Bro. Holmes Lecture On The Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.

smiling acceptance of the Emperor Paul as Grand Master , humbly swallowing all the circa , ustances < : f his election , and parading his portrait in official engravings of the Grand Masters , whilst they omit that of the unfortunate , but last lawful , Grand Master Hompesch , turn

upon the memory of Paul , dead and gone , and with unparalled ingratitude " legally ignore " the Priories he founded and endowed . And this is the precious " document from Rome , " by which we are now ask- , d to gauge the truth ot

the English laugue . the lawful Sixth lauguc of the Order of St . John : which has not been suppressed by English lav ; , since its revival on the and of April , ' 1557 : whi'h has always been treated at ihe chef-lieu as existent , and the Tevlvn ! of which lo a state of activity in its own

nation was d ened imperative when tlvi . t chef-Jis'ii no longer existed , and was accordingly eTecte .-l by a representation of the great majority of five out . of the seven other la agues , at the verv first ir . oi'tr . nt a ft-::- the arch enemy of the

Order had met his doom and tne Knignts of France could once more freely breath ? . With this reviva l the honorable society at Rome had no " organic "' connection , but the honourable society did not think it necessary to advance the fact by way of objection when informed in due

course that the revival had occurred , and it mast therefbie be ihe natural inference that the predecessors of the present Roman Council had no objection to make , and knew full well that the action of ibis greit majority of the Order was perfectly lawful . Throughout years of

correspondence with the French laugi / cs , as well : i : ; wiili the Order in England tho Roman Council has had full opportunity to dispute tiie legality of the latter branch . It has nerer done so , nor is there one paragraph in this most

cautious " protest" which impeaches live English Amgire any more than the branch of tlie Order in Austria , with which tlie honourable seciety at Rome can with equal truth say that it "has no organic connection . ' ( To be continued . )

Obituary.

Obituary .

« MASONIC FUNERAL of BRO . SAMUEL WITTILY , D . P . G . M . of WILTSHIRE . On Thursday , the 271 I 1 ult ., the D . P . G . M . for Wiltshire , I ) ro . Samuel Wittey , who was a

Solicitor , fell dead in the Assize Courts , at lKvi / . es , whilst in the active exercise of his profession , lie had been suffering for some rime from weak action of the heart , and had been under medical treatment for the complaint ,

nut did not seem worse than he had done for some time previously , except that he complained i if his breath failing him somewhat if he took more than usually active exertion ; but he had

we understand , on tiie morning of his sudden death , walked up from his residence at Rowdc , and had been actively engaged in the personal superintendence of those cases in which he was concerned .

Happening to leave the Court at a period when he supposed his presence would not be required for some time , a case in which he was concerned was unexpectedly called on in his absence , and he was sent for by direction of

Mr . Justice Grove . Of course he at once hurried back to the Court , and proceeded to put his case in train for hearing , but it was noticed by those present , who saw him enter the Court , that he seemed completely "done "

and hardly able to articulate . After a few moments he was seen to put his hand to his heart and rise from his seat , and , turning to some one near he requested him to get a glass of water . It was sent for immediately ,

tmt almost before the words left his mouth he staggered back and fell into the arms of Mr . Norris , the barrister whom he had instructed , who supported his head upon his knee for the very few minutes he survived , and then assisted in conveying his remains to one of ihe waiting

Obituary.

rooms . Mr . Lr . ngdon , M . R . C . S ., was sent for , and lest no time in attending , but deceased must have been dead , or at his last gasp , before he arrived , as he was not able to get him to swallow the brandy and water which he administered . Of course the Court was in confusion , and everybody in a state of excitement , but fortunately

Bro . the Rev . \ V . S . Oake , vicar of Rowde , happened to be present , in fact was the last person who met Mr . WitteyV eye as he fell backwards , and he immediatel y hastend to break the painful shock to Mrs . Wittey , and arrived in time to prevent its being abruptly communicated to her .

An inquest was held before Mr . H . K . Norris , the borough coroner , in the Nisi Prius Court , the same evening at 6 p . m ., when after hearing the evidence of Mr . Norris , the barrister , and

Mr . Langion , and after a few moments consultation , the jury returned a verdict of " Death from natural causes , " which the coroner interpreted . as " ' Death from apoplexy by the visitation of God . "

The deceased was not only D . P . G . M . of the the Province of Wiltshire , but he also held the distinguished office of Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons for the same province . He was one of the founders of the Devizes Lodge of Freemasons ( the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , No . 66 3 ) , and one of its earliest Masters .

Bro . J . IT . Chandler , the present W . M . of that Lodge-, of which the deceased had continued a member to his death , on hearing of the sad event and finding that Bro . Wittey had frequently expressed a wish that he mi ght be lowered to his last resting nlace with due

Masonic ceremonial , at once applied for a dispensation f » r that purpose , and invited the whole of the lodges of Wiltshire to unite with his own in complying with the expressed wishes of Bro . Wittey , and paying the last sad tribute of respect to departed merit .

