Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

the harmonium . On the conclusion ofthe preliminary business , Bros . Dixon and Platford having passed examinations , were duly raised to the third degree . A third raising and two passings were clue , but the candidates were unable to be present on this occasion . Messrs .

Joseph Healey and James Gibbs , both of Market Harborough , having been unanimously elected , were initiated into our mysteries . After some other business had been transacted , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to refreshment .

ALDERSHOT . —Aldershot Camp Lodge , No . 1331 . — The regular monthly meeting was held at tbe Masonic Hall , on Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., the W . M ., Bro . C . Carnagie ,. P . M ., P . P . G . Sup . of Wks . Essex , in the chair . There was a numerous attendance of the brethren . The

minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was then taken for Bros . J . Gallagher ( P . M . ) , J . Cunningham , G . Fleenoe , J . T . Evans , and W . Horner as joining members , and for Farrier-Major C . Dillon ( 3 rd Hussars ) , Corporal Charles Beach ( Royal Engineers ) , and Sergeant R . Young ( gth Lancers ) , as candidates for initiation , who were all unanimously approved of . The lodge

was then opened in the second degree , when Bros . Gillon , Peers , and Plimsaul were questioned respecting their knowledge of that degree , and they received a mark of approval and retired . The lodge was then opened in the third degree , and Bros . Gillon , Peers , and Plimsaul were raised to the sublime degree , the questions appertaining to the third degree being put to the brethren for the

information of those who were raised . The lodge was then closed down to the second degree , when Bro . Evans , who had been raised in the Chatham Lodge of Benevolence , signed his Grand Lodge certificate , and was presented with it by the W . M . The lodge having been resumed in the first degree , Bros . Garden , Savigear , Mount , Lucas , and Shillington were questioned as totheir

proficiency in that degree , which , proving satisfactory , they were entrusted with a test of merit and retired . The lodge was then resumed in the second degree , when they were passed to the degree of F . C . The lodge was again closed down to the first degree , and Farrier-Major Dillon and Corporal Beach were initiated into Freemasonry . The working tools of the first degree were effectively

explained by Bro . Fenn , R . H . A ., S . W . A letter was read from the Grand Secretary , in reply to an inquiry whether Wardens could confer degrees , which stated that though not positively illegal , it was most undesirable that Wardens should do so . It was proposed bv Bro . J . Belling , B . A ., P . M ., seconded by Bro . Capt . " Richardson ( Royal Engineers ) , and resolved , " That the lodge remove to the Royal Hotel on the Ist April . " The W . M .

announced that he would hold a Lodge of Instruction on the 23 rd inst . The questions appertaining to the first degree were put to the brethren by the W . M . for the information of the newly initiated . Bro . Anderson , Master Gunner at Aldershot , was proposed as a joining member . Nothing further having been proposed for the good of Freemasonry in general , or this loJge in particular , it was closed in peace , love , and harmony .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

WARRINGTON . — Chapter of Elias Ashmole , No . 148 . — A regular convocation of this chapter was held at the chapter rooms on Tuesday week . After the chapter had been opened by the Principals , the rest of the companions were admitted , and the minutes read and confirmed . It being the meeting for the election of ofiicers for the

ensuing year , the choice of the chapter fell upon the following companions , viz .: —Comps . D . W . Finney , Z . ; John Bowes , P . Z ., Prov . G . S . B ., II . ; W . Mossop , J . ; W . S . Hawkins E ; W . Richardson , P . Soj . ; W . Sharp , N . ; Robt . Jackson and John Harding , Asst . Soj . ' s ; las . Hannan , Janitor . This being all the business , the chapter was closed with the usual solemnities .

ROCHDALE . Chapter of Unity , No . 29 S . —The annual festival and installation of officers of this chapter was held in the Masonic Rooms , Arnwreet , on Wednesday , the 8 th inst . The companions assembled in thc above rooms at 6 o ' clock , under the presidency of Comps . Prince , ' / .. ; Holroyd , it . ; and Ashworth , J . ; supported by Comps . Roberts , Wrigley , and Briggs , P . Z . ' s ; Woodcock , E

Waterson , ti . ; Macdougall , P . S . ; Butlerworlh and Howard , Asst . Soj . ' s ; Rowcliff , Treas . ; and other companions . The minutes having been confirmed , and sundry other matters having been disposed of , Comp . Roberts , who was called upjn to perform the ceremony of installation , having assumed the chair of the . M . E . Z ., called upon the companions , Installed Principals , lo assist

him in forming a Board of Installed 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd Principals , when Comps . James Holroyd was installed M . E . Z . ; Wm . Ashworth , II ; and Woodcock , J . The following companions were also installed : —E . G . Heape , E . ; R . Collingwood , N . ; R . Bullet worth , P . S . ; R . Howard , 1 st Asst . Soj . ; T . Oakden , 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; Rowcliff , Treas . ; J . Ashworth , jun ., D . C ; Wrigley ,

Organist ; and J . Ashworth , sen ., Janitor . The ceremony of installation , & c , was ably performed by Comp . Roberts , who had great pleasure in receiving the thanks ofthe companions . Thc labours of the evening bciny ended , the chapter was duly closed , when the companions adjourned to banquet , after which the usual complimentary and loyal toasts were given and responded to , and a very pleasant evening was spent .

