Channel Islands.

gold chronometer , cliain , & c , amounting in value in tbe aggregate to about £ 300 . The business of tho evening being finished and no brother having- anything to propose for the good of Masonry the lodge was closed in due form . The usual refreshment in the banquetting room afforded the brethren an opportunity to enjoy themselves in chat both Masonic and social , an opportunity which all embraced for a short time and seemed to estimate at its full value' In the course of the evening Bro . Homer 862

, , having returned thanks for the kind manner in which his health had been drank as one of the visitors , proposed with the consent of the W . M ., the health of Bro . Sarchet , Sec , who he alluded to as the Father of Masons in Guernsey , or at all events the father of those of Doyle ' s Lodge , and concluded a very amusing speech by reciting the lines underneath , which he had composed for the occasion . Bro . Sarchet is . " a character , " indeed

it may be said almost " an institution" in the Masonic world of Guernsey , and is very well known to the numerous English brethren who have visited the lodge , on whom he rarely , if ever fails to impress his favourite and peculiar theories concerning the effect of the Norman Conquest of England on Guernsey ( then forming part and parcel of the domain of William of Normandy ) , and his pride in the loyal allegiance lie maintains towards his " Duchess" as he terms Her Most Gracious Majesty Vlueon Victoria .

THE LAST OF THE NORMANS . Now in Guernsey ' s noble Isle There resides an ancient file , Who believes that Norman blood Is the watch-word for all good . Turn o'er the Historic page Brilliant scenes of every age ,

Read of Grandest Chivalry " 'Tis the Norman blood says he . " Ever this old Norman sings" William first of England ' s kings Of her chiefs did greatest goocl , AU because of Norman blood . " Are you loyal to the Queen ? This old file says " All serene , She ' s my Duchess—prouder name Than the Crown can elsewhere claim . "

Anglo-Saxons who may try To hold up their heads so high , Should remember that 'tis true 'Twas through Normans England grew . " " Talk of Irish—wretched souls , Speak of Scotchmen—dismal ghouls , Or the Welshtheir mutton good

, , What are these to Norman blood ?" In these times of Fenian fires Railways and Atlantic wires , Surely 'tis a mercy we , Our old Norman yet can see . Let us brethren then rejoice

Three times three with hearty voice , That our brother long hath stood , Last not least of Norman blood . Father Sarchet , your good health , All youi" need oi worldly -wealth , Long may you in speeches good , Live to praise tho Norman blood .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

LEICESTERSHIRE . LEICESTER . Fortitude Chapter ( No . 279 ) . A quarterly convocation of this chapter was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Friday , the 28 th ult ., at which the following companions were present : — Comps . Major Brewin , JM . JE . Z . ; W . W eare , H . ; Rev . John Spittal , J . ; W . Kelly ( P . G . H ., Treas ., ); AV . Pettifor , E . Clepham , Bankarb , P . Z . ' s ; J . E . Hodges , E . F . Manning , N . ; Learard A . Clarke , P . S . ; G . H . Hodges , W . Mow , Jos . Harris , E . Stretton , G . Toller , P .

Wardle , J . E . Clarke , Rev . W . Langley , D . Challis , T . Herbert , E . Mace , W . E . S . Stanley . Visitors : —Comps . John Comyn , M . E . Z . ; and H . A . Attenborough , J . 47 , Nottingham , and E . P . Ekin , P . E . 88 , Cambridge . The chapter having been opened in due form and with solemn prayer , the minutes of the last quarterly convocation ana of a chapter of emergency were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for Bvo . Henvy Ga . _ aMelate of Lod 279

, ge , who was unanimously elected , and was subsequently exalted ; as were also the following brethren , ballotted for at the last meeting , viz .: Bros . Levi Lincoln Atwood , Gordon City Lodge , Chicago , Illinois , U . S . ; and John Edward Bright , William Mann , William Adcoek , Thomas Markbam , and John Beeston Leadbeater , all of the Rutlanl Lodge , 1 , 130 , Melton Mowbray . The Rev . J . SpittalJ . delivered the Historical Lecture ; Comp .

, , Kelly , the Symbolical Lecture ; and the M . E . Z ., the Mystical Lecture . The whole ceremony was most admirably performed , and elicited warm encomiums from the two Principals of the Nottingham Chapter , who had come over specially to see the working , and which they stated they had never seen surpassed either in the provinces or London itself . Comp . Kelly , P . G . H ., Treas ., read the report on the financial

position of the chapter , from ivhieh it appeared there had been fifteen exaltations and one joining during the past year , and that after the payment of all claims against the chapter , there was a balance of upwards of £ 50 to its credit . A very complimentary vote of thanks was passed to Comp . Kelly for his services to the chapter . A ballot then took jilace for the election of officers for tbe

ensuing year with the following result -. — Comps . W . Weare , M . E . Z . ; Rev . John Spittal , H . Learard A . Clarke , J . Geo . Henry Hodges , E . ; Edwin Gosling , N . ; W ' Kelly , P . Z ., Treas . ; W . Pettifor , P . Z ., Dir . of Cers . ; Rev . W Langley , P . S . ( who nominated as his assistants Comps . George Toller , and W . E . S . Stanley ); and C . Bembridge , Janitor .

Comp . Kelly then advanced to the loot of the dais bearing a very elegant silver claret jug , and addressed Comp . Brewin to the following effect : That ou that evening , which marked the conclusion ol the third year ol Comp . Brewin's rnle over the chapter , he had for the first time heard read the resolution wliich was unanimously adopted during his temporary absence at the last quarterly convocation , and that the pleasant duty then devolved on him ( Comp . Kelly ) iu his three-fold capacity as the

, mover of the resolution , as the Senior Past First Principal of the chapter , with tbe exception of the esteemed Grand Superintendent , Earl Howe , and as his lordship ' s representative in the province , to give effect to that resolution by placing in Comp . Brewin ' s hands , on behalf of the subscribers , that silver claret jug , as a slight token of their gratitude and esteem . That the duty was one which the Grand Superintendant would himself

most gladly have undertaken , had the state of his health permitted him to be present , as he most cordially concurred in the proposition , the only objection made to it by his lordship and other companions being that the subscription was limited to so small a sum , as both he and they would most willingly have contributed to a much greater extent . It was , however , felt that Comp . Brewin was not one to measure the depth and extent

of their esteem and gratitude towards him by the intrinsic value of their testimonial , but that it would be far more consonant with his feelings that their offering should take the modest form it did , as enabling them to limit the subscription to so small a sum , that the whole of the companions could join in it alike , without any one of them feeling it to be a tax on bis pocket , than if he had been presented with a far more costlsouvenir

y , contributed out of the superfluities of a few wealthy companions . That it would be gratifying to the M . E . Z . to know that not onlyhad every individual companion who was in the habit of attending the meetings joined most heartily in the tribute , but that the list also included the names of several companions who , for distance of residence , and other causes , had long been

absentees . Comp . Kelly then complimented the M . E . Z . on his valuable services to the chapter during the past three years in his important office , the duties of which he had performed in a manner rarely , if ever surpassed , and so as to be beyond all praise ; the result of the almost unprecedented number of exaltations which had of late taken place in the chapter , being that last year , after contributing the sum of £ 10 10 s . to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ( as supplementary to the like sum voted in the preceding year to the Girls' School ) , the companions were enabled to grant £ 50 out of their surplus funds towards tbe re-