Funeral Of The Late Bro. Kirby

such a life . Then followed the subdued singing of that beautiful funeral hymn with the refrain at the end of each stanza , " Father , in thy gracious keeping , leave we now thy servant sleeping . " During the singing of this hymn , at the most solemn part of this most solemn service , and in the hushed stillness of the great crowded church , intensified , rather than broken , by the sweet voices of the choir boys and the gentle cadence of the organ , came the touching rite of the Masonic fraternity . The right central row of pews was reserved for Freemasons , and they slowly filed out , passed round the coffin , each at the same time reverently placing their sprig of acacia on its lid .

Then followed the slow procession down the aisle , to the mournful and soulstirring accompaniment of the " Dead March . " A great wave of sympathy welled up in every heart as the widow , pale to the lips , and with bowed head , but brave face , passed slowly down the aisle leaning on the arm of Bro . Wellcome . The funeral cortege next proceeded to Paddington , where a special carriage had been reserved for those mourners proceeding to High Wycombe , where the remains were to be interred . At Paddington , it became possible to see what a vast number of wreaths had been sent as tributes of respect to the memory of this faithful husband , friend , and colleague .

Amongst those from Masonic friends and lodges may be mentioned the following : From the W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Eastes Lodge , No . 1965 ; " A tribute to their late Secretary . " From the Companions of the Royal Middlesex Chapter ; "A tribute to their First Principal . " From the W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 3 ; " Fidelity exemplified . " From

the W . M ., Officers , and Brethren of the Columbia Lodge , No . 2397 ; " Virtue , Honor , and Mercy distinguished him . " From the Clarence Lodge of Instruction . From the Brethren of the Cheerybles Lodge , No . 2466 . From Bros . Henry S . Wellcome , " True to the trust reposed in him ; " R . C . Sudlow , " In loving memory of a true friend , " G . L . Kennaby , J . W . Drysdale , Alison Lister , Col . Gardner , F . T . Rushton , and W . P . Fuller .

Bro . Kirby was initiated in the Eastes Lodge , No . 1965 , Bromley , in May , 1886 , and , after passing through the various offices , was installed W . M . in May , 1891 . On Bro . Kennaby ' s resignation of the Secretaryship of the lodge in 1893 , Bro . Kirby accepted the position , and carried out the duties appertaining to the office up to the time of his death with the thoroughness which characterised

everything he undertook . At the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent Bro . Kirby was appointed a Grand Steward , and would , in all probability , have received the purple in the province next year . In Royal Arch Masonry , Bro . Kirby occupied the chair of First Principal of the Royal Middlesex Chapter , No . 1104 , Hampton Court , in which chapter he was exalted in May , 1888 .

From the day of his initiation our late brother took a deep interest in the teachings of Masonry , and applied himself with the zeal which distinguished him to the study of the ritual and iectures . He was constant in his attendance at the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , and never seemed so happy as when taking part in the work of that lodge . But it is in connection with the Clarence Lodge of Instruction that Bro . Kirby was most widely known . When this lodge was formed some few years ago Bro . Kirby was unanimously chosen by the Committee as the first Preceptor—a position which , on account of his intimate and accurate

knowledge of the ritual , and his unfailing courtesy and patience , he was eminently adapted to fill with success . Under his able Preceptorship the Clarence Lodge of Instruction soon became a favourite " school" of Masonry , and took prominent rank amongst lodges teaching the " Emulation " system , nor is there the slightest doubt that it is to him and the exertions he made on its behalf this lodge of instruction is mainly indebted for the prestige it has won . Indeed , there was no office which Bro . Kirby ever filled that he did not adorn , and' for years to come his memory will be held dear by his brother Masons .

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

® ur portrait ( Ballerp of Worsfefpful fll > aster $

BRO . WILLIAM DAVIDSON , Bro . Davidson vacates the chair to-day ( Friday ) of De Ogle Lodge , No . C 36 , Morpeth , in which he was initiated in the year 1863 . He was elected to the chair of W . M . in 1866 and , in the same year , appointed to the office of P . J . G . D . by Bro . Rev . E . C . Ogle , then Prov . Grand Master of Northumberland . In 1886 he again

filled the chair of W . M . and was appointed P . S . G . W . b y Bro . Sir Matthew White Ridley , Prov . Grand Master of Northumberland . During his second Mastershi p Bro . Davidson celebrated his silver wedding and the brethren took advantage of the occasion to present him with a jubilee jewel and an illuminated address . For years , when not in the chair , Bro . Davidson acted as D . C . During his present Mastership the brethren , as recorded in our issue of September 14 th , presented

