Mark Masonry.

Masonically and privately , were ever manifest . The speaker regretted that , by his death , the Prince Leopold Mark Lodge has suffered a heavy loss , as Bro . Burleton was in a position to introduce eligible candidates , and before his demise he had expressed his intention so to do . This pledge was drunk in solemn silence . The toast of " The Advancee " followed , and Bro . A . S . Reed briefly responded . " The Health of the Past Masters " followed , and was acknowledged by Bro . F . F . Bonney .

The toast of " The Treasurer and Secretary " was most flatteringly submitted by the acting W . M . He said that , thanks to the exertions of those two brethren , the lodge was not only solvent , but it had a balance in hand . Jr . The Treasurer , in reply , expressed the pleasure it always afforded him to attend the meetings of the Leopold Lodge . His humble services were always at the disposal of the members . The toast of " The Officers , " coupled with the names ot Bros . Bond , Hawkins , and Pewtress , terminated the proceedings .

Cryptic Masonry.

Cryptic Masonry .

Grand Master's Council , No . I . A meeting of the above council was held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen ' street , on the 24 th ult ., when there were present Comps . H . P . Hay ] T . l . M . ; "" ? . JThomas , D . M . ; Basil Stewart , P . C . W . ; George Graveley , P . T . I . M ., Treas . Major T . C . Walls , P . T . I . M ., Recorder ; W . H . Toye , E . Brown , J . Smith Simcoxand W . A . Scurrah , P . T . I . M . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Comp . W . Crombie , Hope Chapter , & c , and , it being unanimous , he was duly admitted , greeted , and received by the Recorder . The resignation of Bro . J . Sneiling was received with regret .

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Comps . Baron de Ferrieres , P . D . G . M . ; R . L . Loveland , Q . C , P . D . G . M . ; the Rev . Dr . Lemon , M . A ., P . G . C . ; the Rev . R . C . Fillingham , P . G . C ; A . McDowall , P . T . I . M . ; H . J . Lardner , P . T . I . M . ; G . Gregory , P . T . I . M . ; Major Anderson , P . T . I . M . ; H . Higgins , and many others . The council was closed in the Degree of Select Master . Refreshment followed labour at the Holborn Restaurant . The T . l . M . presided most ably .

"The Health of the T . l . M . " was proposed by Comp . G . Graveley . In the course of his speech he said that Comp . Hay had been a most indefatigable worker in all Degrees of Masonry and a consistent supporter of the Charities . The T . I . M ., in reply , said that he had always taken a great interest in the Cryptic Degrees . He regretted that the calls upon his time professionally and otherwise had prevented him from mastering fully the intricacies of the rituals . However , the Council never suffered , because there were several of the companions thoroughly conversant with the work . " The Health of the Admittee " followed .

Comp . Crombie , in reply , stated that he had been highly impressed with the ceremonies that night , particularly the Royal Master ' s Degree . He had taken many Degrees in Freemasonry , but he could not call to mind anything more beautiful and impressive than one part of the ceremony in which the P . C . of the W . bore the greater part . " Ihe Health of the Past T . I . Masters" followed , and was coupled with the name of Comp . G . Graveley . The T . l . M . said that that particular companion was always present at the councill meetings , ready and willing at all times to assist in any part of the work . He regretted that many other Past Masters did not take the same active interest in their pleasant little council , as did Comp . Graveley .

Comp . Graveley having briefly replied , the toast of " The Officers " came next in order , and was acknowledged by Comps . J . J . Thomas , T . C . Walls , and Basil Stewart . The proceedings then terminated .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . E . L . P . VALERIANI , P . G . STD . BR . Bro . E . L . P . Valeriani , to whose death on the 26 th ult . we referred last week , was initiated in the Rothesay Lodge , No . 168 7 , on the 5 th December , 18 77 , and from that time forward has never failed to attend a single meeting of his lodge . He had the honour of being installed its W . M . in 1885 , and since then has taken part as a founder of the Lodge of Fellowship , No .

2535 , which came into existence in 18 94 , and over which he had the satisfaction of presiding as Master in 1897 . He was exalted in the St . James ' s Union Chapter , No . iSo , in 1885 , joined the Mount Lebanon Chapter , No . 73 , in 18 90 , and also assisted in founding the Fellowship Chapter , No . 2535 , in 18 9 6 . In 1892 , he was installed as M . E . Z . of No . 73 . He is a Life Governor of the Girls ' School and Benevolent Institution , and has given his services as Steward for one or other of them on 14 different occasions .

