to humanity in recklessly depriving an innocent and amiable woman, and her helpless family, of that support, which they can only look for to an unoffending husband and father?

I feel how utterly idle it is to attempt to soften, by any appeal to religion, honour, or humanity, a heart that for sixteen years has been coldly petrifying in the dark cavern of a virulent churchman's breast. It is only to the Masonic body and the public that the reverend sufferer can look for that justice which a Christian bishop denies. Improper and unmasonic attempts have been made to render inoperative the truly fraternal exertions of the Chelmsford Lodge of Good Fellowship in Mr. Harvey's behalf. Is a society, whose motto is "brotherly love, relief, and truth," with its heart glowing, and its arm outstretched to raise a fallen and injured Brother, to have its pure philanthropic throbbings stilled, and its proud and stalwart arm paralized by the heartless sophistry of the cold soulless worshippers of rank, and the flatterers of mammon? Or will Englishinen and English Masons judge of humanity by their own standard? Will they stand by and see an innocent victim hustled hungering into his grave by the oppressor, or will they give their countenance and subscribe their mite to save him?

HIRAM.

TO THE EDITOR.

MR. EDITOR,-Can you inform me whether a degree called the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem is given in England? I have heard of the Supreme Council of the 33rd degree, but do not know whether the above degree, of Princes of Jerusalem, is a part of their system.

Your obedient servant,

AN INQUIRER.

[The very interesting degree, called the Grand Council of Princes of Jerusalem, is the 16th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of which the Supreme Council of the 33rd degree is the head in this country. "An Inquirer" will have the opportunity of knowing more of the 16th degree in the course of the spring, when it will be conferred under the authority of the Supreme Council.-ED.]

POETRY.

ODE.

BY BROTHER JOSEPH PEARSON, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

SEIZE the Muse in her noblest flight,
Summon to earth spirits of light,
Strike the harp on its boldest chord,
Aid frail mortals, mysterious word,
To raise an Anthem worthy of thee,
Thou heav'n-born science, FREEMASONRY!
When spiritual darkness earth o'er ran,
And savage beast and savage man
Made earth a hell with woe and pain,
And peace had fled to heaven again-
Nor Egypt's shores, nor Judah's plains,
Sent forth the cry, "Jehovah reigns!"
So lost was man: when from above
Thou taught'st him joy and peace and love;
When poor and blind, and naked was he,
Thou taught'st him the value of CHARITY;
To worship the one true God above
With all his heart, for " God is love;"
To live on earth with all his care,

By plummet's law, “by rule and square;"
And then, as now, when death drew nigh,
Thou finally taught'st him how to die.
This tribute of praise, then, is due to thee,
Thou Science, DIVINE FREEMASONRY!

LINES ADDRESSED TO A LADY AT CHURCH.

So mild a look, with such devotion join'd

A virgin body, and a spotless mind!

Pleased with her prayers, while heav'n in mercy sees
The lovely votress on her bended knees.

Sure it must think some angel lost its way,
And happ'ning on our wretched earth to stray;
Tired with our follies, fain would take its flight,
To be restored to those blest realms of light.

H. R. S.

MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS OF ENGLAND.

QUARTERLY CONVOCATION, Nov. 3, 1847.-Present, E. Comps. Dobie, as Z.; J. C. Morris, White, M'Mullen, Baumer, Callaghan, &c., with several subordinate Principals.

The Grand Chapter was opened in form, and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed.

Comp. Brereton, representative at the Grand Lodge of Ireland, and a Past Z., admitted as a visitor.

Report of Committee of General Purposes read.

Financial report very favourable, nearly 3007. in hand.

A warrant was granted for a new Chapter to be held at Huntspill, Somerset, to be attached to the Rural Philanthropic Lodge, No. 367. All business being ended, the Grand Chapter closed.*

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND.

ESPECIAL MEETING.

(Circular.)

R. W. BROTHER,-Your attendance is hereby required at an ESPECIAL GRAND LODGE, to be holden at Freemasons' Hall, on Monday, 29th day of November, 1847, at seven o'clock in the afternoon, to proceed with the consideration and despatch of such business proposed and intended for consideration at the last Quarterly Communication as time did not permit of being then brought forward. The Grand Lodge will be opened at eight o'clock precisely.

By command of the M. W. Grand Master,

Freemasons' Hall, Nov. 12, 1847.

WILLIAM H. WHITE, G. S.

COMMITTEE OF MASTERS, Nov. 24.

Present-Bros. J. L. Evans, Crucefix, Parkinson, A. Henderson, Philipe, Rule, Boronandi, &c.

Scrutineers for Monday, Nov. 29, Bros. Levick, Norris, and Thomson. For Dec. 1, Bros. Muggeridge, Smith, and Jarrett.

Business for Monday, Nov. 29.

1. Unconfirmed part of former report of Board of General Purposes. 2. Alteration in the Constitution, preventing a Brother from being Master of more than one Lodge at the same time.

* But not in due form, because the venerable Comp. Baumer, Principal Sojourner, has got a crotchet in his head that the three sojourners in the Grand Chapter, at the closing, are to accompany the three Grand Principals, in word and deed, in the ceremony; and on the two last occasions he has, during the closing, loudly, and in a manner not adding very much to the solemnity of the meeting, obstinately expressed his desire to have his

own way.

3. By Bro. ELLIOTT- That a Master and two Past Masters of any Lodge should not be members of the Board of General Purposes.

