Contents.

CONTENTS .

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival 3 " Royal Masonic Institution for Hoys 3 ' * Presentation to Bro . Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke 313 Funeral of Bro . John Hervey 3 ' - Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 313 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 3 l 3 Province of Dorset . IM Consecration of the Oarcmont Lodge , No . lSfit 314

Provincial Grantl Lotlge of Mark Master Masons of Multllesex antl Surrey 315 Opening of a New Mnsonic Club 3 5 Grantl I . otlgc of Quebec 31 ? The Irish Female Orpnan School 31 " Literary and Antiquarian Notes 317 LEAUERS 31 s Bro . John Hervey 319 CORRESPOND ENCEThe Late Bro . John Hervey -. jiQ Grand Mark Lodge . ' . 319

Good or Bad Form 3 ' 9 Reviews 3 ' 9 Masonic Notes and Queries 3 " REPORTS OK MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 3 " Knights Tcmpiar 3 " Red Cross of Constantine 33 - * Grantl Council of Allied Degrees 3 " Masonic antl General Tidings 3 " 1 odgc Meetings for Next Week 32 ' Advertisements I . to VIII .

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL .

The annual festival in aid of the Benevolent Fund attached to Grand Lodgeof the Alark Degree was held on Wednesday at the Crystal Palace , and , like all its predecessors , proved to be a great success . Ladies sat down to dinner with the brethren , and every attention was paid to the company ' s pleasure and happiness . Thc tables were

beautifull y decorated with flowers and fruit , the room called the Marble Hall , in which the dinner was given , was amply ventilated , and the dinner , in addition to being of the choicest description , was admirably served . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Provincial Grand Alaster for . Mid dlesex and Surrey , presided , and was supported by Bro-. the Baron de Ferrieres , F . Binckes . Stwd . : D . AL Dewar ,

H . C . Levander , I * . Davison , VV ' . VV . Alorgan , A . Rowley , T . J . Pulley , Stwd . ; C . Park , Stwd . ; VV . W . Scott , J . Smyth , Stwd . ; S . S . Lane , Stwd ., * C . F . Alatier , Alfred Williams , Stwd . ; A . Walton , Stwd . ; T . Benham , Stwd . ; H . R . Cooper Smith , Stwd . ; Dr . Passawer , Stwd . ; VV . G . Bayliss , J . E . Anderson , J . F . Tweedale , Dormor , and H . Alassey ( Freemason ) .

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . A . Rowley , Grand Alark Organist , assisted by Bros . F . H . Cozens , Crane , Hodgson , antl Knowles . A line evening with a clearview of the beautiful Kentish scenery on the east added to the general enjoyment . After dinner , grace having been sung , the toasts were proposed .

The toast of " 1 he Queen and Alark Alasonry " was first proposed and honoured . The CHAIRMAN , in proposing "The AI . W . Grand Alark Alaster Alason , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , " saitl that the Alark Degree was now very strong in its constitution , and though it did not require the support of any single brother individually , the brethren liked to have the sii |> port

of those vvho were high in authority , antl wished to have Her Alajesty and the Prince of Wales before them . Still , there were others who had supjiortcd the Degree at a time vvhen it was not in thc condition it was in now . It was now in a very prosperous condition , and held a vcry high position in thc general Alasonic Qrder . The jiresent Grand Alark Alaster had for a long time been among them , and he

would have had a great deal of pleasure in being present that day , particularly as there were so many ladies present . He would have been highly flattered and pleased to have seen so many of their fair visitors present . 'The Earl of Lathom was well known to the Order and to the world at large , and everywhere he was known as a kind and amiable man , and a good landlord . 'The brethren knew him for a

