Grand Mark Lodge.

The following are the elected members of the Board : Bros . C W . Carrell , P . A . G . D . C ; Richard Clowes , P . G . Overseer ; G . C . W . FitzwiHiam , Dep . Prov . G . M . Norths ., Hunts ., and Beds . ; A . Stewart-Brown , P . G . Stwd . ; and Frederick West , Dep . Prov . G . M . Surrey . Grand Lodge was closed in ample form , and the brethren adjourned to Freemasons' Tavern to banquet , Bro . the Earl of Euston presiding . After the banquet the brethren honoured the usual toasts .

The toast of " The Oueen and Mark Masonry " having been drunk , Bro the Earl of EUSTON , m proposing " The M . W . G . M M . M .. H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , " said those brethren who had received Grand Lodge honours that day at the hands of the Grand Master might well be proud to

receive them , as it showed that his Royal Highness still took an interest in the Degree . The Prince of Wales was a busy man , and had so many different engagements for England ' s sake that he was not able to be with them at Grand Mark Lodge that day . The brethren were very proud that they had him as their Grand AIaster .

Bro . Col . A . B . COOK , P . G . M . Middx ., proposed "The M . W . Pro Grand Master , and the M . W . Pro Grand Master . " The brethren now knew every one of the Past Grand Masters , all of whom had a history , as they ought to have . But what he had to allude to that nig ht was the present , and in doing this he would mention the Earl of Euston , who was presiding . He had known him as an old friend in Masonry whom every one appreciated . Those who were intimately connected with him knew , and those who were

freshly brought into contact with him soon would know , how kindly he received them . His lordship helped the Mark Degree very much by being ready at all times to assist in any Mark ceremony . When necessary he gave his ofiicers the best advice , and helped them as a Pro Grand Master should . He complimented the Karl of Eus'on on the honour again conferred upon him , but the brethren might safely congratulate the Mark Degree that he had been once more appointed their Pro Grand Master .

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON , in acknowledging the toast , which was most heartily drunk , said it was now two years since he was first appointed to his present position in Mark Masonry . When he was first invested the brethren greeted him in the kindest way , and they had done the same since . He could hardly find words to thank them sufficiently , but he could say that the Past Grand Masters , who had served for years , had helped him very much ,

and he thanked them for doing so . He confessed he was fond of the Degree , which they all could say was progressing . Any work he could do which would lead to its success he should be happy to perform as long as lie had power , health , and strength . He then proposed " The Deputy Grand Master , and the Grand Officers of Grand Mark Lodge , Present and Past , " brethren who had all done excellent work . Those whom his Royal Highness had appointed that night , would do as their predecessors had

done , but if they wanted to excel them they had a very hard task before them . He hoped they would work shoulder to shoulder and hand to hand , as the brethren of the Mark Degree had worked in days gone bv . Let the Mark Degree establish itself on a solid basis . The Grand Officers would find at the end of their year that Grand Office was not a sinecure , but that work had had to be done . If they did not do it they might do harm ; if they did it involved a great deal of work . He asked them to do their duty as men and Masons , and he wished them every success .

Bro . the Earl of PORTARLINGTON , S . G . W ., responded , and said he should never forget the honour that had been conferred upon him . Bro . Baron DE FERRIERES proposed " The Mark Benevolent Fund . " The glory of Masonry rested upon a solid foundation , brotherly love , and Charity , and one of the greatest pleasures of Masons meeting together all ranks and conditions was that they felt they were all jolly good fellows . The

Mark Degree had an excellent Benevolent Fund , which would contrast favourably with the other Charities of Masonry . He had nothing to say against these , for they were all established in the best way , and were administered admirably . But the difference between the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Masonic Schools was that the Mark paid for the instruction of

children at the localities in which their parents lived , which he thought was most desirable . By taking them away from their parents , and bringing them up in Institutions , they were sometimes raised above their parents , and when they went home they looked down on those parents . Then the Mark Degree did not spend its money on expensive establishments . He thought it was the duty of every Mark Mason to support this Fund .

Bro . C . F . MATIER , G . Sec , responded , and said he would tell the brethren only bare facts , and leave them to draw their own deductions from the premisses he put before them . On Jul y ioth , they would have Ihe pleasure , in the room they were now assembled in , ol being presided over b y Bro . Lord Skelmersdale , P . G . S . W . of the Mark Degree . The Board of Stewards numbered 138 brethren , which was far below the usual average .

Before the nig ht was over he hoped they would have a large accession to their ranks—indeed , he had had one that night—the Junior Grand Warden , Bro . Victor Cavendish . They hoped to get on July ioth , a sum which would enable them to keep up the old traditions in the case of the education of children , and the annuities to Old People . It was their proudest boast that no worthy case ever came before the Board that was not

promptly and liberally relieved . There were seven candidates waiting for the annuity , and it depended upon the liberality of the brethren whether the Fund would be able to take them on . The income was very , very far short of the expenditure , but it was fashionable at the present time to say that the Mark Degree did not want any money , that it could go on as long as it pleased without asking for any more subscriptions .

