Masonic Portraits. (No. 58.)

he is so proud to be a member includes within its scope the commingling together , in one body , of men of every social grade . All men who are Masons , be they persons of rank and station , of great influence by reason of their abilities or Avealth , or be they simply private

individuals or of the great middle class of hard Avorking men AVIIO live by the sweat of their brow , all these , within tho precincts of our Order , meet together on a perfect footing of equality . We do not withhold the respect that is due to princely rank or fortune . Wo are

perfectly well aware that social distinctions , in some shape or form , will continue to exist as long as thero is a Avorld to live in , and that the idea of a perfect equality among men is the mere dream of a visionary . Yet none the less is it true that all Masons aro , ipso facto , equal , in the sense

that all are bound by the same obligations to carry out , as far as in them lies , the beneficent design of Freemasonry . A fuller explanation of Avhat constitutes Masonic equality Avill not be necessary among Craftsmen , while the non-Mason has no right to expect that Ave should go out of our

way to be more explanatory . For them the story we are about to narrate must be a sufficient illustration of our meaning . Thus , in the series of Portraits Avhich have appeared from time to time in these columns , Ave have sketched noteworthy men of every rank in the social

scale , and this fact alone should , to our minds , be conclusive that Masonic equality is the reality Ave have proclaimed it to be , not the fiction Avhich many who regard us with jealousy aro anxious the world should consider it . In our last sketch we portrayed a peer of the realm

Avho is the Masonic ruler of his Province . This Aveek , our portrait is of one who belongs to the English middle class , Avho , in all the relations of life , has played his part well , and Avho , in his Masonic career , has filled a position of honour or of trust in every section of the society with which he is

connected . There is , moreover , a most important characteristic by wl icb this respected Brother of ours is distinguished . He is essentially a man of peace , that is to say , he is not only peacefully inclined himself , but he is also the promoter of peace among others . Whenever he

hears that discord has arisen or is likely to arise among neighbours or among brethren , he exerts all his influence in the restoration of peace . The apple of discord is not a fruit which finds any favour Avith him , and with him for its guide a Lodge should always close in " peace and

harmony . " If it were any part of our duty to describe the profession or calling he follows , Ave should , perhaps , experience some difficulty in doing so . He simply belongs to that fortunate class of men Avho not only have enough and to spare of the goods of this world , but are prepared likeAvise

to employ it to good purposes . However , Ave believe he is in some Avay connected Avith the management of those places of healthy recreation for the public Avhich , in an overpopulated metropolis like ours , are indispensable . This ,

hoAvever , is a matter which concerns us not . Our task is to record his labours in the field of Masonry , and Ave think our readers , Avhen they have read the following particulars , will agree with us that those labours reflect upon him the highest possible degree of credit .

The details of his Masonic career are certainly interesting , and will serve as well " to point a moral " for other brethren to mark and carefully consider its significance as to adorn the story of a worthy Craftsman . The features by Avhich our brother ' s connection Avith Freemasonry has been principally

distinguished are , in the first place , an utter absence from his Avork of all ostentation . What he has done has been done from sheer love of tho Craft , not from love of selfexaltation . Thero has been no parade of his abilities , no undue eagerness to win the praise of his fellows . On the

contrary , he has gone about his duties in a quiet and businesslike , yet thoroughly effective , manner . It is noAv nearly sixteen years since he AVUS admitted to the benefits of Masonic light , and in that time he has made moro than one mark with Avhich his name Avill be associated long

after he has been gathered to his fathers . Then he has been a studious Mason , and one Avho has ever made it a point to be regular in his attendance at Lodge and Chapter ; and Avhatis still moretothepoint , heisa practical Mason , by which designation , of course , Ave mean that hecarriesout in practice

the obligations he has contracted . There may , in short , be nothing brilliant about his achievements , but he has laboured earnestly and Avith a large heart , and he has long since found his rcAvard in the esteem and respect with Avhich his brethren regard him , including even those Avho are but slightly acquainted with him . But to our task of

Masonic Portraits. (No. 58.)

relating his Masonic history . He was initiated in the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 174 , on the 15 th October 18 G 2 . Having passed through the minor offices , he at length became one of the rulers of the Lodge , and in January 1869 , was rewarded by being elected to fill the Master ' s chair . In

this capacity ho did good service , and his presidency over the Lodge was so Avarmly appreciated , that on retiring , in due course , from his post , the members voted him a Past Master ' s Jewel . Iu October 1871 , he joined the King Barold Lodge , No . 1327 , of Waltham New Town , in the

Province of Herts , and in three years' time he filled the chair of his Lodge , receiving , as in the case of his Mother Lodge , a similar recognition of his merits on retirement from the cares of office . In December 1872 , he Avas installed the first W . M . of tho Langthorne Lodge , No . 1421 ,

> tratford , of Avhich ho has the honour of having been the founder ; and in 187 G ho founded , and in tho month of August Avas installed the first Worshipfnl Master of the Tredegar Lodge , No . 1 G 25 , Bow . A Past Master ' s Jewel was in each of these cases deemed only a just recognition

of Ins valuable services by those whom he had presided over during the first year , and therefore , in many respects , the most critical period of tho Lodge ' s existence . We have

already mentioned his affiliation in 1871 to the King Harold Lodge , of Waltham New TOAVII , in the Province oi Herts , and that in October 1874 , he was elected its Worshipful Master . But even before the latter office had been conferred

upon him , his Avorth as a brother had received recognition at the hands of the Provincial authorities , for at the installation in August 1874 , of the present Provincial Grand Master of Herts , our respected brother was appointed and invested a Provincial Grand Deacon .

So much for his achievements in Craft Masonry . As regards the Royal Arch , he Avas exalted in tho Sincerity Chapter , No . 174 , in October 18 G 7 , and Avas installed M . E . Z . in tho same mouth of the year 1875 . When his term of office was completed , he received a P . Z . ' s jewel , as

a slight token of the appreciation in Avhich he Avas held b y his Companions . He Avas advanced to the Mark Degree in the Thistle Lodge , No . 8 , iu October 1869 , and was duly installed its W . Master in December 1876 . On vacating tho chair at the expiration of his year of office , the Thistle

Mark brethren presented him with a handsome Past Master ' s jeAvel . His zeal in connection Avith this branch of Masonry may be judged from the fact that even before he had been chosen to fill the chair of his mother Mark Lodge , he had won for himself the honour of being one of the founders ,

and Avas the first S . W . of the Temple Mark Lodge , No . 173 , Avhich Avas consecrated at Stepney in 1873 . In 1874 , our Avorthy brother Avas unanimously elected as W . M ., and on laying aside the insignia of his office Avhen his term had expired , he was presented Avith a P . M . ' s jeAvel . If further

evidence of his worth as a M . M . is needed , it will be found in the fact that he is a P . G . Officer of the Mark G . Lodge . These then are the details of his Masonic career so far as they relate to his membership of various Masonic bodies , and the various important offices he has filled . If , as we have s-aid

before , there is nothing dazzlingabout what he hasdone , there is no doubt he has rendered good service . Not the least gratifying circumstance in connection Avith this portion of his career is the fact that in all the seven bodies—the four Craft and the two Mark Lodges—as well as in his R . A .

Chapter , he has in each case attained to the highest honours it was in the power of his fellow members to confer upon him . He has the further satisfaction of knowing that his name Avill always be associated with two Craft Lodges and one Mark—so long , of course , as they continue

in existence—in the case of . the former as the founder and first Master , and in the case of the latter as a founder and the first Sen . Warden . A further source of gratification must be tho knowledge that by reason of his admirable Avork in the one Provincial Lodge of Avhich he is a member , he has

been rewarded with Provincial honours . It is quite possible for him to make still further progress in Freemasonry . He , indeed , would himself be the last to affirm that he had reached the topmost rung of the ladder . In such case , however , he will simply have the honour of

surpassing himself . He has done what in him lies to merit the distinctions conferred upon him , and the respect Avhich is entertained toAvards him . Other titular honours ho may receive in the clays to come , but these will confirm , though they cannot enhance , his fame .

We have said that he is a practical Mason , aud gives effect indeed to the principles Avhich were enjoined upon him at his Masonic birth . Well , he is Lifo Governor , and has