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Grand Mark Lodge.
present , and from the known zeal of the Bristol brethren and the Provincial Grand Mark Master , it may be safely predicted that thc degree will take firm root in that ancient city . The board have had under consideration the memorial , together with letters under date 26 th November and 29 th December , 1875 , and Sth January , 18 7 6 , from a brother
whose case has been previously before the General Board and this Grand Lodge . They regret that the personalities contained in these communications make it unadvisable under present circumstances to go further into the questions which he has raised . The correspondence is open to the inspection of any member of Grand Lodge . Copies of the proceedings of the General Grand Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons of the United States of America , and of thc proceedings of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Maine , have been received . The board have to express their cordial acknowledgments to the learned and illustrious Comp . Josiah II . Drummond , Past General Grand High Priest , for his able defence of the Masonic position of this Grand Lodge as the legitimate
head of the Mark Degree in England , contained in both the above publications . The resolution adopted by this Grand Lodge at the last half-yearly communication , with reference to the relations between this Grand Lodge and other supreme Masonic jurisdictions under the " Tripartite Treaty , " has been formally communicated by the Grand Secretary to the
recognised officials of those bodies . The annual festival in aid of the " Benevolent Fund " will be held on Wednesday , 19 th July . The arrangements will be published in due course . Thc services of brethren representing lodges or provinces as Stewards are earnestly requested . A grant of £ 20 to Bro . M . E ., recommended by the board , requires confirmation by Grand Lodge .
The board has extreme satisfaction in submitting a recommendation , in proof of the gratifying condition of the finances of Grand Lodge , for the investment of £ 200 on account of the General Fund . The invested property will then be : On account of General Fund £ 4 °° ° ° „ Benevolent Fund 600 o o The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts for the six months to 31 st March are subjoined , which shew :
GENERAL FUND . Balance from 30 th September , 1875 £ -34 % " 9 ° Half year's receipts jC 49 *> ' 4 6 4 19 2 495 ' 3 8
Total 844 12 8 Half year ' s disbursements 313 7 7 215 10 3 528 17 10 Balance ist April , 1876 £ 3 is 14 10
1 ' i'ND OF BENEVOLENCE . Balance 30 th September , 18 75 £ 301 1 4 Receipts for the half year : Donations 31 17 (' Dividends 14 17 0 46 is o
. 147 ' <• 4 Grants to Petitioners 7 , ! o o 200 Canadians 213 10 3 —¦ 290 10 3 £ 57 <> ' On the motion of Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe , P . G . C .,- ; seconded by the Rev . Dr . Brette , this report was ordered to
b ; received . On the motion of Bro . Levander , G . Reg ., seconded by Bro . Meggy , P . G . M . O ., the grant of £ 20 to Brn . M . E . was confirmed . On the motion of Bro . VV . S . Webster , seconded by Bro . Davison , G . T ., £ 200 was ordered to be invested for the General Fund account .
The report was then ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , on the motion of the Rev . D . Shaboe , P . G . C , seconded by Bro . T . J . Sabine , P . G . A . D . C . This being the day for the annual Installation of Grand Master , Dr . Thomas Trollope , G . D . C . proclaimed the Right Hon . the Earl of Limerick M . W . G . M . M . M . for Ihe ensuing year , and he was saluted accordingly .
The Earl of Limerick afterwards rose and said , —Brethren , I have to thank you for this pro : > f of your confidence in electing me for another term of office . I thank you heartily for the honour you have done me . I think I may say that during the past year of my office the Order his in no way gone backward . Wc have had , however , owing to individual losses of brethren high in oflice , and
much esteemed in our Order , times of most sincere and heartfelt mourning ; but , in spite of these losses , which wc all deplore , the Order has gone on steadily progressing during the last year . A considerable number of new warrants have been granted , a new province has been formed , and I may say that the Degree is in as flourishing a state now as it ever has been in lime past . I trust that during
the next term of office with which you have so kindly entrusted me the progress which has been made will be continued . ( Hear , hear . ) My next duty is to thank those brethren who have to well discharged the duties of Grand Office during the past year , in my own name , and I am sure 1 may also do it in thc name of Giand Lodge .
