Honours For Norfolk.

HONOURS FOR NORFOLK .

rglHE Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . G . W . G . Barnard , JL of Norwich , has been appointed by H . R . H . the Grand Master to the position of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Lodge . In thus honouring Bro .

Barnard Grand Lodge , honours Norfolk , and Brethren throughout the Province will heartily congratulate the Prov . Grand Secretary on a well-deserved compliment . — "Norfolk Standard . "

We are glad to announce that Freemasonry is in a very flourishing condition in Middlesbrough , and the large gatherings which have marked the festivals of the three Craft Lodges during recent years , and the great additions to the membership , must compel the proprietors of the present Masonic Hall to take under immediate consideration some

prompt steps towards having a much needed enlargement made of the premises , to meet the growing demands upon the space , not only for the comfort of their own Lodge ( the North York ) but also for the convenience of the other Lodges

meeting there , and being their tenants . The outlay involved is really only very inconsiderable when it is taken into consideration that the roll of the Lodges includes many of the most influential inhabitants of the town . — "Middlesbrough Telegraph . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

npHE Province of East Lancashire has sustained a very . -JL- severe loss in the death of its Masonic chief Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie P . G . W ., who had occupied the position of Provincial Grand Master in this important Masonic district since 1870 , he having stood sixth , in point of length of service , on the list of Provincial Grand Masters .

He had also been at the head of the Royal Arch of East Lancashire , for a similiar period , and as a Provincial Grand Superintendent occupied the third place in point of seniority .

Colonel Starkie ' s death , which occurred at his residence , Huntroyde , near Burnley , on Thursday morning , will be severely felt , as he was generally respected as one of the most popular of our Masonic rulers .

OUR readers will deeply regret to learn that on board the ill-fated "Stella" was Bro . Dr . Philip Howard Davis , F . R . G . S ., F . R . H . S ., F . S . A ., F . S . C . I ., & c , & c . The doctor , was the principal of the East Hill Laboratories , Wandsworth , London , and was well-known as an expert

adviser on the blending and perfuming of tobacco . He had made this question the study of his lifetime , and had gathered together a magnificent library of books relating to the subject . He was especially retained as analyst to the Confectioners Trades and other London Guilds . A lady with whom the

Doctor was travelling , and to whom he supplied a life-belt , was among the saved , but , up to the time of writing , Dr . Davis ' s body had not been recovered—nor had any tidings been heard of him , so it is presumed that the hungry man of the great deep has claimed in him still

another victim . Dr . Davis was an exceptionally prominent Freemason , a Past G . Deacon of England , Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer for Surrey , a Past Master and P . Z . of some half dozen Lodges and Chapters , a Past Mark Master , & c , & c . He was a founder and first Worshipful

Master of the Bolingbroke Lodge , No . 2417 , and during his year of office , in 18 92 , he initiated a well-known Masonic poet and historian Brother and Companion Dr . Chas . F . Forshaw , LL . D ., F . R . M . S ., of Bradford . Dr . Davis also initiated into the Craft * Sir Garnet ( now Lord ) Wolseley .

Mrs . Aylett , of East Hill , New Wandsworth , one of the lady passengers , has made the following statement , which we reproduce verbatim . It is only just to our late Brother ' s memory to explain that his threat of " I'll put my fist into your face if you stir from this seat" was evidently his fortiter

in re manner of impressing upon her the advisability of not giving way to hysterics , and thus throwing her fellow passengers into a state of confusion . " When we started soon after eleven , from Southampton , I felt to want some lunch , and said so to my friend Dr . Davis . He remarked

that there was only cold meat to be had then , but if I could wait till one o ' clock he might be able to get me into the captain's cabin , so as to share the captain ' s hot lunch . Dr . Davis soon managed it for me . So at once we sat down and had some hot mutton . The captain was a perfect gentleman

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

and he and the mate were saying how nice it was to get a holiday . Well , when the captain and mate had left the cabin , I said to Dr . Davis , ' What a fine stout man the captain is , and how thin you are . That comes of you always smoking . ' Just then the captain came in smoking a pipe , so

I laughed and told him I was sorry to see him smoking , because I had been holding him up as an example . He then began to talk about the voyage to Dr . Davis , and ended up by saying * I'll be there in time . I'll get there by five o ' clock if I break my neck for it . ' After this Dr . Davis asked me if I

would have some tea . I said , ' No , thank you , ' but he got a cup for himself , and he was just standing with the cup and saucer in his hands when he cried out , * Look there : we ' ve just missed it . ' I looked , and there was a great rock seemingly as near to me as that chair , and the next moment

there came a great crunching sound . Dr . Davis put his fist in my face and said , '¦ I'll put iny fist in your face if you -stir from this seat ! ' So he went and got a lifebelt for me-and another for himself , and I helped a girl to put one on . Then Dr . Davis threw me into one of the boats , saying , ' I'll follow

you . ' But he did not . " The doctor was an up-to-date journalist in every respect , and during the existence of his weekly journal , "The Smoker" ( 1892 ) conducted it in a most capable manner . He also edited and published numerous other works . Bro . Dr . Forshaw dedicated to him

his well-known Masonic Song " The Mystic Tie , " which our late Brother Stocks Hammond , Mus . Doc , set to music . The words of this song first appeared in the FREEMASON ' S

CHRONICLE , in May 1892 , and speedily became popular . There were numerous parodies on it , one of the best known of which we give , along with a copy of Dr . Forshaw ' s original lines .

The Missing Tie.

THE MISSING TIE .

AN UN-MASONIC SONG ( with apologies to Bro . Chas . F . Forshaw , LL . D ., 2417 ) . THERE is a Tie that binds my throat , That white as snow should be ; A Tie that oftimes makes mo swear , Aye , use a big , big " D , "

A Tie I never can keep straight , And very seldom clean , A Tie that in the morn doth show , That out at night I've been .

This festive Tie is ever fresh , And yet it seems to me , Try as I may , tbat wretched Tie Is never fit to see . It hides itself behind my ear , It cocks itself askew , It is the most infernal Tie , That mankind ever knew .

A Tie once tied , a saintly man , In rending it apart , May language use and—you'll excuse-Might break his bleeding heart I A Tie from the great Hope Brothers , At trivial cost—don't laugh—Within the reach of everyone . At Six D . and a half ! [ We rather think that Dr . Davis wrote the above , but are not certain . I

The Mystic Tie.

THE MYSTIC TIE .

THERE is a tie tbat binds us close—In unity and love ; A tie that bids us firmly trust , The Architect above . A tie that others wot not of—A tic both staunch and true—That , bids us ever stedfast be , As life we journey through .

This mystic tie is broad and long , And yet , withal , so free , It speaks of peace , and hope , and joy , And tender amity . It tells of bosoms fraught with bliss , It whispers soft and low , Of souls that will together cling In pleasure and in woe .

It is a tie that the strongest , Can never rend apart , It is a tie that ' s deep engraven , In each Masonic heart . A tie of the great hereafter—A bond of quaint design—An emblem of power aud beauty—A token , and a sign . CHAS . P . POBSHAW , LL . D .

BBAD-POBD . Dr . Davis was about fifty years of age . He leaves a widow to lament his loss , but no family . We hardly dare hope that after such a lapse of time his body will be recovered , but his thoughts will live in many a memory , even though we may not drop on his grave the hallowed Acacia .