Buckinghamshire.

to ancient custom , the Brethren sat down to a banquet prepared beneath a spacious marquee erected for the purpose on the lawn of the Red Lion Hotel , where Bro . J . S . Holland excellently catered for those who appreciated what is sometimes termed the "fourth degree . " A most agreeable

feature of the evening's entertainment was the delightful music provided by Mr . Alfred de Rothschild's private Viennese Band , which that gentleman had kindly permitted to perform on the occasion , thus affording a musical treat highly appreciated by the Brethren .

The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured , and responded to . Bro . J . E . Bowen proposed the health of the Prov . G . Master , who replied in his usual graceful and eloquent manner .

The health of Bro . F . J . Hubbard was most cordially received , and he was heartily thanked for the musical treat he had been enabled to arrange , with the assistance of the

conductor of the band , Mr . Ibert . The pleasures of the evening were also enhanced by the singing of Bros . Radford and Whitworth Mitton , and by a racy recitation by Bro . Alexander Watson , entitled " The Groom ' s Story . "

It was generally admitted that this was a record meeting of the Fraternity in Bucks , and that the musical entertainment provided was something to be remembered . The W . M . of Concordia Lodge Bro . Rev . C . E . Roberts , and

Bro . F . J . Hubbard spared no effort to make the meeting a success , and they must have been much gratified at the cordial expressions of the Brethren at the result of their endeavours . The Brethren dispersed about 0 . 30 p . m . to catch trains .

Somersetshire.

SOMERSETSHIRE .

ON the occasion of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , reported in our last issue , the following were appointed the Assistant Officers for the year : Bro . R . E . Dickinson , M . P ., 973 - - - Senior Warden C . P . Billing 1755 - Junior Warden Rev . H . L . Barnwell 772 - - - I n , , . Rev . E . A . Purvis 379 - - - ) P lalns 0 . L . P . Edwards 1199 - - - Treasurer

P . W . Bishop 291 - - - Registrar E . P . Wade 291 - - - - Secretary W . C . Leaker 772 - - - - Senior Deacon S . P . Goodall 440 .... Junior Deacon G . W . Knowles 1199 ... - Superintendent of Works W . H . Westlake 1197 - - - Director of Ceremonies

W . C . Thomas 1222 - - - . Assistant Dir . of Cers . W . W . Webber 814 - - - - Sword Bearer W . W . Callander 1197 - - - | c , , , „ W . Collett 1833 - } standard Bearers R . W . Hartnell 261 - - - - Organist H . W . Pearson 1296 - Assistant Secretary J . H . Davis 2 S 90 .... Pursuivant

S . H . Knight 2038 - Assistant Pursuivant Rev . H . N . Dymond 1953 - - - \ R . W . Mattock 1199 - - - - „ , E . Davey 1755 . \ Stewards Amos - - - - - I A . J . Salter 53 ... . . Tyler S . Bigwood 41 ... Assistant Tyler .

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

IT is with the greatest regret we have to record the death of Bro . Richard Eve Past Grand Treasurer of England , which sad event occurred on Friday morning , 13 th inst ., at half past eleven , in his 69 th year . The melancholy tidings reached us as we were publishing last week ' s paper

and we were , enabled to briefly record the fact in a supplement to that issue . Since then general expressions of regret have been uttered on all sides , and probably no Brother ' s death in recent years has been more keenly felt in Masonic circles than has Bro . Eve ' s ; and not in Freemasonry alone , for

nearly every public body at Aldershot , where he has long resided , will feel his loss , as he took a prominent part in all questions of local interest . His greatest work in Freemasonry was performed in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , of the Board of Management of which

he was for many years the Chairman , and a most liberal supporter , as evidenced by the fact we record elsewhere that his list for this week ' s Festival of the Institution was hieiest

in point of amount , and included a personal donation of two hundred guineas , as a thank offering on his part at the providential escape of the Grand Master from the recent attempt on his life . Bro . Eve was elected Grand Treasurer

pf England in 1887 , and won great distinction in the Craft ,

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

being by many regarded as the most fearless member of Grand Lodge , ever ready to challenge the rulings of its chiefs , or of the general body of members did he deem such a course desirable ; indeed it is a question freely discussed among those best able to judge , as to who can possibly succeed him as

"leader of the opposition" in the Masonic Parliament . The respect in which he was held was evidenced in many ways ; notably in recent times by a letter written by the Prince of Wales , which reached our worthy Brother a few days before his death , in which the Grand Master assured him that he

would be cordially welcomed back into the active ranks of the Order ; his nomination by the Grand Master to a seat on the Board of General Purposes ; and the Consecration of the Lodge which bears his name , and has already achieved no small amount of credit as an active and enterprising section

of the Masonic Order . The remains of our departed Brother were interred at Aldershot , on Thursday , the funeral being largely attended by members of the Craft and others who had known and respected Bro . Eve during his lifetime ; while many others were deterred by special circumstances from

taking part in the obsequies . It is announced that our worthy Brother has bequeathed 1 , 000 guineas to each of the three Institutions , and a sum of / 2 , ooo to the Trustees of

Aldershot Hospital , to be used for the maintenance of that Institution . Truly , in the words of the Pro Grand Master of England , he is a good man gone—one whom it will be very difficult indeed to replace .

We are asked to state that through various causes the following Members of the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys were unable to attend the funeral of the late Bro . Richard Eve on Thursday : Bro . the Rt . Hon . Lord Leigh Trustee ; Bros . Attenborough , Everett ,

Strachan , J . J . Thomas , Willing , Benson , Bevir , Diamond , Pulman , Smithson , Vassar-Smith , and F . B . Westlake , and the Head Master . Bro . Hedges Secretary of the Girls School also regretted that attendance at his Quarterly Court prevented his being present , as also Bro . E . Letchworth the Grand Secretary .

IT is not often the Charitable Institutions of the Craft are remembered in the wills of deceased Brethren , and hence it appears very strange we are enabled to chronicle two legacies in the one week . We have just recorded Bro . Eve ' s gift of 1 , 000 guineas to each of the three Funds , and now we

are able to announce that another liberal supporter of the Charities has left instructions in his will that the Girls School and the Benevolent Institution should be benefitted out of his estate . The Brother who has thus shown his lovefor Freemasonry is the late William Henry Wood , who

generously gave the Boys School 1 , 200 guineas on the occasion of its Centenary , in the name of the Lodge of Israel , Birmingham , and he has devised a like amount to the other two Institutions . The funeral will take place on Tuesday , the mourners assembling at Euston Station at

I 2-35-MANY members of the Craft will join us in regretting the death of Bro . George Graveley P . G . Pursuivant of England , who succumbed yesterday ( Friday ) from failure of the heart , consequent on the great heat . Our Brother

Graveley was a warm supporter of the Charities , and a most . zealous Mason , filling a prominent position in the Province of Essex , as well as the higher dignity of Office in Grand Lodge . We had the pleasure of knowing Bro . Graveley long before our association with the Craft , indeed , it is

thirtyfive years or more since we and a cousin who was a near neighbour of his in Upper East Smithfield first appealed to his good nature to help us out of our boyish troubles , when model locomotives and other miniature steam toys were out of order ; we have certainly to thank him that no very serious

disaster befel us when we attempted to get up steam at an excessive pressure , with amateur safety valves and connections , and well remember he was as kindly attentive to us in those days as to the needy and unfortunate members , of the

Craft in later years . Many a distressed Mason , widow , or child will be the loser by his death , which we venture to think will be severely felt in Essex and other districts with which he was more intimately associated .

ON Saturday of last week there was a large attendance of Brethren , at Plymouth , at the funeral of Brother Henry W . Mayne Worshipful Master of Lodge Sincerity , No . 18 9 , who died within a few days of the close of his year of Office .

The ceremony was attended by the majority of the Brethren of Sincerity , whilst there was a representative gathering of the Masters of the Lodges of the district . Prior to the interment at the cemetery there was a service at Christ Church .