Royal Arch.

now stood in that proud position through their kindness . They could rely upon it that lie felt very deeply the honour they had conferred upon him , and nothing whatever should be wanting on his part , that he could possibly do , to render to the chapter and the companions some sense of his appreciation . In giving "The H . and J ., the M . E . Z . drew attention to the admirable way in which both officers did their vvork , and to their superb rendering of the lectures .

Comp . T . VV . Allsop , H ., said he felt he scarcely deserved the high eulogium passed upon his vvork , but he thanked them heartily for the toast . Comp . W . Dennis , J ., said he should be more than satisfied if he could approach in excellence the way in vvhich the H . lecture had been given . If his humble eff jrts that evening had met with their approval it was sufficient reward for him , and an incentive to go on and improve , and to master the work of the next chair .

" The Exaltee " was proposed by the M . E . Z ., vvho alluded to Comp . Nodder as his oldest friend , and as one vvho had proven an undoubted acquisition to the chapter . Comp . Joseph Nodder , in his reply , said the M . E . Z . had reminded him of many years ago , and his experience vvith him that evening had certainly h en of a most touching character , as the ceremony he had gone through ] had impressed him very much . For something like—he would not say how long—he had been a student of mysticism ,

and the ceremony that evening therefore appealed to him in a most peculiar character , and made a very deep impression upon him . It vvas something he should never forget , and he did not know any companion in whose hands he would sooner have received it than at the hands of their M . E . Z . Looking at Comp . Wickenden in his exalted posithn , and knowing him as he did , he felt as proud of him as the companions , doubtless , did . For " The Visitors , " Comps . Allingham , White , and Bell returned thanks for the hospitality , and expressed their gratification at the excellent working .

" The P . Zs . " was next given by the M . E . Z ., vvho regretted the absence of Comp . Valentine , vvhich vvas caused by his great infirmity . There vvere , however , r . resent , Comps . Harvey , P . Z . ; Holroyd , P . Z . ; Friend , P . Z . j Stait , P . Z . ; and Dring . ' P . Z . It vvas a happy day for their chapter when Comp . Dring vvas exalted , for he had proved a host in himself , and the manner in vvhich he had installed the threT Principals was sufficient for him to receive the heartiest of welcomes . The toast having been replied to , "The Treas . and S . E . " and "The Officers " were duly honoured , and the p leasant proceedings terminated .

The musicaliprogrammejincluded two items of special attraction for the companions present . Miss Dollie Harvey , the clever little daughter of Comp . Harvey , rendered two songs in charming and excellent style , and Miss Dorothy Bull , another youthful performer , showed rare abilities in violin solos . Other items were also contributed by Miss Maud Fowler , Messrs . A . H . Serjeant , and A . Melrose , and Comp . R . F . Tyler .

Rescue By The Freemasons' Lifeboatalbert Edward.

RESCUE BY THE FREEMASONS' LIFEBOATALBERT EDWARD .

The lifeboat Albert Edward , stationed at Clacton-on-Sea , b-ought safely ashore seven men last VVednesday morning- from the three-masted schooner Orncn , of Osthammer , which had stranded on the Gunfleet Sands . She was bound for Portsmouth with a cargo of timber . The lifeboat is one of two boats presented to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution by the United Grand Lodgeof England in commemoration of the safe return from India of the M out VVorshipfuI Grand Master , H R . H . the Prince of Wales .

The Late Earl Of Lathom, G.C.B.

THE LATE EARL OF LATHOM , G . C . B .

The following Order has been issued by the Grand Secretary : "UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND . " His ROVAL HIGHNESS ALBERT EDWARD , PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , & c , & c , & c , MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER .

" In consequence of the much-lamented death of the Right Honourable the Ear ! of Lathom , G . C . B ., Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master , an event which has cccasioned the profoundest sorrow to every member of the Craft , by whom he was so greatly beloved , it is ordered that the Grand Lodge and all subordinate lodges be placed in Masonic mourning for the space of six months from this date . " The mourning to be worn by brethren individually to be as follows : Grand

Officers , Present and Past , three rosettes of black crape on the badges , and one atthe point of the chain or collar , just above jewel ; Masters , Past Masters , and Master Masons , three black crape rosettes on badge ; and Fellow Crafts and Entered Apprentices , two black crape rosettes at the lower part of the badge . VVhite gloves . " By command of the M . VV . Grand Master .

