Provincial.

that the amount subscribed to the the three Masonic Charities hi this province was £ 170 2 s ., aud that the total subscribed by the Craft in the year was—For the Benevolent Institution , £ 3 , 000 ; Boy ' s School , £ 5 , 000 ; and the Girl ' s School , £ 4 , 000 . The Treasurer read his report ofthe Finances of the province , from which it appeared that after investing £ 100 Consols and paying all expenses , there was a balance in his hands amounting

to £ 63 15 s . 2 d . The Provincial Grand Master read his report of the working of the lodges in the province , and then nominated and appointed his officers for the year as follows : —

Bro . T . F . Dallin Pro v . Sen . Grand AVarden . „ J . S . Lowe Prov . Jun . " " ,. the Rev . R . F . Palmer 7 - „ ,-, , , , . „ the Rev . G . C . Nottley . Prov - Grand Chaplains . „ Randall Prov . Grand Treasurer . „ F . H . McCalmont Prov . Grand Registrar . „ the Earl of Donougbrnore ... Prov . Grand Secretary . „ Capt . G . F . Lamert Prov . Sen . Grand Deacon .

„ Robt . Parsons Prov . Jun . Grand Deacon . 3 , C . L . Pemberton Prov . Grand Supt . of Works ,, W . J . Bethell Roberts 7 „ „ , _ ~ - " , , „„ , „ ( Prov . Grand D . C . „ Eugene Wason J „ Walter Thompson Prov . Grand Sword Bearer . „ AV . R . Hobbs Prov . Assist . Grand Sec . „ AA'ilson Prov . Grand Organist . Geo . T . Prior Prov . Grand Pursuivant .

„ „ W . H . AVelshman Prov . Assist . Grand Ditto . „ F . AV . Thoyts -. „ Richard Porter „ Josiah Wilkinson D „ , „ , . ,, Edward Conolly f Prov . Grand Stewards . „ William Page j „ John Alcock ' „ William Stevens Prov . Grand Tyler .

On the proposition of the D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Hurford , P . J . G . W ., £ 10 was voted to the Masonic Charities . Capt . Lamert , S . G . D ., proposed a vote of £ 3 3 s . to the Radcliffe Infirmary , winch was seconded by Bro . Lowe , J . G . AV . Bro . Hartley , W . M . ( 1 , 036 ) , proposed , and Bro . Wason Oconded , a vote of £ 2 2 s . to the Medical Dispensary . Bro . the Rev . Oswald Thompson proposed £ 1 Is . to the Blue Coat Boys' School , and the same sum to the Blue Coat Girls '

School ; seconded hy Bro . Josiah Smith . The G . T . proposed that a sum £ 2 2 s . be paid to the officers ofthe Bowyer Lodge , to be given by them to the Charities in Chipping-Norton ; seconded by Bro . McCalmont . The D . P . G . M . proposed a vote of £ 5 5 s . towards the expense attending the decoration of the Masonic Hall , Oxford . Grand Lodge being closed , the brethren adjourned to the Reading Roomwhicli had heen fitted up for the occasion as a

, banquet hall . The pleasures of the table were prolonged until the hour fixed for the departure of the brethren for Oxfor , d when the party broke up , amidst mutual congratulations on the success of the first visit of the Grand Lodge to their brethren of the Bowyer Lodgo .

Ireland.

IRELAND .

SKIBBEREEN . The brethren of Lodge 15 celebrated the festival of St . John by dining together at their rooms , North-street . There were present—Bros . H . Hungerford , R . H . H . Becher , G . Robinson , G . W . Hughes , S . N . Townsend , J . F . Levis , L . A . Becher , — Lahaff , No . 8 , Cork ; J . Doughlas , R . Roycroft , R . B . Marmion , Hill G . Long , F . P . E . Potter , H . E . Nicholls , S . Townsend , C . Laurance ,

D . Hadden , J . AVaters , AV . J . AVolfe , John AVilson , AV . Kingston , and John O'Donoghue . The dinner was provided by the host of the Becher Arms , Mr . O'Keeffe , and certainly the members seldom if ever sat down to better fare , which reflected much credit on the old establishment . After partaking heartily of the numerous good things provided , the chairman gave the usual loyal and masonic toasts , which were received with due honour . Then followed the health of the chairman and the vice-chairman ,

which were received and responded to in a manner that showed the worthy brethren were favourites in the craft . The singing of several of the brethren was then enjoyed , among the most prominent of the vocalists was brother S . N . Townsend . Then

