Ancient And Accepted Rite.

meeting at the Assembly Rooms , on Thursday , the Sth July , under the presidency of Bro . John Comyn , M . AV . S ., assisted by Bros . T . R . P . Shelton , P . M . AV . S . ( 31 ° ) ; Evelyn Havdolph Harcourt Vernon , Prelate ; Thos . AA'm . Robinson , 1 st General ; Edwin Moses Kidd , 2 nd General ; Matthew A ' owles , Grand . Marshall , Henry Alfred Attenborough , Raphael ; Charles Allcock , Alfred Page , Richard Fitzhugh , and John Gumming Banwell , Equerry AVithout . The Chapter was honoured with the

presence of the 111 . Bro . Hyde Pullen , 32 ° ; Charles James Baraiistev , 31 ° ; Charles Fendelow , 80 ° ; T . C . Basher , 80 ° ; Henry Thomas AVade , 18 ° . Bro . Hyde Pullen , at the particular request of the M . AV . S . opened the Chapter in ancient and solemn form ; he then proceeded to initiate the candidates into this most sacred and beautiful of all degrees , and hi that impressive and dignified manner which is so highly appreciated by all who know him . Bro . Pullen then proceeded to instal in

ancient ancl solemn form , the 111 . Bro . Thos . AVm . Robinson , as M . AV . S . for tho ensuing year , who appointed the following officers : —The Rev . Evelyn Hardolph Harcourt A ernon , Prelate ; Edwin Moses Kidd , 1 st General ; Matthew A owles , 2 nd General ; Henry Alfred Attenborough , Grand Marshall ; Francis George Rawson , Raphael ; Charles Allcock , Captain of the Guard ; and John Gumming Banwell , Equerrv Without ; and he then appointed S . R . P . Shelton , P . MAV . S . and 31 ° , the 111 .

Registrar ; and John Comyn , P . M . AV . S ., the 111 . Treasurer . The engraved columns of the preceding convocation were read , and silence prevailing , were approved and adopted , and signed . Bro . Hyde Pullen , 32 ° , then delivered an admirable address . Bro . S . R . P . Shelton , as the S . P . M . AV . S ., proposed , and Bro . J . Comyn , P . M . AV . S ., seconded a vote of thanks to the 111 . Bro . Hyde Pullen for his great kindness in leaving his distant home to attend the Chapter . There being no further business before

the Chapter , the same was closed in clue form according to ancient custom . The brethren then adjourned to the George Hotel and partook of a sumptuous banquet , presided over by the M . AV . S . After the removal of the cloth , the usual loyal toasts were duly honoured , and then followed the usual instruction and valuable Masonic information , when all departed highly gratified .

China.

CHINA .

SHANGHAI . NOETHEEN LODGE OE CHINA . ( No . 570 ) . ( ffrom a correspondent . ) The regular monthly meeting of this lodge , the oldest local lodge in Shanghai , was held at tha Masonic Hall , on Friday evening , the 11 th May . A large number of members and visitors

were present , as it was understood that in addition to the business in the circular , the AA ' . AI . Bro . Jamieson , would bid farewell to the brethren , in consen ^ euce of his approaching departure for England . A little after nine o'clock the lodge was opened in due and ancient form , Bro . R . S . Guudry , AA ' . M . of the Tuscan Lodge , acting as P . M . in the absence of Bros . Nutt and Parker , the former of whom was prevented by a trip to Hankow , tho latter by illness , from taking part in tha ceremonies . The work

for the evening was to raise Bro . Dulcken to the sublime degree of M . M .,. aud the necessary formalities having been gone through , Bro . Dulcken was duly raised . The lodge having been closed down , and some routine business transacted , Bro . Jamieson rose and delivered the following address -. — Brethren : It is with feelings of no ordinary pain that I now rise to discharge my last duty towards this lodge , by bidding you farewell . PersonallI sever ties bleaving for

y many y you , among the members of the Northern Lodge of China I am fortunate enough to count several sincere friends . Amongst you it was that I was initiated , passed and raised , amongst you that I filled the various offices until at length by you I was elected to this chair . Tho Northern Lodge has therefore been to me in every sense " a mother lodge , " and its members are to me particularly " brethren . " You will , therefore , I am sure , give full credit for sincerit

