Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

NORTHUMBERLAND and DURHAM . A SPECIAL meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge has been convened by Brother Canon Tristram Provincial Grand Mark Master , to be held in the Central Masonic Hall , Newcastle , on the 16 th inst , for the Consecration of

two Mark Lodges for which Charters , were recently granted . The new Lodges are the Hartford , No . 546 , which will hold its meetings in the Masonic Hall , Bedlington , and the Blagdon , No ; 547 , which will be held in the Masonic Hall , Beaconsfield Street , Blyth . The ceremony of Consecration

will be performed by the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master the Earl of Euston , assisted by Bro . C . F . Matier P . G . W . Grand Secretary , and other Grand Officers who have consented to visit the Provincial Grand Lodge on this interesting occasion .

The first principal Officers of the Hartford Lodge are Bros . Augustus E . Burdon Worshipful Master , Robt . Weddell Senior Warden , and James Treble J unior Warden ; and of the Blagdon Lodge Bros . Adam Dodds Worshipful Master , John Tweedy Senior Warden , and Edward Forster Junior-Warden .

Amongst tJhe Founders of the Blagdon Lodge are the names of many well-known Mark Masons , including Viscount Ridley Past Grand Warden of England . At the close of the Consecration ceremony a banquet will be held in the same Hall .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Masters will shortly be held at Sunderland , under the banner of the Union Lodge , No . 124 . The local Brethren are making arrangements to accord a fitting entertainment on the occasion .

Freemasons In Rome.

FREEMASONS IN ROME .

THE Freemasons have moved their quarters to the Giustiniani Palace from the Borghese . The latter was built some years ago by the Borghese Pope , and had always been

the centre tor rigid Catholicism . Then the family fell on evil days , and the palace passed into the hands of creditors , who rented the " piano nobile " to the Freemasons . Protest was vain , and the Masons remained until the Borgheses , by a rich marriage , regained their own . The Giustiniani Palace

was built in 1580 , in part with stones from Neros bath . In 1170 an epidemic broke out in the city , and the whole Giustiniani family died with the . exception of Niccolo , a monk . He at once , by a Papal Bull , left his monastery ,

married and raised twelve children . Having accomplished this duty to humanity and his house , he went tranquilly back , and died—a monk!— " Pall Mall Gazette" own Correspondent .

Cuban Military Lodge.

CUBAN MILITARY LODGE .

11-iEK . h , is contained in a recent number ot La Gran Logia , " of Cuba , printed in Spanish , an interesting account of the Cuban military Lodge , Independencia , and of its founder , Carlos M . de Cespides , President of the Cuban

republic . Bro . Cespides was an enthusiastic Mason and the Master of the Lodge at Manzanillo . Pie was a great student and owned the most complete Masonic library in the island of Cuba . He was a fine linguist , speaking English , French , Italian , German ' , and Portuguese , besides his native tongue .

He was a strict ritualist and excelled as a presiding Officer . Finding himself surrounded by Masons during the Cuban revolution he founded a Military Lodge in Guaimaro , and called it " Independencia . " At first the Lodge met and worked in the various edifices which opportunity afforded

and when these were no longer available the Brethren erected spacious huts constructed from mud or palms and in these rustic structures tire sessions of the Military Lodge were held . Those charged with building a " hall " on removal to a new place prepared their own materials .

The meetings held conformed as strictly to ceremonial and proper form as if the Lodge were meeting under ordinary conditions . There was continual work . The meetings were never interrupted , and many initiates , after receiving the first

degree , came from a great distance to be passed and raised . General Ramon Cespides took the symbolic degrees in this Lodge and was one of its most -ardent supporters . Francisco Aguilero , Francisco Maceo , Salvador Cisneros , Ignacio Mora , and others , distinguished in the Cuban war , met at these

Cuban Military Lodge.

sessions and assisted in the work of the Lodge . The Offices of Master , Orator , and Secretary were held by the same Brothers throughout the life of the JLodge ; the other positions were filled by various Brethren . Other Lodges might have had more luxurious quarters ,

more room , more perfectly arranged details , but none , could have had more seriousness or earnestness than prevailed in this Lodge . All the implements of the Craft were at hand , even to the ballot-box . All the Lodge furniture was carried from place to place on the back of a mule , which was

appropriately called " The Mason . " The columns were made of stones , which fitted to each other , marked with the B . and J . Once during an attack by the enemy the mule was turned loose , but the load was not securely fastened and in his flight

many articles of the Lodge fell to the ground and were captured . The ballot box and a section of the B . column are now said to be on exhibition in the Museum of Artillery at Madrid , among other relics of batterfields .

The rigours of the campaign finally demanded the suspension of the Lodge and it was never resuscitated . — " American Tyler . "

¦ Vi . V . . H f ** r u v v u r ** v n n A A Jl A H X R AK ) IW Jl A Jl Jl M The King , Grand Patron of the Order , has been graciously pleased to accept a copy of the H . F . Beaumont manuscript , an ancient parchment roll containing the regulations of the Craft . The reprint has been edited by Bro . W .

Watson , of Leeds , P . Pro v . G . Warden and Hon . Librarian of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , a wellknown writer on subjects relating to Freemasonry . The manuscript , which is ascribed to a date previous to 1690 , was thought to have been lost , but was discovered at Whitley

Beaumont , the residence of Mr . PI . F . Beaumont , near Huddersfield , during last year . The roll was purchased from Mr . Beaumont by the Prov . Grand Lodge for the Library of the

Province , which is now among the richest in early Masonic manuscripts of any library of a similar kind in the world , principally through the exertions of Bro . Watson . The manuscript is of great interest to members of the Order .

We tender hearty congratulations to Bro . T . F . Strutt P . M . 2664 W . M . 1679 on his appointment as Chief Sanitary Inspector to the Westminster City Council . Bro . Strutt is a highly-qualified officer , of very considerable experience in the Strand district . His unfailing courtesy to everyone with

whom his duties brought him in touch , long ago secured for him a host of friends and well-wishers ; he does not , happily , possess that peculiar trait so often noticed in public officers , of more or less importance , and nowadays dubbed " side , " and appears to have won the same resnect and esteem in the

outside world as have marked his career in Freemasonry . Though Bro . Strutt ' s name was not that recommended by the Committee considering the applications for the appointment

in the first instance , he obtained a large majority on a show of hands , and was ultimately elected by thirty-nine votes to twenty-two given in favour of his most formidable rival for the appointment .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE funeral took place on Monday afternoon , 22 nd ult , of the late Bro . William Edwards , formerly chief steward of R . M . S . " Munster , " plying to and from Kingstown . Deceased was twenty-eight years of age , and was in the employment of the City of Dublin Company for many years . Several members of the St . Cybi Lodge were present .

Bro. G. W. Speth, F. R. H. S.

Bro . G . W . Speth , F . R . H . S .

BRO . SPETH was a personal friend of the author , and a brother Fellow of the Royal Historical Society . Forgive , Most High , if now our lone hearts cry Against those words of sorrow , " Dust to Dust "; For ' tis so hard to see our loved ones die . Help us , Most High , and give us strength to trust .

Wei would not murmur Lord , but wc are weak ; But all Thou dost , Thou doest for the best ; O teach us still on earth Thy praise to speak , Thou but hast given Thy beloved rest , Mourn not , ye Brethren , Bro . Speth ' s at peace , Mourn not , ye children—ye who loved him well , Mourn not , oh Widow , for no earthly lease

Bindeth his body where his soul cloth dwell . But watch ye , pray ye , never , never cease ,

And ye shall join him in Heaven ' s citadel ! BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . 48 Hanover Square , Bradford