The Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund.

THE MARK GRAND LODGE BENEVOLENT FUND .

rpilE Anniversary Festival of this Fund was held at tho Crystal -L Palace , Sydenham , on Wednesday , the 7 th instant . R . W . Bro . Sir Francis Burdett , Mart ., Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex and Surrey , presided , and was supported by , among others , Bros . F . Davison Grand Mark Treasurer , D . M . Dewar Assistant Graud Secretary , H . C . Levander Grand Registrar of Marks , Baron de

Ferriores , M . P ., T . J . Pulley Past Graud Steward , C . F . Matier Past Grand Warden , & c . Bro . Meggy was unfortunately prevented through indisposition from being present . Tho guests , ladies included , mustered altogether between sixty and seventy . After dinner , the first toast was that of the Queen and Mark Masonry , which was briefly given , but duly honoured . That of tho "Most Worshipful

Grand Master Mason , tbe Earl of Lathom , " followed , and tho Chairman , in proposing this' spoko of tho great and genial qualities which had so endeared his lordship to the members of the different sections of the brotherhood . Sir Francis , at the same time , took tho opportunity of referring to tho noblo lord's advancement in the peerage to the Earldom of Lathom , und congratulated his lord

ship on tho honour which had been so worthily bestowed upon him . Those present having cordially endorsed the Chairman ' s remarks , and as cordially pledged tho toast in question , Bro . Binckes Past Grancl Warden and Grand Secretary rose , and proposed the toast of tho Past Grand Masters of tho Mark degree , all of whom he was happy to say were plaving an active part in the spheres of life

in which they severally moved—a circumstance which , in his ( Brother Binckes ' s ) opinion , might be taken not only as an evidence of the vitality imparted to them by Mark Masonry , but likewise as a good omen of the vitality of tho degreo itself . Ho also alluded to another circumstance which to him was a source of especial pleasure , namely , that he had had tho honour of filling the office of Grand Secretary

under every one of the Past Grand Mark Masters , from Lord Leigh to tho Earl of Limerick inclusive . Bro . Matier then gavo the toast of Lord Henniker Deputy G . M . M . and the Grancl Oflicers , Present and Past , all of whom he pointed out had done , or -were prepared to do , their duty most loyally towards the degree , whose success was intimately bound up , ancl indeed chiefly dependent on , their exertions .

Tho Past G . Officers , said Bro . Matier , had had their innings , and he was sure those presently holding G . Office would walk in the footsteps of their predecessors . G . Treasurer F . Davison , in replying for the toast , expressed himself highly pleased with tho encomiums passed by the previous speaker on the exertions of the Grand Officers , and paid a well-deserved compliment to tho services both of Brother

Binckes as Grand Secretary and Brother D . M . Dewar as his very able coadjutor . Then followed the toast of tho evening " Prosperity to the Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent and the Masonic Institutions , " which was proposed by the Chairman in most eloquent terms . He pointed out how it was started under most favourable circumstances

in the year 1 SGS , by a donation of £ 50 from G . Lodge ; how it had gone on steadily increasing ever since , and what serviceable work it was doing and was likely to do . As yet there had not been many calls upon it , but those made had emanated from most deserving Mark Masons . Justice having beeu done to the toast , Bro . D . M . Dewar read out the list of subscriptions , which follows , namely : —

H . It . Cooper Smith , Berks and Oxon - - - - 20 18 0 VV . Watkins , Monmouthshire 55 13 0 W . T . Clarke , Sussex 5 11 G Lieut .-Col . Foster Gough , LL . D ., Warwickshire and Staffordshire 5 5 0 E . C . Mather , Old Kent T . I 25 0 0 G . Newman , St . Mark ' s , No . 1 10 0 0 Dr . E . Passawer , Mallet and Chisel , No . 5 - - - 10 0 0

A . J . Bristow , Carnarvon , No . 7 G 8 5 0 S . Mattisot-, Joppa , No . 11 , Birkenhead - - - - 10 10 0 J . E . Anderson , Hiram , No . 13 , Richmond , Surrey - -550 W . Klingonstein , Southvvark , No . 22 - - - -550 E . G . Simpson . Union , No . 32 . Manchester - - - *> r > n n

