Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND . CONSECRATION AND DEDICATION OE inE KENDAL CASTLE CHAPTER ( NO . 129 ) . —CENTENARY FESTIVAL OF THE UNION LODGE ( NO . 129 ) . ' A petition for a . new chapter to be attached to the Union Iiodge of Kendal having been presented to the Grand Chapter , and a warrant of Constitution having been granted bthe

y supreme body , Tuesday , the 2 Sth of November , was fixed for opening the same in duo form . Kendal had formerly boasted of a Royal Arch Chapter , but it had for many years been dormant and its powers were probably spent , thus rendering it advisable to apply for a new warrant . No better time could have been chosen than the occasion of celebrating the centenary of the Union Lodgeand so

render-, ing that interesting event all tbe more note-worthy . Accordingly at noon , on Tuesday , the Kendal Castle Chapter was solemnl y consecrated and dedicated at the Masonic Hall by Comp . John Savage , a past officer of tbe Grand Chapter of England and a First Principal of the Order , who had come from London to perform this ceremony , having been requested to do so by the R . W . Prov . G . Master .

At high twelve the Principals pro tern ., and other visiting Principals , opened the chapter . Comps . John Savage , P . Z ., as Z . Hayward , P . Z ., as H . ; Banister , P . Z ., as J . Among the other companions present were Comps . Janus Hamer , P . Z . ; E . Busher , H . ( designate ); John Bowes , E . 220 , J . ( designate ); M . Fisher , Rev . — Cockett , II . Fisher , W . B . Gibson , C . Morton , Dr . Allison , T . Wilson , — Carlisle , F . L . B . Dykes ,

Prov . G . Blaster . The chapter being duly opened , the companions of the new chapter were arranged in order , and addressed by the consecrating officer , Comp . Savage , on the nature of the meeting . He then called on the acting E . to state the wishes of the companions , and the proceedings they had taken with respect to the chapter . This having been done , the 3 LE . Z . inquired if his companions still approved of the officers named in the warrantand having been answered in the

, affirmative he delivered a most eloquent oration . The companions then united in singing an anthem taken from the 133 rd Psalm . Comp . Rev . Cockett then oil ' erred the first portion of the consecration prayer . The companions then sang a sanctus . All then turned to the E ., and the M . E . Z . gavo the invocation . So mote it be . The pedestal was then uncovered , and three Past Principals bore the cornoiland wine to

, , solemn music . This ceremony being completed , the companions sang a gloria . The proper officer then carried the censor three times round the chapter , and halted in the E . The consecration prayer was then concluded . The following anthem , composed by Comp . J . A . Baker , was then sung : — " Glory to God on high

, Let heaven and earth reply . Praise yc His name , Masons His love adore , Arch'd in their mystic lore , And cry ever more , Glory to God . "

The consecrating officer then dedicated and constituted the chapter , and the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus completed the ceremony . The ceremony of > the installation of Principals was next proceeded with . —Com ]} . W . T . Greaves , R . W . D . Prov . G . Master , as M . E . Z . ; Comp . E . Busher , Prov . G . Sec , as IT . ; and Comp . John Bowes , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., as J . Six brethren were then exalted in a most able manner by Comp . SavageComp .

, James Hamer acting as P . S ., viz .: —Bros . John Whitwell , Prov . G . Pv . ; Rev . Thos . Simpson , Sam . Gawith , John Medealf , A . K . Wood , and Edward Hibbert . A hearty and unanimous voto of thanks was then passed to Comp . Savage for his able services , and the brethren adjourned to the

CENTENARY BANQUET . This was held in the Town Hall , and was presided over by Bro . John Whitwell , S . W . 129 and Prov . G . Reg . The vicechair was filled by Bro . Busher , W . M . 129 and Prov . G . S . Among the company present , numbering about seventy , were Bros . P . L . B . Dykes , R . W . Prov . G . M . ; William Wilson , John Savage , P . GiS . D . of England ; Captain C . W . Braithwaite , T . K . Atkinson , Revs . . 1 . Simpson , T . Simpson , and W .

