Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

The verses were sung in excellent style by Messrs . Watson , Acott , and Baw = on . A collect was then said for the Queen , after which the choir rendered in an admirable manner the anthem by Handel , which vvas sung at her Majesty ' s Coronation in 1838 , the words of which are , " Zadok the priest , and Nathan ihe prophet , anointed Solomon Kin ? , and all the people

rejoiced , and said God save the King , long live the King , may the King live for ever , am ** n . " A collection was then made in aid of the educational fund of the Province , a * ter which God sava the Queen was sung by the vast congregation . 'The Dean then pronounced the blessing , and the service being ended , the choir retired singing Psalm xlvi . to music composed b y Thos . Tallis .

The Dean of YORK took for his text , Matthew xxiii . 8 , " All ye are brethren , " ^ and in his introductory remarks referred to the centrifugal centripetal forces , two seemingly antagonistic forces , vvhi' h had been striving against each other from the beginning boih in the physical and sorial world . He vvas not a physical scientist , neither vvas he there to speak of physical force , but he thought it right to speak of social force , for he was present for that purpose , and he was addressing those vvho claimed to be , and to have heen , a social force of no mean influence , and they vvere

assembled in a building dedicated to the worship of Him by whose spirit alone the equilibrium of social force could be maintained . He asked the brethren of the Craft if he vvas not right in saying that Freemasonry claimed to be a centripetal force in drawing men together . The fundamental history of their order , if their history might be trusted , was simply a struggle of those vvho were seeking , under the mystery of that centripetal force , for something to hold them togi-ther—some principle worthy and enduring in vvhich , while the natural impulse of

self i-hould he recognised , it should be assisted vvith , tempered , and hallowed by the same Christian regard for others . Hebe'ieved that Freemasonry represented the almost primeval craving for relief from that which human selfishness had made intolerable—a desire to draw man hack to man , heart to heart , for mutual sympathy and mutual friend' ship ; in a word , brotherhood , so that each should look at his fellow not as his enemy or his rival , but as his brother , vvith whom he had one common interest , one common aim , in the mutual protection and advancement of vvhich the individual welfare of each

vvas Ihe best promoted and secured . Ancient history and traditions showed that the object of their Order vvas to create a feeling of brotherhood , without vvhich life would be intolerable . The Order vvas not established in obedience to an junction from without , but to a spontaneous effort from within . It was a free endeavour to give existence , form , and solidarity , to that vvhich man craved for as essential to his peace . The ancient Freemasons' dream vvas the creation of an universal brotherhood , and what they had feehlv t'ied to establish had now been accomplished . Christ had said , " All ye are

brethren , " but it did no' follow that because Christianity had supplied the ideal therefore the Freemason ' s Craft was at an end . They as Freemasons neither intended to regard Fret ma-onry in that regard to Christianity , nor to allow their Freemasonry to be obliterated thereby . Freemasonry pledged its members not merely to the recognition or approval of hut to the active promotion of the great principle of brotherhood . After comparing the operative and the speculative Mason , he said the breihren of the Craft were pledged by their Order to promote brotherhood , and

he told them that active efforts in its behalf were as much needed now as ever ihey were , and that in their wide-spread comprehension of all orders and degrees of men , God had given them special opportunities for using the emblems vvhich had been committer ! to 'heir hand *; , that Jubilee vvas a crowning evidence , as well as a cordial commemoration , of the benificent and glorious reign of 50 years vvhich had given them a blessed taste of real brotherhood and unanimity not easily exaggerated or forgotten . It was refreshing to all F-nglishrren to know how the Qu en was respected by men of all

na'ions of the world , and no Englishman could have witnessed the kindly spirit of order and unselfishness which had prevailed lately , and the considera'ion for others and ihe liberality which had marked the celebration of the Jubilee from beginning to end , without feeling proud of his country . The accounts from all parts of the country told ¦ the same story of " Peace on earth , and vvoodwill towards men . '' They mutt all desire that Ihe temper vvhich animated all classes now would be maintained always . How easily then could measures for the welfare of all classess be discussed and decided , and

how truly would the interests of all the community be stimulated and advanced . Who could consider ihe position of the nation without feeling that it was of the highest importance that it should be so ; for there were questions gravely affecting our national stability , the peaceful and satisfactory solution of vvhich depended in a great measure not upon politics or policies to be propounded , but upon the temper in vvhich they vvere enteitained . He again urged them to manifest the spirit of brotherhood , and remarked that the Craft included all classes of men , from the Heir Apparent to the throne down to the humblest

