The Late Bro. John T. Heard P.G Master Massachusetts.

Daring Ins Grand Senior Wardenship , in 1856 , Bro . Heard obtained from a grandson of Henry Price a portrait of that distinguished Craftsman , the first Prov . Grand Master of Massachusetts , and by many regarded as the father of Freemasonry in tho United States . This portrait

was in a very dilapidated state when it passed into Bro . Heard ' s possession , but ho had it restored and presented it to Grand Lodge , where it remained hanging until the disastrous fire of Sth April 1864 , which destroyed Freemasons' Hall . In December of the same year , in consequence

of the Grand Master Lewis declining to be re-elected , it became necessary for the brethren to make choice of a successor , and the result was that Bro . Heard was unanimously appointed to that office , which he held with the very greatest credit to himself and advantage to the

Craft during the years 1857 , 1858 , and 1859 . In 18-17 , he inaugurated with Masonic honours a marble statue of General Warren on the eighty-second anniversary of the battle of Bunker's Hill . On 2 nd October 1858 , he laid the foundation stone of Minot ' s Ledge Lighthouse , and the

same year revived the annual feast on the celebration of St . John the Evangelist . In 1859 he laid the corner stone of the Plymouth Monument to the Pilgrim Fathers , and dedicated the apartments then about to be used as Freemasons' Hall . He was also instrumental in

purchasing the Winthrop House Estate , on which the present Temple stands . In 1870 he exerted himself in procuring portraits of Grand Masters in the p lace of those which had been destroyed by fire in 1864 , and also prepared and presented a most elaborate and exhaustive report on the

Montague question . In 1875 he contributed a grand memorial notice , filling two hundred and fifty pages , of the late Past Grand Master Lewis , while in 1874 and 1875 he contributed to the pages of the New England Freemason the series of papers , severally

entitled " Old London Taverns Identified with Freemasonry , " " Presents to the Grand Lodge of England , " and " Old Halls in London associated with Masonry . " In fine , Bro . Heard was one of tho ablest , most active , and most exemplary of Masons , and his loss must be deeply

felt by all the Craftsmen in the jurisdiction with which he was connected for upwards of five-and-thirty years , and over which he presided so satisfactorily for a period of threo years . Better , however , than all the dry details of his eventful life are the two following anecdotes , for

which we are indebted to the memoir prepared by the Committee of Massachusetts Lodge . We reproduce them verbatim and without comment . The first manifests his liberality , the second the firmness , breadth , and grandeur of his character .

" Soon after he went out of office , says the Memorial Committee , " he met one of tho Grand Lecturers , who had been very diligent and efficient in carrying out the work already referred to . Bro . Heard inquired particularly as to his plans and his prospects , and especially whether

he had all the money he required to carry on his business . The brother replied that he had all he needed for the time being . ' Well , ' said Brother Heard , ' if you find yourself in want of more at any time , come and see me . ' Some time after , the Brother ,

proposing an enlargement of his business , called on Brother Heard , and reminded him of their conversation . He was referred to the president of the bank where Brother Heard kept his acconnt , and there the astonished brother found a

credit opened for him to the amount of ten thousand dollars . Of this he availed himself , to his great advantage , and in due time acquitted himself of the pecuniaiy obligations . "

It is the general belief that no one beyond the persons immediately concerned knew anything of these circumstances until after Brother Heard ' s death . The other incident is , in a certain sense , an even greater testimony to the merit of our late brother .

" Soon after his first installation as Master an incident occurred which showed the character of the man . The Secretary of the Lodge ( our late Grand Treasurer ) , who was an older Mason than Brother Heard , and had been for eight years in office , had procured a dispensation which

was likely to be required , thinking thereby to facilitate the business of the Lodge and aid the new Master . When the name of the new candidate concerned came up , the

Secretary informed the Master that there need be no delay in that case , as he had procured a dispensation from the Grand Master , which he presented . To this the Master replied that , while he had no doubt that the Secretary had acted

The Late Bro. John T. Heard P.G Master Massachusetts.

from the best of motives and with the best intentions , it should bo distinctly understood that it w-is the province of the Master to doeide when the interposition of the Grand Master was required , and to ask for it when needed ; and he requested the Secretary to remember that in future

the Worshipfnl Master would discharge both of those duties . This was presenting the subject in a new light , and the Secretary was not only astonished , bnt indig nant . With his usual impulsiveness and frankness , he replied that , as in his effort to forward the work of the

