Provincial Grand Mark Lodge.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE .

The regular meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , was held under thc auspices of the United

Service Lodge , No . 69 , at the Sun Hotel , Chatham , on Monday , the 15 th December , when a large number of Mark Masons were present .

The R . W . P . G . M . M . ( Bro . the Rev . G . W . Sicklemore , M . A . ) took his seat on the throne at 2 . 45 . Prov . G . M . Lodge was opened in due form and with solemn prayer . After the usual salutations to thc

R . W . P . G . M . M . and the V . W . Dep . P . G . M . M . ( Bro . T . H . Grove Snowden , W . M ., 129 ) , the minutes of the special P . G . M . Lodge held at Ramsgate , on the 14 th of March last , were read and confirmed .

The P . G . M . Sec . ( Bro . James W . Smith ) reported that the Bye-Laws made at thc last special Prov . G . M . Lodge had been approved by the General Board of G . M , Lodge , except as to the last clause of

Bye-Law No . 7 , which provided that Pro . G . M . Stewards should , on promotion to a higher office , pay the full fee of honour . This had

been struck out by the General Board , so that Stewards , with respect to promotion , might stand on the same footing as other officers .

The P . G . M . Sec . likewise reported that the R . W . P . G . M . M ., after the Bye-Laws had been made and approved , had appointed Bro . J . L . Ellerm , S . W . 152 , to act as

Auditor on his behalf and that thc P . G . M . Treasurer ' s accounts had been audited by him as well as by the other Auditors appointed by P . G . M . Lodge .

The report of the Committee of General Purposes was read and confirmed , the Committee congratulating the P . G . M . Lodge on the fact of there having been during the current year no petition for relief from the Fund of Benevolence .

The P . G . M . Treasurer ( Bro . L . Finch , P . M 129 ) presented his accounts , which were unanimously approved of . Bros . Finch and Meager were then severally unanimously elected Trcasurei and Tyler for the ensuing year . Thc P . G . M . Master then appointed and invested thc following officers for the ycai

ensuing : —Bros . G . Ashdown , P . S . G . M . W . ; J . G . Redman , P . J . G . M . W . ; H . C . Fuhr ,

P . G . M . O . ; G . Page , P . G . S . O . ; John Canham , P . G . J . O . ; W . II . Edwards , P . G . Reg . of Marks ; James W . Smith , P . G . Secretary ; William Crawford , P . Assist . G . Sec . ; James Hewetlc P . S . G . M . Deacon ; Charles

Hurley , P . J . G . M . Deacon ; W . B . Wallace , PG . M . Inspector of Works ; T . Newton , PG . M . Director of Ceremonies ; T . W . Flip , P . Assistant G . M . Director of Ceremonies

T . Nicholls , P . G . M . Sword Bearer ; If Baker , P . G . M . Standard Bearer ; W . Larkin , P . G . M . Organist ; T . Watson , P . G . M Purst . ; W . Tucker , P . G . M . Steward .

Bros . Emmerson , P . P . G . G . M . W ., and Page , P . G . S . O ., together with Bro . Ellcrme , S . W . 129 ( appointed by thc R . W . P . G . M . M . ) , were then elected Auditors for thc

ensuing year . Bros . Hiscocks , Crawford , Emmerson , and Redman , were then elected as a Committee of General Purposes . Thc Lodge was then closed .

A grand banquet afterwards followed , at which thc Rev . G . W . Sicklemore , M . A ., P . G . M . M . M ., presided . After the cloth had been cleared and grace said , thc following toasts were duly proposed and honoured : —

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge.

« The Oueen and Mark Masonry . " " The M . W . G . M . M . Earl Percy and thc other Grand Officers . " "The R . W . Deputy G . M . M . Earl of Limerick and thc rest of the Grand Officers Past and Present . "

" The R . W . P . G . M . Master of Kent . " " The United Service Brompton Lodge , " complimenting them on their splendid reception . "Thc Deputy P . G . M . Master , Past and Present Officers of thc Province of Kent , " with Kentish fire . " Viscount Holmesdale ,

P . G . M . M . " The company separating after a handsome collection for the Fund of Benevolence .

