Masonic Notes.

It was a pleasant and successful meeting which was held under the auspices of Bro . C . E . Keyser , P . G . D ., on Wednesday , when a testimonial , consisting of an address and cheque for I io guineas , was presented to Bro . W . Lake , A . G . Sec , in recognition of the uniform courtesy he exhibited towards all he came in contact with , and the valuable services he had rendered to Freemasonry in various

capacities , but more particularly as editor of this journal . A full report of the proceedings will be found in another column , and therefore it is unnecessary we should do more than offer Bro . Lake our most cordial congratulations on this recognition of his services to the Craft , and the high estimation in which he is held by all classes of the brethren . May he be spared , ior many years to enjoy that esteem and respect 1

The duty , unfortunately , devolves upon us of chronicling the deaths of two Past Grand Ofiicers who had attained to almost patriachal age , and whose distinguished services to our Order were rendered many years ago , and long before many of the most prominent Masons of the present generation were initiated . The senior of these departed worthies was Bro . Rev . Sir John Warren Hayes ,

Bart ., who was born in August , 1799 , and was thus in his 97 th year . The deceased had the reputation of being the oldest clergyman of the Church of England , while , as he was initiated as far back as 1 S 19 in the Apollo University Lodgenow No . 357—Oxford , which was consecrated in that year , he had been a member of our Society for upwards of three quarters of a century , and we should say ,

with very little hesitation , that he must have been the oldest living Freemason . He held the office of Grand Chaplain of England from 1 844 to 1 S 46—that is half a century ago—while in 1841—when Berkshire was a Province by itself—he was

appointed Prov . Grand Chaplain . From 186 S to 1 S 74 , he served as Deputy Prov . Grand Master of the late Province of Berks and Bucks ; but it is needless to say that for some years past , owing to his very advanced age , he had taken no active part in Masonry . His death occurred on the morning of Thursday .

The other Past Grand Officer to whom we allude is Bro . John Symonds , who died on Monday last in the 81 st year of his age . In 1861 Bro . Symonds was appointed Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Grand Lodge j and Grand Standard Bearer in Supreme Grand Chapter . He took a prominent part in the proceedings in Grand Lodge , and being a fluent and capable speaker , he

was always able to command an attentive and oftimes a sympathetic audience , But perhaps his most eminent services as a member of our Society were rendered to the Masonic Institutions . In 1858 he was appointed with Bro . the Rev . VV . Lyall and Bro . Binckes , a Committee to revise the system of education in the Girls' School , while about the same time , and in conjunction with the same

brethren , he was charged with a similar duty in respect of the Boys' School . He was also a Vice-President of the senior School and of the Benevolent Institution and a Vice-Patron of the Boys' School . Indeed , our Institutions have known no abler or more enthusiastic friend and supporter than the brother who departed this life on Monday full of years and enjoying to the full the esteem and respect of his brother Masons .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

1079 ] "THE COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR , 1896 . " This is an old and ever-welcome friend , as the years come and go . I remember well the first number , and now it is in its 26 th year of publication . A complete set is a grand addition to any Masonic library , but most difficult to obtain , as the old issues disappear like " snow before the sun , " and apparently are destroyed , because out of date . Yet , if brethren will keep their copies , they will be astonished to find how often the" back

numbers" will bc consulted for the names of Grand Officers of former years , particulars of lodge meetings , names , places , & c , of various Grand Lodges , and so on . The " Cosmo" has lately ceased to give the full information it formerly did as to the Grand Lodge of England , because the official Calendar ably discharges that duty , and thus the size is lessened , and so the price , the cost per copy now being only one shilling . Forthe Mark Grand Lodge and its Allied Degrees , the Ancient and Accepted Rite , the Royal Order of Scotland ffuller than

usual this year ) , the Temple and Malta , the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine , and the Rosicrucian Society , & c , the " Cosmo" is indispensable and a neverfailing guide . All the Grand Lodges in the universe , save England , are duly attended to in this annual ( this time , however , Norway seems to have been overlooked , as it is distinct now from Sweden ) , and special prominence is given to

