Mark Masonry.

witness , the excellent work done by those distinguished brethren in Grand Mark Lodge , and for that they were entitled to their respect and admiration . They were , however , honoured that night by the presence of a Grand Officer in the person of their good Bro . Coupland , P . M . That brother had had Grand honours conferred upon him for his many valuable services , not only to the Mark

Degree , but Masonry generally , and , as they were proud to see him among them , he asked them to drink his health and that of the other Grand Officers heartily . Bro . Coupland , in responding , said it was a proud moment in- his life in which it became his duty and pleasure to respond for so important a toast as that of the Grand Officers of the Grand Mark Lodge of England .

They all knew that the two lodges in their district—the Excelsior and the Florence Nightingale—had been formed and consecrated for a goodly number of years , and the time had arrived—seeing also the great strides they both had made in members and position among the lodges of the Province of Kent—when it was only right that from among the officers of those lodges some one should be chosen for

Grand honours in Grand Lodge . Well , the choice of the G . M . fell upon him , and he could only say that he was proud of it , of their lodges , and of the province with which they were identified . With regard to Lord Egerton of Tatton , he was not only D . G . M . M . of Grand Lodge , but P . G . M . M . of the Province of Cheshire , where he was as well beloved and respected as at Grand Lodge . He was a

landed proprietor in that province , and was , as a landlord . and a county magnate , a kind and genial nobleman . Like the rest of the Grand Officers , his lordship took great interest and showed untiring energy for the benefit and prosperity of the Degree . He trusted in time to see a brother of that lodge get Grand honours , and that that brother would be the senior P . M . of the lodge . After

again thanking them for their cordial reception of the toast , he resumed his seat amid cheers . "Bro . the Rev . Thomas Robinson , M . A ., G . M . M . of Kent , " having been toasted , " Bro . the Rev . Hayman Cummings , M . A ., D . P . G . M . M . ; and the rest of the P . G . M . Officers , Present and Past , " was the next toast , and , in putting it , the W . M . said bethought the lodge ought

and might be congratulated on the number of its members who were Grand and Past Grand Officers of the Province of Kent . There was one amongst them who came up in the same smiling manner to receive at his hands the collar of his office in that lodge , as he felt sure he had when he received the collar and jewel of his office at the hands of their esteemed P . G . M . His clothing was so new , and

he looked so nice , that he should couple his name with the toast . He alluded to Bro . Taylor . Then there was their esteemed Past Master , Bro . Clarke , he should like to hear him , and would also couple his name with Bro . Taylor's . He asked them to drink the toast in bumpers . Bro . Taylor said he quite appreciated their W . M . ' s kindness in associating his name with the toast , but in the

presence of so many Grand Officers he felt it a very responsible task . It certainly was a great honour , and all he could say was that he trusted he might long he associated with such a grand array of good and excellent Masons . Bro . Clarke would have preferred to have seen the name of his predecessor in the chair , Bro . Sweny , who was a S . G . W . of the province , named , instead of his own , but as

it was his lot , he would say that it afforded him a great deal of delight and pleasure to have his name coupled with so important a toast . The Province of Kent was renowned for its Masonry , it was always first , especially in the cause of charity , and in the persons of Bros . Robinson and Cummings it held a very prominent position in the Mark Degree , and he felt proud to have his name associated

with such a gallant band . The Immediate Past Master then proposed the toast of "The W . M . " He said it gave him great delight and pleasure to propose the toast ; it was , however , a very . different position he found himself in , because if one knew nothing at all about the subject of the toast one had to propose , why he could go on and say whatever he liked , so

long as he laid it on thick enough . He would say of him , that he was sure he would do his duty in the chair , and was no doubt very glad to see him—the I . P . M . —out of it . Their W . M . had , during his year of office , given him great support , and he intended to return the compliment by giving him plenty of work . He heartily proposed his health and asked them to drink it heartily .

The Worshipful Master , who had joined heartily in the laughter caused by his brother ' s speech , was cheered heartily on rising to respond . He said he rose to thank them for their kind reception of the toast so handsomely put by the Immediate Past Master . He would , as Master of the lodge , try and keep up its prestige ; if he did not succeed it should be through no fault of his . His

brother had a very quiet time of it , and now he came down with three candidates for their next meeting . He , however , had good officers , and trusted with their help to do the work , and so keep up the prestige of the good old Florence Nightingale Lodge . Bro . Hayes , in responding for " The Visitors , " said on behalf of the brethren of the Excelsior Mark

Lodge , he heartily thanked them for their reception and entertainment . As the name of their lodge was Excelsior , so they , of that lodge , tried to excel in both their working and hospitality , but they certainly had been excelled that night . It amounted to this , that they , the Nightingales , had one of the best of the Excelsior ' s Past Masters amongst them in the person of Bro . Sweny ;

and Bros . Denton , P . M ., and Clarke , P . M ., also had made their mark in the annals of Masonry in that district . He was very much impressed by the perfect manner in which Bro . Nichols had worked the installation ceremony , while their hospitality would be a red-letter day in the Mark history of the Woolwich district . He invited them to visit the Excelsior as often as possible , and resumed his seat amid applause .

