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PROVINCIAL , GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY . The R . W . Bro . Sir FRANCIS BURDETT , Bart ., Prov . Grand Master . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of the Province of Middlesex and Surrey will be holden at the Greyhound Hotel , Hampton Court , on Tuesday , 29 th June , 1 SS 0 , when all Present and Past Provincial Grand Officers , together with the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Acting Wardens of Lodges in the Province are hereby summoned to attend , and all Mark Master Masons are invited to be present . The Provincial Grand Lodge will be opened at Four o'clock . t The Era Mark Lodge , No . 176 , will be opened at Three o'clock , for advancement of Brethren . Brethren to appear in full Masonic Costume of the Mark Degree , and Proviucial Grand Officers in thc clothing of their respective ra \ ik . By command of the R . W . P . G . M . M ., WM . G . BRIGHTEN , P . M ., P . Z ., & c , Provincial Grand Mark Secretary . 4 , Bishopsgate Street , Without , E . C . 16 th June , 1 SS 0 . Banquet at Six o ' clock . Tickets One Guinea each , including Wine . Brethren intending to be present should notify tlieir intention to the Provincial Grand Secretary on or before Friday , the 25 th June .

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GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS OF THE PROVINCE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT . THE M . W . AND REV . BRO . G . R . PORTAL , M . A ., P . G . M . M . M . THE V . W . BRO . W . HICKMAN , D . P . G . M . M . M . The GRAND LODGE of this Province will assemble by command of . thc M . W . P . G . M . M . at BASINGSTOKE on FRIDAY , thc gth day of J , at One o ' clock , and be closed tiled punctually at half-past One o ' clock . The Brethren will meet at the Town Hall , where the Provincial Business will be transacted . Dinner will be provided at the Masonic Hall , at Three o ' clock p . m . Tickets , including a pint of wine , 7 s . Cd . each . In order to ensure the comfort of every one who attends , the W . M . of Lodges are requested to send ( addressed to the P . G . M . Sec , Southampton ) the names of all who propose to join the Banquet , not later than Tuesday morning , the 6 th July . The attendance of Visiting Brethren is particularly invited . By command of the M . W . P . G . M . M ., J . E . LE FEUVRE , P . AI . 6 3 and 37 , P . G . M . Sec . Southampton , 24 th June , 1 SS 0 .

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ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RITE OF MASONRY . ROSE OF SHARON ROSE CROIX CHAPTER , No . G . PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX . CHAPTER HOUSE , 77 ] , -, BISHOPSG . YIF . STREET . 'The Chapter will be opened as a Lodge of Instruction every Tuesday evening in July , commencing on the Cth , when the Degrees of the Chapter—Five and Six—will be worked , and to which Royal Arch Masons are invited . On subsequent Tuesdays the remaining Degrees—Seven to Eleven—will be worked , and holders of these or corresponding Degrees uuder other Rites are admitted on application . Chapter will be opened at I 7 . 30 , p . m . and close at y punctually . Information as to advancement in the Degrees of this . Rite may be obtained at the Chapter House as above . JAMES HILL , 32 , Sec .

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TO ADVERTISERS . THE FREEMASON has n . large circulation in all parts of the Globe . In it thc oilicial Reports of the Grand Lodges of Kngland , Ireland , and Scotland are published with tlie special sanction of the respective Grand Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic work in this country , our Indian Empire , and thc Colonies . The vast accession to thc ranks of thc Order during thc * past few years , and the increasing interest manifested tn its doings , has given the Freemason a position and influence which few journals can lay claim to , and the proprietor can assert witli confidence that announcements appearing in its columns challenge the attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for thc current week's issue arc received up to six o ' clock on Wednesday evening .

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TO OUR READERS . THE FREEMASON- is published every Friday morning , price 3 d ., and contains the fullest and latest information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , including Postage : — . tun- , r ^ . i' ^ . h ! - rn ' mi Imlla , China , Australia United kingdom . Canad .., U . e ^ ontl . Ne ' w Zcal ___nd f & c _ 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d . Remittances may be made in Stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former payable to GEORGE KEN-KINO , Chief Office , London , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Bank

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

Bro . HYDE CLARKE ' S note received with thanks . It shall be attended to . The following lodge reports stand over : —No . 126 ; No . 7 S 7 ; and No . 11 G 1 . BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Sunday Times , " "Grand Master ' s Address , Iowa , " " Der Long Islaender , " " Masonic Advocate , " "Citizen , " " The Croydon Guardian , " " Le Monde Maconnique , " "Broad Arrow , " "The Jewish Chronicle , " "Sussex Daily News , " " Hastings and St . Leonard's Observer , " " Brook ' s Popular Botany , " "Extracts from thc Minutes of the Lodgeof Friendship , No . 277 , Oldham , " "Memorandum du Grande Loge Centrale de France Toutes Sections Rcunies , Seance du 30 Avril , 1 SS 0 , " " Historique du Premier Siegle De la 1 : Francuise le Phenix Al 'o de Joigny , " "Urania , " "Calendar of the Great Priory of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta in England and Wales for 1 SS 0 , 1 SS 1 , " "Caygill's Tourist Chronicle and Excursion Advertiser , " " Keystone . "

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THEFREEMASON. SATURDAY , J 26 , 1880 .

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THE approaching Festival of the Boys' School suggests many valid and pressing reasons why its great claims on the support and liberal sympathy of the Craft should be recognized and realized . Most useful in itself it is in need , having little

funded capital , of a large annual income , in order that it may not be kept back , either in its scholastic programme or its legitimate aspirations . We must all be aware what a large number of unsuccessful

app licants there are , especially for its valuable education and comfortable home , year by year . Now we have long thought that we might improve in some respects several points connected with the candidature for admission to our Schools .

Were it not that thc proposal to " fee all unsuccessful candidates would tend , undoubtedly , to an "influx" of cases , and hence to the eventual " pauperization " of Freemasonry , and land it in a huge "benefit system , " we might have something

to say to a little ad interim help to the poor and needy applicants for our Schools . Indeed , we cannot sec why all unsuccessful and accepted candidates should not receive " school teaching , " as in the Provincial Charities , until they are placed in

the School . But then we want a more searching examination into petitions than is now feasible or possible . Why should not a Petition Sub-Committee be appointed , which should look into all cases closely and report to the General Committee ?

We think , then , that all efforts should be made to reduce the great number of unsuccessful candidates year by year , though , as we know beforehand , we shall at once be met by the remark , "We shall want more buildings . "

This is , in our humble opinion , both the truest policy and thc most pressing duty for us ; ts Freemasons . We trust lhat the returns for the Anniversary Festival of thc Boys' School will be both satisfactory and substantial , as thc Boys' School demands from us all the heartiest support .

* * WHEN Freemasonry reassembles after the'Mioli" day campaign " we hope that the question of " Lectures " may come again " to the fore . " There nre many brethren most competent to give lectures

in the metropolis on Alasonry , and to instruct , amuse , and edify their brethren . We think we all want a little " shaking " of " dry bones , " a little departure from a cheerful and customary " red

" tape , " and a few new ideas will not do any of us any liarm , and a little "intellectuality " will be a good set off against a good deal of materialitywill it not ?

* * FREEMASONRY is now like the " boa constrictor " of natural history books , in a sort of "comatose " state . Its glories have departed for a season . Its p lace knows it no more ; its heavy labours are

over ; its long vacation has begun . The W . M . no more presides over us with smiling face and astounding punctuality . Our worthy P . M . no longer gives us sonorousl y theTracing Board in the First Degree . The Secretary has no more minutes

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to read ; the Treasurer no more subscriptions to receive . The good old lod ge for the nonce is " non est . " Even the T yler no longer greets us , affable and confiding . As for the members they

have put off their " paraphernalia" with their holiday garb , and except for a chance gathering will probably not obey a mystic summons until the " opening night " in late autumn hours calls them around the old Masonic " hearthstone" once

again . We do not complain of this ceaseless law of Masonry and life , though we miss some pleasant hours , and part with many good things for a season . Perhaps this " break " in the routine of Masonry is good for us all alike . It prevents our

lodge meetings degenerating into trivial formalities . It brings us back to our old posts and new duties , when it is past and gone , in turn , with increased zest and quickened energies . It is affectingsometimes to think what a picture of life and the world

our microcosm of Masonry really is . Each year as it passes from us leaves us in our lodges , fewer , older , colder , and feebler . Time and change , chance and care , make havoc in our ranks , and cast the tint of comely grey over the once

ambrosial locks of youth , and turn us , after a few short oscillations of hurrying hours , into ailing and querulous old men . And there are many of us who pass away , drop off silently , separately , each in his " cot , " one by one as week

follows week . We miss the cheery voice , the pleasant smile , the honest "grip ; " we count up vacant places at the hospitable board—alas ! they are gone , never to return . And so we Freemasons all often part to-day in our lodge life ,

forgetting that when we next meet in the old friendl y circle some may probably not be there to greet us . The great River of Time flows on unceasingly , through burning sands and precipitous banks , and our frail canoes are often shipwrecked as we near

the gleaming and foaming cataract . Well , let us seek to have a "heart for every fate , " and so to move on our alloted path , and " meet " the duties of each returning day , that the Grand Master of us all , when he summonses us away , may be satisfied with our " work " for Him .

* * * RECREATION banquets arc among the pleasant " windings up " of our London Masonic season , and the reminiscences of some agreeable gatherings , of pleasant and profitable sociality , often linger with

us for a long time . Just now our brethren are wending their way in cheery detachments to thc " Star and Garter , " " Kew Green , " " Grecn" wich , " and numerous other localities , and , leaving London smoke and London pavement behind

them , are luxuriating amid green fields , and sitting , probabl y smoking too , under shady trees . May all good go with , them , and be with them wherever they are ; may a good digestion attend on a tranquil conscience and a forcible menu ; may no

remembrances of " pickled salmon " in thc morning render the " souvenirs " of the genial gathering over night ought but charming , soothing , and refreshing to their nervous systems . We confess we are beginning to think lhat we are treating our fair

sisters somewhat * cavalierly . Why should tliey not go with us to our recreation banquets ? Wh y should not their charming dresses , bright smiles , warm hearts , and agreeable " juxta position " lend fervour to old age , and suggest happy

emotions to youth ? We keep them , we are beginning to think , too much out ^ of our festivities . We cannot hel p feeling that ] 'a run *' to Greenwich or to Richmond would be greatly ;[ exhilarated by some " angels in pink , and some angels in blue , " who

are always in good humour , always sunny and accommodating , p leased with everybod y and everything ; and as some young-men and Masons think that this is a " reform " we might recommend , the Freemason } declares itself to-day undoubtedly in

favour of " woman ' s rights" as far as Masonic recreation banquets are concerned . We shall trust to hear that some of our brethren will approve of these humble suggestions , and set about , in

these days of peaceful "reforms" especially , a change which , though some may deem a " revolution , " is a revolution which , we venture to think , will claim the hearty assent of every loyal and chivalrous Craftsman .