Provincial Grand Lodge Of Suffolk.

five years , besides having spent a good deal in relieving widows of deceased members , and in addition to the large amount which had been sent up from private lodges and individual members . The Chairman then gave " The health of Bro .

Stratheam , " who responded . This was followed by the toast of " The Press , " acknowledged by Bro . J- F . Lucia , of the Bury Free Press ; " The health ofthe Organist , Bro , Mann , " who briefly acknowledged it , and to whose great

professional merit Bro . Fearnside bore testimony ; and " The Ladies" responded to b * Bro . Bowler , and Major Allez . During the evening some capital songs were sung , and everything passed off most pleasantly .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

The annual summer festival of Mark Grand Lodge , in aid of the Benevolent Fund attached to it , was held on Wednesday last , at the Greyhound Hotel . Richmond , Sir Edmund H . Lechmere formerly a Deputy Grand Master of the Order presided ; about 70 brethren and ladies

supported him . Among the brethren were Bros . Col . Burdett , H . C . Levander , Rev . D . Shaboe , Charles Horsley , Charles Lacey , D . M . Dewar , J . H . Wynne , W . Roebuck , S . Rosenthal , E . M . Haigh , F . Richardson , Clement Stretton , E . Spencer Stidolph , W . C . Gilles , W . Hudson ,

N . J . F . Basnett , George Page , L . J . V . Cerexhe , F . Binckes ( Grand Secretary ) , and H . W . Binckes , ( Assistan' |* iecretary . ) The banquet was admirably served by Bro . Palmer , the proprietor of the Greyhound , and when the cloth was removed , the chairman

proposed the Mark Masonic toasts . In proposing the first toast " The Queen , and and Mark Masonry , " he said that usuall y in Masons' lodges the speeches were a great deal too long , which was a Masonic secret he was not afraid of imparting , but he was sure that

the brethren and ladies present would give the same hearty appreciation and enthusiasm to the toast of " The Queen and Mark Masonry , " as they had always done . The many revolutionary changes which had taken place in the last ¦ , © years had made no alteration in this respect .

The toast having been cordially greeted , the Chairman next proposed " The Grand Mark Master Mason , the Bight Hon . Earl Percy , M . P . ' , " and in doing so said the company would all sympathise with his lordship in lately losing so distinguished a member of his family as the

lion from the top of Northumberland-house . His lordship ' s absence from that meeting was probably due to his having to superintend his reerection at Sion Honse . All Mark Masons owed him a deep debt of gratitude for the way in which he presided over the Order , and wished

that his health would enable him to come more frequently than he did among them . Such an enthusiastic Mason as he was would always be of immense service to the different branches of Freemasonry .

The Chairman then , in appropriate terms , proposed " The Past Grand Masters , Lord Leigh , the Earl of Carnarvon , Viscount Holmesdale , M . P . ; W . W . Beach , M . P ., and the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . A . " He remarked that this

was a long and distinguished list of noblemen and gentlemen for Mark Masonry to preside pver it since it was established as a Grand Body in this country ; and Mark Masons ought well be proud in having secured such eminent men as their rulers . He was happy to say that on

the first occasion of this Benevolent Fund Festival ' . being held the then Grand Master , •Bro . Portal , presided over the company . They met at the Mitre , Hampton Court , and had a very successful meeting . The Chairman next proposed " The Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Limerick , and

the Grand Officers , present and past . " The Earl of Limerick he said , was also a most energetic Mason , both in the Craft and Mark , and had always given great assistance to the varies degrees of Masonry . The r * - -st of the Grand Officers had won for themselves a title to the respect of their brethren , and " •id zealously promoted the ei-tension of the

Grand Mark Lodge.

degree , and the cause of the Benevolent Fund . Colonel Burdett responded , and took the opportunity , he said , although he was called upon unexpectedly to inform the chairman and brethren that he was ready at all times to be of whatever

service he could to Freemasonry . ( Hear , hear ) . The Chairman then gave " Prosperity to the Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund , and the Masonic Institutions . " The company had met for the double purpose of mutual enjoyment and promoting the interests of the Benevolent Fund .

It was exceedingly pleasing to him to see ladies assembled to take part in the enjoyment of the evening . It was well-known that they always took a leading part in the cause of charity , and they had been of great assistance to this fund . It had been with much satisfaction that he had

visited the Masonic institutions , which were a memento of what the Order had done in a good cause . With Freemasons charity was a goodly principle , but it was also a principle with them to do a great deal of good without making a show of it . Of this Benevolent Fund , this was

peculiarly the character ; and yet was established to do a vast amount of good . With this toast he should couple the name of Bro . Binckes , ( cheers ) who was the Grand Secretary of the degree , and was also Secretary to the Boy ' s School , and who in both capacities had been an

indefatigable worker in the cause of Masonry . He , the chairman , remembered as an old Mason , theschool under both Bro . Binckes ' s and his predecessor , and he had watched the progress it had made . It was exceedingly gratify ingto him to have seen its progress , and all the whole body of

Freemasons were under great obligations and a deep debt of gratitude to Bro . Binckes , for the efforts he had made in bringing the school to its present state of perfection . The toast was one which would be acceptable to the whole of the company , and it was one which he had great pleasure in proposing .

