Great Priory Of England And Wales.

kind vote of thanks which you have passed , and I thank you , Sir Knight Lord Euston , for the more than kind words you have used relating to myself . I can assure you that I have come to the conclusion not to offer myself again for election as Great Prior for one reason alone , and that is that my engagements are now so numerous , and they are increasing every day , that I feel it impossible to fulfil the duties of that high ofiice in the manner in vvhich

they ought to be fulfilled . You have been extremely kind to me during the 19 years that I have held the office in not calling upon me to do my duty in the manner I ought to have done it . My heart will always be open to you . I shall always be mindful of the welfare of the Order , and , though I shall be no longer one of your high officers , I shall continue to take a deep interest in its welfare . ( Cheers . ) Sir Knights , I thank you . ( Renewed cheers . )

The following officers were invested for the ensuing year : Sir Knight Right Hon . the Earl of Euston ... ... G . Master . „ Right Hon . the Viscount Dungarvan ... G . Seneschal . Rev . C . E . L . Wright ... ... G . Prelate . „ R . Loveland Loveland ... ... G . Chancellor . „ Right Hon . the Earl of Yarborough ... ist G . Constable . ,, Col . Frederic R . Sewell ... ... 2 nd G . Constable .

„ Ralph Glutton ... ... ... G . Treasurer . „ Frank Richardson ... ... ... G . Registrar . „ C . F . Matier ... ... ... G . Vice-Chancellor . „ Charles Belton ... ... ... G . Marshal . „ Rev . C . E . Lefroy Austen ... ... G . Almoner . „ Col . George Lambert ... ... G . Warden of Regalia „ Arthur Wigelsworth Orwin , M . D . ... G . Herald . „ Robert Edward Baynes ... ... G . Std . Br . ( Beauceant ) .

Alfred Cooper ... ... ... G . Std . Br . ( Vex . Belli ) . „ Perck Harris ... ... ... G . Prior's Ban . Br . „ Col . Henry Fawcett Pudsey ... ... G . S . B . „ Joseph Arthur Robinson ... ... 1 st G . Aide-de-Camp . „ Frederick Mead ... ... ... 2 nd G . Aide-de-Camp . „ Captain George Hearn ... ... G . Chamberlain .

„ J . W . Howard Thompson ... ... ist G . Capt . of Guards . „ Dr . Nathaniel Goodchild ... ... 2 nd G . Capt . of Guards . „ Frederick Bevan ... ... ... G . Org . In investing the Great Registrar , the GRAND MASTER said : I regret that the late Grand Registrar has found it necessary to resign , but in announcing to you that vve have been able to secure the services of Sir Knight Frank Richardson as his successor I think Great Priory will be disposed to agree vvith me that we have gained almost as much as vve have lost .

The GRAND MASTER then nominated the following as members of the Council : Sir Knights Ralph Gooding , K . C . T ., Charles Belton , K . C . T ., Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook , G . C . T ., and Major-General J . C . Hay , K . C . T . Sir Knight Lord SKELMERSDALE proposed as members of the Grand Masters Council Sir Knights Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , G . C . T ., Sir George D . Harris , K . C . T ., Gordon Miller , K . C . T ., A , Woodiwiss , P . P ., and J . Balfour Cockburn , P . P .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

t VVe do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , butwc Wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion .

GRAND LODGE HONOURS—DISTRICTS ABROAD . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Past District Grand Officer " is in error vvhen he says " Colonials

pay dues to Grand Lodge . " Since the year 1 S 19 , I think lodges in " Foreign Parts" have not been called upon to pay dues or contributions to the Fund of Benevolence and General Fund of Grand Lodge ; they simply pay for registrations and certificates . This was a common , and , of course , erroneous notion , at the formation ot the various Grand Lodges in Australia . —Fraternally yours , VV . F . LAMONBY .

May 23 rd . P . D . S . G . W . Victoria . M-H * eeeeeeee To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your editorial remarks on my letter in your columns of last week ' s ( May 23 ) issue are exactly expressive of the amount of consolation that Colonial brethren receive from England on the subject of an admitted grievance—the amount being nil .

I do not , for a moment , admit that it is impossible for Colonial brethren to attend Grand Lodge , but I have no hesitation in saying that if Grand Office was offered to a Colonial brother , and he knew he could not attend Grand Lodge , he vvould not think of accepting it . Judging from the frequent number of absentees that we see among the Grand Lodge Officers when Grand Lodge meets , it does not seem that attendance is considered a sine qiiii non .

But , granting your contention , granting the impossibility of attendance , and granting that Colonial brethren are thus , in the eyes of the Grand Master and his advisers , for ever debarred from appointment to Grand Office , I humbly suggest that the case is one to which the consideration of conferring Past Grand rank is particularly suitable . Colonial brethren , I admit , have no right to expect anything—except that they should not be quite forgotten .

I thank ycu for having afforded space for my letters in your valuable columns , and trust , in conclusion , that I have : not said anything to unduly shock the conservative opinions of your readers . 1 enclose my card , and remain yours fraternally , PAST DISTRICT GRAND OFFICER . May 24 th .

Presentation To Bro. H. J. Garnett, P.M. 139, P.P.G.S.B. West Yorkshire, &C.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . H . J . GARNETT , P . M . 139 , P . P . G . S . B . WEST YORKSHIRE , & c .

On Saturday evening , the 9 th inst ., the members of the Craft in Sheffield assembled in large numbers at the Freemasons' Hall , Surrey-street , for the purpose of recognising in a permanent and substantial manner the great and indefatigable services rendered to Freemasonry in Sheffield and the Province of West Yorkshire for a period of nearly 40 years by Bro . H . J . Garnett . Among those present were Bros . Ensor Drury , P . M ., P . Asst . G . Soj .

( Chairman ofthe Presentation Committee ) , who presideel ; II . J . Garnett , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B . West Yorkshire ; Rev . Williams , P . P . G . Chap . ; T . E . Barker , VV . M . 1239 ( Honorary Secretary of the Presentation Committee ); S . Hayes , P . M ., P . P . G . Supl . ut Wks . ; John Shaw , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Wks . ; John Hunt , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; Harold Thomas , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg . ; Harrison , P . M ., P . P . G . Treas . ; T . E . Vernon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . ; W . Gadsby , P . M ., P . P . G . D .

Presentation To Bro. H. J. Garnett, P.M. 139, P.P.G.S.B. West Yorkshire, &C.

Derbyshire ; R . Arnison , P . M . 296 , P . P . G . W . ; E . E . Holiday , P . M . 1239 ; Joseph Jackman , P . M . 139 and 2491 ; Middleton , W . M . 139 ; J . Robertshaw , J . P ., p . M 1 239 ; E . Dickinson , I . P . M . 139 ; C . F . Brindley , W . M . 2491 ; C . Stokes , P . ' ! 1239 , W . M . 2558 ; and a representative gathering of members of the eight lod ges in Sheffield , and visitors from the Chantrey Lodge , No . 2355 , Derbyshire .

After the brethren had partaken of supper , and the usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been duly honoured , the HON . SECRETARY of the Presentation Committee announced the receipt of letters of ^ apology for inability to be present from subscribing brethren , many of whom expressed their hearty sympathy with the desire to render well-deserved honour to the guest of the evening . Bro . DRURY , in making the presentation , gave a brief account of the initiation of the testimonial vvhich owed its inception to the I . P . M . of 139 , Bro .

Dickinson , during his year of office , and to whom hearty thanks were due for the h-ouble he had taken , and the successful result which had been achieved . A Committee was appointed , of vvhich Bro . T . E . Barker vvas elected Hon . Secretary , and he ( Bro . Drury ) Chairman . The Committee thought the best way to meet the wishes of the subscribers would be to have a portrait of Bro . Garnett painted , and they had accordingly commissioned an eminent local artist , Bro . Ernest Moore , to do the work . He felt sure that vvhen he had the pleasure in a

few moments to unveil the portrait they would agree that Bro . Moore had carried out the commission in an admirable manner . In addition , it was thought that a fitting accompaniment vvould be an illuminated address , containing the names of the brethren who had subscribed to the testimonial , and a balance still remaining in hand , it had been decided rather than burden Bro . Garnett vvith some useless gift , to ask him to accept a purse of gold , to be expended in such a manner as he thought proper . Bro . Drury said that he thought there

vvere among the brethren in Sheffield some who might be better fitted to make the presentation than he was , but , perhaps , the honour had been conferred upon him partly because he had now become—b y reason of the recent death of Bro . Longden—the senior P . M , of the Craft in Sheffield , and it vvas not inappropriate that the eldest brother should make the presentation , especially as he vvas the only one present vvho could speak to the whole of the Masonic life of Bro . Garnett . They vvere both initiated in the

