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antiquity of Mark Masonry . But such we apprehend is not the case , though , not seeking to dogmatize on the point , we leave it here . But Craft Masonry has existed , as we said before , from early ages , and survived , and is to day more flourishing than ever . North , south , east , and west itslodgesareincreasing and advancing , and if in all jurisdictions not in the same safe ratio of useful

befitting power , let us hope for better things and happier days . It has been said that Craft Masonry dates from 1722 . No more perverse or idle view of Masonic history ever was propounded . " The 1717 theory , " as it was termed , lias been long given up , and except our good old paradoxical friend J ACOB NORTON , we know of no authoritative writer who seriously holds it to-day .

The revivalists of 1717 were not the creators of a new order , the founders of a new organization , the fatttors of a new ritual . They may have modified , altered , reduced , or extended what they found ready to their hands ; but the outcome of 1717 may be practically found in the antiquarian treatise of PLOT and the peculiar revelations of the SLOANE MS ., which , if of 1715

transcription is clcarly of 1650 verbiage . The existence of a Freemasonry in the seventeenth century is now clearly proved , based on the admission of ELIAS ASHMOLE and the assertion of HANDLE HOLMES , both Freemasons , and there can be no doubt that , as the point is more closely studied , to which we have often called attention , more curious discoveries will reward the patience and

energiesof thediscreet and sagacious student . It is sometimes wonderful to us to think that this humble Society of Freemasons has so endured where others have crumbled away to nothing ; has outlived sarcasm , excommunication , persecution , insults , the tortures of the Inquisition , and , above all , the unfaithfulness of professed friends , the treachery of proclaimed adherents .

Indeed , it seems to gather fresh "stamina" from the centuries as they come and go , to emerge from the opposition of the foolish and the censures of the ignorant , as perhaps might be expected , stronger and more vivacious than ever . " Esto perpetua" we say so long as it ministers to social contentment , unity , loyalty , and peace ; so long as it increases the happiness of the Brotherhood , and upholds the welfare of Mankind .

* * # WE often hear of " Masonic Statistics " which unfortunately are too often used by the empirical or fanatic ( of either side ) for their own purposes , and in no sense appeal to the abstract virtue of veracity or the concrete acceptance of the world . The following passage

from our excellent contemporary the New York Dispatch , edited by Bro . J . SIMONS , P . G . M . of New York , will commend itself to those who prefer fact to fiction , true figures to imaginary . " There are probably about a million and a half of Masons in the world . Great Britain includes about one-sixth of the entire number , and the United

States a still larger fraction . The estimate for the whole of Europe is 350 , 000 , and for North and South America about 650 , 000 . Asia , Africa , and the islands of the sea furnish the remainder . " These figures accord on the whole , or nearly so , with some which appeared a little time back in the Freemason , and we believe to be as approximately correct and " up to the mark " as any such Masonic statistics can be .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The Quarterl y Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England was holden on VVednesday evening , at Freemasons ' Hall , when there was a larger attendance than usual . The companions present were : Bros . J . VV . Montagu , as M . E . Z . ; the Hon . Mr . Justice Henry Thoby Prinsep , as H . ; Col . Creaton , P . G . Treas ., as J . ; Col . Shadvvell H . Clerke , G . S . E . j Rev . F . Robinson , as G . S . N . ; Rev . A . E . A . Woodford , P . S . ; Robt . Grey , 1 st Asst . S . ; Dr . Gooding

, 2 nd Asst . S . ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Raymond Thrupp , J . Sampson Peirce , T . L ) . Bolton , H . Maudsley , H . J . P . Dumas , Rev . C . VV . Arnold , Frank Richardson , John Messent , J . Derby Allcrolt , G . T . j Magnus Ohren , J . M . Case , Ralph Costa , Rev . Ambrose Hall , J . C . Paikinson , Wilhelm Ganz , G . Org . ; J . A . Rucker , James Glaisher , Edgar Eowyer , H . G . Buss , Asi-t . S . E . ; H . Greenwood ; Controller Samuel G . Bake , Z . 330 , 1383 ; Henry Higgins , P . Z . 1381 ; Eugene Sweny , Z . 913 ; W . L . Smithson , P . Z . 280 ; Edward W . Biaine , Z . 145 ; C . H . Kohler , J . 13 S 1 ; H . Howard Hodges , P . Z . 771 P . P . G . Reg . Berks and Bucks ; Haryman C . Cummings , Z . 1 S 37 ; W . H . Perrvman '

