Mark Grand Lodge.

pleasure , on behalf of the Grand Master of England , in accepting the presentation , and proposing that the best thanks of G and Lodge be given to the brethren of the Province of Cheshire for their grand gift . Bro . Col . A . B . COOK , acting D . G . M ., said he fully endorsed what had fallen from the acting Grand Master , and he had very great pleasure in seconding the motion .

The motion was carried unanimously , and Bro . Stevenson bowed his acknowledgments . Bro . C . LETCH MASON ( to Bro . Stevenson ) : Perhaps you will present to the brethren of the Province of Cheshire our best thanks for the gift . Bro . C F . MATIER , G . Sec , said there was another portrait presented

by the Province of Kent , of Earl Amherst , Past Grand Master . He knew it had been usual that brethren should attend lrom the province to make the presentation and receive the thanks , but as the brethren of the Province of Kent were not in attendance , the ceremony must stand over until next meeting .

It was announced that jewels and bars were ready to be presented to the Stewards of the last Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund , but no one came forward . Mark Grand Lodge was then closed in form .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

On Friday , the 27 th ult ., the annual meeting of the above Grand Mark Lodge was held under the banner of Fletcher Lodge , No . 213 , College-street , Whitehaven . Bro . Col . F . R . Sewell , D . P . G . M ., presided , supported by his Prov . Grand Officers , present and past , Bros . George Dalrymple , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C . of England , acting as

D . P . G . M . ; J . OstleScott , i 5 i , Prov . J . G . W . ; W . Hodgson , 45 2 , Prov . G . M . O . j J . F . Hope , 452 , Prov . S . G . O . ; G . B . Armes , Prov . G . Chap . ; J . Gardiner , P . P . S . G . W . 151 ; Spencer Broadbent , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . Clifton Thompson , 282 , P . P . J . G . W . ; James Dickinson , 151 , P . J . G . W . ; W . Bradley , W . M , 195 ; Henry Hogarth , 195 ; John J . Little , 216 ; and many others , all the lodges in the province being represented but two .

The Deputy Prov . Grand Master and his Prov . Grand Officers were admitted and saluted according to rank . Prov . Grand Lodge was then opened in due form .

The PROV . GRAND TREASURER read a statement of accounts for the past year which showed a balance to credit of £ 24 4 s . 7 d ., which was unanimously adopted as read , and Bro . Dalrymple was again unanimously elected Prov . Grand Treas . The following breihren were then invested as Prov . Grand Officers for the ensuing year :

Bro . J . C . Thompson , P . M . ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Dr . S . Braithwaite , P . M . ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Henry Burns ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . ,. E . Jackson ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ J . M . Clark ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . Jas . Anderson ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ Geo . Dalrymple ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ J . A . L . bkerry .... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M . „ James Gardiner ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ Wm . Bradley ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Jas . Meneelv ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Geo . Scott ' .. ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . „ Geo . Johnston ... ... ,.. Prov . G . D . of C „ J . CHellon ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ R . G . Sharp ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B .

„ Henry Hoggarlh ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ R . D . Cook ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . J . Little ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ W . W . R . Sewell ... ... ... - \ " R . Monkhoiise ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . ' . - [ Prov . G . Stwds . „ J . Neil )

An invitation was given from the brethren of Whitwell Lodge , Maryport , to hold the next annual Prov . Grand Mark Lodge under their banner . Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was then closed in due torm , and the brethren subsequently dined at the Black Lion Hotel , where the usual toast list , loyal and Masonic , was gone through .

Consecration Of The Victoria Lodge, No. 2669.

CONSECRATION OF THE VICTORIA LODGE , No . 2669 .

A new Masonic lodge , named Victoria , No . 2669 , after her Majesty , was consecrated on Monday , the 30 th ult ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Salemstreet , Bradford . The new lodge is an offshoot of the Harmony Lodge , No . 600 , and proposes to hold its meetings at the same place as the mother lodge , namely , at the Freemasons'Hall . Its formation is the outcome of the prosperity and increasing numerical strength of the older bjdy . The attendance was very large .