Consecration Of A New Lodge At Port William, Wigtownshire.

CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE AT PORT WILLIAM , WIGTOWNSHIRE .

Port William was on Tuesday last , Dec . 19 , the scene of proceedings of a rather unusual character , and if they failed to excite widespread interest , it was because they were not patent _ to the outer world . AVe refer to the consecration and erection of the Mason Lodge , " Myrton , "

Port AVilliam , No . 539 , and the installation of the office-bearers of the lodge by the P . G . M . of AVigtown and Kirkcudbright , Capt . Harriott of Killiemore . Among the brethren in the province the " work " lo be done excited a lively interest , and at an early hour in the forenoon of

the day named , deputations from sister lodges found their way to Port AVilliam . The Monreith Arms , in which Bro . McCall does thc duties of host with natural courlesy and geniality , was the general rendezvous , while the officebearers elect of Myrton Lodge were getting the

tools ready . At one o ' clock the brethren met in the Myrton Lodge-room , where the Provincial Grand Lodge was opened in ample form , the office-bearers present being : —Bros . Capt . Harriott , of Killiemore , R . AV . P . G . M . ; T . AV . Campbell , of AValton Park , D . P . G . M . ; Dr .

Millman , New Galloway , P . G . S . AV . ; AVilliam Mcllwraith , Stranraer , P . GJ . AA * . ; Rev . D . Stewart , Dalbeattie , P . G . Chaplain ; James McMuldrow , Kirkcudbright , P . G . Secretary ; AVilliam Kerr , Dalbeattie , P . G . S . D . ; John Hislop , New Galloway , P . G . J . D . ; James Clarke ,

Kirkcudbright , P . G . I . G . ; James Livingstone , Kirkcudbright , P . G . Tyler . The solemn and impressive ceremony of consecration was proceeded with in due form , and according to the well-established usages and customs of thc Craft . The new lodge having been duly

consecrated , the office-bearers elect presented themselves , and were cordially approved of . Thc P . G . M . then , in Masonic style , installed the following as office-bearers ofthe Lodge Myrton , Port AVilliam . No . 539 : —Bros . Alex , Thomson , Barmael , R . W . M . ; Henry Montgomcrie , D . M . ;

James McCall , S . M . ; James McMunay , Drumrae , S . AV . ; Hugh McMasler , J . AV . ; John Macfarlane , Secretary ; John McCulloch , Treasurer J . D . Pickcn , S . D . ; John Nish , J . D . ; James Chalmers , LG . ; Gavin Melville , Tyler . At the conclusion of the ceremony , R . AV . M . Bro .

Thomson briefly thanked thc P . G . M and assembled brethren for the honour and favour the members of Port AVilliam had received at their hands . The P . G . Lodge was then reduced from the high degree in which the labour had been conducted , and closed in the usual fonn . The

brethren afterwards met in the Monreith Arms , under the presidency of Ihe P . G . M ., and dined together in fraternal style . After dinner thc lodge was opened , and soon after" the column in the south was observed lo be in ihe ascendant , which induced thc craftsmen to spend

a couple of hours in harmony . The P . G . M . gave the usual loyal and Masonic toasts in capital style , anel under the guidance of the D . P . G . M . ihe brethren executed several rounds of " volley-firing" wilh spirit and precision . In

proposing the toast of the evening— " Success to the youngest daughter of the province , 'Myrton , ' Port AVilliam "—Ihe P . G . M . adverted to the work which the brethren had undertaken in the locality , and enlarged in an eloquent

Consecration Of A New Lodge At Port William, Wigtownshire.

strain on the prominent principles of the Order , which in their lives and actions , they would be called upon to illustrate and promote . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Thomson , R . AV . M ., who made a brief and appropriate

response . Other toasts followed from the east , and were honoured in truly Masonic style . Among those were the deputations from sister lodges , which were acknowledged by the following brethren , whose names were coupled with

the toast : —Bro . McMuldrow , R . AV . M ., St . Cutlv bert's , Kirkcudbright , No . 41 ; Bro . T . AAc , Campbell , R . AV . M ., St . John ' s , Castle Douglas , No . 1 S 9 ; Bro . Rev . D . Stewart , Chaplain , Granite Union , Dalbeattie , No . 480 ; Bro . Dr .

