Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

working the Mark . As nothing came of the deliberations of the Committees , he ( Bro . Duncan ) , to a view of accelerating matters himself , brought forward the question in his own Provincial Grand Chapter , which was the most important Prov . G . Chapter in Scotland , and by his motion he suggested to the Grand Chapter that they should cede to Grand Lodge altogether the working of the Mark Degree , because , while they believed

that the proper mode of solving the difficulty was undoubtedly the establishing of a Grand Mark Lodge—as that vvas out of the question they thought that the Mark formed no part of capitular Masonry and would be more appropriately worked in connection with the Craft Degree . He regretted to say that a number of brethren , prominent members of Grand Chapter , seemed to think that that was tampering with what they called the

ancient land marks of the Order , and they fell back upon the concordat which vvas come to between the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Scotland some years ago , and held that his recommendation was irregular , and that the present state of matters could not be altered . Under those circumstances he was sorry to say that any improvement in the condition of the Mark Degree in Scotland seemed now to be deferred to the Greek Kalends ,

and they would have this very fine Degree in which he had taken great interest treated as an appendage to the Royal Arch and not as a preliminary step in the lodge to the Arch , and in neither of these bodies receiving the justice to which the Degree was undoubtedly entitled . This was a matter of regret to him and to all his friends who were with him from Scotland that night . But while that was their opinion he was sure it had

been a source of great pleasure to them to hear of the very flourishing state of Mark Masonry in England . He did not know that any of them had ever heard with more gratification any announcement than that they had heard that night , of the great and good work which was being done for Masonry in the cause of Masonic benevolence by the Grand Mark Lodge

of England . He hoped that great as the work vvas which they had done in the past during the present year with the assistance of the Marquis of Hertford and the other brethren working vvith him they would accomplish greater things , and that in the future the Grand Mark Lodge of England might come to be recognised as one of the most prominent Masonic bodies in the country .

Bro . ROBERT BERRIDGE , G . D . C , in proposing "The Stewards , ' said he was quite sure the brethren would recognise the honour and services of the Grand Stewards vvho had so kindly provided the banquet at that iestival , and taken so much care in seeing that nothing vvas wanting . It had been indeed a splendid festival , and it had proved that the Stewards could perform their duties most ably . It was for what they had done that he called upon the brethren to drink their health most heartily .

Bro . H . S . GOODALL , G . S ., in reply , said that what the Stewards had done they had done out of a feeling ol love for Mark Masonry , and if they had done their best they were well repaid by the appreciation of the brethren .

Bro . BIRKIN said his duties had been very light , but he had done bis little with the greatest pleasure . The brethren then separated . A beautiful selection of music was admirably performed during the evening , under the direction of Bro . Henry R . Rose , P . G . Org ., assisted by Bros . W . A- Frost , L . Freyer , C . Beckett , and Egbert Roberts .

Girls' School Centenary Festival.

GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY FESTIVAL .

The Centenary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls was held on Thursday evening at the Royal Albert Hall . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., presided , and was

supported by the King of Sweden , Prince Albert Victor , the Earl of Carnarvon , Sir Archibald Campbell , Grand Master of Scotland , Colonel Chamberlain Egelberg , the Duke of St . Alban ' s , the Earl of

Lathom , Count Wrangel , the Marquis of Headfort ( Senior Grand Warden of Ireland ) , Lord John Taylour , Junior Grand Warden , and all the Provincial Grand Masters , and a company of some 3000 brethren .

The Prince of WALES proposed "The Health of the King * of Sweden , the Grand Master of Freemasons of Sweden , " Avho took a deep interest in the Craft . He had looked forward to this occasion

for many years , as it was the King of Sweden and his late brother Who initiated him in Freemasonry . He "was gratefnl indeed to him for having made him one of the brethren , and he was sure that in honouring this toast they would be honouring the Craft .

The King of SWEDEN responded , and proposed " The Health of the Prince of Wales , " and in doing so thanked the brethren for the high honour that had been conferred on him by having been appointed a Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge of England . He was pleased

to bc present on such an occasion as tins , and expressed the deep sympathy and esteem he had always entertained for English Freemasons who were always patriotic . But there was one feeling

more noble than patriotism—the feeling vvhich had its foundation in the worship of God , which was united with the feeling of Charity and love of mankind .

The Pi'incc of WALES in the course of his response , said hc had always striven not to be unmindful of the interests of Freemasons . His Royal Highness then proposed " Success to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , " and announced that the result of the Festival was a subscription of £ 50 , 500 . The Earl of LATHOM responded , and said that thc Institution of the Royal Masonic School for Girls hc looked upon , and had looked

Girls' School Centenary Festival.

upon during his Masonic career as the best of all the Masonic Institutions , and he said it advisedly , because the results were so go 0 t i It had gone on increasing , and had been crescendo and crescendo . We are unable to give any further details of this great event as m „

are obliged to go to press at the time the proceedings are takinn * place , and cannot , therefore , attempt more than a brief summary . ? Special Number of this journal will be published early next week which will contain a full report of the Anniversary , Monday ' s m-o ceedings , and of the Institution itself . For the present therefore

AVO must be content with the expression of our respectful congrat . illations to H . R . H . thc Grand Master on the success of the Festival ancl the Board of Stewards , and Bro . Hedges , tlie Secretary , on the realisation—and something more—of the hopes , they have been cherishing for the last few months .

