The "Monde Maconnique " And The " Freemason."

which proves all things , and verifies and falsifies all statements , can alone shew whether he or we are right in the estimate * we have respectively formed ofthe tendency andeffect ofthe last great change effected by the Grand Orient of France .

Our Bank Holidays.

OUR BANK HOLIDAYS .

We said on a former occasion , and we are glad to find our words are verified elsewhere , that we could shew a progressive improvement in the way our toiling population spent their hard earned holidays . We rejoice , greatly , at the fact , of which we never had any doubt . Our

contemporary , the Graphic , while it admits the case to be so , says that some of the diminution of intoxication may be put down to the increase of smoking Whether this be so or hot it matters little . It must be a great matter of rejoicing to

us all as Freemasons and patriots , that the bank holidays are not preverted to riotous excess or widespread intoxication , and that a great improvement is manifested on these heads . It is not , however , the . working class only which needs improvement in this respect .

The New Grand Officers.

THE NEW GRAND OFFICERS .

GRAND CHAPLAIN . The Rev . William Alfred Hill , the Grand Chaplain , is M . A . of Worcester College , Oxford and was formerly a barrister in considerable practice en the Oxford Circuit . On the 19 th , December 18 47 , following a long cherished wish ,

he exchanged his forensic robe for the ecclesiastic ' s gown , and was admitted into Holy Orders by Dr . Wilberforce , then Bishop of Oxford , at Christ Church Cathedral , and received admission into the priesthood at the hands of the same eminent Prelate at the December

ordination in the following year . After filling various spheres of labour and meeting with abundant marks of appreciation , particularly from the parishioners of " All Saints , " Worcester , where , on the nomination ' of the Bishop he officiated in sole charge , in the

absence of the rector , he was transferred to Alvochurch , and subsequentl y to Loxley , in the same diocese and thence , on the 5 U 1 September , 18 ^ 7 , was admitted to the incumbency of St . Peter ' s , Maidstone , where he laboured with success for a period of nearly seventeen years ,

until collated by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Vicarage of Appledore with Ebony , and subsequently to the Vicarage of Throwley , Faversham , ol which he is now the Incumbent . He is a Mason of long standing , having filled the office of W . M . of Mount Moriah Lodge , No .

. 34 , in the year 1845 , and was exalted in St . James' Chapter in the following year . He was invested Provincial G . Chaplain of Worcetershire in 18 . 5 , *? . and preached a well-known sermon entitled " The Christian Mason , " in the parish church of Oldswinford , ( Stourbridge ) , on the

20 th September in that year . On the Installation of Viscount Holmesdalej M . P ., as Provincial Grand Master of Kent , which took p lace at Gravesend , October 22 , i 860 , our rev . brother was appointed P . G . C , and preached to an overflowing congregation at St . George ' s

parish church . The Sermon , " The Bright and Morning Star , " was published by request of the P . Grand Lodge , and the proceeds , which shewed a balance of £ 14 5 s . od ., were given to the Masonic Charities . Masonry has greatly flourished under the rule of Lord Holmesdale .

There are now forty three lodges in the Province . The new Grand Chaplain has taken part in many of the consecrations , and delivered the usual orations , and with only one omission during his lengthened term of office haspreached the sermon at the Annual Festival . He has

ever encouraged the brethren to stand firm to the ancient landmarks of our order , been prompt to minister to the bereaved and sorrowing , and taken a lively interest in their temporal progress and in their practice of piety and virtue . For these reasons he is generall y held in high

esteem , and the affection of the brethren is about to be exhibited in the form of a substantial testimonial , which will probably be presented at the next Provincial Grand Festival , to be held at Canterbury in July next . The recent distinction—entirely unexpected and unsought by its

The New Grand Officers.

possessor—has given great satisfaction , and while esteemed as an honour conferred on the individual , is viewed as reflecting credit upon the whole Province . Our reverend brother is a member of Lodges 133 and 280 , and also an hon . member of many other lodges , and this

year is 2 nd Principal of the High Cross Chapter , No . 229 . GRAND CHAPLAIN . On entering the University in 18 51 , Bro . the Rev . H . A . Pickard at once signified his wish to become a member of the Craft , so that in

