Grand Mark Lodge.

many talents and accomplishments which you possess , among them those of Gentleness and learning , so well remembered to be possessed by H . R . H . your beloved and revered father . ( App lause . ) Wc offer you , Sir , the hig hest , compliment that it is in our power to offer , that hio-h position of a Past Grand Master of the Order , and we thank you for accepting it . We have many lodges under . Grand Lodge . They muster strong . They are increasing in number day by day . There are snmp n . noo or 16 . 000 Mark Masters now under Grand Lodge , and in their

name I have the honour to speak . ( Applause . ) Sir , it is a great pleasure for me that your Royal Hig hness joins Grand , Lodge during my term of office . May I add it may be in your power now and then to come amongst us , and to aid us in the good government of the Order . ( App lause . ) I am sure , Sir , that I may promise ' you as warm and cordial a reception as you have received here to-nig ht . ( App lause . ) I cannot , Sir , refrain from referring to an important incident which has lately occurred , which may affect

your Royal Highness through hfe . When the proper time comes no ciouon a vote of congratulation will be passed to your Royal Highness ; but I think the brethren present would blame me if I did noi offer you our hearty congratulations on the happy prospects which are placed belore you . ( Renewed applause . ) May you , Sir , enjov all the happiness which the real domestic

life of this country always receives . I hrough a long vista ot years we WISH your Roval Hig hness this as heartily as we wish you health and prosperity , and as heartily as we wish that your Royal Highness ' s Royal House may o-uide the destinies of this great country for generations to come , and as heartily as we welcome your Royal Highness here to-night , and shall ever welcome you when you come amongst us , ( Loud and long continued

applause . ) The customary forms having been observed , The DUKE oi' ALBANY , who , on rising , was received with great applause , said : Brethren , I beg to assure you of the great pleasure which It hn <; o-ivpn me to become a Past Grand Mark Master Mason , and at the

same time to assure you that I will always endeavour to advance Mark Masonry . ( App lause . ) ' I have been much gratified by the kind reception which you have all g iven mc here this evening , and in particular for the congratulation you have given me on my approaching marriage . I beg particularly to thank Bro . JLord Henniker for the kind terms he bas used in speaking of me . As I am leaving here in a few minutes I hope you will

excuse me saying more . The M . W . G . M . then said : Brethren , it is my duty now to propose a vote that I think you will all join in . It may be late to , propose the vote but you will recollect that this is thc first Grand Lodge that has been held since the sad event of the death of the late President of the United Slates . I am in favour of making very short speeches on occasions of this kind , especially when we arc in earnest in what we say , and we mean what we

say . I dont think I need say how thoroughly grieved we are at the great loss not only to the United States of America , but I think also to the world in general by the death of this uprig ht and enlig htened ruler of that great country . We recollect his bravery and fortitude in his long and painful illness ; we recollect thc watching b y the sick bed , and we almost felt that we in this country were joining in that watching . We recollect , too , the enormous amount of sympathy that was shown in this country , and wc

recollect that General Garfield was a most distinguished Mason ; and we remember , too , that this Grand Lodge of Mark Masters had always been in close sympathy with the Supreme Grand Chapter of the United States . The feeling that was shown 1 think in this country was not one that we can look upon alone as respect for the great man who was taken away , but it reminds us that the people of America and ourselves are come from one common stock . We must not forget this , nor must

we forget the enthusiasm in America for Her Majesty the Queen —( applause)—for her sympathy with that country and with Mrs . Garfield in the sad trial that had come upon them . ( Applause . ) We in this country know that we may expect that sympathy from Her Majesty at such times of trial . It is well known , too , in the United States , and such sympathy , you may depend upon it , is not easily forgotten , and I believe it must tend to cement that friendship which always exists between England and

America . Her Majesty has set us an example which we can onl y humbly follow ; but still I shall ask you , by passing this vote of condolence with Mrs . Garfield , to add one more word of sympathy to the many that have been spoken from this country already . 1 think you will trust me to see the resolution if it is passed sent , in proper terms ; and I will merely move now that a vote of condolence be sent to Mrs . Garfield in the great loss that she and the great country of America have sustained . The Duke of ALBANY : Brethren , I have very much pleasure in

seconding your Grand Master s motion . The motion was carried unanimously . His Royal Hig hness the Dukeof Albany then left Grand Lodge , escorted as before . The following report of the General Board was , on motion duly made and seconded , taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the