Having done that I have to declare the Grand Offices vacant , and to proceed with the appointment and investiture of oflicers in their places . Thc office of Deputy Grand Master became vacant , as you are aware , since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , by the lamented death of our Bro . Romainc Callender . That iffice I have been able to fill , I trust and believe , to the
Grand Mark Lodge.
satisfaction of all brethren of the Order by appointing to the vacancy Lord Skelmersdale . All thc brethren are acquainted with thc fact that from thc nature of his duties during thc parliamentary session , which are very arduous , he is kept pretty constantly in London . Our meeting now is held during the short parliamentary recess , and he is unfortunately out of town and not able to be
here to-night . The brethren know that he discharges the duties of any office he undertakes very ably , and that he never takes an oflice thc duties of which he does not thoroughly intend to discharge zealously . I appoint Lord Skelmersdale as Deputy Grand Master . The following brethren were then appointed Grand Officers for the year : —
Thc Earl of Jersey G . S . W . General Brownrigg G . J . VV . Rev . P . H . E . Brette , D . D ., and Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , M . A . G . C . F . Davison ( elected ) G . T . H . C . Levander G . R . F . Binckes G . 5 .
VV . Roebuck G . M . O . VV . S . Webster G . S . O . H . Matthews G . J . O . fosiah Austin G . S . D . j . E . Curteis G . J . D . Edis G . S . W . M . H . M . Green G . D . C .
Charles Lacey G . A . D . C . Henry Bagot G . Swd . B . E . VV . Franklin G . Std . B . Frederick 11 . Cozens G . Org . John G . Fast G . I . G . H . W . Binckes G . Asst . Sec . C . T . Speight G . T .
Captain Mason , C . Pulman , and George Bolton G . Stewards . The Grand Master next nominated Bros . W . E . Gumbleton , Thomas Meggy , S . Rosenthal , Edis , Dibdin , and Ohren to serve on the General Board , and the Rev . G . R . Portal to be President . Bros . Cubitt , Dewar , Sabine , Stidolph , and Roebuck
wero elected as members of this Board . The Grand Master invested Bro . VV . Roebuck with the Charity Jewel . Addressing Bro . Gerald Martin , from Poonah , he said that it was exceedingly pleasant to him to have to discharge a duty which had been ca ^ t on him by the brethren of Poonah . They had requested him to present to Bro . Gerald Martin , P . M . 1 -ii , a P . M . jewel ,
bearing the following inscription : — ' Presented by the Brethren of the Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . 134 , to Worshipful Brother Gerald Martin , as an expression of their admiration and esteem for him as a Master , and their regard for him as a friend and brother . " Bro . Gerald Martin said it would always be a great pride to hi 111 to wear this jewel .
A Brother moved for a return at next Grand Lodge of the expenses of the Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent Festival of 1874 , with the names of the Stewards , the amount payable by each , and a list of those who hail not paid their proportion . Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe said that this subject had been
mentioned before , and he hail himself spoken upon it . He hoped lhat the expression of the brethren's feelings then given wou'd have induced every brother who had not paid to forward the money , ll was with great icgret he found it necessary that such a motion should be made . Still he did not think there was one brother in that room
who woultl put his name down as representing sucn a magnificent lodge as lhat , and not pay his money , unless through some forgetfulncss . He hoped that by next Grand Lodge they would find that the right thing had been done ; if not , he should have to say something very strong on th . it occasion . Bro . Biuekes informed thc Grand Master that he had
made repealed applications to the brethren who hid not paid , but he hoped that what had just been said would have theditircd effect . Bro . Cure ' - - , G . J . D . said they had heard that the funds of this Grand Lodge were in a flourishing condition , so flourishing indeed thatihey were able to put aside certain sums for innstment . He therefore thought that they
might also put aside something for soiuechaittable object . ( Hear , hear . ) Consequently he would propose that 25 guineas be given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and begged to give notice of motion to that effect . The If-v . Iiro . Langley . Leicester , then said he had been desired by the Prov . G . M . of Leicestershire to express Ilis regret for I is absence from this Grand Lodge , but he
hoped that th-- Right I lon . tlie Grand Mark Master would honour the province of Leicestershire by holding the Movable Grand Lodge there in the autumn , when he trusted another Mark Lodge would be consecrated there . Thc M . W . G . M . sail he should be very happy to accept the invitation which had been given by tbe brethren of Leicestershire , to hold a Moveable Grand Lodge there .
