Royal Arch.

had no more easy and agreeable task than to return thanks for his lordship ; on behalf of the Grand Officers , the fact of there being half-adozen , or more , of them Past Principals of the Royal York Chapter , showed they were devoted to their duties and that they took a warm interest in the Chapter and in Royal Arch Masonry . None of these were more worthy than Comps . S . B . Wilson , Hervey , and Symonds , who were each officers of Grand Chapter and of that Chapter , to which he had now belonged more than twenty-three whilst their good

years , Scribe E ., who sat beside him , had that night completed his twentythird year of membership and had followed through every office . The M . E . Z . next proceeded to propose the healths of the visitors . Comp . Beaumont returned thanks for himself aud the visitors , ami alluded to the kind reception they had mot with , the apt working of the Chapter , particularly Comp . Savage ' s at the installation . The immediate P . M . E . Z . rose , for the first time , to propose the health of the First Princi

pal . The years he had been in the Chapter had caused him to be both respected and beloved , and his appointment was an earnest of peace and harmony in the year to come , therefore he called upon them to drink his health , as their M . E . Z ., for the first time . The M . E . Z . rose with considerable pleasure , mixed with some degree of diffidence , for he was gratified , but yet anxious about the exalted station in which their kindness had placed him . It seemed to him but the other day when he was seated at the other end of tho table

, but somehow or other he had crept up little by little , and ho hoped , now he had arrived at the top , to do his duty , and begged them to accept his thanks , both for the high honour conferred upon him , and the manner in which they had drunk his liealtli . The JVLE . Z . had a very pleasing duty to perform in proposing- the healths of the Past Principals , of whom there were four present , and as all very well knew that an angle of ninety degrees was the fourth part of a circle , so did the Past Princi that occasion make the

pals on circle complete . He should propose " The Past Principals of the Chapter and Comp . John Hervey . " Comp . Tyler , the immediate P . Z ., returned thanks for tho honour done to the Past Principals . It was gratifying to them to be remembered , and with no one was it more pleasing than to be associated with Comp . John Hervey . The M . E . Z . had then to name an individual to whom the Royal York owed a deep debt of gratitude in a double capacity . He was a Past Principal and their worthTreasurer .

y In both offices he had worked for many years , and in the latter , through his exertions , the Chapter had been brought from a position , of pecuniary difficulty to one of prosperity ; and with these remarks he called upon them all to drink "The health of Comp . S . Muggeridge . " Comp . S . Muggeridge said , he hoped they would continue in prosperity , and he should endeavour to do his duties , in years to come , as they had been heretofore done by him . The M . E . Z . then gave "The healths of the Secondand ThirdPrincipalsHand J "—to which

, . . Comp . Young , H ., returned thanks for the honour done to him in appointing him to that high office , and hoped they would hold out to himself and their Comp . J . that indulgence they had shown to their predecessors , and should they fail , he could assure them it would be through a want of capacity and not application to their duties . The M . E Z . proposed their Scribe E ., Comp . Honey . Comp . Honey said , that day he had been twenty-three in the Chapteraud he tired of

years , never was those meetings ; he looked for them and hoped to attend every meeting , and was pleased to see such old Companions as S . B . Wilson and S . Muggeridge . He also hoped that while he held the office of Scribe E ,, to be able to wield his pen , but should his health fail ho would then give it up . The M . E . Z . said , as the father of the Chapter was now present , having been detained elsewhere on business , he called upon them to testify their continued appreciation of him

. Comp . Stephen Barton AYilson rose and said , he was the father of the Chapter and knew of none in the Chapter of older standing in R . A . Masonry than himself , except Comp . S . Muggeridge ; for twentyeight years he had been a member of the Royal York Chapter , and had introduced into it many friends , and some among them , now present , who had passed the chairs . He hoped to visit as often as circumstances would permit him , but he never did go there without receivingthe kindest and most

- flattering expressions from all . He should ever hold it as a pleasurable duty to use his utmost endeavours to further the interests ol the Chapter , and hoped to live some few 3 ears _ longer to be amongst them . The M . E . Z . gave "The Frin . Soj . and his two assistants , " and he hoped the time would arrive when ' they would be rewarded according to their merits . The Prin . Sol . in his own name and those associated with him returned thanks , and expressed his own and their desire to do their duty . The Janitor ' s toast brought the meeting to a happy termination .

PROVINCIAL CHAPTER . PLYMOUTH —Chapter of Sincerity ( No . 22-1 ) . —The regular quarterly convocation of this Chapter was held in the Masonic Chapter Room , St . George ' s Hall , Stonehouse , on Friday evening , the 13 th of April , I 860 , when Bro . Henry Emlyn Barton , of the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 224 , was duly exalted to the supreme degree of the Holy Royal Arch . There being no other business before the Chapter , it was closed iu due form , with solemn prayer at nine o ' clock .

