Phoenician Influence Upon Freemasonry.

veyed it to the sea , and it was cast on the coast of Phoenicia , where it was mutilated by Typhon . Again it is said , that the rites connected with the Mysteries of

Osiris closely resembled those of the Mysteries of Adonis , celebrated at Byblos in Phoenicia , where according to one account the body of Osiris was found , and where a temple for the worship of Baal ( the sun ) was erected .

It is also fairly inferable that tho Tyrian nation , at some earlier and purer stage of its history , was blessed with the favour of God . Tho prophet Ezekiel says ( xxviii . 12 , 15 , 17 ) : " Son of Man , take up a lamentation upon the King of Tyrus , and say unto him , * * * Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created , till iniquity was found in thee . * * * Thine heart was

lifted up because of thy beauty , thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness . " Tho Rev . Canon Trevor , in his " Ancient Egypt , " informs us , that " The

Tyrians , being Cushites , were nearly allied to the children of Mizraim ; and it is remarkable that the ark and cherub with outstretched wings are found depicted among the early religious symbols of Egypt . " We trust we have written sufficient to establish the fact

of a powerful early Phoenician influence upon Freemasonry , the cosmopolitan characteristics of the Craft even three thousand years ago , the union then of Speculative and Operative Masons , and of the Fraternity ' s possession at that

early era of symbols and usages which have been exactly preserved in the Craft through millennials of history , notwithstanding the rise and fall of nations , and changes in the locality , nationality and constitutions of the Masonic Fraternity . —Keystone .

Freemasons At The Mansion House.

FREEMASONS AT THE MANSION HOUSE .

THE Lord Mayor ( Past Grand Warden of England ) entertained a Inrge company of Freemasons at dinner at the Mansion House on Tnesday , to meet the Earl of Lathom ( Deputy Grand Master ) and the Grand Officers of the year . There were present , amongst others , Bros , the Earl of Jersey Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , Colonel E . C . Malet de Carteret Provincial Grand Master of Jersey ,

W . W . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire ; Colonel Sir P . Bnrdett Provincial Grand Master Middlesex , T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master Herts , Sir H . Williamson Provincial Grand Master Durham , T . W . Tew , J . P ., Provincial Grand Master West Riding Yorks , H . D . Saudeman Past Grand Master Calcutta ,

Col . C . Lyne Provincial Grand Master Monmouthshire , Sir G . Elliott , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master South Wales , Sir 0 . Wakeman Provincial Grand Master Shropshire , General tho Hon . Somerset Calthorpe P . G . W ., Sir G . Goldney P . G . W ., Rev . G . W . Weldon Grand Chaplain , Rev . Dr . T . C . Smyth Grand Chaplain , Sir II . E .

Knight , Colonel Shadwell Clerke Grand Secretary , Alderman Wmtohead , Sir H . Isaacs , R . Eve Grand Treasurer , Sheriff Davies , Sheriff Higgs , Sir J . Monckton P . G . W ., Dixou-Hartland , M . P ., Dr . W . H . Knssell , Edmund Yates , Colonel Edis , J . Aird , & c , & c . The brethren present wore Masonio clothing . The Lord Mayor gave the

toast The Queen and the Craft , which was received with enthusiasm . In proposing the toast the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the Lord Mayor said that he had in his possession a letter expressing the sympathy of the Prince of Wales with their gathering that evening . It was too much to

look for the presence of His Royal Highness among them after the hard work which he had had to go through during the past year , bnt he was sure that all the Brethren wished him health , and especially renewed health to those members of his family who were suffering from a usual , but still a somewhat unpleasant , ailment . The

toast was most cordially received , as was also that of The Most Worshipful the Pro Grand Master ( the Earl of Carnarvon ) , the Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers . The Lord Mayor expressed the opinion that the interests ot Masonry were perfectly safe in the hands of the Grand Officers ,

who would fulfil the duties of their offices for the good of Masonry and for the good of the whole -world . Lord Lathom , Deputy Grand Master , replied , and expressed regret at the absence of the Pro Grand Master Lord Carnarvon . The Lord Mayor next proposed the toast ofthe Brethren below tbo Dais . Fie referred especially to tho

members of the Lodges with which ho was connected , among them being the Bard of Avon Lodge . Bro . Edmund Yates , the Worshipful Master ofthe Bard of Avon Lodge , responded , and , referring to the ceremony at Stratford-on-Avon , on Monday last , said that the good feeling which existed between the people of America and the people

of this country might be traced in a certain sense to Masonry . The concluding toast , the Health of the Lord Mayor , was proposed by the Earl of Jersey , who spoke of the strength and influence oi Masonry in this country . The Lord Mayor responded , and the company then senarated .