me y , when I express my deep regret at the necessity which lies upon me of giving up my active and immediate connection with yon . But besides these personal feelings which it is vain for me to disguise , there are other considerations which press upon me as Master of this lodge , aud enhance the regret with which I leave it . However unworthily the AV . M . may discharge the important functions wherewith he

is entrusted ; his removal leaves a gap which is with difficulty filled , while it throws the entire organisation of the lodge into at least temporary confusion . For this I cannot reproach myself , for at the time of my accepting the chair , I had no anticipation of returning to England for many years , and I think it due to the other brethren who were eligible for election in December last , to state that had I known or even suspected the probability of my being obliged during my term of office to

leave China for a time , I should have had much hesitation in accepting the responsibilities of the chair . AVith regard , however to the immediate effect of my departure , I have to congratulate you on the worthy substitutes I have found . We all know how well Bro . Nutt worked this lodge during tbe past year , ancl our personal and Masonic experience of Bro . Butcher gives us every guarantee for his fitness to govern . For the remainder of this year , therefore , Bro . Butcher ( S . AV . ) , will call

the members together , -will open , close , ancl in general terms ,, rule the lodge , as provided for in the Book of Constitutions , while Bro . Nutt will , in accordance with my ^ request , confer degrees . I can therefore say without affectation that this case offers au exception to the general rule , and that under the guidance of the two worthy brethren I have named , you will find that you will have lost nothing by my departure . AVhile thus expressing conviction that I leave

themy Northern Lodge of China iu good hands , I would for a moment refer to the st-J . te of Masonry in this section of the province .. The past few months have clone much for the Craft , and we have especially to look back with satisfaction upon the appointment of Bro . C . E . Parker to the post of Deputy Provincial Grand Master . I trust , and indeed believe , that this is but the first step towards the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge of Northern China , a boon to which we must look forward with .

eager anticipations . Meanwhile , however , I need not tell you , who all know Bro . Parker , both as a Mason aud as a private individual , that in his hands and under his guidance , the prospects of Freemasonry in Shanghai and at the Ports are assured . I can only hope that upon my return to China , I shall find him occupying the still higher position of Grand Master of a new and distinct province . I must also say a few words as to the state of the Northern Lodge . Since the

commencement of this year we have had three initiations , four passings , five raisings , and one joining , or an addition of six to QUE subscription list , against which we have to place seven resignations . AA ' e have thus to regret the loss of one member , but this loss , in view of the general stagnation that has fallen upon . Shanghai is not to be wondered at . The clulness under which every section of the community labours has had-its effect upon Freemasonry amongst other thingsbut there are now good

, grounds to believe that brighter days are in store for this settlement , and that Masonry , as it has suffi ' ereel by the decline , will share in the revival . Every lodge in the place has more orless suffered , principally by the resignation of brethren who had previously been members of two or more lodges , but who have felt it their duty to resign all but one . Naturally the Northern has been no exception , but I trust there is now little to fear for the future .

Aud , finally , brethren , I should but ill discharge the importantduties of this chair , did I not before resigning it to my successor bring betore you in . all humility , the duties which you owe to the Craft , and remind you of the nature and scope of the Order . Bro . Jamieson's address will be found in another page . At the close of Bro . Jamieson ' s address , Bro . Butcher , S . AA ' ., acknowledged the compliment which the AV . M . had paid him , and expressed in the name of the lodge the deep regret with

which tho news of Bro . Jamieson ' s retirement had heen received . He understood that the lodge would sustain another loss iu the departure of Bro . J . M . Hockly , J . AV ., an officer who had , in conjunction with the AA ' . M ., devoted himself during his short tenure of office , to the advancement of the Craft , ancl the benefit of the Northern Lodge . He ( Bro ; Butcher ) therefore proposed that a cordial vote of thanks be passed to Bro . Jamieson , AV . M ., and Bro . Hockly , J . AV ., for the

services they had rendered to Masonry in general , and to the Northern Lodge in particular , during that portion of the present year which had elapsed . This was seconded by Bro . James Johnston , S . D ., and having been put to the lodge by Bro . Guudry , who assumed the chair for the purpose , was received with acclamation . Bro . Jamieson briefly replied in his own name , and in that of Bro . Hockly who was unfortunately absent at Hankow . The lodge was then closed , and the meeting separated .