Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . Thc Board have pleasure to announce that the 26 th Annual Festival will be held at Freemasons' Tavern , on Wednesday , nth July , when R . W . Bro . the Earl of yarboroug h , Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire , will take the chair . The names of brethren willing to act as Stewards are much needed , and will be gladly received by the Grand Secretary . The Board have elected on the Annuity Fund without a poll :

Bro . John Moxon , of the John O'Gaunt Lodge , No . . 172 . The following cases have been relieved : Bro . J . M ., Lodge No . 172 10 o o Mrs . A . M . D . ( widow of a brother of Lodges Nos . 28 and 256 ) 1000 R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , President . FRANK RICHARDSON , Vice-President . C . FITZGERALD MATIER , G . Secretary .

On the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bro . GORDON M ILLEK , the above report was then adopted . Bro . EUGENE MONTEUUIS , Past Grand Steward , then rose , and said : Most Worshipful Grand Master and brethren , I feel it indeed a very < rreat honour that I should be allowed the privilege of proposing his Royal ' Highness the Prince of Wales as Most Worshipful Grand Master of

the Mark Master Masons of England for the ensuing year . I am sure that in this assembly it is unnecessary thai I should dwell on his merits and qualities . I am satisfied that this proposition will be received with acclamation , for I have heard the applause with which his name is always greeted at our meetings . But may I , as W . M . of the Mark Lodge La France , be allowed to remind you that among those who owe Masonic alleg iance to our Most Worshipful Grand Master there are men of many

climes and many nationalities , and I am sure I am not advancing too much when I say that to them as well as to you it is a source of great congratulation that he should rule over us all . No man has proved himself more free from prejudices , more cosmopolitan in his ideas than His Royal Hig hness , and he is therefore pre-eminently fitted to preside over that great agg lomeration of men of all countries , who are proud to be English Mark

Masons . Most Worshipful Grand Master and brethren , I don ' t think I need say more . I beg to propose that his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales be our Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year . Bro . J OSEPH S . TAMBURINI , W . M . 104 : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , and I have very great pleasure in seconding the motion .

The Earl of EUSTON : Brethren , I am sure the motion needs no words of mine to commend it to you . I hope the election will be unanimous . The motion was carried unanimously , and Bro . Major C . W . CARRELL , Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies , proclaimed his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales duly elected as Grand Master of Mark Masons .

Bro . FREDERICK MEAD , Grand Treasurer : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , I have great pleasure in proposing Bro . Richard Turtle Pigott , D . C . L . —a Worshipful Master , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Craft , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Royal Arch , a Life Governor of all the Charities , for each of which he has served

as Steward several times , and has also served three Stewardships of the Mark Benevolent Fund , a joint member of many lodges and chapters , a brother who is well known for his Masonic work , and who is greatly esteemed —for the office of Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . lam sure his election will be extremely popular among all Mark Master Masons . ( Applause . )

Bro . Major C . W . CARRELL , A . G . D . C .: I have much pleasure in seconding the motion . The Earl of EUSTON : Nobody else being proposed , I announce Bro . Dr , Turtle Pigott duly elected as Grand Treasurer during the ensuing' year . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

Consecration Of The Wellesley Chapter, No. 1899, At Crowthorne, Berks.

CONSECRATION OF THE WELLESLEY CHAPTER , No . 1899 , AT CROWTHORNE , BERKS .

The consecration of the Wellesley Chapter , No . lSyy , took place at the Wellington Masonic Hall , Crowthorne , Berks , on Monday , the 5 th instant . I he consecration was performed by Comp . John Thornhill Morland , Grand Superintendent , assisted by Comps . R . C Mount , Prov . G . H ., as II . ; J . O . Carter , Prov . G . J ., as j . ; John W . Martin , Prov . G . S . E ., as S . E . ; the Hev . J . Stewart , P . Z ., as S . N . ; and E . Margrett , P . Z ., as D . C .

Ihe founders of the chapter are Comps . S . G . Kirchhoffer , 1 st G , Std . Br . ; Major Oswald Ball , Lieut .-Col . S . Jopp , Lieut .-Col . E . Bali , -icut .-Col . G . Taylor , Rev . J . Stewart , P . Z . ; Major C . M . Edwards , Capt , H . A , Rowley , Capt . W . R . Bolton , and Capt . D . Henderson . 1 he chapter having been opened , the GRAND SLTERI NTENDENT addressed tlie companions on the nature of the meeting . Comp . MARTIN , Prov . G . S . E ., then addressed the Principals , and afterwards read the petition and charter .

