Supreme Grand Chapter Of England.

the Supreme Grand Chapter of Western Australia as a regular and Independent Sovereign Body , having jurisdiction throughout the Colony of Western Australia , and that the Principals of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England would be pleased to will and signify that it is not its intention to grant for the future any Warrant for a new Royal Arch Chapter in that jurisdiction .

The Committee of General Purposes having very fully considered the petition , recommend that the prayer be not granted . ( Signed ) GEORGE DAVID HARRIS , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th January , 1901 .

Bournemouth Freemasons And The New Century.

BOURNEMOUTH FREEMASONS AND THE NEW CENTURY .

A MEMORABLE GATHERING . There was a memorable gathering in St . Peter ' s , Bournemouth , on Wednesday , the 16 th ult , when the members of the Masonic lodges of the borough—Hengist , No . 195 ; Boscombe , No . 2158 ; and Horsa , No . 2208—accompanied by a large number of brethren representing other lodges , attended Divine service in that church . A Committee representing the three lodges referred to had oeen recently appointed to consider the best means of inaugurating the new century ;

and the united gathering in St . Peter s on the 16 th ult ., and tho-subsequent meeting in the Masonic Hall and the banquet in the evening , were the outcome of their deliberations . Outside the ranks of Freemasonry in the locality , a large amount of public interest had become centred in the notable event , and , therefore , a large assemblage in the church was quite expected . Seats were reserved for the Freemasons in the nave , immediately facing the chancel ; in another part of the church 400 seats were reserved for wives and lady friends of Masons ; and the remainder of the church was thrown open to the general public , nearly every seat being

occupied . The brethren began to assemble about 2 . 30 , in the St . Peter ' s Boys' Schoolroom , where they robed , and , in addition to the members of the three Bournemouth lodges , under the auspices of which the event was arranged , there was a good representation of various other lodges in the surrounding district and of some other lodges more distant .

Among the brethren present , many of whom are associated with more than one lodge , were : Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . Master Hants and Isle of Wight ; W . B . Rogers , P . P . G . R ; E . W . Rebbeck , P . P . S . G . W . ; D . Sydenham , P . P . J . G . D . Dorset ; W . J . Worth , P . G . S . B , ; C . T . Miles , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; W . Woodhouse , P . P . J . G . D . ; R . Hodges , P . P . G . S . B . ; C . W . Keep , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Dunn , P . G . Reg . ; C . J . Whitting , P . P . S . G . D . ; H . J .

Atkins , P . M . 1764 , P . P . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts ; H . N . Jenkins , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . j W . W . Miller , W . M . ; W . H . Vye , P . M . ; W . Mattocks , P . M . ; J . A . Nethercoate , P . M . ; W . Humphry , P . M . ; F . T . Cutler , P . M . ; E . Worth , P . M . ; W . Harris ; G . Fudge , J . A . Crawshaw , F . J . Webb , C . H . Mate , Lewis Johnson , S . B . Tudball , G . McWilliam , W . E . Jones , C . Laney , G . Lazenby , J . . Mannell , A . Collins , J . H . Flint , Hammersley Campbell , C . H . Goater ,

F . J . Lonnen , R . Toop , H . Ridout , J . H . Morris , R . Buckworth , H . J . Stanbury , J . E . Webster , F . Parsons , C . D . Newton . A . C . Thorne , H . Baker , and S . G . Motcomb , all of 195 ; G . W . Powell , J . J . Brazier , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . B . Atkinson , P . P . J . G . W . ; H . E . Hawker , P . P . J . G . D . ; H . B . Harvey , C . Pearce , G . E . Bridge , H . W . G . Knight , A . Youngman , F . A . K . Hounsell , P . P . G . Purs . ; J . M . Dowden and T . J . Handford , P . P . J . G . W . Hereford ; H . T . Pottle , E . H . Bone ,

W . Hogg , H . G . Harris , F . Broad , H . Youngman , E . R . Whitfield , J . H . Williams , J . E . Marsden , R . Tuffin , Reginald Down , C . H . Ratsch , Douglas Hillier , and B . Neale , all of 2208 ; Dr . J . A . Hosker , W . M . j D . W . Preston , P . M ., P . P . S . G . D ; C . W . Wyatt , P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; J . W . Sandell , C . W . S . Collins , G . A . Bligh Livesay , Tilney Barton , J . N . McRae , J . F . Fogertv , and A . Godwin Pratt , all of 2158 ; Tarrant , P . M . 137 , P . P . A . D . C ; H . W . Ruff , P . M .

