Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . G . LODGE OP LEICESTERSHIRE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE , DERBYSHIRE , AND EUTLAND .

A GATHEEING of peculiar interest took place in Derby , on Monday afternoon , the 8 th inst ., under the auspices ofthe Derby Lodge , No . 302 . His Worship the Mayor of Derby , Bro . Abraham Woodiwiss , J . P ., who has for a considerable number of years taken an

exceedingly active part in the affairs of various branches of the ancient Fraternity , was installed as Worshipful Mark Master in the presence of a numerous and influential assemblage . Two years ago Bro . Woodiwiss occupied the

chair of that large and prosperous Craft Lodge , the Aboretum , No . 731 , and towards the close of last year was appointed by Lord Hartington , P . G . M . of Derbyshire , as Senior Grand Warden of the Province . On Monday

the P . G . Mark Master Mason Bro . Wm . Kelly , F . S . A ., took

occasion to hold a Provincial G . Lodge , under the banner of the Derby Lodge , and during the day conferred upon Bro . Woodiwiss the rank of Provincial Grand Senior Warden . Thus it happens that the Mayor , during his tenure of civic office , has been made the recipient of almost the highest honours the P . G . Masters in the Craft

and Mark degrees have it in their power to bestow . The busi

ness of the Derby Lodge was commenced at half-past three o ' clock , and Bro . Woodiwiss was installed by his immediate predecessor , Bro . Cawthorne Webster , who discharged that important duty with excellent taste and judgment . Subsequently the new Master appointed and invested his Officers in the following order : —Bros . C . Webster I . P . M .,

E . M . Homer Mole P . G . Standard Bearer S . W ., J . Walker J . W ., W . J . Piper M . O ., W . B . Woodforde S . O ., S . Taylor J . O ., Eev . T . Orrell Chaplain , J . 0 . Manton P . P . G . S . 0 . Treasurer , T . Oldham Eegistrar of Marks , 0 . D . Hart . Secretary , J . P . Foarfiold S . D ., T . E . Yeomans J . D ., E . Home Organist , E . J . H . Hoskyns D . of C , W . H . Wheel

don I . G ., and W . Stone Tyler . At half-past four o ' clock , the brethren received the Provincial Grand Master and his Officers , past and present , as well as a number of distinguished visitors ; aud the

business of the Provincial Grand Lodge was proceeded with . Bro . Kelly , who , despite his greafc age , appeared strong and hearty , was supported by the Deputy D . G . M . Bro . Thomas Cox , and many other brethren . The roll of

Lodges was called over , and every Lodge in the united Province was found to be represented . The usual reports from the Worshipful Masters , the Committee of General Purposes , the Eegistrar , and the Treasurer were

submitted , and were , on the whole , considered favourable . In each instance the future vvas hopefully spoken of . The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to invest his Officers for , , the ensuing year , as under : —

Bro . Thos . ' Cox ... ... Deputy Master Abraham Woodiwiss „ ... Senior Warden J . H . Thompson ... ... Junior Warden Brook Sampson ... ... M . O . J . C . Webb ... ... S . O . F . S . Preaton ... ... J . O .

&:5£o35::::::}0ta"S . Cleaver ... ... Trenaurer S . A . Marris ... ... Eegistrar Miles J . Walker ... ... Secretary J . E . Whitehead ... ... Senior Deacon John Fletcher ... ... Junior Deacon 11 . Michie .., .... Inspector of Works

J . Harrison ... Director of Ceremonies W . Prince ... ... Assist . Dir . of Ceremonies A . Oram ... ... ... Sword Bearer . R . L . H . Mole ... ... Standard Bearer Isidore de Solla ... ... Organist W . J . Curtis ... ... Inner Guard -T TV WftrinCf ... ... " \

W . Frost ... . ¦• [ Stewards Hon . C . W . Trollopo ... ) Derrick ... ... ... J T . W . Stone ... ) }

The Provincial Grand Master then delivered a brief but interest'ug address to the brethren , favourabl y reviewing the work of tho past year , and intirenting that , as a conseqnenoe of tho expiration of his patent ns Provincial

Grand Master ( an office be had been privileged to hold for the long period of thirty-one years ) , it would be nee * -ssar 7 to nominate a brollicr to His Royal ilig lnirs' the Princo vl Wulo-i £ or appoitttuwut to tlio po ^ t for tuts ou * iu . a >> yen :.

Mark Masonry.

