Grand Master's Lodge Of Instruction Of Mark Master Masons.

Bro . VINCENT acknowledged the vote . In the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction they endeavoured to work the degree as they thought it should be worked . They had followed the groundwork as it had been laid by Bro . Matier and those who were foremost in reviving the degree in its earlier days when the Grand Mark Lodge was first established in England . They had also endeavoured to spread the degree as much as they possibly could . Of those who had worked

that evening there were only two instances of two brethren from the same lodge , so that the work which Lord Ampthill and Rear-Admiral Markham described as so well done was being well spread by the brethren in their own lodges . They were trying to spread the Mark Degree in such a way as to make better working throughout all the Mark lodges ; indeed , he knew that different officers in the provinces were doing good work in that direction , and that the efforts of the members of the Grand Master's Lodge of Instruction were bearing good fruit .

On the motion of Bro . C . F . MATIER , seconded by Bro . FRANK RICIIAKHSON , Lord Ampthill was elected a member of the lodge , a compliment which his lordship gracefully acknowledged . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern , where Lord Ampthill presided over a choice banquet . The brethren afterwards honoured the usual toasts .

Bro . Rear-Admiral MARKHAM responded to the toast of "The Pro Grand Master , & c , " and regretted the absence of the Deputy Grand Master , Lord Dungarvan , who was ill . So long as Lord Euston and Lord Dungarvan continued to rule over Mark Masonry so long would it flourish in England and have good officers . Those who were present that evening had done their work satisfactorily . and they would do their duty we !) in the future as they had done in the past . All who were present were as much interested in the ceremony as he was himself , and

had spent a most delightful evening . The W . M . in the chair had said that he hoped the way in which the work had been carried out that evening would be followed in other lodges . He sincerely hoped it would . The musical accompaniments enhanced the beauty of the ceremony , and , he believed , also a'dded to its solemnity . He hoped the Worshipful Master ' s prediction would be verified , but that must depend on whether in other lodges they had a good musical accompanyist . In proposing the present toast , Lord Amnthill had referred to him as

having travelled a great deal over the surface of the g lobe , and that was quite true . Among other places , he had visited the Arctic regions on more than one occasion , and on one occasion the cold was so intense—75 below zero , the lowest point ever registered—that everything froze under its intluence except chloroform . Rum 45 degrees above proof froze to the consistency of honey ; and whiskey , good old Scotch , and brandy were frozen hard , and as he had mentioned this to the Chairman that evening , they actually broke off pieces and ate them . What was Lord Ampthill ' s reply r " Then you must have been hard drinkers . "

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . W ., G . S ., proposed " The Chairman . " Although he had had the honour of proposing the toast in the 10 previous years of the existence of the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction , he had never had greater pleasure in doing that duty than on the present occasion . The brethren had in the chair a brother who had made himself prominent not only in the Mark Degree by having attained the position of S . G . W . in 1803 , but who had also been Vionouied b y the Grand Master appointing him as Provincial Grand Master 01

Bedfordshire in the Craft Degrees . The brethren were most deli g hted to see him among them that evening , and presiding so ably over them , and they would wish him God speed for the tuture . They all knew his indomitable p luck and perseverance for the three years that he rowed in the Oxford eight and won , and they were also sure that he would show the same p luck and perseverance in his dealings in Masonry . He asked them to drink heartily and sincerel y success to the Chairman .