Chaplin ; J . Harrison , John Hudson , W . Bowness , J . Bentlev S . Gawith , W . Cartmel , G . Cartmei , T . Atkinson , T . Wilson ' J . W . and Treas . ; H . Davis , John Mann , Sec ; John Medealf R . Hodgson , Jones Taylor , T . Busher , J . Barrett , E . Hibberd , R . Winder , M . Redhead , R . Gibson , W . Hartley , A . K . Wood , H . Cragg , E . Medealf , jun ., J . Barrett , W . Tattersall , J . Gibson , John Bowes , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; & e . The company was graced by tbe presence of several ladies .

Grace before meat was said bv the Rev . Bro . Curwen , Assist . Prov . G . Chap . At the conclusion of dinner , Messrs . Winn , Coates , and Land , of the Loudon Glee and Madrigal Union , sang "Non nobis Domine . "

After the tables were cleared , the Prov . G . Dir . of Cers .,. Bro . John Bowes , announced alt the toasts . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing " The Queen and the Craft , " said that , if in every assembly of Englishmen this toast was warmly received , by none was it received more heartily and earnestly than in an assembly of Freemasons ( applause ) , who felt bound to the Queen by every possible tie , as the daughter of an old Freemasonas endeared to us by -the exercise of ail

, the beautiful and holy affections , as the mother of our future princes , and as a pattern for all the daughters of England .. ( Applause . Drunk with three times three . ) " God save the Queen "—Messrs . Winn , Coates , and Land ,, the company joining in the chorus . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing the next toast , " Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and princess of Wales , the Prince of

Prussia , and the rest of the Royal Family , " said that the health of the Prince of Wales , under Providence their future ruler ,, and of the Princess of Wales , who was endeared to the nation by charms both of person and character , ensured their attention , and applause . They would observe , in the toast some departure from the ordinary form . The name of the Prince of Prussia , who , as they all knew , had married the Princess Royal of our own favoured isle , had been added to the list , because he , likeseveral other German princes , was enrolled among their own brotherhood ( cheors ); and he ( the Chairman ) trusted that the

beautiful principles of charity and love which he would learn as a Mason , might bring about a better state of things in Prussia when he ascended the throne . ( Loud applause . ) Glee—by Messrs . Winn , Coates , and Land . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing the next toast— "The M . W . Grand Master of England , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., the R . W . Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and Riponand the Grand Officers past and

, present , " said that as in the preceding toast the company had expressed their loyalty to the Queen and throne of the country , so wore they now , as Masons , called upon to express in the second place their loyalty to their officers—the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland ; the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , the Right Hon . Earl de Grey and Ripon , and the Grand Officers past and

present . All Masons knew that their highest officer was distinguished whenever lie came before the public , and that in whatever he did , private or public , ho was entitled to their respect and esteem . ( Loud applause . ) And after him they owed respect and esteem to tbe Grand Officers who were included in tbe toast . After some complimentary remarks in alluding to tbe name of Earl de Grey and Ripon , the Chairman concluded by cordially proposing the toast , which was coupled with the names of Bro . Savage , P . G . D ., and Bro . Bannister , P . G . S . B . Drunk with all the honours .

Air by the Band . Bro . SAVAGE said he remembered an old story about the advantage of having two strings to one's bow , but the fact of there having been two strings to the bow , that was to do duty in responding to the toast so ably proposed by the chairman ,, had not been any groat advantage to him ( the speaker ) on this occasion , for he was sorry to say the best string was absent in his Bro . Bannister —( laughter)—who they all knew would very inter

much regret his inability to be with them at this most - esting celebration . ( Applause . ) If Bro . Bannister had been here the brethren all knew how he would have interested and instructed them —( applause)—and he ( Bro . Savage ) felt more than ever that his Bro . Bannister ought to have been hereon this occasion when he would have had the pleasure of meeting the ladies connected with their meeting . ( Laug hter and applause . ) However , he would certainly be wanting in respect to to the chairman and the brotherhood if he did not cordially respond for the toast so ably proposed and so warmly received .