Provincial Grand Chapter Of Middlesex.

Comp . J . T . BRIGGS seconded the nomination , which was unanimously agreed to . The Acting Giai d Superintendent then invested the following Prov . Grand Officers :

Comp . Gordon , 1691 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ W . H . Lee , 1423 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . ,, Bateman , 1194 ... ... ... Prov . G . Scribe N . „ Blenkarn , 1326 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, Robinson , 1423 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . T P I »» ^« T Prnv . P . fV Sni . X - ¦• -- ^

,, J . . A-. * . * ., J * . ' - ... ... _ ... .-. — j ' „ May , 1237 ... ... ... Prov . 1 st A . G . S . „ Chapman , 1293 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ Major Weathcrall , 1549 ... ¦•¦ Prov . G . S . B . „ Wace , 2048 ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ R . R . Monger , 946 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . TJ r - „ , r , P ™ sr . nr i i ^

„ ,, * j . ^ UUJJCI , y ^ w ... ... ... A ~ v . ... v .. u . „ Wells , 1793 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ Gilbert ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . The ACTING G . SUVERINTENDENT nominated Comps . Dr . Beresford Ryley , Gordon Langton , and Oliver as members of the Audit Committee . to which Comps . S . Richardson , G . R . Langley , and Winga'e were elected by Prov . Grand Chapter .

On the proposition of the ACTING G . Sri'ERiNTKRDENT . ihe sum of 10 guineas was voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , at the next Festival of which the Grand Superintendent of Middlesex will preside . A vote of thanks was passed to the Lebanon Chapter for the ' use of the furniture , and Prov . Grand Chapter was closed .

A banquet followed , which was presided over by Comp . Raymond H . Thrupp , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . H ., who subsequently briefly gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts . Comp . R . H . THRUPP , Prov . G . H ., in proposing "The Grand Superintendent , " said Comp . Lord Geo . Hamilton fully intended being present , but they all knew the change that had come over the political scene , and that his duty called him elsewhere . There was a peculiar thing with regard to

that province and Masonry in general , which had perhaps escaped their notice . The Secretary of State for India was the head of the Province of Middlesex , and the Under Secretary for India had been installed that day as Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent of Surrey . They all knew the great interest their Grand Superintendent took in Freemasonry in the province , and were sure he regretted that the cares of the State prevented his attendance that day . However , in his absence thev would drink his health with all geed wishes for his future welfare as a Mason and a

statesman . Comp . D . W . PEARSE , P . P . G . Reg ., then proposed "The Health of Comp . Raymond H . Thrupp , Prov . G . H ., " the acting Grand Supeiintendent on that occasion , and said it was a privilege to be allowed to do so . All those who had anything to do with the Province of Middlesex knew

that Comp . Thrupp ' s name was a household word , for whenever there was anything to be done they went to him for advice and were always helped out of any difficulty . It was a pleasure as an old member of the province to propose the toast , and the companions would receive it heartily . Although they were not a large number present yet by the warmth of their receplio . i of the toast they would give full effect to it .

Comp . R . H . TiiRi'i'i' , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . H ., returned thanks for the very cordial reception given him . They knew his heart was in Middlesex and that he did everything he could , not onlv in the interest of the province but to win the esteem , friendship , and love of the companions . He thought he had succeeded to a certain extent , for wherever he went , whether to lodges or chapters , he always received a true Masonic greeting . In submitting " The Provincial Grand Officers , " the PROV . G . H . wished

them all success in their future life , and hoped they would appreciate the honour . He would ask the Prov . G . J . to respond , having known him many years as an earnest and zealous Mason , and he trusttd there were many years of useful work yet before him . Comp . GORDON , Prov . G . J ., said he was utterly unprepared to reply , and was equally unprepared for the honour done him by his appointment to Provincial Grand Office . On behalf of the Provincial Grand Officers he

thanked the companions for the exceedingly kind way in which the toast had been received , and assured the Acting Grand Superintendent of their cordial support . The Janitor ' s toast shortly afterwards closed the proceedings .

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL .

The 27 th Annual Festival of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales , Sec , was held last Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , Past Grand Warden , presiding . His lordshi p was accompanied b y Lady Skelmersdale , and there were present , among

others—Bros , the Earl of Euston and Viscount Dungarvan , Lady Agnes Cooper , Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , Frank Richardson , the Rev . Hayman Cummings , A . Cooper , Robert Berridge , W . J . Frere ; W . Darley Hartley ( South Africa ) , W . Goodacre , Col . A . 13 . Cook , the Rev . Viscount Molesworth , C . Letch Mason , the Rev . and Mis . F . H . Oliver , Gen . Crossland

Hay , Dr . Turtle Pigott , C E . Ksyser , Percy Wallis ( G . Treasurer ) , G . H . Parke , Thompson Lyon , C F . Matier ( G . Secretary ) , R . C Clowes , J . M . Bastowe , James Stephens , Major Probyn , Major C W . Carn . ll , Dr . Brewer , C . H . Driver , R . G . Hanson , Emil Apelt and Mrs . Apelt , and Eugene Monteuuis .