Ireland.

was given the health of the absent brethren , brother J . W . Potter ' s ( jun . ) name being particularized by the vice-chairman , who remarked that few members devoted more care and attention to the interests of Lodge 15 than Brother Potter did when residing in Skibbereen . The toast was warmly received and responded to by brother F . Potter . On the whole a very pleasant evening was spent , and the brethren separated at an early hour . The chair was occupied by Bro . H . Hungerford , AA' . M ., aud vicechair by Bro . J . F . Levis .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS OF ENGLAN AND AVALES , AND THE COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN . The summer half-yearly communication was held on Tuesday , the 2 nd ult ., at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s-Inn-Fields , London ; present—Bros . Rev . G . B . Portal , M . A ., R . AV . D . G . M ., as M . AV . G . M . ; F . M . AVilliams , M . P ., Prov . G . M ., Cornwall , as R . AV . D . G . M . ; John Udall ;

P . G . S . IV ., as G . S . W . ; W . E . GtmiMeton , P . G . J . W ., as J . G . W . ; T . F . T . Ravenshaw , P . G . Chap ., as G . Chap . ; S . C . Dibdin as J . G . O . ; J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas . ; F : Binckes , G . Sec ; Joshua Nunn , P S . G . D ,, G . S . D . ; F . J . Lilley , J . G . D . ; Robert AVatts , G . Std . Bearer ; W . A . Barrett , G . Org . ; F . Walters , G . Purst . The Grand Stewards for the year ; Bros . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , Bart ., M . P ., P . S . G . W . ; Rev . D . Shaboe , P . G . Chap , j C . SwanPSGB JHAV PGPurst Thomas

, .... ; . . ynne , .. . ; Meggy , W _ H . AA ' arr , and A . D . Loewenstark , Past Grand Stewards ; and Masters , Wardens , Overseers , and brethren representing many private lodges . Grand Lodge was opened in ample form . The minutes of the half-yearly communication of Srd December , 1867 , were read and confirmed ; and also the minutes of the Moveable Grand Lodge held at Hull , on the 16 th April , 1 S 6 S .

The R . W . D . Grand Master : Brethren , before we proceed to the next regular business of Grand Lodge , I have it though it right to give you the opportunity of expressing in common with most other- public bodies in this country , your sympathy with Her most Gracious Majesty in her anxiety caused by the attempt lately made to assassinate her second son , because I think we ought not to behind any of her subjects in expressing our loyalty to the throne , our deep attachment to the mother ,

and to the son who has so mercifully escaped the fate intended for him . I can but earnestly hope that the expression of feeling which I trust we shall unanimously adopt this evening , is really shared by every subject of Her Majesty . I am very loth to believe , and I cannot bring myself to believe , that that attack was the result of any concerted action . I fervently hope that it commenced and ended in the mind of that unhappy being who lias expiated his crime on the scaffold . There is not ,

I feel , a single soul who did not rejoice that the treacherous shot failed to accomplish its object . I shall therefore propose that the following address he presented to the Queen , and it will be forwarded in the proper course by the M . AA . Grand Master to the Secretary of State for the Home Department . I shall now read it to you , and if there are any points in which you would like to have it altered they can be discussed . " To Her Most Gracious Majesty .

We the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and AVales , and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown , beg to approach your Majesty with the deepest devotion to your Majesty ' s person and Crown . AVe take this , the first opportunity of our assembling at the half-yearly meeting of Grand Lodge , to express our horror at the dastardly act committed against His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburghand our thankfulness to Divine Providence

, for the escape of His Royal Highness from tiie assassin ' s band . That your Majesty ' s family may be preserved from all perils , and that your Majesty's life may long be spared to reign over a happy and contented people , is the earnest prayer of your Majesty ' s most loyal subjects , the Mark Master Masons of England and AA ' ales , the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown .

That , brethren , is the address which I propose should be adopted by this Grand Lodge . R . W . Bro . John Udall , P . G . AV .: M . W . Grand Master , I have very great pleasure in seconding it .