North Wales.

A very pleasing and pathetic incident was introduced into the well-arranged programme in connection with the visit of Her Majesty to Bristol on Wednesday in last week . It appears that Bro . William Maby played the cornet in the band at the hotel in Clifton where Her Majesty stayed with

her mother , the late Duchess of Kent , nearly seventy years ago , and that this incident came within the knowledge of Her Majesty , or of her advisers who had the arrangements of the order of the day . At the halt made at the Bristol Council House Bro . Maby was presented to his Sovereign , and was

honoured with a personal conversation , Her Majesty greeting him with one of those kind expressions for which she is renowned : — "I am exceedingly pleased to see you here today , Mr . Maby . " This pathetic mark of sympathy with one of the humblest of her subjects evoked a storm of popular

applause . Upon the recent occasion Bro . Maby was playing the cornet with the band of the first Volunteer Batallion of the Gloucestershire Regiment . Our veteran Brother has served as Trumpet-Major in the Gloucestershire Hussars , and has held the same office to the grandfather of the present Duke

of Beaufort , whilst he was Bandmaster to the present Duke ' s father for some twenty-three years . He wears the long service medal of the Volunteers and is eighty-six years of age . Bro . Maby was initiated into Freemasonry in or about the year 1856 , in the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 68 . He is a Mark

Mason and a Royal Arch Mason , but has taken especial interest in the Orders of Knighthood . Herein probably there has been more scope for his musical knowledge and abilities , for he has served as first Grand Herald , and in this capacity heralded the Prince of Wales when he was made Supreme

Grand Master in the High Grades . During his long and useful life our Brother has heralded very many important functions—Masonic and otherwise—and his services at Consecrations and Installations are much valued and

appreciated . Bro . Maby was many years ago elected an honorary member of the Eldon Lodge , No . 1755 . Last week nearly all the London papers pleasantly alluded to the favour recently conferred upon him by an introduction to the Queen .

What ' s in a name ? Very much , we should say , after a brief glance at Bro . R . F . Gould's new book , " Military Lodges , or Freemasonry under , arms , " which we expected would be a very dr } ' addition to the dry volumes which form the majority of a Masonic library ; and which , instead , turns

out to be one of the most interesting Masonic books it has been our pleasure to look into , and goes to prove how much light readable matter can be compiled in connection with such an apparently dry subject as Military . Freemasonry . We have already spent a few pleasant hours perusing some

of the racy anecdotes Bro . Gould has been able to collect , and look forward to further enjoyment in the same direction , when we shall be better able to give a formal " review" of the book . Meanwhile we can but advise our readers to

procure a copy for themselves ; they will find it a pleasant companion for a railway journey , for an occasional snatch of reading , or for a steady perusal in regulation form . It is published by Messrs . Gale and Polden , at 5 s .

On Wednesday , 15 th inst ., a well-attended concert , organised by Bro . Walter Gladding , took place at the Cannon Street Hotel , the proceeds being devoted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . The chair was taken by Bro . Boulton P . P . G . S . D . Essex , and an excellent

programme of vocal and instrumental music was rendered , the principal artistes being Bros . Harry Tipper ( silver bells ) , A . Edwards ( cornet ) , A . Waldon ( elocutionist ) , Roland Henry ( musical sketches ) , Harry Greene ( tenor ) , W . H .

Berry ( humorist ) , Wills Page , W . C . Hamilton , and Fred Russell ( ventriloquist ) . The duties of musical director were ably discharged by Bro . W . C . Hamilton , while Bro . E . J . Jose presided at the piano . The stewards were Bros . E .

Smith P . M ., H . J . Seal S . W ., T . Threlford J . D ., and H . Casswell . 000 The will of the late Bro . Asher Barfield , of 26 Clarges Street , Mayfair , Past Grand Treasurer of England , was proved on 13 th November by Mr . Henry Piggott , and Mr .

