Sir Hugh Myddelton Chapter, No. 1602.

that the impressive style , delivery , and work of the newly installed M . E . Z . could not be surpassed in any Chapter ; this opinion was snbsequently expressed in a most forcible speech by Comp . James Terry . Business being ended , and Chapter closed , the Comps . adjourned to a plain , substantial , and well served dinner , after which

tho nsual toasts were given . That of tho Visitors was responded to by Comps . Forge and Pearcy , the latter of whom kindly acted as P ' . S . in Chapter and at diiuior . It is to bo regretted that iu this Chapter , as in tho Lodge , somo brethren accept offico and do not attend , thus leaving their work to bo done by others , as well as retarding the progress of competent members who attend regularly .

North London Chapter of Improvement , No . 1471 . — The weekly meeting of tho above Chapter was hold at tho Jolly Farmers' Tavern , Southgate-road , on Thnrsday , the 15 th instant . Present : —Companions G . Davis M . E . Z ., N . Moss II ., E . Rogers J ., J . Osborn S . E ., D . Stroud S . N ., S . Smont jnn . P . S ., T . C . Edmonds Preceptor ; also Companions J . E . Sheffield , H . Higgins ,

G . Gregory , R . Pearcy , J . Weston , G . W . Knight , and others . The Chapter was declared open , aud the minutes of tho previous Convocation were read and confirmed . Tho ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Companion Edmonds acting as candidate . As on this occasion the c ffices , with the exception of that of S . E ., wero occupied by some of tho members of the Earl of Carnarvon Chapter of

Improvement , who had accepted an invitation from this Chapter to work the ceremony of exaltation , a cordial vote of thanks was recorded on tho minutes to Companion Davis and the members who accompanied him for their kindness in attending and working the ceremony in snch an admirable manner ; and to mark their appreciation of his services , Companion Davis was unanimously elected an

honorary member of this Chapter of Improvement . It was also carried that a letter of condolence be forwarded to Companion Moss , a much respected member of the Chapter , on his late severe illness . The Chapter was then closed and adjourned . This Chapter will not meet during the Christmas week , bnt will be adjourned to Thursday , 5 th Jannary , at 8 p . m .

The Mysterious Organist.

THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIST .

A LEGEND OF THE RHINE .

FROM THE MASONIC REVIEW . YEARS ago , at tho Grand Cathedral overlooking the Rhine , there appeared a mysterions organist . Tho great composer who had played the organ so long had suddenly died , and everybody , from tho king to the peasant , was wondering who could be found to fill his place , when , one bright Sabbath morning , as tho sexton entered

tho clinch , he saw a stranger sitting at the crape-shrouded organ . He was a tall , gracfnl man , with a pale but strikingly handsome face , great , black , melancholy eyes , and hair like the raven ' s wing for gloss and colour , sweeping in dark waves over his shonlders . He did not seem to notice the sexton , but went on playing , and snch music as he drew from the instrument no words of mine can describe .

Tho astonished listener declared that the' organ seemed to havo grown human—that ifc wailed and sighed and clamoured , as if a tortured human heart wore throbbing throngh its pipes . When tho music had at length ceased the sexton hastened to the stranger and asked : "Pray , who aro you , sir ?" "Do nob ask my name , " ho replied ; "I havo heard that you

are in want of an organist , and I have come here on trial . " "You'll be sure to get the place , " exclaimed the sexton . " Why , you snrpass him that ' s dead and gone , sir . " " No , no , you overrate me , " resumed the stranger , with a smile ; and then , as if disinclined to conversation , he turned from old Hans and began to piny again . And now the music changed from a sorrowful strain to a grand old pocan , and the mysterious

organise" Looking upward full of grace , Plays still from a happy place—God ' s glory smote him in the face , " and his countenance seems not unlike that of St . Michael , as portrayed by Guido . Lost in the melodies which swelled around him , ho sat with his

far-seeing eyo 3 fixed on the far distant sky , a glimpse of which ha caught through an open window , when thero was a stir about the church door , and a royal party canto sweeping in . Among them might bo seen a bright young girl , with a wealth of golden hair , eyes iiko the violet ' s hue , and lips like wild cherries . This was the princess Elizabeth , and all eyes were turned towards her as site seated herself

in tho velvet cushioned pow appropriated to tho court . The mysterious organist fixed his eyes upon her , and went on playing . No sooner had the music reached her ears than she started , as if a ghost had crossed her path . Tito blood faded from her crimson cheek , her lips quivered , and her WIIOIH frame grew ti em ulcus . At last her eyes met thoso of tho organist in a long , yearning look ,

and the melody lost its joyous notes , and once more wailed and sighed and clamoured . "By faith , " whispered the king to bis dnnghtcr , "this organist has a master hand . Hark yc , he shall play at , your wedding . " " Tho pale lips of the princess parted , hut she coal I not

speakshe was dumb with grief . Like one in painful dream , she saw the pale man at the organ , and heard tho melody which Idled the vast edifice . Ay , full well she knew who it was , and why the instrument seemed breathing out the agony of a lot cured heart . When tho services were over , and tho royal party had left the Cathedral , ho stole away as mysteriously as ho had conic . Ho was

The Mysterious Organist.

not seen again by tho soxton till tho vesper hour , and then he appeared in tho organ loft and commenced his task . Whilo he played a veiled figure glided in , and knolt near a side shrine . Thero sho remained until tho worshippers disappeared , when tho sexton touched her on the shoulder and said : " Madam , everybody has gono but you and me , and I wish to close the doors . "

"I am not ready to go yet , " was the reply ; "leave me—leave me !" Tho sexton drew back into a shady niche , and watched and listened . Tho mysterious organist still kept his post , but his head was bowed upon the instrument , and he could not see the lone devotee . At length she arose from tho aisle , aud moving to the organ loft paused besido the organist . " Bertram ! " sho murmured .

