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No . 1898 , Bourke , New South Wales , to be called " The Chapter of Central Australia , " and to meat at Bourke , in tho District of New South Wales . 2 nd . From Companions John Edward Atkinson as Z ., William

Thomas Newitt as H ., Hector Marshall Upahon as J ., and seven others for a Chapter to be attached to the Pitt Maodonald Lodge , No . 1198 , Madras , to be called " The Pitt Maodonald Chapter , " and to meet at Madras , in the East Indies .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a memorial from the Companions of the St . George's Chapter , No . 140 , Greenwich , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a

centenary jewel , in accordance with the resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st February 1882 . This memorial being in form , and the Chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , tho Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted .

The Committee have also received the following petitions praying for charters of confirmation , the originals being lost . From the Principals and Members of the Beadon Chapter , No . 619 , London . From the Principals and Members of the Orpheus Chapter , No . 1706 , London .

The Committee recommend that charters of confirmation for the above named Chapters be granted . The Committee have further received memorials , with extracts of

minutes , on the removal of the undermentioned Chapters . From the John Hervey Chapter , No . 1260 , London , for per . mission to remove from Freemasons' Hall , to the Holborn Restaurant , High Holborn .

From the Constitutional Chapter , No . 294 , Beverley , lov permission to remove from the Assembly Rooms , to the New Masonic Hall , Register Square , Beverley . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommend that the removal of these Chapters be sanctioned .

( Signed ) ROBERT GKEY P . A . G . Soj . President Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . 19 th January 1887 .

The North London Chapter of Improvement , No . 1471 * will in future meet at Bro . De Sallaa , Northampton House , St . Paul's-road , Canonbury . Preceptor T . 0 . Edmonds will occupy the First Principal ' s chair on Thursday next , when the ceremony of exaltation will be rehearsed .

Members of the Brunswick Mark Lodge , No . 48 , held a meeting on Wednesday the 19 th instant , at the Ebrington Hall , Sfconehouse . Bros . Charles Marshall was chosen the W . M . elect , P . Price Treasurer , and J . Bartlett was re-elected Tyler .

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Brixham.

DEDICATION OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT BRIXHAM .

ON Thursday afternoon , the 20 th instant , was conducted the ceremony of dedicating the new Masonic Hall which has recently been erected at Brixham . The building occupies a site near All Saints' Church , and the foundation-stone was laid on the 25 th of February last year . The architect is Bro . G . S . Bridgman , of Paignton and Torquay . Freemasonry has long existed in Brixham—the

Lodge True Love and Unity , No . 248 , having been founded on the 20 th of January 1782 . The new hall is a handsome building , and much more commodious and suitable for its purpose than the room in which the meetings of the Lodge were formerly held . Fine weather favoured the proceedings , which were attended by a number

of brethren from the snrrounding towns . The day ' s engagements commenced at half-past one , when the Lodgo was opened , and Bro . the Rev . R . B . F . Elrington P . P . G . C . ( Vicar of Lower Brixham ) was re-elected Master . Tho Worshipful Master installed the following a 3

nis Uincors tor the enouing year : —Bros . Dr . GeorgeC . SearlcI . P . M ., A . Kendrick S . W ., James Spark J . W ., S . Woolley P . M . Treasurer ' Charles Atkins P . M . Secretary , Henry May S . D ., T . S . Brown J . D . ' H . Bradden I . G ., G . T . Barry Director of Ceremonies , R . Day Org !' Hayman and Mardon Stewards , John G . Scevill Tyler . Amongst

tnose present were Bros . W . G . Rogers 112 Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devon , W . James Hnghan P . M , 131 P . G . D . Ent » ., P G D Egypt ; Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., 322 P . M . and Chaplain 189 P . PV Chaplain , John Olver P . M . 1138 P . P . G . S . B ., William Wakeham P . M 328 , John H . Hnrrell P . M . 197 , John Lane P . M . 1402 , William IT

Uoodrulge P . M . 797 P . P . G . J . D ., F . Palk P . M . 1358 P . P . G . Treasurer Steward P . M . 710 , Husband P . M . 797 , Chappie P . M . 797 , Whittle I . P . M . 797 , Taylor P . M . 328 , Stevens P . M . 1138 , P cpperell P M 1402 , Elrington W . M . 248 P . P . G Chap ., Searlo I . P . M . 248 , Johnson J

I . M . 248 , Barry P . M . P . P . G . Pars . 213 , James P . M . 243 , Brown P M 248 , McLean P . M . 218 , Gregory P . M . 248 , Woolley P . M . and Treas ' 258 , Atkins P . M . Sec . 248 , Sutherland P . M . aud Sec . 710 , Wheaton fcJ . W ., Scevill J . W . Smith S . D ., Spark J . D ., May I . G . all of 248

Dedication Of A New Masonic Hall At Brixham.