Millman , R . AV . M . St . John ' s , New Galloway , No . 494 ; Bro . Hunter , St . Ninian ' s , Newtonstewart , No . 499 ; Bro . AAc , Shaw , D . M ., Kilwinning , Stranraer , No . 519 . At last a call from the south brought the brethren from

refreshment to labour , and it having been ascertained that all were satisfied , the lodge was closed in the usual manner . The brethren from the east drove to Newtonstewart , some to catch the late train , and others to continue their journey through 18 miles of a wild and exposed , although

romantic district , while those from Stranraer drove home through Glenluce . Much satisfaction was expressed at the tokens of life manifested by the P . G . Lodge , and a hope was entertained that another meeting might be held before long under its fostering care .

Restoration Of St. Alban's Abbey.

RESTORATION OF ST . ALBAN'S ABBEY .

A brilliant and most successful concert was given on Tuesday evening , 25 th , at AVoodhole Park , Herts , the magnificient scat of Bro . Abel Smith , AL . P ., under the patronage of the Lady Susan Smith , assisted by a party of well-known musicians in aid of the fund for the restoration

of St . Alban s Abbey . The conceit was held , as on previous occasions in thc spacious library , at the end of which there was a temporary raised platform , and in front of which . 1 number of choice and

elegant foliage plants were very tastefully grouped . Whether from the interest felt in the object for which it was given , or from the certainty that a musical treat was in store , or , perhaps , from a combination of both feelings , an audience assembled which filled the room to

overflowing . The visitors staying in the house who were present at the concert , were—The Earl of Verulam and the Ladies Grimston j Mr . anel Mrs . Frank Marten ; Mr . and Mrs . Toulmin ; Mr . Balfour , cousin of thc Marquis

of Salisbury—thc future member for Hertford ; Mr . and Mrs . R . Hoare , & c ., & c . Amongst the general company wc noticed Bro . Abel Smith , ALP ., and Lady Susan Smith and Miss Evelyn Smith ; Bro . the Rev . Lewis Deedes ,

P . G . Chaplain for Herts , and Mrs . Deedes ; Major General Bouchier ; Mrs . Hudson , and Bro . AV . II . Hudson and Lady Audley ; Mr . and Mrs . Finch ; Bro . the Baron Dimsdale , the Baroness and thc Miss Dimsdales ; Col . and

Mrs . Robertson ; Bro . AV . C . Baker and Mrs . Baker ; the Hon . Canon Barrington and Lady Catherine Barrington ; Bro . R . B . Croft and Mrs . Croft ; Capt . and Mrs . Mark Pechell ; Mr . and Mrs . Fowel Buxton ; Mrs . Busk ; the Hon . Mr . and

Mrs . Mostyn , and the Misses Monk ; Rev . Sir [ . C . anel Lady Hawkins ; Major Logan ; SirH . A ' avasotir ; the Mayor of Hertford , ( the only gentleman who attended the concert in morning dress , he is not a Mason ); Bro . McKenzie and

the Misses McKenzie ; Bro . Dr . AVarrener and Miss AVancncr ; Bros . Morris ; Stephen Austin and Mrs . Austin ; Bros . AA ' right ; Herbert Busy Hodges and Mrs . Herbert Hodges and about 260 other ladies and gentlemen .

The appreciative enjoyment of the entertainment was most unmistakeably evinced by the unanimous and loud applause elicited by each separate performance .

The following was the programme of the concert , which was under the able direction of Bro . AViuiELM GANZ , who has so often displayed his