Obituary.

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BRO . ALFRED PICKUP . Death has suddenly removed from the Masonic circle in Liverpool a brother whose name deserves a passing comment , as it will long retain its freshness in the memory of those who knew him best . At once a worthy Mason , a generous

benefactor , and a firm friend , Bro . Pickup s place in Masonic esteem was one of which any brother might be proud ; and although his natural modesty prevented him from seeking place or power within the lodge , yet by his unobtrusive fidelity to the sacred cause , a willingness to do

his duty , and a readiness to help in every good cause , Bro , Pickup did much to make Masonry honourable , both in the eyes of his brethren and the world . At the comparatively early age of forty-seven , and under circumstances of a peculiarly affecting character , Bro . Pickup has

been suddenly removed , and with the glistening tear of sympathy for those he has left , must come the tender tribute of words to his memory . Our deceased brother , at the time of his death , was I . G . ofthe Temple Lodge , No . 1094 ; Treasurer

of St . John ' s Chapter , No . 673 ; and active supporter , and member of the Liverpool Conclave of the Knights of Rome and of the Red Cross of Constantino , and in connection with each of these , he secured ever ) ' one ' s affection and esteem by his invariable trood-nature and courtesy . He was

also for many years an active and honest member of the Toxteth Board of Guardians , fighting the battle of the weak , and seeking to do justice as between one class and another . The surroundings of the " last scene "' in Bro . Pickup ' s

life are exceedingly painful . His only son , onl y child , in whom he had centred his fondest-hopes , hadjustreturned from Cambridge University with honours which must have g laddened his father ' s heart : and in celebration of his son ' s success

Bro . Pickup , at his residence in Upper Parliament street , gave a dinner to a select circle of friends , on Thursday 20 th ult . Immediately after dinner , while talking cheerily to his friends , he was suddenly seized with sleepiness , and before medical aid could be obtained the vital spark had gone

out in darkness . The news of his death excited general surprise and regret ; and the affection felt for him by the members of his mother lodge No . 1094 , was shown in the attendance of the principal officers at his funeral , which took place at Smithdown-lane Cemetery , on Monday 24 th ult .

About sixty relatives and friends were present , and amongst the brethren ofthe Temple Lodge were Bros . Richard Danson . AV . M . ; D . AV . AVinstanley , l . P . M . ; R . H . D . Johnson , P . M . ; Richard R . Martin , S . AV .: Thomas Gibson , J . AV . ; J . AVood , Treas . ; R . AVarlington , S . D . ;

R . C . Yelland , J . D . ; F . J effery , S . S . ; Joseph Clegg , AV . Healing , & c , besides Bros . Jesse Banning , Kidd , and Widdows , as representing other lodges . The little mortuary chapel was about three parts filled with mourners , and as Bro . John Dunkley , P . Prov . G . C . of AV . L ., read the burial service in the most impressive

manner , many an eye was moist with the tear of genuine sorrow- for a departed brother . After the body had been committed to earth , the grand or royal sign was given over the grave by the assembled brethren , who then left the scenes evidently impressed by all | thcy had witnessed that day .

BRO . JESSE TAYLOR , P . M . 361 . On Monday afternoon , the 10 th ult ., the remains of Bro . Jesse Taylor were interred at St . George ' s Church , Hyde , Cheshire , with Masonic honours . Bro . Taylor died at his residence in Church-street on the previous Tuesday , at the

ripe age of eighty-one years . He was a P . M . of the Industry Lodge No , 3 61 , and was well-known / mil highly respected among the Masonic body throughout the neighbourhood . His funeral card thus speaks ol" him : — " Our departed brother h ; is been a member of this lodge for

more than fifty years . " The deceased has served all offices in the : lodge , and that of Master no less than three times 5 he ] vu \ been Tyler for a number of years , and held thc office at the time of liis death . On the occasion of ( he fiftieth year of his membership a grand jubilee was held 6 \ M } WW ty ^ member of the lodge , a- d

Obituary.

a splendid photographic portrait of the deceased was executed by Mr . Fernley , photographer , and presented to the lodge . About sixty brethren assembled in the Industry Lodge-room at 3 o ' clock . The lodge was opened in the first , second , and third degrees ( a dispensation having

been obtained from the Right AVorshipful the Provincial Grand Master , Lord de Tabley , ) the brethren then formed in procession in the following order : —Master Masons , Officers of Lodges , Masters of Lodges , Past Masters , the Rev . . C . J . Bowen , Chaplain to the Duke of Athol Lodge ,

No . 2 TO , supported on each side by the Provincial Officers , Bros . Beriah Cooper , P . G . P ., and Thomas Stafford , P . Prov . G . D . C , the rear being brought up by Bros . John Beech , AV . M ., and F . Drinkwater , l . P . M . The brethren appeared in full Masonic costume . Thev marched from

the lodge to opposite thc residence of the deceased , ( where they opened out right and left to make room for the friends of the deceased ) to the church gates , whence thc body was borne into thc church by the brethren . Phe Chaplain read the service , and after reading that portion appointed

to be read in the Church , the coffin was again carried to the grave , where the service was completed . The Chaplain also read in a most impressive manner , the Masonic service , after which the brethren marched back to the Norfolk Arms

and the lodge was closed . An excellent tea was then served , after which the brethren separated . Thc procession was marshalled , and thc arrangements carried out by Bros . R . T . Bowden , P . M . Industry Lodge , No . 361 , and T . Fox , P . M . of the Clarendon Lodge , No . 1166 .

