Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

CONSEUllATiOX OF A NEW LODGE

ON Thursday , the ' 2 ' . ) ' . t u' ! ., a : i ' , t ! n : * .- Lodgo was added to the already existing Lodgea in the Province of Cumberland and Westmoreland , by the consecration of tho Sewell Lodge , No . 421 , at Egremont . The Lodge ia named aft or thn D « pnty Provincial Grand Mark Master Mason of Gumbor ! : * ..- ' - ! MI id Westmoreland , Worshipfnl Brother Colonel F . R . Sewell , J . P ., CO ., who is highly respected not only in hia own Province but outside of it . The Consecrating Officer

appointed by the Grand Mark Lodge of England , Worshipful Brother Colonel Sewell D . P . G . M . M . M . Cumberland and Westmoreland , opened tho Lodge of Aiaik Miucer ilusous in the presence of a large number of Officers and brethren . A ballot was then taken for eleven new members , who were duly elected , and those in attendance were advanced to tho degree of M . M . M . by Brother B .

Craig P . M ., C . E . Tho founders of the new Lodge were then arranged in order ; they were Brothers P . R . Sowell , G . Dalrymple , James Gardiner , James Stout , J . Lowery , J . Kitchen , B . Craig , Rav . James Anderson , J . Gordon , J . 0 . Scott , G . Scott , T . Brackenridge , T . Atkinson , T . Casson , T . Mitchell , and H . Hartley , who wore addressed by the consecrating officer on the nature of the meeting . After the

brethren had approved of the officers named in tho petition nnd warrant , an oration was delivered by Brother G . B . Arraes P . G . Chaplain , after whioh the consecrating Officer , Colonel F . 11 . Sewell , assisted by tho following officers : — Broa . P . do Collin P . G . D . of England , Rev . J . Anderson Prov . Grand S . W ., J . C . Thompson Prov . Grand J . W ., Rev . G . B . Artnea Prov . Graud Chaplain , duly consecrated

and constituted the Sewell Lodgo of Mark Master Masons , No . 421 on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge of England and Wales , & c . Bro . D . Cook Prov . Grand Organist attended to tho musical part of the ceremony . After tho consecration service was finished , Bro . James Gardiner P . M . Past Grand Steward of England , as Installing Master , took tho ohair of A ., when Bro . J . Stout 621 , W . M . designate , was

duly presented to him and installed in the usual impressive manner . Bro . B . Craig P . M . 216 P . l' . G . M . O . gave the charges and addresses to the respective Officers and Memburs . Thu following Officers were then appointed aud invested : —Bros . Craig I . P . M ., Lowery S . W ., Kitchen J . W ., Hartley Treasurer , Bosword Secretary , Bouch Reg . of Marks , Nelson M . O ., Armes Chaolain , Cook Dir . of Cers ., Braithwaite

Tyler . Bro . Colonel F . R . Sewell D . P . G . M . M . M . then presented the Lodge with a beautiful silk banner , with his crest and the emblems of tbo Order , which had been painted in nn artistic manner by Mrs , Sewell , and which was greatly admired . The usnal routine of Lodge business was then transacted , aud with hearty good wishes from

Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges , and tho various Lodges in tho Province , the Lodge was closed . Tho brethren then adjourned to the Red Lion Hotel , where a banquet was duly discussed . Bro . Stout W . M . 421 presided , supported by his Officers , when the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly proposed and loyally responded to .

HIGH CROSS LODGE , No . 284

A MEETING was held afc the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , on Wednesday , 18 th inst ., when tho W . M . Bro . Captain C . J . Knightley Prov . Grand Overseer wns supported by his Officers . Two brethren were advanced to tho Mark degree , and a joining member was added to the roll , making an increase of three iu the membership . The usual bauqnet followed , with the customary Loyal and Masouic toasts .

ROYAL CONNAUGHT LODGE , No . 409

A MEETING ofthe brethren was held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on the 13 th inst . Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . Richard Clowes Prov . Grand Treasurer P . Prov . G . M . O . East Anglia , who was supported by his Officers and a goodly array of visitors . By the request of the W . M . designate aud Founders of the Brighton Mark Lodge , No . 426 , over twenty brethren of the new Lodge were advanced to Mark Masonry . The ceremonies , in the

unavoidable absence of Bro . C . F . Matier P . Grand Warden , Grand Secretary , were performed by the V . W . Bro . V . Rev . E . R . Currie , Dean of Battle , P . G . Chaplain Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Bro . Dr . Alfred King was unanimously elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , and Brother Billing was re-elected Treasnrer . The Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the

Banqueting room , where they sat down to an excellent banquet supplied by Bro . D . Mutton , of King ' s Road . The W . M . Bro . Richard Clowes presided . The customary Mark Masonio toasts were dnly honoured , Bro . H . W . G . Abell Grand Standard Bearer responding for the Officers of Grand Mark Lodge Present and Past . The W . M ., in proposing R . W . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught Prov . Grand Mark

