Ar00903

CI ^^^^^^ 'H ^^ I ^^ I ^ 'I ^^^ V ^ lff ^ l ^^ l ^^^^^ fflr *! JT < r * gWCl . ^ W ^^ W ^^^ r ^ W ^^^ r' ^ r ^^ F ^^ ' ^ F ^^ F ^^^^ t ^^ KFm ^^^ W ^ % SATURDAY , 20 bb DECEMBER 1890 .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND STEWARDS LODGE .

THE installation meeting of this Lodge was held at Mark Masons ' Hall , Great Qneen Street , on Monday , tbe 1 st inst . Brother W . 0 . Gilles Grand Treasurer W . M . was snpported by Bros . G . P . Hogard P . G . S . B . Secretary W . M . elect ., P . W . Driver S . W ., J .. Tomkins M . 0 .. W . E . Stewart P . M ., W . E . Williams E . of M ., H . Stone J . D ., J . Bonltop I . G ., G . Powell P . M ., C . P . Matier P . G . W .

Grand Secretary , T . E . Biddlecombe , H . H . Shirley , J . S . Cumberland S . D ., and H . Von Joel . Visitors : Bros . E . Stone 54 , H . L . Warner 315 , and W . W . Lee J . D . 400 . The Lodge was opened , and tbe minntes confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee was submitted and adopted . The following Grand Stewards were unanimously elected joining members : —Bros . H . H . Shirley W . M . 1 .

L . Steele W . M . 350 , J . H . Thompson 194 , G . Gregory P . M . 355 , G . P . Edwards W . M . 8 , and Capt . G . P . Airey S . O . 247 . Brother 0 . P . Matier Grand Secretary then assumed the chair , and impress , ively installed Bro . 0 . F . Hogard P . G . S . B . as W . M . The following Officers were appointed and invested : Bros . "F . W . Driver S . W ., J . Tomkins J . W ., W . 0 . Gilles P . M . Treasurer , J . E . Anderson P . M .

Secretary , D . P . Cama M . O ., W . B . Williamson S . O ., W . E . Williams J . O ., J . S . Cumberland E . of M ., H . Stone S . D ., J . Eamsey J . D ., J . Boulton D . C , H . Von Joel I . G ., P . Leviok and G . Allen Stewards , T . E . Biddlecombe Organist , and Mills Tyler . The addresses having been delivered by the Installing Master , the W . M . presented Brother Gilles I . P . M . with a Past Master's jewel , as a slight recognition of

his valuable services to the Lodge . Bro . Gilles I . P . M . appropriately acknowledged the gift , which would remind him of a pleasant connection with the Lodge . Pive guineas waa voted to the Organ Fund in memory of Canon Portal , and other business having been transacted , the Lodge was closed . The brethren adjourned to the Holborn Eestaurant , where a richercM repast was served , at the

conclusion of which the customary toasts were honoured . Brother C . P . Matier P . G . W ., replying for " The Grand Officers , " said it was an honour to respond for this toast in a Lodge the membership of which was restricted to those brethren who had filled , or were filling , the distinguished office of Grand Steward . It was a great pleasure to him to have installed Bro . Hogard as W . M . that evening ,

for that brother was tbe Grand Eecorder of another Order with which ' he was connected , and a most valued colleague of his own . He was present at the consecration of this Lodge , and had been present on every occasion since , in spirit , if not actually . He thanked the Lodge for all it had done for the Mark Benevolent Fund , and especially his friend and colleague the I . P . M . Bro . Gilles , whom he

initiated , passed and raised , advanced , and installed into the first chair he ever held in St . Andrew ' s Lodge , at Manchester . Bro . Gilles proposed the W . M ., and said they had been indeed fortunate in installing Bro . Hogard as their W . M ., for he was a brother who had done good suit and service in this degree for many years . During the time Bro . Hogard had been associated with them they knew what

work he had done , for he bad everything to do in organising the Lodge and seeing ifc rnn smoothly . They had great pleasure in honouring their present Worshipfnl Master , of whom it would be needless to say more to ensure a hearty reception for the toast . Bro . 0 . F . Hogard W . M . said he was very muoh obliged for the manner in which the toast had been proposed and received . It was

quite true he had been the Secretary since tbe formation of the Lodge , and had watched it from a very small beginning to what he might call fair proportions . They did not wish to make a large Lodge , but one where every member was a friend and also a welcome guest . That was the ideal of what a Lodge should be , and he thonght their Lodge was up to that standard . Their selection was limited to those

who had been appointed Grand Stewards , and they were always ready to welcome those who wished to rally round them . It was quite true , as the Grand Secretary had said , that they had liberally supported the Mark Benevolent Fund , for hardly a year passed without a Steward being sent up from the Lodge , and such assistance granted as their circumstances warrant . That Benevolent

Fund was unique , on account of the expenses being small . He hoped they would continue to support tbat Charity , and he believed the Grand Secretary had his ( the W . M . ' s ) name already as a Steward for the next Festival , and he should appeal to the members to assist him . He thanked them heartily , and presumed he had discharged his dnties as Secretary to their satisfaction , or he would hot have been

placed in the honourable position of W . M . Bros . H . H . Shirley and Steele responded for the Joining Members , after which the W . M . proposed the Past Masters , and said they ought to be prond of thoir I . P . M . Bro . Gilles , who received the unanimous suffrages of the brethren in June last for the office of Grand Treasurer , than which hi

no gher honour could be conferred . Bro . W . 0 . Gilles said he was pleased , if ir , the fulfilment of his duties , he had been considered to have discharged them satisfactorily . It was a distinguished hononr to be placed in the chair of snch a Lodge as this , because it was the acme of Mark Masonry . Bro . G . Powell P . M . also responded after

Mark Masonry.

which the Visitors was given in cordial terms , and thanks duly returned . Bro . Driver replied for the Officers , and the Tyler's toast closed a pleasant evening . '

Hampshire And I. Of Wight Educational And Benevolent Institution.