November of the same year he was initiated , the Rev . R . St . John Tyrwhitt being then Worshipful Master . After serving as Deacon and Warden , he was elected as W . Master for the year 1856 , and re-elected for 1857 . During these two years of office , Bro . Pickard initiated among other

distinguished brethren , the Deputy Grand Master , Lord Skelmersdale , Bro . Talbot , late Provincial Grand Master for the Eastern Division of South Wales j Bro . Victor Williamson , Junior Grand Warden in 186 5 and the Marquis of Hamilton . During his second year of Mastership , the Pro

Grand Master , Lord Carnarvon , became a joining member of the lodge . It is well worthy of notice that Bro . Pickard made such rapid progress in Masonry that before he had been a Mason two years the Provincial Grand Master conferred upon him the office of Provincial Grand

Steward , and after passing through another minor office hewasappointedProv . Grand Senior Warden in 1857 , during -which year Lord Zetland ' s memorable visit to the Province of Oxford took place . For nearly ten years Bro . Pickard was compelled by his duties as H . M . Inspector of

Schools to be absent from Oxford , but shortly after his return he had the honour of being Chap-Iain to the lodge when H . R . H . the Prince of Wales was Worshipful Master in 1873 . That Bro . Pickard's popularity amongst the members of his lodge was great is evident from the fact

that hereceived the extraordinary honour of being elected for the third time Worshipful Master , ¦ find during his year of office was appointed to represent the province as Steward at the installation of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master in the Albert Hall . On quitting office Bro . Pickard installed as his successor H . R . H . Prince

Leopold , and took a prominent part the next day in the installation of H . R . H . as Provincial Grand Master . In addition to gaining distinction in lodge Bro . Pickard also became First Principal of

the Alfred Chapter in 1859 , and of the Apollo University Chapter in 1875 , anc * - *^ a ^ served as Steward for all the Masonic Charities . Heis also joint editor of the Bye-laws of the Apollo University Lodge .

SENIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Erasmus Wilson is a Lewis , his father , W . Wilson , surgeon in the Royal Navy , was made a Mason in 1802 , at Malta , in Lodge 6 _ , of the 20 th Regiment of foot , of the Register of Ireland . He himself was admitted into Masonry in the

Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , in 1870 ; and served the offices of Senior Deacon and Junior and Senior Warden . In 18 74 he was installed Master of a lodge of the province of Kent , No . 1464 , named after himself , the Erasmus Wilson Lodge ; and in 187 ^ he was appointed Grand Steward .

On this occasion the duty of making provision for the banquet given to the Grand Master ofthe Order , the Prince of Wales , at his installation , devolved on the Board of Stewards for the year , and Bro . Wilson was elected its president . In

18715 he was installed Master of the Lodge of Antiquity . He is a companion of the St . James ' s Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , and also of that of the Bard of Avon ; and is now First Principal of the former . He has served the office of

Steward for the three Charities in both his lodges , and is Vice-Patron of all . He has likewise served on the Board of General Purposes , and is at present a member of thc Colonial Board . His most recent Masonic honour is that of being installed Senior Grand Deacon by His Royal Highness the Grand Master .

SENIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell Gierke has just attained his Masonic majority , having been initiated exactly twenty-one years ago ( 27 th April , 1857 ) in the Zetland Lodge , No . 756 , E . G ., in the Island of Malta , where he had recently arrived with his regiment—the 21 st Fusiliers—

The New Grand Officers.

from the Crimea , after serving throughout the whole of that campaign . He filled the various offices in his mother lodge , aud having joined No . 437 ( now 349 ) , St . John and St . Paul lodge , in the same island , in the year 1 S . 38 , he was appointed J . W ., and from thence was elected