Thc customary salutes for the new Graud Officers were afterwards given , and Grand Lodge was closed . The banquet was held at the Cafe Royal , Air-street , ar . d was followed by the usual toasts . The Right Hon . the Grand Master presided , having thc Rev . Dr . Brette , G . C , on his right , and the Past Grand Master , Bro . Portal , on his left . In giving the toast of " The Queen and Mark Masonry , "
tlie Grand Master said that there was no one who practised that most exalted principle of our Order , Charity , more than the Queen and the Royal family . With respect to Mark Masonry , it never was moie flourishing than now , and he believed it was steadily progressing , both as regarded numbers and usefulness at home and abroad , and wherever it took root . It lost no ground it ever made , and wherever it was planted its roots struck . ( Hear , hear . ) This toast was followed by that of " The Prince
Grand Mark Lodge.
of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " and the Grand Master said that Craft and Mark Masons , and all Eng lishmen , gladly welcomed the Prince on his return to England . Although he had been suffering from illness lately , it was not of a serious character . At present Mark Masons had the honour and pleasure of having only one member of the Royal family belonging to them ,
but he trusted this would not long be the case . They certainly had a most zealous and hard-working brother among thc Order in his Royal Highness Prince Leopold , and before very long he would be Master of a Mark Lod ge , in which position , as in every other he took upon him , he would thoroughly work out his obligation . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . thc Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., proposed " The
M . W . G . M . M . M . " The growth of this degree was reall y almost marvellous . He could remember , when he was Grand Chaplain , attending Grand Lodge in a very small room in Freemasons' Tavern ; there were but fifteen persons present ( who all talked' at once ) . Now , however , they saw what a brilliant assembly was got together , and they had heard that night that 600 certificates had been
issued in the year , and there were now nearly 200 lodges on the roll . He thought this was due to no one brother in particular , but to each of the Grand Masters . Never was it safer than in the hands of Lord Limerick , and he would say this with the greatest confidence , having known them all . No one had set himself more at work than the present Grand Master , and the success of the Order was
certain while his lordship was at its head . The M . W . G . M ., in reply , said , —Your M . W . P . G . M . has spoken of me in terms much more complimentary than I could in any way deserve ( No ) , because all I could endeavour to do has been to follow closely in the footsteps of the previous Grand Masters , during whose time Mark Masonry has made steady progress . I am only thankful
that that progress has not been in any way retarded during my year of office . I feel very proud al the continued progress it has made , and 1 trust and hope it will make still further progress in thc future . Everything leads us to suppose that the progress which has been made in the past is only an augury of what it will be [ in the future . At the present moment the Mark Degree is second only to the Craft to
which we all belong . It surpasses thc Royal Arch ; ° it surpasses the other degrees in the number of its lodges , anil in the number of its members ; and I trust at some future time it will rival the Craft itself , for I cannot sec any reason why where there is a Craft lodge there should not also be a Mark lodge . I look upon the Mark Degree as a complement of the Craft . I thank you , brethren , very heartily
for the manner in which you have received the toast of my health . I have said that the Older has continued to prosper and flourish in the United Kingdom and in places abroad . I may add that th . re are openings in places abroad for its taking root where it has nit hitherto . We had with us to-night a brother who , I believe , is returning to the Cape of Good I lope as District G . Master of that
colony , and I trust he will be able to explain the principles of our Mark Degree out there , which may lead to the formation of new Mark lodges there . Much as we regret his temporary absence , I tru ^ t it will tend in a considerable degree to thc progress of the Order . I must say that I look forward to a very great future for this Mark Degree , and as it has not gone back during my time 1 confidently
