Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

The P . G . M ., Bro . Canon TRISTRAM , congratulated the brethren on the roeress of Mark Masonry in the province , and especially upon the addition P f two new lodges to the province in the Blaydon and Hartford Mark I dees . They an deeply mourned the death of her Majesty the Queen , bv which their late Mark Grand Master was now his Majesty the King . rAoDlause . ) They congratulated the Craft on the appointment of H . R . H .

the Duke of Connaught as urand Master ot Ungland , ana the ffovince ot Durham on the installation of Lord Barnard as its P . G . M . ( Applause . ) V conclusion , he feelingly referred to the loss which had been sustained by their esteemed Deputy Prov . Grand Mark Master , Bro . Colonel Angus , in the loss of his son . He was quite sure their Deputy Prov . Grand Mark Master had the sympathy of every Mason in the province , and that he also had the p leasing thought that his son had laid down his life in the cause of his country . " Duke et decorum est pro patria mori . "

Bro . J . J . Wilson , W . M . of the Union Lodge , Sunderland , was elected as Prov . Grand Treasurer . The P . G . M ., Bro . Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., then appointed and invested the following as the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing

year : Bro . Col . VV . M . Angus ( re-appointed ) ... Dep . Prov . G . M . Seymour Bell ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . " G . Washington Bain , 124 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . " \ V . J . Jobson , 293 ... ... ... ProvrG . M . O . " Robert Marshall , 192 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . O . " Robert Bolam , 135 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . O . r » Iflponl . T li . rcnn Pm \ F fr l . ttHn .

J . J . Wilson , 124 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . " S . Peacock , 124 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . , Tohn Heppell , 362 ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . " John T . Stark ... ... ... Protr . S . G . D . „ Carrickfergus Fergyson , 122 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . R . E . Beall , 495 ... ... ... Prov . G . I . of W . W . C . Bell . 116 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ Eugene Home , 135 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ John Wiley , 39 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ John Briggs , 3 62 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ VV . Neville Cochrane , 250 ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ Joshua Curry ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Bro . T . Robinson , P . P . G . D . C , and Bro . J . Sedcole , P . P . G . M . O ., were elected Auditors on the motion of Bro . J . C MOOR , P . P . G . M . O . After other business the Prov . G . Lodge meeting closed . The anntnl banquet was held at the Grand Hotel , Bridge-street , where an excellent dinner was provided . Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., presided , and . was supported by Bros . Col . W . M . Angus , J . G . Kirtley

( Mayor of Sunderland ) , Thos . Purvis , J . Straker Wilson , Augustus E . Hurdon , F . C Snell ( Borough Electrical Engineer ) , John Heppell , P . G . Sec , Thos . Robinson , I . D . Todd , J . C . Moor , and J . J . Wilson . The vice-chairs were occupied by Bros . Seymour Bell , P . S . G . W ., and Geo . W . Bain , P . J . G . W . The various loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured .

Summer Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT AT THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The annual summer entertainment to the residents in the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon was given on the 10 th inst ., under very favourable circumstances . The weather was all that could be desired , and , as a consequence , a large party of brethren and ladies attended . The arrangements were admirable , with the result that , whether annuitants or visitors , everyone partaking of the generous hospitality

provided by permission of the Board of Management thoroughly enjoyed them selves from beginning to end . Among the party were Bro . Alfred H . Hickman , Mrs . Hickman , Bro . James Stephens , Bro . C . H Webb , Mrs . E . Savage , Mrs . E . WilsonMrs . SkinnerMrs . and Miss Newton

, , Mrs . Terry , Miss Kate Terry , Dr . Strong and Mrs . Strong , Bro . J . A . Farnfield , Bto . Henry Times , Miss Emily S . Times , Brj . and Mrs . David Hills , Bro . H . Massey , Miss Massey , and Miss Eliza Massey , Bro . Henry Humphries , W . M . 569 ; , Bro . W . H . Hubbert , Bro . E . J . Anning , C . C , Mrs . Anning , and Miss Anning ; Bro . James E . Terry , Mrs . Annie Jennings , and Miss Jennings .

Many more brethren and ladies took part in the entertainment , and a hearty reception was given them on their arrival by Bro . James Terry , the Secritary of the Institution ; Bro . John G . Stevens , the principal clerk ; and the Misses Nonis , matron and assistant matron .