The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm . Bro . Binckes thanked the chairman for his kind expressions , and the brethren for the heartiness with which they had received them . With respect to the Masonic institutions he had certainly done his best for many year ' s to advance

their prosperity , and it was as much pleasure to him as it was to the chairman to see the Boys ' School , the Girls' School and the Benevolent Institution so rapidly increasing . The number of boys in the school had extended in a few years from 70 to 178 , the girls from

90 to 146 , and the Benevolent Institution ' s pensioners were over 200 . £ 2 5 , 000 were annually collected on behalf of these institutions by the liberality of the brethren , and he need hardly ask the company whether a better proof was required of the good which was being effected

by this great Order . They might depend upon it that their generosity was not , and would not be thrown away . More or less their good deeds had followed them , and he hoped that any brother who had not yet visited the Institutions would do so , and see the

practical effect of what they were doing . The Boys ' School at Wood-green , the Girls' School at Battersea Rise , the Benevolent Institution at Croydon were always open to inspection , and an in spection could only lead to their still further support . Unless the brethren and ladies did go

and see them they could have no idea of the amount of good that was being done . He could assure them they were deserving of all the assistance that could be bestowed on them . Speaking then of the Mark Benevolent Fund he gave a history of its formation , and said it was

intended to assist poor Mark Masons , their widows and children . Happily up to the present time there had been no large demands upon it , and they had already had six anniversary festivals on its behalf , including the present . It had contributed to the Masonic Institutions ; but about £ , 20 would cover all the gifts it had

had to make to poor Mark Masters . The fund now amounted to £ 400 , which was well invested . But he was sorry to tell them there had just occurred two deaths which would necessitate an appeal to this fund . Bro . Binckes then mentioned the names of the deceased brethren , for neither of whom might they have expected an

Grand Mark Lodge.

appeal to the chanty of Freemasons would be made . He afterwards read the lists of donations brought in by the Stewards , amounting to some ,- £ 200 ( cheers ) , and thanked the brethren and ladies heartil y for what they had done .

Col . Burdett proposed " The Health of the Chairman , " who responded , and proposed " The Ladies , " for whom Colonel Wigginton replied . Bro . C Levander acknowledged " the Health of the Stewards , " and the party shortly afterwards returned to town , having spent a most agreeable day .

The musical arrangements were under the direction of Madame Thaddeus Wells , who was assisted by Miss Lucy Franklein , and Bros . George Buckland and Frank Elmore .

Rosicrucian Society.

ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETY .

METROPOLITAN COLLEGE . The quarterly convocation of this society was held at the Royal Masonic Hall , Regent-street on Thursday , 9 th July . The M * * * * * C * * * * * was opened in the usual manner by the Supreme Magus , Frater

R . Wentworth Little , and after the confirmation of the minutes , read by Frater William Robert Woodman , Secretary General , a communication from the High Council of the Order was then made . The acounts of the society , duly audited , were approved .

There were five candidates for the grade of Zelator , several of whom had been balloted for at former meetings of the college . The usual arrangements having been comp leted , the following brethren , being Master Masons and of good repute , were then , in ancient

form , admitted to the degree of Zelator : Bro . Frederick Binckes , P . M ., Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ; Bros . Eugene Thiellay , Devey Fearon Ranking , U . A . ; Thomas Massa , Frederick Keily . These gentlemen having been duly admonished ,

retired , and on their re-admission , received the rite of perfection at the hands of Frater C F . Matier , Chief Adept ofthe Manchester College , assisted as Chaplain b y Frater Kenneth R . H . Mackenzie , ( known as Cryptonymus ) . It was proposed and carried by acclamation that a

letter , couched in proper terms , should be sent to the widow of Frater William Carpenter . Frater Captain Hunter , representative at the Metropolitan College ofthe Eastern Division of Scotland , moved a resolution of fraternity and good will from that college .

Frater Matier moved a similar resolution on behalf of the College of Manchester and East Lancashire , which was received in a thoroughly fraternal spirit . It was also moved from the east that a jewel be presented to Bro . Robert Wentworth Little , for his services to the

Society . Frater Kenneth R . H . Mackenzie then read a paper on " Rosicrucian Vitality , " which was kindly received by the Fratres . Among the Fratres present not specified above , we observed Fratres Hyde Pullen , the Rev . P . M . Holden , Captain George

Lambert , James Willing , Jun . ; George Kenning , T . Cubitt , Boyd , Foulger , Sigismund Rosenthal , Still , and others . The college then adjourned its meeting until the month of October , and partook of a slight refection , under the admirable management of Mr . Nichols , the entrepreneur of the Cafe Royale .

At a Masonic Lodge held sometime since in Bombay , India , there were present nine native brethren , three of whom were followers of Zoroaster , two of Confucius , and four of

Mahomet , assembled together around one common altar , and engaged in the worship of one common God . What an illustration of the universality and unsectarian character of Freemasonry .

The three tenets of a Freemason s profession are Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth . Truth has been denominated the column of Wisdom , Brotherly Love the column of Strength , and Relief the column of Beauty ,