Qmck as thought the organist raised his head . Thero , with the light of a lamp suspended to the arch above falling full upon her , stood tho princess who had graced tho royal pew that day . The court dress of velvet , with its ermine trimmings , the tiara , the necklaco , tho bracelets , had been exchanged for a gray serge robe and a long thick veil , which was now pushed back from the fair , girlish face .

" Why aro yon here , Bertram ? " asked the princess . "I came to bid you farewell ; and as I dare not venture into the palace , I gained access to the Cathedral by bribing tho bell-ringer , and having taken the seat of the dead organist , lot my musio breathe out tho adieu I could not trust my Hp 3 to utter . " A low moan was the only answer , and he continued : " You are to be married on the morrow ?"

" Yes , sobbed the girl . " Oh ! Bertram , what a trial it will be to stand at yonder altar , and take npon me the vows which will doom me to a living death . " " Think of me , " rejoined the organist . " Your royal father has requested me to play at the wedding , and I have promised to be here . If I were yonr equal I could be the bridegroom instead of the

organist ; but , a poor musician must give yon up . " " It is like rending my soul and body asunder to part with yon , " said the girl . "To-night I may tell yon this—tell yon how fondly I love yon , but in a few hours it will be a sin ! Go , go , and God bless you . " She waved him from her , as if she would banish him while she

had the power to do so , and he—how was it with him ? He arose to leave her , then came back , held her on his heart in a long embrace , aud with a half smothered farewell , left her . The next morning dawned in cloudless splendour . At an early hour the Cathedral was thrown open , and the sexton began to prepare for the wedding . Flame-coloured flowers nodded by the way .

side—flame-coloured leaves came rushing down from the trees and lay in heaps upon tho ground ; and the ripe wheat waved like a golden sea , and berries drooped in red and purple clusters over the rocks along the Rhine . At length the palace gates were opened , and the royal party appeared , escorting the princess Elizabeth to tho Cathedral , where her

marriage was to be solemnized . Ifc was a brave pageant—far brighter than the untwined foliage and blossoms were the tufts of plumes which floated from stately heads and festal robes that streamed down over the housings of tho superb steeds . But the princess , mounted on a snowy palfrey , aud clad in snow-white velvet , looked pale and sad ; and when , on

nearing the church , she heard a gush of organ music , which , though jubilant in sound , struck on her ear like a ftiueral knell , she trembled aud would have fallen to the earth had not a page supported her . A few minutes afterwards she entered the Cathedral . There , with his retinue , stood the royal bridegroom , whom she had never before seen . Bnt her glance roved from him to tho organ loft , where she had

expected the mysterious organist . He was gone , and she was obliged to return tho gracfnl bow of the king , to whom she had been betrothed from motives of policy . Mechanically she knelt at his side on the altar stone ; mechanically listened to the service and made the responses . Then her husband drew her to him in a convulsive embrace and

whispered : " Elizabeth , my queen , my wife , look np ?" Trembling in every limb , she obeyed . Why did those eyes thrill her so ? Why did that smile bring a glow on her cheeks ? Ah ' . though the king wore the royal purple , and many a jewelled order glittered on his breast , he seemed the same humble person who had been employed to teach her music , and had taught her the lore

of love . " Elizabeth , " murmured the monarch , "Bertram Hoffman , the mysterious organist , and King Oscar ( the royal Freemason ) are one . Forgive my stratngem . I wished to marry you , bnt I would not drag to tho altar an unwilling bride . Your father was iu tho secret . " While tears of joy rained from her blue eyes , the new-made queen returned Iter husband's fond kisses , aud for once two hearts wero made happy bv a royal marriage .

E . Surrey ' s Almanackand I ' ockel Companion for 1882 . —AVo heartily congratulate compiler , printer , and , above all , Mr . Surrey , tobacconist , of 21 Great Queen-street , W . C , on the auccesJ of their joint efforts in connection with this pocket companion . There is an abtind'ince of useful—we onght rather to say necessary—information as to postal arrangements , foreign money , places of amusement , & c . & c ; tho matter being well arranged and clearly printed , while the

Companion itself may be carried in the waistcoat pocket . There are also blank pages for the insertion of casual memoranda , aud a mica list of the goods vended in wholesale arid retail by Mr . Surrey . Of the cigars and tobaccos we can speak from personal trial of their merits . Onl y tho best qualities are offered for sale , and we feci assured that brethren who may give Mr . Surrey even a portion of their enstom will havo no reason to complain .