Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

AVOOLWICH . —Invicta Chapter of Sovereign Princes Rose Croix . — The above chapter ivas held on the 10 th instant at the Masonic Hall , AVilliam-street , AVoolAvich . There were present the Ex . and Perf . Bros . Carter , 18 ° , M . AV . S . ; Col . Clerk , 32 ° , G . Prel . ; Figg , 30 ° , 1 st Gen . ; Laird , 18 ° , Registrar and Raphael ; Matthew Cooke , 18 ° , Org ., ancl Capt . of Guard , besides Dr . Normandy , 18 ° ; Lyons , 18 ° ; Press , 18 ° ; and Lieuts . Dadson , 18 ° . The business consisted in perfecting Bros . Captain Thompson AVilson , P . D . G . M . of Canada ,

and Lieut . A . Godfrey , Royal Marines . After AA'hich the 111 . Bro . J . W . Figg , was installed M . AV . S . for the ensuing year , and appointed the folloAving Ex . and Perf . brethren to office : AV . Smith , C . L ., 30 ° , 1 st Gen . ; Cockcraft , 18 ° , 2 nd Gen . ; Capt . King , 30 ° , Grand Marshal ; P . Laird , 18 ° , Raphael ; and Mattheiv Cooke , Organist . The routine business having been disposed of , the chapter Avas closed , and the Sovereign Princes adjourned to Bro . De Grey's to refreshment . The first toastafter clearing the clothwas

, , that of " The Queen . " The next , " The Health of Dr . Leeson , and the Sup . G . Council , " the M . AV . S . it being stated that Dr . Leeson took great interest in the Rose Croix degree , and the members of the Council did all they could to aid and support him . —The Ex . and Perf . Bro . CARTER , was allowed to propose a toast which he thought would be received Avith more than usual pleasure and cordiality , it being the health of one Avith Avhich most of them were well

acquainted , their new M . AV . S ., the 111 . Bio . Figg . It was certain that he Avould fill the chair ivith credit , and reflect honour on the chapter as he had hitherto done . Since its foundation he had been a member , and had , until A'ery recently , held the offices of Treasurer and Registrar , and they all kneiv IIOAV -veil such duties had been discharged , and with AA'hat likelihood there was of the chapter progressing under the presidency of their M . AA . S . The toast Avas received Avith every mark of approbation . —The 111 . Bro . FIGG ,

in reply , returned thanks for that instance of their kindness , as well as all their former approval . Having filled more than one office he had not performed his duties as well as he could have desired , but for the future , having only one office to attend to , he hoped to be as well up in his duties as his predecessors . The next toast was that of their neiA'ly perfected princes , AVIIO he hoped would think highly of their chapter , which was one of the first , if not the first , and of which all in that degree spoke in terms of high praise . He concluded by proposing the " Health of the Ex . and Perfect Bros . Capt . Thompson AA'ilson , ancl Lieut . Godfrey . —Capt . THOMPSON - WILSON returned thanks for himself . He had before

taken a degree , that of the Red Cross Knight , Avhich he Avas given to understand was the same as the Rose Croix . He found a great similarity betiveen them , but in the latter the ceremony AA-as more earnest , and its fittings and appliances much more superb and characteristic . —Lieut . GODFREY was very much pleased Avith the degree , and Avas grateful for the manner in which his health Avas drunk . He hoped to do honour to the Order . —The M . AA ' . S . said three 111 . and Sov . Princes had preceeded him in office as the heads

of that chapter : Dr . Hinxraan , Colonel Clerk , and the Ex . Bro . Carter , they had each performed their duties in a manner superior to many , but inferior to none . He then proposed the toast of "The Past M . AV . S . ' s of the Invicta Chapter . " —The Ex . Bro . CATCHER thought the 111 . Bro . Col . Clerk much more able to return thanks , because he Avas an older Mason , and more perfect in the history of those degrees . Still he Avas glad to have that opportunitof

rey turning thanks for the very kind support and assistance he had received from all during his tenure of office . He felt pleased that the 111 . Bro . Figg had succeeded him , because he AA-as sure the duties of the chair would be performed in a manner that AA * OUM exceed his humble pretensions . He was very much obliged to them for the kind notice they had taken of him at all times , and should leave Colonel Clerk to speak for himself . —The 111 . and perfect P . M . AV . S .