SOUTH SHIELDS . —St . Hilda Chapter ( No . 292 ) . —The regular April convocation of this Chapter was held at Comp . Carman ' s , the Golden Lion , on AVednesday , the 18 th ult . Comps . R , B , Ridley , Z . ; AV . Twi-

Royal Arch.

zell ( No . 624 ) , as H . ; H . Hewison , J , ; assisted by Comps . Banister , ( H . No . 267 ); J . J . Oliver , E . ; J . Raddam , as N . ; J . N . Buckland , P . S . After the preliminary business of tho evening a ballot was taken for officers for the ensuing year , aud was as follows : Comps . Alfred Davis , Z . ; Henry Hewison , H . ; Joseph J . Oliver , J . ; John Hinde , E . ; J . N . Buckland , N . ; J . Raddam , P . S . ; T . J . Buchanan , nominated Janitor ; Auditors , Comps . Twizell , Hutchinson , and Raddam ; TreasurerR , B . RidleyP . Z . The Chapter was afterwards closed in solemn

, , form . BAILDON . —Moravia Chapter ( No . : 7 f 0 ) . —At a regular Chapter , held on AA'educsday , April ISth , presided over by Comps . Henry Smith , M . E . Z . ; Thos . Hill ( P . Z . No . 379 ) If . ; and Al ' and , J ., the minutes of the former Chapter were rend and confirmed ; there was no business on account of the unavoidable absence of the three candidates . The funds wore stated to bo in a flourishing stateand it was hoped that the

, remaining portion of the paraphernalia would shortly be purchased . Several of the Companions and one candidate arrived at nine o ' clock , but it was decided to be too late for business , and the Chapter was closed . The Companions adjourned to refreshment , where the future prospects of our Masonic charities were discussed .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

PROVINCIAL ENCAMPMKNT , BRADFORD . —Encampment of Faith ( No . 29 ) . —At a regular meeting of this Encampment of Masonic Knights Templar , held in the rooms of the Lodge of Hope , on Monday , April 10 th , present—Sir Knights AA'illiam Gath , E . G . ; Hy . Smith , 1 st Captain ; Thomas Hills , 2 nd Captain ; R . M . Scholefield , P . E . C ., as Prelate ; George M . AVand , P . E . C ., Registrar ; David Salmond , P . E . C ., as Expert ; Juo . L . McMichard , P . E . C ., as Captain of Lines ; and the rest of the officers , letters of

apology were received from several members unavoidably absent . The minutes of the previous evening were read and confirmed . It was proposed aud seconded that Comp . John Gaunt , of the Chapter of Charity , No . 379 , be installed as a Knight of this Encampment in due course . The E . C . IVm . Gath , then rose and stated that the pleasing but difficult duty of paying a just tribute of respect and regard devolved upon him that evening , and he never felt so unequal to his position whilst presiding over them as on the present occasion . His earnest desire was to

convey the feelings of the Companions towards their patriarchal Commander , Richard Mortimer Scholefield , who for a period of half a century had been the chief means of preserving the Encampment . The Knights felt a desire to mark their sense of obligation by presenting him with a Past Eminent Commander ' s jewel , on the reverse ol which these sentiments were engraved ; together with a scroll which contained a copy of the inscription , and the signatures ol the whole of the Knights . The E . C . then concluded an exceedingleloquent speech bhanding to Sir

y y Knight Scholefield the testimonials , with a fervent wish that he might be long spared to render them his valuable assistance . Sir Knight R . M . Scholefield , addressing tho E . C . said , "Tho very flattering and kind manner in which you have thought proper to eulogize my conduct as connected with this Encampment , has so moved mo that words arc inadequate to express my feelings . This beautiful jewel and testimonial on vellum you here present me with , is a proof that you and the

Knight Companions of this Eueauipmeut approve of my services thus far , which approval and y-our kindly expressed sympathy will always remain engraved on my heart , and I really thank you and feel proud of the distinguished maimer in which you are perpetuating my name as founder and Commander of the Encampment of Faith for fifty years . But there soon comes an end to every joy and every earthly honour . How sad it is that same account must be quickly given of me and every one whose life is noticed here—¦ " He

slept with his fathers . " And whether it be for good or evil it soon runs itself into the dark sea of eternity , then all trace of it is lost and forgotten . But you seem determined that one of your Companions is not to be forgotten , as is shown by this splendid jewel and scroll , which testimonial , at your request , shall have a prominent place in my private temple so long as I live ; afterwards , no doubt , my successors will value it much , as evidence that one of their ancestors was much esteemed by the Knights of his day . I know so little of myself that is good that the

less I say perhaps the better ; to be egotistical at my age I think unbecoming , therefore I will conclude by saying , may God of His infinite goodness and mercy grant that not only we of this sublime degree , but all who profess to be students of the Royal Craft of Freemasonry , bo so guided by its maxims and governed by its precepts , as never to depart from the path of honour and virtue . And may these great and good examples become so numerous amongst us as to bring the whole human race into one flock under the Great Captain of our salvation , and

harmony , peace , and concord fit and prepare us for those awful scenes of futurity-, which with our finite comprehension we can form but a faint idea . Yet we may rest assured that there is the highest gratification laid up for our more ethereal part—the soul—which'in this sublunary state of things can meet with nothing to fix itself upon . And , Sir Knights , may each and all be eventually led to exclaim , as did our Grand Master , King Solomon , at the dedication of the temple , " 0 Lord , my God , great art Thou above all other gods in heaven and in earth , aud in this place do