The Romance Of Commerce.

THE ROMANCE OF COMMERCE .

rr ^ HE following particulars are given in the " Methodist JL Times" in regard to the rirni whose head at the present time is Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall Past Grand Treasurer of England Past Treasurer of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Girls and one of the most liberal

supporters the Masonic Charities has ever had , and who , as herein described , is assisted by Bro . H . B . Marshall jun ., likewise a liberal supporter of our Institutions : THE rapid growth of tho trade of MESSES . HORACE MARSHALL and

SON has necessitated the transference of most of their huge business to now premises overlooking the Thames Embankment . A few days since we paid a visit to that palatial establishment . Temple House , as the new structure is called , is a magnificent building in the Italian style , constructed of red brick and Portland stone .

The present head of the firm is Mr . Horace Marshall . Fiftyfour years ago his father , Mr . William Marshall , started the business in Leadenhall Street . Mr . Horace Marshall was then a boy , and he commenced lifo by taking charge of the first railway bookstall opened in the United Kingdom , at Fenchurch Street

Station , in 1840 . It was that boy who made this great business , now the second largest newspaper publishing house in London . On the day that Temple Houso was opened , 224 , 995 copies of the morning daily papers were sent out—a total only exceeded by the great firm of Messrs . W . H . Smith and Son , who issue somo 300 , 000 copies a day .

Mr . Horace Marshall has built up this hugo business from very humble beginnings by qualities which always ensure success . For thirty-five years he opened his warehouse at half-past one in tho morning ( for it is in the small hours of the morning that the publication of newspapers takes place ) , and during all those jears

he only missed one day . By such close attention to business , by sterling honesty and fair dealing was success attained . Though comparatively little known outside his immediate circle , Mr . Marshall is a type of the citizens who have made England great . Round the walls of his sanctum in his new business abode hang

many illuminated addresses , testifying in eloquent terms to tho esteem in which he is held by his Brother Masons—for he is a Freemason , and has held high office in that body ; by the various charities which have benefited by his princely philanthropy , and last , but not least , by his own employees . His praise is in all the

Churches . We believe he is connected with none ; for Mr . Marshall is in religious matters far ahead of his generation . He is now whore , in the good days that are to come , we trust the various branches of the Church of Christ may find themselves . Ho believes there is only one Church— the Church of Christ . He has outgrown tbo potty distinctions of sect . We believe he is as much a

Methodist as anything . Every good work has his sympathy and his liberal financial aid . Many people sympathise with evory good work—and stop there . We need only remind our readers of one example of this noble philanthropy , to which year by year we are delighted to call attention . Mr . Marshall publishes the " Methodist Times "; and every year since the foundation of this journal every farthing of tho publishers' profits has gone into the coffers of our " Worn-Out Ministers' Fund . "

Mr . Marshall is a member of the Corporation of the City of London , a magistrate , and a guardian of the poor . Probably Parliamentary and other honours are within his reach if he cares for them . But unostentatiously , without self-seeking , without ambition , he is content to discharge conscientiously the duties that lie nearest to his path in life . England wants many such citizens , many such business men . They are the real secret of her greatness .

Mr . Marshall ' s son and partner , Mr . Horace Marshall jun ., is following in his father's footsteps . An old Dulwich boy , he completed his education by graduating at Dublin University ( of which he is an M . A . ) , and then entered on commercial life . His thorough knowledge of his business and his genial courtesy eminently fit him to carry on his father ' s commercial ana philanthropic work .

. As a director of the " Methodist Times " he takes a deep interest in the welfare of this paper . It is pleasant for us , who are so intiniatoly connected with this great publishing house , to bo able to bear testimony to the kindly rolations that have always oxisted botween employers and omployed in this firm . There is nothing perfect in this world , but thero aro

few houses where the relations between masters and servants aro more nearly ideal . The late Chailos Kingsley prided himself on the length of time his servants remained in his house . There is no better test of a master ' s character . The Messrs . Marshall take pride in the same fact . Their present manager has been with them lor thirty-six years . This is one of the secrets of their

success . One interesting historical relic we must mention in closing . In the new sanctum there stands a little dosk which possesses an almost national interest . It was that used by Horace Marshall sen ., on the first English railway more than half a century ago . It looks wonderfully new , for it has recently been polished up to suit

the grandeur of its new surroundings ; but what a history of patient , quiet , honest , hard work it would have to tell , could it speak . Some people are in a great hurry to be rich , but to success in business , as to success in learning , there is no royal road . There would be fewer gigantic financial smashes if all our young people learned the lesson that those who reach the top first must climb the hill .

His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has graciously consented to become the President of the New Barnet Choral Society , which is being warmly supported by several * vell known Brethren and others of influence in the district .

Freemasonry In America.

