Mark Masonry.

Business being ended , the brethren adjourned to the " Earl of Chatham Arms , " Thomas-street , xvhere a prettily served cold collation was partaken of . The VV . M ., in proposing the first toast , that of " The Oueen and Mark Masonry , " said that there xvas no more loyal body living than Freemasons . He meant by that individually loyalty , because they loved and revered their gracious Sovereign for herself , for her pure life , and thorough

xvomanly qualities . She , in her exalted station , had been a noble wife , a good mother , and stood , as the ruler and governer of a vast empire , a pattern for not only the present time , but for future generations . And more especially in that company , composed as it was principally of military men , the toast should meet xvith the most heartfelt sympathy , because they had at the present time among their ranks , and fighting the battles of his country in Egypt , one

of Her Majesty ' s gallant sons , xvho xvas also a distinguished Mason . He alluded , as they all might guess , to H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . Might the G . A . O . T . U . spare her for many years to reign over them , and maintain the prestige of a reign sanctified by every grace that could adorn a Court , and gratify a loyal and contented people . The toast xvas drunk xvith enthusiasm . The next toast xvas that of " The Prince of VVales and

the rest of the Royal Family . " The VV . M . said perhaps it xvas an innovation at such an assembly as that to drink the health of their " Craft Grand Master . " He did not know whether His Royal Highness was a Mark Mason or not ; nevertheless , his services xvere of such a character to Masonry in general , that no meeting of Masons , of xvhatever Degree , ought , or could , in his opinion to pass xvithout recognising those eminent services . He , in their name ,

xvished His Royal Highness long life and the greatest blessing in life— " health . " The VV . M . then in gloxving language proposed " The Health of Lord Henniker , Grand Mark Master of England . " No one could doubt that in Lord Henniker they had a most excellent Master and godd Mason , and he asked them , as Mark Masons , to give the toast a most enthusiastic reception . "The Health of the Rev . T . Robinson , M . A ., P . G . M . Kent , " xvas received xvith warmth , and in putting

it , the VV . M . said that he had hoped their exalted brother and Grand Master would have been xvith them that evening . Bro . Robinson had associations at Greenxvich . that sometimes brought him that xvay , and he ( the VV . M . ) , somehoxv felt sure that he would that night have been with them . They xvould have been delighted to have seen him , and through Bro . Jolly and the columns of the Freemason he could assure Bro . Robinson that at any time he could ,

or would honour the Excelsior Lodge xvith a visit , he xvould receive a hearty reception . Bro . Robinson took a very great interest in xvhat he called "service lodges , " because he , Bro . Robinson , believed that throug h' their military brethren , Freemasonry xvas spread over the face of the habitable globe and had often expressed himself to that effect . In this lodge he took great interest , and xvhen he heard , as he xvould hear from the xvorthy Secretary , that

lie had been unanimously chosen an honorary member of the lodge , he xvould feel proud of his distinction , poor as it was , as a return tor the many services he had rendered to the lodge . The next toast xvas that of "The Prov . Grand Officers , " coupled xvith the name of Bro . Mould , xvho briefly responded . Bro . Weston , I . P . M ., then proposed " the Healttx of the VV . M . Bro . Penfold . " He xvas sure that every

bro-, ther present must have been gratified at the manner in xvhich their W . M . had carried out the ceremony of installation that evening . Not a xvord had been missed , and he ( the VV . M . ) had faithfully carried out the promise made by him at his installation , by not using the book for a single sentence . He xvould not hoxvever dilate upon the many excellencies of Bro . Penfold . He ( Bro . Penfold ) had all through his Masonic career " marked xvell , " and had

done that which xvould linger long in their memories . All Bro . Penfold had done that night had been done xvithout a single hitch . He asked them to mark their sense of that labour of love by drinking his health most loyally . Bro . Penfold , in response , said that he had originally intended to have had only the most important toasts proposed , but after the very cordial and flattering remarks of Bro . Weston , he must say that he desired to return his hearty

thanks , both to him and them , for the kindness xvith xvhich his name had been received . He considered that if it xvas xvorth xvhile carrying anything through , it xvas worth while doing it xvell , at least , to make an effort to do so , and xvas proud to receive their commendation for xvhat he had done . He trusted at their next meeting to have the ritual even more perfect than it had been at this , and asked for the hearty co-operation of the officers , so that as one body

they mig ht labour together for " perfect xvorking . " Nothing gave him more pleasure than to see so many of their friends of the military joining them , and that night might be xvell and xvorthily remembered as a gala night among them . It xvas a good beginning , and he trusted to see the lodge go on and prosper . Nothing should be xvanted on his part , and with their help he hoped to leave the lodge at the conclusion of his year of ofiice in the position it was in when it started , viz .,

one of the best and strongest in the Province of Kent . He then alluded xvith pride to the successful efforts made by his Masonic friends to place him upon the Local Board of Woolxvich . They did not go about xvith a big drum , but earnestly and silently , and for it and their kind regards he sincerely thanked them . „„ .,., The remaining toasts xvere " Ihe Advancees , ' "Ihe Officers , " "The Masonic Press , " and "The Host . " The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close .

Australia.

Australia .

MELBOURNE . —Australia Felix Lodge ( No . 474 ) E . C—The ordinary monthly meeting of this lodge was held in the Masonic Hall , on Monday , July ioth . The VV . M ., Bro . J . VV . Goddard , presided , supported by his officers and about fifty members and visitors . Three candidates xvere initiated into Masonry , and txvo brethren xvere

raised tothe Sublime Degree of M . M . I wo candidates were proposed , and two cases of charity having been disposed of with donations of £ 5 and £ 2 , the lodge was closed , when the brethren adjourned to supper . On the folloxving Thursday evening , the Australia Felix Lodge held a very successful ball in the Athenaium , which was attended by over 150 brethren and ladies . The hall

Australia.

was beautifully decorated with hot-house plants , banners , & c , and a selection of txx-enty-four dances xvas supplied by one of the best orchestras xve ever listened to ; the scene being a most brilliant one , considering the gentlemen xx-ere attired in Craft , Mark , Arch , and KnightTemplarclothing ,

belonging to the three Constitutions . A Masonic quadrille xvas danced , the peculiarity of which consisted in the ladies donnin" - the aprons and collars of their partners . At midnight , The whole company sat doxvn to a sumptuous supper , provided by Bro . Paul , the Masonic Hall caterer .

MELBOURNE . —Melbourne Lodge ( No . 747 ) . This old lodge held the usual monthly meeting on Monday evening , July 17 th . Bro . VV . Gledhill , VV . M ., presided , and there xvas a very large attendance of members and visitors , amongst the latter being Bro . Rev . Horace Graham , M . A ., of the Wanderers Lodge , 1 G 04 , London . After the minutes had been confirmed , a candidate xvas balloted for and initiated , and txvo brothers xvere

respectively passed and raised . On the proclamations being put , the folloxving xvere proposed as joining members : Bros . Dr . Tudor Hora , P . M . 930 ; Chas . Lyman , 10 S 0 ; W . S . Vincent , 1057 ; and VV . F . Lamonby , P . M . 1002 , P . P . G . Reg . Cumberland and Westmorland . Mr . VV . B . Simpson xvas also proposed as a candidate for initiation . The lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to supper , and a pleasant evening came to a conclusion at the usual hour _—( . lfitmn r . einriz n . m .

Consecration Of The Victoria Lodge, Melbourne.

CONSECRATION OF THE VICTORIA LODGE , MELBOURNE .

A new lodge ( meeting under dispensation till a xvarrant is procured from England ) xvas consecrated in the Toxvn Hall , Haxvthorn , on Tuesday evening , July iSth . It is only about a month since a meeting was held to arrange preliminaries , so that the promoters of the nexv lodge hax'e lost

no time in maturing their plans . This is the second lodge opened in Hawthorn ; but the old lodge ( Boroondara , No . 718 ) has not been working for some time past , hence the formation of the Victoria Lodge . The attendance xvas very large , and the duties of consecration xvere undertaken by Bro . J . A . Cantor , P . M . and Treas . Australia Felix Lodge , No . 474 , Past District Senior

Grand Warden , assisted by several Past Masters of other lodges , including the Mayor of Hawthorn . The lodge having heen regularly constituted and dedicated to Masonry , the VV . M . designate , Bro . Rev . A . E . Thomas , xvas installed . The folloxving officers xvere invested : Bros . Dr . Sparling , S . VV . ; H . W . Perry , J . VV . ; J . Spink , Treas . H . Warren , Sec ; J . Tate , S . D . ; J . Bambridge ,

J . D . ; A . H . Simmonds , P . AL , I . G . A number of candidates xvere proposed for initiation , and several brethren xvere proposed as joining members , the nexv lodge thereby getting a good start . The lodge having been closed , an adjournment xvas made

to the council chamber , where an excellent banquet xvas paraken of , folloxved by the usual list of toasts , interpertsed xvith vocal music . 'This makes the txventy-second lodge under the English Constitution in Melbourne and its outskirts , whilst the total number in the district of Victoria is sixty-txvo .

Presentation To Bro. Alfred Best.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . ALFRED BEST .