long time as Lord Skelmersdale . He had now acquired the title of Earl of Lathom , one of which he was vcry proud of , and whicii he had long wished to obtain . Bro . F . BINCKES proposed "'The Past G . Alark Alasters , I-ord Leigh , the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Holmesdale , Bro . W . Beach , ALP ., the Rev . G . R . Portal , ALA ., Earl Percy , and the Earl of Limerick . " He knew no other branch of the great Order of Freemasonry that could boast of such

a number of Past Grand Alasters to give to it the aid of their influence and counsel . We were told that in a multitude of counsellors there was wisdom , und there they bad one of the pillars of the Order . We were also told that in unity was strength , and there they got a second pillar . The Past Grand Alasters of this Order hatl shown a great amount of wisdom in directing its affairs , and step by step it had arrived at its present state of prosperity . 'That could

not have happened unless there had been that unity whicii was established by strength . It was a more difficult thing for him to sjjeak of the third pillar—beauty—because he was speaking of the sterner sex in the presence of a large number of the other sex , who were more or less distinguished hv their beauty . But he believed that the Past Grand Alark Masters' beauty was one of their characteristics , and certainl y strength was another ; as , fortunately for the Order , not one of them had been removed by death , and none of them had been absent from his duties through illness . 'That

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

the Order should have seven Past Alasters all engaged in arduous duties in their respective walks of life , mixing freely in the world , in its cares and pleasures , and none of them afflicted by ill-health , was certainly an evidence that Alark Alasonry had conduced to their vitality . He hoped they would long remain among the brethren , and that others would come forward and look upon the Grand Alaster's chair as the highest honour and the greatest reward

they could receive . He had great jiride in serving as Grand Secretary , and hc bad had the honour of holding that position under the whole of thc Past Grand Alasters . Their example jicrhaps vvas contagious , for he was not aware that he had everjieen absent on account of ill-health . He had a very large amount of pleasure in looking back to the year 18 5 6 , vvhen Lord Leigh took the first Grand Alastership of the Degree , and great pride in seeing the great and rapid

strides it had made . He trusted they might long have the pleasure of drinking this toast to the same brethren and to many future Grand Alasters . Bro . C . F . MATIER proposed "The Deputy Grand Alaster , Lord Henniker , and the Grand Ofliccrs , Present and Past . " Among these he mentioned the names of Bros . Davison , G . Treas . ; Levander , G . Reg . ; Binckes , G . Sec . ; D . AL Dewar , G . Asst . Sec . ; Baron de Ferrieres ,

and 'Tweedale , of Oldham , G . S . of Overseers . The success of the Degree was in a great measure due to the Grand Officers , whose services had been without pay and given without grudge . Among the brethren who had worked very hard vvas Bro . Binckes , whose name he trusted would never be mentioned without a large amount of appreciation of his great services to the Order . The Past Grand Officers , of whom he ( Bro . Alatier ) vvas one , had

had their innings , and they werc now pleased to mark their sense of the services of the Grand Officers for the year , and of thc great success they had achieved . He trusted they would be as successful in placing thc foundation and corner stones of the building as the Past Grand Officers had in their time . Bro . F . DAVISON , Grand Treasurer , replied . The officers of Grantl Alark Lodge exerted themselves in every possible

way to support the Order , and . its progress was consequently secured . Although he did not think he ought to mention anyone jiarticularly , he could not help saying that they had a most energetic officer in Bro . Binckes , who was most ably assisted by Bro . Dewar . He personally could testify to their work , because he was constantly at the oT . ce of Grand Alark Lodge , and saw how the work was done . 'The CHAIRMAN proposed "Prosperity to the Alark

Grantl Lodge Benevolent i'und and the Alasonic Institutions . " 'The fund was constituted in 1 S 6 S , under very favourable circumstances . Grand Alark Lodge opened it wilh a donation of £ 50 . It had been going on increasing year b y year till it now stood in a very prosperous condition . The managers of the fund were doing all they could for the benefit of the Order and distressed Alark Alasons . A great deal had already been done , but in a short time

they would be able to do more . 'The income of the funtl had certainly been restricted for a certain time , and the biethren had been endeavouring to increase it . From what had been done he was certain it would go on increasing , and that evening ' s proceedings were an evidence of it . In addition to the brethren of the Alark Degree the ladies were willing to assist . They were tender and softhearted , and would do everything they could to induce the

sterner sex to support the Charity . He had great hopes that it would be able to meet all cases of affliction and distress that might apply to it for relief . 'There had not been many calls upon it , but those there had been were b > brethren who had subscribed handsomely to the fund and to the Alasonic Institutions , and they were most worthy cases .

