United Grand Lodge.

PAST MASTERS . Bro . Grady , Standisk Grove No . 14 „ Levander , Henry C 507 „ Long , Peter de Lande 114 „ March , Edwin 99 „ White , Thomas William 21

„ Wilson , Erasmus 146 4 The following brethren were nominated by the M . W . G . M . to the Board of General Purposes : — J . B . Monckton , P . G . D . ; iEneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C ; J ohn Havers , Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , John A . Rucker , Joseph C . Parkinson ,

John Savage , James E . Saunders , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C . ; Thomas Fenn , Joseph Smith . The following brethren were nominated to the Colonial Bbard by the M . W . G . M .: —John A . Luckson , President ; HughD . Sandeman , Joseph Smith .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

The half-yearly communication of the Grand Lodge in this Degree was " held on Tuesday evening at the Freemasons' Tavern . The Grand Master , Earl Percy , M . P ., was not present , haying to return immediately to Northumberland , but his lordship sent a note explaining the

circumstance and regretting his inability to attend . The Master ' s chair was , in his absence , occupied by the Most Worshipful brother , the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., Past Grand Master . Lodge was very numerouslyattended . and among the brethren present were Bros . Rev . G . R .

Portal , M . W . P . G . M . ; Col . Fras . Burdett , Pr . G . M ., Middlesex and Surrey ; Sir Jno . Cordy Burrows , Pr . G . M ., Sussex ; Magnus Ohren , P . G . M . O . j Thomas Meggy , P . G . M . O . j Rev . T . F . Ravenshaw , J . Hordern Jukes , and D . J . Drakeford , P . G . Chaplains ; Morton Edwards ,

P . G . D . ; J . F . Lilley , P . G . D . ; H . R . Trigg , P . G . D . ; Geo . Lambert , P . G . D . ; E . T . Inskip , P . G . D . ; Geo . Neall , P . G . Supt . of Works ; Thos . Cnbitt and S . Rosenthal , P . G . D . C . ' s ; T . J . Sabine , P . G . A . D . C ; T . W . Coffin , P . G . Swd . B . ; S . W . Lazarus , P . G . Org . ; Wm . Worrell , P . G . Org . ; J . H . Wynne ,

P . G . I . G . ; S . Funkensztein , P . G . I . G . ; C . T . Speight , G . Tyler ; D . M . Dewar , James W . Smith , Geo . Page , Clement Stretton , Rev . C . R . Davy , G . Stewards ; H . Massey , P . G . Steward ; Major Geo . Barlow , P . J . ., R . W . Edes , P . P . G . T . W ., and Thos . H Parker , Pr . G . S . D .,

Midx . & Surrey ; James Holroyd , P . Pr . G . S . D ., and W . Roberts , P . Pr . G . M . O ., West Yorkshire ; Wm . Robert Wood , Pr . G . O ., and Thomas Trollope , Pr . G . S . W ., Sussex ; and the Masters , Past Masters , Wardens , Overseers , and Brethren of many private lodges .

Grand Lodge when opened was formed as follows : —Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., as G . M . ; Bros . Rt . Hon . the Earl of Limerick , Dep . G . M . ; Tyrrell Leith , G . S . W . ; Col . Burdett , G . J . W . ;

R . W . Little , G . M . O . ; Meggy , G . S . O . ; Wilkins , G . J . O . ; T . F . Ravenshaw and D . J . Drakeford , G . Chaplains ; Frederic Davison , G . Treas . ; H . C . Levander , G . Reg . ; F : Binckes , G . Sec ; S . Rosenthal , P . G . D . C . as G . D . C ; Henry Dubosc , Sen ., G . Swd . B . ; S . R . Ade , G . Std . B . ;

Henry Parker , G . Org . ; Henry W . Binckes , Asst . G . Sec , G . I . G . ; C . T . Speight , G . Tyler . The minutes of last Grand Lodge—Decemberhaving been read by G . Sec . and confirmed , Bro . Thomas Meggy asked a question with regard to the festival of the Mark Benevolent

Fund last year . The sum of £ 168 had been said to have been subscribed on that occasion , whereas only £ 100 had been received . Had application been made to the brethren whose names had been given in as donors for the £ 68 not received ?

Grand Secretary replied that numerous applications had been made for the amount , but hitherto without success . Grand Secretary then read the minutes of the Special Grand Lodge at which the Earl of Limerick was elected Grand Master , which were

then put and confirmed . He then read the following report of the General Board : — In the six months ending the 31 st March last the number of certificates issued was 444 . During the same period warrants for the following new lodges have been granted : —

No . 180 , Ramsay , Bengal . „ 181 , Burdett . „ 182 , Humber , Hull . „ 18 3 , Baldwyn , Bristol .

Grand Mark Lodge.

Though the important question of recognition of this Grand Lodge by other supreme bodies has not made all the progress anticipated , it is believed to be in a fair way of satisfactory settlement . It was discussed at the triennial meeting

of the General Grand Chapter of America held in 1874 , and its consideration deferred to the next triennial meeting . The Grand Chapter of Ireland gives evidence of its continued friendly feeling and of its fraternal desire for a close and more intimate

relationship between the two bodies . The Board thus publicly reminds the brethren that the Annual Festival in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund will be held , as already announced , at the Alexandra Palace , on Wednesday , the 21 st of July . R . W . Bro . W . Romaine

Callender , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Lancashire , Deputy Grand Mark Master , has kindly consented to preside , and it is hoped that the success of the gathering will exceed that of former years . A committee has been appointed to consider the question of the expenses of the Annual

Installation Banquet , in connection with the stewardship and responsibilities connected with the Mark Benevolent Festival . They hope to be prepared at the next meeting of Grasd Lodge to submit recommendations , the object of which will be to reduce the personal expenses of the brethren wbo from year to year undertake these duties .