"E . LETCHWORTH , " Grand Secretary , " Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C . " November 22 nd , 189 S . "

Regulation rosettes , in two qualities , can be obtained at Bros . George Kenning and Son , 1 , 2 , 3 , 3 . 1 , 311 , and 4 , Little Britain , 195 , 19 G . and 197 , Aldersgate-street , and 16 , Great Queen-street , London ; 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester ; 23 , Williamson-street , Liverpool ; and 9 , West Howard-street , Glasgow . No . 1—per set of three—is . 6 d . j No . 2—per set of three—is . —ADVT .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

Miss Rertha J . Dean ( of Chiches er ) , has the ho lour of b ing the first " Girl Graduate " of the above Institution , in which she is cx-pupil , gold medallist , and teacher . Entering the examination lists cf the London University , she passed in the First Division at a Preliminary Examination in 1 S 9 6 ; in the First Division at the Intermediate Examination in 1 S 97 ; and has now at the Final Examination won the distinction of Bachelor of Arts . __^_________

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Red Cross of Rome & Constantine .

Premier Conclave . The installation meeting of this conclava was held at the Mark Masons' Hall , r . reni Dnpen- ' -treet . Holborn , on the 71 b inst . Among those in attendance were Sir KnilhtsVV A Scurrah , G . V . C ., M . P . S .: L . Steele , V . E . ; Capt . G . Phillips , lunf Gen ., H . J . Lardner , P . G . C , P . M . P . S .. Treas . ; Major T . C Walls , P . G . G , P . M . P S „ Rec . ; Moore , Prefect ; Barnes , Orato ; Humphreys , Herald ; George Graveleyi' P . M . P . S . ; and Frater Rrinardt , Sentinel .

The minutes of the previous conclave having been read and confirm : d , Sir Knight H . 1 . Lardner , P . M . P . S ., ably and impressively installed Sir Knight L . Steele as M . P . S . The induction of V . E ., in consequence of ihe enforced absence of Sir Knight the Rev R C . Fillingham , M . A ., was postponed . The officers appointed an I invested were Sir Knights Capt . G- Phillips , S . G . j E . Moore , J . G . ; H . J . Lardner , P . M . P . S ,,

Red Cross Of Rome & Constantine.

Treas . ; Major T . C Walls , P . M . P . S ., Rec . ; Barnes , Prelate ; Humphries , Prefect ; and Frater Reinardt , Sentinel . The report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . A Past Sovereign ' s jewel vvas presented to Sir Knight W . A . Scurrah . The resignation of Sir Knight LB . Hamilton vvas received vvith regret . Apologies for nonattendance vvere received from Sir Knights the Rev . R . C . Fillingham , M . A ., V . E . elect ; J . Purrott , P . M . P . S . ; C Keyser , M . A ., J . P ., P . M . P . S . ; H . E . Heard , P . M . P . S . ; H . H . Sh ' rley , M . A ., P . M . P . S . ; G . Powell , P . G . S . G ., P . M . P . S . ; and others . The conclave vvas then closed . A banquet followed . Upon the removal of the cloth the customary toasts received full justice .

Sir Knight W . A . Scurrah responded on behalf of " The Grand Senate , " and directly afterwards proposed " The Health of the M . P . S . " In the course of his remarks he said that Sir Knight L . Steele vvas an old Mason , and a well-kno . vn worker in many Degrees . His zeal and energy vvas beyond all praise . He lived in Hampshire , and yet he travelled to and from London to carry out his Masonic responsibilities vvith the m > st unfailing punctuality . The toast having been warmly drunk , the M . P . S . brief ! v replied .

_ "The Health of the Installing Officer" followed . In introducing the toast the M . P . S . paid a high tribute of praise to the services of Sir Knight Lardner as a worker of the Red Cross and its attendant Degrees . He was also equally as proficient in the other Knightly Orders , and without his valuable assistance the work would lose a great deal of its effectiveness . This pledge having been drunk vvith enthusiasm , Sir Knight Lardner said a few modest words in reply .

" The Past Sovereigns" followed , and the pledge was acknowledged by Sir Knights VV . A . Scurrah and George Graveley . "The Health of the Officers" was coupled with the names of Sir Knights Phillips , Moore , Barnes , and Humphreys . The procee dings then terminated .

Instruction.

Instruction .

HUGH OWEN LODGE , No . 2593 . A meeting vvas held on Friday , the iSth inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxfordstreet , vvhen there vvere present Bros . J . H . Crispe , VV . M . ; W . G . Read . S . W . ; F . Aris , J . W . ; H . G . Holland , P . M ., P . G . S . B . Herts , Preceptor ; R . H . Nicholls , Treas . ; H . This . Kobelt , Sec . ; Jas . Barnett , S . D . ; VV . G . Bevan , J . D . ; B . Ware , Dep . Sec . ; H . Ramsbottam , l . G . ; } . B . Schrader , Org . ; R . Sandland , Henry Teele , C G . Ridgway , J . VV . Harrison , J . H . GiffordSidney Smyth , and H . C . Wotton .

