Royal Arch.

the distinguished visitors were tho Grand Jlaster of the Degree , Bro . the Rov . G . K . Portal , M . A ., and Bro . Lord Eliot ,. ! . G . AV . A Lodge "f Improvement was previously held at which all the officers were in their places , and the whole ceremony of advancement was rehearsed . On the opening of the lodge tho M . AV . G . M . and Lord Eliot , together with other grand officers , wove announced , aud on I heir admission to the lodge room were saluted in due form . Bros . T . D . Sewell ( Crait Lodge , 21 ) ;

J . Oressy Hall , 190 ; AV . S . AVyman , 409 ; and C T . Deane , 525 , were then advanced to this degree , and the Jl . AA ' . G . Jf . at the conclusion of the ceremony expressed his satisfaction at finding the work so ably performed . He also stated that he was p leased to see the Degrees of Mark Jlan and JIark Jlaster given separately here , and lie hoped that the lodgo would enter on its minute book the fact that he had expressed bis pleasure at the ability of the AA' . M . and his officers . The brethren then retired

to an excellent banquet . The G . M . responded for the toast of the G . M . M ., and Lord Eliot for that ol' the D . G . M . Bvo . Meggy proposed the AV . JI ., and afterwards responded for himself . Bro . Sewell icplied for the newly-advanced brethren , and Bro . AV . Mann , P . G . R ., for the visitors . Bro . F- Binckes , Trevs ., in replying for the Benevolent Fund of the Grand Mark Lodge , took occasion to contrast the immediate relief which , though the cases were thouroughl y investigated , the Grand Lodge of this

degree afforded , with the length of time wliich will have elapsed before the brother whose case was before Grand Craft Lodge on AA ' ednesday week will rtceive assistance . That case , he said , was introduced first of all in August last , and the new rules of Grand Craft Lodge made it necessary that , before the £ 250 voted by the Lodge of Benevolence is paid to the distressed brother , such routine has to be observed that the Quarterly Communication of March 1871 must be held , and the

, , minutes of last Quarterly Communication confirmed . Bro . Dr . Eugene Cronin , S . AA ' ., and Bro . S . Rosenthal , J . AV ., replied for the officers of the lodge . SOUTHWARK LODGE OE MAEIC MASTERS ( NO . 22 . )—Bridge-House Hotel , London Bridge . A regular meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , 17 th inst . Present : —Bros . A . D . Loewenstark , P . G . I . G " , AV . JI . ; Thos . J . Sabine , P . GA . D . C ,

P . JI . ; H . JIassey , P . G . Steward , P . M . ; Fred . R . AV-dters , P . G . I . G ., P . M . ; Meyer A . Loewenstark , P . G . Steward , P . M ., Sec ; J . H . Batten , S . D . ; T . D . Barnard , D . C ; , 1 . J . IT . Wilkins . J . G . ; Geo . Neall ; and JlacDonald . Bro . Thos . S . Buhner , M . D ., was advanced to the degree of a JIark Master Jlason , b y tbe AV . M ., after being hallotted for , the vote being unanimous in his favour . The lodge was opened at 6 p . m . The minutes were read and confirmed . A Committee was appointed to revise the bye laws . The next meeting of this lodge will be held in March , 1871 .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

PBOVINCIAL GBAND CONCLAVE OE SFERET . The Provincial Grand Conclave was held on Friday the 16 th . inst ., Head at the Quarters of the Temple Crossing Encampment Horn ' s Tavern , Kennington . The Very Eminent Sir Knight GeorgeHarcourt , JLD ., the Grand Commander of this Province , presiding ; when all ihe Provincial Grand Officers of the preceding year were re-appointed , and the Eminent Sir Knight , R .

Farren elected as Provincial Grand Treasurer ; and the Eminent Sir Knight Vesper , P . E . C ., Alouut'Calvary , and Past Grand Capt . of Lilies was re-elected , as Provincial Grand Equerry . After the closing of the Provincial Grand Conclave , and ot the Temple Cressing Encampment , BOMBAY .

MOUNT CALVAET IN TIIE EAST ENCAMPMENT . ( NO 53 . )—The regular meeting of this Encampment was held on the 27 th Oct ., 1870 . Present : E . Sir Kts . J . Baird , E . C ; G . L . F . Council , as Prelate ; Sir Kts . J . Byrne , 1 st Capt . Going . Columns ; E . Smith , 2 nd Capt . ; J . AV . Butltr , Expert ; G . Bease , Regst . ; F . Burdett , Treas . ; P . Belleli , Capt . of Lines ; T . Martin , Equerry . Members -. E . Sir Kt . Col . L . AV . Penn , Sir Kts . J . Cowan , AA ' . Abraham . Visitors : E . Sir . Kt . Capt . B . II . Mathew , and Sir Kt . G . Gordon . The Encampment was opened with prayer . The JIuster Roll was called , and the minutes of

