Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

Bars were presented to the following : — Bros . Aillud , Anderson , Bateman , Belton , Bennett , Berridge , Boulton , Bowyer , Brittain , Cama , Church , Clark , Cooper , Crouch , Cummings , Cunliffe , Davison , Dawson , De Ferrieres , Driver , Duke , Eve , Emmerson , Faija , Festa , Fletcher , Goodall , Glasspool ,

Godson , Graveley , Harwood , Heard , Hodgkin , Jefferis , Kenning , Kenyon , Lambert , C . S . Lane , Lott , Moon , Manwaring , March , Mirk'ey , Milligan , Morris , Matier , Sir Love Jones Parry , Patchitt , Philbrirk , Powell , Richardson , Rev . Dr . Smyth , Soppet , Stewart , Stone , Strachan , Sutcliffe , Terry , W . J . Thomson , Tisley , Toplis , Venn , Wallis , Weston , Williams , Williamson , Woodiwiss , Whytehead , and Young .

Bro . BINCKES having read a list of brethren from whom apologies for absence had been received , Grand Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Duke's Saloon to banquet , Bro . Major Woodall presiding . The toasts were very few . Bro . Col . A . M . SAUNDERS , Past D . G . M . Madras , in proposing " Bro . Major Woodall ' s Health , " said the brethren were all pleased with the

progress of the Mark Degree . Under the able guidance of the Grand Officers who were entrusted with the working of that Degree it would still further progress and advance . Bro . Major Woodall had done much to advance it , and he trusted that on many future occasions they vvould have him to preside over them . He also wished every success and prosperity to the Province of North and East Yorkshire , over which Bro . Major Woodall had so long and well presided .

Bro . Major WOODALL , in response , said he was as anxious for the good of Freemasonry as any brother in the Craft , and it was only want of opportunity vvhich prevented the little Province of North and East Yorkshire not doing more . They looked up to West Yorkshire as their big brother . They

would try to do more . When they came to London those who lived north of the Trent felt in a fresh air and picked up strength . They went back to their homes again with hearts fortified and wishes strengthened to do all they could for the good of Freemasonry themselves and to influence their brethren to do the same .

Bro . Col . SAUNDERS proposed "The Marie Benevolent Fund . Bro . C . F . MATIER , in reply , said it vvas hardly necessary for him to say one word in eulogy of the Mark Benevolent Fund in a Society like the present , every member of vvhich had been , or was now , acting as a Steward . But it vvould ill become him if he were not to thank the proposer of the toast at once most heartily and cordially for the very kind manner in which

he had mentioned his ( Bro . Matier ' s ) services , such as they were , in connection with the Mark Benevolent Fund . The Fund was established in 1869 with a donation , the only one they had received up to the present time , from the General Fund of the Order , of £ 50 , and the result of the Festival , which was presided over by Bro . Canon Portal with six Stewards ,

amounted to the then large sum of £ 97 . Atthe last Festival they were presided over by the M . W . Bro . Earl Amherst , Past G . M ., and ihey had 159 Stewards . The amount collected was totally unprecedented , viz ., ^ 2260 . That vvas , shortly , the rise and progress of the Fund . It was now divided into three parts—one for pure benevolence , the relief of the widows and the distressed in the hour of their affliction and trial . Since the establishment

of the Fund they had given nearly £ 2000 in this way . In 1875 the Educational Branch was established , and on that Fund they had had from the beginning to the present time 36 children . At the present moment they had 26 , who were reaping its benefits year after year until they reached 16 years of age . That absorbed nearly ^ 300 a year . In addition to this—by vote of Grand Lodge in June , 1886—they gave ^ 5 each in clothing those

children vvho vvere educated under the care of their parents or guardians ; they went respectably to school , and £ 130 a year was spent on their clothing . Still , further , an Annuity Fund vvas established in 1885 , on the earnest persuasion of Lord Egerton of Tatton , vvho had so graceiully presided in Grand Lodge that night . By this Fund they were enabled to give to each poor and distressed brother of a certain age the sum of £ 20 a vear to ti de

him over his passage to that long home to which they were all hastening , and to widows . £ 16 a year . It was only a small sum , only half what the annuitants on the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution received ; but it was a good supplement to anything they had . Objects like these must commend themselves to the brethren , and he hoped they vvould strive wilh all their

might and main to promote them . Next year the Festival would be presided over by the Marquess of Hertford , Deputy G . M . and Prov . G . M . of Warwick . There were 80 Stewards for this Festival at present who vvere determined to support it ; but that vvas only half the number they had last year , and he was anxious to obtain other names . Several names vvere afterwards given in , and the brethren then separated .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

On Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , and thereafter the members of the Masonic Order celebrated the festival of St . Andrew by the customary banquet . Commencing at four in the afternoon , the meeting for the election of office-bearers was presided over by Bro . Sir Michael R . Shaw-Stewart , Past Grand Master . Bro . the Earl of Haddington vvas in

his place as Grand Master Depute ; Bro . James Dalrymple Duncan , Glasgow , acted as Senior Grand Warden ; [ and Bro . James Crichton , Edinburgh , as Junior Grand Warden . The Grand Lodge having been formaly opened , the elective offices were declared from the chair to be vacant , and the Grand Secretary ( Bro . D . Murray Lyon ) , read the list of nominations , vvhich , on the suggestion of Grand Committee , had been adopted by Grand Lodge . Thereafter , Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , M . P ., moved the

reelection of Bro . Sir Archibald C . Campbell of Blythswood , M . P ., as Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and this motion was received with acclamation and at or . ce adopted . Thereafter , Bro . the Earl of Haddington having been nominated by the Grand Master as Grand Master Depute , and Bro . the Earl of Kintore as Substitute Grand Master , the other officers vvere elected and installed to office for the next year , so that the full list is now as follows : —

Bro . Col . Sir Archibald C . Campbell of Blythswood , Bart ., M . P . ... ... ... M . W . G . M . „ Thc Right Hon . the Earl of Mar and Kellie ... R . W . P . G . M . „ The Right Hon . the Earl of Haddington ,,, R . W . D . G . M .

„ The Right Hon . the Earl of Kintore ... R . W . S . G . M . ,, James T . S . Elliott ... ... ... S . G . W . „ The Right Hon . Lord Saltoun ... ... J . G . W . ' „ D . Murray Lyon ... ,., ,,. G . Sec ' „ David Kinnear ... ... ... a . CaMae .

„ Rev . Professor R . Herbert Story , D . D . ... ) ,- ^ , ,. „ Rev . Robert Henderson , M . A . . ... j G . Chaplains . „ James Dalrymple Duncan ... ,, ' , S . G . D . ••Lieut .-Col . John Campbell ,., ,,, J . G . D .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

Bro . Hippolyte J . Blanc ... ... ... G . Architect ; „ David MacGregoi" ... ... ... G . Jeweljeh „ David Reid ... ... ... ... G . Bible Bearer ; ,, Albert Aptthorpe ... ... ... G . D . of C . „ George Dobie ... ... ... ... G ; Bard . ,, James Crichton ... ... ... G . Swd . Br ; „ Carl D . Hamilton ... . ... ... G . Dir . of Music . „ James Brand ... ... ... ... G . Marshal .

„ Colin Galletly .,. ... ... ... G . I . G . „ David Robertson ... ... ... G . Tyler ; Board of Grand Stewards—Bro . William Edwardsj President , and Bro . James Melville , Vice-President Bro . Sir Robert Buchanan presented his commission as Representative of the Grand Lodge of Maryland .

Grand Lodge gave instructions that a charter be issued to the new lodge Athole , Bundaberg , Queensland . The brethren then repaired to the great hall , where they vvere joined by deputations from many daughter lodges in the celebration of the Festival of St . Andrew . The chair vvas occupied by Bro . Sir R . Shaw-Stewart , and the croupiers vvere the Wardens and the President and Vice-President of the Board of Grand Stewards .

After dinner the usual preliminary toasts were given from the chair ( "The Oueen and the Craft , " and "The Princess of Wales and Royal Family . " Bro . F . E . VILLIERS gave " The Navy , Army , and Reserve Forces . " Bro . Sir J AMES BUCHANAN replied for the Navy , Bro . Surgeon-General HEATH for the Army , and Bro . Major F , VV . ALLNV for the Reserve Forcesi

Bro . Sir MICHAEL SHAW-STEWART , in proposing the toast of the evening , "The Grand Lodge and the Grand Masters , " announced that the Grand Lodge vvas now free of debt . ( Applause . ) He had some details vvhich would interest them . In February , 1877 , the financial condition of Grand Lodge made it necessary to procure a cash credit from the Union Bank for £ 1000 , the debt on Grand Lodge at that time being about

