Scotland.

chapter as . £ 88 25 ., and fund in bank as £ 47 15 s . 7 d ., showing ^ 135 17 s . / d . as the total capital . Comp . Major ALLAN brought under the notice of the members the suspension of acompanion for insubordination in connection with the procedare of his installation , and as a mark of courtesy to Provincial Grand Chapter , and in respect to the companion , and before he left the chair of M E .

Superintendent , begged to move that the suspension be now withdrawn , and that the said companion be restored to all his rights and privileges of a Royal Arch Mason , which was unanimously agreed to , and Provincial Grand Chapter resolved to petition Supreme Grand Chapter to sanction the same . The PROV . GRAND SCRIBE E . then submitted his annual report on the chapter visitations for the year ending 23-d September , 1 S 97 , and said :

M . E . Grand Superintendent , M . E . Principals , E . Office B : arers and companions , —It certainly is with the greatest pleasure that I am once more privileged to put before you the annual report on the result of the books belong ing to the several chapters in the province during the visitations just comp leted . These visitations commenced on the ist December with Shamrock and Thistle Chapter , No . 87 , and was conducted by deputations of

Provincial Grand Chapter Office Bearers and finished with Caledonian of Unity Chapter , No . 73 , on the 26 th January last . During the year ending 23 rd September , 1 S 97 , there were held 155 Royal Arch meetings , giving an average of nearly 13 meetings per chapter , showing an average attendance of 27 members or visitors per meeting . I am pleased to note that there has been during the same period , a very marked increase of ~ new members to

Royal Arch Masonry in the Province , no less a number than 271 being admitted , showing an increase of 115 members or eand dites over the year 189 6 . The total cash standing to the credit of the chapters ( including ^ 137 6 s . 6 ;* d . of Benevolent Fund Account ) amounts to the sum of ^ 334 95 . 5 ] d ., giving an increase over the year previous of . £ 150 Ss . 6 . 1 i . The Life members have also increased from 469 to 549 , an increase of 120

for the past year . The Benevolent Fund Accouit shows an increase of ^ 33 3 s . 5 * , 'd . These figures as compared with those of former years proves the result of the past yearjto be the highest ever attained in the one year by the chapters , in the history of Provincial Grand Chapter . In giving a detailed account of how these figures have been arrived at , I find that Govan Chapter , No . 117 , heads the list wilh 48 candidates .

St . Andrew Chapter , No . 6 9 , comes next with 47 ; Cathedral Chapter , No . 57 , with 41 ; Caledonian Chapter of Unity , No . 73 , with 35 ; Plantation Chapter , No . 259 , with 32 ; Dennistoun Chapter , No . 266 , with 21 ; Shamrock and Thistle Chapter , No . 87 , wilh 15 ; Commercial Chapter , No . 79 , with 9 ; Glasgow Chapter , Ne . 50 , with 8 ; Partrick Chapter , No . 113 , with 7 ; the Princes' Chapter , No . 1 S 9 , with 5 ; and St . lohn

Chapter , No . 257 , with 3—in all , as already stated , 271 candidates . As to the amount of cash at their credit , St . Andrew Chapter stands fir-it , with £ 213 7 s . 3 d ., including £ - ]\ iSs . 7 d . to Benevolent Fund account ; the next in order are Chapters The Prince ' s , ^ 192 7 s . 1 id . ; Cathedral , £ 176 is . y ' l d ., including £ 5 1 os . 4 , 'd . to Benevolent Fund account ; Shamrock and Thistle , £ 73 19 s . iod . ; Govan , £$ g is . ojd . ; Caledonian of Unity , . £ 40 is . 5 d . ;

Commercial , £ 24 9 s . iod . ; Glasgow , ^ 21 15 s . Sid ., including £ 5 9 s . to Benevolent Fund account ; Plantation , ^ 14 83 . iojd ., including £ 4 . 15 s . to Benevolent Fund account ; Dennistoun , £ 11 03 . Si . ] Partick , . £ 5 15 s . 1 id . ; and St . John , £ 1 9 s . 4 d ., including £ 1 3 s . ; d . to Benevolent Fund account —in all ^ 834 95 . 5 { d . The depuation- of provincial office-bearers on the examination of lhe books expressed themselves extremely well pleased with

the manner in which they were kept , especially the minute and cash bookssome were perfect models of neatness , correctness , and penmanship . For this part of their work the Scribes and Treasurers were highly commended , and advised that more care be exercised in filling in the correct date in roll book of members on which the candidates received the Mark , Excellent and Royal Arch Degrees , and also the date on which the candidates were registered in

