Masonic Office—Its Responsibility And Pleasure.

of tho duties of this exalted station . They are as weighty as they are various . They call into exercise the Mason ' s best intellectual pai-ts—not only his memory , but his judgment , his learning , his tact , his common sense . He must act on tho spur of tho moment . He is a governor and a

judge rolled into one . His decision is final in the Lodge , at the time . If he errs , the body of Masonry over which he presidos , for the time being , suffers . He must be accurate and quick if he would rise to the demands of his

station . And yet , how many Brethren look upon the Master ' s station as a figure head , a Masonic sinecure , a position of honour more than of responsibility . It is both , and in equal degree . But no one can derive honour from it if he be not equal to its responsibilities .

As an offset to the responsibilities of Masonic office , there are abounding pleasures . Who can measure them ? Only lie who has enjoyed them . The honour , dignity , and gratification which are incident to presiding over the "Sons of Light , " are of the rarest quality . To have been selected

as the one out of the many ; to have been chosen by one a peers as worthy of ruling over them ; to have been charged with the conservation of the usages , customs and Landmarks of Freemasonry—this is an honour and a dignity indeed . The greater the responsibility , if one is qualified

to bear it , the greater the enjoyment . It is so with the Mastership . Every one looks up to you there . Every one has confidence in you , unless you forfeit that confidence by incapacity . Every one is proud of you , and of your occupancy of tbe chief station in the Lodge , and your pleasure

is their pleasure also . This mutuality of pleasure increases its intensity . It is the pleasure of the entire Masonic family , the members of which love each other , and respect and revere him who alone among the Officers i 3 worshipful —a time-hononred designation , having a significance whioh is understood by Freemasons .

The brother with no aspiration for office , has no conception of either the pleasure or the responsibility attached to Masonic station . He is cold , careless and forgetful of the Craft , as well as of himself . That is a healthy condition of affairs when numerous Brethren are

qualified for , and ready to assume , the Wardenship of a Lodge . It proves that they have made a study of Freemasonry , aud desire to continue to be students . It shows they do not believe that initiation , simply , makes the Mason . It recognizes the obligation resting upon all to spend and be spent in the cause of the Fraternity .

Every Officer reaps his reward . Every Brother who is qualified to be an Officer merits the enjoyment , which is the silver lining to the cloud of responsibility . —Keystone

A Masonic Marriage.

A MASONIC MARRIAGE .

ANOTHER step towards the organisation of civil marriages with semi-religious pomp and ceremony has been taken in Paris , this time by the Freemasons . The idea of borrowing a few hints from the Church in order to make matrimonial unions performed by mayors attractive and picturesque originated in the mind of a

metropolitan tradesman , who found a genial civic functionary ready to carry out his suggestions . Accordingly , several weddings took place in the Temple District , the prosaic ceremonial of the code being set off by orchestral music , while ornamental adjuncts—such as flowers and

lig hts—were not forgotten . Now there has taken place another marriage of the same kind in the Salle des Fetes of the Grand Orient Lodge of France , in the Rue Cadet . The bride and bridegroom , after having been joined in matrimony by their Mayor , entered the Salle des Fetes of

the Masonic Lodge with their friends . There all sat down and listened patiently to three addresses , delivered by leading Freemasons . Then small bouquets were presented to the sisters , cousins , and other relatives of the husband and wife who were present , and the newly-married couple

received their wedding rings from the presiding Mason , who in the name of his Craft imprinted a " kiss of peace " on the cheeks of the bride . The ceremony concluded , as it had begun , to the sounds of music , the orchestra playing

a wedding march as the bridal party left the hall . Those who are opposed systematically to the Church are overjoyed at the success of the "Masonic Marriage , " which they regard as another blow aimed at old fashioned traditions and routine . —Daily Telegraph .

Bazaar At Huddersfield.

BAZAAR AT HUDDERSFIELD .

