Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . COL . JAMES PETERS , P . G . S . B . Our lamented Bro . Col . James Peters , to whose recent death we referred last week , was initiated in the Bank of England Lodge , No . 263 , in 1 S 72 . The following year he joined the Campbell Lodge , No . 14 T 5 , Hampton Court , and subsequently became founder and first W . M . of the Thames Valley . Lodge , No . 1460 , meeting in the same locality . In 18 7 8 he was appointed Prov . J . G .

Warden of Middlesex , and in 1 S 83 had the still higher honour conferred upon him of G . Sword Bearer of England . He had been exalted a Royal Arch Mason , and was a member of the Burdett and Westminster and Keystone Chapters , Nos . 1293 and 10 respectively ; was formerly G . Almoner in the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine ; and had taken the 30 in the Ancient and Accepted

Rite . But his best services were given to our Institutions , but more especially to the Girls' School , of which he was Patron and Trustee , and had been a member of its House Committee for about a quarter of a century . He was also a Vice-President of the Boys' School , and a Life Governor of the Benevolent Institution , and , in addition , had served 33 Stewardships , of which 24 were in behalf of the Girls' School , six for the Boys' School , and three for the Benevolent Institution .

BRO . FRANCIS GOSNAY , P . M . It is with regret we announce the death , on Thursday or Friday of last week , of Bro . Francis Gosnay , who for many years was the right hand of Bro . W . S . Penley in his theatrical management . Bro . Gosnay was , if our memory serves us , a P . M . of the Adelphi Lodge , No . 1670 , and was a generous supporter of our

Institutions , having qualified as a Vice-Patron , and served two Stewardships for the Benevolent Institution ; as a Vice-President , with four Stewardships of the Boys' School ; and as a Life Governor , with one Stewardship for the Girls ' School . We tender our sincerest sympathies to the family and friends of our deceased brother .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . SIR HENRY DRUMMOND WOLFF has remained in town a few days longer than he first intended , and will return to the British Embassy , Madrid , early next week . THE NEXT annual outing of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge takes place in June , visiting Exeter . The several ledges there are already making preparations to receive them . THE FOUNDATION-STONE of the new Boscombe Hospital will be laid in June by the Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight , Bro . VV . W . B . Beach , M . P .

BRO . FIELD-MARSIIAI . VISCOUNT WOLSEI . EV , Commander-in-Chief , will inspect the troops at Norwich on Monday , May S . He is expected to arrive in the city the Saturday previous , and will be the guest of Viscount Coke . BRO . THE DUKE OF ABERCORN has returned to Hampden House , Green-street , from Baron ' s Court , Newtown Stewart , co . Tyrone , and the Duchess of Abercorn , who , with Lady Gladys and Lord John Hamilton , had been staying at Pau , has also arrived in town .

THE RESULT of the Masonic Bazaar held in Belfast recently realised , after payin * - all expense ? , £ 250 . Last evening an entertainment was given in the Masonic Hall , and a presentation made to the Hon . Sec , Bro . R . B . Andrews , in recognition of his services which were largely responsible for the success of the undertaking . OFFICIAL INTIMATION has reached the Court officials in London and at Windsor that the Queen will leave Cimiez on the 2 nd of next month , and may be expected to reach Windsor Castle at seven o ' clock in the evening of the 4 th prox . It is understood that her Majesty will , as en the outward journey , avail herself of the short sea passage vi & Boulogne and Folkestone .

THE SIXTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL of the Goldsmiths' Benevolent Institution will be held at the Grand Hotel , Trafalgar-square , on Tuesday , the 2 nd day of May , Robert Gray Cornish Mowbray , Esq ., Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths , in the chair . Francis B . Thomas , Esq ., President , and Bro . Lt .-Col . George Lambert , V . D ., F . S . A ., Treasurer . Dinner at half-past 6 for 7 o ' clock precisely .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by the Hon . Sidney Greville , arrived at Charing-cross at 8 . 22 on Monday night from Paris . His Royal Highness was received at the railway station , on behalf of the company , by Mr . Alfred Willis , the General Manager , and Bro . George Abbott , the Station Superintendent . A large crowd assembled to witness the arrival , and as the Prince drove away to Marlborough House he was heartily cheered .

