-
Articles/Ads
Article GRAND MARK LODGE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article GRAND MARK LODGE. Page 2 of 2 Article GRAND MARK LODGE. Page 2 of 2 Article PLACING THE CORNER-STONE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Mark Lodge.
ten guineas the privilege of Life Subscribers should be anted to them . Such a resolution as this should not be ^ csed hastily , and though he at all times disliked oppos-F " recommendations of the General Board , who had had the opportunity of fully considering the questions broug ht before them , he thought the brethren should
carctullv consider the present matter . Bro . Binckes said a lodge was not prevented giving a smaller sum than ten guineas . For every five shillings subscribed they We uld have a vote , but the vote would not be permanent . The matter was fully discussed at the General Board , which was unanimous on the subject . Bro . Rawson said then a lodge would not have the
prilcge of permanent votes if it subscribed less than £ 5 55 . at one time . Bro . Binckes said it would fall back on Liw 5 . " Every sum of five shillings per annum subscribed to the Mark Benevolent Fund gives the Subscriber one vote at a single election . " The Eail of Limerick said he thought Bro . Rawson was
quite rig ht . If thc words had becn put in as suggested , they would have governed Law 5 , as well as the others , and shown that it was necessary to give five guineas , or else there would not be a privilege at all . He thought that was not intended . The words " Similar life privileges " woultl show that that would not apply to Clause t . If the words were put in without some such
definition it was quite clear that that clause would govern the other clauses . The word " Life " mijht be put in , and it would apply to Laws 6 , 7 , and 8 . Bro . Binckes suggested that the word " permanent " would be preferable to " life . " Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal thought the Grand Master in the chair was perfectly right . It was never intended to
interfere with lodges giving 5 s . ; it was simply intended that they should not be life subscribers unless they paid five guineas at a time . It the word " permanent" were put in that would meet the difficult }' , lie suggested that Clause 9 should read : — " Similar permanent privileges are acquired by lodgts on payment of double the above amounts , in sums of not less titan five guineas each .
Bro . C . r . Martin seconded the motion . Bro . Charles Horsley enquired whether a lodge paying five guineas in twenty-five payments of 5 s . each would be prevented having a permanent subscribcrship vote . Bro . Binckes explained that , to entitle a lodge to twelve votes in perpetuity , the ten guineas must be paid in two sums of five guineas each .
The moti'in was then put and earned . On the motion of the Rev . G . R . Portal , seconded by Bro . James Salmon , £ 21 was voted from the funds of Grand Lodge on account of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in name of the General Board . Bro . Donald VV . Dewar , Assistant Grand Secretary , having retired from Grand Lodge , be
Bro . the Rev . G . K . Portal moved that ^ , 50 voted from the Funds of Grand Lodge as a gratuity to the Assistant Grand Secretary in recognition of his exeriions in recovering long-standing arrears due to Grand Lodge . He said that all the brethren who were acquainted with such an organisation as Grand Lodge of Mark Masters must be aware that from time to time lodges did fall into
arrear , and however much they might be vviilten to , they cid not pay up . When Uro . Dewar was appointed in Grand Secretary ' s office a year anil a half ago , his attention was particularly called to the fact of tlie arrears . By his indefatigable exertions since then , and his continuous letter writing , he had succeeded in recovering £ 500 , and the Geneial Board thought unanimously that in
