Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following agenda of the business for transaction at the Quarterly Convocation on Wednesday next has been issued : — The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OV THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the iSth October , 1 SS 3 , to the 151 I 1 January , 1884 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

To balance , Grand Chapter ^ i 03 i 9 ,, „ Unappropriated Account 215 S 4 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 401 3 4 £ iO , S 11 5

By disbursements during the Quarter £ 192 16 G „ Balance 1246 7 7 „ ,, Unappropriated Account 209 7 4 £ iG 4 S 11 s

which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : 1 st . From Comps . Horace Brooks Marshall , as Z . ; James Harford Hawkins , as H . ; George Clark , jun ., as J . ; and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the Royal Hanover Lodge , No . 1777 , Twickenham , to be called the Royal Hanover Chapter , and to meet at the Albany Hotel , Twickenham , in the county of Middlesex .

2 nd . From Comps . Walter Bowyer , as Z . ; George John Tilling , as H . ; Richard Robert Loanc Rosoman , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to lhe Clausentum Lodge , No . 14 61 , Woolston , to be called lhe Ancaslcr Chapter , and to meet at the Woolston Inn , Woolston , Hampshire .

3 rd . From Comps . George Graveicy , as '/ .. ; Benjamin Carter , as H . ; Josep h Ross Waller , as J . ; anil six others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Temperance in thc East , No . 8 9 8 , Poplar , to be called the Chapter of Temperance in the East , and to meet at the Assembly Rooms , No . 6 , Newby-placc , Poplar . 4 th . From Comps . William Bennett , as Z . ; Charles William Dommett ,

as H . ; Robert William Inglis , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Anerley Lodge , No . 131 ) 7 , Anerley , to be called thc Anerley Chapter , and to meet at thc Thicket Hotel , Anerley , Surrey . ' lhe foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , thc Committee recommend that thc praycis thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received a

memorial from the companions of the Chapter of Nativity , No . 126 , Burnley , Lancashire , praying for a charier authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with thc resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st February , 18 S 2 . The memorial being in form , and the chapter having proved its uninterrupted existence of one hundred years , the Committee recommend that thc prayer thereof be granted . 'lhe Chanter of 1 l . irmonv . No . f >! 2 . heretofore mcetini ' at Trowbridtre .

having memorialised for permission to remove to the Freemasons' Hall , Devizes , and sweh memorial having been approved by the Grand Superintendent for Wiltshire , thc Committee recommend that permission to remove the chapter to Devizes be granted . ( Signed ) J CREATON , P . Pr . G . Soj ., Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , President . 16 th January , 1884 .

His Royal Highness The Duke Of Albany At Durham.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF ALBANY AT DURHAM .

A Special Provincial Grand Lodge of the Province of Durham was held on Wednesday last for the purpose of receiving H . R . H the Duke of Albany , P . G . W ., on the occasion of his visit to Durham . H . R . H . and party were the guests of the R . W . Prov . G . Master , thc Marquis of Londonderry , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was called in the Castle Hall . On the opening of the lodge his Royal Highness was presented with an address from

the brethren of the province . The Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . Robert Hudson , acting under directions from the Prov . Grand Master , and assisted by the officers of the province , had prepared to give a loyal and befitting welcome to his Royal Highness . Chairs had been specially upholstered in royal blue for his Royal Highness , the Marquis of Londonderry , and other chief officers . The Masonic address , which was a beautiful work of art , expressing loyal feelings towards the Oueen , thc Duke and Duchess of

Albany , and the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of the Order , was read by Bro . R . Hudson , the Prov . Grand Secretary , and it was presented to the Duke of Albany by thc Prov . Grand Master . Thc Duke of ALBANY on rising was received with loud cheers . He said : Right Worshipful Sir , and brethren of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham , —I beg you will accept my most cordial

thanks for your loyal address of welcome and the assurance of my interest in thc Masons of this province over which my noble friend and brother Lord Londonderry so worthily presides . I shall have great pleasure in conveying to thc Queen , my mother , the expression of your attachment to her person and her throne , and I am sure that her Majesty will accept the same as an additional proof of the loyalty which has ever animated the

great Masonic body of these realms . ( Cheers . ) I thank you especially for your kind allusion to the Duchess of Albany , whose inability to visit Durham on this occasion has caused both her and me the deepest regret . Such services as I have been able to do to the cause of Masonry in my own province of Oxfordshire , and to the great Masonic Charities , have been most willingly rendered , for I feel that if we would remain true to the

precepts and principles ol our Order , wc must one and all embrace every opportunity that presents itself for furthering its welfare . I most heartily join with you in your expression of fraternal affection for and obedience to our Most Worshipful Grand Master , and I pray that the Grand Architect of the Universe may take him under his especial protection and may grant him the satisfaction of seeing the Masonic virtues flourish and abound among all classes of his fellow countrymen . ( Cheers . )

The R . W . PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER said : Sir , on the part of the Freemasons of this province , I beg to offer to your Royal Highness our sincere thanks for your presence here to-day , and your Royal Highness's gracious answer to our address , ( Hear , hear . ) We hail with pleasure your

His Royal Highness The Duke Of Albany At Durham.

presence among us to-day not only as the Provincial Grand Master of Oxford , but also as one who , as well as your Royal brother , our esteemed Grand Master , has done everything in his power to promote thc happiness and prosperity of the Craft . There is only one bitter drop in the cup of our happiness this day , and that is felt not only inside this lodge , but also by

everyone in our grand town of Durham . I refer to the unavoidable absence of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany . In conclusion , Sir , let me again return you our heartfelt thanks , and assure you of the loyalty and affection of the Freemasons of this province to our Queen and Constitution . ( Loud cheers . )

lhe brethren then formed in procession , and proceeded to the Cathedral , where service was held and a sermon preached by Bro . Canon Tristram , P . P . G . Chan .

