Provincial Grand Lodge Of West York Shire.

" -. -, prov . Grand Senior Warden , said lie had listened th ' much pain to thc bickerings at these meetings on \ y ' . joys' School subject . He had been to London in Lpliance with Prov . Grand Lodge , and was willing to C " a dozen times if good could come , but his belief was S . sacn would not be the case . The legal way , if any ' other had any complaint , was to attend the quarterly

urt . From our contributions we have shown our mtert jn ' this school , but by our action we arc losing our force e J influence . Bro . Gill appealed to Bro . Booth to withj raw the resolution he had given notice of , and let what has passed be passed . If any wrong exists in thc internal arrangements of the school , let complaint be made in re-] ar order , in all the friendliness of Masonic feeling , and

so put an en " to all this crimination and recrimination . ( App lause ; . Bro . Bentley Shaw endorsed everything said by Bro . Gill . West Yorkshire had long been known for its harmony , good feeling , and generosity , and he appealed that the province should not pull the good fabric of our charities , which has flourished long and well , down about our ears , to be a lasting discredit upon us . The Prov . Grand Master also appealed to Bro . Booth

to withdraw his motion , and so secure the co-operation of good workers , both of which he feared would be sacrificed by persevering in it . Bro . Booth , who disclaimed all personal feeling in the matter , after the appeals which had been made , and with the approval of Prov . Grand Lodge , withdrew his motion . ( App lause . ) After an amicable termination to a disagreeable subject , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in due

form . An excellent banquet was afterwards served in the dining-hall of the lodge , where the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly proposed and responded to , the proceedings being presided over by Sir H . Edwards , Bart .

Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

FESTIVAL OF THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

The annual festival in aid of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Grand Lodge of the- Mark Degree of Freemasons of England , was held on Wednesday evening at the Alexandra Palace . The President of the day was Bro . Lieut .-General Brownrigg , Grand Senior Warden of the year . The banquet on these occasions is always graced

by the presence of ladies , and the practice of admitting thc sisterhood has been found so successful that it meets with the unqualified approval of al ! the brethren who join this very agreeable annual meeting . The company is never a large one , but it is probably thc more enjoyable on the account as everybody knows everybody else , and meets on the same footing as a private family gathering . This

has been the case ever since the first establishment of the fund in 18 59 , when the banquet was given at Hampton Court , but where the space afforded to thc party was not sufficient for the comfortable enjoyment of the recreation . The successive gatherings have been held at various other localities , and last year Bro . Binckes , Grand Secretary , and Past Grand Junior Warden , selected the Alexandra

Palace , and the accommodation afforded was so ample , the facilities of the journey to and from it so great , and the surroundings of the Palace so agreeable that a repetition of the selection was ventured upon this year . The commodious banqueting room chosen for thc occasion was elegantly laid out by Bros . Bertram and Roberts , and the dinner table was arranged in horse shoe form . There

was an attractive display of flowers and fruit on thc table , whereat the places were occupied by ladies and brethren alternately . The two entremities were occupied by Bro . Binckes , as Senior Warden , and Bro . Berridge as Junior Warden . The company comprised R . W . Bro . Licut .-Gen . J . S . Br . wnrigg , C . B ., Chairman ; V . W . Bros . C . F . Matier , P . G . J . W . ; H . C . Levander , G . Reg . ;

Frederic Davison , G . Treas . ; Fredk . Binckes , G . Sec . ; VV . Bros . S . Rosenthal , P . G . D . C ; Hy . Massey , P . G . Steward ( " Freemason " ); H . W . Binckes , | . M ., Asst . G . Sec . ; Bros . Jno . Waldram , Th ' stk , No . 8 -, Robt . Berridge , P . M . Macdonald , 104 , Prov . G . S . W . Middx . ; W . Robt . Marsh , Temple , 173 ; D . M . Dewar , P . M . Old Kent Lodge ; S . C . Dibdin , P . G . O . ; Frank

Ellmore , Hy . Nicholson , George Buckland , Countess Bismarck , Mrs . C . F . Matier , Mrs . Binckes , Mrs . Davison , Mrs . Gill , Mrs . Marsh , Mrs . Berridge , Mrs . Waldram , Mrs . Berry , Mrs . Rosenthal , Miss Biackcs , Miss F . A . . Binckes , Madame Thaddeus Wells , and Madame Poole .

