Royal Arch.

Should there be Companions present able to bring any influence to bear upon the matter I have named , I trnst they will do what they can to remove this reproach from our Province . It is with much pleasure that I see a new Warrant has been » ranted to hold a Chapter in Leeds , to be callod the Prudence

Chapter , att iched to Lodge 2069 , and as Comps . Rev . Dr . Smyth , C . L . Mason , and Tudor Trevor aro to be respeotixely the 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd Principals , I think no one can doubt that it will be truly and effectively worked . May it have a prosperous career , and keep to that high standard of efficiency which I have no doubt it will attain whilst under the rule of these well-known and experienced

Companions . Since the last meeting , at Halifax , we have all mourned the death of the young Duke of Clarence and Avondale , who , had he lived , would doubtless soon have entered the Royal Arch degree , and in due time sncceerled his Royal Father as First Grand Principal .

Another loss , which will be deeply felt by Royal Arch Masons for some time to come is that of the late Grand Soribe E . Colonel Shadwell Clerke was a most accomplished Royal Arch Mason , especially well versed in all ceremonies conneoted with consecrations aud installations . I well remember assisting him aa one of the

consecrating Principals of the Alexander Chapter at Newark , some twelvo yoars ago , aud getting from him much information that has been valuable to me when I have been deputed to consecrate Chapters iu oar own Province . This reminds me that the first Z . of the new Chapter to which I have alluded was Comp . tho Rev . F . V .

Bussell , who .-e unexpected and untimely death a few weeks ago was a shuck to many Sheffield Companions . He was formerly a member of this Province , having been exalted in this room , and at his death was holding the high position of Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Notts—being also a Past Officer of Grand Chapter .

It is just 25 years since Provincial Graud Chapter paid its first visit to Sheffield , the Marquess of Ripon , Grand Supt ., presiding . The next important occasion was in 1878 , when Sir Henry Edwards was installed here as Grand Superintendent by Col . Le Gendre Starkie Grand Superintendent of East Lancashire . It was doubly

important to me , as I had the honour on that occasion of being installed Provincial Grand H . I regret that Comp . Isaac Booth , made Provincial Grand J . at the same time , died last year . We meet to-day under the banner of the Chapter of Paradise , attached to the Old Britannia Lodge , 139 . This Chapter ( the largest in the

Province ) was formed in 1820 , and met at that time at the " Falataff" Inn . The other Chapter in Sheffield is the Loyalty , attached to the Royal Brunswiok Lodge , 296 . This is also a very large Chapter ); its Charter was granted in 1821 , within twelve months of the date of the Paradise . We are very fortunate in

possessing the portrait of Comp . Rowley , the first Z . of the Chapter of Paradise ; and also that of Comp . Jos . Smith , the first Z . of the Chapter of Loyalty , both eminent Masons in their day , and while pointing out these portraits on our walls , I cannot refrain from a passing allusion to that lately deceased brother whose portrait hangs

next to that of Comp . Smith , and who , with regard to the services rendered to the Cratt and to Royal Arch Masonry , stood head and shoulders above auy brother in this district . That portrait of the late Dr . Bartolonic was painted some 40 or 50 years ago , when ho was practically resuscitating Masonry in Sheffield , and , with that

woudorful energy of his , raising it to n higher level . He died in harness , being Treasurer of iho Royal Bruuswick Lodge , a post he hud held for 45 years . Cump'iniuny , I will not detain you any longer , bnt closo my

remark * by nrging yon all to give to this tuiprrmo degree the attention and devotion it deserves , fur , to quote JJr . Oliver , " it is indescribably more august , sublime and important than any which precede it ; and is , iu fact , tho summit and perfection of Ancient Masonry . "

Comp . Henry Oxley , on behalf of Comp . Leach , presented tho Balance Sheet , which showed the lmlanco in Messrs . Leatham , Tew and Co . ' s bank , Wakefield , on the 30 th April 1892 , to be £ 198 2 s 8 d , and moved its adoption ; this was seconded by Comp . Isaac Eyre , and can ied .

Moved by Comp . Oxley , seconded by Comp . Garnett , and supported by Comp . Thos . Harrison , and resolved unanimously , " That Comp . Hy . Thomas E . Holmes P . Z , 139 , be elected Treasurer for the ensuing year . " The acting Grand Superintendent then appointed and invested the Officers for the ensuing year as follows : —

Comp . T . W . Emb ' eton 1513 H . William Henry Jessop 521 ... J . Henry Smith 302 S . E . J . W . BalmeGl S . N . H . T . E . Holmes ( elected ) 139 Treasurer .