An interesting ceremony took place on Wednesday morning , at Freemasons' Tavern , on the occasion of Bro . Alfred Best relinquishing the proprietorship of that favourite rendezvous of Freemasons . The Freemason has , during the past fexv xveeks , conveyed intelligence that Sp iers and Pond had purchased the business of the Tavern , and it was xvellknown that in the forthcoming Masonic season the brethren

xvould no longer enjoy the companionship of their old and amiable host , Bro . Best , xvho , since he took the Tavern on 27 th September , 1 S 77 , had ingratiated himself xvith the Craft by his constant visits to them during their lodge and chapter banquets , to see that they xvere satisfied xvith xvhat xx'as set before them . The brethren did not knoxv the exact day xvhen Messrs . Spiers and Pond xvould enter into possessionand it is noxv our duty to inform them that the change

, took place on Wednesday , at txvelve o'clock . The staff of the tavern , and a fexv old friends of Bro . and Mrs . Best , however , thought the host and hostess should not be alloxved to leave xvithout some testimony of the satisfaction xvhich all had experienced under their kind rule , and accordingly , a fexv minutes before the occurrence of the change , bro . Best was conducted to one of the diningrooms , xvhere Bro . James Terry , the Secretary of the Royal

Masonic Benevolent Institution , Bro . C . J . Perceval , Bro . E . Boxvyer , Bro . Dawkins , and a large number of the staff of the establishment , including the head and other cooks , were assembled , and xvhere a magnificent American organ and organist ' s seat xvere uncovered and exhibited . The organ and seat xvere a presentation to Bro . and Mrs . Best , subscribed for by the staff above - mentioned , and in front of the organ xvas fastened a silver plate ,

bearing the folloxving inscription : " Presented to Mr . and Mrs . Best , on leaving the Freemasons' Tavern , by the staff and other friends . September 20 th , 1 S 82 . " The presentation was made by Bro . James Terry , xvho said that as this was the last day on which Bro . Best xvould be proprietor of the tavern , he , and a few other friends , xvould not like him to leave without asking him to accept from the staff and others some little token of their

esteem . To have been the proprietor of the Freemasons ' Tavern five years , and to have raised its tone and character as Bro . Best had done , was a very convincing proof to them that he had studied the xvishes and wants of the visitors . Bro . Best ' s staff had taken great interest in this movement , and in their name he ( Bro . Terry ) asked him to accept a beautiful American organ and chair , hoping at thc same time that he and Mrs . Best might live for many years

to come to have the pleasure of hearing music from it , and have the gratification of knoxving that it represented the esteem and regard in which they xvere held hy evc-rvonc xvith xvhom they had been connected . This xvas not " the occasion for a long speech , but he might say that they all hoped that Mr . and Mrs . Best might enjoy

that repose which they had xvell earned . On behalf of himself and tbe others who xvcre present , as xvell as . those subscribers to the testimonial xvho xvere absent , , he would add that if the testimonial could have been more valuable it should have been , but as it xvas it represented the esteem and regard for the late proprietor of Freemasons' Tavern and his xvife , and they hoped they xvould viexv it in that light .

Presentation To Bro. Alfred Best.

Bro . BEST , who xvas deeply affected , in replying , said he thanked the donors sincerely on behalf of Mrs . Best and himself for the kind expressions of regard for them which had fallen from Bro . Terry . He had endeavoured to do his duty , and he xvas very pleased to think- that those gentlemen xvho had been connected xvith him in the establishment and the staff had so appreciated his endeavours to make them comfortable . It xx'as exceedingly gratifying- to

him and Mrs . Best to have such a testimonial presented to them , and they xvould value it ever after . The time they had heen at Freemasons' Tavern had been a very happy time , and it had given them great pleasure to find general satisfaction expressed xvith what they had done . They xvere going to enjoy a period of repose , but they xvould never

forget the agreeable days they had had in Freemasons ' Tavern , and the many friends they had made there . The testimonial xvould constantly remind them of their agreeable connection xvith the establishment . The company present then drank the health of Bro . and Mrs . Best , and concluded by singing " He ' s a jolly good felloxv , " and hearing a tune on the organ .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN JACOB . We have to record the death , on the Sth inst ., at the ripe age of eighty-seven , of Bro . John Jacob , of Weymouth . A man of retiring habits , he yet , by his liberal spirit and strictly upright and honourable character , gained the good will of all and the sincere affection of those more closely connected xvith him . In public business life he held , xvith great credit to himself and advantage to the Corporations

for xvhom he acted , appointments of great trust . He xvas engaged in early life as a clerk in the banking house of Eliot and Co ., from which he retired in the year 1 S 52 . He held the important post of Borough treasurer from the year 1 S 52 to theyear 1 S 62 . He xx-as one of the originators of the savings bank , and for some years discharged the . responsible duties of actuary xvithout any remuneration . From this appointment he retired in 1 SC 2 . He xvas then

appointed one of the trustees , which post he occupied at the time of his decease . He may then be said to have closed his public career . It is , hoxvever , in his character as a Freemason that the thoroughness of the man comes out . Initiated as far back as November 26 th , iSrg , he became a Master Mason February 25 th , 1 S 20 , and from that time his career as a Mason to the day of his death is a long list of some of the greatest

honours it is in the poxver of the Provincial Grand Master and of his oxvn private lodge to confer . The folloxving are his lodge appointments : j " D ., 1 S 21 ; S . D ., 1 S 21 ; J . W ., 1 S 24 ; Treasurer , 1 S 25 ; VV . M ., 1828 . He xvas for the second time Master of his lodge , in 1 S 41 ; and on the celebration of the centenary of All Souls Lodge , 170 , in 186 7 , he again filled the chair . He held the office of P . G . J . W . in 1 S 39 , and P . G . Sec . from 1 S 41 to 1 S 52 . Asa

recognition of the valuable services rendered b y him in this capacity , he received the thanks of the province and a very handsome set of full dress Masonic clothing , and so lately as May , 1 SS 2 , assisted at a ceremony in Lodge 170 . At his death he held the appointment of P . G . Treasurer of the Chapter . He xvas a Life Governor of the Dorset Masonic Charity , and a very liberal supporter of thc great London Charities . He was interred at East Fordington ,

Dorchester , the funeral service being read by two brethren —Bro . the Rev . J . H . Scott , M . A . ( rector of Melcombe Regis ) , and Bro . the Rev . A . Hill , B . D . ( vicar of Preston ) . The folloxving lodges xvere represented : Nos . 137 , 170 , 3 SG , G 22 , 1037 , 1146 , 116 S , and there were present also : Bros . J . Loxve , P . M . ; Targett , P . M . ; A . Graham , P . M . ; R . A y les , P . M . ; J . Lundi ' e , jun ., P . M . ; VV . Chick , P . M . ; D . Collett , P . M . ; and J . Style , P . M . In

the procession folloxving the hearse xvas the carriage of the Mayor of Weymouth ( Bro . R . N . Hoxvard ) , xvith his Worship , attended by one of the Toxvn Sergeants . Amongst the pall bearers xvere Bros . Milledge , J . P ., P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; E . W . Cross , 170 ; PellyTrlooper , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ; and C . F . Arden , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., P . P . J . G . W . The ceremony xvas most imposing , and the service xvas read by the rev . brethren xvith much feeling . On the coffin ,

xvhich xvas of English oak xvith black furniture , there xvere three very beautiful xvreaths , that at the head being the square and compasses within a circle in floxvers of proper heraldic colours , on the breast xvas the Knight Templar's cross , and at the feet the double triangle of the Royal Arch Chapter xvithin a circle . He mi ght have truly used the xvords of the Great Apostle— " I have fought a good fight ; I have finished my course . I have kept the faith " ( 2

Timothy iv . 7 ) . His xvas a career xvorthy of imitation , and , xvith confidence it can be said of him , he has gone to join the Grand Lodge above xvhere the xvorld ' s Great Architect lives and reigns till time shall be no more , and to shine before the throne as the stars for ever and ever . Bro . J . A . Sherren , P . M ., of Lodge , No . 170 , was the director of the

Masonic ceremonies . In connection with the death of Bro . Jacob , xve are reminded by a correspondent that probably the oldest subscribing Mason in the xvorld—Bros . Wm . Eliot ( initiated in 1 S 1 C ) , and Jas . Milledge , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., initiated in 1 S 24—are both members of All Souls Lodge .

Births, Marriages And Deaths.

Births , Marriages and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ] BIRTHS . DICKIE . —On the iSth inst ., at Broomfield , Stanmore , the xvife of J . Dickie of a son . OAKLAND . —On the iSth inst , at East Molesey , the wife of W . G . Garland , of a son .

MARRIAGES . HUET — LANGI . EV . — On thc iGth inst ., at the parish church , Shifnal , Shropshire , by thc Rev . IL Cunliffe , Vicar , assisted by the Rev . Dr . Gustavus Burton , Rector of AU Saints ' , Manchester , Frank A . Huet , of Manchester , to Louisa , second daughter of the late thos . Langley , lisq ., Forton Hall , near Newport , Shropshire . No cards .

DEATHS . BONI ; . —On the 15 th inst ., at Mall-road , Hammersmith , Captain I . R . Bone , aged ( 3 S . J ACOB . —On the Sth inst ., at Weymouth , Bro . John Jacob , aged S 7 .