Supreme Grand Chapter.

shire ( W . D . ) , praying for a charter authorising them to wear a centenary jewel , in accordance with the Ro 3 * aI Arch Regulations , Rule 102 . The memorial being in form and the chapter having proved an uninterrupted existence of 100 years , the Committee recommend that the prayer thereof be granted . The Committee have likewise received memorials , with extracts of minutes , for permission to remove the following chapters :

The Zetland Chapter , No . 1071 , from the Masonic Hall , Alexandrasquare , to the New Masonic Hall , Fore-street , Saltash , Cornwall . The Londesborough Chapter , No . 734 , from the Masonic Hall , Driffield , to the Masonic Hall , Bridlington , Yorkshire ( N . and E . D . ) . The Royal Chapter , No . 207 , from the Freemasons' Hall , to the Sussex Hall , Hanover-street , Kingston , Jamaica .

The Grosvenor Chapter , No . 721 , from the Freemasons' Hall , Eastgaterow , North , to Freemasons' Hall , Queen-street , Chester . The Temperance in the East Chapter , No . 898 , from 6 , Newby-place , Poplar , to the Town Hall , Stratford . The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the above requests , recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned .

The Committee having taken into further consideration their recommendation for an addition to be made to the number of officers in Provincial and District Grand Chapters , which was referred back by the Supreme Grand Chapter at its last convocation , in order that the numbers of chapters in the respective provinces and districts may be regarded and not the number of lodges , in the recommendation , now beg to

recommend—That , in provinces and districts numbering 15 chapters and upwards , the Grand Superintendents shall * be empowered to appoint annually two additional Provincial or District Grand Standard Bearers . In provinces and districts numbering 20 chapters and upwards , the Grand Superintendents shall be empowered to appoint two additional Provincial or District Grand Standard Bearers , and two additional Provincial or

District Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies . In provinces and districts numbering 30 chapters and upwards , the Grand Superintendents shall be empowered to appoint a Provincial or District Deputy Grand Registrar , a Provincial or District Deputy Grand Sword Bearer , two additional Provincial or District Grand Standard Bearers , and two additional Provincial or District Assistant Grand Directors of

Ceremonies , and that the Grand Superintendents of provinces or districts be empowered to appoint such Provincial or District Grand Chapter Officers at the first meeting forthe annual appointment of officers for the several Provincial and District Grand Chapters after the confirmation of the minutes of Grand Chapter . The following chapters having exalted candidates before the expiration of 12 months from the dates of raising , viz .:

I he Athol-Israel Chapter , No . 74 , Birmingham . The Pythagorean Chapter , No . 79 , Greenwich . The Downshire Chapter , No . 594 , Liverpool . The St . Marylebone Chapter , No . 1305 , London , in violation of Rule 73 of the Book of Royal Arch Regulations , the Committee ordered the candidates lo be re-obligated in Chapters , No . 74 , 79 .

and 594 , and those chapters to be severely reprimanded , and that the consideration of the irregularity in Chapter , No . 1305 , be postponed for explanation to be given by the chapter . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , lyth April , 1893 . After the ordinary business had been disposed of , the following resolution

was passed : " That the cordial thanks of the members of the Committee be tendered to E . Companion Robert Grey , their President , for the very able and courteous manner in which he has presided over the meetings of the Committee during the past year . " ( Signed ) THOS . CHARLES WALLS . Election of the Committee of General Purposes for the ensuing 12 months .

Notices of motion by Comp . CHARLES M . M'INTYRE NORTH , P . Z . 1275 , London : 1 . That a Committee of Revision be appointed to examine the ritual of Royal Arch Masonry , and to determine the relative positions , and the

correct interpretations of certain portions of the same . 2 . That the Committee be composed of the General Committee * one representative from each Provincial Grand Chapter , composed of 12 or more chapters , two skilled companions selected by the Committee , and the proposer and seconder of the above motion—seven to form a quorum .

Consecration Of The Chigwell Chapter, No. 453.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHIGWELL CHAPTER , No . 453 .