the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was taken for Comps . JI . B . Cohen and AA ' . Thorley , which proved clear . Comp . Thorley being in attendance , was introduced properly prepared , and installed as a Kni ght Templar . Read letter from Grand Chancellor , forwarding a proposal to raise contributions towards a fund for relief of the sick and wounded during the present war . It was unanimously resolved that _ E 5 from the Charity Fund of the Encampment be

forwarded to the Grand Conclave , for this purpose . Sir Knight 10 . Smith , being about to leave Bombay , regretted to be obliged to resign his offico of 2 nd Captain and membership of the Encampment . This intimation was received with regret , and the Eminent Commander appointed Sir Kni ght J . AA ' . Butler to officiate as 2 nd Captain , and AA ' . Abrahams as Expert , for the remainder of the year . There being no further business , the Encampment was closed with prayer .

ASCALON ENCAMP 3 IENT . ( NO . 6 )—At a regular meotign of this Encampment held on the lllh October , the following Sir Kts . were present : E . Sir Kt . L . AV . Penn , E . C . ; E . Sir Kt . G . L . F Council , as Prelate ; Sir . Kts . P . Callaghan , 1 st Capt ; J . C " Graham , 2 nd Capt . ; AV . IT . Wakemnn , Regst . ; J . C . Fernandez , Almoner ; H . AA \ Marks , Expert ; G . Bowler , Capt . of the Lines ; J . Harris , Equerry . ' Sir Kt . A . D . J . Souza ; and E . Sir . Kt . Irvine , P . E . C ., visitor . The Encampment was opened

and ballot taken for Comp . Lee Smith , of Keystone Chapter , Bombay , which proving unanimous , be was admitted and duly installed as a Knight Templar . Two letters were then read , asking the Sir Kts . to contribute to the fund for the relief of the wounded soldiers of France and Germany , and handsome sum was immediately subscribed by the Sir Knights belonging to the Encampment for this purpose . Sir Kt . J . C . Graham , 2 nd Capt ., was unanimously elected Treasurer in place of E . Sir .

Kt . AV . AVellis , P . B . C ., deceased . Sir Kt . J . C . Graham pro posed , and E . Sir Kt . L . AV . Penn seconded , that a letter of sympathy be sent to the widow of our late P . E . C . and Treas ., 15 . Sir Kt . AA . AA ' ellis , which was carried unanimously . The Encampment was then closed aud the Priory opened , when Sir Kt . Lee Smith was introduced and duly installed into the Order of Knights of Malta , Rhodes , Palestine , and the Jlediterranoan Pass . It was unanimously resolved that the degree of

Knight of Malta be conferred upon Sir Kt . G . S . Morris , one of tbe oldest members of our Encampment , as when be was in stalled a Kni ght Templar the degree of Knight of Malta had not boon introduced . Th . re being no further business before the Priory , it was closed with solemn prayer , and the Praters retired to the refreshment hall , to partake of the bread of plenty and the cup of cheerfulness .

DISTRICT GEAND CHAPTER OE BENGAL . A convocation of the District Graud Chapter , was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Calcutta , on Saturday , the 12 th November , 1870 . Present : JI . E . Comp . IT . D . SANDEIIAN , Grand Supt . ; JT . E . Comp G . H . Daly , M . D ., Dist . Gd . IT . ; M . E . Comp . AV . B . Farr , Dist . Gd . J . ; JI . E . Comp . Capt . AA ' . G . Murray , D . G . Scribe N .

as D . G . Savibc E . ; JI . E . Comp . AV . Ii . Collins , as D . G . Scribe N . ; JI . E . Comp . J . Mackintosh , D . G . P . S . ; JI . E . Comp . I . L . Taylor , D . G . 1 st A . S . ; M . E . Comp . Col . AA . B . Ford , as D . G . 2 nd A . S . ; JI . E . Comp . J , IT . Linton , D . G . Treas . ; Comp . Amos , L . G . S . B . A'isitors : Comps . Harvey , AA' . IT . Jones , C Brown , A . JI . firoadley , D . Deeeaijee , JfacPhun , Meiithevc-. il , Zemin , Jellicoe , C . T . Davies . and Girling . ¦"""™"

The District Grand Chapter was opened in due form at S p . m . An apology was recorded from JI . E . Comp . IT . II . Locke , D . G . Scribe E .. for his unavoidable absence . The m'nufces of tho Convocation held on Thursday , . November 4 , 1809 , having been printed and circulated were taken as read and , on being put to the vote , were confirmed . Referring to the recommendation of the Finance Committee which was laid before and adopted by District Grand Chapter at

its last Convocation , that a representation be made to the District Grand Lodge with a request that the percentage charge on the office expenses payable b y District Grand Chapter be reduced from 20 to 10 per cent . ; the District Graud Scribe E . read a paragraph from the Report of the Finance Committee of District Grand Lodge confirmed at the Quarterly Cennnunieatioii of January 20 ' , 1870 , agreeing to the reduction .