Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

ON Tuesday evening the Half-yearly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of tho Crown was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , nnder the presidency of the Rt . Hon . Lord Henniker M . W . G . M . M . M ., R . W . Bro . Rev . Thos . Robinson Prov . G . M . Kent acted as

D . G . M . M ., Colonel Gongh , LL . D ., Prov . G . M . Staffordshire as G . S . W ., Hon W . T . Orde-Powlett P . G . M . North and East Yorkshire as G . J . W . There was a very large assemblage of the brethren , and the proceedings throughout were more than usually interesting . After the minutes

of the last Half-yearly Communication of the 5 th June , and of the Special Grand Lodge of 30 th October , had been read and confirmed , Lord Henniker moved a resolution , of which due notice had been given , as follows : — " That the rank of Most Worshipful Grand Master be

conferred upon His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ; and that the name of His Royal Highness be placed at the head of the list of Past Grand Masters of the Order . " Lord Henniker congratulated the brethren on the accession of the Prince of Wales to their ranks , and thought it right

that they should do the highest possible honour to him . The motion having been seconded , it was carried unanimously . Although His Royal Highness was "unable to be present at tbat meeting , he has promised to be present to-day ( Saturday ) , at three o ' clock , to receive the rank of

Past Grand Master which was agreed to be conferred upon him . The Earl of Kintore Dep . G . M . was elected Grand Master for the ensuing year . Upon the application of Bro . Woodall , of Scarborough , Prov . G . M . North and East Yorkshire , Lord Henniker said that he had fixed the

next moveable Grand Mark Lodge to be held at York on some convenient day in May . Charity jewels were awarded to a number of brethren . From the report we gather that 694 certificates have been issued in the halfyear ended 30 th Sept ., and that the total number of

registered advancements was 18 , 165 , - warrants for four new Lodges have been granted during the same period . In the degree of Royal Ark Mariner 43 certificates have been issued , and tbe total registered elevations was 1393 . The Fifteenth Anniversary Festival of the Mark Benevolent

Fund , held ab the Crystal Palace on 28 th July , resulted in the sum of £ 729 , the largest amount yet realised . The educational branch of the fund is increasing its benefits ; at present nine boys and three girls are under its care , and fresh applications are being received ; the election for two

boys and two girls will shortly take place . The sum of £ 20 each was granted to two brethren of the Adams and Roberts Lodges . The balance-sheet records progress . The General Fund shows that during the half year £ 500 New Zealand Bonds have been purchased . The Benevolent

Fund has been advancing ; £ 305 has been transferred to the Educational Fund , and £ 100 Queensland Bonds have been purchased , leaving still a better balance

at the bankers than was there in March . The invested funds are as follows : —General Fund £ 2 , 600 , Benevolent Fund £ 1 , 800 , Educational Fund £ 900 . A further sum of £ 200 in each case has been ordered to be invested on

behalf of the Benevolent and Educational Funds . After the closing of Grand Lodge , the brethren adjourned to banquet , and as Lord Henniker was unable to stay , the chair was taken by Bro . Binckes , who discharged the duties of the office in a very able manner .

Medina Lodge , No . 140 . —The installation of the W . M . of this Lodge took place at the Masonic Hall , West Cowes , on Thursday , 29 th ult ., Brother T . W . Faulkner P . M . ably performed the ceremony of installing the W . M . elect , Bro . C . J . Airs S . W . The following officers wero appointed by the W . M . —Bros . Faulkner

I . P . M . and Treasurer , Muvsell S . W ., the Rev . G . Pickering J . W ., Haxtbansen Secretary and R . M ., Roberton M . O ., Rutland S . O ., Sullivan J . O ., Poland S . D ., Hurst J . D ., Patch I . G ., Lawrence Tyler . The brethren then gat down to an excellent banquet , provided b y Brother W . Lawrence , and served in the banqueting-room .

The members of the Lodge of Prosperity , No . 65 , announce that a ball in connection with their Lodge will be held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Wednesday ,

9 th January 1884 . Tickets can be had of Bro . George T . Brown P . M . and P . Z , Hon . Sec , 4 Beaufort-street , Chelsea , S . W . ; they will include supper and light refreshments during the evening . Double , to admit lady and gentleman , 21 s ; single , to admit gentleman , 15 s ; single , to admit lady 3 10 s 6 d .

The Hughan Testimonial.

THE HUGHAN TESTIMONIAL .

ON Wednesday , 5 th inst ., a meeting was held at Freemasons Tavern , for the purpose of appointing a Committee and transacting other business in connection with the proposed testimonial to Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D . Both London and tho Provinces were influen . tially represented , and the utmost unanimity prevailed as to the object for which the meetinsr was convened . Bro . Rev . Thos . Robinson

P . G . Chaplain occupied the chair , and , in introducing the subject to tho meeting , spoke in the highest terms of the merits and claims of Bro . Hughan , and of the esteem and affection in which he was universally held . He called ou Bro . Whytehead to explain what had been already done to further the objects they had in view , and the subsequent steps the promoters proposed to take .

Bro . Why tehead stated that the idea of a testimonial on an extensive scale had been suggested to him by the one that had been so successfully carried out in Cornwall . He felt that the merits of their worthy brother were as highly appreciated by Masons in different parts of the country , and in fact wherever English Masonry existed , as they were in tho Province which had so largely benefited by his

services , and the letter he forwarded to the Freemason suggesting that such a fund should be raised was a spontaneous act on his part , without consultation with any one , and with no idea of prominently putting himself forward as tho leader of the movement . But in consequence of that letter he received personally a number of communications sympathising with the movement and volunteering

help . He , therefore , willingly undertook the duties of Secretary until a meeting could be called to formally appoint a Committee , Ac . He had much pleasure in proposing that a fund be opened for the purpose of presenting a suitable testimonial to Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D ., in recognition of his literary and other services to the Craft . This was seconded by Bro . J . McKay Prov . Grand Secretary for

Cumberland and Westmorland , and carried nnanimously . The following resolutions were then proposed and carried . Proposed by Bro . E . D . Anderton Prov . G . Seo . Cornwall , and seconded by Bro . J . S . Eastes D . P . G . M . Kent : — " That the brethren mentioned on the printed list which appeared in last week ' s Free .

mason be a Committee for carrying out the above suggestions . " Proposed by Bro . George Kenning , and seconded by Bro . Whytehead : — " That the Earl of Zetland Prov . G . Master of North and East Yorkshire be President , and Bro . J . D . Allcroft Grand Treasurer be Vice-President . "

Proposed by Bro . E . D . Anderton , and seconded by Bro . McKay : — " That Bro . George Kenning be Treasurer , and Bros . T . B . Whytehead and W . Lake joint Honorary Secretaries . " Proposed by Bro . George Kenning , and seconded by Bro . Eastes : — " That in addition to those already published , the names of the following brethren be added to the Committee : Bros . Edgar Bowyer Grand Standard Bearer , N . B . Headon P . M . 1426 , R . Muckle Past

Grand Treasurer Penn ., Capt . Colville P . G . S . W . Cornwall , J . S . Cumberland P . G . S . W . North and East Yorkshire , J . Todd P . P . G . Reg . North and East Yorkshire , Hon . F . J . Townshend , LL . D .,. K . of the Grand Chapter Ireland , Canon Tristram , D . C . L ., Prov . G . M . M . M . Northumberland and Durham , R . C . Else D . P . G . M . Somersetshire , Colonel Adair P . G . D . Grand Supt . Somersetshire , E . D . Anderton P . G . Sec . Cornwall . It was further resolved , after some discussion , that the subscrip tion be not limited to one guinea , as had been first announced .

Bai'oness Burdett Coutts . Ifc is to be formed out of the parochial bodies meeting at that place , comprising the joint vestries of St . Margaret's and St . John , and District Board of Works for Westminster . The first Master

recom-A petition is about to be presented to the Grand Master for a warrant for a new Lodge , to be styled " The Abbey Lodge , " and to meet at tho Town Hall , Westminster , the foundation stone of which was laid in 1882 by the

mended to the Grand Master is Bro . W . Burdett-Coutts , who was initiated in the Apollo University Lodge of Oxford ; Bro . W . H . Baker to be the first Senior Warden , and Bro . Frederick Seager Hunt the first Junior Warden .

Bro . J . E . Shand P . M . of the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 1563 , is to be Secretary . The names of several highly influential brethren in Westminster are appended to the petition .

THE LONDON COTTAGE MISSION . —The new hall of this most deserving charity , at Salmon's Lane , Limehousc , was , on Wednesday last , filled again and again with hundreds of the miserable little children , with whom the East End of London swarms , and who stood outside shivering in the bitter northern blast and waiting their turn for their welcome weekly dinner of hot Irish stow . This is the second time thero lias been a "dinner Wednesday " this season , and it is sincerely to be hoped , for the sake oftho hungry little folks of

Limehouse , Stepnoy , and the neighbourhood , that the exertions being made to keep them going dnring the coming winter will be crowned with success . But for this to be so , funds are most urgently wanted , indeed , it . has been already a task of no small difficulty to provide the Irish stew needful to send the crowd of ragged little urchins away full and happv for their ono day in tha week . To aid in such good - fr * * - * " ¦* - " ¦""¦ " ¦ « i . w ~ 0

; y work many a kindly heart will doubtless be willing , and all who wonld lend a helping hand can send in their contributions forthwith to the Bankers , tho London and South Western Bank , 7 Fenchurch Street , E . C . ; the Lady Superintendent , Miss Napton , 304 Burdett Road , Liroohonse , E . ; or Mr . Walter Austin , 44 Finsbury Pavement , E . G ., who will thankfully receive and acknowledge all subscriptions and donations .