Freemasonry In France.

has it been associated with such great Masonic gatherings as the meeting of Brethren in June 1897 , under the presidency of the then Prince of Wales , to vote an address of congratulation to Queen Victoria on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee , and the Centenary dinner , a year later , of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys , but it was the scene of the late Grand Master ' s own installation in April 1875 . The difficulty , however , will be how to accommodate even in that huge building the vast number of English Freemasons who will wish to attend . It has been suggested that the rules of

admission will be the same at the coming installation as at the last—Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , with one Master Mason from each Lodge being allowed to be present . But the enormous growth of Masonry in the last quarter of a century does not seem to have been allowed for in this

suggestion . When the Prince of Wales became Grand Master there were some 1 , 540 Lodges on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England ; now there are about 2 , 840—though , of course , each of these totals is nominal rather than real , for between four and five hundred Lodges have been

removed from the roll—mainly because of the formation of Grand Lodges in various Colonies , to which they have become attached—since the last closing up of the numbers in 1863 . But taking the present total of Lodges in active existence

at 2 , 400 , and remembering that London alone possesses 500 , it seems doubtful whether the Albert Hall would'hold all who desired to attend the installation if the rule of 1875 be repeated . — " Westminster Gazette . "

In conjunction with other members of his Chapter , the Camden , No . 704 , Comp . H . H . M . Hancock has obtained the sanction of the M . E . Z . to transfer the Camden Chapter of Improvement to Stanley ' s Restaurant , Lavender Hill , S . W ., and he cordially invites Royal Arch Masons to a preliminary

meeting to be held there on Friday next , 29 th inst , at 8 . 30 p . m ., to consider : —the election of Officers , adoption of byelaws , day and hour of regular meetings , terms upon which to occupy rooms at place of meeting , and any other subject it may , in the interest of the Chapter of Improvement , be desirable to discuss .

The regular meeting of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1524 , and the celebration of the annual Festival ( postponed from the regular day of installation , on account of the death of the late Queen ) will take place on Thursday next , 28 th inst , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street The new WM

has a heavy agenda of business before him , there being four candidates for raising , two for passing , and two for election and ^ initiation . The meeting is timed to commence at 4 o ' clock , and we hope to be present to report the proceedings .

A supper in connection with the Lewisham Lodge of Instruction , No . 2579 , will be held at the White Hart Masonic Rooms , High Street , Lewisham , on Friday next , 29 th inst .

Applications for tickets can be made by Brethren to the Secretary Bro . Frank Lever , 71 Albyn Road , St . John ' s ; to the Treasurer Bro . Harry Lewis , 20 Mount Pleasant Road , Lewisham , or any of the members .

The installation meeting of the Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 1658 , is to be held on Thursday next , 28 th inst , at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on which occasion Bro . T . J .

Rawlings is to be installed as ruler of the Lodge for the year . We hope to report the proceedings in due course , and trust our worthy Brother will have a happy send off , and a prosperous year as W . M .

The Minnehahas , those sweet minstrels who have exhibited gentle charity in her numerous aspects on many occasions , announce an entertainment at the Free-trade Flail , Manchester , for to-day ( Saturday ) , in aid of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , We trust they will be attended with their usual success .

Bro . Thomas Powell W . M . 1281 has the pleasure to announce his annual grand Bohemian concert ( Ladies' night ) , for Monday next , 25 th inst , at the Cannon Street Hotel ( Great Hall ) , commencing at 7 o ' clock . Tickets , price 2 s each , can be obtained from Bro . Thomas Poweil , 86 Waller Road . New Cross . S , E ,

Freemasonry In France.

Some active workers in the Craft of the metropolis are arranging for the establishment of a new Lodge of Instruction , and are anxious to secure a second-hand set of furniture , apart from the pedestals and chairs . If any of our readers know of such we shall oe pleased to put them in communication with the founders .

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

WE announce with regret the death , after a painful illness , of Bro . T . J . Robins , at his residence , Tulse Hill , on Tuesday , 5 th inst , at the age of 71 . The funeral , which took place at Nunhead Cemetery , was attended by a large number

of sorrowing relatives and friends , including his old colleagues on the Metropolitan Asylums Board , the two vestries ( St . George ' s and Newington ) , Brother Freemasons , & c . The Rev . H . G . Daniell Bainbridge , precentor of Westminster Abbey , officiated at the service . Bro . Robins was a conspicuous and

capable public man . For many years he served as vestryman of St . George ' s ( ten years of which he acted as Chairman ) , and for twenty-five years he was a Guardian ol St . Saviour ' s , and was elected their representative on the Metropolitan Asylums Board , where for twelve years he served as

Chairman of the Caterham Asylum Committee . ' He was a member of the Basket Maker ' s Company , one of the oldest City Companies , and twice filled the post of Prime Warden . Pie was a o-overnor of the Surrey Dispensary . Amongst Freemasons he was admired and respected , having been W . M . of the Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 , and Z . of the Chapter .

MANY Cornishmen and Devonians will regret to hear of the death of Bro . William Pryor , principal of the Plymouth Shorthand and Typewriting Academy . Bro . Pryor , who was born in the sixties near Wendron , Helston , worked as a boy in the tin mines , but being of an ambitious nature , he sought

the advantages of education to help him to a position in life . It was his wont , when he had finished his laborious work underground , to walk six miles , in company with another youth , to the residence of the late Bishop of AfashonaJand , then the Rev . Knight-Bruce , by whom he was taught to read

and write . Migrating to Plymouth , Bro . Pryor obtained a post on the " . Western Morning News , " where he made many friends . Subsequently he interested himself in shorthand work and typewriting , and opened the Plymouth Academy .

He took an active interest in public affairs , and was a member of the local Chamber of Commerce for years . He was an active Freemason , and at his funeral many members of the Order were present , in addition to a large number of friends and former colleagues .

AN old member of the Craft—one who had been associated with us for upwards of fifty years—in the person of Bro . Edward Barker Sutton , for forty-eight years a member of the Stock Exchange , died on Thursday of last week , in his 82 nd year . When the Marquis of Ripon was installed

for the first time as Grand Master , in June 1 S 70 , Bro . Sutton was appointed Junior Grand Deacon ; King Edward VII ., who had recently been made a P . G . Master , was present on the occasion . The Earl of Jersey , who was appointed Senior Grand Warden , is now the only survivor of all the Grand Officers of that year .

THE death took place on Monday afternoon , 4 th inst , in the Worcester Infirmary , of Bro . James Stretton , late of Broad Street , Worcester , dental surgeon . The deceased was a native of Derbyshire , and went to Worcester from Derby

nearly forty years ago . Fie was for many years a member of the Semper Fidelis Lodge , No . 529 , but he never took Office . At the funeral there were wreaths from members of the family , from the Brethren of Semper Fidelis Lodge , and others .

THE funeral took place last month , at Swanbourne , Buckinghamshire , of the Rev . William Miles Myres , rural dean , who died somewhat suddenly . The Bishop of Liverpool officiated , assisted b" the Archdeacon of Buckinghamshire .

Over forty local clergymen were present . In addition to the chief mourners there were present Lord Cottesloe , Admiral the Flon . Sir E . R . Fremantle , the Hon . Cecil Fremantle , Lord Addington , and many other representatives of Masonic Lodges .

THE vicar of Pamber , Plants ., Bro . Rev . E . R , Adams , has just died from influenza , after a short illness . Pie was a Past Provincial Grand Chaplain of Berkshire ,