Presentation To Bro. John Laurie.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . JOHN LAURIE .

Ou Thursday evening , 15 th April , 1875 , Bro . John Laurie , Grand Secrttary of the Grand lodge of Scotland , and Past Master of Canongate and Leith Lodge of Freemasons , was entertained to a complimentary dinner in the'Peacock Hotel , Newhaven , near Edinburgh . The occasion was also taken to present the honoured guest

with a valuable token of the esteem of the members of the local lodge , as well as of other members of the Craft . The presentation which was very valuable , took the form of a handsome combined clock , barometer , Sc ; and a massive silver tea service for Mrs . Laurie . The former contained the following inscription : — " Presented to Bro . John Laurie , along with a service of silver plate , by the office-bearers and brethren of Lodge Canongate and

Leith , No . 5 , in recognition of his valuable services and the able manner in which he discharged the duties of R . W . Master . Leith , 15 th April 1875 . " About fifty brethren sat down to dinner , including members of a number of sister lodges . Bro . W . presided , and Bro . E . Drummond , acted as Crouper . After dinner the chairman proposed " The Queen , " " The Three Grand Masters , " and " The Army , Navy , and Reserve Forces , " with which was coupled the name of Sergeant Bryce .

The chairman then rose and asked the company to join him in drinking to The Health of their honoured and respected friend , Bro . Laurie . He had great pleasure in giving this toast from the chair , although he wished it had been filled by a better man , in order to have done it full justice , but jf wanting in ability he excelled in a desire to pay honour to their guest . He had long and intimatel y

known Bro . Laurie . He had seen him discharge many responsible duties in connection with their Craft—as assistant-secretary to the late Grand Secretary , as Grand Clerk , and now as occupying the responsible and laborious office of Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Those who knew what the duties of that office were would understand somewhat the amount of labour , tact , and

consideration required in their discharge . In Bro . Laurie he had lound one of the most urbane , generous , and kind-hearted fellows he had ever met with . But further , he discharged his duties with a capability and with a vast knowledge of details—a knowledge probably not excelled by any living member of the Scottish Craft . Knowledge , they had been told long ago by that great philosopher , Benjamin Franklin ,

was power , and this was fully exemplified in the person of the Grand Secretary . Many people went about him , and many irksome questions were put to him , which their friend would often feel a difficulty in dealing with , but his ability overcame all . They in Leith had been more intimately connected with him of late in the discharge of the duties of Master of Lodge No . 5 . During the period

he held that office he had won their respect , and also the admiration of every one who had sat under his rule and who had the interest of Masonry at heart , and in particular the honour of that lodge . He was very much gratified they had met in such large numbers to mark the thorough respect and deep esteem they entertained for him , and more so as they were able to present to him a

substantial mark of that respect and esteem . He had now to ask Bro . Laurie to accept of the testimonial as an indication of the high regard in which he was held by them , and of the deep gratitude which they all felt for the very efficient and admirable manner ih : which he had discharged the duties of Right Worshipful Master of Lodge No . 5 , and in doing so he expressed a heartfelt wish that God would

watch over him for good and all connected with him , and give him every abundantly grace and every blessing . The toast was honoured enthusiastically , aftfe- which Bro . J . Laurie said he thought it was one of the most delightful features in connection with a meeting such as this that it made one feel perfectly at home . He was sure if there was anything calculated to give him confidence ,

placed in the trying circumstances in which he found himself that evening , it was the kind , genial faces which surrounded liim . He earnestly wished he could rise to the level of the occasion , but he was sorry to say that while he did not wish to descend into anything like weakness , the rather enfeebled state of health in which he found himself exercised a depressive influence which took away all

power of replying in adequate terms to the cordial toast as proposed by Bro . Officer , and so heartily and kindly responded to by them . In the very fact that they had selected Bro . Officer to preside over the meeting he recognised a kindness and consideration which he thoroughly appreciated . Bro . Officer was one of the oldest and best friends he had in connection with Freemasonry . He hail given

them some little account of his connection with the Grand Lodge , and had been kind enough to speak in eulogistic terms regarding him , but he assured them if he had had the happiness of gaining the approbation and earning the satisfaction of the brethren with whom he had come in contact , and in some measure discharging the duties that had fallen to his lot , it had been because such true-hearted

Masons as the chairman had kindly lent' him their encouragement , their countenance , and their support . And now what would he say in responding to their generous and hearty kindness , as manifested in the munificent present which they had been pleased to give as a testimonial of their regard ? He felt that it was quite beyond his power to give expression to his feelings—indeed , words were too poor to say how deeply he thanked them . He

thanked them not only for this expression of their esteem and respect , but for the kind expression of sympathy which had accompanied it . It was true that he had had some little experience in connection with their Crait . A good many years had passed away since he entered upon the duties in connection with their Order , and , as had been truly remarked by the chairman , he had necessarily gained a considerable knowled ge of the details and matters affecting the interests of the Order , and no doubt , as he had