BRO . GEORGE E . LAKE , J . G . D . Bro . George E . Lake , whose untimely dtath on the 28 th ult . is so greatly to be deplored , has played a distinguished part in all the various branches of Freemasonry with which he has been connected during the greater part of the last quarter of a century . He was initiated on the 3 rd October , 1873 , in the Watford Lodge , No . 404 , and after holding sundry offices , among which

were those of J . W . in 1876 and 18 77 . and S . W . in 18 7 8 , he was installed as W . M , in April , 18 79 , and had the honour of presiding over his mother lodge during the Jubilee year of its constitution . In 1884 he was elected Treasurer in succession to the late Bro . Wilson Isles , and has since been annually re-elected to that post . In 1887 he joined the Centurion Lodge , No . 1718 , served as W . M . in 18 90 , and was elected its Treasurer in 1895 ; and he is likewise the senior P . M . of the Rickmansworth Lodge , No . 2218 , of which he was in 1887 a founder and first

S . W ., and . over which he was elected to preside as Master during the second year of its existence . His Provincial honours have been commensurate with his many services . He was appointed to the Prov . G . Registrarship of Hertfordshire in 1878 , before he had attained the rank of an Installed Master , while since 1884 he has been continuously in office , having been appointed firstly , Prov . G . Secretary on the transference of the late Bro . J . E . Dawson to the position of Deputy P . G . M ., and secondl y , in 1889 , to the office he stiil holds , that of Deputy P . G . M ., when it

Obituary.

was vacated by that brother , after five years service , in 1889 . In Royal Arch Masonry he hasobtained equal distinction . He was exalted in May , 18 75 , in the Watford Chapter , No . 404 , and after serving as Scribe E . in 1880 , in which capacity he rendered valuable assistance in arranging for the celebration of the chapter ' s jubilee—he successively occupied in 1881 , 1 S 82 , and 1883 , the chairs of J ., H ., and M . E . Z . In 1884 he was elected Treasurer , and has heldjthat officeever since , except during the year 1888 , when , for the second time , he was called upon to fill the office

of Principal Z . In Prov . G . Chapter he has been successively Prov . G . Registrar during the years 1879 and 1880 ; Prov . G . Scribe E ., from 1884 to 1890 ; and since the latter year , Prov . G . Second Principal . He is also , or shall we say , was P—a joi .-. ing member of St . Mary's Chapter , No . 63 , London . He was admitted in the Watford Mark Lodge , No . 241 , on the 26 th March , 18 79 , the very day on which that lodge , which is the senior on the roll of Hertfordshire , was consecrated by the then G . Mark , Secretary , Bro . Fred . Binckes , was installed in

the chair of A . on the 25 th June , 1883 , and the year following was elected—and still remains—its Treasurer . In June , 1886 , he was appointed Prov . S . G . W . , and , after serving as Prov . G . Treasurer from 1888 to 1893 , was in the latter year appointed Deputy P . G . M ., in succession to the late Bro . Dawson . His services received further recognition on the 31 st May , 188 7 , when he had the honour of being appointed J . G . Deacon of Mark G . Lodge , ln the Order of the Temple he was installed K . T . in the Stuart Encampment , No . 28 , Watford , on the ist May ,

1876 , and , after filling sundry offices , was installed E . C . in July , 1880 , and for the second time in 1894 . He has also held the office of Treasurer since 1884 , and is likewise a Prior of the Order of Malta . Bro . Lake was a Vice-President of the Girls' School and of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Instituticn , and Life Governor ofthe Boys' School , and has served in all 11 Stewardships , of which four have been in respect of thc Girls' School , two for the Boys' School , and the remainder for the Old People .

Instruction.

Instruction .

WHITTINGTON LODGE , No . 862 . A meeting of the above lodge was held on Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., at the Red Lion , Poppin's-court , Fleet-street . Present : Bros . T . J . Hester , S . W . ; E . W . Davis , J . W . j A . V . H . Pauncefort , P . M ., Preceptor and Treas . ; Thos . Kobelt , Sec ; F . W . Berry , S . D . ; Percy Dewers , J . D . ; R . Bell , I . G . ; Fred Hewson , W . H . Latham , Percy Day , J . Scarlett , and Alex . Clarkson . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , the W . M . reciting the charge to the initiate . The ceremony of passing was rehearsed , the full description of the working tools being recited . The lodge was then closed .

