Masonic Ball At Burslem.

MASONIC BALL AT BURSLEM .

A most successful ball-, in cdnneScttori svith St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . gS , sVas held at the Burslem Town Hall ) on Thursday . The function had for its aim a most commendable object , and that was to provide dn addition to the funds of the Masonic Charities of the Province of Staffordshire . Immediately on the

ball being mooted a strong Committee was appointed to make the most complete arrangements possible , svith a viesv to ensuring success , and judging from the results observed that evening , it is highly improbable that their idea has not been achieved . The W . M ., Bro . John Scarratt , svas , of course , at the head of affairs , and he svas loyally supported by the svhole of the

members of the lodge at Committee in making the necessary arrangements . Too much credit cannot be given to Bro . J . Mason , I . P . M ., and Bro . T . Iv . Pedley , P . M ., and present Secretary , whilst the labours of Bros . R . Dain , John Godsvin , Frank Weston , A . Boulton , S . W . ; F . Bettany , and S . Pointon , the fourla'terof svhom acted as M . C . 's at the ball , must not be forgotten .

The large assembly room svas decorated for the occasion under the superintendance of Bro . F . Bettany , the decorations being supplied free by Bro . R . Benbow , of the Sutherland Lodge , No . 451 . The floor was polished , and the various corridors and stairs were laid with crimson cloth . Music was supplied by Messrs . Morfey's well-known

band , and some 170 participated in the evening ' s entertainment . Supper was laid in the Court Room , and the refreshment department svas located in the Council Chamber , other rooms on the ground floor being utilised as cloak rooms , where Bro T . W . Boardman and Mrs . Boardman paid every attention to the requirements of the visitors .

The catering was carried out in the most complete manner , both generally and to the smallest detail , by Bro . W . S . Gordon . In the dancing room the scene svas an exceedingly pretty one . The ladies were , without exception , dressed most becomingly , and the svearing of Masonic

clothing relieved very effectively the usual sober black garb of the gentlemen . Here and there the appearance of the scarlet tunic of a member of her Majesty ' s Forces lent an additional attraction , and altogether the coup d'tettil was charming . The ball could not be termed othersvise than a most successful social function .

North London Masonic Benevolent Ball

NORTH LONDON MASONIC BENEVOLENT BALL

The eighth annual North London Masonic Benevolent Ball took place at the Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday , the 26 th ult ., and in spite of the unfavourable sveather there was a large company present . Dancing commenced at half-past eight , and , with an

interval for supper , was continued until the early hours of Friday morning . The Stewards svere Bros . F . Kimber Bull , G . Cock , C . W . Davies , E . W . Davis , C . Dearing , jun ., W . Lee , A . Oliver , J . Potter , W . F . B . Watts and Hunter . Bros . F . Forge , A . W . Humphreys , . ind F . J . Humphreys officiated as M . C . ' s .

At the supper the President , Bro . HKKHERT SI'K AKK , in proposing the toast " Success to the Masonic Charities , " mentioned that last year the sum of . £ 7 8 15 s . was realised by this gathering , and he belies * ed there would not beany decrease in the contribution this year . Ue acknowledged the valuable services that had been

rendered by Bros . Waller Lincott , the Hon . Sec . * , T . Glass , the Hon . Treas . ; C . Dearing , the Vice-Chairman ; and the Ball Committee . Other toasts followed , and dancing was afterwards resumed to the strains of Bro . VV . Wright ' s excellent quadrille band .

Societas Rosicruoiana In Scotia.

SOCIETAS ROSICRUOIANA IN SCOTIA .

The West of Scotland College held a meeting in St . John ' s Hall , 213 , Buchanan-street , Glasgosv , on the 28 th inst ., the V . W . Master of the Temple , D . R . Clark , M . A ., 8 , presiding , assisted by Fratres W . S . Hunter , 6 " , Deputy Master ; T . R . Richards , 4 ° , Treasurer and Secretary ; J . W . Ruddock , J . A . S .

