Grand Mark Lodge.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , has been pleased to appoint Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , to be Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire and Herefordshire , in succession to Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres , whose term of oflice has expired , and Bro . Charles J . Egan , M . D ., to be District Grand Master for South Africa . The Grand Secretary in due course ' notified to his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught , K . G ., the fact of his appointment as Past Grand Master of Mark Master Masons , and also that the Board had unanimously voted that the insignia of that rank should be presented to his Royal Highness . The following reply has been

received" Buckingham Palace , gth March , 1 S 91 . " My dear Sir , —I am desired by the Duke of Connaught to ask you to convey to the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , the expression of his sincere thanks to them for the honour they have conferred upon him in electing him a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge . I am also directed to thank the brethren of Grand Lodge for the clothing of Past Grand Master , which his Royal Highness has much pleasure in accepting from them . —I am , my dear Sir , yours very faithfully , "ALFRED EGERTON ( Col . ) . " To C . F . Matier , Esq ., Grand Secretary . "

The Duke of Connaught was invested with the insignia of his rank at Brighton , by the M . W . Pro G . M ., the Marquess of Hertford . His Royal Highness was afterwards installed as Provincial Grand Master for Sussex , and was graciously pleased to express his warm appreciation of the compliment paid him by Grand Lodge . Two brethren having been irregularly elected joining members of Lodge No . 404 on

the day of consecration , contrary to Article 13 ( 5 , which provides that every candidate for joining member of a lodge shall be proposed at a regular meeting and balloted for at the next regular meeting after his name has appeared in the summons calling such meeting . The Board ruled that the so-called election was null and void , and that the names of the candidates must be placed on the summons for the next regular meeting of the lodge , and the decision of the brethren ascertained by ballot .

The Board find that meeting at four o'clock , as enjoined by Article 153 , is inconvenient to the majority of its members , and would therefore recommend to Grand Lodge that the words " rive o ' clock " be substituted for " four o ' clock , " and that the Constitutions be altered accordingly . The Board regret to say that subscriptions to the Portal Memorial Organ Fund are coming in very slowly , and would ask the Masters of those lodges who have not already subscribed to again bring the matter before their respective lodges .

1 he Board acknowledge with thanks reports of proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Colorado .

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE . The Board have great pleasure in announcing that the 23 rd Annual Festival will be held at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , 22 nd July . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan , Grand Senior Warden , has most kindly consented to preside , and the Grand Secretary will be happy to receive the names of brethren willing to act as Stewards .

The Board have elected , without a poll , the whole of the candidates for the Educational and Annuity Grants , as follows : Annuity Fund—Bro . Thomas Poore , Mrs . Catherine A . Pearson , and Mrs . Emily Goodall , making a total of seven brethren and three widows at present receiving annuities ; Educational Fund—Henry G . Metcalfe and Frances Eva T . Consterdine-Chadwick , making 14 bays and 15 girls now being educated . The Board have relieved the lollowing cases :

Mrs . E . L . G . ... ... ... ... £ 10 o o Bro . A . P . W . ... ... ... .,. 20 o o And recommend to Grand Lodge—Mrs . E . G . ... ... ... ... £ 20 o o Mrs . L . J . P . ... ... ... ... 50 o o ( Signed ) A . B . COOK , President . FRANK RICHARDSON , Vice-President . C . FITZGERALD MATIER , G . Secretary .

The different recommendations in the report were then carried , on the motion of Bro . Col . Bon * COOK , seconded by Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , and on the motion of Bro . ROBERT BERRIDGE , G . D . C ., seconded by the Earl of EUSTON , the report was adopted . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was then declared re-installed as M . W . G . M . M . 1 and proclaimed as such by Bro . ROBERT BERRIDGE .

The Marquess of HERTFORD stated that his Royal Hi ghness had again been graciously pleased to appoint him Pro Grand Master . ( Applause ) . The new salute was given . The Marquess of HERTFORD then said that H . R . H . had also been again pleased to appoint the Earl of Euston , Deputy Grand Master . ( Applause ) . The Earl of EUSTON was then saluted , after which his lordship said he thanked the brethren most heartil y for the kind manner in which they had received the announcement of his appointment by the M . W . G . M .

The following brethren were then invested as Grand Officers for the year : Bro . the Marquess of Hertford ... ... ... Pro G . M . ,. the Earl of Euston ... ... ... ... D . G . M . „ the Marquess of Carmarthen ... ... ... G . S . W .

„ Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P . ... ... G . J . W . „ Robert Grey ( President Board of Benevolence ) ... G . M . O . „ Jabez Church' ... ... ... ... G . S . O . ,, Richard Clowes ... ... ... ... G . J . O „ Rev . Canon O . W . S . Sanders , D . D . ... ... ~ ) r- n ¦• „ Rev . Joseph Cater , M . A . ... ... j G . Chaplains . „ Gordon Miller ... ... ... ... G . Treasurer .

„ Frank Richardson , P . G . \* V . ... ... ... G . Registrar . „ Lieut .-Col . A . Bott Cook , P . G . M . O ... ... Pres . Gen . Bd . „ C F . Matier , P . G . W * . " ... ... ... G . Sec . „ John Tomkins ( Mayor of Abingdon ) ... )> - / -- ^ „ Frederick T . El worthy ... ... _ * j S . G . Deacons . „ Chas . E . Keyser ... ... ... ¦¦¦) 1 r n „ John Gates Collier ... ... ... __ j * J . G . Deacons . „ Charles H . Driver , P . G . M . O . ... ... ... G . L of W . „ Robert Berridge , P . G . W . ... ... ... G . D . of C

„ Colonel Chas . Harding ... ... ) „ George Powell ... ... ... *** j G . Asst . D . of C ' s . „ Surgeon-General Theobald Ringer , M . D . ... ... G . S . B . ,, George Gardner ... ... " 1 „ James P . Lewin ... ... '" " ** j G . Std . Brs . „ Alfred King , Mus . D ., K . CO . ... '" .. . G . Org . „ W . H . Cowper ... ... ... ... G . I . G . „ John Naysmith ... ... ... ... G . A . I . G .

Ihe following is a list of the new Grand Stewards approved by the M . W . G . M . Bros . Alfred F . Church , 104 ; J . H . Gration , 127 ; A . G . Hayman , 155 ; WFisher , 181 ; Mark U . Weyland , 247 ; W . Brown , 293 ; F . H . Miller , 294 ; Major Clifford Probyn , 354 ; Adam Pringle , 357 ; Col . A . H . Bircham , 3 61 ; Harry Tipper , 3 85 ; F . Mead , 399 ; J . P . White , 410 ; and Major C W . Carrell , 415 . The Marquess of HERTFORD announced that H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . had appointed Bros . Alfred Williams , George Cooper , C . H . Driver , R . Loveland Loveland , James Moon , and J . E . Dawson on the General Board .

The following brethren were elected : Bros . Church , Clowes , Godson , Carter , and Hayman Cummings . Bro . J AMES STEVENS wished to ask a question , not with a view to disturb any arrangement made by or under high authority in Mark Masonry , but only to protect if necessary old landmarks of the Order , for he was hannv tn sav thr- OrrW

had old landmarks . He wished to know how it came to pass that the ordinary form of salutation of the M . W . Grand Master and Grand Officers had been altered as it had been that evening . For the first time in 30 years he had seen that evening a different mode of salutation , and he thought it was necessary to consider alterations made with reference to their old usages and customs . If they

Grand Mark Lodge.

allowed any latitude it might grow to some great extent , and they did not want , in this Degree at all events , any alterations which mig ht lead to dissension among themselves in that regard . He asked the question with all deference to this Grand Lodge . Some might think it did not matter ; but it might be that great differences might arise , and as an old member of this Grand Mark Lodge and having been interested in it so long ago as 30 years , he ventured to put his question most respectfully .

The Marquess of HERTFORD said no doubt the Grand Director of Ceremonies would answer the question . Bro . J AMES STEVENS said it was as the M . W . Pro Grand Master might decide . It was not for him ( Bro . Stevens ) to decide ; he merely asked the question in open Grand Lodge .

Bro . ROBERT BERRIDGE said that of late years the salute had been that which was given after the toasts . That had been considered not sufficiently dignified as a salute for the Grand Master . They had now thought it better to adopt a salute more in accordance with the salute in Craft Grand Lodge . That was the reason it had been altered .

Bro . J AMES STEVENS wished to ask who "we" were . When they had distinctly set before them that it was b y hig h authority that a change was made they would not raise their voice against it unless the change was against a direct principle . He thought the change about which he was asking was an attack upon an old custom from which they ought not to depart , and he most respectfull y asked who were the " we . "

The Marquess of HERTFORD thought the Deputy Grand Master could satisf y Bro . Stevens on that point . The Earl of EUSTON said Bro . Stevens had a perfect right to ask the question , and the Grand Director of Ceremonies had explained the reason for the change . Bro . Stevens had asked who the " we " referred to by the Grand Director of Ceremonies were . The matter was brought before the Grand Master ' s Council , and the change was approved by them . The Grand Master ' s Council was a bod y which had the confidence of the Grand Master .

