Bro. G. W. Speth, P.A.G.D.C.

There is no man that can justly claim to be indispensable to thi- fulfilment of any , even the least exacting , duty , and it follows that not even the greatest loss that can befal a man or Society of men can be justl y described as irreparable . But it

is our firm belief that b y the death of our Bro . SpgTH , the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , has gone as near experiencing an irreparable loss as any Society that has had occasion to lament the death of one who has been the very centre

and mainspring of its being throughout the whole , of its existence . Among the members of this lodge are men of the greatest learning and ability , men skilled in every way to inquire into , and , if solution is possible , to solve the most

difficult of Masonic problems . There are , too , among them men of large and varied official experience , and possessing those numerous attributes which are needed to constitute the

practised official who never fails in any of his multifarious duties . Yet we question if among those men of scholarly attainments and great experience , there is one who is qualified at the

moment to undertake duties , which would have seriously taxed the mental and p hysical powers of the strongest man , but which were discharged b y our late brother with the utmost ease , and as though it were the great pleasure of his life to bear the

strain . For a time , at all events , the p lace that knows Bro . SPETH no longer , will not know his equal , and it is because wc realise that in the literary circle of which he was in great measure the centre , it will be difficult to find a successor , that we sympathise so full y with the members of our great literary lodge .

The funeral took place at Bromley Cemetery on Wednesday , the 24 th inst ., when , besides the family—with whom we most deepl y sympathise in their terrible bereavement—there was a numerous gathering of brethren desirous of paying a last tribute of respect to departed worth .

The following from Bro . W . J . HUGHAN , P . G . D ., and Bro . J . RAMSDEN RiLEY bear testimony to the strength of the feelings with which our late Bro . SPETH was regarded by those who have known him longest and most intimately , while those

who desire to learn the details of his Masonic career will find them in the reprint at page 225 of what was published in the Freemason of 2 nd May , 1896 , on his appointment to the brevet rank of P . A . G . D . C .

It is with a very sad heart that 1 have to announce the sudden death , on Friday ni g ht , the 19 th instant , of the beloved and esteemed Bro . GEORGE WILLIAM SPETH , P . M . 103 , P . A . G . D . of C . England , the Secretary of the " Quatuor Coronati " Lodge , No . 2076 , London from its Constitution , and Editor of our Proceedings and Reprints .

It will come as a terrible blow to very many of the Fraternity connected with our Lodge b y the "Correspondence Circle "

Bro. G. W. Speth, P.A.G.D.C.

scattered throughout the world , but to none so much—save his own Famil y Circle—as to the few of us who have worked with him most intimatel y for many years , and who have long known and appreciated his great worth and conspicuous abilities .

Our loss is great ; but just now wc feel all else is lost si ght of in remembrance of his dear ones left behind , of whom we think with sincere- and heartfelt sympathy , and the tenderest of feeling . W . J . HUGHAN .

In Memoriam.

IN MEMORIAM .

G . W . SPETH , On . igrir APRIL , 1901 .

The night-wind passed , —the leaf , ' ere yet full age Fell , to be numbered on a brighter page . Whoe ' er hath known Speth ' s gentle , honest heart ,

Knows best the wrench I rom such a friend to part . . True Friend ! true Mason ! say thou yoa who can , / tfU / w UP , What more may mortal be ? He was true Man ! 0

What more could earthly pilgrimage attain 1 Death is but sleep , tho' dew'd with tears of men , Thc closing of a volume to be oped again . Great llio' our loss , there ' s comfort in his gain . J . R . R .

Grand Festival.

GRAND FESTIVAL .

