Dean Hole's Birthday.

DEAN HOLE'S BIRTHDAY .

AN interesting little ceremony took place in the Deanery , Rochester , on Saturday afternoon , when our esteemed Bro . Dean Iiole Past Grand Chaplain , who has just celebrated his 82 nd birthday , was presented with the treedom of the

Worshipful Company of Tin-plate Workers , of which he is the Honorary Chaplain ; and an engrossed certificate . The presentation was made b y a deputation of the Company in accordance with a resolution of the court , and the necessary

formalities of taking the oath and signing the register were duly carried out by Dean Hole . The certificate was read and handed to the Dean by Air . E . A . Ebblewhite , clerk to the Company .

The Master ( Mr . E . Bruce Millar ) said that this addition to the many honours conferred , upon the Dean in the course of his long , useful , and brilliant career , was the only means possible- to the Company of marking the feeling of affection which they had always entertained towards him . He

explained that every letter in the certificate had been carefully reproduced from old 17 th century documents in the possession of the Company ; the initial letter was taken from their charter ; and the heraldic emblems from contemporary MSS .

in order to harmonise with the impression of their common seal , which was engraved in the reign of Charles II . The Company joined in wishing Dean Hole " many happy returns of the day , " and hoped he would be spared for many years to be their Honorary Chaplain and the most distinguished of their freemen .

Past Master Wilkinson-Pimbury added his congratulations . Dean Hole , in acknowledging the gift , said he had lived a very long life and a . very happy life , and he attributed that

happiness to two sources—their leather m Heaven , the Giver of all good things , and the love of his fellow men . This sympathy , confidence , and friendship for each other was not only a proof and proclamation of their holy religion , but he had found it to be the sunshine of his life . He had indeed

had high honours . He had not only been summoned by the Oueen of Queens , who had left them , to preach to her , but to be the guest at her table . He had had honours conferred upon him by the Prince of Wales , who was now the King . Fie had been honoured with the company of Royal personages

in the Deanery . One of them was the late Duchess of Teck —a bright example—so beloved by them all . Not only in these exceptional cases , but in every sphere of life he had

found that the desire to go and sympathise with others had brought it to himself . He had had the privilege of addressing working men by thousands , and he never felt any apprehension when he met them of their self-confidence , because he

knew that they , would know he cared for them . Men were not to be known by their surroundings , or rank or wealth , but according to their manliness , honesty , truthfulness , and worth . His birthday at the end of eig hty-two years was still finding him receiving this reciprocity from men because he

had loved them . He had received telegrams from all kinds of people—from those with the highest of titles almost , to porters from railway stations , and all pleased him equally well . And now that day they brought him this tribute , which seemed to be the crowning tribute of the year . He had

always had a great respect for ancient societies—these companies and guilds . They did not know very much about them , but they knew they were of great antiquity , and he supposed there was no branch of commerce that would claim more antiquity than theirs . It was now sixty years since he

joined one of these mediaeval companies . He supposed they must claim to be the greatest , because at that time architecture of the highest order was in its noblest form . He meant the Society of Free and Accepted Masons . In that society , as in all others , there was a sort of Brotherhood and high

principle which they would do well to remember and copy . A man then did not accept labour as a mere toil to be got through as soon as possible , but as an honourable duty , and they were all proud of their work— -masters , men , and

apprentices . The jackdaws when they were flying round the cathedral saw work which some men never saw , and which was wrought with extreme accuracy and beauty . Pie assured the deputation that the Company ' s gift would be treasured afterwards by his son and grandson . The Clerk informed Dean Flole that he was now entitled to take up the freedom of the City of London .

Dean Hole's Birthday.

Dean Hole said , in reply , that he should prize that very much . — " Times . " The Dean of Rochester is a very remarkable man . Pie entered his 83 rd year last week . Dean Hole is a man whose fund of humour is inexhaustible and his wit irresistible .

Stories about him and his doings at Rochester are as abundant as roses in his garden . He is one of the old school of parsons , who in the " days of their youth " 'revelled in the hounds and horn of the hunting field . In 1895 he went on a lecturing tour to America for the purpose of raising funds

for the restoration of Rochester Cathedral . American audiences simply rose to greet him , and success in her varied forms met him everywhere . The descriptions of the Dean by the American Press are at least amusing . Said one organ : —" Dean Hole is certainly the finest specimen of

Elizabethan ecclesiastical architecture that England has ever sent to this country . " Another spoke of him as " large and ruddy , with white hair , and very keen , kindly , quizzical eyes that are perpetually smiling , even when the rest of his face is serious . " lie is one of the greatest authorities on " Roses " in this country , and his book on the subject is a standard work .

****************** BOOKS OF THE DAY . — : o : — Bjoks , Music , & o . intended for review , should be addressad to the Editor » f the Freemason ' * Chronicle , at Fleet Works , Mew Barnst . — : o : — The English Pre-Raphaelite Painters , their associates and successors . By Percy Bate ( 7 s 6 d ) . —Geo . Bell and Sons .

WHEN Mr . Bate undertook to prepare this book he commenced a useful work . Every now and then , in the history of this world of ours we are brought into the midst of a great movement , political , artistic , 'religious , or otherwise , and that movement proves far more lasting and influential than was expected . Our government

is re-adjusted , our theories of art are modified , our dogmas are first exploded and then reformed . Such a movement owed its inception to Ford Madox Brown , grew until it permeated English art , and waxed stronger and ^ stronger . Visions of exquisite beauty were conceived and painted by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood , the

world was infinitely enriched by their labours , and Mr . Bate , in telling us how all this came about , in a book which is itself a thing of beauty , has Tendered us a splendid service . Nearly a hundred of the most famous pictures that came from Pre-Raphaelite easels are here

reproduced , and , with a few exceptions , are printed well . Mr . Bate criticises and appreciates with a sureness of touch which is commendable , and his summaries of the life-work of our own artists are really valuable literary cameos . We hope this volume will be found in many lands .

Sand Castles ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . FOLKS who purchase " Sand Castles" should put it stealthily away and produce it just as the youngsters are beginning to think of the seaside . . It will whet their appetite , if , indeed , that ever requires whetting . Little patriots should notice that it is designed

and printed in Great Britain , and very well printed it is . The panoramic view of all the joyful doings which can be enjoyed by the sounding sea was evidently drawn by one who knows his

subject well , for he has forgotten nothing . The mermaid who sits upon the rock was certainly made to be admired ; and the end of the book is business-like indeed , for there is the " growler" taking our luggage to the station . It is evidently time to be off .

Up to London to see the King ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . THERE is much to see in London at any time , and if , when there , you get a glimpse of London ' s King , what more need you crave ? We are afraid the little misses who peep at these bright

pictures will envy the court ladies their fine dresses . The story of how Dora and Connie and Jack went to London to see the King is well told , and we can only hope that others who have the same pleasure presently may have the brains to write of it equally well . We hope you have yet a shilling left for this .

Dickie . By Mrs . Hamilton Synge ( is 6 d ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . BE it known unto all whom it may concern that "Dickie" is not a boy , but a girl , and an exceedingly entertaining and volatile young baggage . You may learn in Mrs . Hamilton Synge ' s pages

how she came to the circus and what she did there , and how she finally quitted professional life at the instigation of the Grey Man . You may learn , too , the singular excellencies of Black Boy , a clever horse , and of Belthazar , a large lion whose mane waved in bushy masses about his head . If this bill of fare is deemed

insufficient you may turn to the pictures , where you will see Black Boy being put to his p ? ces , the wagon-home of Dickie and her fatherj the noble form of Belthazar—in truth a " most fearful wild fowl . " This is a bright , brief story for a dull day , printed in large type and strongly bound . We wish it " bon voyage . " A Day at the Zoo ( is ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . SUCH books as this are li'kely to please our " tiny tots " to the