, l"f D . C , having formed up the founders in due order in the chapter , they si gnified their approval of the officers nominated in the charter in Masonic form .

Comp . the Rev . J OHN" STEWART , P . Z ., delivered an impressive oration ° 'i the nature and principles of Royal Arch Masonry . he chapter was then duly consecrated , dedicated , and constituted , Loi » p . Bowles , P . P . G . R . Surrey , ably presiding at the organ . J he Princi pals were then installed ; thc Grand Superintendent installed as

^ iiiip . Kirchhoffer M . E . Z . ; Comp . Bowles installed Comp . Major O . ™ as H . ; and Comp . IL Margrett installed Comp . Col . Jopp as J . ; and iv-other ollieers were appointed as follows : Comps . Col . Taylor , Treas . ; Jj ^ 'J . Stewart , S . E .: Major Edwards , S . N . ; Capt . Rowley , P . S . ; Capt . ullon , ist Asst . Soj . ; Capt . Henderson , 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; and Hemmings ,

> omp . R . C . MOUNT , Prov . G . H ., gave the addresses in a very ible way . ' it , J de 1 ^ '' ^ . Z . proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Grand Superinten-.... . , companions who assisted in the consecration ceremony , which was 1 n . in a hearty manner . cloc i ' eanclidates were proposed for exaltation , and the chapter was then

wlii 1 ? P ' banquet took place afterwards at the Wellington Hotel , at ch the honoured toast of "The Oueen and Royal Arch Masonry" was h *? " and enthusiastically received . " "c chapter was furnished by Comp , George Kenning .

Freemasonry In Quebec.

FREEMASONRY IN QUEBEC .

Dr . John H . Graham , P . G . M . of Oucbec , has written a History of Freemasonry in that Province , by authority of thc Grand Lodge , and with the general support of the Fraternity in that jurisdiction . He tells us it has taken him " eighteen months ' continuous labour , " the result being the publication of a massive octavo volume , got up in an attractive manner and running to some ( 150 pages . It covers an immense

deal of ground , has many copies of documents , warrants , kc , and moreover contains histories of the old lodges in Quebec of a most entertaining character . The frontispiece is from a print supplied by her Majesty the Queen , of her beloved father , H . R . H . the Duke of Kent , who was Provincial Grand Master of Lower Canada , 1792-181 . 2 , and to his revered memory the handsome volume is dedicated .

i he work embraces an account of the Oucbec Craft from 1 751 ) to the present time , and includes many particulars respecting the Royal Arch , Knights Templar , and other Degrees . The " British and Irish Masonic Memorabilia" form an excellent introduction to the local history ; but it is well to note that the organisation at York was never called a "Grand Lodge" until 1725 , as bro . Hughan has often pointed out ; especially in

relation to lodges in America , which derived their authority from the "Ancients" or "Atholl Masons" in London . It would have been better had Dr . Graham given no countenance to the absurd notion that these " Ancient " brethren , either in England or America , were in any way entitled to the name of " Ancient York Masons . " The time has come for intelligent brethren to drop all such unmeaning " tall talk . "

We are one with Bro . Graham in believing that the probabilities are strongly in favour of Lord Alexander , Viscount Canada , having established an Operative Lodge among thc colonists on the banks ot the River St . Lawrence in 1 C 34 . That no records now exist is nothing to the purpose , as we know he was a member of St . Mary ' s Chapel Lodge , No . 1 , Edinburgh ,

prior to leaving " Old Scotia , " and , doubtless , several of his followers were Freemasons . We only know of the initiation of several gentlemen in 164 G and 16 S 2 through Ashmole ' s Diary , without which we should literally have been in ignorance as to such admissions , so it must not bc wondered at if still earlier meetings are unrecorded .

