Masonic Calendars.

MASONIC CALENDARS .

MARK GRAND LODGE . "M ASONIC CALENDAR OF LODGES , COUNCILS , & c . MEETING AT MARK MASONS' HALL , AND ROLL OF G RAND OFFICERS FROM 1 S 56 . "—This exceedingly neat annual is edited by Bro . C F . Matier , the zealous Mark Grand Secretary , and is now in its tenth year of issue . The title indicates the main character of its contents , but not fullyas there are some valuable financial tables , which

, add much to ( he importance and usefulness of this ably edited calendar and directory . One of these shows the number of certificates issued , warrants granted , and receipts from 1 S 57 to 1 S 94 in respect to the Grand Mark Lodge . The past year makes a record , being more prosperous than in any previous one—1714 certificates , raising the total issued to 32 , 714 , and receipts— " General Fund , " £ 2871 9 s . 4 d ., and the "Benevolent Fund , " ^ 2 489 8 s . id . ;

total , £ 5 i °° ' 7 - Sd . Other tables are of interest , especially that of the Benevolent Fund exhibiting receipts from 1 S 6 S to 1893 . In the latter year £ . 547 * + s - * ° d . came from the Festival , and interest £ 125 os . id . The investments now amount to £ 4000 , and nearly £ 280 was expended in grants to relieve necessitous cases . The Education Fund shows 29 children being assisted , over £ 400 being spent in ISCA for education and clothing . The investments are

^ 2900 , and _ total receipts over £ 650 . The Annuity Fund , 1 SS 5-1 S 93 , is also carefully detailed , the investments being £ 4900 , the receipts for 1893 , £ 716 6 s ., the number of annuitants is 10 , who received in that year £ 342 ios . in annuities and grants . Full details are appended as to annuitants and pupils , and the information is so varied and

exhaustive , that Mark Masons owe a considerable debt of gratitude to Bro . Matier for compiling so many statistics for their inspection and study . The many pages of other particulars prove how thorough have been the editorial services of the Mark Grand Secretary , and render this annual a necessity for all enthusiastic and intelligent Mark Masons .

KENT . "T HE FREEMASONS' MANUAL AND OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE AND PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF KENT , FOR 1 S 95 . " — This is a wonderful compilation to be ready first week in January , and is as complete and valuable as ever , y it published so early this year . The editors are Rro . T . S . Warne ( the originator of the series , now in its iSth year of

publication ) and Bro . George R . Cobham , who has , during the last year or so been associated in this arduous labour with the Directory veteran . There are now 61 lodges in the province , but as Nos . 2499 and 2530 had not been consecrated when the Directory was issued , the number really to be considered may be taken as 59 for comparison with previous tables . 'These lodges have returned 3680 subscribingimembers , being an increase on previous years , and

an average of over 62 per lodge , which abundantly proves that the new lodges have not been warranted where there are too many already , the average being very high for each lodge . Nine have over 100 members each , and there is only one lodge having less than 20 . There are 23 Royal Arch Chapters and 2 o ^ Mark Lodges , besides two Knights Templar Preceptories , " two Rose Croix Chapters , and four Conclaves of the Red Cross of Constantine . All these

bodies are dul y described and particularised as to officers , places of meeting , P . APs ., or presiding officers , addresses of the Secretaries , & c , those of the lodges and chapters including dates of warrants and other interesting information . By-Laws cf the Prov . Grand Lodge and Prov . Grand Chapter are also given and the Prov . Grand Treasurer's accounts fir each , both of which are most satisfactory . There are also numerous tables , requiring great care in their

compilation , and also a calendar f ; r 18 95 , giving the dates of all the meetings , spec fying the installation of the different lodges , chapter ? , Mark lodges , & c , in the province . The long list of votes in ihe Central Masonic Charities and the Mart Benevolent Fund exhibit a giand total of 16 , 082 or 14 , 642 for the Three Craft Institutions , being some hundreds more than in the previous list . For the " Girls ' , " " Boys' , " arid " Benevolent , " iSg 4 the amount subscribed is noted as

, £ 1387 12 s . This is a large sum undoubtedly , but a still larger amount was raised in 1893 , viz ., , 1 , 2197 9 *" . Cd ., and even more during 1 S 91 and 1 S 92 . 'There is , however , the other side of the case , and , thanks to the editors , we can present both , ln 1893 , there were 19 boys and 19 girls from Kent in the two Institutions , and 17 brethren

and 15 widows erjoyirg th « benefits of the " Benevolent " from the same provii c , making over £ 2600 per annum received in benefit , to that nppa ently the province is no : much ofa loser bv ' rs liiauci . l aiif * . Brothers Warne * i ? ** - * 0 tmam deservi-, ami . vili il m . ties * , receive , the hearty thanks of their brethren lur tnis 111 . st useful accurate and comprehensive manual .

Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

Lodges and Chapters of Instruction .

ti , * , P LERANCE LODGE ( No . 53 S ) .-A meeting cf inis lodge was held on Wednesday , the iGth inst ., at ine frascati Restau ant , Oxford-street , W ., when there ¦ vere prescnt Bros . B . Dukes , W . M . ; H . C . Parker , Tl ! : o »; "'"' 'J ' " J- Paul , P . M ., Preceptor ; J . « , . - P . -M ; Asst . Preceptor ; Geo . Hill , P . M ., Treas .:

1 11 •r 'L " , by ' ' " ' * J- M " - " - ' 'i M . Beedle , J . D . ; A . Naiten , l . G . ; T . Smale , P . M . ; E . Kraus , G . *• SjurgessS . C . Cress , H . Smith , J . Leather , and R . •¦ andland . Visitor : Bro . Pullman . ¦

ne lodge was opened in due foim with prayer , and the Tl , 1 J the last -0 * ** £ « ting were read and confirmed . •ne lodge was opened in the Second Degree . Bro . S . or , ?* Wts exanlined and entrusted . The lodge was ptned irj the Th ' ud D . gree . ' 1 he ceremony of raising was Jen arstd , Bro . S . C . Cioss being the candidate . The ' ¦ age was resumed in the First Degree , when Bro . H . R . •nillman , 2309 , was elected a joining member , and the anrt Were - *; , cCt ,: d' Jhe W-M- " -S 1- " - " 0- * the "c- ""! t'me Z > 1 , ° j arke . ' ' ' - was eltc ' - M ior 'he ensuing

risir , i •, PPO ' ntea "is officers in rotation . At the third « ng , the Lodge Ballot was taken and was won by the Ben * P' ! i - ¦**•• - " y > P-M- ' ' he ballot of the BioTr c at '"" was also tal < en > and was won by war !] i 1 llvans > 'he five guineas in each case being forhuluT , ' u ™' - 1 the Masonic Institutions . All Masonic Business being ended , the lodge was closed .

Lodges And Chapters Of Instruction.

KENSINGTON LODGE ( No . 1767 } . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 15 th inst ., at the Town Hall Tavern , High-street , Kensington , when there were present : Bros . W . B . Neville , W . M . 1767 , W . M . ; Lewis Beale . S . W . ; J . H . Neville , J . W . ; George Read , P . M ., G . Std . Br . Eng ., Preceptor : R . H . Williams , P . M ., P . P . J . G . D . Alddx ., Treas .: F . Craggs , P . M .,

Sec ; I . J . Rumbal , S . D . ; A . J . Turner . J . D . ; J . VV . Facey , I . G . ; C . Ortner , Stwd . ; James W . Barker , P . AL ; F . J . Oliver , P . M . ; J . R . Roberts , P . M .: J . J . Alackav , P . M . ; E . Warden Denniss , W . M . 210 S ; VV . " Hillier , W . M . 2090 ; VV . S . Cottis , J . F . Bates , J . A . Battersby , Henry Bone , John Ortner , and C . Woods . Visitors : Bros . W . H . Hobbiss , P . M ., and Aleyer . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of

the previous meeting were read and confirmed and signed by the W . M . The lodge was opened in the Second Degree and Bros . Battersby and Ortner answered the questions leading to the Third Degree , and , being Fellow Crafts , retired ; Bro . Denniss therefore took their place and was entrusted . The lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and

the ceremony of raising was rehearsed . The lodge was resumed to the First Degree , The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed . Bro . Battersby acting as candidate . Bros . Bates , Cottis , Battersby , and J . Ortner were elected joining members . This being officers' night , Bro . A . Williams was elected previously as W . M . for the next meeting . The lodge was then closed .

STAR CHAPTER ( No . 1275 ) . — The usual weekly meetingof the above was held at the Stirling Castle Hotel , Church-street , Camberwell , on Friday , the nth inst ., when there were present : Comps . Meierhoff , ALE . Z . ; Osterstock , H . ; Grummant , J . ; Cureton , S . N . ; Cornford , P . S . ; F . Hilton , P . Z ., Preceptor ; R . J . Voisey , P . Z ., Treas . ; North , Benedetti , Pullen , Gill , and Telling . The chapter having been opened , and the minutes of the

previous convocation read and confirmed , the ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Benedetti personating the candidate . Comp . Osterstock , H ., was elected M . E . Z . for the next meeting Votes of thanks were accorded to Comps . Meierhoff , M . E . Z ., and Osterstock , H ., for rehearsing their respective duties . Comp . Meierhoff rehearsed the ceremony of installation of M . E . Z ., Comp . Benedetti being installed . After " Hearty good wishes , " the chapter was closed .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN RAWLE , W . M . 619 . The funeral of this worthy brother , who for 20 years has been a faithful follower of the Craft , although only recently installed at the head of his lodge , took place in Old Willesden Cemetery , on Monday afternoon , amidst not only many Masonic , but general tokens of great respect forthe deceased , and of much sympathy

for his sorrowing widow and only son , Mr . F . Rawle . Deceased , who was only in his 55 th year , died at his suburban residence , 4 , Park-road , on the ioth instant , after only a very short illness , from diabetes and bronchitis . The funeral cortege , on leaving the late residence of the deceased brother , was preceded by the following members of his lodge and other brethren :

Bros . J . W . Avery , P . M . ; Moss Chapman , S . W . ; C . A . Hunton , F . Krise , C . Norrington , P . M ., Sec . ; G . Perry , F . Sharratt , P . M ., Treas . ; W . Shatter , I . G . ; and F . Upton , J . W . The following were the brethren from other lodges : Bros . J . Cooper , P . M . 1693 ; E . Dalton and S . Hussey , S . W ., of 1637 ; Mildred , Past Master 2024 ; J . Parfitt , 1365 ;

W . R . Plaford , W . AL < 5 oS , and J . W . 793 ( R . A ); Salmon , P . M . 245 ; W . F . Sanderson , 1563 ; T . F . Shaw , 2631 ; A . Skinner , 245 ; J . Soper , P . AL 55 ; and C . Winterbon , 2323 The coffin of polished oak and brass fittings , covered with beautiful wreaths and bearing the Masonic emblems , was conveyed in an open car followed by four mourning coaches and other

carriages containing the relatives and other mourners : Mr . F . J . Rawle ( son ) , Mr . E . R . Rawle ( brother , who travelled from Devonshire , leaving at his home another brother too ill to attend ) , Mr . Chiswell ( brother-inlaw ) , two cousins , Mr . W . Goddard ( father-in-law of Mr . F . Rawle ) and his two sons , Messrs . Frank and R . Goddard . The Harlesden Constitutional Club ( of

which deceased was an active member and one of the directors ) was represented by Mr . W . E . B . Copland-Crawford ( Chairman ) , and a large number of members , deputations also attending from the Oddfellows and other societies with which the deceased was associated . On the arrival of the funeral at the cemetery—ivhere a large concouise of neighbours and friends had

galhe . ed—the coffin , carried by eight of the employes of the firm , was met at the gate by the Rev . W . Irwin , vicar of St . Michael and All Angels , in which district the deceased and his family had so long resided . On entering Willesden Old Church ( St . Mary ' s ) the organ plaintively played , " I know that my Redeemer liveth . '' Mr . Irwin very impressively recited the

sublime service in the presence of a full congregation , whilst the scene presented in the venerable church was a striking one , the lovely flowers of the wreaths of the brethren and relatives on the coffin contrasting with the simple green holly entwining around the old pillars still left from the Christmas decorations , whilst the sun streamed gloriously in through the

coloured windows . On the procession leaving the church the organ again played in subdued touch to the strains of the '' Dead Marrch . " At the family grave , where the first and only other interment—that of Mrs . Rawle ' s mother took place seven years ago—the

committal portions of the service was completed , several of the brethren placing on their deceased brother ' s coffin the time-honoured emblem of the Craft . Besides the family wreaths , and one from the employes , —of whom about 20 were present , —beautiful wreaths were sept bearing tender and fraternal inscriptions from the

Obituary.

Beadon and St . John ' s Lodge of Instruction , as well as from individual brethren . Large and handsome wreaths were also sent by the Harlesden Constitutional Club , the I . O . C . S . Club , and other bodies . Among those present at the grave were Air . F . Connolly ( Messrs . Connolly Bros . ) , Messrs . P . A . Morris and A . D . Tucker ( of Messrs . Wakeley Bros , and Co .

Limitedof which deceased was a director ) , Air . Marshall , secretary ; Mr . J . W . Harrison , director ; and Mr . Hooker , manager of Alessrs . Heather , Bailey and Co ., Limited , of which deceased was the chairman of the directors ; Mr . Garland , London Chatham and Dover Railway ; Mr . Coooer , St . Saviour's Vestry , of which Mr . Rawle

was a member ; and Mr . W . C . Bradley , rate collector of Blackfriars . Mrs . Rawle , widow , and Mr . F . Rawle , son , desire very gratefully to record their deep appreciation of the numerous kind expressions of sympathy they had received from the brethren of the Beadon and other lodges of the Order .

BRO . GEORGE POLE BRITTEN . We regret to announce the death of Bro . George Pole Britten , which occurred on Tuesday last at Morden College , Blackheath , in his 6 Sth year . 'To attempt to give a full sketch of his life would simply mean to write a history of the Warehousemen , Clerks ' , and Drapers' Schools . In the list of subscribers his name

appears among the earliest , and although not a rich man he continued his donations to the institution until a recent date . Elected as a member of the board of management in November , i 86 a » he was soon appointed as chairman of the house committee , and retained that post until his greatly regretted retirement in 1890 . He specially interested himself in the comfort

and welfare of the orphans for whose benefit the schools were established , and well earned his popular title of "The Children ' s Friend . " He was unmarried , and the chief hobby of his life was assisting in the election of children , watching their development while at Russell Hill , Purley , and superintending the arrangements for placing them in suitable situations when they had to

fight the battle of life for themselves . Even then his interest in their future career did not diminish , and he possessed a unique and detailed history of all the scholars who had passed through the schools . So much was this appreciated , that the happy idea was conceived of presenting his portrait to be hung up in the dining-hall of the institution . The small

contributions of the ex-scholars resulted in the portrait being painted by Mr . Lawlor , and this was unveiled on the occasion of the public examination , which was held in July , 1887 , under the presidency of Mr . F . Debenham . An original poetical address was on this occasion delivered by Mr . J . li . Whitworth , an exscholar . Bro . Britten was one of the patrons of the Old

Russellians , an association formed for the purpose of holding social re-unions of the old scholars , and was present at the last dance they held at the Armfield Hotel . So closely did he identify himself with the institution , that at one time his office in Friday-street was visited by persons in quest of information almost as frequently as the legitimate offices , which were then

in Cheapside . Bro . Britten was one of the best known men in the City of London , and spent his early days in Lawrence-lane . About 1 844 he entered the countinghouse of Messrs . VV . and R . Morley , in Gutter-lane . In 1854 he became counting-bouse manager to Mr . W . J , Powell , Friday-stieet . Seven years after the firm was reconstructed under the title of Alorley and Powell ,

and Bro . Britten became one of the partners , but in iSSj , upon the retirement of Air . J . Henry Morley , the firm was again reconstructed under the title of Powell , Britten , and Co . On the dissolution of this firm , in 1891 , Bro . Britten sojourned for a time with some relatives in the North of Ireland , and then took up his residence at Alorden College , Blackheath , where he was

visited from time to time by some of his most intimite City friends . The board of management of the Warehousemen , Clerks' and Drapers' Schools met on Thursday evening , and passed a vote of condolence , and also appointed a deputation to attend the funeral , which took place at Norwood Cemetery on Siturday list . Bro . Britten was a P . M . of the Lodge of Unity , No .

183 , and was a regular attendant at the Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge , and also at the Board of Benevolence , where his advo : acy for generous grants to petitioners was well known anJ appreciate . ! . The members of the Board of Alanagement of the Warehousemen , Clerks ' , and Draper * Schools who attended Bro . Britten ' s funeral and placed a splendid

wreath upon his grave , were Mr . George Bell ( Copestakes ) , Mr . W . E . Rowe ( Friday-street ) , Mr . John Roberts ( Hitchcock , Williams , and Co . ) , Mr . H . Hayden ( Cooks ) , Mr . C . Hind , J . P . ( Hind , Beal , and Ellis ) , Air . W . Woolcott ( Morleys ) , Air . A . G . Ayles ( Head Master ) , Mr . Chas . Reddick ( Reddick and Rider ) , and Air . J . Wells Thatcher ( Secretary ) . There

were also present Mr . N . B . Headon , C . C , and Mr . Thomas Hamer , both former members of the board for many years , and a large assemblage of ex-scholars of the school and deceased ' s relatives and friends . The members of the Craft present , each carrying asprif ; of acacia , were Bros . Hastie , P . M . 1669 ; Thos . Edmondston , P . M . 1669 ; N . B . Headon , C . C , P . M . 1426 and 1669 ; Thos . Hamer , 1426 , and others .

MR . WILLIAM S AUNDERS , the inventor of the first machine for introducing the principle of the perforation of postage stamps , delivered a lecture on "The Pillar of the Earth , or who is the true Alias , " at the rooms of the East Central Postal District Telegraph Messengers' Institute , 2 , Throgmorton-avenue , on Wednesday At its close a hearty vote of thanks was , on the motion of Air . Briggs , thc assistant sub-controller , awarded to the lecturer ,