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

him with a P . S . G . W s . jewel . Bro . Davidson has been a member of St . Cuthbert ' s Lodge , Bedlington , from its foundation . He has held several offices in St . Peter ' s Chapter , No . 4 81 , was a founder and first Z of Da Percy Chapter , No . 6 36 . He is Secretary of the Northumberland and Berwick Mark Lodge ( T . I . ) , and J . D . of Northumberland and Berwick Lodge ( T . I . ) of Royal Ark Mariners . He is the T . I . M . of the Royal Kent Council of the Cryptic Degrees , and J . D . of th- ; Royal Kent Council of the Allied Degrees . He also holds the office of High Prelate in the

Royal Kent Conclave of Knights of Rome and Red Cross of Constantine , K . H . S . and K . S . J . 152 . He is Secretary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland for Northumberland , Durham and Cumberland . He is Registrar of the Royal Kent Preceptory of Knights Templar and of the Royal Kent Priory of the Knights of Malta . He holds office in the Royal Kent Rose Croix Chapter , No . 8 . He is Secretary of the Newcastle College of the S . R . I . A and Provincial Secretary of the Province of Northumberland and Durham in the

same Order . He is also local Secretary for Northumberland of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 . He was for 17 years Second Master of Morpeth Grammar School of King Edward the Sixth , and from January , i 83 o , has been Head Master of the same school . During the latter period a new school has been erected to accommodate the increasing numbers , and plans and specifications for further additions in the shape of laboratories have been approved by ths Governors oi the school . Bro . Davidson is a B . A . of the University of London , having , at his Matriculation Examination , been placed first in the list of honours .

BRO . CHARLES HENRY ELLIS , W . M . 2321 . Bro . Charles Henry Ellis was installed W . M . of Lodge Acacia , No . 2321 , meeting at the Masonic Hall , Bradford , in October last . He was initiated in the Airedale Lodge , No . 387 , at Shipley , Yorks , on aist February , 1883 , and when Lodge Acacia , No . 2321 , was consecrated in September , i 88 g , Bro . C . H . Ellis , was the first joining member elected , having become a member ot the lodge on

the 14 th November , 1889 . He served the offices of S . D ., S . W ., and Treasurer of the lodge with much credit , and was , by the unanimous vote of the lodge , elected W . M . in September last . Although Bro . Ellis has had but few opportunities of working the ceremonies or conferring the Degrees thus far during his year of office , he nevertheless exhibited his ability in this respect at the recent meeting of the lodge by initiating a candidate in a very satisfactory manner . During his

year Bro . Ellis has succeeded well in maintaining the hospitable character of the lodge for entertaining visitors , as a number of brethren from other lodges have usually been present at each monthly meeting , nor has he been unmindful of the best interests of the lodge in another direction , for on several occasions when there has been no particular business before the lodge he ( the W . M . ) has provided

Masonic lectures or papers on subjects of interest to the Craft , which have been appreciated by the brethren , and when he yields up the gavel in due course to his successor he will have the satisfaction of having had a very pleasant year of office . Bro . Ellis was exalted into Royal Arch Masonry in the Chapter ol Charity attached to the Lodge of Hope , No . 302 , on the 13 th February , 1894 .

The Bishop Of Charleston And Freemasonry.

THE BISHOP OF CHARLESTON AND FREEMASONRY .

The Right Rev . Dr . Northrop , Bishop of Charleston , South Carolina , U . S . A ., recently informed a correspondent of the Catholic Times that , in his op inion , there is no truth whatever in the sensational accounts about devil-worship ' magnificent Masonic temple in Charleston . Bishop Northrop has lived 50 years in Charleston , is personally acquainted with all the leading Freemasons there , and has been in the Masonic hall , which in no particular answers to the

description published in numbers of newspapers . His lordship considers that Catholics * who are themselves the victims of so many calumnies , should be especially careful not to spread falsehood about others ; and gave our correspondent , who is '" Liverpool , permission to publish what he said . Monsignor Quigley , the Vicar-General of the diocese , also expressed his complete disbelief of the stories about devil-worship by Masons in so far as Charleston is concerned . Catholic Times-