Supreme Grand Chapter.

hitherto been wrongly made ; for it would certainl y seem from the Calendars that in the Provinces it is the exception , and not -the rule , for the offices to be held together . It must be remembered , too , that in some cases the jurisdiction of the Grand Superintendent appears not to be

co-terminous with that of a Craft Province . In New Zealand , for instance , there seems to be but one D . G . Chapter , though five District Grand Lodges ; and in the Channel Islands but one D . G . Chapter though two D . G . Lodges . In these cases how would the ruling of the Deputy G . Registrar apply ?

Now , as to the second point—the case of a brother who being , in strict law , entitled to be appointed , is by some error not appointed to it , is not invested or installed , and , during the year in which he should have served , performs none of the duties of the office ! Can it for one moment be held that he is entitled to Past rank ? What ancient law or custom of

Masonry ? What regulation of the Royal Arch ? What Article of the Constitutions of the Craft can be adduced in support of such a proposition ? If there be no special Regulation of the Royal Arch to meet the case it must be ruled by the laws of the Craft . It is not easy to find an exactly analogous case in the

Craft , but a similar one might arise in a Craft lodge where , atthe election of W . M ., there was only one brother strictly eligiblea Warden—the outgoing W , M . having already served two years in succession . By some oversight the W . M . is re-elected , and holds for the third year without a dispensation being obtained ,

or an unqualified brother is elected and installed , Could the Deputy Grand Registrar seriously contend that after the expiration of that year the brother Warden who should have becn

elected and installed , but was not , is entitled to the rank and , privileges of a Past Master ? He would , we think , be a bold brother who tried to convince Grand Lodge that such was the case !

A question was raised a short time back as to the eligibility of ( i ) a brother duly appointed and invested as Warden on the proper night , but doing no work afterwards , and ( 2 ) a brother appointed , but unable to attend the installation , and not invested that ni g ht , but attending regularly , and doing all the year ' s work afterwards ;

and during the discussion some good authorities held that in the second case the brother not having been invested at the proper time could only count his service from the date of his investiture , and had therefore not served his full 12 months , and would not be elig ible for W . M .

Now , without fully endorsing this view- , it does seem unreasonable that where an error has been made in an appointment , the brother who might have claimed the appointment may " lay low" at the time and afterwards , without investiture , without doing the work , and without paying thc fees , may come forward- at some future time and claim Past rank !!

On the whole , therefore , it is with all deference to the Dep . Grand Registrar , unhesitatingly submitted that he was . absolutely wrong upon both points , and that the decision of Grand Chapter was given under a misapprehension , and should , in the interests of the Craft as well as of the R . A ., be at once revised . LEX SCRIPTA .

Consecration Of The Sarnian Royal Ark Mariners Lodge, No. 425, Guernsey.

CONSECRATION OF THE SARNIAN ROYAL ARK MARINERS LODGE , No . 425 , GUERNSEY .

The Provincial Grand Master of Guernsey and Alderney was afforded convincing proof of the progress of Masonry in the province under his sway , when , on the 31 st ult ., he was the chief actor in the consecration ceremony of the first Royal Ark Mariners Lodge in Guernsey . It is now some 27 years since Bro . Balfour Cockburn founded the Cockburn Lodge of Royal

Ark Mariners ii Gibraltar , and as a member of the Grand Master s Royal Ark Mariners Council he now officiated as Consecrating Officer of the Sarnian Lodge . The occasion Will long be remembered by those privileged to share in and witness it , for it was a gathering of Mark brethren from both the Channel Islands lodges , and a proof of the universality of the Masonic ties existing between the Jersey and Guernsey brethren .

The Sarnian Mark Lodge was founded by Dr . Cockburn in 1891 , he being its first W . M . ; it has since experienced varied vicissitudes , but is now so ably officered that its future success is assured . Early in this year Bro . J . Bate Nickoles was duly installed as the fifth W . M ., and under his guidance , ard with the assistance of an able and energetic staff of young officers , the lodge is adding many of the best Masons from all the five lodges of the province .

It was unanimously decided last April to pray for the formation of a Royal Ark Mariners lodge , and a petition bearing the names of over 20 of the brethren c f the Sarnian Ledge , and equally warmly supported by the chief Jersey Royal Ark Mariners , was entrusted to the care of the P . G . M ., Bro . Dr . Cockburn , who was deputed to carry their wishes into effect .

To this end Bro . Bree , the W . C . N , rf 74 , accompanied by a number of 1 is officers and brethren , proceeded to Guernsey on the 3 l ; t ult ., and , after duly opcnii g a Royal Aik Mariners lodge there , elevated the following brethren to the Royal Ark Mariners Degree : Bros . T . M . Bichard , W . H . Lovell , R . B . Rowcliffe , C . Mellish , A . C . Dunderdale , T . Elliott , C . Bichard . T . B . Le Catourel , A . W . de Jausserand , W . D . Jones , T . A .

Consecration Of The Sarnian Royal Ark Mariners Lodge, No. 425, Guernsey.

Candon , Col . Haighton Wilkins , Dr . E . K . Corbin , Dr . H . Kay Ramsden , J . T . Laine , j . Stranger , W . Stranger , and E . Biddiscombe . Bro . Bree was ably assisted by his officers , and the ceremony was faultlessly performed throughout . At its conclusion Bro . Balfour Cockburn assumed the chair of Consecrating Officer , and appointed as his principal coadjutors Bros , the Rev . Stewart Stilt , Chaplain ; Peter Bois , S . J . ; Capt . Barrette , S . S . ; and Bree , D . C .