UNDER THE AUSPICES of "Stirling Rock" Royal Arch Chapter of Freemasons ( the oldest in the world ) , and by a dispensation granted by Supreme Grand Chapter oi Scotland , a lodge of Royal Ark Mariners and a Council of Red Cross Knights of Babylon has now been formed in Stirling , and is proving most successful . Comp . Henry Roberts , postmaster of Bridge of Allan , who is well-known in Masonic circles , has been elected commander and M . E . President , and Comp . A . S . Turnbull as Secretary .

IT IS NOT OFTEN that we find members of the Order refusing Provincial Grand rank , so it may be considered a little out of the common when we find anyone objecting to Grand honours . Yet Mr . Robert Foote has announced that he and Mr . J . T . Callow have both been effered Grand Lodge honours and declined . Mr . Foote is a well-known and prominent Liverpool Mason , and Mr . Callow is a Liverpool Manx Mason of considerable note . In fact , they must be well up or they would not have the opportunity of refusing so great a favour . —Manx Sun .

" THE THREE MUSKETEERS " will be withdrawn from the Garrick Theatie after to-day ' s performance , the theatre remaining closed on the following Monday , Tuesday , arid Wednesday , re-opening Thursday , the 27 th inst ., when will be presented a comedy in five acts by Louis N . Parker and Murray Carson , entitled , " Change Alley . " Being the experiences of Christopher Heartright , Esquire , who grew suddenly rich and suddenly pcor and ended with the gain of both fortune and love . Mr . Brickwcll in answer to numerous inquiries desires to say that the box planjfor the above play is now open to the public .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BROS . ALDERMAN AND SHERIFF ALLISTON and Col . and Sheriff Probyn , L . C . C , have issued invitations for a ball at the Hotel Cecil on Friday , 12 th prox . BRO . THE EARL OF HALSBURY arrived in town from the Continent on Monday evening . BRO . HENRY NICHOLAS BENNETT , l . P . M . 16 57 , of the firm of Messrs . H . N . Bennett and Co ., manufacturers' agents , 4 S , Bread-street , died at Nice a few days ago . AMONGST THE latest contributions to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund for London is the sum of £ 400 , being the annual subscription of Mr . H . J . King .

BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS has returned to Stratton-street , Piccadilly , from Boscombe . BRO . EARL EGERTON OF TATTON and the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos have arrived at 7 , St . James ' -square , for the season . HER MAJESTY has expressed her intention of inspecting the Horse and Field Batteries and the infantry battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company at Windsor on July 1 st .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE presided over the 35 th annual general meeting of the governing body of the Bath Royal School for Daughters of Ofiicers of the Army , held in the Royal United Service Institution , on Saturday last . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES visited the Lyceum Theatre on Tuesday evening to see Bro . Sir Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry in Sardou's "Robespierre . " His Royal Highness was attended by General Sir Dighton Probyn , V . C ., Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , and Commander Fortescue .

THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY will again this year give his usual diplomatic dinner to the Ambassadors and Representatives of foreign Courts , in honour of the Queen's birthday , in the Victoria Hall of the Hotel Cecil . The reception and dinner will take place on the evening of June 3 rd . THE LORD MAYOR ( Bro . Sir John V . Moore ) has forwarded to the Treasurer of

the Sirdar's Memorial Fund the sum of £ 22 , 738 , which had been received at the Mansion House in response to his lordship's appeal . The expenses of collection proved to be under 1 per cent ., and were nearly balanced by the interest on deposit allowed by the bankers . His lordship has also sanctioned the opening of a Mansion House " Fisheries Disaster Fund , " in aid of those who lost their nets , & c , during the recent gales .

PASSMORE EDWARDS SETTLEMENT , TAVISTOCK-PLACE . —The arrangements for the summer term , which commenced on the 12 th inst ., include popular lectures , French , newspaper , botany , singing , domestic economy , and gymnasium classes , instruction in dress-making , concerts , smoking debates , and social meetings . Playrooms , classes , and Saturday morning expeditions for children have also been pi ivided for by the Women ' s Work Committee .

THE OLDEST SCOTTISH FREEMASON . —AS there seems to be a doubt as to who carries the honour of being the oldest Freemason in Scotland , the following certified extract may be of interest . George Swanson , Thurso , a working mason , baptised 21 st of August , 1 S 04 , initiated into the Mystic Craft on the 7 th January , 1 S 23 , thus showing that he has been a Fieemason for the long period of 7 G years , and is himself in his QGth year .

