Provincial.

jouvncd the brethren voted a donation of two guineas to the Boys School , to which the AVAL elect added an annual subscription of one guinea , and ten shillings per annum to the Male Annuity Fund ,

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

METROPO LI TAN CHAPTERS . Uo-BERT Bniffis CHAPTER ( No . 25 ) . —The fifteenth annual meeting of this Chapter was held at the Freemasons Tavern , on Monday , tho chair being occupied by Comp " Carpenter , M . E . Z ., who was supported by Comps . Allen , II .: Hewlett , J . ; and the following P . Zs . of tho Chapter : Tumble-son , Watson , Apted , Newton , Robinson , Blackburnand fifty or sixty other Companions . Comps . R . Haig and S . II . Hart

, were elected joining members . Bros . Cave , of Newbury ( Lodge No . S 39 ); Astley , of Hungerford ( No . 83 !)) , and Corben , of No . 201 , were exalted into the Orderthree other candidates being unavoidably absent . Tho installation of the new Principals aud other officers was then proceeded with , the ceremonies being admirably performed by Comps . AVatson , and Blackburn , assisted by a . more than usually numerous body of Past Principals ; and it is worthy of remark that each of the Companions placed iu office have been distinguished for the excellence of their work iu

the other positions they have held in Freemasonry . Tho officers of the Chapter now stand as follows ; Comps . Allen , M . E . Z . ; Hewlett , If , ; C . R . Harrison , J . ; AVatsou , E . ; Collard , N . ; Dyto , P . Soj . ; Guest and he Gassiok , Asst . Sojs . Comp . Nicholson , I' . AL , of Lodge No . 201 , undertook the responsible duty of Steward , and in the course of the evening proved how excellently fitted he is for the office by the attention he paid to the comfort of the Companions . The various officers having been duly invested , Comp . Blackburn , P . Z ., said the pleasing duty had devolved upon him of presenting to Comp . Carpenter a Past Principal ' s jewel , in testimony of tho respect and , esteem in which ho was held by the Companions , and the admirable manner in which he had discharged the duties of the various

offices in the Chapter through which ho had passed . Comp . Carpenter having briefly acknowledged the compliment , au application was made for a recommendation to a petition on behalf of a new Chapter in connection with the St . James ' s Union Lodge , No . 211 . Comp , AVatsou moved and Comp . Blackburn seconded that the recommendation lie given , there being upwards of thirty of the members of tho St . James ' s Union Lodgo at once prepared to join the new Chapter should the warrant \> 3 granted . The resolution was carried unanimousland the petition to the Grand Chapter dulsigned . The

Comy , y panions afterwards adjourned to a very elegant banquet , and spent an agreeable evening . The toast of the P . Zs . was acknowledged by Comp . Carpenter and the veteran Comp . Tombleson , one of the heroes of Trafalgar and a founder of this Chapter . " The Visitors " was responded by Comp . Cooper , No . 40 , and Comp . Gurton , who returned thanks on behalf of the brethren of the St . James ' s Union Lodge , for the support given to their petition by the Robert Burns Chapter . Bro . Cave acknowledged the toast of the newly exalted Companions ; and

the Rev . Comp . McLaughlin spoke most eloquently to the toast of , ; Prosperity to Royal Arch Freemasonry , " the beauties of which he stated to be peculiarly apparent to the student of biblical literature , who could not fail to perceive the great truths upon which the Royal Arch degree was founded . Comp . AVatsou proposed " Success to the Freemasons' Magazine" as a most useful organ of the Order , and Comp . Cave expressed his opinion as a country Mason that it would be a great misfortune to the Order , more specially in the . provinces , were that journal to cease publishing for want of support . Comp . Henry G . AVarrcn acknowledged tho compliment , aud a variety of other toasts having been drunk , the company separated . Comp , Matthew