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doubt if any other system would suit the meridian of London , how many of our lodges , both out of their lodge funds and by private donations of their members , make up really noble charitable lists for all our Charities ; but , we would press on all young and new lodges the absolute necessity ol

making and fixing the amount of their fees in proportion to their needful claims and wants . One of our great errors in the past has been making Freemasonry too cheap and easy of admittance , and , therefore , we trust that in the future we shall bear in mind that a lodge to be really prosperous must be good alike for work , for hospitality , and for charity .

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

The annual festival in aid of the Mark Benevolent Fund was held on Wednesday , at the Crystal Palace , in Bertram and Roberts' dining-rooms . The Right ' Hon . the Earl of Kintore , R . W . D . G . M ., presided , and he was supported by Bros . Baron de Ferrieres , M . P . ; Rev . R . P . Bent ; P . A . Homfray , P . G . M . of Monmouthshire ; A . L . Emanuel , of the Province of Hants and Isle of VVight ; R . J . Emmerson , of the Province of Kent ; ] . S . Cumberland , of the Province of N . li . Vorks George CooperBon Accord ; Henry Venn , Old Kent ; R . P . Spice , 3 ; J .

; , Inglis , 7 ; Dr . E . Schiemann , S ; G . J . Cosburn , 27 ; F . A . Huet , 32 ; J . Arenberg , 34 ; A . F . Godson , 4 ° ; T . J . Pulley , 54 J M- Mildred , 104 ; Chas . VV . Hudson , 164 ; Chas . H . Driver , 176 ; 1 . T . Thorp , 194 ; H . J . Lardner , 223 ; J . I . Morland , a 4- H . Lovegrove , 234 ; VV . H . Glasspool , 235 ; J . Hobbs , 236 ; Geo . R . Ousey , 239 ! J . I- Hughes , 247 ; C . F . Goodenough , 255 ; H . H . Hodges , 257 ; Henry George , 265 ; Richard White , 26 G ; T . L . Lewis , 271 ; VV . J . Meek , 2 S 4 ; Robt . Berridge ; J . Manwaring ; J . Ramsey ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . Ladies , as usual , sat down with the brethren to banquet .

After the banquet , which was admirably supplied , and at which all the delicacies of the season , with a beautiful supply of fruit , were arranged , grace was said , and the toasts of the evening were proposed . The Earl of KINTORE , in giving the toast of " The Queen , " referred to Her Majesty's favourable consideration of Masonry , more especially as exhibited by her recent reception of a deputation from Grand Lodge , which attended to congratulate her on her escape from a would-be assassin .

_ In giving the toast of " Lord Henniker , M . W . G . M . M . M ., " the Earl of KINTORE said that when the time of his lordship vacating the Grand Master ' s chair arrived , all Mark Masons would be able to look back on his period of office with gratitude and thanks for the day when he was installed Grand Master of this Degree . His lordship had entered into his office with a

singleness of heart and a devotion which all of them would appreciate at its true worth . Personally , he ( the Earl of Kintore ) thanked him very much for his absence on this occasion , as it gave him an opportunity of presiding at this banquet . But , apart from his own interests , he felt that the loss was the company's ; the gain was great to him , but to them was the loss . When he should see Lord Henniker he would be able to tell him that the reception

given to the toast of his health was second to none . Bro . Baron DE F ERRIERES , in giving "The Health of the M . W . Past Grand Mark Master Masons—H . R . H . the Duke of Albany , the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , the Right Hon . Lord Holmesdale , W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the Rev . Canon Portal , M . A ., the Rirrht Hon . the Earl of Percy , M . P ., the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Limerick , and the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Lathom , " said Mark Masons might

congratulate themselves on having secured the services of men of such renown , whose names would be handed down to posterity . Among so many worthy names it would be invidious to make a selection , but there weie circumstances connected with the accession of the Duke of Albany to their ranks which deserved mention . Those Mark Masons who had the pleasure of seeing him installed as a Past Grand Master , and the way in which he joined their

ranks , must have felt very much flattered . There was another matter which enlisted their cordial sympathies—that Mark Masons were collecting subscriptions for the purpose of presenting H . R . H . with a wedding giftsomewhat after date , perhaps—but it would be not the less graciously received . If ladies liked to swell the amount , the Treasurer would be ready to receive their contributions . Baron de Ferrieres then went through the list of Past Grand Masters , and , in reference to Bro . Portal , said that

he had returned in much better health to this country . Bro . C . F . MATIER proposed "The R . W . Deputy Grand Mark Master Mason , the Earl of Kintore , the Chairman of the Day . " He said that having known the noble earl a very long time , and having traced his career almost from his initiation into Masonry , he mig ht say there was no one to whom Grand Mark Lodge owed a deeper debt of gratitude . Man }; years aeo Grand Chapter of Scotland was not exactly on terms of friendship with