After dinner the customary toasts were proposed , and Bro . the Earl of EUSTON , after replying to the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and rest of the Graid Officers , P / esent and Past , " proposed "The Chairman and Lady Skelmersdale . " Lord Skelmersdale had come forward to support the Mark jlrnevoient Fund and

to raise a good sum for it for the cutrent year . Lord Skelmersdale had made great strides in Matomy , and in every pnsiti m had done very well . Lord SKEL . MEUSDALK , in response , said it was a great pleasure to him to come forward to support that Charity , and it had also been a great pleasure to him to bring Lady Skelmersdale with him . Ho mi g ht confide

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

to the brethren this fact that if it had not been for Lady Skelmersdale he should never have gone into Masonry at all . Bro . Lord S KELMERSDALE next proposed " Prosperity to the Mark Benevolent Fund " which had now been going on for more than 27 years . It had been always successful , and had been getting more successful year by year until it had now reached such a high point that he hoped it would

never be lower . It had invested funds which returned an income of £ 405 per annum . More than that was spent annually , for the fund distributed £ 1039 a year . Therefore they had to depend on yearly subscriptions . The invested capital was £ 12 , 000 , and considering that the fund had been in existence only 27 years that spoke very highly of the way in which it had been managed . They hoped to put by something every year out of the

subscriptions . They had had for a long time no elections as they had been able to take on all cases . Elections were very expensive to a Charity ; each election would cost £ 40 at least , which was the poorest way they could have for spending Charity money . There were seven candidates for the annuity , and they hoped to put as many as four on the list . They were also educating six boys and six girls at an average cost of £ 17 each . the reports revived about these children were very good . As to tne result ol the present

being educated by it were doing well was a great encouragement who supported the Fund . All charities were doing badly now , the complaint being that there was no money . However , he had great confidence that Masons , and especially Mark Masons , would , as they always did , provide the funds they had been asked for . Bro . C F . Matier , G . Sec , then announced the following

to those Festival , he trusttd it would compare favourably with those of past years . When his father , the Earl of Lathom , presided in 18 7 8 he made a record , which he was afraid he would not be able to beac ; still he was sure it would be a good list . The Charity was very well managed as the brethren would agree , and the fact that all the boys and girh who were

Stewards' Lists.

STEWARDS' LISTS .

LADY STEWARDS . £ s . d . Mrs . Apelt 5 5 ° „ Bevan 5 5 ° Miss Bevan 5 5 ° Mrs . Carrell 5 5 ° Lady Evelyn Cavendish ... 5 5 ° Mic Plnivpc ... ... 5 ^ O

Lady Agnes Cooper 5 5 ° Mrs . T . P . Dorman 5 5 0 „ * W . Caughey Fox — Miss Sybil Harbord 5 5 ° Mrs . C . F . Matier 5 5 o

„ Gordon Miller „ * G . H . Parke — „ Pigott

Miss Pig-ott The Countess of Portarlington 5 5 ° Mrs . H . J . Rolls 5 5 ° ,, George Rice 5 5 ° Lady Skelmersdale 5 > ° Mrs . James Stephens 5 5 ° „ C . E . L . Wright

GENERAL BOARD . Hro . * R . Loveland Loveland ... — „ Frank Richardson ... 10 10 o „* The tail ot Euston ... — „ ^ Viscount Dungarvan ... — ' I hp Karl nf Portarlineton

—„ * Vlctor C . W . Cavendish — ,, C . W . Carrell 15 15 0 „ * A . Stewart Brown ... — „ C . H . Driver 15 15 0 „ Gordon Miller 5 5 ° ,, * t < ichard Eve — .. ® A . Woodiiviss

—„ Jabez Church 5 5 ° ,, "Richard Clowes — „ * Charles Belton — „ * Percy Wallis — „ * J . Balfour Cockburn ... — „ Frederick West

—„ * G . C . W . Fitzwilliam ... — Lodge LONDON . Grand Master ' s Bio . C . Helton 10 10 o Grand Stewards' „ Walter E . Williams 27 6 o Bon Accord Bro . J . M . Bastone 10 10 o Old Kent Bro . J . Willing , jun . iG iG o

1 Bro . James btephens ... 25 o o 7 „ A . H . Bowles 2 j 2 o 139 >• W . W . Snelling ... 12 12 o 144 „ W . J . Heath 15 4 c 23 S „ L . W . Harvey ... 10 10 o 315 „ J- A . FarnfieUl ... 19 19 o 3 G 1 „ George F . Jones ... 37 16 o 399 „ The Earl of Euston

( sse Gen . Board ) — 309 » Viscount Uungarvan ( see Gen . Board ) — 3 gg „ Col . A . B . Cook ( see Middlesex ) ...

