Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OP CORNWALL . THE annual Provincial Grand Lodsre of the Mark Master Masons of Cornwall was held at Falmouth ou Monday , the 15 th insfc . Tho brethren assembled under the banner of the Love and Honour Lodge , No . 91 , at tho Town Hall . Tho use of that bnilding for the occasion was obtained through the courtesy of Bro . H . Liddicoat , Mayor of the Borough . The members of the Love and Hononr

Lodge had arranged to give the Prov . Grand Lodge a very loyal nnd cordial reception . A Committee , consisting of Bros . Lieut . Baynes Reed , R . N ., G . T . Olver , J . M . Came , J . N . Francis , and J . Howell , Chief Officer of the Coast Guard , had been appointed to prepare the Hall , and under their management that large and lofty room had been converted into a handsome Masonic Lodge-room . ID addition to the

elegant insignia of the Mark Degree of the Masonic Order the room was tastefully draped with flags , and a choice collection of flowers , shrubs , plants , and rare ferns from the grounds and conservatories of Mr . E . C . Came and Mr . W . H . Lane were judiciously distributed throughout the Hall . There was a large attendance of fche brethren . Business commenced with the opening of tho P . G . Lodgo at 2 * 30 p . m .

by the R . W . Bru . the Prov . G . M . M . M . Sir Charles Bruno Graves-Sawle , Bart ., 30 deg ., supported by R . W . Bro . W . J . Hughan Past G . W . of England , W . Bros . Thos . Chirgwin 18 deg ., J . P ., P . M . 78 D . P . G . M . M ., Charles Truseott 275 P . S . G . M . W ., N . J . West 87 P . P . S . G . M . W . P . J . G . M . W . pro tem , J . Q . James 175 P . G . M . O ., J . F . Hooper 101 P . G . S . O ., R . Carter 94 P . G . J . O ., W . Tweedy 78 ,

J . P ., Past D . P . G . M . M . P . G . M . Treas ., W . J . Johns 78 P . G . M . Sec , Samuel Mitchell P . G . S . M . D ., Samuel Harvey 78 P . G . M . D . C ., W . Rooks 78 P . G . M . I . G ., and the following Past Prov . Private Lodge Officers and prominent brethren : —W . Bros . Lieut .-Col . W . E . Mitchell 31 deg . P . M . 206 P . P . G . S . M . W ., fche Rev . W . H . Bloxsome , M . A ., 175 P . P . S . G . M . W ., W . Guy 275 P . P . G . 3 . M . W ., W . F . Newman

94 P . P . G . S . M . W ., Dr . W . Mason 78 P . P . G . J . M . W ., H . Tilly 94 P . P . G . M . O ., W . L . Fox 94 P . P . G . S . O ., W . H . Dunstan P . P . G . J . O ., T . C . Polglase 94 P . P . G . J . O ., M . Little 94 P . P . G . J . O ., A . Luke 275 P . P . G . M . Reg , W . D . Rogers W . M . 94 P . P . G . M . I . W ., T . H . Lukes

275 P . P . G . M . A . D . C ., Bros . H . P . Vivian J . O . 73 , W . Huthnance P . P . G . M . St . 87 , George H . B . Reed S . W ., Norman Gray J . W ., George Timmins M . O ., G . Carter S . O ., T . B . Hart Reg ., J . Came Sec , G . T . Olver S . D ., J . S . Dunn J . D ., W . J . Carne 0 ., W . Anderton I . G ., Wm . Rnsden Tyler , J . Denton , H . Bishop , C . H . Williams , E . J . K . Nicholls , W . H . Dunston , J . N . Francis , H . Liddicoat 94 , Chas . Kent J . W . 101 ,

W . Ellis S . W ., J . M . Richards J . W ., Charles Hudson M . O ., F . J . Cnlley S . D ., J . 0 . Eva I . G ., P . L . Morgan J . W ., H . Dudley 175 , A . Luke W . M ., R . Parson M . O ., J . Brewer J . O ., W . J . Tredinniok Seo . 275 , J . A . Collins W . M ., J . W . Williams J . D . 325 , J . F . Andrew 387 , E . Aitken Davies P . P . G . M . J . D . Devon . Apologies for nonattendance were received from Bros . Controller Bake Prov .

