Elective Offices In Freemasonry.

be drawn between the holders of that office and other officials of Grand Lodge . Such being the case it may be asked what is the best way to improve the status of the office ? and in reply we answer , the first step must be in the direction of removing all cause for

suspicion as to the means of securing election . When that is put on a firm and satisfactory basis , a movement will have been taken towards making the honours of the office more in accordance with its name .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge was held on Tuesday evening , at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , W . C . The Earl of Euston D . G . M . presided . Bro . C . Letch Mason Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire acted as D . G . M ., Col . A . B . Cook as G . S . W ., and Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., as J . W .

After Grand Lodge had been formally opened , the minutes of Grand Lodge of December 1891 , and of the Special Grand Lodge of 27 th January 1892 , were read and confirmed .

Bro . Matier , before the minutes of the special Grand Lodge were put for confirmation , said he had received the following gracious reply from the Prince of Wales to the address of condolence passed at the Special Grand Lodge : —

Marlborough Houae , 24 th February 1892 . Sir Francis Knollys ia desired to contey to the Pro Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , Grand Officers and Brethren of the Grand

Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown the most sincere thanks of the Prince of Wales for the warm and fraternal sympathy they hare so kindly expressed on the sad occasion of hia Eoyal Higbness ' s great bereavement .

On the motion of tbe Earl of Euston , seconded by Bro . Berridge , it was resolved thafc this reply should be entered on the minntes .

On the motion of Bro . Alfred Williams , seconded by Bro . R . Berridge , the following report of the General Board was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes : —

During the three months ending 31 st December 1891 there have been issued : —Mark certificates 329 ; total number registered , 29 , 088 . Warrants for new Lodges , two , viz .: — No . 438 , Dnncombe , Kingsbridge , Devon . No . 439 , Gloucester , Gloucester .

Royal Ark Marinar certificates , 56 ; total number registered , 3528 , and a Warrant for the Abraham Lodge to be attacbed to the Aubrey Saunders Lodge , No . 106 . The Right Worshipful Captain S . G . Homfray , J . P ., has been re-appointed Provincial Grand Master for Monmouthshire for a further term of three years .

By command of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , a Special Grand Lodge was held on 27 th Januaay 1892 , which was presided over by tbe Right Hon . the Earl of Euston , Right Worshi pful Deputy Grand Master , in tbe unavoidable absence of the

Most Worshipfnl Pro Grand Master Most Hon . Marquess of Hertford , through serious indisposition . The lamented death of H . R . H . the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , K . G ., waa alluded to in the most feeling manner by the Earl of Euston , Grand Master in the chair , and loyal

and respectful votes of sympathy and condolence were unanimously passed to Her Most Gracious . Majesty the Queen , to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales , and to His Royal Highness tbe Prince of Wales , K . G ., Most Worshipfnl Grand Master .

The Board having considered a serious irregularit y in the Lawrence Lodge , No . 313 , Chorley , find that Brother Joseph Hopkinson was installed at a Lodge of Emergency , and in consequence only served eleven months in the chair

hia successor having been installed on the day appointed by fche Bye-Laws . The Board have directed that the Lodge be fined two guineas , and recommend that Brother Joseph Hopkinson be confirmed in the rank and privileges of Past Maater . Bro . T . Ormiston having been installed in the Cumberland Lodge , No . 60 , Carlisle , at a Lodge of Emergency , the Board have directed that such installation be cancelled ,

Grand Mark Lodge.

nnd thafc Bro . Ormiston bo re-obligated and re-installed at a regular meetine :.

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE . The Sub-Committee on Education have carefully considered the annual reports of tho Head Masters and Mistresses of tho Schools afc which the various pupils on the Fund are being educated , ancl have awarded the silver

medal for proficiency in studies and general excellence to Grace Waugh Burns , educated at Girls' Collegiate School , Cambridge House , Newbery , and Jeremiah Saville , educated at the Higher Board School , Halifax .

The Board have elected without a poll two candidates for tho Annuity Fund , viz ., Eliza Wood Trebeck and Alexander Rowe , and have to report the death of Alexander Mole , who was the first annuitant elected on the Fund .

Seven brethren and four widows are now in receipt of annuities . The Board have relieved the following cases : —

Bro . B . R ., No . 72 £ 20 0 0 Mrs . E . W . T ., widow of a brother of No . 5 10 0 0 Bro . H . M . C , No . 60 20 0 0

( Signed ) A . B . COOK President , FKANK HICHARDSON Vice President , C FITZGERALD MATIER Grand Secretary . On the motion of Bro . Col . A . B . Cook , seconded by Bro . Berridge , the recommendation respecting Bro Hopkinson was adopted .

Brother Rear-Admiral Markham then said : Most Worship ful Grand Master in the Chair , and Brethren , — I rise wifch a great deal of pleasure to make the proposal which I am quite sure will be acceptable to you all afc this meeting , for it is to propose his Royal Highness the Prince

of Wales as our Most Worshipfnl Grand Master for the ensuing year . It may perhaps be in the recollection of some of those in Grand Lodge this evening , and who attended the last regular meeting of Grand Lodge some three months ago , when I had the honour of nominating

his Royal Highness as our Mosfc Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing twelve months , thafc 1 then alluded to events in connection with his Royal Higbness ' s family which were giving unfeigned satisfaction , pleasure , and joy to the whole country . What I alluded to then was first

the recovery of his Hoyal Highness s second son , Prince George , from a serious and dangerous illness , aud secondly , the proposed union of his Royal Higbness ' s eldest son , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , with a beloved English Princess . That joy and that happiness , as you all know ,

have been turned into mourning , and Mark Masons , together with the whole nation , have mourned and continue to mourn with their Royal Highnesses the Princo and Princess of Wales in the irreparable loss which they and we hare sustained by the death of tho Duke of Clarence .

But , brethren , it is unnecessary for me , I think , further to allude to this painful subject . We have alread y in Grand Lodge , in those feeling addresses which the Grand Secretary has jnst read to us , expressed our sympathy and condolence with his Royal Highness in his great bereavement . In

making this proposition that I am now about to submit to Grand Lodge , although it may seem only an act of formality , yet ifc is one I feel which will require no words of mine to commend ifc to your favourable notice , but that it will meet with your hearty and unanimous reception . It

would be unbecoming of me , and quite unnecessary , to dilate on his Royal Higbness ' s sterling good qualities and the great interest he always takes iu Freemasonry ; but perhaps I may illustrate what I say by reminding tbe brethren that only last week when wo were celebrating the Jubilee

Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , surrounded by his own family circle and in the midst of his great sorrow and grief , yefc found timo to think of his brethren and to send a

telegram to convey to the meeting bis heartiest good wishes for its snccess . This , I think , must be conclusive evidence of the interest His Royal Highuess takes in the Craffc Bro . Alfred F . Church P . G . Steward seconded the

proposition , which was carried . Bro . Robert Berridge G . D . C . proclaimed H . R . H . the

Prince of Wales duly elected . Bro . Gordon Miller Grand Treasnrer proposed Bro . Sir Augustus Harris as Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year . Bro . Major Carrell P . G . Steward , W . M . 431 , seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . Graud Mark Lodge was then closed .