Half-Yearly Meeting And Report.

in nominating him for the high office I now hold , and I have his Royal Highness's authority for saying that if he is elected he will be very willing , and more than willing to accept that high honour . ( Loud applause . ) Bro . HENRY VENN nominated Bro . James Moon for re-election as Grand Treasurer .

The following brethren were presented by the Grand Master with Chanty jewels : Bros . Anthony , Baynes , Bennett , Ball , Belton , Boulton , Bourke , Bridges , Burney , Mrs . D . P . Cama , Bros . H . D . Cama , Chenneli , Church , Clark , Cleeves , Cummings , Dormer , Hill Drury , Dunbar , Dyer , De Ewer , Finchett , Glasspool , Graveley , Harwood , Head , Hogard , Kelly , W . Kelly , Kenning , Kipps . Lawson , Marshall , Mason , Mather , Millar , Murray , Norman , Nott , Rumbe , Powell , Sir Pryse Pryse , Radway , Rossiter , Selfe ,

Shirley , Simpson , Soppet , Taylor , Tisley , Toplis , Tracy , Tyler , Vincent , Voisey , Jno . Walker , M . A ., M . J . Walker , Webster , Major Williams , W . B . Williamson and Wilson . The following brethren received charity bars : Bros . Huet , Cunliffe , Matier , Cooper , Lambert , Baron de Ferrieres , Rev . C . W . S . Stanhope , Cubiit , George , Terry . Weston , Pulley , Stewart , Parry , Brockbank , Mickley , Godson , Perkins , Wallis , Driver , A . Williams , Spice , Collin , Stone , Berridge and Sutcliffe . Bro . BINCKES read a list of brethren Irom whom he had received letters

of apology for inability to be present . Bro F . DAVISON , P . G . Treas ., said before Grand Lodge was closed he would like to express the great regret of the brethren at the death of Bro . C . T . Speight , the Grand Tyler ot the Order . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . Col . BIGNOLD said , as he believed the next Moveable Grand Lodge was to be held at Norwich during the year , he would suggest that it would be a suitable time if it were held in July , when the Royal Agricultural Society ' s Show would be held there . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales would be there , and he might attend Grand Mark Lodge .

The M . W . G . M . M . M . said he felt himself pledged to hold the Moveable Grand Lodge at Norwich , and he thought that probably the time suggested would be most suitable . He sincerely hoped H . R . H . the Prince of VVales , who would then be Grand Master , would be able to attend . ( Hear , hear . ) Grand Lodge was thereupon closed , and the brethren adjourned to banquet , under the presidency of Lord Egerton of Tatton . The usual toasts were afterwards honoured .

In proposing ** The Grand Master and the Past Grand Masters , " Lord EGERTON OF TATTON said il must be a great satisfaction to Mark Masons that their Grand Master had had the satisfaction of announcing that the list of Grand Masters of Mark Masonry would have a name added to it which would shed a benign influence on Mark Masonry that he believed had never been shed before by previous Grand Masters . The abilities of the

Earl of Kintore were well known ; but not the least of the benefits he had conferred upon Mark Masonry , with which his name would be connected , would be his obtaining the Prince of Wales as Grand Master . Although they could not enter into the details of those matters , he was sure the Grand Master had by his influence contributed to this happy result . Notwithstanding the great success of Mark Masonry , it would now take a fresh start .

Lord EGERTON OF TATTON , replying to the toast of ' * The Chairman , " which was proposed by Baron DE FERRIERES , said he had only very lately taken an active part in Mark Masonry in London ; but he had for a long time been connected with an important province , and as so connected he had endeavoured to do his duty in furthering the interests of Mark Masonry , and the brethren had this year been good enough to elect him

again . Although he might not be so well known to many then present , it afforded him great pleasure to make friends with so many London brethren . He felt proud to be called upon in any way to further the larger and more extended interests of the Grand Lodge . Supported as he was by the brethren , and supporting as they did the Grand Master , he was sure they would all do their best to promote those principles which they believed to

be important to the welfare of Mark Masonry and the brethren . " Success to the Mark Benevolent Fund " was the next toast , and , in proposing it , Lord EGERTON OF TATTON said all the brethren must be gratified to learn by thc report of the General Board that it was determined to found a new branch for the benefit of aged Mark Mnsons and their widows . That was a fitting and complimentary resolution on account of

the success which ihe Benevolent Fund had in the summer at a meeting over which he presided . The sum then obtained certainly far exceeded any great expectations that he or any one else could have had beforehand , and it fully deserved marking by a new start for so legitimate and good an object . He was sorry to say there seemed to be plenty of applications for relief from the fund ; but if properly administered it might do a good

amount of good , which would justify the extension of Mark Masonry ' s operations . It was gratifying to find that there was a feeling growing more and more that Mark Masonry was working in a way which met a practical want . He would not be doing justice to those who got up , andcjnt'ibuted to the success of , the last festival if he did not recognise the exertions of the Stewards , and he would couple with the toast the names of Bros . Binckes ,

