Craft Masonry.

particularly Masonio history , quite as far from the world of fact as the sun dancing on Easter day , and he . will , nevertheless , get a following who will deem it sacrilege to call his statements into question . I , therefore , hope that if in this lodge we have neglected any of the more critical methods , which are followed with so much uccess by astronomers , we may regain them under Bro . Klein . Brethren , the reign of ur'W . M . ' has begun very auspiciously , and it will be the general hope , as , indeed , it is he generalaexpectation , that when , a twelvemonth hence , he lays down the sceptre with

which he has this evening been invested , he will be conscious of having performed the duties of his high office with satisfaction to himself and advantage to the lodge , and be able to say with a contented mind and a clear conscience— j " Be fair or foul , or rain or shine , | The joys I have possessed , in spite of Fate are mine ; Not heaven itself upon the past has power , But what has been , has been , and I have had my hour . " A portrait of the W . M ., Bro . Klein , will appear in next week ' s issue .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cambridgeshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Newmarket on Thursday , the iSth inst ., under the presidency of Bro . Col , R . Townley Caldwell , P . G . M . The following were the officers appointed for the ensuing year :

Bro * Rev . L . R . Tuttiett , P . M . 2107 ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ G . W . Whitehead , P . M . S 09 ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Rev . G . B . Finch , 859 ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ . T . Watts , P . M . 441 ( elected ) ... ... Prov . G . Treas . „ W . G . Bell , P . M . 859 ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ Oliver Papworth , P . M . 88 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . Sec . „ A . E . Chaplin , I . P . M . 88 ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . J . Fernie , W . M . 859 ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ T . Leader , P . M ., S . W . 2107 ... ... Prov . G . S . of W „ F . Dewberry , P . M . 441 ( re-appointed ) ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . W . Carr , S . D . 2107 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ G . I . Bland , S . W . 859 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . J . D . Ward ; Org . 809 ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Dempster , 441 ... ... - ... Prov . G . Purst . „ R . J . Sharman , S . W . 809 ... ... "\ „ W . Pollard , J . W . 859 i Prov G Stwds , J . H . C . Dalton , Stwd . S 59 ... ... f ™ ' u < blwds - „ A . S . Bell , S . D . 859 ... ... ... J A further report of the proceedings will be given .

Our Portrait Gallery.

Our portrait Gallery .

BRO . FRANK STANGER . Bro . F rank Stanger , who has a large business in St . Mary Cray , is a member of the Council , and of various Local Boards , was initiated in the Crays Valley Lodge in 1886 ; he is a Life Governor of all the Institutions , and hopes to again

represent the lodge at the coming Centenary Festival of the Boys' Institution in 18 9 8 . ' Of so worthy and distinguished a brother the Crays Valley Lodge may be justly pioud , and we feel its success is ensured .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

L , ily Chapter of Richmond , No . 820 . , This chapier held its first meeting , after its removal from Richmond , at the Holborn Restaurant , on Wednesday , Ihe 25 th ultimo , when there were present Comps . Walter F . Bull , M . E . Z . ; A . Bull , H . ; F . Arnold , P . Z ., as J . ; W . H . Myers , P . Z . ; Maiof F . I . arner , P . Z ., Treas . ; J . Gait Fisher , P . Z ., S . F .: H . B . Wilkins , S . N . ; W . C Hodckinson , as P . S . ; T . F . Isherwood , A . A . Jordan , T . B . Tipton , T . H . Parry , Ja- * , Halle , Org .: J . W . Randall , W . J . Hellyar , C . Arnold , G . B . Spicer , I . F . Bates . A ,

Walton , F . A . Sherras , Wm . Weeden , C . B . Hayward , and J . S . Gregory , acting Janitor . Visitors * . Comps . J . G . Twinn , P . Z . 820 ; R . Zwabler , 1305 ; J . Squire , 2030 ;; J . Freer , 224 ( 1 ; T . J . Mountain , 2030 ; and W . H . Gate , 1293 . ' The minutes of previous convocation having been read and confirmed , the balancesheet for the year just ended , showing a very satisfactory : balancc , was received and adoptid . Bros . Dr . Bernard Keane and Dr . W . S . Newton , candidates for exaltation , being in attendance , were duly exalted to the Supreme Degree of R . A . M . A Board of Installed Principals was formed , and Comp . A . Bull was regularly insta ' ed M . E . Z . in

