Warwickshire.

WARWICKSHIRE .

nnHERE was only one cause for regret in connection with _ L a Masonic Festival held at Stoneleigh on the 3 rd inst , and that was that Lord Leigh , the venerable Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , was unable to be at home to receive his guests . Flis lordship is at present in London , and he

sent an apology for absence , in which it was stated that he had been forbidden by his medical man to attend any public functions . Otherwise the Lord of Stoneleigh would have

rejoiced in being amongst the Brethren , for the object of the gathering was to raise funds for the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and Pupils Aid Fund , which is very near to this grand old Freemason ' s heart .

For 25 years the Fund has ministered to the needs of distressed Masons and their dependents , and there are at present sixteen receiving aid from it , of whom all , save one , are ladies . The fund amounts to nearly £ 7 , 000 , which is far from enough to satisfy the thorough-going members of

the Craft in the county , and so a spirited effort is being made to increase it by a substantial amount . It was with this view that the thirty-two Warwickshire Lodges organised Tuesday ' s

Festival , and it must have gratified the many who have worked hard for some time past to hear the announcement that the result of their united efforts has been to add no less a sum than £ 3 , 156 .

The arrangements for the gathering were made by an influential Committee , of which Councillor G . H . Capewell Hughes , of Birmingham , was Chairman , and everything went off smoothly and successfully , as was only to be expected . Stoneleigh Park was an ideal meeting place . The stately

elms and oaks afforded agreeable shade when the sun shone brilliantly , as it did sometimes , and everywhere was the scent of the new-mown hay , which the harvesters were leisurely turning . With the approach of noon visitors began to arrive from all quarters , and the shrill blast of the

coachhorn constantly awoke the echoes of the spacious park . Two special trains , and both well filled , ran from Birmingham alone . There were conveyances to cover the couple of miles to the park , but many chose the pleasant walk through the fields .

Immediately on the left of the drive up to the Abbey , just where a view of the grand old pile itself could be obtained through the tree-tops , a cluster of tents was pitched on the

greensward . In the largest of these luncheon was laid for over one thousand persons , for on this pleasant occasion the Brethren were accompanied by wives and friends , and there was no business to be transacted with closed doors .

Amongst those who apologised for absence were the Earl of Warwick Deputy Grand Master of England , and the Marquess of Hertford , both engaged in London . At the luncheon , in a large tent , in the absence of Lord Leigh through his indisposition , the chair was taken by Brother

George Beech Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and among those present were Brothers Lord Ernest J . Seymour , Major Burn Callandar , F . G . Swindon Provincial Grand Secretary ,

G . H . Capewell Hughes Prov . G . Deacon Chairman of the Festival Committee , J . T . Collins P . D . P . G . M ., G . E . Wootton Treasurer , and T . G . Pratt Secretary of the Festival Committee .

At the conclusion of luncheon , the Deputy Provincial Grand Master proposed the Loyal toasts . Lord Ernest Seymour , in proposing the health of Lord Leigh , said they all sincerely deplored the cause of the

Provincial Grand Master ' s absence . Lord Leigh ' s great qualities were well known to all , and they as Freemasons particularly knew his worth . He had ruled over the Province forty-eight years . The toast was received with cheers and musical honours .

Brother Collins submitted the health of the Vice President , which was responded to by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master , who said the response they had received that day to " the appeals in aid of the Pupils Aid Fund should encourage them .

The Hon . Secretary announced that the returns from the Lodges , & c , up to the time of the meeting made a total of over £ 3 >! 56- It is expected that before the fund is completed the total will have reached /" 3 , 500 .

After luncheon the visitors dispersed to spend the rest of the afternoon as inclination led . The Abbey , with its art treasures and curios , was open for inspection ; so were . the gardens and grounds . Some visited the deer park , a couple of miles away . A cricket pitch was placed at the disposal

Warwickshire.

of those who felt capable of undue exertion , and for those desirous of resting in the open air Mr . Handel Phasey ' s orchestral band played sweet and soothing music . An al fresco tea was served near the Abbey , and near the deer park .

Thunder was heard in the distance more than once , but the weather continued fine until just before six o ' clock , when a smart shower fell , causing the company to disperse a little earlier than was anticipated .

Victoria.

VICTORIA .

r 11 PIERE are some 20 , 000 Brethren in the colony of Victoria , JL and a representative body of them attended at the Freemasons' Hall , Melbourne , on the occasion of the installation of Bro . A . J . Peacock , M . L . A , as Grand Master . The new ruler expressed his obligation to the Craft for having placed him in such an honourable position . It was a

compliment paid not only to himself but to the younger generation in Masonry as a whole . While he had health and strength—no one doubted his energy and enthusiasm—he

would do his best to carry out the duties of his high office , so that none of the Masons in the territory of Victoria would feel that they had been brought into discredit by having selected him as their head .

At the conclusion of proceedings in Lodge a banquet was held in the main Hall , and was attended by about 400 members of the Craft .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

OUNMOW LODGE . ON the occasion of the Consecration of this Lodge , No . 527 , at Dunmow , briefly noticed in our issue of the 16 th ult , Col . Lockwood , M . P ., D . P . G . M . M . officiated on behalf of the E ^ rl of W arwick Provincial Grand Master , who was then abroad recruiting his health . The gallant Colonel reached Dunmow about one o ' clock ;

and was met at the station by the Master-Designate of the new Lodge Bro . J . P . Lewin P . M . 145 342 P . G . Std . Br ., & c , and the Prov . S-G . W . Bro . Claude E . Lgerton-Green , and was conducted to the Saracen ' s Head Flotel , where , with the other Provincial Grand Officers , he was entertained to luncheon by the local Brethren .

Subsequently Lodge was opened by the Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . T . J . Railing P . G . D . and Col . Lockwood having entered , accompanied by his Officers , took the chair and was received with the honours due to his rank . He then briefly addressed the Brethren of the new Lodge . After

expressing regret at the absence of the Provincial Grand Master , the gallant Colonel congratulated the Brethren on being the first fruits of the new Mark Province of Essex , and

trusted that in other parts of the county an impetus might be thereby , given to the Mark Degree , and that before long the Officers of the Province might be called upon to consecrate another Lodge .

The Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro . the Rev . Canon Quennell , in the course of an eloquent address , traced the development of the Masonic life of a man from his entrance into the Craft ; how , gradually , as he advanced in Masonic knowledge , he realised that the foundations on which the

Order rested are laid broad , deep , and strong , and combine reverence to God , obedience to authority , charity , to man . And when they came to the honourable degree of Mark Master , to which it was the privilege of some Masons to be advanced , they saw in it a further adornment and ea moment

of the Masonic structure , and in the principles it taught a further illustration of the perfect character to which both as men and as Masons they should all aspire . They would all , he felt sure , agree , that in that degree the original principles of the Craft were still recognised and , indeedemphasised

, , though , no doubt , further graces springing from them were developed and illustrated in the ceremony . The first was industry—to every man his work—his own especial stone to be fashioned according to the plan and pattern given him

from above ; with the mark of his own individuality stamped upon it- —with a certain reward from One who was just and exact , but who was merciful . A second was patient continuance and perseverance , notwithstanding the disappointment of what at first seemed to be failure , For as an encourage-