G . M . S . B ., Gilbert B . Pearce P . P . G . S . O ., Samuel Tresidder jun . Seo . 94 , T . A . Kistler W . M . 73 , F . H . Pool P . P . G . J . W . The Prov . G . M . Treas . Bro . W . Tweedy reported a satisfactory balance in hand . The Masters of tbe Lodges in the Province reported very favourably of the progress of their respective Lodges . There was a general advance in the number of members and the greatest harmony and

good feeling prevailed . The Prov . G . M . Sec , Bro . W . J . Johns , reported that there were nine Lodges now in the Province and 279 members , an increase of about 40 members during the year . The Lodges held their meetings regularly and were proceeding very satisfactorily . Since tbe lasfc annual meeting a new Lodge had been consecrated , fche Lebanon , No . 325 , held afc Fowey , and that

appeared to be going on very successfully . The arrangement by which the Fort Lodge brethren were permitted to meet alternately afc Newquay and St . Colomb had worked well . Ifc had enabled them to strengthen their numbers and they were very much pleased with the change . It enabled them to attend to their Masonic dnties with far less inconvenience . Thafc grant of the R . W . the P . G . M . was not ,

however , to be taken as a precedent , as such a grant would nofc be readily repeated . The reports were received and adopted . The Prov . G . M . said , before appointing the new Oflicers , he should like to make a few remarks . He was extremely gratified at the progress which Mark Masonry , as shown by the returns , was making in Cornwall . As their P . G . M . ifc gave him great pleasure . On the 12 th of May he

consecrated a new Lodge at Fowey . On thafc occasion he had his doubts as to the probable success of that Lodge . He thought ifc a little too near the Lodge at St . Austell . He was , however , very glad to find that there was no occasion for such doubts . Both Lodges were making good progress , and were reported to have every prospect of continuing to do so during the nexfc year . Freemasonry was

evidently making great progress . Attempts had been recently made to throw some slurs on the Order , which he thought were no credit to the authors of them . An attack on the Order had been issued from Rome , which he could not help characterising as being the most scandalous one that had ever been published in the English newspapers . On that attack the Saturday Review had thought proper to be merry ,

but to the credit neither of its taste nor of its judgment . The writer in that paper was pleased to say that the society was too trivial or too criminal to expose its secrets . To the brethren who understood the matter such a statement was ridiculous . To the outer world it might with great propriety be said , was it likely that the sons of the Queen who had joined Freemasonry would have done so had the Order been either trivial or criminal ? Then looking afc the roll of tbe members

of the Order not only in that connty , but throughout the kingdom , were they men likely to be found associated with a society which was either trivial or criminal ? Ho could not conceive how any prominent paper could havo made such remarks . Freemasonry stood upon too firm a basis in England to be injured by such sneers , or to be injured by any edict from any foreign potentate . The secrets of Freemasonry no Freemason need be ashamed of . The extinction of

Mark Masonry.

tho Order in this country if possible would be a source of great regret . Its great and noble principle of charity was highly respected hy all who understood it and treated it with justice . He could nofc also help thinking that it was a curious thing for persons who lived in glass houses to be throwing stones . For stones to be thrown about secrets issuing from Freemasonry from a society whioh abounded

with secret societies , and whose secrets were looked upon very widely with suspicion , was a hardihood he had not looked for . Suoh secret societies , too , as were rumoured to exist should surely make it well to look at home . However , Freemasonry was on suoh a firm basis as mnst make Freemasons smile at any such extremely petty attacks , whatever views they might take as to their taste or discre .

tion . Their society would survive any such attacks as emanated from Rome , or comments in the columns of a newspaper . Sir Charles ' s forcible remarks on these attacks on Freemasonry were eloquently put , were warmly applauded by the brethren , and afc the close of the address received rounds of cheers . Bro . Wm . Tweedy was unanimously re-elected Treasurer of fche Province . Bro . Hughau

called fche attention of the brethren to fche Province being behind in rendering support to fche London Masonic Charities proportionate to what was received therefrom . If the Province looked forward to further benefits from those Charities greater aid must be rendered from the Province . He proposed that a vote of ten guineas should be given from tho Prov . Lodge funds to the Royal Masonio

