Ladies' Night Of The Albion Lodge, No. 9.

scent with which each member of the fair sex was presented as a souvenir of the occasion . Next followed a few toasts , the speeches in connection with which were commendably brief and to the point . " The Queen and Royal Family " was proposed by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , and heartily honoured .

Bro . RUSSELL BEARDMORE , I . P . M ., in proposing "The Health of the Wor . shipful Master , " said that from the enthusiastic reception accorded the mention of the toast , he was assured he need say but little in connection with it . Bro . Gerrish , W . M ., had been a good officer and a good W . M ., and it was doubtful if the lodge ever had a more popular ruler . Under the present W . M . ' s rule , the work had been well done , and they had had a most successful year . In this toast they ought

also to combine the health of Mrs . Gerrish , and from the enthusiastic greeting given that name , he was of opinion that the " Worshipful Mistress " was even more popular than the W . M . If the brethren had known that lady as long as he ( the l . P . M . ) had , they would , doubtless , hold the same high opinion of her . He was not flattering , but simply saying what came from his heart , and he therefore asked all present to sincerely drink the toast . The toast having been received with musical honours ,

The W . M ., in reply , thanked the l . P . M . and brethren for the reception accorded it . It was always difficult to speak of one ' s self , and , therefore , it was with great pleasure he found his wife ' s name included . But for her he should not have occupied that proud position land been W . M . of that old lodge , and probably not have known the I . P . M ., who proposed him as a . member seven years ago as an initiate . His wife was , therefore , the connecting link between that lodge and himself , and it was to her he owed the pleasant associations he had formed .

The Ladies and Visitors " was the last toast given by the W . M . He said he could have wished the task had fallen to abler hands , but he was sure he should be excused if he failed to express the pleasure it had given the members to entertain the ladies . Proud as he was of their old lodge , he had never seen it to greater advantage than that night . He believed he remarked on a similar occasion that Masons were daily becoming alive to the fact that ladies had too long been precluded from their meetings , and were waking up to their duties and

pleasures alike . He was sorry their Masonic grandfathers should have denied themselves the pleasures that mi ght have been theirs for the asking . He hoped those ladies who had taken the trouble to come on the present occasion would confer the same pleasure on the members by acceptirig every invitation they received . They were also honoured by the presence of many visitors , to whom he extended a hearty welcome , and he hoped they had proved the fact that Masonry and hospitality go hand in hand . He should ask Bro . Harvey , P . M ., Sec , to respond for the ladies , and Bro . Tijou , P . A . G . P ., for the visitors .

Bro . W . L , HARVEV , P . M ., Sec , said he had accepted many positions on behalf of their lodge , but' never before had he been in his present predicament To respond for the ladies was such a charming idea that he should have been glad of a lew minutes' reflection to have endeavoured to do justice to the toast . The ladies had whispered to him that they had enjoyed themselves very much ,

and only wished these meetings were held quarterly instead of annually . As he should never have another opportunity , he thanked the brethren and ladies most sincerely for their company and for assisting in making that evening one of the most pleasant that lodge had ever had . Bro . Tijou , P . G . P ., replied for " The Visitors . "

A musical programme was then given under the direction of Bro . G . Pritchard , assisted by Miss Emily Foxcroft , Miss Dorothea Walenn , Master W . D . Pritchard , Bro . J . Probert , and Mr . David Devant , who gave a marvellous exhibition of feats of memory that must have aroused pangs of envy in the breasts of all those who aspired to be workers of the ritual of the Craft . A dance was afterwards indulged in with unflagging energy until about midnight , when the company separated with many pleasant memories of the evening ' s entertainment , and a registered vow to be present at the next function of a similar kind whenever the opportunity occurred .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

CONSECRATION OF THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM MARK LODGE , No . 486 , BETHLEHEM .

