"A Sprig Of Acacia."

was initiated , were Past Masters Bridgford , Holford , Horsfield , Middleton , Shaw , Stopford , Meadowcroft , Foxcroft , J . P ., Bros . Chas . Slee , C . Virgo , and others , some whose

names appear elsewhere . With one exception ( this being caused by illness ) the whole of the members comprising the Queen Victoria Lodge , No . 2584 ( of which Bro . Mills was a founder , and first Worshipful Master ) , were present ,

principal among whom were Bros . William Richardson W . M ., Thos . Nesbitt S . W . - , Wm . Moulton J . W ., Wm . B . Midgley I . P . M ., the Rev . B . Brook , M . A ., Chaplain , Principal of Cheetham Collegiate College , R . Williams S . D .,

J . Newell J . D ., C . W . Godby P . M ., A . T . McGregor P . M P . P . G . D ., J . Howarth P . M ., J . Pollitt P . M ., J . King , E

Blackburn , and J . Kirkham Stewards ; J . Parkinson , Greenhalgh , Smith , and Hattersley . The Truth Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , No . 1458 , where Companion Mills at the time of his decease occupied the position of Z ., was represented by

Companions Robert Caldwell P . Z . Prov . G . J ., Buckley Carr P . Z . Prov . G . J ., H . Hellewell S . E ., Wm . Richardson S . N ., C . W . Godby P . Z . P . P . G . A . S ., Herbert G . Ward Principal Soj . W . M . 993 , Thomas Threlfall First Assistant Soj . P . M . 992 1773 , Leonard Tagger 287 .

The Provinces of East and West Lancashire , and also of Cheshire , were well represented , there being in attendance Brother Rev . W . H . Healey Prov . Grand Chaplain ( E . L . ) , who had kindly offered his services , Bros . W . Thornley P . M . P . P . G . S ., Duke of Athol , 210 , Albert Taylor , Unanimity ,

287 , Chas . Kay , Alexandra , 993 , Edward Roberts P . M . Ashbury , 1459 , William Drabble P . M . Ashbury , 1459 , Whittle and Sawyer , Duke of York , 2449 , and many others . The following deputations were also present : —Blackley Conservative Club , Messrs . J . Potts , C . Whittaker , A .

Whittaker , F . Newton , and J . Oddie ; Cheetham Conservative Association , Bro . Thos . Nesbitt , Bro . J . Pollitt , and J . F . Barnikel ; Cheetham Conservative Club , Messrs . J . H . Whyatt , C . Turner , Bros . W . B . Midgley , J . Newell , and E . A . W . Wragge ; Collyhurst Conservative Club ,

Messrs . J . Johnson , R . Speed , H . Clayton , Bro . J . T . Goulding ; Harpurhey Conservative Club , Mr . J . Dearden ; Moston Conservative Club , Messrs . Prescott and Carter , Bros . ' Walter Cockerham and Buckley Carr ; and other clubs , including the Suddell Street Conservative . The Blackley and

Moston Habitation of the Primrose League ; St . Peter ' s Schools , Blackley being also represented . We saw present Bros . Superintendent James Bent P . M ., and Albert Jarratt Registrar , and a large number of the deceased Brother ' s workpeople from the Vauxhall Hat Works , Rochdale Road , Manchester .

Among the numerous floral tributes which had been forwarded , was one in the form of a square and compass from the Queen Victoria Lodge , upon which Bro . William Harris P . M . P . P . G . A . D . C . Wolseley , 1993 , had printed the following words : —

" From the W . M . and members of the Queen Victoria Lodge , as a last token of respect to BBO . MILLS . "

The Truth Chapter had sent one with a similar device , accompanied by this inscription : —

" From the members of Truth Chapter , No . 1458 . Deeply regretted . A true Brother and a sincere friend . "

The list would be too long were we to print the whole of the names of those who sent floral tokens of sympathy and respect , we will therefore content ourselves by giving the principal ones , viz . * . Walton Lodge , 1077 , Mrs . Mills , Alderman and Mrs . Richards , Bro . Councillor Hampson

and family , Bro . Councillor and Mrs . J . Phythian , Bro . and Mrs . Hamnett , Bro . and Mrs . Nesbitt , Miss Dora Nesbitt , Bro . and Mrs . Richardson , Bro . and Mrs . Moulton , Bro . and Mrs . Howarth , Bro . and Mrs . Midgley , Bro . and Mrs . King , Bro . J . T . Goulding . Others

were from the Parks Committee and the Highways Committee of the Corporation , with which our Brother was connected ; the Blackley , Cheetham , Collyhurst , and St .

Michael ' s Ward Conservative Clubs , and also from deceased ' s tenants , a small amount having been tendered by each one for this purpose , with a spontanity which considerably enhanced the value of their humble but grateful offering .

