Installation Of Bro. Sir Charles Mitchell, G.C.M.G., As District Grand Master Of The Eastern Archipelago.

Bro . J . Russell , 2337 ... Dist . A . G . D . of C . „ W . Bean , 50 S ... ... ... Dist . G . S . B . „ W . Evans , 1555 - - '" | Dist . G . Std . Brs . „ C . V . Creagh , 2403 - ... •••) ,, H . Laugher , 508 ... ... ... Dist . G . Org . „ F . M . Elliott , 11 5 ... ... ... Dist . G . Purst . „ J . F . Gowans , 508 ... ... ... Dist . A . G . Purst .

,, G . Mousley , 508 ... ... ... ] ,, A . Barker , 508 . ... ... •••I ;; ! " & 2 % ::: ::: : : > - G - Stewards - „ \ V . Nicholas , 2337 ... ... ... | „ H . R . Wolf , 2403 ... ... ... J

„ F . W . Jones , 508 ... ... ... Dist . G . Tyler .

Rig ht Wor . Bro . Sir CHARLES MITCHELL then said : Wor . Bro . Joaquim and brethren , —I need not say that I have accepted this hig h and distinguished office in the Craft with a good deal of diffidence . I have such a hig h regard and respect for Freemasonry that I think that any man who accepts office in it lightly does a great wrong to the Craft . In your _ charge , Wor . Bro ., you told me , and told me truly , that under my rule the _ interests of the Craft must either advance or recede . I implore the aid of the

G . A . O . T . U . that the interests of the Craft may advance during my rule . Brethren , we live in an age when all institutions are sifted by the clearly keen eyes of the public , and I do not think that the Craft of Freemasonry can escape from the general rule . So surely as we impress on the world about us that we are not embodied for nothing , that we have come together in order that we may advance , in some measure , the good of humanity and of society , if , as I say , the world about us recognises this , so surely shall we

prosper . But if , as I regret to say is the too general idea outside the lodge , the Craft exists but for purposes of pleasure , recreation , and society , then I need not tell you that the inevitable result will be retrogression . Brethren , I have heard such an account of the Craft in the Eastern Archipelago that I have little fear that the brethren , sustained by the high ideal of those who have raised the Craft to its present pinnacle of greatness , will , by the utmost power of their ability , by pure life , general usefulness , and charity , commend themselves to the Craft they belong to and to the world around

us . I state these views shortly because I believe I have the assent of every brother here present to the general principle that I have evolved this evening . I have to congratulate myself on having secured the services as my Deputy of a brother who is well known to you , and who is a devoted Mason . And I have secured as ollicers of the District Grand Lodge good and earnest Masons . Brethren , may this then be a new point of departure for Free- * masonry ; may we all seek earnestly to advance the good of the Craft and the svelfare of humanity !

Congratulations svere then extended to the R . W . D . G . M . by representatives of lodges : Zell . ind , No . 511 S , St . George , Prince of Wales , Penang ( telegram ) , Pcrak J ubilee ( telegram ) , Read Lodge , Selangor ( telegram ) Borneo Lodge of Harmony , Shadwell Clerke Lodge , Penang , and District Grand Lodge of Burmah .

The Right Wor . Bro ., replying thereto , thanked the District Grand Lodge of Burmah and the lodges of the district for the hearty congratulations which thoy had been gooel enough to send him . They had drawn a bill on futurity , and he trusted it would be duly honoured . He asked the representatives of the different lodges to convey his respectful thanks forthe greetings . The other business having be ° n transscted , District Grand Lodge was closed with the usual formalities .

Opportunity.

OPPORTUNITY .

How often 'mid the darkest gloom , When clouds obscure the skies , Some planet with its brilliant beams Will unexpected rise . Of ; unforeseen the gem of price , Unheeded on the ground , Concealed by crust from careless viesv , By practised eye is found .

lie , fortune favouring , the chance Will eagerly embrace—Then svatchful opportunity Unveils her glorious face . 'Tis thus by happy circumstance , The budding thought sublime , 'Neath sunlight ' s fost ' ring care svill bloom A golden llower of time !

Unseen Foes.

UNSEEN FOES .

To foes without Man will unflinching front oppose , Anel courage by resistance grows , Till put to rout . Before him flee ,

Dispersed and broken o ' er the plain , The hosts which ne'er oppose again The bold and free . 'Gainst foes within Unseen , man cannot fight alone ; For oft their mastery svill own Legions of sin .