Colonel CLERK returned his very sincere thanks for the toast . The history of the degree Avould be found in the practice of Christianity , and its principles pointed out in the NBAV Testament . Amongst the early Christians it Avas used to keep secret and propagate Masonry , for AA'hich purpose its members Avere endowed \ vith special privileges , one of which Avas , that every individual Rose Croix Prince had the riht to makepassand raise Masons in lace

g , , any p more than thirty miles distant from a Grand Lodge . The beauty of the degree and the purity of its teaching were self-evident . [ Full justice cannot be done to Colonel Clerk ' s lucid explanation , because publication of much that he stated is undesirable . ]—The M . W . S . proposed " The Health of the Officers . " Several of them were absent , but the Ex . and Perf . Bro . Laird , though young , as their Treasurer would , he had no doubt , be able to render them

anything but an unfavourable account of their funds . —The Ex . and Perf . Bro . LAIRD , on behalf of the officers , tendered their very best thanks for the kind Avay in which their names had been noticed , and siad they would strive to do their duty to the best of their ability .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

He had also a few remarks to add upon another subject . He thought every true Mason must feel a degree of pride in their endeavour to hold their meetings aivay from a tavern . Such a hall as they occupied could not be maintained Avithout funds , and he hoped that those Avho approved of the principle would encourage them—not that they Avere in distress—but that 50 , 60 , or even 100 pounds would be very acceptableand he said this more especiall

, y to Lieut . Dadson , so that it might go forth at Portsmouth , and ivho kiie-v but AA'hat the Portsmouth brethren might think theirendeavours worthy of support . After much cheerful conversation and profitable discussion , the Sovereign Princes separated at their usual time .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

THISTLE LODGE ( NO . 8 ) . —The usual lodge ivas held at Dick's Coffee House , Fleet-street , on Friday , the 6 th inst ., Bro . John AV .. Figg , AA . M . The folloAving were advanced to the degree of Mark Master : —Bro . John Harvey LeAvis , M . P . ; Bro . Rev . Dr . George Richards , D . D . 156 ; Bro . V . M . Bal , 1035 ; Bro . H . Taylor , 219 ; - Bro . H . W . Cocking , 219 . The ceremony Avas very impressive , and Bro . Hart officiated at the . At a tuous banquet

organ sump provided on the occasion , Bro . Cottebrune , AA . M ., took the chair . The first toast , " The Queen and Mark Masonry , " was enthusiastically drunk , with musical and Masonic honours . The next " was the toast of " Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . AV ., Grand Master ; , and Bro . A'iscount Holmesdale , M . P ., Deputy Grand Master . "—Bro . Binckes , Grand Secretary , returned thanks , and said he could not allow the opportunity to pass without reminding the lodge that

Bro . Israel Abrahams bad been appointed SteAvard to the Grand Festival of Mark Masters . The W . M . proposed " The Health of the NeiA'ly Advanced , " and felt great gratification and pride in haA'ingone amongst them who had also out of Freemasonry been received as a brother by the thousands of the great Marylebone constituency .- —Bro . J . Harvey LeAvis returned thanks , and said hefelt proud and honoured at being admitted to so ancient a degreeas that of Mark Masterand delihted at joining so truly

Masonic-, g a lodge . He found nothing but harmony , kindness , ancl equality , no matter the rank or title . Would that the outer world had morebrotherly love ! He Avould not hint at his duties eleswhere , thoughhe could not forget their present serious complication with America , and trusted that our cousins would Avell consider their present course of conduct , and folloAv thc glorious principles of the Craft . Bro . Rev . Dr . George Richards could but thank the lodge most sincerely for

appointing him Chaplain , and he felt the more honoured at their confidence on the first night of his advancement . During the evening several songs Avere sung , and the happy hours brought midnight long before it Avas expected .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

CRYSTAL PALACE . M . Blondin's Performances , which have been suspended since the . sad affliction AA'hich has befallen the nation , will be recommenced on-Boxing Day , Thursday , 26 th December . Great preparations have been making for some months past , by the erection of an immense Stage in the Centre Transept , which ,. Avith complete scenic apposntments oftlie highest orderexpressl

, y designed and painted for the occasion by Mr . R . Fenton , Avill be opened to the public for the first time on the afternoon of Boxing Day . A Pantomimic Drama , full of action , will be the medium of exhibiting M . Blondin , and his youthful daughter , Miss Adele Blondin , in such a series of novel and interesting characters as . cannot fail to excite the highest public interest . This Pantomimic

Performance will commence at dusk ( about 4 o ' clock ) and be continued for about an hour . In addition to the above special performance on the great stage ,. M . Blondin will make an ascent on the high rope in the great transept each daj * , at one o ' clock ; while those old Christmas favourites , Mackney and Stead , and Brian and Connelly , will fill the intermediate time with their never-failing amusements .

up The largest Christmas tree ever seen has been fixed in the nave ,, and is illuminated every evening , while the ample supply of toys and Christmas and Sew Year's gifts on sale on the exhibitors ' stalls in the naves and transepts , will alone repay a visit to the . Palace .