Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted in Supreme Grand Chapter on Wednesday next : The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

TO the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the igth October , 1887 , to the 17 th January , 1888 . both inclusive , which they find to be as follows : —

To Balance Grand Chapter .., £ 514 11 10 By Disbursements during the „ „ Unappropriated Quarter ... £ v 5 « 9 6 Account ... 20 3 10 7 „ Balance 608 10 4 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 373 26 „ „ Unappropriated Account ... 206 15 i £ 1091 4 " aC' 09 i 4 1 J

Which Balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following petitions : — ist . From Comps . William Henry Tulloh , as Z . ; Joseph Monday , as H . ; John Thompson , as J . ; and nine others , for a chapter to be attached to the St . Leonard Samaritan Lodge , No . 1654 , St . Leonard's , North ShoreSydneyN . S . W . to be called the Samaritan Chapter of St . Leonard's ,

, , , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , St . Leonard's , near Sydney , New South Wales . 2 nd . P ' rom Comps . Francis Frederick Giraud , as Z . ; John Matthew Goldfinch , as H . ; Frederick William Underdown , as J . ; and six others , for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Harmony , No . 133 , Faversham , to be called the Chapter o ? Harmony , and lo meet at Freemasons' HaU , Faversham , in the county of Kent .

The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted . The Committee have also received a petition from the Grcymouth Chapter , No . 1233 , Grcymouth , Westland , New Zealand , praying for a charter of confirmation , the original having been burnt in the fire which

destroyed all the lodge and chapter property . The Committee recommend that a charter of confirmation be granted for the above chapter , subject to the receipt of the names of the three present Principals for insertion in the charter . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., iSth January , 1 S 8 S . President .

Consecration Of The Old Westminsters Lodge, No. 2233.

CONSECRATION OF THE OLD WESTMINSTERS LODGE , No . 2233 .

Of the many ties which Masonry serves to cement , there are none more pleasant than the friendships and associations of school life . It was no doubt this idea which prompted several distinguished Masons who had been educated at the Westminster School to petition his Royal Highness

the M . W . G . M . to form them into a regular lodge . After due deliberation , his Royal Highness granted the petition , and under the title of the " Old Westminsters' Lodge , No . 2233 , " the Westminster School is to be congratulated on being the first of our public schools to possess a lodge composed of brethren who are indebted to it for thtir education .

1 he consecration look place on Friday , the 20 th inst ., at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , the future meeting place of the lodge . The Consecrating Officer was Bro . Co ! . Shadwell H . Clerke , P . G . D ., Grand Sec , assisted by Bros . Hyde Clarke , Representative of Grand Lodge of U . S . Columbia , in the Grand Lodgeof England , P . G . M . of Colombia , as S . W . ; General C . W . Randolph , P . G . W . Sussex , as J . W . ; Rev . C . W . Spencer

Stanhope , P . G . Chap ., as Chap , ; and Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., asD . of C . The following lounders were present : Bros . W . E . Tomlinson . M . P ., H . M . 1561 , W . M . designate ; Reginald J . Mure , P . M . 10 , S . W . designate ; Thomas Wakley , jun ., P . M . 1395 , J . W . designate ; Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Charles M . Barker , Rev . E . M . Tomlinson , Wm . Hicks , Astley Terry , P . M . 533 , P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire ; Walter Tomlinson , H . H . Hyde l

Clarke , Macolm 0 . Sim , F . | . Pearse , Charles W . Stephenson , H . J . Manisty , and Dr . H . Sutherland , P . G . Stwd . The following visitors were also present : Bros . J . H . Murray , P . M . 1335 , P . P . G . D . C . West Lanes . ; Rev . Watkin H . Williams , P . M . 1143 , P P . G . Chap . ; H . Schartau , 1549 ; T . Kempton , 1706 ; F . H . Cozens , Org . 907 ; S . Pope , Q . C , P . G . D . ; Horace WhiteS . W . ioP . M . 708 ; Arthur E .

