Royal Arch.

The Committee being satisfied of the reasonableness of the above request , recommend that the removal of this Chapter be sanctioned . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY ,

President . FREEMASONS' HAti ,, LONDON , W . C . 19 th July 1893 .

CALEDONIAN CHAPTER , No . 204 A CONVOCATION of this venerable Chapter was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on 20 th inst ., nnd was opened in ancient form at five o ' clock . The whole of the Officers were

present , viz : Bros . C . Swinn M . E . Z ., W . B . Russell H ., C . E . Towell J ., W . Aldred P . Z . Treasurer , S . Mamelok S . E ., P . Jackson S . N ., H . Thomas P . S ., T . Shorrick A . S ., J . L . Savage A . S ., T . Cliffe P . G . S . B . Dir . of Cers ., L . H . Keay Organist ; also Companions E . Nathan P . Z .,

J . Ballon P . P . G . S . B . P Z ., T . Hooper P . P . G . T . P . Z ., J . Roberts P . P . G . D . P . Z ., N . Dumville P . G . S . B . P . Z ., R . A . Eldershaw P . Z ., J . A * rew P . S . E ., G . L . Barlow , W . F . Farrington , F . Griffin , E . South- -., J . Townley Trotter , and J . \ V . Watson . The visitors were C mps . W . Donville P . Z . 935 , W . Hardcastle P . G . A . S . P . Z . 317 , J . W . HigginbothamZ . 233 , G . W . Davies A . S . 268 , aud F . Strecht Dir . of

Cers . 1730 . The minutes having been confirmed , the ballot was proceeded with , and the following brethren worn declared dnly elected and afterwards exalted : —Bro . Philip Whyman , Strangeways Lodge , No . 1219 , and J . D . of the Duke of York Lodge , No . 2449 ; John Hawker , Stamford Lodge , No . 1045 ; Harry C . Goldman , Concord Lodge , No . 323 ; John Lawrencr , Smith I . P . M . Albert Victor Lodge ,

No . 1773 . The ceremony was carried out in a manner whioh a Provincial Officer described " as simply perfect , reflecting the highest credit on the M . E . Z . and his Officers . The performanco of tbe musical portion of the ritual by Companions N . Dumville , W . Dnmville , T . Sborrock , M . Thomas , and L . H . Key rendered the whole affair absolutely sublime . " The Chapter was closed at 8 ' 45 . The usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were afterwards dnly responded to .

The newly exalted expressed themselves highly pleased at the step they had taken that day , and the manner in whioh they had been admitted into the Caledonian Chapter . The excellent vocalization provided for the social honr by the aforesaid musical Companions from Manchester Cathedral enabled the Companions to exclaim in the words of the immortal bard— " Here will we sit whilst the sounds of sweet musio creep into our ears . "

HENRY LEVANDER CHAPTER , No . 2048 . A MEETING of this Chapter was held at the Railway Hotel , Harrow Station , on the 25 th inst . Present—Comps . A Scnrrah

P . P . G . Standard Bearer H . M . E . Z . elect , Hislop J . H . elect , Wace J . elect , Stiles Treasurer , Gregory acting Secretary , Scurrah Instilling Master , Edmonds , and Lewis . Tho Chapter was opened in due form and the minntes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Comp . A . Scurrah M . E . Z . elect was dnly installed by his uncle , Comp . W . Scnrrah , in very earnest terms . Comp . W . Scurrah had

initiated Brother A . Scurrah into Freemasonry , had installed him into the ohair of K . S . in his mother Lodge , and was now delighted to have tho honour of installing him as the First Principal of his Chapter . Comp . Hislop was afterwards inducted into the chair of H ., and Comp . Wace into the chair of J . This was done in a most beautiful and perfect manner , highly impressive to tbo candidates ,

and gaining the warmest praise of the Past Principals present . Tbe investiture of Officers was adjourned till next meeting . The report of the Audit Committee was received , adopted , and entered on the minutes . A notice of motion by Comp . Gregory was carried . Chapter was then closed in peace and harmony . The companions adjourned to a banquet , served by Bro . and Mrs . Lander in a

manner reflecting the highest crc Jit to them and their staff . The M . E . Z . gave the toasts briefly but earnestly . Comp . W . M . Stiles proposed the health of the M . E . Z ., stating his great gratification on seeing him in the very prond position of M . E . Z . of his Chapter . He had known him many years and hed watched with particular interest the rapid strides he had made in Freemasonry . The M . E . Z . thanked

Comp . Stiles with mnoh feeling , and the Companions for their genial support . The toast of the H . and J . was responded to by Companion Wace . The Installing Officers followed . Comp . W . Scurrah thanked the M . E . Z . for so kindly proposing the toast , and the great pleasrre be felt in having the honour of placing him in so exalted a position . Comp . Hislop also replied . The M . E . Z . gave the toast of the Visitors ,

and expressing the pleasure he felt in welcoming so many Companions . Comp . Lewes , in responding to tho toast , stat-1 the great pleasure he bad to be among them ; he had received nothing bnt the most cordial welcome and the kindliest receptions , and was pleased to be so intimately connected with them ; he trusted the futare would bo as happy as the past . Other toasts followf 1 , and the Companions separated after a very pleasant evening .

A DrccnAKArio y WAR against England , is not likely to be made in these days by any of tho Foreign powers without weighty consideration . Science has done much in tho manufacture of deadly engines o f warfare , but we yet jilaco the greatest confidence in tho pluck of our Bolf ' ers and sailors . It is this knowledge that enables our cor ltry at tho present time to enjoy tho blessing of " peace , with honour , " and our merchantile enterprise to penetrate throughout tho world . HoIIoway ' s Pills and Ointment are now also regarded as the friends of all who suffer from disease . They are secr-ities of health to all nations and harbingers of peace and goodwill to f" mon . 'they IOU-JYO or euro every disease .

Pic-Nic Of The Albert Victor Lodge.

PIC-NIC OF THE ALBERT VICTOR LODGE .

No . 1773 . ( COMMUNICATED ) . THE annual pic-nio of this Lodge took place on Saturday , the 8 th inst ., the locality selected being Castleton , Derbyshire . Our party , which consisted of 40 persons , left London Road Station , Manchester , at 9 * 15 a . m ., and arrived at Chapel-en-le-Frith shortly after 10 , carriages being in readiness to convey ns to the Castle

Hotel , Castleton , our place of destination . The ride through the hills of Derbyshire was a very beautiful one , and gave rise to many admiring comments . On onr way we passed Main Tor , or the Shivering Mountain , and an old Roman mine , besides other places of very great interest , arriving at the hotel ( where an excellent dinner had been provided ) at 11 * 30 . This finished , the major portion of

the company strolled to what is perhaps the most remarkable of all places in this neighbourhood , viz ., tbe Cavern of tha Peak ; soma went to view tbe ruins of the Castle whioh overlooks the town ; while others paid a visit to the old parish church , whioh is olose by . Peak Cavern is said to be the principal wonder of the district , and we are not prepared to dispute this statement , for it is certainly a

very extraordinary place . It is approached by a narrow pathway , alongside of which runs a stream whose waters issue from the cavern , and maander into the town , both pathway and rivulet being banked by rocks which rise to a height of over 260 feet . The month of the cavern , whioh is described as " magnifioiently grand , " and as " a stupendous canopy of unpillared rock , extending in width

114 feet , " is utilised as a rope-walk of an apparently primitive character . Having been supplied with candles , we entered through a narrow doorway , being preceded by a guide whom we followed throngh a number of small caverns like a flack of Admetus ' s sheep in the wake of the banished Apollo , until we came to what is called the river Styx , by whose side we walked until the great Cave was

reached . Our guide , whose tones were sufficiently sonorous , bat rather indistinct , told us that the Cave was 270 feet long , 210 feet wide , and 150 feet high , and was the largest in England . The air was cool , and at no time did any feeling of warm oppressiveness weigh npon us , although occasionally we could not help being struck by the eerie and mysterious position in whioh we were

placed . The silence , except when broken by the voices of onr party , or the echo of their feet as they picked their way along the unequal ground was sometimes almost terrifying , and when , at the request of oar leader , we put out our lights , we were instantly submerged in darkness , whose opaqueness seemed real and tangible . Various portions of the cavern , of whioh the guide gave us a rapid

commentary , were frequently seen to advantage by the aid of Bengal lights . He described Roger Rain's house , where he asserted the water is always falling , and which forms part of the rivulet outside ; alao the Victoria Cavern , discovered in recent years , 1 , 100 yards distant from the grand entrance , and 250 yards in depth from the surface of the earth .

Upon retracing our steps the guide again requested us to put out our lights , asking us at the same time to wait until he unlocked he door and gave us a signal to issuo forth . Many conjectures were rife as to this strange demand , which was easily understood , howover , when , upon quickly emerging from almost Cimmerian darkness , our eyes encountered a scene which it is impossible adequately to

describe . A sporadic glimpse of light revealed to us the verdureclad rocks beyond the great entrance , lit by the effulgent rays of a glorious sun whioh had not long since passed its meridian altitude , and which as yet had scarcely begun to cast a shadow upon tho earth . Nature had produced a perpetual picture finer than any transformation scene in a pantomime , which was all the more beautiful from the fact that it was unadorned by any adventitious touches of art .

We returned to the hotel , where Bro . T . T . Sefton S . W . put us en , group , and we were photographed by him . At 5 p . m . tea was served , after which the usual Loyal and Masouic toasts were indulged in . Bro . W . Hardcastle P . M . P . P . G . D . C . introduced the names of Bro . J . L . Smith I . P . M . to the company , the latter brother responding . He said it was customary at times like the present to

place on record the care and assiduity which distinguished the W . M . for the time being . On every occasion Bro . Threlfall , their present W . M ., had shown himself to be indefatigable in promoting the welfare of the brethren , and he ( Bro . Smith ) could not do otherwise than speak very highly of him . He called upon all present to testify by their acclamations how much they were indebted to Bro . Threlfall and Mrs . Threlfall for a-very happy and suooessfnl

pic-. The Worshipful Master , in response , said that there was indeed a great amount of anxiety connected with the promotion of such gatherings as the present one , but this-was compensated for by the fact that it was one of those occasions when brethren put away their exclnsiveness , and invited wives , sweethearts , and other friends to

partake of their pleasures . As Masons , they were sometimes accused of selfishness , but they were compelled to conform to rules which had been made by others for their guidance , and these rules were sometimes very strict . It had often been said that ladies could not keep a secret , and he considered this statement to be a libel upon the sex , for he knew a lady who had positively

kept one for three days . Someone had suggested that the ladies ooght to have a Lodge of their own , but were this the case one great difficulty would arise , —they would be short of Past Masters . In concluding a very excellent speech , Bro . Threlfall thanked them for their kind expressions of confidence , and said that if another

picnic should be promoted in connection with the Albert Victor Lodge , he would bo in attendance . Bro . Sefton S . W . said that he had much pleasure in proposing the toast of the ladies . He was sorry that so many of them were appropriated , but he gave them a heaity welcome that day . Tbe members of the Albert Victor Lodge were vory fortunate in theii .