Rev. W. F. Reynolds, M.A., P.P.G.C..Middlesex.

boat carried a portion of the party to the yacht in safety ) bnt the second boat , which contained Miss Helen Paget and a younger sister aud threo other person ? , including tho boatman , was capsized . Miss Helen Paget and the boatman

were uufortunately drowned , but tho other threo passengers wero rescued . Miss Paget was a young lady of considerable musical distinction , and much sympathy will bo felt with Bro . Paget aud his family , tho former of whom has been many years the esteemed vestry clerk of Cierkenwell .

The Past Deputy Grand Master.

THE PAST DEPUTY GRAND MASTER .

THE retirement of M . W . Bro . H . E . Downer from the office of Deputy Grand Master , calls for a few remarks from us , if only to bear testimony to a long record of useful servioe faithfully bestowed by him , not only as a member of tho Grand Lodge of South Australia , but in his capacity of responsible hend under the English Constitution of former years . It was undoubtedly due to his superior influence that the latter Constitution held its own for the length of

time it did in this Colony , and those who then served under htm will not hesitate to grant this much and acoord him all the credit of his acts . Thoso were troublous times with us , well nigh a quarter of a ceutury ago , and made many a heart siok and spirit weary , yet Bro . Dowuer , firm of purpose and resolute to maintain the right in spite of untoward circumstances , kept the brethren together and saved the

Constitution ho represented from becoming a scandal and divided against itself . Now we have a happier rule to rely on we can afford to forget the troubles of the past , but we cannot omit the mention of it or withhold the merit which is bis portion , to one who has now relinquished the important office he has held for the past seven yeara with honour to himself and advantage to the Craft . In laying aside

that post of authority , we feel certain he does so with undiminished regard for the Institution , and the desire still strong npon him to remain a power among as . The following particulars of Bro . Downer ' s Masonic career will be of interest to our readers . Brother H . E . Dowuer was initiated in Uuited Tradesmen ' s Lodge , 583 E . C , in 1857 . Iu 1859 he was

elected Worshipful Master of that Lodge , and continued in the chair 1860 . 1 , aud again in 1865 . At tho end of 1861 ho was presented with a Past Master's jewel . He was exalted in the Leinster Royal Arch Chapter , 363 I . C ., in 1858 , and served in several offices . In 1863 he joined the Boyal Arch Chapter , 583 E . C , and filled the chairs of the three Principals in the following years . A Past Z . 's

jewel was presented to him in 1866 , and subsequently he served in the priuoipal chairs at various times , and in conjunction with Brother Dr . Whittell and others succeeded in keeping the Chapter together , lie still continues a member of the United Tradesmen's Lodge , now No . 4 S . A . C , and is an honorary member of other Lodges in this jurisdiction .

In the District Grand Lodgo E . C he held several minor offices . In 1867 was appointed Senior Grand Warden , and in 1869 District Deputy Grand Master , this latter position he held until just before the establishment of the presout Constitution , in 1884 , when he was elooted Deputy Grand Master , whioh office he retained until 1891 . lie was installed Second Graud Priuoipal in Supreme Grand Chapter in 1886 , whioh he held by virtuo of his position as Deputy

Graud Mastor . On leaving for England , Jauuary 1877 , a banquet was giveu to him by the Craft in White ' s Booms , at whioh nearly 200 brethren wero present , the proceedings being of the most eulhusiastio description . Ho is tho Representative of Grand Lodge of Ireland near the Grand Lodge of South Australia , aud wears a jewel sent him by the former Grand Lodgo . In addition to those ho is Chairman of Trustees of the Freemasons' Hall property . —South . Australian Freemason .

The Prince of Wales , saya a London correspondent , was recently approached with the view of securing his influence in efforts to extend Freemason Lodges among the regiments at home and abroad . The reply of the Princo was not encouraging , aud it amounted to this —that the Duke of Cambridge was totally opposed to all secret societies , and that it would be next to useless to make any

repre-Mentations ou the subject . The Duke has no antagonism to Masonry , for he is a Freemason himself , but he objects to it in the army on the ground of discipline . A somewhat antiquated idea certainly , for Masonry could in no way influence discipline for the worse . Its effect would be altogether the other way . The navy is not conspicuous for its want of discipline , and mauy of the ships , I believe havo Masonic Lodges on hoard . —Irish News .

Messrs . George Bell and Sons will publish in the autnmn the masterpiece of that strangoly endowed genius , Friedrich L . Z . Werner , " The Brethren of the Cross , " translated by Mr . E . A . M . Lewis . The poem is a powerful dramatic rendering of one of the most tyrannic and tragic episodes in history—the spoliation and sup . pression of the Order of Knights Templars of Jerusalem , and tho

martyrdom of the last Grand Master , Molay ; and to not a few its inLerest will be deepened by the mystic sequel whioh , " by the light of a tradition known to be hold by certain parties within the Masonio hody , the poet has attributed to these deeds of blood the institution of Freemasonry , and the promulgation iu Europe of religious ideas closel y akin to the thoosophical tenets of the present day . "

Saturday the 5 th September , promises to bo a red letter day in the annals of amateur athletics , as at a meeting held last week the Liverpool Masonio Athletio Club determined to hold a gigantic athletic festival on that date for the benefit of the Masonic Charities . 1 ho Liverpool Athletic Grouuds at Stanley will supply tho venue , and tho venture already gives promiso of being QUO of tho most

The Past Deputy Grand Master.

successful gatherings of the kind ever held iu the North of England . The programme embraces some speoial attractions of a novel description . A number of the Midland and Irish oraok riders and runners will compete , and the local public will thus have an opportunity of judging as to tho relative power of local athletes aud those from other parts .

