Grand Mark Lodge.

Eugene Sweny , P . A . G . D . of C . Kent ; George Morgan , P . P . G . S . B . Cheshire ancl North Wales ; B . II . Ridge , P . G . I . G . Middlesex and Surrey ; XV . J . Nicholls and John Close , P . P . G . Stewards Middlesex and Surrey ; VV . Bulkeley Hughes , M . P ., P . P . G . S . W . North Wales and Cheshire ; C . S . Lane , P . P . G . J . D . Northumberland and Durham ; J . Bi ' gnell , P . P . G . S . W . Bengal ; R . L .

Loveland , P . P . G . J . W ., P . G . Treas . Hants and Isle ot Wight ; S . Mottison , P . P . G . M . O . Cheshire and North Wales ; Jas . Smith , P . G . S . O . Kent ; F . VV . Ansell , P . G . J . O . Berks and Oxon ; Rev . Ambrose VV . Hall , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap . Middlesex and Surrey ; Rev . VV . S . Moses , M . A ., P . P . G . Chap . Middlesex and Surrey ; E . Passawer , LL . D ., Prov . G . Reg . Middlesex and Surrey ; J . F .

Tweedale , P . P . G . Reg . Lancashire ; VV . Lake , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; VV . T . Clarke , P . G . Sec . Sussex ; and J . E . Lc Feuvre , P . G . Sec . Hants and Isle of Wight . And the following brethren of private lodges : VV . Bros . Wm . Stephens , P . M . 23 C ; Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Gierke , 197 ; VV . J . Meek , VV . M . 199 ; VV . T . Westgate , VV . M . 70 ; T . C . Walls , VV . M . 211 and 23 S ; G . Ward Verry , W . M . 104 ;

T . Dolling Bolton , W . M . 7 ; and E . J . Harty , VV . M . Bon Accord . ' Bros . J . P . Godfrey , S . W ., VV . M . elect Bon Accord ; VV . H . Gimingham , J . VV . 251 ; E . Silvestre , M . O . 251 ; VV . H . Edwards , M . O . 199 ; E . J . Hoare , S . O . 244 ; A . Haynes , J . O . 19 S ; Charles Kipting , J . O . 234 ; 'Thomas Alexander , Treas . 44 ; Retil Ugland , Sec . 44 : Henry de Grey , J . O . 44 ; H . Baldwin , Sec . 234 ;

R . L . Appleyard , S . D . 44 ; Alfred Rowley , J . VV . 247 ; Geo . S . Graham , Organist 234 ; John Rhodes , Organist 19 S ; C Elford , LG . 234 ; Brown , LG . 23 S ; Sidney Clarke , 44 ; W . La Roche , 154 ; Samuel G . Bake , 7 S ; Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , 7 ; and C II . Driver , J . E . Anderson , and C E . Soppett , Old Kent . After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , Bro .

BEACH said he had been commissioned by the Earl of Lathom to apologise for his absence , which was occasioned by his having to be with his Yeomanry . The Earl of Limerick also authorised him to apologise for his absence , which was caused by bis being out with bis Militia . Lord Leigh particularly wished to be present , but was unable on

account of other engagements . He likewise desired especially to express bis regret at being unavoidably absent . Bro . BINCKES , Grand Secretary , then read the minutes of last half-yearly Communication , which were afterwards put to the meeting and confirmed . The following is the report of the General Board , which was taken as read : —

The number of certificates issued during the six months ending 31 st March , 1 SS 0 , has been God , bringing tbe total number of registered advancements to 13 , 514 . In the same period warrants for new lodges have been issued as follows : — No . 40 , Shakespeare , Warwick . „ 44 , Florence Nightingale , Woolwich .

„ 250 , Darlington , Darlington . ,, 251 , 'Tenterden , Buckhurst Hill . ,, 252 , Natalia , Pietermaritzburg , Natal . „ 253 , Spes Bona , Port Elizabeth , Cape of Good Hope „ 254 , St . Louis , Goletta , Tunis . >> -55 i Kobinson , Maidstone .

„ 25 G , Five Arches , 'Tenby . » 2 57 , Jersey , Maidenhead . ,, 25 . S , Sutlej , Ferozepore , Punjab . „ 259 , Snowdonia , Portmadoc . „ 2 G 0 , Comet , Emerald , Queensland . „ 2 G 1 , Zenlandia Marine , ~ Port Chalmers , N . Z . One hundred and forty-four certificates of elevation to

the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner have been also issued , and two warrants for new lodges , viz .: — 'The Natalia , attached to Mark Lodge Natalia , No . 252 . The Charles V ., attached to Mark Lotlge St . Louis , No . = 54-' 1 he Province of South Wales has been placed under the charge of the Grand Registrar .