Kerr , W . M . Denholm , John McQueen Barr , F . W . baiter , Precentor ; Emile Berger , Organist j and W . Ross , Acolyte . The college having been opened in the form prescribed by the Order , the Rev . Walter Sidney Hildesley , Curate in Charge of St . Margaret ' s , Aberdeen , and John Robson , County Clerk of Dumfriesshire

presented petitions lor admission into the college . ¦ "he petitions being accepted , they were admitted and instructed in the First Grade . Thereafter the follosving 'ratres svere advanced to the Grades , viz .: Fratres J . W . Ruddock and Emile Berger , 4 ° ; F . W . Larter , W . ' " . Denholm , John Sanderson , John McQueen Barr , and J . A . S . Keir , 4 .

In consequence of the limited time at the disposal of the college to arrange the meeting , the usual paper read 0 n the occasion was abandoned . There being no "' rther business , the college was closed in accordance wuh ancient usage .

Death.

Death .

•JKORui" BOI . ION . —At mielnight on Thursday , the 26 th January , I . SIJJ , Hro . George Bolton , P . M ., Treasurer l-oilgeTemuciance , No . idj ; P . Z ., Treasurer Chapter No . itiy ; at his residence , No . 4 ( 1 , Amersham-road , New Cross , in his , ijlh year .

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

Our Portrait Gallery of Worshipful Masters .

BRO . CAPTAIN C . J KNIGHTLEY , Whose portrait we publish above , was installed W . M . of the Royal Savoy Lodge , No . 1744 , on Tuesday , the 24 th ult ., a report of svhich appears in another column .

BRO . ALEXANDER HOWELL , Whose installation is reported in another column , svas initiated in the Phicnix Lodge , No . 257 , Portsmouth , in 188 7 , and shortly aftersvards joined the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1 S 34 , in which he has gradually worked his svay through the various offices to the Master ' s chair . Very soon after his initiation his

legal training led him to a systematic course ot study in the literature of the Craft , and , in the natural order of things , he joined the Correspondence Circle of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 . An idea soon occurred to him that the usefulness of that Circle svould be very materially increased if some arrangement svere made svhereby local Secretaries in

connection svith it svere appointed in every Masonic province . That suggestion , being made by lim to Bro . Speth , P . M ., svas very soon acted upon , and its value ctrdially acknowledged by the the Permanent Committee of the lodge in its report , dated 25 th June , 188 S , in svhich his immediate appointment as " Local Secretary for the Province of Hants svas recommended . ( See A . Q . C ,

vol . I , p . 166 ) . This lodge agreed to the recommendation , and Bro . Alexander Hosvell ; . ccordingl y became the official Representative of the Circle in Hampshire , a position which he has held ever since , much to the advantage of Freemasonry in general , and the Quatuor Coronati Lodge in particular . Under his persuasion , svhilst still below the rank of an Installed Master , some 14 lodges and 50 individual brethren joined the Circle .

As a consequence of Bro . Alexander Howell ' s happy thought of instituting these " Local Secretaries , " the Quatuor Coronati Correspondence Circle is now directly represented by some 57 brethren , svhose districts are situated in all parts of the globe , and whose influence ( or the good of Freemasonry cannot be too highly estimated . Several contributions from his pen have appeared in the Official Transactions of the lodge as well as in our osvn pages . He has made

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

a most careful perusal of the minute books oi his mother loelge , dating from 20 th May , 1 786 , and has compiled a history of the lodge , svhich from various causes still asvaits publication In May , 1891 , he read a short digest of it before the members of the Phicnix Lodge , No . 257 . svhich svas much appreciated . In September . 1888 . ( he subject of

our sketch svas the prime mover in starting a lotlge of instruction in Portsmouth , to the funds of svhich nearly every lodge in the locality subscribed , and svhich had a membership of over 100 brethren . For a time it did excellent svork . as in addition ( o the 'Three Degrees and the installation ceremony , the Sections svere regularly svorked . but like so many other lodges of instruction .

the attendance after ; t time became so scanty that the untie Making svas reluctantly discontinued , notsvillistanding its strong financial position and the large number of subscribing members upon its roll . Bro . Alexander Hosvell has served as a Stesvard and is a Life Governor of each of the three Central Masonic Charities . In the Hants and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution he is a Vice

Patron and Past Stesvard , and he has also served as a Steward and is a Life Governor of the Mark Benevolent Fund . His Masonic investigations has'e not been confined to the Craft , as he is . 1 subscribing member of nearly every Masonic Order . He svas one of the founders of the St , Clair Chapter ( R . A . ) , No . 2074 . In

the Mark Degree he is S . W . in the Carnarvon 1 odge , No . 62 , and R . of M . in the Phcenix Lotlge , No . " 2 , svhilst hc is a P . P . G . R . in the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge of Hants . He is J . in the Carnarvon Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners , No , 62 ; T . I . M . elect in the Carnarvon Council of Royal and Select Masters , in svhich Degree he is also a life member of the Constantine Council .

