Mark Masonry.

advancement of their Lodge and would acquit themselves in the manner the W . M . would desire . Bro . C . F . Hogard replied fnr the Treasurer and Secretary , and deplored the absence of Bro . Terry , whose important duties hud prevented his attendance . He had occupied the post of Seorstary sinC 3 its foundation and now stood iu the position of father of the Lodge . He hoped the Lodge would prosper in the future as in the past , for they had been able from time

to time to do a great deal on behalf of ; hat admirable Institution , the Mark Benevolent Fond . Bro . Barnett had started with a good list ( 35 guineas ) ; as they knew , the Fund waa worked with small expenses in bringing its claims forward . The Tyler ' s toasfc was then given , and the brethren separated . Bro . J . Kift ably presided at the piano and materially enhanced a pleasant evening by several humorous songs .

Royal Ark Mariners.

ROYAL ARK MARINERS .

THE consecration of the Bedford Chf . nty Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners , ( the first of this degree in Warwickshire ) , attached to the Bedford Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 430 , was performed by the Most Noble Bro . the Marquess of Hertford Pro Grand Master of England , & c , and Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , at a

— : o : — CONSECRATION OP THE BEDFORD CHARITY LODGE .

meeting held at the Masonio Hall , New Streot , Birmingham , on Friday , the 28 th ult ., where the Lodge will in future be held . Prior to the consecration ceremony Bro . William Vincent A . G . D . of C . opened a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge with fche assistance of the founders present , viz .: the D . P . G . M . of Worcestershire , Bros . A . Green , W . L . Ball P . C . N ., T . F . Bland W . C . N . 59 , W . H . Williamson P . C . N .,

and tho Rev . W . J . Down Prov . G . Chaplain Worcestershire . The other founders present were Bros . J . G . Bennett S . D . 430 Organist 59 , Lloyd Owen W . M . Howe Lodge ( T . I . ) Prov . G . Treasnrer , Robert Barton Morgan P . M . 115 P . Prov . G . S . W ., Thos . Rowbotham W . M . 430 S . O . 115 , Prov . G . S . O ., Edward Mallard I . P . M . 430 W . M . 115 Prov . G . M . O ., William Hillman P . M . 115 Prov . G . S . W ., Walter

Glover 430 J . W . 115 P . G . Sword Bearer , Frederick E . Wattis Sec . 115 D . of C . 430 , John A . Dexter S . O . 430 S . D . 174 Prov . G . Standard Bearer , Tbo « . H . Pearce S . D . 430 Prov . G . Steward , Walter Herbert Rollason Std . 115 , J . Attwood M . O . 115 Prov . G . R . of M ., Arthur George Boys 430 , William Geo . Smith J . D . 174 , Joseph Candelent W . M . 318 , Samuel Jenkins I . P . M . 318 Prov . G . J . O .

Staffordshire , Felix Jones P . M . 174 P . Prov . G . M . O ., and VV . P . Hoskins J . O . 174 . The following brethren were elevated to the degree of Royal Ark Mariners by Bro . Wm . Vincent : —Howe Lodge , ( T . I . ) , Bro . Wright Wilson ; Bedford Lodge 115—Bros . J . C Aston , C . D . Eaton , W . H . Cox , A . C . Kellett , J . A . Tnrton Steward , Chas . Hodgkinson ; Athol Lodge , 174—Bros . G . W . Hardy , W . J . Ginder ;

Charity Lodge , 439—Bro . Rev . W . H . Poulcon , M . A ., Sir James Sawyer M . D ., Henry Penn , Richard 0 . Wills , Frederick Garratt , Joseph Round , Joseph Stainton , Horace Lidzey , and A . Dalley ; St . James ' Lodge , 318 , Staffordshire—Bro . W . B . Stocker . The work was performed in a masterly manner and was highly appreciated . The

ancient rites and ceremonies were tendered most impressively with full musical service . The most noble Pro Grand Master the Marquess of Hertford with his Grand Officers and Prov . Grand Officers being announced were admitted and received with all due honours and salutations . Tbe Pro G . M . as