Lord A . MI'THII . I ., in reply , said it took him some time to get up from his blushing and reply to the far too flattering terms which Bro . Matier had used concerning him . Bro . Matier had given him more credit than he deserved ; he said he made himself prominent in Freemasonry . Well , some men were born great , others rose to greatness : whilst others ( and it was to this class he unfortunately belonged ) had greatness thrust upon them . When one had greatness thrust upon him it took him a long system of hypocrisy pretending to greater

virtues and merits than he possessed , and he had to preach doctrines and principles he had no time to practice . That was his case . On the present occasion for the purpose of keeping up the deceit , he would be perfectly candid and tell the brethren he was an extremely unworth y Mark Mason , and not fit to occupy that proud and pleasing position . He had done very little in Mark Masonry , and his position that night was that more ol a learner and a listener than as one in authority . As he had said in lodge , it would be presumption

on his part to criticise or to praise the work , but he would say i : was trul y a pleasure to him to see the admirable way in which the impressive ceremony was performed ; it was absolutely unexceptionable . He would now venture on his usual course of preaching principles which he had not the opportunity though he would take credit to himself for the desire—to practise . There could be no doubt of the importance about cultivating Masonry on principle if they accepter ] the ritual of the Craft with its stern and simple beauty ; but the Mark Degree stood a

long way before all others for beauty and impressiveness , and the importance of the Mark Degree was witnessed b y the ever-increasing number of lodges on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge , and the dignified position which wa- held b y Grand Mark Lodge . He had never seen the advancement fail to produce an impression on candidates ; there was a feeling of pleasure and surpris ; , and he h id often thought that a great deal more than at first si ght appeared depended on that ceremony . He believed a man ' s Masonry was made or marred according as he

received his first impression , and he could not lay too much stress on the importance of making the ceremonies as impressive and solemn as they could be made Any ceremony , whether social , or political , or relig ious , or of any other kind , lost its quality and effectiveness if not carried out with dignity and solemnity . Here in England they saw so many cases of hypocrisy in the ceremonies in Parliament and other places that they were simply ludicrous when gone through in a slovenly and half-hearted manner . It was often fitly said that we Englishmen

should be the great Masonic nation of the world , that England was the home of Freemasonry , and that it should be universal . Of course the reason for it was that the ceremonies of Freemasonry were dear to their hearts ; but it was also due to the fact in no small measure that here we had ceremonies which we did perform with dignity , with grace , and with reverence ; and for that reason they impressed , and did not appear ridiculous . But there was another reason why the cultivation of the riluil was ol the greatest

importance . In days gone by the words of the ceremonies were handed down by oral tradition , and men had more time to acquire them ; but unfortunately in these bustling days , men had not the same time , and il was impossible to give a constant attendance , and they had to acknowledge the necessity of cramming up their work just as all their acquisition of knowledge icquired to be stimulated by the process of cramming . But knowledge so acquired was not of a permanent character ; knowledge acquired in haste and crammed was liable to be forgotten . To remedy this evil constant practice and rehearsal , such as was supplied by

lodges of instruction like the Grand Mastei ' s Ledge was requisite . That was where the great advantage came in under the modern conditions of forcing , 10 acquire anything by halves antl training the memory , relying so much as we did on that which was written , printed , and digested for us in every form . He claimed one more great advantage for the practice and cultivation of the ritual , and that on general grounds . In an age which was marked by a decay of reverence for old institutions and guidance of authority , of princi ples , of conduct ol hfe and virtue , he took it that anybod y who assisted to cultivate a reverence , especiall y for old

Grand Master's Lodge Of Instruction Of Mark Master Masons.

customs and institutions , was doing a great work and was aiding to retard the process of degeneration . He would not venture to criticise , as he had alread y said , the work which had been done that evening ; but if he dared he should like to accord it the very highest praise . Perhaps what he had said so far would appear presumptuous , but he hoped the brethren would take it not from him as a

individual , but from the chair in which he had the honour to be placed . However , there was one thing he could say without the slightest diffidence—he wished every success possible to the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction , and that was a wish in which he was quite sure every one , whether a member of the lodge or a visitor , would most heartily concur . He proposed that as a toast .