Scotland and Ireland , and all the Degrees worked in those countries . There are some 200 pages of closely-printed matter , and in such a handy form , that our old frier . d cannot fail to be most useful to many thousands of Craftsmen who not only desire to know about the spread of Freemasonry in their own country , but take an intelligent interest in all that concerns the welfare of the Fraternity throughout thc " Masonic world . " ____________________________ H *

Ladies' Night At The Eccleston Lodge,

LADIES' NIGHT AT THE ECCLESTON LODGE ,

No . 1624 . The Eccleston Ledge—which claims to havc been one of the first to introduce ladies to the festive board—s'ill continues its successful career in this respect , and annually welcomes within its portals a large gathering of the fair sex , whose presence in search of pleasure and enjiyment never goes unrewarded . The ladies' night of the present season was quite up to the

standard of its many predecessors , and was in every respect a most successful and enjoyable function . It was held at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Tuesday , the 14 th inst ., when the guests received a cordial welcome on their arrival from the VV . M ., Bro . W . Beresford Pugh , who was accompanied by Mrs . Pugh . Thc visitors had an opportunity of inspecting the lodge room —uheie lodge had been previously formall y opened and closed—many of ( he If . dies evincing evident intereU in Ihe furniture and accessories .

The company then adjourned to the Victoria Hall , where an excellent banquet was well served and hearlily enjoyed . A few toaMs were subsequently given , the post-prandial speeches being necessarily short owing to the desire lo commence the programme of dances . " The Our en and the C ** aft " having been loyall y honoured , thc W . M . gave " H . R . H . the Prince of Wdles , M . W . G . M ., " and alluded to the great interest taken by his Royal Highness in Freemasonry .

Ladies' Night At The Eccleston Lodge,

" The Grand Officers " was next given , after which Bro . F . ARNOLD . P . M ., in cordial terms proposed "The Health of the Worshipful Master . " He said that Bro . Pugh , W . M ., not only had the best interests of the lodge at heart , but at all times exerted his utmost endeavours to conduce to its welfare , and represent it at the M isonic

Institutions . The Worshipful Master had been recently married , and was installed into the chair soon after his return from his honeymooi , so that any shortcomings would doub' . less be overlooked . The Worshipful Master was an excellent worker , but subject to nervousness , which wou'd disappear now that he was married . That would be a favourable opportunity of wishing B o . and Mrs . Pugh every possible happiness and prosperity .

Bro . W . BERESVORD PUGH , W . M ., expressed his obligation to Bro . Arnold for his kind remarks . He hoped the brethren would find some work for him during his year of ofii : e , in order that he might have an opportunity of showing what he could do . He would not detain them with along speech , as there were many ladies present longing for a dance . He would simply say he thanked them most sincerely .

The WORSHIPFUL MASTER , in submitting "The Past Masters and Officers , " said the P . Ms , were some of the finest Masons that ever lived . If it had not been for the P . Ms , he should not be occupying his present position , for they had taught him everything he knew in Masonry . They had a body of officers equal to any lodge in London , and these brethren would show their quality whenever opportunities occurred .

Bro . C . TAYLOR , P . M ., returned thanks for the kind reception given the toast . The P . Ms , always carried out their duties to the best of their ability , which could also be said of the officers .

Bro . HOOPER , P . M ., said he felt it was due to the kindness ot the W . M . rather than to their merits that he had been called upon to repeat what Bro . Taylor had already so admirably expressed . So long as the lodge could muster such gatherings as they had that night , so long would the lodge be in a prosperous and successful condition .

Bro . I . ISAACS , P . M ., Treas ., responded for " The Treasurer and Secretary , " and expressed his pleasure at seeing such a good meeting . He was pleased to inform all those interested in the lodge that it was in a very prosperous condition . He wished the ladies and gentlemen who were not concerned with the Craft to understand that it was not merely for the sake

of " wining and dining they were together . Freemasonry did not consist altogether in enjoying themselves , for there was one great essential thing connected wilh the Order that should emanate from every human breast , and that was the cause of Charity . If the brethren only continued to support the Institutions , the outside world could then say there was something in Masonry afier all .