. U is not a little remarkable that the Chigwell Lodge , No . 453 , albeit it | s one of the oldest lodges in the Province of Essex ( having been warranted in the year 1838 ) , and includes amongst its members some most active and hard-working Masons , has never till now interested itself in the Royal

"rcn freemasonry . However , the district in which the Chigwell Lodge meets has , during the last year or two , shown such great vitality , and the young lodges are securing almost as soon as they are of age the free advantages of Craft Masonry , that the infection has spread to the senior lodge of tne locality , and they petitioned for and obtained a warrant from the supreme Grand Chapter authorising them to form and open a chapter of Koyal Arch Masons at the Royal Forest Hotel , Chingford , in the county of

In order to give effect to this warrant , the Grand Superintendent of the th ° p . ° i . Essex ' Comp . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg ., accompanied by the Provincial Grand Officers of the year and other distinguished companions , journeyed to Chingford on Wednesday , the 19 th instant , and

v-onsecrated the Chigwell Chapter . I he officers who assisted the Grand Superintendent were Comps . Milner JUKum , as H . ; William Shurmur , as J . ; T . J . Railing , as S . E . ; R . D . opp eton , as S . N . ; and A . Lucking , as D . C . rafter the customary preliminaries ,

ll , e GRAND SUPERINTENDENT briefly addressed the companions , conobt "• " n S Chigwell Lodge upon having petitioned for and having loc , aincd the warrant for a chapter , and judging from the working of the PrirP P d ' clec ** successful career for the chapter . He also mentioned with of R a ' sat ' sfection that whereas when he was appointed to the charge ™ yal Arch Masonry in the province there were but four chapters , * thc

Consecration Of The Chigwell Chapter, No. 453.

consecration that day raised their number to 11—a rate of progress which he thought must be gratifying to all those interested in the progress of the Royal Arch . The oration customary on the occasion of a consecration was given by the Prov . G . J ., Comp . W . SHURMUR , who briefly but most forcibly pointed

out the teachings and advantages which the working of the Royal Arch ensured , and cordially wished prosperity to the new chapter . Comp . Shurmur also installed the Principals in a manner that called forth the highest encomiums from the Grand Superintendent and companions present .

The officers of the chapter were invested as follows : Bros . W . E . Dring , M . E . Z . ; John Glass , H . ; R . Martin , J . * , G . Corbie , S . E . ; Walter T . Christian , S . N . ; W . M . Butcher , P . S . ; D . Baker , ist A . S . ; E . Purkess , 2 nd A . S . ; W . O . Rew , Treas . ; Clement Spurgeon , Org . ; J . Snowden , jun ., and F . Barnes , Stwds . ; and R . W . Goddard , Janitor .

At the conclusion of the consecration , a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Grand Superintendent and Prov . Grand Officers for their attendance and able performance of the consecration work ; and they were elected honorary members of the chapter , the Grand Superintendent receiving at the hands of the M . E . Z . a founder's jewel as a memento of the occasion .

The companions afterwards dined together , and , in responding for the toast of his health , The GRAND SUPERINTENDENT again alluded to the satisfactory progress Royal Arch Masonry was making in the Province of Essex . He said the experi - ence of provinces generally was that a proportion of one in four or five of the

lodges held warrants for chapters , whereas in Essex they had attained to one in three . He also mentioned , as a remarkable coincidence , that , whereas the formation of the Chigwell Lodge was due to the energies of a medical man , they had in the First Principal of the new chapter a professor of the healing art .

Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.

ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM .

The Volume VI . of this remarkable and invaluable series commences well in Part 1 ., with a number of most interesting Masonic papers , which cannot fail to be warmly appreciated by the rapidly increasing " Correspondence Circle , " as well as by the Craft generally . This part is strong where it should be , viz ., Masonically , and will rank as one of the most important of the numerous issues of the justly celebrated " Quatuor Coronati " Lodge .

