District Grand Lodge Of New South Wales.

After some iuruici iv . * .... * - . ,. _„ , „_ Ur „ + hrpri the subject was allowed to drop . The Rev . Bro . Thackeray returned thanks for the honour conferred on him by his appointment and investiture as District Grand Chaplain .

He regretted very much that he had been unable to attend sooner , he had started from Maitland on two occasions , on one of which the steamer had to put back . He trusted he should be able to attend regularly in future . He might mention that the Unity Lodge , 547 , of which he

was a member , was strong in numbers , and had among its members a large majority of the most influential gentlemen of the Hunter district . The Deputy District Grand Master said he had received a letter from Bro . Blau , of Hunterstreet , wishing him to bring under the

consideration of the brethren the great distress prevailing in Hungary through the ravages of cholera , and soliciting on behalf of the widows , orphans , and others , assistance . He read Bro . Blau ' s letter , also an extract from one he received , fully bearing out his statements . The D . D . G .

Master very forcibly urged this matter on the attention of District Grand Lodge , and said great misery , distress and want were caused by the ravages of cholera , which had raged so terribly ; that there was hardly a house or family where there was not a death therein , and great

grief and suffering of course the result ; he trusted , as the District Grand Lodge had means , a sum of money would de voted this evening , as he felt sure it could not be better applied , it would tend to prove to our poor distressed Hunfrarian brethren that distance did not weaken

the Masonic bond by which we are embraced . Bro . Simpson , D . G . Treasurer , said he was sorry he must object to voting money without notice for such a purpose , r . s it was contrary to

their rules to vote money until after due notice . In this case he believed neither he nor any of the brethren present had ever heard of the distress said to prevail in Hungary , a country of which they knew or heard so little at any time .

The Rev . Bro . Beg thought we might do as asked when the objects of our sympathy were so far away . Bro . Booth , P . M ., Lodge 390 , said he objected to the money of District Grand Lodge being voted for any such purpose . He considered this

a matter for private subscription , and if one was opened he would very willingly put his name down . The business being concluded , the District Grand ; Lodge was closed in due form at 9 . 30 o ' clock .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries .

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

MARK MASONRY . I am glad to notice a communication from Bro . Yarker , . in to-day ' s Freemason , respecting the choice of marks by our operative brethren ,

and pleased to see he confirms the statement made by " Masonic Student " and myself , that these marks consist of even and odd points , according to the fancy of the Masons who made them .

That this is but the reiteration of an archxological fact well-known to all students of the subject , must be patent to anyone who will take the trouble toexamine certain old buildings , both at home and abroad , or who will consult the pages of that magnificent book latel y issued

by Messr .-:. Blackwood & Sons , Edinburgh , containing the history of the Lodge " Mary ' s Chapel , " from 1 , 599 , D > ' m ) ' friend Bro . Lyon . The regulation alluded to by Bro . Yarker as having been in force amongst Mark Master Masons under the English Constitution , was rescinded by the Mark Grand Lodge , on the

14 th December , 186 4 . On referring to a report of the proceedings , I find that the " General Board , " on " representations received from the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 7 , and other lodges , recommend the abrogation of the regulation confining the selection of marks to figures comprising any specified numbeis of points 01 lines . "

The R . W . Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., concurred on the policy of the alteration . An examination of the ruins of ancient buildings

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries .

on the stones of which the marks of the artincers were round , proved that" no such regulation as that enforced under this rule existed . " The Vice-President moved that the alteration be agreed to , and Bro . Colonel Cole , C . B ., seconded it , and the proposition was carried unanimously .

I do not quite understand what Bro . Yarker means by saying that " few Masons , now-adays , believe in the pretensions of any of the Masonic degrees , and , in my opinion , the Mark is a spurious Order , not above a century old . " Bro . Yarker ' s "Speculative Freemasonry "

should be consulted on the subject . Were I discussing the antiquity or Masonic character of the "Mark Degree , " I should be inclined to elucidate the probable meaning of the foregoing , but , so far , the inquiry has had reference mainly to operative Masonry , and the

more the correspondence is limited to the original object the better . It would be well , also , if the editor expunged all references of an offensive , or " personal , " or abusive style from the communications sent for insertion in The Freemason .

I hope this inquiry will have the effect of inducing our able brother " Masonic Student " to drop his " nom de plume , " so that his valued contributions may have the full weight that his name ( if known ) would confer upon them . W . J . HUGHAN .

Tasmanian Masonic Benevolent Fund.

TASMANIAN MASONIC BENEVOLENT FUND .

This fund was established at Hobart Town , A . p . 1843 , and re-organised A . D . 1867 . The Committee of Management for 1 S 74 comprises Bro . J . T . Robertson , 345 , I . C ., Chairman ; Bro . L . Riley , 345 , I . C ., Treasurer ; Bro . C . Toby , 536 , E . C , Hon Secretary ; and

Bros . W . G . Beaumont , John Gillon , 345 , I . C . ; W . A . B . Jamieson , F . H . Wise , John Clark , L . Susman , John Hamilton , Robert Fitzgerald , 53 6 , E . C . Rev . R . D . Poulett-Harris , W . S . Hammond , H . Nelson , T . H . MacGrath , T .

R . Scott , 801 , E . C , Comps . W . H . Burgess , jun ., D . Lewis , Chapter 536 , E . C , and all subscribing installed Past Masters of contributing lodges who shall pay a subscription of not less than ios . 6 d . per annum to this fund .

Ihe object of this institution is to assist aged and distressed worthy brethren of the Ancient and Honourable Order of Freemasonry , and to afford relief to their Widows and Orphans . The annual meeting of the Committee was held on die 28 th of [ anuary , when the officers

and committee for 1 S 74 were appointed , and the financial statement and balance sheet unanimously adopted , copies of which the committee circulated amongst the members of the Order generally , and the contributors to the fund in

particular . The statement of receipts shows that the income from all sources in 1873 amounted to £ j i /; s . 6 d ., being £ : J is . in excess of the previous Year .

I tie total payments for education , gratuities , kc ., for the same period was £ 42 17 s . 2 d ., an increase of , £ 24 ud ., over the amount paid in 1 S 72 . The disbursements for printing , ike , amounted to £ 1 15 s . The balance sheet shows amount of cash to the credit of the fund . £ 62 17 s . yd ., and ^ 220 invested in 6 per cent Debentures .

The Committee has much pleasure in congratulating the Order on the present hi ghly satisfactory state of the fund , and tenders its grateful acknowledgements to the donors , and individual subscribers , and especially to the lodges and chapters , for the handsome amounts

voluntarily contributed during tho past year . In conclusion the Committee cannot refrain from again urging on the W . Masters and Officers of the lodges the desirability of keeping the objects of the institution prominently before

their members , bearing in mind that its object is not only to relieve Lodge Funds , and individual brethren , from the necessity of aiding the distressed worthy Mason , but by careful enquiry to protect the Order against imposition by unworthy members .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The General Committee of Grand Lodge and Lodge of Benevolence met on Wednesday evening , at Freemason ' s Hall . Bro . J . M . Clabon , President , Bro . Joshua Nunn , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . James Brett , Junior Vice-President , occupied their respective places .

There were also present , Bros . John Hervey , Grand Secretary ; J . A . Rucker , John Savage , S . Hadley , C . A . Cottebrune , Colonel Cole , Conrad C Dumas , N . Bradford , J . B . Monckton , John Emmens , T , Cubitt , and a full lodge . The sum of , = £ 38 , 5 in all was voted to deserving objects of benevolence .

At the Board of Masters , the M . W . G . M ., gave notice that he would move at next Grand Lodge , that Grand Lodge give s £$ oo to the Bengal Famine Fund . The report of the Board of General Purposes was read , en the report were contained recommendations for a revision and increase of the

salaries of all the officers in Grand Secretary ' s office . Notice was given of a motion to contribute £ yo to the asylum for the aged at Croydon for coais ; and Bro . W . Smith gave notice of motion that all Masters of lodges should have

access to the Board of General Purposes to make suggestions . At this Board there were also nominations of membersfor the Board of General Purposes , the Colonial Board , and the M asonic Annuity .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

At the Annual General Meeting of this Institution , held at Freemasons' Hall , London , on Friday , the 15 th of May , 1874 , W . Bro . Major Creaton , Vice-Patron , P . G . D ., in the chair . After the general business was disposed of , the Governors and subscribers proceeded to the election

of annuitants from an approved list of thirtyfour male candidates and thirty-one female candidates , when the following were declared successful : —» MALES .

Votes . Robert Death 942 John Weedon 873 Joseph Salsbury 8 43 Edward Penman 794

James Peace 786 John Tilbury 7 ^ 0 George Chapman 735 Charles S . Woollons 732 Richard Commins 708

Dowse S . Potts 707 George Turner 65 IJ Henry John Mason 628 Benjamin Abraham 6 ig Robert Forster , tgi

Charles Turner 582 "Abraham Freeman 5 68 * Henry William Pelton 559 "George Taylor ijo 8 '"R . B . Thompson 468 * Frederick Jos . Johnson 456

WIDOWS . Eliza King 13 54 Isabella Mew ,, TO 8 O Jemima Spicer 072 Mary Winter 848

Judith Baker 746 Charlotte Newton 682 Sophia Morton o ~ -8 Hannah Ingleson 659 Amelia Wood 628

Sarah Wallington 470 * Maria Hinchlille 474 The votes of the unsuccessful candidates

will be carried forward to the next election . Those marked thus * are elected to fill vacancies occasioned b y death since the voting papers were issued . [ We have copied the above from a non-Masonic paper for the information of the Craft .