Berridge , and Alfred Williams . Bro . F . BINCKES , in reply , after remarking on the marked success which had attended the Festivals of the Benevolent Fund , disclaimed all part or share in that most successful Festival over which Lord Egerton of Tatton presided , and who had munificently contributed £ 105 . He only held on that occasion the position of Honorary Secretary . He thanked

Bro . Alfred Williams , who was President , and Bro . Robert Berridge , who was Treasurer of the Board of Stewards , for the services which they and other Stewards rendered in securing the magnificent result then achieved . He was sorry now that he had not been a Steward ; but there was a future , and he hoped to hold the position of Steward yet as he had at former times . There were distinctions to be won in the world .

There was a blue ribbon to be won in many phases , and Lord Egerton had worn and won the blue ribbon of Mark Masonic Charity , because he had presided over the most successful Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund . A larger sum might yet be collected , but Lord Egerton had laid the foundation-stone of a structure which he trusted would not only be an honour to the Order , but reflect credit upon his lordship , who laid the stone , and on 4 " who laboured with him in bringing the edifice to a successful terminal

jon . He was happy to say the Mark Degree had contributed largely to the Institutions winch the Craft maintained , besides contributing benevo-\ v t 0 Mar ' Masons . After the announcement respecting the Prince of Wales , which had been made that evening , it was evident that the different Urders of Masonry were not antagonistic ; no Order should be considered antagonistic by the other ; they were all working for good , and he was sure that would always be the case . . Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS said they knew what charitable people could « o when they met , and he hoped that the Festivals that were to come might

Half-Yearly Meeting And Report.

exceed that magnificent sum which had already been alluded to . Notwithstanding what Bro . Binckes had said , Bro . Binckes did all he could at the last Festival to help the cause , and a great deal of the -uccess of the Festival was due to him and Bro . Matier ; both worked well and heartil y previous to the meeting and at the meeting . Bro . BERRIDGE also returned thanks , and the brethren then separated .

Grand Lodge Of Ireland.

GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland assembled at Dublin on Wednesday last for most important business , no less than the election of a successor to the late Grand Master , the Duke of Abereorn , K . G . l'he Board unanimously recommended His Grace , James , 2 nd Duke of Abereorn ( well-known to the English Craft as the Marquis cf Hamilton , M . P ., Senior Grand Warden 1875 ) , and the election was duly approved . It is quite certain that a better choice could not be made , in

fact , the most worthy successor to the vacant chair has been selected , and wc congratulate the Craft in Ireland accordingly . The other elections comprised the Marquis of Headfort , S . G . W . " ; Lord Arthur Hill , J . G . W . ; Edward H . Kinahan , G . Treas . j Lord Plunkett , Archbi . hop of Dublin , and the Rev . J . A . Galbraith , Grand Chaplains ; Dr . George Moyers , S . G . D . ; Harry Hodges , J . G . D . ; G . A . Stephens , G . Supt . of Works ; Dr . J . P . Banks , G . D . C . ; Dr . J . C . Meredith , G . Steward ; Dr . W . I . C . Crawley , G . S . B . ; and T . S . Sibthorpe , G . I . G .

The offices of G . Secretary and G . Organist had not been filled at time of going to press . The Grand Master , on his installation , appointed the R . W . Bro . Robert William Shekleton , Q . C , to the office of Deputy Grand Master , to the great satisfaction of the brotherhood .

Freemasonry In Guernsey, 1753 To 1882.

FREEMASONRY IN GUERNSEY , 1753 TO 1882 .

The following interesting account of Freemasonry in Guernsey , from the pen of Bro . HUGHAN , and which appeared in a local con temporary , has been kindly sent us by Bro . EMRA HOLMES . In order to understand all the curious details of a numerical character , it will be necessary to consider the question in two divisions —(_ , before the Union of December , 1 S 13 , and (_) Irom January , iS 14 , the first again being sub-divided into " Moderns " and "Ancients , " the premier Grand Lodge having been formed 1717 , and the second a little alter 1750 .

A . Before the " Union . " I . "Moderns . " 1 . The first lodge granted for Guernsey was held at the " Lily " Tavern , No . 228 , May totli , 1753 . Its numbers since were 164 . 129 . 107 , and oS . 2 . Then followed tne " Lodge 0 / Harmony , " No . 92 , of A . D . 1774 . Numbers since 379 and 309 . 3 . The " Orange" Lodge , No . 610 , A . D . i 8 og . 4 . The Mariners' Lodge , No . 611 . A . D . / Son .

5 . The Lodge of " Harmony , " No . 612 , A . D . 1809 . 6 . The Lodge of " Unity , " No . 613 , A D . i 8 og . 7 . " Doyle ' s Lodgeof Fellowship , " No . 615 , A . D . 1810 . 8 . Lodgeof Loyalty , No . 623 , A . D . ISII . The Calendar published by the " Modems " 1813 { before the " Union " ) , but dated 1814 ( just as the Calendars now are issued in advance ) omitted Nos . I and 2 , the latter having likely been inactive before that date , seeing another lodge of the same name was granted in / Son .

II . "Ancients . " IA . The " Orange" Lodge , A . D . 1763 ( No . 116 ) , and reissued x . i ,. 17 S 0 . 2 .. The" Mariners '" Lodge , ") 0 / X 7 " Royal George , " St . Peter ' s Port , ) AD' I ? 8 + ( No * 222 >* 3 \ . The Lodge of " Harmony , " A . D . 1805 ( No . 3 . 34 ) . 4 A . Doyle ' s Lodgeof " Fellowship , " A . D . 1806 ( NO . 336 ); also qS . 5 * .. Lodge of * ' Amity , " A . D . 1 S 06 ' . No . 337 ) . 6 A . Lodge of "Loyalty , " . D . 1810 ( No . 349 ) .

Notes . No . 4 A , though only warranted in September , 1806 , changed its number for 9 8 on the 14 th September , 1807 , by payment of £ 21 to the Grand Lodge . for the lapsed warrant of that number issued for Jersey in IJ 62 . O . course , the lodge only dates in reality from iSofi ; but its precedence is , according to its number 98 , as stated . No . 336 was reissued for a lodge at Stonehouse , Plymouth , and so disappeared from the Guernsey roll . No . 5 I find was altered to " Unity " later on .

( B . ) From Janttary , 1 S 14 . The two Grand Lodges having united , the numbers were allotted alternately to each Grand Lodge ( so long as the " Ancients " lasted ' , commencing with No . 1 for " Ancients , " the former No . 1 of " Moderns " taking No . 2 , so that the " Union " list comprised for Guernsey ; Name . " Moderns . " "Ancients . " List A . D . 1 S 14 . Altered in 1 S 32 . Altered in 1 S 63 . '' Doyle ' s" - 9 S 123 90 84

"Orange" — 116 141 — "Mariners" — 222 279 197 , 6 S " Harmony" — 334 42 S _ _ " Unity" - 337 431 - - 'Loyalty - 349 44 S 299 243 Orange 610 — G 17 — " Mariners" 611 — 61 S — _

" Harmony" 612 — 15 m _ " Unity" 613 - 620 - - "Doyle ' s" 615 — 622 — — " Loyalty" 623 — 630 — — •It will be seen that for each name of a lodge under the " Ancients " there was a counterpart under the " Modems , " or in other words there were

six lodges under each Grand Lodge placed on the United ) . oil , making 12 in all , but probably mainly worked by the same brethren . As precedence means a good deal in Freemasonry , the -whole of the six of the " Moderns " had collapsed before the renumbering of A . D . 1 S 32 , three of the " Ancients " remaining , and are on the roll to this day . Their rank in Prov . Grand Lodge should be 168 , 84 , and 243 .

Twelve lodges in 1 S 14 , and only three in 1 S 82 , is a sufficient proof of the wild methods pursued by the two rival Grand Lodges as respects the issue of warrants . * 1 here were in reality not more than three active lodges at the " Union , " and the others were virtually "dummies . " This information is derived from old lodge lists I have , and from Bro . Gould's " Four Old Lodges , " and his " Atholl Lodges" ( or Ancients ) and my " Masonic Register . " May 15 th , 1882 . w . J . HUGHAN .