SUMMARY OI * THE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS AT THE CENTENARY FESTIVAL OV THE R . M . I . G .

Bedfordshire ... ... 97 13 o Berks and Bucks .,, ... 6 9 6 19 6 Bristol ... ... ... 37 16 o Cambridgeshire ... ... 336 o o Cheshire ... ... ... 459 iS o Cornwall ... ... ... " , 72 is o

Cumberland & Westmoreland 210 o o Derbyshire ... ... 73 G 13 G Devonshire ... ... 120 15 o Dorsetshire ... ... 294 o o Durham ... ... ... 35 S 1 o Essex ... _ ... ... 912 S o Gloucestershire ... ... 485 5 o Hants and the Isle of Wight 1035 7 o

Herefordshire ... ... 63 o o Hertfordshire ... ... 61 S 9 o Kent ... ... ... 3026 10 o Lancashire , East Div . ... 1155 10 6 „ West Div . ... 197 S 2 o Leicestershire and Rutland ... 64 S 10 o Lincolnshire ... ... igG 14 G Middlesex ... ... 1014 12 o

Monmouthshire ... ... 8 *; TH .. Norfolk l 7 \ ™ I North Wales 662 12 Northants and Hunts ,,. 221 to 0 Northumberland ... ... 52 10 0 Nottinsrhamshirc ... ... nfi s „

Oxfordshire ... ... 521 7 0 Shropshire .,, ... G 04 0 0 Somersetshire ... ... 913 I 0 0 South Wales , East Div . „ _ West Div . ... 105 0 0 Staffordshire ... ... 344 ] 2 0 Suffolk ... ... ... 509 . " [ u Surrey ... ... ... iI 26 10 u Sussex ... ... ... Gi ? s fi

Warwickshire ... ... 1340 0 0 Wiltshire ... ... ... 319 s G Worcestershire ... ... 6 74 12 0 Yorkshire , North & East ... 765 0 G „ West ... ... 2600 0 0 Isle of Man ... ... 770 Foreign Districts and Stations 1 G 6 12 G

14 fl 4 Stewards f London £ 22 , 454 11 0 lie * stewards - ^ provinees and Abroad 28 , 018 4 6 Grand Total £ 50 , 472 15 8

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES .

The Royal Albert Hall was largely patronised on Mondaj afternoon , the 4 th inst ., the day set apart for the distribution by the Countess of Carnarvon of the prizes of the above School , the Centenary of which was celebrated on Thursday . The Prince and Princess of Wales , together with the Princesses

Louise , Victoria , and Maud of Wales , were present , with Lady Suffield and Colonel Clarke in attendance . Before their arrival , the lower portions of the hall were crowded . The children ¦ were dressed in blue , with white pinafores , and sat in the seats

usually occupied by the orchestra . Punctually at four o ' clock most of the girls marched off the dais into the centre of the hall , where they * were formed into a large parallelogram . Here they sang tho ' 'Old Hundredth , " the audience joining . The Royal visitors then arrived , and were received by the Earl of Lathom ( Lord

Chamberlam , Deputy CM . ) , Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , Grand Director of Ceremonies , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke ( Grand Secretary ) , Bro . Robert Grey , Chairman of the Executive Committee , Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., and Bro . Ralph Clutton . Among the other

brethren present were the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Leigh , the Earl of Euston , Bro . H . B . Marshall ( Past G . Treas . ) , Bro . Thomas Fenn , Bro . Sir John Monckton , Bro . Alderman Savory , Bro . Peter de Laude Long , Bro . D . P . Cama ( P . G . Treas . ) , Bro . F . Binckes , Bro . Jas .

Terry , and Bro . F . R . W . Hedges , the Secretary . As the Royal visitors came into the box set apart for their accommodation the audience rose , and with the pupils sang a verse of the National Anthem . The head governess of the" School ( Miss S . L . Davis ) and

the Matron ( Miss Buck ) were then presented to the Princess ot Wales , as were also the gold and silver medallists for the year , Mabel Osmond and Agnes Stephenson . The Princess of Wales placed the ribands round their necks , and graciously received from them two

magnificent bouquets . The young Princesses also received bouquet 6 * Before leaving the hall the Prince of Wales expressed his great satisfaction at the manner in Avhich the arrangements had been caiii out , and said that himself , the Princess of Wales , and the Princesses

were all very much pleased . Calisthenics and marching to music were the next items on t ] 1 programme , and the manner the children Avent through the difiei '

evolutions elicited the heartiest approval of the audience . Hardly < mistake was noticeable throughout the performance , which las e half-an-honr . The Countess of Carnarvon then proceeded to present the pw It will not , perhaps , bo out of place to say that the School has do very well in the recent examinations . In the Cambridge Local , o