Mark Masonry.

now thirteen Time Immemorial Lodges , and 375 Warranted Lodges , divided into 44 Provincial Grand Lodges , including those in New Zealand , South Africa , Natal , Victoria , Tasmania , Gibraltar , India , and other parts of the globe .

The financial position of the Grand Lodge was most satisfactory , and the Mark Benevolent Fund had the happy habit of doubling itself each successive year . He was also glad to say they were in a position of fraternal relationship

with all foreign bodies , with one exception , that of Grand Lodge of Quebec . The presence of Mark Masons from far distant parts of the Queen ' s territories was evidence of the good result attending the Prince of Wales ' s

personal efforts to draw together Colonists to the mother country . He was sure that on this the first great gathering of the Mark Masons held in Her Majesty ' s jubilee year they would all desire to convey to the Queen , from the Mark

Masons of all parts of her vast Empire , the assurance of their unswerving loyalty to her throne . The M . W . Grand Master , who was received with prolonged and enthusiastic cheering on rising to reply , said he begged to thank Lord

Kintore most heartily and sincerely for the address he had just delivered . He feared the noble Lord had referred to him in terms far too kind and flattering . He assured the brethren that he considered it a high honour and

compliment which had been paid him that day , and he accepted the distinguished position of Grand Master of Mark Master Masons with a deep feeling of gratitude , and as a high honour to himself . He assured the brethren that

anything ho could do to further the interests and welfare of the Mark Degree would be done with sincere pleasure . He was most thankful and grateful for the kind feeling the brethren had manifested towards him , and he appreciated

very highly the compliment which had been paid by the Mark Masons who had attended from distant parts of the Empire . Lord Kintore had spoken in kind and feeling terms of his beloved mother the Queen . It would afford

Her Majesty sincere gratification to know the kind terms in which her name had been mentioned , and the hearty manner in . which it was invariably received in all parts of the globe , and especially in a meeting of this description .

Personally he thanked them from his heart , and he desired to assure them that all he could do for the welfare of Mark Masonry would always be done with very great pleasure . The M . W . Grand Master then appointed and invested the Grand Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —

Bro . The Earl of Kintore - - Pro Grand Master Lord Egerton of Tatton - . Deputy Grand Master H . R . H . the Dnke of Connaught - Senior Warden lord Saltonn ... Junior Warden

Lieut-Colonel Addison . - Mark Overseer G . Galloway ... Senior Overseer George Kenning - - . Junior Overseer

EJaS^:}*¦<*-James Moon ... Treasurer Frank Richardson - - Registrar Frederick Binckes - Secretary

f£2T"•¦:}«»»*-fSl:::.}*»*>'»««» Lieut-Col . Edis - . - Inspector of Works R . Berridge - - - Director of Ceremonies A . ' M'Dowell ' . ' . [ j Assist . Directors of Cers . C . P . Evans . . . Sword Bearer T . Taylor - . . . ) ei , , 'W . J . Thompson . . . j Standard Bearers Professor Rose ... Organist Vincent .... Inner Guard Pinder - Assist . Inner Guard A . Walkley - - - Tyler G . Edwards , J . Church , J . Boulton , " 1 J . Terry , J . W . Fuller , J . Ram . sayH . C . BurtW . H . Lowick .

, , , „ R . Glasspool , R . Owen , J . T . f Stewards Seller , R . J . Fountaine , E . H . Thome , and R . Fitzhugh -j The Earl of Kintore , on behalf of the Grand Masters '

Lodge , then presented to the Prince of Wales a handsome gold jewel , which His Royal Highness accepted with great cordiality , remarking that it would be a gratif ying memento of the pleasant proceedings of the day . Grand Lodge was

then closed in form , and the Grand Master with the Grand Officers withdrew in procession , during which a brilliant march was played on the organ by Bro . Rose Grand Organist . Luncheon was afterwards provided in the Venetian Salon of the Holborn Restaurant , to which place

theirRoyal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke

Mark Masonry.

of Connaught proceeded on foot , and being recognised by many people along Great Queen-street and in Little Queenstreet , they were respectfully saluted , and bowed thoir acknowledgments at the demonstrations of loyal feeling .