Royal Arch.

an impressive manner by his brother , Comp . Walter F . Bull . * - ' Comp . Dr . R . J . Hamill , H . elect , being unable to attend , Corup . * H ; R . Willans was duly installed into the' chair of J . The M . E . Z then invested the following officers : Comps . Major F . Earner , P . Z ., Treas . ; J . Gait Fisher , P . Zi , * S . E ., * W . C . Hodgkinson , S . N . ; T . F . Isherwood , P . S . ; A . A . Jordan , ist A . S . ; T . B . Tiptori , ' 2 nd A . S . ; and T . H . Parry , Stwd ;

Some routine business haying been completed the chapter was closed , and the companions adjourned to a sumptuous banquet . Full justice having been done to the good things grace-was sung , and the usual toasts followed , accompanied by an excellent -selection of music , under the direction of Comp . J . Halle , the able Organist , assisted by Miss Ida Raisen ( contralto ) , Miss Dorothy Bull ( violinist ) , and Bro . Treflyn David ( tenor . ) A most enjoyable evening was spent .

Bisley Chapter , No . 2317 . A meeting of this chapter was held at the Masonic Hall , Woking , - on Thursday , the nth inst . The Principals' chairs were filled by Comps . R . F . Gould , P . Z . 02 , as M . E . Z . ; J . B . S . Lancaster , P . Z ., S . E ., as H . ; and J . W . H . Littleboy , J . Comps . James Webb , M . E . Z . ; J . H . Askham , H . ; and J . W . T . Morrison , S . N ., were prevented by illness from attending . The minutes of the previous convocation having been read and confirmed , Comp . W . A . Shaw , of the Mount Lebanon Chapter , No . 73 , was elected a joining member .

The following officers were elected for the approaching year : Comps . I . W . H . Littleboy , M . E . Z . j Chas . Pulman , P . Z ., H . ; W . S . Jackson , J . ; J . B . S . Lancaster , P . Z ., S . E . ; J . T . W . Morrison , S . N . , * A . H . Gale , P . S . j A . G . Clinton , ist A . S . ; A . M . Kennett , 2 nd A . S . ; Jas . Webb , I . P . Z ., Treas . ; J . B . Wood , D . C . ; H . B . Osburn , Stwd . ; and G . j . Mason , Janitor . Comps . Kennett and Wood were elected Auditors . The thanks of the companions were voted to Comp . R . F . Gould for his services on many occasions , and he was asked to accept the honorary membership of the chapter . The compliment having been suitably acknowledged by Comp . Gould , it was moved and carried that the jewel of a P . Z . should be presented to Comp . James

Webb . There being no further business , the chapter was closed , and the companions dined together , separating at an early hour .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . CHARLES BRISCOE , P . M ., P . Z . We regret to announce the death of Bro . Charles Briscoe , which took place on Saturday , the 30 th ult ., at his residence , Kibworth Lodge , Firle , at the advanced age of 78 years . Our deceased brother , who was as popular as he was ¦ well known , was for 32 years master of Firle Workhouse . He was appointed to that post in October , 1858 , and retired in April , 18 90 , on a superanuation allowance , since which time he had been livingin retirement . In early life Bro . Briscoe was a pharmaceutical chemist . He was one of the oldest Past Masters of the

South Saxon Lodge , 311 , and P . Z . of South Saxon Chapter . He was also a member of the Sussex Preceptory , K . T ., Albion Chapter , Rose Croix , and Southdown Mark Lodge , and he had taken the 30 ° , and was a Royal Ark Mariner . He leaves a widow , but no family . The interment took place on the 4 th instant , amid every token of respect , amongst those present being a number of the members of the South Saxon Lodge , including Bros . W . Flint , W . M . ; J . Peters , I . P . M . ; W . Wright , P . M .: T . R . White , P . M . ; S . Tanner , P . M . ; J . W . Broad ,