expect to sec it prospering , and spreading its useful work . The M . W . G . M . then proposed " The Past Grand Masters , " and approved of the custom of this Grand Lodge selecting its G . Masters for a certain term only . This he considered had a very beneficial effect , for it had surrounded the G . M . for the time being with a body of brethren who were acquainted with the customs , the traditions ,
and working of the Order . AU the brethren knew what excellent Grand Masters they had had and how much they had done for thc degree ; but he believed not one of them had done more for it than Bro . Portal . ( Hear , hear . ) They all knew how thoroughly his heart was with the degree and how zealous he was in promoting its best intervsts . He hail known Bro . PosUl for a groat many years ,
and was aware how entirely his heart was with Mark Masonry . Bro . Portal , in reply , said it was a singular fact , which hail been suggested to him by a sharp-witted friend , that all the Past Masters ot this Grand Lodge were in the ruddiest and most vigorous health . Grand Lodge had not lost one of them . On the General Board their
attention had been directed towards the promotion of this Order . When he saw how rulers were treated in other countries he could not but congratulate himself that the rulers of this Order were the receptacles of the confidence of Mark Masons , and he was thankful that they gave the P . M . ' s credit for what they did for the good of the Order . With such feelings they would go on doing their best , because
they knew they would have the sympathy and encouragement of thc brethren . The M . W . G . M . then gave " The Grand Officers , " and referred to the great zeal those bitthicn had always displayed who we-e entrusted with office that evening . Among them he alluded to Lord Skelmersdile , Bros . Levander , Binckes , Davison , Dr . Brette , Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Gen .
Brownrigg ( who was the oldest Mark Master present , having been advanced thirty-three years agf ) . One of this brother ' s first acts on his arrival in India was to sign a petition for a new Mark lodge out there . ( Cheers . ) With a staff of such G . Officers he ( the M . W . G . M . ) felt sure of efficient support . General Brownrigg , in the course of a very brief reply , said he was afraid he had not done so much for Masonry as he ought to have done . Still , as wc read in a very old the
authority that the sins of the fathers were visited on children , he hoped in this case that the good his sons might do would be some recompense for his own faults . Thc M . W . G . M . then gave " The Prov . Grand Lodges , , on whom Grand Lodge relied for the conduct of the Ordtf on proper and constitutional principles . These Provincial Grand Lodges had of late years greatly developed ; their numbers had increased , and their efficiency had gro wn
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Mark Lodge.
present , and from the known zeal of the Bristol brethren and the Provincial Grand Mark Master , it may be safely predicted that thc degree will take firm root in that ancient city . The board have had under consideration the memorial , together with letters under date 26 th November and 29 th December , 1875 , and Sth January , 18 7 6 , from a brother
whose case has been previously before the General Board and this Grand Lodge . They regret that the personalities contained in these communications make it unadvisable under present circumstances to go further into the questions which he has raised . The correspondence is open to the inspection of any member of Grand Lodge . Copies of the proceedings of the General Grand Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons of the United States of America , and of thc proceedings of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Maine , have been received . The board have to express their cordial acknowledgments to the learned and illustrious Comp . Josiah II . Drummond , Past General Grand High Priest , for his able defence of the Masonic position of this Grand Lodge as the legitimate
head of the Mark Degree in England , contained in both the above publications . The resolution adopted by this Grand Lodge at the last half-yearly communication , with reference to the relations between this Grand Lodge and other supreme Masonic jurisdictions under the " Tripartite Treaty , " has been formally communicated by the Grand Secretary to the
recognised officials of those bodies . The annual festival in aid of the " Benevolent Fund " will be held on Wednesday , 19 th July . The arrangements will be published in due course . Thc services of brethren representing lodges or provinces as Stewards are earnestly requested . A grant of £ 20 to Bro . M . E ., recommended by the board , requires confirmation by Grand Lodge .
