Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND LODGE . THE Quarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge will be held on Tuesday next , 30 th inst ., in Mark Masons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , at five for six in the afternoon . BUSINESS . 1 . Bead and , if approved , confirm minutes of Quarterly Communication of 31 st August 1897 .

2 . REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD . During the three months ending 30 fch September 1897 ,. there have been issued : —Mark Certificates 269 ; total registered 37 , 363 . Since the last report Warrants have been granted for three new Lodges , viz : —

507—Eosario , at Eosario de Santa F 6 , Argentine Bepublic . 508—Sunbeam , at Germiston , South African Eepublie . 509—Stellenbosch , at Stellenbosch , Cape Colony . Royal Ark Mariner Certificates 70 ; number registered 5 , 325 .. Warrants for two Eoyal Ark Mariner Lodges , viz . : — Victoria , attached to the Fairtlough Lodge , No . 422 , Sierra Leone . Calthrop , attached to the Zaredatha Lodge , No . 307 , Faizabad , Bengal .

His Royal Highness the Grand Master has been graciously pleased to re-appoint for a further term of three years , R . W . Bro . Charles Eoper Martin , as District Grand Master for Victoria . His Boyal Highness the Grand Master has been graciously pleased to re-appoint for a further term of three years , E . W . Bro . Col . George Singleton Tudor , as Provincial Grand Master for Staffordshire .

H . R . H . the Grand Master has been pleased to appoint B . W . Bro . Col . Charles Francis Massy , I . S . C ., to be District Grand Master for the Punjab , vice R . W . Bro . Edwin Woodall Parker resigned . R . W . Bro . Major Gen . Arthur Godolphin Yeatman-Biggs , C . B ., to be District Grand Master for Bengal , vice R . W . Bro . The Hon . Sir John Edge , Q . C ., resigned .

R . W . Bro . Harry Courtenay Luck , J . P ., F . R . G . S ., & c , & c , to be District Grand Master for Queensland . Bro . Alexander Clarke Chapin , W . Master of the Amity Lodge , No . 132 , has presented to tho Library of Grand Lodge a copy of his book entitled " Freemasonry in Poole , " and the thanks of the Board have been presented to him .

In consequence of the removal of the Drifelt Lodge , 291 , from Driffield , N . and E . Yorkshire , to Bridlington , a petition has been presented praying that the name may be changed to the Londesborough Lodge , and as it has received the approval of the E . W . Provincial Grand Master , the Board have sanctioned the change .

The Board recommend to Grand Lodge that the rate of Interest payable on the Loans of £ 1 , 763 19 s 6 d from the Annuity Fund , and £ 400 from the Benevolent Fund respectively to the General Fund , be reduced from 4 per cent , to 2 £ per cent . FUND OF BENEVOLENCE .

The Thirtieth Annual Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund will be held in July ] 898 , under the Chairmanship of a distinguished Brother , and the Grand Secretary will be happy to receive the names of Ladies and Brethren willing to act as Stewards . The Sub-Committee on Education , having carefully considered the Annual Reports of the Head Masters and Mistresses of the Schools at which the various pupils on the Fund are being educated , have awarded the Silver Medal for proficiency in studies and general excellence to

Albert Edward Plattin , being educated at Mile End House School , Portsmouth , and Emmelino Alice Annette Woods , being educited at Queen Elizabeth ' s School , West Kensington , formerly at the Ladies College , Dover .

The following cases have been relieved : Bro . M . L ., Lodge No . 188 ... ... ... ... £ 10 0 0 Bro . W . N ., Lodge No . 34 ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 Mrs . H . M . ( Widow of a Brother of Lodge No . 297 ) ... ... 10 0 0 Bro . E . T ., Lodge No . 370 ... ... ... ... 10 0 0 The following Annuitants have dial since the last report :

Benjamin Bobinson . Mrs . Euth Piatt . ( Signed ) , E . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , President . FEANK EICHARDSON , Vice-President . C . FITZGERALD MATIER , Grand Secretary 4 th November 1897 .

3 . A Motion will be made that the Report be taken as read . 4 . A Motion -will be made that the Report be received and entered on the Minutes . 5 . Recommendation arising out of the Report : —

That th -j rate of interest on loans from the Benevolent Fund to the Goueral Fund be reduced to 2 J per cent . 6 . A Motion will be proposed that the Report be adopted . 7 . Nomination of the M . W . Grand Master for the ensuing year . 8 . Nomination o £ Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

Snowdonia Lodge, No. 259.

