Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . WILLIAM KELLY . We deeply regret to have to record the death of Bro . William Kelly , P . P . G . M ., & c , ofthe Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , which occurred at his residence in Leicester , on the 23 rd ult . Bro . Kelly , owing to his advanced age , had been in failing health for some time , but until quite recently he was able to move about the

house . On the 23 rd ult . he sat up in his room as usual , but died suddenly as he was about to go to bed . The name of Bro . William Kelly has for many years past been a household word in Masonic circles , particularly in the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland . He was the oldest Mark Master in the country . He joined St . John ' s Lodge , Leicester , as far back as 18 3 8 , at

which time only two of the 14 lodges now in the province were in existence , and in 1 S 41 was made W . M . Five years iater , assisted by other members of ' St . John ' s , ' and supported by the late Sir Frederick Fowke , Bart ., and Earl Howe , he obtained a warrant for the foundinglof the John o' Gaunt Lodge , of which | he was the first Master . In this responsible position he rendered

yeoman service to Masonry—services which in 1848 were recognised by the presentation to him of an elegant Past Master's jewel . This , however , was only an earnest of honours to come , for in 1 S 52 he became Deputy Provincial Grand Master , under Sir Frederick Fowke , and at the unveiling with Masonic honours ofthe Dukeof Rutland's statue in the

Marketplace , Mr . Kelly was attired in the gorgeous Grand Lodge regalia of the Duke of York , who died sometime previously . The position of Provincial Grand Secretary was conferred on Mr . Kelly in 1854 , and on the death in 1856 of Sir Frederick Fowke , the duty devolved upon him to install Lord Howe as Provincial Grand Master , the imposing ceremony

being performed at the Three Crowns Hotel , and 14 years later ( 1870 ) , he succeeded to this high office on his lordship's retirement through illhealth , receiving from Earl Howe the gold chain which he wore as Deputy Grand Master of England , and the whole of his Masonic jewellery and other accoutrements . This high office Mr . Kelly held until

illhealth necessitated his retirement in 1872 , on which occasion he was the recipient of a purse of 150 guineas and a handsomely illuminated address in book form . It may be added that deceased was four times Worshipful Master of St . John ' s Lodge , and on various occasions was the recipient of valuable presents from his fellow-members . The Leicestershire Province is

the second oldest in the country , and Mr . Kelly officiated as Grand Mark Mason of Leicestershire since 1858 . Among other Masonic functions at which he presided may be mentioned the foundation-stone laying of St . Paul ' s , St . Mark's , and St . Peter's churches , and of the Municipal Buildings . The deceased was also an author of considerable local repute , his better known

productions including 'Visitations of the Plague at Leicester , ' ' Royal Progress to Leicester , ' ' The Old Guildhall of Leicester , ' ' The Drama in Leicester in the 16 th and 17 th Centuries , ' 'The Great Mace of Leicester , ' and '" Anacreon " Moore in Leicestershire . ' He was also a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society , a Fellow of the Society of Antiquarians , and for

several years hon . secretary of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society . " Amid profound tokens of respect the funeral took place on the afternoon of the 28 th ult ., when a very large number of distinguished brethren and personal friends attended . Amongst the occupants of the carriages were : Bros . G . Toller , P . D . P . G . M ., P . G . Swd . B .

England ; Rev . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., P . P . S . G . W . ; C F . Matier , Grand Secretary ( Mark ) ; Robert Berridge , P . G . D . England ; Dr . Pratt , S . D . 1560 , etc . The officiating clergy included Bro . Rev . H . J . Mason , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., P . M . 1146 , etc . The coffin bore a Masonic emblem , and the inscription " William Kelly , died 23 rd August , 18 94 , aged 79 . " The funeral service

was performed in the presence of a large congregation , which included amongst many others the following members of the Craft : Bros . Sir Thomas Roe , M . P ., Derby ; Thomas Cox , Derby , Deputy Provincial Mark Master of the Province ; and H . Woodiwiss , Derby , l ' rom the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland—Bros . S . S . Partridge , D . P . G . M ., P . A . G . D . C Eng . ;

