The Craft Abroad.

Dist . G . M . addressed the lodge , thanking the W . M . for the kind invitation to be present that evening , and saying how gratifying it was to conduct the ceremony of thc dedication of the first banner to a lodge in the City of Buenos Ayres . He referred to the banner as a part of the lodge furniture , and hoped that other lodges in the district would soon be able to arrange themselves under their respective banners , and

he was very glad that the Excelsior Lodge had taken the lead . The banner was then perambulated , dedicated , and saluted . Bro . H . Joseph , P . D . D . G . M ., said , as senior P . M ., he wished to express in the name of the Excelsior Lodge his appreciation of the gift of the W . M . The W , M . in acknowledging the expressions of thanks , stated how proud he was to be the 46 th occupant of the chair of K . S ., and to be the W . M . on such an occasion as the present . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren sp ** nt a convivial hour in the adjoining rooms in social intercourse .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

ORDER OF THE SECRET MONITOR .

The Grand Festival was held on Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., at the Hotel Cecil , Strand , VV . C . The Grand Supreme Ruler , Bro . the Earl of Warwick , presided , and was supported bv Bros . I . Zacharie , P . G . S . R ; J . Lewis Thomas , P . G . S . R . ; j . Tickle , P . G . V ., as Dep . G . S . R . ; C . E . KeyserJ . P . P . G . V . G . Chamberlain ; W . J . Spratling . B . Sc , G .

, , , Recorder t Harry Tipper , J . R . Reep , P . G . C ; J . J . Pakes , P . G . V ., G . D . C ; F . E . Lemon , M . A ., P . G . S . B . ; John Lusty , J . J . Thomas , P . G . V . ; John Read , his Honour Judge Philbrick , D . G . R . O . ; C . L . Nelson , J . W . Goodinge , Jas . Stiven , P . G . C ; J . Da Silva , Dr . Damodar Warliker , G . Whitaker , C . J , R . Tijou , C . Jessurun , J . M . Bastone ; and

others . After the Convocation of Grand Council , the Grand ^ Conclave was opened in due form , and the minutes were read and confirmed . The roll of conclaves was called , and with very few exceptions all were represented . The Report of the Executive Committee was read for the information of the

brethren , and showed that the Order was working smoothly and successfully . One of the principal features has been the foundation of a Benevolent Fund , a Festival in connection with which will be held in the autumn . The Grand Supreme Ruler was declared re-elected and installed , and was saluted accordingly .

The G . S UPREME RULER returned his sincere thanks for his reelection . They knew well enough that from the earliest stages of their Order he had been one of themselves , and he felt that the charge had been committed into his hands of seeing that the Order did not suffer during his term of office . As far as his knowledge went they were in most cordial friendship with all Masonic bodies , and he hoped this would continue . He

wished a little more life might be put into the Order , and he had some friends who would join them . He hoped others would be persuaded to join them , as they would be all the bitter if they were numerous . They were select , and he hoped they would continue so , and that the present amity might continue . He was sure all the G . Officers he was about to invest would support him in furthering the Order to the best of their ability .

The G . S UPREME R ULER then moved a resolution , " That this Grand Conclave joins with the members of other Masonic bodies in expressing its gratitude at the Providential escape of H . R . H . the Grand Master of English Masons on April 4 'h , 1900 . " The motion was carried , all the brethren standing and singing " God

bless the Prince of Wales , " Bro . John Read presiding at the organ . The Treasurer of the Benevolent Fund was added to the Executive Committee . The G . S . R . had promised 20 guineas towards the fund , and a similar sum was subscribed by other brethren attending the meeting , bringing the total of the fund to nearly ^ 100 . The G . Oflicers invested were

M . W . Bro . The Right Hon . the Earl of Warwick ( D . G . M . in the Crait and Prov . G . M . of Essex ) , President of the Secret Monitor Benevolent Fund ... G . S . R . „ Issachar Zacharie , M . D . ... ... I . P . G . S . R . R . W . Bro . His Honour Judge F . A . Philbrick , Q . C .