HAMPSHIRE AND I . OF WIGHT EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

rpHE annual festival of the above Institution , which , as its name J- implies , has for its objects the assistance of decayed Freemasons of the Province and the education of children of deceased brethren , was held at the Masonio Hall , Southampton , on Monday , tbe 8 th inst ., the Eight Wor . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , occupying the chair . The attendance also included Bros . J . E . Le Feuvre D . P . Grand Master , vioe . patron , B . Eve

P . M ., Past Grand Treasurer of England , E . E . L . Loveland P . M ., Senior Grand Deacon of England , G . F . Lancaster P . M ., P . P . G . Beg . ( hon . secretary ) , G . F . W . Mortimer P . P . G . S . W ., Commander Markham , E . N ., W . M . 257 , & c , & o . The Provincial Grand Master proposed the Queen and the Craft , which was followed by the Prince of Wales M . W . G . Master ,

the speaker alluding to the impetus which had been given to Freemasonry by the influence and interest of the Prince of Wales . He next gave the Deputy Grand Master and the Officers of Grand Lodge , present aod past , remarking that during the past year Masonry had sustained a heavy loss in the death of one who , after tbe Prince of Wales , always presided over the Order . The Earl of

Carnarvon was endeared by many recollections to those living in the county and to the Craft iu general ( hear , hear ) . Lord Lathom , however , was still with them , and many other Grand Officers , one of whom on his left , Bro . Eve , had always taken an active interest in Freemasonry and in support of its Charities ( hear , hear ) , and had filled the office of Grand Treasurer with credit to himself and honour

to the Province to which he belonged . Bro . Eve , having returned thanks , said he must congratulate the Hampshire Masonio Benevolent and Educational Institution upon the state of its funds . He hoped , however , they would bear in mind that their object was not to save money , but to spend it . He noticed that they spent only abont £ 60 last year . It seemed to him the objects

of the Institution were not generally known among the Lodges of the Province , for there surely must be many children of deceased brethren who needed and were willing to accept the benefits that were offered by it . He then proposed , in complimentary terms , the health of the Provincial Grand Master , who , he said , dwelt in the hearts of all Masons in the Province over which he so worthily

presided , and distinguished himself in Freemasonry before he took his present high position in the Province . He particularly referred to the recognition which Bro . Beach always met with at the hands of the Grand Lodge . The Provincial Grand Master said he naturally took great interest iu the progress of Masonry in that Province and the country ab

large , and he was glad to say that wherever he looked there were encouraging signs of progress ( hear , hear ) . To rule over a Province like Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would not be an easy dnty were it not for the great assistance he received from all the brethren , which rendered his office , instead of being one of difficulty , a real pleasure . It was now 21 years ago that he was placed in the chair

by their late lamented Pro Grand Master , and during that period many Lodges had sprung up , and the number of Masons had largelyincreased . Commander Markham , E . N ., A . D . C ., briefly gave Wor . Bro . J . E . LePenvre D . P . G . M . and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , present and past , specially referring in complimentary terms to the

Masonio career and work of Bro . Le Feuvre , who having expressed his thanks in general terms , pointed out , in reference to the remarks of Bro . Eve , that the objects of the Committee had been not to spend all their present income , but to build np a fund which would furnish sufficient income to furnish really substantial benefits . He must state , however , that

every case as yet brought before them had beeu accepted ( hear , hear ) . The President then proposed Success to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonio Education and Benevolent Institution , and said that a few years ago it was felt that though the great Masonic Charities were very useful , it was difficult to get children into the

Schools , because it required so large a number of votes to achieve snecess ( hear ) . Though there was not much to complain of in that Province , through the great liberality of the brethren , yet it was felt that there might be children who would lose a deal of time before they were admitted , and that , therefore , it would be well if something could be done for them at home . This idea occurred to ,

among others , Bro . G . F . Lancaster , and it was due to his energy and organization that the charity sprang into existence . There was same amount of prejudice at first , from fear that it would interfere with tbe great Charities , bnt when it was found that it did not it met with very general support . Bro . Le Feuvre had been quite right in stating that the desire of the Committee had been not to be too

lavish ; they , however , gave any case brought before them careful attention , and the charity altogether was worthy of great support . Bro . G . P . Lancaster , whose name was associated with the toast , in response , said it was exceedingly gratifying to him to find that his labours were so highly appreciated . He would at once read to them the result of that day ' s effort . The list of contributions was then

read over ; the announcement of the total , £ 350 13 s 6 d , was received with hearty applause . Bro . Lancaster went on to remark that the Committee had made it a maxim to make the Institution well known throughout the Province , and had sent a vast amount of literature concerning it to the various Lodges , but much of this , as he showed by a case in point , was not distributed to the brethren . They had to be careful not to interfere with the great Charities . After the .