No . 2 . In the Ancient and Accepted Rite he holds the office of Captain of the Guard in the Royal Naval Chapter of Rose Croix , No . 9 , svhilst he is Herald in the Royal Naval Preceptory and Priory , No . 2 , and Past Prov . Captain of

Guard in the Provincial Priory of Hants , and , lastly , he holds the office of M . P . S . in the Naval and Military Conclave , Red Cross , No . 35 , and of P . P . and M . E . C . in the Sanctuary and Commandery attached thereto . He has also taken the Degrees of the Swedenborgian Rite , the Rosicrucians , and Secret Monitor .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . COL . MARMADUKE RAMSAY . The district of Malta has been llnosvn into the deepest grief at the untimatcly loss of its District Grand Master , the late Col . Marmaduke Ramsay , svhich sad event took place at his residence , No . 10 , Strada Mezzeidi , Valletta , Malta , on Monday , the 23 rd ult ., at six o'clock , p . m ., after a long and tedious illness , during which his

remaining strength and energy svere not relaxed fur a moment in furthering the interests of the district , svhich had attained such a height of success and prosperity during his nearly Dve years' administration . Our deceased biother , during his summer sojourn in Englantl , hail been under the cue ol the mosl eminent physicians , and benefitted sufficiently in health to be

able to attend the Quarterly Commiinii-iticin of Grand I . odge , held on the 7 th September last , svhen , by the right of R . VV . the Right Hon . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , D . G . M ., and acting M . W . G . M ., as Deputy Grand Master , it svill be remembered , he seconded , in a most appropriate and encouraging speech , the- vote in aid ef ihe sufferers from the disastrous fire at St .

John s , Aesvfoiindlanif . It svas , however , observed with concern amongst his iiiimcdhte friends that his health svas far from being established , and a desire svas entertained that he svould recognise the absolute necessity ol temporarily relinquishing his Masonic duties in favour of that rest and retirement svhich svere confidently expected to restore him to

health , years being in his favour , as contrary to the opinion likely to be arrived at during his indisposition , he svas only 51 ) . Returning lo Malta , it svas early discernible that he had not realised the fervent hopes of the members of his district , amongst svhom he svas so beloved , and every effort svas exercised b y his officers to render the duties of bis po-iition as light as possible ,

the Craft and Royal Arch svork being entirely undertaken by his deputy , Bro . J . VV . Starkey , svhile the . VI . uk svas ably governed by Bro . VV . Pariente , D . D . G . M . Notwithstanding the abundant assistance at his disposal , his enfeebled energies svere heroicall y devoted to the responsibilities of his charge , issuing his orders to the District Grand Secretary , liro .

Hamilton Sharpe , svho received them at his bedside up to three days before his death . His death svas the consummation of a resolution to give the remaining years of his life to Masonry , and it svas his proutl privilege to realise his most ardent desire , elying in harness at ihe head of his tlistrict . During his five years' administration , tbe District of Malta has attained

unprecedented eminence , the various Masonic bodies being in a condition , at the present time , both numerically ancl financially , far in advance of the brightest anticipations he could have realised . 'The cause ot Charity svas foremost in bis mind , antl svhich is sufficiently marked by the re-formation of the Malta Masonic Charities Association , svhich has done

invaluable services amongst the distressed brethren and their families in the district , svhile still holding a substantial fund in money and s-oting posver . He lately visited Tunis * in company svith his old and valued colleague in Masonry , Bro . John Kenyon , E . L . Dist ., on an attempt to revive the Craft in that country , but circumstances were found unfavourable to his project .