Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MONMOUTH SHIRE .

THE Mark Maater Masons of Monmouthshire held the annual meeting of their Provincial Grand Lodge on Monday , the 29 th nlfc ., at the Masonio Hall , Newport , nnder the banner of the Keystone Lodge , No . 109 . The proceedings were of a very interesting character , the principal event of the day being the installation of

Bro . Capt . S . Geo . Homfray , D . P . G . M . of Craft Masonry of Monmonthshire , as Prov . G . Mark Master . Bro . K . C . Else P . G . M . M . M . of Somerset undertaking the duty of Installation . Amongst those present was Bro . Frederick Binckes Past Grand Warden and Grand Mark Secretary of England . The programme was speedily and ably

gone throngh , the Installation ceremony being particularly well con ducted . The following were appointed as the Provincial Gram Officers : — Bro . Major A Thrale Perkins - - Deputy G . M . J . 0 . Hunter Little - - S . W .

Alfred Taylor - - - J . W . Eev . D . Bowen - - - Chaplain J . Porter Fowler - - ¦ M . O . J . 0 . Marsh - - - S . O . Andrew MoMahon •- J . O . Giles GoldinET - •- Eegistrar of Marks

Samuel Davies - - - Treasurer Edwin J . Whitley - - - Secretary J . Davies .... Assistant Secretary George Beavis ... S . D . J . Jewel Williams - - J . D .

J . Holman Dunn . - Inspector of Works J . G . Hedges ... Sword Bearer S . 0 . Peglar - - - Standard Bearer H . E . Hudson ... Director of Ceremonies T . W . Mitchell - . - Assistant Director of Cer . J . G . Thomas - - •Inner Guard

A . Thornton - - ¦ " ) Daniel Evans - . ¦ f 0 , _ , „ William Parsons - . . ^ Stewards

J . N . Barnett . . -J H . Fletcher - . - Tyler Provincial Grancl Lodge having been closed , a banquet followed at the Westgate Hotel , the Provincial Grand Master being supported by his Deputy , Bro . Johu Walker P . G . M . M . M . Gloucestershire , Fred .

Binckes P . G . Warden G . Sec , E . C . Else P . G . M . M . M . Somerset , Col . Chas . Lyne D . P . G . M . M . M ., Thos . M . Humphries P . P . G . S . W .. Staffordshire , William Watkins P . G . Standard Bearer Eng ., R . V . Vassar-Smith P . P . G . D . M . M . M . Gloucestershire , C . W . Had way P . G . D Eng ., E . H . Davies P . P . G . J . O ., S . G . Homfray inn ., Thos . Harrhy

P . P . G . J . W . J ., 0 . Marsh P . G . Stwd . Eng . ; and others . In due course the Prov . Grand Master proceeded with the toast list , first giving the Queen and Mark Masonry . As loyal subjects they hoped Her Majesty might long be spared to reign over them . The next toast was His Eoyal Highness the Piince of Wales M . M . G . M . M . nominate .

The brethren were pleased to find His Royal Highness was taking such a deep interest iu Masonry . On the occasion of His Royal Highness being installed as the Grand Mark Master , he ( the speaker ) shonld mako it his duty to represent Monmonth . If their good Secretary ( Bro . Binckes ) who was present with them—would kindlv

let him know how far or to what extent he could afford accommodation , he bad no donbt that a considerable number of Mark Masons from the Province would attend the installation . Bro . W . Watkins P . M . 109 , Past Grand Mark Senior Warden , said he was highly honoured in having to propose the next toast , the M . W . G . M . M . M .

the Earl of Kintore . As Mark Masons they were much indebted to his Lordship for what he had done for the Mark degree . It was highly gratifying to know that they would have as his successor His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , in whom they would have a most distinguished brother who had expressed himself as highly

int ( rested in the advancement of Mark Masonry . Bro . Colonel Lyne Prov . drain ! Master ( Craft ) for Monmouthshire proposed tho toast of the E . W . D . G . M . M . M . the Lord Egerton of Tatton , and Officers of tl > n Grand Mark Lodge , Present and Past . Ho felt a great pleasure in proposing this toast , and coupling with it the names of the

Provincial Grand Master of Gloucester and the Grand Secretary of Rnalni . d . They all felt it a high honour for these distinguished brethren to come amongst them on such an interesting occasion . It , was a rare circumstance that a Provincial Grancl Master was snpp II ted by such excellent representatives of the Mark Degreo as they

found there that night . Referring to Bro . Binckes , Colonel Lynn siid he had done , and was continually doing , a vast amount of good in ire cause of Masonry . He was sure that wheu he rose to respond hi would be well received . Bro . Walker thanked the brethren most V . ent lily on behalf of the Grand Lodge for the manner in which

thry had honoured the toast . He regretted that only one supporter fr , m l . i * own Lodgo was present ; he had hoped several more would have been there . Owing to the weather r » nd oilier causes , they were ri'ftverited from doing honour to their distinguished Bro . Homfray . Bro . Binckes remarked that tho frequency aud facility afforded him

to respond to tin ' s toast was tho very cause of difficulty to him . He wa * so frequently called upon at Provincial Grand Lodgo meetings to teply that ho was almost at a losa for words to change the phraseology of bis utterance ** . It was gratifying for him to noto the manner iu which this comprehensive toast was received amongst