He hoped by the assistance of a slight subscription from each member of the Order it would be able to support those who came upon it in health and comfort . The toast liaving been drunk , Bro . Donald AL Dewar , Assistant Grand Secretary , read the following list of subscriptions : —

£ s . d . Bro . IL R . Cooper Smith , Berks and Oxon ... 20 18 o ,, VV . Watkins , Prov . of Monmouth ... 55 13 0 „ W . T . Clarke , Prov . of Sussex ... 5 14 6 ,, Lieut .-Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., Prov . of Warwickshire and Staffordshire ... 5 5 0 „ E . C . Mather , Old Kent , T . L ... 2- ; o o

,, Geo . Newman , St . Alark's , 1 ... ... 10 o o ,, Dr . 10 . Passawer , Alallet and Chisel , 5 ... 10 o o ,, A . J . Bristow , Carnarvon , 7 ... ... 68 5 o ,, S . Nlattison , Joppa , 11 ... ... 10 10 o ,, | . 10 . Anderson , Hiram , 13 ... ... 5 5 o ,, VV . Klingcnstein , Southwark , 22 ... 5 5 o ,, 10 . G . Simpson , Union , 32 ... * ... 20 o o

,, I . It . Peel , St . Andrew ' s , 34 ... ... 16 5 o ,, C . S . Lane , Eclectic , 39 ... ... 33 12 o „ | . Smyth , Florence Nightingale , 44 ... 31 4 2 ,, T . Benham , Aldershot , Military , 54 ... 16 15 o ,, II . AL Green , Carnarvon , 62 ... ,, J . Blount 'Thomas , St . Andrew ' s , 6 3 ... 10 10 o ,, A . Williams , Alacdonald , 104 ... ... 17 17 o

,, A . Walton , Grosvenor , 144 ... ... 25 o o „ J . F . Tweedale , Union , 171 ... ... 25 5 o „ T . \ V . Adams , West Smithfield , 223 ... 10 10 o ,, 10 . L . Shepherd , Abbey , 22 5 ... ... 10 10 o ,, Rev , 1 ) . Ace , D . D ., Hercward , 227 ... 5 5 o

,, VV . F . Lamonby , Faithful ) , 229 ... 10 12 6 „ T . [ . Pulley , Leopold , 2 35 ... ... 2100 „ J . S . Badkin , Clapton , 236 ,, C . Park , Alfred , 247 ... ... 12 lS o „ VV . B . Farr , Jersey , 257 ... ... 6 17 4 ,, Rev , C . K . Davy ... ... ... 550

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

£ s . d . Bro . Fredk . Binckes ... ... ... 53 11 o „ Thos . Meggy ... ... ... 5 5 o £ 560 17 6 Bro . F . H . COZENS having sung a humorous song , Bro . BINCKES replying to the toast , said "From grave to gay ; from lively to severe . " He did not know how he

should be able to talk seriously after the company s risible faculties had been so excited by the last song . He felt complimented at having his name associated with this toast , but his difficulty vvas , there was nothing new to be said on this very old and well-worn subj ' ect . Under whatever auspices they met there was no sentiment they cherished so much as charity . In Alark Alasonry it vvas well preserved , and practically carried out , as in the great and glorious old

