Ireland.

whose opinion is worth considering would endorse such "trustworthy" teaching . We attach no importance to the fact that the present Pope was a Freemason before his office compelled him to abandon the

brotherhood , any more than to the late secession of the Marquis of Ripon from his Faith and from the Order . These are events which concern merely the individuals themselves . Freemasonry is not one whit

more respectable because Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti once belonged to one of its lodges ; nor will it be thought less of because the Marquis of Ripon is not permitted by his new masters to maintain his connection with the craft . Both events are

matters of very little importance to the Order . And it is equally unimportant to Masons that the Roman Catholic Church should have " cursed altogether" an Association where protestant and Roman

Catholic meet in Christian brotherhood . Ultramontane jealousy did not influence the Prince of Wales , if he ever heard of it . Nor will it , we need not say , in the slightest degree influence the Duke of Abercorn .

Whether his Grace has become Grand Master or not , we cannot say , notwithstanding the rumour to that effect . There is , we believe , some technical difficulty in giving him the highest post in an Order ,

where civil distinctions are not held superior to legal qualifications . But this we may be assured of that the winnings of the "Catholic Union" will not prevent his following in the steps of the Heir to the Throne of England .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Antrim.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF ANTRIM .

At the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim , held in Ballymcna , on the 14 th inst ., the D . P . Grand Master , Sir Charles Lanyon , in the chair—the following resolution , expressing regret at the

death of his Grace the late Duke of Leinster , Grand Master of the Freemasons in Ireland , was proposed by Bro . Frederick A . Matthews , Past D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . John H . Lawlor , P . M . No . 431 , and

unanimously passed , and copies directed to be forwarded to the Grand Lodge and the present Duke—viz .: "That , on this the first meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim since the death of his Grace

Augustus , Duke of Leinster , who for upwards of sixty years filled the position of Grand Master of the Freemasons of Ireland , we cannot refrain from recording our heartfelt sorrow at his removal from

amongst us . His Grace , whose ancestors in by-gone centuries more than once filled the high office of Grand Master in this country , conferred great , continuous , and lasting benefits on the Order during the

lengthened period of his rule . We feel profound regret that we shall no more enjoy the advantage of his wise and able counsel ; but the conspicuous example of

the Masonic virtues which , in his exalted station , his long and honoured life afforded , will ever live in the memories of a grateful brotherhood . "—Correspondent .

Obituary.

OBITUARY .

Liverpool last week was suddenly deprived of two good Masonic sons , and the news of their deaths will spread much sorrow amongst those to whom our deceased Masonic brethren were best known . Bro . Thomas Page , licensed victualler , Low-hill , died very suddenly on Thursday week .

Obituary.

Our brother had been in ill health for some time , and during the day dined in Liverpool , after which he lay down on a sofa to rest awhile . During the afternoon a friend called , and as he appeared to be asleep , it

was resolved to arouse him , but he was then found to be unconscious . A doctor was called , who directed Bro . Page ' s removal to his house , where his own medical man was called in to attend him . He never regained

consciousness , but died the same night about eleven o ' clock . Bro . Page , although never prominently taking part in Masonic affairs , was well-known in connection with public matters . He was chairman of the

Licensed Victuallers' Association about ten years ago , and , besides being a member of the committee , he took a leading part in matters connected with the trade , frequently attending in London on deputations to the

Government having reference to the interests of licensed victuallers . Bro . Page also interested himself in the welfare of the Licensed Victuallers' Institution , in West Derby-road , and was generally present at

the annual treats given to the inmates , for whom he always exhibited a kindly regard . Bro . Page a few years ago was a member of the West Derby board of guardians ; and three years since he contested West

Derby ward , in the Conservative interest , for a seat in the town council , but was unsuccessful . Bro . Page died in his 46 th year . His remains were interred in Smithdownlane Cemetery , on Saturday last , and the

funeral was largely and very innuentially attended . Amongst those who were present were Mr . Alderman Rigby , Bro . E . Samuelson , Mr . Alderman Heintz , Dr . Monk , Bro . W . J . Lunt , Mr . T . Blezard , Mr . J . Tarbuck

Bro . J . Ellis , Mr . H . Danson , Mr . J . Atkinson , Mr . W . Coward , Mr . T . Hamson , Mr . R . Lumb , Bro . W . Vines , Bro . Richard Bennett , Mr . T . Hughes , Mr . Nuttall , Mr .

T . Heyes , Mr . J . Andrews , Mr . Coward , Bro . Captain Berry , and a great many others , members of the Licensed Victuallers ' Association and licensed victuallers generally . Bro . Page has left five children .