Grand Mark Lodge of England , and some of the brethren who should be nameless carried on a paper war , with more or less effect , and more or less politeness on either side . Thank goodness , all that was over , and they had obtained between G . Chapter of Scotland and G . Mark Lodge of England a happy peace , a glorious peace , a peace with honour , and as a sign of the peace they saw the Earl of Kintore now occupying the chair of Deputy Grand Master in Grand Mark Lodge . But he held a very high position in

the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , and it was his ( Bro . Matier s ) sincere aspiration and hope to find him not only occupying the Grand Mastership in the Grand Mark Lodge of England , but the highest positions in the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland . Of the way in which he had presided that evening the ladies were able to judge , but for himself he ( Bro . Matier ) would say that the Ear ] of Kintore had filled the position of Chairman second to none of those who had filled the position before .

The Earl of KINTORE said , in reply , he did not know where he should begin if he were to attempt to follow in all its branches the kind speech of Bro . Matier . He and Bro . Matier had bean friends , and were well acquainted for a considerable time . He was bound to say that , as far as his fortunes in Grand Mark Lodge went , he had a very great deal to thank Bro . Matier for . He was also bound to say , and in this Bro . Matier was right , that he had alwavsdonehis very besttoassimilatctheSupreme Grand Chapter

of Scotland , of which he was a Principal , and the Grand Mark Lodge of England . As he found himself now Deputy Grand Master of the Mark Degree in England , and Second Grand Principal of Grand Chapter of Scotland , he felt that his wishes were almost gratified , and he thought he might say they had a peace , and a noble peace . He had only one fault , if he mig ht be permitted to say so , to find , not with the brother who

proposed the toast , but with the arrangement of the toast list , for he found immediately after his toast was the ominous word " Absence , " the name of the song which was to follow . He hoped if he were absent their hearts would go with him cordially , but as he was present , and he had come some distance to be present , he would say there was nothing more uppermost in his feelings than that Grand Mark Lodge and every member of it should succeed in every undertaking , and " flourish as a green bay tree . " Bro , SPICE proposed " The Present and Past Grand Officers . " As he

Mark Benevolent Fund.

had a regard for the fitness of things , he was disposed to cavil at the Present being put before the Past Grand Officers in this toast . He held that they were indebted to the Past Grand Officers—a grand phalanx who had in the past handed down to the present those traditions of which they were all most justly proud . The word " past" covered : i multitude of centuries . He had heard a brother say he had seen in the Keystone of arches which

were existing lor centureis in the old City of Carthage , which had become a scene of ruin—those emblems which Mark "Masons venerated , and which were pcrpetuative in their jewels . And here the brethren were , at the Crystal Palace , surrounded by sylvan scenery , at the end of untold centuries , meeting to celebrate and perpetuate the glories , if he might call them so , of the Craft , its sacred symbols and its sentiments , which would never

die while Englishmen and Scotchmen lived . He could not emulate the eloquence of Bro . Matier , who had done so much to establish an " esprit de corps" among the brethren ; but he could appreciate as hi ghly as he the works of Grand Officers who had in their day and generation contributed to the consolidation , the furtherance of the prosperity , and the increased glory of Mark Masonry . He was sure there was not a heait beating under

any waistcoat , or any other garment , but would be proud and delighted to join heartily and cordially , warmly and affectionatel y in honouring the toast of " The Present and Past Grand Officers . But there was a future world , a universe of which they spoke devotionally and emotionally when they mentioned T . G . A . O . T . U . When they went to some other orb , perhaps they might find some Mark Masons there , and he hoped when they saw there the tokens of Masonry their hearts would warm towards each other .

lhe Rev . R . P . BENT , Grand Chaplain , said that after what he had heard he was sure that nature intended him for a very humble individual , but Mark Masonry had made him very proud . In the sphere in which he moved there could be no prouder honour given to a man than to be called upon to return thanks for this toast . The present Grand Officers in Mark Masonry had the interests of that degree at heart and would do all thev

could to promote them . They were , without doubt , flourishing and increasing , day by day . No one could see the growth of Masonry in general , and of Mark Masonry in particular , without ' confessing the great good it was doing , and for this reason he was glad to be a Grand Officer . He had held the office of Grand Chaplain in the United Grand Lodge , which was a very high and proud position , but the additional post of Grand Chaplain in

the Mark degree was somewhat more , and he was justly proud of it . He trusted and prayed that the order would increase day by day . Bro . Spice had referred to the past , the present , and the future , but he should confine himself to the present ; and he had had such pleasant gatherings in Mark Masonry , that he was capable of saying that whether in the Craft or in the Mark he had never had such a pleasant gathering as on this occasion .

