Provincial.

Representative taking the opportunity of explaining the recent action of the local Benevolent Institution , with regard to a Brother of tbe Duke of York Lodge . Whilst expressing himself perfectly satisfied in this instance , he also explained that no case was refused a hearing , and certainly no deserving case was ever brought before the Committee without receiving prompt and substantial assistance . Bro . Boden promised that at an early date he would fully enumerate the various Masonio Charities , and explain their mode of procedure .

Bro . J . T . Whittle S . D . proposed a vote of thanks ( which was heartily responded to ) to Bro . Boden for his successful action on behalf of the Lodge . Among others present , and not previously mentioned , were Bros . A , Sutcliffe Secretary , S . Kew J . D ., R . H . Whatham , W . Greenhalgh , T . W . Lewin , T . D . Lightfoot , and Arthur Hudson .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

TRUTH INSTRUCTION CHAPTER , No . 1458 . THE regular monthly meeting was held at the Mosley Hotel , Manchester , on Tuesday , 10 th inst ., Companion Buckley Carr P . Z . 993 Prov . G . J . Preceptor . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed by Comp . John Horsfield Z . 325 . Comp . Geo . Thos . Lenard Z . 1458 delivered the symbolical lecture to a very appreciative audience .

Among others present were Comps . H . Hellewell S . E . 1458 , H . G . Walker S . E . 581 , John Renwick P . Soj . 325 , Jas . Cooper 325 , J . J . Dean 1458 , H . Gordon Small 1375 P . P . G . R ., G . W . Bingham P . Z . 325 , J . T . Reynolds 624 , W . E . Hands S . N . 325 , and A . W . Rylands P . S . 152 . The next meeting will be held on Tuesday , 14 th February .

GALLERY CHAPTER , No . 1928 . THE new-year ' s meeting of this Chapter was held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet btreet , B . C ., on Saturday , when Comp . Percy Wallace Husk M . E . Z . presided . The following Companions were also present : J . J . Fretwell H ., Orlton Cooper J ., John Read I . P . Z ., Edward B . Peacock P . Z . Treasurer , Herbert Wright P . Z . S . E ., E . A . Peachey S . N ., George Tarran P . S ., Alfred H . Robbins Asst . Soj ., H . E . Peacock Organist , Henry Massey P . Z ., John Hurdell P . Z ., John D . Irvine , A . B . Baines , CornwallisH . Smith , C . J . Sheddon-Wilson , J . W . Stevens M . E . Z . 720 .

The Chapter having been formally opened , the minutes of the previous convocation were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Bro . G . C . Vincent , of the Gallery Lodge , who was approved and subsequently exalted to the supreme degree . The ceremony was ably and impressively rendered by Companion Husk , after which the traditional Addresses were delivered by the three Principals .

A handsome P . Z . s jewel was presented to Comp . J . Hurdell , and , in recognition of his services to the Chapter , Comp . Read was elected as an honorary member . A vote of condolence and sympathy was directed to be forwarded to Comp . Lionel Gowing , upon his recent bereavement . There being no further business the Chapter was closed and the convocation adjourned till April . The Companions afterwards partook of supper , and an enjoyable evening was spent .

A Prominent Mason Interviewed.

A PROMINENT MASON INTERVIEWED .

WE have much pleasure in extracting the following interesting interview of our esteemed Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , from the Poole " Guardian : " The subject of the following sketch is Mr . J . H . WhadcoatJ . P . CO .

, , , the ex-Mayor of Poole , with whom our representative had the pleasure of an interview a short time ago . When Mr . Whadcoat first came to Poole he occupied the residence " Branksea View , " Parkstone , but recently he has purchased and made freehold a delightful property known as " Eversfield , " Parkstone , and it was here the interview took place .

Calling at the house , I was shown into tho dining room , through the windows of which the sun was shining brightly , and from which could be seen a panoramic view very difficult to surpass . Away to the west was the long stretch of the picturesque land-locked harbour , with Branksea Island and Purbeck Hills ; to the east a charming peep of the " Mentone of England , " with its residential estates , can be obtained ; whilst to the south a full view of the Park , Sandbanks , and the glimmering seas of the Channel beyond meet the gaze . Could a residence be more charmingly situated than this ?

Mr . Whadcoat gave me a very kind reception , and made me feel at home at once . Having informed him of the character o £ my visit he at once frankly volunteered to give me all the information I required , and we were soon in the midst of a pleasant conversation . Mr . Whadcoat was born at Worcester , in the year 1851 . He is the eldest son of the late Mr . William Whadcoat , who , as Poole people know , lived at " Branksea View , " and was very highly respected in the town and neighbourhood . He received his education at Mr .

Hartley ' s School , Banbury , Oxfordshire , where the foundation was laid of a successful career . As early as 1870 he carried on the business of a stockbroker in London , and subsequently established branches at Bradford and Halifax . In 1879 he became a member of the firm of Whadcoat Bros , and Co ., bankers , Old Broad Street , London , whose business was principally with the minor

railways of Great Britain . Most of the railways the firm financed have since been absorbed by the great trunk companies , and the business of constructing independent railways in this country is now almost one of the past , as is seen from a comparison of the number of Bills deposited in Parliament now with ten or twenty years ago . On his retirement from that firm some few years since , it was dissolved .

Although living retired , so far as actually being in business is concerned , I gleaned from the conversation that Mr . Wfiadcoat is still a very busy man , he having associated himself with a great many institutions—benevolent and others —in which he takes a deep , and what is more , a practical interest . He is a member of the bociety of Arts , a Fellow of twenty years standing of the Royal Statistical Society , a Follow of tlie Royal Geographical Society , and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants ( not in practice ) , a society which , by the way , requires the highest of qualifications before being elected a member . The interest taken in the Freemasons by the ex-Mayor

A Prominent Mason Interviewed.

is well known , and during the last eighteen or twenty years he has filled many important offices in connection with the Craft . With the central and local Masonic charities Mr . Whadcoat has closely identified himself , and not only is he personally qualified as a patron , but has qualified each member of his family as patrons . He is patron of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , and of a benevolent institution founded for aged firemen and their wives after them . He is also a vice-patron of the Dorset Masonio Charity , and a life member of the Belfast Masonic Charity Board . It will

be fresh in the memory of our readers the part Mr . Whadcoat took in connection with the presentation of the City Masonic Club lifeboat to Poole , and through whose instrumentality the boat came to the station . He ha * just had conferred upon him the high position of Provincial Grand Senior Warden of Dorset , an annual appointment which is open to any member of the Order . Mr . Whadcoat is also a Past Master of the local Lodge Amity , No . 137 , and an honorary life member of the Thomas Valentine Masonio Lodge , Belfast .

In addition , Mr . Whadcoat is interested in the Universal Beneficial Society , Reedham ( Surrey ) Orphan Asylum , Salisbury Diocesan Finance Board , and many other excellent Institutions , in most of which ho has qualified as life member . He still retains tbe chairmanship of the Wye Valley Railway Co ., and is director of the Devon and Somerset Railway Oo . .

In addition , Mr . Whadcoat is a J . P . for the county of Dorset and the borough of Poole , and represents one of the divisions of the town of Poole on the Dorset County Council . Mr . Whadcoat is one of the original donors towards the endowment fund of the Cornelia Hospital , and his name appears on the deed of gift by Lord Wimborne as a trustee .

Last year Mr . Whadcoat held the office of Mayor of the important borough of Poole , and this sketch would not be complete without my referring to the generosity of the Mayor during his year as chief magistrate . He carried out all his duties in the most efficient manner , and with that dignity which should be always associated with the Mayoral chair . His lively interest in all matters affecting the town was apparent in every direction , and by his kindness and courtesy to all he won the respect and the esteem of

the inhabitants . Especially was he generous to the poor , which shows that Mr . Whadcoat has a good heart , and that it is his desire to do good to those who are not so fortunately circumstanced in life , and who have not an abundance of this world ' s goods . All know of the keen interest he took in the Volunteer forces of the town . He presented , in addition to two money

prizes of five guineas each , trophy cups to the Volunteer Artillery and Rifle Volunteers , and we have pleasure in referring to that presented to the latter as exceptionally handsome . It cost tho donor forty guineas . Colonel Williams , M . P ., Major Wheatley , and Captain Hill , as well as the whole of the officers and men , are highly gratified by this extreme kindness on the part of the ex-Mayor .

