Mark Masonry.

by appointing aud investing with the collar ancl jewel of their respective offices—Bros . G . W . Wheeler as Time Keeper ancl S . Harman a « Dir . of Cers . There were present besides those mentioned : —Bros . H . Masse * , S . W .,- A . D . Loewenstark , P . G . Purst ., J . AV ., and Treas . ; ' \ V . Noak , S . O . ; T . H . Meredith , . T . O . ; E . Harris , R . of 31 ., and others . A isitors : —Bros . C . Swan , P . G . S . B . ; AV . 3 Iann , VOL S ; C . Sloman , SG ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . S . B . ; W . Smith , C . H ., P . M . Mausir , 22 , and

others whose names we were unable to learn . Bro . T . J . Sabine , AV . 3 I ., was unanimously elected to serve as Steward to represent this loclge at the Mark Masters' Stewards' Festival , which will bo held in July . The Secretary read Bro . F . Binckes , G . S ., letter announcing tho summer festival of the Boys' School being held on Thursday , July Sth , at the school , AVood Green , ancl the statement of finances of that institution which proved how great aro the exertions yet to he made before

that noble institution will be free from debt . The usual loyal toasts were given and received . Bro . C . Sloman gave an excellent Mark song , which was thoroughly appreciated , it being both good ancl original . Bro . F . AValters , who had but recently recovered from a severe ancl almost fatal illness , was warmly welcomed ancl congratulated on his recovery to his usual health . After a few hours most agreeably spent , the brethren separated .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

LANCASHIRE . PBOVINCIAE G UAND CONCLAVE . —The annual meeting was held at the Adelphi Hotel , on the 10 th inst ., the new banqueting-room being us ; d on the occasion . The Jacques cle Molay Encampment was opened in clue form by the B . C ., Captain Thomas Berry , after which the Prov . G . Officers entered in procession , -when the business of the province was transacted by the A . E . P . G . C . of Lancashire , Albert Hudson Royds , assisted by his

officers . The following knights were present : —W . H . AVright , E . D . P . G . C ; R . F . Ainsworth , P . G . P . ; J . Bolderson , P . G . S . P . ; J . Duffield , P . G . C . ; R . M'Dowell Smith , P . G . A ' . C . ; AV . Birch , P . G . R . ; J . 31 . Wike , P . G . T . ; Major Horner , P . E . C . ; R . P . Sparks , P . E . C- ; S . AVhite , P . E . C . ' ; D . Long ; H . S . Alpass , P . E . C . ; E . Pierpoint , P . E . C . ; J . T . Hall , J . Fowler , H . Bulley , J . Jlorris , Dr . Alercer . Johnson , J . Melladew , C . J . Banister , Lieut . 3 Iott , & c . The officers for the ensuing year were invested , aucl tho committee of general purposes were appointed . This closed tho business , and a banquet was afterwards served up .

3 IETEOPOLITAN FUEE HOSPITAL . —The necessity which exists , in all institutions depending entirely upon voluntary contributions for support , entails upon the committee of the Metropolitan Free Hospital the duty of making an annual appeal to the benevolent for assistance . Tlie densely populated district in which tho hospital is situated at all times furnishes a large number of applicants ; but , the knowledge that its doors are open to all without any letter of recommendation , occasions an

overwhelming flood of applications from the destitute sick , not of the metropolis alone , but of the suburbs also ; the class of persons chiefly seeking its benefits being unable , by reason of their extreme poverty and friendlessness , to obtain the necessary introduction to other more conveniently situated hospitals . The attendances of patients during the past yeas have been greater than usual , amounting in the aggregate to 83 , 903 , representing 36 , 898 persons . This institution possessespeculiar claimsupon the wealthy

of every creed , because , by its promptitude of action , its medical officers are enabled to grapple with disease in its earlier stages , and thus check tho development of those dire maladies which , having their origin amongst the very poor , are not slow in occasioning suffering and death in the homes of the affluent . During the past year His Royal Highness the Prince of AVales , K . G ., & c '„ has succeeded His Royal Highness the late Prince Consort , his father , as patron of the hospital . Negotiations