The CONSECRATING OFFICER then delivered a most interesting address on the history and development of the Degree , proving its antiquity and explainirg its attachment to the Mark Degree . Bro . the Rev . STILT ' S oration was also eloquent and very impressive , and the consecration was then proceeded with . The musical responses and anthems were heartily rendered , and the ceremony concluded with the grand old cathedral benediction .

Bro . Bree , assisted by Bros . Cockburn and Dr . T . Aubin , I . P . W . C . N ., of 74 , then formally inducted the W . C . N , elect according to ancient usage , and on the re-admission of the brethren , the newly installed Commander inve-ted his officers as follows : Bros . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , I . P . W . C . N . ; Capt . Astley Terry , P . P . G . S . B ., S . J . ; Peter Bois , S . J . ; T . W . Bichard , Treas . ; R . B . Rowcliffe , Scribe ; T . Elliott , Org . ; T . B . Le Catourel , S . D . ; A . W . de Jausserand , J . D . ; P . Bichard , Guardian ; and E . Biddiscombe , Warder .

On the proposition of the I . P . W . C . N ., seconded by the W . C . N ., the Jersey brethren were unanimously elected honorary members of the Sarnian Lodge . The lodge was then closed , and an adjournment made to the banqueting room , where the remainder of the evening was spent in unmitigated harmony and concord .

An indissoluble link of attachment between the Cesarean and Sarnian Lodges , has thus been successfully forged . The occasion affords conclusive proofs of the perfect Masonic unanimity and progress of the brethren in the Norman Archipelago .

The Parke Memorial.

THE PARKE MEMORIAL .

DEDICATION OF A MASONIC HALL , AT CARRICK-ON-SHANNON , Co . SLIGO .

The beautiful Masonic Hall which has been erected at Carrick-on-Shannoa to the memory of the late Surgeon . Major Parke , was formally opened and solemnly dedicated to the uses of Masonry on the Sth inst . About 100 brethrenincluding a number of distinguished visitors—took part in the ancient ceremony , which was performed by Bro . Rev . Precentor Clarke , M . A , M . D ., LL . D ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master for North Connaught .

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Bro . Lord Harlech , Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , and a number of others .

The business of the Provincial Grand Lodge having been transacted , the centenary of the Concord Lodge , Carrick-on-Shannon , was celebrated , and Bro . A . O'CONNOR , gave an interesting history of the proceedings of the Lodge from 1797 down to the present date .

A resolution was then adopted with acclamation recording the loyalty of the assembled brethren and their joy that her Majesty had been spared to attain the 60 th year of her long and glorious reign . The ceremony of dedicating the hall having been concluded , the brethren adjourned to the Town Hall , where a sump , tuous dinner was provided .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts having been duly honoured , The Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Rev . Dr . CLARKE , in proposing " The Health of the Building Committee of the Parke Memorial Masonic Hall , '' delivered an eloquent speech upon the high character and distinguished services of the late Surgeon-Major Parke , and said that among the many honours which were heaped upon Parke upon his return , by crowned heads , colleges , and

scientific societies , they would not easily forget the ist July , 1890 , when in the Town Hall of Carrick-on-Shannon they had entertained him at a banquet as a little compliment from the Freemasons of North Connaught . On that occasion Bro . Colonel Ffolliott ( also since gone from hence ) had said in the course of a beautiful speech— " Parke must sooner or later be taken off the scene , but his name will survive when his form and features are no more . " ( Hear , hear . ) And

so it came to pass . Alas ! how soon , owing to his constitution being shattered by privation , anxiety , and exposure , at duty ' s call , to the honour of his Queen and country , they were brought to their second act in connection with their love of their illustrious brother—the perpetuation of his name . The Freemasons of Carrick-on-Shannon felt that they would honour themselves by honouring the name of so great a brother , the son of a beloved brother , too , and hence they had erected

the handsome " Pdike Memorial Hall , " which they had dedicated to-day , and he might add , that the commemorative character ofthe hall was largely emphasised by having hung within it the life-like and realistic portrait of the soldier-surgeonexplorer , so faithfully executed by that gifted young artist , Miss Ffolliott , of Sloane-street , London , daughter of the lamented Colonel Ffolliott , who presented it to him ( Dr . Clarke ) for the Masonic province of North Conniught . He

trusted that the memories aroused and the hopes inspired by the Parke Memorial Masonic Hall might bear abundant fruit in them , and those who might take their places , when , like the departed Craftsman they desired so much to honour , they themselves would have gone the way of all mankind . In the language of the late Lord Beaconsfield , relative to another monument— " Let us regard it not as a memorial , but as an example ; not simply to commemorate , but to inspire . " ( Loud and continued applause ) . Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Bradshaw , on behalf of the Building Committee , returned thanks for the honour done them .

The visiting brethren included Bros . Alex . Jeffries and B . Layng , from Dublin . A musical programme was then gone through , Bro . Robert Smylie presiding at the piano . The proceedings terminated with the singing of " God save thq Queen . "

# CAXTON CONVALESCENT HOME . —We are pleased to learn that this Home , which is situated in one of the most charming spots in Surrey , is daily becoming more popular , as is evidenced by the increasing number of patients , all of whom speak in the highest terms of the advantages derived by their stay at Limpsfield . An excursion to the Home will take place on Saturday , July 17 th , when it is believed a large number of friend ; wi'l avail themselves of this opportunity of vi siting the neighbourli jai , an J seeing for themselves what is being done in the interest of their sick brethren . Tickets , price as . each , may be obtained of Mr . Chas . Irvine , Secretary , 33 , Chancery-lane , W . C .