Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held at the Masonic Eooms , Workington , on Thursday , 26 th ult ., under the banner of Derwent Lodge , No . 282 , the Worshipful

Master of which is Josiah Purser Provincial Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies . The weather was beautifully fine , the attendance good , and all the Lodges in the Province represented except one .

Derwent Lodge was opened by Bro . Purser , assisted by his Wardens and other Officers , and received Provincial Grand Lodge in due form . Bro . Col . Frederic Eobertson Sewell Deputy

Provincial Grand Master , assisted by the Officers , opened fche Provincial Grand Lodge in due form , lhe roll of Lodges was then called over , and all responded except Kentdale Ledge , No . 195 , Kendal . The roll of Present Provincial Grand Lodge Officers

was called over . A few were unavoidably absent and sent apologies . The minutes of the last annual Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Penrith , and of the special Provincial

Grand Lodge , held at Whitehaven in the month of January last , were respectively read and confirmed . On the motion of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , seconded by Brother Jos . Ostle Scott , Brother Dalrymple was unanimously elected Treasurer in the room of the late Brother P . de E . Collin , deceased .

The Deputy then appointed and invested the Officers for the ensuing year as follow :

Bro . Dr . Charles Gore Ring - - Senior Warden Thomas Mason .... Junior Warden Dr . J . F . Muir .... Master Overseer John Nelson Senior Overseer Josiah Purser .... Junior Overseer Rev . H . D . Rawnsley - - - Chaplain

George Dalrymple - - - Treasurer George W . Turney - - - Registrar Joseph G . Thompson - - - Secretary Sergt-Major Lockeyer - - - Senior Deacon Dr . S . Fanner .... Junior Deacon R . F . Long Inspector of Works

J . P . Bennett .... Director of Ceremonies Edmund Jackson - Assist . Dir . of Cers . Dr . S . Braithwaite - - - Sword Bearer James Fletcher .... Standard Bearer John Gibson Organist J . B . Thwaites .... Assistant Secretary

J . M . Clarke Inner Guard Jas . A . Fowler John Bouch 0 , , John Coates Hellon - - - / stewar <* William Hodgson - William Shaw , .... Tyler .

On the motion of Bro . Dalrymple ( Provincial Grand Treasurer ) , seconded by Brother J . Clifton Thompson ( Provincial Grand Secretary ) , Bro . Joseph Nicholson

George Dalrymple , Stout , and Hartley were unanimously appointed to serve on the General Purposes Committee for fche ensuing year , in addition fco the ex-qfficio members . Bro . J . Clifton Thompson proposed , and Bro . Charles

Gore Eing seconded , as a recommendation to the Eight Worshipful Provincial Grand Mark Master , that the next annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge should be held at Keswick ,- under the banner of Becfcive Lodge , No 452 . 5 The Deputy Prov . G . M . stated thafc the

recommendation would be considered . The Deputy proposed , and Bro . Henry Hartley ( Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden ) seconded , the following resolution , which was carried unanimously : —" That

this Provincial Grand Lodge desires to place on record the great loss the Province and Mark Masonry has sustained by the death of their late distinguished

member , Bro . P . de E . Collin , deceased , and to respectfully offer to his widow their deepest sympathy with her in her great bereavement .

The Deputy next called attention to certain irregularities in Lodges in other Provinces in regard to elections of Worshipful Masters , and also , while regretting that candidates

were not , owing to depression of trade and busrness , offering themselves as members as sufficiently as heretofore , congratulated Mark Masonry on the

Mark Masonry.

mcrease under the English Constitution , and stated thafc during last year there were nine new Lodges consecrated , 714 certificates granted , and upwards of 32 , 000 Mark Master Masons on the register of the Grand Mark Lodge of England .

This ending the business , after hearty good wishes , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and the Brethren repaired forthwith to the Green Dragon Hotel , and partook of an excellent banquet prepared by Mrs . Holliday , after which the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured .

Dorsetshire.

DORSETSHIRE .

THE Annual meeting of this Provincial Mark Lodge was held at Wimborne , under the presidency of Bro . Eev . W . M . Heath Prov . G . M ., who appointed the following as his Officers for the year :

Sir R . N . Howard - - Depaity W . Watts - - - . Senior Warden J . B . Cole ---. Junior Warden E . Whitby - - - . Master Overseer Hefcley .... Senior Overseer

J . D . F . Reid - - - Junior Overseer G . Habgood - - - Treasurer R . Patey .... Secretary L . Mulledge - - - Registrar R . Score .... Inspector of Works

M . Davey .... Director of Ceremonies R . Tucker .... Senior Deacon A . Rayner - Junior Deacon N . Bowes --- - Standard Bearer C . J . Freeman - - - Assistant Standard Bearer

W . G . Dowell - - - Inner Guard A . Harris .... Tyler . It was announced that both the Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy were about to shortly relinquish their positions .

The Brethren of Cheshire and , indeed , of many other parts where the Masonic chief of that county is known , will rejoice at the announcement recently made as to the approaching marriage of Lord Egerton of Tatton with

the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos , and we anticipate the occasion will nofc be allowed to pass without some tangible expression of goodwill on the part of fche Masons under his rule , which has been an eventful

one for the Craft in his district . Appointed as head of the Province of Cheshire in 1886 Lord Egerton has frequently displayed the great interest he takes in Freemasonry , his latest effort in this direction being his promise to preside at next year ' s Festival of the Boys

School , which presidency will be none the less popular by reason of the marriage referred to , which we hope will lead to the happiness of the Cheshire chieftain , as will as that of his bride .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

WITH the laudable object of benefitting the funds of the St . Stephen ' s Home for Fatherless and Orphan Lads , a service for Freemasons was held at St . Stephen ' s Church , East India Eoad , Poplar , on Wednesday of last week , and was attended by a

gratifyingly large number of members of the Craft , as well as by a number of ladies , and others whose acquaintance with Masonry was limited fco a friendship with one or more of those connected with it , but whose

sympathies were with the benevolent intentions which actuated the All Saints' Lodge , No . 1719 , which initiated the affair . Masonic clothing was very largely worn , and added to the interest'of the occasion from a spectacular point of view . The Eev . E . J . Elliott ( Vicar of St .

Stephen ' s ) and the Eev . E . Cook ( Vicar of East Tilbury ) conducted the service , which was rendered additionally interesting , says the " East London Observer , " by the excellent singing of the choir . The sermon was preached by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon of London ( Grand Chaplain

of England ) , who , in the course of his address , enforced the lesson of kindness and charity , and eloquently appealed to "his Masonic Brethren , one of whose first principles is the helping of one another , for support for the St . Stephen ' s Home .