Because in Cratt festivals he onl y met those of his own sex ; whereas at these Mark festivals they were surrounded b y the fair sex . They had with them such a galaxy of fair looks and pleasant faces and forms , accompanied by sparkling conversation , and everything that was an ornament to social gatherings , that he thought while these conditions were complied with , Mark festivals could never fail .

lhe Earl of KINTORE , in proposing " Prosperity to the Mark Benevolent Fund , " said : I , personally , and I think few others , have any reason to propose what is usuall y termed the toast of the evening withoutespecially if the occasion on which the assemblage be gathered together is one for the promotion of some benevolent or charitable ' object—rising with a feeling of very considerable anxiety lest one ' s powers of speech and ^ powers

of pleading would fail to reach the hearts and the purses of those to whom we speak . But on this occasion and for the first time—and it is a proud moment—for the first time I may say that I have no anxiety whatever . Of course I don ' t mean to say that my powers of oratory or of stringing words together in any way can influence the Benevolent Fund of this Grand Mark Lodge , but when I remember , and when I see a most

satisfactory long paper in the hands of my worthy friend opposite ( Bro . Dewar ) 1 feel it a great advantage ; the work is already done by the brethren , whose health I hope shortly to propose ; and , moreover , I feel if I tried hard , I should be able to obtain the most powerful factor in the management of men—the ladies . I should like to say to them that , before this time next year they will have the opportunity of

finding the soft side of the brethren near them ; and I am very sure—at least 1 am not very sure—but I hope to persuade them to use all their means , and those charms which we know they possess , to induce them to add to that list to make it still a stronger one when this celebration comes round next year . I can onl y say if they do not so succeed , and if the

brethren do not add to that list and lengthen it in a way I should like to have it lengthened , I can onl y say that the refusal would be like that great peace , of which Mark Twain says , it passeth all understanding . I have only further to say , when I come to figures , in the last fourteen years—the fund was established in 1 S 68—there has been no less a sum subscribed than

£ 3180 . Of that sum £ 700 has been invested in the Education Fund ; £ 850 has been given to the cause of education ; £ 1500 has been invested in the Benevolent Fund itself . At the present moment seven boys are being educated and brought up at an expense of from £ 67 to £ 70 a year . Grants have been made to worthy and necessitous Mark Masons and to theirs , amounting at least to £ 750 ; and last , but not least , in my opinion , in all

these tourteen years the total cost of management and collection and distribution of this Fund has amounted onl y to 70 sovereigns . I think that reflects the greatest credit upon those who have given their time to the management of the Fund . And lam very sure the boys educated , and the recipients of Charity will also reflect credit on the Fund . I have little more to say . Would that I could say what I have to say better than I am able to

do ; but I do hope that our list to-day , and our list next festival , will show that this Grand Lodge will never allow the Benevolent Fund to wane or to lag for want of support , or that the boys who are educated and the recipients of our Charity will ever decrease—that Charity which is one of the cardinal virtues we profess to keep alive and exhibit may never fail ; and ,

finally , that all here listening to me at this moment will be able at the end of a long life to look back upon Grand Mark Lodge , and the Benevolent Fund may from this day forward increase in its usefulness , utility , and power , and doing that , they will never regret the day when on the 19 th July , 1882 , they listened to my unworthy words . ( Loud cheers . )

Bro . F . BINCKES , Grand Secretary , had hoped that some other brother would have been found to relieve him of the stereotyped duty that had devolved on him so many years of returning thanks for this toast . Although he found it difficult to find new words , he said from his heart how deeply he appreciated the services of the Stewards and those who had exerted themselves on

behalf of the fund , and he hoped they would continue to use their efforts to promote the practical success of the kind . He was glad that the noble Earl had not forgotten the other Institutions in Freemasonry . It had been said