Thereupon Brother Thomas Cox moved that their able and deeply respected friend , Brother William Kelly be once more nominated . The proposal was seconded , and carried with enthusiasm . Brother Kelly briefly acknowledged tho compliment , assuring the brethren of his determination to

discharge the arduous duties of the office as well as his advancing years would allow him . The Provincial Grand Lodge soon afterwards retired , leaving the Derby Lodge to bring the business of the day to a conclusion .

Subsequently upwards of eighty of the brethren partook of a sumptuous repast , provided and admirably served by Brother Thomas Day . The Worshipful Master , who

presided , dispensed his hospitality with his accustomed geniality , and an evening of great enjoyment was spent by all . The health of the Provincial Grand Master and of Brother Woodiwiss was honoured with tho utmost

cordiality , and wishes for the prosperity of the Derby Lodge were earnestly expressed by many speakers . The mnsical arrangements , which were under the direction of Brother W . L . Dodd , were exceedingly satisfactory . Nor should we omit to make mention of the valuable services rendered

by Brother Percy Wallis , both in the Lodge and in the banqueting hall , in the capacity of Director of Ceremonies . Altogether the occasion will rank as a red-letter day in the history of Mark Masonry in Derby .

A new secret order , the Chevaliers of Pythias , have established a Lodge in Liverpool . The headquarters of this new society , which in its broad features appears to resemble the Masonic , Oddfellow , aud similar orders , are in Massachusetts , but the organisation , though only

According to the Liverpool Daily Courier : —

in its infancy , has already expanded beyond the small bounds of America . The Lodge initiated in thia city on Monday is the third established in tho United Kingdom , the others being ab London and Aberdeen , aud there is also one at ParU . the new society being , before everything else , a secret order , it is not possible to penetrate

to its inmost purpose . It avowedly exists , however , as tin " international" organisation , and ita promulgators announce that it " will soon be introduced into every country in Christendom . " The order ia described as " a secret , beneficial fraternal , Christian , aud semi , military organisation , " the objects of which are the promotion

among men of the true principles of benevolence and charity , fche relief of ita members in aicknesa and distress , the payment of a stipulated sam npon the death of a member , and care and protection of the widow aud orphan , and the cultivation of fraternal relations among mankind . Tha eccentric designation of the society ia

explained by tho fact that the history of Damon and Pythias furnishes the main subject for the "Drama of the ritual in thia Pythian and chivalrio brotherhood . " The afcory , in brief , ia this . Pythias having been condemned to death by the tyrant Dionyaiua I ., ob-ainei leave of absence to go home and settle his affairs , and bis friend

Damon pledged himself to endure the punishment in his stead if he did nofc return at the appointed time . Pythias , however , was punctual , and the king , pleased by such a rare proof of fri nds-hip , pardoned him , and begged to be admitted into their friendship . The story , ia of course , efficiently suggestive of the lines npon which

the ritual of a friendly aociety might be based , although if the two ancient friends had not been dead for considerably OPer two thousand years it might be worth whilo to discu-a which of the pair was more worthy to bo adopted as the corner-stone of the brotherhood . Damon had such a love for Pythias and so strong a confidence in his pledged

word that he staked hia life on it * Pythias redeemed his pledge afc the right moment . Truly there ia nofc much room fco pre for the heroism of one to thafc of the other , though aa Demon took the initiative he seems to have had a slight start of Pythias in the mattur . The name of the latter haa probably been preferred by the Chevaliers

for purely euphonic reasons . The "Chevaliers of Dimm" might become distorted into a less elegant clas-aic . There is nothing in the story which auggests amusement , nevfirthalesa it ia mentioned as ono of the peculiar advantages of the Pythian order that tho fraternal benefits common to other societies of the same kind are supplemented

by " the genuine amusement and ius f rue * ion furninhei by the exemplification of our ritualistic work , whioh has never been equalled by any other aociety . " M-iinbeiship alao confer ; - " the advantages

of a thorough military drill , " and the Lodges are compelled to piy weekly benefits in caae of sickness , ua well aa a funeral oanefit . The organisation ia apparently based ou a very solid foundation of real fraternity , despite ita superficial whimsicality .

The Home Secretary , on the recommendation of tho Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis , has raised Superintendent Fisher , of the A Division , to tho rank of Chief Superintendent , in recognition of his services in

connection with the visit of the Shah to London . Brother Fisher is a P . M . of Lodges 834 and 182 j ; Senior Deacon li-12 and 2090 . In tbe Eoyal Arch he fills the office of J . in

334 , and P . S . in 14 ' 23 ; while in tbe Mark he is P . M . aud Treasurer of 181 , and P . P . G . Snpt . of Works Middlesex , mJ Suirey . We most heartily congratulate Bio . Fljjuttj ; ou . hiss wfcji dustti'Yod promotion .