recognition of those ex-rtions they could not do less than give liim a pcr-centagc on the sum recovered . Bro . S . Rawson seconded the motion . Bro . Binckes said he thought hc should be guilty of a great want of respect and of a dereliction of duty if , before this resolution was put , he did not , as Grand Secretary , bear his more than willing testimony to the
very faithful and admirable manner in which Bro . Dewar had pirformsd his duties in office ever since he ( Bro . Binckes ) recommended him to it . The brethren present had witnessed the way in which Uro . Dewar had discharged his duties , and would agree with him that there should be some recognition of it . Bro . Thomas Meggy , as Grand Auelitor , also bore
testimony to the admirable way the accounts of Grand Lodge had been kept by Bro . Dewar , and also to the success which had attended his zeal in recovering the arrears due to Grand Lodge . The Eail of Limerick said he was sure the expressions made use cf by the several Brethren would be felt by Uro . Dewar almost more than the pecuniary amount of
the compliment which Grand Lodge was asked to make to him . Grand Lodge was very much indebted to Bro . Dewar for the very zealous manner in which he had discharged his duties , as was shown by the increase that had been made to Grand Lodge funds . ( Hear , hear . ) The motion was put , and carried unanimously . Bro . D . M . Dewar having returned to Grand Lodge ,
The Earl of Limerick said it was his pleasing duty to inform Bro . Dewar that Grand Lodge had , as some recognition of his very valuable services , which had so greatly improved the financial position of Grand Lotlge , passed 'he following resolution : — " That £ 50 be veiled from the 'unds of Grand Lodge as a gratuity to the Assistant "land Secretary , in recognition of his exertions it * recovering long-standing arrears due to Grand Lodge . "
* -c thought it only right to say that the vote was accompanied hy the most flattering expressions from several of "ie brethren who were best able to speak to those series , including the Grand Secretary and Grand Auditor . Hro . Dewar thanked the brethren for their kindness in Passing the vote and txptessing themselves so favourably ° ' his services . It would be an incentive to him to do as * cll in the future .
Grand Mark Lodge.
On the motion of Bro . VV . Roebuck , seconded by Bro . C . F . Matier , thc report of the General Board was adopted . The Earl of Limerick here said that he was unable to stay any longer , as he had a considerable amount of business to attend to . It had been almost impossible for him to come at all , but he did not like to absent himself
entirely . He regretted that he was unable to stay so short a time , and he hoped the brethren would excuse him and grant him leave of absence . His lordship then retired , and Bro . the Rev . G . R . Pcrtal took the chair . Lord Skelmersdale was duly announced as Grand Master for the ensuing year , and ] the following are the
Grand Officers for thc year . The Earl of Donoughmore ] ... Deputy G . M . Lord Mantleville G . S . W . J . M . P . Montagu G . J . W .. ' . ' chard Eve G . M . O . Thomas Cubiit G . S . O . Charles Horsley G . J . O .
Rev . A . A . Bagshawe ... ... G . C . Rev . D . Ace G . C . Frederic Davison ... ... ... Grand Treasurer . H . C . Levander ... GrandSHegistrar . Frederick Binckes ... ... ... Grind Sec . Donald M . Dewar ... ... ... Assistant G . Sec . Dr . Rimsay . T . ... ... ... G . S . D .
James Lewis Thomas ... ... G . S . D . Frank Richardson ... ... ... G . J . D . Charles Jacques G . J . D . Stephen Baiton Wilson ... ... G . Sup . of Works . Robert Benidge G . D . C . George Smith Assistant G . D . C . Capt . Ritchie G . Sword B .
Charles Sparkes ... ... ... G . Standard B . Edw . Lott G . Organist . Edvv . Diggle G . I . G . Bros . Collins , Sidney Jones , Thomas Armstrong , John Barker , Lilw . Margrett , Robert Spice , Thos . Pulley , George Harrison , George
Brownlow , John Syer , VV . White , and Booth GrantI Stewards . C . T . Speight G . Tyler . Bro . Poital informed the b cthren that the Grand Master hail been pleased to nominate him as President of the General Board , and Bros . T . Meggy , S . Rosenthal , S . C .
Di din , C . F . Ma'ier , Thos . Cubitt , and Robc-rt Bsrridge , members of the Board . The following brethren were elected to serve on the Board : —Bros . Alfred Williams , T . J . Sabine , W . Roebuck , T . C . Walls , and O . IT . Pearson . " Bro . Binckes informed the Graud Master that hc had
received letters and telegrams from the following bnthren , regretting their inability to attend , and apologising foi their absence : —The M . W . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale ; the R . W . P . D . G . M ., Sir E . A . IT . Lechmere ; R . VV . Bros . J . F , ITalscy , G . J . W . ; Col . Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex and Surrey ; Wm . Kelly , P . G . M . Leicestershire ; V . W . Bros . Rev , F . VV . Thoytes , P . G . C ; Dr . E . Brette , P . G . C ; W . Bros ,
R . G . Smith , G . J . D . ; Capt . G . Watson , G . J . D . ; J . C , Roden , P . G . D . ; E . T . Inskip , P . G . D . ; F . Long , P . G . D , of C . ; Martin Kemp , G . A . D . of C ; G . Higgins , G . S . ; S . Jones , G . S . ; G . Harrison , G . S . ; P . i ! e E . Collin , G . S . ; R . Buftcnvortli , P . G . S . j Wm . Nott , P . G . S . ; ll . G . Glover , P . G . S . ; VV . S . Gillard , P . G . S . ; Benj . Cox , P . G . S . ; S . IT . Knaggs , G . S . ; and Magnus Ohren .
Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Sussex Room of Freemasons' Tavern to an excellent banquet . When the toasts were proposed , Bro . Thomas Cubiit responded to the toast of " Thc Grand Officers , " and saitl it was a very proud position for any of the Grand Officers to anive at , and for himself he
appreciated the honour very highly that had been conferred on him that night . Hc hoped the M . W . G . M . would not regret any appointment he had made . The Rev . C . II . Davy , Prov . G . M . for Gloucestershire , proposed "Thc Past Grand Masters , " and said they all looked upon Bro . Po . tal as thc resuscitator of Mark Masonrv in England . Wherever he ( Bro . Davy ) hatl been in
Mark Masonry , his ideas had always reverted to Bro . Portal . He was not only the resuscitator but the maker of Mark Masonry , and the brethren hatl had so many opportunities of witnessing the excellence of his working and his geniality of manner that it was unnecessary to decant upon them . Bro . Portal replied . The brethren would agree with him
that the great success that had attended their degree was very mainly owing to the secret that at a critical moment of his history they had been able to secure the services of distinguished men as Grand Masters . At the time the degree was launched , certain influential brethren in the Craft Grand Lodge did all they could to prevent the Mark Grand Lodge being formed , and he believed they would not
have succeeded in establishing it if it had not been for seeming Lord Leigh as their first Grand Master . A little later on thty obtained the Earl of Carnarvon , who was of great service , as his acceptance of office completely shut the mouths of those who tried to make out that Mark Masons were endeavouring to oppose daft Grand Lodge , because Lord Carnarvon was then Deputy Grand Master in the Craft . It was of great importance to have Lord
Skelmersdale , the intimate friend of the present Grand Master , in the Craft . The success of the degree had been something astonshing , fifteen years ago there were scarcely any Mark Lodges ; now there were 247 , besides ten immemorial lodges ; so that there were now nearly 257 lodges on the roll . Excepting the Craft , there was no Masonic body making the same progress . Nothing gave him greater pleasure then to come amongst the brethren and to be of any use he could to Mark Masonry .
Grand Mark Lodge.
Bro . F . Davidson , G . T ., proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund . " This fund had already £ 1020 invested . It had made grants that evening of £ 50 to the daughters of one brother , and £ 20 to another brother , who took at one time a very active interest in the degree . He had every satisfaction in saying that the fund was progressing . Bro . Binckes replied , and after tracing the progiess of
the Fund and the good it had done , announced that the annual festival would take place on the 2 nd of July , at the Alexandra Palace , and that Lord Arthur Hill would ake the chair . Bro . Hargreaves , of Manchester , responded for " The
Visitors , " shortly after which the brethren separated . In the course of the evening the brethren were entertained with some beautiful singing by Bros . Hodges , Stedman , De Lacy , and Masters Man ning , Dunster , Payne , and Probert , of the Westminster it obey choir , under the direction of Bro . C . M . Lott , Grand Organist .
