Consecration Of The Royal Savoy Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 355.

With such a trio to encourage him in his task , we may be sure that Bro . Binckes fulfilled his part like one inspired . There was as strong a muster as mig ht in reason be expected , and at the appointed hour of 2 . 30 p . m ., the presiding officer , Bro . J L . Mather , took the chair , and | after appointing his officers pio tern ., proceeded to open the lodge . There were present

Bros-James Willing , jun ., W . M . elect . W . M . Stiles , W . A . Scurrah , G . Gregory , R . Berridge , G . D . C . ; F . Davison . G . Treas ; K . Hoare , G . Org . ; C . E . Soppet , G . S . ; VV . Lake , P . P . G . Reg . ; E . Storr , G . Emblin , G . Gardner , Edward Mills , E . Roberts , J . T . Briggs , A . J . H . Goldney , VV . W . Morgan , R . J . Taylor , G . Moseley , Skidder , and others . The

following brethren were then balloted for and duly advanced to the Degree of Mark Master Masons : Bros . H . Dickey , J . C . Harrison , VV . J . Ferguson , H . VV . Field , C . J . Knig htley , VV . H . Barling , R . Ross , R . W . Fraser , G . Mordey , J . H . Batty , and S . Smith , as Tyler . The chair was then occupied by Bro . F . Binckes , G . Sec , Bro . J . L . Mather filling the chair of S . W ., and Bro . W . Lake that of J . W .

Bro . BINCKES , in opening the proceedings , expressed great p leasure in being present to assist in the interesting ceremony of consecrating a new Mark Lodge , which was to have as its first Master his good friend , Bro . James Willing . The petition and warrant having been read by the

Secretary pro tern ., the Consecrating Officer duly constituted the lodge and placed the W . M in the chair in ancient form , who then appointed his officers as follows : Bros . VV . M . Stiles , S . W . ; VV . A . Scurrah , J . W . ; G . Gregory , M . O . ; H . Dickey , S . O . ; J . H . Batty , J . O . ; and C . J . Knightley , Sec .

On the motion of the W . M ., the Consec-ating O . ficers , Bros . F . Binckes , J . L . Mather , C . E . Soppet , and VV . Lake were elected honorary members . The brethren afterwards sat down to a choice banquet , Bro . James

Willing occupying the chair . The toast of " The Queen and Mark Masonry " was first given , followed by that of "The Earl of Kintore , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and other Past Grand Masters . "

The toast of " The Deputy Grand Master , Lord Egerton of Tatton , " was replied to by Bro . BERRIDGE , who referred to the important services rendered by the Deputy Grand Master , expressing his firm belief that when he succeeded to the chair , now so ably filled by Lord Kintore , they would

find a worth y successor in Lord Egerton of Tatton . As an officer of Grand Lodge he ( Bro . Berridge ) was delighted to come amongst them to take part in the ceremonies of the day . As for the officers of the Grand Mark Lodge , he believed they had been carefully selected , and that they well deserved the honour .

Bro . SOPPET also replied , thanking the brethren for their hearty reception of his name in connection with the toast . It was always gratif ying to have one ' s name connected with the Grand Officers , and he could confidently say , that they all wished success to that lodge , which had been so

ably brought into being by Bro . Bmckes . In the first W . M ., Bro . Willing , they had one whom they were delighted to honour . Such small services as he had been able to render had been more than amply repaid by their electing him as an honorary member .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER in giving the toast of "The R . W . the Prov . G . M . M . M ., Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., and the Prov . Grand Officers , " enlarged on the many good qualities of the worthy brother , Misonic and otherwise , and explained that his absence on that occasion was caused by the necessity of his being present at the consecration of a Craft lodge in another part of the province .

Bro . DWIDSON , G . Treas ., responded , remarking that he was always delighted to support the Prov . Grand Master , who was one of the most zealous of Masons , in every possible way . He congratulated the brethren on the proceedings of the day , and should always take pleasure in attending

their meetings whenever possible . The selection of Bro . Willing as W . M . had made it certain that the lodge would be a prosperous one and would add much to the strength of Mark Masonry in the province . He expressed the pleasure he always felt at witnessing Bro . Binckes ' admirable working , and they would all agree with him that they had that day had a rare treat .

"The W . M ., Bro . Willing , " was the next toast on the list , and was placed in the hands of Bro . BINCKES , who said that he supposed there was not a single toast given in Masonry but what was , at some time or other , called the toast of the evening . The supreme ruler of the Order would fairly claim to come under that category , but when they came to the

special object of the meeting it was most certainly the W . M . One more zealous in any pursuit than Bro . Willing in Masonry he did not know ; his energy and ability were well known . He had answered in every shape what he had expected of him , and he felt honoured at being the medium of his being inducted into the chair of the Royal Savoy Mark Lodge , the

members of which might fairly congratulate themselves on having so able and genial a Master to preside over them . They were taught that they should not onl y be happy themselves , but be the means of communicating happiness to others , and he knew no one more capable of carrying out that injunction than Bro . Willing .

The W . M ., in reply , thanked Bro . Binckes and the members all round for all their kindnesses . At such meetings as these the brethren became better acquainted with each other , and , as a consequence , prejudices vanished as individuals entered into closer ties of friendship and brotherly love . Some argued that Masonic meetings were too numerous ; but , for his

part , he considered it was quite the reverse , especially in the Degrees of the Royal Arch , M irk , & c , which often were less effectively worked than the Crait , by reason of tht long intervals of meeting . He intended to devote his best energies to promoting the Royal Savoy Mark Lodge , and felt assured of the support of all his officers . The W . M . then gave " The Health of the Consecrating Officer , Bro .

