Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND LODGE .

THE Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday , at the Mark Masons' Hall , London , the Earl of Euston Pro Grand

Master presiding . Bro . Thomas Fenn acted as S . W ., and Bro . Robert Berridge as J . W . Col . A . B . Cook took the post of Deputy Grand Master . The three Overseers were Bros . Dr . Balfour Cockburn , Charles Belton , and W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P .

Among other Officers present were Major Clifford Probyn G . Treasurer , Frank Richardson G . Registrar , C . F . Matier G . Secretary , and Major C . W . Carroll G . D . C . Bro . C . A . B . Bignold Grand Standard Bearer , who was unable to be present at the meeting on 2 nd June , was invested with the insignia of his office .

The Earl of Euston said he had to announce that the Earl of Limerick , who had done a great deal for Mark Masonry , had since the June meeting passed away . In 1870 his lordship was Grand Senior Warden , Deputy Grand Master in 1872 , and Grand Master from 1875 to 1878 . All the Mark Brethren would agree

that Grand Lodge most deeply regretted the loss it had sustained by his death . Lord Limerick had served the Order well , and the Brethren would not be doing rightly or properly as Masons if they did not sorrow and condole with those he had left behind . He moved first that Grand Lodge record on its

minutes its sense of the deep loss it has sustained by the death of the Earl of Limerick Past Grand Master ; and secondly that a letter be written to the Dowager Lady Limerick and family , expressing the sincere sympathy and condolence of the Brethren with them in their sad bereavement .

Col . A . B . Cook , as one who had known and seen the work of the Earl of Limerick for many years in Mark Masonry , and how well and faithfully he had served the Order , felt it a great honour to second the motion , which was carried unanimously , after which the minutes of the Quarterly Communication of 2 nd June were read and confirmed .

The Report of the General Board , which has already been published , was , on the motion of Bro . Frank Richardson , seconded by Major Clifford Probyn , adopted . Dean Currie Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Sussex afterwards requested the acceptance by Grand Lodge of a

fulllength oil painting of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , which the Mark Province of Sussex presented as a testimony of their great respect and esteem towards H . R . H . for honouring them by being their Grand Master in the Mark Degree and also in the Craft .

The Earl of Euston accepted the present , and thought the Brethren could not , as members of Grand Lodge , do less than thank the Province of Sussex most heartily for their kindness , and congratulate them on having such a Brother as the Duke

of Connaught to rule over them . Their presentation of his portrait was a proof that they honoured and respected him . He moved that the thanks of Grand Lodge be entered on the minutes . The motion was adopted nem . con ., and Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .

Cheshire.

CHESHIRE .

THE Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the New Masonic Hall , . Claughton Road , Birkenhead , on Wednesday , 26 th ult ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., Past Grand Warden England , who said he was pleased to find the books of the various Lodges in his Province well and neatly kept , and a

certain amount of progress was taking place . The very large attendance that day convinced him that they were endeavouring to carry out the true principles of Masonry . He sincerely hoped they would endeavour to work harmoniously together , and so maintain the continuity and prosperity of that ancient and honourable institution .

The Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , who succeeded his brother , Lord Egerton of Tatton ( who had held the positon of Provincial Grand Mark Master for twelve years ) , having served three years as ruler of Mark Masonry in Cheshire , was again unanimousl y and with acclamation elected for a further term of three years .

The Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year , and , in response to an invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Frodsham , expressed his willingness to accede to the request . — " Macclesfield Courier . "

Dorset.

DORSET .

THE following is a list of the Officers appointed at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , as reported in our last issue : — Bro . H . T . George 126 - - - - Deputy J . A . Sherren 126 - Senior Warden E . Mills 133126 - ' - - - Junior Warden Rev . F . Mondey 126 - - - Chaplain

Earl of Portarlington 126 ... Blaster Overseer R . Toleman 121 - Senior Overseer D . H . Williams 126 ... Junior Overseer G . Habgood 99 ( re-elected ) - - Treasurer Zillwood Milledge 126 - - - Secretary F . J . D . Reid 121 - - - - Registrar of Marks W . Hair 133 - - - - Senior Deacon D . J . Lawson 133 - - - - Junior Deacon

Sidney S . Milledgo 126 - - - Inspector of Works A . Rayner 126 - Director of Ceremonies J . Bagg 133 .... Sword Bearer E . Cox 121 ----- Standard Bearer A . Budden 99 Inner Guard H . A . Hurdle 126 - - - - Organist G . J . Freeman 133 - - - - Steward A . Hains 99 ( re-appointed ) - - Tyler .

SOUTHDOWN LODGE , No . 164 . THE members had a most interesting gathering at the Corn Exchange , Haywards Heath , on Wednesday , 26 th ult ., it being the installation of the Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , the honour being conferred on Bro . Japheth Tickle P . G . R ., the installation being ably performed by Bro . Howe W . M .

The Very Rev . Dean Currie gave an excellent address to the Brethren , on a topic affecting the prestige of the Masonic world . A banquet was laid by Blessrs . Golding and Sons , that was highly satisfactory ; the W . M . presided , and was supported by an influential company . The toasts were of the usual order , many good wishes being expressed for a successful year to the Southdown Lodge , with compliment and eulogy to the W . M ., Visitors , and Brethren .

Bro . D . Wright Prov . G . Mark Secretary responded to the toast of the Deputy Prov . Grand Blaster and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge present and past . He said that had not the W . B 1 . mentioned his name he should have thought someone else was being referred to . He did not know he was such an excellent man . The duties of his office were a pleasure to discharge , as the Secretaries of the various Lodges made his work light ; especially was

this the case with Bro . Challis ( the Secretary of No . 164 ) . The Lodges in the Province had not made the progress that might be expected , but this was partly accounted for by the re-adjustment of the position of many Brethren to give true and intrinsic value and strength to their mother Lodges . He was sorry his esteemed chief , who could have spoken so much better than he , was not present . It was not the first time he had received their hospitality , and he hoped it would not be the last .

The health of the W . M . was proposed by Bro . John Howe I . P . M ., who wished him a happy and prosperous year of office , and promised his hearty support , saying that he felt assured that Bro . Tickle would grace the chair and do his utmost to maintain the traditions of the Lodge . The Worshipful Blaster , in responding , gave an outline of his career in

Mark Blasonry , and related how he had been introduced into that beautiful district , where his . ambition was that day crowned . Nothing should be wanting on his part to make his colleagues as happy as possible , and it would be his aim to stir . ; : ythen the Lodge by the introduction of new blood .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

A QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —You will doubtless have a report of the election meeting of the Blackwater Lodge , No . 1977 , held at Maldon , on the 24 th ult ., when Bro . T . Grant was elected as Worshi pful Blaster for the

ensuing year , but you are not so certain to know that this Brother has been elevated into the chair by a somewhat unusual course of procedure , the facts being that in 1892 he was invested as Junior Warden of the Lodge , and never afterwards attended until a few months ago , when I presume he thought he could " work " the election for Blastership .

I suppose there is nothing irregular in such a proceeding , but it displays an amount of underhand dealing that is far from creditable . I am of opinion that unless some very strong case can be made out against any Officer in a Lodge that his promotion should go on year by year , and that it is most un-Masonic to put one member forward—especially when he has been absent from the Lodge for upwards of three years—in preference to those who have regularly worked up in rotation . Yours , Sec , PRECEDENCE .

The American Freemasons are about to establish a new " university " at Girard , Pennsylvania , at which the children of Masons may be matriculated after attaining the age of ten .