Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The Quantify Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Ma'ons of England and Wales , and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , was held on the 3 rd inst ., at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C . Bio . the Earl of Euston , P / o Grand Master , presided . Brcs Viscount D jngirvan was present as Deputy Grand Master ; the Eirl of Porlarlington , as S . G . W . ; Alexander Woodiwiss , as J . G . W . ; Earl of Onslow , Col . A . B . Cook , C . H . Driver , Dr . B ilfour Cockburn , C . F .

Matier , Sir Reginald Hanson , Richard Clowes , Admiral A . Hastings Markham , Baron de Ferrieres , Frank Richardson , R . Loveland Loveland , Msjor Clifford Probyn , Major C . W . Carrell , VV . F . Smithson , Gordon Mil . ' er , Richard Eve , Frederick West , W . M . Stiles , Percy Wallis G . Treas . ; E . M . Money , Dr . Clement Godson , Frederick Mead , Eugene Monteuuis , W . W . B . Beach , W . E . Chapman , W . Vincent , C . H . Driver , Thomas Fenn , and a large number of other brethren were present .

Since the QuartetIy Communication of December 3 rd , 18 95 , the Grand H ill of Grand Lodge has been beautifully decorated by Bro . Campbell Smith , under the direction of Bro . C . H . Driver , Grand Inspector of Wotks . The work has been executed in the Italian style , with a very delicate arrangement of colour , ' the whole effect being charming . The herald ' c arms of

Mark Masonry are placed at each end of the four sides of the oblong , and the Poital organ over the porch las been worked into the general scheme of colour . Two new pictures had been added , one of the late Bro . the Duke cf Albany , P . G . M ., and the ether of Bro . W . W . B . Beach , P . G . M . The new appearance of the hall gave general satisf iction .

After the minutes of the former Quarterly Communication had been read End confirmed , Bro . the Earl of EUSTON said that at the last mteting bis Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was nominated for the office of Most Worshipful Grand Master , and , as nobody else had been proposed , he need hardly say

he was now elected to the office . The brethten thanked him for still honouring them by being their head , and for all the interest he tcok in Mark Masonry . It was the unanimous wish and desire of the whole of Grand Lodge that he should take that position . He would now put the motionthat H . R . H . the Prince of Wales be Mo » t Worshipful Grand Master for the

ensuing year . The motion was carried , and Bro . Dr . BALFOUR COCKBURN , G . D . C , proclaimed H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . M . M . of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown for the ensuing year . The next business being the election of Grand Treasurer ,

Bro . C . F . MATIER , G . Sec , informed the Pro Grand Master and Grand Lodge that he had received a letter from Bro . George Everett , stating that , in consequence of his illness and by the doctor ' s orders , with the consent of his nominator , he withdrew his candidature for the office of Grand Treasurer .

Bro . ALEX . S . BROWN ^ proposed , and Bro . COLLINS seconded , Bro . Major Probyn . Bro . H . J . LARDNER proptised , and Bro . NELSON PROWER seconded , Bro . Capt . T . C Walls . Bro . the Earl of EUSTON announced that the poll was then open , and would remain open till a quarter past six o ' clock , and that no further business would be taken in the meantime .

When the poll was closed at a quarter past six p . m ., the Scrutineers , of whom Bro . William Vincent was Chairman , were obligated to make a true return , and they then retired , and the general business was proceeded with . Bro . the Earl of EUSTON said that before they proceeded with the business on the agenda paper he had a proposition to bring before Grand Lodge , which he was certain all the brethren would concur with him in

supporting , and which consisted of a vote of condolence with her Majesty the Queen and H . R . H . Princess Beatrice on the death oi Prince Henry of Battenberg . He thought all Mark Masons would feel that sympathy with those whom they honoured and respected in their trouble , and no words from him would be necessary to urge upon the brethren the adoption of that vote of condolence .

Bro . Viscount DUNGARVAN , in seconding the motion , said they all hoped that their expressions of loyalty and sympathy would do something towards assuaging the grief occasioned by the calamity which had befallen her Majesty and her Royal Highness the Princess Beatrice . lhe motion was carried unanimously .

On the motion of Bro . RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND , President of the General Board , seconded by Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , G . Reg ., the following report of the General Board was taken as read , received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes :

During the three months ending 31 st December , 18 95 , there have been issued—Mark certificates , 307 ; total number registered , 34 , 985 . Warrants for new lodges , five , viz .: 489 , United Service , London . 490 , Murray , Wigan . 491 , Fidelity , Coalville .

492 , St . George , Larnaca , Cyprus . 493 , Eland , Elland , West Yorks . Royal Ark Mariner certificates , 83 ; total number registered , 4747 . Warrants for new Ark Mariner lodges , two , viz . : Joppa Lodge , to be attached to the Joppa Lodge , No . 11 .

Southport Lodge , to be attached to the Southport Lodge , No , 473 . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , has been pleased to reappoint for a further term of three years : R . W . Bro . the Hon . Sir H . Stafford Northcote , C . B ., M . P ., as Provincial Grand Master for Devon .

R . W . Bro . W . A . F . Powell , J . P ., as Provincial Grand Master for Bristol . R . W . Bro . the Hon . Judge Donald Grant MacLeod as District Grand Master for Burma .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

The Board recommend that the Ramsay Lodge , No . 18 . 0 , and the Joppa Lodge , No . 312 , who have neglected to comply with the requirements of Art . 150 Book of Constitutions , and who have , in consequence thereof , been summoned to appear in Grand Lodge to show cause , and have not replied , should be erased . The District Grand Secretary of Bengal having reported that Kirby Lod ge , No . 285 , Sarapur , has not met for several years , and is practically extinct , the Board recommend that the last known Master be summoned lo attend Grand Lodge , to show cause why such lodge should not be erased .

