Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

Bro . William Pickford ... ... ... P . S . G . D . ,, Joseph Nicholson ... ... ... P . S . G . D . „ William Francis Nettleship ... ... P . S . G . D . „ Henry Wilson , M . A . ... ... ... P . S . G . D . „ Robert Allen Luck , J . P . ... ... ... P . S . G . D .

,, Henry Toseph Lardner ... ... ... P . S . G . D . „ Frank Alexander Huet ... ... ... P . J . G . D . „ Ernest Farwig ... ... ... P . J-G . D . „ William Nott ... ... ... ... P . J . G . D . „ Henry Stone ... ... ... ... P . G . Swd . Br .

Tampc Rnnlrnn ... ... ... P . G . Swd . Br . „ James Boulton ... ... ... P . G . bwd . br . ,, Thomas Thompson ... ... ... P ; G . Swd . Br . „ John Willinms ... ... ... P . G . Swd . Br . ,, Owen Thomas ... ... ... P . G . Swd . Br . ,, George Graveley ... ... ... P . G . Swd . Br .

,, E . Cheshire Patchitt ... ... ... P . G . Std . Br . „ John Mason ... ... ... ... P . G . Std . Br .

The following report of the General Board was then taken as read and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . REPORT OF THE GENERAL BOARD . During the six months ending 30 th September last , there have been issued 4 SG Marl-Certificates , making the total number of registered advancements 23 , 279 , and ^ the following Warrants for new lodges have beeen granted : —

No . 3 S 0 , Folkestone , Folkestone . ,, 3 S 1 , Unity , Ringwoad . ,, 3 S 2 , Gottlieb , Penang . ,, 3 S 3 , St . George , Stonehouse . Ninety-eight Royal Ark Mariner certificates have also been issued , making a total number of registered elevations , 2323 , and the following Warrants for new lodges have been granted : Wiltshire Anchor , attached to No . 17 S ; Kintore , attached to No . 333 ; Adytum , attached to No . 138 ; Gottlieb , attached to No . 382 ; Egypt , attached to No . 311 ; and Sandown Bayattached to No . 320 .

, H . R . H . the M . W . G . Master has authorised the constitution of the Provincial Grand

Lodge of New South VVales , under the rule of R . W . Bro . Norman Selfe , as Provincial Grand Master . The Board record vvith great regret the death of Col . Tanner Davy , R . W . Pro . G . M . of Devon , who for the last fourteen years presided over that important Province with fidelity and zeal . A successor has not yet been appointed , the Province for the present remaining under the control of the Dep . Prov . G . M ., W . Bro . C . Spence Bate . Cases of irregularity in connection with the Installation of Worshipful Masters

continue to be reported to the Board , and each case has been dealt with on its merits . The attention of Masters and Secretaries has already been forcibly directed to Art . 100 , which lays down that a Worshipful Master cannot be either elected or installed at a Lodgeof Emergency ; to Art . 120 , vvhich provide ? that the days for election and installation fhall be specified in the by-laws ; and to Art . 13 , which lays down that a VV . M . must fill the Chair for the full period of 12 months before he can qualify as Past Master ; and the Board can only express regret at being called upon to deal vvith renewed violations cf the Book of Constitutions .

Having considered the case of Bro . F . T . Elworthy , who had only served the office of W . M . for ten months , having been installed in the chair of the Unanimity Lodge , 341 , on the 29 * : h June , 1886 , while his successor was installed on the 26 th April 1 SS 7 ; the Board recommend him to Grand Lodge for confirmation in the rank and privileges of Past Master on payment of a fine of Two Guineas . Bro . J . Wrieley was installed in the Chair of Prince Edward Lodge , No . 14 , on the 1 st May , 1 S 86 , and his successor vvas installed on 16 th April , 1 SS 7 . The Board recommend him to Grand Lodge for confirmation in the rank and privileges of Past Master on payment of a fine of Two Guineas .

Bro . James Corbett vvas installed in the chair of Lawrence Lodge , 313 , on the gth September , 1 SS 5 , and his successor vvas installed on ioth August , 1 SS 6 . The Board recommend him to Grand Lodge for confirmation in the rank and privileges of Past Master on payment of a fine of three guineas . The irregularity in the Elffin Lodge , 321 , has been carefully considered , and having ascertained that Bro . Richard J . Davids , who vvas installed on the 27 th October , 18 S 6 , only served as W . M . for six months , his successor having been installed on 20 th May , 1887 , the Board feel compelled to inflict the fine of three guineas on the lodge , while

recommending Bro . Davids to Grand Lodge for confirmation in the rank and privileges of Past Master on payment of a further fine of three guineas , The Nineteenth Annual Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund was held at the Holborn Restaurant , on the 20 th July , under the presidency of the M . W . Bro . the Earl Amherst , Past Grand Master , supported by a more numerous Board of Stewards than on any previous occasion , and a-tended by a large number of ladies and brethren . The united efforts ofthe President and 166 Stewards produced the sum of £ 226 . 3 , the greatest amount yet declared , and the thanks of the Order are due to all those by whose exertions this satisfactory resulc has been obtained .

