The Late Miss Jarwood.

THE LATE MISS JARWOOD .

The funeral of Miss Jarwood , Matron of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , took place on the 2 nd inst ., at the Cemetery , Battersea . The service was performed by the Rev . J . Toone , Hon . Chaplain of the Institution , the large hall having been specially prepared for the ceremony . The coffin , which was literally covered with floral offerings ,

was placed on a dais in the centre , draped in violet trimmed with white fringe , and the whole of the pupils of the Institution , the staff of Governesses , the members of the House and Audit Committees , the servants of the Institution , many old pupils , and several members of the Order were present—the children forming three sides of a square around the coffin . At the conclusion of

this portion of the service , the children marched from the hall , and lined the path on either side from the entrance to the gates , through which the procession passed to the cemetery , and a selected number of the elder pupils , each of whom carried a basket of flowers , foliowed the remains to the grave . The service having been finished , and after the coffin had

been lowered into thc grave , they all came forward and strewed their flowers upon it as a last farewell to an old and much loved friend . The grave itself was lined with ivy , which , together with the flowers , rendered what is usually cold and repulsive , a perfect garden . Altogether , the ceremony was a most affecting one , and the unwonted spectacle of extreme youth mourning the loss of one who ,

for more than sixty years , had endeared herself to successive generations of pupils , was one to be remembered . Wreaths , crosses , and flowers were sent by the House Committee , the Staff , and also by Bros . H . A . Hunt , Dr . Howell , Mrs . Howell , Rev . and Mrs . Toone , Bro . Frank Richardson , Bro ., Mrs . and Miss Grey , Bro . and Mrs . Matthews , Bro . and Mrs . Moon , Bro . and Mrs . F . R . VV .

Hedges , Bro . and Mrs . Dicketts , Bro . and Mrs . Griffiths Smith , the Misses Dora and Maria Smith , as well as the following ex-pupils , the Misses R . Moss , A . F . Triggs , S . Sheppard , A . Barron , L . Broadbent , M . Chapman , Grant , Dora Scott , Elizabeth Owens and Kate Douglas , Atkinson , Fanny Osborne , Geraldine Keighley , Slaymaker , Helena Pidduck , Grace Colville ,

Beatrice Wray , Florence and Edith Chiver ? , Sarah Crichton , Eliza Gilliard , Louisa Anscombe , Alice Boyd , and Mabel Wardj the House Servants j the Laundry Servants j the Junior School Servants ; and Mr . G . Sutton . The House Committee was represented by Bros . R . Grey , Hunt , P . de Lande Long , Matthews , Col . Peters and Frank Richardson ; and the Audit Committee by

Bros . Dicketts and C . VV . Duke . There were also present Bros . Spooner , Massa , Hogard , Farnfield , Maudslay , F . R . VV . Hedges ( Secretary ) , J . Terry , Paas , Webb , Bernard Butter , W . Lake , Dr . Howell , Rev . and Mrs . Wheeler . , , _ Letters of regret were received from those members of the House and Audit Committees who found it impossible to be present , and from Bros . Dr . Jabez Hogg , Dr . W . Smith

Hope , Dr . Wharton Hood , F . Binckes , Henry , VV . J . Hughan , R . C . Else , J . S . Eastes , T . M . Humphries , VV . VV . Morgan , Geo . Prestige , and Miss Moore . Among those present at the graves were Bro . Pildich , with several members of the District Board . Bro . Pigott , of Richmond , conducted the whole of the funeral arrangements , and Bro . Frank Richardson , to whose zeal and unremitting attention the Institution owes so much , kindly lent his aid in perfecting the arrangements .

