Knights Templar.

thanks to the retiring E . C . and installing officers having been carried , the encampment was closed in ancient form , and the Sir Knts . adjourned to the Royal Station Hotel , where the banquet was held , ancl passed a pleasant evening .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

YORKSHIRE ( NORTH AND EAST ) . Hum . —Minerva- Lodge ( No . 12 ) . —At a regular meeting held on Monday evening , May 1 st , pursuant to summons , there Avere preset—Bros . Thos . AValfcon , AV . M . ; R . E . Harrison , S . W . ; M . C . Peek , J . AV . ; J . F . Holden , Treas . ; AV . Reynolds , Sec ; J . H . Peart , M . O . ; J . M . Scherling , S . O . ; J . T . Robinson , J . O . ; J . G . AA' . AA'ilson , Reg . ; J . Linwood , S . D . ; F . Jackson , J . D . ; J . M . Hodgkinsonas LG .. ; J . Norton and AA' . JohnsonTylers

, , ; S . B . Coltman , G . Lyotfc , & c . The loclge having been opened in due and ancient form , the ballot box was prepared for Rros . AV . K . Brown , P . E . Stabell , B . Milm , C . P . Gibson , ancl AV . AV . Hall ; also as joining members Bros . Thos . Hewson ancl Martin Kemp ( late of this lodge ); and as a serving brother ( for whom a dispensation fromjthe Grand Master had been obtained ) Bro . J . Faulkner , all of whom were unanimously accepted . Bros . George Hardancl AV . K . Brown were then admitted and

y regu larly advanced to this honourable degree by the AA' . M ., Bro . M . C . Peck giving the signs and explanation of the degree . Three brethren having been proposed for ballofc afc the next meeting the lodge was closed in due ancl ancient form , and with solemn prayer .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

SKIBBEREEN . FIFTEENTH MASONIC LODGE OT IHELAXD . On AA'ednesday evening , April 26 , the members of the above loclge assembled at their Rooms , North-street , Skibberoen , to present fco Bro . J . AA' . Potter , jun ,, the following Address , accompanied with a handsome Master Mason's Jewel , previous to his departure for America , to which country he is about to

return , after un nbsence of seven years . After all had partaken heartily of the excellent supper provided by the hostess of the Prince of AA ' ales hotel , Bro . Charles Gierke , W . M ., proposed the usual loyal ancl Masonic coasts , which wore duly nnd truly responded to . He then said—Brethren , —I rise to propose the toast of the evening— "The Health of our worthy Brother , John Potter , " who is about to leave us for the far distant AA'cstand I assure youBrethren

, , , I feel deeply my own inability to clo justice to tliis toast , ancl nothing would induce mo to occupy this chair to-night did I nofc feel that , were ifc filled by one of Ireland ' s greatest orators , he could not add one iota fco fco tho respect ancl esteem that j'ou hold that worthy Brother in . AVho , when duty called , saiv John Potter flinch ? AA'hen the widow , the orphan , or the distressed brother called for assistance , ivas not the hand , heart , and purse of that honest brother ever open ? Brethren , you

hai * e known him from his childhood , and has the breath of slander ever passed over that worthy brother ? If you look at that journal ivhich he has been for some time conducting , and in which he never forgot the interest of 15 , you will see there tho articles emanating from his pen are the terror to the evil , while they are tlie friends fco . tho well-doer . Brethren , allow me to bear my humble testimony to the efficient manner in ivhich he conducted the duties of Secretary to this Loclge .

Those , among many others , are the reasons we regret the departure of our respected brother . Tlie AA . Master then saicl , —Brother John Potter , I am deputed by Lodge 15 to present you with these small tokens of our regard and esteem—small tokens indeed they are , but we trust thafc you will accept the will for the deed—and when you look on them iu thafc distant laud of your adoption , yon ivill think of your brothers afc home . Ancl now allow me on the

part of 15 to express a wish—nay , nn earnest prayer—thnfc in after years you will again visit the land of your birth , crowned Avith wealth and honour , and that you will find olcl 15 as ifc should be , one of the best lodges in Ireland . " Skibbereen , April 26 th , 1865 . " Dear Sir and Brother , —AA ' e beg you will accept this slight testimony of our esteem , offered to you from a conviction that

Ireland.

