Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

IRELAND . ' BELFAST . —Chapter , ( No . 97 ) . —On Friday evening the 18 th inst ., a largo and influential meeting of this Chapter was held in the Masonic Hall , Donegal-place , when several brethren received the degree of M . M ., and others were proposed for initiation . The business of the lodgo having been got through at an early hour , the brethren repaired to the

refreshment-room ; Bro . John Ireland , P . K . 88 ( in the absence of Bro . James Fitchie ) , in the chair . Several loyal and Masonic toasts having been given and responded to , the " Health of Bro . Alexander M . Parker , " who was the means of resuscitating tbe Arch Chapter in connexion with lodge 97 , was given from the chair in complimentary terms , and received by the brethren with demonstrations of applause . Bro . Parker replied in a neat speech , in which he sketched his connexion with the Craft , and

said he felt the high honour which had been done him by electing him twice to fill the chair of the lodge , au unusual honour in Freemasonry . Some other toasts and songs brought the meeting to a close about eleven o'clock .

Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine.

RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE .

VILLIERS CONCLAVE , ( No . 9 ) . —This new conclave which is to be held at tbe Northumberland Arms Hotel , Islewortb , was opened by dispensation at the George Hotel , Aldermanbury , on Saturday , the 19 th inst . The new officers are Sir Knt . W . A . Barrett . M . P . S . ; H . Allman , V . E . ; E . Clark , ( W . M . of the Villiers Lodge , No . 1 , 194 ) , S . G . ; T . Smale , J . G . ; J . Trickett , H . P . ; R . W . LittleTreas . ; R . GurneyRocorder ; W . Haml

, , yn , Prefect ; F . Walters , S . B . ; and J . Gilbert , Sentinel . Three brethren were then installed as Knights , and the members djourned to the refectory , where a pleasant evening was spent , under the presidency of Sir Knt . Barrett . The new M . P . S . being well known and widely respected , we may safely augur prosperity for the Villiers Conclave .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

Mr . Charles Matthews concluded a successful engagement at the Theatre Royal Edinburgh . He is succeeded by Mr . John Clarke and Miss Fnrtado . The Haymarket company have been performing in Glasgow with great success . Mr . Buckstone took his benefit , and the piece chosen was She Stoops to Conquer after which Mr . Buckstone addressed the audience in his

usual eloquent and humourous manner , that elicited roars of laughter from a fashionable and crowded audience . The building of the new theatre in tbe Strand—the Gaiety—is progressing rapidly , and may be expected to open at Christmas . The Theatre Royal Adelphi will commence the winter season this evening ( Saturday ) with a now version of Monte Christo , supported by Mr . Fechter , Mr- Benjamin Yfebster , with new scenery and effects .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending October 3rd, 1868.

METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS , ETC ., FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 3 rd , 1868 .

MONDAY , September 28 th . —Lodges : Pythagorean , 79 , Lecture Hall , Royal-hill , Greenwich . British Oak , 831 , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Bancroft-place , Mile-end . Tower Hamlets' Engineers , 902 , George Hotel , Aldermanbury . TUESDAY , September 29 fch . —Lodge : Faith , 141 , Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street .

¦ WEDNESDAY , September 30 th . —Lodge : Temperance in the East , 898 , Private Assembly Rooms , Newbyplace , Poplar .

Metropolitan Lodge Meetings, Etc., For The Week Ending October 3rd, 1868.

THURSDAY , October 1 st . —Lodges : Egyptian , 27 , Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street . Strong Man , 45 , Freemasons' Hall . Good Report , 137 , Radley's Hotel , Bridgestreet , Blackfriars . Ionic , 227 , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street . Yarborough , 554 , Green Di'agon Tavern , Stepney . Crystal Palace , 742 , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . Yictoria Rifles , 822 , Freemasons' Hall .

Excelsior , 1 , 155 , Sydney Arms , Lewisham-road . Perfect Ashlar , 1 , 178 , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey-road . Chapters : Sincerity , 174 , Cheshire Cheese Tavern , Crutched-friars . Crystal Palace , 742 , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . FRIDAY , October 2 nd . — Lodges : Florence Nightingale , 706 , Masonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich ..

Homsey , 890 , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . SATURDAY , October 3 rd . —Gen . Com . Boys' School , at Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Lodge : Leigh , 957 , Freemasons ' Hall .

Poetry.

Poetry .

THE BANQUET . { See XXL of Bro . PURTON COOPER ' Third Decade of Masonie Precepts , FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , SO . 433 . ) BY T . J . SWAIN . Brother , despise not the banquet ; Turn not in coldness aside

From the social delights of the table , Affecting to spurn them in pride -. Affecting , I say , for our nature To enjoyment is ever disposed , And less harm exists midst the jovial Than by serious folks is supposed . The heart when with good cheer expanded ,

Inclines to benevolence more ; The man with convivial surroundings Is led to remember tbe poor . " How shocking , " he thinks , " is starvation , Whilst I am with luxuries blest ; How many are suff'ring privation ? How many are sadly distres't ?" Thenbrotherdespise not the banquet .

, , If its pleasures be properly used , They will make us both useful and happy , And only do harm when abused . We need not be gluttons nor drunkards , Because we assemble to share The delights of a festival meeting , Enliven'd by bountiful fare .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

% * communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , Strand , London , W . C . REPORIS of Royal Union , Upton Lodges , and of Royal Jubilee Chapter , will he inserted next week . Captain B . —Wo are obliged for copy of correspondence , but fear that the subject involved is not of sufficient importance

to the Craft generally , to induce its publication in our pages . To SUBSCRIBERS AND INTENDING . SUBSCRIBERS . —In future , to prevent misunderstanding on the part of Subscribers and intending Subscribers ( more especially those in the provinces and abroad ) , and also to prevent unnecessary trouble and inconvenience to ourselves , we beg to remind our friends that yearly , half-yearly , or quarterly subscriptions are payable in advance , tbe amounts being respectively , 26 s .. 13 s ., and 6 s . 6 d ., postage free , within Great Britain , the foreign postage rates being extra must be added .