As regards Miss Jarwood ' s career she may almost be said to have spent her whole life under the hospitable roof of our Masonic Girls' School . She was born in 1 S 10 , and at the age of nine years , being the daughter of a Freemason , and eligible to be received into the Institution , she was admitted as a pupil , and from that time forward till her deathon the 28 th ult ., her connection with the School

, was unbroken . In 1825 , when the term of her stay as a pupil was ended , she became an articled pupil teacher , and four years later she was appointed to the charge of a class in the schoolroom , as well as to act as assistant to the then matron—Mrs . Crook . On the death of that lady in 1 S 54 , Miss Jarwood was appointed her successor , and it was only quite recently that , owing to the increasing weight of years

and growing infirmity of health , she found it necessary to surrender into other hands the more active and onerous duties of her office . But she remained Matron to the very last , the Committee with that thoughtful kindness which has always characterised their administration of the School appointing a qualified lady to act under her guidance . Thusof the 7 6 years which Miss Jarwodd had lived , 6 7

, were spent by her in the School , first as pupil , then as pupil teacher , then as governess and assistant matron , and then , during the last 32 years of her life as matron . As to the value of her services to the Institution , but more especially in the last named capacity , it will be sufficient if we state that , in 1 SS 0 , a proposal was made by some of the more active supporters of the School , that a

fund should be raised for the purpose of having Miss Jarwood ' s portrait painted and hung in the Hall at Battcrsearise . The proposed plan was acted upon ; the commission having been entrusted to Bro . Stephen Pearce , of Lodge 2 , and a Past Grand Steward , was carried out most successfully by that brother ; and in November of thc same year , at a quiet gathering of the House Committee , accompanied hy a lew friends and thc coadjutors of Miss Jarwood , and

in the presence of the pupils , the portrait was formally unveiled and presented to the Instituticn as a memorial of the respect in which her services wcre held , by Bro . E . Letchworth , the Chairman for the month of thc House Committee . A more appropriate compliment could not have bcen paid , and it must bc a subject of congratulation to every well-wisher of the School , that the kindly features of Miss Jarwood , as well as the memory of her valued services , will be handed down through successive generations of subscribers , officers , and children .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The regular monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of this Institution was held at Freemasons ' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . Edgar Bower , Patron , P . G . Std . Br ., occupied the chair , and among those present were Bros . C . F . Hogard , J . L . Mather , W . H .

Perryman , A . G . P . ; C . F . Matier , C . H . Driver , S . Brooks , L . Stean , Hugh Cotter , J . Bultner , J . Newton , W . J . Murlis , Charles Belton , Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Fred . Davison , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , Alex . Forsyth , G . Innes , Albert Fish , A . Durrant , J . Tickle , and James Terry ( Sec . ) The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , and those of the House Committee read for

information , the SECRETARY reported the deaths of one male and one female annuitant , and one widow receiving a moiety of her late husband ' s annuity as well as that of an approved candidate for the Male Fund . The Warden ' s report was read , and two petitions were considered and approved , and ordered to be placed on the list of candidates ( Widows' Fund ) . A vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding brought the proceedings to a close .

American Masonic Courtesies.

AMERICAN MASONIC COURTESIES .

Bro . John Chapman , P . M . 1402 ( Torquay ) , P . Prov . G . Deacon of Devon ( of Sheffield ) , has just received a communication from the Melita Lodge , No . 295 , Philadelphia , U . S . A ., duly signed by the W . M . and Secretary , and bearing the official seal . After the lecture had been delivered by Bro . Chapman on "The Relations between Freemasonry and the Great

Pyramid , the members of the lodge and the numerous visitors , numbering several hundreds , by " a standing vote , " unanimously tendered to the enthusiastic lecturer the thanks of the brethren . Thc attested copy thereof has been forwarded in due course , as before noted , the VV . M . of 295 being the VV . Bro . Frank M . Dealy , and the Secretary , VV . Bro . Dennis F . Dealy ( being the manager and

proprietor , stragc to say , respectively of the Sunday Mercury ) . VVe understand that Bro . Chapman has replied to this kind expression of Masonic appreciation , and has intimated his intention to send copies of the lecture—now in the press —for distribution , and the acceptance of many of the distinguished brethren who were present , two being especially singled out for mention—R . W . Bro . E . C . Mitchell , LL . D .,

the Grand Master , and VV . Bro . C . E . Meyer , P . M . 295 , and Representative of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin . The pamphlet will also be sold , and will contain several illustrations of value and interest to students of this very curious subject . We congrarulate Bro . Chapman on the success of his American tour , and on the many friends he has made through his sojourn in thc " City of Brotherly Love . "

The "Light" Of Freemasonry.

THE "LIGHT" OF FREEMASONRY .