Ave should be deficient in fraternal feeling and regard , as ivell as in justice to your merits as a friend and brother , if Ave suffered you to leave Skibbereen for a foreign laud Avithout some such evidence of our feelings and your worth . "If the course of uniform integrity and good feeling which has Avon the respect of all who know you , may be considered to entitle you to such an expression of our sentiments as AVS now offer , your claim is indeed indisputable .

"And , therefore , wdiile we regret your departure , we avail ourselves ivith pleasure of the opportunity ifc affords of thua expressing our sincere esteem , as well as our warmest ivishes . for you and your family's welfare and happiness , and beg your acceptance of the accompanying Jewel to remind you of the friends you part from . " AA ' e remain , dear Sir and Brother , most faithfully and fraternally yours ,

" CHAHUS CEEKKE , W . M . RICHARD LEE , S . AV . JOHN * F . LEWIS , J . W . " The AA ' . M . here handed to Bro . Potter the jeivel , an exceedingly ne . ifc emblem , manufactured by Bro . Spencer , of London , and bearing the following inscription : — "Presented by the Fifteenth Masonic Loclge of Ireland , Skibbereen , to Brother John IV . Potter , junr ., as a mark of

esteem , on the occasion of his leaving his native country for America . April , 1866 . " In reply Bro . Potter Potter said : — "Brethren , —The truly brotherly and affectionate adch'ess . ivith which you have been so kind as to present me , accompanied by a unique and valuable Masonic Jewel , as a mark of your favour which , I fear , I am nofc justly entitled fco ; bufc lenowing the willingness of the Craft to overlook the

shortcomings of their brethren , and to vieiv their exertions , however humble , from the sunny side , to accept ivith unbounded pleasure and thankfulness this assurance of your friendship . For the expression of good-will contained iu your kind address , I am extremely grateful , and my every exertion shall be to retain

unsullied my Masonic reputation , so that neither the Craft nor my Mother Loclge may ever regret that I became possessed of the secrets ancl mysteries of the noble Order of Free and Accepted Masons . No matter Avhere I may be thrown by the chances and vicissitudes of this life , I shall ever remember with true Masonic love your exceeding kindness ; and believe me , I shall always anxiously watch lhe rise and progress of the 15 th Lodge of Ireland . Should ifc be my lot to never again return

to my native land , I can assure you that to my latest hour , and with my latest breath , I shall wish success and prosperity to the brethren of 15 . In the country to which I am going Masonry is a great and grand grand institution . There the right hand of fellowship is cordially extended to all true and worthy brothers . There , as here , all the generous impulses of our nature are quickened into life by that talismanic touchthe grip of a Master Mason—whereby they are at once

recognised as members of the great Masonic family , and treated as only Masons treat each other—with equality and fraternity , kindness , and consideration . AA'ishing you , my brethren , all the comforts ol this world , and those of the world to come , and should we not meet again in this life , ivhen the dread mandate shall summon us home , may vie be found duly and truly prepared , so thut we may meet again in the Grand Lodge above . Again thanking you sincerely for your great kindness towards

me on this as on many other occasions , I have only to acid thafc I heartily hope the Great Author of the Universe may take you into his safe and holy keeping . Such is the prayer of vour affectionate brother . " During the evening several of the brethren proposed and responded to toasts , each availing of the opportunity to express , his deep regret at Bro . Potter's departure , but they felt sure , his kind dispositionwould gain for him in Americaas it did in

, , Skibbereen , many sincere friends . During the evening songs were sung , and a few hours passed as pleasantly as coulcl bo expected under the circumstances , and at its close , the chairman , in the name of the Lodge and iu language truly affecting bid tho sad farewell , " good-bye . "

TELL a plain countryman that the sun is much bigger than his cart-wheel , ancl he laughs thee to scorn ; yet the scholar by the eye of reason plainly sees and acknowledges the truth . Such is * the difference between ignorance ancl knowledge .