Rev . W . Langley , P . P . S . G . W . ; Major Robert Brewin , P . P . S . G . W . ; Aid . Hart , Mayor of Leicester ; G . Oliver , P . G . Treas . ; H . Pickering , W . M . 279 ; CE . Stretton , P . M . 279 , P . P . S . G . W . ; C . Gurden , P . M . 2 79 ; R . Mitchie , P . M . 279 ; C . Brennior ., P . M . 279 ; W . H . Marris , P . M . 279 ; C S . Preston , P . M . 50 ; 0 . NeighbourW . M . 523 F . JBainesP . M . 523

, ; . , , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . T . Thorpe , P . M . 523 , P . P . S . G . W . ; J . B . Waring , P . M . 523 ; T . G . Charlesworth , P . M . 523 ; H . P . Brown , P . M . 523 ; A . F . Holland , Sec . 523 ; G . Newsome , P . M . 523 ; F . B . Neale , P . M . 523 ; T . Wykes , P . M . 523 ; D . Challis , P . M . 523 ; A . Lawrence , P . M . 523 ; W . J . Curtis , P . M . 523 ; W . Vial , J-M . 100 7 P . P . S . G . W . T . B . LaxtonP . M . 1007

, ; , ; C . Oliver , P . M . 1007 ; G . C . Oliver , P . M . 1007 ; W Wootton , J . D . 1007 ; C . L . Ferneley , W . M . 1130 ; E . ¦ V Knight , S . D . 1130 ; A . Chambers , W . M . 1391 ; S . £ n'ght , P . M . 1391 ; T . S . H . Ashwell , P . M . 1391 ; r . Lambert , J . D . 1391 ; G . E . Barton , I . G . 1391 ;

A-J- West , W . M . 2081 ; W . H . Staynes , P . M . 2081 ; G J « sop , P . M . 2081 , P . P . J . G . W . ; W . D . Grant , S . W . •*-79 i C . Larkin , J . W . 279 ; J . Clifton , Sec . 279 ; «•R . Billings , D . of C . 279 ; J . Butcher , S . D . ~/ 9 ; W . Finn , I . G . 279 ; H . J . Grace , W . M . 2028 ; {?•G . Marriott , S . W . 2028 ; A . F . Rawson , u - of C . 2028 ; E . C . Kilby , I . W . 2081 ; F . S . Water-

Obituary.

man , Sec . 2081 -, S . Cleaver , S . J . Lilley , W . Bream , J . Bloxham , Tyler ; and many others . Bro . G . Tarver , W . M . of the William Kelly Lodge , No . 353 , Burtonon-Trent , was also present . The coffin was covered with wreaths , some were also displayed in the chancel ot the church , a large number of these were from the

various lodges in the province . Many of the brethren in the province , and from other parts of England sent telegrams and letters expressing their deep regret at being unable to attend . The Prov . Grand Master , Bro . Lord Ferrers , who , much to his sorrow , found it quite impossible to be present , has given directions for the lodges throughout the province to be placed in

mourning . Bro . Henton Wood , who , for a long time has enjoyed in a special degree the intimacy of our departed Brother , sends us the following : — The brethren laid to his rest , on the 28 th ult ., in the churchyard of Knighton—a village lately absorbed by the great Borough of Leicester—one of the grandest

old Masons of our time . He died somewhat suddenly , but without suffering , on Thursday night , the 23 rd ult ., to the great regret of his friends and brethren , and indeed of all who knew him . At the time of his decease he was not only Past Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland , in succession to Earl Howe , but Grand Superintendent of the Province

( since 1870 ) , and the senior existing Prov . Grand Mark Master ( since 1858 ) . He was also Chief Intendant-General for Leicestershire , Rutland , Notts , Norths , and Hants in the Masonic and Military Order of Rome and of the Red Cross of Constantine ; a member of G . E . K ., K . H . 30 , and a Knights Templar of renown . As founder , consecrating officer , senior subscriber , or

F . M . & c , he was ultimately connected with nearly every Masonic body in the province , and he has laid with Masonic rites the foundation stones of many magnificent structures . Bro . William Kelly was a Fellow of the Royal Antiquarian and Historical Societies . He was an ardent arch .-eologist , and the author of many books of local antiquarian interest .

The number of brethren and friends who attended his funeral was great , and widely representative ; it would have been greater it many had not been away from home at holiday resorts , and if others had not been absent owing to the present turmoil of a hotly contested Parliamentary election . The Provincial Grand Lodge was specially represented by Bro . Partridge , D . Prov .

