Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

PLUMSTEAD . —Excelsior Lodge ( No . 226 ) . —The usual quarterly meeting of the above flourishing lodee was held for the first time in the New Masonic Hall , on Friday , Dec . 21 st , Bro . VV . Moulds , P . P . G . I . G ., W . M ., in the chair , supported by the following brethren : Bros . C . Coupland , P . M ., and G . Stwd . of Grand Lodge , Eng ., Treas . ; Capt . G . Spinks , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , acting

S . W . ; G . Kennedy , P . P . G . N ., J . W . ; J . Whiteheart , P . P . G . I . G ., M . O . ; C . Jolly , P . P . G . O ., S . O . ; E . West , P . M ., P . G . D . C , S . D . ; F . Reed , acting I . G . j T . D . Hayes , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; T . Hully , 311 j and others . . The lodge having been opened , and the minutes passed , grand honours were paid to Bro . Coupland . Bro . Hayes

was welcomed home from his recent tour through Egypt and Malta , and returned thanks . A vote of sympathy was passed to the widow of the late Bro . H . Vallom , and it was resolved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mrs . Vallom , expressing the sympathy of the brethren , and their regret at her and their loss . The W . M . then wished the brethren " A merry Christmas and a happy New Year , "

and then the Iodge was closed . After refreshments had been partaken of , the W . M . gave the usual loyal , Grand , and Provincial toasts , and after having responded to a hearty reception of the toast of his own health , gave that of "The Past Masters , " coupled with the name of Bro . Hayes , who , in responding , and by special request , gave an eloquent and interesting resume

of his late journey . He graphically described the incidents that occurred , some of which were most absorbing , while others were intensely comical . Armed with letters of introduction from Bro . Capt . W . Weston , P . M ., and P . P . J . G . W ., who is as well-known , Masonically , at Cairo , Malta , and Gibraltar , as he is in Kent , he ( Bro . Hayes ) visited the Bulwer Lodge , at Cairo , where he encountered

Bro . Stackwood , of the Ordnance Store Corps , and several other military brethren from Woolwich . They received him with open arms , and most hospitably entertained him . Bro . Stackwood took him everywhere , and showed him everything worth seeing . He was much struck with the fact that nearly every mosque , tomb , pyramid , building , even the very ruins , bore evidences of the Craft and its

emblems . At Malta he met Bro . Col . Graham , P . M . 700 , and 2041 , and there they met with a hearty reception , and true Masonic welcome . Wherever he went he found Masonry flourishing , and what it meant ; for never had he met such true Masonic and brotherly love and welcome as he had in those distant lands . Several other toasts followed .

GATESHEAD . —Industry Lodge ( No . 293 ) . — The annual meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Jackson-street , on Monday , the 7 th inst ., for the installation of the W . M . for the ensuing year . The W . M ., Bro . W . F . Carmon , P . S . CO ., presided , and was supported by the following : Bros . R . B . Reed , D . P . G . M . M . j John Wood , P . P . S . G . W . ; M . Corbitt , P . P . G . M . O . ;

John Page , P . P . G . S . B . ; J . Straker Wilson , P . G . S . j Thos . Bell , P . G . D . C . ; Thos . Coulson , P . P . J . G . O . ; J . C . Moor , P . G . M . O . ; M . H . Dodd , P . P . I , of VV . ; W . Brown , P . G . Std . Br . ; R . Whitfield , J . W . ; and W . Mures Lyon , S . W . T . I . Bro . Robert Whitfield , J . W .. W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . M . Corbitt , P . M ., to the Installing Master , Bro .

Carmon , by whom the ceremony of installation was ably performed . The newly-installed W . M . afterwards invested the following officers for the ensuing year : Bros . VV . F . Carmon , I . P . M . j Wm . Brown , S . W . j R . W . Klyne , J . W . j John Wood , P . M ., Treas . j Robert Wilson , M . O . j Wm . Richardson , S . O . j Alf . Simpson , 1 . 0 . ; I . A . Armstrong , R . of M . ; Thos . R . Short ,

