Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

able to do them service in Grand Lodge or in oth ^ r lodges in which he might he called upon to do so ; and w h ether he were seated on the throne in Grand l odge . or simply was a guest in an ordirary Iodere , their Most Worshipful Past Grand Master , and Right Worshipful Prov i ncial Grand Master was ever ready to perform any duty he was asked . The brethren in Wamnshire loved their Prov . Grand Master ; they recognised in him a

brother who could not be excelled—he might bs equalled—but he could not he excelled in Masonry , and they felt that they were doing oily what was riant and proper when they gave a living representation of him to be placed in that Mark Grand Lodge . He was glad to find Bro . Beach ' s portrait was standing to the right of the chair , and that Bro . Beach himself was present . He was sure that the brethren of the

Province of Hampshire , had they known that the portrait was there , would have assembled that night in large numbers in Grand Mark Lodge to 5 U pport him ( Bro Richard Eve ) in the duty which had fallen upon him to ask the M . W . Pro Grand Master and that Grand Mark Lodge to accept that cortrait from the brethren of Hampshire , to be preserved in Grand Lodge . They would always have the kindest feel ng of remembrance

towards their Prov . Grand Master when they found in Grand Lodge his portrait ; he would live in the memory of the brethren of Hampshire when he was gore ; they had not lost him yet ; they found in him a brother who they foped would live for years to come to adorn the Order he had served so well . He would take too much of the brethren ' s time if he endeavoured to describe lhe work Bro . Beach had done to Mark Masonry in general . He was Grand Master of the Order 25 years ago ; he was now Past G . Master ,

and he had been for years the beloved G . Master of Hampshire and the Isleof Wight . They hoped he would live long to do even more in the future than he had in the past , although they knew not how that was to be accomplished He asked Grand Lodge , with all sincerity and with the best wishes from the Province of Hampshire , to accept the portrait as one of the adornments of Grand Lodge , and they trusted it would be met with a kind reception at the hands of Grand Lodge , and be considered as a memorial of the services Bro . Beach had rendered in the past . ( Cheers . )

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON said it was not often that an offer of that kind was made—two portraits being presented of two such Misons , of one who was , unfortunately , taken from them at the beginning of his life , and of one whom they were still proud to meet and see among them that day . He beggrd to move a most hearty and fraternal vote of thinks to the Province of Hampshire for the very handsome picture they had givn Grand Lodge of their Provincial Grand Master , who was beloved by every Mason throughout

England . It needed no wcrds from him , particularly after what had been said by Bro . Eve , to go into details cf what Past Grand Master Beach had done ; it was so well knewn , and he was so well known , to all that they received the gift with the thanks of Grand Lodge . Hi would move that it be recorded on the minutes that a vote of thanks of G-and Lodge be presented to the brethren of the Province of Hampshire for their handsome present .

Bro . Viscount DUNGARVAN seconded the motion , which was put and carried unanimousl y amidst applause . The Scrutineers of the ballot were here re-admitted , when they handed to the Earl of Euston the result of the voting as follows :

Major Clifford Probyn ... ... 202 Capt . T . C . Walls ... ... 133 Majority for Major Probyn ... 69 Bro . Major PROBYN , returning thanks for his election , assured the Lrethren that he would endeavour to deserve the henour they had conferred npen him , and trusted that when he retired from the office , the post of

Gtand Tieasurer would not have been sullied by his possession of it . Bro . Captain WALLS also thanked the brethren who had supported him , many of whom had come long distances ; some from D-von , some from Hampshire . At the same time , he desired to express his appreciation of Ihe honourable conduct of ( he election by his old fric-d , Bro . Major Probyn . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

FESTIVAL OF THE EMULATION LODGE OF IMPROVEMENT .

The annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was held on the 2 Sth ult . at Freemasons' Hall , where nearly 400 brethren assembled to see the Second Lecture worked by Bros . R . L . S . Badham , 21 ; D . D . West , P . M . 108 ; A . M . Barnard , S . W . 1964 ; Charles Lewis , W . M . 1706 , 2508 ; and S . G . Budd , W . M . 1818 . Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br ., who has been the Preceptor of the Lod ge of Improvement since the retirement of Bro . Thos . Fenn , Past Prest .

Hoard General Purps ., two years ago , acted as W . M . Bro . Lord Skclmersdale , '•G . W ., sat on his right , and Bro . F . T . Rushton , P . M . 8 , P . G . Steward , acted as I -P . M . The Stewards of the Festival were—Bras . E . Letchworth , F . S . A ., G . Sec , Treas . ; Sir J . B . Moncktoi , P . G . W . ; F . £ •Philbrick , Q . C ., G . Reg . ; Thomas Fenn , Past Prest . B . G . P . ; Robert Grey , / est . Board of Ben . ; Henry J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G , D .: rank

Richardson , P . G . D . ; Jas . H . Matthews , P . D . G . D . C . ; Lennox Browne , •U . G . D . C . ; J . A . Farnfitld , P . A . G . D . C ; Frederick Mead , P . G . S . B . ; Chas . •Matier , P . G . Std . Br . R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . Std . Br . ; Alfred C . Spaull , I A A Br '' Walter Hopckirk , P . G . Purst . ; Henry Sadler , G . Tyler ; C . I AR " ' l 62 S ; MaJ ° r R- L - S - Bidtlar " . ; A - M - Barnard , S . W . 1964 ; { j ' Bra , k > S - - 2310 ; A . Stewart Brown , F . R . C . S ., P . P . G . W . Middx . ; Thos .

•M 2 N K 2029 ; Sanderson G - Budd > W . M . 1818 ; Robert Davison , VV . M . II F ) P ' Debenham > P - - - Reg . Herts ; J . W . Drysdale , I . P . M . 263 ; T . t , ' ! f dmands , P . M . Grand Stewards' Lodge ; Morris Bilbie Evans , J . W . 8 ; W . I \ V " " ' ' ' ' P'G" Stwd '; G- W > Fie , d ' i J" V - Vesey Fitz . « erald , 502 j ; •l-reeman , P . M . 147 . W . P . Fuller . W . M . 8 . P . G . Stwd .: las . D . Graham .

Sec ' r F'A-Hazzledirie . -M- 88 , 2098 ; George Booth Heming , P . M ., Kebbril rr ' C" A' Higerty ' ' Ml ia W > x 7 « 4 . 2437 . P . P . G . W . Berks ; Fredk . Ki ' ¦ 10 ° ; W . G . Kentish , P . M . 1293 , 17 6 S , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; George A . Lewis j ; J ' Lancaster - P - ' , Sec . 534 ; R . It . F . Lander , 2086 ; Charles C VV i W'M ' 2 S ° 8 ; Herb - 't Linnell , J . W . 2043 ; William Lapraik , 1768 ; , ' P Ieton . 12 ; Chas . J . Marrian , Sec . 2489 ; T . W . Ockenden , P . M . ' SO , 1 768 , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; George Powell , P . M ., Sec . 142 ; Henry

Festival Of The Emulation Lodge Of Improvement.

Pritchard , P . M ., Sec . 263 , P . M . 1415 , P . P . G . Treas . Middx . ; George Rankin , 1641 ; F . T . Rushton , P . M . S , P . G . Stwd . ; Joseph Russell , P . G . Stwd ., Sec . ; Dr . H . A . Sansom , 208 3 ; George R . Scott , 8 S 9 ; the Rev . C . W . Servante , 17 C 8 ; Maurice Spieg » l , P . M . 19 S 1 ; Henry Times , I . P . M . 165 ; James Toll-, worthy , I . P . M . 17 ( 09 ; D . D . West , 108 ; and Henry S . Wellcome , P . M . 3 , 2397 . Besides these there were also present Bros . Sir George D . Harris , W . H . Spaull , C . F . Hogard , J . E . Le Feuvre , G . E . Fairchild , Dr . Clement Godson , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., T . L . Wilkinson , R . Clowes , C . E . Keyser , J . A . Farnfield , Dr . Ernest Pocock , Lieut .-Col . Bindley , and Harry Tipper .

Bro . E . Cutler , Q . C ., P . G . Org ., played a beautiful selection of music on the organ previous to the opening of the lodge . Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , as W . M ., put the questions , all of which were answered with a fluency and impressiveness which called forth hearty commendations . Before the lodge was closed ,

Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE rose and proposed a vote of thanks to the working brethren for the instructive and most interesting lecture they had heard . Might he be allowed to congratulate the Emulation Lodge of Improvement on its working , and also the brethren who had conducted the lecture for the admirable work they had performed .

Bro . F . A . PHILBRICK , Q . C ., Grand Reg , in seconding the motion , said the working had been to all a Masonic treat . The brethren had heard the lectures given in their fulness with accuracy and dignity worthy of the best days of Emulation , and that was saying that it set an eximple to the whole Cralt . As Jerusalem above was said to be "the mother of us all , " so the recounting of the history of the building of the Temple of Jerusalem , as they had heard it , showed that the traditions preserved in the Lodge of Emulation would typify and consolidate the whole of the great Masonic structure of British Masonry . The motion having been carried unanimously ,

Bro . R . CLAY SUDLOW , who , on rising , was received with loud applause , said it was customary for the brother occupying the chair on these occasions , although not a working officer himself , to acknowledge that vote . He felt sure that the brethren who had worked the Second Lecture would appreciate very highly the compliment that had been passed on their efforts . He knew that every one of them had been anxious to keep up the prestige of that old lodge for good and correct working , and what had been said of them that night would be ample reward tor any trouble they had taken prior to that evening in getting the lectures

up . All present that evening who were not members of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement would , he felt sure , be very anxious indeed to join it . Half-a-crown subscription made a life member , who , any night he attended the working—every Friday in the year except July , August , and September—would have to pay a shilling , or if he paid five shillings down instead of half-a-crown , he would be called upon to pay sixpence only when he attended . The whole of the money received went to the Charities , except so much as was required for the expenses of the lodge . That , he felt , was another reason , if a further incentive was necessary , why the brethren would not fail to join the lodge .

