Mark Masonry.

St . John the Evangelist . That at that time Moses and King Solomon were substituted . 2 . That according to the Articles of Union of the Craft Grand Lodge , that body is bound to meet on the Festival of St . John the Evangelist . 3 . That a manuscript in the British Museum , dated 10 th century , during the reign of Athelstan , and professing

to explain the antient history and principles of Freemasonry , commences as follows : — " The Almighty Father of Heaven , in the wisdom of the glorious Son , through the goodness of the Holy Ghost , Three Persons and One Godhead , be with our beginning , and give us grace so to govern our lives , that we may come to His bliss , which shall never have an end . " 4 . In " The Freemasons' Pocket Companion 1761 " the

fol-, , lowing is given as " a Prayer to be used of Christian JIasons at the empointing of a brother , used in the reign of Edward IV . " " The Mighty God and Father of Heaven , with the wisdom of his Glorious Son , through the goodness of the Holy Ghost , that hath been Three Persons in One Godhead , he with us at our beginning , give us grace to govern in our living here , that we may come to His bliss that- shall never end . "

5 . In the same work is given "A Prayer to be used at the admission of a brother . " " Jlost Holy and glorious Lord God , Thou ordainer of heaven and earth , who art the giver of all good gifts and graces , and hast promised that when two or three are gathered together in Thy name , Thou wilt be in the midst of them in Thy name we assemble and meet together , most humbly beseeching

Thee to bless us in all our undertakings , to give us Thy Holy Spirit , to enlighten on . minds Avitli wisdom , and understanding , that we may know and serve Thee aright , that all our doings may tend to Thy glory , and the salvation of our souls—and we beseech Thee , 0 Lord God , to bless this our present undertaking , and to grant that this our brother , may dedicate his life to Thy service , and he a true and faithful brother among us . Endue him

with Divine -wisdom , that be may ivith tbe secrets of Masonry be able to unfold the mysteries of godliness and Christianity ; this we humbly beg in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour . Amen . " 6 . The following prayer , used at initiation , appears in a work entitled , "Hiram ; or , the Grand Jfaster ' s Key to the Doors of Antient and Modern Freemasonry , date 1776 . " " O Lord God , the great and universal Mason of the

ivorld , and first builder of man , as it were a temple , be with us 0 Lord , as Thou hast promised when two or three are gathered together in Thy name , Thou ivilt be in the midst of them , be with us 0 Lord , and bless all our undertakings , and grant that this our friend may become a faithful brother , lot grace and peace be multiplied unto him , through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ . * #### * And grant that we may all

be united as one , through our Lord Jesus Christ , ivho liveth and reigneth for ever . Amen . " 7 . The following passage occurs in the charge of this degree which must be held to bear a Christian meaning : — " Let me remind you that the stone ivhieh the builders rejected possessing merits to them unknown , ultimately became the Chief Stone in the corner . "—St . Luke xx . 17 . ( Signed ) G . It . PORTAL , Chairman .

And proceeded . Such is the report- of the Committee nominated at the last meeting of Grand Lodgo , to consider this question . They do not propose the adoption of any course further than that recommending that the facts adduced should be made known in some ivay or other . For himself , he should simply propose that the report now presented be received and entered on the minutes .

Bro . PICKERING , P . G . Dir . of -Cers .. felt very great pleasure in seconding the proposition , but he must make an addition thereto . Ho thought that this report possessed so much interest , that in an era of improved research and enlarged enquiry such as that in wliich wo live , it would stimulate further enquiry , and therefore ought to be printed and circulated extensively . He could not assume that an enquiry such as this will meet with universal approval , but he felt that the result of

continned investigation on this important and interesting question must redound to the interests of the fraternity , and promote the cause of intellectual truth . He would not go so far as to recommend that action should be taken upon this report , his object being in the first place to direct attention to the subject . Ho had little doubt that a considerable number of their

brethren had often seriously pondered this question in their closets , but had shrunk from discussing it in public , had forborne to press its consideration upon their assemblies , for the ivant of fitting guidance as to the most discrest and proper means of doing so . To the proposition of the Grand Registrar , he moved this addition , " and printed and circulated . "

The SI . W . EARL OP CARNARVON , P . G . M ., thought there could be but one opinion of the value of the report , which reflected great credit upon the committee , to whom it ivould be disrespectful if circulation were not given it . It was simply a question whether the report should bo printed in a separate form , or incorporated in the usual published account of their

proceedings , and this the General Board could determine . The JI . AA . G . JIASTER concurred . The G . REGISTRAR having accepted Bro . Pickering ' s addition , the motion as amended ivas put aud carried unanimously . Bro . Joseph Rankin Stebbing , P . G . W ., ivas unanimously reelected Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year .

The G . Master then proceeded to appoint and invest the Grand Officers " as follows : —Bros . AV . AV . B . Beach , M . P ., D . G . JL ; George Cornwall Legh , M . P ., S . G . AV . ; James Gibbs , J . G . AA . ; Andrew Gillespie , G . M . O . ; AVilHam Cooke , G . S . O . ; Bethel Jacobs , G . J . O . ; Rev . J . AV . Laughlin and Rev . George Roberts , G . Chaps . ; J . R . Stebbing , G . Treas . ; Rev . G . R .

Portal , MA ., G . Reg . ; Frederick Binckes , G . Sec . ; J . Al . Hay ward , S . G . D . ; T . AY . Swinburne , J . G . D . ; AVm . Ed . Gumbleton , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Hy . J . Thompson , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; AV . Barrett , G . Supt . of AVorks ; John Dnpre , G . Sword Bearer ; S . D . Forbes , G . Standard Bearer ; ¦ , G . Org . ; James BondG . Inner Guard ; George SmithG . Tyler .

, , Bros . C . J . Picard , Bon Accord Lodge , London ; J . II . AA ynne , Old Kent Lodge , London ; Behrangi , Mallet and Chisel Lodge ( No . 5 ) , London ; Thos . Jfeggy , Thistle Lodge ( So . 8 ) , London ; Alex . Shirer , Cheltenham and Keystone Lodge ( No . 10 ) , Cheltenham ; J . Coleman AVills , Russell Lodge ( No . 23 ) , Tavistock ; R . H . Rae ( No . 35 ) , Devonport ; Harrison , University

Lodge ( No . 55 ) , Oxford , G . Stewards . The General Board was nominated as follows : —The Deputy Grand Master ; the Grand AA ardens ; the Grand Treasurer ; the Grand Registrar ; the Grand Secretary ; Bros . Alex . Ridgway , P . G . AV . and P . G . Reg . ; George Lambert , P . G . D . ; Dr . Nolan , P . G . Inspect , of Works ; Thos . Pickering , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Richard Spencer , P . G . Steward ; Edward Burrell ,

P . G . Reg . Bro . C . J . BANISTER , P . G . S . 0 ., begged permission to suggest the inconvenience of the present hour of meeting , wliich he felt sure precluded tho attendance of many desirous to bo present , and thought if they , for the future , were to meet at five for the transaction of business , and to banquet at seven , the Grand MasterVould find himself much more numerously

supported . Bro . AA YNNE complained of { the delay in the commencement of business . The G . JIASTER ivould give the matter his best consideration , his only object being to promote the efficiency and inlluenco of the half-yearly communications , at the same time consulting the

convenience of the brethren . Grand Lodge was closed in ample form with solemn prayer , and adjourned .