G . M ., who came a long distance to be present , and by many Past and Present Prov . Grand Officers of the Royal Arch and Mark Degrees . Lord Ferrers , Prov . G . M ., has ordered the lodges to go into general mourning . H . R . H . the Princeof Walesand the Grand Mark Lodge were officially represented by Bro . C F . Matier , G . Sec , and Bro . R . Berridge , who with some

others worthily represented Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter , & c , and Bro . Cox , D . P . G . M ., and other brethren , represented the Mark Masons of Derbyshire . The beautiful Burial Service of the Church was solemnly rendered by the Rev . M . Lord , curate-incharge of the parish , and by Bro . Rev . H . J . Mason , B . A ., Prov . G . Mark Sac , lately Prov . G . Mark Chap .,

and a Prov . G . Soj . The choir admirably sang the musical portion of the service and two hymns , singularly appropriate to our dear friend and veteran brother deceased , viz .: " Peace , perfect peace , " and " Now the labourer ' s task is o ' er . " Time would

fail me to enumerate the many faithful and true brethren and friends who stood around , but the grey heads of many not quite his coevals were a feature of the scene ; and as we cast our sprigs of acacia into the grave we thought of our own coming day , and that we shall never look upon his life again .

THE LATE BRO . WILLIAM KELLY AND THE LOUGHBOROUGH LODGE . At the meeting of the 28 th ult ., of the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , No . 1007 , after the business of the evening was ended , Bro . Lowenstein , P . M ., Provincial S . G . D ., rose and addressed the lodge as follows : Worshipful Master and Brethren , —A dire

calamity has cast a gloom over the Masonic world , particularly in this province . Our much beloved brother , Bro . Kelly , P . P . G . M ., has been summoned from this sublunary abode , and ascended to the Grand Lodge above , where the world ' s great Architect lives and reigns for ever ; and upon me , as the Senior Provincial Ofiicer for the year , present , devolves the sad

duty to propose that the great loss which we have suffered be recorded on the minutes . It would be presumption on my part to say anything in praise of a brother who was so well known by all of us , or to mention the many acts of kindness I have personally received at his hands , but with your permission , Worshipful Sir , I would like , for the information of the

younger brethren , to give a short outline of the connection the late lamented brother had with the Loughborough Lodge , and the interest he took in its welfare . Bro . Kelly was initiated in St . John's Lodge , No . 279 , then No . 348 , on the 7 th November , 1838 . St . John ' s was then practically the only lodge in the province . There were indeed three other lodges in existence , the

Knights of Malta Lodge , founded in 1764 and brought from Cheshire to Hinckley in 1803 ; the Ranclilfe , No . 608 , at the King's Head Hotel , Loughborough , was founded in 1834 , expired in 1848 , and was finally erased in 1853 , and the Ivanhoe , No . 631 , at

Ashby-dela-Zouch , founded in 18 3 6 , expired in 1841 , but the working in these lodges was so irregular , that they were hardly a credit to the province . All the other lodges ever known in this province ( three at Leicester and one at Ashby-de-la-Zouch ) had ceased to exist long before our late lamented brother joined the Craft . In

Obituary.

1844 we find Bro . Kelly for the first time in his official capacity at Loughborough , presiding over Provincial Grand Lodge , held under the banner of the Old Rancliffe Lodge , at the King ' s Head Hotel . To quote his own words .- "The meetings of the Provincial Grand Lodge were almost invariably held in connection with St . John ' s Lodge , but in order to suit the convenience

of Lord Rancliffe , the Prov . G . M ., a meeting was summoned to be held at Loughborough , on July 24 th , 1844 ; but as his lordship , according to his usual practice , did not arrive until the business of the day was over , and Sir Frederick Fowke , Deputy Prov . Grand Master , having to leave as soon as he had opened Grand Lodge , whilst my old friend , Dr . Irwin , the

Prov . S . G . W . was not up in the work , I , as Junior Grand Warden , had the honour of presiding for the first time , and of installing Bro . Wm . Grimes Palmer , M . R . C . S ., as Master of the Rancliffe Lodge , only one o'her member of that lodge ( Bro . Thos . Brooke Miller , P . M ., P . S . G . W . ) being present . It afterwards sank into abeyance , and was finally erased in 1853 . Lord

