Mark Masonry.

The E . W . Prov . G . M . then proposed a vote of thanks to E . W . Bro . Gibbs for the able services rendered to the craft , and especially to Mark Masonry , by him dining his term of office , at the same time hoping that he would still be seen amongst them aud that they might for long to come have the benelit of his valuable advice and assistance . Carried by acclamation . E . AV . Bro . Gibbs said : " I beg to return you my very sincere

thanks for the kind manner in which you havo acceded to the proposal just laid before you by the E . W . Prov . G . M . for a vote of thanks to mo for my conduct whilst reigning over you during the past five years . It is a source of very great Satisfaction to me to have been long connected with Masonry in this part of India . So long ago as 1847 I joined the craft ; and when I was last home , it was very gratifying to me to have been able to prevail with the Grand Lodgo to introduce Mark Masonry in AVestorn India . Viscount Holmosdalo , who was then the G . M . of Mark Masons , was very kind to me , and appointed me the first Prov . G . Master of the Order in AVestorn India , and ho

also conferred on me tho honour of being P . S-G . Warden of tho 'Grand Lodge iu England . It was not long after " Holmesdale " had begun to work , that an application was made for a Charter for Lodge "Sirius . " The latter lodge after lliictuating in tho ascendancy , and in the other direction , has now , I believe , at last taken a position which bids fair to hold to her own in honest rivalry with Lodge " Holmesdale . " I can only say that I trust the reign of E . W . Bro . Leith , as Prov . G . Master of Bombay ,

will be a flourishing oue , and that ere long he will find many Mark Lodges established , if not more in Bombay itsel f certainly in his province . There is a very promising future before Mark Masonry , and I trust it will not be long , and that I shall live to see the day when all the Orders shall be acknowledged . It is a great satisfaction to me , as it will be to every member of the craft to know , that steps are being taken to unite the various Degrees which now workmore harmoniousltogether .

, y Steps with that end in view have been taken in England , and I trust ere long we shall find the beginning of that which in the end will be the perfection of Masonry—all Orders working under one head . I congratulate Mark Masonry on its having such a distinguished brother to preside over it as E . W . Bro .

Leith , and I am quite sure from his present choice of Grand Officers , that he intends that Murk Masonry shall take a " marked" place in India and our Colonies and Dependencies . " E . W . Bro . Leith said : "I cannot help thanking R . W . Bro . Gibbs for the very kind way in which he has spoken of me . For myself , I can only si ; y that I shall always do the best I can , and b y doing so to carry with mo the good opinion of the brethren ; and I hope we shall find that the trouble wc have

taken in this Degree will not he in vain , and that we shall have satisfied the members that have joined us that we have done everything in our power to further Mark Masonry . I was going to say that with the Craft in the past , Mark Masonry has , as it were' been nowhere . AA c hope , however , now , to compete with the craft and do as much good as the Craft has done , considering the many ways in which it has been so closelallied

y with it . " E . W . Bro . Gibbs here retiring , the Prov . G . M . explained that he did so in consequence of indisposition , and stated thai , he considered it as a very great kindness on his part conferred on the Provincial Grand Lodge in having attended this evening to perform the Installation Ceremony .

After a few remarks from W . Bro . Dixon , D . Prov . G . M ., expressing his views regarding the formation of a Provincial Grand Lodge , which he considered was absolutely necessary to stimulate tho brethren who had been many years members , and to encourage others to make Mark Masonry what it ought to bp . The Prov . G . M . then submitted the Rye-Laws of the new Provincial Grand Lodge for approval and adoption , aud after an instructive discussion thereon , it was proposed by Bro . A . C .

Gumperf , Prov . G . Sen . Overseer , that the Bye-Laws be taken as read and agreed to . This motion being seconded by W . l ! i-o . Dixon , D . Prov . G . M ., was put to the Provincial G . nmd Lodge , and carried nem . con . The R . W . Prov . G . M . having explained as to the Benevolent Fund Clause , the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in peace and harmony . The E . AV . Prov . G . Mastor , the Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge , and the visitors then adjourned to a sumptuous banquet , and diank the usual loyal and Masonic toasts , which terminated a most pleasant Masonic gathering .

Grand Masonic Rite.

GRAND MASONIC RITE .

Ths following taken from the " Free Lance , " published at Manchester , refers to the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire , fully reported iu another column . AVhatever may be the antiquity of Freemasonry , it is certain that it appeals to one of the most primitive as well as the most , noble of all virtues—Charity . Nor

does the system inculcate the practice of this virtue in . any narrow or dogmatic sense . Charity is understood to mean not only the active exercise of benevolence , but the culture of that mutual consideration and brotherly love which , if it were general , would transform the world into a Paradise . That a society based upon principles whose origin is Divine should , iu all ages , have attracted the attention and enlisted the support of mankind , need not excite surprise . Man , the most gregarious of animals , longs for intercourse with his fellow

man ; and without it pines into premature decay . Even in tho days of Shakspeare there existed an old proverb , which the poet quotes , that " Society is the happiness of life ; " and when companionship can be secured and coupled with the systematic practice of so grand a virtue as Charity—in its extended sense—its value is enhanced to an extent that baffles calculation ,

Such a companionship is the sole aim of Preemasonry . The principles of the " Craft " may be summed up in the oue word " Charity , " and when the deeds of its members are most iu accordance with Charity , they would , nearly approach the dictates of Free masonry . So wonder that in England such a system should number its tens of thousands of adherents , and as little

extraordinary is the fact that in the north , Freemasonry is widely spread and ardently admired . The recent death of Mr .. Stephen Blair—a man endeared to all who knew him , and whose memory is revered far beyond the pale of Freemasonry—occasioned a vacancy in the Grand

Mastership of the Province of East Lancashire . His successor is Col . Le Gendre N . Starkie , of Htmtroyde , and it was to preside at the Installation o j f this gentleman that Lord Carnarvon attended the Free Trade Hall on Wednesday last . The Grand Master ' s chair was placed upon the platform , which was reached by means of a short flight of

steps . Down the centre of the hall , from dais to entrance , was fitted a broad crimson carpet , and upon either side of this were ranged tiie members of the various lodges . The front seats were reserved for the masters of lodges and those who had already passed the chair , while tho rank and file of the order were arranged in thickly serried ranks behind them .

There is no secret in the fact that Freemasons wear short white aprons , edged with blue and trimmed with silver , that they usually , upon grand occasions at all events , appear in white neckerchiefs and white gloves . Those who havo reached a particular rauk are entitled to

wear certain "jewels " on their breasts , while the present office-bearers wear iu addition a collar of blue also , frequently edged with silver . The effect upon entering . the hall was both singular and interesting . The similarity of attire , and the endless repetition of blue and silver , white and gold , produced a coup d ' ceil that cannot often be witnessed . Here and there mi ght be seen a

Steward , with his crimson collar and wand of office , busy and active in the performance of some duty ; and occasionally an anxious " deacon" might be observed threading his way to a distant part ol the hall , bent on some mission connected with the approaching ceremony . In the assembly room , however , tho Provincial Grand Lodge is assembled , and presently they seek admission

to the hall . After all the recognised precautions against intrusion they are duly admitted . First comes the Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Mr . Gibbons , a most experienced and efficient officer ) , with his assistant ,