, The lodge was opened in due form , and the minu ' es of the previous meetine read and confirmed . The ceremonies of passing and raising were rehearsed , Bro . Wo ' . ton acting as the candidate , the VV . M . reciting the traditional history . Bro . Crispe worked the 3 rd Section of the Third Lecture . The IoJee vvas closed .

Scotland

Scotland

The Preceptory of the Temple in Glasgow . The annual meeting was held on the 2 i ? -t inst ., in the Masonic Hall , West Regentstreet . Frater Colonel R . King Stewart , of Murdos ^ oun Castle , Preceptor , presided , and there vvas a large turn out of the fratres . After the minutes had been read by the Secretary , Frater Major F . W . Allan , the election of office bearers took place when Frater Sir Alex . Muir Mackenzie , Bart ., of Delvine , was installed as the new Preceptor . The fratres thereaftei dined in the Windsor Hotel , the new Preceptor in the chair , and Colonel J . A . Reid , Croupier . A most enjoyable evening was spent .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . THE EARL OF LATHOM . G . C . B ., PRO G . M ., AND PROV . G . M . WEST LANCASHIRE . The Earl of Lathom , to whose death and the serious loss thereby entailed on English Freemasonry vve refer particularly in our editorial columns , was born on the 12 th of December , 1837 , and vvas , therefore , at hi s decease on the eve of completing his 61 st year . In 1853 he succeeded his grandfather as Baron Skelmersdale , and in 18 S 0 vvas created Earl of Lathom . His lordship was educated at Eton and Christ Church , Oxford , and it was in 1856 , during his

University career , that he was initiated in the famous Apollo University Lodge , No 357 , and the following year vvas appointed Prov . G . Steward of Oxfordshire . In 1857 he joined the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . io , and remained , we believe , a member till his death . In 1 S 62 he was installed W . M . of Harmony Lodge , No . 580 , Ormskirh , and three years later , after serving successively as Prov . S . G . I ) , and Prov . S . G . W ., he was appointed to the office of Dep . Prov . G . Master of West Lancashire , retaining it until , on the death of Bro . Sir Thomas

if . Hesketh , Bart ., he received , on the 30 th November , 1 S 72 , the appointment of Prov . G . Master , and vvas installed in office in January of the following year , his installation as G . Superintendent dating from a few months later . In Grand Lodge he was in 1863 invested by Hro . the late Earl of Zetland as S . G . Warden ; and on the accession of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales to the throne of English Freemasonry , he was honoured with the post of Dep . G . Master . In 18 91 he was appointed Pro G . Master in succession to the late Bro . the Karl of

Carnarvon ; while in Grand Chapter he vvas ex officio Grand H ., and since 1 H 91 had been Pro G . First Principal Z . ' As regard 1 the other branches of our Masonic system , let it suffice if vve state that in the Mark Degree he presided over its Grand Lodge as M . W . G . M . M . from 18 7 8 to 1881 , while he had held the position of Prov . G . Mark Master of Lancashire since 18 76 . Till a year or two since he was Great Prior of the Order of the Temple , and had been G . Viceroy of the Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine , while in the

Ancient and Accepted Rite he was , and had been for many years , M . P . Sovereign G . Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 . Nor must we omit to mention that he vvas the representative at our Grand Lodge of the Grand Lodges of Scotland , Denmark , and Norway , anil of the G . Orient of Brazil , so that there is probably no member of our Order vvho has filled so many offices as the distinguished brother whose death we are so deeply and sincerely mourning . But , after all , these . several positions which he held for so long and so greatly to

the honour of Freemasonry constitute only a part of the claims upon which the memory of his services will rest for all time . He was a most active and generous supporter of all our Institutions , both those which appeal tor support to the whole body of the English Craft and those which have been founded and successfully mrintained by his Province of West Lancashire . A part from the services which he rendered officially

as Trustee to our Central Charities , he had presided at no less than five of their Anniversary Festivals , namely , in 18 73 and 18 94 for the Girls' School ; in 18 S 1 and 1891 for the Boys' School ; and in 1876 for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , while , in addition , he was President of the Board of Stewards at the Centenaries of both our Schools . During the present year , owing to the grievous loss he sustained some 12 months since by the death of the Countess of Lathom .