Freemasonry In 1886.

Other changes , besides that we have just recorded , have occurred during the year in the government of our provinces , but there is , happily , only one case in addition to Sussex in which such change has been rendered neccessary by death . Bro . Lord Waveney died within a short time after Bro . Sir W . W . Burrell , but the vacancies that have occurred in Northumberland , Cheshire , and Northants and Hunts are due to the resignations of

Bros . Earl Percy , Lord De Tabley , and the Duke of Manchester respectively . It is impossible for us not to experience a strong feeling of regret that these distinguished brethren should have found themselves compelled to lay aside the cares of office , and no doubt it will be some lime before the lodges and brethren -they have severally ruled will be able to reconcile themselves to the new order of things under their predecessors . We have ,

however , the consolation of knowing that their advice and experience will still be available . As regards their successors , so far as they are known at present , no more need be said than that good rulers have been succeeded by brethren who are likely to prove equally good . Northumberland has at its head Bro . Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., in place of Earl Percy . Lord De Tabley must rejoice that his mantle has fallen upon the

shoulders of a brother so estimable in all respects , and so well-qualified by his past official experience , as his late D . P . G . M ., Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton . As to Bro . the DuUe of Manchester , a successor to his grace has not yet been indicated ; but if the Grand Master is only as fortunate in his selection of a new ruler for Northants and Hunts as he has been in the case of Northumberland , Cheshire , Sussex , and Suffolk , the brethren of that province will

have every reason to be satisfied . As regards Lord Henniker , successor to the late Lord Waveney as Provincial Grand Master , he was installed in office by no less prominent a Mason than Bro . Earl Amherst , Provincial Grand Master of Kent , and , as Lord Henniker is a Suffolk man , and has already gained experience as the ruler of the Mark Province of East Anglia , which includes Suffolk within its limits , we shall certainly find the

province continuing in the same honourable career as under its late respected chief . As for the new Province of the Isle of Man , to the constitution of ¦ which vve have already alluded , the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Major Goldie-Taubman , Speaker of the House of Keys , is a man of great local influence , as is sufficiently indicated by his rank in the Manx legislature . Nor do we for one moment suppose he will prove less efficient in the genial

task of regulating the affairs of the lodges under his rule than he is in presiding at the labours of the House of Keys . However , these are the changes that have occurred among the rulers of provinces ; but there are three other provinces which have had the misfortune to lose their several Deputy Provincial Grand Masters , namely , Cambridgeshire , Surrey , and North and

East Yorkshire . In each case , however , a good man has been appointed to fill the vacancy . Bro . Neal York has been succeeded in Cambridgeshire by Bro . A . H . Moyes ; Bro . Charles Greenwood , as D . P . G . M . of Surrey , by Bro . F . West ; and Bro . Dr . J . Pearson Bell—deceased since his resignation as D . P . G . M . North and East Yorkshire—by Bro . the Hon . W . Orde-Powlett .

Prominent among the minor occurrences of the year must be mentioned the banquet given by Bro . Lord Mayor Staples at the Mansion House just before the completion of his year of office to the Grand Officers and the officers and members of the lodges and chapter to which he belongs , namely , Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . i ; the St . Botolph ' s Lodge , No . 2020 ( of which he was a founder and W . M . for the first and second year ) ; the Aldersgate Lodge ,

No . 1657 ; and the Aldersgate Chapter , No . 1657 , of which he was the retiring Z . The gathering was a great success , and will compare well with similar banquets given by Sir J . Staples ' s more immediate predecessors . Other noteworthy events include the three centenary celebrations held by the Domatie Lodge , No . 177 ; the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 178 , Wigan ; and the Phcenix Lodge , No . 257 , Portsmouth . These , too , passed off well , and were made the

subject of great rejoicing among the members and their friends , while that of the Domatie , which was held at the Criterion , was honoured by the presence of several of the Grand Officers , the chief guest at the Phcenix meeting being Bros , the Earl of Lathom , D . G . M ., and Bro . W . W B . Beach , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight . The Shanklin Masonic Exhibition , organised by the Chine Lodge , No . 1884 , also proved a success .

