Another Masonic Ms.

ANOTHER MASONIC MS .

THE MS . of the " Old Charges , " lately made known , and owned by Bro . Henry Brown , of Northampton , has just been carefully examined by Bro . W . J . Hughan , of Torquay , who has named it the " Henry Brown MS . " It is along narrow scroll nearly 9 feet in length , by 5 inches wide , and has been numbered by him E 16 , Branch ( a ) . The date is 1629 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND LODGE . THE Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on Tuesday , at Mark Masons ' Hall , London , under the presidency of Viscount Dungarvan Deputy Grand Master . H . E . H . the Prince of Wales was proclaimed as re-installed in the office of Grand Master , for the thirteenth year ; and the Earl of Enston and Viscount Dungarvan in those of Pro and Deputy Grand Master respectively . The other Grand Officers appointed were :

Bro . Lord Lilford .... Senior Warden Sir T . D . G . Carmichael - - - Junior Warden John Strachan , Q . C . - - - Master Overseer Thomas Cox .... Senior Overseer J . W . Monckman - - - Junior Overseer Bev . F . B . N . Norman-Lee - - ) -,, , . Rev . Bichard Peek - - - f ^ P lauQs W . M . Stiles .... Treasurer Frank Richardson .... Registrar R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C . - - Prest . General Board C . F . Matier .... Secretary G . H . Hopkinson - - - | „ . _ W . Gillman .... } Semor Deacons

J . J . Lambert - - - ) T . , . B . A . Smith - - . - / Junior Deacons Rowland Plumbe , F . R . I . B . A . - - Inspector of Works Major C . W . Carrell - - - Director of Ceremonies Capt . George Hearn - - - )»• ,.,. -r .. . „ R . A . B . Preston - - - - f Assistant Dirs . of Cers .

Sir Simeon H . L . Stuart - - . Sword Bearer W Wright - - - . ) W . J . Johns - - - - \ Standard Bearers F . J . Sawyer , Mus . Doc . - - - Organist Felix Jones .... Inner Guard George Ellard - - - - Assist . Inner Guard E . J . Mills ----- Tyler . The annual banquet followed at Freemasons' Tavern .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on Wednesday , 25 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Queen Street , Chester . There was a very numerous attendance of Brethren from Birkenhead , Alfcrincham , Stockport , and other districts in tbe Province .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was opened at 3 p . m ., and was presided over by the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Prov . Grand Mark Master .

The minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Frodsham , were read and confirmed , and the Provincial Treasurer's accounts were presented , showing a fair balance in the bank . The election of Prov . Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year resulted in the appointment of Bro . C . H . Davies ,

of Chester . The Provincial Grand Master , addressing the Brethren , thanked them for their attendance in such large numbers , and was pleased to note a steady increase of the Order . A new Lodge had been established since their last meeting . He also stated that on the invitation of an influential deputation of

Grand Officers he had consented to preside in London , on the 13 th July , at the thirtieth Anniversary Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund , and trusted to have a goodly number of Brethren to support him on that occasion by acting as Stewards

and so help the Institution to add to the funds of the Charity , The sum of ten guineas was voted to the Mark Benevolent Festival account , and a number of Brethren expressed their willingness to act as Stewards , and support their Provincial Grand Master .

The appointment and investiture of the Provincial Officers for the ensuing year then took place , the following being selected : Bro . Colonel Dean - Deputy

Dr . Brewer ... . Senior Warden Charles Edwards - ¦ - - . Junior Warden W . T . Robinson ... . Master Overseer A . H . Baird ... . Senibr Warden i ... James H . Jackson - Junior Overseer

Cheshire.

Rev . R . Edwards - Chaplain C . H . Davies - Treasurer Joseph Roby - - - - Registrar R . Newhouse - Secretary A . W . Bouchier - Assistant Secretary A . J . Thompson .... Senior Deacon

T . Davenport .... Junior Deacon Mark Oliver - Inspector of Works Stanley Derbyshire - Director of Ceremonies ' L . Crosthwaite .... Assistant Dir . of Cers . C . Cordery ----- Sword Bearer

James Smith .. .. Standard Bearer Walter Howick .... Organist Alfred Grundy .... Pursuivant John G . Frost - - - - ) James Thomas - - - - Stewards

J . W . Bedell - ) A . Huxley ----- Tyler .

On the invitation of the Brethren of the Benevolent Lodge , No . 67 , the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton agreed to hold the next annual meeting in Stockport . At the close of the business , the Brethren adjourned to the

dining hall , and partook of an excellent banquet , presided over by Col . Dean Deputy Prov . Grand Master , who explained that the Prov . Grand Master was obliged to return to his duties with the Yeomanry . The usual Loyal and Mark toasts were given and responded to .

The health of the chairman was drunk enthusiastically , and he was congratulated on the very able manner the business of the Province was conducted under his efficient rule , as Chairman of the Charity Council of the Province .

Gloucestershire And Herefordshire.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held oa Tuesday , 24 th ult ., at the Green Dragon Hotel , Hereford , and was attended by representatives of the various Lodges of the two counties under its jurisdiction . Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith Provincial Grand Master presided .

Before the assembly of Prov . Grand Lodge , Bro . Vassar-Smith had officiated at the installation of Bro . G . B . Sinclair as W . M . of the St . Ethelbert Lodge , No . 243 , at which ceremony many of the visiting Brethren were present . On taking the chair in Provincial Grand Lodge , he was supported by his Deputy Bro . Orlando Shellard , Hereford .

The business of Provincial Grand Lodge was chiefly of a routine character . There were , however , some exceptions . The members of Gloucester Lodge , No . 439 , had given to Prov . G . Lodge since its last meeting a ceremonial sword of a very handsome design . The richly-gilt hilt was ornamented with Masonic emblems , and with the arms of the counties of Gloucester and Hereford , and of the city of Gloucester , and the blade bore the inscription :

Presented to Provincial Grand Lodge , by members of Lodge Gloucester , No . 439 , in the Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Victoria , 1897 . N . PHILPOTT Secretary . W . B . WOOD W . M .

The sword was fitted in an oak case , also bearing ah inscription and the names of the subscribers . The valuable gift was suitably acknowledged by the Prov . G . Master on the re-appointment of Bro . Philpott as Sword Bearer . A vote of twenty guineas was made from the funds of Prov . G . Lodge to the approaching Centenary Festival of the Boys School .

The Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the Officers for the ensuing year , as follow :

Bro . O . Shellard 243 - - - - Deputy A . S . Townsend 243 - - - Senior Warden R . H . Shrapnell 218 - - - Junior Warden Colonel R . Bogers 10 Master Overseer W . Parlby 243 - Senior Overseer B . P . Sumner 439 - Junior Overseer

Rev . Dr . Lynes 340 - - - Chaplain J . Balcomb 10 Treasurer H . G . Courtenay 218 - - - Registrar G . Norman 10 - - - - Secretary W . F . Plimmer 218 - - - Senior Deacon J . Jennings 439 - Junior Deacon

G . D . Woodman 340 - - - Inspector of Works M . Ll . Evans 10 - - - - Director of Ceremonies N . Philpott 439 - - - Sword Bearer F . J . Palmer 10 - - - - •Standard Bearer F . Forty 10 - Organist H . H . Parry 243 - - - - Inner Guard Farr 139 - - - - - Tyler .

Lodge having been closed , the Brethren dined together under the presidency of the Prov . G . Master , and a short toast list was disposed of .

OLD Books and Curiosities relating to Freemasonry or other Secret Societies wanted . Address , W . W . Morgan , New Barnet .