, , Reade , 166 ; Albert Chalioner , 1604 ; W . Hanson , 2182 ; Rev . Hayman Cumminijs , P G . C . Kent ; A . E . Tomkins , P . P . G . D . Surrey ; Rev . W . K . R . Bedford , P . G . C . ; Victor A . WilPamson , C . M . G ., P . G . W . ; Major C . A . Cooper , I . P . M . 2 O 9 S ; F . Seager Hunt , M . P ., I . P . M . 2030 ; P . A . Scratchley , W . M . 10 , P . P . G . Reg . Middx . ; J . Curnow , J . W . 2031 ; P . Manning , P . M . 1610 ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; S . R . Philipps , VV . M . 444 ; and W . W . Lee , 1 S 97 .

The Grand Secretary having taken the chair , and appointed his officers " pro tern ., " the lodge was opened in the Three Degrees . The GRAND SECRETARY addressed the brethren on the motion of the meeting and said : Brethren , —The occasion which has brought us here today is one ( hat is , of course , of great interest to all Masons , and more particularly to many whom I have the honour of addressing . You are

aware lhat in the present day it is not an unusual custom for brethren who hive been common tie , or bond of friendship in the outer world , to associate themselves together , and found a Masonic lodge to still further cement that friendship . These lodges bear some name significant of the intention for which they are founded . They cannot be exclusively for those brethren , as it would be contrary to the Book of Constitutions , but they are practically

established for their convenience . The lodge we are about to consecrate comes under this head . It so happens that one of our great public Schools , that of Westminster , possesses a large number of old pupils who have been prominent in the Masonic world . It has recently occurred to several that it would be a good and proper thing if they were to endeavour to bind themselves together into a Masonic lodge and still further cement their friendship . Therefore , a petition was sent to the M . W . G . M . and his Royal Hihness

g , after careful consideration , has been pleased to grant a warrant for a new lodg-, to be named the Old Westminsters' Lodge , No . 2233 . We are rnei , therelore , to give effect to that warrant , and to consecrate the lodge according to ancient form . The brethren have selected a true and trusty brother to preside over them , and I have no doubt the lodge will be well governed by him . I feel myself bound on these occasions to pass a lew remarks to new lodges urging them to be very careful in the selection qf _ jnembers , but those remarks would be out of p lace on the present occa-

Consecration Of The Old Westminsters Lodge, No. 2233.

sion from the mere fact that all candidates will come from the Westminster School , which will be a proof of their merits and a guarantee that they are the right men in the right place . The petition and warrant were read , and Bro . Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . Chap ., as Chaplain , delivered an excellent oration on the nature and principles of the Institution .

The ceremony was then resumed and the lodge dedicated and constituted according to ancient custom . The impressiveness of the proceedings was much enhanced by the musical arrangements under the direction of Bro . F . H . Cozens , assisted by H . W . Schartau , T . Hanson , and T . Kempton . The musical service used on this

occasion was written by Bro . Schartau . The GRAND SECRETARY intimated to thebrethren that when the arrangements for the proceedings were being made , a desire was expressed that some part should be taken by an Old Westminster . He had great pleasure in falling in with that desire , and therefore called upon Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman to take the chair and instal the W . M . designate .

Bro . Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal , having assumed the chair , Bro . W . E . Tomlinson , M . P ., P . M . 1561 , was duly installed as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Malcolm Sim was elected Treasurer , and the following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . Reginald T . Mure , P . M . 10 , S . W . ; Thomas Walkley , jun ., P . M . 1395 , J . W . ; Malcolm

Sim , Treasurer ; H . H . Hyde Clarke , Secretary ; Rev . E . M . Tomlinson , Chap . ; Charles M . Barker , S . D . ; F . J . Pearce ; J . D . ; H . J . Manisty , I . G . ; Dr . H . Sutherland , P . G . Stwd ., Stwd . ; E . Culverhouse , Tyler , After which the usual addresses were effectively rendered by the Installing Master , Bro Hugh D . Sandeman .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , addressing the brethren , said he did not suppose that any brother could occupy the chair of K . S . in any lodge without being impressed with the importance of the duties allotted to him . More especially was that the case when the W . M . occupied the chair during the first year of a new Iodge , for a brother who had risen to the high honour of being the first W . M ., felt it more incumbent upon him to discharge the

duties satisfactorily , and set an example to the other brethren . But how much more keenly vvould that feeling be experienced by the W . M . when the occupation of the chair brought back all the associations of a great part of his early life ? Whatever might be belore him in the future , he could not have conferred upon him any honours which he could more highly appreciate than to preside over a lodge , consisting of brethren from that

