Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — DERBYSHIRE .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held on Friday , gth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Derby , and proved to be one of the largest and most successful gatherings since the constitution of the Province . The Prov . G . M . M . Bro . A . Woodiwiss presided , and was supported by his Deputy Bro . J . H . Lawson and a large

number of his present and past Officers , with Brethren from all parts of the Province ; while among the visitors was the Pro Grand Master of England the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , and a number of other distinguished members of Grand Lodge .

After the customary routine work the Prov . Grand Master appointed the following as his assistant Officers for the year :

Bro . William Whittaker - Senior Warden Holland Bowhottom ... Junior Warden Arthur W . Slack .... Master Overseer William H . Wright - Senior Overseer William H . Slater - Junior Overseer

Kev . Charles Westley Groves - 1 -,. . . Eev . John Thwaites - - - - J Chaplains William Cooper .... Treasurer Thomas Bishop Cull - - - Eegistrar of Marks Percy Wallis - Secretary William H . Bass .... Senior Deacon Thomas Shipton .... Junior Deacon William Eaton .... Inspector of Works

Prank Iliffe .... . Director of Ceremonies John Burton Boycott - - - Assistant Dir . of Cers . Alfred Butterworth .... Sword Bearer William Oliver Plowright ... Standard Bearer Eichard H . Higgitt .... Organist Wilfred H . Edmunds - - - Assistant Secretary John Brex Starbuck .... Inner Guard William Eeid - - . . ^

Thomas Whittle - - - - I „ . , George Samuel Smith - - - ^ Stewards George E . Carline - - - - J Arthur Slinn - - . - Tyler . The Provincial Grand Master then delivered a brief address , in the course of which he congratulated the Brethren

on the progress the Order was making in the county . Mark Masonry did not advance by leaps and bounds , but it was , nevertheless , steady and sure in its movements . Having made feeling allusion to the removal by death of Bro . Alfred Schofield , one of the founders of St . Martin ' s Lodge , the Provincial Grand Master alluded to the liberality with which

the Brethren had supported the Mark Benevolent Fund , and mentioned that the Earl of Euston had intimated his willingness to preside at the next Festival of that Charity in July . When he remembered the great esteem in which Lord Euston was held by the Brethren of that Province , he entertained no doubt that they would make a special effort in order

to assist those who wished to make the Anniversary a record in regard to the amount of the subscriptions to the Fund . He was glad to know that an increase had been made to the number of Mark Lodges in the Province , and he was convinced that the Scarsdale Lodge , which he had recently the satisfaction of consecrating at Chesterfield , was in the hands

of worthy Brethren , who would conduct it honourably and successfully . Subsequently the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , acknowledging the thanks of the Brethren for his attendance , said it was perfectly true that many calls were made upon his time , but he none the less experienced a distinct pleasure in attending that meeting , because he had had many proofs of

the zeal and liberality of Derbyshire Brethren . The splendid gathering of Mark Masons he saw before him was a source of pride and encouragement to all who had the true interests of the Order at heart . He remembered when , upon the death of the venerable and respected Bro . Kelly Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire , Northamptonshire , Derbyshire , and

Rutlandshire , Derbyshire was made a separate Province , he had the honour of installing Bro . Woodiwiss as the Provincial Grand Master . On that occasion he took the opportunity of saying that the right man had been put in the right place , and events had fully confirmed that opinion . In Bro . Woodiwiss they had a Brother of great ability , generosity , and tact ,

and one who did not count personal trouble whilst serving the interests of the Order . Whilst he congratulated the Provincial Grand Master upon being so loyally supported , he congratualated the Province upon having such an able chief . Incidentally referring to the Mark Benevolent Festival , the Earl of Euston remarked that many special calls were being made upon their purses just now ; but so far as the war was

Mark Masonry.

concerned , he reminded them that a number of their Brethren were at the front , and they hoped to be able to assist the families of any Mark Masons who fell , or who were disabled whilst serving their Queen and country . At the conclusion of the business a very large company

adjourned to the banqueting hall , where a sumptuous repast was served . The customary Loyal and Mark toasts were honoured , those of the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Master being received with the greatest enthusiasm .

