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Attwood , and others . Bro . F . J . Smith proposed the Officers of the Lodge , in doing which he expressed his belief that the W . M . had the best assistants he possibly conld have in the carrying out of his important duties . Bro . W . Cook responded , and said although there had been a great deal of work to do in the formation of this Lodge , yet he had been ably backed up by his fellow Officers . Twelve

months ago Bros . Denbigh and Wrig ht mooted the idea of the Lodge for this district , as it often proved inconveniently lato before they could get back from Lodges in town . The result of thoir doliberations on this subject was what they had witnessed to-day , and they had to thank Grand Lodge for tho readiness with which it when applied to granted the Warrant . He regretted that their

excellent W . M . was not well enough to remain during the whole of tho proceedings of the evening , bnt expressed himself confident of the success of the Lodge . Bro . Denbigh also retnrned thanks , in doing which he said although it was true , as Bro . Cook had said , that he was one of the instigators in forming the Lodge , to Bro . Cook himself was the credit due of doing all the work . He had carried the

whole affair through in the most perfect and business-like manner , and was entitled to the thanks of all the brethren . Bro . Bird also acknowledged the toast , in a few happily-chosen sentences . The toast of the Stanley and Anerley Lodges was next honoured , and the Tyler brought the list to a close , soon after eleven o'clock .

During the evening some capital selections of vocal and instrumental music were given , Bro . Dr . Basley presiding most efficiently at the pianoforte , and the brethren separated amidst hearty expressions of satisfaction with the admirable arrangements which had been made hy Bro . Lassam for their " opening day . "

The Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

IN accordance with our promise last week we recur to this interesting event , and it is with infinite pleasure we approach our task . This year has essentially been a red letter one for the Mark Degree . We have had occasion to report several most interesting gatherings , and the most sceptical of the cynics who strove to throw cold water

on the hopes of the executive who so bravely put forth a hand to aid in raising what may now emphatically be declared a substantial fabric , are fain to admit that there are some grounds for the selfsatisfaction with which that body claim they are entitled to have success recorded as the resnlt of their labours . The Benevolent Fund

of the Mark Degree , with which to-day it is our more immediate province to deal , was commenced in 1868 by a grant from Grand Lodge of £ 50 , since that time Annual Festivals havo been held : — In 1869 , at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , under the Chairmanship of Bro . tho Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., M . W . G . M . M . M ., assisted by tho following Board of Stewards—Bros . Thomas Meggy , F . Binckes , T . J . Sabine , Thos . Wescombe , and S . Rosenthal , when an amount of £ 97 2 s 8 d was realised .

In 1870 , the Festival took place at the Talbot Hotel , Richmond , when the Earl Percy , M . P ., R . W . D . G . M . presided , supported by Bros . Thos . Meggy , F . Binckes , S . Rosenthal , H . C . Levander , and R . Spencer , the united result of their Stewardships being £ 53 4 s lOd , In 1871 , R . W . Bro . J . C . Parkinson presided , the locale selected

Was the Crystal Palace , Sydenham , and the following brethreu took part in conducting the duties of the day—Bros . Magnus Ohren , Rev . D . Shaboe , Rev . C . W . S . Stanhope , F . Binckes , S . Rosenthal , Frederic Davison , J . H . Wynne , Rev . L . 0 . Bigg , T . Y . Strachan , Rev . A . B . Frazer , and the Rev . V . H . Moyle . This Board of Stewards raised £ 85 8 s .

In 1872 , the Talbot Hotel , Richmond , was the favoured spot . The Chairman was Colonel Francis Burdett E . W . Prov . G . M . M . M . Middlesex and Surrey , representing the Right Hon . the Earl of Bective , M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . M . M . for Cnmb . and Westmoreland , who was absent through indisposition . And here tho Board of Stewards comprised

Bros . G . P . Brockbank , Rev . P . H . Newnham , Rev . W . B . Church Rev . T . F . Ravenshaw , Capt . C . J . Burgess , Thomas Haigreaves , George Neall , J . H . Wynne , Alfred Williams , W . 0 . Walker , Colonel Thomas Birchall , aud Captain George Barlow— £ 177 being the result of their combined exertions .