The Mayor's Trafalgar Day celebrations were carried out in such a manner as to create a lasting impression on the memory of the 600 who attended and partook of Mr . Whadcoat ' s hospitality , > - Mr . Whadcoat is a Conservative in politics , or rather , as he prefers to put it , a " Constitutionalist . " Early in the year the town of Poole was honoured by the promise of a visit by the Lord High Chancellor of Ireland . On this occasion Mr . Whadcoat issued invitations to meet Lord Ashbourne to dinner , prior to the meeting in Amity Hall , to most of the prominent Conservatives

and Liberal Unionists in the division . Amongst those who accepted were Lord and Lady Wimborne , the Hon . Mr . Guest and Miss Rosamund Guest , the Hon . Mr . Sturt and Lady Feodorowna Sturt , the Hon . Mr . and Mrs . Thesiger , Sir Elliot Lees , Bart ., M . P ., Colonel Williams , M . P ., Sir Bichard Glyn and Lady Glyn , Mr . Wingfield Digby , M . P ., and many others , to tho number of about forty . A reference to the file of the " Guardian " will show the function was a social and political success , of such an order as the town has not experienced for many years .

But to return to the interview . Before leaving , Mr . Whadcoat askedme if I would like to see his house , and wishing to do so he took me through the various rooms , himself acting as my guide . He pointed out several objects of interest to me , and I spent a very pleasant half-an-hour . The house is well appointed in every respect and beautifully equipped . Mr . Whadcoat informed me that " Eversfield " was for many years the residence of Mr . Brine , and since that time it has been occupied by General Orchard , and was

at one time the residence of the late Mr . B . E . Walmesley . It is a strange coincidence that Mr . Whadcoat represents the same electoral division on the County Council as the late Mr . Walmesley did when he was in residence at " Eversfield . " Mr . Whadcoat then took me round the grounds and showed several improvements he was making . Although it was winter , the house is so sheltered from the N . B . and W . that along the front , standing in the sunshine it was like a spring morning . The greatest care has been taken in

regard to sanitation , the latest improvements to bring about this desirable end being introduced . Mr . Whadcoat is just about to erect new stables and coach-houses , and also a billiard and smoking room . During the ramble a perfect yew hedge , very few of which are now to be seen , was pointed out to me , of which the owner is justly proud . It separates the grounds from a kitchen garden . A very pleasant chat resulted in Mr . Whadcoat giving me a few particulars as to his family . His eldest son , Mr . W . H . Whadcoat , graduated B . A ., LL . B ., at Trinity College , Cambridge , in 1892 ; Last year

he took his Master ' s Degrees ( M . A ., LL . M . ) . He was called to the Bar of the Middle Temple in 1891 , and at the present time is in practice at 9 Stone Buildings , Lincoln ' s Inn . He is also a member at the Local Masonic Lodges , and has been elected a member of the Islington Vestry . His second son , Mr . G . 0 . Whadcoat , also follows the legal profession , ana is in practice as a solicitor , at 110 Cannon Street , London . His third son is in the inspectors' department at the head office of the Capital and Counties Bank . His fourth son is at present finishing his education in Germany .

Mr . Whadcoat s London residence is 50 Highbury Grove , N . Asked if he intended to take up his residence at Parkstone , Mr . Whadcoat said " Yes , " and I am sure this will be pleasing news to the inhabitants . Before leaving , I enquired as to Mr . Whadcoat ' s health , and he told me that although not in the best of health he was better than he was some time ago , but he intended to take a voyage presently , when he hoped to return fully recovered .

THB LICENSED VICTUALLERS YEAB BOOK FOB 1899—the 27 th year of , publication—well sustains the high reputation gained by past issues . A prominent feature of the work is the large amount of attention devoted to the Benevolent Societies connected with the Licensed Victuallers' interest throughout the kingdom , and in this part of the book we have some excellent

photographs of some of those who have taken the lend in charity work of the past year , or have made themselves prominent in the various branches and institutions of the trade . The Year Book is complied by the Editor of tho " Licensed Victuallers Gazette and Hotel Courier , " and is published at 303 Strand , price ls .