Freemasonry In 1888.

letters of condolence and thanks which had passed between the Grand Master and his illustrious Sister , the widowed Empress Frederick of Germany , on the occasion of the death of the Emperor Frederick , were read to the brethren , and by them endorsed with the warmest approval . Ic was also announced that the Grand Master , in the name of Grand Lodge , had caused a set of the clothing and insignia pertaining to the rank of Past

Grand Master to be forwarded to the King of Sweden , but that owing to the absence from his dominions of that Monarch , it had been impossible for the gift to be acknowledged . But in December a letter of thanks was read from his Majesty , not only for the present , but also for the kindly spirit which had influenced G . Lodge to confer the position of a Past G . Master and present him with the appropriate clothing and badge . On the same occasion a resolution in accordance with a recommendation from the Grand

Master was unanimously carried for the recognition ot the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales , and it was announced that his Royal Highness had been graciously p leased to accept the office of Grand Patron of that body . An attempt on the part of Bro . Woodward , P . G . S . B ., to induce G . Lodge to amend Rule 210 of the Book of Constitutions was defeated , and Bros . Edward Terry , P . G . Std ., and George Everett were nominated as candidates for the Grand Treasurership for the ensuing year .

The principal event of the year was the celebration , in June last , of the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , to which we shall be able to refer at greater length in the notice of "Our Institutions , " but , irrespective of this , there have been many noteworthy gatherings , the most important being that which took place at Blackburn on the 9 th of May , when H . R . H . the Grand Master , assisted by the Officers of the Provincial

Grand Lodge of East Lancashire , under their respected Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M ., laid the foundation-stone of the new Technical Schools , there being present to witness the interesting ceremony a large concourse not only of the brethren , but likewise of the general public , while the Princess of Wales herself was an eye witness of the spectacle . On the 7 th September , a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of

Cheshire was held at Stockport , and Bro . Lord Mayor De Keyser , who presided , in place of Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , laid the foundationstone of a new Technical Institute , the officers and members of the Provincial Grand Lodge being present in very considerable numbers to assist his lordship . On the 9 th of October , a special meeting of the Provincial Grpnd Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland was held at Leicester , and the

first stone ot the Children ' s Hospital was laid with the usual Masonic ceremonial . On the 14 th December , 1887 , Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . M . of Gloucesiershire , laid the foundation-stone of the new Grammar School at Cheltenham . On the 30 th May , Bro . Sir M , White Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Northumberland , acting on behalf of Bio . the Earl of Lathom , Prov . G . M ., with the assistance of the officers

of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , laid the foundationstone of a new Chancel for Holy Trinity Church , Blackpool . On the 30 th October , the corner-stone of the new Parish Church , Workington , was laid by Bro . L . F . B . Dykes , D . P . G . M . of Cumberland and Westmorland . There have also been several similar ceremonies in connection with new Ma-onic Halls in various parts of the country . Thus the Masonic Hall at

Weymouth was re-opem-d , after undergoing alterations and repairs , on the 10 th August . The new Hall of the Mirfield Lodge , No . 1102 , was consecrated by Bro . T . W . Tew , P . G . M . West Yorkshire , on the 2 nd December , 18 S 7 . On the 31 st May last , Bro . Earl Amherst , P . G . M . Kent , laid the memorial stone of a new Masonic Hall at Plumstead , while in October , Yorkshire was the scene of certainly three such ceremonies—a new Hall at Rotherham having been opened by Bro . Tew , P . G . M . West Yorkshire , on

the 25 th , while Bro . the Earl of Zetland , P . G . M . of North and East Yorkshire , dedicated the hall of the Agricola Lodge , No . 1991 , York , on the 22 nd , and Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , Dep . P . G . M . of the same Province , laid the foundation-stone of a third at Howden on the 1 st of the month . These events , though of an ordinary character , are worth specifyin " , as they indicate a desire on the part of the lodges to have quarters of their own instead of renting accommodation at road-side taverns or hotels .

Among the other events of the year may be mentioned the presentation on the 27 th February , by the brethren of Durham , of an address and silver vase to Bro . Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., P . G . M ., and Lady Williamson , on the occasion of their Silver Wedding ; the formal congratulations on the 14 th Match by the members of the Bournemouth Lodges to Prince Oscar oi Sweden , on the occasion oi his approaching marriage ; the

presentation , the same month , of a silver bowl and spoon to the infant daughter of Bro . Vassar-Smith , by the Royal Union Lodge , No . 246 , Cheltenham ; and the presentation of addresses or testimonials—or both—at different times to Bro . T . Fenn in Grand Lodge for his services at the Jubilee Memorial Meeting last year in the Albert Hall , and in a second instance , for the very constant and able assistance he had rendered to Lodge La

France , No . 2060 ; and Bro . Robert Grey by the members of the House Committee for his services as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Stewards at the Girls' School Centenary Festival ; to Comp . J . H . Sillitoe for his services to R . A . Masonry in East Lancashire , and to Bro . W . H . Spaull , Prov . G . Sec . Shropshire , for the ability and energy he had shown in behalf of his Provincial Grand Lodge . It should also be mentioned

that on the return to England of the Anglo-American Lodge Deputation to the United States , Bro . G . Reynolds , Secretary of the lodge , and one of the members of the said deputation , handed to the lodge a silver loving cup which he had been commissioned by the Grand Lodge of Maryland to present to it , in recognition of the very fraternal kindness it had shown to Bro . Shryock , G . M . of Maryland , on the occasion of his visit , the

previous year , to this country , while at the same meeting at which this pleasant duty was fulfilled , Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec , invested Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D ., with the jewel transmitted through the same channel to the latter , to wear as the representative , at our Grand Lodge , of the Grand Lod ge of Maryland . We may also call attention to the fact that two of our lodges—the Peace and Harmony , No . 60 and the Probity

, , No . 61 , of Halifax—celebrated , during the year , the 150 th anniversary of their constitution , while others have been privileged to celebrate their centenary anniversary , among these latter being the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity , No . 261 , Taunton , the Royal Yorkshire Lodge , No . 265 , Keighley , and the Industry Lodge , No . 186 . The presentation of embroidered

standards to the Prov . G . Lodge of Worcestershire , at its annual meeting , by Lady Lechmere , wife of the Prov . G . Master , and of an organ to the Masonic Hall at Liverpool , by a non-Mason , marks the increasing interest taken in our proceedings by the outside public , while the lodge of sorrow held at Freemasons' Hall in the month of April by the Pilgrim Lodge , No . 238 , in memory of the late Emperor William of Germany , is an indication of

Freemasonry In 1888.

the sympathy which has been felt among the brethren of this country for the loss which the Craft in Germany had sustained the month previously , by the death of its aged and respected protector .

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . There seldom is a very full record to give of the proceedings of Supreme Grand Chapter and its subordinate chapters , but it invariably happens that what little there is to recount is of a satisfactory nature . This year , indeed , there have been fewer additional chapters consecrated , the average ranging from a dozen to a dozen and a half , while only nine warrants have

been issued during 1888 , two of these being for chapters in London—the Manchester , No . 179 , and the Empire , No . 2108 ; five for provincial chapters—the Harmony , No . 133 , Faversham , Kent , the Portsmouth Temperance , No . 2068 , in Hants and the Isle of Wight , the Unity , No . 71 , Lowestoft , in Suffolk , the Loyal Monmouth , No . 457 , in Monmouthshire , and the Henry Cook , No . 1021 , Barrow-in-Furness , in the Province of West

Lancashire ; the remaining two having been granted for chapters in New South Wales—the Samaritan Chapter of St . Leonard ' s , No . 1654 , St . Leonard ' s , near Sydney , and the Combermere , No . 1795 , Albury . Now , however , that New South Wales has become an independent Masonic power , these last two chapters , with those previously established in the Colony , will , no doubt , follow the example of the Craft Lodges , and organise a

Grand Chapter of their own . As to the proceedings in Grand Chapter , it should be remarked that at the May Convocation the sum of 100 guineas was voted as a contribution to the Centenary Festival of the Girls' School , and that in December the recently constituted Grand Chapter of South Australia was duly and fraternally recognised . One unpleasant circumstance has to be recorded . Certain chapters having been warranted in

Melbourne—Colony of Victoria—by the Grand Chapter of Canada , a dignified protest was addressed to the latter body by our Supreme Grand Chapter , and it was pointed out that there were already several Royal Arch Chapters which derived their warrants from England , and which , for some time past , had been constituted as a District Chapter . This protest , however , had no effect . The Grand Chapter of Canada expressed its

belief that , as it was the peer of our Grand Chapter , it had a perfect right to establish chapters in what it absurdly described as unoccupied territory , that is , in territories over which there was no local Supreme authority . Under these circumstances , no other course was open to Grand Chapter than to communicate with the District Authorities in Victoria , and require them to hold no communication whatever with these intrusive chapters of

Canadian Constitution . A resolution to this effect was unanimously passed at the May Convocation . But little remains to be added . Comp . the Earl of Euston was installed Grand Superintendent for the Province of Northants and Hunts , in March , in succession to Comp . the Duke of Manchester , and at Crewe , on the 27 th September , Comp . the Rev . C . W .

Spencer-Stanhope , M . A ., was installed Grand Superintendent of Cheshire vice the late Comp . Lord De Tabley . The several chapters to which Centenary warrants have been granted , namely , the St . James ' s Chapter , No . 2 ; the Vigilance Chapter , No . ill , Darlington ; and the Friendship , No . 257 , Portsmouth , also celebrated their respective Centenary Festivals with becoming splendour .

MARK MASONRY . The progress made by this popular branch of Masonry has been of a most satisfactory kind . Ten new lodges have been added to the roll , raising the number to 395 , while the number of registered members of the Degree has increased from 23 , 279 , at which it stood on the 30 th September , 1887 , to 24 , 637 at the corresponding date in the present year , the actual increase

being 1358 , which is in excess of last year s addition by rather more than 300 . During the same period warrants for two additional Royal Ark Mariners Lodges have been issued , and certificates for 311 members of the Degree , raising the total of registered Royal Ark Mariners from 2326 to 2637 , No new Provinces have been created , but in the case of five already established , new Provincial

Grand Mark Masters have been appointed , namely , Bro . Colonel Sanford , vice Bro . Brig .-Gen . Wolseley , Province of Bengal ; Bro . Graves-Drapes , in succession to Bro . the Rev . J . Fairclough , Province of Burmah ; Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , vice Bro . John Walker , resigned , Province of Gloucestershire ; Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett , vice Bro . J . Woodall Woodall , Province of N . and E . Yorkshire ; and Bro . Col . Marmaduke

Ramsay , Province of the Mediterranean , which , for the previous two years , had been in charge ol the Dep . P . G . Mark Master . In three other cases , the patents of the Prov . G . Masters have been renewed for the further customary period of three years . On loth March , an address of congratulation to the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . M ., and the Princess of Wales , on the occasion of their silver wedding , was presented to their Royal Hig hnesses ,

at Marlborough House , by Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , Pro G . Master , on behalf of the Grand Lodge , and by them most graciously acknowledged , the address being enclosed in a handsome silver casket ; while an address of sympathy , which it had been agreed at the Moveable Grand Lodge , held at Cheltenham on the 10 th July , to present to the Grand Master and the German Ambassador on the death of his Majesty the Emperor Frederick of

Germany , was forwarded to his Royal Highness and his Excellency , and acknowledged . Nor must we forget to mention that , at the said Moveable Grand Lodge just referred to , Bro . Baron de Ferrieres was wstalled in office by Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , Dep . G . Master , who was in the chair ; and that , on the 25 th July , the 20 th Annual Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund , at which the noble Marquis presided , proved a

great success , the amount of the subscriptions , though less than in l 88 _ 7 » being very considerable , and amounting to upwards of £ 1818 . Of this , nearly £ 1500 had been paid in by the end of September , and , in consequence of the great increase in the funds of this Mark Charity , it was resolved , at the winter half-yearly Communication held on the 4 th inst ., to increase the amount of the annuities granted to aged brethren and widows to £ 26 in the

case of the former and £ 21 in the case of the latter , a further sum of iS being granted to each annuitant at Christmas to enable them to provide themselves with clothing or fuel . The educational branch of the same Fund has also been extended , there being 26 children—13 boys and 13 g irls—n ° deriving from it the benefits of education and a partial provision of clothing . Indeed , the financial position of this Degree is very strong , the Genera the

Fund having investments to its credit to the amount of £ 2800 , and Benevolent Fund , in its several branches , to that of £ 7100 , the aggregate 0 the two being not very far short of £ 10 , 000 . There is one other event , which , as it is of exceedingly rare occurrence in Mark Masonry , deserves to be noticed , namely , the laying of the corner-stone of Rose Ash Churcn , near South Molton , by Bro . C . Spence Bate , Dep . Prov . G . Mark Master or Devonshire . This event took place on the 30 th July , and , so far as memory