Mark Grand Lodge.

On the motion of Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , seconded by Bro . FITZROY TOWER , the Report of the General Board was taken as read , and ordered lo be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON next moved : "That Article 154 , Book of Constitutions . be altered so as to include as ex officio members all Past Presidents of the General Board , by adding the words to the Article , ' all Past Presidents , ' after the word ' President . ' " He said by Article 154 the

constitution of the General Board was provided for , and it provided for the President of the General Board being a member . At the time the Book of Constitutions was revised there was no Past President . They now had a brother who held that rank , and it would be convenient if all Past Presidents of the Board formed part of the Board . He , therefore , moved as mentioned . Bro . FITZROY T OWER seconded , and the motion was carried .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON next moved : "That Bro . Cowasjee Eduljee Panday , formerly District Grand Treasurer , Madras , having been convicted of embezzlement and other offences , and sentenced to a term of imprisonment , be expelled from tiie Mark Degree . " All the brethren would agree with him that they should keep not only Grand Lodge , but all lodges , pure ; and that if any brother got into the disgraceful position of this brother they ought to get rid of him . Bro . FITZROY TOWER seconded , and the motion was carried .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON then moved : "That this Grand Lodge do recognise and acknowledge the United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria , Australia , subject to the customary conditions and restrictions which shall be noted in the document of recognition . " As all the brethren knew , for some years there existed no District Grand Lodge of Victoria . It so happened now that the different Constitutions , the Scotch and

Irish , had joined with each other , and formed a Grand Mark Lodge of their own , and the majority was so enormous—three lodges only under the English Constitution had not joined—that the General Board thought it was a proper thing that they should recognise the Grand Lodge of Victori 1 as a sister body , subject only to the rights of those lodges which did not go over to the new Grand Lodge . That would be provided for in the warrant that would be granted . Bro . FITZROY TOWER seconded .

The Earl ot EUSTON said he thought this was a right time lor the Grand Lodge of the district to be formed . Those lodges which remained under our banner would have an absolute right to do so as long as they chose . But he should think it better if they were to join the Grand Lodge as many as could .

A BROTHER asked whether it would be better to retain our superiority , because we should now have no right to grant new lodges in the Australian Colonies ? The Earl of EUSTON said this motion only referred to Victoria . The motion was carried .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON said the M . W . Pro Grand Master had made to the Library a very valuable gift indeed , that being a copy of the Book of Constitutions of 1767 . That volume was very rare , very few were to begot , and he moved " That the best thanks of Grand Lodge be given to the M . W . Pro Grand Master for the gift of a copy of that volume to Grand Lodge . " Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , K . C ., seconded , The motion was carried .

The Earl of Ei'STON : Thank you , brethren ; I am only too glad to give it . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON said he had another very pleasing duty to perform—to inform the brethren that their esteemed Bro . lmre Kiralfy ,

who sat beside him , had presented to G and Lodge a very handsome trophy of armour , rifles , and bayonets . He had no doubt the brethren had seen the walls and lobby were decorated as they came in , and it gave a better appearance than formerly . That was due to Bro . Kiralfy , and he now moved the best thanks of Grand Lodge for the gift .

Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND seconded . The motion was carried , and Bro . Kiralfy bowed his acknowledgments . Bro . G . PHILIPS PARKER : M . W . Pro Grand Master , I have the honour of proposing the nomination of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught for election as M . W . Grand Master for the ensuing year . Words are not necessery to show his fitness for that high offi : e , but there is one fact stands out above all others , and that fact I will mention . By

reason of his exalted position his Royal Hig hness mtist necessarily be the subject of criticism ; yet the world has never had anything to say of him but in praise as Duke , as soldier , as Mason . We all know how beloved and respected he is , and there is no better than he to succeed to the position of our late Most Worshipful Grand Master . I trust he will be spared many years to rule over us . With those few words I beg to nominate his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught for election as M . VV . G . Master . ( Applause . )

Bro . HODLYN : M . W . Pro Grand Master , I have much pleasure in nominating for Grand Treasurer Bro . Frederick George Ivey , a P . M . of No . 3 , P . G . S ., P . P . G . D . Middlesex , and a Royal Ark Mariner . The Earl of EUSTON having enquired whether there was any other nomination , and receiving no reply , informed Grand Lodge that the M . W . Grand Master had been pleased to appoint Bro . John Strachan , K . C ., Grand Overseer , as Grand Registrar in p lace of Bro . Frank Richardson . Grand Lodge was closed in ample form .

Sonnet For The Month Of December.

SONNET FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER .

Barren December gives King Winter birth , And now he reigns throughout the land supreme , Darkening the day with desolating dearth—Damning the sky , ice-binding brook and stream . Hark how he howls , his harsh , hardhearced cries

hill with dismay the shrinking , trembling breast ; Crooning and soughing , his wild tempests rise , Seaming to say , " In vain is man ' s protest . " With blighting breath he bares the bounteous land , With blustering gusts he heavts the restless wave ,

With furious voice that nothing can withstanj , Hi tells us that the strongest is his slave . In vain we plead against his stern decree , In vain rebel against his dread inclemency ! Tradford . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE .

The annual Prov . G . Lodge of Cambridgeshire was held at the Masonic Hall , Cambridge , under the auspices of the Alma Mater Lodge , No . 1492 on the 29 th ult . Bro . Colonel R . Townley Caldwell , Prov . G . Master , presided , and was supported by Bros , the Rev . Joseph H . Gray , Past G Chap ., Dep . Prov . G . Master ; G J . McKay , 88 , Past Dep . Prov . 'G Master Cumberland and Westmoreland , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ; and the folfowing officers :

Bros . W . P . Spalding , SS , Prov . S . G . W . ; Frank Piggott , 88 , P . P . J . G . W . ( acting for Bro . A . S . Bell , S 59 ) , Prov . J . G . W . ; the Rev . C . G . Griffinhoofe , S 59 , Prov . G . Chap , j ] . Read , 2727 , Prov . G . Treas . ; W . Hutchinson , 210 7 , Prov . G . Reg Oliver Papworth , 88 , P . P . S . G . W ., Prov . G . Sec ; F . J . Moden , Prov . S . G . D J R . H . Adie , 1492 , Prov . G . Supt . of Works ; F . Dewberry , 441 , P . P . S . G . W . * Prov . G . D . of C ; Dr . W . R . Roper , 441 , Prov . Asst . G . D . of C ; H . ! Martin , 2107 , Prov . G . Org . ; T . A . Guyatt , 2727 , Prov . G . Purst . ; and H . G . Comber , S 59 , and J . W . Metcalfe , 2107 , Prov . G . Stwds .

The following brethren were also present : Bros . W . James , W . M ., A . R . Hi 11 , S . W ., J . V . Prior , P . P . S . G . W ., John L . Rutter P . P . G . Reg ., E . Stanley Wood , F . E . Apthorpe-Webb , and II . Wybrow , all of SS ; G . F . Knowle .--, W . M ., F . W . Miller , I . P . M ., P . P . G . Stwd ., T . Vail , P . P S . G . W ., J . Taylor , P . P . G . Reg , T . Watts , P . P . G . Treas ., J . Catling , P . P . G . Supt ' : of Works , F . R . Lcaoi , P . P . G . Supt . of Works , L . Hosegood , P . P . G . Stwd l " Dempster , P . P . G . Purst ., H . W . Dewberry , C . E . Gray , E . E . Ing , R . T . Catling ] and J . A . Fabb . all of 441 ; T . Ground , W . M ., and E . J . Brooking , S 09 ; W . J .

Armitage , W . M ., P . P . G . Purst ., W . H . Francis , P . P . J . G . W ., W . G . Bell , P . P . G R S . R . Van Duzer , F . D . Bruce , T . W . Helme , C . C . G . Robert , and H . A . Northern , all ofSjg ; Wm . Briggs , W . M ., J . R . Green , P . P . S . G . D ., C . E . Boughton-Leigh , P . P . A . G . D . C , and John Brians , of 1492 ; C . H . Davey , W . M ., J . A . Dawson , P p ' G . Purst ., F . If . Potts , V . P . A . G . D . C , Geo . Barrow , and C . B . Bosworth . of 2107-C . Laceby , P . P . G . Stwd ., Rev . W . T . R . Crookham , P . P . G . Chap ., and VV . Hawker , of 2727 ; S . W . Heaton , 45 ; C . G . Wilson , 604 ; and H . J . Thompson , 2401 .

