Sketches Of Masonic Character No. V.

U his friends with the elasticity of his gait , and the up-^ erhtness of his figure . No doubt when we rear ! over his eloquent harangues , admirably reported in the Freemason , ve shall feel persuaded that he has taken a " new lease Yet still he > 3 not , after all , as thankful to Sir Johnson Parker as he ought to be , and still talks of the " expense he has been put to , " and the bad food he has had to put up

with . Perhaps Sir Johnson Parker remembered Abernethy ' s famous reply to his patient , " There is nothing the matter with you , —Eat ' CES—drink less ; go ' . " And no doubt Sir Johnson Parker was right . Do we not often all of us behave very ill to our medical advisers ? We take their advice , we get better , but we don ' t thank them . Yes we are mostly wrong , and they are alsvays right . But it is an " ungrateful world , " my Masters !

Slight Science For Leisure Hours.

SLIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS .

BY OUR V . P . C . New Series ; Book i , No . 2 , Part 2 . Science may seem a Slight , or " Light" thing ( whichever you please , Mr . Proctor ) , but I can assure my learned and fair readers I do not find it so—my experience has been that it ' s quite true , as the Pope says , that

•' A little learning is a dangerous thing , " thoug h why he should go on to counsel us to ' •drink deep " I can ' t conceive—anyhow it brought about terrible consequences to me did this advice when followed by "the Professor . " Our little supper ended and the table cleared away , the Professor ' s bag was opened , and its contents turned out

for use . The first things brought to light were apparently some large poultices , a couple of which were soon put on the Professor ' s hands and mine , to my great delight , for I remembered the terrible tingling inflicted by the electric bath of my former friend , the Lecturer . " First experiment in Science , " said Jones , placing me in front of the Professor . " Guard , " cried he . "Where ?"

said I , turning towards the window and expecting to see that obliging functionary connected with the newly-opened railway , of which wc , of Mudford . on-Spree , are very proud to be " The Terminus ; " although Jones does irreverently remark that there is small credit to us for being it , as one single yard further would be quite out of the uorld ;—just as I turned my head the shock ( of what kind

I can't to this moment conceive ) took effect full on the bridge of my nose and both eyes , whilst a second in tbe mouth completely stifler ! in its birth the cry of surprise with which I greeted the first ; I remember nothing more than a vague sensation of flying through space , accompanied by noises in my ears like falling furniture and smashing crockery , until 1 was roused by the

by-nomeans sympathetic queries of Mrs . P . Pry-Smith , enquiring , " What next ? I wonder , Sir ! " and "Who next , will you be pleased to be entertaining in my house in my absence ? The lesson was over and my friends gone , and there was nothing for it , in my shaken condition , but bed . When I awoke in the morning I found that the effect of these shocks had been to completely alter my physiognomy , my lips were like those of a blackamoor , whilst my eyes were

" O ' erlaid with black , staid wisdom ' s hue . " but as for " wisdom " I must say that I looked a good deal more like Minerva ' s owl ( bilcd ; as poor A . W . used to say ) than Minerva herself ; whilst , as for my nose , so handsome and , whilom , so penetrating , its bridge resembled Tarn O' Shaiiter ' s " hour , "—

" O' night ' s black arch the key-stone ; " besides I could hardly see , and could only sorrowfully murmur Shakespeare ' s lines" He that is stricken blind , cannot forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost . " Nor was I fully alive to the horror of my situation , until I remembered that it was " G . L . " meeting that night and that I had faithfully promised to be present and

to send my friend ' The Editor ' a [ full report . I asked Mrs . P . Pry-S . what 011 earth I must do , but she would only mutter " Shade . " " But , my dear , " I said , " It isn't dark , though people say so ; light as day , I can assure you . " — " hence , horrible shade , unreal mockery , hence ! " " Yes , " said she , with a contemptuous toss of the head , " you very real simpleton . "

" Show his eyes , and grieve his heart , Come like shades , and so depart . " However with true woman ' s tact she solved the clifHculy by going to a drawer and producing a " Shade , " a sort of cowl of a greenish—grassish hue , like those things our fair (?) sisters used to wear at Margate—miniature bathing-machine hoods ; " here " said she " is the only

thing I know of to make you decent , " whilst she maliciously added , " you need not mind the effect for it matches your complexion to a T ; " I suppose she alluded to the kind from which I like my afternoon beverage brewed . The bother that confouneied thing was to me to be sure ; in the street I was assailed with shouts of " hullo ! there ' s a walking billiard-light , " & c , until I reached the entrance hall , when I heard somebody audibly

quote" He walks in beauty , like the night Of cloudless climes ami starry skies ; And all that ' s best of dark and bright Meets in his aspect and his eyes , " the climax of my misery was reached , when a wretched Scrutineer declined to let me pass on the ground ' that a