Consecrating Officer took his seat on the throne and was greeted with acclamation . He called upon his Deputy , Bro . the Rev . W . Trevor Parkins to assist him in the consecration ceremony as Chaplain , Bros . A . Green as J ., D . C Lloyd Owen as Scribe , 0 . F . Matier G . Secretary as Dir . of Cers ., and Wm . Vincent as Warden . The ceremony of consecration was then performed by the noble Marquess

in a truly impressive manner , the rendering of the beautiful ceremony reflecting great credit and proving his truly Masonic skill and ability . During the ceremony the Assistant Chaplain delivered an oration expounding Masonic principles and virtues . The Noble Marquess then vacated the throne and called upon Bro . W . Vincent to perform the installation ceremony , Bro . C . F . Matier acting as Dir .

of Cers . The Brethren below the ^ rank of W . C . N , having retired , Bro . Edward Mallard , was presented and was duly installed in the chair of the Bedford Charity Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners , and was congratulated by the noble Marquess his Grand Officers , and those present on attaining the position of W . C . N , of the First Royal Ark Mariners Lodge in the Province of Warwickshire in a most cordial

manner . Bro . the Rev . Trevor Parkins was at tbe same time obligated as an installed W . C . N . Tbe brethren of the Lodge were re-admitted , and after the usual proclamations and salutations tbe W . C . N , invested his Officers , as follow : —Bros . Thos . Rowbotham J ., Robert B . Morgan S ., Rev . W . H . Poulton , M . A ., Chaplain , D . C Lloyd Owen , M . D ., Treasurer , T . H . Peivroe Scribe , Walter Glover

S . D ., W . H . Rollason J . D ., William Hillman Dir . of Cers ., Richard 0 . Willis Organist , Jabez Attwood G ., J . A . Dexter , F . E . Wattis , A . G . Boys , J . G . Bennett , and Henry Penn Stewards , A . Dalley Warder . The W . C . N , then intimated to the Provincial Grand Master tbe desire of the Lodge that he , as Provincial Grand Master , as well as the Provincial Grand Mark Master of Worcestershire ( Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . ) , his worthy Deputy Bro . A . Green , Bros . C . F . Matier and Wm .

Vincent , together with Bro . Murray Haynes P . C . N , ( the latter having rendered invaluable assistance to the W . C . N , and the Founders in founding the Lodge ) should accept the position of honorary members . The noble Brother , having signified his assent to the proposition , said that he and the brethren named would feel proud of the distinction , The Lodge requested the honorary members to accept a souvenir of the occasion in the shape of a Founder ' s jewel . The W . C . N , in pointing oat the excellence and beauty of the design , said the jewel was the

Royal Ark Mariners.

work of one of the founders ( Bro . Samuel Jenkins ) , and thanked the noble Marquess , in tho name of the Lodge , for allowing his coat-ofarins on the centre shield scroll and motto to bo incorporated therein . The noble Marquess , iu accepting the jewel ou behalf of himself and the other honorary members , expressed his and their gratitude to tho Lodge for the honour conferred . The noble Marqness

then decorated the Founders present with jewels . The W . C . N , expressed a desire thafc the subscribing brethren of the Lodge , not being honorary members , should commemorate the day of consecration by stamping the Lodge as a charitable Institution . He pointed out that all they had done up to that moment was for the honour of their own Province , and expressed a very strong desire that they

would support the charity connected with the Mark Master and Ark Mariners degree , viz ., the Mark Benevolent Fund , whioh was doing signal service to unfortunate Mark Masters , their widows and children . He appealed to them on behalf of this fund , and showed that from the list of subscribers and donors compiled by the Secretary ( Bro . 0 . F . Matier ) there was no Ark Mariners Lodge in

the world up to that moment which ranked as a Vice-President of that Institution , and therefore he hoped that the brethren would not allow him to sit down until they had promised individually and collectively to give him the sum of fifty guineas to enable him at the next Festival to place the new Lodge in front of all the Ark Mariners ' and the majority of the Mark Masters' Lodges in what he designated

the scroll of fame , viz ., the list of donors and subscribers of the Mark Benevolent Fund . Tbe suggestion was cordially received by an almost unanimous assent , the brethren preferring to subscribe individually . The W . C . N ., and Bro . Thomas Rowbotham , and the noble Marquess further offered to subscribe a sum of five guineas each , if necessary , to make up any deficiency . The Fund , therefore ,

was made an accomplished fact . The W . C . N , announced his intention to attend the Festival as W . M . of the Bedford Lodge and the representative of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Warwickshire , & c , with donations from them of ten and fifteen guineas . The Lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to the banquetingroom , where a recherche repast was placed before them . The

