Board Of Benevolence.

continue running for many years to come . Ceremonies such as had taken place that night were the keystone not only of Mark Masonry , but of all Masonry . The able performances of the evening showed the vitality it possessed , and that for many years to come Mark Masonry would increase , the number of its members would increase , and the prestige of the Order would increase . The Grand Officers of the Degree felt a keen interest in its welfare .

Bro . WILLIAM VINCENT , P . M ., P . A . G . D . C , proposed "The Health of the Visitors . " In the lodge that evening the brethren saw a large number of strange faces , and he regretted it should be so , as he would very much rather have felt that they were all the faces of members of the lodge . In the future , perhaps , they would be . Many of the visitors had come from long distances—from

different parts of London , and different parts of England . Several came from the Province of Kent , from the Amherst Lodge at Hythe . One of these—Bro . Hire—he ] should call upon to respond . With respect to what had been said about the working of the ceremonies , he wished to say he was very much pleased with his officers . If others had similar views , then , he thought , the managing brethren of the Grand Master's Lodge of Instruction would be very pleased .

Bro . HIRE , in reply , said , in the words of King James of Scotland , ' When foemen bade me , I ne'er delayed to draw my blade . " He returned hearty thanks for the visitors . It was a very great privilege indeed to be present . He was one of the oldest Mark Masons in the Province of Kent , having been advanced in 1855 , when the present Earl Amherst was Grand Master . Me hoped to be able to carry away with him what he had heard in the lodge and to teach it to his brethren in the > province .

Bro . the Earl of EUSTON proposed " Success to the Grand Master ' s Lodge of Instruction , " coupling with it the name of Bro . John Smith , the Secretary , who so ably gave the lecture . He felt great pleasure in seeing the work of the evening so ably done in the lodge ; it was done with perfect smoothness and no hitch ; everybody knew each small particle of work and al ! the minuti .-e . All -those things contributed to make success . Although Bro . Vincent said he was very well

satisfied with the way the work was done , not taking any credit to himself , he thought the greatest credit was due to everyone who worked that evening , so absolutely perfect was it in its carrying out . He could only congratulate the brethren of the lodge of instruction on its foundation 12 years ago , and he hoped most sincerely the lodge would go on and prosper . He would tell the brethren 0

what he bad on his mind . Next year the Grand Council of the 33 and the Grand Council , 31 , from Scotland and Ireland would meet in London , and he proposed that that lodge should give them one evening of the Mark Degree , and show them what Mark working was in England . He thought they could show them what they had never seen before .

Bro . J SMITH , Secretary , acknowledging the toast and the compliments of the Pro Grand Master , said he should have preferred that the response had been entrusted to Bro . Vincent , the Preceptor of the lodge . But ail the members of the lodge were anxious to do everything they possibly could for this Degree , and to impart instruction to any one who would signify his wishes whether to leam the advancement or the installation . They always laid themselves open to

do the very best they could . He was pleased to say the lodge had a fairly good average attendance during the 12 weeks they met each year . He had been curious enough that evening to go through the list for the last four years , which it might inteiest the brethren to hear . In 1 S 92-93 the attendances were 234 and the new joining members 25 ; in 1 893-94 the attendances were 301 , and the joining members 30 ; in i ? 94-5 the attendances were 256—a slight falling off—and the

new joining members 15 ; in 18 95-9 6 , which they closed that night , a total number number of 30 S attendances , and 35 joining members . He thought that was a very satisfactory year altogether . If . those brethren who attended the lodge of instruction and obtained instruction there would take into consideration that there were other bitthren coming fenvarded and requiring instruction , and would impart

it to such brethren the lodge would have a larger attendance on the books . It was ralhtr a sore point wilh the Preceptor that when brethren had attended and got all they could they did not come again . If they would the attendance would be larger . On the whole , however , he thought that for 12 meetings to have 308 attendances and 35 joining members must be very satisfactory . The great desire of all the officers of that lodge of instruction wished to see it increase .