W . M . in 1859 , which office he duly served . In the latter end of the year i 860 he was appointed A . D . C , and subsequently , Secretary to the Commander of the Forces in the West Indies , where he joined the Albion Lodge , No . 196 , and after seven years' service on the staff " there , he rejoined

his regiment in Ireland , and worked occasionally in various lodges in that country , but from the continual moving consequent on military service was unable to join one permanently . In the beginning of the year 1870 he was stationed in Plymouth , when he joined the Metham Lodge ,

No . J 201 J , and became P . G . Sword Bearer , and subsequently P . G . Senior Warden of that province . In the year 187 a Col . Gierke , having retired on half-pay from his regiment , came to reside in London , and became one of the original members of the Friends in Council Lodge , No .

1383 , which was formed that year , and of which he shortly after was elected Treasurer , continuing to serve as such until 187 . 3 , when he became S . W ., and was installed W . M . the next year . By the lamented death of its W . M . for the present year ( Major Barlow ) he still continues to fill the

chair as I . P . M . Bro . Col . Clerke was exalted to the degree of Royal Arch in the Leinster Chapter , I . C , in Malta , in February , 18 5 8 , and subsequently became one of its rulers . He was affiliated to Chapter 437 , E . C , in 18 59 , when he filled the chair . On moving to the West

Indies he joined the Scotia Royal Arch Chapter , S . C . ( there being no Eng lish one in woi k there ) , and on the formation of Chapter 1383 , he became an orig inal member , and held the office of P . S ., being at present tim e J . of that chapter . Bro . Col . Clerke is a Life Governor of all the

Masonic Institutions , and has served all the Stewardships , on two occasions his list heading the London lodges , and on the the third occasion being second , and amounting in all to nearly £ lt , a . He is at present a member of the Board of General Purposes .

J UNIOR GRAND DEACON . Bro . J- M . P . Montagu was initiated in St . Paul ' s Lodge on the 23 rd December , 184 . 5 , an < 1 has consequently been __ years a Mason . He was founder of the Montagu Lodge and the St . Mary ' s Lodge , and was a petitioner for the

charter of the Portland Lodge , the Manor Lodge , and the Friends in Council Lodge . He was exalted to the Roval Arch Degree on the 3 rd Jan ., 18 56 , and was founder of the St . Mary ' s Royal Arch Chapter . He also consecrated the Royal Arch Chapters at Trowbridge and Salisbury ,

assisted in forming the Provincial Grand Chapter of Wiltshire , was a founder of the St . Mary ' s Mark Lodge , the St . Mary ' s Preceptory Knights Templar , and the St . Mary ' s Royal Ark Mariners Lodge . He was a petitioner for the charter of the Studholme

Chapter . He became a Knight Templar on the 4 th February , i 8 j 6 , and on the same day -was admitted as a Rose Croix Mason . He attained to the Thirty-third Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite on the nth December , 1869 . He was appointed S . G . Warden for Dorset in 1836 ,

and held the office of D . Prov . G . M . Dorset from 1863 to 1877 , and that of Prov . G . H . from r 8 < 56 to 1877 , whenhewaspromotedto be Grand Superintendent of the province . Bro . J . M . P . Montagu is the Grand Secretary of the Ancient and Accepted Rite of Thirty-three Degrees , -

Grand Chancellor Ancient and Accepted Rite ; Grand Captain of England . Knights Templar ; Provincial Grand Prior K . T . Dorset ( from 1877 ) ; Provincial Grand Superintendent of Dorset ( from 1877 ) . He joined the Eoyal Order of Scotland in 187 * 2 . He has served eleven

Stewardships to the three Masonic Charities , and is Steward to the Girls' and Boys' School Festivals for the present year , in which capacity he will have taken up to the Masonic Charities the sum of £ , 2 _ 00 . He is Vice-Patron of the Boys '

and Vice-President of the Girls' and Benevolent Institutions . Two of his children are also Vice-Patrons of the Boys' School and Governors of the other two Charities , and his son , the W . M . of the Meridian Lodge , is a Governor of the