W . C . N , presided at the banquet , having on his right Bro . the Marquess of Hertford with his Grand Officers , and the P . C . N . ' s and visitors , and was supported on his left by the Provincial Grand Mark Chaplain of Worcestershire and the whole of the newly elevated brethren and founders of the Lodge . The usual loyal toasts were duly honoured . The health of the noble

Marquess as Pro Grand Master and Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire with the Officers of the Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodgo was next proposed . The W . C . N ., in proposing the toast , said he had received private instructions , which , although they oatne from the Pro Grand Master , he refused to obey , as they were to tho effect that he was to " draw it mild . " In respect of the work of the

noblo brother , the W . C . N , said his life would not be worth a minute s purchase if he did not do his duty and express the unanimous love , admiration , reverence , and esteem , which the whole of the membera of that Lodge , and also the whole of the Mark Master Masons of Warwickshire felt towards him ; iu fact the Mark Masons of his Lordship's Province were never happier or felt more honoured than

when they were visited by the noble Marquess , and he assured him that ifc was the hope and desire of evory Mason in the Province that he would long rule over them , and that he would always , as long as he lived , remain their respected chief and governor . Tho Pro Grand Master , in acknowledging the toast , expressed the very groat pleasure he had in consecrating the first Royal Ark Mariners Lodge

in his Province , and congratulated the members of the Lodge upon their selection of a W . C . N , who had proved at least the charitable part of his disposition by bringing about such a ifoble donation to fche Mark Benevolent ; Fund , and he expressed a hope and desire that the Ark would prosper , and also expressed the great satisfaction he felt in leaving it in the hands of such a capable body of Officers who

represented all the Present and Past Officers of his Provincial Lodge He also complimented the Lodge upon their very truly representative constitution , seeing that they were members of not only all tbe Mark Lodges in the Provinoa now in working order , but also represented with the honorary members fche Mark Lodges of the neighbouring Provinces of Staffordshire and Worcestershire . The Pro Grand

Master then proposed the health of the W . C . N ., congratulating him upon the grand success financially and socially of the Lodge . The W . C . N , having replied , Bro . Thomas Rowbotham then proposed the Mark Benevolent Fund . He said as Masons in every degree they delighted in giving to that toast the prominence and importance it deserved . They might justly bo proud of tho good work their Mark

Benevolent Fund and other kindred Charities was doing . It was a pleasure to feel that the hearts of their less fortunate brethren might be cheered , and the lives of their children brightened by the assistance of this Benevolent Fund , which , in addition to other advantages , gave to the children of a Mark Mason an education to fit them in every respect for the battle of life . He coupled with the toast the

name of Bro . C F . Matier , who , he said , was the life and soul of that noble and benevolent Institution , and to whose credit was to be attributed the fact that no applicant for relief had ever been turned from its doors , and also that up to the present time no expense of any election had ever been charged to its funds . He also congratulated Brother Matier upon the zsal and ability he had always

displayed , and the deep interest he had taken in the present movement , and hoped that he would return to Loudon perfectly satisfied that he had that day assisted in the constitution not only of a Royal Ark Mariners Lodge in the worldly sense of the term , bat in the constitution and creation of a Charitable Institution in the first Ark Mariners Lodge in the Province of Warwickshire .

Bro . C . F . Matier , in response , repeated iu effect the . eulogistns of the Pro Grand Master as to the grand success of the Lodge , and thanked the brethren most heartily for the friends of his pet institution , and assured the W . C . N , and the Officers and Brethren present that anything he could do for Mark Masonry would be done most readily aud willingly . The toast