Major H . H . EI . WES afterwards spoke approvingly of the work he had seen , and wrnt into detail in describing the minute parts of the ceremony which had most struck him . The Tyler ' s toast was given by Bro . E . J . MILLS , and after drinking it the bitthien soon separated .

Supreme Council Of The Ancient And Accepted Rite.

SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

The fifth Annual Conference of the Supreme Council of the __n of England and Wales , & c ; , and of Scotland , and of Ireland , was held in Dublin on the 15 th instant . The Supreme Council of England was represented by M . III . Bro . Captain Philips , Lieutenant Grand Commander ; V . 111 . Bros . Frank Richardson , J . H . Matthews , the Earl of Euston , Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook ,

and the Grand Secretary General ; the Supreme Council of Scotland b y V . 111 . Bros . Lord Saltoun , the Marquess of Breadalbane , and L . Mackersy . Of the Supreme Council of Ireland there were present V . 111 . Bros . VV . Shekleton , Q . C , Lieutenant Grand Commander ; Theophilus E . St . George , Anderson Cooper , Col . W . B . Forde , and Sir Philip Smyly .

The chair was taken by V . 111 . Bro . W . SHEKLETON , who , after a few words of welcome to the delegates from England , opened the meeting . Various subjects of interest to the Order were discussed , and in all cases joint aclion was unanimously agreed . The Supreme Council for Ireland afterwards entertained the delegates fiom England and Scotland at a banquet at the Masonic Hall .

On Thursday , the lOih inst ., the working of the 18 * ( called in Ireland Prince Masons' Degree ) was witnessed , and the delegates were afterwards entertained by the Grand Chapter of Prince Masons of Ireland at a banquet , at which upwards of a hundred brethren were present . The value of these conferences between the three Supreme Councils of the United Kingdom can hardly be over-estimated . Not only as ensuring unity of action in dealing with foreign councils , but also by cementing

and strengthening among the brethren of the three kingdoms that fraternal bend of union , which is the primary object of all Freemasons . The delegates received from their Irish brethren a truly cordial and fraternal reception , and were entertained with true Irish hospitality . It is to be hoped that as many cf the members of the Irish Supreme Council as can possibly get away will be present at the next conference , which is to be held in London during the second week in April , 1 S 97 .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Eastbourne Lodge , No . 484 . The annual meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the gth inst ., at the Queen ' s Hotel , Eastbourne , when Bro . Jos . Farncombe , Prov . Grand Treas ., was installed as W . M . in fuccesMon to the late Bro . Alderman Morrison . The ceremony was performed by the Deputy Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Rev . E . R . Currie ( Dean of Battle . ) The following is a list of the officers for " 1 S 96-7 : Bros . F . ] . Cox , P M A . D . C , I . P . M . ; J . A . Skinner ( Mayor of Eastbourne ) , S . VV . ; J . H . Wright , Prov ' S . G . D ., J . W . ; F . B . Sutton , M . O . j Thos . MacQueen , S . O . ; J . H . Ewart , Prov '

G . Std ., ) . O . j Rev . W . Wakeford , Chap . ; A . | . Howard , Treas . ; J . C . Foran Reg . of ' Marks ; A . H . Thomas , Sec ; G . Fowler , S . D . ; E . W . Stilvvell , J . D .-Claude de M . Franklyn , D . C . ; John Easter , Org . ; H . J . Capon , l . G . ; H . Colgate and F . Lawson Lewis , Stwds . ; and E . Goldring , Tyler . Apologies for absence were received from Bros . Sir W . T . Marriott , Q . C , Prov . S . G . W . j A . F . Lamette , Prov . J . G . W . ; and others . At the banquet subsequently held the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Mr . Steinle catered admirably . Glees and part songs were given during the evening by Messrs . J . T . Parsons , A . C . Dynham , J . Farncombe . jun ., and C . Roper .

