The Royal Funeral.

shall be placed in mourning for three months , commencing from Monday last , the 18 th inst ., the mourning to be worn being as follows : —

In consequence of the much lamented death of His Roval Hi ghness THE DUKE OF CLARENCE AND AVONDALE , K . G ., Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire , Past Grand Warden , it is ordered that the Grand Lodgo and all subordinate Lodges be placed in Masonic mourning for the f-pnco of Three Months from this date .

The mourning to be worn by brethren individually to be as follows : Grand Officer ** , "Present , and Past—Threo rosettes of black crape on tha badge , and one nt tho point of the chain or collar just above the jewel .

Masters , Past Masters , and Master Masons—Three black crape rosettes on badge and one on collar where the latter is worn . Fellow Crafts and Entered Apprentices—Tiro black crapa rosettes at the loir « r part of tho badge . White gloves . By command of the M . W . Grand Master . AMRED A . PENDLEBURY , Assist . G . Sec .

We anticipate there will be a very large attendance at this Special Meeting of Grand Lodge , on Wednesday , and we may expect to hear that similar gatherings have been held in connection with the various Provincial Grand Lodges of the country , for in such a matter as this our Provincial rulers are as anxious to give expression to local feeling as the

heads of the Order can possibly be to give utterance to the sentiments of the Craft generally . But whatever may be done in an official manner we know we are justified in assuring our Grand Master that he has the sympathy of his Masonic brethren , and that they sincerely regret the terrible trouble which has fallen upon Ills family by the death of his eldest son . ;

The Mark Grand Lodge has also issued similar Circulars . In this latter case , however , the meetin « lias been summoned for Wednesday , the 27 th instant at Two for THREE o ' clock . This will enable those who so desire it to attend both meetings .

A large wreath was made for the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Berkshire by Messi-s . Dick Radclyffe and Co ., of High Holborn . Ifc was composed of arum lilies , lilies of the valley , camelias , white hyacinths , tulips , gardenias ,

primulas , and other choice white flowers . The shield comprised white primulas as groundwork , with the word " Berks . " It also showed the square and compasses in violets violet bows tied the sprig of acacia on the ends , wherein were printed , in gold letters ,

Provincial Grand Lodge . J . T . MOKIAND , M . A ., D . P . G . M . J . W . MAKTIN P . G . Seoretar 7 . A second large wreath was made by the same Firm for Etonian of St . John , No . 209 , the senior Lodge of the late Duke ' s Province .

Out of respect to the memory of H . R . H . the Dnke of Clarence , who honoured them last winter by lunching -with his Royal father under their roof , on the occasion of his installation as Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire ^ Messrs . Sutton and Sons closed their premises from 1 till 5 p . m . on

the day of the funeral , and on the same day a magnificent wreath of lilies of the valley and violets , which had been prepared by Royal permission , was personall y presented at Windsor , with an expression of the Firm ' s respectful esteem and loyal regard for the late Duke of Clarence and Avon dale .

One of the many engagements the untimely death of the Duke of Clarence made it necessary to cancel was a dinner of the Studholme Lodge , on Friday , the 15 th inst . The Duke was himself to have been present , and was also to have taken the Rose Croix degree in the same Lodge during the coming week .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . J . M . P . MONTAGU , P . G . D . ANOTHER victim to the epidemic now raging in almost every part of the country is Bro . J . M . P , Montagu , J . P ., D . L ., Past Grand Deacon of England , and Past Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masonry for Dorsetshire , who died at bis residence , Downe Hall , Bridport , on tho

18 th instant . In the Second Scries of Masonic Portraits , reprinted from the columns of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , and issued by us in 1879 , will be found a full record of Bro . Montagu's distinguished career as a Mason , of which Craft he had been a devotee for the last 40 years . Our

deceased brother was one of the mosfc generous supporters of our many Charitable Institutions , for which he had served many Stewardships , and had nofc only constituted himself a Vice-Patron of each of them , bufc had likewise made Mrs . Montagu , his daughters , and his sons either

Life-Governors , Vice-Presidents , or Vice-Patrons . He was indeed a most distinguished member of our Order , and his death will bo severely felt in the Province of Dorsetshire , with which he had been so intimately connected during three-fourths of his career in Masonry .

BRO . JOHN MORRIS BROAD . THE death of Bro . John Morris Broad , a much respected Mason in the North of London , took place at his residence in the Hornsey Road on the 10 th inst ., at the comparatively early age of 38 . Bro . Broad was initiated in the Perseverance Lodge , No . 1743 , and became oue of the

founders of the Philbrick Lodge , No . 2255 , of which he was J . W . at the time of his decease ; he was also one of the founders of the Galen Lodge , No . 2394 . The funeral took p lace on tho 14 th inst ., and was attended by a number of Masonic brethren . The cortege left Hornsey Rise for

the family grave , at Finchley Cemetery , about 11 * 30 a . m ., where the service was very impressively rendered by the officiating clergyman , who in the course of his address of condolence to the bereaved family made a feeling allusion to the lamented death of the Duke of Clarence .

BRO . J . S . KERSTEMAN . A PROMINENT Devon Mason has passed away in the person of Bro . John Stewart Kersteman , -who died at Teignmonth , on Monday last , after a few days' illness , at the early ago of 44 . He had been an active member of Benevolent Lodge , No . 303 , wherein he was W . M . in 1877 , and again

in 1881 . He was appointed Prov . Grand Registrar by the late Prov . Grand Master of Devonshire , Bro . the Rev . John Huyshe , and he held that office when the present Prov . Grand Master the Right Hon . Lord Ebrington , was installed . On llth September 1890 , he was appointed

Prov . Senior Grand Warden . He was a P . Z . of Benevolent Chapter , attached to Lodge 303 , and P . P . G . J . Devon . As a Mark Mason he was P . M . of Benevolent Mark Lodge , No . 316 , and also a member of Devon Mark Lodge , No . 215 .

In this degree Provincial rank had been offered him , but he declined to take office . He was buried at Teignmonth , on Thursday , 21 st instanfc , wifch Masonic honours , a large number of the membera of No . 303 and other Lodges attending the funeral .

BRO . JOHN WHILE . A POPULAR member of our Order , one we were accustomed to meet whenever a prominent Masonic function had to be enacted , has passed away in fche person of Bro . John While P . M . and P . Z . 228 . Bro . While died on Wednesday morning , at 10 " 15 . His illness had bean a long one ,

but he bore it with exemplary fortitude , and even down to the last hoped * for recovery . He was fortunate in having for his nurse one of the kindest and gentlest of daughters , who bore in his presence the most cheerful of dispositions ,

and endeavoured to soothe and soften a couch which gave no ease and a chamber which afforded no repose . Bro . John While , as representative of The Times , was popular amongst his confreres , and sincere will be the regrefc that his early death will evoke .