Mark Masonry.

Shepherd 225 , H . R . Cooper Smith Berks and Oxon ( Bar ) , James Smyth 44 , J . F . Tweedale 171 , Aug . Walton 144 , Wm . Watkins Monmouthshire , Alfred Williams 104 ( Bar ) . Grand Lodge was then closed .

Northumberland And Berwick Lodge Of Mark Master Masons ( T.I.)

NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS ( T . I . )

The annual meeting took place on Wednesday , 24 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Maple Street , Newcastle . The Lodge was opened by Bro . Dr . Luke Armstrong W . M ., assisted by the Officers . Bro . T . J . Armstrong Past Grand Steward Prov . G . Seo . W . M . Elect , wa 3 then presented to Bro . W . S . Hughes P . P . G . S . W , the Installing Master , to receive at his hands the benefits of installation . This having been

performed according to custom , the newly installed W . M . appointed and invested the following brethren as his Officers for tho ensuing year : —Dr . Luke Armstrong I . P . M ., R . L . Armstrong S . W-, R . G . Salmon J . W ., W . E . Franklin P . M . Chaplaiu , John Wood M . O ., J . S . B . Bell S . O ., S . M . Harris J . O ., R . Locke Treasurer , J . Usher Reg . of

Marks , G . J . Place Secretary , W . S . Hughes P . M . D . C , 0 . B . Ford S . D ., E . Marston J . D ., Seymour Bell I . G ., W . H . Dunn Organist , R . C . Symons S . S ., R . Veitch J . S ., G . S . Sims Tyler . The Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Turk ' s Head Hotel , where they sat down to an excellent dinner , presided over by the W . M .

Old Kent Mark Lodge of Instruction . —A special meet .

mg of the above was held , at the Trocadero , 6 Liverpool-street , on Monday , the 29 th ult ., when the chair was occupied by Bro . H . Venn , Bro . Moon was S . W ., H . Dioketts J . W ., W . B . Date M . O ., Graveley S . O ., Pargeter J . O ., Ramsay S . D ., Griffith J . D ., Pitt I . G ., and Bros . D . M . Dewar , Dr . Sigismund , Haynes , Nicholls , and several other brethren ; Turquand Preceptor , and Gimingham Sec .

After preliminaries , the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of advancement , assisted by the brethren , Bro . Money acting candidate . Seven brethren were admitted members . The Lodge was then closed , and the company adjourned to an excellent supper , provided under the auspices of Bro . Silvestre , in celebration of the first annual Festival of the Lodge . The chair was taken by Bro . Turquand , who , in

response to the toast of his health , congratulated the brethren upon the great measure of success which had attended the operations of the Lodge , as testified to by the considerable number of members already enrolled , and by the large meeting he saw before him . He referred to the prophecies of failure with which the inauguration of the Lodge had been met , but he considered failure impossible if the

earnestness displayed during the past year were continued . He urged the members to make every endeavour to bring in other brethren , and particularly desired that Masters of Lodges would impress upon their Officers the necessity of practising their several duties , for which this Lodge of Instruction offered such good

opportunities . The toasts of Success to the Mother Lodge , responded to by Bro . H . Venn W . M ., and the newly joined Brethren , replied to in felicitous terms by Bros . Dr . Sigismund , Pargeter , and Graveley , the Secretary , and others , followed , the brethren separating after having spent a most enjoyable evening .

THE ZEALANDINA MARINE LODGE , No . 2 G 1 .

