Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

Other matters of considerable interest to the Craft were brought before Grand Lodge , and the following merits special attention . A member of the Grand Lodge announced , that lie held in his hand a document , purporting to be a Scottish Grand Chapter Certificate of Exaltation . It stated that a certain Brother had been exalted in the Esk Dalkeith Chapter , No . 42 , on the 18 th of November , 1857 ; and recorded iu the register of the Grand Chapter on the l'Oth of November . It stated in French that the Brother had previously entered into the usual obligation . It purported to bear the seal of the Esk

Dalkeith Chapter , No . 42 , and of the Grand Chapter of Scotland . It purported to be signed by the Officers of the Chapter , including Bro . William Gaj'lor , who also signed the Grand Chapter Record of tiie 19 th November , as G . S . E ., pro Grand Eecorder . He desired it to bo understood that the Brother , to whom this certificate is said to have been issued , assured him he was never in a Scotch Chapter in his life ; had never elsewhere , either on the 18 th of November or at any other time , been exalted or obligated as certified ; and that he had been led into accepting the document by a Scotch gentleman he had met in

London , iu order that the possession of the certificate might imply to the world ( though not stated ) that he was a regular Scotch Master , and in a position to apply to the Grand Chapter of Scotland for a warrant to work the degree in England . It was the desire ot the Brother who brought the matter forward , that , for the good of Mark . Masonry in general and this Grand Lodge in particular , facts purporting to bo certified under the seal of the Grand Chapter of Scotland should not bo received as facts , until they were otherwise provedor until the circumstances above stated should be satisfactoril

, y explained . After considerable discussion respecting the details of this matter , the proposition was unanimously agreed to . The Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , having no communication with the Grand Chapter of Scotland , could take no other direct step in the matter .

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CARNARVON LODGE OF MARK MASTERS . No . 7 . A Meeting of this Lodge was held at the Freemason ' s Tavern on the 24 th of Sept ., when Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon was installed as W . M . by Bro . Ridgway , the Grand Registrar . His lordshi p nominated Bro . Beach as Deputy Master , and invested Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal with collar of S . W . Bro . Hammcrton is the J . W . ; Bro . Pollock , Hon . Sec .: and Bro . Ridgway , Treasurer . Amongst the Brethren advanced on this occasion was Brother Sir E . Lechmere , Bt ., from whose known zeal and in the Craft much be

ability may expected . FOKTESCUE LODGE OF MARK MASTERS . No . 9 . Bro . T . J . Bremridge vacates the chair of this Lodge , and is succeeded by Bro . Captain Trower , the J . W ., a very excellent Craft Mason , who was duly elected W . M . for the ensuing year at a meeting of the Lodge held at Southmolton . THE ST . GEORGE LODGE OF MARK MASTERS . No . 15 . This Lodgewhich promises to bo one of the most numerous and

, influential in the West of England , holds its meetings at the Freemasons' Hall , Exeter ; and is presided over by Bro . the Rev . John Huysho , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Craft Masons for Devon ; 13 ro . W . Cnnn , one of the oldest Masons in Exeter , is S . W . ; and Bro . Locke , of Dulverton , J . W . It was some years since the Mark degree was worked in Exeter , but some of the old Mark Masters applied for the St . George warrant .

THE MARK LODGE . No . 4 . On the 19 th of November a meeting of />«>¦ excellence the Mark Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , Bro . Ridgway , W . M ., in the chair . This was the night for election of W . M ., and the choice of the Brethren was unanimously in favour of Bro . the Right Hon . the Lord Leigh , who had shown his good will to the Brethren , and desire to participate in the thorough Masonic feeling which pervades this Lodge , by becoming a joining member . His lordship , in accepting the officeintimated that he had recently had a very beautiful

, piece of Lodge furniture and set of working tools presented to him , the work of Bro . Norton , an architect in Warwickshire ; these he would feel a pleasure in presenting to the Lodge as a fitting receptacle for the articles in question . They have since been forwarded to town , and we have had much pleasure in examining their excellent workmanship . The combination of square , level , and compasses in open brass work , forming the frame of a winch for raising great weights to certain heights with the assistance of the lewis , is particularly admirable . At the meeting in question many Brethren were

advanced to the degree . Brother Mirza Ali Akbar , Chief Secretary to his Highness the Nawab of Sural , was balloted for and elected a candidate , and will bo advanced at the next Lodge meeting . PIICEN 1 X LODGE OF MARK MASTERS , PORTSMOUTH . One of the absurd remarks made use of by a Brother named Havers to prejudice the Masonic world against the Mark degree , at a meeting held some months ago , was , that if Mark Lodges obtained

subscriptions , the springs of the Masonic charities would be to that extent dried up . This sophistry was exposed at the time ; but we have a little incident to confirm its absurdity . An esteemed Brother moving in a good position recently died whilst S . W . of the Phoenix Lodge , leaving his widow and family in a situation little to have been expected . The " dry springs" of his Brethren of the Mark have proved waters ef comfort to those he left behind . MALLET AND CHISEL LODGE . No . 5 . A meeting of this snug little Lodge was held on the f Sth of

