Obituary.

Obituary .

— : o : — BRO . J . J . MICHAEL .

IT is with deep regret we to-day record the death of this hi"hl y-respccted member of the Craft . Tho sad event occurred on Monday last . Bro . J . J . Michael was initiated in the Cornwallis Lodge , No . 1107 , on 6 th April 1870 , and had been twice Worshipful Master of that Lodge ; he

was a Pounder and second Worshipful Master of the Metropolitan Lodge , No . 1507 ; and a Founder and first Worshipful Master of the King ' s Cross Lodge , No . 1732 ; he was exalted in the High Cross Chapter , No . 829 , in 1872 , wherein he filled the First Principal ' s chair . He

was a Vice-President of the R . M . B . I ., and Life Governor of the R . M . I . G . and R . M . I . B ., and had served the office of Steward to all three Institutions . He was also a P . G .

Pursuivant of the Province of Kent . Bro . Michael leaves a widow and five children to mourn his loss , and we tender them our deep sympathy in their affliction . The funeral will take place at Kensal Green , to-day ( Saturday ) , at one o'clock .

The June meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Robert Grey , President , presided , and he was supported by Bros . James Brett and C . A . Cottebrune , the Vice-Presidents . Among the brethren present were Col . Shadwell

H . Clerke , Grand Seoretary , A . A . Pendlebury , Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Dodd , W . H . Lee , Henry Garrod , S . Vallentine , David D . Mercer , George B . Chapman , George R . Langley , Charles Frederick Hogard , S . V . Abraham , A . C . Woodward , L . C . Haslip , Charles Dairy , T . W . Whitmarsh , W . G . Lemon , Sir Reginald Hanson ,

G . Read , S . H . Goldschmidt , J . Bunker , W . Hopekirk , L . N . Lazarus , J . D . E . Tarr , Henry Oldham , E . J . Acworth , Fred Mills , C . H . Webb , W . Shurmur , H . Massoy , F . Sharratt , Walter Wellsman , S . W . W . Atkinson P . P . S . G . W . Cheshire , Thos . Underwood , W . Pound , E . Morris , •Stanley J . Attenborough , John Glass , William Vincent , George Clarke jun ., S . N . Banker , Thomas Honey , H . J . Levett , Edward W . PostanB , J . J . Thomas , W . J . Stratton , T . W . Harvey , H . Hooper , W . T . H . Mayor , F . M . Bilby , F . V . Catt , J . M . Scarlett , J . H . Wallman ,

and Henry Sadler G . Tyler Tbe brethren confirmed recommendations to the Most Worshipful Grand Master mads at the May meeting to the amount of £ 260 , and afterwards dealt with 29 new cases . One recommendation

of £ 52 made at last meeting , and which was remitted back by Grand Lodge for further consideration , was increased to £ 100 , and two other petitioners were recommended to Grand Lodge for £ 50 each . There were four recommendations to tho Grand Master of £ 40 , and three for

£ 30 each . Eight grants were made of £ 20 , and five for £ 10 each .

In connection with tbe Freemasons' Lodges of Stookport and district a Masonio service was held , on Sunday afternoon , the 7 th inst ., at St . Thomas ' s Ohnroh . The brethren on assembling at the Mechanics' Institute , proceeded to an npper room , where the ohair was taken by Bro . Wm . Lancaster , Master of the Unanimity Lodge , tho Senior Warden ' s ohair by Bro . Wm . Hargreaves , Master of the

1 eaoe Lodge , and the Junior Warden ' s chair by Bro . J . O . Wylde , Master of the Concord Lodge . Col . Wilkinson briefly explained the object of the gathering , and the order of prooednre , remarking that they were assembled not only to perform an act of worship , bnt to benefit an Institution the claims of which mast heartily commend themselves to every Mason in the Province—the Cheshire Masonio

Educational Institution . Headed by the Volnntaar Band the brethren then walked to the ohnroh in full Craft clothing . A large crowd lined the route , great interest being taken in the proceedings . Enter , ing the church they were met by the ohoir and clergy , and the processional hymn , " Onward , Christian soldiers , " was sung . The Masons ooenpied the centre of the eastern part of the churoh . Bro .

iter . A . Symonds , rector of St . Thomas ' s , Prov . Grand Chaplain of Cheshire , preached a special sermon , taking for his text the wellknown verse from St . Peter ' s Epistle , " Honour all men , love the brotherhood , fear God , and honour tha King . " A collection was made on behalf of the Cheshire Masonio Educational Institution , and realised about £ 25 . This amount will be considerably increased by contnbntiona

¦ from the Lodges and from tbe brethren individually . After the recessional hymn , the brethren proceeded back to the -Mechanics' Institute , being conducted a short distance by the choir and olergy of the church . The service is the first of the kind which has been held in Stockport . The arrangements were mado by a Committee of the local Lodges , of whioh Lieut-Col . Wilkinson waa president , and Mr . George GaBkill Secretary .

What Is Freemasonry ?

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?

TXTHAT is Masonry , if it be not a sectarian , a temperance , a T * religious , or political organisation ? It is an organisation in whioh through all this broad land , yea , all over the world , wherever the homes and the hands of civilisation are planted , its members are united together in the strong bonds of universal Brotherhood . The bitterest political opponents , the most zealous religionists herein

join as brothers in one accord , exemplifying the lesson taught in the significant symbolism of the Fraternity , that God is our Father and that man is our Brother . It has signs of recognition , it has instructive leotures , it has impressive oeremonies , it has beautiful symbols , bat these are only the garments whioh oover ita visible body . Masonry

is the soul , visible to aotual apprehension , whioh gives these their vital activity in the practice of morality , the promotion of virtue and the relief of distress . Masonry is more than its signs or its oeremonies . We may know its history , its traditions , its ritual , and be able to interpret its impressive symbolism , and yet the great volume

of Masonry is to us a sealed book . The golden fruit lays within the husk . The latter has no vitality or beauty without the germinating force of the former . It ia the divinity within whioh imparts the light , the purity , the charity that adorns our temples , and demonstrates the spirit and the purpose of Masonry in the hearta and lives of the Brotherhood . —M . W . Lucius Butler , Vermont .

At a meeting of Lodge St . Aubyn , No . 954 , held at Devonport , Brothers Donovan was eleoted W . M . for the year ensuing , Tozer Treasurer , and Henderson Tyler .

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