A ROYAL CHARTER has been granted by the Queen to the League of Mercy , which was designed for the purpose of aiding H . R . H . the Princeof Wales ' s Hospital Fund . In the charter her Majesty is described as the head of thc organisation , and with her are associated T . R . H . the Prince and Princess of Wales . The league ' s operations will practically be confined to London and the Home Counties . The charter specially provides that every member shall undertake to secure every year at least 20 subscribers of IS . and upwards .

BRO . ALDERMAN SIR HENRY E . KNIGHT presided at a Wardmote wlich was held at the Cripplegate Institute on Thursday , the 13 th instant , for the purpose ol electing a member of the Common Council for the Ward of Cripplegate in place of the late Deputy Harvey . A resolution of regret at the death of Mr . Deputy Harvey and of condolence with Mrs . Harvey in her bereavement having been passed , the meeting proceeded to the election of a successor to the deceased en the Common Council , the result being that Bro . James Westerly , of 59 , Redcross-street , the only candidate was unanimously elected and gracefully returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him .

THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ( Bro . tbe Right Hon . VV . C Gully , M . P . ) will preside at the jOth annual dinner of the Newspaper Press Fund , to be held at the Whitehall Rooms or . Saturday , the 13 th prox . Among those who have already accepted the oflice of Steward are Bro . Lord Charles Beresford , M . P ., Mr . Justice Bigham , Mr . C . A . Cripps , Q . C , M . P ., Earl Cadogan , Mr . Bargrave Deane , Q . C , Bro . the Hon . Alban Gibbs , M . P ., Mr . Henry Arthur Jones , Bro . Sir Edward Lawson , Bart ., Mr . Charles Mathews , Sir Lewis Mclver , Bart ., M . P ., Mr . Charles Morley , M . P ., Bro . Col . and Sheriff Probyn , the Bishop of Ripon , the Duke of Somerset , Mr . Joseph Walton , Q . C , Lord Wandsworth , & c , & c , & c .

IN TRACING FROM the earliest times the history of Masonry in Northumberland , Mr . Strachan has thrown new light at more than one point upon the origin and evolution of the now world-wide order j has digested into the orderly and compact form of a chronological record a mass of miscellaneous data not brought together before j and has added to the already extensive library of general Masonic literature a work which fills a gip and will keep a place among the original authorities . The definitely and

permanently valuable characteristic of the book is its working up of so large an amount of first hand material . Mr . Strachan is to bj congratulated upon his idea in applying his powers of mastering a case to the local history of the brotherhood . . . . The Delaval Papers have enriched the pages of " Northumbrian Masonry" with many intimate and piquant details of Masonic enjoyments and affairs in the last century . — Netacaslle Daily Chronicle .

THE SUFFOLK VILLAGE of Straddishall was in a state of pleasant excitement on Thursday , the Cth inst ., on the occasion of the marriage of Miss Alice Constance Kirby , eldest daughter of the Rector , to Bro . the Rev . J . IL H . Mostyn Sedgwick , curate to his father at Birdbrook ; and the happy event is of interest to the Craft as the bridegroom is the only son of Bro . the Rev . J . Sedgwick , D . D ., P . G . Chap ., and is W . M . of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 1 S 23 , meeting in the ancient town of Clare . The bridegroom had Mr . Philip Hector Smith as best man , and the bride was attended by five bridesmaids , two sisters , and given away by her father , the Rev . D . Morgan Kirby .

The officiating clergy were Bro . the Rev . J . Sedgwick . D . D ., P . G . Chap ., the Rev . Norman Robertson , cousin , and the Rev . Courtney Morgan Kirby , brother of the bride . The invitations to the wedding and subsequent reception at the Rectory were numerous , and included the members of the Royal Clarence Lodge . The presents numbered about 250 , and included a silver mounted oak salad bowl , bearing a silver shield with the Masonic emblems , and the inscription , " Presented to Bro . the Rev . J . H . H . Mostyn Sedgwick by the brethren of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 1 S 23 , on his wedding during his year of office as Worshipful Master of the Lodge " j also tokens of goodwill to bride and bridegroom from many of the dwellers in both parishes .

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