Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

KEYSTONE LODGE , No . 109 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonio Hall , Newport , on Monday , 24 th nit . There was a large gathering of Mark Maaters from the Provinces of Monmouth and Sonth Wales , when Bro . George Hazell was installed as Worshipful Master . The following Officers and brethren of the Keystone Lodge were present : — Bros . S . G . Homfray Prov . G . Master , T . G . Jones , Alfred Taylor , VV .

Whitley , W . Watkins , S . Davies . Among the numerous visitors were the Master of the Langley Lodge , No . 28 , Cardiff , Bro . John Sheridan P . G . S . W ., and the following Officers : —N . D . Marks P . M . P . G . Secretary . J . Monday P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., J . H . Taylor P . P . G . Registrar , W . H . Williams P . G . Supt . Works , Thos . James P . P . G . D . C ,

A . W . Price 28 , and R . Jenkins 28 . The Worshipful Master appointed and invested his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —T . G . Jones I . P . M ., W . Mitchell S . W ., J . Phillips J . W ., A . Thornton M . O ., J . Shnte S . O ., F . G . Phillips J . O ., Richards Organist , J . Herbert

Registrar , C . F . Goooh S . D ., and A . Millar J . D . Lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Weatgate Hotel , where an excellent banquet , which reflected the highest credit on the host ( Bro . S . Dean ) was followed by the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts . The Cardiff brethren returned by special train , after the banquet .

Consecration Of The Collin Lodge Of Royal Ark Mariners, No. 151.

CONSECRATION OF THE COLLIN LODGE OF ROYAL ARK MARINERS , No . 151 .

ON Thursday , the 30 th nit , this interesting event took place in the Freemasons' Hall , EaglesQeld Street , Maryport , the ceremony beiDg performed by Worshipful Brothers Colonel F . R . Sewell P . C . N . 3213 D . P . G . M . M . M . Cumberland and Westmoreland , and George Dalrymple , P . C . N . 213 P . P . G . S . W . P . G . A . D . C . of England . Previous to the consecration the Lodge was opened by Worshipfal Brother Collin P . C . N . 213 , and Brother Sewell , assisted by Brother Gardiner

I . 213 . The following brethren were elevated to the degree : — Brothers Edward B . Penrioe , Joseph Abbott , Thomas Atkinson , Thomas Swainson , Thomas Annison , John Messenger , Robert Brown , John Smith , and Joseph Reed . The consecrating Offioer , Worshipful Brother Dalrymple , having taken the chair and appointed his Officers , the ceremony was prooeeded with ; and an oration having been

delivered by Brother the Rev . James Anderson , P . M . P . G . S . W ., the Collin Ark Lodge was solemnly consecrated and dedicated with the customary formalities of the Order . Brother P . de E . Collin P . C . W . of 3213 , the W . C . N , designate , was next installed as the Commander for the ensuing year . The Treasurer and Tyler were also elected , and the following Officers appointed and invested : —Joseph Nicholson P . O . N ., Wor . Bro . Colonel F . R . Sewell T ., J . R . Leach S . D ., Thomas

Mandle S ., George Scott J . D ., Joseph Gardiner Treasurer , Joseph Abbott D . of C , Joseph G . Scott Scribe , John Smith Organist , T . Swainson Steward , Thomas Atkinson Guard , John Messenger Tyler . A hearty vote of thanks was then accorded to the consecrating Officers , the compliment being duly acknowledged . After other buBiuess had been transacted the Lodge was duly closed , and the brethren adjourned , on the invitation of the W . C . N ,, to the ante-room , where refreshments were provided .

Consecration Of The William Shurmur Lodge, No. 2374.

CONSECRATION OF THE WILLIAM SHURMUR LODGE , No . 2374 .

ON Monday , 24 th November , Lord Brooke , M . P ., as Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Essex , visited Chingford , and at the Royal Forest Hotel oonseorated the William Shnrmor Lodge , No . 2374 , on the Register of the Grand Lodge of England , and bringing up the number of Lodges nnder his Lordship ' s rule to thirty-two . The Officers who assisted his Lordship were Bros .

