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Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — GRAND LODGE OP THE PROVINCE OF BERKS AND OXON .

rpHE members of this Provincial Grand Lodge , accepting the J- invitation given at Maidenhead la = it October , assembled on Tuesday , the 9 th instant , at the Masonio Hall , Groyfriars-road , Reading , under the banner of the Leopold Lodge , No . 235 . and transacted the annual business . The General Purposes Committee , presided over by the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of

Jersey , met m the morning at tho Great Western Hotel , and dealt with various matters requiring attention , and at two o ' clock Provincial Grand Lod ge was close tyled at the Masonic Hall , where the brethren had an opportunity of inspecting the newly-opened snite of ante-rooms . Although the Province has onl y been formed since 1879 , and notwithstanding the fact of many brethren being prevented

attending through the press of other engagements , nearly every seat in the Lodge was occupied , and Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex and Surrey , designated the assemblage as one of the largest and most satisfactory he had ever witnessed in the Provinces in connection with Mark Masonry—a fact largely due to the popularity of the Provincial Grand Master and the ^

unnagging energy of the Provincial Grand Secretary . Among those present were the Ri ght Hon . the Earl of Jersey the M . W . Provincial Grand Master , Bro . C . Stephens the V . W . Deputy Prov . G . MaRter , Bros . Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bnrt ., Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex and Surrey , John Walker Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire , Donald M . Dewar Assistant Grand Secretary , James Jenkins

ex-Mayor of Oxford and P . G . S . W ., Captain W . C . Golding P . P . G . J . W ., Thomas J . Pulley Past Grand Senior Deacon and Prov . G . Secretary , F . W . Ansell P . P . S . O ., Christopher Park P P G J W F . Ryman Hall P . P . G . D . C , Walter Thompson P . P . G . S . O ., Harry G . W . Drinkwater P . G . S ., James Rutland P . G . O ., Charles G . Butler P . G . I . G ., R . Glasspool P . P . G . A . S ., Maurice Wheeler P . G . S . B .,

««? 5 . - » - ' John Tomkins P . P . G . S . W ., W . Ravensoroft P . G . J . W ., A . Wheeler P . G . S . D ., J . Fisher , Samuel Bradley P . G . M . O ., Richard Eve P . G . W . Hants , George . Boyer P . G . S . B ., H . Creed , Edwd . L . Shepherd P . G . S . W ., J . M . Dormer P . P . G . Assist . Secretary , E . Nichols P . G . S . D ., W . Brett P . P . G . I . G ., J . T . Stransom P . P . G . O ., Edward Margrett P . G . S . D ., Geonre J . Cosburn P . P . G SB W T

Dnpree , F . H . Cozens P . G . Org ., W . G . Flanagan , F . Marsh W . J . James , W . W . Ridley , W . Morris P . G . J . W ., F . H . Marvchurch , Robt . Rastrick P . P . G . M . O . Hants and Isle of Wight , John Dew P . P . G IW . Hants and Isle of Wight , J . H . Trollope , J . Harvey , R . Croisdale P . G . S . D . Hants and Isle of Wight , Sidney Payne , Rov . R . P . Bent

P . G . Chaplain , W . Hinckley P . P . G . S ., Thomas Benham P . P . G S . D Hants and Isle of Wight , J . W . Lindars P . G . A . S ., W . B . Farr Mavor of Maidenhead P . P . S . W . Bengal , P . P . S . W . Berks and Oxon , Robert Nicholson P . P . G . St . B ., F . R . Spender , H . Howard Hodges P . P . G . M . O ., H . Smith , Edwin Hewitt , Richard Pnttick , C . H . Tench P G . S ., J . Westfield , & c .

The business transacted was of the usual character , and the finance and other reports were adopted . Bro . E . Trendell ( Abingdon ) , who was absent through domestic affliction , was again elected ns Provincial Grand Treasurer , on the motion of Bro . Stephens , seconded by Bro . Jenkin . Bro . Pulley announced that letters of apology for non-attendance had been received from a large number of

distinguished Mark Masons in different parts of the kingdom . The Provincial Grand Master invited the brethren to give in their names as Stewards for the Mark Benevolent Fnnd Festival , and Bro . Pnlley consented to represent the Province on the occasion . The Prov . Grand Master spoke very highly of the services of the Deputy Provmcial

Grand Master ,, and re-appointed Bro . Stephens to that office . Bro . Stephens thanked Lord Jersey for the honour he had again conferred upon him , and assured the Provincial Grand Lodge of his unabated interest in Mark Masonry . The appointment of the rest of the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers for the ensuing twelve months was then proceeded with , Lord Jersey investing them with their

insignia of office in the following order : — Bros . F . W . Ansell 247 G . Senior Warden W . G . Flanagan 235 ... ... G . Jnnior Warden Captain Goldinar 55 ... ... G . Master Overseer F . H . Lvon , M . D ., 27 ... ... G . S . Overseer R . Nicholson 257 ... ... G . J . Overseer

Rev . E . De Ewpr 257 ... ... G . Chaplain E . J . Trpndell 225 ... ... G . Treasarer Sir Benjamin V . S . Brodie , Bart ., 55 G . R ° s . of Marks Thns . J . Pnlley 235 .... ... G Secretary J . W . Lindars 235 ... ... G . Assistant Secretary C . W . Cox 257 ... ... ... G . Senior Deacon M H . C . Palmor 27 ... ... G . Jnnior Dpncnn

Captain J . H . Trollope 225 ... G . Knpfc . of Work 3 Dr . C . H . Tench 235 ... ... G . Dir . of Cers . H . G . W . Drinkwater 247 ... G . Asst . D ! r . of Cers . G . H . Osmond 247 ... ... G . Sword Bearer W . E . Beal 257 ... ... ... G . Standard Bearer

Mark Masonry.

