Odds And Ends.

however , has made no attempt to foster a trade with the Suluans , or to encourage among them those arts of peace which are tho best safeguard against predatory instincts ; in fact , her jealous Colonial monopolies and vexatious administration have indirectly tended to keep the hornets '

nest in a perpetual buzz . The Snlnans have the reputation of being the most daring and patriotic people of the East , like the Hydriots in the Levant of old . Their capital may have been bombarded and destroyed , and their fleets of prahus dispersed , but without a considerable force in

permament occupation of their coasts , their continued subjugation is impossible . They are moreover , fully alive to the advantages of British commerce , and were at one time , anxious for the civilising protectorate of our flag . Professions made to them formerly have not been redeemed by

us , hence a desultory warfare single-handed against their ancient enemy , and for the present , an apparent collapse . All have read of the peculiar shuffling gait of the Camel ( said to have been the method of progression preferred by quadrupeds before the flood ) , caused by the simultaneous ,

instead of alternate , forward movement of the fore and hind limb . The resultant motion is awkward and dislocating to the rider . The Andalusian " paso " to which riding horses of Spanish descent are trained , is the antithesis of this and the motion as comfortable as in a gentle rocking chair ,

pleasanter than oven the gentle canter , and a heavenly contrast to the English trot . The last is good exercise , well suited to our climate and promotive of perspiration , but on long journeys , fatiguing . It has been my lot to ride many hundred miles in the Colonies and the Americas , and

I must give the palm to the Spanish " paso " over every pace a horse can be made to go at . I commend also , for ease and comfort , the Spanish American " pillon , " an imitation or real sheepskin , of long wool , generally dyed blue , which is placed over the saddle and strapped tight

round the animal with a surcingale , the stirrup-leathers just emerging below its fringe . This eases the seat immensely , and , filling out the sides , gives a firmer and safer grip to the knee ; it is the reason assigned for the extra lengthiness of tho spurs worn in Spanish America , the

rider ' s heels being kept farther opart by it . Tho " poncho " is a useful riding cloak in a country of dust . Glad should I have been of one when journeying in Wellington , N . Z ., in the teeth of a " southerly buster , " where the sand clouds penetrate every crevice of the clothing , filling every pore

of the skin , and where the fine pebbles dashed up from the ground , positively scam and pit the unprotected visage . The traveller anxious for a new sensation , who will make his way from the Wairarapa plains through the gorge of the Rimataka , will allow that I do not exaggerate .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

ON Tuesday , the 9 th inst ., at 33 Golden-square , -were held Councils of the 31 st and 32 ud Degrees , followed by a Chapter of the 30 ° , which was numerously attended , somo ninety members being present . A glance at the list of candidates for advancement , and round the faces of those

present , would have been sufficient to disabuse the minds of any who yet entertain a lingering impression that this body can be in any sense antagonistic to the principles of Craft Masonry . It is rather the legitimate complement of the . latter , ruled by the same chiefs , by our Grand Master

and Pro Grand Master , supported by brethren distinguished for their great ability and Masonic zeal . We will not parade a long roll of names as courting publicity , but prefer to point to the notable results to our charitable institutions which have accrued whenever the generous

initiative of the Rite has been felt and honourably responded to . Without this , all the prestige imparted by statesmen and Princes of the House of England wonld weigh with us but lightly ; with the spirit of independence inherited from our forefathers we wonld contentedly carry

on the warfare of onr Craft against the insidious attacks of Roman Catholic intolerance unpatronised and alone ; but the spectacle of those noblest and most eminent

amongst us taking the lead in our common aims , upon our common principles , cannot bnt tend to cement and endear to us those ties which bind the greatest and the least as Masons , Englishmen , aud men .

The Gth Annual Ball of the Metropolitan and City Police Orp hanage was held on Thursday , the 4 th instant , at the

Cannon Street Hotel , and was numerously attended . The Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , the Lady Mayoress , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Knight and Mrs . Knight , Bro . Sheriff Breffit and Mrs . Breffit , Major Bowman , Bro . Lieut . F . Kent C . C ., Bro . Walford CO ., & c , honoured the

company by their presence . A capital supper was provided , under the presidency of the Lord Mayor , who very genially gave several toasts . That of the evening , the Orphanage , met with a hearty reception , and we believe a goodly sum

was realised . There were two ball rooms ; in the largo one the band of the A division , under the direction of Mr . W . Dickenson , performed , while Mr . A . Cohen ' s band was stationed in the other . Bros . T . Meekham and J . R . Foulsrer

efficiently acted as M . C . ' s . Bro . Butler was not able to be present , from indisposition . The entire arrangements were under the able supervision of Mr . Superintendent Foster , and gave great satisfaction . This excellent institution now provides for 160 girls and boys .

In Memoriam.

In Memoriam .

—?—IT is with feelings of very deep regret we have to announce the somewhat sudden death of Bro . William Cutbush , of Barnet , the well-known nurseryman . A short time since , being somewhat out of health , Bro . Cutbush ,

accompanied by his wife , went to Brighton , and so much benefited did he find himself by the change , that it was his intention to have returned homo on Thursday of last week . On rising that morning , he fancied he was somewhat bilious . As the symptoms did not abate , a medical man

was summoned , who prescribed a draught . No improvement , however , followed ; and , at last , shortly after one o ' clock , groans having been heard proceeding from the closet , the door was opened , and Bro . Cutbush was found dead . The painful event has cast a gloom over the

town of Barnet , whore our excellent brother had been long a resident , and where he had won the respect and esteem of all his neighbours . He was one of the most genial and kind hearted of men , and ready at all times to assist others , especially if they were less fortunately circumstanced than

himself . For close upon a quarter of a century he had held the post of Churchwarden at Christ Church , Barnet , and during the whole of that time had fulfilled his appointed duties with the greatest earnestness and zeal . As to his Masonic career , Bro . Cutbush was initiated in Faith

Lodge , No . 141 , on 25 th October 18 G 4 . He was one of and the founders of the Gladsmuir Lodge , No . 1385 , Barnet , occupied the chair of K . S . in 1874 , and also of the Gladsmuir Chapter , in which he held the office of H . He was also a promoter of tho Halsey Lodge , No . 1479 , St . Albans , in

which , as well as in the Gladsmuir , he held the office of Treasurer . He was , further , P . P . G . Supt . W . for Province of Herts , and a contributor to our Charities , having , moreover , served the office of Steward both to the Benevolent Institution and the Girls' School . Only very recently he

had been elected to an honorary Life Governorship of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , an honour conferred upon him in recognition of his frequent presents of plants to that Institution . It was but two days before his death that Bro . Cutbnsh had written to Bro . Terry , notifying

his acceptance of it . The funeral took place at Highgate Cemetery , on Thursday , at half-past one , and was very numerously attended "by the brethren , not only of the Gladsmuir and other Lodges of the Province of Herts , but by representatives from several prominent Lodges of

the metropolis . We , especially , shall feel his loss , for he was a Director of our Company , had done us good service , and was always ready with kindly word and act to promote the welfare of this journal . In fine , Bro . Cutbush , in his home , in his bnsiness , and in Masonry , was a good exemplar

for others to follow . He was a most worthy man , whom all respected , whom his more immediate circle of friends esteemed and loved , who had faithfully done his allotted

work in Masonry , and who neither thought nor felt unkindness for any . Peace be with him , and may the Great Architect of the Universe , before whom all bow with reverence , uphold his widow in this time of her sad bereavement .