Royal Arch. Devonshire.

North London Chapter of Improvement . —The meetings wero resumed at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Thursday , the 5 th inst . Comps . Bailey M . E . Z , McLaren H ., Radcliffe J ., Osborne S . E ., Speldrith S . N ., Jenkins P . S ., L- \ ndale , Gregory , Dehane , Walden , Murrell , George Bird , Davis , Higgins , Angill , CareyArdrey , Buxton , Tuok , Merrifield , Webb , and T . C . Edmonds

, Preceptor . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Landale , J . of the Sir Hugh Myddelton , candidate . The beautiful and earnest manner in which the Principals gave the charge and lectures gained the warmest praise from tbe Companions . Comps . Tuck , Bnxton , Walden , Murrell , and others were elected members . Companions are

earnestly solicited to attend this Chapter , whore they will receive every instruction and kindness . The new quarters are very commodious and Comp . Tuck , the courteous manager , shows every attention to the wants and comforts of tho Companions . Meetings will be held every Thursday evening , at 8 o ' clock .

Mark Masonry. Devonshire.

MARK MASONRY . DEVONSHIRE .

ON the 28 th uU ., at the Rougemont Hotel Assembly Rooms , Exeter , a Provincial Grand Lodge was held Those present included tbe Hon . Sir H . Stafford Northcote ,, G . B ., M . P ., P . G . M . The report of the Provincial Grand Secretary was received aud adopted , as was that of

the Provincial Grand Treasnrer , which showed a favourable balance in hand of £ 34 . The report of the Committee of General Purposes , which was also received and adopted , recommended that twenty-one guineas should be given for

Charities . A vote of congratulation was passed to Deputy Bro . G . M . Lowe on his appointment to the office of P . G . W . of tbe Craft . Bros . Lowe , Stoker , Grover , and Crouch were appointed to serve on the General Purposes

Committee . Bro . Hughan Past Grand Warden of England referred in complimentary terms to the recently drafted Bye-laws of the Province , which had been prepared by

Provincial Grand Secretary , and a vote of thanks was given to that brother for his labour in connection with the work . o . A / banquet was afterwards held afc the Rongement Hotel .

Rose Croix. Alfred Chapter.

ROSE CROIX . ALFRED CHAPTER .

rpHE September meeting of this Chapter was held at tho A- Masonic Hall , Taunton , on the 28 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . F . T . Hussey M . W . S ., when the Chapter was honoured by the presence of Bro . the Rev . H . G . Morse 32 degree . Inspector-General for tho S . W . district . Bro . F . T . Elworthy 31 degree P . M . W . S . waa

re-elected Treasurer , T . H . Chuffin P . M . W . S . re-appointed Recorder , and A . E . Perkins 1 st General nnanimonsly elected M . W . S . for the ensning year . The installation will take place in June nex \ The brethren united in a banquet at the Castle Hotel , and the usual toasts were proposed .

R.M. Institution For Girls.

R . M . INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

THE Quarterly Court of Subscribers to this Institution waa held on Thursday at Freemasons' Tavern , London , W . C . Bro . Henry Smith Past Grand Deacon Deputy Provincial Grand Master for West Yorkshire Treasnrer of tbe Institntion presiding . He was supported

on the dais by Bros . H . A . Hunt , Peter de Long , J . H . Matthews , A . C . Spaull , and 0 . E . Keyser . The business before the Court was merely formal and consisted of the

reading and confirmation of the minutes of the July Court , the reading of summaries of the minntes of the several subsequent General Committees for information , and the election of Scrutineers of vote ? .

Among the portions of business which required confirmation was the voting of £ 600 for structural alterations in the infirmary of the School which , according to the

designs of Bro . H . A . Hunt P . G . Superintendent of Works , by introducing a separate staircase will completely isolate infectious from non-infectious cases .

The business of the Court having been transacted , the election of 15 out of an approved list of 37 candidates for admission to the School was proceeded witb . Tbe list of successful candidates will be found in our advertisement columns .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of ou Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . Wo cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

FORFEITED VOTES .

To thu Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think yonr correspondent has mi ? , named his query , la what way hare tho votes in' question been forfeited ? To my thinking they have been most successfully nsed in the object for which they wero created , viz ., the election of tlo

candidate put forward . , The unfortunate collapse of the said candidate is naturally vexing to those interested , bnt I fail to bee that it . gives the Province or Lodge in question any claim on the Institution for thb votes expended .

I think it will be generally understood by the Governors and Subscribers that the vacancy should be filled without election , and by the next highest on the poll of the April election last . Should the nominee of the Province of Cheshire hold tbat position , their , of course , it would fall to them , but not ( therwiso ..

I think it is generally understood th ' t votes once given are expended aud cannot be recalled . They possess no value or power beyond the fact that the highest nnmbers gain the ' object . We will suppose a case being a last application and 4 , 500 votes given for that case , whereas the lowest successful candidate was credited polled 4 , 501 . Would any Province or Lodge consider

ttemselves entitled to compensation for so-called lost or forfeited votes ? I think our worthy Brother will , on reflection , see that this is merely ono of the disappointments of life , and any alteration of tho rules would simply be an injustice to tho othor candidates . Wishing our Brethren of Cheshire success in all their nominations ,

I am , dear Sir and Brother , Faithfully aud fraternally yours , FREDERICK T . C . KEEBLE P . M . 1426 , London ,

P . G . D . C . Invernesshire , St . John Kilwinning , No . 6 ( S . C . ) 9 th October 1893 . THE PREVIOUS QUESTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DXAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I fancy the majority of your readers will feel inclined to take the common-sense view of Bro . tho Rov . R . J . Simpson P . G . Chaplain in connection with this subject , rather

than fall in with " LEX SCRIFTA ' S ideas , notwithstanding the opinions ho quotes . As the proveibial pound of fact is worth a ton of theory , I may state tbbt in tho revised Bye-laws ( 1890 ) of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Cheshire , there is tho following regulation : —

"The Provincial Grand Lodge may , bynn amendment carried in favour of the ' previous question' d'clino to entertain and consider any motion . " Of course tho Bye-laws were " approved " in the nsnnl way , and we

all know how careful tho lute Grand Secretary , Col . Cloike , wns to draw h ? s pen throngh anything in Bye-laws that was not in order . Aa I tako it—tho moving and carrying of tho " previous question " is not only the mott convenient , but tho most courteous way of saying "This matter had bitt ; r stand over for the present . " Yours fraternally , CESTRIAN .

To the Editor of thc FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The explanation given iu your last issue by Past Grand Chaplain V . W . Rev . BrPi-Simpson , M . A ., in answer to "LEX SCRIPTA ' S" comments upon moving the " previous question , " is BO far satisfactory , showing rt least that it was cot so unjustifiable an innovation iu Masonio procedure as implied by "LEX SCHIPTA . " Yours fraternally , INTUITIVE , P . M . P . Z . 11 th October 1893 .

The Prince t / f Wales has fixed Tuc ^ dny , 2 eth November , for tho consecration of the Chancery Bar Lodge , No . 2450 . The Benchers of Lincoln ' s Inn having given permission for the Lodge meetings to he held in Lincoln ' s Inn Hall , the ceremony will propably behold in tie Library . The banquet which is to follow will be laid in the Hall . The Prince of

Wales has signified his intention to be present , and the Earl of Lathom Pro Grand Master , assisted by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Deputy Grand Master , and other distinguished Graud Officers will consecrate tho Lodge .