Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

BERKSHIRE .

ON Friday , 12 th inst ., the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter was held in the Temperance Hall , Newbury , when the transaction of the usual business was supplemented by tbe consecration of the Hope Chapter , No . 574 , the ceremony being performed by Comp . J . T . Morland , M . A ., Grand Superintendent , assisted by the Provincial Grand Officers .

The Companions subsequently attended the installation banquet of the Hope Chapter , which was well served at the Queen ' s Hotel .

BELGRAVE CHAPTER , No . 749 . AT a convocation held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . C ., on Friday , 12 th inst ., the following Officers were installed as Principals for the ensuing year : —Comps . E . W . Walker Z ., H . W . Noakes H ., and Arthur Eonaldson J . Comp . W . A . Scurrah P . Z . was re-appointed Scribe E ., and John J . Thomas P . Z . re-elected as Treasurer .

HORNSEY CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 890 . A CONVOCATION was held at Bro . Edward Stevens ' s , Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne Terrace , Bishop's Eoad , Paddington , W ., on Friday , 12 th inst ., Comp . S . Almond Z .-elect 1839 Z ., J . C . Tilt Z . 862 H . and Treas ., J . Cruttenden 779 J ., H . Dehane P . Z . 890 Prov . G . P . S . Essex S . E ., A . J . Taylor H . 186 S . N ., J . Bailey P . Z . 1602 P . S ., A . Clark J . 2021 A . S ., W . Hillier J . 834 , J . Wynman 188 .

The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Wynman candidate . A vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Almond for the admirable manner in whioh he rehearsed the duties of Z . for the first time , which compliment was duly acknowledged , as was a vote of thanks to Comp . Tilt .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CORNWALL .

riHHE Provincial Grand Mark Lodge , at Camborne , was largely _ L attended . Bro . Sir Charles Brune Graves Sawle invested the Provincial Officers , as follow : Bros . P . Colville Smith - - . Deputy B . Eowe - - - - ' - Senior Warden E . S . Carus-Wilson - - - Junior Warden

W . Vial - - - - - Master Overseer George Timmins - Senior Overseer T . Letcher - . - - - - Junior Overseer Eev . W . Erskine .... Chaplain W . Colenso ..... Eegistrar ¦ E . M . Milford .... Treasurer

W . J . Johns .... Secretary J . Cleare .... . Senior Deacon J . Adams ... .. Junior Deacon J . Eetallick ----- Inspector of Works J . Fitton - . - - - - Director of Ceremonies N . Lean - Assist . Dir . of Cers .

Battle Eashleigh - - . . Sword Bearer Bennallack - Standard Bearer T . H . Menadue .... Organist John Nicholls .... Inner Guard F . W . Mitchall .... Steward John Langdon - • - - . . Tyler .

Brother W . L . Chegwidden P . Prov . G . J . O . was re-elected Auditor . Sir Charles Sawle intimated that in consequence of failing health he felt obliged to place his resignation in the hands of the Prince of Wales , and shortly they would have to elect some one in his place . He retired with deep regret , but feared his continuance in the office would prove detrimental to the Province of Cornwall Mark Masonry .

Eev . E . F . Fraser-Frizell proposed that the Lodge receive with deep regret the announcement of Sir Charles Sawle ' s retirement . The motion was seconded by Bro . P . Colville Smith and carried . — " Western Morning News . "

Viscount Valentia , M . P ., P . G . Mark Master of Berkshire and Oxfordshire has fixed Monday , the 29 th inst ., for his annual Provincial Grand Lodge , which will be held under the banner of the Jersey Lodge , at Maidenhead .

ROYAL NAVAL LODGE , No . 239 . THE regular meeting was held at Mark Masons' Hall . Great Queen Street , on Monday , 15 th inst ., Bro . James Speller W . M . The ballot was taken for two advaneees and two joining members , and proved unanimous in their favour . The ceremony of advancement was ably rendered by the W . M . . .

Mark Masonry.