Tbe Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of North and East Yorkshire will be held in Freemasons' Hall , Duncombe Street , York , on Friday , the 28 th inst ., at the invitation of the York Mark Lodge , T . I . The Lodge will be opened at 2 p . m ., and at 430 there will be a dinner . The election of Prov . Grand Mark Master Mason for the ensuing threo years will take place .

Obituary.

Obituary .

RIGHT WOR . BRO . LORD DE TABLET , PAST PROV . G . MASTER CHESHIRE . Tnis eminent and distinguished brother , who during a

Masonic career extending over half a century rendered valuable service to tho Craft , not only in his own Province , but generally , expired on Wednesday last , at his seat , Tabley House , Knutsford , in the 76 th year of bis age .

His Lordship was initiated into Freemasonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , at Oxford , in the year 1831 , and subsequently filled the chair of W . M . or of M . E . Z . in various Lodges and Chapters in his native

county . Of Provincial Grand Lodge he was a Past Senior Grand Warden ; the late Earl of Zetland , then Grand Master , in 1859 conferring upon him tho collar of S . G . W . of England ; and six years later , on the death of Viscount

Combermere , he was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire . So great was his Lordship ' s popularity , and so assiduous his labours for the advancement of the Craft , that one-fourth of the Lodges now existing in the Province were constituted during the period of his presidency . In

1868 he was appointed Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons in Cheshire ; and on the installation of the Prince of Wales as M . E . Grand Z . of Supreme Grand

Chapter in 1875 , his Lordship was chosen to fill the chair of Third Grand Principal . Lord De Tabley's unceasing exertions in the cause of charity are too well known to need recapitulation . He was one of the main supporters of the Cheshire Masonic Educational Association , one of the best institutions of its kind in the Provinces ; he twice

occupied the chair at the Festivals of the Girls' School ; he presided at the Boys' Festival in 1867 , and that of the Benevolent Institution in 1866 . Last year , in consequence of failing health , he resigned the position of Provincial Grand Master , which he had filled so

nobly for 21 years ; and carried with him into his retirement tho respect and affection of all over whom he had ruled so wisely and so well . He was Life Governor of all our Institutions , and a Past President of the Cheshire Masonic Educational Association . The loss of one yrho

had rendered such signal service to the Craft in all its branches , and more especially in the cause of benevolence , is one that cannot be regarded other than as an irreparable misfortune .

Further particulars of Lord De Tabley ' s Masonic career will be found in our " Masonic Portraits . "

We tender our condolence to Bro . George Gardner I . P . M . 2012 , on the death of his wife , which mournful event took place on Monday last . The deceased lady had been , for some months past , in a critical state , and all hope of her recovery had been abandoned .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

GEORGE PRICE CHAPTER , No . 2096 . THE first regular meeting of this Chapter was held afc the Grey . hound Hotel , Croydon , on Saturday , the 15 th instant . Coinpa H . M . Hobbs P . P . G . A . D . O . Snrrey Z ., J . D . Langton P . G . A . S . Surrey H ., J . S . Fraser P . P . G . A . S . Essex J ., A . S . Brown Scribe E ., Arthur Adams Treasurer , M . L . Levey P . S ., F . Cambridge P . G . Organist Snrrey , and Gordon Smith A . S . ; F . West P . G . S ,

P . G . H . Surrey , George Price P . G . Treasurer Surrey , and C . Holden . Visitors—Comps . J . Hooke Z . 463 P . G . S . Surrey , and Lewis Baker . No . 1 . The Chapter having been opened , and the minutes of last Convocation read and confirmed , the ballot was taken for several candidates ; two of them , Bros . D . Guedalla and F . W . Leayer , of the

George Price Lodge , were duly exalted . The bye-laws , drawn npby tb » Committee appointed for that purpose , were approved . Comp . Prico P . G . Treasurer Surrey , after whom tbe Chapter is named , was unanimously elected an honorary member . The M . E . Z ., having expressed his wish to act as Steward next year at the Centenary

Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , was appointed to represent the Chapter on that occasion . After other business had been disposed of , the Chapter was closed , aud the Companions adjourned to the banquet table , where the usual Loyal and Masonio toasts were given , interspersed by some excellent songs by Comps . West , Leaver , and Gordon Smith .

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FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London or Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTOU , 17 Newoastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .