Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE .

AN interesting gathering in connection with Mark Masonry took place on Friday of last week , when the annual meeting ofthis'Provincial Grand Lodge was made coincident with the Consecration of a new Lodge at Ross . The

ceremonies took place in the Corn Exchange of the town , a building well suited to the purpose , affording as it did ample accommodation for certainly the largest assemblage of members of the Order yet held in the Province .

Outside Ross there were , until Friday , five Lodges in the Province , viz ., at Cheltenham ( Cheltenham and Keystone , No . 10 ) , Berkeley ( Lygrove , No . 218 ) , Hereford ( St . Ethelbert , No . 243 ) , Cinderford ( Royal Forest of Dean , No . 340 ) , and Gloucester ( Gloucester , No . 439 ) , and each of these Lodges

was numerously represented , notwithstanding the difficulty of access from the southern part of the extensive Province . It may be mentioned that Gloucestershire was constituted a Province just twenty years ago , and then comprised three of the now existing Lodges . The first Provincial Grand Master

was the late Rev . C . Raikes Davy , of Bath . He was followed in succession by the late Bro . John Walker , M . A ., of Cheltenham , and Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres , the induction of the latter to the office being marked by the addition of the county of Hereford to the area of the Province under the

joint name it now bears . It was by this amalgamation that the St . Ethelbert Lodge came within the Province . On the retirement of the Baron de Ferrieres , at the end of his three years term of office , in 1891 , Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , the

present Prov . Grand Master , was selected by the M . W . the Grand Master to succeed him , and he has been twice re-appointed for a term of three years . In 1892 the Gloucester Lodge was constituted , and the formation of a Lodge at Ross makes the sixth Lodge in the Province .

The consecration of the Kyrle Lodge had precedence in the ceremonial of the day . It took place at 2 , the Provincial Grand Master being the Consecrating Officer , under patent from the M . W . Grand Master the Prince of Wales , while the working Offices were filled by Prov . G . Lodge Officers . The

ceremony m the Mark degree is very similar in ritual to that of a Craft consecration . Its impressiveness on this occasion , as , indeed , the effect of the proceedings throughout the day , was enhanced by the musical programme , arranged and conducted by Bro . F . Forty Prov . G . Org . The Consecrating

Lodge having been opened , the hymn " Hail Eternal" was sung and prayer offered , and then , after various addresses incident to the ceremonial had been delivered , the Petition and Warrant were read and the Lodge was Consecrated and Constituted according to ancient usage . The strewing of

Mark Masonry.

Corn , the emblem of Plenty ; the pouring of Wine , the emblem of Joy and Happiness ; and of Oil , the emblem of Unity ; and the sprinkling of Salt , the emblem of Friendship , were incidents of the ritual to which added effect was given by the reading of appropriate passages from God ' s Word , and by choral accompaniment . The ceremony was brought to a close by the singing of a hymn , and by the patriarchal benediction .

The installation of the first Master of the Lodge and the appointment of his Officers followed . Bros . F . S . Collins P . M . 243 , T . Matthews , and G . F . Minett had been designated in the Warrant respectively as W . M ., and Senior and Junior Wardens , and they were placed in their chairs in' due course .

The Kyrle Lodge having been closed , an interval took place , during which the Brethren partook of tea at the Royal Hotel , and enjoyed the view of lovely Wye scenery to be had from the Hotel grounds . At 5 o ' clock Provincial Grand Lodge was held , the Prov . G . Master in the chair , supported by his Deputy Bro . Orlando Shellard .

The business of Prov . G . Lodge was of a routine character , the only exception being a reference to the death of the late Earl of Lathom , which event was made the subject of a resolution to which the Prov . G . Master and Bro . the Rev .

C . J . Martyn spoke in sympathetic terms . The call of the Lodges showed that nearly a hundred members were present , and the Lodge reports were financially and otherwise satisfactory . The new Kyrle Lodge had , it was stated , started with a membership of 28 , nearly all of whom were present .

The appointment of Prov . G . Lodge Officers for the ensuing year took place , as follows :

Bro . O . Shellard 243 - - - - Deputy Grand Master F . S . Collins 524 - - - - Senior Warden F . H . Bea 10 - - - - - Junior Warden G . R . Sinclair 243 .... Master Overseer 0 . W . Wiltshire 218 - - - - Senior Overseer H . J ' . Brewer 439 .... Junior Overseer

Bev . Dr . Lynes 340 - Chaplain J . Balcomb 10 Treasurer E . W . Prevost 340 - - - - Registrar G . Norman 10 - ... . Secretary B . Lucas 218 .... Senior Deacon 0 . Bootes 243 - - - - Junior Deacon

T . Matthews 524 ' - - - Inspector oi Works M . LI . Evans 10 - - - - Director of Ceremonies N . Philpott 439 - - - - Sword Bearer F . J . Warren 218 - - - - Standard Bearer F . Forty 10 - - - - - Organist W . J . Johnstone-Vaughan 439 - - Inner Guard Tarr .... . Tyler .

. Prov . G . Lodge was closed in due form and with prayer . In the evening the Brethren sat down to dinner , excellently prepared and served , at the Royal Hotel , the Prov . Grand Mark Master presiding .

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Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , WOOD GREEN , LONDON , N . SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS . Grand Patron—HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN . President— H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., M . W G M Patrons Sex ottcio ) - $ THE RT H 0 N THE EARL AMHERST , M . W . PROG . M . matrons ( ex officio ) j THE RT HON . THE EARL OF WARWICK , R . W . DEP . G . M . Treasurer— CHARLES E . KEYSER , ESQ ., P . G . DEACON , PATRON OF INSTITUTION . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTER BANK LTD . ( BLOOMSBURY BRANCH ) HIGH HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . 2369 Boys hatfe received the benefits of the Institution since its foundation in 1798 . 283 Boys are now ? being Educated , Clothed , and Maintained , and special grants are also made to 17 unsuccessful candidates at the Centenary elections . The ONE HUNDEED AND FIBST ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL will be held on Wednesday , 28 th June 1899 , under the Presidency of W . BROTHER CHARLES E , KEYSER , M . A ., F . 8 . A ., J . P ., PAST GRAND DEACON , Treasurer and Patron of the Institution . The services of Brethren as Stewards ( representing Lodges or Provinces ) and Ladies , are earnestly requested , and will bo gratefully acknowledged . CONTRIBUTIONS EARNESTLY SOLICITED . Secretary —] . MORRISON McLEOD ( VICE PATRON ) , 6 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C .