P . G . S . R . ... ... - D . R . O . „ Lieut .-Col . H . W . Kiallmark , P . G . G ., *) P . S . R . 2 and 9 ... ... \ Asst . D . R . Os . „ „ Jap heth Tickle , C . C , P . G . T . ... ) „ The Right Hon . thc Earl of Halsbury ( Lord High Chancellor of Great

Britain ) ... ... ... G . Chancellor . „ Claries Julius Nelson , P . G . Gdr ., S . R . t " and 8 , Treasurer of the Secret Monitor Benevolent Fund ... ... G . Treasurer . „ „ c . E . Keyser , J . P ., P . G . V . 5 . Vice-President of the Secret Monitor

Benevolent Fund ... ... G . Chamberlain . „ „ Francis Wesley , P . G . C , P . S . R . 19 ( Pietermarit / . burg ) ... ... G . Guide . W . T . Spratling , B . Sc , P . Prov . G . " Treas . Middx ., P . S . R . 2 and 8 ... G . Recorder .

„ Deputy J . W . Goodinge , C . C . Lond ., *) P . G . Gdr ., P . S . R . 5 - - [ G . Visitors . James Stiven , P . G . C , P . S . R . 14 ... J „ J . Robertson Reep , P . G . C . 1 ... P . G . Visitor . V \ V . Bio . Frederick C . Van Duzer , President Board of G . Stewards , S . R . 2 and 9 ... G . Std . Br .

Henry A . Sim , C . S . I ., S . R . 14 ... P . G . Std . Br . R W Bro . T . I . Pakes , P . G . V ., P . S . R . 5 and 11 ... G . D . C . V . W . „ W . B . Boyes , P . G . Std ., S . R . 22 ( Johannesburg ) ... ... P . G . D . C lohn Oliver Cook , P . G . Std ., P . S . R . 10 G . Bow Br . Colin Alexander Turner , G . Std ., P . S . R . 28 ... ... ... P . G . Bow Br .

„ „ Geo . W . Capel , F . R . G . S ., P . G . C , S . R . 5 - - G . Gdr . „ „ R . G . Bevington , P . G . Std . S . R . 30 ( Johannesburg ) ... ... P . G . Gdr .

„ „ Frank Adams , P . G . Std ., 8 ... ... ] „ „ lames Simpson , P . G . Std ., S . R . 25 ... j „ „ John Lusty- Sec . Board of G . Stewards , j * - G . Councillors . 1899 , 1 ... ¦•• ••• I „ „ A . Kirkland , P . G . Std ., S . R . 2 ( 1 -J „ „ . Bro . T . C , Edmonds , t ... ... -,. G . Sentinel ,

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

The following Grand Stewards were invested : Bros . F . W . Kendall , 1 ; R . C . Parr , 2 ; Rev . Chas . E . Roberts , 5 ; W . J . Stiffen , 8 ; R . C Parr , 9 ; Dr . Tom Cox , 10 ; Dr . Cranley Martin Perry , 10 ; Charles James Higgs , 14 ; J . Tickle , P . G . T ., 15 ; J . C . Bannerjee , 16 : B . S . Kelly , 18 and 19 ; Dr . Damodar Warliker , 21 . ; Joseph Da Silva , 22 ; S . K . Cama , 23 : George Whitaker , 25 : J . Williams , 16 ; Colin Alex Turner , 28 ; Charles Jas . R . Tijou , 29 ; Arthur Joseph ; and C . L . Nelson , G . T ., 30 .

Letters and telegrams of regret were announced from many brethren , and Grand Conclave was closed .

A banquet . followed , at which the G . Supreme Ruler presided , and the usual toasts were proposed . A telegram was despatched to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , congratulating him upon his Derby success . Bro . I . ZACHARIE , P . G . S . R ., proposed " The Health of the G . S . R ., " and asked the brethren present to drink long life and happiness not only to the Earl of Warwick , but also to Lady Warwick and their boy " at the front . "

Bro . the Earl of WARWICK , G . S . R ., returned thanks , and said that on returning home after travels abroad nothing struck him more forcibly than the cordiality displayed by his brother Masons . He was much impressed that day with the fact that they contained in their bod y conclaves as scattered throughout the world that they could count members from almost every part of her Majesty ' s dominions . He saw in that room

representatives from many parts—India , Burmah , and Africa . The latter was of great interest at the present time , but they hoped that when the war was over those Masonic feelings which they had been taught to uphold wojld predominate , and unite in happy union the Dutch with the English as loyal subjects of her Majesty . He hoped that their Order would prosper in the ranks of Freemasonry . There wis every reason why it should do so . The

