Mark Masonry.

The address was adopted unanimously . On the motion of Bro . John Udall , P . G . AA ., seconded by Bro . T . J . Sabine , P . G . Steward , Bro . AV . Wither Bramstone Beach , M . P ., was unanimously re-elected Grand Master , and was proclaimed , and saluted with grand honours in ancient form . Bro . the Rev . D . Shaboe proposed Bro . Joseph R . Stebbing , for Grand Treasurer . Bro . J . H . Wynne seconded the motion . Bro . Stebbing : M . AA \ Grand Master and Brethren , —Before

that motion is put to Grand Lodge , I think I ought to say , in order that I may not mislead the brethren , that whilst I very highly esteem the kindness of Grand Lodge in electing meno man more so—thoy must not suppose that I consider I have a vested right to the office . I should not object to any other brother being nominated to the office either now or hereafter . One great fault in many lodges is that some offices are becoming so constantly conferred on the same individualsthat the next

, thing which may be expected is that they will become hereditary . Therefore , I shall be very happy to give way if you should feel disposed to nominate another brother . The D . G . Master : If no other brother is proposed , I shall call call for a show of hands . ( The motion was carried unanimously ) . Bro . Stebbing : I can only return my best thanks to the brethren for the honour they have again conferred upon me .

The D . G . Master : Brethren , our next business is the appointment and investiture of Grand Officers . I may state that the M . W . Grand Master has laid his commands on me to accept the office of Deputy Grand Master for the ensuing year .

The following brethren were then appointed and invested : — Bros . Lord Eliot , M . P ., S . G . W . ; Dr . Hopkins , J . G . W . ; Thos . Meggy , G . M . O . ; T . Perkinton , S . G . O . ; J . M . Cunningham , J . G . O . ; Rev . C . W . Spencer Stanhope and Rev . C . J . Martyn , G . Chaps , ; J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas . ; F . Binckes , G . Sec . ; E . Baxter , G . Beg . ; C . W . Griffiths , S . G . D . ; R . Churchill , J . G . D . ; Jens Jensen , G . Supt . of AA' orks ; H , C . Levander , G . Dir . of Cers . ; J . Purnell , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . G . Nicholls , G ;

Sword Bearer ; R . Ord , G . Std . Bearer ; J . Read , G . Org . ; A . D . Loewenstark , G . Purst . The G . Stewards for the year : —Bros . T . AVescombe , Kent ; C . Allen , 3 ; W . L . Bain , 10 ; G . Gumbleton , 55 ; Leadham , 65 ; M . A . Loewenstark , 86 ; and John Combe , 87 . The General Board : The M . W . Grand Master , the D . G . Master ; Bros . Lord Eliot , S . G . W . ; and Dr . Hopkins , J . G . W . Nominated by the Grand Master -. —Bios . J . UdallP . S . G . W . ;

, T . Meggy , G . M . O . ; J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas . ; E . Baxter , G . Reg . ; J . Cole , P . G . Reg . ; and H . C . Levander , G . Dir . of Cers . Elected by Grand Lodge : —Bros . Joshua Nunn , P . G . D . ; R . Watts , P . G . Sid . Bearer ; J . H . AA ' ynne , P . G . Purst . ; and AV . H . AVarr , P . G . Steward . The R . W . D . Grand Master : I now call upon the Grand Secretary to read the report of the general board . Tbe number of certificates issued in the six months ending

31 st May is 197 , which while not equal to that in the preceding six months is above the average , and proves the steady advance of the Order . During the same period two new warrants have been issued , viz : —

Hawton Lodge _ No . 100 Ivybndge , Devon . Boscawen „ No . 101 Chacewater , Cornwall . In accordance with the resolution of Grand Lodge , a separate account has been opened at the bankers under the head of "The Grand Mark Lodge Fund of Benevolence , " and the sum of £ 50 has been paid to the credit of such account from the general fund . One grant of £ 5 has been made from the fund viz ., to Bro . G . F . G— , of London .

The first moveable Grand Lodge was held at Hull , under tbe auspices of the Minerva Lodge ( No . 12 ) , on Thursday 16 th April last , at which the M . W . Grand Master presided . The proceedings gave unqualified satisfaction to all who participated therein , and the result must be regarded in every way as successful . The next moveable Grand Lodge will be held at Worcester , under the auspices of the Lechmere Lodge ( No . 59 ) during the month ot Septemberor at such other time as may

, be deemed most convenient . It had been hoped that the alteration of the day for holding Grand Lodge from the second AA'ednesday , to the Tuesday immediathly preceding the communication of the United Grand Lodge of England in June and December , so as to enable brethren from tbe provinces to attend both meetings without prolonging inconveniently their stay in London , would have been regarded as a satisfactory [ arrangement . There appears ,

however , to be objections to the day in question , and with a view to arrive at a convenient settlement , the Board invites the opinions of brethren in Grand Lodge assembled , that they may be assisted in determining the times of meeting for such dates as may obviate present objections and meet the wishes of the majority of the brethren . The Grand Master has been pleased to renew the patent of the R . AV . Bro . Rev . J . Huysheas Provincial Grand Master of

, Devonshire , for a further period of three years , and in doing so feels that he has bestowed a well-earned mark of approval on the great Masonic services of Bro . Huyshe , under whose rule the degree of Mark Master has made such considerable progress in the Province of Devon , and has every assurance that no appointment more acceptable to the brethren of that province could have been made .

In the Province of Leicester the degree , after giving good promise of success , has for some time been in abeyance . Recently , however , a revival has taken place and the degree is now being worked most efficiently—large numbers of influential brethren have been admitted—and there is every reason to believe that under the able guidance of Bro . W . Kelly , it will flourish to a greater extent than ever . The Grand Master has

renewed the patent of Bro . Kelly as Prov . G . M . of Leicestershire , having expressed the greatest pleasure and confidence in entrusting the rule of that province to the well-tried experience of that distinguished brother . Before closing this report the Board wish to direct the attention of brethren generally , to the desirability of supporting by voluntary donations the Fund of Benevolence recently established , and with this object have instructed the Grand Secretary to issue a circular to every lodge inviting their support . Signed , VV . E . GUHBLETON , P . G . W ., Chairman .

Bro . Udall moved that the report be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . T . Meggy seconded the proposition . Carried nem . con . The D . G . Master : The General Board seems to invite discussion on the subject of the convenience of our days of meeting . Perhaps now would be the most proper time for that discussion if any brother has anything to say about it . G . Secretary : M . W . Grand Master , —I would say for the

information of Grand Lodge and ofthe brethren generally , that the appointment of the Tuesday before the first Wednesday in . June , and the Tuesday before the first AVednesday in December for our half-yearly communications , was made after anxious consideration and great discussion , and it was thought that it would be a very great convenience for brethren from the provinces to have our two meetings on the very eve of the quarterly communications of the United Grand Lodge of England in

June and December . But Bro . Rev . J . Huyshe , Prov . G . M . of Devon , has stated his objections to those days , and has said that he could have rather wished that they had been regulated by the meetings of Grand Chapter , which take place in May and-August , or the meetings of the Templars which take place in .

May and December . Other brethren have said they find the days inconvenient , but whether any more convenient day can be found than those already selected it must be left to Grand Lodge to settle . Those are the only observations I have to make , and I have made them because I promised Bro . Huyshe , that in his regretted , but unavoidable absence , bis views should be laid before Grand Lodge . Opinions were expressed by the following brethren strongly

in favour of a continuance of the present arrangement : —Bros . J . Udall , P . G . AV . ; J . H . Wynne , P . G . Purst . ; Rev . C . Martyn , G . Chap . 10 , Cheltenham ; Charles Leadham , G . Steward , 65 „ Liverpool ; Rev . T . J . Ravenshaw , Prov . G . Chap . Wilts ; Thos . Perkinton , S . G . W . 56 , Halifax , J . M . Cunningham , J . G . O . 76 , Brighton ; and J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas ., from which general concurrence , and the absence of the expression of views to the contrary , it was resolved , that the days ot meeting of Grand

Lodge as at present fixed . Bro . J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas ., submitted and read the statement of accounts for the half-year , which showed—Balance in hand , December 1 st , 1867 £ 202 1 10 Receipts for six months to May 31 st , 1868 ... 147 15 0 349 16 IO . Expended during latter period 165 4 5 Balance to credit of G . Lodge , May 30 , 1868 184 12 , 5