Grand Mark Lodge.

Loyal toasts were done ample justice to , and that of the Pro Grand Master , Lord Egerton of Tattoo , was proposed by Bro . Kelly Prov . Grand Master of Leicester . In responding , Lord Eorerton said he could not lav claim

to so large an acquaintance wifch Masonry iu fche south of England as in the north ; but he felt ifc a great honour to be in London , and to be placed in the proud position of Pro Grand M . M . M . In that position he should endeavour

to do his duty in the same way as he had endeavoured to do it in the north of England . He trusted he would be able to promote the interests of Mark Masonry in the Grand Lodge as he had in the northern Province . Mark

Masonry had a great future before it ; it was increasing rapidly , and its principles were becoming better supported every year . It was fortunate in having the influence of the Prince of Wales , who never connected himself with

anything which he did nofc think waa for the general good of fche country . In his name they had a guarantee that all the objects of Masonry , and of Mark Masonry in particular , were worthy of support and

acceptance b y the great ; body of Masons , and deserved the respect and support of their fellow-countrymen who were not Masons . They could show by their work thafc they tried to promote good fellowship , brotherly love .

and benevolence to every one , and those princip les were not confined to any country or to any set of men . Masons endeavoured , by their demeanour in Lodge and out of Lodge , to make their principles flourish , and having those

principles himself he felt it an honour to be connected with such a bod y as the Mark Masons . As long as he was connected with it , and especially iu his present capacity as Pro Graud Master for the Prince of

Wales , he should with the assistance of the brethren promote the interests of Mark Masonry . The other toasts were the Past Grand Masters , proposed by Bro . Major Woodall ; the Grand Officers Present and Past ,

proposed by the Chairman and acknowledged by Brofcher Baynes of Oxford ; success to the Mark Benevolent Fund given by the Rev . C . W . S . Stanhope , and responded to by Bro . C . F . Matier ; the Visitors bv Bro . Binck

acknowledged by Br . o . P . Stirling , of Kippenckvie , Deputy P . G . M . of W . Perthshire , one of the Stewards of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ; the Grand Stewards , replied to by Bro . Jas . Terry , who stated this was the first time in

Grand Mark Lodge there had been an organised Body of Grand Stewards . During the evening selections of choice music were rendered b y Bros . Beckett . Freyer , Egbert Roberts , Henry R . Rose , and W . A . Frost , under the direction of Bro . Henry R . Rose .

A graceful , and wo venture to submit , a practical , su < rgestiou has been made by Brother Binckes , the esteemed Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for'Boys , tn fche effect that , invitations should be given fco fifty " Old

Masonians " to attend the Festival at the Crystal Palace on the 14 th instant . The expenses in connection wifch this invitation could be defrayed by the Stewards , and we are happy to be able to state that a majority of the

Stewards to whom the matter has been mentioned cordially endorse the proposal . There is no reason why the number of invitations should be strictly limited to fiftv , provided the funds can be thus raised ; and the result , we

are sure , would be hailed with eager satisfaction by the " Old Boys " wbo have so prospered under the fostering care of Bro . Binckes . More especially would this be so as

a by no means unimportant or uninteresting feature of the Festival wi'l bs the presentation which ifc is intended to make to their tried friend on that occasion . Wo sincerely trust the suggestion may be acted upon in the most liberal manner that the supporters of the Institution can desire .

The Responsibility Of Officers.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICERS .

OFFICE in the Craffc is unlike office in any other organization under the sun In State and Church , in societies , civil , reli gious and beneficial , it , is true that the office-holder is al ways a personage of importance , but there i .

that in Masonic office which distinguisl es it , from , ancl lifts it above , all others . There is a dignity about , it , an authority , a responsibility , a power , which ren d er it incomparable

with any lower o- hsse' station . Whither yon take the Mastershi p of a Lndi . e , or the Grand Mastership of the Grand Lodge , the office is unique . A pure democracy in

The Responsibility Of Officers.

its essential character and features , the Masonic Fraternit y is presided over by a practically absolute sovereign , whose will is restrained only by the Landmarks and Constitutions of the Craffc . He must see to ifc that the ancient usaa-ea

and customs be preserved in all their integrity . Hero arises the highest responsibility of Masonic office . Ifc is a trust . Ifc is not for personal aggrandizement , but for tho welfare of the Brotherhood . Ifc is nofc a compliment , bufc a

sacred charge . Ifc is something that is not to be sought , nor to be refused . The idea of electioneering for Masonic office is abhorrent to its very nature . It is a gift , not a

purchase , amoral and intellectual treasure , not merchandize . The better any Brother called to fill a supreme iMasonic station appreciates all this , fche better officer he becomes , and the more fche Fraternity prospers under his rule .

Freemasonry has no low aims , but all of its principles tend to exalt the higher nature in its initiates , and render it dominant . It distinctly recognises the Creator of our bodies and spirits as tho Grand Architect of the Universe ,

md it teaches every supreme officer in the Craffc , be he Worshipful Master or Grand Master , that he is a subordinate architect—a disci ple of the Supreme Architect , and

himself supreme in his special sphere . He is a ruler and a judge en > rusted -with power and authority which liken him , in some measure afc least , to the Father of us all , and it is this sense of fatherhood over the Brotherhood which should

pervade the mind , control the will , and dignify tho action of every ruler in Freemasonry . His responsibility is as absolute as his authority . This responsibility is manifold , being co-ordinate with

duty . A Master of a Lodge , primarily , is responsible for good work . He should be the " first among his equals , " superior to all of his officers in ability , and able , willing , and anxious to surpass all of his predecessors . The

Masonic Officer who is " slothful in business , ' slovenly in work , ambitious only to end his year of official life , and receive a jewel—fordoing nothing , such an Officer deserves to have a perpetual seat ou fche iloor . He is a . figure-head ,

a shadow , a delusion and a snare . But the Master who is worthy of the name , and the honours which accompany it , becomes master of the work , master of himself , aud Master of the Lodge . He obtains the true work ; he renders it

with effect—not as an automaton , or a sort of Pretty Poll , but as a man and a Mason who knows what he is about , who is anxious to make a due impression , and determined that the reputation of Freemasonry shall be untarnished while he is responsible for it as a presiding Officer .

The Mastor is responsible for the punctual and regular attendance of himself and officers at the meetings of his

Lodge . He is an example , and they are examples . If he or they neglect their duties , very many other brethren will likewise do so , and the Lodge will become a shadow . And it is always his duty to actively

promote harmony and Brotherly Lovo . Ho is the representative of no class , but of the entire membership . He is the visible cement thafc unites them together . Without the spirit , of Fraternity the Craft is nothing—if

we are nofc brothers , we arc strangers and enemies . One of the highest duties of a Master of a Lodge is to see thafc this spirit of fraternity is maintained within fche

limits of his jurisdiction in its purity , simplicity , and integrity . It is the very bond of peace aud all perfectness . Without it there is no Freemasonry ,

One thing is certain—in the Lodge , as in the profane world , men will nofc statedly meet together unless they are interested in what occurs . It is a primary duty , therefore , for a Master to make the proceedings of his Lodge

interesting . The humdrum way some Masters have of doing business , the lame and laggard nvumer in which they tarry over everything they do , is enough fco drive auy brother from the Lodge . Life and briskness are

iudispensible in this age of movement . If we were all Methnsohihs , expecting to live a thousand years , the Mastor mi ght open bis Lodge an hour late , occupy five minutes in putting a motion , halt in the work at pleasure until he could recall

what he ought to say , and behave generally like a man of leisure , with no responsibility to " act in the living present . " Bnfc this world afc the present time is a busy one , life is short , and " be as expeditious as possible " is advice whioh the Master ought to take as well as give .

The Masonic officer who realises all of his responsibilities , what a jewel he is ? Let Masonry make moro such jewels , ever esteeming them highly , rewarding them wifch due appreciation , and honouring their memories when they aro translated to fche Lodge above . —Keystone .