The board has extreme satisfaction in submitting a recommendation , in proof of the gratifying condition of the finances of Grand Lodge , for the investment of £ 200 on account of the General Fund . The invested property will then be : On account of General Fund £ 4 °° ° ° „ Benevolent Fund 600 o o The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts for the six months to 31 st March are subjoined , which shew :
GENERAL FUND . Balance from 30 th September , 1875 £ -34 % " 9 ° Half year's receipts jC 49 *> ' 4 6 4 19 2 495 ' 3 8
Total 844 12 8 Half year ' s disbursements 313 7 7 215 10 3 528 17 10 Balance ist April , 1876 £ 3 is 14 10
1 ' i'ND OF BENEVOLENCE . Balance 30 th September , 18 75 £ 301 1 4 Receipts for the half year : Donations 31 17 (' Dividends 14 17 0 46 is o
. 147 ' <• 4 Grants to Petitioners 7 , ! o o 200 Canadians 213 10 3 —¦ 290 10 3 £ 57 <> ' On the motion of Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe , P . G . C .,- ; seconded by the Rev . Dr . Brette , this report was ordered to
b ; received . On the motion of Bro . Levander , G . Reg ., seconded by Bro . Meggy , P . G . M . O ., the grant of £ 20 to Brn . M . E . was confirmed . On the motion of Bro . VV . S . Webster , seconded by Bro . Davison , G . T ., £ 200 was ordered to be invested for the General Fund account .
The report was then ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , on the motion of the Rev . D . Shaboe , P . G . C , seconded by Bro . T . J . Sabine , P . G . A . D . C . This being the day for the annual Installation of Grand Master , Dr . Thomas Trollope , G . D . C . proclaimed the Right Hon . the Earl of Limerick M . W . G . M . M . M . for Ihe ensuing year , and he was saluted accordingly .
The Earl of Limerick afterwards rose and said , —Brethren , I have to thank you for this pro : > f of your confidence in electing me for another term of office . I thank you heartily for the honour you have done me . I think I may say that during the past year of my office the Order his in no way gone backward . Wc have had , however , owing to individual losses of brethren high in oflice , and
much esteemed in our Order , times of most sincere and heartfelt mourning ; but , in spite of these losses , which wc all deplore , the Order has gone on steadily progressing during the last year . A considerable number of new warrants have been granted , a new province has been formed , and I may say that the Degree is in as flourishing a state now as it ever has been in lime past . I trust that during
the next term of office with which you have so kindly entrusted me the progress which has been made will be continued . ( Hear , hear . ) My next duty is to thank those brethren who have to well discharged the duties of Grand Office during the past year , in my own name , and I am sure 1 may also do it in thc name of Giand Lodge .
Having done that I have to declare the Grand Offices vacant , and to proceed with the appointment and investiture of oflicers in their places . Thc office of Deputy Grand Master became vacant , as you are aware , since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , by the lamented death of our Bro . Romainc Callender . That iffice I have been able to fill , I trust and believe , to the
Grand Mark Lodge.
satisfaction of all brethren of the Order by appointing to the vacancy Lord Skelmersdale . All thc brethren are acquainted with thc fact that from thc nature of his duties during thc parliamentary session , which are very arduous , he is kept pretty constantly in London . Our meeting now is held during the short parliamentary recess , and he is unfortunately out of town and not able to be
here to-night . The brethren know that he discharges the duties of any office he undertakes very ably , and that he never takes an oflice thc duties of which he does not thoroughly intend to discharge zealously . I appoint Lord Skelmersdale as Deputy Grand Master . The following brethren were then appointed Grand Officers for the year : —
Thc Earl of Jersey G . S . W . General Brownrigg G . J . VV . Rev . P . H . E . Brette , D . D ., and Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , M . A . G . C . F . Davison ( elected ) G . T . H . C . Levander G . R . F . Binckes G . 5 .
VV . Roebuck G . M . O . VV . S . Webster G . S . O . H . Matthews G . J . O . fosiah Austin G . S . D . j . E . Curteis G . J . D . Edis G . S . W . M . H . M . Green G . D . C .
Charles Lacey G . A . D . C . Henry Bagot G . Swd . B . E . VV . Franklin G . Std . B . Frederick 11 . Cozens G . Org . John G . Fast G . I . G . H . W . Binckes G . Asst . Sec . C . T . Speight G . T .
Captain Mason , C . Pulman , and George Bolton G . Stewards . The Grand Master next nominated Bros . W . E . Gumbleton , Thomas Meggy , S . Rosenthal , Edis , Dibdin , and Ohren to serve on the General Board , and the Rev . G . R . Portal to be President . Bros . Cubitt , Dewar , Sabine , Stidolph , and Roebuck
wero elected as members of this Board . The Grand Master invested Bro . VV . Roebuck with the Charity Jewel . Addressing Bro . Gerald Martin , from Poonah , he said that it was exceedingly pleasant to him to have to discharge a duty which had been ca ^ t on him by the brethren of Poonah . They had requested him to present to Bro . Gerald Martin , P . M . 1 -ii , a P . M . jewel ,
bearing the following inscription : — ' Presented by the Brethren of the Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . 134 , to Worshipful Brother Gerald Martin , as an expression of their admiration and esteem for him as a Master , and their regard for him as a friend and brother . " Bro . Gerald Martin said it would always be a great pride to hi 111 to wear this jewel .
A Brother moved for a return at next Grand Lodge of the expenses of the Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent Festival of 1874 , with the names of the Stewards , the amount payable by each , and a list of those who hail not paid their proportion . Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe said that this subject had been
mentioned before , and he hail himself spoken upon it . He hoped lhat the expression of the brethren's feelings then given wou'd have induced every brother who had not paid to forward the money , ll was with great icgret he found it necessary that such a motion should be made . Still he did not think there was one brother in that room
who woultl put his name down as representing sucn a magnificent lodge as lhat , and not pay his money , unless through some forgetfulncss . He hoped that by next Grand Lodge they would find that the right thing had been done ; if not , he should have to say something very strong on th . it occasion . Bro . Biuekes informed thc Grand Master that he had
made repealed applications to the brethren who hid not paid , but he hoped that what had just been said would have theditircd effect . Bro . Cure ' - - , G . J . D . said they had heard that the funds of this Grand Lodge were in a flourishing condition , so flourishing indeed thatihey were able to put aside certain sums for innstment . He therefore thought that they
might also put aside something for soiuechaittable object . ( Hear , hear . ) Consequently he would propose that 25 guineas be given to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and begged to give notice of motion to that effect . The If-v . Iiro . Langley . Leicester , then said he had been desired by the Prov . G . M . of Leicestershire to express Ilis regret for I is absence from this Grand Lodge , but he
hoped that th-- Right I lon . tlie Grand Mark Master would honour the province of Leicestershire by holding the Movable Grand Lodge there in the autumn , when he trusted another Mark Lodge would be consecrated there . Thc M . W . G . M . sail he should be very happy to accept the invitation which had been given by tbe brethren of Leicestershire , to hold a Moveable Grand Lodge there .
Thc customary salutes for the new Graud Officers were afterwards given , and Grand Lodge was closed . The banquet was held at the Cafe Royal , Air-street , ar . d was followed by the usual toasts . The Right Hon . the Grand Master presided , having thc Rev . Dr . Brette , G . C , on his right , and the Past Grand Master , Bro . Portal , on his left . In giving the toast of " The Queen and Mark Masonry , "
tlie Grand Master said that there was no one who practised that most exalted principle of our Order , Charity , more than the Queen and the Royal family . With respect to Mark Masonry , it never was moie flourishing than now , and he believed it was steadily progressing , both as regarded numbers and usefulness at home and abroad , and wherever it took root . It lost no ground it ever made , and wherever it was planted its roots struck . ( Hear , hear . ) This toast was followed by that of " The Prince
Grand Mark Lodge.
