Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ROBERT BURNETT .

THEKE was a largo assemblage afc the funeral of the late Bro . Burnett , on Friday , the 17 th instant , a number of Marcus attending to pay a tribute of respect to the memory . of one who had for many vears taken an active interest iu

their work , as well as others by whom tho deceased was held in hig h esteem . It was somo thirty years ago that Bro . Burnett was initiated into Freemasonry , at Worcester , and he afterwards became a momber of tho Beaufort Lodge .

No . 103 , Bristol , and continued so until a comparatively recent date . He was one of the founders of the Canynge Lodge , No . 1388 , in 1871 , and was Worshipful Master in 1877 . In 1890 he was P . G . S . W . of the Provincial Grand

Lodge . He was also a Past 1 st Principal of the Beaufort Chapter , and was appointed Provincial Grand Sojourner in tho Provincial Grand Chapter in 1889 . Ho took the warmest interest in Masonic Charities : aud ho was generous

in giving practical expression to his sympathy with the needy and distressed . The coffin , which was of polished

oak with brass furniture , was covered with handsome wreaths , and it bore an inscription giving tho date of the deceased ' s death—12 th March—and his age 73 .

BRO . ALFRED BISHOP P . M . 1892 TIIR announcement of the death of this well-known brother comes to us in the shape of a surprise , inasmuch as it was quite recently we saw Bro . Bishop in good health . The

deceased brother was much respected iu the Province of Surrey , uuru especially in Carshalfcou . He was a Past Muster of tho Walliugton Lodge , No . 1982 , having served

the office of Worshipful Master in that Lodge . Brother Bishop was buried on Monday . We offer to our deceased brother ' s family our sincerest sympathy in their great bereavement .

BRO . GEORGE JOSEPH WESTBURY . THIS respected brother died suddenly en Sunday , tho l'Jth inst ., from apoplexy , it is believed . Bro . Westbury , who for some time was a commercial traveller , was a

prominent Freemason , being a member of the Semper Fidclis Lodge , No . 529 , Worcester , and one of the Dudley Lodges , also a Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden . The members of the deceased brother ' s Lod

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The day ia past and gone for ever when Masonry is looked upon aa a secret society , in the general acceptation of the term . Much more is written than is contained in its esoteric teachings . Each year , yea , every day , shows its progress in tbo field of intellect and letters . Its beanty is found 'in tho thousands of volumes of bright books , which , for the want of a better term , we will name '' chips from the

quarries . " Iu speaking of the beantics of it as an educational factor , some express the idea that its teachings are of such a nature as to warrant a man in adopting it as his religion . If tbis were a fact , would the Christian minister , the rnbbi , and men of all the religions meet npon its level ? It can hardly be presumed that they wonld . While a high moral code is inculcated , n beautiful system of symbols

illustrated , no man can read even between tbe lines where it is set up as a substitute for religion . When the last sad rites are performed around the open grave , when the dust is about to retaru to the earth as it was , the Master , in the presence of death , on the very brink of tbe silent tomb , recommends his Brethren to prepare for that eternity in which our faith is unshaken . Progress is the watchword of the age—superstition and ignorance a thing of the past . A man

hiii but to read tbe works of any authentic Masonic author to be convinced of tho falsity of such rash superstitions , founded on an ungrounded theory , as have been set forth by edict and bull from royal palace and propaganda . As the sun rises and adorns the day , as his rays gild mountain tops , and a 3 he climbs to his meridian glory to beautify all creation , so has this literary light risen until its meridian has been attained . —Rough Ashlar .

' At the time of the organisation of the Grand Lodge of England tho first Grand Lodge which history mentioned , there was but one degree—that of Entered Apprentice . If the reception of that degree did not then make a Mason there was no Masonry at all until many years after tbe organisation of that old Grand Lodge . Moreover , in this country , until IS 13 , Grand Lodges , many , if not most of them ,

transacted their business in the first degree , and , with few exceptions , if not without any , all of the subordinate Lodges transacted their business in the first degree . We hold that when a man has received tue'iirst degree he is a Mason , as much so ns when he has received the thirty-three degrees recognised in Masonry . " —Frtttiiiasons' Repository .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 43.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 43 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FOBSOAW , LL . D ., 295 , 12 H , 2417 ( E . C . ) , 24 , 761 ( S . C . ) — : o : — ON MEETING A BROTHER . AT GRANGE .

Grange hath its charms , of mountain and of sea , Of sonl . renewing and refreshing air : Of brightest landscapes and of pride of lea ; Its glories are its own , full-bloomed and rare ; Its scenes to all are pure and fresh and sweet , Changeless , yet changeful , full of new surprise ; And if in Winter'B cold or Summer ' s heat

Unfailing bliss it gives the poet ' s pye . ° . What wonder that my heart with rapmr" glowed , And felt a gladness far beyond compare , When in dear Hazehvood'a sublime abode I met by chance a Brother of tho Sqaare ; For all perfection for a little space Gave untold joy in this joy giving place . Winder House , Bradford . 22 nd March 1893 .

The nineteenth annnal report and statement of aooounts of the di iotora of the Sheffield Masonic Hall Co ., Limited , for the year ending 31 st December 1892 , ia satisfactory . The net profit for tbe year is £ 137 7 s lOd , as against £ 200 15 s lOd for tho preceding year ; but it is to be noted that the 003 t of laying down a pitch-pine floor in the dining room , and of installing the electric light have been paid for out of income j and also that the receipts have increased by

£ 32 17 s . An endeavour has been made to obviate tho drafts in the Lodge room , and we are glad to hear this has been partially successful . The amount standing to the credit of revenue account is £ 270 Is Id , and the directors recommend a dividend of 2 s Gd per share on tte called-np capital of the Company , whioh will absorb £ 139 5 a ( being ' i \ per cent , for the year ) , paying 2 & per cent , per annum on calls ia advance , and carrying the balance to next year ' s account .

The genial and popular acting manager of the Mohawk Minstrels , Mr . Alex . Power , will take bis annual benefit ar . tho Boyal Agricultural Hall , IslingtDn , on Wednesday next-, the 29 th iin-tanr , when a whole host of tnleuted artistes will appear during tie evening . We trust that Mr . Power will have a successful evening .

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