Our Veteran Leaders.

OUR VETERAN LEADERS .

A GLANCE at the list of Grand Officers appointed on Wednesday last supplies evidence that several of those we may term the permanent officials of Grand Lodge are now getting really old in the service , and for this reason the Craft is quite willing to leave the conduct

of affairs in their hands . The respect in which they are held throughout the Jurisdiction of our Grand Lodge testifies to their continued popularity , and we think we

are correct in saying that the general desire is that they may long enjoy good health , and continue to give the Craft the benefit of their experience and ability .

Before dealing with the different subordinate Officers , however , we may say a word in regard to the chief himself . Our Royal Grand Master will this year complete the twenty-fourth year of his Masonic reign , he having

succeeded the Marquess of Ripon on the throne of English Freemasonry on the 2 nd September 1874 anc --- as we shall see later on , he is in consequence one of the oldest in

point of service among us . Long may he continue to preside over our destinies as Masons , and long may the Craft enjoy the privilege of his genial rule .

Foremost in respect to length of service is the Grand Director of Ceremonies Sir Albert Woods , who has continuously held the office since i 860 , and has come to be regarded as one of the pillars of Grand Lodge , whose

presence is anxiously looked for on all state occasions , at least . It is well know that Sir Albert's health does not permit of his being present as regularly as in years gone by , or as often as he no doubt would like to attend at the present .

Next , our beloved Pro Grand Master who , although appointed to his present high rank in 1891 , had previously held the office of Deputy Grand Master since 1874 , anc ** may therefore be regarded as a permanent Officer from

that date . The awful calamity which befel Lord Lathom a few months back , when his wife was accidentally killed , aroused such a wave of sympathy throughout the Craft as proved at once his popularity in our midst , and must have been some consolation to him in the hour of his

great trial . Bro . Henry Sadler follows in order , having been Tyler of Grand Lodge since 1879 , and those who know our Brother will agree with us that he has not only added

to the dignity of this minor office he so worthily fills , but as Librarian of the Grand Lodge of England has aroused enthusiasm in an entirely new field of operations in our midst , and has done much to interest members of the

Craft in the past history of the Order , and its future development from a purely literary standpoint . As a Lecturer and Masonic Author Bro . Sadler has also won renown , and we think Grand Lodge may well be proud of him , the humblest among its Officers , but one of the

Our Veteran Leaders.

foremost in energy and active endeavour to promote the welfare of Freemasonry . Bro . Thomas Fenn , who has had the regalia and work of Grand Director of Ceremonies conferred upon him

so that he may act in the absence of Sir Albert Woods , has been a prominent worker in Grand Lodge since 188 4 , in which year he was appointed President of the Board of General Purposes , a post he relinquished in 1894 , and in

his case , too , there is a feeling that whatever he undertakes on behalf of Freemasonry will be faithfully and zealously carried through ; his splendid powers of organisation and management have been shown on more than

one occasion , particularly when special meetings of Grand Lodge have been held—as , for instance , last year ' s gathering at the Royal Albert Hail , in commemoration of Her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee .

Bro . Philbrick is hardly entitled to be included in these remarks , as he gave up the post of Grand Registrar —to which he was appointed in 1884—on Wednesday last but he has truly proved himself a veteran leader in our

midst , and no doubt relinquishes his post for the reason that bis public duties require his presence far from the metropolis , and he probably feels he ought not to hold so important an Office in the Craft if he is no longer able to give it the attention he has done in years gone by .

Passing on we now come to our esteemed Bro . Edward Letchworth , who has occupied the chair of Grand Secretary with marked ability since 1892 , and has shown to all who have come in contact with him that it is possible to

manage the affairs of his high office with courtesy and gentlemanly bearing . His actions have certainly been a living exemplification of the time honoured phrase

" Sauviter in modo , fortiter in re , " and we can cordially wish him a long continuance in office—to the satisfaction of his Brethren , and the advantage of the Craft at large .

One of the most important Offices in connection with the management of our Masonic affairs is that of President of the Board of General Purposes , which position has been filled by Bro . Loveland Loveland since 18 94 , in a way

that has not only called for little or no public criticismno mean testimonial in itself—but has frequently led to congratulation and compliment from those he is appointed to rule over , and those who , in his official capacity as head of the Board , have had occasion to consult him .

The office of Assistant Grand Secretary for German correspondence was created in 18 95 , and was first conferred on Bro . Cassar Kupferschmidt , who has been re-invested year by year , and has bast wishes for the future from all who have come into association with him .

Bro . William Lake assumed his post of Assistant Grand Secretary in 18 95 , and has full ) ' proved the wisdom of those who selected him to fill the important position . He had previously qualified as a leader in the Craft , by many years association with our contemporary , as its manager