Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — PROV . GRAND LODGE OP CHESHIRE . ON Monday afternoon a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire was held at the Masonio Chambers , llamilton-street , Birkenhead . At a quarter-past two o ' clock a Mark Masters' Lodge was opened , and at half-past two the Grand Mark Lodge of the Province was opened in dne form , under the banner of the Joppa Mark Lodge , by the Right Hon . Lord Egerton of Tatton , the Deputy Grand Mark Master of England and the Right Worshipfnl Provincial

Grand Mark Master of Cheshire . There was a numerous attendance of brethren , all the Lodges of the Province being represented , among those present being Bro . the Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope , Bros . I . H . Bradshaw W . M . Joppa Lodge , George Morgan , C . K . Benson , Dr . Young , I . E . Skidmore , W . Bennett , T . C . Thorburn , H . D . Roberts , Timothy Webster , J . M . Jones , W . Roberts , Richard

Newhouse P . M . Provincial Grand Secretary , W . Parker , W . Robertson . J . P . Piatt , John Pemberton , Edward Brassey , N . Robertson , G . Wynne , W . M . Wylde , R . Martin , W . Pinchett , W . G . Cronan , James Salmon P . P . G . J . W ., < fco . The bnsiness of the Province was commenced by the roll of Lodges and tho roll of Provincial Grand Officers being oalled over , after which the

minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge meeting , held at Altrinoham , on the 28 th of September 1883 , and those of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge held at Northwick , on the 29 th December 1883 , were read and confirmed . The Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . F . K . Stevenson , then presented his accounts for the past year , whioh were passed , and he was re-elected for the ensuing year . The E . W . P . G . M . M . afterwards proceeded to appoint and invest

the following brethren as bis Officers : — Bro . Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope ... Dep . Prov . Grand Master George Morgan ... ... Prov . G . Senior Warden C . K . Benson ... ... Prov . G . Junior Warden Richard Newhouse ... ... Prov . G . Secretary Dr . Young ... ... ... Prov . G . Master Overseer I . E . Skidmore ... ... Prov . G . Senior Overseer Timothy Webster ... ... Prov . G . Junior Overseer J . M . Jones ... ... ... Prov . G . Registrar W ; Roberts ... ... ... Prov . G . Senior Deaoon W . Parker ... ... ... Prov . G . Junior Deacon

Edward Brassey ... ... Prov . G . Inspector of Works N . Robertson ... ... Prov . G . Director of Cers . G . Wynne ... ... ... Prov . G . Assist . D . of Cers . W . M . Wylde ... ... Prov . G . Sword Bearer R . Martin ... . ; , ... Prov . G . Standard Bearer H . D . Roberts ... ... Prov . G . Inner Guard W . G . Cronan ... ... ) D no . j W . Finchett j Prov . G . Stewards The Lodge was then closed , after which the brethren adjourned to the dining ball , where an excellent banquet was served b y Messrs . Fisk and Fairhurst , Liverpool .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — PANMURE CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT , No . 720 . THE meetings of this most useful Chapter of Improvement , tho necessity for which as an adjunct to the working of the Royal Arch Degree in South London , has been long manifest , have been continued throughout the Masonic recess , and are now again assuming incrrosed proportions in respect of numbers attending , and in quality of ceremonial working . Amongst those present at the meeting held

on Friday last , at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Camberwell , were several well-known Principals and Past Principals of the Order ; and , in consequence , the rendering of the ritual was perfeofc in every respect . The Chapter has the advantage of possessing complete furniture in miniature , and this of coarse adds greatly to the precision and effect of the necessary explanations comprised in the

beautiful and instructive drama which it is the object of this supreme degree to represent . On Friday , the 26 th ult ., the Chapter of Improvement was opened by Ex . Comp . J . S . Terry Z . 720 as Z ., Ex . Comp . G . Clark H . 1777 as H ., Comp . H . Baldwin P . S . N , as J ., and Ex . Comps . T . Poore P . Z . and Scribe E . 720 , and James Stevens P . Z . 720 and 771 . Comps . Vincent 1329 officiated as P . S ., Murche 1329 as S . E ., and G . Hughes as candidate . Ex . Comp . J . Allen J .,

Crystal Palace Chapter , and others , were also present and shared in the pleasure and satisfaction which the bnsiness of the evening afforded . On the closing of the Chapter the meeting was adjourned to the evening of Friday , the 3 rd inst ., at eight o ' clock . We can recommend Companions in South London , desirous of perfecting themselves in the work of the Chapter , to attend on that occasion , and at the forthcoming meetings during the ensuing months .

ECCLESTON CHAPTER , No . 1624 . A REGULAR Convocation of this Chapter was held on the 24 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street . Comps . J . G . Fisher M . E . Z ., J . Wyer P . Z . H ., C . Tayler J ., Isaacs Treasurer , A . W . Beckham S . E ., H . M . Levy as S . N ., Lee 1 st Assistant , Ray as 2 nd Assistant . Comps . GristJamesBignold and Bennett

, , . Visitor—H . M . Levy P . Z . 188 . Bro . H . Moore , M . R . C . S ., Villiers Lodge , 3 So . 1194 , was balloted for and unanimously elected , and then dul y exalted into R . A . Masonry by Comp . J . Wyer P . Z ., who conducted the business , by the courtesy of the M . E . Z ., who acted as H .,

Royal Arch.

and Comp . Vincent P . Z . as P . S . A most efficient rendering was then criven to the ceremony . After routine work the Chipter was closed to the 4 th Wednesday in December . The Companions adjourned to tho Holborn Restaurant , where a very excellent snpper was provided by Bros . Gordon aud Hamp . Comp . W . Vincent P . Z . proposed tho health of the M . E . Z . The Companions had seen how ably he had

that , evening performed the duties of 2 nd Principal . The Eccleston Chapter was proud of the working of its Principals ; it was second to none in tho Craft , and Companion Fisher had fully exemplified this . The M . E . Z . thanked Comp . Vincent for his kind remarks ; he hoped during his year of omce to show them thnt his endeavours to do all he could for the benefit of the Chapter would be crowned with

success ; he could not do better than follow Comp . Vincent ' s example j he could not hope to equal him , but would take him as a model . The M . E . Z ., in proposing the toast of the Exaltee , said it had been to him a great pleasure to propose Comp . Moore for exaltation . As a Mason he is known to be most energetic , and would doubtless be a credit to tho Chapter . He expressed a fervent hope that he might be

among them many years , and eventually secure a high position . Comp . Moore having eloquently responded , the M . E . Z . then proposed the toast of the P . Z ., Comp . Vincent , on whom the success of the Chapter iminly depended . He was an excellent worker , and looked after their interests . Comp . Vincent said he scarcely deserved all the kind compliments paid him by the M . E . Z . j however ,

he thanked him , and conld assure all present his interest both in Lodge and Chapter wonld never relax . He was proud of being one of the Founders . Any knowledge he possessed , and any assistance required of him he wonld feel only too pleased to render for their benefit . In speaking to the toast of the H . and J . the M . E . Z . said the Companions had witnessed how ably Companion J . Wyer had performed the duties of First Principal . The J ., Comp . Tayler , is

comparatively a young member ; in the Craft he has attained a high , position ; while the Chapter has suoh Officers it must flourish . He wonld couple with the toast the names of Comps . Lee , Beckham S . E ., and the rest of the Officers ; also Comp . Isaacs , the Treasurer , who , he regretted , was absent through a domestic affliction . Thia toast having been responded to , Comp . H . M . Levy P . Z . 188 responded for the Visitors , and shortly afterwards the Janitor ' s toast was given .

At the meeting of the North London Chapter of Improvement , at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , on Thursday , Comp . Sheffield took the chair of M . E . Z ., Knight H ., Dehane J ., Hubbard aoting as S . E ., Hislop S . N ., Money P . S . The Companions mustered well on this occasion , and a very profitable evening was spent .

A Brnssels paper of the 15 th ult . gives the following as showing the distribution of oar Masonic Lodges among the different countries of the world . It alleges that in England and Wales there are 1187 Lodges ; in Scotland , 534 ; in Holland , 289 ; Gibraltar , 5 ; Malta , 4 ; Grand Duchy of

Luxemburg , 46 ; Belgium , 15 ; Denmark , 7 ; Sweden and Norway , 18 ; France , 287 ; Algeria , 11 ; Germany , 342 ; Switzerland , 33 ; Spain , 300 ; Portugal , 22 ; Italy , 110 ; Hungary , 44 ; Roumania , 11 ; Servia , 1 ; Greece , 11 '; Turkey , 26 ; Egypt , 26 ; Morocco , 2 ; West Coast of Africa ,

11 ; South African Colonies , 61 ; Russian Colonies , 118 ; China , 13 ; Japan , 4 ; Australia , 229 ; United States of America , 9 , 884 ; Canada , 535 ; Brazil , 236 , or more than 15 , 000 Lodges , with a membership exceeding 11 millions of brethren . Where our contemporary obtained its statistics

from we are unable to say , but we know they are wrong m very many instances , and that about a million and a-half of brethren is much nearer the true state of the Masonio poll than its 11 millions . Thus , in England and Wales there are about 1 , 400 Lodges , in Holland about 100 , while

as regards Ireland , which can boast of the second oldest Grand Lodge , no particulars whatever are given . As to the Rnssian colonies , we know nothing of the existence of any , much less of there being Masonic Lodges in them .

We are afraid the unknown journal to which we are indebted for these particulars has taken them whencesoever obtained , on trust , and without troubling itself to test their accuracy or inaccuracy .

We are asked to call the attention of the members of Metropolitan Lodges of Instruction , and of Provincial Lodges , to Bro . Stevens' advertisement , in another page . He is desirous to have opportunities during the forthcoming Masonic season for the delivery of his Lecture

" Knobs and Excrescences , " which explains the entire cere - monies of the E . A . Degree , and would be pleased to place himself at the disposal of any body of Freemasons desirous of his attendance for that purpose . We trust our

Provincial brethren will avail themselves of Bro . Stevens' services ; we can assure them that , though they may not endorse all our worthy brother ' s views , they cannot but derive instruction , and will listen to much that will interest them , from his discourse .