Funeral Of Bro. R. Rodda, Of Stonehouse.

in the form of a P . E . C ' s cross was sent by Frater J . E . Curteis . The cost of the improvements at St . George ' s Church will entail an expenditure of £ 600 , without including the re-seating , which is also contemplated . A portion of the £ 600 is as yet not gathered . On the Monday before Mr . Hodela ' s decease he was in conversation with the vicar and

church wardens at the church on the question of providing a central painted window , and on being told that it would cost £ 50 , he at once undertook to obtain ten parishioners , including himself , who would provide the money by contributing £ s each . Towards the improvements recently effected Mr . Rodda contributed largely in personal exertions

and pecuniary aid , and in obtaining an organ he was an active member of the Committee and contributed liberally . The opening performances were given on it on Friday previous when he was on what proved to be his deathbed , and its next performance , besides accompanying the serticcs on Sunday , was at his funeral .

Strasburg Cathedral.

STRASBURG CATHEDRAL .

There is a quaint old tradition , which comes down to us from ancient times , tottering under its load of age and replete with superstitions of the past . On the borders of Alsatia there lies a great city , dating its foundation far back , to the old Roman days , and rich in those architectural relics of the olden lime which are ever so dear to [ the

antiquary , " Quaint offspring of centurial years , the town of Strasburg stands ; Rich in the love of a mighty past , in legend , and in story ;

Rich in high hearted , honest sons , a country ' s truest glory ; Rich in its old Cathedral Church , with clustering ivy spread , The Santa Crocc of the JIand , where sleep her noble Head . "

The story runs that once in every twelve months , on the eve of St . John , when the quiet burghers of that ancient city are wrapt in slumber , and when the hour of midnight clangs out from the loud-tongucd bell which hangs in the old cathedral tower , that the spirits of the stonemasons , by whose hands the sacred pile was erected , arise from the tomb and once more revisit the scene of their former

labours . Up from the dark and gloomy crypt , along the columned aisles and vast dim nave . across the white gleaming marble floor , checkered with ghostly shadows that stream from pictured oriels , past the stone-carved statues that keep watch and ward with their swords and sceptres , comes the long train of death-like , night-wandering shadows . Clad in their quaint old mediaeval costume , the Masters with

their compasses and rules , the Craftsmen with their plumbs and squares and levels , the apprentice lads with their heavy gavels , all silently greeting their companions , old and iie-ar , with time-honoured salute and token as of yore . While the last note of the deep-mouthed bell is still trembling in the air , reverberating from arch to arch , and dying away amid the frozen music of the traceried

roof , forth from the western portal streams the shadowy throng . Thrice around the sacred edifice winds the waving , floating train , brave old Erwin himself leading the way , while far above , up above the sculptured saints who look down upon the sleeping city , up where at the very summit of feathery , fairy-like spire , the image cf the Queen of Heaven stands , there

floats a eld , white-robed female form , the fair Sabina , old Erwin's well-beloved child , whose fair hands aielcd him in his work . In her right hand a mallet , in her left a chisel , she flits among the sculptured lace work of the noble spire like the genius of Masonry . With the first faint blush of dawn the vision fades , the phantom shapes dissolve , and the old Masons return to their sepulchres , there to rest until the next St . John ' s Eve shall summon them to earth .

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HAMPTON COURT . —Era Lodge , No . 1423 . —The installation meeting of this well-known Middlesex lod ge will take place on Saturday , 12 th inst ., at the Island Hotel , Bro . Tagg ' s , at 3 . 30 p . m . The installation ceremony will be conducted by Bro . Thos . J . Sabine , ' '•M - 73 , 1540 , P . P . G . S . B . Middlesex , the present W . M ., assisted by Bro . J . W . Baldwin , P . M . 1423 , P . P . G . P .

Middlesex . Splendid views of the river Thames , extending on one side as far as Hampton Court Palace , and on the other as far as the village of Hampton , are obtained from this hotel . The charming locality chosen for the meeting of the Era Lodge should render it one of the most Popular of the London summer lodges . We are glad to hear that as the result of our

paragraph announcing that thirteen out of fourteen of the girls of the Masonic Schools had passed the Cambridge local Examinations , a Suffolk brother has offered to take the fourteen competitors , with two attendants , to a grand morning concert to be given at St . James ' s Hall , London , " 1 May next , in aid of the funds of the new Hospital for "omen , 222 Marylebone-road , London . —East Anglian

, ""Hy Times . The installation of Bro . E . W . Devereux , of trie Era Lodge , 1423 , and Hon . Sec . of the Surrey Masonic L 'ub , will take place at the Island Hotel , Hampton Court , 0 , 1 Saturday , the nth inst . Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity ? of free

and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regu'itinns , E . A . Song , & e . A copy should be in the posscs" 011 of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the ° iiice of the Freemason , or will be sent post-free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five f "ny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , L ondon . —ADVT .

The London Masonic Charity Association.

THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

A special general meeting of the Committee of this association took place on Wednesday last at the offices , 1 , Clifford's fnn , when the arrangements for the elections were carefully considered , aud several communications

ordered to be replied to . A meeting will take place on Wednesday next , the 9 th inst ., at 5 o'clock p . m ., of the General Committee to make the final arrangements . All voting papers should be at once sent , not filled up , to Bro . A . Tisley , 1 , Clifford's Inn , Fleet-street , E . G ., in order that the same may be registered and properly applied .

Farewell Banquet To Bro. J. Clark.

FAREWELL BANQUET TO BRO . J . CLARK .

A farewell dinner was given by Freemasons belonging to several lodges in the Portsmouth district on Wednesday , the 26 th March , at the Golden Fleece , Commercial-road , Landport , to Bro . John Clark , Senior Warden of No . 1776 , agent for the Butterly

Iron Company , on the completion of an extensive contract for sliding caissons in the new extension works of Her Majesty ' s Dockyard , Portsmouth . Bro . E . S . Maine , P . M ., & c , occupied the chair , and Bro . J . Craven , P . M ., & c . the vice-chair . The dinner was of a substantial character , and reflected great credit on the host . After the cloth had been removed the Chairman

gave the customary loyal and Masonic toasts ; and in proposing the toast of the evening viz ., "The Good Health and future Prosperity of Bro . John Clark , " remarked that Bro . Clark had been a sojourner in Portsmouth for about six years , that he cameamong them a stranger , but during this period he had , by his good nature , geniality , and courtesy of manner , gained a large number of friends .

Not the least sincere were those who surrounded the festive board that night . In bearing testimony to the many good social qualities of Bro . J . Clark they must not omit to pay a tribute of respect and admiration to the great Craft to which they belonged , inasmuch as however great the qualifications of Bro . J . Clark might be , he would not have had the opportunity of making so many or such genuine friends had it not been for the organisation of the great

Order of Freemasonry , which enlisted men of all classes under its banner and enabled them to interchange their ideas and form the basis of many sincere friendships which death alone would sever . He neeel not say how exceedingly delighted they were to meet their guest that night , and regretteil that it shoulel be occasioned by his leaving the neighbourhood , and hoped that he would carry away with him kindly feelings towards the-Masons of Portsmouth , and receive a cordial welcome from the brethren in Derbyshire .

The toast was drank with musical honours , and Bro . J . Clark , who was much affected , in response , said that he coubl not find words to express his lasting gratitude to the Freemasons of Portsmouth for the kind , cordial , and sincere manner they had tieated him during his stay there . ; he had never received an unkind word from them , but , on the contrary , had received fiom them the greatest assistance . He

regretted much that he was compelled to leave them , but as they had finished their contract , there was no alternative for him but to return , and , as a consequence , the best of friends must part ; he should , however , ever remember the unexpected kindness in inviting him to a farewell dinner in the handsome manner they had done . Again thanking them for their fraternal conduct , he resumed his seat

amidst considerable enthusiasm . Bro . J . Clark next proposed " Success to the Borough of Portsmouth Masonic Hall and Club Company , " and observed that he was certain the company would prove a great success , and be highly beneficial to Freemasonry in Portsmouth . He coupled with the toast the names of Bros . H . Cawte , P . M ., and G . Cunningham . Bro . H . Cawte ,

P . M ., in reply , said that ne had long desired to sec a company formed for the purpose of affording lodges good accommodation in a central part of the borough ; they had at last succeeded in their object , and secured the co-operation of brethren belonging to all the lodges . Bro . Cunningham also , in reply , observed that the company must be a success from the perfect unanimity which prevailed

amongst the Masons there with respect to the objects of the company ; he remarked that he was a Mason of some years' standing—he had belonged to the Robert Burns , No . 25 , London , since his initiation , but he had become an affiliated member of the newly-constituted Landport Lodge , and intended to do his utmost to make the new company successful for the benefit of the Masonic lodges

of the borough . I hey had succeeded in inducing the Mayor , Bro . W . D . King , to be the chairman , and from his known aptitude for business augured well for its ultimate prosperity . Bro . J . Willmott , W . M . 342 , who was mainly instrumental in getting up the dinner , proposed " The Health of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman , " which was briefly

responded to by Bros . E . S . Maine and J . Craven . Some capital harmony was rendered by the brethren during the evening , and a most agreeable and happy evening was spent . There were present Bros . E . S . Maine , P . M . ; J . Craven , P . M . ; H . Cawte , P . M . ; A . Riddell , P . M . ; Clay , P . M .

W . Payne , P . M . ; R . Turncy , P . M . ; Willmott , W . M . 1542 ; R . Barnes , S . W . 342 ; C . G . Adames , J . W . 1770 ; Bacigalupo , E . J . Smith , G . Cunningham , J . G . Niven , G . Chamberlain , A . Holbrook , It . King , J . Cuwd , A . H . Hancox , J . Smith , Lenanton , Groom , Matthews , Robinson , German , Parkhouse , Green , McKinlay , Johns , J . Clark , and others .

The Goldsmiths' Company announce that several exhibitions in their gift are vacant at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge .

Notes On Art.

Notes on Art .