Rancliffe arrived just in timeto preside over the Fourth Degree , in which he was highly proficient , his lordship being ' a fellow of infinite jest . '" The next occasion on which our late brother officially visited Loughborough was on August 2 nd , 1 S 64 , at the consecration of the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , No . 1007 , which replaced the old Rancliffe Lodge . Bro . Kelly was

one of the founders of this new lodge , and although Lord Howe being virtually its first W . M ., Bro . Kelly , then Deputy Prov . G . M ., generally acted for him . In the official notice of Provincial Grand Lodge , we find the followingstatement concerning the above-mentioned event , " 186 4 , August 2 nd , Provincial Grand Lodge met at the Bull's Head Hotel , Loughborough ( Earl

Howe , P . G . M . ) for the dedication of the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , No . 1007 , and installation of Earl Howe as W . M ., ofiicers appointed . " In 1870 , on the 3 rd of January , Bro . Kelly was appointed by patent , Grand Master of the province , and at the first annual communication over which he presided as Prov . Grand Master , and which was held at Market

Harborough on September 16 th , 1870 , for the "Consecration of St . Peter's Lodge , No . 1330 , and appointment of officers , " the late Bro . Wm . Grimes Palmer was appointed Prov . S . G . W . la the following year , on November 24 th , 18 71 , Provincial Grand Lodge met . at the Town Hall , Loughborough , presided over by the Prov . G . M ., Bro . Kelly , when Bro . Henry Deane was

appointed Prov . J . G . W . Including the Howe and Charnwood Lodge , Bro . Kelly was a founder of no less than 10 lodges o-Jt of the tourteen in this province , and during the short time he presided over the province as its Grand Master ( 1870-1873 ) , the following Loughborough brethren were honoured by having appointments in Prov . Grand Lodge conferred on them : Bros .

W . G . Palmer , Prov . S . G . W ., 1870 ; Henry Deane , Prov . J . G . W ., 1871 , C . H . Capp , Prov . G . D . of C , 1871 ; Isaac Blount Dobell , Prov . G . S . B ., 1870 ; W . G . Palmer , jun ., Prov . G . Std . Br ., 1871 ; F . Amatt , Prov . G . Purst ., 1872 ; andH . BoughtonSmith , Prov . A . G . D . C , 1873 . In conclusion , I must not omit to mention thegreat interest he took in the Charnwood Chapter of Royal

Arch Masons . On the 14 th January . 18 73 , a convocation of the Prov . Grand Chapter was held at Loughborough , when the Charnwood Chapter , No . 1007 , was consecrated by the Grand Superintendent , Comp . Kelly . Earl Ferrers was appointed M . E . Z . ; Comp H . Deane , H . ; and Comp . Kelly , J . ; no other com

panion being eligible . At this meeting Lord Ferrers was also appointed Grand H . of the province . The W . M ., Bro . C . F . OLIVER , rose to second the proposition , and in feeling terms referred to the great loss the province has sustained , and the universal love and esteem in which the late lamented brother , justly called the father of Masonry , was held .

BRO . J . U . MARTIN , P . M . 996 . Bro . John Upchurch Martin , P . M . 996 , Professor of Music , died at East Dereham on the 23 rd ult ., at the advanced age of 84 years . For 60 years he was organist and choir master of the East Dereham Parish Church , and it was his pride to say that for over 50 years he never missed a service or was once late . He

was one of the first members initiated in the Sondes Lodge soon after its foundation in 1864 . After serving the various offices he was installed W . M . in 1872 , which office he held for two years . In Prov . Grand Lodge he filled the offices of Prov . G . Purst . and Prov . G . Org . He always took the keenest interest in Masonry ; painted and presented the tracing boards

now in use at the Sondes Lodge ; was always ready and willing to assist and afford instruction to the younger brethren . He was also one of the founders of the Harry Sparks Chapter , No . 996 , and its first J ., but failing health in the last two or three years compelled him to take a less active part in the working of the lodge and chapter than formerly , and last year ,

owing to adverse circumstances over which he had no control , he had to seek assistance from the Benevolent Fund . He was twice married , and leaves a widow and two young children , one of whom is now a candidate ( outdoor only owing to defective sight ) for the R . M . I , ior Boys , whose final chance of election will be in October . This lad , though only 10 years of age , has

already displayed remarkable musical talent . The funeral took place on Wednesday , and was largely attended by the members of the church choir , the W . M ., officers , and brethren of the Sondes Lodge , and many of the principal inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood . A muffled peal was rung in the evening at the parish church to his memory .