Britannia Lodge , No . 139 , in 1859 , and had worked together ever since to do what they could for the good of the Craft . Bro . Drury gave an interesting account of the meetings of the lodge in the early days of Bro . Garnett ' s connection vvith Freemasonry , and traced his career from that time to the present . He spoke in terms of the highest praise of Bro . Garnett ' s self-sacrifice and his willingness at all times to give a helping hand , either in preparation for working or in actual work in open Iodge . He also mentioned that among the many offices

vvhich Bro . Garnett had held in Craft , Arch , Mark , Templar , Rose Croix , and Red Cross Masonry , both local and provincial , not the least useful or appreciated were those of Treasurer of the Paradise Chapter for 34 years and Preceptor of the Britannia Lodge of Instruction for 28 years . He vvas sure Bro . Garnett had deserved and appreciated very highly indeed the many honours which had been conferred upon him , but he did not think there vvas one he would value so much as the presentation vvhich vvas about to be made , and which was a

tribute of esteem , not from any particular lodge or section , but from the general body of members of the Craft in Sheffield and carried with it their hearty good wishes . He hoped Bro . Garnet would be spared for many years , but when the time came , and the wisest among them knew not how soon that time might come , vvhen Bro . Garnett vvas removed from them , it vvould be

a satisfaction to Bro . Garnett and to his brethren in the Craft to know that the building in which they met would contain his portrait , which would hang on the walls of the lodge room amongst those old worthies and pillars of Masonry whom they had been taught to look up to from their earliest connection with thc Craft . Bro . Drury then unveiled the portrait , which was received with loud and long-continued applause .

"The Health of Bro . Garnett" having , on the proposition of the CHAIRMAN , been drunk with enthusiasm , he acknowledged the presentation in felicitous terms and with much feeling . He thanked Bro . Dickinson , the I . P . M . of his mother lodge , for the kindly spirit vvhich had prompted him to suggest that handsome testimonial and for the great amount of work which he and the Hon . Sec , Bro . T . E . Barker , had done to bring the matter to so successful an issue , and also his dear Bro . Drury , who was his oldest friend in Masonry . He gave an interesting

account of their experiences from their initiation in 1 S 59 and related how some of Ihe younger brethren of those days met at each other's residences for mutual improvement in the ritual until they became almost letter perfect . Soon after he was raised he was put into harness in his mother lodge , and he had been in harness ever since in some branches of Masonry . There vvas one peculiar circumstance vvhich happened in connection with the celebration of the centenary of No . 139 , in the year 1865 . There vvere present at the banquet on that occasion a

number of members of the Royal Brunswick Lodge , No . 296 , who , in a jocular spirit , invited those present to attend the centenary celebration of their lodge , which vvould take place in 1895 , 30 years ' afterwards . He accepted the invitation , and the G . A . O . T . U . saw fit to preserve him , along with Bros . Arnison and Drury , as the only three brethren present in 1865 , vvho were also present at the centenary of No . 296 , in 1895 . He paid a high tribute of praise to the artist , Bro . Moore ,

for the kindly and considerate manner in vvhich he had carried out the commission , and thanked the brethren most heartily and sincerely for their kindness and the great honour they had done him . In conclusion , Bro . Garnett asked the W . M . of No . 139 to accept the portrait , on behalf of the lodge , as nothing could give him greater pleasure than to know that it was to become the property of his mother lodge .

Bro . MIDDLETON , W . M . No . 139 , having accepted the picture , and made a suitable acknowledgment , other toasts were proposed and acknowledged , and a vote of thanks to Bro . Drury for presiding concluded the proceedings . The speeches were interspersed by musical contributions from several of the brethen present .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS

The following is the business to be transacted on Tuesday next , the 2 nd prox . ; Read and , if approved , confirm minutes of Quarterly Communication ol 3 rd March . Report of the General Board—During the three months ending 31 st March , 18 9 6 , there have been issued ; Mark certificates , 517 ; total number registered , 35 , 502 .

Warrants for new lodges , four viz . 1 494 , St . Pancras , Holloway . 495 , Keystone , Barrackpore , Bengal . 49 6 , XurieJ , Naraungunge , Bengal . 497 , Sir John Edge , Cawnpore , Bengal . Royal Ark Mariner certificates , 131 ; total number registered , 4800 . heen

His Royal Highness the Prince ' of Wales , M . W . Grand Master , has pleased to appoint His Excellency the Lord Sandhurst , Governor of Bombay , be R . W . District Grand Master for Bombay , in the place of R . W . Bro . trillion . Mr . Justice H . J . Parsons , who has ruled over the district during the last years with the greatest advantage to the Mark Degree , and to whom the than of Grand Lodge are duo on his retirement from active office .