Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

the constitution of East Anglia as a Mark Province , in 1 SS 3 , he was unhesitatingly chosen by Lord Henniker , Prov . G . M . M ., to fill the post ot Prov . G . Secretary , a post for which it is unnecessary to say more than that he was admirably ciualified to fulfil its duties , and has fully justified the confidence reposed in his ability . He was installed K . T . in the Prudence Preceptory , No . 16 , Ipswich , in 1877 , was elected E . P . in 1 S 80 , and has held the Registrarship from 1 SS 1 till the present time . Moreover , he is

Chancellor in the Prov . Priory of East Anglia , and 111 1 SS 3 was appointed Chamberlain in Great Priory . He was perfected Rose Croix in the Victoria Chapter , No . 22 , in 1 S 79 , and was M . W . S . in 18 S 2 , since when he has been annually appointed and reappointed its Recorder . He has served in all four Stewardships for our Institutions , namely , two for the Old People , and one for each of the Schools , and has personally contributed of his means towards their support .

GRAND JUNIOR DEACONS . Bro . HORATIO WARD ' S services are of such a character as to fully justify his appointment to one of the Grand Junior Deaconships . He has been a member of the Fraternity for 27 year-,, having been initiated in the St . Cuthberga Lodge , No . 622 , Wimborne , in 1 S 59 . In 1 S 65 he was installed its W . M ., and the same year joined the Elias de Derham Lodge , No . 586 ,

Salisbury , the Mastership of which he held during the years 1 S 70 and 1871 . On the constitution in 18 G 6 of the Vale of Avon Lodge , now the Shirley Lodge , No . 1112 , Southampton , he was installed by the late Bro . Stebbing , P . G . D . its first W . M ., while in his present Province of Kent , to which he removed in the year 1876 , and where he met with a most cordial reception from the brethren , he was , in 1 SS 3 , honoured with election to the chair of-the United

Industrious Lodge , No . 31 , Canterbury . These various and valuable services have brought him provincial honours and other distinctions , of which Bro . Ward has great reason to be proud . Thus , in the Province of Wilts , he held the difficult post of Prov . G . D . C . for several years , is one of its P . P . G . J . Wardens , and at the installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master in 1 S 75 , he represented his province as Special Steward , and

was presented in Prov . Grand Lodge by Bro . Lord Methuen , P . G . M ., in person with the special jewel , which all such Special Stewards are authorised to wear . During his residence at Canterbury he has been equally active , and having taken a leading part in the movement for erecting a Masonic Hall in that . city , which is justly allowed to be one of the most perfect edifices of its kind in the United Kingdom , he had his reward last year , when the Prov .

Grand Master of Kent conferred upon him the high distinction of Prov . G . J . W . In Royal Arch Masonry he has been equally successful . He was exalted in the Amity Chapter , No . 137 , Poole , in 1 S 63 , and having taken a chief part in founding the St . Cuthberga Chapter , No . 622 , Wimborne , was in 1 S 68 elected and installed M . E . Z . He is also a founder and P . Z , of the Elias de Derham Chapter , and founder of the Harmony Chapter , No .

632 , Trowbridge , and helped materially in bringing about the establishment of a Provincial Grand Chapter for Wiltshire , his services in this particular being rewarded with the collar of Prov . G . D . C . at its constitution , and subsequently—in 1876—with that of Prov . Grand Second Principal . He largely contributed towards the foundation of the Bertha Chapter , No . 31 , Canterbury , and enjoys a high reputation in his adopted Province of Kent

as an Installing Principal . He is also a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , having been perfected Rose Croix in the SS . Peter and Paul Chapter , Bath , in 1 S 69 . In 187 S he assisted in founding the Ethelbert Chapter , Canterbury , and the year following took the 30 under the Supreme Council . As regards Mark Masonry Bro . Ward was advanced in the Mark Lodge of Economy , No . 52 , Winchester , in 1871 , was a founder of the St .

Martin's Lodge , Canterbury , is a P . M . of it , and a P . P . G . M . O . and present Prov . G . S . W . of Kent . He is likewise a Royal Ark Mariner , Past Grand Sword Bearer in the Great Priory of the Templars , England , and a Life Governor and Steward for all three Institutions . Bro . Ward , lastly , is an honorary member of several lodges and chapters , and has at different times been honoured with many tokens of respect and regard by the bodies with which he is connected and for which he has laboured so successfully .

Bro . FRANCIS CROUCH , the new G . J . D ., hails from Plymouth , and is one of the most energetic brethren in the Province of Devonshire . He has done excellent service both in Craft and Arch Masonry , and had a large share in founding the Lodge of St . George , No . 2025 , and the chapter attached to it , a warrant for which has been granted quite recently . He was advanced to the Mark Degree in the Lodge of Friendship , No . 16 ,

Devonport , which can boast of having the most numerous body of members among the Devonian Mark Lodges and of which he is now the Secretary . He is also a founder and first W . M . of the St . Anne's Lodge , No . 351 , Looe , Cornwall , and his merits in connection with the Degree have been recognised in both Provinces , the office of Prov . Grand Assistant Secretary having been conferred upon him in Devonshire , and that of Prov . G . J .

Overseer in the Province of Cornwall . His great strength lies , however , in his complete knowledge of the ritual of the Mark Degree , of which he is or . e of the most capable exponents to be met with anywhere , while his knowledge of the duties of all the important offices in the Mark Lodge is unsurpassed , As Bro . Crouch is still in the very prime of life , we trust that this latest honour he has received will have the effect of spurring him on to still greater efforts in behalf of the Mark Degree and the whole of Masonry in general .

GRAND INSPECTOR OF WORKS . Bro . Lieut .-Col . EDIS , F . S . A ., had the good fortune to obtain his first insight into the mysteries of our Order in that old and distinguished lodge , the Westminster and Keystone , No . 10 , in which he was initiated in 1867 , and of which he became W . Master in 1874 . He was exalted in the Watford Chapter , No . 404 , about the latter year , and was advanced to the Mark

in the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 7 , about 1875 , having since served the office of W . M ., and been twice appointed G . Insp . ot Works in the Grand Lodge of M . M . M ., a position to which he was for the third time invested by the Prince of Wales on the 1 st inst . Bro . Edis is a joining member of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , has taken several other Degrees in Freemasonry , and has extended help , both as a contributor and Festival Steward , of all our Charitable Institutions .

ASSISTANT GRAND DIRECTORS OF CEREMONIES . Bro . G . P . F ESTA , A . G . D . C , though a foreigner by birth , and consequently somewhat heavily handicapped in his honourable rivalry , with English born Masons , has acquitted himself well during his nine years connection with the Craft , and indeed far better than could have been anticipated , even if hi- ; knowledge of our customs and language had been more familiar , In ( . raft . Arch , and Mark Masonry he has rendered most valu-

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

ale services , while the help he has given to our Institutions both as Festival Steward and by his personal contributions , as well as by founding sundry Charitable Associations in their behalf is in a measure incalculable . In fact , Bro . Festa , though he was only initiated in the Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 , in 18 77 , exalted to the Royal Arch Degree in the Hermes Chapter , No . 77 , in 1 S 79 , and advanced to the Mark in the Thistle Lodge , No . S , in

lS / S , has passed the chair in all these branches of the Society with signal credit to himself , both as an officer and " exponent of our ritual , and with equal advantage to Freemasonry generally . He is also a founder and M . W . S . elect of the Rose and Lily Chapter of Rose Croix , having been perfected in that Degree ot the Ancient and Accepted Rite in the Mount Calvary Chapter in 18 S 3 . But the most important of his labours are associated with the

Montague Guest Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter , No . 1900 , of the former of which he is a founder , Past Master , and Treasurer , while of the latter he is the present occupant of the chair of Z ., in succession to Comp . Montague Guest himself , as well as a principle founder . Having regard to these facts , it is not surprising that Bro . Festa should have been given an opportunity of doing general service to the Craft , and that he should have been elected

and re-elected for three years in succession a member of the Board of General Purposes . His obedience to the benevolent instincts of Freemasonry has been similarly commendable . We have already referred to the many Charitable Associations which he has had a chief hand in establishing , and for most , if not all , of which he has acted as honorary Treasurer . But , in addition to the success which has crowned his efforts in

this direction , he has been instrumental in materially assisting both by his contributions as well as by his canvass in their behalf , the great central Charities of the Order . He has acted as a Festival Steward on iS different occasions , and is a Vice-Patron of the Boys' School and a Vice-President of both the Girls' School and Benevolent Institution . He is also assisting

this year at the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival in similar fashion , so that with such a record as this , it is not surprising his Royal Highness she uld have chosen Bro . Festa as one of the Mark brethren whom it was his desire , as the newly-installed head of the Degree , to honour . We trust that Bro . Festa will have yet many further opportunities of doing good suit and service on behalf of a Society to which he is so firmly attached .

