Consecration Of The Onslow Mark Lodge No. 361.

known couplet . He thought the Onslow Lodge was in the position of endeavouring to place the rope in the hands of the moribund Carnarvon Lodge , and that that lodge would ring the bell with no uncertain sound to avoid the suspicion being cast abroad that it was nearing its end . The Onslow Lodge , like the celebrated Prince Henry IV ., had been guilty of trying on the crown before the King was dead ; that was the serious aspect

produced by the evening ' s ceremony . However , to go from jest to earnest , he could state , with every degree of truth , that the Carnarvon Mark Lodge would view with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction the progress of this offshoot from the Carnarvon . Bro . Lord O NSLOW then proposed the toast of " The Visitors , " coupled with the name of V . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary .

Bto . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE said they were one and all indebted to their noble brother for the amiable hospitality he had accorded to them . Despite the genial ieelings they experienced at having a very good dinner at some one else's expense , they had had the most satisfactory experience of viewing the M . W . G . M . M . performing the ceremony of consecration in a most perfect manner in another place . The visitors joined with him in wishing the Onslow Mark Lodge every success .

Bro . Lord C M ONTAGUE , in responding for the neivly-advanced brethren , said they one and all begged to thank their distinguished Bro . the W . M . for the able manner in which he had admitted them to the mysteries of that Degree . He felt that he was inadequate to the task ot responding for this toast , having been prevented from attending the ceremony at an

earlier period of the evening , which appealed very highly to the imagination of those who witnessed it . The outward symbols of Masonry were a good deal more sacred than many persons who were not Masons would credit , and he felt sure they all appreciated very much the high honour that had been done them .

The toast of "The Deputy Master , Bro . Scratchley , " was next proposed by Bro . Lord ONSLOW , coupled with the name of Bro . WHITE , S . W ., who , in replying , stated that the labour which had been so highly rewarded by the pleasant evening they experienced , confirmed the view the founders held , which was that of its being a labour of love .

During the evening an excellent series of songs and piano solos were rendered by the talented Bros . Dr . Davis , W . Gambleton , Rowles , and Fenn , the pleasant proceedings being brought to a successful termination with the Tyler ' s toast .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

A special meeting was held in the Assembly Rooms , Free Trade Hall , Manchester , on Friday , the 20 th inst . The business was purely formal , with the exception of a notice of motion by Bro . D . Tunks , P . M . 1145 , of which previous notice had been given , viz . — " That Bye-law No . 28 , which provides that copies of circulars of private lodges be sent to the Prov . Grand Secretary , be , and hereby is , rescinded . " The nomination for Treasurer was also another matter which Provincial

Grand Lodge had to receive . Something like 140 brethren were assembled at three o'clock , and very shortly after that hour the R . W . P . G . M ., Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , entered , attended by a long array of Present and Past Officers , amongst whom were Bros . G . P . Brockbank , G . Std . Br . of England , P . P . G . S . D .,

acting V . W . Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; Abraham Clegg , P . G . S . W . ; J . Walker , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . E . Parker , P . G . Chap . ; Rev . E . J . Reeve , P . G . A . Chap . ; Thos . Oakden , P . G . Treas . ; J . W . Lowe , P . G . Reg . ; John Chadwick , P . G . Sec . ; Chas . Schuster , P . G . ist S . D . ; W . Brierley , P . G . 2 nd S . D . ; Thos . Schofield , P . G . 1 st J . D . ; •W . H . Bibby , P . G . 2 nd l . D . ; John Greaves , P . G . Supt . of Works ; Thos .

Southern , P . G . D . C . ; J . W . Abbott , P . G . D . D . C . ; E . J . Cumings , P . G . ist Std . Br . ; E . G . Harwood , P . G . 2 nd Std . Br . ; Thos . Carter , P . G . Org . ; Wm . Lamb , P . G . Purst . ; Thos . Barker , S . Baines , and Geo , Slater , P . G . Stwds . ; Thos . Higson , P . G . Tyler ; Chas . Heywood , P . P . G . S . W . ; J . L . Hine , P . P . G . S . W . J . E . Lees , P . P . G . Treas . ; R . R . Lisenden ( Freemason ) , and others . On the roll of lodges being called over , 8 were found to be unrepresented ,

and the R . W . P . G . M . ordered them to be fined . After the roll of officers had been called over , and the minutes of the May meeting at Todmorden read by the Prov . Grand Secretary , the nominations for a Prov . Grand Treasurer were received . Bros . John Halliwall , P . P . G . Swd . B . of Bury , and J . Blakeway , of Todmorden , were proposed and seconded for the office .

Bro . TUNKS' notice of motion next came on the tapis , and was dilated upon by that well-meaning brother , supported by Bro . RICHARD RUSHTON , P . M . 1145 , and subsequently seconded . A great deal of opposition , however , set in against the motion , and amongst those who opposed it were Bros . CHARLES HEYWOOD , P . P . S . G . W ., J AMES ARTHUR BIRCH and a Rev . Bro . , whose name we did not catch , from Clitheroe . Finally the motion was lost by an overwhelming majority .

Bro . J CHADWICK , P . G . Sec , read a report from the Chanty Committee relative to the results of the election of candidates from this province into the three London Institutions , from which it appeared that one male and one female candidate had been elected into the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution this year . Respecting the Boys' and Girls' Institutions , the

candidate for the first-named Institution had been elected with 1781 votes , being first on the poll , and there had been no candidates for the Girls' Institution . In conclusion , Bro . Chadwick said the Committee desired to express their hearty thanks lo the brethren and lodges for so promptly returning their votes .

