Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY . THE members of this Province held their annnal meeting on Monday , under the auspices of the Kintoro Lodge , No . 333 , at the Snrrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road . Tho Right Wor . shipfnl Bro . Colonel Sir Francis Bnrdett , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master , prpsided , and Provincial Grand Lodge was honoured by the

attendance of tho Right Hon . the Earl of Kintoro Most Worshipfnl Grand Master , whilst amongst others who were present we may mention tho following : —Bros . Davison D . P . G . M ., Henry Faija S . W ., J . Proffitt J . W ., Revs . Viscount Molesworth and T . M . Gorman Chaplains , C . Hammerton Treasurer , W . G . Brighten Secretary ,

D . P . Gima M . O ., W . Vincent S . O ., S . E . Taylor J . D ., H . Goodall Snpt . of Works , Pargeter D . C , John Stedman Sword Bearer , James Halliday Standard Bearer , Horace White , J . F . Rumball , J . Smith Stewards , G . Harrison Tyler , H . D . Cama , N . D . Francis , James Lovelock , G . Graveley P . G . S . B ., E . Whittaker , C . W . R . Harrington ,

J . R . Hubbard , C . H . Roborts , E . West , John Aillard , C . Qnennell , W . Fisher , Thomas Clark , W . E . Williams , J . Shilcock , P . McCarthy , C . J . Axford , E . N . Snmner , J . H . Clntton , James Linzell , J . Lavies , M . D ., J . Terry , G . Gardner , John Rhodes , W . A . Scurrah , F . T . Bennett , W . W . Morgan , & c .

' After Provincial Grand Mark Lodge had been formally opened , and the minutes of the last meeting , held 10 th July 1884 , had been confirmed , the roll of Lodges of tho Province was called over , and report made as to the position of each ; this showed there were twenty-eight Lodges , embracing a total membership of 585 , apportioned as follows : —Lodge No . 3 17 . 4 13 , 5 9 , 7 59 , 13 32 , 104 21 , 114 6 ,

139 39 , 144 23 , 173 25 . 176 20 , 181 15 , 197 39 , 198 8 , 199 15 211 22 , 223 17 , 224 19 , 234 30 , 236 13 , 238 17 , 239 17 , 214 19

251 22 , 284 20 , 315 14 , 331 14 , 333 17 . This gives evidence of a considerable increase over last yeir's returns , and is a proof of the prosperity of the Degree in the Province , which is yet fnrther illustrated by the fact that four now Lodges have been warranted during the past few months , one of

whichthe Temperance in the East Lodge , No . 350—has already been consecrated and has enrolled on its list Hie names of no less than twenty-three members . The Treasnrer's accounts were next snbmitted . They show a balance in hand , on acconnt of the General Fnnd of £ 69 15 s , while ( hero stands to the credit of the

Benevolent Fund £ 10 14 s 8 d . The balance-sheet was nnanimonsly adopted . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., was formally nominated and appointed as Provincial Grand Mark Master for a fnrther term of three years , and in acknowledging the compliment he said he was much , obliged for the honour done him . He had been associated

with the Province since its formation—now fifteen years since . He was intensely gratified at the progress it had made since lie had had tbe pleasure of presiding over its destinies . At the time he was referring to there were but five Lodges in the district ; they now numbered thirty-two , with every prospect of still fnrther increasing at an

early date . ¦ Bro . Thomas Clark , 173 , was appointed Steward for the Mark Benevolent Fund Festival , and a contribution of £ 10 10 s was voted from the fnndsof Provincial Grand Lodge in support of his Stewardship . Bro . C . Hammerton P . G . D . C . was re-elected to the office of

Provincial Grand Treasnrer , which compliment he briefly acknowledged ; it was satisfactory to know they had a balance in hand , which was due , in a very great measure , to the exertions of their esteemed Provincial Grand Secretary , Bro . W . G . Brighten . The following were then appointed and invested as Officers for the year .

F . Davison 7 ... ... Deputy Grand Master Hector Helsham , M . D . 5 ... ... Senior Warden G . H . N . Bridges 333 ... ... Junior Warden W . E . Williams 3 ... ... Master Overseer James Terry 315 ... ... Senior Overseer

J . Bonlton . 173 ... ... Junior Overseer Rev . T . M . Gorman 331 ... ... Chaplain Rev . C . H . Roberts 284 ... ... Chaplain C Hammerton 144 ... ... Treasurer W . G . Brighten 4 ... ... Secretary

H . White 7 ... ... Registrar Thos . Clark 173 ... ... Senior Deacon T . Kingston 13 ... .. Junior Deacon J . F . Rnmball ... ... Superintendent of Works J-Smith 176 ... ... Director of Ceremonies

H . Handel 181 ... ... Assist . D . of Ceremonies J . Lovelock ... ... Sword Bearer . E . Whittaker 139 ... ... Standard Bearer A . W . S . Hoare 244 ... ... Organist G . Qnennell 144 ... ... Inner Guard

J . H . Clutton 224 ... " ^ 0 . H . Nevill 333 ... j J . Shilcock 4 ... ! a . , J- Badkin 236 ... \ Stewards H -T . Nell 176 ... 1 Mayer ... I

Bros . Lambert , Hogard , Lardner , and Klenck , in addition to the ^ cognised officials , were appointed the Committee for General " arposes , while the following brethren were recommended for ^ Ppoiutment as Grand Stewards : Bro . J . Boalton , from the Temple Lod ge ; Bro . J . Edwards , from the Prince of Wales Lodge ; Bro .