ritual was a beautiful one , founded ** * n ancient history , which appealed to them in every way , and he was sure the brethren present would make the Order as prosperous as they could wish . He could onl y offer them his deep and sincere apologies for the little use he had been to them . He had been more or less an absent-minded beggar , but more particularly absent in body . He had other fish to fry in distant parts . He hoped to be of some use to them in the future , and thanked them from the bottom of

his heart for the cordial manner in which they always received him . He had , as they knew , gone through a considerable Masonic experience with his old friend Judge Philbrick for nearly 20 vears . They had kept the flag of Masonry flying in Essex , and now H . R . H . the M . W . G . M . had been pleased to confer upon him a rank which would , if he did his duty , give him a great deal more to do . He | would try to do his best , and if ever in his position as Dep . G . Master he could do anything to promote the interests of the Secret Monitor he would do it .

The G . S . R . next proposed " The Health of Bro . I . Zacharie , P . G . S . R ., " which was briefly responded to . Bro . Judge PIIILHRICK , Dep . G . Ruler , replying for " I'he Grand Officers , " said that nothing struck him more in Grand Conclave that evening than the universality with which Freemasonry pervades the whole English-speaking world . The stress which their nation had through

gone , and the sacrifices it had made , had united them , and had given rise to an Imperial idea which had put on one side all questions of party politics , and united the great English-speaking community to whom the world looked for the spread of the great principles of liberty and equality—those great principles which he was proud to say after many years in Masonry—that Masonry was always acknowledged to bs founded upon . He vvas .

therefore , proud to know they had conclaves in all parts of her Majesty's dominions , which showed how laree the great family of Masonry was . So long as the Order of the Secret Monitor was true to its principles , so long would it be a power in peace and in war—a power for good , a power which tends to bind brethren to their fellow mena power which mitigated and

, relieved the wants of humanity no less in times of stress , and not to be forgotten in times of peace and happiness . That the Order might continue to prosper and flourish they one and all wished , and the Grand Officers , in the administration of the Order , could be relied upon to remain true to its principles and constant to the great aim they had in view .

Bro . J . TICKLE , Asst . Dep . G . R . O ., proposed " The Stewards , " and took the opportunity of thanking the G . S . R . for conferrinjr the dijrnitv of Asst . Dep . G . R . O . upon him . r Bro . J . DA SILVA replied . he said that after 11 years absence from England he thanked them sincerely for their cordial welcome . On behalf of the Refugees in the Transvaal , he thanked Bro . Philbrick lor his eloquent

words . 1 he Freemasons in the Transvaal had endeavoured to extend the light and influence and benefits of Freemasonry to all those with whom they were brought into contact . The time of oppression had passed away and the British flag was floating over their residences in Johannesburg and in a short time he hoped to return and carry on the good work of Freemasonry as they had endeavoured during the past 10 years . He could inform them

that Freemasonry had not been idle there . At the commencement of the war they had 25 lodges , of which he was District Grand Secretary , and when he heard a letter read that evening apologising for a distance of 50 miles it amused him , for he had had to travel over three days to visit his lodges . Freemasonry had gone on increasing and multiplying and its influence was felt more than it was here . He hoped after the termination of war they would find that Freemasonry was one of the greatest institutions

in the Transvaal . Although they had been turned out of their homes they had not been idle for they had had to relieve the distress of those turned out . Bro . Thomas Cook , of Natal , had worked hard on behalf of the poor and distressed . That brother organised a fund and about £ 700 was collected . When he left on May 9 th they had distributed over 3000 meals , had sent to England 30 families , and obtained situations for over 300 brethren .

Bro . C . L . NELSON , G . Treas ., responded for " The Benevolent Fund , " proposed by Bro . J . L . THOMAS , P . D . G . R . O ., and Bro . W . J . SPRATLING , G . Recorder , acknowledged the toast of his own health , given in cordial terms from the chair . Bro . Harry Tipper arranged a capital programme of music and was assisted by Miss Minnie Chamberlain , Mr . Walter Sadler , Mr . Chas . King , and the Royal Criterion Glee Singers .

,. * R ; . * THE DUKB OF YORK has consented to become a patron of the Metro pohtan Fire Brigade Widows' and Orpans' General Benefit Fund—x fund which is supported mainly by the men themselves , coupled with subscriptions from the public , but for which there are no collectors . r '