minutes : The number of certificates issued in the six months to 30 th September , 1 SS 1 , was G 60 , the total of registered advancements being 15 , 398 . During the same period thirteen warrants for new lodges were granted , viz .: No . 279 Pinnacle Simla . No . 2 SG Cheena ... Nynee Tal , Bengal . „ 2 S 0 Newton Newton , Auck- „ 2 S 7 Carlo Eduar- Si

land , 1 N . £ . do uoitey byracuse , cily . „ 2 S 1 Beverlac ... Beverley . „ 2 SS Port Natal ... Durban , Natal . ¦ ' ,, 2 S 2 Derwent .. Workington . „ 289 Dalhousie ... Kyneton , Australia . „ 2 S 3 William Pearl Mysore , Madras . „ 290 Tudor Lodge „ 284 High Cross ... Tottenham . of Volunteers Wolverhampton . „ 285 Kirby Saidpur , Bengal „ 291 Drifelt .. Driffield . And ninety-two certificates in the Degree of Royal Ark Mariner , with three warrants for New Ark Lodges : —

Dove , attached to Worthy Apprentice , No . 193 . Comet , attached to Comet , No . 2 O 0 . Port Natal , attached to Port Natal , No . 2 SS . In the Province of South Wales , after a lengthened period of inactivity , renewed interest has happily been awakened , and on Wednesday , 31 st August last , Sir Pryse Pryse . Bart , ( formerly Craft Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division ) , was installed as R . W . Provincial Grand Master , with every augury of success as the result of

earnest and efficient administration . A Provincial Grand Lodge has also been constituted for the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire , exclusive of the town of Kingston-upon-Hulll , the Lodges in which have elected to continue direct connection with the Grand Lodge . The granting of a warrant to the Carlo Eduardo Coffey Lodge at Syracuse , Sicily , has led to the foimation of a District Grand Lodge ot the Mediterranean , and the best results are anticapted from the introduction there of English Freemasonry under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge . The District Grand Lodge has been placed under the rule of the Provincial Grand Master of Tunis and Malta , R . W . Bro . A . M . Broadley , whose zeal and ability have already been acknowledged .

Grand Mark Lodge.

The Grand Festival Ivas held on Tuesday , 31 st May last , on which occasion was celebrated the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the constitution of the Mark Grand Lod ge . The prestige of the meeting was considerably enhanced by the official announcement of the acceptance by H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , K . G ., of the rank of M . W . Past Grand Master of the Order , was unusually successful in point of numbers , between 300 and 400 brethren having attended , and was ably presided over b y the newly-installed Grand Master , the M . W . Bro . Rt . Hon . Lord Henniker . The auspicious event was further

commemorated by a banquet to ladies , who subsequently joined the brethren in the enjoyment of a concert specially provided under most satis actory arrangements . The Benevolent Fund Festival was held at the Crystal Palace , on Wednesday , 6 th July , the M . W . Grand Master , Lord Henniker , in the chair , the result of the efforts of twenty-three Stewards and their friends being the amount of £ 346 17 s . Bro . Sir Charles Brune Graves-Sawle Bart . ( Deputy Provincial Craft Grand Master ) , was installed as R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall , at Truro , on Monday , 12 th

September , in succession to R . W . Bro . Col . John W . Peard , whose lamented death was noticed in the last report of the Board . A moveable Grand Lodge was held at Sheffield on Thursday , 22 nd day of September , and proved one of the largest and most successful meetings of Grand Lodge ever assembled . The attendance numbered upwards of 300 , including six Provincial Grand

Masters , and the M . W . Past Grand Master , Bro . W . VV . Beach , M . P ., who presided with his customary ability , accepting the position at the last moment , owing to the regretted , and unlocked for , absunce of the M . W . Grand Master , occasioned by ill-health . In the courseof the proceedings , Bro . John Wo "dall Woodall , P . M ., was installed as R . W . Provincial Grand Master of North and liast Yorkshire with every assurance of a prosperous and beneficial term of office .

