Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST ) . AVAKEPIELD . —Wakefield , Chapter ( No . 727 ) . —This chapter was opened in the Masonic Hall , Zetland-street , AA akefield , on Tuesday last , at 3 . 30 p . m ., Comp . Rev . A . F . A . AVoodford , P . Z . 364 and Prov . G . H ., being requested to take the chair , and perform the ceremony of installing the principals , Comp . Henry Smith , P . Z . of 543 and 379 , Z .,- Rev . Dr . Senior , P . Z . 251 ancl

727 ancl P . Prov . G . H ., Ii . ; Frederick Lumb , P . Z . 179 and 727 , J . ; also present , Joseph Oh-oyd Gill , P . Z . 251 , & c , as S . E . ; Thomas Hill , P . Z . 379 , as S . N . ; John T . Robinson , H . 379 , as P . Soj . ; John Gaunt , 379 , as 1 st Assist . Soj . ; John Beckett , 179 and 727 ; Janitor , and others . The minutes of the last meeting being confirmed , the following companions were accepted as joining members—Captain Williams , 287 , ancl TAVFew 251 The ballot was then taken for BrosJohn

. . , . . Gill , AV . AA . Glover , Roland Childe , Thomas Senior , G . AV . Bayldon , all P . M . ' s of 727 ; Daniel AA ilson , AV . M . 727 ; Henry France and Francis AValker , M . M . ' s 727 , which proved unanimous ; thereupon Bros . J . Gill , R . Childe , and F . AValker were duly exalted . At 6 . 30 o ' clock the companions retired to the banquet room , where refreshments were served under the able superintendence of Comp . John Gill . The chapter having

resumed , the ceremonies and lectures were further proceeded with , in which Comps . J . 0 . Gill , AVoodford , II . Smith , Thos . Hill , J . T . Robinson , and John Gaunt took part , to the complete satisfaction of the members of the chapter . The chapter was closed in harmony at 8 . 15 , it being decided to hold a chapter of emergency on Tuesday , the 24 th inst ., for the purpose of completing the arrears of business ,

INDIA . CHAPTER OP ST . JOHN . ( NO . 628 . )—This Chapter has "been re-opened after a lapse of nine years , owing to the sudden removal of nearly all the companions . The following companions opened the Chapter on the 21 th December : —Comp . Col . Nott , P . Z . ; Kellie , J . ; Jennings , H . ; Nolan , E . ; All Mohamed Khan , N . ; Cox , P . S . ; Saville , A . S . ; Monnet , J . The

following brethren were afterwards duly exalted -. Bros . Martin , Bluiuberg , Hadou , and Anderson . There being many other brethren on the list for exaltation , it is hoped the Chanter will ere long be in a flourishing condition .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

YORKSHIRE ( AVEST ) . BRJIDPORD . — Conclave of Faith ( No . 29 ) . —A meeting of this -conclave took place at the Masonic Hall , at which there were present Comps . Wm . Gath , P . E . C ; Thomas Hill , P . E . C ; G . M . AVancV . P . E . C . ; Henry Smith , E . G . ; Horatio Butter worth , Reg . ; John Gaunt , Expert ; J . J . Holmes , J . Ii . Buckley-, ancl B . Lawrence , & c . After the minutes had been disposed of , the

Treasurer presented a very satisfactory report . The ballot was then taken for the E . C . for the ensuing year , and the choice fell upon Comp . Butterworth , who acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms . Sir Knt . Hill , P . E . C , was elected to the post of Treasurer . There being no further business , the encampment was closed ; after the Almoner had performed his service , refreshments were served in the ante-rooin , at 8 . 30 , and the Sir Knights spent an agreeable evening , their only regret being the unavoidable absence of several worthy companions .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

IRELAND . CORK . —The annual grand full dress ball of the first Lodge of Munstor took place at the Athenaium , on A \ ednesday evening , the lltb of February . The splendid hall was very beautifully and tastefully decorated for the occasion . The large orchestra at the . western end was occupied by firs and other evergreens , from amidst the foliage of which shone out a

myriad of variegated lamps , which produced an extremely pretty effect , and in the dome of the orchestra , beneath the organ , was a figure of a hoy bearing a basket of many-coloured flowers , while above him rose an arch of roses and evergreens , with a second arch of variegated lamps above that again . From the roof were suspended a number of festoons formed of evergreens , and red ancl white roses , extending from the pitch of

