Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND FESTIVAL .

The 32 nd annual festival of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Grand Lodge of English Mark Masons was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency of the Earl of Euston , M . W . Pro Grand Master . A company of nearly 200 brethren and ladies supported his lordship in this his second Chairmanship for the benefit of the Fund .

Unoer the direction of Bro . Henry Rose , P . G . Org ., the following musical performers contributed to the pleasure of the company after dinner and at a concert in the Crown Room : Mdme . Clara Samuell , Miss Ethel Bcvans , Bro . Henry Piercy , Bro . Franklin Clive , and Bro . W . Lewis Barrett ( solo flute ) . Bro . Henry R . Rose presided at the pianoforte .

After the toasts of " T he Queen " and " The M . W . G . Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " had been duly honoured , The Earl of EUSTON proposed " The Past Grand Masters and Grand Officers , " and said that many brethren who had filled the office of Grand Mark Master had done good suit and service to Mark Masonry . There

was not one who had not done his best to benefit the Degree . He thanked the large party who had assembled to show their attachment to the Order . They all worked together well for the honour of the Craft ; not one could do without the other , and the Mark Degree was , consequently , a happy and prosperous body .

Viscount DUNGARVAN , Past Dep . G . Master , responded , and reiterated the expressions of the Chairman as to what the distinguished brethren who had been Grand Mark Masters had done for the Degree . Having served under Lord Euston he could say what his lordship had done . He thought

by the smiling face of Bro . Matier , the Grand Secretary , that they would have an historic result that night , but he had not been able to get out of him any approach to what the amount would be . As to Lord Euston , he had done so much for the Order that he thought it would be a very bad day for Mark Masonry when he ceased to be Pro G . Master .

Bro . the Hon . ALAN DE TATTON EGKRTON , Dep . G . Master , proposed " The Chairman . " They were assembled that night to do honour to the Mark Benevolent Fund through their Chairman , who , « that evening held a dual office as Pro G . M . and Chairman of the Benevolent Fund Festival . This was not the first time his lordship had presided . His previous seat in the chair was a record—he understood it would be a double record that

evening . ( Applause ) . The very fact of Lord Euston being in the chair had made the efforts of the brethren throughout the country—if anythingdouble what they otherwise would have been . I lis lordshi p ' s name was one to conjure with in Masonry —( hear , hear)—and was a grand stand-by for all Masonic work . Whenever Masonry required his assistance he was there ready to give it . He need say nothing more .

I he Earl of EUSTON , in reply , said he was very proud to be there that evening , and also with the reception they had given him . Referring to what had been said about him by the Dep . G . Master , he could say that he took Masonic work as a duty , and also as a pleasure . It was a gratification to see Mark Masonry increase . Since 1887 its number had more than doubled . Having been President of one of these Festivals before , he was

pleased to take that position again , and he had to thank his province for coming forward , as the brethren of it had , to support him . He should always be ready to serve the body . When he ceased to be Pro Grand Master they would find some one quite as able to fill his place ; there was no such thing as perfection ; they were all going forward . His lordship

then proposed the toast of the evening , " Prosperity to the Mark Benevolent Fund . " All who were assembled at the table were there with one idea—to see how much they could do for the Mark Benevolent Fund . From north , south , east , and west the brethren , and their wives , daughters , and sisters strove for the benefit of the Fund . The Board which

administered it never refused a good case whether the casti of an annuitant , the education of a boy or girl , or assistance to those in trouble . There , were absolutely no expenses in the distribution of the Charity . The Committee , headed' by Bro . Lovcland Loveland , administered the fund and saw to each case brought before it . He was not saying too much when he said they had to thank Bro . Loveland for calmly

arranging everything according to his light ; he had all the Institutions before his mind , and , notwithstanding his numerous engagements , found time to work hard and heartily for all the Institutions . He ( Lord Euston ) was anxious to hear the lists read out , for , after he had established a record in the amount of subscriptions at these Festivals , he was beaten by a northern province . He then said he would come forward again , and try to beat that . He hoped to be the possessor of the belt again . ( Applause . )

Bro . R . LOVEI . ANI ) LOVELAND , Q . C , President of the General Board , in his reply on behalf of the Fund , said they were all agreed that no one could fill the chair more ably than the Earl of Euston . Lord Euston had many duties to perform , but yet he gave up a great portion of his time to Masonry , and especially Mark Masonry . The members of the General Board ought to be very much obliged to him for taking the chair that evening .

