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Random Notes And Reflections.

RANDOM NOTES AND REFLECTIONS .

EOYALTT and Freemasonry have become so linked together in this country that we feel no surprise at any fresh interest that may be taken by the sons of the Queen , especially by the Heir Apparent , in matters connected with the Fraternity . Ae the M . W . Grand Master

of Masons in England , the Prince of Wales has earned the gratitude and secured the respect and admiration of the whole Craft . He has done more than any other man living to forward tho Order ; under his auspices Freemasonry has grown and flourished as it never did before .

The Charities promoted by the body are unequalled in the world ; and although the wants of the poor brethren have not yet been altogether compassed , sufficient has been and is being done to show a vast amount of good work accomplished and noble and glorious ends attained . There is

evidence , too , of the growth of an inquiring spirit , of the desire to know more of the inward character of the Craft , to sound the depths of history , in order to prove , not only

tho antiquity of the Institution , but also its -universality . We should be glad to see this feeling still more developed , so that the ethics of Freemasonry shall bo regarded as a duty as well as a pride and a privilege .

Although Mark Masonry has not received official sanction in the same sense . that the Royal Arch Chapter has , the fact of so many brethren of "light and leading " joining tho Mark degree is proof enough that it is regarded by them as an adjunct to Craft Masonry , and well worthy

of their recognition . It is not so very long since that H . R . H . Bro . the Duke of Albany had conferred upon him the rank of Past Grand Mark Master Mason , and only about a month ago he had the great and distinguished pleasure of performing the ceremony of advancing H . R . H .

the Prince of Wales , at a special meeting of Mark Grand Lodge held for the purpose . Now the announcement is made that on Saturday next our M . W . G . M . ( Craft ) will be invested with tho rank of Most Worshipful Past Grand Mark Master , with seniority next in order to the Grand

Master , Bro . Lord Henniker . A Grand Lodge meeting is called for that day , at the Freemasons' Hall , when Bro . the Prince of Wales will be present to receive the honour , for which a special dispensation has been granted . The gathering will be a memorable one , and is looked forward

to with intense interest . The event will mark an epoch in the annals of Mark Masonry , the effect of which cannot at present be realised , although it must tend to the advantage of this branch of the Masonic family . If the Mark degree did not possess inherent qualities of excellence those noble

members of the Craft who now belong to it would never have lent it their countenance ; but now that it has received the recognition of the most notable Freemason in the world , it must be admitted that the Mark degree will henceforth be regarded as a part of that Trinity in unity ,

independent of itself , yet forming a section of a complete whole . Saturday will be a proud day for Mark Masons , ior then will he performed an act that shall crown the labours of years . The brethren of this degree have worked their way in a quiet , unostentatious manner , and it may

truly be said of thorn that they have used no fictitious arts to secure adherents , but that the intrinsic merits of tbe Order alone have drawn men unto them . We caunot but hope and expect that good will result from the proceedings o ? next Saturday .

Bro . Sadler ' s letter in last week ' s issue has given us great satisfaction . His" efforts to secure substitutes for tho destroyed portraits of eminent brethren that once adorned the ruined Temple have met with almost complete

success . The portrait of the Duke of Athol is still wanting , and if the Craft cannot furnish a copy , it will become a question whether the family of tho noble duke should not bo appealed to . Thoy might have something

Random Notes And Reflections.

that would satisfy Grand Lodgo ; at any rate , they doubtless possess some memorial of their distinguished ancestor , and might assist in getting a copy made . This question of copying will form an important matter for consideration , especially \ i the subject of a portrait gallery , museum , and

library is taken up in a spirit worthy of the Craft . We are glad to find that such a movement has the sanction and the promiso of support of such good Masons as Bro . Woodford and Bro . Lambert . Already something has been done , an earnest has been offered , and if the brethren

at large only rise to the occasion , we shall ere long have an artistic , antiquarian , and intellectual side of Freemasonry worthy of the members of the present clay , and which shall , in however small a degree , recognise the esoteric genius of the Order . We shall be glad to aid any

movement tending to such an end to the utmost of our power . We are justly proud of our Charities , the Craft stands in the foremost rank in making provision for their poor , and

we desire to have a home worthy of our position , furnished in a manner that shall gratify the eye , minister to tho taste and to antiquarian proclivities , and stimulate and satisfy the highest intellectual cravings .

We are afraid we cannot add much , if anything , more to the information already furnished relative to the portrait of Brother the Earl of Zetland mentioned in a former issue . The facts we have mentioned were taken from the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror of April 1857 . The paragraph , is as follows :

Portrait of the Grand Master . —A beautifnl half length portrait of the Eight Honourable the Earl of Zetland , M . W . G . M ., drawn and engraved by Bro . H . C . Shenton P . M . No . 40 , has jast been published . It is admirably executed in the most finished stylo of line

engraving , is an excellent likeness , and reflects the greatest credit on onr worthy Bro . Shenton . A limited nnmber of proofs on India paper will be issued , and doubtless there will be a ready demand for them by the brethren . The portrait is enclosed in an appropriate Masonic border .

Doubtless Bro Sadler will know how to take up the clue , if he deems further search necessary . — : o : —• In the same Magazine for April 1856 , under the heading "Fine Arts , " are two other references to portraits . The first paragraph alludes to a visit to the studio of Bro .

Howell , a member of several Lodges , and who , as far as we can gather , resided at Richmond , Surrey . He had painted life-size portraits of the R . W . Prov . Grand Master the Earl of Mexborough , and his Deputy , Bro , Chas . Lee , and they are described as being eminently successful .

It is stated that as many brethren had expressed a desire to have copies of the portraits , arrangements had been made to have them engraved in mezzo-Unio , the issue to be limited to tho number of copies actually subscribed for , after supplying which the plates were to be destroyed .

The second reference is more important , and offers up a rather extensive field of research . We give the paragraph just as it stands . It runs thus : Portrait of the late M . W . G . M . His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex . —A moat splendid picfcnre by Lonsdale is in the possession of

a family , the head of which was a Freemason , and celebrated for his conversance with the artists and famous productions of the last generation . The survivors wish to dispose of this magnificent painting to some Lodge , and we have great pleasure in making

then * wishes known to the Craft , some of whom will we trust , confer the double benefit of serving a Brother ' s children , and preserving so fine a memorial of onr late Grand Master by purchasing it for the Fraternity .

Where is this painting now ? Can its career be traced , and would it be desirable , if possible , to obtain it ? — : o : — Iu looking over some old advertisements wo observed one that awakened memories of a very mixed character . The announcement we refer to stated that the members

of the Stability Lodge of Instruction would hold their anniversary at Radley ' s Hotel , Blackfriars , on the 25 th . April 1856 , when the Lodge would be opened by Bro . Muggeridge W . M ., and the banquet p ? -esidod over by Bro .

John Havers P . S . G . D . What changes have taken place since then . Bro . Muggeridge is little heard of , and only a short time since one who aided him when engaged in active

Masonic work , Bro . Hubbuck , paid the debt of nature . Bro . Havers is still among us , somewhat the worse for wear and ill-health , but now we trust strong enougb to occasionally attend Grand Lodge , His great knowledge