SOME months back several Mark Master Masons resident at Port Chalmers determined to establish a Lodge under the English Constitution there , and to that end forwarded an application to the Grand Mark Lodge of England for a warrant of Constitution . This was numerously signed , and on arrival at Home was laid before the M . W . G . M . M ., who at once graciously acceded to the request , and

issued a warrant authorising the petitioners to meet under the style and title of " The Zealandia Marine Lodge , No . 261 . " In due course the warrant reached Port ChalmerB , and the members having made all necessary preparations , decided upon consecrating and dedicating the new Lodge on Wednesday , 15 th September , at 8 . 30 p . m . The Lodge was opened at 7 p . m . by the Worshipful Master ,

Bro . Charles de Longueville Graham , with the assistance of his Officers , and after a candidate for the Mark degree had been regularly advanced , the business of the evening commenced . The Lodge at this part of the proceedings presented a very beautiful spectacle , the building , which is exclusively devoted to Masonic purposes , being appropriately decorated , while from the numerous attendance of

members and visitors ( some of whom came from considerable distances ) the scene presented a very animated appearance . Among the Mark Lodges represented were the " Copley " and " Beaconsfield , " E . C , " Greenock St . John ' s , " No . 17 , S . C , "Kilwinning Otago , " No . 116 , S . C , and " Shamrock" Lodge , I . C The dais was occupied by the W . Brethren T . S . Graham P . M . I . C , W . Caldwell , S . T . Kerr Campbell

P . M . ' s , and others . An efficient choir under the leadership of Bro . J . Ross was present , and the musical arrangements were ably carried oat by Bro . A . Bott Organist of the Lodge . Throughout the consecration ceremony the necessary details were under the supervision of Bro . W . L . Buchanan , who was indefatigable in his efforts to carry out the ceremonies with success . After the preliminary business had been disposed of the choir sang

the 133 rd Psalm , and tho following prayer was offered by the Chaplain Bro . R . Bouchop : — " Grand Overseer of the Universe , Maker and Ruler of all Worlds , deign from Thy Celestial Temple , from realms of light and glory , to bless us in all the purposes of onr present assembly . We humbly invoke Thee to give us at this , pud at all times , wisdom in all our doings , strength of mind in all our difficulties , and tho beauty of harmony in til onr communications . Permit us , 0 Thou Author of Light and Life , Great Source of Love and Happiner ) , to

Northumberland And Berwick Lodge Of Mark Master Masons ( T.I.)

erect this Lodgo and now solemnly consecrate it to tho honour and glory of Thy Most Holy Name . " After this prayer the choir chanted the sanctus , " Glory be to God on High , " and the Worshipful Master proceeded to sprinkle the consecration elements—corn , wine , and oil , —the choir chanting the Old Hundredth Psalm , the dedicatory prayer being delivored by tho

Chaplain as follows— " Grant , 0 Lord onr God , that those who aro now about to bo invested with the Government of this Lodge may be endowed with wisdom to instruct their brethren in their duties , and that , marking well Thy holy commandments , they may glorify Thee in all their works . Bless all our brethren wherever dispersed , and grant speedy reliof to all who are either oppressed or distressed . Wo

commend , 0 Great Overseer of the Univorso , to Thee all tho members of Thy whole family . May tho genuine tenets and principles of our profession ever distinguish them , and lead them to increased knowledge of Thy Divine precepts , and the love of each other . Finally , may we , when we have finished our work here , receive Thy approving mark , and have our transition from this sceno of our earthly toils to

that spiritual mansion above , that Hoavonly temple , that house not made with hands , eternal in tho Heavens , thoro to enjoy light , glory , and bliss ineffablo and eternal . " The choir again chanted , " So mote it bo , " and " Glory bo to God ou Hi gh , " with tho anthem " To Heaven's High Architect all praiso , " and tho Worshipful Master declared tho Lodgo consecrated and constituted . After this part of

the ceromony an anthem was rendered by tho choir . Tho grace cap was then passed round tho Lodge , and tho dedicatory ceremony was brought to an end . The Officers of the Lodgo were presented for investiture , aud thii part of the ceremony was ably performed by the R . W . Bro . W . Oald . well P . M . No . 116 S . C , who placed the distinguishing badges of their respective offices on tho following brethren : —Bros . R . Ritchie S . W .