ON the 6 th inst . Mrs . H . F . Beaumont , of Whitley Beaumont , opened a three days' bazaar in the Masonic Hall , Fitzwilliam Street , Huddersfield , in aid of a f and to reduce the debt of £ 300 on the promises of the Beaumont Lodge , No . 2035 , at Kirkburton . The stalls were very neatly arranged , and were laden with a large assortment of fancy and useful articles . There waa a large company at the opening ceremony . Brother William Sohofield stated that tho

Lodge had had to furnish the premises , and had had to borrow money therefor , whioh they desired to repay . The Lodge had taken tho name of Beaumont from Bro . H . P . Beaumont , M . P ., of Whitley Beaumont , the member for the Golne Valley Division . Mrs . H . F . Beaumont , who waa * ery cordially received , said she had been president of the bazaar committee , and she had seen with very great pleasure the wonderful energy and activity which tho

kidiea of the working party had displayed in working for the bazaar . The time had now come when they ought to moet with the reward of their labours , and she could hardly doubt that their hopes would bo more than realised . She conoluded by declaring the bazaar open . Bro . VV . II . Jessop moved , aud Bro . Fit tan seconded , a resolution of thanks to Mrs . Beaumont ; and it was heartily passed . Bro . IT , It . Beaumout ( who is a member of tbe Lodge , along with his father ) responded on behalf of Mrs . Beaumont .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV.G.LODGEOPNORTHUMBERLANDANDDURHAM. THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the Province of Northumberland and Durham was held on Tuesday , the 6 th inst ., in the Freemasons' Hall , Stockton-on-Tees . The Right Worshipful P . G . M . M . Bro . Bev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., F . R . S , presided . He was strongly supported . The Report of the

Committee of General Purposes was read by the P . G . Secretary ( Bro . C . B . Ford ) . Its adoption was moved by Bro . R . B . Read D . P . G . M . M ., seconded by Bro . C . S . Lane P . P . G . S . W ., and adopted . The report , after alluding to

the satisfactory progress of Mark Masonry , expressed satisfaction at the presence of tho R . W . Prov . Grand Mark Master Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., on his return from travels in other lands . The Prov . G . M . M . then addressed

the brethren , and congratulated 'them upon the state of Mark Masonry throughout the Province . He appreciated their references to himself , aud referred to several matters of Masonic detail . Though not an official visit , he announced that the Deputy Grand Master Bro . the Earl of

Enston would visit the Tristram Lodge , at Newcastle , on the 15 th December , when they would be pleased to see a large attendance of the brethren . He afterwards intimated that the Provincial Grand Lodge would meet next year at

Sunderland , upon the invitation of the Union Lodge , No . 124 , of which Bro . Singleton is the present W . M . Tho Prov . G . M . M . then invested Bro . R . B . ReedasD . P . G . M . M . on re-appointing him for the ensuing year . He invested the following as the Officers for the year : —

C . H . Backhouse Senior Warden W . F . Carmon Junior Warden G . F . Allan M . O . E . Weddell S . O . E . S . Benson J . O . Eev . Dr Bandell ( re-appointed ) ) 0 h lain 8 Eev . J . J . Brown ) r Lmafpurvis } Kegistrars of Marks J . S . B . Bell ( re-elected ) Treasurer ( 1 H Fnrd frn . nnnninhftcn Saoret & rv

Seymour Bell Dir . of Cers . R . Wilson Inspeotor of WorkB E . Singleton Senior Deacon C . H . Sutcliffe Junior Deacon J . Barker ( re-appointed ) OrganiBt James Bose I . G . M . Armstrong Sword Bearer C . Allen Standard Bearer J . Gurry ( re-elected ) Tyler It was next decided that BroB . G . Porteous , R . Singleton , C . H . Backhouse and W . F . Carmon be the

Representatives on the Committee of General Purposes , and Bros . W . Brown and Seymour Bell Auditors . The Lodgo was afterwards closed in due form . In the evening , a

banquet was held in the hall , presided over by Canon Tristram P . G . M ., supported by Bros . R . B . Reed D . P . G . M ., Addison Potter , C . B ., P . P . G . S . W ., John Strachan P . P . G . S . W . and Bro . C . S . Lane P . P . G . S . W . Bro . Bell P . P . G . S . W . officiated as Vice-Chairman .