The brethren having saluled the Prov ; Grand Master and the Deputy Prov . G . M . in the customary manner , the minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed . The roll of the Provincial Grand Officers and the roll of lod ges were then called over .

The Prov . G . Treasurer ( Bro . J . Read ) presented his accounts , as audited , and a balance of ^ 64 was shown . The Prov . G . Registrar ( Bro . VV . Hutchinson ) presented his return of the lodges for the past year , as follows : Number Joining With- Present Lodge . last year . Initiations . Members . Deaths , drawals . Number . SS ... SC ... 4 ... 2 ... 1 ... 3 ... 88

541 » 2 18 7 29 565 It should be stated that the return contains some duplicates . The number of members of Provincial Grand Lodge was also given by the Registrar , viz . : No . 88 , 29 ; No . 441 , 23 ; No . S 09 , 33 ; No . 859 ' , 2 S ; No . 1492 4 ; No . 2107 , 10 ; No . 2727 , 4 ; total , 131 . Bro . J . Read , 2727 , was re-elected P . G . Treasurer for the ensuing year .

Ihe Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the Prov . Grand Officers as understated : Bro . VV . d . Bell , P . M ., Treas . S 59 ... ... Prov . S . G . W .

„ . J . Taylor . P . M .. Treas . 441 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . ,, Rev . C . G . Griffi . ihoofe , 89 s ... ¦¦¦\ r > n ru „ Rev . W . T . R . Crookham . Chap . 2727 J t rov . U . Chaps . ' „ J . Read , P . M . 2727 , P . P . G . Suot . Wks .

Norfolk ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ J . L . Rutter , P . M . 88 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Oliver Papworth , P . M ., Sec . SS , P . P . S . G . W . ( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ L . Hosegood , P . M . 441 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ VV . Briggs , P . M . 45 . W . M . 1492 ... Prov . J . G . D . ,, J . A . Dawson , P . M . 2107 ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ F . Dewberry , P . M ., D . C . 441 , P . P . S . G . W .

( re-appointed ) ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ T . Ground , W . M . 809 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . of C . „ H . G . Comber , S . W . 859 ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ I-:. J . Brooking , J . D . S 09 ... ... Prov . G . Org . . „ F . VV . Miller , l . P . M . 441 ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ E . E . Wood , Std . Br . SS , P . P . G . Stwd . Mon .... T

„ C . E . Gray , 441 •••... ... I " h " •S rf ' - S 59 ' j . Prov . G . Stwds . „ F . D . Bruce , S 39 ... ... ... | „ C . B . Bosworth , Stwd . 2107 ... ... ,, W . Hawkes , Stwd . 2727 ... ,,. J „ C . H . Ellis , Tyler 859 ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler . The brethren having saluted the Prov . Grand Officers ,

Bro . OLIVER PAI-WORTII , Secretary , presented the report of the Cambs Masonic Charity Association for the past year , which spoke with satisfaction of an increase of subscribers , whilst the receipts amounted to £ 254 . Upon the motion of Bro . J . CATLING , seconded by Bro . F . PIGGOTT , the report was received , and oidered to be printed and circulated in the usual

way . ' 1 he 'I KEASI RI ; R proposed , Bro . J . ' 1 AVLOR seconded , and it was agreed , that 10 guineas be voted to the Cambs . Masonic Charity Association for current expenses . The TREASURER proposed , Bro . W . R . Roi'ER seconded , and it was agreed , lhat ID guineas be voted to one or more of the Royal Masonic Institutions , to be paid through the Cambs . Masonic Charity

Association . The SECRETARY proposed , Bro . VV . P . SrAUMNf ; seconded , and it was agreed , that ^ 10 be voted to the widow of a deceased brother . The P . G . M . proposed , the D . P . G . M . seconded , and it was agreed , that a vote of thanks be passed to those brethren who had served the office ol Steward for the Masonic * Charities ( Bros . G . Barron , SS and 2107 ; A . &•

441 ... 69 ... 6 ... 1 ... o ... 2 ... 74 809 ... 71 ... s ... o ... 2 ... 4 ... 70 8 59 ... 191 ... 22 ... 2 ... 4 ... 14 ... 197 1492 ... 2 S ... o ... 9 ... o ... o ... 37 2107 ... 4 S ... 3 ... 1 ... o ... 2 ... 50 2727 ... 4 S ... 2 .., 3 ... o ... 4 ... - 4 g