Richard Clowes P . P . S . G . W . as S . W . ( acting in the absence , through indisposition , of Bro . J . J . C . Turner Grand Senior Warden of the year ) , J . M . Scarlett Prov . G . J . W . as J . W ., Rev . William Quennell , Vicar of Tring , P . P . G . Chap , as Chaplain , Thomas J . Railing P . G . A . D . C . Eng . Prov . G . Sec . as Sec , Albert Lacking P . G . P . Eng .

Prov . Grand Dir . of Cer . D . C . and . W . B . Heagerty Prov . G . Reg . as I . G . The ceremony of Installing the W . M . Bro . William Shnrmor was to have been performed by the V . W . D . P . G . M . Bro . Fred A . Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ( Reoorder of Colchester ) , but in biB unavoidable absence the duty was ably fulfilled by Bro . Albert Lucking . At the conclusion of the business , a vote of thanks was passed to Lord

Brooke and the other Provincial Grand Officers , for the part they hud taken in the ceremony ; they were severally elected Honorary Members , and each presented with a handsome Founder ' s jewel . There was one of the largest assemblies of Freemasons ever witupssed at a gathering of the kind in the county , some 400 being at the Lodge , and about 300 sitting down to the dinner which followed .

Cornish Freemasons will hear with regret of the death of Bro . William Lean , of Chacewater , which occurred on Saturday , 22 nd alt ., nfter a short - illnesp . Bro . Lean was 80 years of age , und was for 33 years Tyler of Boscawen Lodge ( 699 ) , Chacewater . At the funeral , which took place in the churchyard at Chacewater , i ) i- re

was a large attendance of friends and acquaintances . The memburs of the deceased ' s Lodge walked in procession with tbe W . M . Bro . W . Hall , and some of them acted as bearers . The burial service was very impressively read by Bro . the Rev . Frazer . Frizcll , Provincial Grand Chaplain .

Did Freemasonry Originate Among The Druses?

DID FREEMASONRY ORIGINATE AMONG THE DRUSES ?

A FEW months ago I had occasion to enter into a business contract with one of my Druse farmers . Wh > n we were about to draw up the agreement , the Dm ? e suggested that , as he could neither read nor write , wo shonld ratify the bargain in the manner customary nmong his people . This consists of a solemn grasping of har > da together in the peaence of two or th * -p * othor Drnaes as witnesses , whilst the agreement is recited by both parties . Being

always on tho qui vive to gam a p-actical iiwight into the manners and customs of the Druses , I readily consented to this form of contract , hoping thereby to learn something more of their methods of procedure . Accordingly the farmer brought three of his nei g h , bours to me ; and the terms of our contract having been made known to them , one of tbem took the right h ^ nd of o . ioh of ns and

joined th « m together , whilst he dictated to as what to say aftir him . To my groat astonishment , the Druse who was grasping my han d gave me the grip of Master Mnson ! I immediately returned it , to his equal surprise . He asked me how iind where I had learnt their secret sign ; aud this set me on the track of further inquiries , the result of whioh has been to render what was before a very strong belief on

my part an ab .-olule conviotiou . I now feel morally certain that my theory is correct ; and , speaking as a Freemason , and as one who has also searched somewhat fatly into the mystic tenets of the Druses , I can assert that , in many particulars , tbe esoterio teaohing of both sys . terns is more or less identic il . Owing to the extreme secrecy and exclusiveness of the Druse character , it is most difSoult to gain an

insight into their inner rights and tenets ; and it requires many years of intercourse with them , and the firm establishment of relations of mutual confidence and trust , before one can be in a position to learn nnything concerning them . But , speaking from experience , I can only say that if those who are qualified to pursue the subject further , will investigate carefully fur themselves this most interesting matter ,

they will be more and more convinced of the truth of my statement , and cannot fail to be persuaded that the origin of Freemasonry is to be traced to the ancestors of the Druses , and that these ancestors were the Phoenician mountaineers of the Lebanon , who were the subjects of Hiram , King of Tyre . As might have been expected

under these circumstances , the Druses are essentially a mountaineering race ; there not being a single Druse village situated upon a plain , either in the Lebanon district , across the Hauran , or in the Holy Land proper . —From "The Druses of the Holy Land , " by Ilaskett Smith , iu Blackwood's Magazine for December 1890 .

