A New American Grand Lodge.

P . G . M ., two Grand Wardens , Grand Secretary ( Bro . Edmund /\ . Osborne ) , and Grand Treasurer ( Bro . Charles' Robinson ) , hcincr also elected , and other Grand Officers were appointed and invested by the Grand Master . The Grand Lodge seal adop ted is thus described :

"A live oak on a shield supported by two female Indians , with the motto ' Libre cresea fecundo' above , and ' Constituida en iSgg ' below , surrounded by the inscription ' Grand Login de Costa Rica de Francmasones Antiqitos y Acceptados '— ' Gran Oriente , San Jose , C . R . America Central . ' "

The four Lodges , numbered 6 , 9 , , and 15 , having deposited their orig inal charters with the Grand Lodge , on December 16 th , iqoo ( at a special meeting ) , were granted new warrants , and duly numbered I to 4 respectively , under the new organisation , another , as No . 5 , being also chartered .

Several meetings have since been held , and duly reported in the Proceedings , Part I ., edited by the Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge , who have discharged their duty in an exemplary manner . In reply to Bro . the Rev . H . C . Duncan , Chairman of Foreign Correspondence of Louisiana , the Grand

Secretary ( Bro . Osborne ) furnished particulars of the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica , which are of a very interesting and important character , giving as they do the basis really on which that Body is established—( a ) The Grand Lodge recognises " only Craft Masonry ; [ b ) the rituals may be such as are worked in America (? U . S . A . ) , England , Scotland , Ireland , and Ancient

and Accepted Rite ; ( c ) exclusive right over Craft Freemasonry under its jurisdiction , "against all comers , * " ( dj All Craft lodges , if started in the Republic , other than by its authority , will be denounced as

" spurious and irregular ; " ( e ) All other Grand Lodges will be upheld on similar lines , save that on formation of a new Grand Lodge , any lodges who prefer to remain under their " Mother Grand Lodge" shall be at liberty to do so , according to the

usage of the Grand Lodge of England , & c . ; (/) The " Great Lights" are displayed on its altars , and recognition is refused " of all Masons not obligated thereon ; " ( g ) " Generally speaking , our Masonic attitude is governed by that of the Grand Lodges of England and Iowa . "

On January 26 th , 1 9 , M . W , Bro . G . Rucavado was installed as the 2 nd Grand Master by his predecessor . On February 21 st , 1901 , the third G . M . was installed by M . W . Bro . Manuel Aragon , and at that assembly it was resolved that the proceedings be printed and published in Spanish and English .

There are now five lodges on the register , with 148 members returned to December 31 st , 1 9 , which held a total of 248 meetings during 1900 . A dispensation has also been granted for a sixth lodge . The volume entitled " Constitution and Code " has also been

printed , in Spanish and English ; the Regulations proving the strong desire of the brethren to work on the " old lines . " Rule 232 provides that " The qualifications for an Initiate , arc Faith in God , Hope in Immortality , and- Charity towards all

mankind . " Applicants must also have attained to the age of 21 years , be free born , be under tongue of good report , and shall have resided for the space of six months within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica .

Neither insignia nor clothing can be worn in Grand Lodge unless appertaining to Degrees recognised by that Body , and the members of Grand Lodge consist of the Present and Past Grand Officers , the Master , Wardens , Secretary , Treasurer , and one Delegate from each lodge , and proxies are permitted under

special circumstances . There are many rules that are like those of the Grand Lodge of England , but some are so different , that from our experience in this country , 1 believe they will not answer in the long run . However , the Grand Lodge is started , and should

obtain the recognition of all regular Grand Lodges . I am glad that alread y the Grand Lodges of Michigan , Montana , New Jersey , New York , Utah , Virginia , Belgium , and Peru have done so . Personally , I wish it great success . W . J . HUGH AN .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterly Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch masons of England was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , jreat Queen-street , W . C . The three Principals' chairs were occuoied bv

anTSr Canon J- ' ° wnrigg , as M . E . G . Z . ; Robert Grey , as G . H . , * dna baron de Ferrieres , as G . J . Comp . E . Letchworth , G . S . E ., and v-omp the Rev . P . Bethune Norman Lee , M . A ., Chaplain to the Forces , u . t , ., were in the Scribes' chairs . I A ? f * olhers present were * . Comps . J . E . Le Feuvre , Dr . Kiallmark , Hnni ' . t , arm 3 t ; ld ' Dr . Clement Godson , Henry Garrod , A . A . Tobias , James •oouiton , Dr . Lennox Browne , A . W . Duret , VV . G . Kentish , W . F .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

Lamonby , J . Evan Bowen , J . Strachan , K . C , Kipps , Fredk . West , Fitzroy Tower , and Major Henry Wright . Grand Chapter having been opened in ancient and solemn form , and the minutes of the May Convocation having been read by the G . S . E ., and confirmed , . -