Benevolent Institution for Widows . This proposition was seconded by Bro . Chirgwin , and carried . Bro . Hughan then called attention to the terra of office of fche R . W . Brother the Provincial Grand Mark Master being about to terminate , and proposed his re-election . This proposition was warmly applauded , seconded by Bro . Chirgwin , and carried . Bro . Sir Charles Brune Graves-Sawle thanked the brethren for the kindness which they had shown him . He said he could nofc

disguise from himself that he was getting an old man , and the time could not be far distant when he would find ifc necessary to withdraw from some of his public avocations , and give way to younger men . As long , however , as his age and health permitted him and ifc was their wish to recommend him to the office to whioh fchey had jusfc elected him , he would endeavour to show his appreciation of their kindness and consideration . The Right Worshipful brother the Provincial Grand Mark Master then invested the following brethren

as his Officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . T . Chirgwin 78 , J . P . ... ... Dep . Prov . Grand Master H . Tilly 94 ... ... ... Prov . G . Senior Warden A . Luke 275 ... ... Prov . G . Junior Warden W . D . Rogers 95 ... ... Prov . G . Master Overseer S . Mitchell 101 ... ... Prov . G . Senior Overseer John Jeffrey 175 ... ... Prov . G . Junior Overseer Rev . W . A . Bloxsome , M . A ., 175 Prov . G . Chaplain William Tweedy ... ... Prov . G . Treasurer W . L . Fox 94 ... ... Prov . G . Registrar W . J . Johns 78 ... ... Prov . G .. Secretary Lieut . G . H . B . Reed 94 . Prov . G . Senior Deacon

Charles Trevithick 78 ... Prov . G . Junior Deacon VY . El 1 is 175 ... ... Prov . G . Inspector of Works S . Harvey 78 ... ... Prov . G . Director of Cers . J . A . Collins 325 ... ... Prov . G . Assist . D . of Cers . George Olver 94 ... ... Prov . G . Sword Bearer George Carter 94 ... ... Prov . G . Organist W . Rooks 78 ... ... Prov . G . Inner Guard C . Kent 101 " ) R . Parsons 275 ... > Prov . G . Stewards W . Simmons 78 ... ) John Langdon ... ... Prov . G . Tyler

The P . G . M . M ., D . G . P . G . M . M ., the two P . G . M . Wardens , the P . G . M . T ., and P . G . M . Secretary , were elected the Board of General Purposes . Thanks were , on tho proposition of R . W . Bro . Hughan , unanimously voted to tho brethren of Love and Honour Lodge for

the admirable manner in which they had arranged for the reception of the Provincial Grand Lodge . In fche evening a large party of the brethren dined together afc Bro . R . Carter's Royal Hotel . The R . W . Bro . fche P . G . M . M . Sir Charles B . Gravea-Sawle presided . Tha catering of Bro . Carter was pronounced very satisfactory . After dinner the usnal Masonic Mark toasts were drunk . R . W . Bro .

Hughan gave a very interesting account of tho marked progress being made by the Mark Degree iu Great Britain and all over the world . It numbered over 150 , 000 members . He believed ifc to be one of the oldest of the Masonic degrees . Tbe cathedrals and other ancient public buildings abounded with recognised marks of their Masonic forefathers . That degree was also one of the mosfc interesting . The recent charges brought against Masonry were groundless .

To denounce the Order as atheistical was to circulate a base fabrication . One of its very principles was the recognition of a great Creator and Ruler of tbe Universe . Any man who did nofc believe in a Godhead had no business in tbe Order . He had obtained admission on false pretences . And it would be but honest of him , directly he had made the discovery , to leave the Order . He had no business amongst them . — Western Morning News .

The great success of tbe Benevolent Fund established in connection with the Mark Degree in Freemasonry has long been a snbject of comment among Masons generally . The Fund has an educational branch , tlie purpose of which is to pay for the education of Mark Masons' children in nei ghbourhoods in whioh they reside . Candidates

are elected . The next election , for which there were three candidates , was fixed for fche 2 nd October , but the success of fche fund afc the lasfc Festival was such that all three children , one girl and two boys , can be accepted , and no one will be left out in the cold . Such a resnlfc should stimulate the Mark brethren to increase liberality towards this fund . — Evening Neivs .