The Chelmer Lodge , No . 342 , having reported to the Board that Bro . W . F . Howard Flanders had been installed in the chair without a dispensation from th » M . W . Grand Master , he not being a Master or Past Master of a Craft lod ge ( Art . 99 ) , and having expressed their great regret for the irregularity , the Board ruled thit the lodge be fined one guinea and hi directed to apply at once for a dispensation , to be dated nunc pro tunc , and that at the next regular meeting o the lodge Bro . W . F . Howard Flanders here-obligated in the presence of a Board of Installed Masters .

The Board earnestly desire to call the attention of all Installing Masters to the absolute necessity of ascertaining that the Master elect is duly qualified as an Installed Master of a Craft lodge , or failing the qualification , that a dispensation has been obtained Certain cases have been reported where candidates have not been presented with a copy of the Book of Constitutions on advancement , the Board desire again to call the attention of W . Masters to Article 141 .

The Board have the pleasure to announce the completion of the decoration of the Great Hall , at a total cost of ^ 350 , the payment of which they bsg to recommend to Grand Lodge .

FUND OF BENEVOLENCE . The Board have the pleasure to announce that the 28 th Annual Festival will be held on Wednesday , Sth of Ju ' y . R . W . Bro . Charles Letch Mason , Prov . Grand Master for West Yorkshire , has most kindly consented to preside , and the Grand Secretary will be happy to receive the names of ladies and brethren willing to act as Stewards . The following case has been relieved :

Bro . E . J . S ., Lodge No . 3 83 , £ 5 . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , President . FRANK RICHARDSON , Vice-President . C . FITZGERALD MATIER , Grand Secretary . The recommendations in the report were then adopted , on the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Brj . FRANK RICHARDSON .

Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND next said that the Board had the pletsure to announce the completion of thj decoration of the great _ ha ' . l at a total cast of . £ 350 , and they recom-nended to Grand Lodge that it be paid for by the Gtneral Board . That was the first time the alterations and embellishment cf the hall had been seen at a Quarterly Communication , and hs trusied they would meet with the general approval of the brethren .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , in seconding the motion that the General Board be authorised to pay the amount , soid he thought that nobody present that evening coul J fail to appreciate the work which had been so excellently and tastefully carried out by the Grand Inspector of Works . Bro . the Earl of EUSTON , before putting the motion , observed that he quite concurred with what had been said by the two brethren who had proposed and seconded that motion , and he thought all the brethren would

agree with him that what had been done was a great improvement of the hall , and tVat they had now , as Mark Masons , one of the nicest halls in England to meet m . As the Degree , he was glad to say , all over England , and in all places under the English jurisdiction , was increasing and prospering in a way which everyone would be pleased and proud of , he hoped that Grand Lodge would not grudge the ^ 350 which the decorations had cost . He then put the motion— " That the General Board be empowered to pay £ 350 . "

The motion was carried , and on the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND L OVELAND , seconded by Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , the report of the General Board was adopted . Bro . GORDON MILLER , P . M . Grand Master ' s Lodge , P . G . T ., then rose and said that as representing the Grand Master ' s Lodge , he had been desired to state that that lodge had felt it a pleasing duty to commemorate

the services rendered to Freemasonry by his Royal Highness the late Duke of Albany , P . G . M ., who did the Grand Master ' s Lodge the honour to consecrate it , by having his portrait painted , and all the members of that lodge felt that no better place could be found for perpetuating his memory than by having the picture placed in the Great Hall of Mark Grand Lodge . He , therefore , on behalf of the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Mark Master

Masons , begged the brethren to accept that portrait which they now sav on the wall . The brethren of the Grand Master's Lodge believed it to be a very good portrait of his Ro > al Highness , and those who were able to judge especially said that it was an excellent likeness . Therefore , he would say nothing further than ask Grand Lodge to do the Grand Master ' s Lodge the favour of accepting it . ( Applause . )

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON said he thought Grand Lodge ought very decidedly to enter on its minutes a vote of thanks to the Grand Masters Lodge for the handsome present they had g iven of his late Royal Hig hness the Duke of Albany . He was personally very well acquainted with him , and he thought the likeness a good one . The late Duke of Albany was a

great Mason , and it was a great loss to Masonry when he died . _ All the members of Grand Lodge would be very proud to have his portrait there , and he would move— " That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the Grand Master ' s Lodge for the very kind and handsome present they had g iven to Grand Lodge in this portrait of the late Duke of Albany . " Bro . Viscount DUNGARVAN seconded the motion .

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON added that the brethren had hjard the generous way the Grand Master ' s Lodge had come forward and given the present , and Grand Lodge accepted the present in a most hearty way , and were very pleased to accept it . The motion was carried .

Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . Overseer , addressing the M . W . Pro Grand Master , said he was pot aware until he cama into Grand Lodge that afternoon that they had in the first panel to the rig ht of the Grand Master the portrait of the M . W . Past Grand Master of the Order , Bro . Beach , M . l ¦» but he was pleased to find it standing there . It had been the feeling of the brethren of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that they should have some

representation of the Grand Master of that province in Grand Lodge . In feeling as to what their Right Worshipful Brother , as Provincial Gran Master , was in Hampshire was too well known lo require description-They had not merely the services of a grand Mason , but they had a Prov-Grand Master who , a quarter of a century since , had ruled over the Order Mark Masonry , and they recognised in their Grand Master a true Mason that day , a brother who was always ready to do them service—who was alway