Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

HpHERE was an unusually large attendance at the Parish JL Church , Richmond , on Sunday afternoon , ' 23 rd ult . * , on the occasion of a Masonic service , at which representatives of Lodges in different parts of the neighbourhood . were present .. Inasmuch as this was the first time such . a ceremonial ; has taken place in Richmond , great interest was

evinced in the whole of the proceedings ' , a large number of people being unable to gain admittance to the church . ' The interior of the sacred edifice , which had been kindly placed at the disposal ofthe Masons by the Rev . Canon Procter , was tastefully decorated with evergreens , & c , which were

reminiscent of Christmas , the church pillars being entwined with garlands of leaves , and the gallery fronted by a motto , " Let us now go even unto Bethlehem . " It was shortly after three o ' clock that a peal of bells announced the fact that something outside the routine of the ordinary church

service was being held , and then the historic old structure resounded with the volume of music from the organ while the worshippers were being admitted . The dull religious light of the afternoon lent a peculiar solemnity to the occasion , which was only relieved when the Masons , in their

pretty pale blue regalia , made their way , two deep , through the west door of the church . Shortly before this procession took place , however , His Worship the Mayor ( Councillor A . Chancellor ) wearing the gold chain of office and accompanied by the Town Clerk and the Parish Beadle , arrived , and

walked to the place in the chancel speciall y reserved for him in accordance with the strict ceremonial rights of the Craft . A special dispensation had been obtained for the attendance of the Brethren at the service , and Messrs . Heasler and Sadler ( the Churchwardens ) did their utmost to facilitate the

proceedings . Bro . Robinson W . M . ofthe Richmond Lodge , upon whom fell a great amount of responsibility Masonically , very ably carried put the arrangements , while Bro . J . D . Langton P . G . D . C , of the Grand Masters Lodge , came up from Brighton to officiate as Director of Ceremonies .

As the time approached for the commencement of the ceremony the passage leading to the west door was crowded , and Inspector Winchcombe had all his work cut out to preserve an open space . When , about 3 * 20 p . m ., the door of the Masonic Hall close by was thrown open , and the

procession came forth , the public saw for the first time a pageant which will doubtless be repeated at some future date . Passing up a paved court two deep , and headed by one of their number carrying upon a cushion an open Bible , the Masonic Brethren made their way to the door , where the

procession was met by that of the choir and clergy . Inside , Brother R . W . Simpson was awaiting the arrival of the host , which numbered considerably over two hundred , and which was soon accommodated in the nave of the building ,

speciall y reserved for it . The side aisles were in the occupation of independent worshippers , as was also the gallery , which was crowded . The service began about 3-30 , and came to an end shortly after five o ' clock .

The sermon was preached by Bro . the Rev . R . F . Simpson , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain , who took his text from Malachi iv ., 2 , and St . John viii ., 12 . ¦ In the course of his address he said Masons had come to regard the Christian Church with devout admiration , and the Church had

attracted the Masons by a consciousness that they held so many principles in common . Indeed , he ventured to assert that there was no body of men in the world so calculated to draw men to "the light of the world" worship in the Christian Church as true Freemasons . There was no

Christian virtue Freemasonry did not inculcate , no duty to God , our neighbour , or ourselves , which it did , not teach ; no feeling of loyalty to the Sovereign , or of respect to authority , which it did not strongly recommend . Self-sacrifice , even unto death , was touchingly set forth in its earliest doctrine ,

and was taught in its beautiful ritual , while a system of future reward and punishment was Tully recognised . There were several cases where Masonry had been a porchway or entrance into the Christian Church . It' was not long ago that one ofthe most distinguished Masons of London , still

living , and now . a devout churchman , told him . that had he not become a Mason he would probably have still been , as he was at one time , an unbeliever . The Rev . gentleman also showed that Masonry was to aid industry in misfortune ,

to assist the helpless and the orphan and the widow in affliction ' s hour , and not lose that kind feeling towards others so touchingly pourtrayed by Tennyson— " On her lips perpetually : hang the summer fruit of golden charity . " The Rev . Brother also emphasised the necessity for educating the

Church Services.

child so that in future days , when difficulty seemed to oppress him , he should . be conscious that all things were working for his good if he sought to love God . In

conclusion , the Rev . gentleman remarked that the blessed and humane object to which their offerings were to be devoted'that : day was truly Masonic , truly Catholic , and truly Christian .

The hymn ,. "Now thank we all our God , " was sung , which ' was followed by" All people that on earth do dwell . " The collection on , behalf of : the hospital was next taken , and the Rev . Canon Proctor having pronounced the Benediction , the clergy and' choir filed out . The Mayor and the rest of the Brethren followed . —" . Richmond Herald . " . ON . Sunday evening . Archdeacon Sinclair preached at a special * Masonic service which was . held at St . Paul ' s Church , Deptford .

The Chaucer Lodge of Instruction , No . 1540 will in future hold its meetings at Slee and Pike ' s , 123 Borough High Street . The first meeting at the new quarters will be held , at 8 p . m ., on Tuesday next , 8 th inst ., when Bro . W . Roots P . M . Preceptor hopes to see a good muster ofthe Brethren .

The Mayor of Tenby , Bro . H . J . Gregory P . M . Fidelity Lodge , No . 3 , London , -was on Monday , 31 st ult ., installed W . M . of the local Lodge , No . 1177 , in that town .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

r | lHE funeral took place on the 1 st inst ., in Plymouth JL Cemetery , of the late Bro . Christopher Watson , of Stoke , whose death occurred a few days since , after a brief illness . Bro . Watson was a Past Master of St . Aubyn Lodge , No . 954 , and P . P . G . D . C . of Devon . He was also , as Charity Steward of his Lodge , and its representative on

the Committee of Petitions , closely identified with the Masonic Charities of the Province , of which he was a generous supporter . He was held in great respect by the Brethren . in the Three Towns , many of whom attended the funeral , as well as a large number of Oddfellows and

members of the Three Towns Medical Aid Society , with both of which he had long been intimately associated . He was , in fact , secretary of the Medical Aid Society at the time of his death , and P . P . G . M . of Oddfellows . The Masonic

Brethren , as well as the Oddfellows , in accordance with ancient custom , dropped sprigs of acacia on the coffin after it had been lowered into the grave . The respect in which the deceased was held ¦ was shown by the large number of floral tributes sent from the various societies with which he

was connected , and by his many personal friends . Amongst them were wreaths from the W . M . and Brethren of St . Aubyn Masonic Lodge , the Loyal Bud of Hope Lodge of

Oddfellows , of which the deceased was Secretary , the medical staff of the Three Towns Medical Aid * Society , the Nelson Ward Conservative Association , and "from his devoted wife and children . "

T" * HE Church of St Augustine , Hull , was crowded on Wednesday , the 26 th ult ., for the first part of the obsequies of the late Bro . Geoi-ge Wadsworth . Deceased , who . was for many j ^ ears principal tenor at Leeds Parish Church , had often delighted the congregation of St .

Augustine ' s with his splendid voice , and was much esteemed by his musical confreres throughout the city . The choir ( augmented from Holy Trinity and other churches ) rendered impressively "Be thou faithful unto death , " "On the resurrection morn , " and "When our heads are bowed with

woe , " and at the graveside , at the close of the interment , "Now the labourer ' s task is o ' er . " A large number of the Brethren of the De La Pole Lodge , No . 1605 , of which deceased was a popular member , were present to pay a last tribute to respected worth , and filed past the grave , casting a sprig of acacia on the coffin .

THE death is announced of Bro . William Handley Ball , .. which took place on the 1 st inst ., at Liverpool . Bro . Ball ,- who ' was fifty-eight years of age , was a well-known figure in ' local Freemasonry ,, and was highly respected amongst the Brethren . For many years he had filled the

important post of Prov . Grand Tyler , which position he also occupied m his own Ledge , the Dramatic , No . 1609 , and many other local Ledges besides . Bro . Ball , who was a native of Hestcn , had , prior to his dtath , Letn suffering frcm bronchitis .