F . R . Spendon 257 ... ... G . Organist H . Creed 235 ... ... ... G . Inner Guard A . Thompson 235 ... ... " ) J . S . Fisher 247 I G . Stewards W . T . Dnpree 235 ... ... ) W . Hammings 235 ... ... ) n m , G . Norwood j G . Tylers ,

The Prov . Grand Master , accepting the invitation of the officers and brethren of the Alfred Lodge , announced that the Provincial Grand Lodge would meet next year at Oxford . This completed the bnsiness and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due form . The banqnet was served at the Great Western Hotel by Bro . W . G , Flanagan P . G . J . W ., who was mnch complimented on tho arrange .

ments made for the comfort and entertainmont of the company . In the conrse of tho evening a number of interesting speeches were delivered in carrying out the list of toasts , tho first honoured being , of course , that of the Qneen and Mark Masonry . The M . W . G . M . M . M . ( the Right Hon . Lord Henniker ) and Past G . M . M . Masons was then proposed by the Prov . Grand Master , who bore his

personal testimony to the great interest whioh Lord Henniker takes in Mark Masonry . The Prov . Grand Master next gave tho health of the R . W . Deputy G . M . M . M . ( the Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore ) and Grand Officers Past and Present , conpling with the toast the uames of Bros . Sir Francis Bnrdett and Donald M . Dewar , of whose services to Masonry his Lordship spoke in eulogistio terms . Sir Francis

Bnrdett said it gave him pleasure to return thanks for the post . He had been conected with this degree a great number of years , longer , perhaps , than any Mason present ; still he had seldom realised more pleasure than on this occasion , inasmuch as this was one of the largest Provincial gatherings of Mark Masons he had had the privilege of attending . Indeed , he had never seen a

Provincial Grand Master more heartily or thoroughly supported than his friend Lord Jersey had been to-day . He had never seen the work performed more satisfactorily , and it would certainly have done credit to any Provincial Grand Lodge in England , and he felt snre that when any of the Provincial Grand Officers were called upon to officiate in Grand Lodge they would discharge their duties

satisfactorily . Sir Francis then proposed the health of the Provincial Grand Master , and remarked that although Lord Jersey had been re-appointed for a term of three years only , they all entertained the hope that he wonld continue to reign over the Province for a great many years . The longer they knew Lord Jersey the more they liked him . There could be no doubt that under his genial and able

presidency the Province would long continue to flourish . The Prov . Grand Master , in reply , said he highly valued the kind expressions of Sir Francis , and also the warm and hearty reception given to the toast . It gave him sincere pleasure to find himself supported by so many of the brethren , and he earnestly hoped the Provincial Grand Lodge would long continue to flourish . His Lordship concluded by

proposing the health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , thanking him for the kind interest he had taken in the affairs of the Province , which he felt were perfectly safe in Bro . Stephens' hands . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master said he wished he could feel he was entitled to the kind words used and the good feeling manifested towards him . He was willing to render such service as he could ,

and shonld feol it to be his duty to visit the Lodges in the Province and see the work performed during the ensuing year . Bro . Stephens gave the health of the " Wardens , Treasurer , and other Officers of the Province , Present and Past , " and Bro . Ansell responded Bro . John Walker Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Gloucestershire , proposed the health of the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of the

Leopold Lodge , for whom Bro . Samuel Bradley W . M . returned thanks . Bro . Pulley , in the conrse of an able speech , proposed the Mark Benevolent Fund , remarking that he did so with very great pleasure , the subject of the toast being connected with his dearest thoughts of Masonry—charity . He thought he might say , without any egotism , that no member of the Mark Degree had taken more

interest in the Mark Benevolent Fund than he had done . He had spared no effort to ensure its prosperity and promote its success whenever he had had the opportunity , not only by advocating its claims to their support , but also by ensuring , as far as possible ^ the thorough working of the benevolent objects which they had in view . He referred to the good work being carried on by means of this fund ,

and expressed his hope that the Province would continue to accord its liberal snpport , and that he would be in a position to present a very substantial amount at next year ' s Festival . Bro . Donald M . Dewar , in reply , said he took the greatest possible interest in the Mark Benevolent Fund , and they were fortunate in having such a splendid advocate and supporter of the fund as Bro . Pulley , who

was not a man of mere words , but a man of action as regards every degree of Masonry to which he belonged . Bro . Pulley's name appeared in the lists of many stewards , and he was undoubtedly the right man to advocate the claims of the fund . Brother Dewar then gave a history of the fund , and the excellent objects parried out in connection therewith , and concluded by remarking

that he felt extremplv glad they would have the advantage of the ablo Stewardship of Bro . Pulley for the next Festival . The health of the visiting brethren was then proposed by Bro . Tomkins , aud acknowled ' ged by Bro . Eve in an eloquent speech , the speaker obsprvine that the more th « brethren made themselves acquainted with rhe Masonic Charities the greater would be the snpport g iven to

thpm . The I rov . Grand Master then gave the health of the Host , remarking upon Bro . Flanagan ' s excellent catering . Bro . Flanagan having returned thanks , the Provincial Grand Master took his departure for homp , being much cheered as he withdrew . A smoking concert followpd , and proved a splendid success , the

arrangements devolving upon Bro . W . Hickie P . P . G . O . An attractive pro-Gramme was rendered with great taste by Madame Worrell , and Brr > 8 , Cozens , Ashton Ne'tleship and Tower , and the applause was hearty throughout . Bro . Pulley was warmly consratulated upon the unqualified sucoessof the days' proceedings . —Berkshire Chronicle .