Masonic Festivities.

the roof to the cornice , while from the centre of the roof depended two magnificent baskets of flowers . The cornice gas lights lit up the building with the usual pleasing effect , while in addition , the fronts of the galleries were decorated with variegated lamps , the colours blue , white , red , and yellow alternating ; and on either side of the entrance to the rotunda shone out two brilliant stars of gaslight . Above the entrance to the rotunda , a very pretty Masonic device—the triple trianglewas formed

, of red , white , ancl blue lamps—each of the three triangles being composed of lamps of one of those colours , the appearance of which was very beautiful . The capitals of the pillars supporting the roof were occupied by the banners of Prince Masons , and the basis by the shields and swords of the Knights Templars . At the western end of the hall , below the orchestra , was placed the chair of the Grand Master , on either side of which stood

two Masonic columns , with a variety of other devices . The pillars of the building were also entwined with garlands of evergreens ancl roses , and the general effect was extremely picturesque . The excellent band of her Majesty ' s 11 th Regiment , and Mr . Howard ' s splendid string band , occupied the northern gallery , and supplied the music for the night . Supper was served in tlie rotunda by Mrs . Fitzgerald , in her customary

recherche style . The entire arrangements were most perfect and convenient—the hall was agreeably heated , and all draughts cut off . The attendance was very large and fashionable , numbering about four hundred ladies and gentlemen . Altogether , the spectacle presented by the hall , when dancing had commenced , was brilliantly beautiful—a scene combining all the charms of beauty , grace , ancl colour judiciously blended . At ten o ' clockthe Masonic brotherhood having assembled in the

, rotunda , passed in procession up the centre of the hall , headed by the Grand Master , who was accompanied by the other office bearers of the loelge . The chair having been taken , the proceedings were opened with the customary salute of three times three and three cheers , after which dancing immediately commenced , and was kept up to an advanced hour in the morning .

West Indies.

WEST INDIES .

TRINIDAD . PROVINCIAL GEAND LODGE . On Thursday , the 1 st January , 1863 , the R . AV . the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Daniel Hart , held a Masonic levee at Freemasons' Hall , Mount Zion . At twelve , high noon , the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in due form and with prayer . Present : Bros . Hart ,

Prov . G . M . ; John O'Brian , D . Prov . G . M . ; G . AV . AV . Ingrain , Prov . G . S . W . ; R , J . Dunos , Prov . G . J . AV . ; E . Martin , Prov . G . Treas .,- S . W . Gould , Prov . G . Sec . ; J . P . Ramsay , Prov . G . S . D . ; A . M . Cook , Prov . G . J . W . ; H . Yan Buren , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; A . G . Julin , Prov . G . Sword Bearer ; J . Eraser , Prov . G . Bard . ; L . Bath , Prov . G . Purst . ; D . Hart , jun ., Prov . G .

Standard Bearer ; W . T . Burefcon , C . SicuicI , and C . Matthews , Prov . G . Stewards . After the Provincial Grand Lodge had been opened , the several lodges of the province in the island , and under the jurisdiction of the Prov . G . M ., were , according to seniority , introduced , ancl the officers and members respectively presented to the Prov . G . M .

The PEOV . G . M . complimented the several lodges for the manner in which they had all complied with their duties , and on the harmony and brotherly love that existed amongst them . At the same time he deeply regretted to find a blank amongst their numbers , ancl in the most feeling manner alluded to the death of Bro . Ross , P . M . of tho Prince of AVales Lodge ( No . 1169 ) .

The PROT . G . M . then addressed the brethren in the following manner : — BRETHREN , —Masonry is happily described by learned exponents of the art , anel which definition is embodied in the lectures published for our use by authority , as a "beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated hy symbols . " Its end and its moral and purport , we are taught , is to subdue our passions , to make a daily progress in a laudable art , and to promote morality , charity , good fellowship , good nature , aud humanity . To train its pupils into a full and perfect knowledge