95 ; C . J . Woodford , P . M . 137 , P . P . G . Purst . ; T . L . Weldon , 8 4 , P . P . G . D . Guernsey ; J . Harvey , 2078 , P . P . S . G . D . ; C . Carter , P . M . 2539 , P . P . G . D . C ; A . Paris , P . P . G . Reg . ; Archibald Yeatman , P . G . Reg . ; the Rev . T . Russell-Wright , 1146 , P . P'G . Chap . ; the Rev . G . Thompson , 1168 ; W . T . Flather , P . M . 139 ; S . Minty , P . M . 132 ; J . Phillips , P . M . 132 ; F . Hibbs , P . M . 132 ; J . W . Davis , W . M . 132 ; A . Bist , 319 ; D . Sugden , 2346 ; H . Grounds , 1707 ; S . B . Morse , P . M . 132 ; F . Walden , P . M . 132 ; G . S . Love , W . M . 319 ; A .

Tuthill and W . S . Hallett , 137 ; J . Dean , 137 ; E . I . Legg , 132 ; O . Collins , 137 ; H . Newlyn , 145 ; R . li . Gannicott , 319 ; J . P . Stone and N . E . Hatch , 160 ; F . D . S . Siemms , 241 ; W . G . Abbott , 132 ; G . H . Beament , 137 ; A . Whaley , 132 ; A . Crockett , 132 ; A . J . Gawen ; D . Galbraith , 132 ; F . Reynolds , 2539 ; J . Cruickshank , Lodge Jubilee ; J . S . Briant , G . Parsons , S . Foster , G . R . Melmoth , S . Humphreys , and A . Williams , all of 319 ; G . M . Smooker , 132 ; H . E . Child , 137 ; and others .

Wearing tull Masonic clothing and jewels , the brethren were marshalled by the Directors of Ceremonies , Bros . Hodges and Youngman , and marched fiom the boys' school into the churchyard and along the north side of the church to the west door .

At the steps of the western entrance the procession halted and the brethren opened out right and left , and faced inwards , allowing the Prov . Grand Master ( preceded by the two Directors of Ceremonies ) to pass up the centre ; the P . G . Officers and brethren following in succession from the rear and thus inverting the order of procession .

On entering the church , the Prov . Grand Master was conducted to his seat by churchwarden Bro . Scott Evans ; his seat being in the front on the south side of the nave . The three W . Ms , were seated in the front seat on the north side ol the nave , and the rest of the officers right and left as they arrived . In the absence of Bro . Duncan Hume , the organist of St . Peter ' s Church , Bro . A . T . George , organist of St . John ' s , Boscombe , presided at the organ , and played a march as the brethren were entering the church .

Shortly alter three o ' clock , the choir and clergy entered the church from the vestry , headed by the cross bearer , and marched in procession round thd church singing the hymn " 0 God our help in ages past . " The vicar ( Canon Fisher ) was assisted in the service by Bro . the Rev . Dr . Moore White ( vicar of Pokesdown ) and Bro . the Rev . F . E . Toyne ( vicar of St . " Michael ' s ) . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Ven . Basil Wilberforce , D . D ., Archdeacon of Westminster , and Past Prov . Grand Chaplain Hants and Isle of Wight .

At the close of the service , after the clergy and choir had retired , the Directors of Ceremonies conducted the R . W . P . G . M . from his seat and preceded him down the church , the brethren following in order . The Directors of Ceremonies led the procession back to the school , the two Assistant Directors of Ceremonies bringing up the rear . At 6 . 30 p . m . ? . meeting of Hengist Lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , when the Earl of Malmesbury was initiated into Freemasonry ( being the first initiate

Bournemouth Freemasons And The New Century.

in this Iodge in the new century ) by the R . W . P . G . M ., in the presence of a large number of members of the lodge and visiting brethren . Bro . W . W . Miller , the W . M . of the lodge , was in the chair . Bro . Dr . J . A . Hosker , W . M . 2158 , occupied the position of S . W . ; Bro . G . W . Powell , W . M . 2208 , that of J . W . ; Bro . H . J . Atkins , 195 , was S . D . ; A . E . F . Francis , 2158 , J . D . ; and J . J . Brazier , Sec , 2208 , I . G .

At the close of the ceremony of initiation , a very hearty vote of thanks was passed to Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Wilberforce for his very able and excellent sermon ; the proposition being coupled with a request that he would place his sermon at the disposal of the Craft with a view to publication for the benefit of the Masonic Charities .

Hearty votes of thanks were also passed to the Rev . Canon Fisher , the vicar of St . Peter ' s ; and the R . W . P . G . M . for having honoured the Masonic brethren by his attendance at their gathering that day .

UNITED BANQUET .

After the close of the Iodge , the brethren adjourned to the Prince ' s Hall , at the Grand Hotel , where a united banquet took place under the auspices of the three local lodges . The Prov . G . Master presided , and there were with him at , or near to , the head table Bros . W . W . Miller , W . M . 195 ; Dr . J . A . Hosker , W . M . 2158 ; G . W . Powell , W . M . 2208 ; E . W . Rebbeck , James Druitt , jun .,

A . E . F . Francis , H . J . Atkins , R . Hodges , Major Powney , C . J . Whitting , C . T . Miles , the Rev . G . Thompson , D . Sydenham , J . J . Brazier , W . Woodhouse , H . E . Hawker , Major Kenneth Balfour , M . P ., Captain Phelps , and others . The new initiate , Bro . the Earl of Malmesbury , also sat beside the Prov . G . Master at the head table . An excellent repast of six courses was provided .

