Mark Masonry.

over a good attendance . Tho sum of ten guineas was voted as a contribution to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and other business having been transacted the P . G . M . appointed and invested the Officers for tho year . The brethren afterwards dined together iu the banqueting room of tho Albany Lodge .

ALBANY LODGE ( T . I . )

A MOST interesting ceremony took place at the Masonic Hall , Newport , on the 20 th ult ., when the ancient Albany Lodge was held for tho last time with iti ritual of "Time Immemorial . " After the Lodge was opened the Prov . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) entered , took fchechair , and received the allegiance of the old memberaof the Lodge to the Grand Mark

Lodge of England . Bro . D . S . Pring W . M . elect was then installed by the Prov . G . M . and rocoived into his keeping the warrant of confirmation granted in August last , to the Albany Lodge by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Grand Mark Master of Bogluud . In handing over

the document the Provincial Grand Master congratulated thoJJodge and Bro . Pring on the good work that day completed , and expressed his heartiest good , wishes for the prosperity of the Lodge . A number of brethren of other Lodges were elected as joining members .

ELFFIN LODGE , No 321 .

rpHE annual installation took place on the 21 st , Bro . Ed . Roberta JL being installed by Bro . Cornelius Davies P . G . S . England , The W . M . appointed tho following as his Officers : —Bros . Caradoc Rowland I . P . M . Sec . and Rogistrar , R . Newton S . W ., J . Williams 3 . W ., W . 0 . AVhiskin MX ) ., J . G . Jones S . O ., J . 0 . Morris J . O ., Herbert Rees S . D ., N . Bunnell Dir . of Cers . There was a large attendance of visiting brethren .

Recreation For Busy Workers.

RECREATION FOR BUSY WORKERS .

MODERN fashion has ordained that the workers of tho age shonld cease their labours daring a portion of the summer and leave the scenes of their daily work in search of health and recuperation , but fashion , in this case as in many others , has hardly made provision for the thousands who are unable to snatch more than a few days at a time from official duties , but who are perfectly

willing and able to take their holiday in instalment ? . True , thero are the Friday and Saturday to Monday and Tuesday cheap tickets to the popular Bea-side resorts , but thnt is hardly what some of ua want . We can get quits enough excitement and bustle in our everyday life , without fciking our recreation in much the same way , and what is more particularly needed pecms to bo a provision for short .

trips for bnsineps mon to districts whore a complete change of sceno can be enjoyed , and the busy work of life can give placo to rest and quietness , such qnietness as cannot bo found at p ipu ' ar resjrts near homo . The adtances made in r « cent years in tho matter of railway accommodation has in great measnre met tho difficulties we speak of , bnt there yet remains much to bo done beforo the matter will bo on

the basis we have set down in our own minds as necessary . Railway travelling itself soems to ns to meet the case in a certiin sense , and we believe many of our busiest workers would find relief iu simply undertaking a long journey and setting themselves to Etudy tho country and poiuts of iuterest on the road . Railway travelling came to be regarded as a tiresome and tedious undertaking , caneing more

suffering than pleasure , and produoing fatigue and discomfort ; but that is now , to a great extent , a legend of tho past—a relic of tho days of old , before Railway Companies learnt that it paid tha n to provide comfort for passengers , and cater for that section of the publ c who travelled far and wide for profit or pleasure . We kuoiv business men who reap more benefit from a journey by rail , with its

enforced idleness and the ever changing scenory to occupy the attention of the active brain , than they do from a week or so at one of the popular seasido resorts , where they meet miny of their every-day business acquaintances , and talk and act olmost as though they wero within a hundred yards of their office table . Many such men have in their time rushed across to Switzerland and Italy only to find

they were bored and wearied by the regular bands of continental tourists , and have afterwards made shorter and more enjoyable tours through tbe British Isles , all the time keeping within easier touch of their business , and ready for any emergenoy that might arise . We have occasionally enjoyed a trip through the Midlands and the Peak of Derbyshire under such conditions , and have been delighted with our

experiences . We have travelled the road in summer aud have appreciated the beauties of nature at that season of the year , and havo also done it in winter when a severe fro 3 t following a heavy fall of snow fought with bright sunshine for mastary o » er the fields and general landscape ; really we do not know which was the more enjoyable , each posiessed its own charms , but in view of the general

dismal nature of things in winter we are inclined to give preference to the frost and snow , as providing real pleasure at a dull seasin . Travelling by the Midland Railway has always possessed attractions over moat of its rivals , by reason of the extra comfort provided , in the form of superior accommodation , saloon and Pulman carriages , and , more recently , dining and refreshment cars ; beyond all which

wo think tbe Midland Company specially deserve the thanks of the masses as being the pioneers of the cheaper fares which now prevail , coupled with express service and luxurious accommodation . Leaving St . Pancras in the early morning one has ample time to scan the daily paper and learn the news of the day while running out of Lon . don and past places of less general interest than are to be found further down the line , but by tho time Bedford ' reached one ' s

Recreation For Busy Workers.

time is available for sight seeing alone , and ample enjoyment can be derived from a study of the passing panorama . The ordinary business man must feel a certain-amount of interest journeying tnrongh the large towns with which business brings him into association , and assuming that he has deoided to make his trip one of pleasure alone , he can continue his journey with a mere passing thought of those in

the town he calls at ; or he may alight and pay a flying visit to an old friend or acquaintance . As we pass Derby a complete ohance of scenery unfolds itself , and the journey from here to Manchester has always struck us as one of the most exoiting and enjoyable to be met with in our Isle ; without the time to visit the places of interest en route we can enjoy their contemplation , and picture to ourselves how

much pleasure could be derived from a more lengthened stay . Con . tinning the journey past Matlock , whioh requires to be seen by night as well as by day , we find ourselves in Stockport or Manchester , where we can hardly resist the temptation of making a stay and ranowing the acquaintance of former journeys , or repay some of tho visits we have had from local brethren during their sojourn in tho

metropolis . Bnt we have deoided to reach Liverpool , and we pursue our journey , noting on tbe way the works of the great ship canal which is to revolutionise the trade of the world , and open np fresh fields and profits for the toiling masses as well as the merchant princes of the neighburhcod . Arriring at Liverpool , we make onr

way to the Pier Head , and boarding one or other of the many boats plying from thnt busy point soon find ourselves afc a pleasant sea side rosort , by no means wearied by our journey—in faofc , rather exhilarated than otherwise by the long spell of fresh air we havo enjiyed on the road , and » t the same time looking forward for another glance at the scenery of the opposite » ide of the railway on an earl y return jonrn ey

Devon Masonic Educational Fund.

DEVON MASONIC EDUCATIONAL FUND .

\ MEETING of tho Eduoation and General Purposes Com t \ . mittee , of which the Prov . G . M . is President , was held on the 25 th inst ., at Plymouth , to receive the report of the Finance Com .

mittee and to decide the number of candidates to be elected rn tho fund at the October meeting . Bro . S . Jew P . P . G . T . presided . The Honorary Treasurer reported that the Institution was in an excellent finanoial position , the funds showing an increase of about £ 103 compared with the previous yenr . There are at present eighteen children on the fund , and in view of tbe very satisfactory

state of the finances it was unauimously resolved that two more should be elected in October . This is the largest nnmber ever on the fund at one time . Their maintenance involves an expenditure of £ 300 a year . The next meeting of subscriber- ' , at which the two rdditional enndinates are to bi elected , will be h »» ld at Exeter , probably in the last week of October . It has bien left to the Secretaty and Treasurer to fix a convenient day .

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