Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . CHARLES EWENS DEACON

Death has of late been somewhat busy with those of our town who are the representatives of a past generation , and who have spent a life of useful activity among us . The list of departed ones has , we regret to announce , been this week added to by the decease of Air . Charles Ewens

Deacon , for thirty-two years Town Clerk of the borough , and a gentleman who for more than that lengthened period had practised here as a member of an honourable and a lucrative profession , gaining by as spotless a public life as man e ' er led the highest respect and esteem of

both friends and foes—if , indeed , he ever had any of the latter . Of Mr . Deacon ' s early life but little can be told . He vvas born in 1803 , at Portsmouth , where his father was in a large way of business as a brewer . He was one of three or four children , and was educated with the view

of his becoming a lawyer . He was articled in the office of Air . Alinchin , a Portsmouth solicitor , and soon after the completion of his term he came to Southampton , in , we believe , the year 1826 , joining in partnership a Air . Bryant , whose offices were at Lansdowne House ,

Castle-lane , where Air . Deacon s business has ever since been carried on . The firm continued under the style of Bryant and Deacon until 1832 when the senior partner , who had been to London on professional business , died of cholera during his journey from London to Southampton . Air .

C E . Deacon then carried on the practice for some time , until he was joined by Mr . Long , a solicitor of Amesbury , as a partner . At this time he held office as one of the two Coroners for the borough—Mr . Corfe being the otherbut the Municipal Act , which became law in

1836 , abolished one ofthe two offices , and Air . Deacon was compelled to resign . Under the act , however , he became entitled to compensation from the Corporation funds , but he declined to accept anything , his letter announcing this determination stating that he sought' his reward

in the hope that he might have acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his fellow , townsmen in the performance of those duties which tho Corporation had allotted him . The thanks of the existing Town Council vvere vut . d to him for this liberal conduct . On the 16 th of August , 1836 ,

Mr . Ridding , who had held the office of Town Clerk for 28 years , resigned , and Bro . C . E . Deacon was elected the same day to the post , with a salary of , £ 200 a year , on the motion of Captain Ward , seconded by Air . Clark , in opposition to Air . Randall , who received twelve

votes to Mr . Deacon ' s twenty . Air . Deacon also held office as c . erk to the Southampton Waterworks Commissioners , On the passing of the Cemetery Act of 1844 , Mr . Deacon became secretary of the Southampton Cemetery , a post which he held to the end of his

public career . It was , however , as Town Clerk that he was best known to a large circle , anil over the long period during which he was literally the presiding genius of many successive corporations , no one could charge him with having exercised any political or personal bias in the discharge of

the important duties which devolved upon him . He strove hard to forward the best interests ol the town , putting forth special exertions with corresponding benefit to those whom he was serving in the railway battles of 1844 snd 1845 . Never could a public servant have held his office

with greater honour , to which universal testimony was borne when advancing age , coupled with bodily infirmity , compelled his resignation of that office which he had so long and creditably held . That resignation was sent in on the 6 th of July , 1870 , during the mayoralty of Alderman

—now Sir Frederick—Perkins , and on the motion of Alderman Stebbing , seconded by Air . Lomer , it was accepted . All the most prominent members of the Council present vied with each other in their testimony to Air . Deacon ' s ability

and worth , and a resolution was unanimously passed conveying the thanks of the Corporation to him " for the able and satisfactory manner in which he had discharged the duties of Town Clerk for a period of 32 years , " and it vvasfurther ordered that this vote should be engrossed on vel-

Obituary.

lum and presented to him . Among the suggestions for honoring him was one , in the first place , by the late Air . Councillor Sharp , that Air . Deacon should be elected an Alderman of the borough at the first vacancy , and in the second a general expression of a hope that his portrait

would be painted and placed m the Council Chamber . The first suggestion , no doubt , in consultation with Air . Deacon ' s wishes were never carried out ; the second has been , and the faithful picture which wow adorns our Council Chamber bears an additional value from the fact that it was painted

by a son of Air . Deacon ' s , who , inheriting his father ' s passion for pictures , has become a producer of them himself , and that in a manner which bears indication of highartistic genius . Mr . Deacon , junior , at the same time , painted a companion portrait of his boloved father , to whom it

was publicly presented at a banquet marking the occasion of his regretted retirement . Air . It . S . Pearce , who had rendered invaluable assistance to Air . Deacon , was by universal choice fixed upon as his successor in the office of Town Clerk , and

was unanimously elected , immediately on the resignation of the former , on the same terms and conditions . Bro . C E . Deacon was prominent among Freemasons . He was initiated in the Gloucester

Lodge , and also became a member of the Southampton Lodge , taking almost the highest Alasonic honours which can be conferred upon an individual , his offices including that of Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster of Hampshire , in which he was succeeded by Bro . Stebbing . He was

an honorary member of various benefit societies , which he helped not only by his purse , but very often with his counsel , and no one received a heartier welcome than he did when he made his appearance at any of the lodges . Bro . Deacon himself ascribed the infirmity

from which he has suffered for some years to the cutting of a corn , which so far affected his health that he has been laid by from time to time since 1869 . He had a somewhat lengthened illness , but by-and-bye reappeared among his old friends with apparently renewed vigour of constitution , and had lost somewhat of his

lameness . Up to within the last two months he has been at his offices in Lansdowne House in as good health as ever , though the infirmities of age were evidently creeping upon him , and he at times complained of his foot being uneasy . About a mouth since he took to his bed , and has been attended by Professor Longmore . A fatal termination of this attack vvas not

anticipated , but on Saturday a change tor the worse suddenly and rapidly set in . H >' s family were summoned around him ; and at two o ' clock on Alonday morning he sank consciously and peaceably to bis rest , in the presence of all on earth nearest and dearest to him , leaving behind him a name and a fame whicli nought can

tarnish , and so ending the career of one whom it may well be said "Remember him as beingworth y of thy praise . " He was the last surviving member of his lather ' s family . A younger brother of his was drowned at sea , his other brother and a married sisterdied in recentyears at Lordswood . — Hampshire Independent .