Sec ; Thos . R . Jobson , S . D . ; A . Dodds , J . D . ; M . Corbitt , P . M ., D . of C . j R . Curry Tate , I . G . j F . A . Black and C P . Laidler , Stwds . ; and Joshua Curry , Tyler . The Dep . Prov . Grand Mark Master , Bro . R . B . Reed , P . M ., expressed the regret of the Prov . G . M . M ., Bro . the Rev . Canon Tristram , D . D ., at being unable to be present from indisposition , but added that he was

pleased in being able to say that their much-loved Prov . Grand Master was progressing favourably , and it was hoped he would soon be convalescent . A motion was carried unanimously expressing the sorrow of the brethren at the illness of the Prov . Grand Master , and expressing the hope that by the blessing of the G . O . of the Universe he might soon be restored to his wonted health . After other business had been transacted , the brethren

adjourned to the banqueting hall , where the annual festival was held , the proceedings being presided over by Bro . Robert Whitfield , W . M . There was a full attendance of brethren at the banquet , and the after proceedings were quite enjoyable , the usual Masonic toasts being interspersed with the harmony of Bros . Ferry , Robert Wilson , J . A . Armstrong , A . Simpson , T . R . Jobson , and others .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

SHADWELL CLERKE CHAPTER ( No . 105 ) . —A meeting was held on Wednesday , the 2 nd inst ., at 33 , Golden-square , VV ., when there were present E . and P . Bro . H . H . Shirley , M . W . S . ; 111 . Bros . H . Lovegrove , 30 , Prelate ; John Read , 30 , Recorder ; E . and P . Bros . W . A . Scurrah , 18 , ist General ; W . R . Palmer , 18 , 2 nd General ; N . Goodchild , 18 ° , Raphael ; Edwin Storr , 18 , D . C ; E . C Mulvey , 18 , Herald ; C . J . Dunkley , 0 0

1 S , Organist ; G . W . Pragnell , 18 ; and Felix Weiss , i & ° . Visitors : 111 . Bros . Walls , 30 , and Lardner , 30 . The chapter was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . A ballot was taken for Bro . W . E . Coffin for perfection , which proved in his favour , and that brother having received the intermediate Degrees from the Recorder , was perfected by the M . W . S ., Bro . Shirley , to the iS ° . Nothing further offering , the chapter was closed .

A Glasgow correspondent states that the late Bro . Sir Wm . Pearce has left property to the value of £ 1 , 200 , 000 . After making provision for the present baronet in life rent , the remainder is to be divided between Lady Pearce and Sir William .

Order Of The Secret Monitor.

Order of the Secret Monitor .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . J . SPRAT LING , B . Sc , F . G . S ., GRAND

RECORDER . As is his custom at the end of the year , the Supreme Grand Ruler of this Order , M . W . Bro . Dr . Zacharie , invited a large number of the brethren of the Order to see the Old Year out and the New Year in at his house , and in American fashion . More than a hundred guests had accepted his hospitable and courteous invitation , but the

almost impassable fog prevented very many from being present . The G . S . R . and the brethren had taken advantage of this re-union to present to Bro . W . J . Spratling , Grand Recorder , a piece of plate as a testimony of their appreciation of the services he has rendered to the Order , and Bros . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke and Philbrick had promised

to be present for this purpose . The fog having completely forbidden their arrival , the presentation was made by the S . G . R ., who , in very complimentary language , referred to the absence of many of those he had expected to see , to the growth of the Order , to the hold this rehabilitation of the old and genuine principles of Freemasonry had taken among the brethren of the Craft , and to the excellent and

unwearied services of the brother in whose honour they were met . He then , in the name of the subscribers , numbering more than a hundred , presented a handsome epergne , valued at sixty guineas , and bearing the following inscription : — " Presented to R . W . Brother VV . J . Spratling , B . Sc , G . Rec , by members of the Order of the Secret Monitor ,

in recognition of his zeal and ability in promoting its organisation in the United Kingdom . —December , iSSS . " He wished him long life and much happiness in the use of it , and trusted that his interest in , and services to , the Order would continue , and , if possible , increase from year to year , and that he would soon see the Order established on so firm and sure a footing that nothing could . shake or

remove it . In thanking the G . S . R . and the subscribers generally , Bro . SPRATLING said : It is difficult in presenceof this company of ladies and gentlemen , and of yourself and family , G . S . R ., to speak without visible emotion . In thanking you all for this beautiful manifestation of your appreciation of the services I have been able to render to yourselves and

to our excellent and much prized Order , believe me when I first undertook , at the request of the G . S . R ., the Recordership , I little dreamt that before two years had passed over our heads we should have numbered nearly 400 members ; and when I look ahead a few years and foresee that these hundreds will have become thousands , it is with feelings of dismay , and of my own inefficiency for the office . Yet ,

believe me , I shall endeavour to do my best , and I take this handsome present less as a reward tor what I have been able to do heretofore than as an encouragement to me to go on , and do even better in the future . The balancesheet , laid before Grand Council recently , shows the Order to be in a healthy condition financially , and so long as the present steady flow of brethren , who in their

