Obituary.

he had not taken any active part in our meetings ; but there were , neverthe less , three functions which he ventured to attend , namely , the distribution of prizes to the Boys' School in the Royal Albert Hall by H . R . H . the Princess of Wales ; the Masonic Service solemnised by Bro . the Veiy Rev . Dean Hole in Rochester Cathedral ; and the recent meeting of his Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , when , in recognition of his 25 years' rule over it as Prov . G . Master and in token of the respect and affection in which he vvas held , the brethren preto be

sented him with a massive silver bowl and vases and a cheque for ^ 500 devoted to any Charity with vvhich the late Countess of Lathom vvas known to be in sympathy . This vvas not the first occasion on which his Lancashire brethren had shown the estimation in which they held him , for in 18 91 they presented him with a gold chain of office on his appointment as Pro Grand Master , while other instances might be mentioned in vvhich those whom he had served Masonically exhibited towards him the deep ! feelings of gratitude for all he had done for them with which they were actuated .

The funeral took place on Wednesday , the first portion of the service being held in the Almonry Chapel close by Lathom House . Along the pathway leading from the chapel to the house , which had been cleared of snow during the morning , the funeral procession made its way , vvhen , at half-past 12 , the chapel bell began to toll , and the cortege emerged from the hall . The coffin , made of the oak of trees grown on the estate , was borne by 12 employes . Its breastplate bore the following inscription , surmounted by a representation of the Lathom

coronet : "Edward Bootle-Wilbraham , first Earl of Lathom . Born 12 th December , 1837 ; died 19 Nov ,, 1898 . " Covering it were several beautiful wreaths , including one choice tribute of respect from the Queen and another from the Prince of VVales . The entrance and pathway to the chapel were guarded by 50 troopers of the Ormskirk and Lathom troop of the Lancashire Yeomanry Hussars , of which regiment the late Earl was honorary colonel . Following the coffin came the chief mourners , including Bro . Lord Skelmersdale

( son and successor to the title ) , Lady Alice Maude Wilbraham ( eldest daughter ) , Lady Bertha Wilbraham , the Hon . Reginald Wilbraham ( son ) , the Hon . Mrs . Bateman ( sister ) , the Hon . Rose Wilbraham ( sister ) , the Earl of Clarendon , Bro . the Earl of Derby , the Hon . Francis and Mrs . Villiers , Bro . the Earl of Radnor , Bro . Lord Ampthill , and the Hon . Arthur Stanley , M . P ., and members of the Lathom household . Her Majesty the Queen was represented by the Lord Steward , the Earl of Pembroke , and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales by Bro .

Major-General Sir Stanley Clarke . Among the other distinguished mourners were Bro . the Duke of Portland ( her Majesty's Master of thc Horse ) , the Hon . Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane ( Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Department ) , and others , who had arrived the previous evening from London . Upon the procession reaching the churchyard the Rev . Lord William Cecil , son-in-law ot the deceased peer , Bishop Royston , the Rev . J . T . Blakeway , and the Rev . J . Lomas , the officiating clergy , who had been awaiting its arrival , placed themselves at its head ,

and , as progress was made towards the chapel , the silence was broken by the recital of the preliminary passages of the service for the dead . Bareheaded , the mourners , clergy , and the choir walked through the driving sleet and snow , and then the little chapel was filled . The general body of mourners , numbering some hundreds , took up a position outside , near the door and tomb . A conspicuous feature of the funeral vvas the large attendance of the brethren , who , notwithstanding the terrible inclemency of the weather , assembled to the

number of between 400 and 500 . Among those present to do him final honour were Bros . Edward Letchwarth , G . Secretary of England ; R . Wylie , Dep . Prov . G . Master W . Lanes . ; W . Goodacre , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . Secretary W . Lanes . ; Rev . W . Seelly , of Keighley , representing the Masons of Yorkshire ; Rev . J . W . Willink , Prov . G . Chaplain W . Lanes . ; Rev . R . B . Billing , of Ulverstone , Prov . G . Chaplain ; Rev . F . Barton Spencer , of Preston , P . G . Chaplain , P . Prov . G . Chaplain W . Lanes . ; E . R . Lathom , Prov . G . Treas . ; and J . T . Newbold and

W . Forrest , representing the G . Master of East Lancashire , Bro . Colonel Starkey . Simple but impressive , the service was conducted by the Rev . J . T . Blakeway ( Chaplain ) , Rev . J . Lomax ( an ex-Chaplain ) , and the Rev . Lord William Cecilthe same clergymen by whom the service for the Countess was conducted a year since . The hymns sung in the chapel vvere " Safe home in port " and " Now the

labourer ' s task is o'er . " During the procession to the graveside the Organist , Mr . H . Berkeley Score , played Mendelssohn ' s " O rest in the Lord . " The latter portion of the service was impressively read at the grave by the Rev . Lord William Cecil . Here , also , the choir sang thc hymns , " My God , my Father , " and " Peace , Perfect Peace . " The Benediction was pronounced by Bishop Royston , of Liverpool .

