Freemasonry In North Wales And Salop.

strike us that the benefits of such a Lodge were as fully appreciated as they deserve to bo , and the result in laxity of attendance at the parent Lodge itself , as well as in that vitality which is so necessary to tho healthy action of a body corporate was , we regret to say , hut too

apparent . Iso . 262 has a Royal Arch Chapter attached to it , bnt we fear this branch of Freemasonry is confined to a class , and its influence is therefore far moro restricted than is desirable . This is no doubt due to causes which are more poAverful in a comparatively small provincial town

than elsewhere , but the drawback is by no means irremovable , and we trust that in future Craftsmen will exert themselves to work harmoniously together . There is plenty of young blood in both Lodges , and the members , whom we have consequently

grouped together for the purpose of offhand description , possess many estimable qualities which cannot fail to be of excellent service when the opportunity for displaying them arrives . As proof of the energv which somo of the

•members display , wo may mention that Comp . J . B . Boucher travels regularly from London in order to attend his duties as H ., while Bros . J . S . Davies and E . M . Wakemen journey nil the way , one from Oswestry , and the other from near Bridgnorth . If these can exhibit thus much

zeal and punetuahfv , it is certainly in thepower of those wbo are resident in Shrewsbury itself to be as zealous and punctual . It is well also to state that the Craft is greatly indebted to Bros . R . Lewis , G . H . Hankey , and . 7 . D . Bnpnnll , Past Masters , W . Morris , W . Master , and J Vine ,

Spcorarv of Lodgo No . 117 , ns well ns to Bros . S . Wood , T . Onions , J . B . Boucher , and « T . D . Bagnall , Past Masters of No 262 . We can bnt add a hope that their example will be duly appreciated by others , and that in the future both Lodges will enjoy the utmost prosperity .

Northumberland And Durham.

NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

THE annual gathering of Mark Masons of this Province took place on the 30 th nit ., at Sunderland , under tho Partner of the Union Lodge , No . 124 . Provincinl Grand Lodge was opened at 2 . 30 , by the Rpv . Canon TLB . Tristram F . R . R ., R . W . Prov . O . M ., supported by a large ga'hering of Present , and P ; 'Bt Prov . Grand Officers , and also a good attendance of brethren , amongst whom were : —Clapham P . P . D . G . M .,

T . Y . Stifmghnn P . P . P . G . M .. Rnv . E . L . Marrett P . P . G . Chap ' ain , W . E . Franklin W . M ., Dr . Luke Armstrong J . W ., T . J . Armstrong M . O . R . L . Armstrong SO .. W . S . Hughes P . G . S . W . T . P . M ., R . G . Salmon Sec , S . M . Pern ' s I . G , B Bell J . S ., and Sims Ty ler , all of the Northumberland and B' -rwiok Lodge . E . Hudson P . M . 39 , J . Maddison W . M ., T . Tnizell J . W .. E . Southed M . O , M . Ronton SO . W . Brandly

J . O ., T . M . Watson Reg . of M .. W . Oorkson S . D ., J . B . Wells J . D ., and Atkinson Tyler , all of No . 124 ; II . H . Blair W . M ., T . Robson P . M .. Rev . W . Cooley M . O .. J . J . Horsley Secretary , G . Thompson P . M ., J . P . Thompson , and Walters Tyler of No . 135 . The minutes of the last , meeting having been confirmed , the Treasurer's report ¦ was adopted ; it showed a balance in his hands of £ 20 10 s 8 d ,

and upon tho notice of Bro . Cinpham ifc was unanimously carried that- £ 10 10 s be voted to the R . M . I , for Boys and £ 5 5 s to the Palestine Exploration Fnnd . In submitting this the Prov . Grand Master spoke in a most touching manner in support of ihe claims of the Boys' School . The report of the General Purposes Committee ¦ was most satisfactory ; it showed new membera to tho number

of 27 , and a total of Mark Masons in the Province of 21 G . The R . W . Prov . Grand Master then appointed and invested the following brethren as Officers for the ensuing year : —T . Y . Strannrhan P . D . G . M .. Capt . J . A . Forbes S . G . W ., Fisher 6 . J . W ., F . Maddison G . M . O ., W . E . Franklin G . S . O ., Kasburn G . J . O .. R . H . Holmes P . D . G . J . W . Treasurer , Rev . W . L . J . Cooley Chaplain , W . Cockburn

G . Secretary , T . J . Armstrong Assistant G . Secretary , H . H . Blair G . S . D ., H . E . Sonthest G . J . D ., G . Hudson G . D . of C , W . J . Watson Reg . of Works , R . L . Armstrong G . Standard Bearer , M . Frampton G . Snp . of Marks , Weatherhead G . Sword Bearer , Dixon G . I . G ., J . P . Simpson and J . Horsley Grand Stewards , J . Thompson G . Organist , and Atkinson Grand Tyler . Other

rontine business being disposed of , the Grand Lodge was closed in due form , and the brethren , numbering about fifty , adjourned to tho Queen ' s Hotel , Fawcett-strect , where they sat down to a well-served banqnet , presided over by the Pro . vincial Grand Master , who was suported by the Dep . Provincial G . M . and Bro . the Rov . E . L . Marrett P . P . G . Chaplain . The brethren

having done fnll justice to the good things put before them , grace was said , and the usual Loyal toasts were heartilv greeted . The Prov . G . M . then gave the health of the M . W . G . M . M . M . Lord Skelmersdale , and in doing so said his name was dear to all Masons , whether in this or in Craft Masonry . The next toast submitted from

the chair was that of the R . W . Deputy Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodgo . The Deputy Prov . Grand Master then rose to propose the health of Canon Tristram P . G . M . He said he considered it very tyrannical of the North-Eastern Railway Company ihat there should be no train after ( 5 . 40 by which their Prov . Gr , nd Mastei conld Jeaye , thng depriving tho brethren of his presence . It required