Institution in which they had received a great part of their education . There were several brethren from that school whom the founders would have gladly seen occupy the chair , but from one reason or another they were unable to accept the position . He felt , much more than he could express , the greatness of the distinction conferred upon him by being their first VV . M . He was quite sure that those who occupied the other positions in

the lodge would feel not only that the interests and welfare of Freemasonry were confided to their charge , but they had an obligation lying upon them to see the lodge was carried on in the traditions of that great place of education to which they belonged . They felt themselves bound together more than any other public school , and they felt they had received Irom that In . stitution that which could never be repaid . Whatever they attempted to do should be done as well as possible , and it that spirit animated them they

might look forward for a distinguished luture for their lodge . He could onl y again express his thanks for the great honour conferred upon him and his desire to promote the best interests of Freemasonry in general and their lodge in particular . Before proceeding further he had a duty to perform which afforded him great pleasure , and he was sure the brethren would receive it with the same degree oi satisfaction . He had to propose that the Grand Secretary and the biethren who had assisted him should be elected honoraiy members .

Bro . SANDEMAN said he had much pleasure in seconding the proposition , more especially as there were two Old Westminsters amongst the Consecrating officers . The motion having been carried with acclamation , the GRAND SECRETARY , on behalf of his colleagues , returned thanks for that kind recognition

of their services , and expressed the pleasure it afforded them to be present . A Committee having been elected to frame the by-laws , the following brethren were proposed as joining members—Bros . Rev . Watkin H . Williams , Right Hon . G . A . F . Cavendish Bentinck , M . P ., Mostyn T . Pigott , Rev . C . VV . Spencer Stanhope , and Rev . VV . C . R . Bedford .

All Masonic business having been transacted , the lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to a recherche recast .

The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were subsequently duly honoured . The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " said the toast would need no recommendation from him , for it was always received in Masonic circles with the greatest enthusiasm . The members of that lodge , apart from their Masonic duties , would necessarily drink the toast with all heartiness . He , therelore , begged to propose the Queen and the Craft . ""'

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER then gave " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and said the health of H . R . H . would necessaril y be received by Masons with the highest honour . If they merely regarded H . R . H . in his official capacity it would be a sufficient reason for proposing the toast ,

but he also had at heart all that concerned Masonry . They had also to acknowledge the manner in which the M . W . G . M . had received their somewhat exceptional application , and in reply to which , had kindly granted a warrant which had been that day carried into effect . He had , therefore , much pleasure in proposing the health of H . R . H . their M . W . G . M .

. The WORSHIPFUL MASTER said he had a toast to propose , which on that occasion they ought to give a specially cordial greeting . It was that of " The Grand Officers . " They were honoured by the presence of several members of Grand Lodge , and he had no doubt that those of their number who so kindly assisted in the ceremonies vvould only say they had been fulfilling their duties as Grand Officers . He had on his left Bro . Pope , Q . C , who was a distinguished member of a well known lodge in London .

He could not , however , enumerate them all , but there was one whom he should call upon to reply as he had known him for many years . They were companions tor many years in the school svhich was the loundation of their lodge , and also at Oxford . If he ( the W . M . ) had then known the invaluable privileges of Masonry he might have asked that brother to introduce him to the distinguished lodge in Oxford to which he belonged . He felt he could not theretore do belter than couple the toast with the name of that brother , Bro . Victor Williamson . P . G . W .

Bro . VICTOR WILLIAMSON , P . G . W ., in reply , said it must always be a considerable responsibility to return thanks for the toast of the Grand Officers before such a distinguished array as he saw on the present occasion .