1 ne esteem and regard with which the deceased had inspired the brethren , were such that , notwithstanding the very short notice and the very unpromising state of the weather , the invitation was promptly responded to by nearly 70 , including amongst them some ot the most

distinguished members of the fraternity . Lord Mcthuen , Provincial Grand Master of Wiltshire , and Sir Daniel Gooch , who fills the like office in the neighbouring province of Berks and Bucks , and who was also Bro . Wittey ' s predecessor in the office which the latter held at his death , were

both unavoidably prevented from being present . The brethren in full Masonic Craft costume , but with their badges and emblems covered with crape , assembled in their lodge-room at the Town Hall , Devizes , at 2 o ' clock p . m ., on Monday the 3 rd inst , when the lodge was

opened 111 the three degrees by Bro . Chandler , the W . M ; who in a few appropriate words alluded to the melancholy circumstance which had caused him to invite them to meet here that day , and called upon the Secretary , Bro . Nott , to read the dispensation for a public

Masonic Funeral which had been granted b y the R . W . P . G . M ., Lord Mcthuen . 'litis having been done , the W . M . claimed the attention of the brethren to the Chaplain of the Lodge , Bro . the Rev . T . F . T . Ravenshaw , P . G . Chap . England , who thus proceeded : —

Chaplain—If a man die shall he live again . Response . —The dust shall return to the earth as it was , and the spirit to God who gave it . Cha (>! ain . —When he dieth shall he carry anything away with him . Response . — -Hebrought nothing into this world ,

and tt is certain that he can carry nothing out . Chaplain . —The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away , Blessed be the name of the Lord . Response . —God is our God for ever and ever , he will be our Guide and support through the dark valley of the shadow of death .

Chaplain . —Our Brother has been called from labour in the Lodge terrestrial , and is gone wc trust to partake of the Divine refreshment in Paradise . Let us remember his virtues , the benevolent spirit which he manifested , the offerings which he made upon the altar of Charity , whereby the needy were supported , the distressed comforted

Obituary.

the widows woes assuaged and the orphans ' tears dried up . Let us behold in the precepts of our holy religion and in the sublime teachings of our Masonic Craft those principles which led him to adore T . G . A . O . T . U . and to love his

fellow men which taught him how to live and how to die . And since , in obedience to the Heavenly mandate , be is now gone forth from us , may the recollection of his virtues be cherished in our hearts , and have a salutary influence on the lives of us who remain .

And now let us say beloved brother , farewell , farewell , till we meet thee with a lasting embrace in the Grand Lodge above where tiie Supreme Grand Master for ever presides—reigns God Almighty .

And now Almighty and most merciful Father , who we adore as the Sovereign Lord of Worlds , of Time and of Eternity , who rulest the destinies of all Thy creatures . Since it has pleased Thee to remove from us one dear to our hearts and a

distinguished brother in our Craft ; we beseech Thee to bless and sanctify to us this dispensation of Thy Providence . Inspire our hearts with wisdom from on high , that we may glorify Thee in all Thy wavs . May we realize that Thine

Allseeing Eye is now upon us , and be influenced by the spirit of truth and love to perfect obedience , that so we may hope for Thy blessing here below . And when our toils 011 earth are ended may we rest from our labours among the blessed

dead whose works do follow them , ami when the last and Supreme Grand Lodge is opened may we be raised to unfading light and immortal life in thy everlasting kingdom , when Faith and Hope shall end , and Love and Joy prevail through eternal ages .

To Thee , O Righteous Father ! G . A . O . T . U . be ascribed all honour and glory , dominion and power , both now and for evermore . The AV . M . afterwards adjourned the lodge to the residence of the deceased at Rowdc , some three miles distance , whither they were conveyed

111 carnages . On leaving the house there , the funeral pro cession was formed in the following order : — Provincial Grand Tyler .

Director of Ceremonies of Lodge 663 . Steward of Lodge 663 . Brethren of other Lodges in the Province two and two in the following order . Lodge Friendship and Unity , 12 7 , Bradford-on-Avon .

Lodge of Concord , 632 , Irownndgc . Lansdowne Lodge of Unity , 626 , Chippenham . Lodge Elias de Dereham , 586 , Salisbury . Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation , 355 , Swindon .

Lodge of Rectitude , 335 , Corsham . The deceased's Lodge , the Wiltshire Lodge of Fidelity , 66 3 , Devizes , as follows : — Tyler with drawn Sword . Junior Members of the Lodge , two and two .

I he two Deacons . The two Wardens . Past Masters of the Lodge . Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge . Past Master bearing open Bible and Emblems

on a black cushion . The W . M . of the Lodge . The Chaplain and the Vicar of the Parish . Tvlc-r with drawn Sword .

Three Three present and —————— present and past Prov . r vuv -nnryw- past Prov . G . Wardens inL DUJDl . G . Wardens as pall J as pall bearers . bearers . Tyler with drawn Tyler with drawn

Sword . Sword . On the rich silk velvet pall which covered the coffin were placed in order the various badges of office held by the late Bro . Wittey in Freemasonry , amongst others his collar , apron , and gauntlets as Deputy Prov . Grand Master ,

his scarf and collar as Prov . Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons , & c , also several very beautiful wreaths of crosses of natural flowers , made for the occasion by friends . The oldest brother of the deceased , Henry Wittey , Esq ., of Colchester , followed as chief mourner , the next to him came the Rev . Preb . Kemble , of