In 1873 , the Festival was held for the first time at th § Alexandra Palace , Wood Green ; R . W . Bro . Col . J . Whitwell , M . P ., G . S . W ., presided , and the following formed his Board of Stewards : —Bros . Lieut .-Col . J . Tanner Davy , R . W . Prov . G . M . M . M . Devon , Thomas Entwisle , C . F . Matier , llev . W . M . Heath , E . T . Inskip , T . W . Coffin , H . R . Trigg , Wm . Sugg , F . A . Philbrick , ' 11 . H . Thrapp , S . G . Homfray , Arthur Wolton . On this occasion a sum of £ ' 1115 s was realised .

In 1874 , the Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , was tho renc zvous , and E . W . Bro . Sir Edmnnd Lechmere , Bart ., P . D . G . M . M . M . undertook the duties of President , supported by Bros . H . C Levander , William Hudson , J . H . Wynne , Clement Stretton , G rge Page , Wm . Charles Gilles , E . M . Haigh , E . Spencer Stido h , Charles Lacey , Charles Horsley , Frank Richardson , and Natl , niel J . F . Basnett , who between them raised the sum of £ 9119 s .

Since 1874 the meetings have been held uninterruptedly Alexandra Palace , Mnswell Hill . In 1875 , R . W . Bro . William Roman Callender , M . P ., D . G . M . M . M ., was the Chairman , aud the follow : •Stewards rendered him assistance : —Bros . Rev . D . J . Drakef I , Thomas

Trollope , M . D ., T . J . Lancashire , J . Handler , Hick Chambers , Nathl . Horrocks , Wm . Roebuck , H . T . ltobberds , G . W ' erry , Wm . Richards , W . H . Wcllsted , John Duffield , Jack Su ifle , Fras . Griffiths , M . D ., Thos . Colliuson , H . H . Bedford , W . » bite . The amount realised was £ 176 lis . In 1876 , R . W . Bro . Lieut .. General J . S . Brownrigg , ; . B ,, G . J . W .,

The Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

acted as Chairman , and the Board of Stewards comprised Bros . Rev . Dr . Brette , T . Y . Strachan , F . Binckes , T . S . Mortlock , Robt . Berridge , H . M . Baker , C . W . Duko , J . F . Norris , E . B . Webb , Richd . Newhouse , T . S . Morris , J . 11 . Wright . The united exertions of this band realised £ 96 15 s .

In 1877 , R . W . Bro . Rt . Hon . tho Earl of Donoughmore , G . S . W ., undertook tho duties , supported by Bros . John Wordsworth , Rev . F . W . Thoyts , Major Geo . Barlow , J . D . Moore , M . D ., F . Binckes , S . Rosenthal , C . W . Wyndham , J . H . Spencer , J . G . Podevin , Alfred Williams , H . R . Cooper-Smith , Richard Boggett , George Higgins , Arthur Middleton , F . M . Tindall , Robert Arnison , C . H . Perrott . Thoir united exertions realising £ 221 9 s .

In 1878 M . W . Bro . Rt , Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , G . M . M . M ., lent his valuable aid , and the following represented the Board of Stewards on tho occasion : —Bros , the Rev . W . K . It . Bedford , John Wordsworth , J . R . Goepel , Rev . H . J . Hatch , Richard Boggett , Capt . A . Thrale Perkins , J . L . Thomas , Thomas Cubitt , J . Cattley Mason ,

Wm . G . Brighten , James Gardiner , Edward Geo . Tattershall , Rev ; Daniel Ace , D . D ., G . Ward Verry , Richard Eve , John Barker , Capt . J . Ritchie , Major C . Harding , Henry Bagot , J . T . Robinson , Wm . Nicholl , Alfred Scargill , John Fawcett , Francis Trickett , Charles H . Coates . £ 371 4 s was the amount announced .