In God secure , Lei him celestial sveapons svield , Thc Spirit's ssvord and Faith ' s true shield , With these endure . F . W . DKISKH , M . A ., P . M . 62 , Laneas'er-road , Notting Hill , W .

Masonic Presentation To Bro. Dr. Clark.

MASONIC PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . CLARK .

On Tuesday , the 23 rd ult ., Bro . Dr . F . W . Clark , the Medical Officer of Health for Losvestoft , received a flattering testimonial from Lodge St . Margaret on the occasion of his quitting Lowestoft for Hong Kong . There was a supper at the Crown and Anchor , prepared in Bro . Stebbing ' s best style , to which many members of the lodge and a few friends sat down . Bro . Kerry Rix , the W . M . of

the lodge , presided , and presented Bro . Clark , in the name of the lodge , with a most artistically-illuminated address . Round the border is an inscription in Masonic cypher , relieved by bosses formed by the emblems of the Royal Arch , Mark Master , Secret Monitor , and Craft Degrees . The lettering is chaste and not over-elaborated , as is often the case .

The following is the text of the address -. " St . Margaret ' s Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons , No . 1482 . Grand Lodge of England . The Worshipful Master , Past Masters , officers , and brethren , in open lodge assembled , desire to place upon record their cordial appreciation of the valuable services rendered by Bro . Francis William Clark during his membership of the lodge , to

express regret at his removal from Lowestoft , and to tender to him their heart y good wishes in his nesv sphere of usefulness , hoping that he may find in Hong Kong a lodge of Freemasons svhere his intimate knowledge of the antient usages and customs of the Craft will lead to his early Masonic advancement . —KERRY RIX . W . M . ; W . J . ROBERTS , Secretary . "

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

Our Portrait Gallery of Worshipful Masters .

BRO . JOSEPH HERBERT CHEETHAM , P . M ., was initiated in Glasgow Kilsvinning Lodge , No . 4 , 13 th August , 1880 , and elected as a life member four years later . Joined the Gold Coast Lodge , No . 773 , English Constitution in West Africa , 13 th December , 1880 . After serving various offices , he was elected and installed as W . M . 1886-1887 , an < ^ w as rc * elected the follosving year . Exalted to the Royal Arch in Mariners Chapter , No ,

249 , Liverpool , in November , 1884 . In 1891-2 he was elected and installed as the first W . M . of a new lodge , which was consecrated and known as the Victoria Lodge , No . 2392 , in Accra , and of which he was one of the founders ; in February this year , at the request and wishes of several brethren in Sierra Leone , about some thousand miles from Accra , he proceeded , and consecrated and installed the ofiicers of a nesv lodge ( St . George ' s ) there . He performed the duties with such

ability that a vote of thanks was accorded to him by the members ) and at the same time he svas elected as Honorary Past Master of that lodge . He is a native of West Africa , and has travelled through the entire West Coast . He is a M & rk Master , Plantation Lodge , Glasgow ; Royal Ark Mariner , Mount Ararat , Wigan ; Knight of Constantinople ; St . Lawrence the Martyr ; Knight of the Red Cross of Baby lon ; Knight of Rome and of the Red Cross of Constantine ; Knight of the Temple and St . John of Jerusalem ; member of the St . Peter ' s Rose Croix Preceptory , Bolton ;

advanced to the 30 ° Ancient and Accepted Rite this year ; a corresponding member of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , London . Sociall y he is held in high esteem by both brethren and public generally , here as well as on the West African Coast He is an unofficial member of the Legislature Council of the Gold Coast Colony ; member of the Board of Education , & c . ; Fellow of the Royal Geographical and Zoological Societies in London ; and Fellow of the Imperial Institute . He will be returning to the Coast shortly . We wish him a safe and prosperous voyage home .

BARTER-ID HONOURS . —Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , preaching in St . Paul ' s on Sunday , dealt svith the granting of honours . If , said he , there is any truth in the accw sation sometimes made that it has long been the custom on both sides occasional !/ to recommend the grant of the high and hereditary honours of the State for the main consideration of gross monetary support , then our repudiation of such a practice could not be too severe and indignant . Honour must be honourable . The rewards of the State

in a righteous nation must be of unsullied lustre , and beyond all whisper of scandal . " were all shocked at the cynical sale of decorations at the Elysei j in Paris ; but the barter of hij ; h rank for political contributions , if a fact , would be equally disastrous to the purity of public virtue , even if it should be made by parties instead of by a pnvaW individua l , even if it should be a recognised indulgence on both sides to the suppo exigencies of party svarfare .