Isaao Kaberry 495 Registrar . John Seed 448 Principal Soj . Cornelius Whoawill 290 ... 1 st Assist . Soj . William Haigh 1283 2 nd Assist . Soj . William Bingham 1042 Sword Bearer .

William Henry Milnca 1019 ... Standard Bearer . Edwin Billington 1462 ... Dir . ofCitv . James Walmsley , J . P ., 827 .,, Assist . Dir . of Cire . Henry Fountain 1513 Organist , Herbert G . E . Greeo 154 ... Assist . S . E .

Thomas Chester 904 Janitor . William Fisher Tasker 29 fi . . ^ Tbomsis Uttley 307 . . " / J . P . Hewitt 139 ... ... f Stewards . John Sboe 8 mith 521 J Comp . B , H . Armitage , on behalf of the Z . and Com-

Royal Arch.

panions of Perseverance Chapter , No . 275 , invited the acting Grand Superintendent to hold the November meeting in Huddersfield , and stated that would bo the completion of their Centenary .

Moved by Comp . Henry Smith , seconded by Comp . John Wordsworth , and resolved , "That a very hearty vote of thanks bo accorded to the Z . ( Comp . John Hunt ) and Companions of Paradise Chapter , No . 139 , for their kind invitation and excellent arrangements .

The acting Grand Superintendent moved , Companion Hnnt seconded , and it was carried ( all the Companions standing ) , " That this Provincial Grand Chapter desires to express its warm sympathy with Comp . Tew in his prolonged illness and its earnest wish for his speedy and

complete recovery . The Provincial Grand Chapter was closed at 4 ' 40 p . m . Tea was provided in the Dining Hall , at 5 o'clock , which was partaken of by 62 Companions , the acting Grand Superintendent presiding .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

— : o : — THE USE OF THE FESTIVALS

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —No donbt many of yonr readers have heard the argument that onr Anniversary Festivals are of no use except to bring together a number of brethren with the objeot of spending a lot of money in feasting and drinking . Some even urge

that the money thus expended should be added to the contributions of the Craft and placed to the credit of the Institution concerned . Bnt as the Stewards pay their own expenses , out of apeoial fees , I cannot see the force of this argument , but far stronger evidence of the utility of these gatherings was manifest on Wednesday , when , a

few minutes after the Secretary had announced £ 9 , 582 10 s 6 d as the total for the year , H . R . H . the Dnke of Connaught was able to rise and state that a few brethren around him had co-operated , and botween them had made the total up to a level ten thousand pounds .

Here was an addition of nearly £ 420 secured in abont as many seconds , and hereafter the Craft will be able to point to this result aw further proof—whon suoh is needed—thut the Festivals are really of advantage , boyoud the vulgar considerations of eating and drinking . Yours fraternally , ONE WHO WAS PRESENT .

CO-OPERATION AMONG THE CHARITIES

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DKAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think , with your correspondent who writes under this heading , that something might be Hone in tho direction he mentions . If the Masonic Institutions are r » ally the united family they are usnally pictnred , it would be no ungraceful

net for each in turn to recognise assistance rendered to tbe other ? . I am afraid , however , some may urge that to extend this recognition would be the first step towards making Freemnsouvy a benefit society . That is bosh , —the benefit to be derived from a subscription being BO infinitesimal as to be beneath consideration . Who would ever invest

ten guineas in the purchase of a Life Governorship so that in case of need a few votes might be given by an Institution towards the 1500 or 2000 necessary to carry an election ? As the matter now stands it seems to me somewhat out of place that subscribers to the

Benevolent Institution should have votes given them if they become candidates , while subscribers to the Schools are papsed over ; that is assuming , as I have always done , that the three Institutions are more like one body with three heads than three distinct concerns . Yonrs fraternally , A LIFE GOVERNOR R . M . B . I .

Reuters Agency , dating from Paris , 17 th May , statos : King Oscar II . of Sweden , who is at present at Cannes , has been invited to attend the meeting of the Grand Lodge of tbe Freemasons of France shortly to bo held to commemorate the bi-centenary of the death of Elias Ashmole ,

who died in London , on 18 th May 1692 . King Oscar is Grand Master of the Masonic Lodges of Sweden and Norway , with which dignity he was invested on his

coronation . The Order of Charles XIIL , which is hi ghly prized in Scandinavia , where Freemasonry is held in great honour , was specially designed for the dignitaries of th « Craft .