Order . I here was one ground of special gratification he could not help alluding to—the festivals of the three Masonic Institutions this year had rer . lised over £ 40 , 000 . This showed that the springs of Masonic chanty were not exhausted . The Alark festival had also realised the largest amount it had ever reached . Those vvho were engaged in advocating the cause of charity were often asked whether they did not think they were pressing these appeals too far .

and whether they did not think the time had arrived vvhen they might give a little rest to the large constituency to whom they applied , but although he vvas told it vvas bad logic to argue from results , as long as he could point to results such as those he thought there was every encouragement to go on in endeavouring at all events to stimulate the charitable feelings of brethren to what he conceived to be that particular act , practical Alasonic charity . He said that

without fear of contradiction , because he felt it might be safely depended upon that so soon as the brethren of the largely increasing constituency felt that the time had arrived when they could no longer be justifiably applied to for the support of those funds , they would be the first to cry " Hold ! enough . " But as long as he and the others felt justified and encouraged by these amounts in making the applications , he saw no reason why they should

neglect these appeals on behalf of those cases whicii they believed to be just and good , needy and deserving . It must be a great cause or gratification that ni g ht to find that those efforts had not imperilled this comparatively slight auxiliary fund . It had been enabled to do a large amount of good in supplement of the grants made from the Fund of Benevolence of United Grand Lodge . It had an educational

branch , and although there was now only one boy receiving the assistance of this fund it vvas gratifying to the managers to know that they had the means of largely increasing those benefits . It was also gratifying to them to believe that because its benelits were not more largely appealed to the Alark Degree did not need those benefits . Looking at the great success of the festivals of the Institution the brethren should be stimulated to follow out in private life that

manifestation of higher charity by kind , courteous , long suffering , decent , indulgent , and considerate conduct in dealing with their fellow men in whatever position they might beto place the best construction on the motives of others , even of those from whom they most widely differed—and endeavour to cultivate those higher Alasonic virtues , not only of relief , but of brotherly love and truth , with all mankind as well as with Alasons . By this they would

show to the outer world the great proof of what they practically did in Alasonry , and produce an effect in lessening internal dissensions . Bro . Binckes then feelingly referred to the absence of Bro . Meggy on account of illness , and to the death of Bro . Hervey , whose funeral took place that afternoon . Speaking of Bro . Hervey , he said he had been unable to accept the invitation to be present at his funeral . Bro . Hervey ' s name

foi a long number of years—long before he ( Bro . Binckes ) was associated with the Order—was a household word in connection with Freemasonry . He did not want to bring forward the old metaphorical skeleton that was always supposed to be present at the feast of our oltl Masonic progenitors—the ancient Egyptians ; but as we could not always be enjoying the sunshine of life , and as the " web of life is as a mingled yarn , good and ill together , " he might

mention that that afternoon six feet of quiet earth received the remains of one he had respected and honoured ever since he had known him ; and through whose inducement and persuasion it was he made his appeals to Masonic charity . He did not think he was wrong in bearing testimony to the worth of Bro . Hervey , or that the brethren should at least remember the services of one vvho had lived respected , and had died regretted . BARON DE FERRIERES proposed "The Health of the

Chairman . " 'The CHAIRMAN having replied , Bro . F . DAVISON , Grand 'Treasurer , in proposing "The Board of Stewards , " said thc fund commenced in a very small way . At the first festival it bad five or six Stewards , who collected less than £ 100 . To-day it had thirty-three Stewards and nearly £ 600 . The brethren would like to know what had been done with it . £ 1200 had been invested on account of thc Benevolent Fund , and £ 300 on

account of the Educational Fund , because in conseauence of the small claims on the Benevolent Fund they had established an Educational Fund for educating the boys of Mark Alasons who from various circumstances were not in a position to educate them themselves . Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS , in replying , said he believed if a brother accepted the position of Steward his heart was in the right place , for the whole time he vvas serving the office he was doing his best for those vvho wanted assistance . Charity in Freemasonry was its chiefest and great security ,