Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

IxNTSTALLATION OF THE PROV . GRAND MARK MASTER FOR LANCASHIRE . The Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master Mason of England , Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., having constituted a province of Lancashire , a meeting of the Union Lodge , No . 46 ( E . C ) , was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street ,

Manchester , on last Saturday afternoon , for the purpose of installing Bro . W . Romaine Callender , jun ., as Provincial Grand Master of Lancashire . The Union Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 46 ( E . G . ) , having been opened by Bro . J . M . Wike , W . M ., the Grand Lodge entered in procession with the Grand Master . The other Grand Officers present were :

Bros . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., M . W . Past G . M . ; Lord Eliot , R . AV . Past G . AV . ; Sir John Conroy , R . W . Past G . W . ; J . Stokoe , Grand Deacon and Prov . G . J . W . of Northumberland ; C . J . Banister , Past G . Org . ; George Gumbleton , P . G . S : ; Rev . J . F . Ravenshaw , G . Chap . ; Lyons Wright , P . G . Overseer ; Frederick Binckes , A / . W . G . Sec . ; and Roberts , V . W . G . Sword-Bearer .

The Grand Master , having taken the chair , complimented the brethren present on their having assembled in such large numbers , and said he was ready to instal Bro . Callender as their Provincial Grand Master .

Bro . Callender was then presented , and handed in his patent of appointment , which was read by Bro . Binckes , Grand Secretary , and he was duly installed as Prov . Grand Master by the M . W . the Grand Master , and the following officers were then invested : —

V . W . the Lord Lindsay D . Prov . G . M . R . W . the Lord Skelmersdale ... P . G . S . AVarden . „ John Mellor AVike P . G . J . AVarden . „ James Hamer P . G . M . Overseer . „ Joseph L . Hine P . G . S . Overseer . „ John Tunnah P . G . J . Overseer . ,, AVilliam Birch P . G . Treas .

„ John Duffield P . G . Reg . „ John Chadwick P . G . Sec ' „ AVilliam Roberts P . G . S . Deacon . „ Thomas Hargreaves ... P . G . J . Deacon . „ J . F . Tweedale P . G . Ins . of Wks . „ Samuel Titmus P . G . Dir . of Cer . „ AVilliam Ashworth .. . ... P . G . Asst . of Cer .

„ Henry Prince P . G . Sword-Bearer . „ Lawrence Booth P . G . Stand .-Bearer . ,, AVilliam Gouldthorp ... P . G . Organist » WiUiam AValker P . G . Inner Guard . „ AVilliam Dawson P . G Tvler Bros . J . K . Smith -, ' ' „ Richard Pilkington Robert Buttenvorth

,, „ „ John Ashworth , jun .... ;;; f P . G . Stewards . „ Amos Stott „ John Fothergill ... . "

The M . W . GRAND MASTER then said that thc Provincial Grand Lodge had been constituted under circumstances of more than ordinary interest , since its foundation was more or less of a protest against the invasion of English jurisdiction by the Grand Chapter of Scotland . He wished the brethren distinctly to understand how matters stood . There

were some fifteen or twenty old English Marl-Lodges which had existed from the middle of thc last century . In 1856 the Craft Grand Lodge was invited to take up the Mark Degree ; they refused , and ten of these old lodges had constituted themselves a Grand Lodge , as four Craft Lodges had done in 1717 . The Grand Chapter of Scotland had

no right whatever to issue warrants for Mark 111 S S '" 2 land > where there were already , as he had said , some fifteen immemorial lodges , and where there was now a properly constituted Grand Lodge . They would have had not right to invade England even if there had been no Mark Lodgeshad

they still less excuse under existing circumstances . The Bolton Lodge , which had asked for a warrant of confirmation from Scotland , had itself a minute book dating from 1798 , whereas the Grand Chapter of Scotland was only established in 1817 . Phis he could not understand . He had remonstrated against the constitution of Lancashire into

a province ofthe Grand Chapter of Scotland , and the Grand Chapter had offered to enter into a conference with this Grand Lodge on condition that the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England would do the same . He had declined this offer , as he could not

allow the Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter of England to interfere in thc affairs of a degree which they did not recognise . But he had offered to invite the Grand Lodge and Grand Uiaptcr of England to attend the conference ,

nravided the Grand Chapter of Scotland would agree to enter in conference without them if they refused . « e was happy to say that the Grand Chapter of Scotland had in the . most friendly way agreed to 'his , and he had every hope that before many weeks were over a satisfactory result would be arrived at . Nothing would give him greater pleasure than to " » eet the Scotch Mark Masters half way , so that the whole Mark Body might be united . He also

Mark Masonry.

hoped that under the skilful management of the Prov . G . M . theother Mark Lodges scattered throughout this district might all be brought in , and nothing would be wanting on his part to meet their views in every way . He had considered it is duty to make this statement in order that the Mark brethren in

Lancashire might see that he had not been neglectful of their interests . ( Loud cheers . ) M . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , P . G . M ., then adaddressed the brethren , and said that the steps taken by the R . W . the Grand Master were all that could be desired .