Another death which took place on Saturday , was that of Bro . George Rigby Smith , Wine and Spirit Merchant , formerly Sec , and afterwards S . W . of the Harmonic Lodge , and also , we beleive , either W . M .

or P . M . of Lodge No . 155 . He died at his residence , Parkside House , Stanley-road , Bootle , near Liverpool , the immediate cause being consumption . He had been ill for some time , and had been confined to

his house for nearly the whole period since the burning of the landing stage , at which he was present , and , in consequence of getting wet , caught a cold which aggravated the complaint of which he has died at the

early age of 37 years . Bro . Rigby Smith served his apprenticeship as a printer with Messrs . M'Corquodale at Newton . When he was out of his apprenticeship he went into the employ of his uncle , Mr . Alderman

Thomas Rigby , and during the time he was with him he not only gave great satisfaction , but he gained the respect of all with whom he had business to transact , and made himself a host of friends . He took a

warm interest in the charitable institutions of Liverpool , particularly the Seamen ' s Orphanage and the Bluecoat Hospital . Tlie inmates of the last-mentioned institution will miss him greatly , for he was

always interesting himself on their behalf , and gave them a treat annually . He was also a member of the Licensed Victuallers ' Association . Mr . Smith has left a widow and four children .

Reviews.

Reviews .

STOKES' RAPID WRITIKG . Houlaton , and Sons , 7 , Paternoster-buildings . We think Mr . Stokes' book is both very serviceable , and likely to be very useful . In nothing is there still so much defect to be noted as in

handwriting . Either through custom or carelessness , through haste or the habit of years , we often write a " fist , " to use a popular word , not decipherable by our best friends . We shall all remember Sergt . Snubbins' Clerk , who boasted to the vivacious little Perker with a self-approving

chuckle that no one could read Sergt . Snubbins " Court hand"but himself , and that an " expedition fee " had been paid in several most important opinions . And probably every day cases arise in which , as a friend of ours once observed , "if you have a little spare time , I shall be

willing to pay for some writing lessons for you . ' Indeed we are disposed to think , we may say certainly , hardly a day elapses but that the patient members of some " chapel" ask with "bated breath , " for they never use strong language , as Mr . Weller once did , " where" that gent was

" baptized , " whose MS . so puzzles them as well as their foreman compositor , and deplore at the same time , that when he was sent to school he was not taught to write better . Indeed , it has been asserted that , in some cases , such has been the despair over some passages of hopeless

caligraphy , that the " devil" has been dispatched to the " Fox and Grapes " for a jug of mild beer to soothe the feelings of the assembly . We feel , then , how all printers will hail Mr . Stokes' well-conceived and most interesting little manual : and will hope that , in this case at any

rate , theory and practice may go hand-in-hand . Mr . Stokes gives some admirable rules and examples , which , we trust , all will profit b y ; as nothing is so pleasant in itself as good writing . We quite agree with the old schoolmaster who once told a bevy of laughing girls that , notwithstanding many other nice things , and

pretty things , ( here he looked at the young ladies ) , and good things in the world , nothing was so pretty , nice , or good , as a fine running hand ! Whether the young ladies believed him we are not told . We have been deeply affected , we admit , by ono example Mr . Stokes gives us of bad hand-writing , and which we think well to transcribe for the benefit of our readers .

As Mr . Stokes says , sententiously , " Imperfect writing sometimes produces deplorable results . "

AN AP ( E ) PALLINO WARNING . A gentleman wrote to a captain at sea , To ask , as a curious favour , if he When he touched at a place where monkeys abound , Would bring him home " two , " if two choice

could be found . On the captain ' s return he wrote off to his friend , To say , that he hoped for his monkeys he'd send ; Tho' he'd shipped a full hundred , and brought them away , On the passage some died , he was sorry to say .

So , in spite of all care , he could only contrive To bring him home eighty-six monkeys alive . The gentleman started , the gentleman stared , For eighty-six monkeys he wasn ' t prepared ; Either he or the captain had made a great blunder , To think how it occurred , overwhelmned him

with wonder . When his letter was read , nothing clearer could be , He'd put t double o , and had not crossed his t ! Thus he'd eighty-six monkeys consigned to his dwelling , As a little reward for bad writing and spelling . Gentle reader , and writer , and speller beware ! Remember the monkeys ; take care , oh , take

care . Can any thing be more ap ( e ) palling ? One monkey is enough as a general rule for most quiet people , especially if it be like most of the Simian genus , dirtv in habit , noisy , and

mischievous ; an habitual thief , and of a treacherous disposition . No further example is needed to prove the absolute importance of good writing , and the possibly awful consequences of bad .