Concert By The " Old Masonians."

CONCERT BY THE " OLD MASONIANS . "

THIS interesting event for the " Old Boys " took plaoe , at Anderton '» ITote 1 , Fleet Street , on Friday , 28 th nit . W . Bro . Jamefl Terry P . G . S . B ., President of the Association , took the chair , and wafl supported by Bro . J . M . MoLeod Secretary of R . M . I . B . and others . Although the weothor was most inclement , a full attendance was obtained . Tho concert went off without a hitch , and was most

successful . Darintr the evening the Hon . Sec . Mr . 11 . S . Chandler , in a few words , cffjivd the con ^ nitnlutions of tho "Old Masonians " to Bro . McL ^ od on his eleotion to the offioe of Secretary of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys . Ho also drew attention to the fact that sevctal old pnpils of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls were present , and he trusted it w » s a sigu of their eventually

including the " Old Girls" in their Association and itajbenefifcs . He further said he desired that the " Old Masonians" should always be known for their adherence to the three great principles of Freemasonry—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Charity . Mr . C . H . Uwina proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman . Bro . Terry , in replying , said ho wished the Old Masonians every success , and would do

his best to forward their interests . Wo append the programme , which wns most suereajfolly rendered throughout . PART I . —Sonsr , " Marching , " Trotere , A . H . Stephenson ; Song , " She wandered Down The Mountain Side , " Clay , Miss E . Bloomfield ; Song , " Hash ! the Bogie Man , " Lonnen , G . Brooks ; Violin Solo , " Berceuse , " I . I . Aaarman , A . Balcorabe ; Song , " Beauty ' s Eyes , "

Tosti . F . Isaac ; Song , "Loinore , Trotere , Miss Uwina ; bong , " English as she is spr kr , " French , C . H . UwinB ; Recitation , " The Dandy Fifth , " Gassowoy , F . Dyer ; Song , "Why are you waudering here ? " Tosti , Mis 3 Stephenson ; Song , " Love ' s old sweet song , " Molloy , W . J . Packer ; Song ( Humorous ) , "Up to Date , " BignellA . B . Whiteley .

, pAW II—Song , " The Diver , " E . J . Loder , W . J . Packer ; Song , "Dear Heart , " Tito Mattei , Miss Uwins ; Pianoforte Solo , " Wellenspiel nnd Ballade , " Hoffman , Miss Gough ; Song ( Hnmorons ) , " The Polka and the Choir Boy , " C . Grain , C . H . Uwius ; Song , "My mother bid * me bind my hair , " Haydn , Miss Stephenson ; Song ,

"Maid of Athens-, " Allen , F . Isaac ; Song ( Humorous ) , "My First Cigar , " C . Grain , A . B . Whiteley ; Song , "The Quaker , " S . Adams , A . H . Stephenson ; Song , " Of pheus with his Lute , " Sullivan , Miss E . Bloomfield ; Violin Solo , " Romanesco , " G . St . George , A . Balcombe ; Song ( Humorous ) , " A fine old Irish Gentleman , " Chambers , ( T . Brooks . N / mojrAr ., ANTHEM .

Bro . W . W . B . Bnaeh , M . t \ , speaking at Portsmouth on the 20 th nit ., said there never was a time when Freemasonry exercised so pnverful an influence for good throughout the civilised world , and so far from there being any indication that that influence was on the wan " , the signs were all the other way , an ! pointed t : > a progressive period of usefulness in the cause of charity , benevoUuce , and loving br itherhood . —Hampshire Independent .

Following up tho announcement we made that the annual festival o' the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonio Benevolent and Educational Association will be held at Southampton on 8 th Dec , we may utate that several of the Lodges in the Town have appointed a representative Steward on the occasion , and made a grant to tho fnnds . The average coat per annum of tho children under the care ¦ » f the Institution is only £ 12 . Tho Grand Master of the Province ,