Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

He was happy to say they had 12 children receiving the benefits of the Educational Fund—ten boys and two girls . The number of girls would probably soon be increased . The Board felt that it was impossible to institute competition between these children because they were educated at different schools , yet that it would be a great encouragement to the children themselves if when reports came from the masters or

mistresses of the School that the child had earned the hig hest possible marks , and had not been guilty of any misconduct , and an incentive to further good conduct and exertion , thc Board were authorised to present a silver medal as a mark of approval . They now asked lor thc leave , and to have a medal sunk and struck . Bro . H . C . LEVANDER , G . R ., seconded . The motion was carried .

Canon PORTAL moved the third recommendation , To sanction thc appointment of two additional Grand Officers , viz ., a Second Grand Assistant Director of Ceremonies , and a Second Grand Standard Bearer . In proposing this the Board had followed the course adopted in Craft Grand Lodge , and he supposed for the same reason , viz ., that the numbers of Mark Masons were increasing so much that it was impossible for the Grand

Master to reward all those who deserved promotion . The Board had selected two offices which , he ventured to think , would very well bear being added to . A great deal of the good order in Grand Lodge and the comfortable arrangement of the brethren depended on the Director of Ceremonies , and as the Director of Ceremonies was a permanent officer , and rightly so , because he became acquainted with his duties ( they had now a most

excellent Director of Ceremonies , Bro . Berridge , and one assistant , and onl y one who changed office at all ) , they would give him two assistants . With regard to the Grand Standard Bearer , it had been thought that it would be a very good thing if the Grand Master for the time being had his own private banner , as was the case in other Orders of Freemasonry , and their Grand Standard Bearer and Assistant Grand Standard Bearer would carry

the banner of Grand Lodge , and the Second Grand Standard Bearer would carry the Grand Master ' s . Bro . GODSON seconded the motion . The motion was carried . Canon PORTAL next proposed That £ 52 10 s . be voted from the General Fund on account of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Boys' Preparatory School Building Fund .

He said it was always their custom to vote annually to the Boys' or Girls ' School such a donation as the funds would allow . They proposed the above-named grant this year , and the Grand Master would have double the number of votes , which would be very valuable , as they had a number of Mark Masons' children applying for the benefits of the Schools .

Bro . GODSON , in seconding the motion , said he was sure thc money would be put to a very good purpose . ( Cheers . ) The motion was carried . Canon PORTAL moved

That £ 25 be voted from the General hundfor thc relief of thc sufferers by the recent fire at Jamaica . He had thought that there was no precedent for such a gift , but he was informed by the Assistant Grand Secretary that a similar gift had been made for the relief of sufferers by an earthquake in the island of Curacao . Bro . F . DAVISON having seconded the motion ,

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND enquired whether it was to be for the relief of the general sufferers by the fire or for the Masonic sufferers ' . ' Bro . F . BINCKES , G . S ., said it was mooted at thc Board and considered , and it was resolved that it should be devoted mainly to the relief of those sufferers by the lire who were Mark Masons . The GRAND MASTER said he supposed they must trust to those who had the administration of thc fund .

Bro . BINCKES expected that it was to be mainly for thc relief of thc Mark Masons . The GRAND MASTER said the Grand Secretary would take care that instructions on the subject were sent out to the administrators of the fund . Bro . BINCKES said he did not think it would be wise to fetter the

Almoner out there , whoever he might be , but there would be a recommendation that it should be given to Mark Masons first ; but it would mar the gracefulness of the gift if it was restricted to Mark Masons . The motion was then carried . The following grants were made from the Benevolent Fund :

£ 30 to a brother of the Cheltenham and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 . £ 10 to the widow of a brother of St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 262 . ^ 10 to thc widow of a brother of Union Lodge , No . 46 . ^ 15 to a brother of Southwark Lodge , No . 22 . £ 20 to thc widow of a brother of Fowke Lodge , No . 19 .

On the motion of the Rev . J . RANDELL , seconded by Sir PRYSE PRYSE , the report was adopted . The next business was the installation of Grand Master . Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., P . G . M . M . M ., said : Brethren , at the last meeting our M . W . G . M ., Lord Henniker , was unanimously re-elected to that office for the ensuing year , and it is my pleasing duty on the present

occasion to declare him Grand Master of Mark Master Masons for the ensuing year , for as he has been already placed in that chair it is unnecessary for me to re-instate him there ; but I shall merely declare that he now occupies that chair for thc ensuing year . And brethren it is also my pleasure to congratulate you and the Order generally upon the great services he has rendered you , and how fortunate we are in having a Grand Master who presides over thc Order with such ability and such zeal . ( Cheers ) .

The M . W . G . M . M . M . having been saluted said : M . W . P . G . M . and Brethren , I thank you very much for the honour you have done me once more in placing me in this chair . I can assure you that I feci it a very great honour , and I think I need hardly add that my desire is to be of service to thc Order over which I have the honour to preside . You have been very kind to me during the time I have held office the last two yearsand if the

, Order has been successful it has been a great deal owing to the work done before I took the position I now occupy . I also have to thank the other officers and Past Grand Masters who have assisted me during my term of office . I assure you I feel the honour you have done me very greatly , and , brethren , if I have derived any popularity among Mark Master Masons , it is from

the fact that I have come among you at a time of great prosperity , and because I had one idea before me—an idea I shall try to keep before me during my term of office , that is to do my best simply , and without more ostentation than necessary—to do my duty to the Order over which I have the honour to preside . ( Cheers . ) Bro . F . Davison was then re-elected Grand Treasurer .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

The following is a list of the officers appointed : Bro . The Earl of Kintore ... ... ... G . Dep . M . „ Lord Wolseley of Cairo ... ... G . S . W . „ Hon . Arthur H . Henniker ... ... G . J . W . „ Henry R . Hatherly ... ... ... G . M . O .

„ Col . C . E . Bignold ... ... ... G . S . O . „ S . G . Kirchhoffer ... ... ... G . J . O . „ Rev . E . H . Crate ... ... ... G . Chap . „ Rev . F . J . C . de Crespigny ... ... G . Chap . ,, Frederic Davison ... ... . G . Trca >; .

,, H . C . Levander ... ... ... G . Reg . „ Frederick Binckes ... ... ... G . Sec . „ Donald M . Dewar ... ... ... G . Asst . Sec „ G . B . Brodie , M . D . ... ... ... G . S . D . .. Georo-e Coooer ... r , S . D

„ Thos . J . Railing ... ... \\[ G . J . D . „ Robert Harwood ... ... . G . J . D . „ R . W . Edis ... ... . ' .. G . I . of Works . „ Robert Berridge ... ... ... G . Dir . of Cer .

„ Geo . Dalrymple ... ... ... G . A . Dir . of Cer . „ E . Friend ... ... ... ... G . A . Dir . of Cer . „ S . G . Baker ... ... ... ... G . Swd . Br . „ Wm . Watkins ... ... ... G . Std . Br . . . T . D . Murray ... ... G . Std . Rr

„ Rev . Sir F . A . Gore Ouseley , Bart . ... ... G . Org . „ J . H . Banks ... ... ... G . I . GI „ C . T . Speight ... ... ... G . Tyler . Grand Stewards : J . S . Cumberland , R . N . Howard , Thos . Taylor , John Tomkins , Cornelius Davies , John O . Marsh , George Ker , Percy Wallis , Henry Faijar , William March , A . Crocknell , and W . C . Gilles . GENERAL BOARD .

Appointed by M . W . Grand Master : M . W . Bro . the Rev . Canon Portal , President ; Bros . C . H . Matier , Robert Berridge , Thomas Cubitt , Alfred Williams , Wm . Roebuck , O . H . Pearson . Nominated by Bro . Henry Venn and elected by the . brethren : Bros . E . C . Mather , James Moon , R . P . Spice , Chas . H . Driver , Herbert Dicketts Bro . BINCKES announced that he had received apologies for inability to attend trom the following brethren :

Bros , the Earl of Kintore , D . G . M . ; Lord Egerton and Tatton , Prov . Grand Master Cheshire ; Wm . Kelly , Prov . Grand Master Leicestershire ; Lieut .-Col . F . Gough , Prov . Grand Master Staffordshire ; Rev . C . R . Davy , Prov . Grand Master Gloucestershire ; W . A . F . Powell , Prov . Grand Master Bristol ; W . J , Hickman , G . J . W . ; Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , Past Grand Warden ; W . J . Hughan , Past Grand Warden ; G . P . Brockbank , Past Grand Warden ; C . F . Matier , Past Grand Warden ; J . Brook Smith , Grand Master Overseer ; Magnus Ohren , Past Grand Overseer : Caot . I . C . Hav . Past