P . Z . 1341 ; S . P . Catterson , P . Z . 79 , Z . 54 S ; Benjamin Isaacs , P . Z . 73 ; A . A . Pendle bury , P . Z . 1056 ; Neville Green , P . Z . 1524 ; VV . H . Lee , P . Z . 1524 ; William Vincent £ ' ? , •l 6 i 4 L , Edward F . Storr , P . Z . 1094 , Z . 192 ; J . W . Brooke , Z . 18 39 ; W . Chubb ' P . Z . 8 ; rhomas J . Railing , Z . si , Prov . G . S . E . Essex ; William Dodd , P . Z . 1194 ; j ' Homsey Casson , H . 1615 ; H . Sadler , G . Janitor ; and H . Massey , P . Z . Gir ) , ( Freemason )\ After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of Grand Chapter in August , the report of the Committee of General Purposes was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . The accounts were as follows :

lo Balance , Grand Chapter £ 104314 1 By Disbursements during the „ ,, Unappropriated Quarter £ 201 10 4 Account 209 9 10 „ Balance 1031 19 9 „ bubsequent Receipts . . 195 14 6 „ „ Unappropriated Account 215 S 4

£ '_ 44 S 18 5 J JC 144 S 18 5 which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . Col . CREATON then moved that the prayers of the following petitions be granted . 1 st . From Comps . Wm . Richard Pratt , as Z . ; James Gray , as H . ; Wm . Barefoot , as J . ; and six others for a Chapter to be attached to the John

Miller Lodge , No . 1906 , Madras , to be called the Madras Chapter , and to meet at Royapoorurn , or Black Town , Madras , in the East Indies . 2 nd . From Comps . Theobald Ringer , M . D ., as '/ .. ; Rev . John Augustus Lloyd , M . A ., as H . ; John Campbell Maclean , as J . ; and 10 others for a chapter to be attached to the Lod ge of Loyalty , No . 1533 , Marlborough , to be called the Methuen Chapter , and to meet , at the Masonic Hall , Marlborough , Wiltshire .

3 rd . i-rom Comps . Sir Michael Edward Hicks Beach , Bart ., M . P ., as Z . ; John Walker , as H . ; Richard V . Vassar-Smith , as J ., and nine others ior a chapter to be attached to the Royal Gloucestershire Lod ge , No . 839 , Gloucester , to be called the Royal Gloucestershire Chapter , and to meet at the Bell Hotel , Gloucester ,

Supreme Grand Chapter.

The motions having been seconded were carried unanimously . A charter vvas also granted to the Chapter of Unanimity , No . 42 , Bury , Lancashire , authorising the companions to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the resolution passed by the Supreme Grand Chapter on the 1 st Februarv' , 18 S 2 , the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of

loo years . The District Grand Lodge of Malta having on the 18 th September , 1883 , expelled from Masonry a brother P . M . late of the Wanderers ' Lodge , No . 1604 , London , and P . M . and Treas . of the Wayfarers' Lodge , No . 1926 , Malta , also of the Melita Chapter , No . 349 , Malta , for defalcation of his lodge accounts . Col . CREATON moved : —

"That this companion of the Melita Chapter , No . 349 , be declared expelled from the Order of Royal Arch Masons . " The motion was seconded by Comp . J . LEWIS-THOMAS and carried . The Grand Orient of Portugal having intimated that they had authorized the formation of a Royal Arch Grand Chapter for that country , with chapters working in accordance with the English Ritual , and the said Grand Orient and Grand Chapter having each requested the recognition of the latter Body by the Grand Chapter of England , the Committee recommend that this Grand Chapter do accede to the request . Col . CREATON moved : —

