The Masonic Year 1876.

Before quitting tho subject of the Masonic Institutions , it seems fitting we shonld mention that Grand Lodge , having unanimously agreed to commemorate tho visit to , and safe return from , India , of His Royal Highness , tho Grand Master , has appointed a Special Committee for the

purpose of determining the most appropriate form which the Memorial shall take . It is announced that a Special Communication of the Grand Lodge will be held shortly , for the express purpose of receiving this Report , but it is not yet known what will bo the nature of the recommendations

they will submit . There is , however , a very general idea prevailing that nothing more suitable could be devised than the presentation of a certain sum of money to each of our three Charities , the appropriation of such sum being left to the wisdom and discretion of tho respective governing

bodies . We certainly consider this would be an excellent scheme for commemorating so auspicious an event . We gladly announce that Bro . Binckes , with that energy for which he is so remarkable , has a plan of his own , namely , that the sum of £ 6000 shall be distributed , in equal

shares , among the three Institutions . We cannot say this is a better scheme than that of the Special Committee , for , as we havo remarked already , the said Committee have not allowed the nature of their proposition to become public .

This , however we do affirm , that it is a scheme in every way worthy of the Craft , as well as of him in whose honour it is propounded . A Prince of Wales ' s Endowment attached to each of the Charities will , indeed , be an excellent commemoration of his visit to India .

Another event of sufficient importance to record in our history of the year ' s doings is the opening of the Masonic Club , in Queen Victoria-street . This is a matter for hearty congratulation . Brethren now have a place , outside the Lodge , where they can meet and enjoy the pleasures of

social intercourse . It is not creditable to so numerous aud influential a body of men—and men so clubbable as Masons are generally esteemed to be—that they should have been BO long without their club ; and it speaks well for the energy and enterprise exhibited by tho directors , and

notably by Bro . Langton , chairman of the Sub-Committee of Management , that they have carried out their plans so expeditiously and successfully . The formal opening of this London Masonic Club was celebrated , in the customary manner , by a banquet , at which tho Deputy Grand Master ,

Lord Skelmersdale , presided with his wonted geniality . Those present were delighted beyond measure with the arrangements made for their entertainment , and especially with the very practical illustration they received of tho excellence of the cuisine . Profanes , of course , will laugh

at us for laying stress on this , but a club without a good culinary department would very soon go to the wall . The rooms are handsomely , but not ostentatiously furnished , the comfort of members having been the main consideration of tho managers . There are billiard rooms and

smoking rooms , a reading room , and a very handsome suite of apartments , which is used for Lodge purposes , as occasion demands . Though all London was out of town , as

the saying is , when the opening ceremonial was held , the directors have since had every reason to be satisfied with their venture , and we trust the new Club may go on prospering more and more every year .

As regards Royal Arch Masonry , the year has been equally satisfactory as with Craft . Eighteen new Chapters have been added to the roll of Grand Chapter . Of these , six are on foreign stations , namely : —three in the East Indies , one in Jamaica , one in New Zealand , and one in South

Africa . Of the remaining twelve—three are in the Loudon district , and nino in the Provinces : namely , one in each of the following : —Devon , Cornwall , Monmouth , Middlesex , Lancashire , Hants and Isle of Wight , Northumberland , South Wales , and North Wales . One of the most

interesting events is certainly the consecration , on the same clay , by the Rev . J . Huyshe , Provincial Grand Superintendent of Devon , of the Dnndas and Devon Chapters . Our Rev . Comp . is known for his earnest zeal in the cause of every branch of F ^ eemasonrv , and so unusual an event will

be looked back upon by him with the kindliest recollections , as it certainly will be by those who enjoyed the pivilege of witnessing and taking part in the impressive ceremonials . Of course , as the Royal Arch is so intimately associated

with Craft Masonry , there is little additional matter to record of it which does not likewise concern the latter . We note however , with great pleasure , the appointment of Lieut .-Colonel Creaton to bo President of the Grand

Chapter Committee, In The Room Of The Late Lamented

Chapter Committee , in the room of the late lamented

Comp , John Savage . Colonel Creaton is a man of energy and ability , and is further distinguished by such essential qualifications for this particular office , as firmness , tact , and discretion . We feel that we are bub echoing the

opinion of all Royal Arch Masons , when we state that the Pro Grand Z . could not have made a happier use of the right in him vested , than when ho selected so worthy a Companion for this important office .