Dr . Graham is right in only briefly alluding to those Military Lodges that were at the Siege of Quebec , in 1759 , and the capitulation of Montreal in 1760 , but did not remain in that colony beyond a tew years , more or less . Only those that did abide , and subsequently became Civil Lodges , have any real interest for him as to his work . Of these , happily , there are several ,

and abundant material has been at hand , or yielded to his researches , with with which he has been able to weave many an interesting and welcome history , which should prove especially acceptable and useful to the load Craft . No . 1 , " Antiquity , " Montreal , he dales from 1752 , but it was only after an eventful career down to 1 S 46 , that il was actually domiciled in " Lower Canada . " Prior to that the world may be said to have been its parish .

No . 2 , "Albion , " Quebec , is erroneously placed at 1752 , but really dates from 1781 , as Bro . Lane bas shown in his masterly chapter on " Lodges in America * under the English Constitution , 1733-1889 , " and Bro . Hughan many years ago demonstrated that fact from actual documents , the most

important of which , we believe , he had from Dr . Graham , or rather copies thereof , through his valued aid . It was most unfortunate that a centenary jewel warrant was granted in 1862 by the Grand Lodge of England , whilst the " Albion " was on our roll , but it was wholly in ignorance of the true state of the case .

No . 3 , "St . John ' s , " Quebec , was warranted in 17 S 7 , and has " continuously resided in ye ancient capital . " Had Quebec , therefore , continued a Prov . Grand Lodge , this lodge would be No . T , locally . The numerous histories also deserve a careful study , and the historical

sketches make good reading . An immense array of facts have likewise been accumulated and presented in the volume as to extinct lodges , but the abundant matter has not been always as carefull ) ' arranged as might be , and at times is not correctly placed , but this book is always entertaining , and dullness is a word unknown in the volume from first to last .

We believe Dr . Graham is wrong in declaring Sir Guy Carleton—Lord Dorchester—was Prov . Grand Master , though , ol course , he ought to know better than ourselves . We believe it was Christopher Carleton , then a Colonel , or Lieut .-Colonel , and possibly the same brother as the doctor refers to at p . 62 , when Lieutenant . We hope the author will look up this point , and set the matter at rest for a second edition .

We cannot follow Dr . Graham in his attempt to set aside thc agreement made by the Grand Lodg : of Canada , with our Grand Lodge , as respects the Grand Lodge of QUCJJC , but it isa tender point , and so we drop it , save to say , lhat no warrant of lhe Grand Lodge of England from 1721 has ever been withdrawn , save for disobedience of the Regulations , and it is well for this fact to be recognised by all Colonial District Grand Lodges , when they

go in for grand Lodges ot their own , as they have an undoubted right to do . There is much else to refer to , bul as this great work can be obtained for three dollars , and is exceedingly cheap at that , brethren interested in the subject should procure copies for themselves , and we hope many will do so in this country , the reproduction of old and valued documents being alone more than worth the money , and as a work of research it is both commendable and readable . Bro . Hughan has styled it a " noble volume , " and so we say .

HAGUE . —The capital of Holland , called also La Haye , and Haag ; in Dutch it is Gravenhage . Freemasonry was founded practically there , in 17 JI , by the Special Lodge which , under a dispensation from Lord Lovel , G . M , initiated the Duke of Tuscany and Lorraine . There is no trustworthy evidence , in ouropinion , of the Lodge " Het Vredend . il , " or " Frederick Vredendal , " which i . s said to have been founded by an Englishman in 16 37 , some even say from ijiy tu ICJI , on an English warrant , though , as far as we know , no actiul warrants were given until

the iSth century . A French lodge seems to have been found' . 'd there in 1734 , " Loge du Grand Maitre des Provinces Unies et du ressort do la Generalite , " at the Golden Lion at the Hague , by Vincent de la Chapelle mainly . A Dutch lodge was formed , it is said , in 1735 , under the name of " Le Venerable Ze ! e . " There seems also about this time another lodge , termed " [ . 'Union , " to have been formed by Von Dagran , and this , and the " Veritable Zelo , " and the Lodge " La

Royale , " the third in order of consideration , led to the formation of the National Grand Lodge , December 25 , 175 C . The Hague is also identified with the earl y history of the Royal Order ol Scotland— . 1 warrant having been granted in 1758 ( as shown in D . Murray Lyon's" History of Freemasonry" ) authorising the erection at thc Hague of a Provincial Grand Lodge of the Order . But there is no evidence that the warrant was ever acted upon . —Kenning ' s Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry .