Mark Masonry.

Qneen ' s Hotel , Newbury , had prepared luncheon m a very

creditable manner . The Earl of Jersey presided , and on his lordship ' s invitation the Countess of Carnarvon and Lady Margaret Herbert honoured the brethren with their presence at luncheon . There were also present the Earl of Carnarvon and the Rev . Canon Portal ( Past Grand Masters of Mark Masons ) , the Deputy Provincial Grand

Master , Bro . Stephens ; the Senior and Junior Grand

"Wardens , Bros . Stephen Knight and Francis J . Ferguson ; the Provincial Grand Chaplains , Revs . J . 'Atkins and Manley Power ; the Provincial Grand Treasurer , Bro . Tomkins ; the Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . Pulley ; Bros . Shepherd , Morris , Margrett , Glasspool , D'Almayne ,

Simpson , Wheeler , Nicholson , Hall , Cosburn , Boyer , Ridley , Ravenscroft , Home , Toms , Tubbs , Nundy , Newhery , Burns , Harrold , G . M . Knight , Shepherd , W . Knight , E . Head , Graham , Maychurch , Palmer , Doclcl , Canning , Nicholson , Arrowsmith , Adkin , King , Jenkin , Thompson , Lewis , Creed , James , Stransom , Hickie , Hemmings , Legg , & c . Grace before luncheon was said by the Rev . J . Atkins , and after by the Rev . Manley Power . Dessert having been introduced , the Provincial Grand Master ably proposed the first toast—the Queen and the Craft . The brethren , led by Bro . Newbery , sang the National Anthem . The P . G . Master , in proposing the health of the Most Worshipfnl the Grand Master His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales said , this was undoubtedly a most eventful year in the annals of Mark

Masonry . After some years of difficulty , not to say opposition , the Mark Masons had this year the honour of having as their Grand Master his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , which they might regard as the crowning

point of the edifice . They now looked forward with feelings of pride and satisfaction to Mark Masonry holding its own , not rivalling , but progressing side by side with Craft Masonry , and doing all that was possible in the promotion of good works . The toast was drunk with loyal enthusiasm , and Bro . Pulley sang " God bless the Prince of Wales . " The Provincial Grand Master next proposed the health of the Grand Officers , Present and

Past , and having borne testimony to the great ability and zeal shown by Lord Kintore during his term of office , referred to the presence on this auspicious occasion of two Past Grand Masters—Lord Carnarvon and Canon Portal . —

dwelling on the eminent services they had rendered to Mark Masonry , and acknowledging the great kindness and courtesy which Lord Carnarvon had extended towards the brethren of Berks and Oxon by receiving them at the

Castle and conducting them through it . Lord Jersey regretted they had not had time to see all the beauties of Highclere , but expressed his hope that they would have the opportunity of doing so on some future occasion . The

noble Earl associated with the toast the names of Past Grand Masters Lord Carnarvon and Canon Portal . Lord Carnarvon , in the course of an eloquent and interesting reply , of some length , remarked that his first connection

with Mark Masonry dated many year 3 ago , more years indeed than he liked to count up , but when he looked back on the progress of Mark Masonry during the interval , he felt that the retrospect was a very satisfactory one . When

he had the honour of holding office in 1863 , Mark Masonry was prosperous and flourishing , and they thought themselves fortunate in the possession of 40 Lodges ; now , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales had under his rule no less

than 380 Lodges . They also possessed a Benevolent Fund ,

an Annuity Fund , and an Educational Fund , and these were , in fact , the pillars and columns upon which their Order ought to rest . There had been prosperity in the past , and there was progress in the present , and they had

a very good augury for the future of Mark Masonry , in the acceptance hy the Prince of Wales of the office of Grand Master . His lordship went on to speak of the great debt which Mark Masons owed to Past Grand Master

Canon Portal , to whose energy , vigour , and ability , the success that had attended Mark Masonry was largely due . Many years had rolled by since the time when Bro . Portal [» id himself commenced Masonry together , when , in fact .

Bro . Portal taught him his Masonic duties , Bro . Portal bomg Master , and he ( Lord Carnarvon ) an undergraduate at Oxford . He assured the brethren that they were most heartil y welcome to Highclere , and he felt that

Hio-h-clero had been honoured by this gathering . He accepled ' -ho half promise made by Lord Jersey that they would visit ; Highclere again on a future occasion . Masonry aud -o-ighclerc were not altogether strange and foreign words .

Mark Masonry.

There once lived in that very pile of buildings ( Highclere Castle ) one of the most illustrious Masons that the history of English Masonry , or English history generally , bore record of . For a certain time the Great William of Wykeham lived within those walls . He was one of an

illustrious band of men who built , for the service of God and the use of man , those great and magnificent buildings which subsist to this clay , whose venerable faces spoke to them of the faith in God , and the reverence that dictated their erection . We , in our day , wore not called upon to

erect such stately edifices—they were tho work of a byegone

generation , and we were no longer Operative Masons in that sense , but on the other hand they had works of Charity to carry out , and whether they met as Craft Masons or Mark Masons , they always recognised that the fundamental

rule and practice of their Order consisted of the fulfilment of the great Masonic duty of Charity . Canon Portal Past Grand Master also replied in an able speech . Lord

Carnarvon , in eulogistic terms , proposed the health of Lord Jersey Prov . Grand Master , who briefly responded . The remaining toasts included the health , of tho Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Stephens ; the Provincial

Grand Officers , for whom the P . G . Treasurer ( Brother Tomkins ) responded ; the W . M " ., Wardens and Brethren of the Porchester Lodge , replied to by Brother Stephen Knight W . M . P . G . S . W . ; the Mark Benevolent Fund , proposed by Canon Portal , and replied to by Bro . Pulley P . G . Secretary ; the Visiting Brethren , for whom Bro . the Rev . A . H . Etty Past Provincial Grand Chaplain of

Bengal , replied , & c . Loud and repeated cheers having been given for Lord and Lady Carnarvon , Lord Porchester , and other members of the family , the noble Earl expressed his warmest thanks , and added his best wishes for the continued prosperity of the Porchester Lodge .

The visitors then took leave of the noble Earl and Lady Carnarvon , and amidst loud cheers the return journey to Newbury was commenced , at seven o ' clock , Newbury being reached shortly before eight . The brethren of the Porchester Lodge were heartily thanked for the great

hospitality and kindness they had shown , and warmly congratulated on the unqualified success that had attended their excellent arrangements , one and all confessing that this had proved the most enjoyable day spent in connection with this Mark Grand Lodge .

Northern China.

NORTHERN CHINA .

A SPECIAL Communication of the District Grand Lodge ot Northern China wa 3 held at tho Masonio Hall , Shanghai , on Wednesday , 28 th April 1886 . There were present on the occasion Worshipful Bvo . J . I . Miller Deputy District Grand Master in charge , W . Bros . C . Thorne Past District Grand Master and 0 . H . Dalla 3

P . D . G . M . of Japan acting D . D . G . M ., Wor . Bros . J . M . Cory D . S . G . W . and A . Johnsford D . G . J . W ., Bro . Rev . P . R . Smith D . G . C ., Wor Bros . W . H . Short D . G . T ., J . Morris D . G . R ., R . D . Starkoy D . G . Sec , W . II . Anderson P . D . S . G . W . acting D . S . G . D ., J . Findlay D . G . Supt . Works acting D . J . G . D . ; Bro . G . R . Wingrove D . G . Dir .

of Cers ., Wor . Bros . A . M . A . Evans Assist . D . G . Dir . of Cers . and A . P . Macgregor D . G . Sword Bearer , Bros . T . P . Hough D . G . Standard Bearer and J . MacMorran Assist . D . G . Standard Bearer , Wor . Bro . G . B . Fcntam D . G .- Org ., Bros . G . M . Hart Assist . D . G . Pars ., P . M . Gratton , J . West D . G . Stewards ; Wor . Bro . H . J .

Fisher D . G . S ., Bro . C . Merritt D . G . Tyler , with a considerable number of Past Officers and members of the neighbouring Lodges . Tho Brethren having assembled and assumed their respective positions , R . W . Bro . C . Thorne , Pa 3 t District Grand Master , accompanied by the District Grand Officers , entered tho Hill in procession ,

to tho strains of a march played by tho D . Gr . Organist , and opsned tho District Grand Lodge at 9 . 15 p . m . Solemn prayer was then offered up and a hymn sung . Rt . Wor . Bro . C . Thorne then called upon the D . G . Secretary to * read tho circular calling tho meeting , which was held for tho purposes of installing Wor . Bro . J . I . Miller as

District Grand Master of Northern China . This having- been done , lottoi-3 from Wor . Bros . 0 . Middleton and G . A . Allcot wero read , re"i-attim * their inability to attend . The arrival of Wor . Bro . John Irwin Miller , Right Worshipfnl District Grand Master designate , was tbeu announced . lit . Wor . Bro . C . Thorne , tho Installing Master ,

reqno . ' -tod the Patent from the Most Worshipful Grand Master to be sent in . The D . Cf . Director of Ceremonies retired and brought in tho Patent , which was dnly examined by tho Installing Master , who directed a deputation of seven Past Masters to retire with tho D . G . Director of Ceremonies and introduce tho Right Worshipfnl District

Grand Master designate . The Patent having bean read by the D . G . Secretary , the Installing Master addressed the BA Wor , District Graud Master designate as followg : — Brother Miller , —Yon are about to be inaugurated into a position of

hononr , responsibility and usefulness ; and by the exercise of tuletit and assiduity the District will hire just reason ci ooti ^ ritiil- ^ e itself on your appointment to the high office of its Grand Master . Ifc is aa honour out of tho reach of ordinary Masons , but au honour whioh any