A brother who went to America reoently , writing from Chicago to the Right Worshipful Masterof Lodge St . Vincent , 553 , summarises his experience iu these words , " I am in love with the country , but not with the people . " He saya he has often heard of Masonry in America , but he has now seen it , and finds that , except iu point of display ,

St . Vincent is a-head of them in the practice of the art . Ha then minutely describes his experience of a visit to a Lodge iu Illinoishis admission as a visitor , mode of testing , the working of the third degree , and the other ceremonial work as followed in the Lodge visited . "The opening was most elaborate , and the Lodge waa

passed in a very long way . " The " third " was wrought " in uniform . " The writer of the epistle has formed the opinion , rightly or wrongly , that the Americans as a rule love display— " give them a uniform , aud they are in the seventh heaven of delight . " They meet once a-week for drill . The Lodge-room , he says , waa splendid , aud

coneludes his letter thns : — " I very much prefer our own way in the main . There are a few things I would like to see adopted in our Lodges , bnt my impression of Masonry here is the reverse of favourable There is too much parade and too little love for the Craft . " —Glasgow Evening News

Midsummer Eve is an important day among the Freemasons of Scotland . At Melrose the festival is made the occasion of considerable display . After the election of office-bearers for the ensuing year the members of the Lodge walk thrice in procession round the town Cross , and then dine together . In the evening another

procession takes place , headed by a brass baud . The brethren are adorned with their peculiar insignia , and eaoh carries a lighted torch . After again walking thrice round the Cross they wend their way to the ruined abbey , where they maroh three times round the interior .

Thereafter they arrange themselves in a aemi-cirole near the spot where lies the heart of Robert Bruce ; and the ceremony ends with the letting off of fireworks , while the band plays " SootB wha hae wi Wallace bled . "—Newcastle Daily Journal .

Masonio books and journals are being sought after and read . Individually we are inquiring after knowledge , and we are becoming familiar with tho spirit and thought of the Masonio world . We thua

become better fitted for the important work that liei before us . It may not be inappropriate to add that a man cannot be well informed and an intelligent Mason , unless he ia a reader of current Masonio literature . —Jacob J . Todd , Indiana .

The church of St . Nioholas , Ribby-with-Wrea , near Kirkham , has just been provided with a handsome stained glass window as a Masonic memorial of the late Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Graud Master

of England . The window was formally unveiled by Sir Matthew White-Ridley , M . P . for the Blackpool Division , afc a speoial aervice in Ribby Churoh , the preacher being the Rev . T . B . Spencer , P . G . Chaplain , Vicar of St . James ' s , Preston .

A very choice parcel of ten , known as Golden Tips , growu on the Mahakettiya Estate , Ceylon , and believed to be the finest ever offered , was sold ou Tuesday , by publio sale , on tho Mincing Laue Market , at the remarkable price of £ 35 ( thirty-five pounds sterling ) per pound . It is understood this tea has been purchased for exhibition abroad .

THE MAD MEN or GOTHAM . —Among tho jest-books of tho time of James I . and Charles I . is one that is said to have been first compiled by Andrew Boorde , in the days of Henry VIII ., tho " Merry Tales of the Mad-men of Gottatn . " Gotham is a parish now containing seven or eight hundred inhabitants , about seven miles from Nottingham .

Hundreds of placos in and out of England have obtained local celebrity of the same kind as that which the old jest-book has caused Gotham to obtain in English literature . I quote one of the twenty merry tale 3 of the mad men of Gotham : —Forethought : When that Good Friday was come the man of Gotham did cast their heads

together what to do with their white herring , their red herring , their sprats , and salt fish . One cousulted with the other , and agreed that suoh fish should be oast into their pond or pool ( the which waa iu tho middle of the town ) , that it might increase against the next year ; and every man that had any fish left , did cast them into the pool .

The one said : " I have thua many white herrings ; " auother said " I have thus many sprats ; " another said : " I havo thus many rod herrings ; " and the other said " I have thus many salt fishes . " Let all go together into the pool or pond , and we shall fare like lord ' s tho next Lent . " At the begiuning of the next Lent following , the men

did draw the pond to have their fish , and there was nothing but a great eel . "Ah . '" said they all , " a mischief on this eel ! for he hath eat up all onr fish . What shall we do with him ? " said the ouo to the other . " Kill him , " said the one of them . " Chop him all to pieces , " said another . " Nay , not so , " said tho other , " let us drown

him . ' " Be it so , " said all . They went to anothor pool or potid by , and did cast the eel into tho water . " Lie there , " said they , " aud shift for thyself : for no help thou 3 halt have of us ; " and thoro they left the eel to ho drowned . —From " Cassell's Library of English Literature" for September .

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BRO . JAMES STEVENS P . M . P . Z . is prepared to enter into arrangements with Metropolitan anil Provincial Lodges ( howovor distant . ) for tho Delivery o £ bis Lectures on the Ritual und Ceremonial of ttio Symbolic Degroes in Frecimisonty ( uv * . hours ) , iu respect o £ which inosn favourable criticism has boon published by the Masonic and Local . rourmits . "Urothcr Stovons must bo heard within tho tour walls of our respective LodKO Room 3 , for tliero only can his most useful work be understood and apprceiiitod . " —Adrcas , iu first instance , to the caro o £ tho Editor of this paper .