of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family , " and the Grand Master said that Craft and Mark Masons , and all Eng lishmen , gladly welcomed the Prince on his return to England . Although he had been suffering from illness lately , it was not of a serious character . At present Mark Masons had the honour and pleasure of having only one member of the Royal family belonging to them ,
but he trusted this would not long be the case . They certainly had a most zealous and hard-working brother among thc Order in his Royal Highness Prince Leopold , and before very long he would be Master of a Mark Lod ge , in which position , as in every other he took upon him , he would thoroughly work out his obligation . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . thc Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M ., proposed " The
M . W . G . M . M . M . " The growth of this degree was reall y almost marvellous . He could remember , when he was Grand Chaplain , attending Grand Lodge in a very small room in Freemasons' Tavern ; there were but fifteen persons present ( who all talked' at once ) . Now , however , they saw what a brilliant assembly was got together , and they had heard that night that 600 certificates had been
issued in the year , and there were now nearly 200 lodges on the roll . He thought this was due to no one brother in particular , but to each of the Grand Masters . Never was it safer than in the hands of Lord Limerick , and he would say this with the greatest confidence , having known them all . No one had set himself more at work than the present Grand Master , and the success of the Order was
certain while his lordship was at its head . The M . W . G . M ., in reply , said , —Your M . W . P . G . M . has spoken of me in terms much more complimentary than I could in any way deserve ( No ) , because all I could endeavour to do has been to follow closely in the footsteps of the previous Grand Masters , during whose time Mark Masonry has made steady progress . I am only thankful
that that progress has not been in any way retarded during my year of office . I feel very proud al the continued progress it has made , and 1 trust and hope it will make still further progress in thc future . Everything leads us to suppose that the progress which has been made in the past is only an augury of what it will be [ in the future . At the present moment the Mark Degree is second only to the Craft to
which we all belong . It surpasses thc Royal Arch ; ° it surpasses the other degrees in the number of its lodges , anil in the number of its members ; and I trust at some future time it will rival the Craft itself , for I cannot sec any reason why where there is a Craft lodge there should not also be a Mark lodge . I look upon the Mark Degree as a complement of the Craft . I thank you , brethren , very heartily
for the manner in which you have received the toast of my health . I have said that the Older has continued to prosper and flourish in the United Kingdom and in places abroad . I may add that th . re are openings in places abroad for its taking root where it has nit hitherto . We had with us to-night a brother who , I believe , is returning to the Cape of Good I lope as District G . Master of that
colony , and I trust he will be able to explain the principles of our Mark Degree out there , which may lead to the formation of new Mark lodges there . Much as we regret his temporary absence , I tru ^ t it will tend in a considerable degree to thc progress of the Order . I must say that I look forward to a very great future for this Mark Degree , and as it has not gone back during my time 1 confidently
expect to sec it prospering , and spreading its useful work . The M . W . G . M . then proposed " The Past Grand Masters , " and approved of the custom of this Grand Lodge selecting its G . Masters for a certain term only . This he considered had a very beneficial effect , for it had surrounded the G . M . for the time being with a body of brethren who were acquainted with the customs , the traditions ,
and working of the Order . AU the brethren knew what excellent Grand Masters they had had and how much they had done for thc degree ; but he believed not one of them had done more for it than Bro . Portal . ( Hear , hear . ) They all knew how thoroughly his heart was with the degree and how zealous he was in promoting its best intervsts . He hail known Bro . PosUl for a groat many years ,
and was aware how entirely his heart was with Mark Masonry . Bro . Portal , in reply , said it was a singular fact , which hail been suggested to him by a sharp-witted friend , that all the Past Masters ot this Grand Lodge were in the ruddiest and most vigorous health . Grand Lodge had not lost one of them . On the General Board their
attention had been directed towards the promotion of this Order . When he saw how rulers were treated in other countries he could not but congratulate himself that the rulers of this Order were the receptacles of the confidence of Mark Masons , and he was thankful that they gave the P . M . ' s credit for what they did for the good of the Order . With such feelings they would go on doing their best , because
they knew they would have the sympathy and encouragement of thc brethren . The M . W . G . M . then gave " The Grand Officers , " and referred to the great zeal those bitthicn had always displayed who we-e entrusted with office that evening . Among them he alluded to Lord Skelmersdile , Bros . Levander , Binckes , Davison , Dr . Brette , Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Gen .
Brownrigg ( who was the oldest Mark Master present , having been advanced thirty-three years agf ) . One of this brother ' s first acts on his arrival in India was to sign a petition for a new Mark lodge out there . ( Cheers . ) With a staff of such G . Officers he ( the M . W . G . M . ) felt sure of efficient support . General Brownrigg , in the course of a very brief reply , said he was afraid he had not done so much for Masonry as he ought to have done . Still , as wc read in a very old the
authority that the sins of the fathers were visited on children , he hoped in this case that the good his sons might do would be some recompense for his own faults . Thc M . W . G . M . then gave " The Prov . Grand Lodges , , on whom Grand Lodge relied for the conduct of the Ordtf on proper and constitutional principles . These Provincial Grand Lodges had of late years greatly developed ; their numbers had increased , and their efficiency had gro wn