Supreme Grand Chapter.

The Committee have likewise to report that they have received the following Petitions : — ist . From Comps . George Francis Travers-Drapes , as Z . ; Newton Edward Jennings , as H . ; C la veil F . Filliter , as J . ; and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Rangoon Lodge , No . 1268 , Rangoon , to be called the Pegu Chapter , and lo meet at Rangoon , Burma .

2 nd . From Comps . Andrew Lawson , as Z . ; George Thomas Alenson , as H . ; William Joseph Rogerson , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Annesley Lodge , No . 1435 . Nottingham , to be called the Anne * lpy Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Nottingham , Nottinghamshire .

3 rd . From Comps . John Tricks Spalding , as Z . ; Julius Marx , as H . ; Wi l liam Phelps , as J . ; and six others for a chapter to be attached to the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1909 , Nottingham , to be called the Carnarvon Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Nottingham , Nottinghamshire .

4 th . From Comps . Richard Carter , as Z . ; Thomas Riley , as H . ; John Richardson , as J . ; and seven olhers for a chapter to be attached to the Harrogate and Claro Lodge , No . 1001 , Harrogate , to be called the Harrogate and Claro Chapter , and to meet at the Masonic Hall , Avenue-road , Yorkshire ( Western Division ) . The foregoing petitions , being in all respects regular , the Committee recommend that the prayers thereof be respectively granted .

The Committee have also received memorials , vvith copies of minutes , on removal of the undermentioned chapters : — The St . Mary ' s Chapter , No . 63 , Kew Bridge , Ealing , for permission to remove to Freemasons' Hall , London . The Stanhope Chapter , No . 1269 , Southwark , for permission to remove to the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell .

The Committee , being satisfied of the reasonableness of the requests , recommend that the removal of these chapters be sanctioned . ( Signed ) ROBERT GREY , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C ., 21 st July , 1886 .

Annual Festival Op The Mark Benevolent Fund.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL OP THE MARK BENEVOLENT FUND .

On Wednesday evening , the annual festival of the Benevolent Fund attached to Mark Grand Lodge was held at the Holborn Restaurant , under the chairmanship of Bro . Augustus Frederick Godson , M . A ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire . About 150 ladies and brethren supported the Chairman , and among the brethren present were Bros . C . H . Driver , P . G . I , of VV . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . W ., P . Dep . Prov . G . M . Lanes . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke . P . G . W . ; I . Moon , G . Treas . ; R . Berridge , G . D . of C . j F .

Crouch , G . J . D . ; Dr . Mickley , P . G . D . ; G . Graveley , P . G . I . G . ; J . Brook-Smith , P . G . M . O . ; P . ' Wallis , P . G . D . ; E . M . Lott , Mu ? . Doc , P . G . Org . ; G . P . Festa , A . G . D . ofC ; A . McDowall , A . G . D . of C ; A . Williams , P . G . D . ; Col . Newton . D . P . G . M . Nottinghamshire ; T . C . Walls , P . G . Swd . Br . ; Rev . Dr . Morris , A . Woodiwiss , G . T , Hardman , P . P . G . W . ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . O . ; W . Lake , P . P . G . Reg * . ; C . Ouennell , W . M . 144 ; J . Church , G . Stwd . ; J . S . Holliday , P . P . G . S . B . ; W . T .

ttckwood , VV . I . Freer , W . M . 21 ; J . Terry , G . Stwd . ; J . 1 . Briggs , W . M . 1 S 1 ; U . S . Goodall , " W . M . 239 ; W . Whittaker , W . M . 302 ; A . G . Bauke , T . Pargeter , P . M . 251 ; J . D . Birkin , W . M . 284 ; H . C . Heard , S . W . 36 G ; A . H . Bateman , VV . M . 309 ; H . Stone , P . M . 54 ; VV . Maple . J . T . Tweedale , P . G . O . ; C . Belton , VV . A . Scurrah , J . M . Collins , W . Corder , L . Ellis , W . J . Tomson , M . Wheeler , H . Venn , 1 * .. Letchworth , W . M . 363 ; and others .

Among the ladies present were ;—Mrs . C . H . Driver , Mrs . Herridge , Mrs . Collins , Mrs . and Miss Maple , Mrs . and Miss Matier , Miss Mildred , Miss Henriques , Mrs , Ramsey , Mrs . Lake , Mrs . Morris , Mrs . Palmer , and Mrs . lirook-Smith and party . The banquet was magnificently provided , under the superintendence of Bro . Hamp , and during the dinner some lovely music was performed by the artists provided by Bro . Dr . Lott , P . G . Org .

At the conclusion of the dinner , grace vvas sung by the choir , and the toas-ts were proposed . The first toast was " The Queen and Mark Masonry , " which was most enthusiastically drunk , and the " National Anthem was sung . In giving the next toast of " The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . M . M ., "

Bro . GODSON said , in reference to the Prince of Wales becoming Grand Master of that Degree , that the circumstance was an augury of the great prospcriiy of the Order . They all knew lhat what the Prince of VVales undertook he did thoroughly well . Let them hope that when the Great Oierscercame to mark His work He might say of the Prince of Wales that he had marked well .

The next toast was that of " The M . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Kintore ; and the Past Grand Masters , the Right Hon . Lord Leigh , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon ; the Right Hon . thc Earl Amherst , W . W . B . Beach , M . P .. Rev . Canon Portal , M . A ., the Right Hon . the Earl Percy . M . P ., the Ris-iht Hon . the Earl of Limerick , the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , and the Right Hon . Lord Henniker . "

In proposing the toast Bro . BROOK SMITH , to whom the toast was entrusted , said the Chairman belonged to the Province of Worcestershire , but he ( Bro . Brook Smith ) came from the Province of Gloucestershire , and he vvas rather sorry that some other more eminent and worthy brother had not been called upon to propose it , though coming from the west he must be very far west indeed if he did not know that the name of every brother embraced by this toast was held in the highest esteem and gratitude by

Mark Masons . It was due to their exertions lhat Mark Masonry now occupied the position it did . Thc best wishes that every Mark Mason could have was that brethren of equal eminence and standard might succeed to these brethren , and thai in ages to come they would have brethren vvho would do their work as nobly and worthily as these brethren . Under such auspices Mark Masonry would go on and prosper . liro . Ii . LETCHWORTH proposed " The Deputy G . M-, Lord Egerton of Tatton , and the rest of the Grand Officers . " He said that during the past

few years Mark Masonry had made great , even gigantic strides , and the brethren knew that this extraordinary progress was due in no small degree to the zeal , ability , and energy of those in a similar position to that of the brother whose health he asked them to drink . It was a peculiar pleasure to him to propose this toast , because he had to associate wilh it the name of a brother who worked hard with him on behalf of one of the Institutions of Masoni)—Bro . James Moon , Grand Treasurer , who vvas an active member of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Bro . J AMES MOON , in reply , said that the Grand Officers received at the hands of the Prir . ce of Wales their appointments for the year , and he

Annual Festival Op The Mark Benevolent Fund.

was confident that they would fulfil the duties appertaining to those appointments to the best of their ability . They were all very graleful for the position they held , knowing that they served under a Grand Master who performed his duties with ability , and in a way which met with the satisfaction of every member of the Order . They all recognised that H . R ; H ., as M . W . G . M ., was one to whom they would pay the most dutiful respect . For the Grand Officers he might say they would fulfil the duties of their office to the best of their ability .

Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE , P . G . W ., proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " who had come at great inconvenience to himself to preside over this Festival . Probabty every Mason in the room knew Bro . Godson , and vvas aware of the services he had performed in every rank of Masonry . In the Mark Degree he had been especially favoured , because he at present held the highest office of Prov . Grand Master . In that position he had

already given ample promise , and in every branch of Masonry he had shown the greatest skill and ability . In obtaining Bro . Godson's services that evening the Mark Degree had been exceedingly fortunate . The brethren ought not to overlook the fact lhat Bro . Godson had recently obtained the very high honour of being returned as a Member of Parliament , and the brethren welcomed him on his accession to the high Degree , as a

representative of the people in that august assembly . They might safely predict that he would honourably fulfil the duties he owed to his Queen and country . Personally aware that Bro . Godson was a very modest man , he would not say more of him than recommending this toast to their warm reception . He did so with the firm conviction that he vvas an honour to society , to the Commons House of Parliament , and to Masonry , to which he vvas a devoted adherent .

Bro . GODSON , vvho was received with enthusiastic applause , in replying to the toast , said he asked the brethren to take the will for the deed , and if he had failed in his duties as chairman he had yet done his best in the very trying position in which he was placed . If at a future time he should be called upon to perform similar duties he would strive to do better . There were certain difficulties in the way of a chairman , and first of all a chairman

had not the power of appointing a time for his presidency . Certain brethren met together and said they wanted a chairman for a fixed day , and they chose him . He considered it a great honour , and he hoped at that time that he would be able to devote some period to his duties . But , unfortunately , other circumstances occurred which took him away from this particular

object , and his time had not been at his own disposal . Nevertheless , there was no brother vvho desired more to do his duty to Mark Masonry , and he , having tried his utmost to perform his duties to Mark Masonry , was glad to find that his endeavours had been recognised . Mark Masonry vvas now a great power , and he was proud to belong to it , and with these few words he

thanked the brethren for drinking that toast . His next duty was to propose " Prosperity to the Mark Benevolent Fund , " with which the name of Canon Portal would always be recognised as that of a moving

spirit . Year by year this fund had gone on increasing in prosperity , until last year by very great exertions the largest amount ever yet realised vvas raised when Lord Egerton of Tatton took the chair . In the country , no doubt , there

had been very great distress , and the Fund would doubtless suffer by that . But , notwithstanding that great distress , a large amount had been realised . It vvas a common belief that at the present day

Par' ' liamentary elections did not cost THE CHAIRMAN . anything , but he would be glad to show any of the brethren his banker's book , which would probably dissipate that delusion . He had no doubt that this had a great effect on the amount vvhich would be announced that evening . There vvas another point on which he would wish to enlighten the brethren .

It was somewhat broadly scattered about lhat the funds of Mark Masonry did not require any assistance , but he well knew , and he believed others should be told , that they should know better . It was quite a mistake to think that no help was wanted for the Mark Benevolent Fund . Whatever the funds might be now , there was no knowing what they would want tomorrow . Canon Portal had said that if they could depend on a thousand

a year they would be all right . But that average must be kept up or very shortly they would find their funds would not be sufficient . Times were not better than they vvere belore , and it might be that they would be worse . They had to find a certain sum for the Educational Fund , which now had to provide the education for several children—he believed as many as 19 . One great recommendation to the Mark Educational Fund was that the

children educated under it vvere educated near their own homes , which was altogether different to the education afforded by the Masonic Boys' and Girls' Schools , where they were educated away from their own homes . The brethren were asked by their subscriptions that evening to support a Fund which educated children near their own homes , and he put the claims of the fund to the brethren on that ground , and asked the brethren to support

it as a fund worthy of their consideration in lhat particular respect . He was sure that no worthier object could be placed before them , and while hc could add much more to induce the brethren to support the Fund , he would nevertheless refrain from doing so because the reports vvhich were belore the brethren would give them luller information as to the good the fund vvas doing .

The toast having been drunk enthusiastically , Bro . C . F . MATIER read a list of subscriptions amounting to £ 1529 5 s . 6 d ., with 12 returns still outstanding . Bro . GODSON , in proposing "The Stewards , " said that without the Stewards the Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund could not hope to

attain the success it had already achieved . The brethren had had a proof that night of the devotion and attention of the Stewards to the interests of this fund , which had resulted in such a magnificent total of subscriptions . As regarded the catering for the dinner , nothing was left forgotten , but everything had been reduced to such a system that the Stewards had not had the trouble which they had had on former occasions . Bro . DRIVER responded . The Stewards had done their best to make the festival a great success , and so great had been the success that many of