Although a plant of recent growth in this remote town of the Orange Free State , Freemasonry has taken firm root , and is growing well . A development is evidenced by the fact that a lodge ol Mark Master Masons , numbered 486 on the roll of the Grand Mark Lodge of England has just been consecrated here . Bro . Thomas Cook , the D . G . M . M . of Natal , was

the Consecrating Officer , being accompanied , from Durban , more than 300 miles away , by Bro . the Rev . Dr . A . Illin , the D . G . Chap ., who assisted most ably in the ceremonies of consecration and installation . The proceedings began at 3 p . m ., on Wednesday , the 6 h ult .. when the lodge was consecrated and solemnly formed according to ancient usage . Bro . the Rev . W . Wilkinson Rider , who had the previous day been installed in the chair of

Ihe Craft lodge , was then most impressively installed as the first W . M . of the new lodge , and in due course installed Bro . W . E . Harvey as S . W ., and Bro . Dr . G . F . Reid as J . W . After the usual addresses to the W . M / and Wardens by the D . G . M ., and the transaction of some routine business , the lodge was called off until the evening . On resuming , the W . M . advanced eight candidates who had been duly elected , the Wardens and visiting

brethren assisting most efficiently , and before closing invested several of the new officers . By acclamation , the D . G . M . and the D . G . Chaplain were elected honorary members of the lodge , in recognition of their valued services in journeying so far to consecrate the lodge , which compliment was gratefully and gracefully acknowledged . The working in the Craft lodge on the previous day won high praise

from the visiting brethren , and the founders of the new Mark lodge are resolved lhat it shall in no respect fall behind . In the main , the members of the one lodge will be the members of the other , with this difference , that brethren from a distance have already applied for advancement to the honourable Degree in this the only Mark lodge in Ihe Orange Free State . It will , we trust , afford p leasure to lovers of Mark Masonry in England and elsewhere to know that in this distant place a few enthusiasts in this useful

and attractive Degree are evidencing their faith by thsir works , and are endeavouring to bring the K . S . into prominence . It may not be out of place to make grateful acknowledgment here of the kindness and courtesy of our Pro G . M ., Lord Euston , whose advice and help , willingly given to the W . M . and S . W . during their recent visit lo England , were to effective in securing the warrant without loss of lime . To the Grand Secretary also , our excellent Bro . Matier , grateful thanks are due for valued counsel given , which will assuredly lighten the labours of the founders of the new lodge .

Secret Monitor.

Secret Monitor .

WINTER CONVOCATION OF GRAND COUNCIL . The Grand Council of this Order met at Mark Masons' H ill on Friday , the 6 th inst . In the unavoidable absence of the G . S . R ., the Earl of Warwick , the chair was occupied by M . W . Bro . F . A . Philbrick , O . C , Djpu ' . y

Ruler of the Order , and the vice-chairs were filled by Bros . W . G . Lemon , LL . B ., and J . Tickle , G . Treas . There were also present Bros . Col . H . M , Gordon , G . V . ; H . W . Kiallmark , M . D ., G . V . ; J . J . Fakes , P . G . V . ; J , J . Thomas , P . G . V . ; A . F , Lamette , P . G . V . ; A . Stewart Browne , P . G . V . Dr . H . Roberts , P . G . B . B ., and several other Grand Officers .

Letters of regret at unavoidable absence were read from brethren in Manchester , Bros . Hay , Sir Thos . Wright , Dr . Jessop , Shutt , Dr . Zacharie , P . G . S . R . ; and several other brethren . The minutes of the June meeting having been read and signed , The GRAND TREASURER reported an income of about £ 130 during the year , and a balance of nearly / bo at present in the bank .

A vote of thanks was accorded to Bro . Tickle , G . Treas ., and to Bros . J . J . Pakes , P . G . V ., and H . T . Lyon , Pres . Board of Grand Stewards , who had acted as Auditors .

The GRAND RECORDER reported 181 registrations during the year , which appeared to be the largest number ever taken in a single year . He mentioned that the Earl of Euston Conclave had returned its warrant , and that a new warrant—No . 27—had been issued to Geelong , Victoria , Australia . He stated that the revision of the Bjok of Constitutions was stil

under consideration of the Committee , and that suggestions were invited on any points in which difficulty may have arisen . Bros . Col . GORDON and H . W . KIALLMARK , G . Visitors for the year , reported that their frequent visits to conclaves had been productive of great pleasure to themselves , and showed that the Order was working most satisfactorily among the brethren . They had no doubt that if they were able to pay similar visits to conclaves abroad they would find an equally warm reception and equal , if not greater , enthusiasm .