Lodge , he had only succeeded in giving offence to the Worshipful Master , he believed ho did not understand his business , and he begged leave to resign his office . To this Brother Heard answered , ' Not so , ray brother . There is no offence , and you must not resign your office . You will

continue to discharge its duties , as yon have so acceptably for so many years , and in my station I will strive to emulate your fidelity . When I lay down my office I shall deem myself very fortunate and happy if I shall have

proved as faithful and as useful in my station as yon in yonrs . " There the subject dropped . Master and Secretary worked together in perfect harmony for two years , and at the end of that time both went out of office , the Secretary after a service of ten years . "

Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THB Committee of tho Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , when there were present Bros . Lieut .-Col . J . Creaton , Grand Treasurer ( in the Chair ) , A . H . Tattershall , S . Eawson , A . F . A . Woodford , W . Hale , J . M . Case , Raynham XV . Stewart , Charles Daniel , James Kench , William Stephens , Jamea Brett , Charles 6 . Hill , Thomas W . C . Bush , J . A .

Farnfield , W . Hilton , John G . Stevens , Charles Atkins , Charles John Perceval , James Willing Jan ., Thomas Cnbitt , William Clarke , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . Bro . Terry informed the Committee that the election of the Committee of Management of the Institution had

taken place in Grand Lodge the previous Wednesday , and that , with the exception of Bro . C . F . Hogard , who requested to resign , and in whose place Bro . Bush was elected , the Committee were the same as last year . The Committee , therefore , stands as follows : — ELECTED BY GRAND LODGE—Charles Atkins , James Brett , T . W . C .

Bash , W . Clarke , C . A . Cottebrune , W . F . C . Moatrie , G . Penn , A . H . Tattershall , H . G . Warren , and James Willing jun . NOMINATED BY THE GRAND MASTER—S . Eawson , A . F . A . Woodford , Shadwell H . Gierke , H . S . S . Barney , E . H . Girand , Jabez Hogg , B . J . Barron , N . G . Philips , W . F . Nettleship , and James Kench . Bro . Terry reported the death of five annuitants , and read the

Warden s Eeport for the last month . The List of Candidates elected on 20 th May was taken as read , and authority was given to the Chair , man to sign cheques . Bros . W . Hale , E . H . Girand , and W . Stephens were re-elected on the Finance Committee ; Bros . A . H . Tattershall and Charles Atkins were elected in place of Bros . 0 . F . Hogard and H . G . Warron , who wished to resign . Bros . J . A . Farnfield , Eavnham

W . Stewart , C . J . Perceval , T . Cnbitt , and S . Eawson were re-elected on the House Committee . The widow of a deceased annuitant was granted half her late husband ' s annuity . On the application of Bro . Terry , the Committee granted the use of the Hall at the Institution at Croydon for the Summer Entertainment to the Old Folks , and voted the usual sum to aid the voluntary contributions of the brethren

towards defraying the expenses of that entertainment . Fonr petitioners were then placed on the List of Candidates for the Election in May 1882 . Bro . Terry read a communication he had received from Bro . J . Derby Allcroft , with respect to the Charitable Trnsts' Bill now in Parliament . The letter stated that opposition was still required to the Bill , notwithstanding that some of its provisions had been modified . There were several objectionable features in it , one of which

was a provision for transferring the funds and property of charitable institutions to official trustees . The opposition of this Institution was required to it . The Chairman stated that he had conferred witb the Earl ol Carnarvon and Lord Leigh on the snbject , ancl he found they were qnite alive to the objections to the Bill . Their Lordships had promised to do all in their power to get rid of the objectionable features of the measure . The Committee then adjourned .

Committee Meeting Of The Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

THE General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys met on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall , when there were in attendance Bros . Eaynham W . Stewart ( in the Chair ) , S . Rosenthal , J . G . Stevens , G . J . Row . Donald M . Dewar , Arthur E . Gladwell , Leopold Enff , George J . Palmer , Eev . Richard Morris , Alfred Williams , H . M . Taylor , H . " Massey , Eichard Tyrrell , C . H . Webb , Frederick

Adlard , W . Paas , George Motion , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) . Tb _ minutes of the former meeting having been read and confirmed , petitions in favour of seven candidates for the October Election were examined . Outfits were granted to two former pupils of the

Institution who had obtained situations . The House Committee and Audit Committee were declared elected , and £ 250 was ordered to be transferred to the Sustentation Fund from the General Fund . No further business was before the Committe ..