Bro . WILLIAM VINCENT , Preceptor , acknowledged the toast . For some years past it had been the Chairman ' s pleasure to say something kind about that lod ge but he thought the brethren never heard a more feeline , telling , or upro / ios speech than that made by Lord Ampthill . The Managing Committee would feel very particularl y with regard to that speech . Their lodge of instruction desired to see the Mark ritual better known and more equally worked . They tried year after year . Bro . Matier set the example when the lodge was founded by himself and other

distinguished Masons , most of whom had passed away . Bro . Matier acted as Preceptor and Secretary , but as the duties of office grew around him he found it necessary to give up some , and he asked him ( Bro . Vincent ) to act as Preceptor . He never could hope to emulate the example of Bro . Matier , but he would endeavour not to disgrace his predecessor . Dr . Green assisted him when he ( Bro . Vincent ) was obliged to be absent . With his assistance and the assistance of the Committee they had carried on the work . From the experience he had

had in moving about in lodges in and about London he was perfectl y satisfied with the result , and they were encouraged to go on by the increased attendance of brethren who came in and did the work . But they had also to lament so many came in to cram for passing through the chair , and when they had passed the chait they did not come to the lodge of instruction again . Although they had had' that night a good team to do the work , there were plenty of other brethren to go into

another room and do it as well , and even enough to make a third team . Of the team that had worked that evening they all came from different lodges except two , and they were both members of one lodge . He appealed to the brethren to come up to the lodge when it resumed its work next October , and so assist in carrying on the good work . On behalf of the officers he thanked the chairman sincerely for his approval of the way in which they had done their work . Bro . Sir SIMEON STUART replied to the toast of " The Visitors . "

Bro . J SMITH , . bee , replied to a toast specially proposed in his honour by Bro . Lord Ampthill . He said he had taken very great interest in the work of the Mark Degree , and anything he could do for it was done with pleasure . What the lodge of instruction had done before they hoped to do again . The Tyler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

Annual Festival Of The Wandsworth Lodge Of Instruction, No. 1044.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE WANDSWORTH LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , No . 1044 .

The 29 th annual festival of the Wandsworth Lodge of Instruction was held on the 3 rd inst , at the Municipal Buildings , Lavender-hill , Wandsworth , and as far as regards the number of brethren who attended , the enthusiasm they displayed , and the excellent working of the ceremonies was a close approach to the annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . It had been arranged that the ceremonies of consecration of a lodge and the installation of a W . M ., should be the work of the evening , and the Committee had , for the performance of

this work , secured the able services of Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Secretary of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while for the banquet they obtained for their president Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . for Hants and the Isle ol Wight . Nearly 200 brethren appeared in lodge , but the capacity of the stately rooms of the building was more than equal to the occasion . The arrangements for the meeting were complete , and they were perfectly successful , and the Committee and Stewards are to be congratulated on their efforts . The list of those

brethren , most of whom were present , comprised the names of Bros . J . Carter , P . M . 1044 j A . C . A . Higerty , P . M . 1044 and 1714 , W . M . 2437 , P . P . G . D . Surrey , Preceptors ; Welch , P . M . 141 , Treas . ; W . D . jesseman , P . M . 1044 ; J . W . Forrest , W . M . 1044 ; W . G . King , J . D . 2417 , Sec . ; J . A . Randall , P . M . and Sec . 2417 , . tc ; W . G . Boswell , W . M . 2417 , & c . ; J . Kingston , P . M . 1420 ; R . Clay Sudlow , Past G . Std . Br . of Eng ., Kc . ; G . Aliciatore , P . M . 1044 ; H . Baker , P . M . 2437 , l ' -G . A . S . Berks ; W . H . Ball , 1420 ; R . C . Bayne , J . W . 1044 ; J . Beer ,