Death Of Lord Lathom.

DEATH OF LORD LATHOM .

TRIBUTE OF A PAST GRAND CHAPLAIN .

Bro . the Rev . T . B ARTON SPENCER , M . A ., Vicar of St . James ' s , Preston , and Past Grand Chaplain of England , preaching in his church on Sunday evening , said : As we speak of the Christian as " a worker , we think of one whose death is so deeply lamented , not only in his own neighbourhood , but in Lancashire and through the country—the Earl of Lathom .

Our hearts go forth to the sorrowing family , and our prayers are offered that God will sustain and comfort them . Lord Lathom was one of Lancashire ' s and England's greatest noblemen . In public life he made his mark , and the Oueen conferred honours upon him , and the true Christian qualities and

graces that he possessed—such as distinguished courtesy , tact , unselfishness , and self-denial—fitted him to discharge so well and so efficiently the duties of Lord Chamberlain , which many consider one of perhaps the most difficult positions to occupy with success . Many public offices he held , and among

Death Of Lord Lathom.

them one of the most important was that of Pro Grand Master of England in Freemasonry , being next to the Prince of VVales , the Grand Master , an office the importance of which may be judged from the fact that Freemasonry is perhaps one of the most influential societies in the land . He was also Prov . G . Master of West Lancashire and dearly loved by all the brethren . Never shall I forget that soul-stirring scene at

Liverpool , on October 19 th , when the presentation of silver plate was made to him to commemorate his 25 years of successful rule as Prov . G . Master and a cheque for / 500 towards a memorial to the late Countess of Lathom . But as he set us an example in fulfilling the obligations which rank and position entail , for he was ever ready to take part in any ceremony or to be a leader in any cause for the religious , moral , and social benefit of the

people ; he also set us an example of a good life . He was by birth a nobleman , he was by character a noble man , and this gave great weight to his opinion , counsel , and advice ; what an example as the head of a family and great household did he set us . To hear him read the lessons in Lathom Chapel or to hear him read the famil y prayers in the great hall of Lathom House helped one to realise the great truth of the priesthood of the people .

What a model as a loving and devoted husband and father , deeply loved in return by every member of his family , did he exhibit , and as a friend how kind , how friendly , ^ always the same , yet with all his kindliness of manner and lovable disposition there was always that courtly dignity of manner which showed he was a great noble . What an example did he set as a true Christian to all . It was

on October 9 that I preached in Lathom Chapel at the harvest festival , and had the privilege of assisting to administer the Holy Sacrament to Lord Lathom , the last time he probably received it in that place of worship . After the service he showed me the new window he was putting in the chapel to the memory of his dearly-loved wife , whose sad death by an accident we were lamenting just at this time last year . In the letter which

I received from Lord Lathom , soon after the death of the Countess of Lathom , he said , " I have her bri ght example before me , and can only ttust I may be found worthy to rejoin her hereafter . I . mean to do my duty as _ she would have wished . " And now God has called him away . Lancashire and England are the poorer for his loss , though we know that our loss is his gain , for he has been taken to rejoin the one called away last year in the Paradise of God , " Where they meet to never part again . "

At the close of the service the " Dead March in Saul" was played , the large congregation standing as a mark of respect ; and the flag was fl ying half mast on the church tower .

In Memoriam.

IN MEMORIAM .

RT . WOR . BRO . THE EARL OF LATHOM . Now he obeys the last dread call of all The summons issued from Grand Lodge on High ; Struck by Death's heavy and o'er mastering maul , His Art still taught him how a man should die . His cable tow is snapped and now he ' s free , Free to attend the Master ' s gavel sound ; No mysteries now are hid , for he can see

The deepest depths and highest heights profound . After long search he knows the secrets now ,

The true stern secrets only found when Death With sympathy and sorrow wrings the brow , And stills the heart and stops the gasping breath . O ! Brethren all , when earthly life shall cease Pray for his end—an end of perfect peace I CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D . Bradford .

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