in the land , and added that if they maintained a brotherly temper throughout the country it would tend greatly lo its welfare . Whatever their own religious opinions might be , and doubtless they were diverse , he asked them not to allow anything to mar the spirit of brotherhood . It could not be a subject of indifference to them when the Senate House of this nation had got to be a hear garden , and the imperial interests of the land vvere disrussed in language utterly inconsistent with the customs and traditions which , even in the mott excited debates on popular questions , had earned for that House the

character of an assembly of the most thorough gentlemen in the world . Refinement might nc t always mean sincerity and loja'ty , but it was a novel doctrine in the hands of Englishmen that the opposite vvas a sign then of . 1 here were many of their brethren in that hi nourah ' e House , and their brethren looked to them to exeicise that brotherly influence as in the lodges of the ir own community , where differences of opinion were never allowed to disturb the harmony of the brotheihood . He then referred to the

influence of the press , which he said was even greater than that of the pulpit , and impressed upon every brother of the Ciaft connected with the press to see to it that they exercised their influence in such a manner as would tend to promote the welfare of the country . Never did England s'and higher in the estimation of the civilised world than she did to-day , yet if they all lived not in word or in tongue , but in deed , and in truih lived , acted , and spoke as brethren , though he could not forecast the result , ytt he did not hesitate to predict a more glorious future for the country .

After the service the brethren returned to the -Exhibition , where tbe business ot the Prov . Grand Lodge was resumed . The Prov . Grand Master appointed and invested the following officers for the ensuing year : — Bro . Rev . Hy . Greaves . M . A ., P . P . G . C , St . Germain

Lodge ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Denis J . O'Donoghue , W . M . Humber Lodge ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . J . W . Torbett , M . A ., Lennox Lodge . Ao r ,-, „ Rev . Ernest J . Barry , M . A ., Constitutional Lodge ) Prov' G * ChaPs „ H . A . W . Ion , Old Globe Lod ge ... ... Prov . G . Reg . . . M . C . Peck , Sykes Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Sec .

„ T . Gerard Hodgson , P . M . York Lodge ... Prov . S . G . D . „ Matthew Millington , P . M . Eboracum Lodge ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Geo . Tavlor , P . M . Handyside Lodge ... Prov . G . S . of W „ W . F . Greathead . P . M . Lennox Lodge ... Prov . G . D . of C ,, ]¦ Knaggs , P . M . Leopold Lod ge ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ T . M . Goldie , P . M . Camalodunum Lodge ... Prov . G . Swd . Br „ T . T . Davis , P . M . Wilberforce Lod ge ... Prov . G . Std . Br

„ H . Holgreaves , P . M . Sykes Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br „ J . F . Stewart , North York Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ T . Oates , P . P . G . O ., Minerva Lodge ... Prov . Asst . G . Sec „ J . Heslop , P . M . Alexandra Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Purst . „ J . Walton , P . M . Falcon Lodge ... ... p . A . G . Purst

„ F . J . Lambert , Kingston Lodge ... ... Prov . G . Tyler The remaining business of the Provincial Grand Lodge was then transacted .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER remarked upon the fact that the M . W . the Prince of Wales-had recognised the great services of their D . P . G . M ., and had thus conferred an honour upon the province . He was sure they all felt most grateful for the manner in which they had been received that day . Their best thanks were due to the Committee who had superintended the

Provincial Grand Lodge Of North And East Yorkshire.

arrangements , and to the W . M . and members of the York Lodge , ( Ap . p lause . ) Their thanks were due to them for their kindness and hosp itality , and for the great energy they had displayed in making the events of the day pass off so successfully as they had done . He concluded by moving a vote of thanks to the Dean of York for so kindly assisting them by placing the Minster at their disposal , and to the W . M . of the York Lodge for the courtesy that had been shown to them .

Bros , the Very Rev . the DEAN and T . G . HODGSON , W . M . York Lod ge , replied , after which The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had accepted an invitation from the Lennox Lodge , No . 123 , Richmond , for the holding of the next annual Provincial Grand Lodge .

The Masonic anthem , " Hail Masonry divine , having been sung by Bro . J . Todd , P . M ., P . P . G . R ., the Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and the Prov . Grand Masters and officers retired in procession . The preliminary arrangements for the event had been made by Bro

M . C . Peck , the Prov . Grand Secretary , who vvas well assisted b y the Committee ot the York Lodge , and the ceremonies throughout were efficiently carried out by Bro . G . Kirby , P . M ., Prov . G . D . of C , and his assistant , Bro . Major McGachen , P . M . The Prov . Grand Org ., Bro , Sample , presided at the organ .