We now come to the present year of grace , 1879 , when Lord Arthur Hill fulfilled the functions of Chairman . He was supported by a band of Stewards numbering 35 , and in our last week ' s issue will be found detailed their names , and the amount each handed over as the result of his exertions . Since the establishment of the Mark Benevolent Fnnd , 36 cases

have been relieved , with sums ranging from £ 1 to £ 50 , and amounting in the aggregate to £ 433 , while with the additional sum that has accrued by way of interest on moneys invested the Executive has been enabled to invest £ 1 , 000 . Economy in management has been the order of the day , and it is gratifying to know that the total sum expended for printing , advertising , & c ., since 1868 is under £ 40 . Since

Dec . 1878 one-half of all sums subscribed go to the Education Fund , the object of which is to assist in the education ( under the charge of their parents or guardians ) of the children of Mark Master Masons , who on application to the Board shall be considered eligible for the Fund . The business is conducted by a General Board , who hold special meetings on the third Thursday in April aud October , and at

such other times as may be deemed necessary , for the purpose of considering applications , and for fixing the days of election . This Board consists of a Patron or Patrons , President , Vice-Presidents , Trustees , Treasurer , Secretary , and an unlimited number of Life Governors , Life and Annual Subscribers . The mode of election is by means of voting papers . Every donor of five shillings per annum being

entitled to ono vote at a single election . A donation of five guineas gives five votes for life at every election , and constitutes the donor a life subscriber . A donation of ten guineas , in one or more payments of not less than £ 5 5 s each , gives twelve votes for life at every election , and constitutes the donor a Life Governor . A donation of twenty guineas , in one or more payments of not less than £ 5 5 s

each , gives twenty-five votes for life at every election , and constitutes the donor a Vice-President . Similar privileges are acquired by Lodges on payment of double the amounts , iu sums of not less than £ 5 5 s each . No applicant shall be eligible for election unless the father has been for at least three years a subscribing member of somo Mark Lodge under the English Constitution . No boy shall be admitted to

the benefits of the Institution who is under eight or above thirteen years of age , nor continne a recipient after the age of sixteen . No candidate shall be placed on the list until approved of by tho Board . Petitioners are required to produce a certificate signed by the Master and Secretary of the Mark Lodge in which the father was advanced , or of which he had been a subscribing member for at least three

years , together with a certificate or satisfactory proof of the date of the birth of the applicant . Lists of approved candidates , together with such particulars as the Board may deem necessary , are sent to every Subscriber at least fourteen days before days of election . As a condition of a grant from the Fund , a quarterly report of the progress , conduct , and health of every boy assisted by this Institution

shall be required from the head of the educational establishment where the boy is placed , and the General Board shall take such other steps as may be practicable for ascertaining the progress made by the child . These , briefly are the rules by which the fund is governed ' and are , we consider , ample to warrant the support which has been accorded the Fund in the past and to secure increased aid in the

future . At the Annual Festival of the present year held , as we have already stated , on the 2 nd inst ., under the presidency of Lord Arthur Hill , the sum announced as contributed by the Stewards and their friends was far in advance of any previous year , thus clearly proving the firm foundation on which this especial branch of Masonic Charity stands , and ranking our Mark brethren among the foremost of those

who make it a pleasure to givo to their . ss fortunate fellows . Wo understand that the subscriptions have sii <; e been augmented by ono aud another donation until they now rect ' . the sum of £ 537 4 s . At the conclusion of the banquet , ti > noble chairman gave the usual toasts , briefly and tc the point , — the latencss of the hour precluding , as h < said , long speeches . In

proposing Prosperity to the Fund , hi Lordship referred to the progress which had marked it since its e i blishment , quoting largely from particulars , the substance of whicl i given above . Bro . D . M . Dewar then announced the subscription , " vhich had been received , and which , as we stated last week , at th ime amounted to £ 528 16 s . Bro . Frederick Binckes replied to the ten referring to the very large

amount of support which had been give o the Mark fund and the Masonic Charities generally . He confi t itly looked forward to a steady increase iu the ampunts coutribi : b ! to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and pointed out that but a very fe- ' years since the Boys' School Festivals had not realised greater amo its than had that day been annouueed on behalf of the Mark Func ha then proceeded to givo the toast of the Chairman , whom ho ci . racteriaed as being imbued