Obituary.

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— : o : — RECEIVED HIS CELESTIAL WAGES ,

1 ~ 1 H __ tidings roach us from Kentucky of the death - of Bro . Rob Morris , the " Masonic Poet Laureate . " The following appreciative article , reprinted from the Keystone , gives full particulars of our late Brother's Masonic career and work .

On Tuesday last , 31 st July 1888 , a personal Landmark , not only in the American Craft , but in tbe Graft universal , passed for ever from the Lodge below—our distinguished Brother and highly esteemed friend , ROBERT

MORRIS , LL . D ., Fast . Grand Master of Masons of Kentucky , and Masonic Poet Laureate . At the age of seventy years , in the full possession of his gifted faculties , he was stricken with apoplexy , aud at home—that " old Kentucky

home , " at La Grange , which he so much loved , surrounded by the members of his family , he bade farewell to time and entered upon eternity ; he left the little now for the great hereafter ; he was raised from mortal life to

immortality . His race was run , his work well done , and we may brush away our tears as we stand by his grave marked with the Acacia , impressed as we are with the consciousness that the Great Grand Master has given him a White Stone and a New Name , and admitted him to His

presence . Brother Morris was born on 31 st August 1818 , and was made a Mason in Gathright Lodge , No . 33 , of Oxford , Miss ., on 5 th March 1846 , so that at the time of his death he had been a Mason over forty-two years .

How shall we refer to the multitudinous events of his ex

tended and always prominent Masonic career ? Freemasons of the present day cannot recal the time when Bro . Morris was not well known to the Masonic Fraternity in America .

A Grand Officer of the . Grand Lodge of Mississippi within four years from the time he was made a Mason ; Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodjje of Tennessee in 1850 ; Grand

Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in 1853 ; and Grand Master of Kentucky in 1858-59 , he enjoyed the highest honours in Official Masonic life , serving in three jurisdictions , and winning from his Brethren their

commendation for his knowledge of affairs , his sound judgment , his administrative ability and his literary and oratorical talents . The jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky

has every reason to be proud of his reputation , for he reflected glory upon the universal Craft , which delighted to praise him .

Best of all , Brother Morris was known as a Masonic poet , and the author of that matchless lyric gem , " The Level and the Square , " which ia known round the globe wherever Freemasonry is known . We have before us as

we write tho edition de luxe of his " Tho Poetry of Freemasonry , " a volume of four hundred pages , which is one of the volumes " that was not born to die . " Only less widely known were his poems , " The Working Tools , "

" The Gavel Song , " "The Door of the Heart , " "The Letter G , " and many others we might name . Freemasonry has been afflicted with not a few poetasters , but Rob Morris

atoned for all their shortcomings . Richly did he merit the laurel crown which , with the consent of the Masonic world , was placed upon his brow as " Masonic Poet Laureate , " in

New York city five years ago . As a Masonic author Brother Morris was most prolific . Beginning with his " Lights and Shadows of Freemasonry , " published at Louisville in 1852 , and ending with his "The Poetry of Freemasonry , " published at

Chicago in 1884 , and re-issued in a less expensive edition during the present year , he composed and edited in all nearly one hundred volumes . Probably the most notable were his " Code of Masonic Law " ( 1857 ) ; " The History

of Freemasonry in Kentucky" ( 1859 ); "The Biography of Eli Bruce , the Masonic Martyr " ( a victim of the Morgan craze ) ( 1861 ) ; " The Dictionary of Freemasonry " ( 18 G 7 ) , and "Freemasonry in the Holy Land" ( 1872 ) .

Bro . Enoch T . Carson , in his "Masonic Bibliography , " enumerates his works . He also compiled many Masonic books , published Masonic Almanacs , and edited several Masonic newspapers and magazines , including the Voice of

Masonry in its early years . Besides this he was an oriental traveller , having twice made prolonged Masonic visits to Palestine , where he organized the " Mother-Solomon Lodge" at Jerusalem . In all of the jurisdictions of

Obituary.

America he was widely known as an interesting Masonic lecturer , effectively reciting his own poems in tbe Lodge with esoteric illustrative signs . The only unpraiseworthy work he performed during his long career was the

founding of the male-and-female adoptive " Order of tbe Eastern Star , " in 1868 . True , this Order has not lacked popularity in certain quarters , but such a mixed society is , in

its very nature , foreign to Freemasonry , although its votaries , where it exists , are often improperly permitted to meet in Masonic Halls .

Bro. Charles Thom.

BRO . CHARLES THOM .

The funeral of fche late Bro . Charles Thorn took place on the 7 th inst ., and was performed with Masonio honours . The brethren of Lodge Kilwinning , of which deceased was a

member , took part in the procession , and were accompanied by representatives from the sister Lodges Lour and Dunnichen . A good number of the general public also followed the hearse . The Rev . Mr . Caie conducted the

service at the grave .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Criterion . —The revival of Mr . F . 0 . Bnrnand'a comedy " Betsy " has been received with much approval , and is likely to become a * popular as when ifc was first produced . The three acts are 80 bright and exhilarating thafc one cannot fail to langb heartily afc the

situations , while the company engaged do ample justice fco the different parts , so thafc nothing is wanting in this respect . Snch artistes as Messrs . William Blakeley ( Mr . Alexander Bi'ketfc ) , Herbert Standing ( Captain Redmond McManns ) , George Giddina ( Richard Talbot ) , A . Boncicanlt ( Mr . Adolphua Birketfc ) , and the

Misses Fanny Robertson ( Mrs . Birkett ) , Fanny Moore ( Mrs . McManns ) , Rose Saker ( Madame Polenta ) , Ella Terrisa ( Nellie Bassett ) , Edith Penrose ( Grace Peyton ) , and Lottie Venne ( Betsy )

are jr-st the ones to make the piece go merrily , and we cm he .-tily congratulate them on the snecess of their labours . We feel sure that " Betsy " will prove attractive enough to be kept in the bill for some time to come .

London Pavilion . —The entprtainmenfc provided by fc' e management may truly be termed a holiday one , the principal ar i-t in the mosical—or perhaps weshonld say mnsic hall—profession bein _ engaged , aud the reception they meet with sufficiently demonstrates that the patrons of Mr . Yilliers' handsome theatre . ally appreciate

the good fare submitted for their approval . The programme ia agreeably diversified to suit the most critical tastes , though the " gay" predominates rather than the " grave ; " while the laughter

thafc rings throughout the building is' enough to drive away dull cara even from the Metropolitan Board of Works . The fact tfa *; Bro . Edward Swanborough is acting manager is equivalent ) to say njf thafc every attention is paid to the comfort of visitors .

Notwithstanding the great success of " Tbe Arabian Nights , " afc the Comedy , it will be withdrawn on the 21 st instant , and on Wednesday , the 22 nd instant , will be produced a new play entitled

Uncles and Aunts . " ¦ : •' . *' Mr . Henry Bracy announces a short ; season at the Avenue , commencing on the 25 th instant . Mr . Bracy will produce both comedy aud burlesque during his seasoc .

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FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUT TOM " , 17 Newcastle Streot , Strand , "W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .

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