The R . W . P . G . M . then called upon Bro . J . L . Hine , P . P . G . S . W ., whom he aptly dubbed " the gentleman who drives the Charity coach , " to say a few words , and that worthy brother , who was hailed with applause , stated that the province of East Lancashire possessed 2700 votes in the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and 2922 in the Girls' Institution , and every candidate hitherto put forward by the province for either of the Institutions had been elected .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of East Lancashire.

this announcement was received with loud applause from the brethren , and when it had subsided , the R . W . P . G . M . passed a vote of thanks to the Charity Committee for their valuable and highly appreciated services . There being no further business Provincial Grand Lodge was shortly afterwards closed in due form . A Court of Governors of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution was subsequentl y held , and a report on the progress of the same presented , which was in every sense highly satisfactorv .

The Revised Royal Arch Regulations.

THE REVISED ROYAL ARCH REGULATIONS .

Bv BRO . E . L . HAWKINS . Readers of the Freemason and of G . Chapter Reports are doubtless all aware that a revision of the Royal Arch Regulations has been issued , and is to be considered and adopted at the Convocation of G . Chapter on Feb . 3 rd next . As proposed amendments are to be sent in to the G . S . E . before Jan . i 6 th , I have thought that a brief account of the principal alterations introduced in the Revision might be interesting to Royal Arch Masons .

The Rules are numbered consecutively as in the Book of Constitutions , and as indeed they have been in previous editions of the Regulations ; and it is intended to issue the revision in two sizes as is done with the

Constitutions . The principal alterations which I notice are as follows : — Rule 1 gives to the President of Committee of General Purposes and to Past Presidents a definite rank in G . Chapter between Past G . Scribes N . and the G . Registrar , who ( together with Past Grand Registrars ) is

promoted lo rank above the Principal G . Sojourner ; the G . Director of Ceremonies and Past G . Directors are also promoted to rank between Past G . Treasurers and the G . Sword Bearer , and the new offices of Deputy and First and Second Assistant G . Director of Ceremonies and of Assistant G . Scribe E . are introduced . On the other hand , the Associate iMembers are omitted .

Rule 2 requires service as First Principal for one year to qualify for a seat in G . Chapter , and also provides that such seat when lost by non-subscription can only be regained by again serving the office ol First Principal . These points were not specified in the old Rule 33 . Rule 3 , which gives the First G . Principal power to appoint additional members of G . Chapter , is apparently new on the analogy of Rule 7 of the Constitutions .

Rule 7 requires notice of motion to be sent to the G . S . E . instead of to the Committee of General Purposes , as by the old Rule 8 . Rule 8 requires notice to be given of appeals , which were specially excepted from the old Rule 80 . Rule 10 , enabling all members of G . Chapter to have papers of business , & rc , sent to them for 2 s . 6 d . a year , is apparently new on the analogy of Rule 57 of the Constitutions .

Rule 33 provides that the G . Registrar and the G . Treasurer need not be installed Principals , Rule 37 , specifying the officers to be ' appointed by a GrandSuperintendent , is new . Rule sg gives power to the First Grand Principal to grant a dispensation for non-resident Provincial or District G . Officers , which was not contained in the old Rule 40 .

Rule 40 requires G . Superintendents to hold Prov . or District G . Chapters at least once in every year . Rule 50 requires a fee of 2 s . 6 d . from each companion who signs the petition for a charter of constitution , besides the old lee of live guineas for the charter .

Rules 53 and 54 , providing that no chapter can meet without a charter , are apparently new on the analogy of Rules 125 and 126 of the Constitutions . Rule 56 empowers the First Principal of a chapter to appoint a Director of Ceremonies , Organist , and Steward ; it also provides that no one shall be eligible to a principal chair who is not Master or Past Master of a lod ge under the English Constitution ; it also makes service as an Assistant Sojourner a qualification for a principal chair .

Rule 68 requires an annual return to G . Chapter of all the contributing members of a private chapter , whereas the old Rule 64 only required a return of members exalted or joining in each year . Rule f 2 requires proposition of a candidate to be made at a regular convocation , or sent in writing , to the Scribe E . at least 14 days before the next convocation , and requires that all particulars of a candidate must appear on the summons .

Rule 76 requires the certificate of a companion joining from a chapter joining from a chapter under a foreign jurisdiction to be submitted to the G . S . E . for inspection ; it also provides that the fee for a duplicate certificate shall be 6 s . Cd .

Rule 81 alters the hour of meeting of the Committee of General Purposes from 3 . 0 p . m ., as in the old Rule 76 , to 4 . 0 p . m . Rule 02 allows Present and Past Prov . and District G . Officers to have the emblems of their office on their aprons in the same way as with a Craft

apron . Rule gs provides special aprons for Present and Past G . Officers and G . Superintendents . Rule 04 allows Present and Past Prov . and District G . Officers to have purple lining and ribbons for their aprons . Rules 05 and 9 8 fix the breadth of the collar at four inches .

Rule 97 forbids any but Present and Past G . Principals and Superintendents to wear their Arch collars in Craft lodges . Rule go allows a G . Superintendent to suspend his jewel from a tricoloured ribbon , and Present and Past Prov . and District G . Officers to use the crimson ribbon .

Rule 100 allows Present and Past G . Officers and Prov . or District G . Officers to wear their jewels of office on the left breast at all Masonic meetings . Rule 102 defines more accurately than the old Rule 95 what " the usual sash of the Order " is .

On the whole , it appears that few changes of any importance are introduced , and the object of the revisers has been to assimilate the Arch Regulations as much as possible to the Constitutions .