As a consequence of this great success , the Board have the pleasure to announce that the whole of the Candidates have been placed on the Educational and Annuity Funds , without proceeding to formal election , which in the ordinary course should have taken place 011 6 th October last . The Candidates approved ancl placed on the list of pupils , are ;—Bovs . —George A . Graham , Oxford , aged I 2 j years ; Harry James S . vinerd , Plumstead , aged ioi years ; John Waller Lovvick , Westbury , Gloucestershire , aged 12 years ; Sylvester J . Murley , London , aged ioi years . GIRLS . —Grace Waugh Burns , Newbury , a ^ ed 9 years ; Ethel Lily Greenwood , Weymouth , aged gh years ; Bertha Stanley , Bolton , aged q years .

And on the Annuity Fund , Bro . Thomas Pickering , London , late of Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . 5 . The Silver Medal for proficiency has this year been awarded to John Travers Hosgood , a pupil at New College , Worthing ( Mr . G . Le M . Spurgeon , Head Master ) . The Board recommend that the Sum of One Hundred Guineas be voted from the General Fund of Grand Lodge as a Centenary Offering to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , upon the celebration of their Centenary in iSSS , and that the same be placed on the list of Bro . Frank Richardson , Grand Registrar ( Patron and Steward ) .

The Board acknowledge with thanks the gift by V . W . Bro . George Cooper , P . G . Ov ., of a framed Masonic Chart , formerly in the possession of the late Bro . Peter Gilks , and the receipt of copies of Proceedings of Grand Chapter of Canada . The Board have ordered the investment of £ 500 on behalf of Benevolent Fund , £ 300 on behalf of Educational Fund , and £ 700 on behalf of Annuity Fund , making the total invested Funds as follows : — General Fund , £ 2400 ; Benevolent Fund , £ 2000 ; Educational Fund , £ 2200 ; Annuity Fund , £ 2700 . The Board nave relieved the following cases : —

Bro . E . P . S ., No . 34 , £ 20 ; Miss E . G . G ., No . 331 , £ 5 ; Mrs . A , B „ No . 8 , £ 5 ; Bro . J . V ., St . John's , T . L , £ 10 . And recommended to Grand Lodge—Mrs . M . A . P ., widow of Bro . W . H . P ., £ 20 ; Mrs . C . R ., widow of Bro . J . G . R ., £ 20 ; Bro . T . W . M ., Lodge No . 144 , £ 25 . ( Signed ) G . R . PORTAL , Past G . M . M . M ., President .

Grand Treasurer ' s statement of accounts for six months ending 30 th September , 1 S 87 : — DR . GENERAL FUND . To Balance , 31 st March , 18 S 7 ... ... ... £ 467 11 C „ Half-year's Receipts ... ... ... 754 12 4 „ Interest on Investments ... ... ... 59 8 9

£ 1281 12 7 CR . GENERAL FUND . ' By Expenditure " ... ... ... ... £ 824 2 o ,, Balance ... ... ,,. ... 457 10 7 £ 1281 12 7

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

DR . BENEVOLENT FUND . To Balance , 31 st March , 1 SS 7 ... ... ... £ 138 o 5 ,, Transferred from Benevolent Festival Fund ... 500 o o „ Interests on Investments ... ... ... 30 1 3 £ 668 1 S CR . BENEVOLENT FUND . By Grants in Relief ... ... ... ... £ 39 5 o „ Investments ... ... ... ... 501 6 8 „ Balance ... ... ... ... 127 10 o £ 668 1 8

DR . EDUCATION FUND . To Transferred from Benevolent Festival Fund ... £ 500 o o „ Interest on Investments ... ... ... 35 3 3 £ ' 535 3 3 CR . EDUCATION FUND . By Overdrawn , 31 st March , 1 SS 7 ••••••£ ' 9 4 ' ,, Education Fees ... ... ... ... 99 19 10 ,, Investment ... ... ... ... 300 16 o „ Balance ... ... ... ... 125 3 4 £ 535 3 3

DR . ANNUITY FUND . To Balance , 3 ist March , 1 SS 7 ... ... ... £ 47 2 4 „ Transferred from Benevolent Festival Fund ... 56 . 1 o o ,, Interest on Investments ... ... ... 41 o 5 ,, Botvds repaid ... ... ... ... 200 o o £ 788 2 9

CR . ANNUITY FUND . By Annuity , one Quarter ... ... ... £ 500 ,, Investment ... ... ... ... 701 17 4 ,, Balance ... ... ... ... 81 5 5 £ 7 SS 2 9

DR . BENEVOLENT FESTIVAL ACCOUNT . To nine months' Receipts , from ist January to 30 th September , 1 SS 7 ... ' ... ... £ 1778 io 9 £ 1778 10 9 CR . BENEVOLENT FESTIVAL ACCOUNT .