Grand Overseer ; Wm . Roebuck , Past Grand Overseer ; Rev . F . C . VV . de Crespigny , G . Chap . ; Rev . Ambrose Hall , Past Grand Chap . ; Rev . A . A . Bagshawe , Past Grand Chap . ; Rev . Dr . P . H . E . Brette , D . D ., Past Grand Chap . ; Rev . R . P . Bent , Past Grand Chap . ; Alex . Spears , Past Grand Deacon ; E . T . Inskip , Past Grand Deacon ; J . Mattison , Past Grand Deacon ; Chas . S . Lane , Past Grand Deacon ; C . H . Driver , Past G . I . of Wks . ; R . W . Edie , G . I . of Wks . ; Fred . Long , G . Swd . Br . ; G . Ward Verry , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Thos . J . Pulley , P . G . D . ; Thos . Poore , P . G . I . G . ; Geo . Carter , G . S . ;

W . 1 . Clarke , Past Grand Steward ; John Barker , Past Grand Steward ; F . W . Ansell , Past Grand Steward ; Edwin Gilbert , Past Grand Steward ; J . H . Glendinning , Past Grand Steward ; J . F . Tweedale , P . G . Org . ; Geo . Toller , jun ., G . D . ; W . T . Belcher , P . G . Org . ; W . Stephens , G . S . ; R . J . Mure , P . G . Org . ; Major Dunbar , G . S . ; G . J . McKay , P . G . D . ; Dr . VV . Watson , G . A . D . of C . ; rhos . Howkins , G . Org . ; W . Watkins , G . A . D . of C ; and Rev . VV . S . Moses , P . G . Chap . Grand Lodge was then closed and the brethren adjourned to banquet in Freemasons' Tavern . The usual toasts were afterwards proposed .

Lord HENNIKER , in proposing the toast "The Queen and Mark Masonry , " said that it was a toast always well received amongst Masons , and especially among Mark Masons , who , even among Masons , were remarkable for their loyalty . Bro . ELSE , in rising to propose "The Health of the M . W . G . M . M . M ., " said that having been honoured with the gavel for the purpose of proposing this toast , he was sure that it would be drunk with a trul y Masonic love and enthusiasm which was most justly deserved . He was sure that the brethren would agree with him when he said that the toast he had to propose was

"The Health of the M . W . G . M . of Mark Masons , Lord Henniker . " The Mark Master Masons' Degree had been fortunate in securing from time to time as Grand Master brethren not only of high rank in this country , but of great zeal and in every Degree of the Craft , but he ventured to think that Lord Henniker had made his mark quite as conspicuously as . any Grand Master who had preceded him by his zeal for the Order , by his great accuracy on every occasion , by his anxiety to promote and do all he could for this Degree . He had endeared himself to the heart of every Mark Master Mason through the length and breadth of the land .

Lord HENNIKER , who was received with applause , said it was difficult for him to adequately express his thanks for the very kind manner in which Bro . Else had proposed his health . He fully appreciated , and took greatly to heart all their kindness . It fully repaid him for all he could possibly do . At the same time , he could only repeat what he said in Grand Lodge that day—if he had joined the brethren of this Order it was because he had one motive before him , which was to do his best to perform his duty . He had ,

of course , to do a great deal but he did not think that anybody could deny that in gaining popularity among the brethren in the Order he had laid down a simple rule , viz ., to do his duty . The brethren would , he trusted , forgive him for any shortcomings in addressing them , as he was suffering from a very severe cold , so it was difficult to speak intelli gibly ; he would , however , do his best . It was his custom on these occasions to give a resume of what had taken place during the year . He thought he might tell them that

Mark Masonry was very flourishing at thc present time . He had been looking into thc matter most carefully . He had been made to go to many different provinces and counties during thc past year of his office , and he had seen a report connected with the way in which Mark Masonry was carried on throughout the country , and as long as there was that spirit it required no impetus of any sort to make it a complete success . During the past year they had not had so many Mark lodges made as formerly , but it was a very large number , namely , nineteen . He was aware there were one or

two more likely to be made shortly , and possibly Bro . Dewar knew of some more . They showed that they were keeping up their number , a great number of brethren were advanced . He ( the Chairman ) , was at one lodge where 19 were advanced in the degree . He was told that there was one in which as many as 28 had been advanced . A large number had been advanced in all the counties under his jurisdiction . The number advanced during the two years of his presidency was unexampled in the annals of Mark Masonry . During the two years in which he had been elected nearl y 3000 had been advanced in Mark Masonry , and he-