Presentation To Bro. John Laurie.

very aptly put it , " knowledge was power , " and had greatly assisted him in being able to discharge the duties of his office . Having undertaken that office , he had endeavoured as far as it lay in his power to discharge them so as to merit the satisfaction and approbation of his

brethren . He had not altogether achieved what he had hoped , and what , if spared in the good providence of God , he might yet achieve , but he was glad that , so far as time had run , he had not to look back with anything like regret upon the exercise of his offices or the contact it had led him into with the hrethren . It was his ambition to be

associated with the progress of their Craft in this country . As regarded his relationship to Lodge No . 5 , although it was a great many years since he first had the honour of being connected with the lodge , the time in which he had the more intimate relationship of holding office in it was comparatively short . They were good enough to ask him to occupy the chair of Lodge No . c , and even in that there

was an act of kindness . At the time that that request was preferred it became a matter almost of necessity that he should in the discharge of the other office he held have the chair or Installed Master ' s degree . That of course he had not attained previously , 5 and when the request was made to occupy the chair of No . 5 , he recognised in it a kindly desire on the part of his brethren in Leith to set the

question at rest . During the time he had the honour and happiness of occupying the chair of No . 5 lie had enjoyed a most delightful twelve months . He could truly say that from the first hour he had the pleasure of coming in contact with the members of No . 5 , up to that moment , he had not had occasion to have a single jarring word , or a single unpleasant reminiscence to look back upon . Their

meetings were thoroughly harmonious and pleasant ; and although he came a comparative stranger among them , he received such hearty support , and at all times met with such consideration , that it was impossible that a more pleasant and profitable year could have been spent . He regretted that just at its close an unfortunate ailment had overtaken him , and since then it had almost been out of

his power to be present at the meetings . He regretted that very much , as he had lookckL forward this year to being as frequently in his place as he had been in the past , and doing whatever little lay in his power to support the present R . W . M . in the discharge of the duties of his office . It had been a source ol great satisfaction to know —for he had been carefully informed of the proceedings

of the lodge—that its labours had been carried on with unabated zeal . For him to say that he thanked them most sincerely and from his heart was but simply to convey to them all that words could . He had felt touched with the very kind manner in which the presentation had been made in so far as they had remembered one who was much dearer to 1 dm than himself—one who had been a sort of

guiding star to him through life , with whom he had now been associated for the last twenty years—a true-hearted woman , anil a devoted and loving wife . He scarcely knew how to thank them on her behalf . He knew she would feel deeply , and thoroughly appreciate the kindness they had been pleased to show her , for there was nothing that brought greater pleasure to her heart than to

have evidence such as this , that her husband was respected . On her behalf he most sincerely thanked them . He had to beg that they would excuse his few rambling remarks , and on another occasion , perhaps , he would have the opportunity of saying more , and expressing- ton them more

fully and more perfectly how deeply and how truly he felt and appreciated the generous kindness they had been pleased to show him . Various other toasts were proposed during the evening , and the assemblage broke up at an early hour , highly gratified with the proceedings .

In our number of 24 th October last we called attention to the valuable impro \ emenls in mineral oil lamps which Messrs . Diet / , and Co ., of Carter-lane , St . Paul's , E . C ., had brought before the public , under the name of the Paragon Burner . A further application of these burners has recently been made , which is of special importance to the proprietors of shops , refreshment bars , eVc This new variety is called

the I ubc Lamp , and its particular excellence rests in the fact that it abrogates the use of breakable reservoirs , the burner being screwed direct into the tube , so that the support of the lamp is in reality the receptacle or container for the oil . As the exact hourly consumption of each burner has been ascertained , it follows that by simply regulating the cubical contents of the tube a lamp can be supplied

which can be trimmed at distant nervals . This brings the convenience of mineral oil lamps up to a level with gas , whilst , as is well known , its illuminating properties , when consumed in the Paragon Burner , areof far greater intensity than coal gas , backed by considerable advantages on the score of economy , adaptability ;' and' safety , with no deleterious influences upon health or household fittings and

decorations . Mr . Latz , the managing partner of this eminent firm , has just patented an ingenious invention , which is likely to supersede other existing methods for suspending chandeliers , as it is more reliable than the old telescopic slide , or balancing weights , and entirely removes the well-known inconveniences attached thereto . It is equally applicable to chandeliers for oil or gas .

Bro. Harty's Picture.

BRO . HARTY'S PICTURE .

Bro . Harty is preparing a picture of the Installation and would be glad it brethren would send their cartes de visite to Bro . Keniiing ' s , 123 , Little Britain , for - him . Bro . Marty ' s portrait of the Prince of Wales is much admired . We shall publish an account of the new Grand Officer ' s in our next

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

The death of Bro . Geo . Painter , who was proprietor or more than 40 years of the Ship and Turtle , took place almost suddenly at Aldborough Hall , Ilford , on Sunday , the 18 th ult ., in the 68 th year of his age . Bro . Painter was on the court of the Vintners' Company , and was well known and respected from his long connexion with the City . The funeral took place on the Thursday following .