By Transferred to Benevolent Fund ... ... £ 500 o o „ Ditto Annuity Fund .. < ... 500 o 0 „ Ditto Education Fund ... ... 500 o o ,, Expenditure ... ... ... ... 29 19 o ,, Balance ... ... ... ... 24 S 11 g

£ 1778 10 g Audited and approved this 26 : h October , 1 SS 7 , CHARLES EDWARD SOPPET , Auditor . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , in the absence of Canon Portal through important business , moved the several recommendations in the Report , which were put and carried .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , in moving the grant of £ 105 to the Royal Masonic Institution lor Girls Centenary , as recommended by the Report , said he lound that Grand Mark Lodge was always read y to hold out a helping hand towards Charity , and at various times considerable sums of money had been granted to ihe different Masonic Charities . Grants amounting to . £ 273 had been granted to tnat excellent Institution the Boys' Scnool , £ 73

had been granted to the School for Girls , and £ 76 to the Benevolent Institution . In asking lor the present grant , he might say that the recommendation had been considered by the General Board , who found there were special circumstances in the case , the Girls' School attaining the hundredth year of its existence in iSSS . From time lo time ihe Craft had passed resolutions to admit a large number of girls to the School , and that

Institution was now overcrowded , there being now 40 or 50 more children in the building than the Government allowed . Consequently ihe managing body ot the Institution had been obliged 10 come to a resolution to recommend the enlargement of the buildings at an expense of £ , ' 20 , 000 . Of course this great expense would not be altogether thrown away , because then tnis noble institution vvould be able to admit another 70 children . On the occasion of

the Centenary it was thought to be a good opportunity to ask the Crait to grant ihe funds which were necessary 10 carry out the mailer . He could assure the brethren that the funds granted would not be wasted , because the children were boarded , clothed , and educated at an expense of £ ' 35 a year each . The money granted was thoroughly applied , and the results ot the education were surprising , all the children having come out well from the different

examinations . Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS said it gave him great pleasure to second the motion . The Grand Registrar had given an excellent statement , and he was sure the brethren would heartil y agree that the money subscribed had been expended in a proper manner . It would be so in future , and the Institution would add lustre to Masonry , The motion was put and carried . The report of the Board was afterwards adopted .

Bro . Major WOODALL then said : It becomes my duty on this occasion to nominate nis Royal Highness ihe Prince of Wales as Grand Master of Mark Masons lor ihe ensuing year . He has done his duty , you know , loyally to this Order so long , Inat 1 am sure by re-electing him we shall be doing the best thing for ourselves . I cannot say we shall be conferring an honour upon him , but by asking him to undertake this duty I think we snail be doing the best we can for the Order .

Bro . WINNETT nominated Bro . J . L . Mather for election as Grand Treasurer . Bro . HORACE WHITE nominated Bro . E . Letchworth . Charity Jewels were next presented to the following brethren

:--Bros . Capt . Airey , Earl Amherst , Barrett , A . F . Carter , M . T . Carter , T . S . Carter , Capt . Castellan , Lhallenor , jr ., Col . S . H . Clerke , H . S . Clutton , Rev . Thos . Cochrane , Coop , Courtenay , Cox , Crossley , Cottrell , Davies , Denton , Eastes , Edwaids , Capt . Williams Freeman , Friend , Frye , Capt . Garnett , Gottlieb , Gregory , VVm . Green , Silver-Hall , Hallo . vs , Harrison , Higgins , Hills , Hurley , Hart , Hamp , Jepps , Kennett , Knyvett ,

Kohn , G . E . Lake , W . Lake , J . Lane , Lemon , Levick , Lyon , McLeod , Marsden , jr ., Massey , Mitchell , Miller , Major Ormesby , Pakes , Watts Parkinson , King Patten , Penfold , Col . Potter , Rastrick , Ridley , Gordon Robbins , R ; v . Thos . Robinson , Col . Rocca , R . jwley , Ryrie , Col . Sounders , Lamb Smith , Staley , Stiles , Co ! . Stirling , Saeny , Tnomas Owen , John Grey Trevor , Varren , Von Joel , Ward , Warne , Walton , Wcddell . Weiss , Wilson , Winnett . and Abell ,