Masons . In conversation with an eminent actor , he had expressed an opinion that it must bo monotonous to go through the same performauro night after night for a long series of nights . His reply wae , " Wo feel we havo a different audience night after night to play to ; " and so he might say he had to return thanks for thia and

Mark Masonry.

other toasts to different companies of brethren . Alluding to the toast , ho remarked that their Deputy Grand Maater , Lord Egerton of Tatton , could look back over a long period ; of him it might be said that thero never was a brother who had met with such an amount of success in his duties , and who had discharged them

more faithfully than he bad done . He ( the speaker ) had had a long experience in connection with the Mark degree—twenty-eight years associated with the Order , and he should complete his twenty-fifth year in June next , a quarter of a century in an official position , and even now he was not quite prepared to be laid on the shelf . When

he looked back upon Mark Masonry , and saw what it was , as compared with what it is now , ancl noted the progress it had made , he was more than gratified . In this Province the Order had prospered very much indeed , and he said tin ' s without indulging in an invidious comparison . He hoped they would date a new starting point in

regard to Mark Masonry in the Province of Monmouthshire . When he looked round those tables , and saw so many who worked so actively in the cause , there was every reason to anticipate greater prosperity . Their excellent brother the P . G . M . of Somerset had

done much for the Order . They had elected a progressive Prov . Grand Master for Monmouthshire , and they had taken the first opportunity to incorporate the name of his Eoyal Highness with the toast since his election as the Grand Master nominate . Takiner the

hint already given by tho Prov . Grand Master , that at the installation of his Eoyal Highness he would be there , no doubt , he would be attended by a very large number of brethren from that Province . Speaking eulogistioally of the way in which the Provincial Grand Master of Gloucester carried out his duties , Bro . Binckes remarked

that , looking back over a long life , he had reason to congratulate himself on the success which had been attained in Mark Masonry , and in fact it had exceeded their most sanguine anticipations . They had now 400 Lodges , and over 20 , 000 registered members , and he questioned if there was any other branch of their Order which could

show such progress . He congratulated the brethren of the Provinces represented ou the progress which had been made in Mark Masonry , and hoped the time was not far distant when Mark Masonry would be recognised among the essential degrees of Freemasonry . Right Worshipful Bro . Else proposed the R . W . Bro . S . Homfray P . G . M . M . M .

Monmouthshire . This was the toast of the evening , and he felt it a very high compliment to be entrusted with it . He most sincerely congratulated the Prov . G . M . on his election , and paid a high tribute to the ability which he displayed in all that appertained to Masonry . His appointment was an augury of greater progress in the future .

In the matter of the Charities , for some time past Bro . Homfray and he had been going hand in hand , and shoulder to shoulder , and in all that they had undertaken they had succeeded . Hence it was he felt so much pleasure in seeing him inducted into the chair . The Provincial Grand Master returned thanks in well-selected

terms for the honour which had been accorded to him , and also for the way in which his name had been received , also thanking the visiting brethren for tho kindness evinced towards him . A number of other toasts followed , including tho Mark

Benevolent Fund and other Masonic Charities , coupled with the name of Bro . Frederick Binckes , Secretary of tho Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , who responded in a telling speech , eclipsing his former efforts on behalf of the various Charities iu connection with this and

other degrees . Other toasts were duly acknowledged aud responded to . Throughout tho evening the proceedings were enlivened with sentiment and song , and a more convivial gathering has not been held in this Province in connection with Mark Masonry .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

— : o : — RECTITUDE CHAPTER , No . 581 .

11 HE regular meeting of this Chapter was held on Thursday evening , tho 1 st inst ., at the Corporation Hotel , Tipping-street , Ardwick , Manchester . Tho Chapter was opened in due form and with solemn prayer by the Excellent First Principal Comp . J . T . Richardson , who was assisted by Comp . Rogers H ., and Past Principal Julius Arenaberg acting as Third Principal , in place of Comp . T . H .

Hall , who was unable to bo present owing to important bnsiness engagements . Much to their credit , every other Officer was present , and there was an average attendance of Companions , with a fair attendance of Visitors who had put in an appearance to do honour to the occasion , which was the presentation of a robe to Comp . J . T .

Richardson First Principal , ancl a P . Z . ' s jewel to Comp . Julius Arenaberg , a Past First Principal of this Chapter and Past Prov . Grand Officer . Tho minutes of tho last regular meeting having been read ancl confirmed , the ballot was taken for Bro . S . A . Andrew , a Past Master of tho Richmond Lodge ; this having proved unanimous ,

that worthy brother was exalted to tho snprome degree of a Holy lioyal Arch Mason by Comp . J . R . Richardson iu his most imprsasive and eloquent manner . The lectures were not given on this occasion , bufc tho First Principal explained that it was owing to a great portion of the time of the evening being aked for by the Companions

for fcho presentation business ; he , however , promised that tho whole of the lectures should be given ou the nexfc occasion , by himself and Second and Third Principals , Gompa . Rogers and Hail . Hearty good wishes were expressed by tho visiting Companions , and Companion II . Derbyshire then congratulated the Excellent First Principal ou

having the day previously received I ' rov . Grand honours , by being appointed Second Assistant Principal Sojourner , lie also congratulated tho Chapter on its receiving , for the first time , Provincial

recognition by Comp . Richardson s appointment . Comp . Derbyshire then read a petition which had been prepared and presented to the Prov . G . Superintendent of Works , and propped such should be rcuordod ou tho miuutes . Ho uoxt , ou bohalf of tho Companions , for *