P . M . ; A . Holman , P . M . ; G . Lloyd , P . M . ; G . E . Chapman , P . M . ; W . Stone , P . M . ; R . Weston , S . W . ; G . J . Lenny , S . D . ; . H . Granger , Sec . ; Capt . Phillips , Kite , J . James , H . Hall , and S . L . Wright , Tyler . At the entrance to the churchyard the mourners were met by Bro . the Very Rev . Dean Currie , P . G . C . England , and the Rev . W . P . Crawley , and the opening sentences of the service were read as the procession entered the church . The concluding portion was' conducted by Rev . W . P . Crawley , and an address was given by Bro . Dean Currie , who said :

Brethren , as we stand by our brother s open grave the sublime and mystic teaching of our Order must come to us with deep impressiveness . The body lies in its cold sleep , and from that sleep the purest morality , the . profoundest science are alike powerless to raise it . But He who first gave it life can in His own good time and in His own wise manner raise it again from the earth ' s cold bosom . In the sure and certain hope that He will do this , and symbolically to mark our faith in the resurrection of the dead , we have , according to ancient custom ,

thrown our sprigs of acacia upon the coffin . In this faith we do not sorrow as men who have no hope when one or another of our brethren is called from us by the Great Master , believing , as we do , that the Lord of Life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet , while we lift our eyes to that bright morning star whose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of our race . We cannot turn away from the grave without very solemn thoughts arising in our minds and a moment like the present has for us' its own peculiar

and impressive lessons . The Most High has in the Book of His holy Revelation laid down for us a rule of faith and a line of conduct so clear and distinct that all who , as good Masons , make themselves conversant therewith and adhere thereto , cannot deviate from the straight line of godliness and righteousness amidst the evils and vices of the world . There should ever be with us the remembrance of the observant , all-seeing eye and the sense of the continual presence of our Maker , always reminding us that our words , our actions and even our very

thoughts are observed and recorded by the Almighty , to whom we one day give an account of our conduct through life . And lastly we are reminded of that last great judgment , when with unerring and impartial justice each one ' s doom will be pronounced by the Almighty Architect . May He , of His mercy , so lead us through the intricate windings of his mortal state and through the valley of the

shadow of death that at last , rising from the tomb of transgressions , we may come to those . eternal mansions where he lives and reigns for ever . "—According to custom , the brethren dropped sprigs of acacia into the grave , which had been lined with ivy . Beautiful floral tributes had been sent by the widow , the W . M . and brethren of the South Saxon Lodge , the M . E . Z . and companions ofthe South Saxon Chapter , and others .

BRO . WALTER HOPEKIRK , P . ASST . G . PURST .

Bro . Walter Hopekirk was initiated in the Manchester Lodge , No . 179 , on the 16 th April , 1857 , and was elected W . M . in 1861 . In 1862 , on resigning the chair , the brethren elected him their Treasurer , and he has been annually reelected to that oflice ever since . He has , too , been presented with more than one testimonial , his services as W . M . having been recognised with a Past Masters jewel , and his cares as Treasurer having been similarly rewarded , while his personal merits , as distinguished from ; his official , have been honoured by the

presentation to him , in open lodge , of a handsome clock bearing a suitable inscription . He was a founder ofthe Upper Norwood Lodge , No . 1586 , in 18 76 , and the year following was placed in . the chair , when he was instrumental in organising a concert at the Crystal Pajace , the profits of which , amounting to some , £ 90 , were appropriated to the Lodge Benevolent Fund . In 1883 , he was founder and first W . M . of the Honor Oak Lodge , No . 198 * 5 , his services both here and in the Upper Norwood Lodge being appropriately recognised in both cases , while his

services were at the disposal of his Honor Oak brethren in the capacity of Treasurer . He was exalted in the Royal Arch Degree in 1867 , in the Crystal Palace Chapter , No . 742 , wis Z . in 1874 , and for some years held the post of Treasurer , and in 1891 he was appointed Asst . G . D . C . in Grand Chapter . He has served as Festival Steward for all three Institutions , and has constituted himself a Life Governor of them all . : The funeral will take place to-morrow at Croydon Cemetery , at 2 . 30 p . m .