The annual Grand Festival of English freemasons was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Tavern , London , but preceding that festival Grand Lodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , for the purpose of declaring the Most Worshipful Grand Master installed and having the Grand Officers of the year appointed and invested . Earl Amherst , M . W . Pro Grand Master , presided , Col . Lyne acted as Deputy Grand Master , Bro . G . Richards

District Grand Master of the Transvaal , as Past G . M ., and there were also present Bros . Hamon le Strange , Prov . G . M . Norfolk ; the Hon . James Hozier . Grand Master of Scotland ; the Lord Mayor of London , Mold , D . G . M . Argentine Republic ; Sir J . Dimsdale , P . G . T . ; George Everett , P . G . T . ; S . Cochrane , P . G . T . ; Robt . Grey , P . G . W . ; J . L . Thomas , James Stephens , P . D . G . D . C ; J . H . Matthews , Henry Smith , P . G . D . ; W . F .

Smithson , P . G . D . ; Rev . H . A . Hebb , F . R . W . Hedges , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . I . G . ; Imre Kiralfy , Lennox Browne , P . D . G . Director of Ceremonies ; Col . Fitzroy Tower , T . L . Wilkinson , P . D . G . Reg . ; R . Loveland Loveland , K . C . ; John Strachan , K . C ., G . Reg . ; E . Beaumont , D . G . Reg . ; J . A . Farnfield , and Dr . V . Kiallmark . Grand Lodge was crowded .

Bro . Viscount Templetown v as S . G . W ., Bro . Sir J . B . Monckton acted as J . G . W ., and Bro . Frank Richardson as G . D . C , for Sir Albert \ V , Woods . Grand Lodge having been opened in ample form , the G . Secretary , Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , read the minutes of the March Quarterly Communication , so far as they related to the election of the M . W . Grand Matter and Grand Treasurer , and these minutes were put by Earl Amherst and confirmed .

Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON then proclaimed the Duke of Connaught as duly installed M . W . Grand Master . He then called on the brethren to salute the Hon . James Hosier , Grand Master Mason of Scotland , which they accordingly did . The Hon . J AMES HOZIER rose and came forward to the front of the

dais and said : M . W . Pro Grand Master and brethren all , I thank you , on my own behalf , in the first place , for the very great kindness and cordiality of your greeting , and , in the second place , I take leave , on behalf of the 100 , 000 Masons holding under the Scottish Constitution at home , in India , in the Colonies , and foreign parts , to thank you for the heartiness of your greeting . ( Cheers . )

Earl AMHERST next announced that the M . W . G . M . had been pleased to appoint him Pro Grand Master . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON proclaimed his lordship , ar . d the Pro G . M . was saluted as such .

Earl AMHERST : Brethren , I greet you well . His lordship then said that the M . W . G . M . had been graciously pleased to appoint the Earl ol Warwick Deputy Grand Master , and Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON proclaimed him . His Lordship next invested the following Grand Oflicers :

Bro . Viscount Templetown ... ... ... S . G . W . „ K . S . W . Cornwallis ... ... ... J . G . W . „ Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart . ... ) r n . « -i ^ : « ., Rev . W . C . R . Bedford j G . Chaplains .

,, Horace Brooks Marshall ... ... G . Treasurer . ,, lohn Strachan , K . C . ... ... ... G . Registrar . „ j . V . Vesey Fitzgerald , K . C . ... ,.. Dep . G . Registrar . „ E . Letchworth , F . S . A . ,., ... ... G . Sec . ,, Edmund Pontifex ... ... ... " ) ,, F . Woodhouse Braine ... ... ... [ S . G . Deacons .

,, Lol . Charles Kobert Lyne ... ... J „ C . D . Cheetham ... ... ... " } „ T . Taylor ... ... ... ... [ J . G . Deacons . ,, P . Scratchley ... ... ...J „ Henry L . Florence ... ... ... G . Supt . of Works „ Sir Albert W . Woods ( Garter ) , K . C . B . } n n „ K . C . M . G . ... ... _ G . D . of C .

,, Frank Richardson ( acting ) ... ... G . D . of C . „ E . Roehrich ... ... ... Dep . G . D . C . „ W . A . Hart ... ... .. A ,, John Stocker ... ... ... C Asst . G . D . Cs . ,, W . A . Dawson ... ... ... ) „ Col . C . M . Molony , C . B . ( late R . Artillery ) ... G . S . B . „ Lieut .-Col . G . W . Dixon ... ,., Dep . G . S . B .