Festival Of The Mark Masters' Benevolent Fund.

the Mark Benevolent Fund . It was naturally expected that he should say a few words with reference to its histoiy . It had been established nine years , and had been the means of relieving many distressed brethren and their families . It was not solely connected with the Freemasons of this country . They had also assisted Scotch and Irish brethren , and thoy would continue to render assistance wherever a

real case of want occurred . They wero now iu a very prosperous condition ; during last year they had had three substantial grants . They must not forget thoso to whose exertions the prosperity of the fund was mainly due . Ho specially referred to Bros . Meggy and Binckes . To them is duo the great successor the fund . Ho was told that there was a scheme in contemplation by which tho children of

deceased Mark Masons might also receive benefits from their fund . While thoy might keep within bounds themselves , they mijiht assist the other great Masonio Charities . He would concludo by proposing success to the Mark Benevolent Fund . Bro . Meggy thanked the Chairman for his remarks . Ho felt sure that most of those brethren who had been associated with him in tho work and

management of the fund would feel as gratified as ho did at the remarks of their noble chairman . During tho past nine years they had had tho pleasure of relieving 2-1 families , and lately , with substantial amounts . It was well known that a sum of £ 20 down was of moro use to a distressed family than £ 5 at odd times . They had £ 600 invested , and this sum he hoped shortly to see materially

increased . Bro . Binckes followed . Ho was proud to say that the nection with the Mark Benevohmt Fund . Their Order was recognised present was the most successful festival that had been held in con - nearly all over the world . At tho pre : cut time tho Grand Mark Lodgo of England numbered on its books ten or eleven thousand members , which number was constantly being increased . He considered that

the song which followed this toast was also very appropriate . They could quote its title " I fear no foo" % vith truth . With respect to tho otLer Masonic Institutions to which the chairman had been pleased to refer , ho was pleased to be nblo to state that Mark Masons had always been among their stoutest supporters . Tho list of subscriptions , as at foot , having been read by tho Assistant G . Sec , Bro . F . Davison ,

Grand Treasurer roso and proposed the health of tho Board of Stewards . Their fond had not been established many years , but at each of their annual gatherings they had been enabled to announce an increase . He would call npon Bro . Boggett of Hull who had collected the largest amount to respond to the toast . Bro . Boggott hud much pleasure in responding as Mark Victor . When he

undertook the office of Steward it was with the firm intention of bringing in the largest list , and he was pleased to find that his desire had been gratified . Bro . Meggy proposed , what the chairman announced as really the toast of the evening , —tlie ladies . Ho firmly believed that a great part of tho success was duo to their presence . He coupled with tho toast tho name of Bro . Cooper-Smith , who

thanked tho brethren for the hearty reception tho ladies had experienced , and ho was sure they wero extremely grateful to Mark Masons for introducing this innovation . Among those present wero tho following .- —Bros . 0 . F . Matier P . G . W ., Eev . F . W . Thoyte Grand Chap ., Frederic Davison Grand Treas ., F . Binckes P . G . J . W . Grand

Sec , Thomas Meggy P . G . M . 0 ., Major George Barlow P . G . M . O ., E . Berridgo G . D . C , S . Eosenthal P . G . D . C ., J . H . Wynne P . G . I . G ., J . H . Spencer P . G . I . G ., S . Fnnkensztein , A . Williams P . G . Stewards , Eichard Boggett , E . S . Eobinson , A . Middleton , Geo . Higgins , H . E . Cooper-Smith , Baron do Ferrieres , Captain Henry Berridgo , S . J . Pulley , H . W . Binckes G . Assist . Sec , & c . The following is a lisfc of the amounts collected by the various Stewards : —

G . Higgins Cheshire aud INorth Wales - 29 8 0 H . R . Cooper-Smith Carnarvon , 7 » - > 14 14 0 J . H . Spencer Soathwark , 22 . ¦ - 9 18 6 A . Middleton St . Andrews , 34 - - - 11 11 0 F . M . Tindain E . Arnison > Britannia , 53 - . - 15 15 0 C . H . Perrofc ) F . Binckes Aldershofc Military , 54 ¦ - 27 5 0 A . Williams Macdonald , 101 - - - 11 11 0 J . D . Moore Moore , 146 - - - - 10 17 6 J . G . Podevin Dover and Cinque Ports , 152 - 10 10 0 R . Boggett Humber , 182 - - - - 30 15 0 W . Barfoot Simon do Montfotd , 194 Major George Barlow Studholme , 197 - - -550 S . Eosenthal 3 G 0 Rev . F . W . Thoyte 26 0 0 J . Wordsworth - - - ... 550 0 . W . Wyndham 20 1 0 £ 232 2 0

A Trip To Canterbury

A TRIP TO CANTERBURY

1 . "'OR some years past it has bren the custom of one of the best friends of the Masonic Charitable Institutions , Bro . Benjamin Head , to invite the children who remain for the holidays in the School to accompany him on an excursion to some place , sufficiently near London to return the samo day . Amonsr other places thus visited were tho ruins at Stonehenge , and tho City and Cathedral of

Salisbury . This year , Bro . Head decided on the City of Canterbury , with its magnificent cathedral , and its pleasant promenades , and tho clay was fixed for Tuesday , 31 st July . Accordingly , the lads , twelve in num-!

ber , left Wood-green at an ea ' ; hour , and were punctual at the Holborn Viaduct Station , where ttiey were met by Bros . Fred . Binckes , C . F . Matier , Arthur Middleton , the Misses Binckes , Mrs . Matier , ftud , Mrs , Wwicpn , Tho Lpudou . Chatham , awl Dover Kailmiy Com-