, T . "ota part of the furniture of " G . L ., " having his objection on the ground that none could be " made " there ; "least of all greenhorns" I think I heard him mutter ; and then he must needs go on to demonstrate the unfitness o ? the thing in England on account of the colour . However , Jones was luckily at hand , and got me

Slight Science For Leisure Hours.

out of the difficulty , explaining that I had met with an accident in the pursuit of "Science . " As to the proceedings I do not know that I ean add much to the other fellow ' s report only to notice a . point taken up since by a distinguished brother and friend of mine about no time being given for a discussion upon the thousand guinea vote . Now , in the first place , the Acting

G . M , was uncommonly fair and patient of discussion , for he certainly let one brother wander considerably beyond the point . in going into the discussion of a certain question instead of confining himself merely to its adjournment ; but as to halving the thousand , I should like to . have seen

any brother try to have moved it ; why the hall resounded with cries of " Two ! Two ! " whilst , as the hands went up for the vote , a perfect shout of " ALL 1 " rent the air , followed by clapping " loud and long . " I don't think I shall say more now , for I ' ve nothing more to say , save that

"As my nature ' s been subdued By the Professor ' s , like to dyer ' s hand " ( Of which I will give a full and true report soon ) , I mean to go to 110 more Professors , but to Nature herself for " Nature never did betray The heart that loved her ; nor plant her hand

Upon the countenance , and change its hue From verdant lily , to the patent black Of jettiest coal . " [ O . P . D ., with his usual audacity , has queried my quotations , but I challenge him to find them . When the poor ignoramus has done that , I will prove them to be ELS his friend of ^ the Telegraphs' would say , " O . K .. " ]

New Telegraph Instrument.

NEW TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENT .

Scarcely a week passes without our having to record some fresh stride made in telegraphy , and it is not too much to say that we are now living in an " electric" age . A century ago we were in a classical mood , comparing every one to Roman , Grecian , and mythological notabilities . The age of steam followed , and though scarcely any

mechanical operation of consequence is carried on without its aid , still we are beginning to look even upon steam as a thing that will be sooner or later dispensed with . Gas also is being consumed in two senses , [ or we have signs that other media will Ve found to afford us illumination , which when compared with gas will be as between the light in the old tinder-box age , and that of

the period when gasometers towered to the skies . But electricity is the rising feature of Civilization . Though its properties have long been known , and , though Franklin ' s discoveries were considered to be in his time marvellous , people rested content with knowing what electricity was , and confining its use to amusing and instructive experiments . Bye-and-bye the wondrous art

and mystery of telegraphy sprang up , and the practical uses of the subtle fluid began to be found out and applied as means of communication between distant parts , anil with what success we need not mention . It is , however certain that the electric current will not be confined to the conveying of messages only . The many ways in which its power of signalling can be utilised show that in future

years it will be one of the most useful acquisitions of life . At the present time the amount of usefulness the electric telegraph is to the world at large cannot be estimated , and so long as we have modern Franklins and Newtons devoting their lives in penetrating the vast depths of incalculable mystery which surrounds their researches , and the progressive result of whose labours leads us to

look upon them as great public benefactors , we shall find no end to the application of electricity for meeting our requirements in the advancement of civilisation . For exchanging ideas and general business intercourse with the most distant parts of the eaith we have our cables , for regulatingjour immense traffic of living freights on railways wc have our land lines , to render the movements of

an enemy at a distance exposed to our view , we have our electric lights , for domestic and general business purposes , we have electric bells and indicators , and to add to these we have now an entirely new and novel instrument , not for numbering our days , but for giving us correct time by which we can arrange our various duties of this life . This instrument , the invention of Mr . F . R . Francis , F . S . A .,

Member of the ielegraph Engineers Society , has been introduced for the purpose of receiving the " Greenwich Time Signal , " which is sent every morning to the various telegraph stations , and offices of private firms . Hitherto the passage of the time signal current along the wires gives no other indication of its presence than a deflection of the needle on the single needle instrument , and corresponding

movements on the alphabetical instrument , and of the armature of the Morse printer at 10 . 0 a . m ., so that unless a sharp look-out be kept , and the eye constantly on the instrument , the actual time is not taken , and consequently left for another day , when possibly from the same cause tlie inconvenience is repeated . In the new instrument , however , no excuse can be urged for inattention , and the

chance of losing the time signal is wholly removed , as at the moment the current is sent a bell rings , and continues to ring so long as the current is passing . In order to make the working of this new instrument more clearly understood , wc will endeavour tocxplain its construction . The index needle , in other words the needle of the galvanometer which is the principal part of this invention , when deflected , presses against a small spring tipped with platinum ,

fitted to the stops on the dial , which are perfectly insulated from the dial plate , and by this contact the galvanometer forms itself into a " relay , " and puts a local battery in circuit with the bell , which is also a portion of the one instrument or apparatus , so that the instant the first part of the time signal is given or sent , the needle of this little instrument is deflected , and at the same moment the bell rings , when attention to the time is at once arrested . The