At the conclusion of the repast the toasts were proposed , ?' earl y hour , however , as the chairman had to leave " *) order to secure a train on the South Western , which is difficult to arrive at from the northern side of London . After proposing thc toast of " The Queen , " the Chairman gave " The Prince and Princess of Wales and thc

'est of the Royal Family , " and remarked that Prince Leopold , was the W . M . elect of a Mark lodge . In proposing Ihe Provincial Grand Masters and Officers , " thc Chairman said he was somewhat outraged in doing so because e was reall y drinking his own health . However , as it as customary that this toast should be proposed , and he as ha to that there excellent and worth lll

. ppy say was an y 1 ) V . » rj — - _ jr M . _ v -ic Wtl- «* H . ^ -. Li-Ill _ U _ WUlUiy other present who would take upon himself the responsi-Offi J eturnin _ thanks for it . The claims of the Grand n t - " ( a ' ways excepting himself ) upon the attention and as M ° ' J < : r was wcl 1 known , and it was their zeal Gran , v ? Which obtained f ° r them tlie recognition o . the _ . « alaster . He then went ori to observe that he him . self \ m-u went - i » I .- uuscivc mat ne

mmu u Bro F 1 ° l * est Mark Mason '" the room * ' 0 inform J ? av'SOi 1 ' ' » replied , and said he was happy to the c 1 brethrcn that Mark Masonry was progressing to Matkv . ° fficers' hearts' content , and that it was due val ban onr - * at ladies were now admitted to festi'adies a * f ' h " * " ' ' s was the ** rst de & rt : e which invited Benevolent P n ° W practice had been - . successful . The ir nt * und had also been successful , which was in

Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

part due no doubt to thc presence of the ladies . It had progressed steadily , and had been able to distribute considerable sums among poor brethren . He trusted that it would progress in the same proportion as it had done hitherto . Bro . Binckes , P . G . J . W ., proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " and said that that brother was obliged to leave

early , and the toasts wen . necessarily- somewhat short and hurried . All the brethren felt very much complimented and highly honoured by his consenting to preside that evening . There was great difficulty in obtaining Chairmen for any festivals ; more particularly was it so in Mark Masonry , because the number of Mark Masons was limited : nevertheless , Gen . Brownrigg consented when he was

asked . There « as net perhaps what might be called a great amount of eclat or prestige in the proceedings at these festivals ; but they were most pleasant reunions , and every one was animated by the feeling that they were engaged in the great good work of Masonic charity . That would always commend itself to bodies of Masons , whether large or small , and it was on this account Gen . Brownrigg felt

a large amount of pleasure and satisfaction in presiding over this assemblage . Bro . Binckes then referred to the subject of the presence of ladies at the festive board , a subject which had engaged the attention of several boards of Stewards . The example set by Mark Grand Lodge had been imitated in a much larger body with which he was connected , and it might now be said to have received

the imprimatur of thc authorities , and no doubt it would be largely followed . The Chairman , in reply , said -. Ladies—and I must especially address myself to you—I am inured by long custom to receiving the kind acknowledgments of my brethren ; but it is the first time in my life on which those compliments and courtesies have been coupled with your

kind and gracious presence ; and I cannot lell you how very , very deeply I feel it , and how inadequate I am to return thanks for the honour you have- done mc . I do hope that the . inauguration of this system of asking ladies to assist in our Masonic banquets may be widely spread . It may do good ; it cann .-1 possibly do harm ; and what more can we want" I beg to return you my grateful

thanks f jr the honour you have done me in drinking my health . My excellent brother Binckes has said infinitely more than I deserve , but still I feel it a great compliment and I feel much honoured in being asked to preside over this gathering . It is the kast I can do after the unexpected honour the Grand Master , Lord Limeriek , has done me in appointing me to the high oflice I have the pleasure of

