Secret Monitor.

Order was not lightly undertaken when he himself was initiated into it by the late Grand Secretary , and amongst the members were Bros . Lord Halsbury—the Lord Chancellor—and Bro . Philbrick was their Grand Registrar . He felt certain that at their next meeting they would be able to congratulate themselves on the fact that they were at amity with all the brethren in this country and in other parts of the world .

" The Health of Bro . Dr . Zacharie" was next given by the G . S . R ., and , in reply , Bro . ZACHARIE , P . G . S . R ., expressed his thanks to , them for their kindness and assured them of his continued interest in the Order . Bro . NEWTON CRANE , in an eloquent speech , proposed "The Grand Officers , " which was acknowledged by Bros . R . EVE , J . TICKLE , and W . J . SPRATLING .

" The Grand Stewards" was responded to by Bros . WHITE , President of the Board , and HOLLIDAY , Sec , the latter of whom referred to the flourishing state of the Order in Natal . Bro . H . Tipper had , as usual , arranged an excellent programme of music which materially contributed to the enjoyment of the evening .

Cleve Fast Conclave , No . 8 , The installation meeting of this conclave , which is usually held at the Criterion , Piccadilly , took place at the Masonic HaU , Watford , on Saturday , the 2 nd inst ., vihen V . W . Bro . J . P . Taylor , P . G . Stwd ., was installed Supreme RJTer . The ceremonies were most impressively performed by V . W . Bro . W . J . Spratling * , B . S ., F . G . S ., G .

Recorder , assisted by V . W . Bro . J . J . Pakes . The following officers ware appointed for the ensuing year : V . W . Bro . C . S . Nelson , Counsellor ; Bro . F . Adams , Guide ; Colonel Hugh M . Gordon , Treas . ; V . W . Bro . L . M . Biden , Sec . ; Bros . J . Rogers , W . T . Boydell , S . Goodchild , and Rice-Oxley , Visiting Deacons ; Bro . Newton Crane , Guarder ; and Bro . Brokenshire , Sentinel .

A pair-horse brake was in attendance , and took the brethren for a drive to Aldenham Church , and afterwards to view the site of the new Masonic Schools , after which they partook of a splendid banquet . The usual customary toasts followed . The brethren returned to town by the 9 . 30 train , after having spent a very enjoyable day .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM .

ANNUAL MEETING AT ALNWICK . PRESENTATION TO BRO . R . B . REED , PAST DEPUTY P . G . M . M .

On Wednesday afternoon , the 29 th ult ., the annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Alnwick , when there was a large gathering assembled under the banner of the Hotspur Lodge . Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., Prov . G . M ., presided , and was supported by the following Prov . Grand Officers : Bros . Thomas Purvis , Deputy P . G . M . ; P .. B . Reed , Past Deputy P . G . M ., P . G

Std . Br . Eng . ; R . B . Robson , P . S . G . W . ; J . Straker Wilson , P . P . S . G . W ., P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ; J . G . Youll , P . P . G . Secretary ; T . J . Armstrong , P . G . D . Eng . ; J . A . Forbes , P . P . S . G . W . ; Dr . A . J . Main , P . P . J . G . W . ; J . Robinson , P . J . G . W . ; John Readhead , P . J . G . O . ; John Heppell , P . G . See . ] George Blair , P . J . G . D . ; John Wilson , P . G . I , of W . ; T . Black , P . G . D . C . ; E . Lautebach , P . G . S . B . j Dr . H . Paige , P . G . Org . ; A . Simpson , P . G . I . G . ; W .

Brown , P . G . Stwd . Eng ., as P . G . M . O . ; W . F . Carmon , P . S . G . O . ; and C . F , Sutcliffe , as P . S . G . D . Among others present were : Bros . T . G . Mabane , P . P . J G . O . ; J . C . Moor , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . D . Todd , P . P . G . M . O . ; T . Coulson , P . P . J , G . O . ; J . Barker , P . P . G . O . ; Seymour Bell , P . P . G . D . C . ; F . R . Short , P . P . G D . C ; W . E . Moffatt , P . P . S . G . O . ; Jas . Sedcole , P . P . G . M . O . ; J . K . Wilkes , P . P . G . R . of M . j G . Harland , P . P . G . R . of M . j John Holt , P . P . G . D . C . ; John Deans , P . P . G . I . of W . ; Walter Weston , P . P . S . G . O . ; Hugh Jackson , S . W .

