Emergency Meeting Of G. Mark Lodge.

members of the Grand Lodge together . The very sad event which had recently taken place—the death of their Past Grand Master the Duke of Albany—was one which called forth the warmest and most heartfelt sympathy , he might say all over the world ; most certainly it had done so

whereever there was a subject of the British Crown , and he felt such was particularly the case among Masons . The Masonic brethren would give place to no body of men in the British Empire as regarded loyalty to tho British Crown . To Mark Masons the death of the Duke of Albany was a very heavy

blow , and they could feel his loss very greatly when they remembered how much he had been among them during the last few years . The brethren would recollect that during the speaker ' s first year of office it was his privilege to instal His Royal Highness into the office of Past Grand

M . M . M ., while in the second he had the pleasure of presenting him and the Duchess of Albany with a gift from the brethren of the Mark Degree from all parts of the world , and it was then hoped that both the Duke and Duchess of Albany had long and happy futures before them . The

brethren had lost one whose geniality must lead them to look back on his presence among them with the greatest pleasure , and as one who approached Masonry in a true Masonic spirit . He ( Lord Henniker ) felt that a few words only were necessary on such an occasion to enlist the

sympathy of the brethren , yet he could but speak , before he sat down , on the loss which he believed the country generally , as well as Masonry , had sustained by tho death of His Royal Highness . Each Prince of the Royal Family had chosen an active and useful career . The health of the

Duke of Albany had prevented his following a life similar to that his brothers had chosen , but it had also attached him to a line which made the English people look to him as their future leader in literature , in Masonry , and the intellectual arts so important to all of us , as tending to soothe us in our

troubles and take the edge off the rough-hewn stones and stumbling-blocks of our stormy and unhappy lives . He had endeared himself not only to those who knew him personally , hut also to the public at large . He felt he might say that the death of the Duke of Albany was not only a great loss to

the Masonic body but also to the country generally . Now he should like to say one word about Her Majesty the Queen . All knew how Her Majesty had borne her great and terrible sorrow ; that she had borne it with her usual fortitude and courage . They could but feel how great the

blow had been to her , from the fact that the Duke of Albany had perhaps lived with the Queen at home more than any of her sons , and of course , from his constant illhealth was a source of anxiety to her . They could but feel that the blow which she had received had come upon

her with redoubled force . All knew there was no joy and no sorrow among the people of England that the Queen did not share in , and he thought they would indeed be cold on suoh an occasion if their sympathy was not of the warmest and sincerest kind . He should also like to say a

few words as regarded H . R . H . the Duchess of Albany . All hearts must be drawn to her just now—to her who so lately came to make her home amongst us , and who , as he had already said , they had so recently joined in wishing , with the Duke of Albany , all the happiness that they

might have reason to look forward to . But now she was left a widow among us , and he thought that she had found warm hearts to mourn with her . He concluded by asking the brethren to pass votes of condolence to Her Majesty the Queen and to the young widow H . R . H . the Duchess of

Albany , and was sure he should call forth but one feeling , that of the warmest sympathy with the Queen , the Duchess of Albany , and the whole of the Royal Family , not only in the Grand Lodge but also among Mark Masons all over the world . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . M . M .

Hants and Isle of Wight , seconded the resolution , and the addresses were unanimously voted . Bro . the Rev . Canon Portal , Past Grand Master , proposed that an address of

condolence be presented to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , which proposition was seconded by Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Provincial G . M . M . M . Middlesex and Surrey , and carried unanimously .

Bro . Frederick Binckes , Grand Secretary then formally announced the decease of Bro . D . M . Dewar , his late Assistant . He was followed by the Grand Master , by * he President of the General Board , and by the Grand

• treasurer , who all spoke of the respect they entertained for -oro . Dewar , and expressed their willingness to unite in any movement which might be started to show the appreciation of Mark Masons generally of their late bro-

Emergency Meeting Of G. Mark Lodge.

ther s devotion to the cause . Grand Lodge was soon afterwards formally closed .

The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

IN another part of this week ' s issue we refer to the Benevolent as the Institution of tho hour , but we also hint that it is not likely long to retain that position . Very brief intervals usually suffice to separate one from another of the great Masonic charitable events of the year , and as soon as we have got clear of one , another comes upon us . Such is

the case at the present time . The Annual Meeting and Election of the Benevolent Institution is fixed for Friday next , and five days later ( on Wednesday the 21 st inst . ) we have the Ninety-sixth Anniversary Festival of the Girls' School .

We have so recently referred to this subject in a general way that we not intend to devote much space to the matter on the present occasion , but there one or two points which we may well touch on to-day .

Coming events , we are told , cast their shadows before . This may be so in many instances , but it certainly is not the case with the Girls' School Festival , or at least that part of it which most concerns the general body of subscribers , —the total amount of money subscribed for the year .

It not unfrequently happens that when we get as near to a Festival as wo are now to that of tho ono for the Girls ' School , we can realise an idea of what is to be expected in the way of a total , but in this caso Ave cannot obtain any really reliable estimate . Very few of the Provinces , we are

afraid , will run into average totals , but we should liko to get somewhat near the mark . As an instance we will single out Essex , the Province which this year supplies the chairman for the Girls' Festival . Now what may we expect from Essex ? It certainly cannot be classed as an inferior district

from a subscribing point of view , but we know that it has other calls on its benevolence . It is urged the earthquake of a few days since will materially affect the total it will send up for our Girls . We might perhaps be nearer the mark if we say that the tales of the earthquake will do so , for we

cannot believe that anything really spent in relief for this casualty ought to affect the Festival , and yet we are told that if one thousand , two thousand , or more , goes to relieve distress at home , those outside will not get so much . Let us hope that the result will prove otherwise , and that the

brethren of the district will as liberally support the Masonic Girls' School now as they would have done had there boon no special distress nearer home to the relief of which they were asked to subscribe .

Essex has twenty-two Lodges , and from these , we understand , there will be nineteen Stewards . It is not for us to dictate , but would it be too much to expect that every Lodge in the Province should try and support their Provincial Grand Master . We do not know those

unrepresented , but we hope for the sake of that unanimity which should exist among Masons that they may send up a Steward ere it be too late . Which Lodge will be the first to reduce the minimum of those not represented ? We shonld like to hear that our appeal had brought forth one more Steward , at least .

As regards the amount to he expected from the Chairman ' s own district . Are the brethren keeping a surprise in store for ns ? We have made some considerable inquiry , and can get no clue as to the likely sum that is coming up . We can only hope it may exceed our most sanguine

expectations . Nineteen Stewards from twenty-two Lodges in such a district as Essex , with its Provincial Graud Master at the head of affairs , should produce a good round sum . Would £ 1200 be too much to expect ? —sixty guineas per Steward as an average . That is

certainly a large sum to collect , bnt it is within the range of possibility , if only united action be taken by the Province . Perhaps we have put the figure too high , but we do sincerely hope that Essex will come forward with a fourfigure total , and we earnestly urge on every friend of the

Charities in the district to work for such a result . Upwards of £ 1000 is not too much to expect , as it has been exceeded time after time by Provinces smaller in every respect , as regards number of Lodges , number of

Masons , and number of Stewards . We do not think the Masons of Essex require continued urging to do their best , but the need is urgent , and it is to be hoped they will do their utmost , if only for the purpose of setting an example to those who may come after them .