holding in Grand Lodge . I will now ask you to drink the toast of the evening , " Success to thc Benevolent Fund . " I am sorry to say my experience has been so very small ; but thanks to our Bro . Binckes I have some information about the fund . I find it was established in 186 7 by vote of Grand Lodge with a certain small nucleus to begin with . There are no compulsory payments

towards it by capitation grants ; it is supported entirely by voluntary contributions . Thc object of it is lo provide a fund for the relief of Mark Master Masons ; and if we can form a fund , however small , for the relief of urgent cases I think it is our bounder ) duty to do so , and I am glad in my feeble way to assist it . I find that thc claims on the fund are not numerous ; but the investigation of those

claims is conducted with great discrimination , which will prevent any unworthy objects from receiving assistance . I now ask you to drink " Prosperity and Success to the Benevolent Fund , " ahd 1 couple with it the name of Bro . Berridge , Macdonald Lodge , No . 104 . Bro . Binckes read the following list of subscriptions : — Bro . T . Y . Strachan , Prov . Northumberland £ s . d .

and Durham 10 10 o „ Henry Baker , Dover and Cinque Ports Lodge , 152 , .. S ° „ C . VV . Duke , East Sussex Lodge , No . iCfi 600 „ Robert Berridge , Macdonald Lodge No .

, 104 1 17 H o „ T . S . Mortlock , Temple Lodge , No . 173 10 17 o ,, J . F . Norris , Prov . Bristol 1500 „ Rev . P . H . E . Brette , St . Marks No . 1 ... 7 0 o ,, E . B . Webb , Carnarvon , No . 7 15 15 o „ Richard Newhouse , Prov . Cheshire and

North Wales 11 11 o „ F . Binckes , Aldershot Lodge , No . 54 ... 13 13 o „ Henry Matthews . Britannia Lodge , N 0 . 53 5 5 o ,, T . S . Morris , Britannia Lodge , No . 33 ... 3 5 o „ J . R . Wright , Britannia Lodge , No . 53 ... 3 3 o

£ 126 6 o Bro . Berridge , 104 , replied , and said that though it involved a great deal of hard work to collect the mon ey , the Stewards did it with pleasure , and hoped that 11 ext year even greater success might attend their efforts . The Chairman proposed "The Ladies . " It was the last toast on his list , and he would have been sorry , indeed ,

if he had been obliged to leave before proposing it . Great advantage had been derived from having ladies at these banquets , and when the brethren thought what they would be without the ladies , they would appreciate the warm feeling with which he asked them to drink the toast . From the hour of a man ' s birth to the hour of his death , thc presence of female hands and female hearts was felt . He

( the chairman ) had been in a profession which had caused him to knock about the world a good deal , ar . d he had becn in a position to see circumstances when no female nurses were to be had . In such circumstances nothing could be kinder , nothing could be more charming than the good feeling which was exhibited by one soldier to

another in the military hospital and field hospitals . He had seen many touching scenes of this description , where a great rough-fisted soldier helped a sick man . But , however , tender , they were clumsy and awkward compared with women ,- whose tenderness in-a sick room could not be equalled .

Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

lhc toast having been honoured , and Bro . Dibdin having replied , thc Chairman bade the company good night , and left , having previously deputed Bro . C . F . Matier to occupy his place . " The Stewards' Health " was then proposed , and Bro . Dewar responded , informing the brethren that he had been a Mark Mason 33 years .

Bro . Binckes announced that the Benevolent Fund now reached £ 600 , which was invested , and another £ 100 would be added to it after this festival . He hoped the brethren and ladies mi ght long be spared to take part in these happy meetings . A vote of thanks was awarded to Bro . S . Rosenthal : together with " His Health , " proposed in a speech by Bro . Matier .