What Is The Good Of Masonry?

WHAT IS THE GOOD OF MASONRY ?

It is onl y right that Masons should be able to answer this question , in view of the ctti bono spirit which pervades the whole ideas of this utilitarian age . It would require- more space than we can command to treat this question exhaustively , but we would simply call attention to the following answers : —

1 . Masonry begets a confidence between individuals that neither party nor sect ever could accomplish ; this is a benefit that extends into every ramification of social life . 2 . It confers authority upon its members to speak confidently yet prudently to an erring brother . It will never be known in this world

how many dear brethren have been saved from temporal and spiritual ruin by a whispered counsel , sympathetic warning and proffered aid . The written and unwritten annals of our Order are full of illustrations of this fact .

3 . Masonry possesses an universal language , understood in all countries by .. ill races , of all tongues , of all colours and of all monotheistic creeds . That language is understood as well in the night season , as by day . The deaf , dumb ,

and blind can use it , as Masons can communicate with one another , so long as they possess the sense of seeing , hearing , feeling or speaking ; so that it is strictly true , that Masons can communicate without seeinsr one another or hearinc

one another , or feeling one another , or speaking a word ; either in the day time or night season , though of course one of these faculties must necessarily be used . There is nothing like this wonderful language for universality , so that amid all the vicissitudes of human life , the Mason

feels that only one word of Masonic language is sufficient to call to his aid the good offices of brethren near and dear to his heart . 4 . It gives men , irrespective of paltry considerations , a code of life principles , intensifying the noblest aspirations . It makes them

cosmopolitan , breaking down the petty barriers ol country , state , county town , sect , set , profession , business , family , and wealth . The highest of titles is , brother—no other can take its place . The talent of a hod-carrier may place him in the chair . The present Grand Master of freland , the Dnke of Leinster , justly boasts of

having risen through every grade , from that of Junior Deacon to the throne of a Grand Master , jj .-lt unites men in a common work for a common good , as broad and catholic as mankind . I ' , reaches men ( hat sects , parties anil side issues never could influence beyond the narrow bounds of petty associations . It sternl y

What Is The Good Of Masonry?

refuses to proselytise , as it wants no material untried . If mankind be unworthy of such a beneficent institution , —it can wait . It has taken centuries for mankind to arrive at its present state of imperfect moral life , perhaps the

timemay come when the whole earth shall have become one great lodge , the ideal of Masonry . Then there will be one government , one faith , one brotherhood , one nation , all brethren , because all the children of the Holy , Blessed and Glorious Supreme Architect of the Universe .

What Masonry Is And Is Not.

WHAT MASONRY IS AND IS NOT .

freemasonry has never yet , as I have heard , attempted to work miracles . It never yet infused brains into a cranium that had no cavity for their reception , nor did it ever send human blood coursing through a heart of granite , nor make a man out of a natural-born beast , and I

don ' t suppose it ever will . Its mission is to improve , not to create , and the material for its use must be capable of being moulded , or it cannot work it up . Again , Masonry is not reli gion in the sectarian sense , nor a substitute for it , and he who pretends that , or declares it to be " a

good enough religion " for him , foists it out of its legitimate place , inflicts upon it a grievous wrong , and lays himself open to the suspicion of ignorance of its teachings . AVhile it inculcates a firm faith in the being and divine attributes of God , almighty and eternal , and while it includes

within its acknowledged brotherhood , standingside by side upon the same level of manhood , ni ) ' Hebrew brother , who worships God in unity , and myself , who worshi p Him triune ; and while it presents to me , as it does to him , the story of the Messiah in many of its ceremonies ; and while it inculcates to both of us a like

reverence of the Divine Being , attention to His word , and invocation for His aid in all our laudable undertakings , it imposes upon neither religious dogmas . It leaves that for a different department ; it never was thus intended , and never will be pretended to he , by the well-instructed Mason .

I say this , because it seems to me very important that these facts should be well-grounded in our minds at this time . Masonry is charced with inculcating a Pagan religion , and binding its members in the trammels of infidelity , and with conspiring against Christianity , by obli ging them to ignore its Founder . AVhat we have to

do is : first , to answer all such allegations , if at all , with a simple denial ; and , second , to neutralise all such falsehoods with what is called the "truth of life . " " Man loves acts , not words , " and by our deeds , not promises or professions , we shall be judged by our fellow man . —REV . IOIIN C . AYEHSTER .

The Master Mason.

THE MASTER MASON .

When we reflect that the wisest and best men for many centuries have contributed of their labour and skill to perfect the institution of Freemasonry , and so mould and fashion its various parts as to constitute a perfect whole ;

—and as this institution has come down to our time , with the impress of anti quity deeply stamped upon it ; approved and patronised b y the sages of every country through thousands of years ; surely we have a ri ght to expect the

profoundest wisdom centred in an institution , formed and perpetuated for some object , corresponding in magnitude to the time it has existed , and the distinguished men who have devoted their lives to its interests , and by their example recommended it to our favour .

To the practical , common sense mind , there is just ground to expect a great deal when the mysteries of the Order are unfolded to the intelligent noviciate ; and if he is disappointed and deceived , he has just grounds upon which to charge falsehood upon the whole fraternity , and to renounce it in disgust , and retire from its circles .

The common reader has no means , by which to determine tho question of the genuineness and substantiality of the Order , further than te judge of its reality by the conduct of those who join it . Such as possess a force gf ijltejject . aijii