Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

The following brethren were nominated bv tho Grand Master to gervo on the General Board -. —Bros . R « v . C . uwu Portal President , Frecl .-ric Davison , A . Williams , C . II . P . ar 3 on , W . Roebuck , R . P .

Spice , and T . Cnbitt ; while tho following were elected by Grand Lodge : —Bros . George Cooper , Charles H . Driver , A . F . Godson , R . Loveland Loveland , aud John L . Mather .

Yotes of regret at the death of Bros . H . C . Levandei and Dr . Hopkins having been passed , Graud Lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to tho Holborn Restaurant to banquet , which was presided over by tho

Grand Mark Master . The toasts of the Queen and Mark Masonry having been honoured P . G . M . Canon Portal proposed the Grand Mark Master . The toast was one which came naturally after that of the Queen , as the Grand

Master was their Masonic sovereign . They bad ample illustration of the geniality of their Grand Master . All his life be had been engaged in upholding the flag of Freemasonry , and was now almost at the highest office

both in Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of Scotland . He was sure the brethren rejoiced that in the person of the Earl of Kintore the bonds of union between English and Scottish Freemasons were so

closely drawn together . It rejoiced him very much , after more years than he cared to look back upon , to find that all degrees of Masonry were pulling together , without any of that jealousy and uncomfortable feeling which

undoubtedl y did exist in days gone by . Although it might perhaps be invidious to point to any one that had taken the lead in abolishing this feeling of jealousy , he could honestly say , looking back to tbe history of their Degree ,

that it was owing to the liberality and Masonic spirit of tbe thirty-third that that result bad been achieved . The Earl of Kintore , in reply , said of all races of men who , in his short life , he had been privileged to meet , he thought

Freemasons were the most long suffering . For no other reason could he account for tho brethren ' s kind reception of him . The best he could do he had honestly done . He had tried to hold his office creditably , and with

the assistance of the Grand Officers hoped still to do so . Among these he would like to mention the services of the Grand Secretary , and the President of the General Board . During his year of office charters had

been granted for 16 new Lodges , while 657 certificates had been issued ; and they had £ 6 , 300 invested . Grand Lodge had that day resolved to make up what had been lost to different funds by tbe failure of their bankers . He looked forward with interest to tha result of the Festival of the

Mark Benevolent Fund , which would be held , under the presidency of the Deputy Grand Master , at the Crystal Palace next month , and he felt sure that next year he should find further opportunity of forwarding the interests

of Mark Masonry . Bro . Kelly proposed the Past Grand Masters , coupling with the toast the name of Canon Portal , whose immense services to the Order every Mark Master

would readily acknowledge . Canon Portal replied ; all the Past G . Masters , from the time of Lord Leigh to the I . P . M . had endeavoured to do their bpsfc . To none were

they more indebted than to Lord Henniker , in whose rei gn the Prince of Wales and tbe Duke of Albany became important additions to the Order . He was delighted to be able to state , on behalf of the Grand Master , that there

was every reason to believe that Prince Edward of Wales would be admitted under the banner of this Order , in the Isaac Newton Lodge at Cambridge . Sir F . Burdett proposed the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers ,

and said that under Lord Egerton of Tatton the interests and success of the Order were quite safe . After a response from Colonel Somerville Burney , Bro . Col . Shad well II . Clerke proposed tbe toast of

Success to the Mark Benevolent Fund . It was gratifying to see what was being done through the agency of this Fund , which was firmly established on a substantial basis , ibis was evidenced by the number of children who were

oeing assisted in their education from it ; moreover , the grants made in the Grand Lodge that day were fnrther illustration of the good work that was being carried on .