SNOWDONIA LODGE , No . 259 .

rflHE annual installation took place on the 17 th inst ., at the Masonic JL Hall , Menai Brid ; o , Bro . R . Hughes Pritcbard , Bangor , P . M . P . P . G . Reg . being installed W . M . The banquet was served at the Victoria Hotel , the large attendance of visiting Brethren affording a proof of the popularity in the Province of the W . M .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

INCREASE OF PROVINCIAL HONOURS . To tho Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —I am astonished you should lend the aid of your columns to such correspondents as " West Lanes . " He speaks of his " own knowledge , " and proceeds to show in his effusion that his knowledge is infinitesimal , though his purpose is plain enough . Either he is a disappointed office-seeker himself , or he is an interested advocate of the claims of another . I judge him to be the latter , and I shrewdly suspect his identity . If ho will come out from his cloak of anonymity I will gladly do tho same , and your readers

will be the better able to judge of cur respective bona-fides . Unfortunately we have some in our Order who think that they should ba taken at their own valuation ; whose froward attacks on their superiors—euphoniously styled by themselves and their supporters " the plain speaking of unwelcome truths , " —are not forgotten at the distribution of honours , both in Craft and Prov . Grand Lodges ; and who have yet to learn that to boast of their alleged services to Masonry is less calculated to promote their advancement than a free and unquestioning obedience to , and willing co-operation with , the Grand Officers of their Province . Yours , & c , HARMONY .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Empire Theatre . —The popularity of the music hall is not surprising when so pleasing an entertainment is given as that now presented at this handsome house . On the occasion of a recent visit the place was literally packed with a delighted audience , the better parts of the house being occupied by ladies in radiant costumes and gentlemen in evening dress . After an overture by one of the best orchestras in London , the last tableau of the magnificent ballet '' Monte Cristo " was given , being followed by

the Countess Fanny Ferruccy , an Italian ballet singer of fine voice ; the Trevally Chiesi troupe of clever acrobats ; tho funny Marco Twins and Taffary ' s wonderful performing dogs , one of which is an adept at arithmetic . Then there is Professor Jolly ' s Cinematographe , showing the entire Jubilee Procession , and said to contain 22 , 000 pictures . The favourite Parisian Minstrels aro still here , after a long engagement ; the Schaffer Family in their unique equestrian acrobatic performance , always bright and clever ; while Mr . R . G . Knowles repeats his amusing dialogue , amid roars of

laughter . Among the new comers are Miss Ada Colley , the Australian soprano , whose rendering of Ganz ' s " Sing Sweet Bird " elicited well merited applause ; the Brothers Kronemann , comedy acrobats and head balancers ; ar . d Mr . William E . Bates , who claims to be America's premier cornet soloist . The whole is brought to a close with the gorgeous spectacle " Under one Flag , " which Mr . Clement Scott has written for the Jubilee celebrations . The appropriate music is by Mr . Leopold Wenzel , the two tableaux are arranged by Madame Katlie Lanner , and the whole produced under the direction of Mr . George Edwards , the genial manager of the theatre .

Garrick . —Notwithstanding the great success of "La Perichole , " it will positively have to be withdrawn after Saturday evening , 4 th December , in order to prepare for ihe production of the Pantomime , " Cinderella , " to be produced by Bro . Oscar Barrett on the morning of Boxing Day , 27 th December .

So that the production of the two great London pantomimes , " Cinderella " at the Garrick , and " The Babes in the Wood " at Drury Lane , shall not be produced simultaneously on Boxing night , it has been decided to . give the first performance of " Cinderella " at the Garriik Theatre on Boxing Morning .

Parkhurst . —Next week the charmingly funny musical play , "The Shop Girl , '' by H . W . Dam . music by Ivan Caryll , additional numbers by Lionel Monckton and Adrian Ross , will bo produced here . This play goes as merrily as ever , its whole tone in brightness and humour being vastly better than any performance on the lighter stage that has been seen for years .

On Friday , 24 th December ( Christmas Kve ) , the Grand Fairy Christmas Pantomime , " Cinderella , " libretto by Stanley Rogers , music by Thomas P . Fish , the entirely new and beautiful scenery designed and painted by Clement C . Barnes , with charming dresses designed and made especially for this production by Mrs . Gray , will be produced by Percy Nash at Mr . Perfect ' s cosy little theatre .

Manchester Freemasons Club.

MANCHESTER FREEMASONS CLUB .

THE Committee of this Club have issued a circular inviting the attention of Brethren to the advantages which may be derived from membership of the Institution , terms for which , and also the yearly subscription , are very reasonable . The Patron of the Club is Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie Provincial Grand Master of the Province of East Lancashire ; its Vice-Presidents are Bros . Captain C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds Dep . Prov . G . Master , Lord Stanley P . P . S . G . W ., and Edmund Ashworth Past Grand Deacon .

When we mention that on its Committee are such well-known members as Bros . William Brookes P . M . Chairman , Thomas Plumpton P . M . Hon . Trensurer , James Newton P . M . Prov . Gr . Secretary , Arthur H . Jefferis P . M . P . P . G . W ., and Col . J . Howai-lh Clark , J . P ., P . P . G . D ., it will need no words from us as to the excellency of management . ¦

With regard to the catering , an intimation is given that " the Committee have secured the services of Miss Brandon , who has had considerable experience in this line of business , who the ' v have reason to believe will give . every satisfaction to the members of the Club . The catering and service will be much improved , and the Committee confidently appeal to the Brethren of the Province for their co-operation and support . "