Mark Masonry.

out the duties devolving upon you during the past ten years in the capacity of Grand Master , contributing thereby so largely to the prosperity enjoyed by the Province from its formation in 1879 , until the present time . We beg , therefore , respectfully , that you

will accept this address as testifying our grateful appreciation of your rule over us , and ever hope and trust that it may please the G . O . O . T . U . long to spare your life , and if so it may be that we may long retain your interest and influence among us . On behalf of the Province , we beg to subscribe ourselves ,

Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , VALENTIA , Prov . Grand Master . C . STEPHENS , D . Prov . Grand Mas . July 31 , 1889 . W . RAVENSCROFT , Prov . Grand Sec . Lord Jersey said he felt extremely grateful to the brethren of the

province for the kind presentation they had just made . He , too . had felt regret in relinquishing the office of Provincial Grand Master , partly because he was aware that he had not carried out its duties so ably and efficiently as the terms of the address might lead them to suppose . They had always had , however , very pleasant and successful meetings whenever the Provincial Grand Lodge had

assembled . Although he had vacated the office of P . G . Master , he should still have the pleasure of being a member of the P . G . Lodge , and his feelings towards the brethren would remain exactly the same as during the period he held the more exalted position of P . G . Master . As they were probably anxious to return to the open air , he would content himself by simply thanking them , with a

warmth even greater than that of the atmosphere , for all the kindness which had been shown him during the ten years it had been his pleasure to rule over their province , and he heartily reciprocated their kind expressions of goodwill . The P . G . Secretary read letters of apology for non-attendance from Lord Carnarvon , Past Grand Master ; Bro . Beach , M . P ., Past

Grand Master ; Bro . the Rev . J . S . Studholme Brownrigg ; Bro . 0 . T . Murdoch , M . P ., and others . Bro . Tomkins invited the Provincial Grand Lodge to assemble under the banner of the Abbey Lodge , at Abingdon next year . The P . G . Master thanked Bro . Tomkins for the kind invitation , and promised to communicate with him on the subject .

The Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed in due form , and many of the brethren subsequently drove to Woodstock , and by permission of the Duke of Marlborough , inspected Blenheim Palace , and also the orchid houses . They afterwards returned to Oxford and sat down to a banquet , when the customary Mark Masons' toasts were honoured . The weather was delightfully fine , and the brethren spent a most pleasant day .

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

A quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , on Thursday , the 1 st inst . In the absence of the Grand Master Mason , the throne was occupied by Bro . Elliot , of Wolfelee , G . S . W . ; Bro . James Dalrymple Duncan , G . S . D ., acted as G . S . W . ; and Bro . Colonel John Campbell , as G . J W . There were also present : Bros , the Rev . R . Henderson ,

G . Chap . ; D . Murray Lyon , G . Sec . ; Major Allan , P . P . G . M ., of Gibraltar ; James Caldwell of Craigielea , P . G . D . ; ex-Provost Christie , Stirling ; David Hume , P . G . B . B . ; James Melville , President of the Board of Grand Stewards , & c . Apologies for absence were intimated from Bros . Sir Archibald C . Campbell , of Blythswood , Bart ., G . M . M . ; Lord Haddington , Lord Saltoun , John Graham , of

Broadstone , Prov . G . M . of Glasgow ; James Berry , Prov . G . M . of Forfarshire ; D . Reid , G . B . B . ; Rev . Thomas Somerville , G . Chap . ; W . Officer , S . S . O .. representative from the Grand Lodge of Pensylvania ; James Crichton , G . J . ; Dr . James Middleton ; Prov . G . M . of Berwick and Roxburgshires . On the motion of the Acting Grand Master , the Grand Secretary

was instructed to prepare and forward a loyal and dutiful address to Her Hajesty the Queen in reference to the marriage of the Duke of Fife and the Princess Louise , and also to the Prince of Wales , and to the Duke of Fife and his Royal spouse . Reports were submitted from which it appeared that the income of Grand Lodge during the quarter ending 20 th July had been

£ 1 . 235 , showing an excess of £ 672 over expenditure . The number of entrants to the order had been 1 , 300 . The income for the first eight months of this year has been £ 3 , ( 58 ( 5 , as compared with £ 3 . 41 ( 5 in the corresponding period last year . During the last quarter £ 90 had been granted from the fund of Scottish Masonic Benevolence . The annuity fund now amounts to £ 3 , 211 . A report b y Bro .