He could assure them that this was not the case . They wanted money , for they were determined that no candidate should come for assistance that they could not relieve to the fullest extent . He asked them to support the fund . The Earl of Euston took the chair on one occasion , and he had the honour of having the highest subscription which had ever been raised at those annual festivals . He would be glad to

see that record beaten on July 10 th , and he hoped the brethren would go home and enlist Ihe sympathies of their wives , sisters , cousins , and aunts . The Rev . R . W . RIDER , from Bethlehem , Orange Free State , in replying to the toast of " The Visitors , " informed the brethren of the progress which Masonry was making out there by the efforts of some brethren who were trying to cultivate Masonry properly , and impart a true

feeling of brotherhood , notwithstanding political distinctions . I hey tried to live in peace and Charity with all men . and , speaking for himself and Bro . Harvey also , he would say they should go back and tell the brethren there something of the true brotherhood of Masonry here which they had experienced . Bro . HARVEY also replied . Bro . E . ST . CLAIR , President of the Board of Stewards , responded to

Grand Mark Lodge.

the toast proposed and drunk in their honour , assuring the brethren that the Stewards had done their best to make the meeting a success . In the course of the evening a charming selection of music was beautifully performed under the direction of Bro . Frederick Bevan , P . G . Organist , by himself , and Bros . J . A . Brown , Edward Dalzell , and Robert Hilton . ^^

Centenary Celebration Of The Alfred Lodge, No. 300, Leeds.

CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE ALFRED LODGE , No . 300 , LEEDS .

Monday , the 27 th ult ., will be a day which will long be remembered by the Freemasons of Leeds and West Yorkshire . On that day the third lodge in Leeds and the 13 th in the province attained its 100 th birthday . Fidelity , with its W . M ., Bro . Richard Wilson , duly celebrated its centenary in 1892 ; Philanthropic , with Bro . George Suddick in the chair , worthily kept its anniversary last year ; and now the Alfred , with Bro . Wm . Blackburn at its head , has emphasised its century of existence with impressive dignity and hospitality unbounded .

For an impartial observer and guest at this celebration there was much that was interesting and some food for rellection . No one could fail to perceive , and all undoubtedly recognised , the large-hearted welcome whicii the W . M . extended to his visitors , and how cordially his ollicers and brethren supported him . The celebration of the centenary of the Alfred Lodge also demonstrated beyond question the popularity of Bro . VV . L . Jackson as Provincial Grand Master , and

the loyalty of the province to its chief . It showed , moreover , by the presence of distinguished brethren , officers of Grand Lodge , that West Yorkshire was not without esteem in high places , whilst the personal attendance of Bros . AlcLeod , Hedges , and Terry , the respective Secretaries of the Boys ' , Girls ' , and Benevolent Institutions , might without vanity be regarded as some recognition of the valuable and unremitting help which for years has ungrudgingly been given by West Yorkshire to the great Alasonic Charities .

Bro . Wm . Blackburn , whose portrait we give , is a Alason of over 20 years' standing . He was initiated in the Alfred Lodge , No . 306 , in 1873 . For many years he took a quiet and unostentatious part' in the affairs of his lodge , and did not seem likely either to achieve greatness or have it thrust upon him . But a crisis arose , a time when it behoved the men of grit to show their metal , and Bro . Blackburn immediately joined the stalwarts . With his hand once on the plough ,

Bro . Blackburn never looked back , and it is to him and others whose help and support he gratefully acknowledges that the Alfred Lodge owes its splendid position to-day . At the unanimous request of his brethren he was placed in the chair in December of last year to fill the office of W . M . during the centenary year of the lodge . Well and worthily has he done so , and the hearty greetings and congratulations which were universal on the 27 th ult . show that aaot only the Alfred Lodge brethren recognise what he has done , but Leeds and West Yorkshire alcn

On a day so important it would naturally be supposed that the business of the centenary celebration only would be entertained . But this was not so . On this day Bro . Blackburn's second son attained his majority , and what more suitable or appropriate opportunity could be found for his admission into the mysteries of the Craft ? The lodge met at 2 p . m . prompt for this purpose , and Bro . Blackburn had the satisfaction of initiating his son on the day that his lodge reached its century .

This done , after a brief adjournment the lodge re-mmed , and at 3 . 30 p . m . received its distinguished visitors . These comprised the following officers of Grand Lodge : Bros . Richard Eve , P . G . Treas . ; R . L . Loveland , Pres . Bd . G . Purps . ; J . Chadwick , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec . E . Lanes . ; James Terry . P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; F . R . VV . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . G . S . B . ; J . S . Cumberland , D . G . S . B . ; A . C . Spaull , P . G . S . B . ; M . C . Peck , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Sec , N . and E . Yorks . ; and « V . F . Smithson , P . G . D .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire was very numerously represented , including Bros , the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , P . M ., Prov . G . M . ; H . Smith , D . Prov . G . M ., P . G . D . of Eng . ; C L . Alason , Prov . S . G . W .,- J . J . Brook , Prov . J . G . W . ; Major G . Bolton , Prov . G . Treas . ; H . G . E . Green , Prov . G . Sec ; F . C . Robinson , P . J . G . D . ; W . Dickie , Prov . G . S . of Wks . - C P Sunderland , Prov . G . D . C ; H . Columbine , Prov . G . S . B . ; W . AL Tate , Prov . G . S . B . ; S . Whiteley , Prov . G . Org . ; J . Alatthewman , Prov . A . G . Sec ; W ,

