Special Grand Lodge.

SPECIAL GRAND LODGE .

The following circular has been issued : " UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT , FREE , AND A CCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND . " W . M ASTER , —Your attendance is requested , together with your

Wardens and Past Masters , at a Special Grand Lodge , to be holden at this place on Wednesday , the 8 th August , at half-past four in the afternoon , for the purpose of resuming and continuing the consideration of the report of the Board of General Purposes on the amendments on the proposed revision of the Book of Constitutions , referred to the Board by Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th March last for consideration and

report . "The Grand Lodge will be opened at five o ' clock precisely . " By command of the M . W . Grand Master , "S HADWELL H . C LERKE , G . S . " Freemasons' Hall , W . C , 25 th July , 1 SS 3 . "

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

The following is the business to be transacted at the Quarterly Convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter , at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 1 st day of August next , at six o'clock in the evening , punctually : — The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation to be read for confirmation .

THE REPORT OF THE C OMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES . " To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England . " The Committee of General Purposes beg to report that they have examined the accounts from the 18 th April , to the 17 th July , 1883 , both inclusive , which they find to be as follows :

loBalance , Grand Chapter ... £ 912 14 5 By Disbursements during the ,, „ Unappropriated Quarter £ 201 2 10 Account 2 ° Q 7 4 » BaLnce ... 10 43 14 1 „ Subsequent Receipts ... 333 5 o „ „ in Unappropriated „ Account 209 g 10 £ M 54 6 9 £ 1454 G 9

"Which balances are in the Bank of England , Western Branch . " The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following Petitions : " 1 st . From Comps . Thomas Pickles , as Z . ; James Alexander Parr , as

H . ; Benjamin Preston , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Nelson of the Nile Lodge , No . 264 , Batley , to be called the Nelson oS the Nile Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Park-road , Batley , Yorkshire ( Western Division ) .

" 2 nd . From Comps . Osborne Hambrook Bate , as Z . ; George Brooke Attwcll , as H . ; William Darley Hartley , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Buffalo Lodge , No . 1824 , East London , to be called the Sinai Chapter , and to meet at East London , South Africa , ( Eastern Division ) .

" 3 rd . From Comps . Frederick Flood , as / . ; Thomas Wood , as H . ; Benjamin Hicklin , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Dorkin" Lodge , No . 1149 . Dorking , to be called the Dorking Chapter , and to met " at the Public Hall , Dorking , in the county of Surrey . " The foregoing petitions being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

" The Committee have also received a petition from the principals and members of the Amphibious Chapter , No . 258 , Heckmondwike , Yorkshire ( Western Division ) , praying for a charter of confirmation , the original being lost . " The Committee also recommend that a charter of confirmation for this

chapter be granted . ( Signed ) "JOHN CREATON , P . Pr . G . Soj ., Grand Treas ., " President . " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 18 th July . "

Mark Benevolent Fund.

MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

The annual festival on behalf of the Benevolent Fund attached to the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters was held on Wednesday evening , at the Crystal Palace , Sir Pryse Pryse , Prov . Grand Master for South Wales , presided , and there were also present among others Bros . Pryse Pryse , Bart ., Prov . G . M . South Wales ; F . Davison , Grand Treas . ; D . M . DewarAssist . Grand Sec ; C . F . Matier , P . G . VV . ; J . H . Wynne , P . G . Stwd . ; W .

, Maple , Old Kent Lodge ; John Lane , W . M . 319 ; Edgar Bowyer , W . M . 315 ; J . McDavis , VV . M . 265 ; C . Coupland , P . M . 226 ; G . Powell , Treas . 1 ; G . Hollington , P . M . 173 ; VV . March , 173 ; F . Laurance , P . M . 13 ; R . Thrupp , P . G . J . O . ; A . H . Jefferis , 32 ; Henri Brett , S . W . 235 ; T . J . Pulley , P . M . 235 , 2 G 6 , 54 , 75 , Prov . Grand Sec Berks and Oxon . ; Rev . J . Marsden , D . P . G . M . Suuth Wales ; J . Moon , Old Kent

Lodge ; VV . Barkley , P . M . 59 . ' ' -G . Stwd . ; J . H . Banks , P . M . 151 , 60 , G . I . G . ; Alfred Williams , P . G . D . ; H . R . Hatherley , G . M . O ., Prov . Grand Sec . Notts . ; C . S . Line , P . G . D . ; J . Jenkyn Jones , W . M . Ii 5 ; Baron de Ferrieres , M . P ., P . G . M . O . ; Wm . Watkins , Grand Std . Br ., Prov . Grand Sec . Monmouth ; John Skinner , Old Kent LoJge ; VV . Lake , P . M . 78 , P . G . Reg . Cornwall ; and H . Massey ( Freemason ) .

The dinner was admirably supplied by Bros . Bertram and Roberts . After the dinner grace was sung , and the usual speeches followed . The CHAIRMAN in proposing the toast of "The Queen and Mark Masonry " said the toast was of a twofold nature , and he was sure that

Mark Benevolent Fund.

when drinking this toast the brethren would remember that with regard to the first part there were no more loyal men to be found anywhere than Mark Masons , and they always drank this toast with the greatest enthu . siasm . With regard to the second part , Mark Masonry , he could inform any young Mark Mason who might be present , that if a Mason ' s heart was in the right place he must love Mark Masonry .

J he toast was drunk with enthusiasm , and was followed by the National Anthem , which was beautifully sung by the vocal brethren and Miss Edith Ruthven .

Ihe CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of Lord Henniker , the M . W . G . M . M . M ., to whom he paid the compliment of saying that he was punctual , painstaking , and thoroughly familiar with all his duties . ( Applause . ) The toast having been drunk , Bro . E gbert Roberts sang " Only Friends . "

BARON DE FERRIERES , M . P ., proposed the next toast , which was that of " The Past Grand Mark Master Masons , the Duke of Albany , Lord Leigh , the Earl of Carnarvon , Lord Holmesdale , W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Canon Portal , Earl Percy , the Earl of Limerick , and the Earl of Lathom . " In proposing the toast he said according to the custom of the Mark Degree

the Grand Master only presided over them for the space of three years , and there was constantly a series of Past Mark Masters now on the roll , of whom all Mark Masons were justly proud . ( Hear , hear . ) In drinking their health the brethren had to remember that the Past Grand Masters had done much for Mark Masonry , and through their efforts Mark

Masonry stood much higher than it did some years ago , and their thanks were due to them for their zeal in the cause , and the exertions they had made in promoting its success . As to the Duke of Albany , although he was the youngest of the Past Grand Masters , yet his social rank entitled him to that position , but he

had done much for Mark Masonry , and the brethren were pleased at the position he had taken . As to the rest of the Past Grand Masters , he had nothing to say of them but what would redound to their credit . The Immediate Past Grand Master , the Earl of Lathom , had also done much for

Mark Masons , and all Mark Masons must feel that their special thanks were due to him for the efforts he had made to promote the welfare of this Degree . They all responded most cordially to the toast , for they were justly proud that the roll of Past Grand Masters , and those who followed them , would fully deserve their thanks for what they had done .

The toast having been duly honoured , Miss Edith Ruthven sang "The nightingale ' s trill . " Bro . BOWYER , W . M . 315 , I have pleasure in giving you the toast of " The Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Mark Master Mason , the Earl of Kintore , and the Officers , Present and Past . " As Mark Masons we all

know how zealous is the Earl of Kintore in all connected with this Degree , and I am satisfied that the officers , Present and Past , have done their duty in every possible way . I wish to couple with the toast the name of Bro . Matier , the Past Senior Grand Warden' and the Senior officer present . ( Applause . )

Bro . MATIER in responding , said the toast was of the most comprehensive character that could possibly be proposed in Mark Masonry . It was the health of those who had carried on and who carry on the work of the Order from day to day and from week to week . Lord Kintore who would at some future day , probably not very long distant , be the Most Worshi pful

Grand Master of the English Mark Degree , and he was certain that when the brethren found his lordship in that position , they would find him the same genial , hearty , and earnest ruler that they had found him in the position of Deputy Grand Master . As regarded the other Grand Officers , so far as regarded himself he could say but little , but let him call the attention

of the brethren present to the services of some who were present and of others who were absent . He wished to ask the ladies and the brethren to unite in this toast by giving a cordial meed of support lo the services of Bro Frederick Binckes , the Grand Secretary , who , unfortunately owing to illness , was absent for the first time since the festival of the Grand Mark

Lodge Benevolent Fund was established . He was sure they all regretted his absence , and that they hoped he would be speedil y restored to health and strength . ( Applause . ) Although Bro . Binckes was absent , let him pay a tribute of respect of well-deserved admiration to one who is present , the

Assistant Grand Secretary , his good friend Bro . Dewar , ( Applause . ) No one knew better than he did the attention which Bro . Dewar bestowed upon the duties which devolved upon him , and no one knew better than he did how faithfully and honestly those duties were discharged . ( A pplause . )

Bro . C . F . MATIER , P . G . S . W ., proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " who had presided over them that night with so much kindness and cordiality . He said if he told them a little circumstance he mi ght reveal something which would show a yery large amount of inconvenience undertaken by the Chairman in order to fulfil his engagement that

evening . Sir Pryse Pryse left Paris on Sunday night , and was engaged in London on business all day on Monday . He left London on Monday night to go to Swansea to attend to the duties of the Mark Degree there . Alter that he left by the Flying Dutchman so as to be in town at four o ' clock this

morning to preside over this meeting . That amount of energy demanded from the brethren t he largest consideration and kindness , and he was sure they would give it . With these remarks he proposed the health of the Chairman .

The CHAIRMAN in responding said he could assure the brethren that when he was asked to fill the post that he now held he did it with great reluctance , because as we might say at once and openly he was a very bad hand at after dinner speeches or talking generall y . In his own province he was ready to undertake any work , or in his province he was ready to do any work ; but he onl y wished to be left alone after dinner . U he had his own way