Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WEST LANCASHIRE . THE Provincial Grand Chapter met on Thursday , 21 st inst , at the Public Hall , West Didsbury , under the presidency of the Prov . G . Superintendent Comp . the Earl of Latham P . G . S . N ., who was well supported by Officers and other members of his district .

The roll was called , and it was found that all the Chapters of the Province were represented save two . Dr . R . Prosser White ( Wigan ) was unanimously elected Provincial Grand Treasurer , and amonp- the Companions invested as Provincial Officers for the ensuing year

were : ,: Comp . C . Forbes Bell - - - - H . T . Thornhill Shann - - - J . W . Goodacre ... - Scribe E . J . Clarke ----- Scribe N . T . Loftus ----- Registrar

A . E . Sadler ... - Deputy Registrar J . E . Williams - Principal Sojourner W . H . J . Jenkins - Sword Bearer T . W . Bone - Deputy Sword Bearer P . Chambers ... - Standard Bearer Captain Andrew - Director of Ceremonies .

Upon the motion of Companion Wylie , seconded by Companion J . Houlding , a sum of ten guineas was voted to the fund for the relief of loyal Brethren in South Africa , and a sum of ten guineas to the Indian Famine Fund .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CHESHIRE . THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Altrincham , on Saturday afternoon , 23 rd , the Hon . A . De Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Deputy Grand Master of England Prov . G . M . M . of Cheshire presiding over a fair attendance of Brethren . The Prov . G . M . congratulated the Brethren on the steady progress made in Mark Masonry in the Cheshire Province , and invested the following Officers for the ensuing year ¦ . —

Bro . Colonel 0 . S . Dean - - Deputy A . W . Siddall ... - Senior Warden Joseph Leech ... - Junior Warden James Fitton . . . - Master Overseer Peter Davies - . . - - Senior Overseer A . J . Thompson ... - Junior Overseer

Rev . 0 . J . Bryant - Chaplain W . Shillings .... Trensuier Alfred Leigh Briscoe - - - Registrar Richard Newbouse ... - Secretary John Eerguson - - - - Assistant Secretary Charles Shaw - Senior Deacon

Crighton Hutchinson - Junior Deacon G . Brown ----- Inspector of Works J . Stanley Derbyshire ... Director of Ceremonies J . T . 0 . Blackie - Assistant Dir . of Cers . H . C . Howell ... - Sword Bearer Robert Rear - - - - Standard Bearer

Reginald Mountford ... Organist Philip B . Whitehead - Inner Guard Charles Price ... 1 E . K . Cooke - -. - - V Stewards James Hulme ..... J Alfred Huxley . - - - Tyler .

New Hall At St. Austell.

NEW HALL AT ST . AUSTELL .

GORNER-STONES of the Hall for Peace and Harmony Lodge , No . 496 , in Hotel Road , St . Austell , were laid on Wednesday , 20 th inst , with Masonic ceremonial , in the presence of a large assembly . The- Brethren assembled at the Public Buildings , and

marched to the site in morning dress , Masonic clothing , and white gloves , preceded by St . Austell Band . The Bible , square and compasses , on a velvet cushion , were carried by four Lewises : F . Blight , S . Buzza , W . Real , and W . Giles . The principal official was Bro . Edmund Carlyon P . P . J . G . W .,

who is a Past Master of 53 years standing , having been W . M . of Peace and Harmony Lodge in 1847 , Ib 48 , and 1858 . This is believed to be a unique record . Immediately after the arrival of the , procession at the site '" . God bless the Prince of Wales " was sung , and the Chaplain Rev . A . H . Ferris offered prayer . In addition to the chief

New Hall At St. Austell.

stone were three others , laid by Bro . W . Giles ( for Bro . Sir Charles Brune Graves-Sawle P . P . D . G . M . P . J . G . W . Eng . ) , Bros , vv . Mason P . P . S . G . W ., and J . Wheeler Higman PT . J . G . W . Bro . Carlyon proved the stone with square , level , and plumb-rule , strewed corn and poured wine and oil upon it .

The same was done in regard to the other stones . Before the chief stone was laid , Bro . J . G . Blight deposited a bottle under it containing a newspaper and names of Past Masters and Officers of the Lodge . The stones were declared to be

laid " for the promotion of education and the glory of the Most High . " The ceremony concluded with the Benediction and the National Anthem , and the Brethren having returned to the Public Buildings the Lodge was closed according to ancient form .

The new hall , to cost about £ 1 , 400 , will be 60 ft . long , 3 0 ft wide , and 40 ft . high at the front elevation . On the ground floor will be a lobby and large club-room . The Masonic-room , 33 feet by 20 feet , on ' the first floor , will be

approached by winding stairs , and on this floor will also be a large ante-room . The front of the Hall will be of handsome appearance , containing traceried windows and Masonic emblems . The dressings will be of white local stone . The architect is Bro . F . C . Jury .

The Grand Master of Scotland the Hon . James Hozier was on Saturday presented with a handsome silver trowel and silver-mounted mallet on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone of the new Public Halls at Larbert . The Flails

to be erected at a cost of A 10 , 000 , are the gift of Major Dobbie of Beechmont , and the stone was laid by the Grand Master with Masonic ceremony . Fie was supported by a large number of Officers and members of Grand Lodge . * - * *

The Masonic Fraternity in Brighton are much perturbed over the failure of the arrangements for a big Masonic festival at Brighton next month . On several occasions the annual Festival in connection with the Masonic Boys School has been held at Brighton , the proceedings including a garden party

at the Pavilion and a banquet in the Dome . This year , as a means of imparting additional eclat to the gathering , it had been contemplated to associate with it , in advance from September , the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex . Unfortunately , these plans have fallen through ,

owing , it is said , to the Railway Company refusing to grant the customary concessions for the journey to Brighton . The inhabitants generally will share the disappointment of the Masons at the failure of the negotiations , which will result in the Festival being held this year at London instead of

Brighton . This means a considerable loss to the town . The delegates , including not a few distinguished members of the Craft from all parts of the country , would have been brought here to the number of some twelve or thirteen hundred , and the ladies accompanying them would probably have raised

the number to something approaching two thousand . The mere enumeration of these figures indicates the immediate loss to the town ; and beyond that have to be set indirect losses not easy to gauge , in the shape of advertisement and

potential visitors who might have been induced by tire flying visit to come again " to stay . " For this year the Masons are lost to us , and Brighton has to content itself with the cheap trippers and beanfcasters . — " Brighton Herald . "

What Can I Dop

WHAT CAN I DOP

T HERE ate few who ask this question in a proper manner , with a real , earnest desire to do all that is possible . We say mechanically , and think we mean it , that we are ready and willing to do our duty at all times , to open our hands freely to help , aid and assist those in need of our

sympathy , and to fully discharge the obligations resting upon us ; but few , very few , succeed in convincing even their own self-satisfied consciences that they have done as well as they could . The weakness of human nature often leads us to neglect the performance of acts of charity , and

we excuse our shortcomings on the ground oi lack of opportunity , when the fact is we should make the opportunity . The discharge of duty often requires a sacrifice of personal p leasure and comfort . If we do only those things that are perfectly congenial and convenient , we deserve no credit for it , and he who would mount to heaven upon