The Paris Salon promises to be unusually good this year , artists having no such counter-attraction as the Exhibition Fine Art Galleries proved last spring . All the pictures had to be sent by Friday , the 28 th ult . Amongst the most noticeable are a portrait of Victor Hugo by Bonnat , the well-known portrait painter , yet another episode of the struggle in 1870 by M . Detaille , "Defence of Champigny by the Division Faron , " a military scene in Brittany by

M . Bcrnc-Bellecour , and an enormus triptych depicting the miracles of St . Cuthbert—large enough for the wall of a Cathedral—by M . Duez . M . Henner sends a painting of Naiads on the banks of a stream , and a head of a sleeping girl , taken impromptu from one of his models who had been overcome with drowsiness , and M . Carolus Duran , one of his usual portraits ; but MM . De Neuville , Vibert , and Munkaczy will not be . represented -at the Palas de 1 'Industrie .

THE TELEPHONE . —At the Royal Society ' s soiree , held at Burlington House on Wednesday evening , the 2 nd inst ., there was a demonstration of the power of Edison ' s new loud-speaking telephone . LORD BEACONSFIELD . —Mr . Jabez Hughes has executed some remarkbly life-like photographs of the Premier .

The Society of Painters in Water-Colours have elected Mr . A . P . Newton a member , and Mrs . Helen Angell and Mr . H . M . Marshall Associates of the Society . The sun will not shine for a longer perio than seventeen million years , according to Professor Dubois Reymond , of the University of Berlin . By that time ,

he adds , the earth will be covered with glaciers . NATIONAL GALLERY . —The National Gallery will be closed , for cleaning , from Monday , the 7 th inst ., to Saturday , the 12 th inst ., inclusive , but will be re-opened to the public on Easter Monday , and during the whole of the Easter week , including Thursday and Friday—the days ordinarily reserved for students . ROYAL GIFT TO THE BIRMINGHAM LIBRARY .

—At a meeting of the Birmingham Town Council on Tuesday , the Mayor read the following letter , which had been received from General Ponsonby , on behalf of the Queen : — " Buckingham Palace , March 24 , 1879 . —Sir , — I am commaniled by the Queen to inquire if the managers of the Birmingham Library will accept from Her Majesty the volumes , a list of which I enclose . Not being certain

to whom I should address myself , I venture to trouble you with this letter in the hope that you will communicate the Queen ' s offer in the proper quarter . I have the honour to be , Sir , your obedient servant , Henry F . Ponsonby . —The Mayor of Birmingham . " The list of volumes is as follows —Lepsius' " Deukmale aus Aegypten und Aethiopien , " 12 volumes , large folio ; Dr . F . Bock ' s " Kleinodien des

heiligen Roniischen Reichs Deutscher Natiem , " 1 volume , large folio , Wien , 1864 ; Nash ' s ( Joseph ) "Windsor , " London , 1848 ; and Wyatt ' s ( eVlr . Digby ) "Industrial Arts of the 19 th Century , " London , 18 53 . On the motion of the Mayor , it was resolved " That the letter of Meutenant-General Ponsonby be received and entered on the minutes , and that he be requested to be the medium of conveying

to Her Majesty the Queen the grateful acceptance by this Council of her gracious offer to present to the free library of this borough a valuable seclection of books . " Bro . Stephen Pearce , who has painted the likeness of Bro . Lieut-Col . Creaton—see report—is well known by his exhibited life-sized portraits at the Royal Acaelemy Exhibition . We well remember the eminent

President of the Royal Society , General Sabine , painted by him some few years ago , and also his fine manly portraits of the distinguished Arctic heroes , Sir Leopold McClintock , Sir Robeit McClure , Captain Penny , and others . Then , if we mistake not , there were very beautiful portraits of the late Duke of Bedford , Sir Francis Beaufort , and Sir John Barrow , also exhibited in successive years on its walls .

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The Duke of Connaught has appointed Dr . Charles Murchison Physician-in-Ordinary . Professor Virchow has left Berlin for Troy in acceptance of an invitation of Dr . Schliemann . Mr . Carlyle has been unanimously re-elected President of the Edinburgh Philosophical Academy for the

ensuing year . A somewhat novel haul was made by a fishingboat from St . Ives last week , for in the meshes of a large net , besides some hundred mackerel , were found 400 gulls , kittiwakes , and " murrs . " Lord Beaconsfield has placed Mr . Frederick

Martin on the Civil List for a pension of £ 100 a year , in recognition of the service he has rendered by compiling the Statesman ' s Year Book , which he has now issued for sixteen years . According to report , the White Lady , whose visits always precede the death of some member of the

Royal Family , was seen on the eve of Prince Waldemar ' s death . A solelier on guarel at the old castle was the witness of the apparition , and in his fright fled to the guardhouse , where lie was at once arrested for deserting his post . At Paris , on Monday , the church of St . Germain l'Auxcrrois was the scene of a funeral service ,

conducted , with the greatest pomp , over the remains uf M . Heriot , one of the proprietors of the immense shop in the Rue de Rivoli , known as the " Magasins du Louvre . " The hearse was followed by all the employes of the vast establishment , divided into nine groups ; the last group consisted of the young women of the shop , to the number of upwards of 200 . M . Heriot rose from the position of a shop . boy to that of part owner .