It showed that the desire for further knowledge of our past history is spreading , and it had the advantage of being carried out on the lines laid down firstly at York , and subsequently at Worcester ; while Bro . A . Greenham , W . M . of the Chine Lodge , assisted by Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D ., was indefatigable in his labours to make the gathering as memorable and as interesting as its predecessors .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . The number of Royal Arch Chapter warrants issued during the year is slightly in excess of the number in 1885 , 20 new chapters having been authorised as against 17 in the latter period . We are , therefore , justified in assuming that this branch of Masonry has fully kept pace with the Craft of which it forms the culminating Degree .. It seems to us , however , that

there is room for further progress . There are several provinces which , as regards the mere numerical array of chapters , are qualified to receive a R . A . organisation ; and we should very much like to see steps taken to secure this , as we are persuaded it would conduce greatly to the strengthening of the Degree in general estimation , and as a consequence , to the advancement of our system as defined in the Book of Constitutions . But

no doubt these steps will be taken ultimately , and it is far better the chapters should make the move themselves than under pressure or suggestion from without . In offering these remarks we are not referring to the vacancies now existingor imminent among the Prov . G . Superintendents through death or resignation . These , we take it , will be filled in due course . Indeed , Durham already bas a successor to the late Marquis of Londonderry in the

person of Comp . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., who is now both Prov . G . Master and Prov . G . Superintendent , and the vacancies in Cambridgeshire { vice Comp . York deceased ) , Sussex { vice Comp . Sir W . VV . Burrell , deceased ) , and N . and E . Yorkshire ( vice Comp . Dr . J . Pearson Bell , deceased ) , as well as in Cheshire ( if Lord de Tabley resigns as P . G . Sup . as well as P . G . M . ) , and South Wales ( E . D . ) , which has been without a Prov .

G . Sup . for some time , will probably be filled at an early date . As regards the new chapters , three of them have gone to swell the London list , the most conspicuous case being that of Grand Master ' s Chapter , No . I , consecrated during the present year under brilliant circumstances wilh Comps . Aldermen Sir F . W . Truscott , Sir J . W . Ellis , Bart ., M . P ., and Sir R . N .

Fowler , Bart ., M . P ., all past Lord Mayors , of London and Past J . G . Wardens of England—as the Three Principals respectively . Of the 11 new Provincial Chapters , West Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are strengthened by two each , and Devonshire , Essex , Hants and Isle of Wight , Lancashire ( West ) , Middlesex , Suffolk , and Warwickshire by one each , while the six

Freemasonry In 1886.

new chapters Abroad are located , two of them in South Africa , one being under the Dist . G . Chapter ( E . D . )—one in Bermuda , one in British Burma , one in Victoria , and one in Egypt . Two Chapters—No . 3 , London , and No 250 , Hull—have received permission to wear the centenary jewel , the evidence of their having continued working for 100 years having satisfied the Grand Committee . But the chief event of the year is the issue of the revised code of Royal Arch Regulations , which was submitted to Supreme

Grand Chapter at the February Convocation and approved . Such a code must be looked upon as a kind of necessity after the issue of a revised edition of the Book of Constitulions for the Craft Degrees , and we may reasonably hope that such changes as have been made will have a tendency to strengthen the Royal Arch and make it still more popular . As to the financial position of Grand Chapter , it appears to be always most flourishing and the greater importance given to the Quarterly Meetings must exercise a beneficial influence on the Degree .

THE MARK DEGREE . The progress of Mark Masonry in recent years has been exceptionally brilliant and reminds us of an expression applied to the financial progress of the country some time ago , when it was described as being " by leaps and bounds . " Those who are able , of their own personal knowledge , to compare Mark Masonry as it is now with what it was 30 years ago , must be amazed

by the contrast . Then it had no supreme authority , or we should say rather , had only just managed to organise one . Moreover , there were rival authorities , and such lodges as were in existence were both fevv in number and weak in membership . Now there is one central controlling power and a formidable muster roll of lodges and members , with the Prince of Wales as Grard Master , the Duke of Connaught as Grand S . W ., and Prince

Albert Victor of Wales a member ol more than one private lodge . It can likewise boast of an admirably organised system of government , bolh in the country and foreign pans , the chiels of the several local organisations being brethren of influence and ability , and most desirous of improving the efficiency and strength of Mark Masonry . It is financially well placed , and the various branches of its Benevolent Fund are rendering incalculable

service to the cause of Charity . Much of the success thus achieved is due to the able government of the G . Masters who have presided over its fortunes , and much also to the energy and discretion of the chief executive officers , who have gone on working steadily as well as enthusiastically , and have always been careful that what they did should be of a solid and substantial character . It is not surprising that the Mark should have prospered , as it

has done , under such guides , and it would be churlish in the extreme if we did not avail ourselves of such an opportunity as this to place on record our high sense of the services they have rendered . As regards the current year there have been nine new lodges warranted—two in London , two in Hertfordshire , one in Durham , one in Kent , one in Jamaica , one in Burmah , and one in New South Wales , and four lodges have had Royal Ark Mariner

Lodges attached to them . The membership has increased by 1351 Mark Masons and there have been issued 190 Royal Ark certificates . One new province—that of Hertfordshire—has been constituted , with Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., who is Prov . G . M . ( Craft ) , and P . G . Supt . ( R . A . ) , as Prov . G . Mark Master , and in five previously existing provinces new chiefs have been appointed or installed , Bro . Col . Tudor having succeeded Bro . Col .

Foster Gough , as Prov . G . M . M . Staffordshire ; Bro . Capt . S . G . Homfray , Bro . L . A . Homfray , as Prov . G . M . M . Monmouthshire ; and Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , Bro . Lord Brooke , as P . G . M . M . Warwickshire ; while Bro . Major Montgomery J . Moore , R . A ., is Prov . G . M . M . of Madras , vice Major-General R . A . Cunliffe , and Bro . Fred . Will Dawson , P . G . M . M . Auckland , New Zealand , vice Bro . H . Greensmith Warde . But

the most conspicuous event of the year is unquestionably the installation , at an especial Grand Lodge held at Freemasons' Tavern on the ist July , of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , who had already conferred honour on Mark Masonry by accepting the rank of Past G . VI . M ., and has now completed the obligation by taking upon himself the supreme direction of the affairs of the Order . This and the fact of his having appointed his brother , the

Duke of Connaught , G . S . W ., and that his son , Prince Albert Victor , is a member , fully justifies the elation experienced by all Mark Masons at the proceedings which have taken place during 1886 . Then the Mark Benevolent Festival which was held on the 28 th July , under the presidency of Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., Prov . G . M . M . ot Worcestershire , though somewhat less productive than the Festival of 1885 , was nevertheless a success ! ul

gathering , the total of the moneys subscribed exceeding , £ 1500 or close on double to what it had ever reached previously , with the solitary exception of last year . Moreover , there are indications that the Festival of 1887 will be on a scale worthy of the increasing strength of the Society and amply sufficient to keep the several branches of the Benevolent Fund in a sound and health y condition . All these circumstances are matter for warm congratulation , and as the laws of the Degreee have undergone careful supervision and the

benefits of the several branches of the Benevolent Fund extended—annuities being now granted to old people , and a mass of money as igned for the benefit of each child in the Educational Fund towards clothing—we look forward to a long continuance of that prosperity which , as we said at the outset , has been advancing of late years * ' by leaps and bounds . " The position of Mark Masonry is now too assured to be seriously affected by the caprices of fortune .

CHIVALRIC AND HIGH GRADE MASONRY . What few remarks it is incumbent upon us to offer in respect of the various organisations included under this title are in the main of a satisfactory character . All have maintained their position , while most ol them have strengthened and enlarged it . The brethren who preside over the fortunes oi the Ancient and Accepted Rite are decidedly the right men in

the right place . They are famous administrators , and if we do not hear so much about their proceedings as many might desire , it is because they prefer to work in a quiet and unostentatious manner . But the financial report of the year shows how prosperous are the affairs of this body , and what an amount of service it is constantly rendering to our several Institutions . The year has also witnessed one imposing field day , when towards the end of October the Border Chapter of Rose Croix , No . 102 , was solemnly 0

consecrated , at Keswick , by 111 . Bro . Capt . N . G . Philips , 33 , Lieut . Grand Commander , and Bro . G . J . McKay , the worthy Prov . G . Secretary and Grand Scribe E . of Cumberland and Westmorland , was installed as its first M . W . S . Everything passed off admirably on the occasion , and having regard to the brethren who constitute the chapter , there is fair ground for anticipating that it will enjoy a long career of prosperity . As regards Templary , its modest doings here are cast into the shade by the amazing displays of which we read in American Masgnic periodicals , where the