respective lodges and districts are the cream of the Craft , shall continue , this Order will go forward and prosper , filling , as it is acknowledged to do , a want , hitherto unsupplied , among us . In the presence of ladies I am not allowed to give further details , and , indeed , if 1 were , I am reminded that this is not the purpose of the present

meeting or of the present speech . Allow me then to say , from an overflowing heart , that I thank you , G . S . R ., most cordially for the kind words you have been pleased to address to me , and you all , ladies and gentlemen , for the kindness which has prompted you to give this shape to your mark of appreciation . I trust that the G . S . R . of All may give us all a Happy New Year and much enjoyment during its course .

Egypt.

Egypt .

ALEXANDRIA . —Albert Edward Lodge ( No . 707 , S . C ) . —The installation meeting and annual banquet was held on Dec . 17 th , in the Masonic Hall , Okella Katib Pasha . Bro . Westrick , R . W . M ., presided . After the minutes had been confirmed , the ballot was taken for Mr . Marsden , which proving unanimous , he was initiated . Bro . Dickson , I . P . M ., having taken the chair , Bro . Quartermaster Sergt . I . Nicklen , R . E ., was presented as the R . W .

Master , and in the presence of a Board of Installed Masters was installed into the chair . The admirable working of the Installing Master and the earnest and practical words of the new R . W . M . left nothing wanting to make the ceremonies complete . Among those present at the Board of Installed Masters might be noted Bros . Capt . St . Clair , P . M . 2074 , E . C , P . P . G . R . Hants and Isle ot Wight ; F . Warwick , P . M . ; H . F . Dickson , P . M . ; Sergt .-Major Hathaway , P . M . 1157 , E . C ; and J . Towrest , W . M . 1157 ,

E . C . There was a goodly number of visitors present , as may be testified by the following lodges being represented : Zetland , 1157 j Independence , 721 j Broad Arrow , 1 S 90 j Bulwer , 1008 ; Sun , 106 ; St . Clair , 2074 ; Phcenix , 257 ; Dunheved , 789 , E . C . ; Dublin Garrison , 730 , I . C ; Egypt , 290 ; A . and A . Scottish ; Supreme Grand Cou .

de France ; Nuova Pompeio ( Italian ); Stella di Assandna ( Egyptian ); and Phoenix L . Corfu ( Greek ) . The R . W . M . invested the officers who had been elected to the various offices as follows : Bros . Louth , D . M . j Barlow , S . M . j Williams , S . W . j Kerr , J . W . ; Bell , S . D . ; Blather , J . D . ; Sergt .-Major Bird , R . A ., Sec ; H . F . Dickson , Treas . ; Greatreax , I . G . j Farrall

Stwd . j Sidki Bey , D . Cj and Figari , Org . A resolution thanking the Installing Master for his excellent services having been adopted and" Hearty good wishes" presented , the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Hotel Abbat , to partake of a splendid and sumptuous banquet , served by its far-famed host . The R . W . M . presided , supported by most of the visitors

and members ot the lodge . At the clearing of the cloth , the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given , including "The Oueen , " "The Khedive , " "The G . M . of Scotland , " and " The Sister G . L . 's . " The I . P . M ., in responding to the toast of his health , thanked the members for their support during the past year , and assuted them he should still continue to interest

Egypt.

himself in the lodge s welfare . The lodge was shown to be , - financially and numerically , healthy , and he hoped it would not suffer from lack of interest , and he was led to believe that in the hands of their R . W . M . the lodge was in no danger , but would enjoy a pleasant and prosperous year . "The Health of the R . W . Master " having been proposed ,

Bro . Nicklen replied , and , while expressing his thanks to the brethren for the honour they had conferred , and his thorough appreciation ot their goodwill , said that as he had found the lodge in so flourishing a condition , it would be his great endeavour to prevent its falling into decay . He assured them he would do his utmost to render it still a growing and prosperous lodge ; but he felt that as much

depended on the assistance rendered by the members themselves as upon his own personal efforts ; and that much as he might wish , and as thoroughly as he might strive , without their co-operation and help , their work would be a failure . Bros . St . Clair , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . Hants and Isle of Wight , and Rev . J . K . Lethbridge , P . P . G . Chap , for

Cornwall and for Malta , in returning thanks for "The Visitors , " expressed themselves thoroughly pleased with the admirable working they had seen and the very great pleasure they experienced at being able to join in such a homely and enjoyable gathering and entertainment while so far from home . They wished the lodge a successful year . In proposing "The Past Masters of the Lodge , " the

R . W . Master said they were only a few in number , the lodge having only being in existence a little over three years , but they were all able brethren and would , he was sure , render him all the help their past experience and knowledge of the Craft could afford . He regretted very much the compulsory absence of the father of the lodge , Bro . J . S . Morfitt , P . M ., and felt sure that his thoughts were at that time with them .

Bro . Dickson , P . M ., Treas ., responded , assuring the R . W . M . of their continued interest , and promising in the future all the counsel and help they had at their command . The harmony usually prevailing at social meetings of the Craft when assembled to strengthen the mystic tie was conspicuous throughout the entertainment . A very pleasant evening was spent , the Masonic toasts being interspersed with songs and recitations , given in thoroughly good style

by Bros . Warwick , Sergt .-Major Williams , Royal Irish Rifles ; Wakefield , Medical Staff ; and Sergt .-Major Hathaway , O . S . C ; proving that there was no lack of talent among the brethren . Bro . Figari , Org ., presided at the pianolorte . The Tyler's toast brought the meeting to a close , all present joining in the wish that the lodge may have before it a year full of success and prosperity .

The Poet Burns.

THE POET BURNS .

Brother Allan Mackenzie , the excellent Historian of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning , in replying in the Freemason of December 15 th , to my communication as to the Poet Burns having held the office of Poet Laureate of that lodge , is pleased to state that there is " apparent truth "

in "some" of my "assertions . " These " assertions " were made after careful enquiry , and they are to the best of my belief correct . If they are only apparently truthful , Brother Mackenzie , with his full knowledge , and his facilities of access to the lodge ' s records and documents , could have had little difficulty in exposing my errors , if any existed j but he has not done so .

lt is in vain for my respected brother to speak of the " repeated testimony recorded in the minutes and other documents" of his lodge . Ihere is no such testimony of a contemporaneous character . The subject is not mentioned until the year 1 S 15 , 28 years after the alleged event . Indeed , the propounders of the theory , in 1846 , alleged that of set purpose , and after mature deliberation ,

and acting on the advice of competent advisers , it was resolved to suppress all record of the occurrence ! On the death , ot Burns , his brother Gilbert , and many of his more intimate friends , wrote sketches of his life , as illustrated by their association with him . Among others who did so was Professor Dougald Stewart of Edinburgh , one of the most eminent men of

his day . The Protessor ' s intimacy with Burns extended only from October , 1786 , until the end of the winter of 1787 . The Professor is said to have been present in the Canongate Lodge at the alleged " Inauguration . " He met Burns in the i ' arbolton Lodge at one ot its ordinary meetings , and he describes with some minuteness the trifling occurrences at that small meeting . But he says nothing of

the grand Masonic gathering of eminent Scotsmen , of which he was one , who are said to have assembled in the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge on the ist March , 1787 , and to have then installed Burns into the office ot its Poet Laureate ! It is impossible to believe that the Professor , then in the prime of life , could have forgotten that striking scene , which the reviewers of Bro . Marshall ' s work describe

as having "brought the Bard of Ayr into view in one of the few situations in which , during his own lifetime , his genius was duly acknowledged j" .... " surrounded as he was by the illustrious , the lordly , the elite , the joyously witty , and the rampant convivials of Ihe Auld Reekie [ Edinburgh ] of the time , all assembledln the picturesque

Hall , historically famous for music , song , and boisterous merriment—the Can . Kil . j " and yet we are asked to believe that this tragic scene occurred , and that all record of it was purposely suppressed by its promoters . ' This is truly a desperate apology ! The initiation and election of Bro . the Honourable

Henry Erskine as R . W . M . of the lodge has nothing to do with this question ; but if Bro . Mackenzie desires to ascertain the date of that distinguished brother ' s initiation , he will find it given at page 240 of his own History , As regards the picture of the installation , Bro . Murray Lyon , in 1873 , in answer to a letter from the Secretary of the lodge , enquiring whether he intended to "discredit "

the fact of Burns having been the lodge ' s Poet Laureate , specially asked him— " Can you show me proof that the picture in question is a representation of what actually took place ? " and the Secretary replied that the work , published in 1 S 46 , entituled ' A Winter with Robert burns , ' gives a

faithtul exposition of the picture of Burns' Inauguration as Poet Laureate . " Therefore , if" A Winter with Burns" gives a faithful " exposition " of the picture , the picture gives a faithful " representation" of what actually took place . Besides , a photograph of the picture is inserted in the history , along with a key map to the individuals whose