Notice has been received from the acting authority of the Great Priory of the Order of the Temple of the expulsion from the Order of a member who is also a member of this degree .

Representations having been addressed to the Board as to the desirability of reprinting the early half-yearly reports of proceedings in style and form similar to the present half-yearly issue , the Board has resolved to invite estimates of

cost for this , and for printing the papers connected with the proceedings which resulted in the formation of this Grand Lodge . The Board recommends that , in order to facilitate business and the settlement of questions

which sometimes arise , the Grand Treasurer and the Grand Registrar be ex officio members of the General Board , and other committees of Grand Lodge , and that the necessary alterations to that effect be made in the Book of

Constitutions . Subjoined are the Treasurer ' s accounts for the half-year ending 31 st March , 1875 , shewing a balance in favour of Grand Lodge of £ 3 " . 9 on General account , and £ 146 9 s . 6 d . on Benevolence account . H . C . LEVANDER , G . R ., President pro tem .

RECEIPTS . Six months ending 31 st March , 1875 . FEES or HONOUR . £ s . d . £ s . d . Bro . G . J . Smallpiece asGJ . W . ... ... 5 5 °

„ H . C . Levander as G . R 110 „ C . Harrison as Dep . Prov . G . M . M . for Cincolnshire ... 2 2 o „ J . W . Cunningham as Dep . Prov . G . RLM . for Sussex 220

. 10 10 o Dispensations , 6 at 10 / 6 3 3 o Sale of Books of Constitutions , & c 2 19 8 Rituals 15 11 6 Tracing Boards ... 12 7 7 34 1 9

LODGES TO DATE . Certificates 218 6 6 Annual Dues 14 8 4 6

UNAPPROPRIATED . Friendship , No . 16 033 Adams , „ 6 0 12 0 Southwark , „ 22 0 13 o Albert Victor , „ 7 ° 026 Love and Honour ,, 94 026

Carnarvon , „ 119 o 12 o Hiram , „ 153 5 l 9 ° Royal Sussex , „ 177 o 3 o " " " ^ Jl _ ^ 8 _ 9 £ 420 1 6

Grand Mark Lodge.

DISBURSEMENTS . Six months ending 3 1 st March , 187 J . ORDINARY . £ s . d . £ s . d . Office Rent and

Attendance , 2 quarters ... 41 o o Binckes , F ., Gd . Sec , Salary 50 o o Binckes , H . W . Asst . Gd . Sec , Salary ... < o o o

Binckes , F ., Gd . Sec , Postage , & c .... ... 20 o o " Binckes , H . W ., Fees on Certificate , R . A . M . 100 ij Messrs . Warrington and

Co ., Printing , Stationery , & c 29 7 8 „ Pewtress and Co ., Printing ... 33 3 5 „ Hardman and Co .,

Ben . Fund Jewels ... 220 i Mr . J . Hatton , G . L . Signature Books ... 2 15 o „ J . T . Keene , Coals 1 11 o „ E . Ledger ,

advertising in Era ... 1 3 o „ H . Parker , Music for G . L ., Dec , 1874 55 o London Gaslight Co .,

Gas 1 j o Freemasons' Tavern Co . ( Limited ) ... ... 5 o o Bankers ' charges , Cheque Book , Stamps , & c .. o < o

253 17 1 EXTRAORDINARY . Messrs . Howitt and Co ., Furniture ... ... 37 9 o „ Cooper and Holt ,

Seats ... ... 3 ? 10 c „ Henry Greene & Son , Gas Fittings ... 18 3 o Mr . E . Cox , Fenders , & c . 2 12 6 „ C . W . Sears , Platforms n 60

105 o 6 £ 3 & 17 7 The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts are presented herewith , showing :

£ s . d . Balance from last account ... ... 298 3 a Receipts , 6 months to 31 st March , 1 875 ... ... 420 1 6

718 4 » Expenditure ^ months to same date £ 358 17 7 Balance in favour of Grand Lodge ... 3 Co 7 I

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE . Balance from last account 158 2 8 Dividends on £ 400 Bonds ... ... 9 18 4 Donations 6 8 6 •174 9 6 Deduct two petitioners ... ... 28 o o

£ 146 9 6 Examined and found correct ( Signed ) THOS . MEGGY , Auditor . 28 May , 1875 . Grand Secretary said that , before going further ,

perhaps he had better read the following letter he had received from Earl Percy : — 23 , Grosvenor-square , . 31 st May , 1875 . Dear Sir , —I have just returned to town from

Northumberland on business , but I am sorry to say I must go north again to-morrow morning . Under these circumstances I fear it will be impossible for me to be present at Grand Lodge tomorrow , and to have the satisfaction of installing

Lord Limerick in the chair of Grand Lodge of Mark Masters . Will you convey to Lord Limerick my sincere regret for my enforced absence , and my best wishes for the success of his tenure of office , and to the brethren my best

thanks for the support I have always received during my Grand Mastership , which I shall always look back upon with satisfaction . I am , dear Sir , yours faithfully , ( Signed ) P ERCY . F . Binckes , Esq .