Mark Masonry.

JIaster , would take every care to preserve that goodly and proper feeling , and should particularly endeavour to strengthen it by giving to every party equal advantages and equal privileges in respect to freedom of voice ancl vote in all matters of discussion . And he was certain of this—that he could make the London lodges see their interest in embracing such a policy , and the country loclges their duty to appreciate it . The noble earl jn-oceecled to say that ho still hacl one more duty to perform . Tho

present company was presided over hy the Grand JIaster of the province , and he could honestly and truly state that there never was a Mark Master who move thoroughly comprehended the duties , and who was more competent of ably discharging them . He only hoped that he should often have the pleasure ancl privilege of meeting him as he had done that evening . He begged to propose the health of Bro . Beach , the Provincial Grancl JIaster of Mark Masons of Hants and Berks . Loud applause and renewed

cheers on the rising of The AV . JIaster , Bro . AA . AV . B . BEACH , who begged the company to accept his sincere thanks for the kind manner in which they had received the mention of his name . It gave him great satisfaction to be able to return thanks as presiding over that Province . He was confident that deeply important duties attached to his position , but he could only say that he had a most earnest desire

to discharge his duties , so as to merit the high confidence placed in him ; and , under him , he hoped to find an increase of prosperity and the beauties of the Order displayed in future in far greater vigour than heretofore had been the case in the county . A very short time ago , only one or two Jlark Lodges were in existence in the surrounding district ; now there was one at Newbury , another had been opened that clay at AVinchesteranother ivould probabl

, y very shortly be opened at Southampton , and another still at Basingstoke . Therefore he could implicitly trust , when looking forward to the future , in hearing ofthe great success of the Order in that province . New Lodges , however , would be of no avail unless brethren were also found imbued with a firm ancl permanent zeal for the welfare ofthe Order . It was his duty to impress upon

the hrethren the great importance of a firm attachment to the Order , and a zeal in carrying out the principles which distinguished it in ivorking out the beautiful legends which formed its basis . In these respects there were no JIasons who had the power to boast like those of Hampshire and Berkshire . The hon . gentleman jiroceeded to say that when a body was first springing into existence , a very great deal of energy and vigour was needed to keep it up mid ive it lasting health and prosperity . It became those

g , therefore , who presided over such bodies , and were entrusted with high positions , to exert themselves to the utmost of their power , so as to make themselves worthy of the great trust reposed in them . He had had the honour of serving on the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge , and he received the aid of very talented and energetic brethren in the discharge of his duties . A great deal of attention was needed to conduct Grand Lodge in a manner that

should render it respected in the colonies , and worthy ofthe trust reposed in them by those at home . He knew how much ivas ¦ expected of those brethren who , being on the the respective boards , had to present important reports to Grand Lodge , and be hoped the Fraternity generally did not find those brethren inattentive to their important duties . The hon . gentleman then proceeded to •exjn-ess how hajijiy and proud he was to be elected the A \ . JI . of that Jlark Lodge , and said it would ever he his pride to preside over and conduct their business and manage their affairs , so as to

realise his most earnest hope that the Jlark Lodge of Economy ivould , in future years , prove a great honour to the Craft . ( Loud Cheers . ) The AV . Jf ., again rising , said : All those who wore acquainted with tho Jlasonic Craft , knew that the selection of his officers by the JIaster was a very important task . AVithout good officers , the JIaster could not look for full success . Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal , the first Senior AVardcn of that lodge was well known

throughout the jirovince and the country as an active and zealous Mason , lie well recollected the jileasure he had experienced in serving his first office under Bro . Portal , who was , at the time he alluded to , the W . Jf . of the Apollo Lodge of Oxford—it ivas now many , he could hardly say how many , years ago . ( Laughter . ) They might not be verging on the years of very old age , hut their Jlasoni ' c years were more than many others who bore grey hairs . Those

Jlasonic years , too , had been spent in so many ways that a great deal of practical work ancl experience had been pressed into the period ; and if it hud not been actually a long career , it seemed a long one to them . ( Hear . ) He was also blessed with another excellent officer . Bro . Rankin Stebbing ' s merits were well known ; he was ahvays ready , and always animated with zeal , to promote Masonry , and the important manner in which the brethren ofthe province had lately expressed their sense of Pro . Stebbing's worth , was quite a sufficient testimony of the way in which he had jieri ' ormed the duties which , from time to time , had devolved upon him .

