Obituary.

Obituary .

— : u . — BRO . THE REV . A . F . A . WOODFORD , PAST GRAND CHAPLAIN .

AT the time of going to press the sad tidings reach us of the death of this talented brother , * vvho " passed away " this morning , at 3 a . m . at his residence , 6 Listen Road , Grafton

Square , Clapham , S . W . — : o : — BRO . HENRY JAMES AMPHLETT .

IT is with deep regret we this week announce the death of Bro . Henry James Amphlett , who died on Sunday , the 18 th instant , at his residence , 38 Hunter Street , Brunswick Square , W . C . Bro . Amphlett was initiated into

Freemasonry on tlie 26 th December 1874 , at the Alexandra Lodge , No . 1511 , Hornsea , Yorkshire . He was raised in March 1875 , and in November of the same year was advanced to the degree of Mark Master Mason , at the

Minerva Lodge , No . 12 , Hull . Bro . Amphlett was well known in literary circles , and his career as a journalist was of an exceptionally brilliant character . At the age of twenty-four he was appointed to the important position of

Editor of the Dorset County Chronicle . A few years later he became co-proprietor , with Mr . J . Holmes , of the Hull Packet and Hast Biding Times , aud the Hull and Lincolnshire Times . In 1876 , he became the sole proprietor of

these leading Yorkshire journals , but in the following year he formed the business into a limited liability company . About this time Bro . Amphlett ' s wife died , and he left Hull in consequence . For the past ten years ho has been

more immediately associated with tho London press , and during that time has held some important positions in the literary world . He was well known as a Masonic litterateur , and , almost since its establishment , has been a

contributor to the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and has rendered us goodly service on many occasions . Ho may be said to have died almost in harness . On Monday , the 28 th November , he was with us at Putney ; on the

following Wednesday he was seized with a fit while working absolutely at our side . Restoratives were immediatel y provided , and our brother was , a few hours afterwards , assisted to his home . A day or so later , the illness took a

serious turn , aud notwithstanding all that could be done by medical skill it terminated fatally . His loss will be deeply felt by his relations and numerous friends , among whom

he was esteemed and respected as one ever ready to assist —both as a worker and from his purse—those who claimed his help . The remains of our deceased brother were interred at Woking Cemetery , Brookwood , on Thursday .

The R . W . Provincial Grand Master of Kent , Earl Amherst , has beeu pleased to confer the honours of Past Provincial Grand rank , authorised by Grand Lodge in consideration of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee , on the following brethren of his Province : —

Bro . George Adamson . . . Grand Senior Wardcu William Russell . - - Ditto Charles Holtum - - - Ditto William Mate - Ditto Major Harpur .... Graud Junior Wardc

Henry Stock .... Ditto Alfred Wootton .... Ditto Captain Wm . John Blakey . . Ditto Edmund Coste .... Grand Registrar

Joseph Henry Jewell - - - Ditto Noah Martin .... Giand Senior Doaccu Alexander Spears - . - Ditto Capt . Wm . A . Weston . - - Ditto John Amos Bates - . - Ditto The appointments were made afc a special meeting of tho Provincial Graud Lodge of Kent , held afc Maidstone , or , the 19 th instant .

A UsKFiji , PKESKNT . —Afc the clois cf tho Liverpool Exhibition Messrs . Spiers and Pond , fche refreshment contractor . ' ) , pro son tod tlio crockery , which had boon in use during its continuance , to the v .-sriou .-. hospitals , industrial schools , aud charitable institutions in the Citv and neighbourhood . Upwards of ten thousand pieces oi crockery wore thns presented , and tho Recorder or Liv . rpool , Mr . Clarke Aspinall , kindly arranged and presided over iho distribution .

Qualifications.

QUALIFICATIONS .

A YERY bright Brother of our Craft , who hails from Brooklyn , gives us this expression of hia sentiments regarding the question , " Should a Master of a Lodge be well up in the traditions of Masonry F " " I have read carefully the proof sent me and heartily endorse the sentiment contained therein . I do not believe that the Master of a

Lodge must necessarily bo a delver into ancient history or a lover of antiquities , nor thafc such knowledge makes a good Mason . Let him live np fco the principles of our Institution , practise the

commendable virtues onr ritual inculcates , be true ancl faithful to the obligations ho assumes by virtue of his profession , and then he will be a Master to be proud of , a Brother Mason to love ancl respect . "Time is too short for most men of business to search ont the

hidden truths ; we must accept some by faith . An English Brother , in a recent address to a Lodge gathering , gives expression in these thoughts , all of which clearly explain both the qualifications for a Craftsman and a W . Master . " Masonry takes particular cognizance of the family in all its