Consecration.

CONSECRATION .

— : o;—EMPRESS LODGE .

ON Thursday evening , the ist instant , the Empress Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 533 , was consecrated at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street . A Lodge was opened by Bro . C . F . Matier Grand Secretary , who had Bros . Imre Kiralfy as P . M ., R . Newton Crane as S . W ., A . J . Thomas as J . W ., and J . P . Dorman

as I . G ., and after the opening the Earl of Euston Pro Grand Master , attended by numerous Grand Officers , entered . His Lordship then proceeded to consecrate the Lodge , assisted by Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C ., P . G . W . Pres . Gen . Board as S . W ., Sir Thomas Roe J . G . W . as J . W ., Rev . W .

Russell Finlay G . Chap . as Chaplain , H . E . Cousans G . D . C . as D . C ., T . P . Dorman , and Charles Belton P . G . O . as Inner Guard . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . James Kift , who was assisted by Bros . Herbert Schartau and Franklin Clive .

After the consecration and attendant ceremonies , Bro . C . F . Matier P . G . W . duly installed Bro . Imre Kiralfy as W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . Thomson Lyon acting as D . C . Sir Joseph C . Dimsdale was appointed to act for the first year as I . P . M ., but in his absence Bro . Matier was invested .

The other Officers for the year were Bros . R . Newton Crane S . W ., A . J . Thomas P . M . J . W ., G . D . Coleman M . O ., Lionel W . Harris S . O ., Charles Imre Kiralfy J . O ., Major C .

W . Carrell G . M . O . Treasurer , G . R . Blades R . M ., H . J . Homer S . D ., Dr . W . H . Bourke J . D ., Thomas Fraser Stwd ., Harry Peck I . G ., W . Singleton Hooper D . C , and E . T . Mills Tyler .

Afterwards the Brethren adjourned to a banquet at the Freemasons' Tavern .

During the evening the Earl of Euston proposed the Worshipful Master , whom he congratulated most heartily on being chosen as the first Master of the Empress Lodge . He congratulated the Brethren also on the choice they had

made . They had done the right thing , and put the right man in the right place . When Bro . Imre Kiralfy put his hand to anything he never turned back , but carried the matter out to the best of his ability and strength . He heartily wished him a happy and prosperous year , and long life to see the Lodge

prosper . Bro . Imre Kiralfy , in reply , said such a compliment would keep in his heart until the latest hour of his life . The compliment went beyond him—it went to every Founder and

Officer of the Lodge . They had formed this Lodge in order to welcome every subject of Her Majesty ' s dominions . They would be all welcome in the Empress Lodge ; it would be pleased to receive as members all good and worthy Masons of all climes and colours .

Bro . C . F . Matier P . G . W . G . Secretary replied to the toast of the Mark Benevolent Fund , which was proposed by Major C . W . Carrell G . M . O . Bro . Luck Dep . Dist . G . M . Queensland responded to the toast of the Visitors , and Bros . Newton Crane and A . J . Thomas to that of the Officers .

Bro . Imre Kiralfy W . M . announced that his list as Steward for the Mark Benevolent Fund amounted at the end of the evening to 150 guineas .

The fifth of a series of Masonic " Cinderella" dances was held on Wednesday , 14 th inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Princess Square , Plymouth . The Committee responsible for the arrangements , which gave every satisfaction , consisted of Bros . Captain T . Reynolds ( chairman ) , G . F . Bromley ,

W . H . Dillon , J . H . Down , J . Endicott , J . R . Lord , S . S . Ritchie , A . Wilton , G . Woodgate , and G . Leach ( Hon . Secretary ) . There was a very good attendance , and the Cinderella proved a marked success , dancing being kept up with great spirit .