The Prince Of Wales P.G.M.M.M.

Eoyal Highness is now that of Senior Past Grand Master of Mark Masonry , and the brightest wishes of the Officers and promoters of the Grand Lodgo of Mark Master Masons have been at length realised to the full . We are warned , however , that the dignity of Craft Masonry is in no v ,-ay endangered by tho new importance to which Mark Masonry has risen . The Mark degree and tho Craft

degree are and will continue to bo distinct . The inner world , which ia acquainted with Masonic mysteries , will receive this announcement with the satisfaction it unquestionably demands . To outsiders its meaning will be less clear , and it will possibly be a trial of their faith to hold fast to tho conviction that it means much or anything . They will be in no donbt , even so , that tho adhesion of the Prince of

Wales to Mark Masonry means a great deal , and that it will give a fresh stimulus to the growth of a Lodgo which had become an important ono before the Prince of Wales joined it . Freemasonry , in all its forms , is a very popular institution in this country . Its members have a pleasant sense that they belong to a secret order , that they can communicate with their fellows in some special way ,

and that they have therefore a claim of rig ht to an acknowledged brotherhood with the highest and noblest in the land . To the uninitiated public , including the whole female sex , the whole thing is supposed to be a mystery , and , as such , an agreeable subject for speculation . Its secrets , it is true , have , not been very closely kept . Indiscreet or treacherous brethren have revealed them to the

world a dozen times over . Tho fullest information about them may be picked up for half a crown at almost any London book-stall . Bat the public prefers to be in the dark , and to go on guessing and speculating . If it really believed that Freemasonry is no more than what the Princo of Wales describes it to be—au order and an institution of charity and of usefulness—it would care much less for

it . No one can be very curious about the private rules and regulations of a benefit society or an association for mutual help . Freemasonry must be more than these if it is to maintain itself in its present honour . There have been times and places at which it has been much more . On the Continent it has sometimes taken an anticlerical bent , or haa been used as a cover for revolutionary projects .

In this country it exists , aa it has always done , in a more innocent and more useful form . It raises dining to tho rank of a religious function , and it has promoted the establishment of no small number of benevolent and educational funds , from which its poor members have benefited . These are its known merits , but they are small indeed if we compare them with its unknown . It is ever the

unknown which is the magnificent , it is tho nnguessed riddle which the public seeks to pry into . Who would care muoh about the authorship of the letters of Junius or tho personality of the Man in the Iron Mask if we could reach certainty about either of them P So it is with the hidden mysteries of Freemasonry . They attract attention as long as they are hidden . On these terms it is that the

degrees of the Craft are willingly accepted by the world as patents of a high nobility , and that the insignia of a Grand Master are looked on on with a reverence as sincere as it is uninformed . Whatever Freemasonry may be , for whatever objects it may exist and whatever by-ends it may be sometimes made to serve , there is one very real and tangible advantage which attaches to it

in its international character . To become a Mason is to become the member of a society which ramifies over the whole world . Its signs and tokens are the same everywhere . The new Lodges which Mr . Broadley has been founding in Tunis and Malta and under the shadow of the Pyramids will admit their adherents to the universal Masonic brotherhood . Masonry exists everywhere . In

the United States , in South America , in Asia , and in Africa its Lodges are to be found , and its signs pass current . The stranded Mason can claim and will receive help in every quarter of the world . He has only to reveal himself for what he is , and he is pretty sure to discover a friend and a brother among those -with whom he has been cast . He will not always be safe even so , but

at least his property and his person will have a better chance of being respected , or , if they are maltreated , of being let off on easier terms . We are not to suppose , however , that there is an equality of Masons among themselves , or that the same rank carries every , where the same distinction . There is no small difference between one Lodge and another . To be a member of a good Lodge is as

much of a privilege as to be a member of a good club . To become a member of some Lod go is no hard matter . Any seven Masons have a right to combine and establish a Lodge of their own , and admit members into it . A great Lodge may thus split off in a hundred directions , and grow like a polypus in every one of its parts . The new offshoots may be of a like dignity with their parent , or they may

take rank above it or below it . . It is a question very much of the social standing of its members . The Lodge which meets under the presidency of the local publican is none the less as truly a Masonic Lodge as any other . Its members , as Freemasons , share the full privileges of their Order , and may become acquainted with every secret of the Craft . More certain it is that they will keep up the traditions of the Masonic body by dining together and drinking

together . Freemasonry has been defined or described as an excuse for a good dinner . It was in due course , therefore , that the proceedings on Saturday at the Mark Grand Lodge led up to a grand banquet at the Holborn Kestraurant afterwards . To the traveller in distant lands Freemasonry may prove of service at a pinch . Its chief home use is less important , but more certain and possibly more attractive . — Times , 10 th Dec . 1883 .