I aking the various papers , reports , reviews , & c , as they are printed , the report of the Audit Committee comes first , which was duly approved by the lodge on the 6 th January , 1893 . Mention is made in a most feeling manner of the sorrowful memories of the past year . The names of Colonel Foster Gough , Clifford P . MacCalla , and others of the "C . C ; " Bro . W . Mattieu Williams ( the scientist ) , J . D ., of the

lodge ; and the onl y honorary member , Col . Clerke , late Grand Secretary , are duly noted and lamented , the grievous list being added to in the obituary at thc end , by such zealous and gifted brethren as Colonel Petrie , Joseph P . Hornor , and Col . M . Ramsay . The portrait is inserted also of the late Bro . Hofmeyr , D . G . M . South Africa ( N . C . ) , whose memoir is given in Vol . V . The J . D . and Bro . Col . Ramsay were both at the lodge and

supper , on 24 th June , 1892 . l'he total receipts for 1892 amounted to ^ 1235 2 s . 2 d ., the balance carried forward being ^ 106 is . 8 d ., as compared with ^ 193 19 s . 7 d . in the previous year . A much more favourable result would have been recorded had all the members of the " C . C . " paid their subscriptions . I am glad to sec , however , that part of Bro . Speth ' s well earned stipend for 1892 has been

paid , but it is not pleasant to know that three quarters were due to our friend , on the accounts being made up to the end of 1892 . This ought not to be , and is mainl y due to so many brethren being defaulters , and to too much being printed and returned to members for their nominal subscriptions . Thc oration by Dr . Richardson on the lamented Bro . W . W . Williams , J . D . 2076 , with his portrait , will'be heartily welcomed by the brethren .

I he article on the " Tabernacle " by Bro . the Rev . C . H , Maiden ( our local Secretary for Southern India ) is an able production , and requires very careful reading to thoroughly master the numerous details . It has long been a special study with him , hence the clearness of his descriptions , and the value of the paper generally . The address by Dr . W . VVynn Westcott , S . W . 2076 , which followed , is also a very scholarly production .

Our brother congratulated Bro . Maiden on the model , which was exhibited , and pronounced him to be a " Moses in work , and an Aaron in his ministerial capacity . " The Senior Warden ' s duty was to furnish the complement to the paper by commenting on the Symbolism of the Tabernacle , which he did to perfection . Bro . H . J . Whymper ' s defence of Lord Byron , Grand Master , 1747-51 ,

contains many very interesting particulars , not of a contoversial character . So far , however , as the real point of issue is concerned , the paper which follows , by Bro . R . F . Gould , should be read , side by side , so that both views may lie before the mind , prior to arriving at a decision , and Bro . H . Sadler's " Facts and Fictions" should likewise be consulted . Practically , it concerns the origin of the Great Schism , hence Bro . Whymper ' s

researches have an important bearing on the causes which led to that revolt from the regular Grand Lodge in 1751 . It is quite clear that there were very few lodges erased during the rule of Lord Byron . According to Bro . Jno . Lane ' s " Handy Book to the Lists ol Lodges " * ( the standard work ) , only 7 in all , but , during the 5 th decade of last century , there were 47 .

I his was a large proportion , when the lodges had decreased from 189 in 1741 , to 157 in 1748 , but chiefly before his lordshi p became the Grand Master . 1 do not think that Bro . Whymper will find it easy work to prove Lord Byron did not neglect the Craft , though , evidently , the erasures during his term of office could not be the cause of the schism .

Bro . Gould also refers to Bro . Lane ' s previous paper on the year of origin of the " Ancient" Grand Lodge , but more in a pleasant gossipy strain , and apparently much in accord with our Masonic Statistician , who , evidently , was quite sure of his ground before writing on thc subject . Bro . Gould mainly had to do with evidence prior to the discovery of the long missing

and most valuable " Morgan's Register . " So far as I can judge , the only real difference between the members of the 'Quatuor Coronati" Lodge , or , at all events , the Masonic authors , has reference to the question of the Craft Degrees . The subject will have to be fought out yet in a fraternal manner ; for whether there were one , two , or three Degrees prior to the last century , is an all important enquiry in relation to the formation of Grand Lodges