Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

The Pro Grand Master , in proposing the toast of " The Mark BeneA-olent Fund , " remarked that they had been able to relieve cases of distress on every occasion and to giA'e educational grants and annuities whenever there Avas a vacancy without election . The fund Avas divided into three branches—the Annuity , Educational , and Benevolent . These

three funds Avere all separate , and each had invested capital and a certain income therefrom . There was also a certain amount of income derived yearly from the Festival . This Avas used either for present necessities or added to the invested funds . He thought it would be very unwise to

plunge into the capital if they could manage with the interest on the invested amounts in these three branches . The provinces in most cases did remarkably well , but he AA'as sorry to say ( and he was not referring to any particular province ) that some provinces who received a good deal of

benefit from the Mark Benevolent Fund gave next door to nil . Now , he thought that if a province wished to participate in the resources of the Mark Benevolent Fund , the best thing they could do would be to encourage and help the fund so as to entitle them to the benefits , and he thought it was only

just that in the event of IAVO cases coming before the Board , that the case from the province that had clone most for the fund should receive first consideration . The Festival Avas now coming on , but he would leave it in the hands of those

much better able to plead than himself to appeal to them to do their utmost . He coupled with the toast the name of Bro . Matier , as Secretary to the General Board , who had conducted the fund for so many years . Bro . C . F . Matier said it was a very great pleasure to him for the first time in a great many years to respond to the

toast of the Mark Benevolent Fund . It had always been his custom to ask someone else who had probably the interest of the Mark Benevolent Fund as much at heart-as himself , and who had more interest in his province , to respond to that toast . During the years that the brethren of the Mark

Degree had responded to the call of benevolence , the Mark Benevolent Fund had gone on increasing and prospering , and IIOAV they had invested in their Benevolent Fund ^ 6 500 , in the Educational Fund ^ 4900 , and . £ 4 800 in the Annuity Fundand in the three funds togethersay , - £ 16000 .

, , , But what did that amount to when they looked at 2 . V petcent . ? It left so much a year to give , and they could give no more . It had always been the proudest boast of the Mark Benevolent Fund that there had never been a candidate who had presented a petition to the General Board who had

not rightly found relief . He announced that the chair at the next Festival , on the 1 st July , would be filled by Bro . R . Vassar Smith , and bespoke their help in making it one of the most successful that had taken place .

Consecration Of The William Harvey Chapter,No. 2682.

Consecration of the William Harvey Chapter , No . 2682 .

THE consecration of this , the first exclusively medical chapter , founded in connection with the Sancta Maria Lodge , but which will draw its candidates from the hospital lodges of the Metropolis , took place at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly , on Thursday , June 4 th . The chapter A \ 'as named after William Harvey , whose name has been handed down as the discoverer of the circulation of the

blood . The ceremony AA'as performed by Comp . Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Scribe E ., assisted by Comps . the Rev . Canon Brownrigg , Grand Superintendent for Bucks , as J . ; T . Wakley , P . A . G . S ., as Scribe E . ; and Frank Richardson , P . Dep . G . Reg ., as D . C . At the conclusion of the ceremony , Comps . C . Vincent Cotterell , P . G . Std . Br ., was installed as M . E . Z . ; W . J . Walsham , P . Z ., H . ; and J . Ernest Lane , J . The other officers were elected and invested as follows : —

Comps . Clement Godson , P . G . S . B ., I . P . Z . ; R . J . Probyn-Williams , Scribe E . ; C . Carter Braine , Scribe N . ; T . G . A . Burns , P . G . Std . Br ., Treasurer ; J . W . H . Eyre , P . S . ; A . G . R . Foullerton , ist A . S . ; J . Dundas Grant , 2 nd A . S . ; G . F . Rogers , P . P . G . H . Cambs ., D . C . ; P . G . Laver and C . Batchelor , Stewards ; and J . Taylor , Janitor . By a unanimous vote the Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members .

At the banquet which followed , the toasts of " His Majesty the King , " followed by that of " The Grand First Principal , H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , " were proposed and duly honoured ; and in proposing the toast of " The Grand Officers , " the M . E . Z . said he regarded it as a great compliment to the William HarA'ey Chapter that so many of

those distinguished Masons were present . Comp . Geo . Cowell , P . G . D ., in response , said that he and the other Grand Officers present had not only been pleased to witness the beautiful ceremony , but were rejoiced that the hospital lodges had united their efforts and formed Avhat he

believed would make a magnificent chapter . The M . E . Z ., in proposing the toast of " The Consecrating Officers , " said they all felt under a lasting obligation to those distinguished Masons , and desired to express to them their thanks for the vital service they had that clay

rendered the chapter in calling it into existence . The impressive work of the Consecrating Principal and his assistants , and the wise counsel and advice given them , they

Avere not likely soon to forget . He asked them to accept their thanks , and with it a founder ' s jeAvel of the chapter , Avhich he hoped they would regard as a memento of the occasion . He was pleased that his personal friend , Sir A . Cooper , Avho was so well known and respected by the whole profession , had been able to take part in the ceremony .

They Avere fortunate , too , in having the services of Comps . BroAvnrigg and Frank Richardson , who were able and zealous Masons , and he regretted that his friend , Comp . Wakley , had been unable to remain for the banquet . He could assure them all of a hearty Avelcome at till times to the William

Harvey Chapter . Comp . Sir Edward Letchworth , in reply , thanked the M . E . Z . for the more than kind Avords he had used , and for the heartiness of their reception . He expressed the feelings of all who took part in the ceremony when he stated that

nothing ever gave them greater pleasure than to launch a neAV lodge or chapter . It had been his good fortune to take part in the consecration of all the many lodges connected with the noble profession represented so fully by the founders . Those lodges Avere no doubt doing a great service

to the Order by propagating the noblest principles of the Craft . He congratulated the chapter upon their three Principals , and also upon having so able a Mason as Comp . Clement Godson , their acting I . P . Z ., to rely upon . He thanked them for the jeAvels they had presented them with , and said he would add his to his already large collection .

Comp . Clement Godson , proposing the toast of "The Principals , " was proud to say they were all old friends of his . He had known one of them forty years ago , when they were boys together , and none could speak with a fuller knowledge of all of them than he could with confidence do . They Avere good both as Masons and men , and the chapter was safe in

their hands . The M . E . Z ., replying , said that he did not by any means feel that he deserved all the good things said of him by the proposer of the toast , but he did feel proud of his position that night , as his selection proved that his labours in Masonry

had met with approval . He had been a founder of a chapter twenty years ago in Kent under Lord Amherst , and the experience gained then would be useful UOAV , and he would use it for the best interests of the chapter .