They were thankful to him for the very fiiendly and fraternal manner in which he supported their noble Charity . His lordship ' s ideas and wishes would be realised that night , and all the provinces over which he ruled so ably , and London had made the greatest possible endeavour for the Fund . His lordship was wishful to regain the belt , and there was no doubt he would . The Grand Secretary was a very good fellow , but although several

brethren had tried to get out of him whether their hopes would be realised , he only said he would tell them later in the evening . ( Luughter . ) Well , the time had now arrived . Perhaps the brethren and ladies would like to know the constitution of this particular Charity . Well , it was divided into three branches—the benevolent , the annuity , and the educational . , It had no premises , no particular secretary , no clerk , and no payments for expenses to be paid . Therefore , every penny went to the funds . The annuities went

to old Mark Masons and widows , the educational money was paid for the education ot children in the localities' in which they lived ; they did not want to separate the children from the parents ; they wanted to educate them and keep them with their fathers and mothers . There were other Degrees in Masonry where this was not done ; but this was a special branch of the Mark Decree , and it was a part of the duty of the General Board to administer the Fund under these different branches . Bro . C . F . MATIER , Grand Secretary , then read the following

Mark Benevolent Fund Festival.

STEWARDS' LIST .

LADY STEWARDS . £ s . d . Mrs . A . Stewart Brown „ Carrell 5 5 0 „ W . W . Clayton „ Cousans „ John Dimsdale 10 10 o ,, Dorman

„ John Ferguson „ W . C . Fox „ W . Jesse Freer „ Matier „ Clifford Probyn „ Herbert Samuelson „ J . M . Sinclair ... „ John Tavlor „ C . E . L . ' Wright 5 5 0

GENERAL BOARD . Bro . * R . L . Loveland , Pres . ... „ * Frank Richardson , Vice-President „ * Right Hon . the Earl of Euston „ The Hon . A . de Tatton

Egerton , M . P . ... ,, * A . Woodiwiss „ G . C . W . Fitzwilliam ... „ Charles Belton 10 10 0 „ * Major C . W . Carrell ... „ * Richard Clowes .., ... „ John Strachan , Q . C . ...

„ John Dimsdale „ Gordon Miller 5 5 0 „ Col . Clifford Probyn „ A . F . Church „ ^ Frederick West „ H . E . Cousans ... „ * T . P . Dorman '

UNATTACHED . Bro . Robert Berridge 5 5 ° „ Ralph Clutton 10 10 o „ * Capt . VV . Portlock Dadson „ H . Thomson Lyon „ Spencer VV . Morris ... 5 3 o „ VV . Briant 10 10 o

LONDON . Lodge Grand Masters , Bro . John Strachan , Q . C . ... 57 is o Old Kent , Bro . Wm J . Hakim 34 13 o Old Kent , Bro . John Skinner ... 10 10 o 1 Bro . Wm . Foot Stuttaford , 23 7 o

22 „ J . C . Osterstock ... 32 11 o 22 „ Robert J . Voisey ... S S o 10 4 „ Walter Henry Stone 21 10 6

197 „ Lord Glenesk 22 4 „ Maj . -General Astley Fellowes Terry ... 21 00 224 „ John Dimsdale ... 23 2 o 22 4 „ * Sir Geo . D . Harris ... 22 4 „ Rev . W . Russell

Finlay 70 f 0 315 „ Thomas Hodson ... 24 3 o 331 „ George A . Pickering 10 10 o 355 »» W . A . Scurrah ... 20 o o 361 „ James Miln Small > „ ,- , _ K 3 G 1 „ Albert Hy . Jessellj 20 , s ° 3 G 3 >• J- H . Matthews ... 10 10 o 363 „ Thomas Fenn ... 10 10 o

303 „ rhos . Hy . Gardiner ... 2100 3 G 3 „ Herbert J . Adams ... 2 G 5 o 399 ••Rt . Hon . the Earl of Euston ... ... 399 » Viscount Dungarvan 399 11 Sir Lionel Darell , Bart 399 » Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart

300 » Earl of Yarborough ... 399 » J Frank Richardson ... 2100 399 » Alfred Cooper ... 550 399 » Clement Gjdson 399 » * E . A . Baylis 399 » A . VV . Orwin 5 5 0 399 » Frederick Mead ... 5 5 o

399 „ G . C . VV . Fitzwilliam 399 ••J . C . F . Tower ... 5 5 ° 399 » Capt . F . II . Lyell ... 10 0 o ' 399 „ Louis Mieville 399 ,, Earl of Portarlington 393 „ S . H . Hargrove ... 500 400 „ Belcrave Ninnis

400 „ Geo . Phillips Parker 11 11 o 400 „ II . VV . Kiallmark ... 550 400 „ Charles A . Gibbs ... 550 40 J „ William Briggs ... 15 15 o 40 G „ Sir J . C . Dimsdale ... 10 10 o 40 G „ William Albert Hart 550 415 1 , Earl of Euston

415 JJ Viscount Dungarvan 415 „ G . C . W . Fitzwilliam 4 ' 5 > . C . F . Matier 415 „ Lieut .-Col . Clifford Probyn ... ... 27 G o . U 5 „ ° Maj . C . VV . Carrell ... 415 „ A . F . Church ... 550

•415 ,, C . Vincent Cotterell 550 415 „ G . Wade Wallis ... 770 4 ' 5 >) J- R- Eastwood 454 „ l ^ redk . Franklin Clive 550 459 „ Ernest St . Clair ... 550 4 6 9 „ Walter II . JeoSop ...