The toasts of "The Queen and the Craft , " and "The Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " were submitted by the PROV . G . MASTER , and were duly honoured . Bro . A . E . F . FRANCIS proposed " The Health of the M . W . the Pro G . Master , the Earl Amherst ; the R . W . Dep . G . Master , the Earl of Warwick *

and the Officers of Grand Lodge , Present and Past . " Referring to the Prov . G , Master , Bro . Francis said it was their earnest wish that he might be blessed with health and a long life to continue his good work to the Craft in general , and to that province in particular . ( Applause . ) The PROV . G . MASTER responded .

Bro . W . W . MILLER proposed the next toast— "The R . W . Prov . G . Master , the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge , Present and Past . "

The PROV . G . M ., in replying , said his early days in Masonry were in the Province of Oxford . During the period in which he had had the honour of presiding over the Province of Hants and the Isle of Wight the number of lodges had more than doubled , to say nothing of the chapters ; but whilst that showed immense success in point of numbers , it would be nothing if the Freemasons of the province were not imbued with the principles of the Order upon which it was founded , and if they did not endeavour to act up to them .

The PROV . G . M . afterwards proposed " Freemasonry in Bournemouth . " They had met that day , he said , to celebrate an important period in Freemasonry , namely , the advent of a new century ; and it was a period when they should look back , and see what progress Freemasonry had made . In a brief retrospect the P . G . M . referred to Freemasonry both in England and abroad ; and in speaking afterwards of Bournemouth he said he remembered the time , when he was first Prov . Grand Master , coming down there when the Lodge Hengist had been

removed from where it had been previously located and the foundation of the new hall was laid under his auspices , and when the Hengist Lodge celebrated its centenary . Other lodges had sprung up in Bournemouth since then , and it was a great pleasure to him to see the unity and good fellowship which existed among them . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . WHITTING acknowledged the toast . Lodge Hengist ( he said ) was , 100 years ago , 39 years of age ; it was then located in the town of Christchurch , and

consisted of seven members : James Lockyer , the old schoolmaster ; William Hiscock Thomas Bayley , the bluff old sailor ; the vicar of Christchurch at that time , the Rev . Richard Jackson , and his son ; the father of Lodge Hengist , Dr . Thomas Jeans ; and , last but not least , Dr . Philip Druitt , whose great-greatnephew ( Bro . Jas . Druitt , jun . ) , they had the great pleasure of having with them that night . ( Applause . ) He regretted , however , that their oldest surviving Master , Bro . J . Druitt , sen ., who was W . M . in 1844 , was unable to be with them , for there were few lodges which could boast of having a P . M . who had filled the

chair 57 years ago . ( Hear , hear . ) Having spoken of the fact that the lodge at Christchurch was known as No . 261 on the register of Grand Lod ge , o £ the subsequent adoption of the name Hengist , and of the transference of the lodge to Bournemouth in 1851 , Bro . Whitting said that no doubt in May next the lodge would be celebrating the jubilee of the establishment of Freemasonry in Bournemouth , and he mentioned the fact that they had present that evening in Bro . D . Sydenham , a brother who was present at the first meeting of Lodge Hengist in Bournemouth , on May 9 th , 1851 . ( Applause . ) Another local Mason who was present at that first meeting was Bro . Gutch . of Poole ,

Masonic New Century Banquet At Portsmouth.

MASONIC NEW CENTURY BANQUET AT PORTSMOUTH .

Twice during the last few months the Portsmouth Town Hall has been the scene of highly successful and memorable Masonic gatherings . The first occasion was during the Mayoralty of Bro . H . R . Pink , J . P ., when a record Provincial Grand Lodge meeting was held ; the second was on Tuesday , the 15 th ult ., when the brethren of Portsmouth and district assembled in large numbers , under the presidency of the Ri ght Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wi ght , to commemorate the opening of the 20 th century .

When the idea of holding a Masonic Century banquet was first mooted it wis feared that the event would not be so successful as it eventually proved , and it was very gratifying to the promoters to see upwards of 200 brethien seat «* d around the prettily-decorated tables . There are 18 Masonic lodges in Portsmouth and the district , and all of them were represented , Portsmouth Lod ^ e , No . 437 , naving the strongest muster . Around the balconies of the hall were hung the banners of the various lodges and a special dispensation having been granted Dy the P . G . M ., the brethren wore their collars and jewels ,

Not the least pleasing feature of the gathering was that the galleries were thrown open during the evening to the lad y mends of the oretnren attending the banquet , and long before the tables had been cleared and the short todst list commenced they were crowded . A table was set apart for the memoers of e * ch lodge , while the top table was occupied by the principal Provincial Grand Officers .