relationship . It observes with unremitting care this Scriptural rule , ' He that provideth not for his own , and especially for those of his own house , hath denied the faith , and is worse than an infidel . ' The family system is the very basis of society , and Freemasonry seeks to maintain it in its integrity aud purity , and to promote its

development in all the perfection of its beauty . Thafc Charge , therefore , ia forward to recommend the practice of every domestic as well as public virtue . Ifc speaks with no uncertain sound when ifc says , 'Let prudence direct you , temperance chasten yon , fortitude support yon , and justice be the guide of all yonr actions . ' Theso are a catalogue

of virtues of the highest and most essential order , whether considered in their bearing upon the family or the individual , upon domestic or public life . Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions by the wholesome dictates of enlightened reason , and constitutes that habit of mind which leads men wisely to make the best of both

worlds . It preserves a man from the dangers of temptation , and from being readily involved in those pecuniary distresses which overtake the less wary . Ifc should , therefore , be the cultivated grace and distinguishing character of every Free and Accepted Mason . Ternperanco is the handmaid of prudence . A prudent man is a temperate

man—temperate , not in one thing , but in all things , in mind and deed . It is taking the mastery of our desires and passions , keeping them under due restraint and subjection , and holding them within the bounds of reason and religion . It is thus a Mason ' s enjoined virtne , the practice of which will be an effective barrier in the way of

mistakes , and a faithful monitor pointing out to him the path in which he ought to go . Fortitude is that strength of mind , that steady purpose of soul , which is eqnally distant from rashness on the ono hand , and from cowardice on the other . Ifc is to be brave , to be strong in the midst of difficulties and trials ; tofaco them all with a

good courage , ancl with a firm resolution to endure . Endurance is fortitude , not tho fortitude of a listless , indifferent stoic , bufc of thafc sense of right which is might , thafc resolute determination which looks upon the foe with a steady eye and dares him to como on , like our great Master , who , in spile of threafceuinga and

violence , remained firm and nnshaken even unto death . That fortitude is based upon faith ; faith in that power which never varies ; which holds out the hand of succour in tl . o season of perplexity , sustains tho fainting heart in tha cloy of adversity , and fays to tho desponding aud despairing , tho doubting and fearing , ' Rise up and

show thyself a man . Justice ia that noble virtue which consists in rendering , withont distinction , to every one his due . It is thafc divine principle which oaghf to govern all sorts ancl conditions of men in all the transactions and relationships of life . It is a vital essence of the moral law , and the standard and cement of civil

society . Without ifc confusion and anarchy would disorganiso its ranks , ancl social equity and intercourse would bo afc an end . ' " Masonry is like Jacob ' s ladder , reaching from earth to heaven , on which the angels of all good descend and ascend from this sublunary abode to the Grand Lodge above . Ancl what want wo more to infuse

within us a greater love for our Order , aud a deeper sense of the value of its precepts ? What want wo more to acquaint us moro perfectly with its aims aud objects , and enlighten our minds mora vividly with tho knowledge of its nature and principles ? If more is wanted , repair to its ancient landmarks , repair to its symbolical studio .

bit there and read your lessons and draw your sketches from that rich and vast emporium of Masonry . What i-i thafc apron we wear , of lambskin pure and white , but tha symbol of purity of heart and life ; thafc aa tho operative Mason wears his "pron to p . osorvo his garments fro .. n stain , so does tho speculative Mason wear h ' n to remind him of tho avoidance of moral defilement ? What aro thoso

whito gloves wo put on bufc tho symbol of clean h aids ' , which aro identified with tho pure heart , am ! signify the nrofiil observance of the four cardinal virtues P Ar . d what arc iho working tools of operative Masonry bufc the chosen symbol ; . ' of tho apoeehi t-ive P What is

that gauge , that gavel , IhrO , dii . scl , that level , that square , that trowel , thafc plumb ? What are they all iu their combined significance hut tho symbols of our faith arid works , teaching us fcho great principles of morality , aud the greet truths of religion P" —Freemason ' s Journal .

Uio couaocratiou of the FrccLu-i-k Wu 4 L ^ o ^ r , No . 2222 , took place on Tcc-s : ! - * y Jsist , at i . \ w . Cersi . k ; Hotel , Hampton . Coir : ' *'; Si ' . ition . The Provhu-. i' -l Grirod Mrisirji . nf Surrov General J . Ktcdholmo IJroY »'* m-i < "v . ( IT ) ,. rvvulnc i ttrl the

procccdi-j ^ s . A fa !! repot * ; roll app-ar our nc- " !\ ie ' ili'i ' si ^ iii . Ca u : ro ; jcrty ciu-riod out and -oorooiiaily attondcct ia ladnclon or Country , by Bro . G . A . Hl / TTOa , 17 Uuwonisila Street , Sli-sir .: ! , ''< V . C , I-I on-amenta Ci-ootid . V" hid , lions ir-ids .