The Lord Mayor has received a special invitation from the Lord Mayor and Corporation of Dublin to attend a banquet to be given in that city on the 29 th of June . The Lord Mayor will pay the visit with all due civic state .

The Ramblers' Club ( numbering 700 members ) has secured . suitable and commodious premises at 66 , Colemanstreet . The entrance fee will , we are informed , be shortly considerably raised . The Priory Chapter No . 1000 will be consecrated ( this day , Saturday ) , at the Myddleton Hotel , Southend on Sea ,

by Bro . R . Wcntworth Little , P . M ., P . Z ., Prov . G . Sec . Middlesex , at three o ' clock . Comp . the Rev . R . S . R . Wyram , P . Z ., is the M . E . Z . Designate , Comp . E . E . Phillips , H . Designate ; and Comp . A . Lucking , J . Designate . Trains leave London , as follows : —Bishopsgate-st ., 10 . 42 a . m . ; Fenchurch St ., 10 . 52 a . m . An emergency meeting of the Great City Lodge will be

held at the Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on Saturday , May 1 st , in celebration of the installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., and in commemoration of the foundation of the lodge . ROYAL ORUEII or SCOTLAND . —A meeting of the Prov . Grand Chapter and Lodge of London will be held on May 13 th , to ballot , advance , and promote six brethren , and for the transaction of other business .

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . —A meeting will be held on May 12 th , to advance twenty-four brethren from the 18 th to the 3 0 th degree . Bro . J . Unite of EdgwareRoad suppled the scarlet and white buntings , & c , used in the corridors and entrance at

the Albert Hall , on the occasion of the Installation . The Illustrated London Acws contains this day ( May 1 st ) two very interesting page illustrations of the Prince of Wales attired as Grand Master , and His Royal Highness's Installation .

We regret to announce the death of Bro . Strickland Muggeridgc , son of Bro . Henry Muggeridge , the well known and highly respected Masonic Preceptor .

The Masonic Carpet.

THE MASONIC CARPET .

The Masonic carpet , laid down at the installation , was manufactured and designed at Halifax expressly by Bro . John Lewis ( Westminster and Keystone No . 10 ) of Halifax and London , and approved by the committee under the presidency of Bro . Sir Albert Woods , G . D . C The carpet , which has been presented by Bro . John Lewis , is of superior

velvet pile , and runs the whole length from the Royal Entrance to the throne or dais . It is seven feet six inches in width , and 165 feet in length , having a border to suit . The ground is of rich Saxony blue , with the arms of the Grand Lodge of England , and in compliment to the Royal Grand Master the Prince of Wales . Feathers issueing from a crown , studded of jewellery , is also introduced

alternately with the Coat of Arms . The border is composed of Grand Lodge emblems , vjz .: ribbon with the wheat ear , vine and laurel inlaid in same . The Albert Hall was visited by I lis Royal Highness the Grand Master , when Bro . Lewis personally received , from His Royal Highness , the very highestcompliinent , by expressing the great satisfaction that it gave him . Bro . Lewis had

the furnishing of the Prince ' s Pavilhon , at the Vienna Exhibition , and on that occasion the paintings even sent expressly from Savile Hall for that purpose , and Bro . Lewis received , from the Emperor of Austria , the decorations of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour . It is the intention to remove this carpet to the Freemasons' Hall for the Grand Lodge Room .

The dais or throne was also covered by Bro . John Lewis with crimson cloth , on which was placed a magnilicient mosque oriental carpet , fully ' one century old , which for beauty and softness of design can only be compared to a Raphaelite painting , and to complete the arrangements a sumptious Indian rug of pure silk of beautiful design in

Porcean and gold , was placed at the foot of the chair on which rug the Royal Grand Master stood to be installed . It may be remarked that it is only a few days since the design was approved of the Masonic carpet by the committee , and that the whole has been manufactured within a lew days , thus shewing the rapidity of machinery and appliances of the present day .

The Prince Of Wales's Lodge (No. 259.)

THE PRINCE OF WALES'S LODGE ( No . 259 . )

His Royal Highness the Duke ot Counaught received his 3 in this lodge on Tuesday evening , when the cere nionywas most , impressively performed by Bro . Robert Grey , Deputy Master of the lodge , the Prince of Wale : : being Master .. The Duke of Counaught expressed himselt in wmtu

in the highest terms of admiration of the way ceremony was gone through , and afterwards remained to see the ceremony of initiation . Bro . Grey il will be seen from another portion of our impression of to-day , was 01 Wednesday appointed to Grand Office .