293 ; J . Usher Simpson , J . W . ( T . L ); T . B . Grimes , W . M . 362 ; W . Hutchinson , S . W . 122 ; Joshua Curry , 293 ; T . Grieve , 124 ; John Walton , W . M . 356 ; W Hodgson , W . M . 122 ; T . R . Braybrook , W . M . 39 ; and R . R . Riddell , W . M . 192 . The report of the Committee stated that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , G . M ., had been pleased to re-appoint the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., as P . G . M . M . for the ensuing three years in compliance with the request of the province . The following were appointed and invested as the Provincial G . Ofiicers for the ensuing year :

Bro . T . Purvis ( re-appointed ) ... ... Dep . P . G . M . „ Col . W . M . Angus ( in absentia ) ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ Thomas Coulson ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Ernest Lautebach ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ William Hodgson ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O .

„ John Walton ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . W . Bowker ... ... , „ l „„ , „ Rev . J . Haworth ) Prov . G . Chaps . „ G . W . Bain ( re-elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ John Heppell ( re-appointed ) ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ James Scott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . R . of M .

1 , T . B . Grimes ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ T . R . Bra > brook ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ Alf . Simpson ... ... ... Prov . G . L of W . „ F . W . Ingram ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C .

„ J . Smith ... ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Robt . Bolam ,.. ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Dr . H . Paige ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ R . R . Riddell ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G .

Bro . the Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., then , on behalf of the Mark Masons of the province , presented to Bro . R . B . Reed , who had for nine years held the office of Deputy Prov . Grand Master , a life-size painting in oils of his portrait , in recognition of his wise counsel and able service in that important office . Canon Tristram also expressed the wide-felt regret with

which all of them , with himself , had received the tidings of Bro . Reed ' s retirement . He also presented to Bro . Reed , for Mrs . Reed , a diamond ring as a memento of the esteem in which her husband was held by his brethren in Mark Masonry . Bro . J HEPPELL , P . G . Sec , also read the following address to Bro . Keed , which had been beautifully illuminated in Mark Masonic colours :

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Northumberland And Durham.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Northumberland and Durham . The Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., LL . D ., F . R . S ., Prov . G . M . M . M . Copy of Resolution Proposed by Bro . C . D . Hill Drury , P . P . S . G . W ., and seconded by Bro . G . W . Bain , Prov . Grand Treasurer , and passed unanimously by the members of Provincial Grand Mark Lodge held at Gateshead on August 25 th , 18 97 :

" That the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Northumberland and Durham receives with sincere regret the intimation of the retirement of Bro . Richard Bagnall Reed from the office of XV . D . P . G . M , MM ., and desires hereby to express its deep sense of gratitude for the eminent services rendered to Mark Masonry in general , and to this province in particular , by him during the nine years he has vvith conspicuous ability filled that high and important office .

"The brethren hope and trust that he will be long spared to bestow on the members of the Mark Degree the benefit of his experience , wise counsels , and advice .

"' That a copy of this resolution be handed to Bro . Reed . ' " Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., Prov . G . M . M . M ., " THOMAS PURVIS , Dep . Prov . G . M . M . M ., " J HEPPELL , Prov . G . Secretary . " In making the presentation , the PROV . GRAND MASTER said that was the most interesting and important part of the proceedings of the day , and

such a duty had never fallen to his lot before . Some time ago the brethren of the province had presented to him his own portrait , and over his diningroom mantle , at Durham , in his residence his portrait was an object of the greatest interest to all his visitors . Now they were making a similar presentation to his esteemed friend and Past Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . Reed , and no duty could give him greater pleasure and satisfaction than to make that

presentation intheirname . ( Applause . ) For nine years , he ( Bro . Reed ) had been the Prime Minister of Mark Masonry in the province , and no P . G . M . had had more wise counsel or more valuable advice and assistance than he had received from Bro . Reed . It was a great night in the year when Bro . Reed came to his house to arrange Masonic matters of importance , and they often sat , he would not say how far , into the night . His wise advice and judgment and counsel had been of the greatest possible assistance , and he had

in all cases never taken any step without first taking into consideration all the circumstances and surroundings of every case . ( Applause . ) His great object had been to promote the good ol Mark Masonry . ( Applause . ) He was not surprised that by his genial manners and kindly zeal Bro . Reed had won the confidence and esteem of the brethren . ( Cheers . ) He hoped he would be spared many years to look upon the tokens of their good will . ( Applause ) .

