , G . P . Festa , 0 . F . Hogard , ancl F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . The sum of £ 10 was voted for

educating a boy out of the School for six months on account of his ill health ; and £ 2000 was ordered to be invested in India 4 per cents . The Secretary reported that £ 500 having been left by a testator to " The Freemasons ' Boys' School , " application was made to the Chancery

Division to decide whether The Royal Masonic Institution for Boys was the object of the testator ' s bounty . The Chief Clerk decided that it was , and the £ 500 , free of legacy duty , had been received . Petitions for placing two boys on the list for the election in October were passed , as was

also the qualification of a presentation boy . Outfits of £ 5 each were granted to three former pupils of the Institution , now in situations . In consequence of withdrawals

the number of candidates for next Monday's election was reduced to 62 . Brother W . Roebuck gave notice of a motion for the Quarterly Court of next Monday , after which the Committee adjourned .

The installation ceremony will he rehearsed , on Tuesday next , the 17 th inst ., by Bro . Whitley P . M . P . P . G . D . C , at the Royal Arthur Lodge of Instruction , held at the Rock

Tavern , Battersea Park Road , nearly opposite the York Station L . B . S . C . Railway , and live minutes walk from the Queen ' s Road Station L . and S . W . Railway . The proceedings commence at eight o ' clock .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PRUDENT BRETHREN CHAPTER , No . 145 .

1 M 1 E regular April meeting of this excellent working Chapter was held on the 10 th instant , at the Freemasons' Tavern . Comps . Braine M . E . Z ., Headon H ., Loggott J ., Venn P . Z . S . E ., Bull P . Z . Treasurer , Moon Provincial Soj ., ; P . Z . ' s Comps . Haslett , Thiellay , andMoody . Visitors—J . Stevens P . Z . 720 , J . A . Barking Yonn <» P . Z ., W . Smallpeice 1201 , C . A . Wood 1512 , Sprake 813 , Stohwasser ° Z . 21 ,

H . M . Levy P . Z . 188 . Chapter was formally opened by the Prin . oipals . The minutes of last convocation were confirmed . Bro . F . T , C . Keeble W . M . elect 1426 was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry , the working being most efficiently carried out . The election of M . E . Z . and Principals then took place ; Comp . Headon was elected M . E . Z ., Leggott H ., Elsley J ., Bull P . Z . Treasurer , Venn P . Z . S . E .,

Remhardt Janitor . A jewel was voted to the retiring Z ., Companion Braine , for his excellent working . The Chapter was then closed until December . A capital banquet followed , superinteded by Companion Dawkins . Comp . Braine proposed tbe usual Loyal and Royal Arch toasts . Comp . Haslett proposed the toast of the M . E . Z ., aud complimented him on his excellent working ; indeed , he had never heard

it more perfectly rendered . The M . E . Z . in reply thanked Companion Haslett for his kind expressions ; what ho had done he hoped was for the benefit of the Chapter . It would be his great pleasure to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor . The toast of the M . E . Z . Elect was then given . Comp . Headon ' s working in Craft Masonry was well known , and it was a great pleasure to have such a good

working R . A . Mason to fill the chair of this Chapter , which , if it was to be second to none , the M . E . Z . elect would be the one to carry this out . In Comp . Leggott no better working Mason could be found , more particularly for the Charities- The toast of the Exaltee , Comp . Keeble came next on the list , aud it was in very able terms responded to . Comps . Stohwasser Z . 21 , and J . Stevens P . Z . 720 ,

responded for the Visitors . The health of the Treasurer Comp . Bull , and of Comp . Haslett P . Z . S . E . was then given , the M . E . Z . stating no Companions could be found who knew their duties better ; no Chapter conld consider itself efficient without ifc had capable Officers . This toast having been responded to , the Junior Officers and Janitor's followed . Comps . Stevens , Moody , Haslett , and Levy contributed to the harmony .

Joppa Chapter. No. 188.

JOPPA CHAPTER . No . 188 .

A CONVOCATION of this Chapter was held on Monday ( in lieu of the regular meeting of the 2 nd instant , that date being Bank Holiday ) , at the Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . Comps . H . P . Isaac M . E . Z ., I . P . Cohen H ., A . Henochsberg J ., M . J . Emanuel P . Z . S . E . and Treasurer , J . Dewsnap S . N ., L . Lazarns P . Z . as P . S . ; P . Z . 's S . M . Lazarns , L . Lazarns , H . M . Levy , W . Littanr ; Visitors—Comps . W . Vincent P . Z ., A . Abrahams late

188 , J . A . Gartley 142 , G . Smith jun ., C . Killick H . 228 , Round . Chapter was opened , and the minutes of last meeting were confirmed . Ballots were taken for the admission of Bro . J . B . Mesquito 205 and H . C . Lonsdale , whioh being in f . ivour of the candidates , they were dnly exalted into R . A . Masonry . The working of the M . E . Z ., Principals , and Officers was perfect . Tbe resignation of

Comp . Bookbinder was accepted with regret . The sum of two guineas was voted from the Chapter , to be placed on the list of Comp . L . Lazarns P . Z ., who will serve as a Steward afc the next Anniversary Festival of tte Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , on the 9 th of May . The Chapter was then closod till the last Monday in May , and the Companions sat down to an excellent banquet provided by Comp .

Jennings , and superintended by Comp . M . Silver . The M . E . Z ., in eloquent terms , proposed the Loyal and R . A . toasts . Comp . W . Littanr P . Z . proposed the toast of the Z . This was a pleasing duty for him to perform , as Comp . Isaac was a good Craftsman and R . A . Mason . He ( Comp . Littaur ) had exalted him ; he had filled every chair to the satisfaction of tho Companions . The M . E . Z ., iu

reply , thanked the Companions for their good wishes . He would strive to advance the prosperity of the Chapter , and his great aim would be to promote its success . In speaking to the toast of the Exaltees , the M . E . Z . said , by the attention they had paid to the ceremony , he felt assured they would become creditable Royal Arch Masons . All wero gratified they' had selected this Chapter to be

exalted in . Comp . Mesquito eloquently responded , and he was followed by Comp . Lonsdale , who although but a young Mason , had heard so much of the Joppa Chapter wherever he went , that he thought be could nofc do better than join ifc . The M . E . Z . then proposed the toast of the Visitors . Ho thought the Chapter might boast of two attributes—cordiality amongst its members , and hospitality to its guests . In the name of the Chapter , he would extend to

thom a hearty welcome . Comp . Killick responded ; he had experienced an intellectual treat that e *? en ' ng . The Chapter might be congratulated on the ability of its Z ., a * the excellent working of its Officers . Comps . Gartley ancl Vincflnr . 'lowed , acknowledging the extreme pleasure they had experienr-fi u the excellent working . The toast of the P . Z . 's came next . Comp . . J . Emanuel P . Z . and S . E . responded . The H . and J . wore wx < •omplimented , and after response had been made , the Janitor gave the parting toast .

The Camden Chapter , No . 704 , was consecrated on Friday , 6 th inst ., at Anderton's Hotel , by Comp . James Terry , who was assisted by Comps . J . D . Collier and E . C . Daines . Comps . E . Dimsdale and G . S . Graham assisted with the music .