Bro . Heath also responded , and said he had never seen the installation ceremony so ably worked before in his life . With regard to the name of the lodge , he opined it took its name from that grand gentlewoman who did so much for our wounded soldiers in the Crimea ; if so , and it were possible for that lady to be present , she would see that they were , as Masons , following in her footsteps , and shedding a halo of human kindness on all who came within their

sphere . Bro . Sweny , in responding for the toast of " The Past "Masters , " said he might say , in answer to the remarks of Bro . Heath , that Miss Florence Nightingale was the patron of both that and their Craft lodge . They received a letter

Mark Masonry.

from her when the lodge was consecrated , acknowledging the compliment , and wishing it every success , and it had succeeded . They were the same in Craft and Mark lodge both in unity , work , and good feeling . He had been honoured with the post of Treasurer for some years now , and was proud to say that they were in a good and excellent position . The lodge was a Life-Governor of the

Benevolent Institution , and they were one and all proud of it , and determined to maintain its prestige to the utmost . Bro . Denton also responded , and after Bro . Nichols had responded for " The Installing Officer , " the Tyler ' s toast concluded the proceedings , which were interspersed with some excellent singing and reciting , Bro . Nichols presiding at the piano .

COLCHESTER . —Constantine Lodge ( No . 145 ) . —The annual installation meeting of the above lodge was held at the George Hotel , on Thursday , the nth inst ., when Bro . Geo . A . Eustace , S . W . was installed as W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony was to have been performed by the popular D . P . G . M . of the Province of East Anglia ( the Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C , but in his

unavoidable absence it was most ably taken by Bro . Jas . P . Lewin , P . M . and Treas ., P . G . Stwd . Eng ., P . P . J . G . W . The officers for the year were invested as follows : —Bros J . T . Bailey , P . G . R ., I . P . M . ; Wm . Sowman , S . W . j R . D . Poppleton , J . W . j A . H . Bowles , M . O . j Frank Ouilter , S . O . ; Rev . W . Morgan Jones , P . P . G . C , J . O . ; Rev . E . H . Crate , P . M ., P . G . C . Eng ., P . P . G . S . D .

E . Ang ., Chap . ; J . P . Lewin , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . Eng ., P . P . J . G . W ., Treas . j T . J . Railing , P . M ., P . G . D . Eng ., P . P . G . S . O ., Sec . ; Thos . Rix , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Reg . ; H . J . Skingley , S . D . j J . G . Renshaw , J . D . j S . D . C . Ablitt , D . C . ; J . J . C . Turner , Org . ; J . Ashdown , I . G . j T . J . Grant and Warren Ellis , Stewards , - S . Munson , Tyler j Arthur Wright , Asst . Tyler .

At the conclusion of the ceremony , a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Bro . W . Lewin for the able way in which he had performed the ceremony of installation . Bro . Lewin , in responding , said they all telt much regret , and no one more than himself , at the absence of the D . P . G . M . At the same time he felt very great pleasure that he had installed the W . M ., whose late lamented father he had

placed in the same position some four years ago . Bro . Lewin also thanked the brethren for re-electing himself to the honourable and responsible post of Treasurer . Bros , j . W . French , P . M . ; James Bond , P . M . ; and A . J . Cubitt , M . O ., of 317 , attended a deputation from Great Yarmouth to ask the lodge to recommend a petition to the M . W . G . M . for the formation a new Mark lodge at Great

Yarmouth , to be called the Friendship . Bro . French explained that himself and the brethren with him were members of a strong Craft lodge bearing the same name , they had also a Royal Arch chapter , and they felt that the time had arrived when they ought to have a Mark lodge . Himself and the other two brethren with him were advanced to the Mark Degree in that lodge , and they thought they could not do better than ask their mother lodge to

recommend ihcir petition . The W . M . having invited the opinion of the lodge , a unanimous expression was given that the application should be granted . The W . M . and Wardens , therefore signed the petition , and handed it to Bro . French , who expressed the thanks of himself and brethren with him at the hearty reception they had received . The lodge was shortly afterwards closed , and between 30 and 40 brethren dined together at the George Hotel , a capital repast being well served by the host , Bro . Coope .

MALTON . —Fitzwilliam Lodge ( No . 277 ) . —The annual festival of this lodge was held on the gth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , when theinstallation of the W . M . elect , Bro . T . M . Goldie , P . A . G . D . C , S . W ., and the investment of officers for the ensuing year took place . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . T . B . Whytehead , P . G . M . O ., P . P . G . Sec , and Bro . John Marshall , P . P . J

G . W ., Prov . G . Treas . Ihe W . M . afterwards invested the following officers for the ensuing year : Bros . J . B . Nicholls , P . P . S . G . D ., I . P . M . j James Buckle , S . W . j M . F . W . Williamson , J . W . ; R . J . Smithson , M . O . ; E . K . Speigelhalter , S . O . ; VV . R . Metcalfe , J . O . ; Rev . W . G . Chilman , P . P . G . Chap .. Chap . ; A . W . Walker , P . M ., Prov . G . Sec , Treas : W . j . Marshall , P . A . G . Sec , Sec .

A . J . Taylor , R . of M . j J . W . Marshall , P . M ., P . G . O ., Org . j C . R . Stainland , P . P . G . Org ., D . C . j S . Chadwick , P . P . G . O ., S . D . j J . Hudson , P . M ., J . D . j J . Marshall , P . M ., P . P . G . I . of VV ., I . G . j and W . Stockdale , Stwd . and Tyler . The brethren afterwards sat down to a banquet at the

Talbot Hotel . Amongst the visitors present were Bros . Col . Yeatman Biggs , P . J . G . Warden of Hants and the Isle of Wight j VV . B . Dyson , W . M ., and W . Brown , J . W ., of York Lodge , T . I . j and others . The lodge was visited during the day by several brethren from various lodges in the province .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

SHADWELL CLERKE CHAPTER ( No , 107 ) . —A meeting was held on Wednesday , the ioth inst ., at the Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square , W ., when there were present E . and P . Bro . H . H . Shirley , 18 , M . W . S . j 111 . Bro . H . Lovegrove , P . M . W . S ., Treas . ; E . and P . Bros . W . A . Scurrah , 18 , ist Gen . ; W . R . Palmer , 18 , 2 nd Gen . ; III . Bro . John Read , 30 ° , M . W . S . 10 ,

Recorder ; E . and P . Bros . N . Goodchild , M . D ., 18 ° , Raphael ; E . Storr , iS ° , D . of C . j G . J . Dunkley , 18 ° , Org . ; C . B . Cooper , 18 ° , Steward ; G . Austin , O . G . ; M . 111 . Bro . Major George Lambert , 33 ° ; E . and P . Bros . H . E . Coffin , IS R . C . Leversedge , iS ° ; and Felix Weiss , iS ° . Visitors : E . and P . Bros . J . J . Thomas , 18 ,

29 ; Willoughby Weiss , iS , 105 ; and G . Gregory , iS ° , 97 . The chapter was opened , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for the two candidates for perfection , viz ., Bros . Biden and Marsh , which resulted in their favour , and both these

brethren being present , they were regularly perfected into the Order in a most able and effective manner by Bro . IT . H . Shirley , the M . W . S . This being the annual period of election of M . W . S ., the choice of the brethren fell upon Bro . W . A . Scurrah , ist Gen . 111 . Bro . Lovegrove was reelected Treasurer , and Bro . Austin as O . G . It was pro-

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

posed and seconded that a P . M . W . S . ' s jewel should be presented to Bro . Shirley at the ensuing meeting for his able conduct during his year of ofiice , which was carried most enthusiastically . Nothing further offering , the chapter was closed . The brethren subsequently dined together at the Criterion .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

MANCHESTER . —St . Joseph Preceptory ( No . 9 ) . —The regular meeting of this flourishing preceptory was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , on Friday , the 12 th inst . Present : Sir Knights Samuel Warburton , E . G ., E . Pike , F . W . Lean , A . H . Jefferis , Wm . Cartwright , Geo . Hunt , R . Robinson , J . Wilson , VV . H . Malkin , C . Hindley , W . H . Southern , VV . Duncan , John

Chadwick , Prov . G . S . E . C , and J . L . Asplant . Visitors Sir Knight J . Milligan and J . A . T . Sturrock . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed ^ Owing to the absence of Comp . Cole through indisposition , his installation was postponed . It was resolved unanimously to invite the Provincial Grand Priory to meet at Manchester under their banner next year , and a guarantee

fund formed to meet any expense incurred thereby , without entrenching on the preceptory funds . Sir Knight Milligan , who resigned some years ago owing to an "important engagement , " received his certificate . Two companions were proposed for installation at the next meeting . Notice was given of the Provincial Grand Priory to be held to-day ( Thursday ) , at Wigan .

The sir knights afterwards dined together . Sir Knight Milligan responded for the toast of " The Visitors " in felicitous terms . They congratulated him on his re-appearance amongst them looking well and hearty , forcibly illustrating that " Marriage is not a failure , " and the good people of Buxton in having such a genial Chairman of the Local Board , to which he has again been elected by a large majority . The other loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

PLANTAGENET CONCLAVE ( No . 2 ) . —An assembly of this conclave was held at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , on Monday , the 15 th inst . The members present included Sir Knights Frederic Craves , G . Std . Br ., M . P . S . j C Chauffourier , V . j R . P . Spice , S . G .,- C .

F . Hogard , G . Rec , Rec . j C E . Soppet , G . P ., P . S . j J . Moon , P . S . J H . Venn , G . P ., P . S . ; J . A . Gartley , G . H ., P . S . ; J . G . Marsh , P . S . ; J . Lewis Thomas , P . S . ; J . H . Lane and H . Tyrrell . Visitors : Sir Knights T . C . Walls , G . High Almoner ; H . H . Shirley , G . E ., P . S . j and W . W . Lee .

The conclave was opened , and the minutes read and confirmed . Sir Knight H . H . Shirley , P . S ., then assumed the chair , and impressively enthroned Sir Knight C . Chauffourier as M . P . S . for the ensuing year , and consecrated Sir Knight R . P . Spice as Viceroy . The other officers for the year were appointed as follows : Sir Knights Dr . Morris , S . C ; H . Tyrrell , J . G . ; J . A . Gartley , High Prelate ;

H . Venn , P . S ., Treas . ; C . F . Hogard , G . Recorder , Recorder ; J . H . Lane , Prefect ; Earl , Std . Br . j Nicholls , Herald ; and Reinhardt , Sentinel . The M . P . S . said hc had a pleasing duty to perform in presenting Sir Knight Graves , I . P . S ., with a P . S . 's jewel , in recognition of the admirable way in which he had conducted the affairs of the conclave during the past year , and the beautiful manner

in which he had worked the ceremonies . By the ability of the I . P . S . he ( the M . P . S . ) was placed in an invidious position . He trusted Sir Knight Graves would be spared for many years to wear the jewel in their conclave . Sir Knight F . Graves , I . P . S ., returned thanks , and said he did not consider he was entitled to that mark of their approbation . As , however , out of the goodness of their hearts

the members had presented it to him , he hoped for years to come to wear it ,, surrounded by the sir knights . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Sir Knight Shirley , P . S ., for his kindness and ability in rendering the ceremonies , a compliment which was appropriately acknowledged . Bros . Frohlich and Reside , 1201 , were proposed for installation , and routine business having been transacted , the conclave

was closed . After a recherche repast the customary toasts were given . Sir Knight J . Lewis Thomas , P . G . Jun .-Gen ., responded for the toast of "Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., and the Members of the Grand Council , " and said they all united in wishing long life to their Grand Sovereign of the Order , that he might reign over the Order which he had so

much at heart . For the other officers , including Sir Knight Baron de Ferrieres , G . V ., he could only say they had the prosperity of the Order very much at heart , and particularly this conclave , which was No . 2 on the list , but really the most ancient in the kingdom . He begged to return hearty thanks for the kind manner in which thc names of the Grand Councillors had been mentioned .

Sir Knight C . F . Hogard , G . Recorder , also responded , and said the Sir Knights included in the toast endeavoured to promote the interests of the Order , which was prospering fairly well . It only required a few to put their shoulders to the wheel to place the Order in the position in which it was when they lost Sir Knight Little . They had been working under a cloud during the past few yearsbut they had

, struggled through that , and the beautiful ceremonies ought to commend it to those seeking Christian Masonry . Sir Knight Gartley replied for "The Grand Senate , " and said they had a fair sample of that body in Sir Knight Shirley , and those who placed themselves under his care were in good hands , for he was always willing to impart the knowledge he possessed .

Sir Knight F . Graves , I . P . S ., said he had on this occasion the proud privilege of proposing the toast which he was sure they would all agree was an exceptionally p leasing one—that of their newly-installed M . P . S . They had had the opportunity of hearing Sir Knight Chauffourier work the ritual previously , and they knew how capable he was .

The M . P . S . would be a great ornament to this conclave , and if those who followed him copied him in a moderate degree , success would be ensured . He presented him ( the I . P . S . ) with a jewel in the most pleasing and agreeable manner , and would do everything that fell to his lot in the same kind , affable , and agreeable way . Sir Knight Chauffourier , M . P . S ., returned sincere thanks