David Frederick Norrington , the executors , the value of the estate being £ 27 , 124 9 s 5 d . The testator bequeaths his Masonic curios and £ 100 to Mr . David Frederick Norrington ; £ 100 to Mr . Henry Piggott ; £ 200 to his housekeeper , Charlotte Chapman ; £ 50 to his gardener , White ; and

North Wales.

£ 50 to Mr . Oliver Asher Daniels . His residuary estate is divided between Mr . David Frederick Norrington ; the children of his brother , Mr . Henry Barfield ; the children of

his sister , Mrs . Jane Martin ; the children of his sister , Mrs . Sarah Edwards ; and his brother , Mr . Charles Barfield . — " City Press . "

We direct the attention of our readers to an article we this week reprint from the "American Tyler , " recounting " some aspects of old country Masonry , " which is well worth a perusal . The writer has evidently visited little and

assumed much ; but he appears to be of an observant nature ; and directs attention to points which call for consideration and reform , although his opinions of some items he writes upon are highly coloured—at least from an English Mason ' s point of view .

The seventh annual Ladies' banquet and ball of the Confidence Lodge , No . 193 , will be held on Wednesday , 20 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , when Bro .

George Spice W . M . will preside and direct the proceedings . We wish the Brethren and their friends a repetition of the enjoyment that has attended the previous similar meetings arranged by the Lodge .

Those of our readers who are interested in the history of the Craft in bygone days would do well to refer to the report of the Phcenix Lodge , given elsewhere in this issue . An interesting sketch of the history of that Lodge is there given .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

IT has pleased The Great Architect to call our Brother Charles Barritt Barnes somewhat suddenly to the Grand Lodge above ; and it was amidst a scene of deep lamentation and regret that his earthly remains were properly disposed of on Tuesday , at the Elmers End Cemetery . The principal

mourners were his three sons ( all members of the Royal Athelstan Lodge ) and four daughters , while a large number of Masonic and other friends also assembled to pay their last tribute to departed merit . Bro . Barnes , who was in his sixty-sixth year , was initiated in the Royal Athelstan Lodge ,

No . 19 , thirty years ago , and by regular gradation became Master in 1886 . To commemorate his happy and successful year of office he presented to the Lodge a handsome silver Loving Cup , and this he has since supplemented by many other valuable gifts . After passing the chair he was

appointed as Secretary to the Lodge , which position he has since held . In 1870 he founded a Benevolent Fund in connection with the Lodge , which has been one of the most successful among the many to be found in Freemasonry , and has been the means of soothing many cases of affliction . He

was a universal favourite among the Brethren , to whom his modest , courteous and discreet conduct had endeared him as a personal friend . So highly was he esteemed among his fellows that last April the Lodge presented him with a silver Dessert Service and an illuminated , address , to mark their

appreciation of his valuable services as Secretary , and their high esteem of him as a Mason . The account of this presentation appeared in our issue of 22 nd April last . Bro . Barnes was a generous supporter of the Masonic Charities , and was a Life Governor of each . He was likewise one of

the Founders of the Telegraph Cable Lodge , No . 2470 ; and has altogether done good suit and service for the Craft in general . His death will leave a vacancy which it will be difficult to fill . THE announcement of the death of Bro . Joshua Milner , of Mirfield , which to ' ok place on Thursday , 16 th , at his

residence , will be received with deep regret , not only in Mirfield , but throughout the district , where he was well known and very highly respected . The deceased was sixtythree years of age , and , as a public man , faithfully served his fellow townsmen . For twenty-one years he was an active

member of the old Local Board . For a period of seven years he held the office of chairman of the local administrative body , and during that time he gave satisfaction to every member . In political matters Mr . Milner preserved a rigid silence , and no one knew to what party he leaned . In all

matters , however , which tended for the good of the community , and in all philanthropic efforts , he displayed a generous spirit . He was a member of the Wesleyan Church , and was circuit steward for about two years . He was a Past Master of the Mirfield Lodge , and its Charity Representative .