Mark Masonry.

difficulties were easily to be accounted for if they considered the antecedents pf Mark Masonry in this country , and the peculiar position it was in when Lord Leigh undertook to preside over them as their Past Grand Alaster ; aud he must be allowed to say , that whatever success thoy might hereafter acquire , would be due to Lord Leigh . ( Cheers ) . But though they had much to amend to place the degree iu its proper position , ho prophesied that with zeal and energy in the

working they would be enabled to do so . But zeal and energy , though valuable in themselves , were not the only qualities required . Mark Alasonry—like Craft Masonry—was a type of society in general . Now there were two great principles in the constitution of society : in the first instance they were bound to submit to all just and lawful authority , whilst on the other hand justice should be equally and impartially administered to those seeking protection from authority . ( Cheers ) . And here he must repeat that ho would employ his best energies aud abilities

to the consideration of any complaints or questions which might conic before him , aud he trusted even if thoy disagreed with his decisions , they , believing he had acted conscientiously , ivould support him ( cheers ) , as on mutual confidence alone could be based a system of government for mutual advantage . ( Cheers ) . Looking forward to the necessity of a number of changes in their constitution , he could assure them that he would proceed with the utmost caution , and should take the opiuiou of those who had had greater experience

in the working of Alark Masonry than himself , before bringing them before his Grand Lodge . In making the observations ho wished it to be understood that ho was speaking without a full knowledge of their real position ; and he was now only expressing his own feelings subject to modification , upon making himself acquainted with all the facts . The first steps necessary to be taken , were to increase their strength and consolidate their power , and to assist in this ho should be preparedwhenever three Lod existed in a district—be it a

, ges Masonic province or county—he would erect them into a province as regardcdMark Masonry , and appoint a Prov . Grand Alaster to preside over them . Whilst in doing so he claimed as his privilege the most perfect independence in making his appointments , he ivould always be prepared to give full weight and consideration to any recommendation conveyed to him by the Lodges , as to tho brother they would like to preside over

them ( Cheers ) . But ho considered the position of a Provincial Grand Alaster so important and responsible , that he would never give his consent to placing any one iu the office , who was not prepared fully and adequately to discharge the duties he undertook : it being his opinion , that no man had a right to accept a situation , the duties of which he could not properly fulfil . ( Cheers ) . Ho had always held a strong opinion , that in Craft Alasonry , the position and requirements of the country Lod had never boon properlconsultedand ho ivas

ges y , sure that London Alasons would never be jealous of greater powers being extended to them . ( Hear , hear ) . Ho was , therefore , of opinion that both London and country Loclges ought to be fully and fairly represented in Grand Lodge , and so he hoped they ivould be iu Alark Alasonry . It ivas true he had no special plan to bring before them at present , but he hoped some scheme would bo devised for ensuring to the country Lodges full representation in their Grand Lodge . recollected that

Ho , when , about eighteen months since , he was presiding over them as Deputy to Lord Leigh , and the question of allowing country Lodges to be represented by proxy was brought under the consideration of the brethren , he had placed his objections to such a scheme before them . He was not prepared to say that the use of proxies should never be allowed , but if they were they must be very strongly guarded aud their use should be confined to particular questions , as were they to allow general proxies they would lead to endless confusion . He drew their attention to these and other matters now only that they might be carefully considered between the present and next Grand Lodge in December . He hoped and trusted after this Grand

Lodge—for this time they all needed indulgence—there would be a better attendance of Grancl Officers , and that each would bo enabled to perform his duty ; for he held that iu Alasonry as in every department of life , whether public or private , those who undertook duties were bound to perform them , and if they objected to do so they had better retire and make way for those who ivould . ( Cheers ) . So long as he held the office of their Grand Alaster he should endeavour to enforce a full performance ot their duties from the various offices and he trusted

, that should he be found wanting thoy would not fail to remind him of his words and the rule ho hail laid down . ( Cheers ) . The GRAND MASTER , again rose aud said ho had now a most important toast to propose . They were , he believed , all members of the Grand Lodge of Mark Alasons , and could not fail to take a lively interest in its prosperity , and he should therefore propose to them the health of a brother distinguished in every degree of Freemasonry , and who , from the commencementmi