Montagu Lodge , No . 665 . The brethren of this ledge held their last regular meeting on Monday , the 13 th inst ., at the Lion Hotel , Lyme Regis , when Bro . S . S . Hasluck was re-elected VV . M . for another year ; Bro . J . Radford , Treasurer ; and Bro . G . Legg , Tyler . Prior to this Bros . Charles Edward Smith , 2043 , and the Rev . Charles Rowland , 357 , were unanimously elected joining members . Then followed a very pleasing ceremony . The VV . M ., in the name of himself and brethren , presented Bro . W . H . Kerbey with a Treasurer's

jewel and an illuminated address , in Masonic gilt frame . In making the presentation , the W . M . declared it the most pleasing duty he had had to perform since his connection with the Craft , viz ., to pin a jewel to a worthy brother's breast , and to hand him that address , by way of showing , only in a small degree , how highly Bro . Kerbey ' s services of the pest had been appreciated . A brief resit ine of the recipient ' s work in the lodge was added , proving that a deal of personal inconvenience and self-sacrifice must have been made to attend lodge regularly ( Bro . Kerbey having to come two miles by road in

fair weather and in foul ) to woik a large number of ceremonies , to considerably improve the Charity status cf the lodge , to add to its archives , to emulate the brethren , and to participate in refreshment after the labours of the evening had been ended . It was further hoped that the worthy brother wou ' . d live long to enjoy the possession of the humble tokens lhat had been spontaneously provided . Bro . J . Radford supported the W . M . in his tribute of eulogy , and added that he had ever looked up to Bro . Kerbey as an ideal Mason , and one thoroughly worthy of the closest imitation by aspirants . To

himself ( Bro . Uadfoid ) he had been an excellent Pie : eptor , and to the lodge its guiding star and a sustaining power . The tokens were here handed to Bro . Ke : b ; y amid rounds of applause . The jewel bore an inscrip ' tion having reference to Bro . Kerbey ' s term of Treasurership , and the address was most artistically illuminated and mounted in a gold frame of Masonic design . Over the address proper , were the Montagu crest and coat of arms in heraldic columns . The text read as follows : " This address , together with the accompany Treasurer ' s iene ) , is presented to our Worshipful Bro . William Holman

Kerbey , P . M . SU 4 , P . M . CO 5 , P . P . S . G . D . Hertford , P . P . G . S . of Wks . Dorset and / Esculapius 2410 , by the brethren of the Montagu Lodge , 6 G 5 , as a small recognilion of sterling services for the good of Freemasonry in general and for the Charities in paiticular . Alter 12 years' indefatigable work in promoting the welfare of the Montagu Lodge , we , the undersigned , desire to tender you our heartiest good wishes ar . d to fceg your accep ' . ance cf these slight tokens of our sincerity towards you and of our high appreciation of your invaluable fraternal good fellowship , sound sense , and praiseworthy example , both as a fi lend and as a brother . " In returning-thanks , thc

recipient remarked . Out of the abundance of the heart the mou ' . h speaketh it hath been said , but it was not so with him that night , for the heart was full to oveillowing but the mouth failed in expression . He thanked his kind friends and brothers most candidly , though in the depths of his inmost heart were feelings too sincere to be expressed in words . His ideal had been not to show forth brotherly love in word alone , but to promote the tenets of Masonry as inculcated by its founders , and he had found by a little careful guidance that the members of No . CG 5 had been highly capable of developing latent principles and using them to good account . He had regarded with pride and pleasure the good work done by his younger successors . May they and the Worshipful Master and all go on and prosper . " So mote it be . "

The ledge was closed , and the brethren had a quiet supper together , Bro . Host Grove catering admirably .

Tilbury Lodge , No . 2006 . The first meeting of the season of the members of this flourishing lodge was held on Saturday , the nth inst ., at the Royal Hotel , Puilleet , Bro . Walker , the W . M ., presiding . Amongst other business , Bro . Marman was raised to the Degree of a M . M ., and two candidates were initiated . The work was performed in a most proficient manner by the W . M . Bro . F . Claik , S . W ., was elected W . M . lor the ensuing year ,

and Bro . A . J . Dudgeon , P . M ., P . P . G . D ., was re-elected Treasurer . The Secretary , Bro . Bruton , stated that it was Ihe unvarying custom for that lodge to send up a Steward to represent the lodge at one of the Masonic Charities , and that year it was the Girls' turn . The W . M . elect volunteered to go up , and the lodge at once voted £ 10 ios . from its funds to head his list with , and which amount was veiy materially augmented later in the evening by the brethren .