Placing The Corner-Stone.
PLACING THE CORNER-STONE .
Thc following address was delivered by the M . W . Grand Master , Bro . Eelward L . Judson , at the placing of the corner-stone of the U . S . Custom House and Post-Office , Albany , N . Y .: — " Fellow Citizens , — 'The services which you are about to witness are to bs performed at thc invitation of the authorities on laying the foundation stone of
a building to be devoted to public uses , and while it will add another stately edifice to the many already adorning our ancient and goodly city , it will also be a monument to the public spirit and increasing importance of the American people . That these ceremonies are to be directed by an association which has long flourished in the midst of this people will be the justification—if any
were needed—for a brief trespass upon your patience at this time The custom of laying the corner stones of public buildings comes to us from a remote antiquity , so remote indeed that no man can point to its exact origin . The elements used , viz ., corn , wine , and oil , have in all ages and by all people been regarded as the emblems of national prosperity , the essential elements of sustenance
and domestic comfort . Naturally a ceremony so nearly allied to operative Masonry would fall to an association like ours , which employs the working tools of the builder to convey the lessons of morality and truth to its adepts . Hence in the past it has been the custom in many countries , but especially in this free land of ours , for the authorities to invite our services in laying the corner-stone
wilh the solemnities of our Craft , thus at once by the fact of thc ceremony announcing the importance of thc building to follow , and the appreciation of the patriotic spirit which moves this venerable association to respond to the call of public duty , anti , to the extent of its power , to place the seal of its prestige and good wishes upon the work in hand . That this may be made more apparent a
brief explanation of thc nature of our society and its claims to that public approval of which the proceedings in which we are now engaged are an evidence will not at this time be regardetl as inappropriate . Thc ancient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , represented in this ceremony , has existed so long that of it may be truly said , ' the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary , ' yet ahvays and in all places it bas been the exponent of that idea , so grandly carried out in our national institutions , a government of the people for and by the people , recognising as it does that its rules , for time being , act by delegated powers convejed through the medium of written constitutions anil law . ' . The earliest and most emphatic of our inculcations , that which meets the
neophyte at the very threshold of the institution , and beckons him forward and upward , ' as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night , ' until at last he is laid away to the final rest , is an unswerving belief in God , the Father and Creator of the Universe , in whom we live , move , and have our being , and without whose knowledge not even a sparrow falls to the ground . And yet , withal , it is impossible
that sectarianism shoultl enter our fold , or that we should be the exponents or thc enemies of any special mode of faith . Our organisation surrounds the globe ; it marches into the primeval forest with the pioneer , and affords thc means of a continual advancing civilisation ; it is with the sailor in the solitude of the ocean , with the soldier by thc camp fires and in the storm of battle ; and though it may
not stay the uplifted arm or the deadly missile , it gives a cup of water to a wounded enemy and grieves over the cruel necessity tliat has called for his wound or his death . You will find it in every rank and station of society . It accompanies thc cheerful clang of the artisan ' s hammer , is with the farmer at seed-time and harvest , with the merchant in his warehouse , the senator at the forum , the judge upon
the bench , and the minister at the altar . Even royalty is exalted by its honours , and the poorest brother walks beneath thc folds of its banner with a higher consciousness of manhood , for as before God and the law , all men are equal , so on the broad pavement of Freemasonry the king and the peasant are brethren , and he among them all is mightiest in whose life-walk there is best exemplified the
influence of a steady and right-doing failh in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . Again , our inculcation demands that in whatever country he may be , a Mason is ever to be loyal and obedient to the Government thereof , and always to respect the civil magistrates —supreme and subordinate . There is with us no interference with the right of private judgment . Our regulations
Jo not prevent a brother , in bis capacity as a citizen , from being the IT ost extreme partisan either way his predilections imy incline . But when he enters the temple he must leave his partisanship nt the door , and within its sacred pr _ cin _ - be only the loyal citizen , man and Mason . Hence in our lodge-rooms , during the most excited political canvass , all is calm , and the men who may differ widely upon the platform will be found side by side discharging thc
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Mark Lodge.
ten guineas the privilege of Life Subscribers should be anted to them . Such a resolution as this should not be ^ csed hastily , and though he at all times disliked oppos-F " recommendations of the General Board , who had had the opportunity of fully considering the questions broug ht before them , he thought the brethren should
carctullv consider the present matter . Bro . Binckes said a lodge was not prevented giving a smaller sum than ten guineas . For every five shillings subscribed they We uld have a vote , but the vote would not be permanent . The matter was fully discussed at the General Board , which was unanimous on the subject . Bro . Rawson said then a lodge would not have the
prilcge of permanent votes if it subscribed less than £ 5 55 . at one time . Bro . Binckes said it would fall back on Liw 5 . " Every sum of five shillings per annum subscribed to the Mark Benevolent Fund gives the Subscriber one vote at a single election . " The Eail of Limerick said he thought Bro . Rawson was
quite rig ht . If thc words had becn put in as suggested , they would have governed Law 5 , as well as the others , and shown that it was necessary to give five guineas , or else there would not be a privilege at all . He thought that was not intended . The words " Similar life privileges " woultl show that that would not apply to Clause t . If the words were put in without some such
definition it was quite clear that that clause would govern the other clauses . The word " Life " mijht be put in , and it would apply to Laws 6 , 7 , and 8 . Bro . Binckes suggested that the word " permanent " would be preferable to " life . " Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal thought the Grand Master in the chair was perfectly right . It was never intended to
interfere with lodges giving 5 s . ; it was simply intended that they should not be life subscribers unless they paid five guineas at a time . It the word " permanent" were put in that would meet the difficult }' , lie suggested that Clause 9 should read : — " Similar permanent privileges are acquired by lodgts on payment of double the above amounts , in sums of not less titan five guineas each .
Bro . C . r . Martin seconded the motion . Bro . Charles Horsley enquired whether a lodge paying five guineas in twenty-five payments of 5 s . each would be prevented having a permanent subscribcrship vote . Bro . Binckes explained that , to entitle a lodge to twelve votes in perpetuity , the ten guineas must be paid in two sums of five guineas each .
The moti'in was then put and earned . On the motion of the Rev . G . R . Portal , seconded by Bro . James Salmon , £ 21 was voted from the funds of Grand Lodge on account of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in name of the General Board . Bro . Donald VV . Dewar , Assistant Grand Secretary , having retired from Grand Lodge , be
Bro . the Rev . G . K . Portal moved that ^ , 50 voted from the Funds of Grand Lodge as a gratuity to the Assistant Grand Secretary in recognition of his exeriions in recovering long-standing arrears due to Grand Lodge . He said that all the brethren who were acquainted with such an organisation as Grand Lodge of Mark Masters must be aware that from time to time lodges did fall into
arrear , and however much they might be vviilten to , they cid not pay up . When Uro . Dewar was appointed in Grand Secretary ' s office a year anil a half ago , his attention was particularly called to the fact of tlie arrears . By his indefatigable exertions since then , and his continuous letter writing , he had succeeded in recovering £ 500 , and the Geneial Board thought unanimously that in
recognition of those ex-rtions they could not do less than give liim a pcr-centagc on the sum recovered . Bro . S . Rawson seconded the motion . Bro . Binckes said he thought hc should be guilty of a great want of respect and of a dereliction of duty if , before this resolution was put , he did not , as Grand Secretary , bear his more than willing testimony to the
