Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

METROPOLITAN CHAPTER OF SOVEREIGN PRINCES OF ROSE CROIX , HERODEAI . Trie half yearly meeting of tin ' s' eminent Chapter was held on Tuesday , the 10 th instant , at Freemasons' Tavern . The Chapter was opened by the 111 . Bro . Dr . AVilliam Jones , AI . AV . Sov . Dr . George Hai-court , 1 st General ; Lt . Col . H . Clerk , as 2 nd General ; anel other officers . There were also present tho HI . Bros . Dr . H . B . Leeson , ALP . Sov . ; H . A'i Sir John Do la PoleJADCoxHA

gue , , . . . , . . Bowyer , G . B . Cole , and H . C . A ' ernon , S . P . I . of thc 33 ° of the Supreme Council of the Ancieut and Accepted Rite of England aucl AA'ales ; also the 111 . Bro . Perrier , of thc 33 ° ofthe Grancl Orient of France ; the 111 Bros . R . J . Spiers , Dr . R . H . Goolden , and Hyde Pullen , S . P . R . S . of the Consistory of tho 32 ° ; the 111 . Bros . AV . E . AVahnesley , AV . Smith , R . Spencer , Rev . C . Al . Style , Lemanski , J . HOAV , AL Cooke , AV . Blenkin , II . J . Thompson , C . Swan , Simmons , and others , there being at the clone of the fift

Chapter y brethren present . After the routine business had been disposed of , a ballot ivas taken for the admission of several brethren and petitions presented by the following ivho AA'ere in attendance : Viscount Powerscourt , Capt . Charles Crainond Dick , Bros . Bonamy Dobrco , Brackstone Baker , H . S . AA'alrouel , John Stueldy Leigh , Wm . Henry North , Sir Joseph 11 . Bailey , Bart ., aucl Charles Stock . They were received and installed into the sublime degree of Rose Croix

. ^ This being the clay of the biennial election of Alost AVorshipful Sovereign and Treasurer , Dr . George Harcourt was unanimously elected Sovereign , and Dr . R . H . Goolden re-elected Treasurer . Dr . Harcourt tendered his thanks forthe high honour the Chapter had conferred upon him , and gave assurance that he n-ould not only be remilar in his

attendance , but make it his study to be perfect in the discharge of the great duties imposed upon him . The ceremonial was most efficiently carried out , the musical portion under the direction of III . Bro . C . E . Horsley , Grand Organist , who was assisted by Bros . Fielding , Lockey , and Lambeth , adding to the effect . The Treasurer ' s account showed a most satisfactory state of thc Chapter funds , and the numerous proposals for the reception of brethren at the next meeting augur a considerable increase of this flourishing Chapter . The Chapter being closed , several ofthe brethren assembled

around the Alost AA ' orshipful Sovereign at the dinner . This concluded , the brethren removed to another room , where the dessert was laid . The loyal toasts having been honoured , the Alost AVorshipful Sovereign saiel—That in all assemblies the ruling powers were acknowledged , and therefore it was proper to recognize the authority under ivhich they Avero assembled—the Supremo Council—and especially he ivould first mention the most puissant SovereignDr . Leesonthrough whose hih attainments

, , g the Rite had attained great perfection . Besides the Commander , they were that clay honoured with the presence of Bros . Sir John De la Pole , Cox , and Cole , whose eminent abilities had greatly assisted iu raising the position of the Order . Dr . LKESOX , in reply , saiel they could not but recognize the result of the extreme care bestowed on the rite . It was a great satisfaction to see that after the dangers aucl difficulties they had passeelthat the

, Rose Croix rite had attained such eminence . Ho then touched on the history of the degree , and saiel he could show the authority of the Rose Croix to be of more ancient date than that of any other branch of Alasonry . He especially referred to the Christian character of all the Alasonic prayers , and directed the attention of the new members to tin ' s

point as deserving their notice . Dr . Leeson , in concluding , proposed the health of the eminent brother who presided over them that clay , ivho had during the past two years so faithfully and satisfactorily discharged all the duties of his oflice , and had exhibited such zeal iu the fulfilment of tlie arduous duties attached to it . The AI . AV . Sov ., in a brief reply , returned his sincere thanks for the maimer in ivhich His services had been noticed , and he assured the brethren that his exertions should over be devoted to the interests of

the Chapter . "The Supreme Councils throughout the World " was the next toast , and the AI . AV . Sov . then referred to the . brethren ivho hael previously filled the chair , and especially noticed the consummate ability of Bro . Cox , under whose able conduct the Chapter made great advance , and whose health he then proposed . Bro . Cox , in reply , said he regretted that Bro . Cole , the immediate , of

predecessor Dr . Jones , had been compelled to leave , as ho should properly have responded to tlie toast . He referred to tho observations of tho AI . AV . Sov . on tho great iiierea . se of the Chapter . He said ifc all ' unloct him , as it must all , much pleasure to see that the brethren admitted that clay were all men of high social position , and thus supported the high character of the Chapter . He feared that the admission ol so many at once somewhat marred tho imposing effects of tho ceremonial , though , as a member of the Supreme Council , he could not but give credit

to the brethren who had assisted in the performance . '' The new made Knights" was then proposed and acknowledged . Lr . JUNKS then rose and proposed " 'The AI . AV . Sov . elect ; " and in a lew words referred to the regularity of attendance- and satisfactory discharge of tho duties of his previous oflice . Dr . H .-reocu't , in responding , referred to the necessity of efficiency in Alasonry for the giving full effect to tlie solemnities , and hoped he should be enabled to iiulil the promise he had made himself , that in the supreme position to which he was to be elevated , ho Avould by diligence endeavour to carry