Grants from the Benevolent Fund have been made to—Bro . G . T . ... ... ... ... £ , 0 0 o WidowofBro . es . ... ... ... 500 Bro . J . M . ... ... ... ... 500 Tbe Board have the gratification of announcing that in sympathy with tbe educational objects lately introduced in connection with the Benevolent Fund , a Scholarship of the

annual value of £ 15 15 s . has been placed at tbe disposal of the : General Hoard of Grand Lodge , by Bro . Dr . Passawer , W . M . Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . ^ , anel Head Master ofthe Notting Hill High School , Notting Hillsquare . Thc annual festival in support of this fund will be held on Wednesday , July 7 th , at the Crystal Palace , under the

presidency of R . W . Bro . Col . F . Burdett , Prov . G . Master of Middlesex and Surrey , with every prospect of success , which it is hoped may be assured by the sympathy anel support of the members of thc Order . The VV . M . Grand M . Master having announced his intention to preside at the anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to be held on Thursday , the

1 st of July , the Board recommended that £ 21 be granted from thc General l- ' und to the funds of the Institution . The Board have had under consideration an appeal from Bro . Dhanjebhoy F . Camadore , of Lodge Ramsay , No . 1 S 0 , Rawal Pinch , but reserve their decision until after thc receipt of further information . 'The election of members to serve on the General Board will take place forthe first time under the new law .

Ihe treasurer s account , subjoined , shows receipts from all sources on account of tbe General Fund ^ ' SJJ 7 6 and balances on 31 st March last— *" In favour of General Fund 34 S 19 3 ,, Benevolent I ' und ... ... ... 111 1 5 1 „ Educational Fund iCxj 19 2 While investments have been made—On account of General Fund ... Aoo

„ Educational Fund ... 100 ( Signed ) G . li . PORTAL , Past G . M ., President _ The Grand 'Treasurer's accounts for the six months end ing 31 st March , 1 . SS 0 , show the following results : —

GENERAL FUND . Balance from 30 th September , 1 S 79 JC' 43 c s Half-year's receipts £ Soo 17 11 Interest on investments 24 o 7 S 25 7 G £ Q ° 14 2

Grand Mark Lodge.

Half-year ' s Disbursements : Expenditure £ 4-0 4 n Purchase of £ 200 Cape of Good Hope 4 V per Cent . Debentures 196 10 o 619 14 11

Balance at Banker ' s 31 st March , 1 SS 0 £ 34 3 BENEVOLENT FUND . Balance from 30 th Sept ., 1 S 79 £ 42 iG 5 Half-year ' s receipts £ l $ 4 tS 6 Interest on investments ... ... 29 19 S 214 iS 2

, . , £ 57 14 7 Half-year s Disbursements : Grants in relief ^ , 30 0 0 Expenses ... ... ... 13 5 G Transferred to Education Fund 7 S 0 0 Ditto Festival account 24 14 o 145 19 0

Balance at Banker ' s , 31 st March , 1 SS 0 ... £ m 15 1 EDUCATION FUND . Balance on 30 th September , 1 S 79 ... ... £ 90 13 o Transferred-from Benevolent Fund £ 78 o o Interest on Investment ... ... 5 10 2 ¦ S 3 10 2

JCW 3 2 Disbursements 440 Balance at Banker's on 31 st March , 1 SS 0 ... £ 16919 2 Examined and found correct . ( Signed ) THOMAS MEGGY , Auditor . 30 th April , 1 SS 0 .

INVESTED FUNDS . GENERAL FUND . Canadian 5 per Cent . Debenture Bonds ... £ 200 o o New Zealand 5 per Cent . Consols Soo o o Cape of Good Hope 4 I- per Cent . Debenture Bonds 500 o o

£ 1500 o o BENEVOLENT FUND . Canadian 5 per Cent . Debenture Bonds ... £ Goo o o New Zealand 5 per Cent . Consols 400 o o Cape of Good Hope 4 i per Cent . Debenture Bonds ... ... ... ... ... 200 o o

£ 1200 o o EDUCATION FUND . Cape of Good Hope 4 V per Cent . Debenture Bonds ... ... ... ... ... ... £ 300 o 0 On the motion of Bro . RICHARD EVE , seconded by Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS , this report was ordered to be received ancl entered on thc minutes . Bro . the Rev . G . R . PORTAL , P . G . M ., moved the

adoption of the recommendation arising out of thc Report" That £ 21 be voted from tbe funds of Grand Lodge on account of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . " He said that the M . W . G . M . M . M ., the Earl of Lathom , had been good enough to consent to take the chair at tbe next festival of the Boys' School , and , therefore , it had been thought by the General Board that Mark Grand Lodge could do no less than add this amount to the list of subscriptions on that

. Bro . S . RAWSON seconded thc motion , which was then put and carried . Bro . BINCKES requested that this sum be placed on thc list of Bro . F . Davison , Grand 'Treasurer of the Degree . Bro . the Rev . G . R . PORTAL , P . G . M ., said the brethren would notice that in page 2 of tbe report was a paragraph

stating that "The Board have tbegratilicationof announcing that , in sympath y with the educational objects lately introduced in connection with the ' Benevolent Fund , ' a scholarship of tho annual value of £ 15 15 s . has been placed at the disposal of the General Board of Grand Lodge by Bro . Dr . Passawer , VV . M . Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . 5 , and Head Alasterof the Notting Hill High School ' , Notting

Hillsquare . " Bro . Passawer bad been good enough to say tbat he would allow the General Board to nominate from time to time a boy who should be educated at the Notting Hill High School , and that the amount of fifteen guineas should be excused from his fees . He ( Bro . Portal ) thought Grand Lodge could not dono less than express its gratitude to Bro . Dr . Passawer for this very liberal offer , and he , therefore ,

begged to move " 'That lhc thanks of Granel Lodge be communicated by Grand Secretary to Bro . Dr . Passawer for placing at thc disposal of Grand Lodge a scholarship , of the annual value of £ 15 15 s ., in the Notting Hill High School . " . General BROWNRIGG seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimously .

On the motion of thc Rev . VV . K . R . BEDFORD , seconded by the Hon . RICHARD GIDDY , the report was adopted . Bro . VV . W . B . BEACH said that thc next business was the installation of Grand Master ; but as the Earl of Lathom was not present on this occasion to be regularly installed , yet , having been duly elected by Grand Lodge , he was virtually Grand Master from this time forth . " He should ,

therefore , call upon the G . D . C . to proclaim bim as such . 'The Right Hon . tbe Earl of Lathom was then formally proclaimed , and saluted as G . M . M . M . for the ensuing year . 'The following brethren were appointed to office :- — Bro . Lord Henniker Deputy Grand Alaster . „ the Earl of Onslow S . G . Warden . „ Col . Shadwell H . Gierke ... Junior G . Warden . ,, Baron do Ferrieres ... ... G . M . O . „ J . F . Tweedale G . S . O .

„ T . Dolling Bolton G . J . O . „ the Rev . Ambrose VV . Hall G . Chaplain . ,, 'The Rev . VV . Stainton Moses ,, „ F . Davison G . 'Treasurer . „ IL C . Levander G . Registrar of Marks . „ V . Binckes G . Secretary . „ Donald M . Deivar Assistant G . Secretary . „ Charles Woodall G . S . D . „ George I . McKay G . S . D . „ G . J . Mkeison G . J . D .

Grand Mark Lodge.

Bro . Richard Boggett G . J . D . „ Richard Driver G . Inspector of Works . „ Robert Berridge G . D . C . „ VV . T . Westgate G . A . D . C . „ George Ward Verry ... G . Sword Bearer . „ Arthur Middleton G . Standard Bearer . „ Alfred Rowley G . Organist . „ George Morsran G . I . G .

Bros . T . VV . Adams , F . VV . " 1 Ansell , J . G . Anderson , VV . T . Clarke , Foster Gough , LL . D ., A . lHaynes , T . A . de 1 r ~ 1 o J Leliva , R . L . Loveland , G . ^ Grand Stewards . Rennie Powell , James Smythe , Charles E . Soppet , and VV . Watkins

Bro . C . T . Speight G . Tyler . The following brethren were nominated by the Grand Master to serve on the General Board : —Bros , the Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., President ; Thomas Meggy , S . Rosenthal , S . C . Dibdin , Robert Berridge , C . F / Matier , and Thomas Cubitt . The following five brethren were elected by Grand Lodge : Herbert Dicketts , E . C . Mather , VV . Roebuck , R . P . Spice , and Alfred Williams .