very faithful and admirable manner in which Bro . Dewar had pirformsd his duties in office ever since he ( Bro . Binckes ) recommended him to it . The brethren present had witnessed the way in which Uro . Dewar had discharged his duties , and would agree with him that there should be some recognition of it . Bro . Thomas Meggy , as Grand Auelitor , also bore
testimony to the admirable way the accounts of Grand Lodge had been kept by Bro . Dewar , and also to the success which had attended his zeal in recovering the arrears due to Grand Lodge . The Eail of Limerick said he was sure the expressions made use cf by the several Brethren would be felt by Uro . Dewar almost more than the pecuniary amount of
the compliment which Grand Lodge was asked to make to him . Grand Lodge was very much indebted to Bro . Dewar for the very zealous manner in which he had discharged his duties , as was shown by the increase that had been made to Grand Lodge funds . ( Hear , hear . ) The motion was put , and carried unanimously . Bro . D . M . Dewar having returned to Grand Lodge ,
The Earl of Limerick said it was his pleasing duty to inform Bro . Dewar that Grand Lodge had , as some recognition of his very valuable services , which had so greatly improved the financial position of Grand Lotlge , passed 'he following resolution : — " That £ 50 be veiled from the 'unds of Grand Lodge as a gratuity to the Assistant "land Secretary , in recognition of his exertions it * recovering long-standing arrears due to Grand Lodge . "
* -c thought it only right to say that the vote was accompanied hy the most flattering expressions from several of "ie brethren who were best able to speak to those series , including the Grand Secretary and Grand Auditor . Hro . Dewar thanked the brethren for their kindness in Passing the vote and txptessing themselves so favourably ° ' his services . It would be an incentive to him to do as * cll in the future .
Grand Mark Lodge.
On the motion of Bro . VV . Roebuck , seconded by Bro . C . F . Matier , thc report of the General Board was adopted . The Earl of Limerick here said that he was unable to stay any longer , as he had a considerable amount of business to attend to . It had been almost impossible for him to come at all , but he did not like to absent himself
entirely . He regretted that he was unable to stay so short a time , and he hoped the brethren would excuse him and grant him leave of absence . His lordship then retired , and Bro . the Rev . G . R . Pcrtal took the chair . Lord Skelmersdale was duly announced as Grand Master for the ensuing year , and ] the following are the
Grand Officers for thc year . The Earl of Donoughmore ] ... Deputy G . M . Lord Mantleville G . S . W . J . M . P . Montagu G . J . W .. ' . ' chard Eve G . M . O . Thomas Cubiit G . S . O . Charles Horsley G . J . O .
Rev . A . A . Bagshawe ... ... G . C . Rev . D . Ace G . C . Frederic Davison ... ... ... Grand Treasurer . H . C . Levander ... GrandSHegistrar . Frederick Binckes ... ... ... Grind Sec . Donald M . Dewar ... ... ... Assistant G . Sec . Dr . Rimsay . T . ... ... ... G . S . D .
James Lewis Thomas ... ... G . S . D . Frank Richardson ... ... ... G . J . D . Charles Jacques G . J . D . Stephen Baiton Wilson ... ... G . Sup . of Works . Robert Benidge G . D . C . George Smith Assistant G . D . C . Capt . Ritchie G . Sword B .
Charles Sparkes ... ... ... G . Standard B . Edw . Lott G . Organist . Edvv . Diggle G . I . G . Bros . Collins , Sidney Jones , Thomas Armstrong , John Barker , Lilw . Margrett , Robert Spice , Thos . Pulley , George Harrison , George
Brownlow , John Syer , VV . White , and Booth GrantI Stewards . C . T . Speight G . Tyler . Bro . Poital informed the b cthren that the Grand Master hail been pleased to nominate him as President of the General Board , and Bros . T . Meggy , S . Rosenthal , S . C .