BRO . ANDREW MCDCWALL , one of the new Grand Assistant Directors of Ceremonies , is comparatively a young Mason , having been initiated so recently as the 1 st May , 1877 , in the St . Barnabas Lodge , No . 94 8 , Linslade , Bucks . But though of little more than nine years' standing , he has been a diligent , painstaking , and successful worker in all the different branches of the Order . He became VV . M . of his mother lodge in 1882

and was appointed Prov . Grand Dir . of Cerms . Berks and Bucks , the year following . He was exalted in the St . Barnabas R . A . Chapter , No . 94 8 , on 29 th August , 187 s , was elected M . E . Z . in 18 S 4 , and appointed Prov . Grand S . N . in 1885 . In Mark Masonry he was advanced in the St . Barnabas Lodge , No . 97 , the very day and year of his exaltation to the Arch , was installed W . M . in 1881 , and invested as Prov . G . S . Warden of

Buckinghamshire in 1 S 85 . He is also a Royal Ark Mariner , a member of the Allied Degrees , a Royal and Select Master , ' a Knight Templar , and Knight of Malta ( Shadwell Clerke Preceptory and Priory of Malta attached , 1 SS 5 ) , a Knight of the Royal Order of Scotland , and a founder and Past Master of the London Rifle Brigaele Lodge , No . 1962 . These are services of

which even a Mason of twice Bro . McDowall's standing might well be proud , and , doubtless , such a one would be so in an especial degree , if he were able to add , as Bro . McDowall can , that in ths course of his career , he had found time and ability to serve four Stewardships in aid of our Institutions , and to qualify himself as Life Governor of all three .

GRAND SWORD BEARER . Bio . CHARLES PHILIP EVANS , who has been appointed to this ofiice , dates his connection with Freemasonry from the 3 rd December , 18 G 9 , when he was initialed into the mysteries of its First Degree in the Silurian Lodge , No . 471 , Newport , Mon . In the course of some years he rose to be W . M ., and was subsequently appointed Prov . G . S . Deacon of Monmouthshire . He was exalted a R . A . Mason in the Silurian Chapter , No . 471 , in February

1872 , and occupied the chair of hirst Principal last year . He was advanced to the Mark Degree in the Keystone Lodge , No . 109 , Newport , 27 th March , 1871 , and rose to be its VV . M . in 18 S 2 . Provincial honours in the shape of the Prov . G . J . Wardenship of Monmouthshire having been conferred upon him in recognition of his services in connection with the Degree . Bro . Evans is a Life Governor of the Widows' Fund of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

GRAND STANDARD BEARERS . Bro . THOMAS TAYLOR , G . Std . Br ., is of good standing in the chief branches of the Order . He was initiated in the SS . Peter and Paul Lodge , No . 1410 , Newport Pagnell , Bucks , on 24 th September , 1872 , and is now one of its P . M . ' s and Secretary . In 1880 he served as Prov . G . Steward Berks and Bucks , and the year following was invested as Prov . G . S . W . In

Royal Arch Masonry he is a P . Z . and Treas . of the St . George ' s Chapter , and was Prov . G . P . S . in 1884 . He was advanced lo the Mark Degree in the SS . Peter and Paul ' s Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 163 , Newport Pagnell , in April , 1873 , and is nowa P . M . and Secretary . At the constitution of the Mark Province of Buckinghamshire , under Bro . the Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , Bro . Taylor was honoured with the appointment of Prov . G . D . C , and having the jear following been appointed to the chair of

Prov . G . S . W ., has since resumed his position of P . G . D . C . He was also nominated for the Grand Stewardship in 1882 , and had the privilege ol being present at the meeting in Golden-square , at which H . R . H . the G . M . M ., was advanced to the Mark . As regards the Masonic Charities , he has rendered very substantial assistance to ail of them , having qualified as a Life-Governor of both Schools and the Benevolent Institution , and served two Stewardships for the latli r and one for each of the Schools , as well as for the Mark Benevolent Fui d .

BRO . VV . J . THOMSON , tl 0 companion Grand Standard Bearer to Bro . Taylor , has had a long and \ aiied experience , and appears to have turned it to such admirable purpose as to have received recognition for his services from the chiefs of his provii ce in Craft , Arch , and Mark Masonry , as well as from those of the Prov . Priory of Knights Templar and in the Royal

Order of Scotland . ' 1 o state , hem summarily—he is in Craft Masonry , P . M . of the Sefton Lodge , No . 6 S <> , Liverpool , and the Equity Lodge , No . 13 S 4 , Widnes , and a P . P . G . D . ol West Lancashire . In the Royal Aich , he is a P . Z . of the Loyalty Chapter , No . 86 , Prescot , and P . P . G ' Prin . Soj . West Lancashire ; while in Mark Masonry he is W . M . of the Lebanon T . I .