Bro . BINCKES read a list of brethren from whom he had received letters of apology for absence , and then announced that the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival would be held at the Crystal Palace , Sydenham , on the 7 th of July , at which Col . Burdett would preside . There were already twentynine brethren as Stewards , and he expected to receive a large amount of pecuniary support . He would be happy to receive any additional names of Stewards .

Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet . The Rev . G . R . Portal presided . At the close of the banquet grace was sung , and the usual toasts were proposed . 'The Rev . G . R . PORTAL , in proposing "The Health of the Earl of Lathom , M . W . G . M . M . M ., " said it was a matter of sincere regret to all the brethren that his lordship was not present . They had been already informed by Bro . Beach that the circumstances which compelled the Grand

Master s absence were beyond his control . The Order might congratulate itself on having the Earl of Lathom as its head for thc third year , because , being a man who so essentiall y fulfilled his Masonic duties in those various Degrees in which he hael distinguished himself , he was a brother who was admirably fitted to unite the Degrees of Masonry , and bring all the brethren together . As tar as his official duties in this Degree were concerned he ( Bro .

Portal ) could honestly bear testimony to the very great care the Earl of Lathom took in all matters that were brought under his notice . He was most regular as a correspondent , and no papers that were laid before him were delayed a single post longer than was necessary before they were returned . This was really not a matter of compliment , but truth . Mark Masons had never had a Grand Master who had attended with more dignity to the duties of his office

than the Earl of Lathom . The Rev . VV . K . R . BEDFORD , Prov . G . M . for Staffordshire anel Warwickshire , proposed "The Past Grand Masters , " and said that this was a toast to which more than usual honour was due . Under ordinary circumstances the toast of individuals—even those so high in Masonry as Lord Leigh , the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Holmesdale , Bro . Beach , Bro . Portal , Karl Percy , and thc Earl of

Limerickwould be to a certain extent the old dust and ashes of bygone traditions , but he was privileged to connect with this toast the health of one of them who was present in person to fulfil , as he always did , his duties to Mark Masonry with all his heart , and with an energy and ability in which he was second to none . When he said just now that these names might be the bygone dust ancf ashes of Masonic tradition thc brethren knew full well they were anything

but that—that they were still living , and still have merits which would obtain for their names a hearty reception in any assembly of Masons ; but at the same tunc he made bold to say that among the most eminent of all those eminent men there was not one who in his services to this Degree could at all compete with Bro . Portal . He ( Bro . Bedford ) was not at all ashamed or afraid to say before the faces of these eminent men , and he would have their hearty

concurrence in so saying , that if they were called upon to depict or delineate thc brain and the hand of the Mark Degree they would at once fix upon Bro . Portal as the embodiment of it . Without Bro . Portal ' s unremitting exertions this Degree could not have attained to the very high position it had now reached . The brethren hoped he might long be spared to exert himself in tbe future as he

had clone in the past , ancl welcome him as the worthy representative of men universally esteemed as the greatest among those wbo were great in this particular branch of Masonry . He therefore gave with every sentiment of regard and esteem "Thc Health of the Past Grand Mark Master Masons , " and connected with it the name of Bro . thc Rev . G . R . Portal .

1 he Rev . G . R . PORTAL , in reply , said as regarded himself he need not say what he had often said before , that it always had given ancl always would give him pleasure to place his humble services at the disposal of this Order when wanted . As regards the other Past Grand Masters the brethren bad bad thc services of one of them that night , not for the first time since he hael left the chair . 'They had had Lord Limerick and thev had also had Lord

Leigh . 'This last noble lord had been so anxious to attend that it was many days before he managed to say he could not . His other engagements had prevented him attending . If be bad attended it woulel have been an agreeable surprise to him to find that this Grand Lodge , which twenty-three years ago numbered only a dozen lodges , now numbered 271 . He would have been gratified to find that fourteen lodges had been added to the Order in tbe last

half-year—a rate of progress which he doubted was exceeded by any other order or degree . What was the secret of their great success ? First ' of all , no doubt , a love among brother Masons for new Orders and Degrees . 'There was no denying that ; but , at the same time , he thought tbey might say this of themselves , that whatever else their faults might be , there was in them an absolute

absence of red tape . Besides tbat , tbey did not very much care about Chinese exactness of uniformity , and if they found in different parts of the country remnants of old traditions that did not exactly square with what they had in London , they rather loved to find those evidences of antiquity . They had the good fortune to see great energy displayed by thc provincial brethren . Not very long ago he assisted at thc inauguration of a Provincial Grand Lodge