New Telegraph Instrument.

time allowed for the Greenwich Time Signal , and during which the transmission of messages is suspended , is two minutes . It should also be mentioned that the resislance to the line is intended to be inserted only during the time set apart for the time signal , as by means of what is generally termed a " Switch , " the instrument is put in and out of circuit at will , and if desired takes the place of the

message instrument for the time being , thus avoiding any additional resistance , and however feeble the current may be the galvanometer of this new instrument is so sensitive that a deflection of its needle is absolutely certain . To us the simplicity and importance of the invention seem to indicate that almost every Telegraph station in the United Kingdom should be furnished with one , and especially the

offices of private firms , where cotrect time is of the utmost importance . Moreover we are informed that not only is the instrument capable of doing what has already been stated , but we are further assured it may , with little alteration and few additions , be made to record messages as accurately as now done bv [ the more expensive forms of

Morse printing instruments , and the manufacturers , Messrs . Francis et Co ., of Hatton-garden , are at present engaged in adapting the instrument to this purpose , which will have the effect of reducing the cost of new recording instruments about one half . Everyone having a telegraph instrument in use should sce ' this newly patented apparatus

Consecration Of A New Welsh Lodge.

CONSECRATION OF A NEW WELSH LODGE .

On Wednesday , the 12 th inst ., Bro . the Right Honourable Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart ., M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of North Wales and Shropshire , attended at Towyn , for the purpose of consecrating the Corbet Lodge , No . 1583 , the warrant of consecration having been granted last

year . The following are the first officers of the new lodge , as far as thev have been appointed , one or two remaining still to be filled : —Bros . C . Elliott , W . M . ; J . Ffoulkes Jones , S . W . ; Rupert G . Kettle , J . W . ; — Page , S . D . ; Edward Pughe , J . D . ; W . R . Davis , Treasurer . For the present the Senior Warden will also act as Secretary . Before the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed a

resolution was passed concerning the famine in India , the R . W . D . P . G . M Bro . Bulkeley Hughes proposed , and the P . G . Treasurer , Bro . J . P . White seconded , that £ 50 should be voted from the funds of the Provincial Grand Lodge towarels the relief of the sufferers from famine in India . No previous notice of this- had been given , but the

Prov . Grand Master , under the by-laws , has a right to sanction such a motion in case of emergency , and of course , was only too happy to do it . The proceedings closed shortly before five o ' clock , when the brethren sat down to a most excellent dinner at the Corbet Arms Hotel . —Cumbrian News .

Obituary.

Obituary .

MR . MEREDYTH THOMAS . Wc deeply sympathize with our esteemed Bro . James Lewis Thomas , P . M ., P . Z , Junior Grand Warden of Middlesex , in the most severe and irreparable loss he has sustained in the sudden death of his sole surviving brother after a few hours' illness . Though Mr . Meredyth

Thomas was not a member of our Oreler , we do not think the insertion of this notice inappropriate , as he was such a noble hearted , single-minded fellow , who would have made a splendid Mason , lie being one of those men who are , we regret to say , few and far between , thoroughly unselfish , and only happy when sacrificing himself to do others a kindness .

We extract the following from our contemporary , the Brecon County Times : — " ft is our painful duty to record the demise of our talented townsman , Mr . H . Meredyth Thomas , sculptor , the brother of our late distinguished countryman , John Evan Thomas , Esq ., whose genius has enriched the principality with his works of art . This sad event was the

result of apoplexy after a few hours' illness , and took place at his residence , 5 8 , Buckingham Palace-road , London , on the 7 th inst ., at the early age of 5 8 . He was the associate of his brother for upwards of 30 years , and during that time assisted him in all the great works which proceeded from his studio . Early in life he became a prize medallist student of the Royal Academy for his

accurate models from the antique , which laid the foundation of that purity and truth of style which distinguished his works , and would have given him a prominent place amongst his contemporaries in the art , had he chosen to strike out a separate path from that of his brother . Of late years , and especially since his brother ' s death , he has devoted himself to ideal works and medallion portraiture ,

and in the latter work he will be long remembered among the charming circle who congregate at Llanover to enjoy the hospitality of its noble and bountiful lady , whose name is identified with the prosperity of Wales and Welsh institutions , for there arc few among her guests whose features have not been transferrer ! by him to " imperishable marble . " He was an ardent and appreciative student

of history , poetry , and elegant literature , and his retentive memory enabled him to delight his associates for hours with the beauties of Shakespeare , Goldsmith , Byron , Macaulay , and the other giants of oiir classical English literature . It may be truly said he has left a gap behind him which it will be difficult to fill .

" A sole surviving brother—Mr . James L . Thomasmourns the loss of such a gifted relative . The news of Mr . Meredyth Thomas's death was received with the deepest feelings of regret by those friends and acquaintances in his native town , who knew how to appreciate one who had been endowed by nature with such rich and sterling qualities . " IVJ