Bro . R . B . REED , Past D . P . G . M ., in the c 9 urse of his reply , said he certainly never expected to have received such an honour as had that day been paid to him . Masonry had always given to him more than ever he had given to it ; still it was a source of satisfaction to him to receive these gifts from them and to know that his work in the past in the cause of Mark Masonry had been received with satisfaction . ( Applause . ) The Prov . G .

Master , in the generosity of his heart , had been good enough to speak of him in the very warmest of terms . He thanked him for this and he would ever remember the high honour which that day the brethren had conferred upon him . The portrait which he gratefully accepted from their hands was the work of an eminent artist , and the manner in which he had executed the commission given him was worthy of his high reputation . ( Applause . ) It

would be a great pleasure for him ( Bro . Reed ) to look upon it from time to time and to recall the many , very many happy hours which he had spent in the lodges of the Mark Degree . ( Applause . ) For the valuable ring which they had presented to Mrs . Reed , he , on her behalf , thanked them most warmly . He could say she always had a high appreciation of the value of Freemasonry . Something like a quarter of a century ago , she enrolled herself

as a life subscriber to the Girls' School , and at the same time to the Fund for the Widows of Aged Freemasons . He knew it would be a source of delight to her to receive that ring at the hands of her husband from his bi other Mark Masons . ( Applause . ) For himself , he might say he was one of the oldest Past Masters of the historic Craft Lodge of Industry , and was a Past Provincial Grand Treasurer of the Craft Province of Durham . He

was also a student in Royal Arch Masonry , being a P . Z . of the De Burghin Chapter , which was now merged in the Chapter of Industry . But it was in Mark Masonry that he had been most active . He was now one of the oldest Past Masters of the Northumberland and Berwick-on-Tweed Lodge ( T . I . ) —the Iodge in which he had the good fortune to be advanced . Here at Alnwick he might mention that when Earl Percy was Provincial Grand Master , he ( Bro . Reed ) held the office of P . S . G . O . Some years afterwards

their present Provincial Grand Master gave him the appointment of Prov . S . G . W ., and then came to him the appointment he most prized—that of Deputy Prov . Grand Master of the Province of Northumberland and Durham—which he held for nine years , having had during the whole of that period the confidence of the Provincial Grand Master , and the appreciation of the brethren . He again thanked them for all their kindness . ( Applause . )

In the evening a banquet was held at the Star Hotel , Alnwick , presided over by the Prov . Grand Master , Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram . There were a large number of brethren present . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , and altogether the proceedings were of an enjoyable character .

Afier grace had been said , the PROV . G . MASTER proposed "The Queen " in a most loyal and hearty speech . The PROV . G . MASTER next gave " H . R . H . ths Prince of Wales , K . G ., M . W . G . M ., and the Officers of Mark Grand Lodge , " coupled with the name of Bro . T . G . MABANE , Grand Steward , who very ably responded .

Bro . R . B . RKED , Past D . P . G . M ., proposed the toast of " The P . G . M . M ., R . W . Bro . Rev . Canon TRISTRAM , D . D ., " who responded in an able and historic speech . The PROV . G . MASTER next proposed " The Health of the R . W . Deputy P . G . M ., Bro . THOMAS PURVIS , " who responded and acknowledged the excellent reception the Prov . Grand Olli : ers had everywhere received in visiting the several lodges in the province . Other toasts followed .

TUB CROWN PRINCE and Princess of Greece , attended by Mdlle . Contostavlos , Lieut .-Col . Palli , A . D . C , and the Hon . Henry Stonor arrived at Windsor Castle on Saturday last . They were received at the Sovereign ' s entrance by her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , an J by the Queen at the head of the stairs , ths adies and gentlem * n of the Koyal Household being in attendance .