, ght be said to have been one of the best props and pillars of this Grand Lodge . Bro . Cole was well known ( cheers ) and it was mainly through his exertions this Grand Lodge was originally formed . He was as a living coal placed on the altar of Freemasonry , and ho trusted that from his exertions such a flame ivould be kindled hi their hearts as would never die . ( Cheers ) . He begged to give them "Prosperity to the Grand Lodge of Mark Alasters . " Bro . COLE returned thanks , and having at some length alluded to the difficulties through which they hacl undergone in the formation of this Grand Lodge , expressed his conviction that they had now passed , and that under the presidency of the Earl of Carnarvon their beautiful

degree of Alark Masonry woulcl extend and its system of government be consolidated . The Earl of CARNARVON next gave ' ' Prosperity to the Provincial Grand Masters , and Provincial Lodges , " coupled with the name of Bro , Beech , M . P ., whom he had the pleasure to know both as a neighbour ancl a most excellent Alason . All who had the honour of his acquaintance respected him , and his beautiful and correct working in Alasonry

ivas universally acknowledged . The toast having been drunk , Bro . BEECH , M . P ., Prov . G . Alaster of Alark Alasons for Hants and Berks , thanked the brethren for the kind reception given to the toast ivhich ho was called upon to acknowledge on behalf of tho brethren of the Prov . Loclges . He had great pleasure iu attending upon that occasion , and being witness to the installation of their noble brother under whose banner he was convinced Alark Alasonry must flourish .

He thought it most gratifying that thoy had secured so eminent a bro - ther to preside over the Grand Lodge of Alark Masters in England and the British possessions . He was happy to say that Alark Alasonry was extending , and that in the province over which he had the honour to preside , three new Loclges were in embryo ready to start into existence , whilst in all parts of the country greater interest , was being taken in this beautiful link of Freemasonry . He had had the pleasure of travelling in foreign countries and seeing the Mark degree worked with a skill

ancl efficiency which scarcely existed in this country . When he was travelling in Canada and America he found that so essential was this degree considered that no brother was allowed to enter a Royal Arch Chapter who had not previously taken the Mark degree . ( Hear ) . He was convinced that the degree was now destined to achieve a great success , and when , in after years , they looked back upon this evening , they ivould gratefully acknowledge the obligations they were under to their Worshiful Grand Alaster for tho success and position it ivould

p have attained . ( Cheers . ) The Earl of CARNARVON next said , in Spain it was customary on burying a king—to exclaim , "the king is dead . Long live the king . " So it was in Alasonry , not necessarily by tho death of the master , and as one went out another came in . His noble brother , to whom they were so deeply indebted , Lord Leigh , having retired from office , he ( the Earl

of Carnarvon ) had succeeded him , and though he did not selfishly wish to monopolise all tho honours to himself , he candidly acknowledged that he accepted the office with pleasure and pride , and ho hoped he might hold it for many years . Lord Leigh was distinguished by his kindly and courteous manner ; his frankness , candour , and good nature ; and he knew of no individual who more fully united in his person all the attributes of a true , high minded , open hearted Englishman . ( Cheers ) . Lord Leigh had served them truly aud honestly , and though ho had had great

difficulties to contend ivith , to him they were indebted for the original formation of the Grand Lodge . ( Cheers ) . The health of Lord Loi ^ h , P . G . AI ., was then drunk amidst loud applause . Tho GRAXD AIASTEU said that though money did not govern them in their actions iu Alasonry , they were not insensible to its value , and it was therefore most important to have a good Treasurer , whom indeed he looked upon as even a more important individual than the Grand Alaster himself . He was hajipy to know that they had an excellent Grand

Treasurer in Bro . Dr . Jones , aud in asking them to drink his health he should unite with the toast the names of the late G . Reg . ( Bro . Ridgway ) and the CI . Sec . ( Bro . Collins ) , both of whom he regretted to say were absent , owing to indisposition . Bro . JONES , G . Treas ., acknowledged the compliment , aud having given a brief history of the rise of the Grand Lodge of Mark Alasons in England , denied that it was in the difficulties to which allusion had been made , though ho admitted that owing to the indisposition of two

brethren , to whom the greater portion of the business had been entrusted , tho correspondence might be a little in arrcar . By their new arrangements , however , that ivould soon be set to rights . As regarded their real position it had been one of progress from the first , and he was happy to be enabled to state , as Treasurer , that their finances were in a healthy and prosperous state . ( Cheers ) . The GRAND AIASTER next gave the health of the Grand Chaplain , which was briefly acknowledged by tho Raw Bro . Davies , who stated that

Alasonry could never be opposed to true religion—tho principles it inculcated being those ofthe purest morality . The noble EARL then said that au important engagement compelled him to leave ; but before he did so , he wished again to impress upon his Grand Officers the necessity of punctual attendance to , and a strict performance of their duties . They might all , like himself , fairly claim indulgence that day , but they could not do so a second time , and it would be most discreditable to the officers of Grand Lodge not to be

able to perform their duties , aud nothing could produce a worse effect upon a visitor to a Lodge , than to hear the ceremonies—as was too often the case—bungled and spluttered over by officers ignorant of their duty . He begged to thank them for their kind support that night , and to assure thorn nothing would give him greater pleasure , than to again meet them on an early opportunity . The Earl of CARNARVON and two or three other brethren having retired , the chair was taken by Dr . Jones , G . Treas ., who proposed " The health of the Officers . " Bro . BARRINGER acknowledged the toast aud pledged himself and brother officers to get perfect in their duties , if those who knew them would teach them ,