Bro . A . W . BECKHAM , Sec , in response , said that that meeting had caused him more trouble than all the ordinary meetings of the lodge . It was , however , a great pleasure to him to help all he could , and he believed he stood as well in their good opinion as he did 21 years ago . He was pleased to see so many ladies present . He hoped the lodge would continue to prosper , which it was bound to do with a good W . M . and officers .

" The Ladies and Visitors " was then submitted by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who said that Masonic lodges could not go on without visitors . The lodge cordially welcomed the ladies that evening and hoped they would thoroughly enjoy themselves . Bros . WOODROW and YOUNGER , and Mr . MEADS responded in suitable

terms . The company then proceeded to the ball-room , where a programme ot iS dances was gone through . The music was supplied by Bro . F . W . Middleditch's band , the M . Cs . being Bros . C . Taylor , P . M ., and W . J . Hillyar , and Mr . G . Longworth . The early hours of the morning were well advanced before the company separated , after having spent a most enjoyable evening , and the Eccleston Lodge having scored another success .

The ladies and brerhren present included Bro . and Mrs . W . B . Pugh ; Bro . and Mrs . T . Salter ; Bro . and Mrs . W . T . Smith ; Bro . and Mrs . Isaacs ; Bro . and Miss Beckham ; Bros . G . Lane , W . E . Lane , E . J . Badderly , C . Taylor , and J . Whalen , * Bro . and Miss Craiger , and Miss Body ; Bro . and Mrs . A . W . Deacons ; Bros . Hooper , P . M ., and Tibbatts , P . M . ; Bro . and Mrs . Scarman , and many others .

Board Of Benevolence.

BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robert Grey , President , in the chair . Bro . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President , were in their respective places . Bros . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , W . Lake , A < st . G . Sec , W . Dodd , VV . H . Lee , and H . Sadler , G . Tyler , represented Ihe Grand Secretary ' s department . The Other brethren

present were ; Bros . J . H . Matthews , T . VV . Whitmarsh , Henry Garrod , Charles Dairy , Geo . li . Chapman , W . Fisher , James Bunker , George Read , Charles J . R . Tijou , William Vincent , George R . Langley , VV . Kipps , Ralph Gooding , M . D ., Charles E . Keyser , S . H . Goldschmidt , Robert A . Gowan , Walter Martin , A . E . Hubert , Henry A . Tobias , Havelock Collins , Frederick H . King , Joseph Mansfield , A . H . Lilley

Felix Kite , John Dorton , Charles G . Marcus , George Brown , H . Hooper , W . J . Stahlschmidt , W . B . Fendick , H . Massey , A . E . Reade , Richard A . Gedny , VV . Harris , James George Thomas , James Joseph Hall , Henry Salter , Thos . Tully J . Gibson , VV . C . Thomas , Frederick A . Lewis , J . Hands , Thomas R . Cass , Hiram Davis , William E . Wigwood , C . H . Webb , A . Watts , S . G . Bonner , E . W Nightingale , W . T . Christian and G . Booker .

The PRESIDENT , alter the Board had been opened and before the proceedings of the evening commenced , referring to the death of Prince Henry of Balitenbirg , said : I feel sure you would wish , as members of this Board , this being , prrhaps , ihe first Masonic body that has met since the sad news reached this country , that we slould express our heartfelt s \ mpathy in their sorrow with her Majisly the Queen , our Patroness , wilh

our Grand Master , the Prince of Wales , and , above all , wilh the widow of Ihe Prince who has juit sacriliccd his life for this country . I feel that you would wish that some notice should be taken cf this , and that it should be recorded lhat we , loyal Masons , sympathise with our Queen and our Grand Master in their troubles as we rejoice with them in tneir joys . I am sure this Board will endorse what I have said , The Board , which was very numerously attended , received these remarks with general approbation .