A Trip To Canterbury

pany had attached special reserved compartments to the fast train from Victoria , from which station the girls , who only mustered five , were taken charge of by Bros . Head , A . H . Diaper , and Mis 3 Shepherd . Both the parties joined forces at Herno Hill , and in due course arrived at Canterbury , where they were delighted to find a hearty

welcome from Bros . Horatio Ward P . M . P . Prov . G . W . Wilts , and John Richard Hall P . M . ancl Secretary 31 , who most kindly gave up tho whole day to promote the comfort of tho little party . After strolling through and admiring tho beautiful gardens and tho Dano John , a movement was made for tho Fleni- do Lys Hotel , where a substantial repast had been prepared by Bro . aud Mrs . Ward , ample

justice to which was dono by all tho party , both great and small . Tho chair was taken by Bro . Head , who was faced by Bro . F . Binckes . Tho only toasts proposed woro tho healths of thn Queen , always a staunch supporter of our Masonic Charities , Bro . Benjamin Head , and Success to the Royal Masonic Institutions for Boys and Girls .

Tho entire party , which by this time had received several addi . tions to its numbers , and really looked of formidable proportions , proceeded to tho Cathedral , where seats had been provided for

evening . By the thoughtful provision of Bro . Dr . Longhnrst , tho organist of the Cathedral , a special anthem , by Ebdon , was sung , "Behold , how good ancl how joyful a thing it is . " At the conclusion of the service , tho ladies and brethren were joined by Bro . Plant W . M . elect 31 , who explained that , by tho special permission of tho Dean , ho ancl Bro . J . It . Hall would now conduct them to a fow of tho numberless

objects of antiquity contained in the venerable pile , and certainly no party of visitors , however illustrious , could desire to bo conducted by moro able guides than these two distinguished brethren , who were kindly assisted by Bro . Dr . Longhnrst . Born , brought np , and living , as these brethren do , under the very shadow of the " Cathedral of Christ Church , " they seem to lovo

every stone in tho sacred edifice . Each little bit of carving , dating perhaps from the time of Lanfranc , or Stephen Langton , possesses for them a new interest every time they see it , and our Masonio party were , by their eloquence , thoroughly imbued with the spirit of antiquarian lore , ancl the memory of tho heroes who lived in the days of Norman William and his descendants .

Nono of those present will ever , in after life , forget thafc they stood on the spot whore Thomas A'Beckett was murdered , or that they lingered by tho tomb of tho heroic Edward the Black Prince . Canterbury Cathedral has been often described by far abler pens than ours , and wo shall not trench on the ground of the antiquarian , or the archaeologist ; suffice it to thank those kind brethren , onca

more , for bringing its hidden treasures to our notice . On leaving tho Cathedral , the party returned to tea , soon after which a start was mado fcr the station , and preparations began for the journey home ; mutual and regretful leave takings were exchanged , and anticipations and hopes of another visit at some future time .

The terminus at the Great City was reached at 10 . 20 , and the little party was broken up , each to wend their homeward way , full of thanks to Bro . Head , aud joyful recollection of a day which will always bo remembered , with unmitigated pleasure , as a veritable dies albo lineata . The arrangements wero all made by our good Brother Binckes—ia ifc necessary to say they were perfect ?

Consecration Of The Rothesay Lodge, No. 1687.

CONSECRATION OF THE ROTHESAY LODGE , No . 1687 .

THE consecration of this Lodge , which has received from tho Grand Master sanction to use one of his titles and also the arms of the Dukedom , took place on Friday , the 27 th July , at tho Inns of Court Hotel , W . C , tho members being honoured b y the presence of tho R . W . Bro . Col . F . Burdett Prov . G . M . Middlesex . After the consecration ceremony , which was performed by Bro . R . W . Little , assisted by Bro . tho Rev . P . M . Holdcn Prov . Grand Chaplain , H . G .

Bnss Assist . G . Sec . as Director of Ceremonies , & c , a Board of Installed Masters was formed , and ^ Bro . Louis Beck , the W . M . designate , was introduced , and formally installed into the chair . At the conclusion of tho ceremony , Bro . Little who was labouring under severe indisposition , received the thanks of the brethren for the way in which he had performed the work . Bro . Holden gave the addresses .

Tho newly-installed Master having been saluted , proceeded to invest his officers as follows : —Bros . B . Swallow P . G . J . D . as P . M ., F . Kirk S . W ., J . Hancock J . W ., Docker S . D ., Crossland J . D ., Onthwaite I . G ., Potter Tyler . The W . M . referred with pleasure to tho presence of Bro . Col . F . Burdett , R . W . Little , H . G . Baas and Rov . P . M . Holrlen , ancl proposed that the thanks of the Lodge be voted and recorded on

the nuuntes to those brethren , and also that honorary membership should be conferred upon them . This was seconded by the S . W ., and carried nnanimonsly . Bro . F . Burdett thanked the members on behalf of the brethren they had been pleased to elect as hon . members . He hoped to have the opportunity of . seeing the plan ou which the Lodse had been started carried out in its rntiretv . After

a few remarks from bro . Littie , the Lod-e was closed until October . The brethren , 45 in number , then adjourned to the lianqupt , during which an excellent band , provided by Bro . Cohen , played selections from various operas , & c . ; a fantesiaon Scotch airs , composed by tho W . M ., being deservedly encored . Grace having been snnir , tho

toast of the Queen was given aud duly acknowledged . The health of the Grand Blaster , who the W . M . referred to as the D'iku of Rothesay , in honour of his having allowed that name to be used , was next given , followed by those of tho Pro G . M . and the D . G . M . and the rest of the Grand Officers . Tho W . M . was proud to pee so nnny Graud Officers among them , Yv'jth tho latter he coupled the Mames