After the funeral , many friends returned to Green Mount , where a light repast had been provided . Here the Rev . C . F . Ward made a touching reference to the sad event of the

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

day , and paid a fitting tribute tothe memory of the deceased . He exhorted Mrs . Mills not to be downhearted under her sudden affliction , reminding her that she had found a number of friends who had endeavoured to sustain her , and to whom she must feel grateful for the valuable assistance which they had rendered in her time of need .

On the following Sunday morning ( 30 th October ) , a memorial service was preached at the Albert Memorial Church by the Rector , there being a very large congregation , which included not only relatives and private friends , but Masonic friends from the Wilton , Queen Victoria , Wolseley ,

De Grey and Ripon Lodges , the deceased ' s employees , and members of Conservative Associations in North and North-West Manchester . The preacher referred in eloquent terms to those admirable characteristics of the deceased Councillor ,

which had endeared him to all who were in close communion with him , and in other ways had gained for him widespread esteem and affection . The " Dead March " in " Saul , " which was played on the organ , concluded the mournful

ceremony . The death of Bro . Mills will be deeply felt , not only in his own home , but by deserving and indigent poor , by the Masonic world , and by the munipical body . He was a finely proportioned man , and looked the embodiment of health , he

possessed an equable temperament , finding , like Jack Point , "humour in all things . " His presence was stimulating , and he radiated smiles wherever he went , but in the midst of our profound sorrow we are proud we have this consolation left —that his loss has evoked such universal tributes of respect .

Father Gruber , S . J ., has just published in Berlin , at the office of the Germania , an important work on Masonry , dealing with the " efforts at re-union and eternal struggles of German Masonry from 1866 . " Based almost entirely on official documents the first chapter shows how the German Brethren regarded the sect as an

instrument of the Culturkampf , and colloquies and negotiations are referred to between Prince Bismarck and Bluntschi , the head of German Masonry . The triumph of German unity was thought to herald the golden age of the sect , and the bonds of association were drawn closer by the institution , in 1872 , of the Union of

Grand Lodges , and later of a National Grand Lodge . Dissensions , notwishstanding , have arisen between the three older Prussian Lodges and those of the more recent establishment , from the claim of the former to found all Lodges throughout Germany , and their refusal to admit Jews . The second chapter records the progress of the struggle against these pretensions , aud the third gives a

picture of the various dissensions between the Lodges , incidentally throwing light on many subjects which gave rise to journalistic controversy at the time . In conclusion Father Gruber publishes the Masonic statutes , with a list of the various German Lodges , and describes the stratagems and contrivances resorted to in order to evade the law prohibitory of secret societies . — " Tablet . "

MASONIC IMPOSTOR AT RETFORD . AT the Retford Borough Police Court , on Monday , a middle-aged man , giving the name of David Macdonald , was brought up in custody charged with obtaining five shillings from Captain Valpy Thomas by false pretences , says the " Nottingham Guardian . " Mr . W . A . Charles prosecuted . Captain Thomas said the prisoner came to him on Sunday night , the 23 rd , and said he wanted to see him on Masonic business . He was under difficulties , as he took his ticket from Edinburgh the previous morning , and

when at Northallerton tickets were examined , and he was pulled out of the carriage , as he could not find his ticket . A gentleman in the same compartment told the officials he had seen prisoner show his ticket at the last examining place . They made him pay his fare from Newcastle , and the gentleman paid his fare as far as Retford . This gentleman told him his name was Luke , and that he was to give Captain Thomas this name and ask him to help him on to London . He said he had telegraphed to London for some money , but had been unable to get to the post-office , as it was closed on Sunday , and it he should be in

was absolutely necessary London next morning to sign for his ship . He said he was an engineer on board the Iona , Thompson and Co ., of Dundee , and 27 Leadenhall Street , London . He asked for his certificate , and he made an excuse that it had gone round aboard ship with his luggage from Leith . He produced a printed circular of the Blagdon Lodge , No . 659 , and he advanced him five shillings . He telegraphed to Doncaster , and found the prisoner had been relieved there on the Friday night , and he then went in search of him , and found him drinking in a public house , and arrested him .

Mr . John Bernard Mackenzie Secretary of the Blagdon Lodge , Blyth , said he had seen the prisoner , who had applied for assistance . He was not a member of the Lodge , nor had he ever in any way been connected with it . He obtained the circular from the Treasurer in order that he might return ten shillings which was advanced to him to get to his ship at Hull . The Treasurer ' s address was printed on tbe circular . Prisoner was sentenced to one month ' s imprisonment with hard labour .

AN interesting illustrated pamphlet has just been issued by the Great Eastern Railway , showing the advantages of Clacton and Felixstowe as seaside winter resorts . For the former place a fast train leaves Liverpool Street every Saturday at 1 * 30 p . m ., and also a fast midnight . supper train , for tho convenience of members of the theatrical profession and others .