"J conclusion , L > o \ . Olerke advocated the establishment of } t Fund for the special relief of aged and decayed members or the Mark Degree and their widows . Bro . F . Binckes Tf'plied . He commenced by expressing bis gratification 11 ^ 4 . n _ ... „ .,. ¦; < , , ^ r . , . mcitwie

proposition ot this toast bad been entrusted to a brother holding a similar position in Craft Masonry to that Je himself filled in the Mark . Tbe interest manifested in the Mark Degree was greatly on the increase . He then fetched the history of the Festivals in connection with

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

the Mark Benevolent Fund , and showed how the interest taken iu its working had steadily progressed . It was tho desire of those associated with the Fund to anticipate calamity , and struggle to avert it rather than

to wait until those who sought relief were literally crushed by misfortune . Lord John Taylonr proposed the health of the Visitors , with which toast was associated the name of Bro . D . P . Cama , who , in reply , thanked the company for

the kind reception given to the toast . He regretted his command of English precluded him from expressing himself so adequately as he could desire , but if he fell back on his own language he was fully aware he should be equally

unintellig ible . What he desired to convey was , that he fully recognised the cosmopolitanism of Freemasonry . With respect to what had been said as to bis contributions on behalf of tho Charities of the Order , he had simply

subscribed according to his means , and as a humble representative of the two hundred millions of Eastern subjects , whom he felt justified in proclaiming among the most faithful adherents of the Empress of India . The musical arrancrements were entrusted to Bro . Edward J . Hoare

G . O ., who was assisted by Bros . John Probert , Egbert Roberts , and Thomas Tremere . The latter brother , however , was compelled to leave early , to fulfil an engagement at Buckingham Palace , but Bros . Probert and Roberts ably compensated for the absence of their confrere .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire will be held on Thursday next , the 11 th inst ., at Northampton , the R . W . Prov . Grand Master His Grace tbe Duke of Manchester

having accepted the invitation of the Eleanor Cross Lodge , No . 1764 , to hold the meeting under the banner of that Lodge . The members of the Eleanor Cross being exceedingly anxious the visit of tbe brethren shall be a pleasant

one , are making exceptional eftorts to entertain those who may attend , the meeting . At 12 . 30 the Eleauor Cross Lodge will be opened at the Town Hall , and at 12 . 45 Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened , and the business

of the year transacted . The brethren will attend Divine Service at all Saints' Church , at 3 o ' clock , when a sermon will be preached by Bro . the Rev . S . J . W . Sanders , M . A . and LL . M ., Prov . Grand Chaplain , and a collection made

in aid of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and the Peterborough Cathedral Restoration Fund . A banquet will be served at the Peacock Hoi el , at 5 o ' clock , and at 8 a Conversazione will be held in the Town Hall , including performances of vocal and instrumental music and a

reading , illustrated by bepia sketches ( by the late Mr . G . J . De Wilde ) . Dissolving Views will also be exhibited b y Bro . T . P . Dorman P . P . G S ,, while an efficient band will be in attendance for dancing . Dispensations have been

granted by the authorities of the Craft , Royal Arch , Mark , Royal Ark Mariners , Rose Croix , Kni ghts of the Temple , and other Masonic bodies , to wear the clothing of their respective degrees at the Conversazione , while

by arrangement with the Committee of the Northampton Fine Art Exhibition the corridors and gallery , containing their loan collection of pictures , will be open to the brethren during the evening . Tickets for the banquet

( which also admit to the Conversazione ) are 6 s (> d each , and those for the Conversazione ( for Masons and their friends 2 s 6 d each ) . These latter are not transferable , and as the circular announcing the meeting states they " must "

be applied for before the 5 th inst ,, we fear it is too late for those who havo not already applied to obtain any . We cordially wish the Eleanor Cross brethren success in their efforts .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will take place to-day , at the Toivn Hall , Uxbridge , at 3 p . m . It is expected that the Provincial Grand Master , Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., will preside in person , and there is every prospect of a l . irge attendance of brethren .

Tbe consecration of tbe Chiswiek Mark Lodge , which was announced for the 20 th inst ., has been deferred till the 27 th , tbe former dato being the day appointed for tbe

annual entertainment at the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , thereby preventing the attendance of Brother F . Binckes , who is to be consecrating Officer . Tho meetings of the " Chiswiek" are to be held at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge .