Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN NOKE . We regret to announce the death of Bro . John Noke , P . M . ofthe Vitruvian Lodge , No . $ 7 , at his residence , 11 , Clarence-street , Old Kent-road . The deceased , who had , through the infirmities of age , been confined to his room ever since last November , sank to his rest at half-past seven o ' clock on Friday , tbe 2 nd inst . Bro . Noke \ yas born on the 4 th November , 179 S , and entered upon bis Masonic

career on the 13 th December , 1 S 37 . He was initiated in tbe Vitruvian Lodge , held at the Crown Inn , College-street , Lambeth , and was raised to the Third Degree on 14 th February , 1 S 3 S . Having fulfilled all thc subordinate offices of the lodge , he was installed as Master at the January meeting of 1 S 43 . He subsequently discharged in the same lodge the duties of Secretary for twelve years , ancl those of Treasurer for eight years . In the various offices held by

him he gave the highest satisfaction . He was ever read }' to promote the interests of thc lodge , anel was always regarded by his numerous associates as an authority on matters affecting the fraternity . His familiar face in lodges of instruction on the Surrey side of the Thames , where he acted as Preceptor , will no doubt be missed for many years to come . Bro . Noke , who was perfectly resigned to bis

fate , retained his faculties to the last . It is satisfactory to note that the remaining days of his exemplary life were passed in comparative comfort , owing in a great measure to the assistance afforded him by thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , of which he was elected as an annuitant on 19 th May , 1 S 71 . The Craft lose in him an earnest advocate of its principles , and his associates a sincere and genial companion .

BRO . DR . EDGAR GEORGE POTTLE . It is with deep regret we announce thc death of Bro . Dr . Edgar George Pottle , M . R . C . S ., L . R . C . P ., which took place on Friday , the gth inst ., at the early age of forty years , after a long illness borne with that cheerful resignation which characterised his every action in life . Bro . Pottle was initiated in thc Gresham Lodge , No . S 69 , in May , 1 S 70 , was appointed P . G . S . B . for Herts , in 1 S 7 6 , and

after serving all thc minor offices in the lodge teas elected VV . M . in 1 S 7 S ; he was exalted in the Victoria Chapter in 1 S 72 , and joined the St . Leonards Lodge at its consecration ; he was a subscriber to all the Masonic Charities , and honorary surgeon to the Honourable Artillery Company . Amongst his friends be was a most genial companion and lively wit , of a kind ancl generous disposition that made itself felt like a ray of sunshine in whatever society he mixed . His death will be lamented by a large circle of friends ,

by whom he was much and deservedly respected , as well as by the poor of his parish , to whom his kindly counsel and cheerful encouragement in time of suffering lent a peculiar charm to his professional advice and remedies . The funeral took place at Highgate Cemetery , on Wednesday , the 14 th inst . 'The burial service was read by thc Rev . Mr . Webster of St . Mark's , Old-street . There was a large attendance of friends and brethren from bis loelges anel chapter , as well as many of the parishioners anel poor , by nil alike deeply regretted .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

OLD KENT LODGE . —A meeting was held on Wednesday , 14 th April , 1 SS 0 , at thc Ship and 'Turtle , Leadenhall-street . Present : Bros . Ii . C . Mather , W . M . ; Henry Venn , S . W . ; James Moon , J . W . ; Rev . D . Shaboe , Chaplain ; IL Dicketts , M . O . ; XV . B . Date , S . O . ; J . O . VVood , J . O . ; D . M . Dewar , Secretary ; J . L . Mather , S . D . ; Thos . Keene , D . C ; John Ramsey , I . G . ; Jos .

Tanner , Steward ; Jas . Rawles , 'Ivler . P . M . s Bros . Wynne , Binckes , Rosenthal , and koebuck , anil Bros . Soppet , Pinder , Gimingham , Christian , Anderson , Silvester , Leaman , Solomon , Dore . Visitors : Bros , the Rev . G . R . Portal , P . G . M . ; F . Davison , G . Treasurer ; II . C . Levander , G . Registrar ; VV . VV . Westcott , No . 162 ; John C . Cox , No . 144 . 'The lodge having been

opened and the minutes read and confirmed , Bros . Levander and Money were elected joining members , and Bro . Dore , after approval by ballot , was advanced to the Degree of M . M . M . Bro . Henry Venn was then installed as W . M . for the ensuing year by P . M . Dewar , and appointed and invested bis officers . 'The Rev . G . R . Portal ,

Past Grand Master , was elected an honorary member . Bro . E . C . Mather having intimated bis intention to serve as Steward at the Mark Benevolent Festival on 7 th July next , £ 5 5 s . were voted on his list . Some notices of motion were given , anel after fhe lodge was closed the brethren adjourned to an excellent banquet .