The editor of the " Bauhiitte" has founded at Florence an establishment for the sale of German and English books . We have much pleasure in introducing the same to the notice of our many

readers who may visit the fair city , feeling assured that they will meet with every attention from those in charge . The address is—Alessrs . Flor and Findel , German and Foreign Booksellers , 24 , Lung Arno Arriagoli , Florence , Italy .

Those who have most patiently studied human physiology have now concluded , that in the nerves lie the centre of action , the spring ol movement and regulation of vital functions . Invariable and relaxing weather , I lolloway ' s remedies are especially serviceable in maintaining nervous vigour and in defending the frame against ilbconsequences tro-ai dampness or chills . If tlie Iirst

symptoms receive attention , net only will further- danger be averted hut old ailments will give way and better health will be attained than vvas enjoyed before illness . No tieatment for safety and certainty of success may be so conlidently relied upon as that discovered by 1 ' rofessor Holloway whose Pills and Ointi . ier . t , always restore the sufferer . —ADVT .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

Bro . Lord Waveney , Provincial Grand Master for Suffolk , has kindly consented to preside at the next Festival of the Institution of Aged Freemasons . A new company has been formed for the purchase of the Masonic Hall , Ipswich . We

understand the Prov . Grand Alaster has taken 50 shares , with the intention of presenting them to the Provincial Grand Lodge , whilst another brother . a P . G . Chaplain of England , has taken 100 . RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE . —We are informed that the first Provincial Assembly of the

Grand Council of the Red Cross Order ( which was appointed to be held at Leicester , in connection with the Byzantine Conclave No . 44 , ) has been fixed to take place on Tuesday , the 21 st inst ., at 2 p . m ., when a large attendance of the principal supporters of the Order , and of

representatives from Aletropolitan and Provincial Conclaves is expected . A Sanctuary of K . H . S . and Commandery of St . John , will be consecrated , when members of the Red ' Cross Order , though not attached to the local Conclave may

avail themselves of the opportunity to become acquainted with those little known but very beautiful degrees . We are requested to state that any further information may be obtained from the Recorder of No . 44 , Freemasons ' Hall , Leicester .

We are glad to observe that Surgeon-Major T . AL Bleckley , M . A ., M . D ., LL . B ., Army Aledical Department , late Secretary to the Inspector General of Hospitals , II . AI . British Forces in India , and now of the Royal Victoria Hospital , Netley , has been presented with a very handsome Past Alaster ' s jewel and apron , (

manufactured by Bro . Kenning ) by the brethren of Lodge " Himalayan Brotherhood , " No . 4 ^ 9 , E . C , Simla . This is , we understand , the second valuable presentation received by Wor . Bro . Dr . Blackley , from the Simla brotherhood , during the period of his connection with the above lodge .

I HE ART GALLERY EOR LIVERPOOL . —The proposal to raise £ 20 , 000 by voluntary subscription for the erection of a Fine Art Gallery in Liverpool , was moulded into a practical form on the 29 th ult ., when a public meeting was held at the Town Hall , under the presidency of Bro . E . Samuelson , the Alayor , for the purpose of

carrying out the scheme . Nearl y £ 61100 have already been subscribed , and therefore there now seems little doubt the object will be accomplished in the course of a few weeks , when Liverpool , like the mediaeval cities of Italy , will be placed , by voluntary effort , in possession of" an inexhaustible source of pleasure . "

V UNERAL ill' AN EX-PoLICE Ol'EICER Ol THE CITY . —The funeral , on Monday , of Snperintendendent White , ofthe Gravesend police force , was attended by thousands of spectators , the deceased having been much respected . The pracession included the clergy , the Freemasons

the Coastguard , and others . The deceased was formerly in the City force , and Sergeants Webb . Brett , and Spittle attended from that body . The Provincial Grand Lodge ofthe Jt . S . Y . C . S . for London and Aletropolitan Counties will meet in Council at . ^ 3 Golden-square , on the i 6 th inst .

Eig ht brethren are on the list for promotion . ALBERT G . GOODALL , 33 . —This distinguished brother honoured our sanctum last week , and in his own person satisfied us that foreign travel does nor militate against the physical

condition nor interfere with those possessing rare intellectual gifts . His official report to thc Supreme Council at Chicago , in November next , will be awaited with great interest—New York Dispatch .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE NEW AIASONIC HALLAT PHILADELPHIA . —Bro . Woodford has received Bro . G . W . Chirnside ' s fraternal letter from Liverpool , of October 1 st , for which he is much obliged . Bro . Bradford will be very glad to receive the Philadelphia Ledger , of August 29 th , and also the later paper , kindly offered b y Bro . G . W . Chirnside .