A meeting was also held on the 13 th inst ., when there were present Bros . Alfred Collins , W . M . ; T . J . Hester , S . W . ; W . H . Latham , J . W . ; A . V . H . Pauncefort , Preceptor and Treas . ; Henry T . Kobelt , Sec . ; Alex . Clarkson , S . D . ; Percy Day , J . D . ; and Robert Bell , I . G . The lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Kobelt acting as the candidate . The W . M . called the lodge off and on , and opened and closed down .

HORNSEY CHAPTER , No . S 90 . The above chapter held its usual weekly meeting at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne-terrace , Bishops' -road , Paddington , W ., on Friday , the Sth inst . There were present Comps . Dr . J . N . Whitlock , M . E . Z . elect 1642 , M . E . Z . ; R . Wright , P . H . Sgo , H . ; A . L . Butters , P . S . S 90 , J . ; H . Dehane , P . Z . S 90 , S . E . ; J . M . Huish , N . 1 S 5 , S . N . ; H . Armfield , P . S . 1642 , P . S . ; and H . Foskett , J . 1 S 5 , ist A . S . The chapter was opened , and the minutes of the last convocation read and

confirmed , the ceremony ot exaltation was rehearsed , Lomp . Dehane being the candidate . The executive officers for the ensuing 12 months were elected as follows Comps . H . Dehane , P . Z . S 90 , P . P . G . P . S . Essex , S . E . ; J . Bailey , P . Z . 1602 , Treas . ; and R . Wright , P . H . S 90 , and A . L . Butters , P . S . S 90 , Committee . Much regret was expressed at the cause of the resignation of Comp . Tilt , P . Z . S 62 , from the Treasurership , which he had held for some years . The M . E . Z . rose the usual number of times , and after " Hearty good wishes , " the chapter was closed .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Weymouth Chapter . No . 4 . A meetir . g ( by dispensation ) of this old chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Weymouth , on the 5 th inst ., for the purpose of installing III ; Bro . Col . VV . E . Brymer , M . P ., as M . W . S ., his Parliamentary duties having prevented his attending the statutory meeting in October . The chair was occupied by E . P . Bro . H . J . Groves , the retiring M . W . S ., who , in a most impressive manner , installed his successor . The sum of £ 10 ios . was voted to the funds of the Royal Masonic Institution for Rnvsand

the sum of £ 5 ss . to the Transvaal War Fund . Ihe following isa list of the new officers : III . Bros . Sidney S . Milledge , iS ° , Prelate ; Earl of Portarlington , 30 ° , ist Gen . ; J . A . Sherren , 1 S , 2 nd Gen . ; Zillwood Milledge , 30 , Recorder ; A . McLean , 18 ° , Treas . ; James Lowe , iS ° , Marshal ; H . A . Huxtable , iS ° , Riphael ; E . L . W . Chave , 18 , Herald ; B . Morris . 1 S , Capt . of Gds . ; Rev . J . A . Miller , B . D ., 18 ° , Org . ; and H . T . George , P . M . W . S ., 1 S , D . C . A chapter of emergency was then held , and Bros . J . E . Crickmay , H . A . Hurdle ,

A . R . A . M ., and E . L . N . Pridmore , M . D ., were received and perfected . This being the first occasion on which the new ritual , ordered by the Supreme Council 33 ° , has been used , and the officers taking part are to hi congratulated on the manner in which they fulfilled their duties . The newly-appointed M . VV . S . has intimated his intention to have every detail of the appointments of this chapter in exact conformity to the regulations , when this is done , the beautiful hall , in which this chapter meets , will be , if possible , improved . At the invitation of Col . Brymer , M . P ., the membsrs dined together , the tables bting beautifully decorated by flowers and fruit from llsington House .

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY in Paris has just been left the 40 , 000 volumes that formed the famous collection of books of M . Ristelhuber , the Alsatian author . The testator was a rich man , and spent nearly all his fortune on his library . THE DUKE OF W HSIMINSTER , who is staying at St . Giles ' s House , Cranborne , Dorset , the seat ofthe Earl of Shaftesbury , has been visited by Dr . Coates , of Salisbury , and by Dr . Donald Hood , his Grace's medical adviser in London . The temperature is now about normal , and the Duke , though very weak , hopes to be able to leave his bed soon .

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1 AMONG THE LEADING BRANDS OP fah]CHAMPAaKTE MMBlankenhorn's"SPORTSMAN"^?* Y ^^ Jf ll ENJOYS A REPUTATION OP A QUARTER-OF-A-CENTURY . 1 —1 —— p- ~ -i London OfHces-18 , CULLUM STREET , LONDON , E . C ,