954 ; G . J . Bioivn , 902 ; C . J . Butler , S . 1044 ; Rev . A . Chambers , Chap . . 1044 , N . G . Churcher , 1744 ; R . K . Collick , P . M . 2417 , P . P . G . D . C , & c . ; A . ' Collins , S . W . 1044 ; B . Cooper , P . M . 1441 ; C . Donddson , S . W . 1363 ; C . Ellis , P . M . 1044 ; G . Fawcett , 2417 ; W . Featherstonhaugh , 19 6 3 ; C . Finch , S . D . 1044 ; II . Folkard , P . M . and Sec . 1963 , 1585 ; A . Foley , 2417 ; G . W . Fortescue , D C . 2437 ; L . A . Francis , J . W . 1194 ; G . Gale , 234 O " ; H . H . dandy , 94 6 ; R . Glindon , 2417 ; C . R . A . Griffin , S . D . 2317 ; T . H . Higerty , 106 ; T . Higgs , P . M . io 5 ; G .

H . Hills . P . M . 1420 ; A . V . Holland , 132 !); r . J . Holmyard , 1963 ; F . G . Kewney P . M . 1044 ; H King , 73 ; F . W . Kin ? , 1614 ; W . G . Lacey , Org . 1044 , & :. ; W I . angdon , W . M . 2345 ; A . E . W . M'Camley , 158 5 ; R . R . Monger , P . M . and Sec 1041 ; E . W . Morrell , J . W . 2417 ; C . W . Munslow , S . W . 2417 ; S . J . Norton A . D . C . 1044 ; J . Owen , 1044 ; W . j . Patterson , 22 S ; A . E . Pidduck , P . M . 1107

G . Pidduck , P . M . 1107 ; A . Pratt , 1044 ; W . Radway , 16 5 6 ; W . Shopland , 2417 ; T . E . Smith , Stwd . 2417 ; | . Strong , J . D ., 1044 ; | . S ^ Taverner , P . M . 1044 ; ^ . J . Turnbull , W . M . 1524 ; J . D . Vicar , S . D . 2417 ' ; M . D . Wills , D . C . 2417 ; G . B . Wood , 2417 ; and A . Woodley , 2417 . Most of these brethren were present . Amongst tne company wen ; Bros . Dr . Kempster , P . G . S . ; J . Hattersley , and H . Massey

In lodge , Bro . James I erry , P . G . S . B ., acted as Consecrating Officer , having Bros . Dr . Kempster as S . W . ; Parsons as J . W . ; Tanner as I . G . ; and F . C . Austin , P . M ., P . P . G . D . C . Middx ., as D . C , while the musical arrangements were under the direction of Bros . W . Lacey , Org . 1044 ; R . R . Monger , Prov . G . Org . Middx . ; and J . W . Tyler , 1752 . Bro . the Rev . A . Chambers , Chap . 1044 , acted as Chaplain .

Bro . I erry performed the ceremony with his usual lluency and care , and afterwards installed Bro . A . C . A . Higerty , P . M . 1044 and 1714 , W . M . 2437 , P . P . G . D . Surrey , Preceptor , along with Bro . J . Carter , P . M . 1044 , of the lodge ot instruction , as W . M . After the investiture- of officers by the W . M ., Bro . Terry delivered the charges . Bro . TERRY and Bro . BEACH subsequently received the honour of membership of the lodge lor which each relnrneil thanks .

Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to an excellent supper in the Grand Hall , presided over by Bro . Beach . The toasts which followed were interspersed with some fine singing by Bros . | . Ortner , Monger , Woodley , Curtis , Norton , and Mr . Phili p C . Macdonald , Organist of St . Paul ' s , Covent Garden . Bro . BEACH ( chairman ) responding to the toast of "The Pro G . Mister , the

Earl Lathom ; the Dep . G . Master , the Earl of Mount Ednciimbe ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " which was proposed b y Bro . Kingston , P . M ., said the Grand Officers had won their hi gh position by the services they hail rendered to the Craft , and they hail tried to justify the confidence reposed in them by the efforts they made on behalf of the Order . For himself he mig ht say that fiom the moment he entered into Freemasoniy he had taken an active interest in it . He made up his mind that Freemasonry was an excellent institution , and