Freemasonry In 1887.

Permission has been granted to the St . George ' s Chapter , No . 140 , Greenwich , to wear a centenary jewel , it having proved to the satisfaction of the authorities that it has been continuously working for 100 years , and there have been likewise sundry changes in the personnel of our rulers , Comp . the Earl of Zetland having succeeded the late Comp . J . P . Bell as G . Superintendent of N . and E . Yorkshire , while Comp . Col . Caldwell has taken the

p lace of Comp . York as G . Superintendent of Cambridgeshire , Comp . Gerard Ford has further taken over the charge as G . Superintendent ofthe Province of Sussex , in succession to the late Comp . Sir VV . W . Burrell , Bart . But the chief activity appears to have been exhibited in the Eastern Division of South Wales , of which Comp . Marmaduke Tennant , installed in office by the Grand Srcibe E . at Cardiff early in April , is now G . Superintendent . There

still remain , however , the G . Superintendencies of Cheshire and Northants and Hunts to be filled , the former having been rsndered ' vacant by the death of Comp . Lord De Tabley , and the latter by the retirement of Comp . the Duke of Manchester . Lastly , Supreme G . Chapter , at the instance of his Royal Highness the Grand Z ., has had its array of G . Offi ; ers very considerably augmented , owing to the occurrence of the Queen ' s Jubilee , all

those distinguished Craft brethren upon whom the Grand Master conferred brevet rank in G . Lodge having , if they possessed the requisite qualifications , received corresponding honours in the Royal Arch . _ Tnis is not , perhaps , a very full or a very brillant record for a year ' s doings , but , as we pointed out at the commencement of this brief review , our Royal Arch system is subordinated to thatof . the Craft of which it forms an integral part ,

and consequently we must not look for the occurrence of any unusual events in its history . It is enough that it pursues its way unostentatiously but with great success . There are no doubt many of us who would like to see it slill further developed , but we do not imigine that even if the law allowed every Craft Lodge to have its Royal Arch chapter attached , the Degree would make its presence more conspicuous .

THE MARK DEGREE . In our last year ' s summary we drew attention to the contrast belween Mark Masonry as it was then and as it was in the year 1856 , when the Mark G . Lodge of England and Wales was established . The period that has since elapsed has not witnessed any appreciable change in the posiiion of affairs . New lodges hava been warranted and new members enrolled ,

while the financial state is more prosperous . But with a body whose organisation is now so firmly established , and in which all the arrangements work so smoothly , this much might have been expected , and if there is little else to record , it is because a condition of tranquillity is as convincing a piece of evidence , as any reasonable man can desire that everything is going satisfactorily . Slill , the year has not passed without some special attractions of

its own , for which in chief measure the celebration of the Queen ' s Jubilee is responsible . During the twelve months ended the 30 th September last , 1052 Mark Master Masons were registered , raising the total to 23 , 279 , and 14 new lodges warranted , while 247 Royal Ark Mariner certificates were issued , and warrants for n Ark Mariner Lodges granted . One new Province , that of New South Wales , has been erected , wilh Bro . Norman

Selfe , as Prov . G . Master . Five Prov . G . Masters , namely those of Lincolnshire , Natal , Quebec , West Yorkshire , and Leicestershire , & c ., have had their patents renewed , and there is one vacancy , in the Prov . G . Mastership of Devonshire , caused by the lamented death of Bro . Lt .-Col . J . Tanner-Davy , who had governed the Province with ability and fidelity to the interests of Mark Masonry for the long period of 14 years . Of the

new lodges 11 are located in the Provinces at home , Devonshire and Kent having two each , and Bucks , Cornwall , Derbyshire , Essex , Hants and Isle of Wight , Lancashire , and West Yorkshire , one each . Of the other three lodges one has been added to the Province of Victoria , while one is located in St . Helena and one in Penang . As regards the proceedings in Grand Lodge , we note , in ] the first instance , wilh pleasure , that by the wise counsels

of Bro . W . J , Hughan that portion of the report of the General Board which was tantamount to a threat of reprisals against the General G . Chapter of the United States , in consequence of the latter having withdrawn its representative at the Mark Grand Lodge , was referred to the Board lor further consideration . As we remarked at the time , it would have been both un-Masonic and undignified on the part of the Grand Lodj ? e had it

adopted anything like a retaliatory course in connection with proceedings resulting from its differences with the G . Chapter of Quebec , and for this reason we are glad the course proposed by Bro . Hughan was adopted . Had this not been done , the dispute which exists between the . Mark authorities in this country , on the one hand , and the G . Chapter of Quebec directly , and the bulk of the G . Chapters in the United States indirectly , would have

become embittered , and there is no knowing how this might have affected the future fortunes of the Mark Degree . Wilh this exception there was nothing to disturb the even tenour of the G . Lodge business . A sum of £ 150 was voted , at the half-yearly communication on the 31 st May , as a contribution to the Masonic section of the Imperial Institute , and £ 50 was granted to the Binckes Testimonial Fund , in recognition of the valuable

services rendered by that able brother to the Mark Grand Lodge during nearly the whole period of its existence . A loyal address of congratulation to her Majesty on the occasion of her Jubilee was passed with acclamation , and having been presented in the interim , a gracious letter of thanks was , by her Majesty ' s command , returned by the Home Secretary , and was entered in the minutes of the Winter Communication , on Tuesday , the 6 th instant .

It was also determined , with a view to further commemorating the great event of the year , that every Mark Master Mason , being a subscribing member of a lodge on the 20 th June , 1887 , should be permitted to wear a Jubilee badge attached to the hanger of the Mark jewel , and at the December Communication a number of distinguished Mark brethren were honoured with brevet rank in Grand

Lodge in commemoration of the same Jubilee . We note lurther that sundry changes have taken place among the principal G . Officers , Bro . the Earl of Kintore having been succeeded as Pro Grand Master by Bro . Lord Egerton of Tatton , and the latter as Deputy G . Master by Bro . the Marquis ol Hertford ; while his Royal Highness the G . Master conferred the collar of J . G . Warden on his elder son , Prince Albert Victor of Wales . As regards its financial position , the Grand Lodge has attained to a higher

degree of prosperity than it has ever known , the amounts invested in respect of its General and three Benevolent Funds making up together a total of £ 9300 , the increase over the previous year being mainly owing to the largely increased receipts at the ig . h Anniversary Festival under Bro . Earl Amherst , Past G . M . M . M ., on the 20 th July , when , thanks to the efforts of a Board of Stewards numbering 166 brethren and its honorary Secretary , Bro . C . F . Matier , the unprecedented sum of £ " 2260 was raised , of which close on £ 1800 had been paid in by the 30 th September last . As a result

Freemasonry In 1887.

all the candidates in October , namely , nine ( five boys and four girls ) on the Educational Fund , and a brother on the Annuity Fund , were placed on the respective funds without the formality of an electijn . Lastly , the sum of 100 guineas has been unanimously voted as a contribution towards the

Centenary t * estival of the Girls School tn 188 S , and will be placed on the list of Bro . Frank Richardson ; and if we add to this that a vary successful Moveable Grand Lodge was held at Weymjuth oh the 22 nd July , we shall complete our survey of the proceedings of this branch of Masonry during the year 1887 . May the future which awaits it be as uniformly prosperous 1

CHIVALRIC AND HIGH GRADE MASONRY . The various systems which are included under this heaJ have been favourably influenced by ths stirring events of the year , though , as usually happens , some have felt this influence to a greater degree than others , it cannot be said , for instance , that the O . der of the Temple has not fared prosperously , but its membership is not large and its work is carried out

very unostentatiously . In the United States , Templar parades and competitive and exhibit ! jn drills are constantly taking place ; hire we seldom hear of the Order and its proceedings exc-pt wnen a meeting of Great Priory or some Provincial Priory is held , and tisn the business is mjstly of a formal character . However , as regards Great Priory , the year 1887 has been somewhat of an exception . Its annual meeting occurred on tha 13 th May ,

and , though the attendance was not large , the proceedings attracted a good deal of interest and we trust will be found to hair good fruit in the future . A sum of 100 guineas was voted to the Imperial Institute , and it was announced that warrants for two new preceptories , one at Durban , in Natal , and the other at Blackpool , in Lancashire , had bean granted . It was also noted that Sir Knight A . F . Godson , M . P ., had bjen installed Provincial Prior

of Worcestershire , and that Sir Knight R . I . Finnemore had been appointed to tha like office for South Africa , vice Sir Kni ght Giddy , deceased . A tribute of respect was also paid to the late Sir Knight Tanner Davy , Provincial Prior of Devonshire , for the great ssi vices IIL * had rendered to the Order , and since then his place has been filled by the appointment and installation of Sir Knight the Kev . T . W . Lemon , M . A , who is an