The installation of Bro . C . H . Bestow W . M .-elect was then proceeded with , Bro . Wm . Vincent P . M . P . A . G . D . C . undertaking the duty in his usual careful and masterly manner . The W . M . appointed and invested his Officers , and presented a Past Master ' s jewel to Bro . James Speller I . P . M ., in appreciation of his valuable services . The Lodge was closed , and the Brethren adjourned to the Holborn Eestaurant , and there enjoyed an excellent banquet . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . After dinner an attractive programme of music was rendered .

A new Masonic Hall , built by the Marquis of Zetland for Lodge Zetland , No . 391 , in North Charlotte Street , Grangemouth * and seated for 180 persons , was recently opened and consecrated by the Provincial Grand . Lodge of Stirlingshire , amongst the members present being Brothers George Christie , Stirling , Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . Francis Gosnay , the business manager of the Globe Theatre , who has been connected with the phenomenal run of " Charley ' s Aunt" from the commencement , is

compelledacting under medical advice—to take a rest , and has therefore resigned his appointment with Bro . W . S . Penley . He will shortly proceed on a sea voyage , which , we sincerely hope , will prove of benefit to him .

The Oliver Arms , Westbourne Terrace N ., where the regular meetings of the Westbourne Lodge of Instruction , No . 733 , are held , has recently passed into the hands of a new proprietor , in

the person of Mr . D . Peron , who will , we hope , extend the same advantages to members of the Craft as did Bro . Butcher , his predecessor , with satisfactory results to himself . We tender him our best wishes for his future success .

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY . AS mentioned in our last issne , the Midland Eailway Company have made special arrangements for the additional traffic likely to arise on their system next week , in connection with this Society ' s Show , at Leicester , their ordinary service being supplemented by the running of an additional express train on Monday and Tuesday , from St . Pancras at

7 . 45 a . m ., and Kentish Town at 7 * 50 , arriving at Leicester at 10 * 15 aim . We have also spoken of the special tickets to be issued at a fare and a quarter , the cheap excursion trains from all parts of the Midland Line , and the special season tickets provided for the Show week , but may refer our readers to the Company's advertisement on another page for yet fuller details .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE death is announced of Bro . James Howell Past Master and Treasurer of the Lodge of St . John , No . 1343 , which occurred somewhat suddenly last Monday at his residence at Grays , Essex . Bro . Howell was highly esteemed by his Brethren of the Province , and greatly respected by his fellow

townspeople . He was Master of the Lodge in 1887-8 , and soon after received further honours by being appointed Provincial Standard Bearer . For many years past he has acted as Charity Eepresentative of the Lodge .

THE funeral of the late Bro . Francis James Carter S . W .. Eosslyn Lodge , No . 1543 , and J . W . Chelmer Mark Lodge , No . 342 , who had been ill but a short time with heart disease , took place at the Parish Church , Dunmow , Essex , on the 18 th inst . He was highly respected by a large circle of friends

and relatives , and was looking forward with pleasure to being W . M . of the Eosslyn Lodge next year , the twenty-first of its existence , on which occasion it is expected the Prov . G . M . the Et . Hon . the Earl of Warwick will most likely attend . Many wreaths were sent by friends , and in addition by the Eosslyn

and Chelmer Lodges . Amongst those present were Bros . W . Chapman W . M ., F . J . Snell , Wright , Brazier , A . Eattray Past Masters ; Broadbridgo S . D ., Piper J . D ., Livermore , Lewis , Young , Hoskins , Turner , and J . G . Mackenzie Sec , all of 1543 ; Franklin W . M . 1312 , and representatives of the Chelmer Lodge , at Chelmsford .

THE funeral of Mrs . Cuthbertson , wife of Bro . J . C . Cuthbertson , of the Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 , and of the Skiddaw Hotel , Chippenham Eoad , Paddington , took place on Monday last . The deceased lady was only ill for five days , and was buried at the City of London Cemetry , Ilford , the

attendance on the occasion giving proof of the great respect entertained towards her . Bro , Cuthbertson has our sympath y in this further trial , his eldest son having died in January last , at the age of twenty-six , and we trust that the future may afford him and his family some brightness to alleviate the pain of their present sorrows , ¦ ¦¦ , ¦ ¦¦