The brethren of the Feltham Lod ge , Wo . 1567 , are about to do honour to Bro . John Mason , founder and Past Master of the Lodge , Collector to the Royal Masonic Benevolent

Institution , on the occasion of his silver wedding , which will be celebrated on Christmas Day next . A testimonial will be presented to commemorate the day . We tender our felicitations on the auspicious event .

Bro . Dr . Jabez Hogg P . G . D . presided at the -usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , held on Wednesday , at Freemasons '

Hall . There was a good attendance , and after the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , the Secretary reported three deaths , one of an accepted candidate for next election , and two of the annuitants . In the Warden ' s

report it was mentioned that Dr . Strong had procured tickets for those of the old people in the Asylum who were able to use them to see the procession when the Duke of Edinburgh visited Croydon . Through Dr . Strong ' s

efforts , seats had been provided at Whitgift ' s Hospital . Bro . Strong was thanked for this kind service , as was also Bro . Layton for having contributed to the pleasure of the sick . The necessary cheques were ordered to be signed , and it was intimated that the usual New Year's

Entertainment would be given to the inmates . The chief business of the meeting was the consideration of a motion proposed by Bro . 0 . H . Webb , V . P ., P . M . 1607 , to the effect that the Board should take into consideration what measures ( if any ) could be adopted to assist accepted candidates for

election , according to the amount of money and length of time they had contributed to the funds of the Institution . Bro . Webb ' s idea is fully embodied in his resolution , and in moving it , he said his object was not to convert the Institution into a benefit society , nor did he think it would

lead to that result . Some of those who were candidates , and who might become annuitants , had done little or nothing for the Institutions ; he thought the time had arrived when something in the direction he pointed ont should be done , that those who really did support the Institution when

they were able should have some preference given to them when misfortune compelled them to seek aid . Bro . R . Turtle Pigott said the motion was calculated to create bogus votes ; the most deserving cases were those who were too poor to give ; many persons were admitted into

Masonry without clue inquiry having been made as to their means . Bros . Murlis , Goodall , Newton , Brett , and Perceval having spoken , Dr . Hogg observed that the state of things they were now lamenting once existed in the Royal Medical Benevolent College , where it was found that the majority

of candidates never assisted at all , and that the fathers of candidates , although in prosperous circumstances , had not subscribed . The Council passed a rule establishing a Committee of Examiners , whose duty it was to investigate every case , and the votes were given according to their

report . Bro . Webb , in reply , said that in the Builders ' Benevolent Institution they gave a candidate 10 rotes for every guinea he had subscribed . The subject was con

sidered of so much importance that its further discussion was adjourned . After placing thirteen petitioners on the list of candidates for next May election , the Committee separated .

The installation of the Prince of Wales on Saturday last as Grand Master of the Mark Degree , was followed by a grand banquet at the Holborn Restaurant , at which however , His Royal Highness ' s engagements did not admit of his being present . But previous to the ceremony taking

place , His Royal Highness took lunch there in company with a select gathering of Grand Officers , when he was pleased to express himself as being delighted with the surroundings , as well indeed he might , seeing there are few

if any , places of a similar character in London , where in rooms so handsomely and artisticall y appointed , the comfort of the guests is so thoroughly considered , and their requirements so promptly and satisfactoril y attended to .

The 6 th Annual Masonic Ball in connection with the Eccleston Lodge and Chapter , No . 1624 , will take place on Friday , the 11 th of January , at the Westminster Town Hall , S . W ., under the presidency of the W . M . Bro . C . Taylor , and an efficient band of Stewards . Single tickets

10 s 6 d , double ditto 18 s 6 d , to include supper and light refreshments . A dispensation has been granted for the brethren to wear Masonic clothing . Tickets can be obtained of Bro . A . A . Johnson , Hon . Sec , 11 Cambridge Terrace , South Belgravia .

Bro . W . H . Russell S . W . 40 was unanimousl y elected , on Monday last , Worshipful Master of the Derwent Lodge ! Bro . F . Rossiter P . M . was elected Treasurer .