November , under the mastership of Bro . Richard Barnes , of Hoxton square , the founder of the " Boy ' s School . " Bro . Richard E . Barnes is S . W . ; Bro . Harris , J . W . ; Bro . Trebeck , S . D . Several Brethren were advanced to the degree , with which they assured the W . M . they were much impressed . Bro . Barnes is one of the oldest members of the Mark degree in this country , and with other Brethren of similar standing and information , much grieved and disgusted at the flippant assumption of the Grand Chapter of Scotland .

ROYAL CUMUERLAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS , BATH . A Charter of Confirmation has been recently granted by the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters to the Royal Cumberland Lodge working in Bath from time immemorial . We see that Lord Leigh has been pleased to confer the purple on Bro . Lazarus , an old Past Master of this Lodge . NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTERS . This is one of those immemorial Lodges which during the past year have united their individual strength to the Grand Lodge of Mark Mastersreceiving a warrant of confirmation . An old and esteemed

, member of this Lodge , Bro . Punshon , is probably one of the bestinformed Masons of the day , not only on the subject of the Mark degree , but also with respect to Templar Masonry ; and it would prove a great boon to the Craft as well as a confusion to pretenders , if our Brother would unburden himself on these subjects . LEIGH LODGE OF MARK MASTERS ( No . 11 ) , HELD AT ERITH . It is rumoured that no less a Masonic star than Bro . Stephen Barton Wilson is likely to shine with undiminished lustre as a seconder

of Bro . Purton Cooper ' s efforts for the enlightenment of this Lodge . Bro . Wilson has shot like a meteor from the darkness of a Scottish constellation , and will now , 'tis said , be visible at Erith , if not at Greenwich , under the English constitution e ftimo dare lucem . KEYSTONE LODGE OF MARK MASTERS . Xo . 3 . This Lodge held a Meeting on the 15 th of October , under the direction of its Worshipful Master , so well known and esteemed in Craft Masonry , Brother Thomas Stevens Bavringer , who hastened home from Antwerp , and concluded a Continental trip lie was making in order to be present at the Mooting

. This Lodge has advanced rapidly since its formation , and is now in excellent working order . The Brethren elected the W . M ., Bro . T . S . Barringer , to fill the Chair for another year ; and after the Lodge had heen closed they sat down to a Banquet , of its kind , seldom equalled , prepared for them by Brother Paintor , at "The Ship and Turtle , " Leadenhall Street , which is now the Axed place of Meeting of the Lodge . The Arch of Mark Masonry , under fho English Constitution , is not likely to give way from any defect in its Keystone .

Masonic Charities.

Masonic Charities .

ROYAL FREEMASONS' BOYS' SCHOOL . Now that the new building is opened , and the school fairly at work , we hope that the Craft ( especially in the provinces ) will place such an amonnt at the disposal of the Committee , as will enable them to extend the advantages of a boarding school to a larger number of children than is at present possible . Out of the seventy now on the books , twenty-five only can bo at present boarded ; the rest are at day schools as heretofore .

We would venture to suggest to the friends of this Charity in the provinces , that they should bestir thomseves in good time , so as to be able to forward a good subscription list to the Festival in March next . ROYAL FREEMASONS' GIRLS' SCHOOL . On the 8 th of October , the Quarterly Court of the governors of this excellent institution was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , Bro .

Odall , P G . S . D ., in the chair . Bro . Crew , the secretary of the Charity , having read the minutes of the last Quarterly Court , which recorded a well-deserved gratuity of £ 52 1 Os . bestowed upon himself , in consequence of his many years of fervent and zealous service ; and the enactment of a new by-law for increasing the number of inmates from sixty-five to seventy children : Bro . White , P . G . S ., moved that so much of the minutes as referred to the new by-law be not confirmed ; as the Charity had £ fi , 000 . 1 ess stock now than before the building of the now school-