At the close of the service a return was made to the Castle Hall , and the special lodge closed in due form . His Royal Highness then proceeded to thc Town Hall , where he was met by the Mayor and Corporation . Thc Mayor of DURHAM having expressed a few words of welcome , introduced

The Recorder ( Mr . GREENWELL ) who read thc address of welcome and greeting from the Mayor , Aldermen , and Corporation to his Royal Highness . The DUKE OF ALBANY in reply said : Mr . Mayor , Aldermen , and citizens of the City of Durham and Framwellgate , I am glad to receive so kind a welcome at your hands on thc occasion of this my first visit to your

ancient and historic city . 1 he Duchess of Albany has asked me to convey to you the expression of her deep regret that she is unable to be with me to-day ; and I need not assure you that I myself share that regret most keenly , for I know how thoroughly she would have appreciated and admired the grandeur of your city and cathedral , and I thank ycu very sincerely for the kind allusions you have made to the interest I have taken in furthering

enterprises which have for their object the increased welfare and happiness of our fellow-countrymen . At a time when so much is being done in this direction by those whose labours constitute a real sacrifice , it would ill become any of us to refuse to contribute our quota of assistance , however small and insignificent it may be . I will take care to bring before thc Oueen , my mother , your loyal expressions of attachment to Her Majesty ,

and I beg you will accept , both on the Duchess of Albany ' s , and on my own behalf , our best acknowledgments of your good wishes for our future happiness . Among those present were Bro . the Marquis of Londonderry , Prov . G . M ., and the Marchioness of Londonderry ; Bro . Lord Charles Berciford , Bro . Montagu J . Guest , M . P ., Prov . G . M . Dorsetshire ; Mr . J . L . Wharton

Mr . J . B . Emison , Colonel A . Paget , Lord Colville , the Earl of Sefton , Dr . Royle , Mr . Collins , in attendance on his K 0 y . 1 l Highness , Captain Apperly , the Recorder , and the Town Clerk . The Mayor afterwards entertained the Royal party and guests from Wynyard-park at dinner . After dinner his Royal Highness proceeded to thc Chapter Library ,

where a special convocation was held , and his Royal Highness had conferred upon him thc honorary degree by di p loma of D . C . L . On thc convocation being closed his Royal Highness and his party proceeded to the residence of Archdeacon Watkins , where they rejoined the ladies , who had remained there . They then proceeded to the railway station .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

( Continued from page 4-1 . ) One knotty little point , namely , whether the gardener ' s wages should be paid from the Annuity or the Building Fund was only decided by a majority of one , payment being ordered to be made out of thc former fund . Then the Chairman , Bro . R . Gardiner Alston , after

consulting several brethren , declined to sign the cheque for thc amount due , though he had received the Committee ' s authority to do so . At length , Bro . Bcadon , who was Chairman at the next meeting of thc

Committee , though believing thc payment out of the Annuity Fund to be illegal , consented to sign the cheque on the understanding that the question should be referred for settlement lo the Annual Meeting , when the action of the Committee in ordering payment from the fund in question was approved .

In June , 1851 , Bros . K . G . Alston , W . H . White , John Savage , E . H . Patten , S . B . Wilson , and George Wackerbarth were appointed a Sub-Committee to revise the rules and regulations of the Institution . They reported progress at a special meeting of thc Committee , and at the regular meeting such alterations as seemed advisable were discussed and settkd , and

ultimately adopted at the next Annual Meeting and approved by Grand Lodge . The material points are as follow , namely : that " the total number of votes announced at the last or two last preceding elections as polled on behalf of an unsuccessful candidate" should be carried forward to the credit of such candidate at the next election ; and that a candidate who had been

unsuccessful at three elections and had attained the age of 80 years might be placed on the list of Annuitants forthwith . In May , 1 S 52 , the number of Male Annuitants was increased to 55 , and seven widows , in addition to the five accepted the year previous , were placed on the Female Fund , while the Funded Property was announced as consisting of iTuSoo Male Fund ; £ 750

Female Fund ; and over £ 520 Sustentation of Building Fund—all in Government Stock—the last named also having to its credit ^ 600 in Exchequer Bills and a fair cash balance . In June , two candidates one of whom had been unsuccessful at four and the other at eight elections , both being ovei 80 years of age , were placed on the Fund with Annuities of ^ 30 each , in

accordance with the new law . In September , the Committee passed resolutions as lo the expediency of holding a Festival in 1853 in aid of the funds of the Institution and for communicating with the Grand Master with a view to

obtaining his lordship ' s approval , and , in such case , to have the day fixed for the celebration . When the Grand Master was told of this , he pointed out the difficulty of fixing a day in the first half of the year which would not clash with some other important Masonic gathering , while to hold it later