In Mark Masonry , tho year has been one of unwonted activity . The half-yearly communications of Grand Lodge in June and December were very numerously attended ; the Grand Master , the Earl of Limerick , being re-installed at the former , amid very general enthusiasm , and at the

same time a further sum of £ 200 was directed to be invested on account of the General Fund . We have it , indeed , on the authority of Sir F . W . Williams Bart . M . P ., the Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , that at the present time there aro in England some 200 Mark Lodges

and 10 , 000 Mark Master Masons . The Moveable Grand Mark Lodge took place on the 25 th of October , at Leicester , under the presidency of Grand Master the Earl of Limerick . The meeting was held under the auspices of the Fowke Lodge , No . 19 , and there was a very strong

muster of the brethren . After Grand Lodge was closed , a new Lodge , bearing the title of the Simon de Montforfc Lodge , No . 194 , was consecrated by the M . W . the Grand Master , and subsequently Bro . Barfoot was installed as the first Worshi pful Master . The ceremony , which , thanks

to Bro . Barfoot , was conducted in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall , was very impressively rendered , and the occasion was honoured with the usual banquet . On the 29 th November , the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire held a meeting in the Old Hall at Gainsborough .

Bro . John Sutcliffe , Provincial G . M . Master , presided , and as ho had issued invitations to the brethren in the provinces of Lancashire , Yorkshire , Northumberland , Durham , Cheshire , and North Wales , the gathering was on a far grander scale than usual . There was , moreover , a special

interest attaching to the occasion , as a testimonial was presented to the Prov . G . M . Master , for his eminent services on behalf of Mark Masonry . To this allusion has already been made ; we need not , therefore , enter into any further detail here . But , perhans , the most important

event connected with this degree is the installation of Lord Skelmersdale as Provincial Grand Mark Master Mason for Lancashire , in succession to the lato respected Bro . William Romaine Callender M . P . The ceremony was performed by the Earl of Limerick in person , and it

is almost needless to say that the attendance of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , past and present , as well as of Mark Master Masons generally , was very numerous and influential . One other event deserves to be recorded—namely , the issue of a warrant of confirmation

to the York Mark Lodge , which till quite recently had persistently declined to recognise the Grand Mark Lodge . Many attempts have been made to induce it to take its place among the rest of tho Mark Lodges of England and Wales , but these were all of them unsuccessful , till a few weeks

since , when the new W . M . for the year was duly installed in his office by Bro . Binckes , Grand Mark Secretary . Nor must Ave omit to mention that the annual Festival of tho Mark Benevolent Fund was held at the Alexandra Palace , on the 19 th July , under tho presidency of Lieut .-Gen .

Brownrigg , Grand Senior Warden . On this occasion , the Stewards' subscription lists amounted to within a few shillings of £ 130 . It is also worthy of notice that H . R . H . Prince Leopold has been advanced to this degree . A few other matters deserve to be recorded iu connection

with Freemasonry in England . It is worthy of notice that a new Lodge , the Eboracum , No . 1011 , was this year constituted in the ancient City of York—a city which , both traditionally and in fact , is associated with the very earliest history of our Society . It is with deep regret , also , that

we announce the death of sundry among the leading members of the Craft , the most prominent amongst them being the late Hon . F . Walpolc , M . P ., who survived his installation as Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk only a few months ; Bro . W . Romaine Callender , M . P . P . G . M .

of East Lancashire and Prov . Grand Mark Master for L mcadiire ; tho Rev . Bro . Lockwood , Deputy Prov . G . M . Suffolk , and Sir Cordy Barrowes , Provincial G . M . Master

of Sussex . It is also fitting we should pay a slight tribute of respect to the memory of our late Bro . Richard Spencer , who died on the 21 st July , at the ripe age of 76 . Bro . Spencer , during his career , rendered many - yaluabl