A lodge was opened by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . J . C . Malcolm , the S . W . andJ . W . 's chairs being occupied respectively by Bros . j . Young , W . M . 302 , and J . Lawson , W . M . 600 . Shortly afterwards Bro . W . L . Jackson , Prov . Grand Master , accompanied by Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , and followed by present and past Prov . Grand Officers , entered the lodge and was received in due form .

Among those present were Bros , the Rev . H . R . Harrison , 910 , P . G . C ; W . Smith , 1211 , P . G . Treas . ; C . Pawson , 296 , P . S . G . D . ; J . Jackman , 139 , P . J . G . D . ; Dr . V . G . S . Dearden , 2263 , P . G . Sec ; J . H . Hartley , 810 , P . A . G . D . C ; F . Batty , 2231 , P . P . G . S . B ., W . L . ; A . Stephenson , 1648 , P . P . S . G . D . ; J . Harrison , 810 , P . G . S . Eng . ; J . Spencer , 408 , P . P . G . S . B . ; f . Matthewman , 101 9 , P . P . A . G . Sec ; W .

Consecration Of The Victoria Lodge, No. 2669.

Gaukr 0 ! rer , 61 , P . P . S . G . D . ; W . Oddy , 37 S , P . A . G . D . C ; J . Wright , 600 , P . P . G . P . ; H . J . Holdsworth , 40 S , P . P . G . D . C ; R . Castel , 750 , P . P . Supt . of Works ; T . M . Holmes , P . P . G . S . B . ; ] . W . Monckman , P . P . G . D . C ; T . Denby , P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Laycock , iroS , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Riley , 600 , P . P . G . S . B . ; ] . B . Whiteley , 290 , P . G . D . ; H . Smith , 302 , P . P . D . G . M ., P . G . D . : ' ng . ; H . J .

Sutherst , 1018 , P . P . G . D . C ; E . Hind , 4 ^ , P . G . R . ; J . A . Goodwin , 1311 , P . P . G . W . ; F . B . Wilson , 1542 , P . G . S . B . ; ' J . Richardson , 406 , P . P . G . P . ; H . S . Goodyer , 495 , P . A . G . S . ; J . S . Bowden , 600 , P . P . G . D . C , W . L . ; T . Buckland , 1231 , P . G . O . ; F . W . Crossley , 12 S 3 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; and G . P . Sutherland , P . P . G . D . C

The Prov . G . Master , Bro . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., took the chair , Bro . W . F . Smithson the position of S . W ., and Bro . G . H . Smith , Mayor of Halifax , that of J . W . The PROV . G . MASTER , in acknowledging the salutation of the brethren , said that they were honoured by a visit from a b-other whom they were all pleased to see . ( Applause . ) The consecration of a Iodge in itself was an

interesting occasion in the province , and the brethren who had been responsible for the new lodge were happy , this year especially , in naming it Victoria . It had been a memorable year to those who had witnessed the jubilee commemorations throughout the couutry . The impression which had been made by them , not only upon the people in this country , but upon other nations throughout the world , was one that would long be retained .

Referring to the presence of the Duke of Devonshire , he remarked that his Grace had conferred an honour on the lodge in taking the opportunity of being present at their first meeting . He had stamped his name indelibly upon the history of the country , and he had shown a firm and unflinching patriotism which the breaking of party ties and personal inclination had in no way tended to shake or diminish . ( Applause ) .

The Duke of DEVONSHIRE briefly acknowledged the salutations accorded to him , and remarked that in anything which he might hava done in the course of his public career he had bien simply actuated by a desire which was common in his fellow countrymen , and especially among the Fraternity -the desire to do his duty to the best of his knowledge and ability . If in the course of that duty he had to make any sacrifices , he had

been amply repaid by the warm approval of those who shared his opinions , and by the generous toleration and sympathy which had been extended to him by his political opponents . His M isonic duties were not those that he had most faithfully attended to , but he had been fortunate in having secured the services of an excellent Deputy Provincial Grand Master , under whom Freemasonry in Derbyshire was rapidly increasing . ( Applause . )

The ceremony of consecration was then prcceeded with , the musical portion being rendered by Bros . C . Blagbro , E . Haley , C . Smith , and W . Firth .

At the conclusion of the ceremony the Provincial Grand Master retired , and the ceremony of installing the fi .-st Worshipful Master of the new lodge ( Bro . C Crabtree , P . M . Harmony Lodge , P . P . G . D . ) was performed by Bro . J . C . Malcolm , Dep . Prov . G . M . After having been inducted into the chair , the newly-installed W . M .

nvested his officers for the ensuing year as follows : Bros . J . Ibbetson , S . W . ; J . Tiliey , J . W . ; T . M . Woodhead , Sec . ; T . Norfolk , Treas , j J . Taylor , Chap ^; St . C Tiliey , S . D . ; C . Hudson , J . D . ; A . Taylor , Org . ; G . Hayes , I . G . ; F . Firth , J . Broadbent , and F . Kruger , Stwds . ; and F . W . Davy , Tyler . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Victoria Hotel .

Women In Masonry.

WOMEN IN MASONRY .

This subject is causing a temporary unrest in the Fraternity . An organisation called the Order of the Eastern S'ar has been sending circulars to lodges in this jurisdiction calling attention to its objects , and offering the necessary charter and other paraphernalia for organising chapters , which it is said , very generally hold their meetings in Masonic apartments .

As the Masonic Fraternity , in its origin and essential characteristics , is altogether a man ' s society , I call attention to this insidious attempt to change it and make it like the innumerable other societies and orders of the day . A Fraternity , as the word means , is a society of brethren , and brethren are , or at least should be , men . Hence it is impossible to admit women in association with them in a lodge room .

Masonry is such a unique and peculiar institution that it has always kept aloof from any of the so-called progressive movements of the day ; not that , as men , we have no sympathy with them , but because as Masons our Fraternity has always kept itself within the qualifications originally laid

down for ils membership , one of the most important of which is that the applicant for Freemasonry must be a man . Tnis law against the commingling of the sexes cannot be evaded by any device whatever . Lodge celebrations , under the name and guise of lodge associations , are under the ban of the Masonic law .

The great advantages which have been derived from this important qualification of a Freemason admonish us that if we would continue to be respected in the future , as we have been in the past , we must not make any innovation by which it may be changed . Notwithstanding the jests one may hear at social gatherings concerning persons who are not Masons being at the Iodge , when they were at some

other place which they wish to conceal , it is a gratification to Freemasons to know that no scandals arising out of the commingling of the sexes can be said to have had their origin in a Iodge room . 1 know it is quite fashionable for associations calling themselves Masonic to hold mixed gatherings of the sexes , and 1 verily believe that the appetites created there have caused this inordinate desire desire to carry the connection further , so as to bring men and women together in the lodge room . If it be progressive to do this , let those

who like such progress advocate it ; but I do not believe the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will ever give its approval to the use of its lodge room lot any kind if gathering , except that of brethren of the Iodge and for lodge purposes only . And I further believe that where this new idea has been permitted to obtain a foothold , it will either go on to the destruction of the Fraternity or its abandonment , and a return by the Fraternity to the ancient and simple practices established in the beginning .

The new practice of public installation of officers in other jurisdictions has fed this appetite for the union of sexes in the Iodge room , lt pleases the vanity of the persons who thus exhibit themselves as they compete with the strolling players of the mimic stage . —From address of Grand Master Michael Arnold ' s address on December 27 th , 1894 . -Quoted by tlie Keystone