Bingham , Prov . G . P . ; T . Laurence , Prov . A . G . P . ; W . H . Stacey , Prov . G . Reg . ; A . Stephenson , Prov . S . G . D ; W . Dyson , P . S . G . D . ; G . H . Robinson , P . J . G . D . ; F . Read , P . J . G . D . ; J . Hartley , P . D . G . D . C ; H . G . Sutherst , P . A . G . D . C ; Asa Fawthorpe , P . G . S . B . ; J . Sugden , P . G . Stwd . ; W . R . Bates , P . G . Stwd . ; H . S . Wood , P . G . Stwd . ; W . R . Hinings , P . G . Stwd . ; W . Wilson , P . G . Stwd . ; A . Arnold , P . P . G . W . ; R . I . Critchley , P . P . G . W . ; R . Wilson , P . P . G . W . ; W . Harrop , P . P . G . W . ; J . D . Kay , P . P . G . D . ; G . Carbert , P . P . G . Org . ; W . C .

Lupton , P . P . G . D . j J . W . Monckman , P . P . G . D . C ; W . Ash , P . P . G . Org . ; J . Barker , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . F . Smithson , P . P . G . W . ; Rev . Canon Bullock , P . P . G . Chap . ; E . Woodhouse , P . P . G . W . * , W . Watson , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . B . Townsend , P . P . G . Org . ; G . F . Crowe , P . P . G . D . ; H . Thomas , P . P . G . Reg . ; R . P . Brindley , P . P . G . D . ; T . Crossley , P . P . G . W . ; G . H . Holdroyd , P . P . G . D . of C . ; J . Binney , P . P . G . Reg . ; A . Scarth , P . P . G . D . ; T . Norfolk , P . P . G . D . C ; W . Laycock , P . P . G . S . B . ; and I . ConstableP . P . G . S . B . The W . Ms . of the Centenary Lodges

, of West Yorkshire were also invited , and thu following were represented Bros . G . H . Parke , 154 ; J . H . Pawson , 242 ; W . S . Varley , 265 ; A . H . T . Fletcher , 275 ; W . Cookson , 289 ; W . P . Raynor , 290 ; A . W . Pullin , 302 ; and G Hainsworth , 304 . Among the other guests were the W . Ms , and Wardens of thc other Leeds lodges , and these included Bros . J . P . Alann , S . VV . 28 9 ; H . J .

Palethorpe , J . W . 28 9 ; W . Cockerlyne , S . W . 304 ; C Croysdale , J . W . 304 ; | . W . Banks , W . M . 1042 ; R . J . Smith S . W . 1042 ; R . Warde , J . W . 1042 ; j . VV . Gwillam , W . M . 1211 ; R . Tasker , S . W . 1211 ; A . T . Bacon , J . W . 1211 ; S . H . Cliffe , W . M . 1221 ; J . W . Wood , S . W . 1221 ; W . B . Clarke , J . W . 1221 ; M . A . Brigg , S . W . 1311 ; W . R . Smailes , J . W . 1311 ; B . S . Bailey , W . M . 2069 ; E . Ellis , S . W . 2069 ; and R . A . SmithsonJ . W . 2069 .

, After the usual salutations to ofiicers of Grand Lodge , Provincial Grand Lodge and other visitors , Bro . Blackburn , who most unfortunately through a severe cold had become quite hoarse , called upon Bro . John Dolby , P . M ., J . W ., to read a sketch of the career of the lodge , which had been prepared for the occasion . It was as follows :

It is usual when a lodge attains to the age of 100 years that same historical account of it should he compiled and submitted to the brethren and visitors at the centenary celebration . This has been done more or less fully by lodges in Huddersfield , Bradford , and Shellield , but more particularly has it been the case with the two Leeds lodges—Fidelity and Philanthropic—which have recently kept their centenaries . After carefully considering the question , we , of the Alfred

Lodge , decided that , for the present , at any rate , no history should be prepared . AIasonic matters in Leeds , with much of whicii the Alfred Lodge was connected , have been so fully and exhaustively treated by previous writers , that any reference to them would be mere repetition . We are content , then , just to state , in a brief and sketchy way , a few particulars and incidents strictly referring to our own lodge , which wiU illustrate and throw somo light upon the character and customs of our predecessors , and the methods and peculiarities of lodge working and social

gatherings a century ago . Though our minute books do not present an unbroken record of the proceedings of Alfred Lodge from 1795 downwards , yet they are voluminous and full ° ' interest . The oldest opens on the 17 th April , 1795 , and continues without a break