the books of the Supreme Grand Chapter . These suggestions were accepted in the best Masonic spirit , and in every case the usual clear certificate was entered in the minute books and signed by the members of deputations present , who were on every occasion received by the Principals , office bearers , and members of the various chapters with the utmost marks of respect and cordiality , good feeling everywhere existing . It must be very gratif ying to you , M . E . Grand Superintendent , to know that the

improvement that set in in the beginning of your term of office has steadil y increased , and that year after year there has been every indication that eoyal Arch Masonry in your province is becoming more appreciated , reletting , as it should , the highest credit on those companions at the head of their respective chapters , who , by their enthusiasm in the cause and the general high state of efficiency in which we find Royal Arch Masonry at present conducted , are drawing together those who would not otherwise

nave joined our ranks . And you can , M . E . Grand Superintendent , with every confidence and surety report to the Supreme Grand Chapter that all tne 12 active chapters in your province are working in accordance to the aws and regulations of that Supreme Body . I may be here pardoned . ¦ jciore

closing this report , to state that it may be interesting to you , M . E . sir , and the companions present , to know that in reviewing the work during ne live years you have occupied the offi ; e of Grand Superintendent I find ine number of candidates exalted in the province amounts to 873 , showing n increase of 414 as compared with the nrevious five vears . nr pn .. * . ! m th /* .

tprm „ f * n- d du rln the rev ous 1 * ¦ years . I also find that during your and fnr , u y ° , have attended 50 visitation meetings out of a possible 74 , alill w regU ' ar meetin s of Provincial Grand Cnapter you have the « m ° i ° / P ° Ssible a - As already stated elsewhere , during the ZO * . four new cbaPters were added to the roll of chapters in aIfi ' ' , , | , airfiE , d ' No 25 < 5 ( whi <* chapter has since become amalgamated with Govan Chapter , No . 117 , St . John Chapter ( Parkhead ) , I ' n ' ionnf , , , ? 1 tw cha terscameun der y ° ur jurisdictional the date of Scotland , w * 1 y and ChaPlers with the Supreme Grand Chapter of « Kiand , which event took nlacp in r , l - < -. <™ u , „ n m * T , ,, u , t ,., « f M .. a . ~

,,, wnsfi £ m-, , l pt A ad d are p' * "ation Chapter , No . 259 , which was - * itutedo wh ' * Vii , 1 S 9 O , and Dennistoun Chapter , No . 266 , conof the ml , 5 V * Apr , ' * ' l 8 97 * The above review is but a brief outline double vol L 1 .^perf ormed by J ' ou but it bears evidence to the great Masonry in . taken . m ur untiring zeal for the interest of Royal Arch 0 r dtr which •io i . pr 0 V , " ' T' wilh rcs ect t 0 those sound principles of the •"¦ now that voh 1 S ° f admire * And it must be satisfactory for you to dtt tivc cilice brn •S ° ably su rl <* d by jour commissioned and Province and i , ™ "' . your various duties belonging to the work of the of tl ] e Province i ' ° * ° thc s *«» l <™ : iils of all concerned in thc welfare from the n osii ; n " ^ ^ e " ] gihe 8 reat , e Kret we a 11 feeI on your retirement Hosiuon of Grand Superintendent . In a short time you will be

Scotland.

relieved from those duties ; still we earnestly hope that you may be long spared in health and happiness to take an interest in the work of Royal Arch Masonry , for which you have done so much . Comp . Major ALLAN , in moving the adoption of the report , paid a very high compliment to the Ex . S . E . for the careful way in which the report was submitted , and the great amount ol information derived from the reports year after year , as prepared at his hands , and mentioned the fact of the

S . E . ' s long connection with Provincial Grand Chapter , having been an office bearer for the last 25 years , and during that period had only been absent from one meeting , and had been Scribe E . since 24 th November , 1876 , and as a personal gift from himself he had much pleasure in handing him a Past First Principal ' s jewel , which , as a Past First Principal of a chapter in Glasgow , he was justly entitled to wear . The jewel was handed round and much admired .

The jewel bears the following inscription : " Presented to M . E . Companion James Balfour , E . Scribe E . Provincial Grand Chapter over Lower Ward of Lanarkshire , by Major F . VV . Allan , M . E . Grand Superintendent , for kind services rendered during past 5 years . 25 th February , 1898 . " Provincial Grand Chapter was shortly afterwards closed , when , at the request of the Grand Superintendent , those present were entertained to a service of cake and wine , the companions being his guests , and a short time was spent in social harmony .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

Glasgow Rose Croix Chapter , No . 11 . The annual meeting of this chapter was held recently in the Masonic Hall , Glasgow , Comp . J . Dalrymple Duncan , Past M . W . S ., presiding , when six candidates were admitted as members of the Order . The election of office bearers for the ensuing year took place , Comp . Major F . W . Allan being elected M . W . S . The ceremony of installation was performed by Comp . R . K . Inches , M . W . S . Edinburgh Rose Croix Chapter , No . 1 . Special refence was made to the great loss the chapter had sustained by the death of the late M . W . S ., Comp . Sir James R . G . Maitland , Bart . After the meeting , the companions Jined at the Windsor Hotel , under the presidency of the newly-installed M . W . S .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following new lists , and additions to lists , have been received since last week , namely : Lodge LONDON . £ . d . 14 Bro . Rev . H . H . Lowe , M . A ., ncw list ... ... 10 10 o ICJ „ R . B . Shipley , additional ... ... 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 13 13 s . )

' ¦ SD JI W . Mamsher , additional ... ... 10 io o ( raising his list to £ 47 5 s ;) 1-59 u C . Wakefield , additional ... ... 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 53 1 is . ) 245 G „ Edward Beaumont , additional ... ... 220

( raising his list to £ 29 Ss . ) Girls' School Committee Dinner Club Bro . W . G . Kentish , additional ... ... 10 10 o ( raising his list to , £ 74 . ) Unattached Bro . W . M . Stiles , additional ... ... ... 5 S o

( raising his list to L 15 1 ; s . )

THE PROVINCES . BERKSHIRE . Lodge 414 Bro . C . E , Keyser , additional ... ,., 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 121 16 s . ) LANCASIIIRB ( E . D . ) . Lodge

34 S Bro . Moses Crankshaw , new list ... , „ 10 10 o ( raising the total for the Province to , £ 204 15 s . ) AllDDLKSKX . Lodge i () 5 ( 5 Bro . R . W . Rice , additional ... ... ... 0180 ( raising his list to £ 24 iSs . )

SUFFOLK . Unattached Bro . George Turner , additional ... ... 10 10 o ( raising his and the Provincial total to £ 11 105 . )

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 . The installation meeting of this ancient lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Monday , the 28 th ult ., when a very large number of Past Grand Officers assembled . The lodge was opened by Bro . A . Stewart Brown , P . G . D ., the W . M ., and after the usual lodge business was transacted , Bro . Wm . Geo . Fenn , G . Stwd ., P . P . G . D . Surrey , was installed into the chair of King Solomon . The ceremony of installation was

performed by Bro . Brown in a manner which drew forth the encomiums of all presen * . The newly-installed W . M . then appointed and invested his ollicers as follows : Bros . A . Stewart Brown . P . G . D ., I . P . M . ; R . W . Few , S . W . ; N . S . St-tt , J . W . ; Rev . A . W . Oxford , P . G . S ., Chap . ; R . G . Hall , P . G . S ., Treas . ; F . West , P . G . D ., Sec . ; K . L . Devonshire . S . D . j C . Ellis , J . D . ; W . Crewdson , I . G . ; Dr . H . Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C , D . C ; W . Ganz , P . G . Org ., Org . ; C . Plummer , P . M ., Stwd . ; and J . VV . Freeman , Tyler .

A large company subsequently adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern where a rechei-yhe banquet was provided . Among those who accepted the hospitality of the lodge were Bros . John Sampson , P . G . D . ; E . 1 . Barron , P . G . D . ; Lewis Thomas , P . A . G . D . C . ; J . D . Langton , P . D . G . D . C ; C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; E . E . Harding , P . A . G . D . C ; Viscount Doneraile , 10 ; W . K . G . Emerson , 45 ; II . G . Thompson , 1556 : T . Lang Day , 1328 ; Harold Ellis , 10 j W . Gripper , 182 G ; G . J . Allen , 155 G ; C G . Noverre ,

I' red . Nicholls , 1556 ; John Hilton Carter , 2454 ; A . G . Dinn , 170 < j ; R . B . Shipley , 162 ; J . W . WooJthorp , 1 ( 179 ; P . W . Hall . 2095 ; H . J . Newbery , 16 G ; A . Conyers Haycraft , 2434 ; R . whitakt-r , 1570 ; O . Eldridge , P . M . 53 S ; M . Greeve , 34 ; VV . Ashton Ellis , 2233 ; J . II Kirlon , 1920 ; C . Ilackerman , 1 70 ^ ; G . May , 2000 ; and W . II . Brereton , 1920 . The usual toasts followed .

A charming musical entertainment wis given under the direction of Hro . Wilhelm Gaiu , P . G . Org ., the Organist of thc lodge . The Westminster singers—Bros . George May , Harper Kearton , Charles Ackerman , and W , H . Brereton contributed to the programme .