James Terry , from the Hcnniker Lodge ; and the W . M . elect from the High Cross Lodge . I he next business was to consider the best mode of recognising the past services of tho Provincial Grand Secretary . Bro . Davison , in ° 'giug the matter before Provincial Grand Lodge , refc : red to the eal Bro . Brighten had always displayed , lie felt the time had now

Mark Masonry.

arrived when a Committee should be formed to arrange for the expression in ? ome tangible form of the sentiments of the brethren . Tt , was then proposed that a sum of fifteen guineas shonld bo voted from the Lodge funds ; and that the General Purposes C ' -nnni'tee should decide what form the proposed testimonial should tak <; and

firnngo for it ; i presentation . Ihis proposition was seconded , and supported by the Provincial Grand Master , who readily bore testimony to the good will with which Bro . Brighten entered upon the performance of his duties , Bro . J . M . Klenck a'so spoke in snpport . Ho had had some experience of the dnties attached to the office of

Secretary , and ho could bear testimony to the energy Bro . Brighten brought to bear upon their fulfilment . The vote proposed was unanimously agreed to , and the sum of five guineas set aside for clerical assistance during the year . Provincial Grand Lodge having been closod , tho brethren partook of a banquet , after which the usual toasts were done full justice to .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , INT . — : o : — " International Inventions Exhibition ( South Kensington ) , London 1885 , Railway Guide and Route Book . "

THIS work has been compiled by Mr . J . R . Somers Vino , a brother well known in the Craft ; and i 3 printed and published , under the authority of tho Executive Council , by Messrs . Clowes and Sons : Perhaps no oue is so well qualified to edit and compile a work like that before us as is Mr . Vine . His City work for years past , and his

connection with previous Exhibitions , have given him excellent experience , and the resnlt is a first-rate general book of reference Attached to the work I ' a plan of the building and its contents , showing the approaches and entrances thereto , a scheme of the Inner Circle Railway connections , and a railway map of the lines running

into London from a radius of twenty . five miles . Official advertisementa indicate the general as well as special musical arrangements , and Messrs . Spiersand Pond , the refreshment contractors , tell of tho good things they havo always ready for the hungry visitor , on a scale large and varied enough to meet every want and all pockets . A

general summary of the objects of the Exhibition ia given , and then follow " Useful and Interesting Notes , " which our readers mtiat peruse for themselves . There is a well-digested scheme of railway , omnibus , road-car , and tram-car service , also an admirably compiled table of cab fares and distances . The " Railway Guide and Route

Tables are the most complete we have seen . Taking in the radius already mentioned , every station is given ; the lines they are on , and the fares ( inclusive for tho whole journey , passage through South Kensington subway and admission to the Exhibition ) ; how often trains run is shown , duration of journey , where to change for the South

Kensington trains , what time to leave the building , and times when the last trains leave for home . No visitor should be without this Gnide ; it virtually makes him independent of railway and other officials , and is so plain in its directions that none can mistake the instructions given .

At present we . can do little more than announce the fact that Mr . H . M . Stanley , the African explorer , has written , and that Messrs . Sampsou Low , Marston , Searle , and Rivington , have jast published a new work , entitled " The Congo and the Founding of its Free States . " As the contemporary of and successor to the great

Livingstone , Mr . Stanley has special claims to be heard . His work "How I found Livingstone , " apart from tho value of his own distinct labours , was sufficient to warrant a warm welcome from Englishmen . His other book , " Through the Dark Continent , " consolidated his claims . His present issue , while in some measni'e proceeding on the

same lines as his former books , records other labours and struggles , which , if successful , will result in blessings that can scarcely be imagined , much less described . The Congo is the King of Rivera , and runs a course of over three thousand miles . Trading stations have been established for hundreds of miles , through a country " rich

and fertile almost beyond the dreams of avarice , " comprising " vast areas covered with the finest timber in the world , teeming millions ready and anxious to barter their produce for European manufactures . " The population is estimated to be fifty millions , inhabiting a country the richest and most fertile in Africa . "The International

Congo State , " says the prospectus , " was established by the Berlin We 3 t African Conference , the final act being signed by nineteen plenipotentiaries representing nineteen European powers ; of the 3 e Groat Britain , undoubtedly , has the greatest interest in tho new State , as offeriug her merchants and manufacturers new and almost

unlimited markets for their goods . " As a record of work done , methods employed , results and discoveries , this latest production of Mr . Stanley ought to be received with favour . It affords hope at a time of deep depression , and promises relief when most needed . The work is in two volumes , both of which contain maps and illustra - tions .

Ad00303

FIEE AT FREEMASONS' HALL ! LARGE photographs of tho Temple , taken immediately after the fire , on -1 th May ( suitable for framing ) , 5 s each ; or framed in oak , aecuroly packed , sent to any address in'the United Kingdom , carriage paid , on receipt of cheque for l . ' s . Master * of Mdgns should secure this memorial of the old Temple for their Tiodcfc rooto-. W . G-. P A HK ¦_ R , Photograph -ir , 40 H- ^ h Ho"bom , W . C . Esh » 3 > : ii 5 ) i- (? 'J 5 yo : ir « t