( BY A BROTHER . ) Tliere is a legend among Freemasons of one woman who , with the curiosity of her sex , had secreted herself in a lodge-room , becoming a sworn member of the brotherhood ; but what are the Craft to think when another of the excluded sex , Mrs . Hardinge-Britten is about to be "inspired " on the subject ? The "light" of modern

Freemasonry is a beneficent one , and the faith in allegory illustrated by symbols is based on Scriptural truth . The signs , tokens , and phrases of the Craft are designed simply to ensure the recognition of a fellow Craftsman by night or by day , and the certain " knocks" have certainly nothing to do with spirit rapping . " Brotherly love " is the mainspring of our being , and that divine principle need be in no antagonism with so-called "Spiritualism , " but why the

" guides " of Mrs . Britten should inspire her to lecture on " Ancient and modern Freemasonry , " which in many ways is at variance with their peculiar "knowledge , " for . they do not tender it as "faith" or "belief , " is a mystery , and has naturally excited the attention of the Craft . Not that even we who hold the keystone of the " Royal Arch " need tremble at the revelation of " the guides , " for there is nothing in modern Freemasonry but redounds the credit

of our humanity . The " brotherhood is said to be cemented by a " mystic tie , " and this fancied mysticism may be the fancied connecting link with "Spiritualism , " but , as we have already hinted , it has hitherto carefully excluded woman , to use the generic term , from participation in the "truth . " But the inspirational " oratress " is going to lift the veil , perhaps , and show us that which is " really lost in the

mists of antiquity . " Although we received the " light" in the oldest lodge of thc Craft , there are no authentic records earlier than the end of the fifteenth century . That is , indeed , " modern " when we think of what may be made known through the " guidance" of a Pythagoras . We cannot say and need not conjecture what the " ancient " Freemasons may have believed in ; but the " Master " Mason of to-day has a higher conception of immortality than

the Samian philosopher , the first to support the doctrine of metempsychosis which Spiritualists accept . All thc same there is no denying the strength of their convictions . Knowledge , with them , is claimed to be power , although it takes a more innocent and happily more intellectual vent than did that of a Michael Scott , who " cleft the Eildon Hills in twain , " or a Virgil , who , having acquired the knowledge from" an evil spirit , " made him fast by his stratagem .

Our friends the Spiritualists don't claim to be "Swcdenborgians , " and yet Swedenborg , after devoting the first 55 years of his life to . pure science , gave up the last 28 to spiritual mysticism . Kant , the celebrated philosopher , in a letter written by him in 17 O 4 , vouches for one remarkable manifestation received by Swedenborg . He relates that in the year 1759 , " when M . de Swedenborg , towards the end of February , on Saturday , at four o'clock p . m ., arrived at

Gottenburg from England , Mr . Wm . Costel invited him to his house , together with a party of 15 persons . About six o'clock , M . de Swedenborg went out , and after a short interval returned to the company , quite pale and alarmed . He said _ that a dangerous fire had broken out in Stockholm at thc Suderhaln ( Stockholm being about 300 miles from Gottenburg ) , and that it was spreading very fast . He was restless , and went out often ; he said that the house of one of his friends , whom hc named , was already in ashes , and

The "Light" Of Freemasonry.

that his own was in danger . At eight o ' clock , after he had been out again , he joyfully exclaimed , " Thank God ! thc ( ire is extinguished the ( hird door from my house . ' This news occasioned great commotion through the whole city , and particularly amongst the company in which he was . It was announced to the Governor the same evening . On the Sunday morning , Swedenborg was sent for by the Governor , who questioned him concerning the disaster . Swedenborg

described the fire precisely—how it had begun , in what manner it had ceased , and how long it had continued . . . . On the Monday evening , a messenger arrived at Gottenburg , who was despatched during the time of the fire . In the letters brought to him the lire was described precisely in the manner stated by Swedenborg . On Tuesday morning , the Royal courier arrived at the Governor ' s with the melancholy intelligence of the fire , of the loss it had occasioned ,

and of the houses it had damaged and ruined , not inthe least differing from that which Swedenborg had given immediately after it had ceased , for the fire was extinguished at eight o ' clock . " Kant vouches for the authenticity of the facts ; but the curious thing is the inconsequence of the revelations . Such an act of "clairvoyance , " or manifestation , may well be singular , for its extension instead of sweetening would embitter existence , and render the human

life miserable . Bad news is proverbial for its despatch , and in these days may , by the discovery of science , be flashed as quick as thought . The manifestation should come before the event ; but presumably , as " the guides " are not at the beck and call even of the medium , we must just take what comes and be thankful . On behalf of the Brotherhood , let us hope that they will be " spirits of sweet reasonableness " who inspire Mrs . Britten on Sunday night . —Newcastle Daily Leader .