Consecration Of The Royal Savoy Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, No. 355.

Binckes . " They looked up to him in the Mark Degree as the official representative of Grand Lodge , always ready to undertake any of the ceremonies , and as one possessed ol a vast amount of Masonic lore in every Degree . Speaking from an intimate acquaintance with Bro . Binckes , he could assert unhesitatingly , that a more generous and upright

Mason did not exist . As the Secteiary of one cf the great Masonic Charities he had latel y been prominentl y before them in connection with the last Festival of the B > ys' School , the result of which , although not so large as in recent years , was , considering the tit „ es , satisfactory . He thanked him heartily for the good offices he had rendered the Royal Savoy Mark Lodge that day , and trusted to see him often among them .

Bro . BINCKES thanked the W . M . for what he had said . The ceremony of that day had given him much gratification . During a career of 33 years , as a Mason , he had performed rcnny Masonic functions , and he still hoped for some time to be able to do something ( or Freemasonry . For 28 years

he had been officially connected with Mark Masonry , and had watched with interest its rise and progress . It had now made its way to a hi »> h position , and a long career of prosperity was before the Order . They had onl y to be true to themselves , to maintain the Charities , and to cultivate . brotherly love to ensure that happy result .

The WoRsmrFUL MASTER next gave the toast of "The Advancees , " which was repli-d tob y Bros . FERGUSON and BATTY . "The Vi-itors" wis responded to by Bros . J . L . MATHER , H . BRIGGS , GARDNER , LAKE , TAYLOR , and MORGAN .

"The Officers of the Lodge" followed , which gave the W . M . an opportunity of alluding in warmest terms of fiitndly feeling and Masonic friendship to the S . W ., Bro . Stiles , and to the magnificentachievements of the J . W ., Bro . Scurrah , as a Steward lor the Charities ; and both having suitabl y responded , the brethren separated , after enjoying a very pleasant

evening . The music at both the consecration and subsequent banquet was efficiently rendered by the Grand Organist , Bro . Hoare , and the vocaliits were Miss Pauline Featherley , Miss Adelina Paget , Bros . J . Probert and Egbert Roberts . The lodge was furnished b y Bro . George Kenning .

The New Provincial Grand Master Of Oxfordshire.

THE NEW PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF OXFORDSHIRE .

We warml y congratulate our brethren of Oxfordshire on having had so distinguished a brother as the Earl of Jersey selected to preside over them , in place of the late lamented Duke of Albtny , P . G . J . W . The province has been exceptionally fortunate in its rulers . Since 1 S 37 , when , though there had been Provincial Grand Masters previously , tli 2 history of

Oxfordshire as a separate and distinct province begins , it has been governed by a succession of able and respected chiefs . Lord H . Spencer Churchill , appointed in 1837 . was at the time Deputy Grand Master of England . Tne Rev . C . J . Ridley , who received his patent as Prov . Grand Master in 1 S 45 , had been four times chosen as VV . Master of the Apollo University Lodge ,

and had served as Deputy Grand Master of the province under L > rd Churchill , and Bros . Harrison and Hall , successively Grand Registrars in charge . Col . H . A . Bowyer , who was for a brief period Deputy to his predecessor , Bro . Ridley , and twice W . Master of the Cherwell Lodge , was installed in May , 1855 , and the late Duke of Albany in 1876 , the province

m the interval between Col . Bowyer ' s death , in 1871 , and his Royal Highness ' s appointment having been in charge of Grand Registrar Mclntyre . Of the virtues exhibited by the late Duke , and the respect in which he was held by the brethren of the province , it is not necessary to speak . It will suffice if we say that no amount of geniality and ability on the part of his

successor could suffice to obliterate the recollection of them . Yet it is impossible that an abler or more suitable successor to his Royal Highness could was born in the province , who lives in the province , and who , as a distinhave been chosen than the Earl of Jersey , who , speaking Masonically , guished member of the Mark Degree , has for several years been connected ;

as the chief of an outside branch ot Freemasonry , with the province . His lord-hip was initiated into Freemasonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , Oxford , in October , 1865 , « = rd , joinirg tie Chuithill Lor ' ge , No . 478 , the December following , was elecied its VV . Master in 1868 , having , in 1866 , been appointed Prov . Grand Secretary . In 1 S 70 he was appointed

Grand Senior Warden of England , and since then has taken great interest in the proceedings of the Craft , but especially in connection with the Mark Degree , in which he has held the office of Prov . G . M . M . M . of Berks and Oxon s nee 1879 . He is also a Past Grand General of the Orders ol Rome

and of the Red Cross of Consuntiue , and one of the Honorary Vice-Presidents of the Rosicrucian Society of England ; while , as regards our Institutions , he is a Vice-President of the Boys'School , and a Life Governor of the Girls' School and Benevolent Fund , and has served once as Festival Stewaid for all three .

HONORARY DEGREES . —The conferring of honorary degrees , such as the " Honorary Degree ol Mark Master , " is apparently a purely American usage , and has no counterpart in this country . But in the high grade system there appear to be ctriain side or honorary grades , which are usual and lor which no lee is required . The High Priesthood in the American Royal Arch System may also come within the meaning of honorary degrees .

It is , however , quite i' correct to consider the P . M ' s grade , as we have it , as an honorary degree , inasmuch as it is rank ihe consequence of nffi e ; and ihere is no admission to the grade of P . Master . It is a misuse of words , and not a little " slipslop , " to say the truth—one ot the great evils from which Masonic history and archaeology have direiully suffered in the past , and still suffer at present . —Ktnning ' s Cyclopo / dia of Freemasonry ,