"MORE than . 1 year ago _ ne ul my chiliii .:-was attacked with ' bronchitis , and , after a h , n . ; illness , was given up by my physician as */ ,,-. cure . ' I was then induced to tiy ' ycuir Wgeraiid-Pain Killer , and from the limc ' l ' Lvgnn tie lua of it thc child rapidly got better , and is 1 -., \\ strong and healthy . — JOHN -WIN . STAXI . KY , te . Whittle-st ., L'pool , Jan ., 1 S 69 . —T 0 1 ' . D . & Son . "

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

METROPOLITAN . Macdonald Lodge , No . 104 . The regular meeting of this lodge , now in the second year of its working , was held on Saturday last at the Head Quarters of the First Surrey Rifle Volunteers , Brunswick-road , Camberwell .

Bro . James Stevens , W . M ., officiated , and conferred the degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master respectively on Bro . Messenger , of the Macdonald ( Craft ) Lodge , No . 1216 , in which he was ably assisted by Bros . ' T . Meggy , I . P . M ; Dr . Eugene Cronin , S . W . ; S . Rosenthal , J . W . ; A . Wolton ,

J . O . ; Thos . H . White , J . D . ; Charles Fountain , Steward ; and G . Newman , I . G . Powerful effect was also given to the ceremony by Bro . VV . Worrell , the Organist of Beckenham church , who presided at the harmonium , and played the various chants arranged by him for this degree , with exquisite

taste . The other brethren present were Bros . C . H . Hammerton , Sec . ; G . Neal , R . Whiffin , No . 118 , and H . Massey , P . M ., No . 22 . The ceremony was given without any omission , and the lecture explanatory of the degree was delivered by the W . M . at the

end . The brethren then adjourned to supper , and afterwards honoured tbe customary toasts . . The VV . M . coupled the name of Bro . Rosenthal with the toast of "The D . G . M ., Earl Percy , " and remarked that the D . G . M . was as ardent in the

cause of Mark Masonry as the Grand Master himself was . Bro . S . Rosenthal , in answer to the call of the W . M ., stated that Earl Percy , who would , if possible , have been at this lodge when the Grand Master honoured it with a visit , had promised that he would ,

if it were in his power , attend to-night . The first opportunity , however , that he had he should avail himself of the invitation , and not require one of the deputy officers to reply for him . Bro . Meggy said that all the officers did their duties , and were happy in the performance of them .

They did more as Grand Officers of this degree than did tbe officers of other degrees . This was a model degree , for Grand Ofiicers did their work as well as hold office . The work must be done by some one , and they preferred to do it themselves . While they did so they deserved well of the Craft .

For himself , he could say that he endeavoured to discharge his duty while he was a Grand Officer , believing that as he had accepted the post of honour , he had taken it with its consequent burdens . Bro . Meggy proposed the health of the "W . M . " The manner in which he had performed the work

of the chair entitled him to the highest praise . He had really proved himself an excellent Master in Mark Masonry , because he went to the fundamental principle . In connection with himself ( Bro . Meggy ) , the W . M . had been endeavouring to improve the ceremony and to elucidate , with the

sanction and approval of the G . M ., the difference between the ranks of Mark Man and Marl-Master . After it had been worked a little time , they hoped to arrive at the climax , and submit to thc G . M . a scheme for his approval and Grand Lodge ' s authorization . What Bro . Stevens had done ,

showed that he was desirous to benefit thc degree ; at the least , the possession of such a Master reflected credit on the lodge . From the way in which he had performed the ceremonies that evening he had proved himself a Master of the Art , and great praise was due to him for thc labour he had

bestowed on it , and the success he had achieved . The W . M . thought that to receive praise from Bro . Meggy , who had been a fellow-labourer in the vineyard , was , to use a quotation which he remembered , " Praise from Sir Hubert Stanley is praise indeed . " Bro . Meggy was the brother to

whom the Grand Master had referred in many cases of difficulty in connection with thc degree . Therefore he must have been a good worker to receive such distinction , and it was , consequently , doubly a gratification to him ( the W . M . ) to have his humble efforts so highly spoken of . Not having been con

nectcd with thc degree above two years , he was pleased that the aptitude he had evinced for thc Order had induced the Grand Master to couple him with Bro . Meggy in the work of securing and perfecting such a ritual as might hereafter be adopted through the whole of the Mark Degree . It was true

that a little consideration and a good deal of attention , to what had been already taught him in the way of ritual , had been necessary ; but it had resulted in what he hoped would be a permanent and satisfactory amendment acceptable to the whole of thc Craft . Having seen the working in the lodge on former occasions , thc brethren would have

noticed that the distinction which was now made between the degrees of Mark Man and Mark Master , could not but do good , as it would serve to explain the difference shown in the narrative of the lecture . In that they had endeavoured , as far as possible , to approach towards similarity between the ceremonial ancl the explanatory lecture . The distinction between Mark Man and Mark Master