Bro . Rosenthal responded . " The Masonic Press " was proposed , Bro . Matier calt ing on Bro . Massey ( " Freemason " ) to reply . Shortly afterwards the company separated . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Madame Thaddeus Wells , assisted by Madame Poole , Bros . Frank Elmore and George Buckland . Solo FluteJ : Bro . Henry Nicholson ; Pianoforte : Madame Wells and Bro . George Buckland .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . Bros . Joshua Nunn , James Brette , and E . P . Albert occupied the three chairs . There were also present Bros . S . Rawson , Jas . Smith , C . A . Cottebrune , J . Coutts , W . Ough , John Hervey , H . G . Buss , A . A . Pendlebury , H . Garrod ,

W . T . Howe , Pownall , W . M . 13 ; Shackell , P . M . 193 ; T . Knight , 862 ; West , W . M . 890 ; W . Hammond , W . M . 1310 ; J . iBingemann , W . M . 1599 ; T . Whitmarsh , 1015 ; W . J . Murlis , 1489 ; J . A . Smith , 1178 ; John Green , 27 ; J . A . Hudson , W . M . 879 ; J . J . Michael , W . M . 1567 ; A . H . Tattershall , P . M . 140 ; and H . Massey ( "Freemason" ) . It was announced that the only son of Bro . J . M . Clabon

President of the Board , was killed in a railway accident at Gravesend on Saturday night . A letter of condolence was then ordered to be written by Grand Secretary to Bro . Clabon . The Board then proceeded with the cases before them , and granted £ 290 , composed of three of £ 40 , on of . £ 30 , three of . £ 20 , two of £ 15 , and five of £ 10 each . The Board then adjourned .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THE REV . FRANK W . C . SIMMONS . The "Nelson Daily Times " announces the sudden death of Bro . the Rev . Frank W . Churchill Simmons , the Head Master of the Nelson Collegc . who was found dead in his bed at Foxhill . For some weeks pastthisgentleman had been suffering acutely from rheumatic fever . Last week , however , he felt better , and on Saturdav left Nelson for Foxhill

m company with Mrs . Simmons . On Sunday evening Bro . Simmons appeared well and in good spirits . He retired to rest early , but was unable to sleep , and in consequence took a dose of chloral , which proving inefficacious , at . _ later hour he took a second dose of the drug , with , it is supposed , fatal effect . Bro . the Rev .. Frank W . Churchill Simmons was educated at Rugby and Lincoln College , He

Oxford , where he graduated in 18 ^ 2 . was appointed Head Master of the Dunedin High School in 186 5 , in succession to the Rev . Mr . Campbell , who was drowned in Dnnedin harbor just after his arrival in the colony . Bro . the Rev . Simmons continued to discharge the duties of the offi . e to which he was appointed with conspicuous ability , and speedily won for himself a scholastic

reputatation , and for the school over which he presided the first position in the colony . Then came the episode of his humorous letter to his old friend the late Bishop of Brechin , who having in a rash moment put the epistle into print , caused a commotion among the " unco guid " in Dunedin , who straightway , with all the ferocity of narrow minds , fell upon the writer , and by imputing evil where

none existed , succeeded in making Bro . Simmons ' s position a very uncomfortable one . So successful were bis detractors , that he was glad at the end of 186 7 to embrace the chance of changing his place of residence by accepting the head mastership of Nelson College . Of his work here it is impossible in a short obituary notice to speak in adequate terms . It may be all summed up in this , that

Nelson College is in the first rank of the educational establishments of the colony , and this is chiefly due to the remarkable power possessed by the deceased gentleman to impart the knowledge , of which he possessed an extraordinary store . So much for his public career . " . Those who knew him privately—as friends knew each othercan tell how thorough and true a gentleman he was .

Never prone to resent , and ever ready to forgive an affront ; quick to apologise if even inadvertently he had , as he thought , hurt anyone ' s feelings ; liberal with his purse in any charitable direction ; full of true sympathy with real distress of every kind ; genial and hospitable , with weaknesses like the rest of us , such was the late Bro . Simmons .

Deceased was a member of thc Southen Star Lc dge , 734 , E . G ., Nelson , and a . companion of the Trafalgar Royal Arch Chapter of Nelson , 157 , S . C , and his companions and brethren sincerely and deeply mourn for for him' as a worthy brother called by the Great Master from labour to rest .

BRO . E . RANSFOKD . The death of Bro . E . R ansford , the well-known vocalist and music publisher , took place at his residence , 59 , Welbeck-street , on Tuesday . He had suffered a- long and ^ severe illness . He was 71 year * of age . .