T . R . Peel , St . Andrew ' s , No . 31 , Manchester - - - 1 G 5 0 C . S . Lane , Eclectic , No . 39 , West Hartlepool - - - 33 12 0 J . Smyth , Florence Nightingale , No . 4-1 - - - - 31 4 2 T . Benham , Aldershot , No . 51 , Aldershot - . - 1 G 15 0 H . M . Green , Carnarvon , No . G 2 , Havant J . Blount Thomas , St . Andrews , No . G 3 , Southampton - 30 10 0 A . Williams , Macdonald , No . 10 ! 17 17 0

Aug . Walton , Grosvenor , iSo . 114 25 0 0 J . F . Twcedalc , Union , No . 171 , Oldham - - . - 2 G 5 0 T . W . Adams , West Smithfield , No . 223 - . . - 10 10 0 E . S . Shepherd , Abbey , No . 225 , Abingdon - - - 10 10 0

Rev . D . Ace , D . D ., Lieu-ward , No . 22 / , Bourne ( Line . ) - 5 5 o W . F . Lamonby , Faithful , No . 229 , Cockermouth - 10 12 ( j T . J . Pulley , Leopold , No . 235 , Reading - - - - 2 L 0 0 J . S . Biuikin , Clapton , No . 236 - C . Park , Alfred , No . 2-17 , Oxford 12 IS 0

W . B . Farr , ISo . 257 (> 17 4 Rev . C . K . Davy 5 5 0 Thos . Meggy 5 5 0 Frederick Binckes - 53 11 0

£ 500 17 ( J Bro . Binckes , after n hnir . uui-oius song hum iiro . Cozen . ** , acknowledged the toast , thanking tiie Chairman for his genial advocacy of their Fund , and those present for having to cordially received it . IV

laid stress on tree benefits which it ( the Fund ) must confer o ; , those worthy brethren whom the vicissitude . *! of fortune might compel to seek its assi-taoeo . lie referred Lo tho educational branch recently ts'ablishod in aid of tho children of deceased or imii-jei ,: Mark Murions , und he paid a high compliment , to Bro . Meggy , whose

The Mark Grand Lodge Benevolent Fund.

absence ou this occasion was greatly to be regretted . Bro . Binckes also alluded , in felicitous language , to tho death of Bro . Hervey , whoso funeral had taker , place that day , nnd who , in the course of his career , had proved himself to bo one of the stoutest pillars of the Craft . Tho other toasts were those of the Chairman , proposed by tho Baron do Ferriurcs , M . P . ; tho Board of Stewards , proposed by Bro . Davison

Grand Treasurer , and responded to by Bro . A . Williams ; and the Ladies , proposed by Bro . Aug . Walton W . M . Grosvenor Lodge , No 11 f , and acknowledged by Bro . H . H . Cooper Smith . Tho proceedings then closed . We should add that the musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . A . Rowley Grand Mark Organist , who was assisted by Bros . F . H . Cozens , Crane , Hodgson , and Knowles—all of whoso efforts to entertain tho meeting were greatly appreciated .

The Late Bro. John Hervey.

THE LATE BRO . JOHN HERVEY .

rtpHE Funeral of this distinguished Freemason took place on Wed . * - nesday , and our respected brother ' s remains were consigned to their last resting place in Norwood Cemetery cm that day . The proceedings wero of an essentially private character , bnt , at the same timo , thero wero many of his brother Masons who considered it a duty on their part to attend and pay thoir last tribute of respect to his momorv . Among those present woro his successor in the office of

Grand Secretary , Lt .-Col . Shadwell Gierke ; his right hand man Assistant Grand Secretary H . G . Buss ; Bros . A . A . Pendlebury , Dodd , Lee , Sadler ( Grand Tyler ) , Brackstone Baker P . G . D ., Thomas Fenn P . G . D ., H . Smith Prov . G . Sec . West Yorkshire , Dr . Woodman P . G . A . D . C , Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , & c , & c , aud Col . Creaton Grand Treasurer . Bro . Hervey was seventy-three years of age , and in the

courso of a long Masonic career had won for himself the esteem and respect of the whole Craft . When he succeeded Bro . Gray Clarke , his duties were light compared with what they had grown to be latterly since Freemasonry had become so popular . But light or heavy , the duties wero fully carried out by Bro . Hervey with a delicacy of feeling and ability which secured general admiration .