have been set on foot with a view to induce the Metropolitan Railway Company to settle the terms of compensation to be given for the premises required by them , and it is hoped by the assistance of a benevolent public , that the acquisition of a site for the new hospital will be shortly announced , and the dato fixed for laying the foundation stone of the same . The committee , perceiving the lamentable want of Hospital accommodation which exist in the north-eastern division of this metropolis , have though of the vicinity of Shorediteh , as affording the largest scope for usefulness , and would thankfully receive suggestions as to any eligible sites in the neighbourhood .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

STOAV . MASONIC PIC-NIC—On Saturday last , the brethren of St . John's Lodge ( No . 216 ) , beld a " pio-nic " in a beautiful Laugh near the village . They were honoured by the presence of a numei'ous party of Grand Lodge officials from Edinburgh , including Bro . Henry Iuglis , Grand

Substitute Master of Scotland ; Bro . Mann , O-and Junior Warden ; aud Bros . Clark , Mackenzie , Bty-se , and McCowan , members of Grand Committee ; also deputa tions from the Lodge Journeymen , Edinburgh ; St . Luke ' s , Lander , and St . John's , Galashiels . Refreshments were provided by Bro . Dickson , of the Railway Hotel ; music supplied by Messrs . AV . and G . Crosby , of Hawick , and what with dancing , athletic sports , & c ., the afternoon and evening , till about nine o'clock , passed agreeably .

IRELAND . LMEKICK MASONIC BALL . The ceremony of dedication of the new Masonic Hall will take place on Thursday next , at twelve o ' clock . The Right Hon . Lord Dunboyne , Provincial Grand Master , will attend , and has ordered that the Provincial Grand

Officers be summoned to dedicate the building according to usual custom for Masonic purposes . A large gathering of the Craft is expected to bo present , includiii" - the Worshipful Masters of all the lodges in the province of North Munster . Invitations . have also been sent by the AVorshipful Master of Lodge 73 to musical brethren in Dublin and Corknot onlto be present at the

dedica-, y tion , but also to the banquet in the evening , which will be on a scale of magnificence never before equalled in the city of Limerick . The Masonic bod y have great cause to congratulate themselves on the success of the undertaking , and the Masonic Hall Company ( Limited ) may now fairly be said to bo in a flourishing condition . —Limericli Southern Chronicle .

Masonic Lifeboat Fund.

MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND .

Further subscription received : —Collected by Bro . Henry Green , No . 36-t , £ 3 10 s .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters Of England And Wales, And The Dependencies Of The Colonies And Ritish Crown.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES , AND THE DEPENDENCIES OF THE COLONIES AND RITISH CROWN .

The following circular has been issed respecting the special festival proposed to be held next month . " Office , 2 , Red Lion Square , Holborn , London , AV . C . " 21 st June , 1869 . " AV . and Dear Sir and Brother , —At the half-yearly communication held on Tuesday 1 st instant , the question of tho admission of ladies to the festival banquets after the meetings of

Grand Lodge was again considered . After much discussion an amendment was proposed and adopted as a compromise of the conflcting opinions on the subject , viz . - —That the Grand Stewards be authorised to make arrangements for holding a Special Festival during the present Summer , the object of which shall be to obtain donations in support of the Benevolent Fund appertaining to this Grand Lodge . "At a meeting of the board of Grand Stewards , held on

Wednesday 16 th instant , the questions in connection with the Charity Festival were carefully considered , and the following resolution was unanimously adopted : —That the suggested Charity Festival bo carried out under the instructions of a Board of Stewards to be nominated expressly for the purpose by the various lodges , to whom a circular requesting the momination of a brother as Steward be forthwith sent . " I have therefore , on behalf of the Board of Grand Stewards , to ask you to be good enough to bring the subject before the