4. By Bro. R. G. ALSTON-That Provincial Grand Secretaries may, at the discretion of the P. G. M., be non-resident.

5. Report of the Board of General Purposes for December.

6. Report of ditto for May, as to an additional grant of 100l. per annum to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund.

7. Report of ditto, in the case of Bro. Motton, as to the appropriation of 57. by the Master to his own use.

8. By Dr. LANE-As to an alteration in the eleventh regulation of the Grand Lodge as to adjournment, &c.

9. By Dr. CRUCEFIX (sixth time)-Renewed notice of motion "That the sum of 3007. be allotted annually from the Fund of Masonic Benevolence, and applied to the payment of annuities to the widows of Freemasons, under such regulations as the Board of General Purposes shall hereafter submit for the approval of the Grand Lodge.' 10. By Dr. CRUCEFIX (second time)-Renewed notice of motion-"That the Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland, M.W.G.M., be most respectfully requested to sit for his portrait to some distinguished artist, and that such portrait be placed in the hall, among those of his lordship's illustrious and noble predecessors."

Business for Wednesday, Dec. 1.

1. By Bro. DOBIE-As to grants of benevolence above 201. to be settled by the Board of Benevolence.

2. By Dr. LANE-As to mis-report of his speech in the authentic circular of the Grand Lodge.

3. By Bro. SCARBOROUGH-Renewal of notice of motion as to library and museum.

4. By the GRAND MASTER-On the expediency of relaxing the law respecting conferring degrees in the provinces from one month to one week.

5. Report of Board of General Purposes as to suspension of Bro. Henry Rowe, of the Neptune Lodge.

6. Financial report highly satisfactory.

7. By Bro. BIGG-Notice of motion, to throw open the distinction of the "Red Apron" to all Lodges in rotation.

8. By Bro. BIGG-To bring under the consideration of Grand Lodge the conduct of the President of the Board of General Purposes as an unwarrantable usurpation of power, in not putting certain resolutions thereat.

9. By Bro. JOHN SAVAGE-That all votes not exceeding 507. be paid forthwith, but that larger sums abide confirmation.

10. By Bro. BoRONANDI-To enquire into the circumstances of the non-reception by the P. G. M. of Bengal of native gentlemen and other non-Christians.

The subsequent Board of Benevolence was liberal in their grants to the poor and distressed.

ESPECIAL GRAND LODGE, 29th NOVEMBER.

Present-Right Hon. the Earl of Zetland, M. W. G. M., on the throne; the R. W. Bros. Lewis, P. G. M. Sumatra, as D. G. M.; Rowland Alston, P. G. M. Essex; A. Dobie, P. G. M. Surrey; J. C. Morris, G. W.; Rowland Alston, jun., P. G. W., as J. G. W.; V.W. Bros. M'Mullen, W. H. Smith, P. Thomson, Parkinson, L. Thompson, Forman, Crucefix, Philipe, &c. &c.; Bro. the Rev. J. O. Dakeyne, Grand Chaplain; the Grand Stewards of the year; the Masters and Past Masters of the Grand Stewards' and other Lodges.

On the GRAND MASTER taking the chair, he observed, that as the clock had not yet struck eight, he should wait for the exact time before opening Grand Lodge, which was subsequently opened in ample form, and with solemn prayer.

The GRAND MASTER having ordered the Grand Secretary to read the circular convening the Especial Grand Lodge, stated that arrears of business on the paper had so greatly increased, that he had considered it advisable to give the members of Grand Lodge an opportunity to begin the new year without the clog of unsettled motions and reports. It would be well and wise to give to every measure its full share of deliberation, but the various speakers might make their addresses short, without curtailing them of any part necessary for the development of their views. He would set them the example, and at once proceed to take the back lists of matters not yet completed. The first was a portion of the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes for 1846.

Bro. JOHN SAVAGE rose, and moved-"That no Brother shall be Master of two Lodges at the same time, without a dispensation from the M. W. Grand Master;" such law to follow Art. ii. p. 56, and to be repeated after Art. iii. p. 78. Of course these numbers and pages related to the last Book of Constitutions, and must be so arranged as to come in the proper places in the one about to be printed. The object of the latter part of the recommendation was mainly inserted to meet the case of a prince of the blood-royal being a member of the Craft, and would be called for on his appointing his deputy. He (Bro. S.) would have inserted the intention of the dispensation, but considered himself tied to the words as they originally stood. The subject had been so long in print and so well recognized-had, in fact, been debated in private Lodges and Masonic parties, that it would be lost time now to enter into a very long disquisition upon it; the reasons were various and many, all of which had been conceded, therefore no objection was likely to be raised. He begged the Grand Secretary to read the clause in question, the adoption of which he afterwards formally moved.

Bro. M'MULLEN seconded, as it enabled every Lodge to be represented at the Board of Benevolence through its Master; whereas, if one Master sat for two Lodges, that could not be the case.

After a few words from the M. W. G. M. and several other members, Bro. RULE wished to see the wording altered; for, as it now stood, a man may be a Master of three Lodges, but not of two, (shouts of laughter). It is all very well, but you know a notion prevails that a man may marry three wives, but not two, (increased laughter), because it is not forbidden. (Cries of how are you going to elect him to the third, when he can't be Master of a second?" Bro. Rule shook his head incredulously, but sat down).