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

out all the great principles inculcated in Alasonry ; but above all , those connected AA'ith the beautiful rite under ivhich they met . Bro . Horsley and the brethren AVIIO assisted in the musical part of the ceremony were honoured by especial thanks . Bro . Rice , as Chief Equerry , AA-as then called in aud gave the last toast , "To all poor and distressed Alasons ; " and a most satisfactory day ' s proceedings were brought to a close .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

FEMALE ALASONIC ASYLUM . ON Alonday evening , the ISth ult ., a lecture on Freemasonry \ mn delivered in the Mechanics' Institute , Lurgan , by Bro . Joseph AVilson , of Derry Lodge , a highly esteemed member of the Order . Since it became known that Bro . AVilson had consented to deliver , tho lecture in aid of the funds of that most invaluable institution—the Female Alasonio Orphan Asylum—the greatest interest was excited on the subject , and .

brethren from all the surrounding districts signified their intention of being present . The lecture AA-as delivered under the auspices of Lodge No . 131—the ancient Lurgan Lodge—and , after transacting some business of the Order , and initiating some neiv members , the brethren proceeded to attend the lecture . The chair was occupied , by Bro . Francis Watson , of Lakevieiv , AA'orshitiful Alaster of Lodge No . 131 , who ivas supported on his right and left bthe brethren from Belfast AVilliam

y following : —Bros . S . Tracy , R . AL , D . P . Grand Alaster , ' Belfast and North Down , P . G . R . C . ; Samuel G . Getty , M . P ., Belfast , P . G . R . C . ; Dr . If . Alurney , J . P ., P . G . R . C . ; Dr . Pirrie , P . G . R . C ; J . G . M'Gee , P . G . R . C ; James Girdivood , P . G . R . C ; J . A . Henderson , P . G . R . C ; AA'illiam Girdivood , P . G . R . C . ; Captain AA'illiams , CL , P . G . R . C ; D . Dunlop , P . G . R . C ; aud a largo number of brethren ofthe Lurgan Lodge , No . 131 , and others . There was , besides , a large attendance of ladies , who graced tho proceedings with their

presence ; anel such was the anxiety to be present that every ticket issued was disposed of , and the spacious hall was completely filled . On the chairman ' s platform seats were arranged for the lecturer and tho principal jAorsonages , and the walls were gaily decorated with flags anel Alasonic devices . Shortly after eight o ' clock , the AA ' orshipful Alaster and brethren , all attired in full Alasonic costume , entered the hall , and were iv . irinly received . The jeAvels worn by many of the brethren , especially those of

the P . G . R . C , or Prince Mason ' s degree , ivere very beautiful , and when all were seated the effect AA-as most brilliant anel imposing . Brio . JosKini WILSON , 'the lecturer , who wore the beautiful insignia of a Royal Arch Mason , on taking his place , was received with great applause . He immediately proceeded with his lecture , which he delivered with great ease aud eloquence . He commenced by referring to the origin of Freemasonry , ivhich he traced back to a period antecedent even to the building of Solomon's Temple ; and after taking a rapid survey of the early history of the Order , he proceeded to describe iu

glowing terms its beneficial eflects of society , and the principles of peace , love , and harmony which ifc inculcated amongst the brethren and towards all classes . Through tho influence of its mystic tie , tho lives of brethren had been saved hi battle . It stayed the hand of an enemy upraised to strike , and mitigated the horrors of war even amongst nations not generally regarded as highly civilized . A remarkable instance of its wonderful power in this respect was related by Sir Charles Napier . AVli en he was a subaltern officer ho was engaged in the war with tho

Sikhs , and in the course of it ho was placed in a position of extreme peril , from which escape was impossible ; but , fortunately for him , he was a Mason . Ho gave the sign , it ivas recognized by a Sikh , and in tho ranks of the enemy there was found a Alasonic brother to save the life of the future conqueror , whose earthly career would have otherwise been terminated in an instant . Some French ofiicers , placed at different times and places in similar circumstances , had escaped by the same means ; and these facts proved not only that tho Order was established

in climes the most distant and among peoples the most dissimilar iu language , religion , and race , but that it everywhere exerted tho power it possessed on the side of niorey and charity . The latter virtue , indeed , peculiarly distinguished it . It was in the cause of charity that ho had consented to deliver that lecture—a cause clear to the heart of every true Atasou . In Dublin there was a most useful and valuable institution connected with their body—The Female Alasonic Orphan Asylumwhere tho daughters of deceased freemasons were received and educated , of this

aud fitted to make their way in the world ; anel to thc support institution the proceeds of the lecture would be applied . Adverting ^ to the Lurgan Lodge , the lecturer gave sonic interesting details regarding it , stating that it was one of ancient formation , and mentioning as a curious coincidence that in that very month a hundred years ago his own great great grandfather ivas tlie AVorshipful Alaster of the then existing Lurgan Lodge . The lecture ivas listeued to throughout with the utmost attentionand was loudl lauded during its delivery and

, y app at its close . AVe do not give a fuller report of it , as Ave understand that at the request of tho brethren it will be printed in full . AVe can only say that ifc should bo road by every Mason . Bro . AVu . r . TAM S . Tiucv , after paying a high compliment to Bro . AVilson for his able and eloquent lecture , referred to the great object for which they wore assembled—to support the Female Alasonic Orphan Asylum , for which he ( Mr . Tracy ) ivas treasurer for this province . He