£ 18 , 000 . On that sum nearly £ 4500 had been paid in interest , making a total of over ^ 22 , 000 . On the 24 th of this month a payment of ^ 1040 had freed the Grand Lodge of all debts and encumbrances . The change in management which took place in March , 1877 , restored confidence in Grand Lodge . ( Applause . ) Daughter lodges sent in their returns , and the officials of Grand Lodge vvere thus enabled to carry on the business

of Grand Lodge without drawing upon the cash credit referred to . During the ten years ending that evening about 47 , 000 entrants had been recorded in the books of Grand Lodge , and in the same period 153 new lodges had received charters . The Fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence possessed capital to the amount of £ 6500 , and in grants during the last ten years it had expended £ 5000 .

During the last 12 months ending that night 4442 entrants had been recorded in the books . ( Applause . ) Now , he was sure it vvould be satisfactory to them to hear those small matters of fact , and it might be asked , how had all this been effected ? Well , in the first place , in March , 1877 , Bro . David M . Lyon was elected Grand Secretary . ( Applause . ) He had proved himself an able , indefatigable , and zealous official , being assisted by an honest

Treasurer , Bro . David Kinnear . In the second place , the Finance Committee of the Grand Lodge had most thoroughly attended to their duties . Those brethren had quietly and unostentatiously , and without any pretence , but nevertheless most punctually and most assiduously , carried on their work . They all owed them thanks for the way in which they had executed and carried on their work . Lastly , the Grand

Masters , who had been in office for the last ten years . ( Applause . ) The Grand Committees , all of them , one and all , had determined that the scandals that took place at one time should be wiped out , and that there should never be a possibility of their recurrence . ( Applause . ) We must not forget , in giving you this toast , that we have to drink the health of the Worshipful Grand Master . ( Applause . ) Although

he was absent from them—not only advised , but ordered to take rest abroad , for he was not a man who was easily persuaded to leave any duty which he had to perform—although he was absent from them , he was sure that in spirit he was vvith them on St . Andrew ' s night . ( Applause . ) They were all attached to the Grand Master ; they admired and respected his zeal

and devotion to the Grand Lodge , and he was sure that in drinking his health , they earnestly hoped that the rest he vvas about to have , and the sunny skies in the neighbourhood of the blue Mediterranean , would restore him , and send him back to them in the spring restored and renovated in every way . ( Loud applause . )

Bro . Sir CHARLES DALRYMPLE , in proposing the toast of " The Past Grand Master , " referred to the happy circumstance that the Past Grand Master was presiding there . It vvas not , he said , disparaging to other Past Grand Masters that he said so ; it vvas certainly not in forgetfulness of the officials of the Grand Lodge in recent times vvhen he said that Grand Lodge was under the deepest debt of obligation to Sir Michael

Shaw-Stewart . No one vvho knew anything of the affairs of Grand Lodge would fail to recollect that it was Sir Michael who guided the ship of the fortunes of Grand Lodge through the sea of difficulties , and that it was owing to him in a very large degree that his position was that which he had described that night . ( Applause . ) He was sure that they must all rejoice that Sir Michael was there tbat night in such renovated and excellent health .

Sir MICHAEL briefly returned thanks . Sheriff TOMS gave "The Grand Master Depute and the Substitute Master . " " Grand Wardens and other Office-Bearers was submitted b y Bro . R . F . SHAW-STEWART .

Bro . J . DALRYMI ' DUNCAN , proposed "The Provincial and Dist . Grand Lodges at Home , in India , the Colonies , and in Foreign Parts . " Bro . Lieut .-Col . STIRLING , of Kippendavie , in reply , said the announcement made by the Acting Grand Master as to the state of their funds would be hailed throughout Scotland vvith the most intense satisfaction . They might now , he thought , be able to turn their attention to a subject whicii

had been rather long neglected—the creation of a Benevolent Fund worthy of their national honour . He was aware that a Committee had been appointed to investigate this point , but he rather feared there had been too great an interval between their appointment and the presentation of their report . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not see how they should have two funds and

two administrations , and , with all deference , he would suggest that they should follow the example of the Grand Lodge of England . There the scheme of annuities vvas based and worked along with , the whole benevolent scheme , while here there was a second body with a second fund . Other toasts followed ,