Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES , AND THE COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN . The half-yearly communication was held at the Freemasons ' Tavern , Great Queen-street , on Wednesday , the 10 th inst ., and was numerously attended , there being present—The M . W . < Jrand Master , the Right Hon . tbe Earl of Carnarvon ; the

R . W . D . Grand Master , Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., Grand Master elect ; R . W . Sir Edward Lechmere , Bart ., G . S . W . ; Bros . J . Barker , P . G . D . as J . G . W . ; Rev . D . Shaboe , G . Chap . ; Rev G . R . Portal , G . Reg . ; J . Binckes , G . See . ; G . Haward , P . G . Ov . ; Thos . Pickering , G . Assist . Dir . of Cers . ; Dr . Nolan , G . Supt . of Works ; C . A . Cottebrune , G . S . B . ; H . J . Thompson , G . Purst . ; J . Edney , P . G . Org . ; E . S . Hulbert , E . S . Cossens , T . J . Trebock , G . Stewards , and a large number of

Masters , Past Masters , Wardens , and Overseers of private lodges , with many visiting brethren . Grand Lodge having been opened in ample form , with solemn prayer , and the minutes of the last communication read and confirmed , the report of the General Board was read , received , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . The report alluded to the continued steady progress of the Order , since the 1 st of December last . One warrant of

confirmation to an old lodge meeting at Portsmouth , under time immemorial constitution , and now standing on the register of this < 3 rand Lodge , as the Portsmouth Lodge ( No . 17 ) , had been granted , and four new warrants for lodges , viz ., No . 60 , Carlisle ; No . 61 , Madras ; No . 62 , Havant ; and No . 63 , Southampton ; recorded the deatli of the late Grand Treasurer , Dr . Jones , whose services could not be too highly eulogised , or whoso death too much regretted ; re-iterated the complaint of a want of

proper accommodation , accompanied with a hope that the new hall and buildings , which the Orders and degrees not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England had resolved on erecting , would be ready by their next meeting in December , as the greater portion of the requisite funds was subscribed , and the works already in progress ; and concluded with a confident trust in future prosperit j ' .

The M . W . GRAND MASTER , referring to that portion of the report which mentioned the deatli of Dr . Jones , expressed himself in most feeling terms as to the value of the services rendered by their lamented late Grand Treasurer , and the heavy loss sustained by Grand Lodge in his untimely decease , and moved ** that a suitable record be inscribed on the minutes of Grand Lodge , and that the Grand Secretary do embody their sentiments in a letter to be addressed to the widow and family of Dr .

Jones " ; the proposition was seconded by the R . W . D . G . M ., and unanimously adopted . The details of the revision of the Boole of Constitutions , as recommended by the General Board , were then read , seriatim , embracing va audition to some minor alterations in routine and practice , the following propositions : — 1 . The introduction of Overseers , master , senior and junior , as officers of private lodges and of Grand Lod and as

conge , stituent members of Grand Lodge . 2 . A provision that in the election of a Grand Master , and of the Executive Boards , voting papers shall be issued to every properly qualified member of Grand Lodge . R . W . Bro . W . W . BEACH , M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Berks and Hants , in that capacity , and as President of the Board , cordially supported that recommendation , which had been maturel y

considered , and was now formally submitted to Grand Lodge . In their deliberations the subject had been frequently mentioned , and its mention invariably received with favour . Its effect would be to cement the ties which bind together the provincial and metropolitan brethren by affording to the former the means of giving their votes at elections , in which they felt an equal interest with the latter , and thus of exercising the power and influence to which they had an equal claim without subjecting

them to the necessity of an expenditure of time and mone 3 r , not incumbent upon those resident near the place of meeting of Grand Lodge . Bro . WINN doubted if such a . plan as that proposed was Masonic , regarding it as an innovation of which he disapproved . Bro . Col . COLE , C . B ., so far agreed with the last speaker as to look upon the subject as one at the same time so novel and so important as to merit the fullest and most serious

consideration . He advocated the postponement of a decision until the next meeting of Grand Lodge . Bi'O . JOHN BAEEEE , as representing the feelings of a large number of brethren in the Northern Counties , could assure Grand Lodge that there was no proposition they could carry which would afford the country brethren so much satisfaction as that now before them . It had his most hearty support . Bros . Dr . NOLAN , G . Insp . of Works , and E . S . COSSENS also

approved of the proposition . The R . W . D . Grand Master fully concurred in the proposition , but at the same time , having regard to its importance , thought the advocates of a postponement of a decision had good grounds for their opinion . Should the motion , however , be pressed he should vote in its favour . Bro . PICKERING , G . A . D . C , thought the better course would be to affirm the recommendation of the Board on the present

occasion , from which no harm could arise , inasmuch as the question could be re-considered on the minutes of this meeting being put for confirmation in December . The M . W . GRAND MASTER was fully sensible of the importance of the proposition , thesubstance of which , ashad beenstated , was not new to Grand Lodge . If adopted he considered it would tend to strengthen the country lodges , and to stimulate the growing interest in their proceedings . It would

widen the elective franchise , not by extending the suffrage , but by facilitating its exercise by those already possessing it , and would have a beneficial effect upon the officers elected as well as upon the brethren electing . As regarded precedent , he had been and would be especially careful to guard against rash or ill-advised innovation , but they must not ignore improvement , and a wide distinction must be drawn between matters of form and matters of princile . He should be sorryblending to the

p , y recommendation any weight his remarks might possess , to press the question against the wish of a large minority , out he could , not disregard the evils of delay , and he must express his conviction that the adoption of the proposition would give breadth and expansion to an order long depressed , though ancient , and now happily straggling into renewed life and vigour . The proposition was affirmed . 3 . The limitation i >? the term of office for which a Grand

Master shall have been elected to three years . A Grand Master who has been annually elected for three years in succession , not to be eligible for re-election until after an interval of one year . R . W . Bro . BEACH supported the recommendation . The W . M . GRAND MASTER fully concurred in its policy . His opinions on this question had often been expressed to them . They were founded on a study of the history of the craft , and remained unaltered . The proposition now submitted he felt

involved no innovation , but was in fact only reverting to the former , and . as he thought , better state of things . The proposition was affirmed . 4 . Regulations for provincial organisation . Provincial Grand Master to be appointed by the Grand Master , on the recommendation of two or more lodges . The office to be held three years , and a Pror . Grand Master not to be then eligible for reappointment until after an interval of one year .

5 . A general increase in the amount of fees payable to the General Fund . The opinion of the Grand Lodge having been taken on the most important points , the Grand Secretary was instructed to embody all the propositions in tbe proper form , the same to be printed and circulated to the various lodges , so that they may be fully considered at the meeting in December . The R . W . Grand Master Elect , VISCOUNT HOWIESDALE was

then presented , and received from the W . M . Grand Master the solemn obligation to observe the constitution of the Order—to maintain the privilege of his high office—and to faithfully discharge the important duties attached thereto . - The brethren below the degree of a Master of a Mark Master Mason ' s Lodge , were then requested to retire . A Board of Installed Masters was next opened , and Viscount Holmesdale , M . P ., installed as Most Worshipful Grand and the

Master of Mark Masters of England and Wales colonies and dependencies of the British Crown , the ceremony being performed by the retiring Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , assisted by R . W . Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., & c , and , on the re-admission of the brethren , was proclaimed as such , and saluted with the proper honours . The M . W . Grand Master having invested the Earl of Carnarvon with the jewel of Past Grand Master , then proceeded