The brethren then proceeded to Freemasons' Tavern to banquet , which was admirably supplied by Spiers and Pond , Limited .

Bro . Lord Skelmersdale presided , and , after the banquet was disposed of , the customary toasts were honoured . Bro . Lord SKELMERSDALE , after proposing "The Queen and the Craft , " proposed "The M . W . G . M . " The Prince of Wales was a good Mason , and was devoted to everything which had to do with the interests of Freemasonry . His

Royal Highness was not able to be present so much as he would wish at Masonic meetings , but he had bpen present lately at the consecration of two important lodges , and he ( Lord Skelmersdale ) had great hopes personally that he might be present at the consecration of another lodge , which , he ventured to hope , would not be an unimportant one in Freemasonry .

Bro . RUSHTON proposed " The Pro G . M ., the Deputy G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past . " He said the cordiality with which the toast was invariably received must be mast gratifying to the Grand Officers , and give them some intimation that their efforts in the cause of Freemasonry were not unappreciated by the Craft generally . The brethren of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement were fortunate in the circumstance that their annual gatherings had always been graced by the presence of many Grand Officers , many

of whom were members of the lodge . But they were always pleased to have an opportunity of seeing them as it gave countenance to the working and to the exceptional occasions when the lodge showed to the Craft generally what could be done in the way of working the ritual . Although they had not for the working of that lodge the official seal of the Grand Lodge , yet they felt by the presence of the Grand Officers they had a . certain standing , as it showed them that their efforts to preserve the purity of the ritual of Freemasonry were recognised by their

presence . They had an illustrious body the subject of that toast , inasmuch as for years past on the Committee of that ledge there had always been a Grand Officer . The very fact that there wis one this year would make the brethren drink the toast with all cordiality . None of them could forget the many years of service that Bro . Thomas Fenn gave to the lodge . He supposed that there were not any

members of the lodge in the room who remembered the time before Bro . Thomas Fenn took an interest in the lodge . Besides Bro . Fenn , Bros . Sudlow and Letchworth , G . Sec , were on the Committee . With respect to Bro . Letchworth he would say that the great service he had rendered in his office of Grand Secretary since he had been appointed showed what an excellent choice the Grand Master made when he appointed him as successor to the worthy Bro . Shadwell Clerke .

Bro . PiiiLliRlCK , Q . C ., replied at the request of Bro . Thomas Fenn , whom he was sure the brethren would have much preferred to listen to as there was such a galaxy of Grand Officers connected with the toast . The father of the noble brother who now presided was revered by Masons ; he occupied a position but one step below the Throne ot Masonry in this country . The Grand Lodge of England was the Mother Grand Lodge of the world , and its ritual preserved and enshrined through the Lodge of Reconciliation , with the Lodge of Unions , under which the Emulation Lodge of Improvement was sanctioned , was

undoubtedlyalthough it had been said Grand Lodge did not formally sanction any particular ritual—the ritual of the Craft which received the imprimatur of the authorities . It was , therefore , a sincere pleasure to the Grand Officers to see that lodge continuing the old traditions , handing down by the new graft into the old tree the right stock , producing , as they had seen the graft had done in the past , fruit that bore witness in the excellent working of that day . The tree , planted with many hopes and many fears , watered by the care of many worthy brethren , had grown bravely to height , and broadly to support its magnificent branches over the whole land , and to distribute the fruits of Freemasonry throughout the world in the in ost

attractive form . Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , Treasurer of the lodge , proposed " The Chairman . " Having the honour of filling the office of Treasurer of thit lodge , the very agreeable duty devolved upon him to propose the toast . It was one which he was satisfied could not fail to receive at the hands of the brethren the most cordial and enthusiastic welcome . He asked them to drink the heilth of the

distinguished brother who , with such gruciousness and kindness , had presided over their festival that evening . They one and all welcomed Lord Skelmersdale , not only as the son of their much respected and beloved Pro Grand M ister , but as one on whom H . R . H . the M . W . Grand Master had conferred one of the highest honours it was in his power to bestow , one who , although he had but a few years joined the Order , had done everything in his power to promote and advancs its