Di din , C . F . Ma'ier , Thos . Cubitt , and Robc-rt Bsrridge , members of the Board . The following brethren were elected to serve on the Board : —Bros . Alfred Williams , T . J . Sabine , W . Roebuck , T . C . Walls , and O . IT . Pearson . " Bro . Binckes informed the Graud Master that hc had
received letters and telegrams from the following bnthren , regretting their inability to attend , and apologising foi their absence : —The M . W . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale ; the R . W . P . D . G . M ., Sir E . A . IT . Lechmere ; R . VV . Bros . J . F , ITalscy , G . J . W . ; Col . Burdett , P . G . M . Middlesex and Surrey ; Wm . Kelly , P . G . M . Leicestershire ; V . W . Bros . Rev , F . VV . Thoytes , P . G . C ; Dr . E . Brette , P . G . C ; W . Bros ,
R . G . Smith , G . J . D . ; Capt . G . Watson , G . J . D . ; J . C , Roden , P . G . D . ; E . T . Inskip , P . G . D . ; F . Long , P . G . D , of C . ; Martin Kemp , G . A . D . of C ; G . Higgins , G . S . ; S . Jones , G . S . ; G . Harrison , G . S . ; P . i ! e E . Collin , G . S . ; R . Buftcnvortli , P . G . S . j Wm . Nott , P . G . S . ; ll . G . Glover , P . G . S . ; VV . S . Gillard , P . G . S . ; Benj . Cox , P . G . S . ; S . IT . Knaggs , G . S . ; and Magnus Ohren .
Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Sussex Room of Freemasons' Tavern to an excellent banquet . When the toasts were proposed , Bro . Thomas Cubiit responded to the toast of " Thc Grand Officers , " and saitl it was a very proud position for any of the Grand Officers to anive at , and for himself he
appreciated the honour very highly that had been conferred on him that night . Hc hoped the M . W . G . M . would not regret any appointment he had made . The Rev . C . II . Davy , Prov . G . M . for Gloucestershire , proposed "Thc Past Grand Masters , " and said they all looked upon Bro . Po . tal as thc resuscitator of Mark Masonrv in England . Wherever he ( Bro . Davy ) hatl been in
Mark Masonry , his ideas had always reverted to Bro . Portal . He was not only the resuscitator but the maker of Mark Masonry , and the brethren hatl had so many opportunities of witnessing the excellence of his working and his geniality of manner that it was unnecessary to decant upon them . Bro . Portal replied . The brethren would agree with him
that the great success that had attended their degree was very mainly owing to the secret that at a critical moment of his history they had been able to secure the services of distinguished men as Grand Masters . At the time the degree was launched , certain influential brethren in the Craft Grand Lodge did all they could to prevent the Mark Grand Lodge being formed , and he believed they would not
have succeeded in establishing it if it had not been for seeming Lord Leigh as their first Grand Master . A little later on thty obtained the Earl of Carnarvon , who was of great service , as his acceptance of office completely shut the mouths of those who tried to make out that Mark Masons were endeavouring to oppose daft Grand Lodge , because Lord Carnarvon was then Deputy Grand Master in the Craft . It was of great importance to have Lord
Skelmersdale , the intimate friend of the present Grand Master , in the Craft . The success of the degree had been something astonshing , fifteen years ago there were scarcely any Mark Lodges ; now there were 247 , besides ten immemorial lodges ; so that there were now nearly 257 lodges on the roll . Excepting the Craft , there was no Masonic body making the same progress . Nothing gave him greater pleasure then to come amongst the brethren and to be of any use he could to Mark Masonry .
Grand Mark Lodge.
Bro . F . Davidson , G . T ., proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund . " This fund had already £ 1020 invested . It had made grants that evening of £ 50 to the daughters of one brother , and £ 20 to another brother , who took at one time a very active interest in the degree . He had every satisfaction in saying that the fund was progressing . Bro . Binckes replied , and after tracing the progiess of
the Fund and the good it had done , announced that the annual festival would take place on the 2 nd of July , at the Alexandra Palace , and that Lord Arthur Hill would ake the chair . Bro . Hargreaves , of Manchester , responded for " The
Visitors , " shortly after which the brethren separated . In the course of the evening the brethren were entertained with some beautiful singing by Bros . Hodges , Stedman , De Lacy , and Masters Man ning , Dunster , Payne , and Probert , of the Westminster it obey choir , under the direction of Bro . C . M . Lott , Grand Organist .
Placing The Corner-Stone.
PLACING THE CORNER-STONE .
Thc following address was delivered by the M . W . Grand Master , Bro . Eelward L . Judson , at the placing of the corner-stone of the U . S . Custom House and Post-Office , Albany , N . Y .: — " Fellow Citizens , — 'The services which you are about to witness are to bs performed at thc invitation of the authorities on laying the foundation stone of
a building to be devoted to public uses , and while it will add another stately edifice to the many already adorning our ancient and goodly city , it will also be a monument to the public spirit and increasing importance of the American people . That these ceremonies are to be directed by an association which has long flourished in the midst of this people will be the justification—if any
were needed—for a brief trespass upon your patience at this time The custom of laying the corner stones of public buildings comes to us from a remote antiquity , so remote indeed that no man can point to its exact origin . The elements used , viz ., corn , wine , and oil , have in all ages and by all people been regarded as the emblems of national prosperity , the essential elements of sustenance
and domestic comfort . Naturally a ceremony so nearly allied to operative Masonry would fall to an association like ours , which employs the working tools of the builder to convey the lessons of morality and truth to its adepts . Hence in the past it has been the custom in many countries , but especially in this free land of ours , for the authorities to invite our services in laying the corner-stone
wilh the solemnities of our Craft , thus at once by the fact of thc ceremony announcing the importance of thc building to follow , and the appreciation of the patriotic spirit which moves this venerable association to respond to the call of public duty , anti , to the extent of its power , to place the seal of its prestige and good wishes upon the work in hand . That this may be made more apparent a
brief explanation of thc nature of our society and its claims to that public approval of which the proceedings in which we are now engaged are an evidence will not at this time be regardetl as inappropriate . Thc ancient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , represented in this ceremony , has existed so long that of it may be truly said , ' the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary , ' yet ahvays and in all places it bas been the exponent of that idea , so grandly carried out in our national institutions , a government of the people for and by the people , recognising as it does that its rules , for time being , act by delegated powers convejed through the medium of written constitutions anil law . ' . The earliest and most emphatic of our inculcations , that which meets the
neophyte at the very threshold of the institution , and beckons him forward and upward , ' as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night , ' until at last he is laid away to the final rest , is an unswerving belief in God , the Father and Creator of the Universe , in whom we live , move , and have our being , and without whose knowledge not even a sparrow falls to the ground . And yet , withal , it is impossible
that sectarianism shoultl enter our fold , or that we should be the exponents or thc enemies of any special mode of faith . Our organisation surrounds the globe ; it marches into the primeval forest with the pioneer , and affords thc means of a continual advancing civilisation ; it is with the sailor in the solitude of the ocean , with the soldier by thc camp fires and in the storm of battle ; and though it may
not stay the uplifted arm or the deadly missile , it gives a cup of water to a wounded enemy and grieves over the cruel necessity tliat has called for his wound or his death . You will find it in every rank and station of society . It accompanies thc cheerful clang of the artisan ' s hammer , is with the farmer at seed-time and harvest , with the merchant in his warehouse , the senator at the forum , the judge upon
the bench , and the minister at the altar . Even royalty is exalted by its honours , and the poorest brother walks beneath thc folds of its banner with a higher consciousness of manhood , for as before God and the law , all men are equal , so on the broad pavement of Freemasonry the king and the peasant are brethren , and he among them all is mightiest in whose life-walk there is best exemplified the
influence of a steady and right-doing failh in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . Again , our inculcation demands that in whatever country he may be , a Mason is ever to be loyal and obedient to the Government thereof , and always to respect the civil magistrates —supreme and subordinate . There is with us no interference with the right of private judgment . Our regulations
Jo not prevent a brother , in bis capacity as a citizen , from being the IT ost extreme partisan either way his predilections imy incline . But when he enters the temple he must leave his partisanship nt the door , and within its sacred pr _ cin _ - be only the loyal citizen , man and Mason . Hence in our lodge-rooms , during the most excited political canvass , all is calm , and the men who may differ widely upon the platform will be found side by side discharging thc