Masonic Charity In West Lancashire.

MASONIC CHARITY IN WEST LANCASHIRE .

A meeting of the General Committee of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution ( under the presidency of Bro . E . Pierpoint , P . G . J . W . ) was held on Friday evening , the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Hopestreet , to consider applications on behalf of children lo be

placed on the list of candidates for election at the next Court of Governors . It was resolved to recommend the * election of five children , which will necessitate the annual expenditure of between £ 30 and £ 40 . A letter was read from a brother of the Peace and Unity Lodge , Preston , sending a donation of £ 5 to the Charity

, and offering to give special advantages for the education of certain children connected with * the Institution who mi « ht require it in the neighbourhood . On the motion of Bro . Councillor HOULDING , the contribution and generous offer were accepted with thanks , and the Secretaries were asked to convey the terms of this vote to the generous brother .

The twenty-seventh annual report' of . the West Lancashire Masonic Relief Committee has been issued , and the Committee state that "every application has had full consideration , and relief has been extended to the needy and deserving , to the fullest extent consistent with the bye-laws of the institution . Communications from the Committees of similar

institutions in the country are still received , thereby preventing imposition ; and the Committee desire to tender their hearty thanks to the officials of the kindred Charities for their kind co-operation and assistance . The great usefulness of this institution has now been proved by the work of over a quarter of a century ; and we think it a fitting time to appeal to the lodges of the provinces and to the brethren

generally for increased support . An alteration in the byelaws enables the Committee to vote increased grants , and has proved of the greatest service , especially in the cases of brethren desiring to go abroad , which oftentimes obviates the necessity of an appeal being made to the various lodires .

Several such cases have been dealt with during the past year . The Committee wish to caution brethren against thc giving of relief to applicants unless in well authenticated cases ; where this isindiscriminatelydoneaclassare encouraged whom it is not desirable to ^ assist , and the work of this institution is materially affected , the object being to prevent imposition , and this the Committee are enabled to do from tbe information in their possession .

A Masonic Anecdote .

A MASONIC ANECDOTE .

The strife of war in the year 1813 , condemned a citizen ot Limerick , then in command of a trading vessel , to bc captured by a French privateer , the commander of which on hnding in the person of the captain " a Brother , " gave him at once his liberty , ship and cargo . Conduct so truly noble was soon reported to the lodge , and a silver vase of

one hundred guineas value was voted to the generous hrenchman . The vase was sent through the British Consul to the Grand Lodge of France , but the gallant Mariencourt had in the meantime lost his life in Africa , and the vase was returned to the lodge . This noble tribute , once intended to remind the noble brother of the gratitude felt by the lodge for the almost conduct exhibited

godlike on the occasion , when , alas ' avarice , if not revenge , too frequentl y prevail , having returned to its first proposers , is reverentially preserved as the brightest ornament of the lod ge ; and at every meeting the memory of revered Mariencourt is drank in silent gratitude . On the cover of the vase the Master is described at work —on one side is a handsome design of the Temple , and on the other the following inscription :

Io Captain Louis Mariencourt , of the French privateer Le Luiree , to commemorate the illustrious example of Ma s ° ™ c virtue his conduct t 0 Captain Cambell displays . Ihe brethren ot Lodge 13 , on the registry of Ireland , present and dedicate this cup . —Limerick , ist May , 1 S 13 . " On the 2 nd February , 1 S 13 , the brig Two Friends became the prize of the Le Furee . The signals of Masonry were exchanged between the Commanders , and instantly Captain Mariencourt bestowed his ship , cargo , and liberty on Captain

Blush all who would asperse Alasonry , whether by ribald falsehood , or by the more dangerous attempts of sophistry . Masonry may bc feared by the unrighteous ; and well it may , tor it exists as a record of the goodness of the Almighty in disposing the human heart to deeds of mercy , benevolence , and Charity .