In the evening a Conversazione was held in the Exhibition building , at which there was a large attendance of Masons and lady friends . By permission of Col . the Hon . H . Legge , the band of the 9 th Lancers , under Mr . Winter , occupied the orchestra , and performed the following programme of music : Processional March , "Silver Trumpets , " Viviani ;

overture , '' Si j'etais Roi , " Adam ; valse , " Rosen aus dem Suden , " Strauss ; selection , " The Bohemia n Girl , " Balfe ; Styrian melodies , " Aelplers Lust , " Keler Bela ; overture , "The Crown Diamonds , " Auber ; valse , "Songs of the Wood , " Tinney ; cavatina , " Belisario , " Donizetti ; Reminiscences of Meyerbeer , arranged by Godfrey ; galop , " Lustige Bruder , " Faust ; " God Save the Queen . "

While the music was being performed in the Great Hall , the Saloon was occupied by a large audience , who greatly appreciated the entertainment given by Bro . M . B . Spurr , whose versatility is not only well-known but deservedly popular . In addition to Bro . Spurr ' s entertainment a concert was given , ot which the following is a programme : Pianoforte duett , Grand Sonata in A ( Weber ) , Miss Eihel L . Watson and Bro . A . Sample ; song ,

"The Rait' ( Pinsuti ) , Bro . vV . Riley ; song , "Love ' s old sweet song " ( Molloy ) , Mrs . G . J . Russell ; recitation , "Barbara Fritchie" ( Whitiier ) , Bro . P . T . Marshall ( Gold Medallist ); song , " Madeline , " Bro . J . E . Wilkinson ; song , " So , Sir Page" ( Mozart ) , Bro . Riley ; song , "Alice , where art thou ? " ( Ascher ) , Mrs . G . J . Russell ; song , "From rock to rock" ( Sir A . Sullivan ) , Bro . A . Sample . Accompanist , Bro . A . Sample , P . G . O .

An exceedingly pleasant evening was spent by the brethren and their lady friends , and altogether the gathering was regarded as being an unqualified success in all respects .

Annual Festival Of The Mark Benevolent Fund.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

The 19 th Anniversary Festival of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was neld on Wednesday evening , at the Holborn Restaurant . Bro . Earl Amherst , M . VV . Past

Grand Mark Master , presided , supported on his right by the Marquess of Hertford , R . VV . Dep . Grand Master , and on hislelt by Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Grand Mark Master ol Worcestershire . The company numbered nearly 200 ladies and brethren . The dinner was partaken of in the

Venetian Salon , and , thanks to the Stewards and Bro . Hamp , the manager of the Restaurant , was ol a most recherche description . It was thoroughly enjoyed by ihe company and elicited warm expressions of

approval . At its conclusion the musical artistes , Miss Madeline Hardy , Miss Meredyth Elliott , Bro . Arthur Thompson , and Bro . Franklin Clive , under the direction of Bro . Edwin Lott , Mus . Doc , Past G . Org ., sang grace , tnd the toasts were briefly proposed

ind responded to . " The Queen and Mark Masonry " ivas the hrst toast ; then came " The

M . W . G . M ., H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ; " then "The Pro Grand Master , Lord Egerton of Tatton , and the Past Grand Masters , and Deputy Grand Master , the Marquess

of Hertford , and the rest of the Grand Officers "—a list which the noble CHAIRMAN said was a long one . AH these brethren , he added , performed such services in assisting the Grand

THE CHAIRMAN . Master as commended them to the BRO . EARL AMHERST . good opinion of the Order . The Marquis of HERTFORD , in reply , said it was with a teeling of the due sense of the responsibility attached to the high office that he accepted the Deputy Grand Mastership when it was offered to him by the Grand Master ; but he knew that , whatever his faults might be , in Mark Masonry

he should be well supported not only by all the Grand Officers , but by all the brethren , who would enable him , to the best of their power , to do his duty . Mark Masonry would not have attained its present high position and popularity if it had not been for the great exertions of , and the work done by , the past Grand Officers . He thought he might speak for the present

Grand Officers , and assure the brethren that they were trying to do tneir best to keep Mark Masonry in the high state to which it had been raised by their predecessors . He had no doubt that they would be followed by others equally desirous to do their duly , and he felt certain that Mark Masonry , which was progressing day by day and year by year , not only in the metropolis , but all over the country , would continue to do so by this means .