Tolman S . W . 797 , Bridgeman S . W . 1358 , Endaoott Sec . 1138 , Willa Sec . 1402 , Thomas S . D . 189 , Houghton Landmark Lodge , 5 , U . S . A ., Willard 328 , Light S . D . 1358 , Waycott 1358 , Tozer 1358 , Reid , St . John ' s ( Kilwinning ) , Winser 797 , Crossman I . G . 1482 , Grove , Memery , Bradden , Gibbs , Marden , Lovell , Hosford , Brown , James , Day , and

Cranford all of 248 . At three o clock the brethren marched in procession from the Lodge to All Saints Church , were an hour ' s service was held . The prayers were intoned and the lesson read by the curate , Rev . Isaac Bonsell . The hymns sung were " Brightly gleams our Banner , " and " Lord , how pleasant 'tis to see . " The

sermonan appropriate discourse—was preached by Bro . the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., P . M . and Chaplain , who took for hi 3 text the 8 th chapter of 1 st book of Kings , part of the 20 th verse . "The Lord hath performed His word that Ho spake , and hath bnilt an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel . "

These , remarked the preacher , were the words of their Grand Master King Solomon , on the completion of that magnificent struoture the Temple of Jerusalem , in the building of whioh it was estimated 113 , 600 Freemasons were engaged . Those employed in the supervision of this great work must have been brethren of liberal minds ,

of great skill and science , and of persevering spirit . The brethren of to-day should learn a lesson from thorn , and endeavour to make daily advancement in Masonic knowledge . They should also cultivate the most extensive liberality of miud aud sentiment , and be steady , strenuous and persevering in the exercise of their authority .

Amongst tho operatives engaged in the construction of the Temple there was no donbt a strong emulation to surpass each other in skill , order , and regularity , and in all probability the time devoted to purposes of relaxation and refreshment was never abused or misspent . Tho Freemasons of that day must also have

been wise , active and diligent . Although Solomon s splendid Tempie had long disappeared before the ravages of war , Freemasonry had survived , and the excellent tenets of the Institution had been preserved . The Brixham Lodge was founded on that very day of the month one hundred and five years ago , and the new building would

ensure the better carrying out of their ancient and solemn rites and ceremonies , whilst , from their having purchased the freehold of the site , the brethren wore now provided with a permanent home for their Lodge , which was to be dedicated to their use that day for

ever . Christian Masons were engaged in the construction of a grander temple than that of Jerusalem , and under a greater Master than Solomon—that spiritual temple of piety and that sacred Lodge of brotherhood and universal charity of which Jesna Christ was the

foundation and the chief corner stone . The concluding hymn was " O praise our God to-day , " during which a collection was taken on behalf of the hospitals at Torquay and Exetor . Upon the termination of the service the brethren re-formed in procession , and returned to the now hall , where the

dedication ceremony was impressively performed , according to the prescribed ritual , by Bro . W . G . Rogers Deputy Prov . G . M ., who was assisted by Bro . Rev . T . W . Lemon P . P . G . C , and Bro . W . J . Hughan Past Grand Deacon of England , assisted by Bros . Brown and W . C . Gregory , two of the senior Past Masters of the Lodge .

The Deputy P . G . M . scattered the corn , and Bros . Brown and Gregory poured the wine and oil respectively . Bio . Hnghan subsequently delivered a very able and much appreciated address on the History of Freemasonry . The hymns were heartily sung , Bro . E . Day pre . sidino-at tho harmonium . Thanks were passed to the Deputy G . P . M .

and Bro . Hnghan , and congratulations were received from various Lodges in Ireland and America , togather with the heartiest good wishes for the future prosperity of this old-established Lodge , whioh was then closed in due form . A banquet was held in Bro . T . S . Brown ' s Assembly Rooms in the evening .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

THE COLLAR QUESTION . To t \ e Editor of the F REEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In glancing over your very excellent leading article on this subject iu your issue of 11 th December , I omitted to notice a very important mistake in your quotation of Bro . Canon Portal ' s motion which he made , and which I formally

accepted . You insort tho word " Ollicers" instead of the word " Wardens . " The formula that Bro . Canon Portal submitted to mo read as follows , and ^ vas so read by him when he proposed it , with my prior assent : —That the Master , tho Past Masters and Wardens of a private LocVo shall be at liberty to wear their collars , & c . upon all

Masonic occasions , or some such wording ; but I am certain the wcrd "Wardens" was there instead of "Officers , " aud I may add that thia amendment vvaa drafted on the dais iu order to meet Bvo . Phil , brick's objection to the wording of my motion , which lie said did uot even convey definitely ray intention , and v . h-ju Bro . Portal cams

to me and suggested this alteration , I most certainly gathered the idea that it was submitted to inc a 3 one that would be accepted by tho Board of General Purposes as a compromise , el 3 e I would not

hive varied my motion one iota . I . am fully aware that several brethren voted against Bro . Portal ' s motion , under the impression the word " Officer " was used , and several brethren assnrad me that when , the M . W . the Pro G . M . put the motion , he used the word