Mark Masonry.

was of great importance , and he hoped it would be recognised . The W . M . next proposed the health of " Bro . Meggy , P . M ., " and in doing so referred to the great services he had rendered to the lodge . During the twelve months he was in the chair , and

subsequently he had done his best to show the brethren , how Mark Masonry should be placed , and what he ( the VV . M . ) had said of Bro . Irvine in reference to his connection with the Macdonald Craft Lodge , he could say of Bro . Meggy in reference to this Mark Lodge , that he hoped the day might be far distant ,

and it ought never to come , when his name was forgotten by the brethren . Bro . Meggy said this was a pet lodge of his . He had partly founded it ; he had watched over it as a child , and it had rewarded his attention by showing proficiency . He looked forward , when he founded

it , to establishing a lodge that should do credit to the order , and he could " lay the flattering unction to his soul" that the Grand Master was p leased with what they had done , for , when he paid the lodge a visit , he stated that he was pleased , and requested that such a memorandum might be entered on the

minutes of the lodge . The Grand Master had also mentioned it in other lodges . He had gone so far as to say , "If you only do it as they do in the Macdonald Lodge , you " will be of service . " This lodge ought to be proud of that recognition ; and as long as it showed its proficiency , he ( Bro . Meggy )

would feel he was rewarded . It was the highest compliment they could pay him as one of the founders of the lodge . All the trouble he had had was amply repaid by the way in which the lodge conducted itself . As a member of the lodge he could only thank the brethren for the way in which

they had drank his health , and begged to assure them that his services would always be at their disposal . The W . M . next gave "The Health of the newlyadvanced Brother . " As in the Craft , so in the Mark , it was one of the most pleasing duties of a

W . M . to perform the ceremony on a new brother , and to welcome among the brethren assembled the brother who did the lodge the honour of joining it . Circumstances had prevented the attendance that evening of all the brethren they expected to be advanced ; but it was gratifying to find that , not only

they , but also members of the lodge . who were absent , had felt it due to the W . M . and the lodge to send letters of apology for their non-attendance . With respect to the candidates , this circumstance alone would make their incoming at a future period the more welcome . That evening there had

fortunately been work to do in consequence ofthe attendance of Bro . Messenger . That brother had been much impressed with the ceremony , and he ( the VV . M . ) could only say that if Bro . Messenger saw the beauties of the Mark Degree that the other brethren of this lodge saw , he would give as much

attention to it as he had already given to the Craft . They had in Bro . Messenger a member who would be a credit to the lodge , and one who was desirous of making that advancement in Masonry which all Masons should aspire to . As a comrade in the ist Surrey Rifle Corps . and a brother ofthe Macdonald

Craft and Mark Lodges , tlie brethren would welcome him most heartily among them , and would do their best to secure his promotion . Bro . Messenger replied , and hoped that if he strove to become a proficient in this degree , the brethren would reward him , as they had his

acquisition of a knowledge of Craft Masonry by putting him in office . He should then feel that his labour had not been without its fruits . " Thc Visitors " and "The Charities" were the next toasts , and the brethren shortly afterwards separated .

PROVINCIAL . Roberts Lodge of Mark Masters , Rochdale , No . 24 , E . C . I beg to hand you , for insertion in your valuable paper , a brief account of the formation of this very prosperous lodge , which is held in the Masonic

Rooms , Arm-street , Rochdale , and which was commenced at a casual meeting of a few energetic brethren of the Lodge of Harmony , No . 298 f Craft ) who arc members of thc Prince Edward Mark Lodge , No . 14 , held at Stanfield Bottoms , about eleven miles from Rochdale .

It having been felt a great inconvenience to attend the duties of the lodge at so great a distance from home , and their being lodges , chapters , conclaves , & c , of almost every degree in Masonry in

connection with the above rooms , except the Mark degree , it was resolved to apply to Grand Lodge for a warrant , and a petition was accordinglypresented to our worthy Bro . Wm . Roberts , of which the following is a

Copy . To Wm . Roberts , Esq . Dear Sir and Brother , —We , the undersigned , being Mark Masons and Subscribing Members of a regular constituted Mark Masters' Lodge , under the constitution of