—399 „ I he I ' . arl ot rortarlington 5 s o 399 „ Sir R . Hanson , Bart . 10 10 o „ Alfred Cooper ... 550 „ * G . C . W . Fitzwilliam ( see Northants , Hunts and Beds ) —

399 „ A . H . Bevan 2 G 5 o 3 yy „ Sir Lionel E . Dared , Bart . 399 » Clement Godson , M . D . 550 400 ,, Belerave Ninnis ... 5 5 o 410 „ Le V . D . Anlcy ... 10 o o 4 ' 5 » H . ) . llitchins ... 30 y o 415 „ Major Clifford Probyn 32 11 o 431 „ Ricnard Clowes ...

—454 „ Gordon Smith ... 550 45 s » W . J . Mason 15 15 o 459 J , Henri Bue 22 1 0 47 G „ II . Thompson Lyon ... 19 3 o G . M . ' s L . of I ., Bro . J Smith ... 10 10 o

I s . d . UNATTACHED . Bro . R . L . Andrews ... 5 5 ° „ S . J . Attenborough ... 5 5 0 „ James A . Bell ... 5 5 0 „ Sir Augustus Harris ... 10 10 o „ W . H . Kemster ... 5 5 ° „ Robert Main 5 5 o „ G . W . Marsden ... 5 5 0 „ C . F . Matier 40 o o

„ Rev . Vis . Molesworth 550 „ Spencer W . Morris ... 5 5 0 „ Rev . H . F . Oliver ... 10 10 0 „ Dr . R . Turtle Pigott 10 10 0 „ * E . St . Clair — „ T . Blanco White ... 5 5 0

THE PROVINCES . Lodge BERKS AND OXON . Bro . John Tomkins ... 5 5 o 22 5 „ E . M . Challenor ... 12 15 0 235 „ C . E . Hewett 36 ' 5 o 247 „ C . Phillips | , S o o 247 „ CM . taphouse ... >

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . fndPauT } - Rev - - Wyatt 5 5 o

CHANNEL ISLANDS . 425 Bro . j . Balfour Cockburn 5 5 ° DERBYSHIRE . Bro . A . Woodiwiss , J . P . 10 10 o „ V . C . W . Cavendish 5 5 0 „ Percy Wallis 5 5 ° ,, James R . Eastwood „ T . C . Eastwood „ George Fletcher ... 5 5 °

„ J . H . Lawson ... 42 o o Lodge 302 Bro . W . Cooper 3 S 10 0 353 it George Al . Bond ... 5 5 ° 414 „ Jas . Diamond 2 S 1 6 Province DEVONSHIRE .

Bro . John Taylor ... 3 S 2 0 Province DORSETSHIRE . Bro . John A . Atkins ... 52 10 o Lodge EAST ANGLIA . 205 ttro . Frank E . Bailey ... 14 14 ° ju .. William Fawssett ... 10 10 0

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDS ! 11 HE . Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , Past P . G . M . ... 5 5 ° Province

Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , P . G . M 5 5 0 HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT .

Bro . Richard Eve 10 10 o Lodge Bro . R . Lovelard Loveland 5 5 ° 54 ,, George Richardson ... 5 5 ° 140 „ G . A . Mursell

HERTFORDSHIRE . Bro . C . IS . Keyser , M . A ., J . P 5 5 " 354 „ A . Steward Brown ( see alsj Middlesex ) 3 G 7 „ W . Baddcley 5 5 "

KENT . Bro . Rev . I layman Cummings , M . A . ... 3 G 15 ° Lodge 44 Bro . A . W . Orwin , M . D .... zS 7 ° 220 ,, John Warren 22 » ° 3 G 4 „ ( j , R . Cubham ... 10 S '' 3 . S 0 „ W . Dunk 10 u '' 390 „ J . Wyatt Court ... 17 ' . '

LANCASHIRE . Bro . Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie ,, Lord Skelmersdale ( Chairman ) ... 115 '" °