Our Twenty-Fourth Volume.

OUR TWENTY-FOURTH VOLUME .

fTlHE commencement of the Twenty-Fourth volume of - * - THE FEEEMASON ' S CHRONICLE marks another epoch in our career of Masonic journalism , and it also reminds us that the year 1886 is on the wane . More than half of the usual recess has passed , and the opening of the next Masonic season is looming in the future . What that season will result in , and what will be the future of Freemasonry , it is impossible to foretel , but there is little to fear when we consider the future on the basis of the present condition of the Order . It will be our desire to continue to devote our best attention to the doings of the Craft , and in the discharge of our duties we hope we shall meet with as hearty support in the future as we have received in the past .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES AS GRAND MASTER .

fPHE most numerous , enthusiastic , and imposing gather-¦*¦ ing ever -witnessed in connection with the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons took place on Thursday last , at Freemasons' Hal ] , when the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England , his Royal Highness the Prince of

Wales , was installed as Grand Master of the Mark Degree . His Royal Highness , who was accompanied by H . R . H . the Duke ofc Connaught Prov . G . Graft Master of Sussex , the Earl of Kintore Grand' Master , and a distinguished array of Grand and- Provincial Grand Officers , arrived shortly before one o ' clock , when the brethren , not being Present or Past Grand-Officers , took their seats in the Hall , under the direction of the Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies

and . brrand , btewards appointed for the purpose . The Most Worshipful Grand Master then entered Grand Lodge , preceded by the Grand Officers Present and Past , and occupied the Throne , after which Grand Lodge was opened in due form , Lord Kintore being supported by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught Senior Grand Warden designate , Lord Henniker , the Earl of Lathom , Lord

jersey , Lord JSgerton ot Tatton , Lord Limerick , the Marquis of Hertford Grand Warden , Lord Onslow Junior Grand Warden , the Rev . Canon Portal and Bro . W . W . Beach ( Past Grand Masters ) , Colonel Sir F rancis Burdettand some hundreds of Past and Present

, wand Officers , Provincial Grand Officers , and representatives of India , the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown . The usual preliminaries having been observed , the Most Worshipful Grand Master was saluted

ytih . the customary honours , and the Grand Secretary V ^ ro . Frederick Binckes ) read the notice convening the s P ecial meeting of Grand Lodge , and so much of the ^ "mtes of the Half-yearly Communication of Tuesday , Jj June , as related to the election of Most Worshipful G . taster and Grand . Treasurer . The rputine business having

Mark Masonry.

been disposed of , Bro . M . J . Rowley , of the Royal Savoy Mark Lodge , presented to the Grand Lodge a beautifully bound volume of the Sacred Law , on the front cover of which was inserted a well executed portrait of the Prince of Wales in his clothing as Grand Mark Master Mason , together with a richly embroidered velvet cushion , bearing the arms of his Royal Highness , and the Prince of Wales' plume , the latter being the work of Bro . Rowley himself . On the first leaf of the Bible waB the following

inscription : — " This Bible , with velvet cushion , worked in silk embroidery , is presented to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales by Brother M . J . Rowley , Royal Savoy Lodge , No . 355 , on the occasion of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales being installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master . 1 st July 1886 . "

Lord Kintore , in the name of the brethren assembled , thanked Bro . Rowley for his handsome and valuable gifts to the Grand Lodge . The Grand Master then appointed a deputation for the purpose of introducing his Royal Highthe Prince of Wales , consisting of two Grand Stewards , two Masters of Lodges , Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Robert Berridge , P . G . M . O . ) , Grand Secretary

( Bro . F . Binckes ) , Grand Registrar ( Bro . F . Richardson ) two Grand Chaplains ( Bros . Rev . H . Cummings and Rev . J . W . Lemon , M . A . ) , two Past Grand Wardens , two Provincial Grand Masters , and two Past Grand Masters . In that order the deputation re-entered the Hall , followed by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the apron of the Grand

Master being borne on a cushion by Bro . C . E . Soppet W . M . Old Kent Lodge T . I ., and the chair and jewel of the G . M . by Bro . J . Collins W . M . Bon Accord Lodge T . I . As the procession passed up the Hall the National Anthem was played on the organ by Bro . E . J . Hoare Grand Organist , the brethren standing to order . Bro . the Rev . H . Cummings , Grand Chaplain , then offered prayer , and the Most Worshipful Grand Master administered the usual obligation to the , Prince of Wales , whom he invested and i i ii mt i i - ¦• . ¦• .-

placed on tne inrone amidst prolonged and enthusiastic applause . The M . W . Past Grand Master was conducted to his chair on the left of the Throne , after which his Royal Highness was proclaimed and saluted , and the ceremony of installation was completed in masterly manner , by Lord Kintore , who , addressing the newly-installed M . W . Grand Master said , the brethren were desirous the first opportunity should be taken that he might give expression to the feelings of loval devotion and pleasure which were

felt by every Mark Mason in Great Britain , and in the Greater Britain beyond the seas , at the step which the Prince had been pleased to take that day . He desired to explain to his Royal Highness that the large gathering present was but a section of those who desired to attend , still it was sufficient to fill the largest available hall in

London , This was not an occasion on which he need address the newly-installed Grand Master on his duties , because the Prince was not in the habit of undertaking any duty that he was not willing and able to perform . Freemasonry owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Prince of Wales , and he would greatly increase that debt by the

step he had taken that day . Mark Masons could never properly discharge the debt they owed to his Royal Highness , and could only ask him to receive their expressions of devotion and loyalty as an instalment of interest .

In the course of his observations on the progress of Mark Masonry , the noble Earl remarked that the Mark degree , as ifc at present existed , was founded ; in 1856 . There were