Bringloe , C . A ., to the board suggested tbat it was desirable to Iteep within safe limits , so as to avoid the necessity of withdrawing any annuity for want of funds , and the keeping in view the liability incurred on existing annuities and the expenses attendant upon the management and administration of the fund , that the total annuities should be restricted to £ 400 for the first two years until the capital accumulates , and the working of the fund is more

thoroughly tested . Grand Lodge resolved to issue charters to the following new lodges : — Taurus , " Mersina , Syria ; " The Golden Light , " Potchefstroom , South African Republic ; "St . Andrew , " Kumara , New Zealand ; and " Sir William Wallace , " Queensland . On the recommendation of the Grand Master , Lord Clanmorris was appointed as representative of Grand Lodge to the Grand Lodge of Ireland .

Communications were submitted from the District Grand Secretary showing that the District Grand Lodge of Victoria under Scottish constitution had beim dissolved , and that the lodges under its jurisdiction had transferred their allegiance to the newly formed United Grand Lodge of Victoria . The Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge had announced its establishment , and asked for the grand body official and fraternal recognition b y the Grand Lodge of Scotland , with an interchange of representatives , and that

Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

the lodges heretofore hailing from the Scottish constitution be allowed to retain their original charters as memorials of their Masonic connection with Scotland . Grand Lodge resolved to enter into fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge Victoria , and to accede to the request of the seceding Scottish holding lodges as to the retention of their charters .

A report was submitted from the P . G . M . of Dumbartonshire , Bro . Martin , of Auchendennan , stating the completion of another round of provincial visitation of the twelve lodges of that province . Everywhere he found work being carried on energetically and enthusiastically , and in strict accordance with the constitution and

laws , and in hardly an instance was it necessary to suggest improvement , even in subordinate details . The accession of numbers in some of the lodges had been astonishing , and in all substantial . He believed Masonry to be at present in a more satisfactory position in this province than at any time within the recollection of their oldest brethren .

In reference to the subject of issuing circulars , Grand Committee recommended the adoption of the following resolution : — "Grand Lodge fully recognises the inalienable right of all Master Masons to meet , discuss , and petition Grand Lodge on any matter connected with Masonry ; but . when a communication is to be addressed to

the whole craft , the sanction of Grand Committee must first be procured . " Bro . Caldwell suggested that the finding should be more explicit , so as to guard brethren from unwittingly infringing the rule , and the matter was sent back to Grand Committee . The other business was routine .

Royal Arch Masonry.

ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF DEVON . On the 29 th ulto . the annual convocation of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Devon was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth . Ex-Comp . Major G . C . Davie , Prov . G . S . E ., officiated as Prov . G . Supt ., pro tern ., with the following officers : —Ex-Comps . the Rev . T . W . Lemon , M . A ., 189 , P . P . G . P . S ., P . P . G . 3 rd P ., H . pro tern . ;

J . S . Hersteman , J . ; F . B . Westlake , 70 , P . G . S . E . pro tern . ; W . S , Hearder , 105 , P . G . S . N . pro tern . ; W . Taylor , 328 , P . G . T . ; E . Aitken-Davies , 159 , 1099 , P . P . G . R ., P . G . Reg , pro tern . ; G . B . Gover , 70 , P . P . G . P . S ., Prov . G . P . P . S . pro tern . ; G . R . Barrett , 189 , P . P . G . P . S ., P . G . 1 st A . S . pro tern . ; J . J . O . Evans , 303 , P . G . 2 nd A . S . ; S . Jew , 105 . P . P . G . T ., P . G . S . B . pro tern . ; R . F . Kingdon , 10 ( 5 , P . G . St . B . ; W . Gregory . 1284 , P . G . D . C . ; R . Pengelley , 70 , P . P . G . A . D . C

P . G . A . D . C . pro tew . ; E . Murch , 202 , P . P . G . O ., P . G . O . pro tern . ; F . Shooter , P . G . Janitor . There was a large attendance of the companions , and among those also present were : —Ex-Comps . R . H . Rae , 189 , P . P . 3 rd G . P . ; J . R . Lord , 70 , P . P . G . T . ; J . Kinton-Bond , 70 , P . P . G . T . ; W . K . Michell , 15 ( 5 , P . P . G . Reg . ; J . Du Pre , 70 , P . P . G . P . S . ; Major J . S . Swann , S 47 , 494 , P . P . G . S . B . ; P . B . Clemens , 15 ( 5 , P . P . G . A . S . ; C . Watsou , 954 . P . P . G . D . C . ; W . Harris , 1138 , P . P . G . A . S . ; J . Allen , 1099 , P . P . G . St . B . ; F . C . Hallett , 303 , P . P . G .

St . B . ; R . Cawsey , 230 , P . P . G . A . D . C . ; J . H . Miller , 223 , P . P . G . St . B . ; W . Browning , 223 . P . P . G . O . ; E . Binding , 202 , P . P . G . O . ; George Whittley , 15 ( 5 , P . P . G . O . Ex-Comp . Davie apologised for the absence of Viscount Ebrington , M . P ., the P . G . Supt . His lordship , he said , had made every arrangement to attend that convocation , and had arrived in the West for that purpose , when he was unexpectedly

recalled to London to attend to his Parliamentary duties . Ex-Comp . W . G . Rogers , P . G . H ., was also unavoidably absent through a meeting of the Exeter City Council being held that day , which he had to attend as city treasurer . The acting P . G . S . E . reported that twenty-seven chapters had forwarded their returns and dues . The P . G . Treas . reported that the receipts for the year had been £ 'J 7 15 s .,

and that the present balance in hand available for the votes of the chapter was £ 42 . Ex-Comp . Kersteman proposed , and Ex-Comp . Du Pre seconded , that 20 guineas be voted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution foi : widow-, the sum to be placed on the steward ' s list of Ex-Comp . the Rev . T . W . Lemon . Ex-Comp . Lord proposed that £ 7 10 s . each be voted to the Fortescue Annuity Fund

and the Devon Masonic Educational Fund . Ex-Comp . Cornish seconded , and both propositions were unanimously adopted . On the proposition of Ex-Comp . J . Kinton Bond , seconded by Ex-Comp . Du Pre and . supported by sjveral other members , Ex-Comp . J . W . Cornish was elected the treasurer . Ex-Comps . J . R . Lord and J . Kinton Bond were elected the auditors . The acting P . G . Supt . then invested the officers for the year : —Ex-Comp . W . G . Rogers . 112 ,

2 nd P . G . Principal ; Major J . S . Swann , 847 . 3 rd P . G . Principal ; Major G . C . Davie , 251 , P G . S E . ; F . B . Westlake , 70 . P . C . S . N J . W . Cornish , 223 . P . G . Treas . ; J . Bradford , 1358 , P . G . Reg ; W . Allsford , 202 , P . G . P . S . ; J . Moysey , 223 , P . G . 1 st A . S . ; D . Cross , 1205 , P . G . 2 nd A . S .: C . Croydon , 189 , P . G . S . B . ; J . Gifford , 2025 , P . G . St . B . ; J . R . H . Harris , 230 , P . G . D . C . ; A . Pidsley , 106 , P . G . A . D . C W . S . Hearder , 105 . P . G . O .: and F . Shooter , P . G . Janitor .

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF STAFFORDSHIRE . A convocation of the Staffordshire Grand Chapter was held at the Star and Garter Hotel , Wolverhampton , on the 2 nd inst ., the principal business being the installation of Col . Foster Gough as Provincial Grand Superintendent . The ceremony was admirabl y performed by Ex-Comp . Col . Shad well IT . Gierke . The following

provincial appointments were made by the Grand Superintendent : Comps . J . Bodenham , 726 , H . ; A . G . Prince , 546 , J . ; H . Kitson , 519 , E . : E . Kumpton , 482 . X . ; C . A . Newnham , 419 . treas A . Caddick , 482 , registrar ; W . Brickil , 546 , P . S . ; E . S . Hildick ' , 539 . 1 st asst . sec . : J . Mottram , 726 , 2 nd asst . sec . ; H . Windle 418 *

, swd . bearer ; H . Jenkins , 482 , std . bearer ; G . H . Stanger , 419 , D . C . Frederick Taylor , 726 , A . D . C . ; F . Willmore , 539 , org . ; Capt . G . W Walker , 419 , A . S . E ; D . Jones and G . Vaughan , stewards . After the closing of the chapter a banquet was held , and was presided over by Col . Gough .