Northumberland And Durham.

few remarks of his to recommend the toast . All the good works the Canon had done , for which he was so well known all through England , and also as tho head of this Province , wonld alono be sufficient to ensure its being well received , bnt he wonld recommend as a mark of respect , to the P . G . M . that brethren shonld nse their best endeavonrs to spread this degree . He would like to see Lodges formed

in Darlington , in Shields , and oven , he considered , there was room for another Mark Lodge in Newcastle-rn-Tvne , and he hoped that during the Provincial Grand Mastership of Canon Tristram there would be new Lodges formed in these places . In conclusion he called on tho brethren to join with him in drinking long life , health and happiness to the P . G . M ., Canon Tristram , who on rising was received with hearty

cheers , said he almost felt surprised at the reception the brethren had given him , which almost confused him j he confessed that he did trust that ho might havo the pleasure to see some new Lodges in the Province during his reign , which wonld soon bo coming to an end . Mark Ma « onrv was a select old society , if ho might , call it snch ; all could nofc bo Masters , all could nofc bo Overseers , but all conld bo good

Mark Masons ; ho loved the Arch Degree , but he felt ifc was incomplete without the Mark . He then mado several apt allusions to the degree and matters of local interest , and concluded by saying that though tho terms in which my health has been proposed a < e , beyond my merits , I none tho less thank you for tho hearty response yon have given . Before setting down . I call on you to drink health , long

life and happiness to the Deputy Prov . Grand Maxtor , without whose help and valuable assistance , I could do nothing . Canon Tristram hero left ; the brethren rising , and given him thre times three , Bro . Stranghan then took the chair , and on rising thanked the brethren for the compliment they had paid him nnd the other Officers of Prov . G . L . Ho had been in active service , except last year , ever since the

formation of the Prov . G . Lodge , tho Grand Lodgo of America had this year recognised the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and he hoped soon some arrangement might be come to with Scotland . Above all , the members of this degree must bo of the right stuff ; no Province conld hiivo abetter Master than theC n nnn . Bro . R . H . Holmos , Prov . Grand Treasurer , then gave the Past G ' and Officers ; ho considered it

a great honour to bo a past Officer ; when a Brother had so worked as to he thought worthy of office in his province , it spnkn well for him . Personally he felfc as much honour when he received his first office in the province , that of Steward , as ho did when he received the highest . He had pleasure in giving thorn the Past Officers , coupling the name o < " Bro . Claphan P . P . D . G . M . with the toast . In returning thanks , Bro .

Claphan said ho thought when a poor old fellow liko him came to a certain age ho shonld be put on the shelf , or left to come and enjoy himself with his good and kind brethren , but he should not bo asked to work or to answer to toasts . He would , however , do his best , to express tho gratitude he and all the Past Officers felt in having their health so kindly received . He hoped all tho Past

Officers might become Deputy Grand Masters , as ho had done ; he therefore thanked them very much . Tho D . G . M . then said it , became his pleasing duty to drink success to the Union Lodgo , under whose auspices they had met and so enjoyed themselves . This Lodge required special support from the Prov . G . Lodge , as the ruler of tho Craft in the Province of Durham did nofc look on Mark Masonry in so kind a

manne ' as Earl Percy did in tho other Province . Ho tendered to the Union Lodge his sincere thanks for all the arrangements they had made . Ho coupled with the toast the name of the W . M ., Bro . Maddison , who in reply thanked tho Dep . Grand Master for his kind remarks , and thoug ht , ifc a great hononr that during his Mastership the Provincial Grand Lodge had been held under their banner ; if they had done well in the past he hoped they would do better

in the future . The Deputy G . M . then gave success to the time immemorial Lodge , tho Northumberland and Berwick , which had been the Mother to all tho Lodges of the Province , with this he would couple the name of Bro . W . E . Franklin the W . M . Bro . Franklin in the course of a few well chosen and eloquent remarks thanked tho brethren for their kind sentiments . The Tvler's toast brought to a conclusion a most enjoyable evening , which had been enlivened by some capital harmony .

St. James's Lodge, No. 482, Handsworth.

ST . JAMES'S LODGE , No . 482 , HANDSWORTH .

THE proceedings at this well established Lodge , one of tbe most prominent in tho Province of Staffordshire , on Monday last , were of a novel and interesting character . Tbe W . Master , in con . junction with his immediate predecessor in the chair , and with the assistance of his Senior and Junior Wardens , had arranged to work tho Fifteen Sections . Now , we in London are in tho habit weekly

of seeing announcements that , in this or that , Lodge of Instruction , a band of brothers have arranged to go through the Craft Lectures , but wo should regard it as a novelty , indeed , were we to find , on entering one of the numerous Lodges it is our privilege to visit , that we were about to listen to the working of the entire sections . True , when there is a paucity of business before a Lodge , some

enthusiastic brother rises , and occasionally suggests , as the brethren have a spare half hour , the desirability that one or two of the sections should be worked ; but , we regret to say it , our brother , in five cases out of six , is voted a bore , while—to uso a common expressionone pill ( or section ) is considered a close , and the brethren soon g ive indications that an adjournment to banquet , or to bed , is desirable . This , in a measure , is due to want of pre-arrangement , or

to the inability of tho respective workers to throw into their task the necessary zeal and energy , or it may be owing to their lack of elocutionary and appreciative power ; but , whatever the canse , there can be no question that a more intimate acquaintauce with onr ' ecfcnres is most desirable , and that it would be greatly conducive to tbe well-being of our Lodges if there were exhibited a greater amount of earnestness in tbe cause of Masonic study . To ns who are constantly iu the habit of attending Lodges of Instruction ,