The business being over , the brethren sat down to an excellent banquet , provided by mine host of the Royal , Bro . Wingrove , who also rendered good suit and service in the musical part , as did alto Bros . Barry , Dance , Brickwell , and Ryon . Thc usual loyal toasts were given , that of " The R . W . Prov . Grand Master , tlie Earl of Warwick , " being most enthusiastically received . The members returned to town by saloon carriages attached to the 10 . 5 train , and expressed the satisfaction they had in being present at such an enjoyable meeting .

This lodge seems to be going on in a very satisfactory manner . Its funds are all right and its working is also right , and it is made a rule that if a brother is appointed to an ollice he is not to accept it unless he agrees to make himself prjfieient in the duties , the aim of all the oflicers being to make the lodge stind in the front rank for working in the province . The installation meeting takes place at Purlhet on the oth prox .

Galen Lodge , No . 2394 . A very successful installation meeting was held in connection with this lodge at Freemasons' Hall , Great Oueen-street , W . C , on Monday , the 13 th inst . There was a numerous attendance of brethren , the members present including Bros . W . J . Rogers . m , P . P . G . Dir . of Cer . Notts , W . M . ; J . VV . Moirison , S . W ., and W . M . elect ; M . Carteighe , J . D . j J . Ilodgkins , Immediate Past Masterj J . S . Mackey , P . M ., Treas . ; J . B . S . Lancaster , P . P . G . S . B . Surrey , Sec .,- P . C Maitland , P . M ., S . D- * F . Balcombe , J . D . ; C . Butler , P . M ., D . C ; J . VV . H . Littleboy , W . M . 2317 , I . C * K . J . Eastes , Org . ; 11 . A . Thomas , Steward ,- II . W . Roach , P . M . ; and otheis . Visitors : Bros . T . Fenn . P . P . B . G . P . ; R . F . Gould , P . G . D ; Dr . Lennox Browne .

P . D . G . D . C ; R . Clay Sudlow , P . G . S . B . ; H . Watts Fookes , P . P . G . S . B . Dorset ; I ' - Wavi . ll , I . P . M . 2012 ; A . H . Baldwin , P . M . 771 ; A . Reed , 2120 ; G . J . Wooldriug * - ' , 2317 ; j . Tomlinson , S . D . 2317 ; G . li . Sawyer , S . D . 1201 ; Treftlyn David , 192 'JS J * Guddarl , i ^ Syj P . Sh ' ell , VV . M . 34 ; K . O . Howis , I . G . 2200 ; VV . Hooker , l ' - 1-16 7 S ; J . M . Mcl . ec . d , P . P . G . W . Derbyshire , Sec . R . M . I . B . ; R . C . Jones , P . M . 1 . * ¦ / . » P . P . J . G . W . South Wales ; 1 < * . Collingwood , VV . M . 17 G 0 ; A . C Doughty , S . VV . i- ' -Vl I . VV . Pearl , S 13 ; G . Booker , MC , ; G . H . Fooks , 3 KO ; Capt . Graham Gordon , 23 " - ' ' * \ V . VV . Lee , P . M . i « y 7 j and others .

The formal opening of the lodge was followed by the confirmation of the minuto and the adoption of a satisfactory audit report . Bio . J . VV . T . Morrison was presente " as VV . M . elect , and , having been installed into the cha'ir by Bro . Kogerson , invested the following olliccrs : Bros . M . Carteighe , S . VV . ; P . C . Maitland , P . M . 15 . 3 8 , J . W . * •>' B . Mackey , P . M . 257 , Treas . j J . B . S . Lancaster , P . P . G . S . B ., Sec ; F . Uascomi's . S . D . ; C Butler , P . M ., J . D . j J . W . H . Littleboy , W . M . 2317 , D . C . j E . J . k « '