Mark Masonry.

He begged to give the "Health ofthe Officers ofthe Lodge . " ( Loud cheers . ) The Rev . G . R . PORTAL , in returning thanks , said he must first exjiress his regret that Bro . Stebbing hijil just been obliged to leave , and that he was not now present to speak for himself . The AV . JIaster had very properly observed that the head of a lodge could not do much without he was well supported hy his officers . The

regular attendance ofthe Wardens at Grand Lodge was one of their principal duties ; and he was quite sure that himself and the Junior " Warden would not be remiss in that duty , ancl he hoped those who succeeded them would be likewise diligent iu that respect . The brethren of the provinces ought to be fully and fairly represented in the councils of the Grand Lodge who directed their affairs . ( Vehement applause ) . The Rev . Brother enlarged this jioint b

upon y alluding to tho denial of certain privileges to the provincial body in the course of late legislation in Grand Lodge . He sincerely hoped that provincial brethren ivould always meet with full attention . He felt sure that it was only necessary for the provincial body to make known their wishes in respect to self government , or any privilege or right thoy wished to possess , in order to secure it , provided only the request was reasonable ancl fair . On behalf of the officers , he

thanked the company for the very kind manner in which the toast of their health had heen received . The Rev . Brother sat down very warmly applauded by the assembled brethren . Bro . LA CR . having obtained permission to propose a toast , said there was one esteemed brother present who bad been well known among them for many years , but w-hose voice had not yet that evening been heard . He could not easily say how impossible it would be to express tho estimation in which the gentleman he alluded to was hold by the brethren of the province of Hampshire .

He begged to propose the health of Bro . AVyndham Portal . Bro . AA \ -XDitAJt POKTAII said he thanked the company most sincerely for the kind manner in which they hacl just drunk his health . He was at all times happy to meet his hrother Masons ancl enjoy their society after being engaged in the turmoil ancl business of this lively and wicked world ; in fact , there was nothing he liked so well as to meet his brethren , when assembled together in the Jlasonic Lodge . ( Cheers ) .

The AV . JIASTER then proposed the health of the newly-made Jlark Brethren . They had now a lodge of their own , and that day many brethren hacl been advanced to the degree of Jlark Masons . It was his duty to impart to them the principles , and teach them the legends peculiarly appertaining to the degree . The name of Bro . Naish , P . M ., was conjiled with the toast . Bro . NAISH Mayor of AVinchester said he and the other

newl-, y made brethren had found that day that a good deal was before them to learn . The task set for them was , howev er , of an encouraging kind , for he coulcl not have formed an idea that the degree was so beautiful . He was quite sure that as long as they had such lights as ivere then around them , Freemasonry ivould never flag in the Province of Hampshire . Bro . PORTAL , in eulogistic terms , then , proposed as a toast the

health of the visiting Jlark Brethren present that clay , coupling with it the name of Bro . Biggs . Bro . BIG OS acknowledged the compliment in a fluent speech , in the course of which he said it was a source of very great jileasure to him to find Masonry advance in any way , and especially it gave him considerable satisfaction to find the degree of Mark Masonry extending . Several other toasts followed , and the company separated highly delighted with the jiroceedings of the day .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

JIALAIIIDE . —Tho annual dinner of the Lodge of Fidelity ( No . 125 , I . C ) , ivas held on August 29 th . This distinguished lodge numbers among its members some of the celebrities of our city , ancl has set an examjile of hospitality and gallantry worthy of imitation . Cards of invitation were sent to as many Freemasons , and their fair friends ancl relatives , as could be accommodated in the hotel . Tho company began to assemble about five o'clock , and previous to dinner being announced a more brilliant or animated scene could

not be imagined than that jireseuted in the reception-room . The brethren were attired in full-dress Jlasonic costume , according to their standing in the Order ; and , with singular good taste , the hues ofthe tallies' splendid dresses harmonised with the colours of the Craft ; whilst on many a fair neck , and arm , and bosom , sparkled the symbolic gems of tbe mystic Fraternity . The gorgeous and costly insignia of the Prince JIasons , the uniform

ofthe Knights Tenijilars , the attire of the Royal Arch Order , the simple , but not less elegant , costume of Blue Masonry , and the olliciai collars , badges , and jewels , worn according to rank , gave brilliancy and pictuiesqueness to the lout ensemble . Dinner was