4 G 9 „ Harry Nicholls 4 . S 7 „ Harry Nicholls ... 21 10 o 4 . Sg „ T . Oivcn Hutchinson 10 10 o 533 „ Imre Kiralfy 1 G 0 o o 533 „ * A . J . Thomas Grand Master ' s Lodire of Instruction

THE PROVINCES . BERKS AND OXON . Province £ s . d . Bro . Joseph J . Simcox ... 15 15 o Lodge 4 S 0 Bro . T . Jordan-Rees ... 13 12 o

BRISTOL . Province Bro . Lt .-Col . James R . . Bramble 102 16 6 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE . Province and Lodge 163 Bro . Rev . Vitruvius P . Wyatt ... .:. 21 o o

CHANNEL ISLANDS . Lodge 74 " Bro . C . E . Malet de Carteret 42 o o 425 „ * J . Balfour Cockburn , M . D 5 5 0 425 „ J . B . Nickolls ... 550

CHESHIRE . Bro . The Hon . A . de Tatton 550 Lodge 11 Bro . J . Armstrong 10 10 o 31 » C . S . Brewer 10 10 o 67 „ J . Cookson 5 10 o G 7 „ J . F . May 5 5 ° 148 . „ Rev . C . C . Atkinson 26 5 o

CORNWALL . Province * Bro . H . S . Hare CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND . Province Bro . J . Gardiner 30 o o „ Rev . W . Cree ... 550

DERBYSHIRE . Bro . A . Woodiwiss ... 26 5 o „ J . H . Lawson ... 10 10 o „ W . Whittaker ... 5 •; o „ F . Iliffe „ J . Walker 5 5 0 » W . Cooper 550

i , A . W . Slack 10 10 o „ E . S . Woodiwiss ... 550 ) , J . A . Arnold ... 550 „ I . N . Woodiwiss ... 10 10 o » J . R . Eastwood ... 550 » , T . C . Eastwood ... 550 Lodge 246 Bro . J . H . Beckett ... 3010 o

246 „ J . E . Harrison ... 10 10 o 302 „ W . H . Wright ... 42 o o 339 » E- Home 21 o o 353 » Thos . B . Cull ... 1 , . 353 » G . M . Bond ) ' 3 , 6 6 373 » VV . H . Bass 20 4 3 503 „ Sir Thomas Roe ... 20 8 o

DEVONSHIRE . * Bro . H . S . Hare „ Rev . R . Peek ... 700 Province * Bro . F . B . Westlake ... Lodge 310 Bro . J . Taylor 5 5 0 Mrs . Taylor 26 5 o

DORSETSHIRE . Bro . Rt . Hon . the Earl of Portarlington ... 550 „ John H . Whadcoat , J . P 120 o o

EAST ANGLIA . Province Bro . Sir F . G . M . Boileau , Bart 5 5 0 Lodge ios Bro . C . D . Leech 2100 112 „ R . H . Adie 21 o o 334 „ G . R . Barnes ... 15 15 o 533 J » H . J . Sparks 14 3 6

ESSEX . Lodge 377 Bro . T . Humphreys GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND

HEREFORDSHIRE . Bro . Hichd . Vassar Vassar-Smith 5 5 0 „ Baron de Fcrrieres ... „ E . Lea 5 5 o HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT . * 8 ro . R . Loveland

Loveland 5 5 " Lodge 2 Bro . W . Gilman 5 5 o 2 „ Capt . H . G . Giles ... 10 10 o 54 „ N . Clinton 54 „ A . H . Smith 15 13 o 54 „ A . E . Longden ... 5 5 o

HERrFORDSHIRE . Bro . William T . Boydell ... Lodge 241 Bro . Felix Sumner Knyvctt 57 15 o 354 „ Geo . L . Eisles ... 37 17 o 43 . S „ Heilbron 5 15 6 365 „ C . E . Kevser 15 15 o

KENT . Bro . Viscount Dungarvan 31 10 o ,, Rev . A . VV . N . Diiacon 550 Lodge GIJ tiro . Charles Woodger ... 10 10 o

220 „ Charles H . Canning ... 15 1 j o 322 „ Wm . Diwson ... 10 to o 3 G 4 „ W . Russell 10 10 o 1 S 0 „ James Thomas Sams iS 18 o 390 » ]•W . Court 21 3 o