FREEMASONRY IN AMERICA .

rflHE Hon . S . J . Way Pro Grand Master of South Australia , in 1 narrating a memorable tour he took a few years ago , an account of which appeared in the local Masonic journal at the timo , and in the " New Zealand Craftsman " of 16 th March last , said : — " May I now detain you with a word about what I Baw of American Masonry ? It is estimated that in Great Britain and

Ireland there are about 400 , 000 Freemasons , of whom there are not more than 200 , 000 subscribing members of the Craft . But on the great continents of North America thero are fifty-seven Grand Lodges and 650 , 000 affiliated Masons , that is , subscribing members . I think these figures show the enormous development of the Ctaft in America . Among the grandest buildings of the great American

cities you will always find the Masonic Temple , or the Masonic Grand Lodge . The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia is one of the finest Masonic buildings in the world . Masonry in Philadelphia dates since 1715 . Unfortunately , the evening I was in that city I had to address a valedictory meeting , and was therefore unable to attend any of the Lodges . Whilst in Washington I had the

pleasure of paying a visit to the ' Lebanon' Lodge of the District of Columbia . I also made the acquaintance of an honoured member of the Craft in the person of P . G . M . Brother Singleton the Grand Secretary , who two years previously was made the recipient of a handsome presentation on the occasion of celebrating his jubilee in Masonry . At the ' Lebanon' Lodge I had the

opportunity of noticing the differences in the working of the Lodges in America , England , and Australia . Freemasonry is the same throughout the world , but there are differences in working to which I must not refer , as we are not meeting in Lodge . The Grand Lodges in America take a closor supervision of tho working of tho Blue Lodges than we do . Everything undergoes the closest

scrutiny before the visitation of the Grand Master . The night of my visit was also that of the visitation of Grand Lodge , and during the evening the Grand Master had a presentation made to him of a trophy of rosos . At Boston the building is not equal to the Masonic Temple in Sydney , but it possesses a splendid library . I was welcomed at the ' Columbia' Lodge in this jurisdiction . The last

Masonic Temple that I visited in America was at New York . They boast there that they have the finest temple , the finest Grand Lodge , and the finest Grand Secretary in the Masonic world . I was not prepared to dispute the first and second statements , but when they made the third I am sure they had not had the pleasure of knowing Bro . Cunningham . Major Ehlers is , however , a man of

conspicuous administrative ability , and I have brought away with me the most grateful recollections of his fraternal attentions during my visit . The New York temple is not equal to the temple at Philadelphia in its exterior , but I doubt if in its internal accommodation the latter equals that of New York . The Grand Lodgeroom seats 1 , 000 , while they have their Tuscan , Doric , Ionic ,

Corinthian , Egyptian , Livmgstonic and other Lodge-rooms decorated in the highest style of art . The last is not named after the great African explorer , but after an early Grand Master , a distinguished lawyer of New York . The temple was erected at a cost of 1 , 750 , 000 dols ., or between £ 30 , 000 and £ 40 , 000 . That is something to be surprised at , but every penny of that amount was paid in the year

1879 . I think you will agree that that is something to be proud of . They may , however , be still prouder of tho fact that the rental from the basement , which is let to a large banking or insurance company , and of the Lodge-rooms , reach 11 , 000 dollars , every penny of which is available for distribution amongst Masonic charities . At Utica they have schools for boys and girls , and a home for

distressed Brethren , the buildings being worth from £ 30 , 000 to £ 40 , 000 , all paid for . There are 723 Lodges under the jurisdiction of the New York Grand Lodge , with a membership of 80 , 000 , and I am glad to learn from my friend , the Grand Secretary , that we might shortly expect the establishment of fraternal relations between that Grand Lodgo and our own . " — " Masonic Visitor . " '

Purely Personal.

PURELY PERSONAL .

LORD Llaugattock is back again at his . seat in Monmouthshire , His great houso properties in tho South of London are increasing in value , as fast at least as those of Lord Cadogan . WYCOMBE is losing one of its biggest families for a while . Lord and Lady Carrington are leaving their Buckinghamshire residence for Aberdeenshire , where they have been provided with quarters by tho Queen .

A Duke of Devonshire in embryo in more senses than one is Mr . Victor Cavendish , who has just left Holker . He closely resembles his uncle in face , voice , manner , and method . There is a great

similarity indeed between the members of the great Cavendish family . Common sense and deliberation are found in them all , perhaps pre-eminently in the Duke and his nephew and heir . — " Evening News . "

The Special Autumn Number of the " Warehouseman and Draper , " just issued , in addition to purely trade subjects , supplies interesting articles on " What will be Worn , " the newest and latest phase of fashion , accompanied by a large number of charming engravings . The number is a handsome production , and as a trade journal must be of keen interest to evory draper .

O o O ' THURSDAY , the 4 th of October , has been appointed for tho reception of Works of Art intended for the Autumn Exhibition ( the thirty-third ) of the 19 th Century Art Society , at tho Cuuduit Street Galleries .