Bro . STEVENS enquired whether Grand Lodge was to understand that from this time henceforth the usual custom of salutation was to be abandoned , and the new one the brethren had seen that nig ht was to be adopted without any reference of the subject to Grand Lodge , and without even asking Grand Lodge if it met with its approbation ; because if so they might as well say that the members of the Mark Degree were yielding certain points which they might hereafter regret doing ; they might not have a voice in stopping abuses , and this mi ght be one of them .

Bro . RICHARD EVE did not think this was a matter which could be allowed to slide on the simple statement that the Grand Master's Council had adopted a certain change . If the General Board had reported upon it , the brethren would have had it before them in print , and Grand Lodge could have considered it ; that was a process which had been adopted previously , and it ought to be carried into operation now . Instead of which a new salute had been introduced without the consent of

Grand Lodge . He thought Grand Lodge should express an opinion on the salutation itself , and he would move that in the absence of any direct report from the General Board , Grand Lodge regrets that the old salutation was dispensed with , and advises that the old salutation be adopted and used on future occasions . The old salutation was very unique , and was in itself a Mark . The salutation of to-day was not .

Bro . Colonel A . BOTT COOK said the question of that new salutation was never brought before the General Board . Bro . RICHARD EVE said it was sprung on Grand Lodge without notice . It was competent for Grand Lodge to mark its feeling on that new mode of salutation being adopted without notice . He would move "That this Grand Lodge regrets that the old salutations have been disused in this Grand Lodge , and is of opinion that the old form of salutation shall be retained and used in future . "

The Mdrquess of HERTFORD was not sure that it was quite regular to put this motion now without notice . Bro . RICHARD EVE said this was a matter concerning the conduct of Grand Lodge . The new salutation had been brought before the brethren without consulting the feelings of Grand Lodge . Bro . J AMES STEVENS seconded the motion .

The motion was put and carried , only two or three dissentients holding up their hands against it . Bro . STEVENS asked whether anything had been done in the last 12 months with respect to the Portal memorial organ ? Bro . Col . A . BOTT COOK said the subject was mentioned in the report of the General Board . He was glad the subject had been mentioned ; perhaps it would increase the funds , which were coming in very slowly .

Grand Lodge was closed in ample form , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern to an excellent banquet , over which the M . W . Pro Grand Master presided . The brethren afterwards honoured the usual toasts .

Freemasonry In Hungary.

FREEMASONRY IN HUNGARY .

The present governing body of Hungarian Freemasonry is the " S ymbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary , " which was formed in 1886 by the union of the two Grand Bodies then existing , namely , the "St . John ' s Grand Lodge" and the " Grand Orient . " The former of these worked and recognised only the three Craft Degrees , but the "Grand Orient" worked , in addition , all those of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . The descendant lodges of these two bodies carry out the traditions of their ancestors , in that lodges formed by or the

oilsprings of lodges formed by the St . John ' s Grand Lodge neither acknowledge ' '"' allow their members to receive any " higher " Degrees , whilst those constituted by the Grand Orient still allow their members to receive the halites grades , although the ( United ) Symbolic Grand Lodge does not officially acknowledge any such ceremonies . The Supreme Council , 33 ° , of Hungary still exists , but is very limited in its operations , there being only two Rose Croix chapters , and the same 0

number for the 30 , in Budapest , with a few in the Provinces . ' " the matter of clothing and jewels and also of Craft furniture , Hungarian lodges differ considerably from those of England , and also even amongst themselves , according as their descent is from one or other of the former two original Grand Bodies . The members of Grand Lodge wear a golden nv < 3-pointed star , in the centre of which are inscribed the principal symbols

of Masonry . This jewel is attached to a four - inch collar " light blue ribbon , edged with a narrow border of red , white , an green , the national colours of Hungary . All the Grand Omc i * - * wear this star in addition to their jewels of office , if entitled to any , the * 'at being similar to our own . The jewels of the previous Grand Orient wer worn on a collar of deep orange , edged with dark green , as in the G . O . Franc , and the Grand Master ' s jewel was a gold irradiated equilateral triang le instea

of a square as at present . In private lodges the jewels are of silver and are as follow : W . M ., a squar , Deputy W . M ., a square ; S . W ., a level ; J . W ., a plumb rule ; Orator , an opw book ; Secretary , two pens crossed on a triangle ; Treasurer , two keys cro on a triangle ; Almoner , a little box ; Preparator ( who sees to the introducti of the candidates ) , a silver skull ; D . C , two staffs crossed ; I . G ., two swords cros on a triangle . Another peculiar custom was that in the " St . John ' s lodges ^ brethren wore little trowels either around the neck or at the button hole , tha