Inaugural Meeting Of The Masonic Archæological Institute.

Esq ., D . P . G . M . Isle of Wight , Secretary , Supreme Council ; " J ?" W . Marcliant , Esq ., Joseph A . Horner , Esq ., Member Masonic Author ' s Society ; Thomas Middleton , Esq , ; J . S . Leigh , Esq . ; Hall Grigor , Esq ., ( of Robertson ' s Lodge , Cromarty ); Henry Grissell , Esq ., S . G . D . ; George Barlow , Esq . ; IV . J . Norfolk , Esq ., George Keimiag , Esq . ; Henry Melville , Esq . ; Edward Palmer ,

Esq . ; Wharton P . Hood , Esq .. R . P . Spiers , Esq . ; W . Trego Esq- ; John R . Sharp , Esq . ; A . Sooboda , Esq . ; Henry Bridges , Esq . ; D . P . G . M . Somersetshire ; Franz Thimm , Esq . ; L . E . Sees , Esq . ; J . Sharp , Esq . ; Anthony Oneal Haye , Esq ., President General Masonic Author's Society , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , & c , Corresponding Member of the German Society , ami others .

Upon the motion of Mr . William Smith , O . U ., Mr . James Glaisher F . R . S . Chairman of the Council of the Institute , in the unavoidable absence of the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., G . M . M . of Scotland , Patron , who had gone to winter at Cannes , was

called to the chair , Messrs . Hyde Pull en and Anthony Oneal Haye taking their seats as Honorary Secretaries . Letters of regret for non-attendance were read

from—The Earl of Dalhousie , The Earl de Grey and Itqion , D . G . M . of England ; Lord Ricbard Grosvenor , M . P ., P . G . W . ; Dr . Barton , R . W . P . G . M . Western India ; John Havers , Esq ., P . G . W . ; Victor A . Williamson , Esq ., P . G . W . ; M . J . Mc'Iutyre , Esq ., G . Eeg . ;—Roxburgh , Esq ., P . G . Reg . ; Mr . Sergeant Sargood ; Rev . Mr . Simpson , 0 . Chap . ; John Hervey , Esq ., G .

Sec . ; John Symonds , Esq ., P . G . D ., G . W . ; K . Potter , Esq ., P . G . D ., P . M . No . 1 ; Rev . Walter P . Short , M . A ., New College , Oxford ; Captain Nathaniel G . Philips , S . G . I . G . 33 ; W . Bollaert , Esq .. Member of the University of Chili ; AV . Burgos , Esq ., F . R . S . ; J . E . Saunders , Esq ., F . S . A ., P . M . No . 1 ; Robert C . May , Esq ., M . I . C . E . ; W . J . 0 . Donovan , Esq ., L . L . D . M . U . S . A .

P . M . ; HollingwovUi , Esq ., P . M . No . 63;—Wood , Esq ., ( Brighton ) P . G . S . ;—Wendt , Esq . ; W . Hepworth Dixon , Esq . ; C . H . Piclden , Esq ., P . M . ; Captain Payne , P-G . S . ; W . Wigginton , Esq ., F . R . S ., B . A ., P . G . S . W . Worcester , P . M . ; Samuel Poynter , Esq ., P . M . ; Dr . Marris Wilson , P . M . 63 ; Rev . Dr . Joseph Senior ; S . C . Hall , Esq . ; D . Murray Lyon , Esq ., Ayr ; W . J . Hiiglian ,

Esq ., Truro ; W . P . Buchan , Esq ., Glasgow ; Rev . Thomas J . Baty , and many other brethren of distinction . Mr . Glaisher then called upon ihe honorary secretaries to state what donations had been received , when Mr . Hyde Pullen intimated that

several valuable books and MSS . had been presented to the Institute by Messrs . Hughan , Marchant , and Oneal Haye . Votes of thanks were moved to these gentlemen for their j ^ resents , and the same directed to be engrossed in the mimites and copies forwarded to them .

The chairman then proceeded m an eloquent speech to introduce Bro . Plyde Clarke to the meeting , in which he first pointed out the value of the Institution to the progress of Freemasonry , by its affording an opportunity to thinking men , who

generally after serving some years in offices in lodge retire from active service , having learned all they can learn from the Ritual . He gave copious

illustrations of this , and concluded by saying that it would keep in active service , the valuable and true men who otherwise would leave it . Mr . Hyde Clarke then proceeded to read one of the ablest addresses which has yet been delivered with regard to Masonry , and we intend giving it ¦ in extenso in our next number . Mr . Clarke was

several times heartily greeted with appreciative cheers . Upon the conclusion of the address the chairman commenting- upon it , referred to the value oH those possessing Masonic information , of having

an opportunity afforded to them of imparting it to less experienced brethren . He considered the Institute would supply this desideratum—and concluded by moving a vote of thanks to Mr . Clarke . Mr . Charles Hutton Gregory , in a humorous but

telling speech , seconded the motion . It was generally considered that five years exhausted a Mason ' s life of Masonic activity , as he had been informed by Mr . Grissell ; but since with Policemen the period of active service in the force had

lately risen from three to five years , the Institute would , it is "believed , supply the missing link in the chain of interest , which is required to bind

more firmly to our Order the men of culture who have hitherto fallen away from want of continuous interest in the proceedings of the Craft . It was then moved by Mr . R . J . Spiers that a vote of thanks should be given to the

Building Committee of Freemasons' Hall , for their kindness in granting the use of the room to the Institute . He took the opportunity of supporting the views of former speakers , and at the same time thought that the previous lack of Masonic

food was now about to be supplied by means of the Institute . This vote was seconded by Mr . Henry Bridges , supported by Mr . George Lambert , and acknowledged by Mr . Grissell , P . G . D ., P . M . Lodge of Antiquity , one of the Members of the Building '

Committee . The Honorary Secretaries , were instructed to forward to the Building Committee a copy of the vote of thanks .

The Chairman than announced that the next meeting would be held about the end of February , and would be duly announced in THE FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , when Mr . George Lambert would read a paper upon the " Ritual of the Three Degrees

used by Frederick the Great . " Amongst the other papers to be read during the present Session , are—1 . Description of an old Church at Hamburgh ,