He was a wise and safe counsellor , especially in the advice he habitually gave to young Lodges , at the outset of their career , against tho indiscriminate admission of candidates . Ifc not nnfrequently fell to his lot to be appointed the consecrating officer at the installation of a new Lodge , and , whenever this happened , he was invariably placed on the roll of honorary members in token of his kindness in

having presided . He had received many testimonials , one of the most recent being a silver inkstand , presented to him by the members of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , in recognition of his services , the Earl of Carnarvon , our Grand Master occupying , if we remember rightly , the chair on tho occasion . Bro . Hervey , from his position as Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge officially and of course ,

held tho corresponding post of Grand Scribe E . in the Grand Royal Arch Chnpter of England . He was also , according to the Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , a Past Grand High Chancellor of the Masonic and Military Order of Knights of Rome , and of the Red Cross of Constantino ; Hon . IX . and an additional Member of the High Council of the Rosicrncian Society ; and Member of the 32 ° nnder tho Supreme

Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . Bro . Hervey wns also a Past G . Deacon of England , and will be ever remembered as one of the kindest and ablest of onr brethren , but more especially as ono of onr Lodges , No . 1210 , bears his respected name . His fame , indeed , seems to have passed beyond the mystic circle of our ancient brotherhood , if wo may so iuclgo from the few brief obituary notices

of him which have appeared in tho Times and other papers , both London and Provincial . One of them , written by the Loudon Correspondent of tho Liverpool Courier , himself a skilful and popular Craftsman , who enjoyed tho privilege of Bro . Hervey ' s acquaintance , will servo as a fitting appendix to this somewhat brief sketch of our deceased brother . Savs our Liverpool contemporary , "The death of the late

Grand Secretary of Freemasons , Mr . John Hervey , which occurred on Friday , will produce amongst the Craft general regret , although tho event has long been expected . The Liverpool brethren , who are frequent attendants at Grand Lodge , to whom tho tall , thin , bent form was very familiar , will feel that they have lost a personal friend , who was alwavs courteous , and a Freemason of whom it is to be

regretted thero are not too many of the same type . Mr . Hervey was iv Freemason in the strictest sense of the word , adhering to , and up . holding , as far as lay in his power , the laws and ordinances of Grand Lodge , and all thoso principles which arc tanght in the three degrees of the Order . While no true Freemason conld havo rejoiced more than he tn sec Freemasonry extend , he was only anxious that ifc should

extend in proper quarters , and deplored that , in many instances , men wore admitted within the Masonic ranks who , if sufficient caution had been previously exercised , would have still remained outside , and not been the cause of further introductions which havo periodically disgraced the Order . Repeatedly , afc the consecration of Lodges , did . Mr . Hervey impress upon the brethren to make only such men

Freemasons as , by their lives and actions , were an ornament to tho world , whether they wore rich or whether they were poor , and he advocated strict inquiry into a candidate ' s antecedents before ho was put up for the ballot . No doubt he would willingly have placed his personal veto ou the extensive grant of warrants for new Ledges which of Into years has been made by the Graud Master , and it iu u testimony to

Bro . Hervey s loresignfc or . the evil consequences of such large grants , that for the last twelve months very few new Lodges have been granted , and many of these have been for the colonies . Mr . Hervey was an unmarried man , and when he was appointed Grand Secretary in 1 SGS , applied himself with great energy to his work . English

Freemasonry was then just emerging from the narrow stream in which it had flowed for hundreds of years , and entering upou the wide and open sea , which it has breasted since , and which has bccoiuo wider ai / d more open since the secession of the Marquis of Ripon and the ekefci'jn of the Princo of Walc « as Graud Master , iu 1875 . ' :, ~ * - - ' -- ""* ' "' """ - ^ --- ^ ¦ B » = J ^ Trac = aai = aaa » rejm = g 3 ^ m-f ««! i » irnT = ra . ni « . m * -r * r ~ m ~~ -. —_„__