W . Murray J . W ., J . A . D . Adams M . O ., S . de Leon S . O . ( by proxy ) , W . L . Buchanan J . O ., R . Bauchop Chaplain , C G . V . Leijon Treasurer , J . W . dimming Secretary , C L . Arnesson R . of M ., G . L . Asher S . D ., 0 . N . Schumacker J . D ., A . Bott Organist , G . Boaz I . G ., T . Brebner Tyler , J . Johnston Steward . The Lodge was afterwards closed in due form , and the visitors and members were entertained by the Master and Officers .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WIM , BE WORKED At the Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 , at the Moor , gate , 15 Finsbury Pavement , E . C , on Monday , 6 th December , commencing at 7 p . m precisely . Bros . George Davis W . M . 167 W . M ., Hemming 1287 S . W ., Side W . M . 1507 J . W ., W . M . Stiles P . M . 1732 ,

S . W . 1507 Preceptor . First Lecture . —Bros . A . Hubbard , W . M . Stiles , C . Taylor , W . Side , J . C Smith , Hemming , and Gush . Second Lecture : —Bros . T . C . Edmonds , H . De Hane , E . Pelikan , R . Larchin , and E . A . Dutton . Third Lecture : —Bros . E . F . Pierdon , F . W . Sillis , and Edwin Storr .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ALDERMAN JOHN MARCH , OF YORK .

WE regret to announce the death of Bro . John March , of York , which took place somewhat suddenly , at his residence in that city , on Tuesday , the 26 th November , in his 73 rd year . Bro . March was one of the oldest members of the York Lodge , No . 236 , having been initiated on the 19 th of November 1849 . From the time of his initiation he took a warm interest in the Lodge with which he was

associated , and after having served the minor offices , was elected to the Worshipful Master's chair in December 1858 . He was also one of the Trustees of the Masonic Hall in York , towards which he was a liberal subscriber , and was ever ready to identify himself with auy movement having for its object the good of Freemasonry . Bro . March was also a member of the York City Council , in the

proceedings of which he took a very active part ; he entered the Corporation in 1849 as Councillor , since which time he has sat continuously in the Chamber , being , at the time of his death , with the exception of Bro . Sir James Meek P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., the oldest member of the Corporation . In 1871 he was elevated to the Aldermanic bench , and in 1873 served the office of Lord Mayor . During his mayoralty

the installation of the Earl of Zetland , the present popular Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorkshire , took place in the City of York , under the auspices of the York Lodge , when Bro . March placed at the disposal of the Province the state rooms of the Mansion Hou 3 e and the ancient Guildhall , in which the ceremony was performed . Ou the occasion Bro . March was appointed to the office of Senior

Provincial Grand Warden , amidst the warmest expressions of approval from a large concourse of brethren . Bro . March was greatly esteemed by a wide circle of friends , and by his lamented death the York Lodge aud the Province of North and East Yorkshire have lost one of their most venerated and respected members , and the city of York one of its most valaed citizens . The funeral of Bro . March took place

at the York Cemetery on Tuesday last , his remains being followed to the grave by the Lord Mayor and Corporation , the magistrates , and a large number of prominent citizens . Amongst the brethren who attended to pay their last tribute of respect to their departed brother were Bro . W . H . Gainforth W . M . ; Past Masters Bros . R . W . Hollon , Sir James Meek , Rev . J . E . M . Young , William Lawton , R . Davison , Jos . Todd Treasurer , George Balmford , Swann Maltby , F . Rawling

A . Buckle , T . B . Whytehead ; Bros . J . Sykes Rymer J . W ., George Kirby Secretary , Alderman Jos . Terry , Alderman George Brown , Ahlorman W . Varey , E . Oates , M . Varrill , T . S . Camidge , Thomas Hopkins Organist , E . Honlden , William T . Gowland , Jos . Wilkinson Town Clerk , H . Churchill I . G ., Turner , George Browne , George Garbutt , J . Savillo , John Ives , W . Wilson , T . G . Hodgson , Alfred H < tnson , J . Young , W . Smith , F . Bland , W . Nicholson , Henry Scott , J . Red fare , and many other brethren .