" That the Grand Chapter of Portugal be henceforth recognised by the Supreme Grand Chapter . " This was seconded by Comp . JAMES LEWIS-THOMAS , and also carried

nem . con . Col . CREATON postponed till the February Convocation his motion" That the sum of ^" 2000 be granted from the funds of this Grand Chapter , in aid of the proposed re-building of the Temple at Freemasons' Hall , recently destroyed by fire , " as Grand Lodge had not yet decided on a scheme for the rebuilding of the Temple , Grand Chapter was then closed .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The monthly meeting of the general Committee of this Institution was held on Saturday afternoon at ' Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Edgar Bowyer , Grand Standard Bearer , in the chair . There were also present Bros . G . P . Britten , Joyce Murray , William Roebuck , Charles Frederick Hogard , Alfred Williams , Donald M . Dewar , John L . Mather , Frederick Adlard , VV . Mann , Horace Brooks Marshall , Henry Venn , H . S . Goodall , Rev . Dr . Morris ( head master ) , lohn Seex , Thomas Cubitt . C . H . Webb , G . P . Festa , George Motion , W . Maple ,

Geo . P . Gillard , A . F . Godson , F . Binckes , Sec , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . The report of the Audit Committee gave rise to a long discussion , the Audit Committee having refused to pay an item of £ q , the hire for half a year of an omnibus employed according to custom for many years past to convey the Committee to Wood Green . Some brethren contended that it was beyond the power of the Audit Committee to refuse to pass an account , and that the functions of the Committee were confined to examining and

checking the accounts . Other brethren however held that the Audit Committee were right , and nearly all expressed the opinion that the hiring of the omnibus should be dispensed with and the audit be held at the offices . It was ultimately referred to the House Committee to consider the propriety of continuing the use of the omnibus after the 31 st December . The Chairman was then authorised to sign cheques for the amounts passed by the Audit Committee and for the £ 9 for the omnibus .

After Bro . BINCKES had read the report , which shewed a clear balance in hand of £ 397 8 AS . Sd ., On the motion of Bro . VV . R OEBUCK , seconded by Bro . W . MANN , ^" 2000 was ordered to be invested to the account of the Preparatory School Fund , thus raising the amount invested on that account j £ i 1 , 000 . On the motion of Bro . W . R OEBUCK , seconded by Bro . J . L . MATHER , £ 500 vvas ordered to be transferred to the Sustentation Fund . Outfits of £ 5 each were granted to three former pupils of the Institution .

Bro . C . H . WEBB called attention to the case of a boy , named Herring , who was elected in October , and said that he was credibly informed that the boy vvas entitled at 21 years of age to £ 1800 , and that two brothers were entitled to a similar sum each . Bro . BINCKES said the case had been before the Quarterly Court , and that after full discussion 28 brethren voted in favour of the child ' s

candidature , and 23 against it . Bro . C . H . WEBB gave notice of motion for next Quarterly Court in January that further enquiry be made and the matter investigated as to whether the boy was a proper subject for admission to the Institution . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

{ Continued from page 548 . ) 11 will be readily conceded that the foregoing letters in explanation of the objects of the proposed Asylum and the sources whence the means to establish and support it were to be forthcoming was by no means as satisfactory as his Royal Hig hness would deem desirable , and that it would not afford him much ground for arriving at a conclusion as to the probable

degree of stability that would attend the project . Indeed , the meagreness of the details furnished appears to have struck Bro . Bell himself , for on the 16 th of the month of May we find him addressing a further communication on the subject to the Duke of Sussex , apologising for the details he had already furnished being less "full and explicit" than seemed desirable , but at the same time earnestly pressing his Royal Hig hness to grant the promoters of the intended charity the benefit of his patronage . The letter in

full is as follows : Austin Friars , 16 th May , 1835-Sir , —I had the honour to acknowledge the favour of your Royal Highness ' s communication respecting the proposed Asylum for Aged and Decayed Freemasons , hut in so hasty a manner from my anxiety to lose no time in acknowledging your Royal made that

Highness ' s kindness and condescension in directing that communication to be 1 fear my statement may not have proved so full and explicit as your Royal Hig hness might wish . If this unfortunately should have been the case , I have most humbly to beg your Royal Highness ' s pardon , and to express my sincere regret as well on account ot the seeming though unintentional want of respect to your Royal Highness ' s commands as from the injury which from this cause 1 much fear the intended . Charity may suiter from any delay in obtaining your Royal Highness ' s patronage .