Mason , said arrangements were being made for tbe visit of his Royal Highness to Brighton , on tho occasion of his installation as Prov . G . M . M . He ( the W . M . ) was sure the Dnke of Connaught would receive thafc warm welcome which he justly merited . In proposing the V . W . Bro . the Very Rev . E . R . Currie , Dean of Battle , Prov . Grand Chaplain , Depnty Prov . Grand Master , and the Officers of Prov . Grand Lodge Present and Past , the W . M . apologised the

' or absence of Bro . Currie , who had been compelled to leave to catch his train . Bro . Currie wished to thank the brethren for the hearty reception they had given him in the Lodge . All present had been pleased to see bim amongst them , and appreciated the admirable ¦ manner in whicb , in the absence of Bro . Matier , through illness , he had performed the ceremonies of advancement . The Province was greatly indebted to its Officers , who carried out their duties moat

Mark Masonry.

abl ' . ' , and were always ready to assist the various Lodgea . Broa . S . R . Legg and J . P . Slingsby Roberta responded . Bro . J . Farncombe gave the Worshipful Master—a toast whioh , he said , waa aura to meet with a hearty reception . Bro . Clowea had , by his able work and hospitality , proved himself a thorough Mason . Tbe firsfc year of fche Royal Connaught Lodge had been a successful one , and fchafc

succesa waa attributable , in no small degree , to the able mannem whioh Bro . Clowes had carried out his duties , and be ( Bro . Farncombe ) wished the W . M . long life and prosperity . _ Bro . Clowes , on rising to respond , was enthusiastically received . Thanking Bro . Farncombo for his kind words , he said thafc when , by the lamented death of the late Bro . Crawford Pocock , he became W . M .,

ho determined to do all he could to follow in thafc brother a footsteps , and advance fche interests of the Royal Connaught Lodge . Ho waa proud to see suoh a gathering at the last meeting of tbe Lodge dnring his year of office , and he should ever remember tbe hearty reception accorded bim . Bro . Clowea then proposed tho W . M . Designate of tho Brighton Lodge . He congratulated Bro . Willard upon his election

as W . M ., and the brethren upon the happy selection they had made . He had boon pleased to assist the now Lodge by having the brethren advanced that evening . He hoped to find the Royal Connaught and Brighton Lodges go hand-in-hand for tho good of Mark Masonry . Bro . Willard , who was very warmly received on rising to respond , took tho opportunity cf thanking the founders of the Brighton

Lodge for forwarding his name to Grand Lodge as their first W . M . He would do his best for Mark Masonry , and hoped the Brighton Lodge would provo a groat success . He also thanked Bro . Clowes for allowing the brethren to bo advanced in the Royal Connaught Lodge , and thus enabling them to be present afc the approaching consecration of tho now Lodge and afc tho installatian of H . H . H the Duke of Connaught .

The W . M . proposed the Advanceos , to whioh Bros . Burfield , Brown , and Blaker responded . He then gave the Visitors , whioh Bros , the Rev . Tooth , Bolting , Hollman , and Gill acknowledged . The remaining toasts were fche Officers of the Lodge , to whioh Bros . A . King and the Secretary responded ; and the Tyler ' s toast . During the

evening pleasing songs wero given by Bros . Clements , Cully , Dyer , Soper ( Mayor of Brighton ) , Brazier , Willard , and Cole ; Mr . Lewis Mennich and Bro . Dr . Whittle played a violin and ocarina duet in good style ; and Bro . Chapman Marshall contributed an excellent pianoforte solo . The duties of accompanist were admirably carried out by Bro . Norman Roe Prov . Grand Organist .

At the monthly meeting of the Committee ofthe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institntion , held , on Wednesday the llth inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , the death , of three male annuitants was announced . It was also stated that a

further sum of £ 1000 had been received on account of the bequest of the late Dr . Morris Wilson . Two -widows -were granted the half of their late husband ' s pension . At the

nexfc election vacancies exist for 14 Male Candidates ( three deferred ) , and 12 Female ( three of these also deferred ) ; for these 26 vacancies there are at present 157 candidates .

We understand thafc His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has fixed Thursday , 12 th March , as the date to attend , accompanied by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , to open the Centenary Hall of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Battersea Rise .

Bro . James Stevens will lecture on the Ritual and Ceremonial of the three Craffc Degrees in the Rosslyn Lodge , No . 1543 , at the Saracen's Head Hotel , Dunmow , Essex , on Wednesday next , the 25 th inst ., at 6 for 7 p . m .

The brethren m the Province of Devon are arranging for his visit to several Lodges in that county , and early in March he is to lecture at Plymouth . Engagements are also pending at Plumstead , Shrewsbury , Southend-on-Sea and

elsewhere . We are pleased to learn that Bro . Stevens ' practical efforts are now receiving a well deserved attention amongst Freemasons , as a means of conveying most useful information and affording profitable entertainment on fitting occasions . We wish him continued

success . The members of the Union Lodge , No . 105 , and the Royal Arch Chapter , and Preceptory in connection

therewith , have presented Dr . James Taylor , on the occasion of his marriage , with an address and Pasfc Preceptor's jewel , in appreciation of his many good qualities and services to Freemasonry .

Bro . H . Massey ' s Reporting and News Offices , which for the last seventeen years have been situated at 93 Chancery Lane , W . C , will in future be at No . 1 Clifford's Inn , Fleet Street , E . C .

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