The report of the Executive committee was rather long , and , after being unanimously adopted , subject to small verbal alterations , was lefc in the hands of Bro . Philbrick and the Grand Recorder to be issued to all the conclaves . We hope to give the report in extenso next week . In moving the adoption of the report ,

Bro . LEMON referred to certain comments which had been publicly made as to the genuineness of the claims put forth by the Order , and stated that he entered it under the auspices of the late Col . Shadwell Clerke , G . Secretary of the Craft , than whom no keener and no more faithful Mason ever breathed . He felt that for a body which had for its sponsors such breth-en as he and others , present and absent , whom he need not name , it was rather la'e in the day for them to be asked to apologise for their existence . He pointed

out that the body claiming to sit in judgment upon the Order was really a child of their own , having seen the light some years after the English Order was founded . He felt warmly on the subject , but had been led to make these remarks more in justice to the memory of the respected dead , than to defend his own position . He could have wished the report had been a little more drastic , but their motto was peace and friendship , and for his part he did not desire to retaliate .

The names of Bros . Lewis J . Thomas , P . G . S . R ., and W . G . Lemon , P . G . S . R ., were announced as those upon which the G . Supreme Ruler had fixed as representatives on the Executive Committee for the ensuing year . The brethren present then elected Bros . J . J . Pakes , A . F . Lamette , and J . J . Thomas as the representatives of Grand Council . Wednesday , June 17 th , was fixed as the date for the Grand Festival of 1806 .

Horatio Shirley Conclave , No . 5 . A meeting of the above conclave was held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Monday , the 25 th ult ., when there were present Bros . H . P \ Hay , G . G ., S . R . ; J . Stephens , Penrose J . Dunbar , T . Cohu , J . T . Rowe , R . Finlayson , G . Cape ) , E . Glaiser , and O . Heinmann . Bio . j . Stephens was unanimously elected S . R . for the ensuing yr-ar ; Bro . Major Penrose J . Dunbar re-elected Treasurer ; Bros . Cape ) and Finlayson elected Auditors , and Bro . Shepperd , Sentinel . The usual P . S . R . jewel was voted to Bro . H . P . Hay for his valuable services during the year . Apologies were received from several brethren who were unable to attend . A very pleasant evening was spent in conjunction wiih the members ol the Cleve Fast Conclave , No . S , who joined the brethren at the subsequent banquet .

Cryptic Masonry.

Cryptic Masonry .

Grand Master ' s Council , No . 1 . A meeting of this distinguished council was held at Mark Masons' Hall on the - ijth ult . Among those present were Comps . A . McDowall , T . I . M . ; G . Powell , P . D . M . : W . A . Scurrah , D . M . ; J . J . Pakes , P . C . W . ; the Rev . C . li . Wright , G . Chap ., Asst . Chap . ; H . Btiggs , Asst . Warder ; H . J . Lardner , P . I ' . I . M . ; G . Graveley , P . T . I . M ., Treas . ; Capt . T . C . Walls , P . T . I . M ., Recorder ; B . Stewart , Warder ; J . T . Rogers , John Smith , and W . Mason S'iles .

The minutes of the previous council having been read and confirmed , the billot was taken on behalf of W . Bro . and E . Comp . T . P . Dorman , and it being unanimous , he was admitted and greeted as a member of the Four Degrees , the ceremonies being ably rendered by Comp . H . J . Lardner , as CLM ., assisted by Comps . Pakes , Gravtley , and J . Smith . There were two other candidates , but they were unavoidably prevented Irom attending . Among those sending apologies for non-attendince were Comps .

Lieut .-Col . G . Lambert , F . S . A . ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . D . G . M . ; R . L . Loveland , J . P ., P . D . G . M . ; the Kev . Dr . Lemon , P . G . C . ; E . Storr , P . T . I . M . ; D . P . Carna , S . II . Harlihouse , the licv . li . C . Fillingham , M . A ., N . Prower , M . A ., and others . The resignation of Bro . and Lump . F . Whytehead , one of the oldest inembeis , was received with regnt . A vote of lhanks was passed to Comp . Lardner for his services in the chair , and the council was closed . 'Ihe banquet was held at the Holborn Restaurant , under the presidency of tte T . I . M .