Bro . J . Hamer then suggested that the next Provincial Grand meeting should be held in Liverpool , after which letters of apology for non-attendance were read from Bros . Lord Percy , Prov . G . M . of Northumberland and Durham ; Colonel A . W . Adair , J . G . W . ; Sir Edmund Lechmere , P . D . G . M . ;

Rev . John Huyshe , Prov . G . M . for Devonshire ; and W . Kelly , Prov . G . M . for Leicestershire . The Prov . G . M . ( Bro . Callender ) also stated that he had received a telegram from the Earl of Carnarvon regretting his inability to attend , and wishing every success to the Prov . Grand Lodge . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed .

A banquet was afterwards given , presided over by the Prov . G . M . ( Bro . Callender ) . There were present the M . W . G . M ., Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., Bro . Lord Eliot , and the other Grand Officers before-named , the Provincial Grand

Officers , and about seventy brethren . After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured , the P . G . M . gave the health of the M . W . the Grand Mark Master of England , which was received with great enthusiasm . The M . W . Grand Mark Master returned thanks

for the hearty welcome given to himself and the other members of the Grand Lodge , and he assured them that amongst thc many visits to lodges which it fell to him to make , none had given him greater pleasure than the one which he had been able to make that day . He had always taken the deepest

interest in the Mark degree , not only because it was one of those time-immemorial degrees to which he thought any Englishman fond of archaeology and of those quaint antiquities which hung about different parts of the country must always attach a deep value ; but also because , as was the case in all

degrees of Masonry , there were many lessons to be taught . In the first place , they had the great lesson taught to them of mutual help and assistance ; in the next place , as j there always would be ups and downs in life , it was a great thing to lay to heart that when we were down instead of being up , if we

persevered in doing our duty we should in the end reap our reward . He had often heard of the heartiness of a Manchester welcome and the efficiency of Manchester work , but in both of these his expectations had been more than exceeded . ( Applause . ) The progress which Mark Masonry had of late

made had been such that he considered a great future was opening for it , not only in Lancashire , but throughout England . ( Applause . ) As to the Grand Chapter of Scotland , to which he had before referred , nothing would give him greater pleasure than to see the day when they should be united

under one grand banner . ( Cheers . ) The P . G . M . then proposed the healths of the " Past Grand Masters of England , " and coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Beach , who in responding , re-echoed thc sentiments expressed by

the Grand Master . The P . G . M . then gave the healths of "R . W . the Deputy Grand Master of England , the Earl Percy , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " to which Lord Eliot , P . G . AV ., and Sir John Conroy , P . G . AV ., responded .

The M . AV . the Grand Master next proposed the health of the " R . AV . thc P . G . M . " He said he had looked about for a brother who might worthily rule such a province--one who would steer the degree through the few shoals and quicksands which perhaps for the present stood in its course—one who

was generally popular , a thorough working Mason , who would visit the lodges diligently , and would distribute thc patronage at his disposal with thorough impartiality , and from the cheers with which the name of Bro . RomaineCallender was greeted he thought he had not made a bad choice . ( Renewed cheers . )

The P . G . M . returned his warmest thanks for the kind manner in which his health had been received on every hand . He had been placed in a position of responsibility and high honour , and he believed that no man could meet with a greater reward in Masonic work . He felt that the Mark Degree was in more

senses than one the keystone to the Masonic profession , that it completed the whole system which had been handed down to them , and added one more to those links of brotherly loVe , relief , and truth with which their Masonic traditions , legends ,

and actions were interwoven . He hoped that no long time would elapse before they asked the Most Worship the Grand Master to come amongst them again , and he was quite sure that they would have even a larger demonstration than they had that day . ( Applause . )

Mark Masonry.

The health of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master ( Lord Lindsay ) , and the rest of the Grand Officers of the newly-constituted province , was then given , and was responded to by Bro . Wike , Prov . G . J . W . Other toasts followed , and the proceediags were brooght to a close at an early hour in the evening .

MOVEABLE MEETING OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS AT LEICESTER . The annual moveable meeting of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and Wales was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , by invitation of the Provincial Grand Lodge , on Thursday , the 27 th ultimo , when the M . W . Grand Mark

Master and his officers were received by a large number of members of the three Mark lodges in the province . The Fowke Lodge , No . 19 , having been opened , the Grand Mark Lodge entered in procession at one o'clock , and the M . AV . the Grand Master was

duly saluted . Amongst the brethren present on the occasion were the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A ., M . W . G . M . M . on the throne ; William Kelly , R . W . Prov . G . M ., as D . G . M . ; Rev . T . F . Ravenshaw , Past G . Chap ., as G . S . W . ; Rev . C . W . Spencer-StanhopeP . G .

, Chap ., as G . J . W . ; Rev . W . Langley , G . Chap , and D . P . G . M . ; S . Rosenthal , G . Dir . of Cer . ; James Stevens , G . J . O . ; David Roberts ( Cardiff ) , G . S . B . Richard Spencer ( London ) , P . G . S . B . ; Frederick Binckes , G . Sec . ; Major Woodall ( Scarborough ) , Past G . S . O . ; Smith , G . Tyler ; Eugene Cronin Arthur Walton

( S . W . ) , ( J . AV . ) , Robert Berridge ( S . D ) , and Thomas White ( J . D . ) , ofthe Macdonald Lodge . No . 104 , London ; H . Douglas , W . M . 21 , and Prov . G . S . W . ; A . M . Duff , AV . M . 19 , and P . G . J . W . ; Sir Henry St . John Halford , Bart ., 19 , and P . G . Reg . of Marks ; S . S . PartridP . G . Sec .

ge , Rev . Dr . Haycroft , P . G . Chap . ; C . Stretton , P . G . Treas . ; Crow , P . G . Org . ; W . Weare , P . G . M . O . ; Cotman , S . W . 30 , and P . G . J . O . ; Duncomb , P . G . S . D . ; Atwood , P . G . J . D . ; T . Harrold , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Barnard , P . G . Ins . of Wks . ; Fast P . P . G . Ins . of Wks . ; Richardson , Captain Bailey , and G .

B . Atkins , P . G . Stewards ; John Denton ( Leeds ) , S . Inns ( D . P . G . M . Northamptonshire and Hunts ) , Rev . P . H . Phelp ( 30 , Hinckley ) , and a large number of other members ofthe lodges at Leicester ( No . 19 ) , Melton Mowbray ( No . 21 ) , and Hinckley ( No . 30 ) , the last being one ofthe old "immemorial" lod ,

ges dating from 1 764 , which has just received a warrant of confirmation , and comes under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lod ge of Mark Masters , the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Kelly , being the first W . M . under the new regime . In the whole about eighty brethren were present .

It was announced that letters had been received by the Prov . G . M . from Lord Leigh and the Earl of Carnarvon , Past G . M . ' s ; the Earl Percy , D . G . M . ; Sir E . H . Lechmere , Bart ., P . D . G . M . ; and Sir F . M . AVilliams , Bart . Prov . G . M . for

, Cornwall , expressing regret that they were unable to attend , and during the meeting a telegram to the same effect was received from the Earl Fcrrers . who had been advanced to the degree in Leicester in the previous week .

On the Grand Lodge being opened , the Grand Secretary read the minutes of the Grand Lodge meetings , held respectively on the 31 st May and 2 nd August last , in London , and by direction ofthe Grand Master , reported the result of his recent visit to Edinburgh , to the effect that the Grand Chapter

of Scotland had agreed to a conference taking place in London between the representatives of that body , the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and AVales , and to which the ( Craft ) Grand Lodge of England and the Supreme Grand Chapters should be invited to send

representatives . The Grand Secretary also read communications from the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Chapter of Canada , to the effect that the certificates issued by this Grand Lodge are duly recognised by each of those bodies . The M . AV . G . M . having given a due meed of

praise to the Grand Secretary for his valuable services in conducting the negociations with Grand Chapter of Scotland , the acting D . G . M . ( Bro . Kelly J congratulated the Grand Lodge on the gratifying prospect there was of a state of harmonyand

of mutual recognition being speedily established between the three governing bodies over the Mark Degree in th . United Kingdom , which was r . o greatly to be desired by all Mark Masters . The M . W . GRAND MASTER made a statement

in reference to the Benevolent Fund of the Mark Grand Lodge , and expressed his hope that every private lodge would make an annual contribution to it . Information was then sought by Bro . Duff , AV . M . No . 19 , as to the degrees of thc Ark Mariner , Link , and Chain , mentioned in the Grand Lodge report , to which the Grand Master replied ; and there