At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

and jesvel of that office subscribed for by the whole of the chapters in the Province of Dorset . The presentation svas made on behalf of the companions by the Second Provincial Grand Principal , Col . W . E . Brymer , M . P . There was a large number of companions present , including many Present

and Past Grand Officers of the province . In making the presentation , M . E . Comp . W . E . Brymer referred to the great interest Comp . Monger had taken in Masonry , and especially in the Royal Arch Degree , of svhich he had held the office of S . E . for many years . Comp . Monger has taken an active interest in all Degrees in Masonry , and he is held

in high esteem in the province . The 33 rd Annual Festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund was held at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen Street , W . C , under the genial presidency of V . W . Bro . Lieitt .-Col .

Clifford Probyn , P . G . Treasurer , supported by the R . W . Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston , the Baron de Ferrieres , Sir Thomas Roe , M . P ., Col . Mark Lockwood , ALP ., and a large number of Grand Officers and brethren , totalling 160 Stewards . About 40 Ladies graced the banquet svith their presence . The toast of the " King and Mark Masonry " svas heartil y received .

BRO . LIEITT .-COL . CLIFFORD PROPYX .

Bro . Col . Mark Lockwood , M . P ., proposed the toast of " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston ; the Past Grand Masters ; the Deputy Grand Master , the Hon . Allan de Tatton Egerton , M . P . ; and the Grand Officers Present and Past . " The Pro Grand Master , the Earl of Euston ,

on rising , thanked Col . Probyn for stepping into the breech and taking the chair that night , and hoped all svould be pleased svith the result . He had pleasure in proposing the toast of " The Chairman , " svho svas thoroughl y well-known in the City , having filled many important public positions there , as he had offices in Masonry , and whether it

be in their service or the service of his country as a volunteer he did it all svell and faithfully . In replying , Bro . Col . Probyn said he made a rule to do his best in whatever position he svas placed . When he

consented to take the chair he felt very despondent at doing so the year after the popular Pro Grand Master ; but someone must do it , and he had . He svas svell aware that he svas not likely to get anything like the record amount that Lord Euston had , nevertheless he hoped to get a fair total . The Chairman , in proposing " Prosperity to the Mark Benevolent Fund , " svhich is divided into three branchesthe Educational , the Benes'olent , and the

Annuity—congratulated them upon the notorious fact that for many years not a single application , if a worth y case , had been refused , and from the fact of a brother being in our honourable Order , sve knew that they must have been in circumstances above want . He urged the brethren to let their hearts and minds

be filled svith this Charity , as " he who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord , " and to quote the late Rev . Rowland Hill , " If you believe in the security , dosvn svith the dust . " He knew there svere many demands upon their charity , but still he appealed to their liberality . Bro . R . Loveland Loveland , as President of the General

Board , responded to the toast and remarked that it was part of the duties of that Board to look after the Charity Fund . He hoped that Bro . Matier , who svas a very dark horse , and had given them no inkling , svould be able to announce a good list . Bro . C . F . Matier , svho svas received svith applause , then read the lists , svhich made the highly creditable total of £ > ° 5 ° '

In proposing the toast of " The Ladies , " Bro . Dr . Clement Godson said no toast gave him greater pleasure in proposing than this one , as the tendency was not for ladies to look favourabl y upon Masonry , svhich robbed them of their brothers , sweethearts , and husbands , but he had found that

they made sacrifices and accepted the position svith resignation . The brethren svould agree svith him that the ladies svere the brightest part of their lives . They gave them the heartiest welcome and hope to see them on many future occasions . Bro . Sir Thomas Roe , M . P ., responded .

The toast of " The Board of Stewards " svas proposed bv the Chairman , svho , in the name of the brethren , thanked them for their services , which svas responded to by Bro . Major Carrell , President of the Board of Stewards . The

ladies and brethren then retired to an ably rendered concert in the Crown Room , under the management of Bro . Edward Branscombe .

Bro . the Lord Mayor has written a letter to the Mayor of Paddington ( Bro . Sir John Aird , M . P . ) , which svill be of interest to members of the Craft , regarding the proposed memorial tablet to be placed on the house—18 , Hosvlev Place , Maida Yale—where Bro . Henry Russell , the composer of

" Cheer Boys , Cheer , " lived and died . He says : " I svas a warm and intimate friend of the veteran composer , and can testify to his worthiness to receive the posthumous tribute of regard on the part of his fellow inhabitants of Paddington . As you know , his famous song , '' Cheer Boys , Cheer , " and

others did more to feed and keep alive the flame of patriotism in the dark days of the Crimean war than anything else , and 1 think you svill admit that in our country , as in France and Germany , the songs of the people in times of stress and anxiety have had much to do in popularising a great cause . "

We notice that one of the most fashionable brands of champagne this year is that of Ruinart Pere et Fils " Carte Anglaise . " This brand is being served , sve Dnd , at a great number of the leading entertainments , and sve hear of it being bought for many important banquets yet to take place ,

including the svell-known Cutler ' s Feast , svhich , as everyone knows , is the great entertainment of the year in the svealthy and enterprising city of Sheffield . Fashion svith regard to brands of svine is generally credited svith being fickle , but in the case of Ruinart champagne this cannot be said , as the

brand svas established as far back as 1 729 . In fac :, the house of Ruinart Pere & Fils is the oldest firm engaged in the trade . The Viscount Andre Ruinart de Brimont is the present head of this ancient house , and he says svith pride that his ancestors have been concerned svith the vineyards of champagne for nearly 200 years . The agents in this

country for the house of Ruinart Pere et Fils , are the svellknosvn firm of svine shippers , Messrs . Macminn , Richardson & Co ., of 11 , Hart Street , Mark Lane , E . C .