A sumptuous repast was provided under the personal superintendence of Bro . Hamp , whose arrangements , as usual , were of a most complete and elaborate description , and elicited the utmost approbation from the Royal and other

distinguished guests . The Prince of Wales briefly proposed the health of the Queen , which was received with great enthusiasm . Lord Kintore gave the health of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family ,

acknowledging how much the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught had added to the benefits they had conferred on Masonry by the step they had taken that day . The Most Worshipful Grand Master , in replying , thanked the brethren for the kind reception they had given him .

He hoped he might be spared to meet them on many future occasions , and he only regretted that he could

not remain longer with them , having an engagement to fulfil in the East end of London . The Duke of Connaught said that , as Senior Grand Warden , his first duty was to obey the commands of the

Grand Master , who desired him to respond also . He expressed his high appreciation of the honour that had been done him that day , and was grateful to the Grand Master

for having appointed him as Senior Grand Warden . So far as he had the power , he should carry out the duties of the office to the best of his ability . He hoped that the circumstances—over which he had no control—that would

take him out of the country , might not prevent him from discharging the duties during his year of office . He hoped to be able to show , by his regard to attendance , the interest he took in the duties of the high office which he had been

called upon to hold , and in conclusion he once more thanked the brethren for their kind and hearty reception . A few other complimentary toasts were honoured , but they were very brief , the Prince of Wales having to leave early , in

order to accompany the Princess' of Wales and the young Princesses to Hoxton , where His Royal Highness opened a fine block of industrial dwellings . That neighbourhood was profusely decorated with flags , and the Royal party

was greeted with a most enthusiastic reception . The dedeparture of the Grand Master was the signal for a break up of the company , and thus early in the afternoon the guests who had assisted at this auspicious event gradually withdrew .

The Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY .

THIS Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , 8 a Red Lion Square , High Holborn London , on Monday the 28 th June , and was well attended by representatives of the several Lodges in the Province , and a goodly array of Provincial Grand Officers , as well as

past and present Officers of the Grand Mark Lodge . Every available portion of the Hall was occupied , and but for the excellent arrangements for ventilation provided by the large lantern roof , the discomfort of a large meeting on an intolerably hot day would have been great and

almost unendurable . As it was , however , a fair amount of unvitiated atmosphere was obtainable , and the usefulness of this Hall for the meetings of Masonic Lodges or moderately large gatherings of the Brethren for Masonic purposes was amply demonstrated . The Worshipful Masters ,

Wardens , and Brethren who represented the Provincial Lodges assembled shortly before five o ' clock , at which hour the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , accompanied by his present and past

Officers , entered the Hall in procession , and the Provincial Grand Lodge was at once opened , There were present at the opening and during the meeting the following Grand Officers of the province , viz : —

Bros . Fredk . Davison P . G . W . Dep . Grand Master , G . H . Newington Bridges J . W ., Thos . Murray Gorman Chaplain , C . Hammerton Treas ., Horace White Registrar , Wm . G . Brighten Secretary , W . E . Williams M . O ., J . Terry S . O ., Thos . Clarke S . D ., Thomas Kingston J . D ., John F . Rumball Supt . of Wks ., J . Smith Dir . of Cers ., Ebenezer

VVhittaker Sword Bearer , Jas . F . Lovelock Standard Bearer , E . J . Hoare Organist , Cecil Quennell I . G ., H . J . Clutton , Jas . Shilcock , Philip A . Scratchley Stewards , John Gilbert Tyler . The Past Grand Officers , Masters , and Wardens present were Bros . Berridge P . G . J . W . 104 , H . T . Goodall P . P . GJ . W . W . M . 239 , Wm . Yinoent P . G . S . 0139 ,