Annual Festival Of The Grand Master's Mark Lodge Of Instruction.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE GRAND MASTER'S MARK LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

The seventh annual festival of this Mark lodge of instruction was held at Mark Masons' Hall , on Tuesday the 14 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W ., when there was a good attendance . Lodge was opened b y Bro . W . Vincent , P . G . I . G ., W . M ., supported by the following officers : Bros . J . R .

Green , G . Stwd ., S . W . ; Hugh M . Hobbs , G . Stwd ., j VV . ; F . H . Miller , P . M ., M . O . ; A . Escott , P . S . G . W . Kent , S . O . ; E . Armitage , P . M ., J . O . ; Rev . J . Cater , Chap . ; J- B- s- Lancaster , R . of M . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., Treas . ; E . M . Money , P . G . Stwd ., Sec ; F 0 . Carr , Org . ; G . S . Criswick , P . M ., S . D . ; A . H .

Scurrah , J . D . ; and R . L . Thornton , I . G . The ceremony of advancement was worked in a very impressive manner , and the lecture on the Degree ably g iven by Bro . J . R . Green , G . Stwd . On the motion of Bro . T . FENN , P . G . W ., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the brethren who had

assisted in the ceremony . Bro . W . V INCENT , P . G . I . G ., in acknowled ging the comp liment , said that praise from so distinguished a Mason as Bro . Fenn was very welcome indeed . Honorary membership was unanimously conferred on Bro . Fenn , the Chairman of the evening , and a

similar compliment was paid Bro . F . O . Carr , who kindly presided at the harmonium . Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Freemasons' Tavern , where banquet was served . "The Queen and Mark Masonry" and "H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . M . " having been

honoured , the CHAIRMAN ' proposed " The Grand Officers , " observing that the Marquess of Hertford , Pro G . M ., was an extremely affable nobleman , and the Earl of Euston , Deputy G . M ., was one of their most active members . They would all be pleased to hear that the Earl of Euston was fast recovering from a

severe and skilfully performed operation , and would be amongst them again within a fortni ght . He could not give a better illustration of the way the Grand Officers performed their duty than the fact that the Earl of Euston , notwithstanding his high position , and the fact of his having been a P . S . G . W ., undertook the

duties ofthe President ofthe General Board , which was analogous to that occupied b y himself in Grand Lodge . Of the Grand Officers none were more worthy of notice than Bro . Frank Richardson , who " had been an active member of the Degree for a long time as the Grand Registrar , and was now a P . G . Warden .

Bro . F . RICHARDSON , P . G . W ., G . Reg ., said he esteemed it a great honour to have his name coupled with such a toast as that of the Grand Officers . When the brethren considered who the Grand Officers were , and the long array of distinguished noblemen who had taken a most active and honourable part in the Degree ,

they would acknowledge how fortunate they were in the Order to have these noblemen really and honestly doing their work in every possible way they could . Bro . Fenn had referred to that fiasco when it was proposed that Mark Masonry should be recognised by the Craft . It was the most fortunate thing ever happened that the minutes were non-confirmed . The Order was

increasing daily and taking an enormous position , but he was afraid if they had been attached to the Craft this would not have occurred . Every Order should have a different organisation and somebod y different at the head to push it forward . On the part of the wand Officers he thanked them , feeling sure they would

go on and prosper . . -C F . MATIER , P . G . W ., Grand Secretary , said Uhadbeen his privilege atprevious meetings such asthat and ti , ^ wag t [] e seventh annual festival—to propose j he Health of the Chairman , " the brother who had ruled over them so gracefully and with so much dignity . TJ — " & - —ww ,, 1411 ^ UI 1 U 1111 . 11 iJVJ 1 UUH 1 UlgliltV would

« e follow their Chairman ' s example of short s Peech , although he had a temptation to enlarge very considerabl y upon Bro . Fenn ' s merits . But everyone new Bro . Thomas Fenn , whose name was a household ord to them in another and in a more imperial sense , , e Mark Degree . They looked upon him in the age of Emulation as the examnle and the correction

li ? lf , SOnlc ritual in the Craft , and were only too dewh , , P hased to see him among them to show him in it *!? COuld do as exemplars of Masonic perfection tain ri-ff k De S - Bro - Fenn had alluded to cer-Cnfi j ° es which years a R ° exist ; ed between the Wfrl the Mark Those he was most happy to

^ - say waa " deep in the bosom of the earth - There M-lsn the Craft ° n the 0 nC S ' de and the Mark qualifiV" ° ther only a dinner table , and who more Craft t £ assume the head than Br 0 - p enn , with the and i - fi ? P L resldent of the Board of General Purposes , and 1 'tu i —«> - " ¦ . ui UIC ouaiuui uenerai rurposes ,

woulrl . a ver y honoured P . G . Warden . He of thP ru •m them ' but ask them to drink the health Brn , p a , rman of the evening , Bro . Fenn . Bro M V u FENN ' P-G-W ., in reply , said that latteri perfectly overwhelmed him with his s Peecne ^ remarks ' He was told in the lodge that the c ° uld av -u ? be Vfcry snort ' he was glad he h's resn mself of that injunction with respect to s Peak of " 156 ' •It ; Was never a vei 7 pleasant thing to tory to ? s se 'f | and it was particularly unsatisfacnim on that occasion because he simply

Annual Festival Of The Grand Master's Mark Lodge Of Instruction.

had to make a confession . He was a very unworth y Mark Mason , and was surprised he should be pressed to take the position of Chairman . He knew extremely little of Mark Masonry , for although he was made a Mark Mason 35 years ago , he left it , and onl y joined it again at the consecration of the Ruspini

Lodge , which was formed in connection with the Girls ' School , of which he was one of the House Committee , in which he had so many friends that he desired to join . His engagements in the Craft and Royal Arch were so great that he never took any office , but having the great honour conferred upon him of being made a P . G .

Warden—a rank which he accepted with great pleasure although undeserved—he thought he should pass through the chair . No sooner was that desire known to his lodge than they put him in the S . W . ' s chair , and elected him to the Master ' s chair , which he now filled . Strange to say , he had never been in any other lodge of

Mark Masons , except the one in which he was advanced and his own lodge . There was one circumstance that had given him pleasure , which was to find that in the model he took in the lodge from Bro . Letchworth—the first W . M . —he had departed very little from the excellent specimen they had heard that ni ght . He was

reluctant to preside that evening , because he did not feel worthy , and because there were many more distinguished Mark Masons who could have taken the position . He had done his best , and it had given him great pleasure to be present . It must be a pleasure to any man , especially himself , who had taken such an

interest in the Craft to attend that night . He thanked them for the cordial way in which they had received his health . The next toast was that of " Success to the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction , " coupled with the name of their excellent Preceptor , Bro . Vincent . The success of any lodge of instruction must be of

interest to him , and he knew from long experience the use of lodges of instruction , and how important it was for a Master or for any officer to practise his work . There was nothing gave a Master so much confidence as to feel he was master of the work , having practised it in a lodge of instruction . He could strongly recommend

all aspirants to office to attend a lodge of instruction . The manner in which the work was done that evening was , as he had said in the lodge , beyond all praise , and he might speak of it more at length , but that he feared he should be anticipating what would be said by Bro . Vincent , who , no doubt , would give them an

account of the rise and progress of Mark Masonry and that lodge of instruction . Bio . WM . VINCENT , P . G . I . G ., in response , said he esteemed it a high honour to be associated with such a toast as that of the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction , but was afraid it would be out of his power to

tell them anything of the rise of the lodge , as it was only four years ago that it was his good fortune to be selected by Bro . Matier as a successor , and Bro . Matier recommended him to the General Committee , and he was formally elected to the post . Since that time the lodge of instruction had gone slowly forward .

He said slowly , because there was an evident want of a desire to learn on the part of Mark Masons generally . The lodge had slowly progressed , and year by year they had elected new members , some of whom had attended fairly regularly , but he did not find in the Mark Degree that interest that he had seen in Craft

lodges of instruction . He had found that the Masters having learned their duty seemed to think that Mark Masonry was at an end . They looked to those whom they had taught , to assist them in teaching others . He was proud to think so distinguished a critic as their Chairman had been pleased with the work . He

confessed that when he heard that Bro . Fenn was to be the Chairman , and desired to see the work , it having been the practice only to give the lecture , he felt considerably nervous . He was told that he should , of course , take the chair . He knew what a . Past Master in ritual Bro . Fenn was in the Craft

and felt satisfied , although Bro . Fenn had been good enough to say he knew little of Mark Masonry , that any shortcomings would be uncompromisingly pointed out . It had been a labour of love in the Mark Degree to act as Preceptor , and he hoped those who had that night given their names as members would bear it in

mind and attend . They would be heartily welcomed , and an endeavour made to teach them the ritual . The officers of the Permanent Committee were desirous of meeting in every way any brother coming on in office , and the W . M . elect was asked to give way if a Master of any lodge desired to rehearse the ceremony . He

thanked his officers for their kindly help , and was gratified with the manner in which they performed their duties . He returned thanks for the kind wishes expressed to the lodge of instruction , and he hoped with such examples as Bro . Fenn and others who had presided that they would yet make it not the equal , but a

good second to the Emulation Lodge . Bro . W . M . STILES , Grand Std . Br ., gave "The Visitors " in cordial terms , and in response Bro . Dr . EGAN , D . G . M . South Africa , said that when he went out next month the Mark Masons would be enquiring of him about the work . He was pleased to see the

work done , because it was a sample of what it should be . " The Health of the Secretary" was given by Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . Reg ., and duly replied to b y Bro . E . M . MONEY , P . G . Stwd ., and the T yler ' s toast closed the proceedings .

The brethren present included Bros . Thomas Fenn , P . G . W . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., G . Sec ; F . Richardson , P . G . W ., G . Reg . ; Dr . Egan , D . G . M . South Africa ; C . H . Driver , P . G . M . O . ; W . M . Stiles , G . Std . Br . ; Dr . Kiallmark , C . M . Jessop , W . Vincent , P . G . I . G . ; E . M . Money , P . G . Stwd . ; J . R . Green , G . Stwd . ; H . M ,

Annual Festival Of The Grand Master's Mark Lodge Of Instruction.

Hobbs , G . Stwd . ; A . Escott , P . S . G . W . Kent ; G . S Criswick , P . M . ; R . L . Thornton , P . M . ; J . B . S . Lancaster , F . H . Miller , P . M . ; E . Armitage , P . M . ; Rev . J . Cater , F . O . Carr , J . D . Vicary , P . P . S . G . O . Madras ; C . J . Knightley , W . A . Scurrah , P . P . G . Reg . Middx . ;

H . Dickey , A . H . Scurrah , W . J . Churcher , Murray Haynes , W . Maple , P . M . ; W . Mapleton , G . Mordey , J . J . Thomas , G . Richardson , S . W . 54 ; W . J . Ferguson , S . W . 355 ; W . H . Francis , A . jephson , J . T . Fielder , Capt . Knightley , E . Mills , P . A . G . I . G . ; A . Lamette , W . W . Lee , and many others .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

PROVINCIAL GRAND P ' rl . j < JF LANCASHIRE . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Priory of Lancashire was held on Thursday , the 16 th inst ., at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester . It was one of the most successful and numerously attended ever held in this province . The following were present : Sir Knights C . E . Hindley , E . G . ; C . R . N . Beswicke-Royds , P . G . P . ; W . H . Hughes , P . E . C . ; E . Pike , P . E . C . ; F .

W . Lean , P . E . C ; W . H . Southern , J . Andrew , Wm . Duncan , J . Gardner , G . S . Smith , P . H . Nicholls , C . E . Towell , R . T . Sutcliffe , E . G . ; Wm . Bracewell , John Milne , P . E . C ; E . Graham , P . P . G . S . B . ; H . Thomas , D . G . C . Lancashire ; J . Clapton , P . G . O . ; F . N . Molesworth , P . G . Reg . ; J . R . Blacka , P . E . C ; P . Ratcliffe , S . Fisher , George H . Whitaker , Edward Pierpoint ,

Joseph Harling , Walter Vere Stallon , E . C . ; E . King Ellison , Wm . j . Read , J . H . P . Leresche , A . Hopkinson , W . J . Thomson , Charles H . Garner , Robt . W . Bourne , John Halliwell , P . G . C ; C . Hesketh Knowlys , E . G . ; Abraham Clegg , E . G . Harwood , L . Rowbottom , P . P . G . M . ; John Booth , P . C ; Reginald Young ,

P . P . ; Wm . Bagnall , J . Butterworth , P . E . C . ; A . H . Jefferis , P . E . C ; T . G . Sinclair , VV . Patterson , Joseph Rawlinson , J . W . Kenyon , P . E . C ; T . A . R . Littledale , P . E . C . ; Samuel Warburton , P . E . C . ; Oliver C . Crompton , P . E . C ; J . Moffgaad , P . E . C ; C . M . Challender , Nathaniel Nicholson , P . E . C . ; and J . A . Martin .

The sir knights having assembled , and St . Joseph ' s Preceptory ( under whose banner the meeting was held ; was opened by Sir Knight C . E . Hinley , E . C . The provincial sir knights were received with due splendour . The muster roll was replied to by representatives

from every preceptory in the province . The General Purposes Committee reported that the number of members in the province presented a favourable increased , and all the preceptories appeared to be in active working order , and had paid their dues .

The Treasurer ' s accounts were received and adopted , the balance in favour of the province being £ 160 . Ten guineas each to the Boys' and Girls' Schools were unanimously voted , as was also a " souceur '' to the late Equerry , who has retired through age and illhealth .

The V . E . Prov . G . Commander then appointed and invested the following knights as his officers for the ensuing year : Sir Knt . Henry Thomas Sub-Prior . „ Rev . C . H . Knowlys , M . A , Prelate . „ Wm . Tyrer ... ... Chancellor . Albert L . Dickins ... Constable .

„ W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P . Marshal . ,, Wm . J . Thomson ... Treasurer . „ F . N . Molesworth ... Registrar . F . W . Lean Vice-Chancellor .

j , — ——— - —*• ,, S . G . Sinclair Sub-Marshal . „ T . R . S . Littledale ... Almoner .

„ W . H . Hughes Wrdn . of Regalia . „ E . G . Harwood ... ... Herald . „ A . H . Jefferis St . Br . Beauceant . John Booth St . Br . Vex . Belli . ,, C . E . Hindley Banner Bearer .

„ Nathaniel Nicholson ... ist A .-de-Camp . ,, James Butterworth ... 2 nd A .-de-Camp . ,, Joseph Rawlinson ... Chamberlain . C . M . Challender ... Capt . of Guard . „ H . B . Browne Sword Bearer .

„ Joseph Clapton ... ... Organist . „ Oliver Crompton ... 1 st Pursuivant . ,, J . R . Blacka 2 nd Pursuivant . „ Sergt .-Major T . Hardy ... Equerry . A Provincial Priory of Malta was afterwards opened by the Provincial Grand Prior , who duly installed 10 sir

knig hts as members of the Order , and appointed his officers for the ensuing year . The sir knights dined together at the close of the proceedings . After the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were dul y g iven and enthusiastically honoured , The PROV . GRAND COMMANDER , in re . iU i > ri- . ^ n .-as ' .

of his health , expressed the great s . itisiacti . i . i ii . fek in meeting the knights of his province on that occasion , the loyal support they h . id given to uphold and maintain the dignity of their illustrious Order , and through him to carry forward in their day and generation the inheritance handed down to them by those

whose memory they delighted to honour , that it might be preserved and continued by them with its banner still unsullied . He expressed his satisfaction at the restoration of past rank by Great Priory . Thanks were accorded to St . Joseph ' s Preceptory for their hospitality , and the admirable arrangements for the convenience of Prov . Grand Priory .