Knight Templar Re-Organisation.

Sovereign of the Order in the United Kingdom being H . E H . the Prince of Wales , who is to be invited accordingly ; but each Governing body is to elect its own Grand Master , and practically be independent in all respects as was the case before the " Convent General " was agreed upon . It remains to be seen

what effect will be given to these resolutions , and how they will influence the spirit , prosperity , and usefulness of the society ; but undoubtedly legislation of this kind and on such lines will be in the right direction , and cannot fail to restore to the United Orders of the Temple and Malta something like the prestige and success of former days .

In Devon there are now five Preceptories , more or less active , one each being held in Plymouth , Exeter , Barnstaple , East Stonehouse , and Newton Abbot , but the total membership is little more than a fair number for the roll of any single Preceptory . The Union or Eougemont , Exeter , is of " time

immemorial origin , " whatever that may mean ( possibly late last century ) , the next in age being the Eoyal Veterans at Plymouth , A . D . 1806 . The Order was very prosperous when the late Eev . John Huyshe , M . A ., was at its head , and there is no apparent reason why a similar result should not follow the rule of the new

Provincial Prior , Major Davie , J . P ., who is to be installed by Lord Euston , G . C . T . ( the Great Sub-Prior ) , at Barnstaple , on the 10 th prox ., in succession to the Eev . Dr . Lemon , K . C . T ., who has resigned . Bro . Henry Stocker is the Chancellor for the

county . General Hay . C . B ., K . G . T ., having resigned the office of Vice-Chancellor of England , Bro . C . F . Matier , K . C . T ., has been appointed to succeed him . The Chancery of the Order will still be at Mark Masons' Hall , Brother Matier being also the popular Grand Mark Secretary . — " Western Morning News . "

Appropriate Harmony.

APPROPRIATE HARMONY .

A GEEAT authority enjoins on all men that for " everything there is a season " and a time for every purpose under heaven . " A time to weep and a time to laugh , a time to mourn and a time to dance . " Perhaps there is no Order in existence like unto Freemasonry , wherein a greater observance of these injunctions are so necessary and vital to the progress and welfare

of an institution . Freemasonry is peculiar for the jealous attention paid by its adherents to the smallest matters of ceremonial detail , and this one fact alone is responsible , in a great measure , for the beautiful and impressive effect we , as members of the Order , so often see . The good taste and

decorum which happily exists , and is always to be observed in the sanctity of our Lodge rooms , should not be overlooked or set aside at the festive board . It is our pleasing duty to record that this is seldom or never the case to any serious extent , but we cannot help being struck by the fact , that in the selection of

harmony and recitations at the supper table , a great want of discretion and Masonic taste is oftentimes evidenced . What we mean by discretion and Masonic taste might perhaps be the better explained by a reference to the banquet festivities of the Caulfield Lodge ( Vic . ) at its recent meeting . A Brother being

called upon for a recitation , selected " London Bridge . The story was a sad and pathetic one of an unhappy London waif who acted on the suggestion of another brother waif , that one way of escape from this vale of tears to the heavenly land would be to dive into the black and turbid waters of the

Thames . Losing no time in encompassing his future estate , the unfortunate " stray" climbed up to the parapet , and gazing into the cold relentless stream below , fell by accident or design . His troubles by no means ended here , as in his descent to the water the unfortunate youth ' s cranium came

into contact wifch the masonry of the bridge , and thence he cannoned into the river . He next turns up in an hospital in an unconscious and fragmentary condition , and believes the hospital is heaven , and the kindly old doctor the T . G . A . O . T . U . So the sad story goes on , and DO one feels sorry when the boy

really dies , and the recital is finished . Now what there was at the banquet in question , which in even a remote manner could incite such a harrowing story , is beyond our conception . On the contrary , the scene was a particularly brilliant and happy one , and calculated to inspire less morbid productions . Such

recitations aro ill-timed and out of place , and injurious to the spirit of harmony that should pervade such occasions . Much more consistent with the character of the surroundings , was the selection from Lindsay Gordon , contributed by another Brother in an earlier part of the evening . In making these strictures

we would not wish to be considered overexactiug or capricious . It must be patent to most of the Brethren who attend Masonic functions , that there is a deplorable lack of discretion shown by those Brethren wbo contribute to the festivities of the evening .

What we want at the festive boards of our Lodges are light and cheerful songs and recitations , without taint of vulgarity . A little attention to these matters will enable a very happy medium to be struck . Weird and ghostlike contributions , suggestive of

Appropriate Harmony.

churchyards yawning , & c , are as disastrous to the spirit of harmony of the festive board , as the " Rocky Boad to Dublin " would be to the solemnities of the third degree . — " Masonry . "

Lord Henniker Prov . G . M . Suffolk , the new Governor of the Isle of Man , will be sworn in on the 24 th of January , on which date Sir J . West Ridgeway resigns , but he will not take up

residence at the Government House until later . It is probable that on the first visit the Governor Designate will be the guest of the Bishop of Sodor and Man at Bishop ' s Court .

Another Lodge will shortly be consecrated at Cardiff , under the title of the " Prince Llewellyn . " Lord Llangattock Provincial Grand Master for the Eastern Division of South Wales is being approached to name a date for the consecration ceremony , says the " Western Mail . "

Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Grand Registrar has been appointed Judge of County Courts ( Circuit 55 ) , in the place of the late Judge Hooper .

Party By Bro. John Adamson.

PARTY BY BRO . JOHN ADAMSON .

PERHAPS one of the most successful private parties ever held under the roof of the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , was that which took place on Friday , the 6 th inst ., Bro . John Adamson of the Longsight Lodge , No . 2464 , having invited the whole of the Officers and members of that Lodge to dinner . Each Brother had the privilege accorded to him of being accompanied by a friend , and , shortly after tho hour of 5-30 , seventy-four guests had seated themselves , ready to partake of their host ' s hospitality .

We must not omit to mention that the tables were profusely decorated with flowers and fruit of all descriptions . The dinner was an excellent one , aud if it possessed any fault at all , it was that of opulence and ultra prodigality , or , shall we say " batterie de cuisine ? Bro . Adamson presided , being supported by Bros . Gadd W . M ., Grimshaw I . P . M ., Craven , Councillor Uttley P . M ., Alderman Higginbottom , and many Provincial Officers not members of the Lodge ; the vice-chairs being occupied by Bros . Lean and Walker .

After dinner Loyal toasts were given , these being followed by others of a personal kind , the more prominent ones being the Longsight Lodge , Brother Grimshaw I . P . M ., and the Visitors . The former was proposed by the host , who , in a very excellent speech said that he performed the duty with a great amount of pleasure , indeed , no one present , he was sure , could have done it with a more loving heart than

himself . He spoke of his recent admission into the Craft , and explained his reasons for desiring to become a Brother . It appears that upon one occasion while visiting the Pyramids of Egypt he required the services of se- 'eral guides , but was only enabled to get two . A military officer of some eminence in whose company Bro . Adamson was travelling , managed , apparently with little difficulty , to induce an old sheik , who had charge of this department , to

allow him four guides . Brother Adamson expressing surprise at this circumstance , wished to know the reason for such partiality , and learned to his astonishment that the sheik and the military gentleman were Freemasons . The speaker dilated upon the impression first conveyed to his mind by the ceremony through which he had passed at the hands of Bro . Grimshaw ,

and said he should never forget the solemnity of the occasion . He spoke of Bro . Uttley as the schoolmaster of the Lodge , adding that there was no one better . He congratulated the Officers upon their proficiency , and hoped that in many years to come tho Lodge would be as prosperous as it was at the present . He gave the Brethren and their friends a most hearty greeting , and concluded by drinking " to our next merry meeting . " Many of the Brethren were laid under contribution for songs , & c , a delightful time being spent , which was prolonged into the matin .

Lyric . —We had the pleasure of witnessing the improved edition of Signor Emilio Pizzi ' s comedy opera , "The Bric-a-Brac Will , " during the week , and were immensely pleased with the representation . The opera is in smooth working order , and is in reality a lively and amusing

entertainment , a fact that is amply demonstrated by the applause of the audience , and the well-deserved encores forced upon the principal actors . The whole of those engaged in the opera throw life into the business , and are ably supported by the latest , though not least important addition to the caste —Miss Florence St . John .

The Directors of Spiers and Pond Limited announce that the Debenture Stock transfer books will be closed from , the 18 th to the 31 st inst ., both inclusive , for tho purpose of preparing the interest warrants for the half-year ending 31 st December 1895 , on the five per cent . First Mortgage Debentures , the five per cent . Debenture Stock , the "A" Mortgage Debenture Stock , the

"B" Mortgage Debenture Stock , and the " 0 " First Mortgage Debenture Stock of the Company , and that the Share Transfer Books will be also closed for the purpose of preparing dividend warrants for tbe second instalment of four shillings per share , less income tax , making eight shillings per share paid on account of the dividend for thc year ending 31 st March 1890 .

"A Sprig Of Acadia."

"A SPRIG OF ACADIA . "

nnHE funeral of Brother Eobert H . Hughes , weil known in J _ commercial circles in North Wales , took place at Llanerchymedd , on the 9 th , and by special dispensation from Lord Harlech P . G . M . of North Wales , was of a Masonic character . Despite the unfavourable weather the funeral was largely attended , the deceased being greatly respected both in and out the Craft .