The W . Master of the Britannia Lodge , No . 53 , Bro . S . Gatty , was also installed on the same day by the R . W . Bro . 'lhomas Trollope , M . D ., Prov . G . Master of Sussex , in the presence of the unprecedented—as is believed—number of eighty-one Installed Masters . Thos . Montagu Quinn , son of the late Bro . Benjamin Quinn , has been admitted to the benefits of the Educational Fund , there being now five sons of Mark Master Masons enjoying the advantages of that fund . The hall at the rear of the Offices , No . SA , Red Lion-square , has been rendered suitable

in every respect by the completion of the heating and lighting apparatus , new fittings , and temporary decoration , for the meetings of lodges , Sec , and it is hoped that the expections of the Board as to revenue from this source may he realised . The Board recommend the following grants from the Benevolent Fund : £ 25 to a brother of the Abbey Lodge , No . 225 ; £ 21 to the widow of a late brother ofthe St . Aubyn Lodge , No . 64 . The Grand Treasurer ' s accounts for the six months ending 30 th September , 1 SS 1 , show the following results : 1

GENERAL FUND . Balance from 31 st March , 1 SS 1 £ 426 4 4 Half-year ' s receipts ... , £ 653 u 2 Interest on Investments 38 13 16 692 4 S

£ mS 9 o Half-year ' s disbursements : Ordinary Expenditure £ 446 7 2 Extraordinary expenditure : ' Legal expenses for lease £ 25 14 6 Expended on Masonic Hall 236 1 9 Furniture for Office and Board-room ... 89 19 6 Grand Festival on 31 st May last 205 2 o 556 17 9

1003 . 4 11 Balance at Bankers 30 th September , 1 SS 1 £ 115 4 1

BENEVOLENT FUND . Balance from 31 st March , 1 SS 1 £ 142 15 10 Half-Year ' s Disbursements : Half-year ' s receipts £ 234 14 o Grants in relief ... £ 40 o o Interest on Invest- Expenses 416 ments 32 16 o — 44 1 6 1 — 267 10 o — . Balance at Banker ' s , 30 th Sep-£ 410 5 . 10 tember , 1 SS 1 ... £ 366 4 4

EDUCATION FUND . Balance on 31 st March , 1 SS 1 £ 117 3 11 Balance at Bankers , Interest on Investments ... 10 15 5 30 th September , iSSi £ 117 9 4 127 19 4 Less Cheque not paid 220 Half-Year ' s Disbursements for ¦ . — 115 7 4 Educational fees £ 12 12 o ¦

Examined and found correct , ( Signed ) ALFRED WILLIAMS , > . ,.. ROBERT BERRIDGE , 5 Audlt ° rs-12 th October , iSSt .

INVESTED FUNDS . General Fund £ 1700 o 0 Benevolent Fund " ... . . . 1400 o o Educational Fund ... . ' . ' 500 o o And the Board have ordered the following additional investments to be made : — On Account of _ Benevolent Fund £ 100 o o On Account of Educational Fund- ... 200 o o

Bro . HERBERT DICKETTS then rose and said : Brethren , I have very much p leasure in rising to propose the nomination of the Right Hon . Lord Henniker , our present M . W . G . M ., as Grand Master of thc Order for the year ensuing . ( Applause . ) I need not say in the presence of his lordship , and of you , how admirably he presides over us . From what you have seen this evening I am sure it will be with your hearty approval that I nominate him again as Grand Master of Mark Master Masons , and I feel confident it will meet with the approval of all the Mark Masons of England .

Charity jewels were then presented to the following brethren , who s ^ Pved as Stewards at the last Mark Benevolent Fund : Bros . J . Bance , A . M . Broadley , J . H . Clarke , A . T . Godson , H . Martin Green , John Hancock , Wm . Hickman , W . H . Hodgkin , Geo . Ker , John Kirke , J . H . Leggott , Wm . March , C . L . Mason , O . H . Pearson , James Finder , C . J . Smith , Henry Stone , T . C . Walls , T . B . Whytehead , and D . M . Dewar .

The GRAND SECRETARY announced that he had received letters of apology for inability to attend from several-brethren , prefacing the announcement with the remark that all the brethren would be sorry to hear that Bro . Portal , P . G . M ., was obliged to sojourn for the winter at Cannes , on account of ill-health .

Grand Lodge was then closed , and the ¦ brethren adjourned to a superb banquet , after which they honoured the usual toasts . Bro . W . A . F . POWELL , Prov . G . M . of Bristol , in proposing "The Health of the M . W . G . M ,, " said that all who had been present in Grand Lodge must have been much impressed with the manner in which the investment of the Duke of Albany was conducted , and he ventured to say

that no one was more deeply impressed than H . R . H . himself . " It was a matter of gratification to all Mark Masons that so eminent a brother was among them . He ( Bro Powell ) felt that his presence to-day was a fortunate circumstance , seeing that he happened to be one of the Senior Deacons in Craft Masonry when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was p laced in the chair as Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge .