Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WEST YORKSHIRE . THE half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Chapter of West Yorkshire was held on Wednesday afternoon , in the Masonic Hall , Milnsbridge , near Huddersfield . In the absence of the Provincial Grand Superintendent the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., who was detained in

London on the Royal Commission on Indian Expenditure , the first Principal's chair was occupied by Comp . R . Wilson Prov . G . H ., Comp . J . L . Atherton taking the chair of H ., and Comp . J . Barker , of Mirfield , that of J .

There was a large attendance of Companions , additional interest having been lent to the proceedings by the fact that a new Chapter , named the Armitage , No . 2261 , was to be consecrated during the afternoon , and only five Chapters were unrepresented .

The acting Grand Superintendent strongly appealed to the liberality of the Companions on behalf of the funds being raised for the relatives of the men who had been called up to serve in the Transvaal .

On the motion of Comp . R . Sheard , seconded by Comp . W . Dyson , and supported by Comps . J . Barker , Harrop , and Parke , the salary of the Prov . G . S . E . was increased by twenty-one guineas .

On the motion of Comp . C . L . Mason , seconded by Comp . W . Blackburn , a grant was made to replenish the tools in the carpenter ' s shop connected with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

During the proceedings Comp . C . L . Mason read an interesting paper on " The Degrees of Freemasonry and the Royal Arch . " The ceremony of consecrating the * Armitage Chapter was

performed by the acting Prov . G . Superintendent , assisted by the other Principals , and he inducted Comp . W . Dyson to the chair of M . E . Z ., C . H . Crowther to that of H ., and H . Shaw to that of J .

Northumberland.

NORTHUMBERLAND .

11 HE annual convocation of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held on Monday afternoon , at the Masonic Hall , Station Road , Wallsend . In the unavoidable absence of the Provincial Grand Superintendent Sir Matthew White

Ridley , Bart ., the position of Superintendent was occupied by Comp . J . Straker Wilson P . P . G . H ., and the other chief Principals were Comps . Henry Gibson Prov . G . H ., and H . Soden Bird P . P . G . J . as Prov . G . J . There was a numerous attendance of Principals of Chapters and Companions .

The report of the Fund Committee was read by Comp . J . Cartmell Ridley P . P . G . H . Prov . G . S . E ., and reported the retirement , though illness , of Comp . Thos . Purvis from the important position of Prov . G . S . E . which was received with

much regret , and also the resignation of E . C . Macarthey Prov . G . Treasurer . The P . G . Superintendent had appointed pro . tem . Comp . J . Cartmell Ridley as Prov . G . S . E ., and Comp . J . Gibson Youll as Prov . G . Treasurer .

Comp . Macarthey Prov . G . T ., read the Treasurer ' s financial statement , and the report of the Fund Committee and the Treasurer ' s statement were adopted . On the motion of Comp . John Spearman , seconded by Comp . Cummins P . P . G . H ., Comp . J . G . Youll was unanimously elected as Prov . G . Treasurer .

On the motion of Comp . R . W . Cummins P . P . G . H ., an expression of sincere sympathy was passed with Comp . T . Purvis P . P . G . S . E ., on his serious illness , which was responded + 0 by Comp . W . E . Harker Z . Comp . A . T . Aitchison proposed a vote of thanks to

Comp . Macarthey for his past services as Treasurer . The roll of Chapters was called , and the Prov . G . S . E . read a number of letters explaining absence . One letter in particular was from Sir Matthew White Ridley Provincial

Superintendent , who stated that in connection with the visit of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany , he had been commanded to Windsor Castle , and he was thus unavoidably unable to be present . He had looked forward to meeting the Officers and members of the Provincial Chapter , but his

duties quite prevented his being with them . Other letters were from Officers who were attending the funeral of the late Dr . F . Skrimshire third Principal of the Chapter of Morpeth ,

in the report of which Chapter special reference was made to the loss which Masonry had sustained in the sudden death of Dr . Skrimshire , whose zeal and interest was referred to by the first Principal of the Chapter in fitting terms .

Northumberland.

The acting Prov . G . Superintendent Comp . T . Straker Wilson referred to the absence of the Prov . G . Superintendent , who had desired that his absence should be explained to the Companions . There had not been time to postpone the Chapter , and he had undertaken by request to represent the Prov . G . Superintendent . Since last they met they had lost

by death their esteemed Pro Grand Superintendent the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , a distinguished nobleman and an eminent Mason , whose loss would be long felt by the Grand Chapter of England . He also deeply regretted to announce the resignation of Comps . Purvis and Macarthey from their own numbers . He referred at some length to the good work and the position Comp . Purvis had done and occupied , and

all would join in the hope for his recovery . Comp . Macarthey was also obliged to resign his duties , and he was sure all would join in acknowledging his courtesy and valuable services to the Provincial Grand Chapter . He was glad to be able to report that fifteen new members had joined their Chapters since last meeting , and they could congratulate the Prov . G . Superintendent and the Province on the increase in their numbers .

The acting Prov . G . Superintendent then invested the following as the Officers of Provincial Grand Chapter for the

coming year : Comp . T . E . Jobling' - - - - H . G . A . Allan ----- J . J . Cartmell Ridley - - - - Scribe E . T . Pickering .... Scribe N . J . Gibson Youll ... - Treasurer

T . J . Armstrong ... - Regiatrar J . A . Stelling . . . - Principal Sojourner T . Appleby - - - - - 1 st Assistant Sojourner T . R . Guthrie .... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner L . F . Allan - Sword Bearer

John Crow .... Standard Bearer J . Straker Wilson - Director of Ceremonies R . W . Cummins .... Assistant Dir . of Cers . W . H . Nixon .... Organist Leo Nixon - - - - - Assistant Scribe E . Joshua Curry - - - Janitor . It was announced that the next meeting would be under the auspices of the De Swinburne Chapter , Newcastle .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

KENT . THIS Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held under the auspices of the Granville Lodge , No . 390 , at the Guildhall , Deal , on Wednesday , 25 th ult . Viscount Dungarvan Deputy Grand Master Provincial Grand Master presided , and appointed the following Brethren Provincial Officers for the ensuing year : — — . - o : —

Bro . Frederick Hughes-Hallett 129 378 - - Deputy John Wyatt Court 390 ... Senior Warden Joseph Harrison 294 - - - Junior Warden Alex . S . Greenway , M . D ., 309 - - Master Overseer Samuel R . Wilson 129 - - - Senior Overseer Alfred W . Southwell 262 . . . Junior Overseer

Rev . Wm . B . Drawbridge 267 - - Chaplain Herbert Black 69 - - - - Treasurer Charles Loud 378 ... - Registrar J . George Podevin 152 ... Secretary Henry S . Bagshaw 237 ... Senior Deacon John 0 . Cook 44 ... - Junior Deacon

William Roper 267 - - - - Inspector of Works John P . White 364 - Director of Ceremonies Jonathan D . Hull 69 Assistant Dir . of Cers . Sidney Newton 390 - - - - Sword Bearer Arnold H . Ullyett 266 - - - Standard Bearer John G . Cheyney 380 ... Organist

George H . Porter 226 - - - Assistant Secretary Enrico Caraco .... Inner Guard Thomas Bugler 416 - \ John T . Loader 322 - - - - [ Stewarda Charles M . Challender 332 - - - ) Joseph Oram 237 - - - - Tyler .

North Wales.

NORTH WALES .

rjHHE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark JL Lodge is to be held at Bangor , on Wednesday , 13 th December .

. ST . ANDREW LODGE , No . 63 . AT the Masonic Hall , Southampton , on Tuesday , 14 th inst ., it being the celebration of the festival of St . Andrew , Bro . T . E . Smith S . W . P . P . G . I . W . was installed Worshipful Master for the ensuing year . The ceremony of installation was ably and imoressively performed by Bro . Lawrence Steele P . P . G . S . W . P . A . G . I . G . England .

At the banquet which followed the ceremony , in replying to the toast of tho Officers of tbe Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England , & c , Bro . J . E . Le Feuvre congratulated the W . M . on the large number of Brethren who had attended to support him .