Summer Entertainment At The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

It had been arranged that before tea a musical entertainment should take place in the grounds of the Institution , but although the weather was entirely suitable , it was found that the noise of the trains , which run close to the Institution , was so great that it would be impossible for the performers to do justice to- their work . The concert was therefore adjourned to the hall of the Institution . The musical director was Bro . John Porter , and the

accompanist Miss Beatrice Cowley . With these were associated Madame Mary Knight , Bro . Charles B gnell , and Bro . Tom . Costello , and the performances were a pianoforte solo by Miss Cowley , selected songsby Madame Knight , a coon song with banjo accompaniment by Miss Cowley , and humorous songs by Bros . Charles Bignell and Tom Costello . All these performances were deservedly most heartily applauded , and at the

conclusion the visitors partook of a choice tea . Walks in the grounds and visits paid to the annuitants in their homes were the next items on the programme , and the evening ' s proceedings , which commenced at half-past six , comprised the following performances : Pianoforte solo . " Balmoral ; " musical sketch , Miss Fanny Wentworth : song , "My Oueen , " Mr . Bertram Pearce ; humorous song .

" Dad ' s Dialects , " Bro . John Porter ; song , Mdlle . Mane Vagnohni ; plantation songs , " But it is so " and " Who did , " Miss Beatrice Cowley and Bros . John Porter and Collinson ; conjuring entertainment , Mr . Burnard ; pianoforte selection , " Variations , " Mr . Herbert Collinson ; banjo song , " Hello , ma baby , " Miss Beatrice Cowley ; song , Mdlle . Marie

Vagnolini ; humorous mimetic sketch , " Mrs . Fitz Jones at home , Bro . John Porter ; song , " The last watch , " Mr . Bertram Pearce ; Duets , " Katisha and Koko " and " Bunthorne and Lady Jane , " Miss Beatrice Cowley and Bros . John Porter and Collinson ; ventriloquial entertainment , Mr . Burnard ; plantation song , " Good-night , " Bro . John Porter and company ; and '' God Save the King . "

A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the performers on the motion of Bro . J . A . FARNFIELD , and Bro . PORTER acknowledged the

recognition . Miss Fanny Wentworth ' s musical sketch seemed to give unbounded satisfaction , and great regret was manifested when she was obliged to leave early in the evening on account of her professional engagements . The company returned to town by train shortly after nine o ' clock .

Society Of Arts.

SOCIETY OF ARTS .

On Monday , the 8 th instant , a . ' , their first meeting after the annual election , the Council elected Sir William Henry Preece , K . C . B ., F . R . S ., as chairman for the ensuing year . The various committees were also re-appointed . The dates fixed for the examinations in 1902 ( General ( Examination , Grade II ., and Preliminary Examinations , Grade I . ) , are Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday , April 14 th , 15 th , 16 th , and 17 th .

The results of the Preliminary Examinations ( Grade I . ) , held at the end of last March , are now ready . Copies for gratuitous distribution to each candidate who attended the examination have been sent to all centres . Additional copies can be obtained , price 3 d each . Copies of the results of the General Examinations ( Grade II . ) were sent out to the centres tor distribution to each candidate in the last week in June . Additional copies can be obtained , price 6 d . each .

Ihe practical examinations in music were not concluded this year until the 6 th instant , too late for the results to be included in the report of the council . They lasted for 1 r days . The examination was conducted by Mr . Ernest Walker , M . A ., Mus . Doc . Oxon ., and Mr . Burnham Horner . The system of examination was the same as that for last year . For instrumental music certain standards are given , and candidates are asked to select fot

themselves which of these standards they choose to be examined in . The standards range from easy to very difficult music . For each standard a list of music is given for study , and for the pianoforte examination a selection from this list is sent to the candidates six weeks previous to the examination . For other instruments the pieces can be at once chosen from the general list . Candidates are then expected to play or sing the pieces which they have prepared , and in the third and fourth standards to play a piece , or a portion of a piece , at sight , in addition .

In all , 566 candidates entered , and of these 551 were examined , an increase of five as compared with last year ; five of these took up two subjects , so that there were 556 examinations . Of these there were 47 6 passes and So failures . The following were the subjects taken up : Piano , singing , violin , violoncello , mandolin , guitar , and organ . Four hundred and thirteen entered for the piano

352 of who . n passed and three obtained medals ; 8 9 entered for the violin , of whom 81 passed ; five entered for the violoncello , four of whom passed ; three passed for the mandolin ; six entered and five passed for the organ , and one obtained a medal ; 39 entered for singing , of whom 30 passed , two obtaining medals ; one entered for the guitar and passed .

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