MALTA . —Keystone Lodge ( No . 107 , E . C . ) . — A largely attended meeting of this loelge was held on the 3 rd inst ., at the Masonic Hall , Valetta , Besides the VV . M . ancl his officers , and several members of the lodge , the P . G . M . ; D . P . G . M . ; G . S . W . ; G . Secretary ; G . Treasurer ; G . M . O . ; G . I . G . ; G . Organist ; and G . Sword Bearer were present , as well as man } ' visitors from Lodge 24 S , E . G . ; and 3 S 7 , I . C ; also the R . W . D . G . M .

( Craft ) , Bro . VV . Kingston , P . M . - . 07 . Several ballots being taken , the P . G . M ., W . Bro . Broadley , at the request of the VV . M ., advanced to the Honourable Degree of M . M . the following candidates , viz .: Bros . Tayar , Burt , Pearce , McCoy , Baldacchino , and Abbott , P . M . Zetland Lodge , No . 515 ; Alsop , of Harbour of Refuge

Lodge , No . 764 ; Jones , of Glamorgan Lodge , No . 36 ; Lockett , of Brownrigg Lodge , No . 1424 ; and Cormett , of Bermuda Loelge , No . 35 8 . The ceremony being satisfactorily completed , the brethren present adjourned to a banquet , at the hospitable invitation of the VV . M . and brethren of thc Keystone Lodge .

Knights Templar.

Knights Templar .

MALTA . —Melita Grand Preceptory . —A meeting of this preceptory was held at the Masonic Hall on the Oth inst ., at five p . m . The preceptory having been opened by E . Sir K . Broadley , P . E . P ., the ALE . P . ' Prior , Sir K . W . Kingston , was announced , anel received under the arch of steel . The E . P . elect , Sir K . C . E . Coffey , was then presented to him by P . E . P . ' s Broadley and [ Segond , and

Knights Templar.

duly installed in thc chair . He then appointed bis ofiicers , Major Ewing being Constable ; Captain Blake , Marshal ; and Watson , Chaplain . The E . P . then admitted to the Order Comp . J . VV . Starkey , of the William Kingston Chapter , No . 407 ( D . G . Sec . ) Some current business being disposed of , thc preceptory was duly closetl . 'The P . Priory was openeel at eight o ' clock p . m ., the Prov . Prior ( accompanied bv his St . B . and Aidc-de-C .-i . mp ) being

received with thc honours due to Ins rank . The P . Prior appointed and invested the following P . Officers ( reserving thc other posts for thc nominations of the V . E . Sub-Prior Gilbard at Gibraltar , who was re-appointed ) : Sir Knights A . M . Broadley ( P . P . Prelate ) , Chancellor ; Watson , Prelate ; Coffey , Constable ; Segond , Treas . ; Starkey , Reg . ; Ewing , Vice - Chancellor ; Walker , Captain of Guards ; Grier , Aidc-de-Camp ; and Beck , Equerry . On thc motion

of the P . Chancellor , seconded by Sir K . Captain F . R . Bccchcy , P . P . Constable , a vote of thanks was offered to M . E . Sir K . Kingston , for the efficient way he had represented his province in England , and for his exertions in procuring thc beautiful collars of ofiice with which thc P . Officers had been that night invested . The P . Priory was then closed , anel the M . E . P . Prior retired under thc arch of steel .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

lhc Alexandra Palace Lodge of Instruction meets ev , cry Saturday at 7 . 30 , at the Loughborough Masonic Club , Station Approach-road , Loughborough . Bro . E . R . Stacey , p . m ., Preceptor . The meetings of lhc Covent Garden Lodge ot Instruction , which were held at tlie Nag ' s Head , Jamesstreet , Covent Garden , are adjourned until further notice .

The first Masonic ball ever organised in connection with tbe Craft at Swansea took place on the 2 nd inst . in the Music Hall . It was a decided success , several hundreds being present , including many of the elite of the neighbourhood . We have pleasure in stating that a bandsome surplus exists , after defraying all expenses , which will be distributed between the Masonic Charities . The preparations for laying the foundation stones

of the'Truro Cathedral are progressing . The Committee , which met on Saturday , thc ioth inst ., decided to entrust the erection of the Granel Stand to Messrs . J . N . Julian and Sons , builders , So , of 'Truro . The stand is to consist of two large structures , occupying the entire space at all available of the Cathedral-yard and site of all the old buildings now being cleared away for the purpose , and is calculated to seat about 5000 persons . 'This erection , if well decorated , will have an imposing effect , anel be a great convenience to

visitors . The Fifteen Sections will be worked in the J . a Tolerance Lodge of Instruction , No . 5 $ S , on April 21 st . Lodge opens at seven o ' clock p . m . The Sheriffs of London will support the Lord Mayor on the occasion of his presiding at the anniversary festival of the Printers' Pension Corporation on the nth May .

The annual installation meeting of thc members of the Temple Lodge , No . 1094 , was held on Wednesday last , at thc Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool . A report of the proceedings will appear in due course . The annual ball of the Honourable Artillery Company proved a great success , thc guests numbering nearly two hundred . 'The usual evening party will be given on May 12 th .

An excellent portrait of Rro . Sir J- Xi . Monckton appeared in last weeks Pictorial World . It is the intention of the promoters of the Dramatic Fine Art Gallery to admit the public free on Shakespeare's birth-anniversary ( Friday , the 23 rd inst . ) A presentation banquet to Uro . Speedy , of the South London Music Hall , was given by Mr . Poole and

friends at the Guildhall 'Tavern , on Monday last . The Sanitary Institute of Great Britain have accepted the invitation to luild tbeir annual congress in Exeter this year . Mr . G . 13 . Hlack of Regent-street , lias just published a lithographic portrait of the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Sir F . Wyatt Truscott , in his official robes . 'The

likeness is to the life , anel is worthy of the reputation Mr . Black has acepiired in artistic portraiture . In the absence of the Lord Mayor , Dro . Sheriff VVoolloton presided on Wednesday at tbe opening , by the London and Provincial Coffee Palace Company , of their tenth establishment since the commencement of their

operations in March last . 'The new place of business is styled thc Finsbury Coffee Palace , and is situated in Finsburyplace . Her Majesty has been graciously p leased to confer upon Mr . Best , the Organist of St . George ' s Hall , Liverpool , a pension of £ \ oc \ a year from Her Majesty's Civil List in recognition of bis services to music .

The Lord Mayor has received a letter from Mr . Moir , President of St . Kilts , one of the Leeward Islands , giving as account of a terrible calamity that has befallen parts of the island owing to a tremendous Hood , which has brought severe suffering upon many of the inhabitants . 'To Mr . Moil's appeal for help , bis lordship replies tbat while be is unable to open a fund at the Mansion House be

feels that when the facts are known public sympathy will be shown in a practical form . For the better and more costly kind of Masonic Jewels a great saving can be made by getting them direct from the manufactory . Messrs . J . R . Williams ancl Son made the most costly badge in the kingdom for the Mayor of Liverpool , and many others , and many of tbe sheriffs '

badges and chains . The firm are now supplying the nobility and gentry ( direct ) nt the same prices as they have for forty years served thc best houses in London anel tbe country , ancl co-operative stores . Messrs . J . R . Williams and Son have' always been celebrated for specially fine diamond work and choice gem rings . 'The two advantages thus offered to the public are far superior quality

and an immense saving in price . Manufactory and warehouse ' , 10 S , 1 latton-garden , E . C . 'The usual saving is 20 to Oo per cent . Bridesmaids' lockets and all kinds of jewellery for wedding presents . Dealers in diamonds , pearls , and coloured gems , loose or mounted . Elegant designs furnished ( gratis ) for re-mounting diamond work . Catalogues sent post free on application . —[ ADVT ] .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The installation meeting of the Wanderers ' Lodge , 1603 , took place at Freemasons' Hall , on Tuesday last . A report of thc proceedings will appear in our next . ^ Bro . C . Smith , P . M ., founder of ihe Ivy Lodo-e , No . 145 , has , we hear , retired from the membership of Ihe '" AA " - Smith , who had the honour to be appointed a First Master , is now fulfilling the duties of acting I . P . M . of the Caxton Lodge , No . 1 S 53 , with which recently established lodge he will in future be identified .

11 is much to be regretted that the Crystal Palace picture gallery is to be let to a foreign picture dealer , and that the nature of the gallery will be therefore very much changed . During the last twenty-two years the gallery has been under the management of Mr . C . VV . Wassand

, public opinion says that it has been well and faithfully conducted throughout that period . That tbe control of this popular department should be . riven to a . dealer , no matter how excellent an individual he " may be , is certainly not a change for the better . —Citv

Press-1 he Prince of Wales , R . G ., has consented to prcsider at the dinner to be held at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James s , on Saturday , 22 nd May , in aid of the funds bf the I rinccss Helena College , formerly called the Adult Orphan Institution , St . Andrew ' s-placc , Rcgent ' s-park , where the orphan daughters of clergymen and of naval and military officers are educated as governesses .

1 lie anniversary festival of the British Orphan Asylum , which is situated at Mackenzie Parn , Slough , was held at Willis ' s Rooms last evening , when about 23 b ladies and gentlemen sat down to dinner . Lord Chelmsford occupied the chair . 'The secretary announced that the subscriptions amounted to £ 22- ? - _ .

A Maclean s telegram from Paris says that at the billiard match on Wednesday night Mr . Slosson , although losing the match , obtained tlie honours of the evening , his breaks of 1103 , 343 , 237 , and 104 attracting mere 1 attention . M . Vignaux scored 10 G and 193 , ancl then finished the game of 4000 by a break of 243 . Mr . Slosson s total score was 311 S .

A public meeting look place outside the Tower of London on Saturday last , presided over by Mr . H Jupson , ot Shadwell , which had for its object the bringing about ol some change in the existing arrangements for free admissions to the 'Tower .

Our much respected and esteemed IJro . Kdward Hyde Hewett , P . M . of tbe Lodge of Nine Muses , No . j 35 > member of the Henry Muggeridge Lodge , No . 1679 , P . S . ol the St . James ' s Chapter , No . 2 ., and an active and zealous member of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , is about to proceed to the Western Coast of Africa , having been appointed b y Her Majesty the Ouecn British Consul for the Isalandof Fernando Po .

ihe Prince of Wales , ICG ., has consented to preside at Ihe dinner to be held at Willis's Rooms , St . James ' s , on Saturday , May 22 nd , in aid of thc funds of the Princess Helena College , Regent ' s Park . / louse and Home for Saturday last gives a striking portrait of Bro . Sir John Bennett .

The Prince and Princess of Wales left London on Wednesday afternoon for Basset Park on a visit to the Duchess of Connaught . We regret to state that , up to Thursday morning , no information bad been received at the Admiralty respecting the missing training ship the Atalanta . Thc Ouccn and the Prinen of Wales have

sanctioned the erection of statues of themselves in niches of the column which is to be built to mark tbe ancient boundary of Loneion at 'Temple Bar . 'The column will , it is hoped , be completed in the course of this summer . The Imperial Theatre at the Aquarium is used regularly only in the afternoon . In the evening it is often devoted to benefits . Next Monday evening it will be used

for a dramatic performance in aid of thc Printers' Pension Almshouse and the Orphan Asylum Corporation . The Routledgcs , the Friths , thc younger Cruikshanks , and Mr . George j . Dawson , are to take part in the performance . 'The Duke of Cambridge gives bis countenance ; Lord Mayor 'Truscott ancl the sheriffs arc to be present . A comedy one act of " Hamlet" and a farce are to be given .

ihe fourth and last of M . Inmost Kenan ' s Hibbert Lectures was delivered on Wednesday evening before a numerous ancl distinguished audience at St . George ' s Halt , when Dr . Martihcau , on behalf of tbe Hibbert 'Trustees , thanked M . Renan for his addresses , which were described as having exhibited a series of striking historical scenes rich in picturesque colouring and presented with

inexhaustible literary charm . The returns of emigration issued on Wednesday morning by the Liverpool Emigration Ofiice shenv that with the revival of trade an enormous increase of emigration has taken place . Thc total number of emigrants who sailed from the Mersey in March was I 3 , 3 f > 3 > against 5954 in March , 1 S 79 while for the quarter ending last month the

, total was 23 , 764 , against 10 , 327 in the same period last year . 'The large majority of the emigrants go to the United States , the number last month being 12 , 167 . All tbe regular steamers leaving Liverpool for America have the whole of tbe passenger accommodation occupied . Her Majesty has been p leased to summon William Archer Amherst , Viscount Holmesdale , P . G . M .,

Kent , to the Upper House , by the title of Baron Amherst of Montreal . His lordship is the eldest son of the second Earl of Amherst , by Gertrude , daughter of the late Hon . ancl Right Rev . Dr . Percy , Bishop of Carlisle . He was born in 1 S 3 C 1 , was educated at Eton , entered the Coldstream Guards in 1 K 54 , and served in the Eastern campaign

in the same year , being present at the battles of Balaklava anel Inkerman , and ai the siege of Sebastopol , where he was severely wounded . He became lieutenant and captain in 1 S 55 , and retired from the service in 1 R 62 , in which year he married Lady Julia , only daughter of the last Earl of Cornwallis .

Constitutions of the Ancient fraternity of l-rce and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , etc . A copy should be in Ihe possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . nf the n / lice of the Freemason , or will be sent post-free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 19 S , Fleet-street , London . — [ ADVT . ]