enthusiastic Mason and may be expected to work with as much energy as ability in order to promote the interests of the general body . The difference wilh the Great Priory of Canada arising out ot the issue of a warrant for establishing a preceptory at Melbourne was leftover lor future consideration , the object in permitting this delay being to await the coursa of events in Canada . Unfortunately , however , the Canadian authorities

appear determined to sustain their action , and in such case we do not see how a conflict between the two Great Priories is to be avoidad . O . ie step has certainly been taken in the right direction . l'he minimum fee for installing candidates has been reduced from five guineas to three guineas in the case of those preceptories which desire to avail themselves of the change , and , provided ihenecessary caution is exercised in the proposal and acceptance

of candidates , the effect of this reduction should certainl y be to strengthen the Order , and raise it to a position more nearl y according with its deserts . One change among the Grand Officers deserves to be recorded . Sir Knight A . Staveley Hill , ^ - ^ 'i M . P ., having been compelled , by the pressured his Parliamentary and other duties to resign tne Chancellorship , the vacancy thus caused has Oeen filled by the appointment of Sir Knight F . A .

Philbrick , Q . C . Among the other noteworthy occurrences of the year the chief place must be assigned to the brilliant reception at York ot the American Templar Pilgrims , under Sir Knight C . E . Meyer , G . Recorder of Pennsylvania , by the Ancient Ebor Preceptory , and the equally brilliant welcome of the same visitors by the Bildwyn Preceptory , or Bristol , whose E . P . ( Col . MacLiver ) and members journeyed especiall y to London for the

purpose of entertaining their American fratres . Oi the other systems , that of the Ancient and Accepted Rite has shown the greatest amount of activity , and has added appreciably to its strength , several chapters of Rose Croix , 18 , having baen consecrated during the year ; the Adoniram Chapter , with Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., as its first M . VV . S . ; the Shadwell Clerke Chapter , and the Cceur de Lion Chapter , with Bro . the Rev . H .

Cummings as M . W . S ., being , all of them , likely to prove serviceable additions to tne roll of this influential body . As regards the Order of Roma and Red Cross of Constantine , the Allied Masonic Degrees , the Royal and Select Masters , the Rosicrucians , and the Royal Order of Scotland , all in their several positions have done well , while the new Order of the Secret Monitor appears to have been received with very considerable favour .

OUR INSTITUTIONS . But what it will probably interest our readers to hear above all other things is the degree of good fortune which has attended our three splendid Institutions . Have they received the measure of support they require and , taking into account the benefits they confer on our poorer members , they so richly deserve' ? If we group the three InstiUitions together , we must answer this question in the affirmative , seeing that their Anniversary Festivals yielded as

nearly as possible the same sum as last year , namely , about £ 42 , 000 ; but it we take them separately , we shall see that this support , o . ving to a variety of circumstances , wnich it would be tedious as well as out of place to discuss here , has been very unequally distributed , the Benevolent Institution having obtained a far larger total ot contributions than eitner of the Schools . However , this will be more apparent from the following brief summary of the year ' s proceedings in eaeii case .

The Royal Masonic ^ Benevolent Institution held its Anniversary , as usual , in the month of February , Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . P ., P . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight , having very kindly tendered his services as Chairman . The Board ot Stewards numbered 378 , and the total , when finally made up , amounted to £ " 19 , 229 , this , with the exception of the Boys ' School Festival in 1883 , being the largest sum ever subscribed at any

Masonic Festival . Itus , however , is very far from representing the total of the benefactions which this Charity has , or will have , received m respect of 1887 . in March , as we have already stated , Grand Lodge generously voted a sum of £ 1000 , in order to enable it the better to meet the serious increase in the numoer of petitioners . To this must be addad the further £ 4100—in round figures—contributed , directly or indirectly , by Grand Lodge in

connection with , or in commemoration of , the Queen ' s Jubilee , and the £ 2100 raised by the Province of West Yorkshire in order to purchase two i erpetual Presentations to the Widows' Fund . Here then we have a grand total lor the year of close on £ 26 , 500—a clear proof that the needs of our distressed members and their widows are carefully regarded by the Craft

generally . That the Festival should have yielded so aoundantly can have surprised no one who calls to mind how pitiable was the prospect awaiting the petitioners in the early days of February , when with lists including belween 120 and 130 candidates , of whom nearly two-thirds were widows , there were only some seven or eight vacancies on the Male Fund , and abso «