Comp . Canon BROWNRIGG said : Companions , you will naturally expect that the first words spoken after the confirmation of the minutes should be those of sympathy for the Royal Family of England in the loss they have sustained by the death of that gracious lady the Dowager Empress of Germany and Princess Royal of England , who has endeared herself , not only to the country in which she has so long been an illustrious resident , but in

the country of her birth , where she kept alive her affection for it by her kind and genial manners when she paid a visit to it . It is not necessary to move a formal vote of condolence and sympathy ' with the King and the Roj al Family ; we must follow the precedent set on previous occasions , and we shall leave it to Grand Lodge to pass a resolution and to express their condolence with the King and other members of the Royal Family on this sid

calamity . But , unfortunately , there is another very mournful topic which concerns this Grand Chapter , the death of Qomp . Beach , the Third Grand Principal . There certainly was no one more familiar to us , or so well known as the Third Grand Principal of their Order . Personally , I had the honour of knowing Comp . Beach some 50 years , and I have enjoyed during the whole of that time his friendship . I have known him well as most have

known him , in the Craft , and I am sure you will all agree with me that no man in the provinces or London was so thoroughly representative of the Craft , and no man more ready at any time to take his place in any Masonic assembly and do his best to further the interests of the Craft . Not only was he ready to assist in the performance of the ceremonies , but he could perform the ceremonies with

that precision and accuracy which would put to shame many of the younger members of the Order . His loss cannot be allowed to pass over without notice , and therefore I have formally to move " That this Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England desires to record its deep sorrow at the loss Royal Arch Masonry has sustained by the sad and sudden

death of the Right Hon . William Wither Bramston Beach , M . P ., Third Grand Principal of the Order , who for upwards of 50 years had possessed in a very marked degree the sincere respect and affectionate regard of the Order , whose best interests he had so entirely at heart , and always did his ' utmost to promote . " I beg to move this formally from the chair . Comp . ROBERT GREY , acting G . H .: I beg to second it .

The resolution was put and carried unanimously , all the companions standing . Comp . Canon BROWNRIGG : I would further move " That a copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted to Mrs . Bramston Beach . "

Comp . ROBERT GREY . * I beg to second it . This motion was also carried unanimously . GRAND SCRIDE E . then read the following list of companions on whom his Royal Highness the Grand Z . had been pleased to confer Past Grand rank :

Past Grand Scribes N . — The Right Hon . Sir Frederick George Milner , Bart ., M . P . The Right Hon . Frank Green ( Lord Mayor of London ) . Past Deputy Grand Registrar—Frank Richardson . Past Assistant Grand Sojourners—* Inspector-General Belgrave Nihnis , M . D ., R . N . Col . H . Grier , R . A . M . C .

Arthur W . Orwin , M . D . Henry Percy Harris . Francis Stanhope Hanson . William Dawes . John Slyman . Past Grand Sword Bearer—Walter Gripper , M . A ., M . B . Past Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies—Alfred James Thomas . John William Elvin . H . Courtney Luck .

Major Herbert Ureen . Capt . Williams Freeman . Capt . Arlhur Lee Mitchell . Joaquim P . Joaquim . William J . Spratling , B . Sc . Abraham Clegg . James Speller . William Bull .

On the motion of Comp . Sir GEORGE DAVID HARRIS , seconded by Comp . ] . H , MATTHEWS , the Report ol the Committee ot General Purposes , as printed in these columns last week , was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . Also a motion b > Comp . Sir GEORGE D . HARRIS , seconded by Comp . J . H . MATTHEWS , and pursuant to the recommendations of the

Committee , charters were granted for chapters to be attached to the Maida Vale Lodge , No . 2743 , London , and to the Army and Navy Lodge , No . 2738 , London ; and permission was given to the All Saints Chapter , No . 1716 , to remove from the Bow Vestry Hall to the Bromley Vestry Hall , and to the Beadon Chapter , No . G 19 , to remove from Anderton ' s Hotel to the Holborn Viaduct Hotel , London . Grand Chapter was then closed .

The New Masonic Hall, Leeds.

THE NEW MASONIC HALL , LEEDS .

OPENING CEREMONY—DEDICATION BY THE R . W . PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , THE RIGHT HON . W . LAVVIES JACKSON , M . P .

Monday , the 29 th ult ., has been looked forward to with considerable interest and some anxiety by the Freemasons of Leeds . Outside the city it may not be known , but it ought to be , that when the Masonic Hall in Great'George-street was sold and six lod ges were Masonicall y homeless , the brethren of Fidelity , 289 , the owners of the Carlton Hill Hall , nobly came forward and with true Masonic sympath y offered the strande d lodges such accommodation as their limited resources would permit . This olfer was most gratefully accepted , but the strain upon Fidelity has been severe ,