At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar

'We are glad to see that the South African Masonic Relief Fund is still being supported by contributions chiefly , we notice , from abroad , the home lodges having , no doubt , almost all contributed their quota by this time . Although r . o reports have lately reached us , we hear that the condition of the loyal brethren in the various districts affected must still 1 e

in urgent need of assistance as , although actual warfare is being conducted on a smaller scale , the country is almost as unsafe for peaceable operations as at the beginning of the trouble . We are pleased to notice that Bro . T . L . Wilkinson ,

P . Dep . G . Reg ., is the author of a work designed to assist us in the understanding of the working of the new Act relating to Companies , which has come into force this year .

The installation meeting of the Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge , No . 23 62 , took place at the head-quarters of the corps from which the lodge takes its name . The officers' mess room is . always placed at the disposal of the lodge , and forms a very suitable and convenient meeting place . On this occasion the

principal ceremony was preceded by an initiation , and the new Master was installed by the I . P . M ., Bro . George Jackson Crow . At the subsequent banquet , which was attended by a very large number of visitors , the proceedings were of an interesting character , and the number of brethren present ,

representing many branches of the service , in their varied uniforms made a picturesque scene . Bro . W . A . Scurrah , P . G . Std . Br ., replied to the toast of "The Grand Officers , " and congratulated the W . M . on having returned from Australia restored to health after a serious illness . The

W . M ., in replying to the toast of his health , acknowledged . gratefully the kindness of the brethren in having kept his -office open for him , revealing as it did the finest principles of Freemasonry in real and active operation . He also maintained that the comradeship of arms had a tendency towards

a brotherhood similar to the Craft , as demonstrated by the hearty welcome given in the same hall shortly before to their ¦ contingent of the C . I . V . 's on their return from South Africa .

HHO . C . K . CIMIKKT , W . M . HI . OO . MKHUKV Hlt'I . KS 1 . 0 IKSK .

We regret to record the death , on the 30 th December , of Bro . C . J . Axford , at his residence at Streatham , after a severe illness . Bro . Axford was generally esteemed and respected in the Masonic circles in which he moved . He was a P . M . of the following lodges : —The Brixton , Xo . 1 949 ; the Henry

Levander , Xo . 2048 ; and P . M . and Founder of the Alleyn Lodge , Xo . 26 47 . He was also a P . Z . of the Hiram Royal Arch Chapter , Xo . 2416 , as well as a member of the Ark Mariners and other Degrees .

HHO . C . J . AXFOHI ) .

The engagement of the moment , writes "T . P . " in M . A . I ., is that of Miss Myra Orde Powlett , only living daughter of Lord and Lady Bolton , to Lord Exeter . Bro . Lord Bolton , it may be interesting to note , is a Past Grand Warden , and a cousin of the bride elect is Viscount Milton , who was Senior Grand Warden in 18 99 .

We take the liberty of quoting an anecdote from the same contemporary of Bro . Sir John And , Bart ., M . P ., who , as our readers well know , is the head of the firm of Aircl and Sons . A large contract having been obtained by the firm over many

rivals , the official who had accepted it , met one of them who asked him privately if he thought Mr . Aircl could possibly carry the undertaking through . " Sir , said the other , Aird's contract is as good as his work , and that ' s the best in England , and I am sorry that I must honestly tell you so . " » * &

At the installation meeting of the Lodge of Unity , Xo . 797 , on the register of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , at George Town , British Guano , on the 12 th December , Bro . Charles Benjamin Wade was presented with a Past Master's gold jewel , richly chased , with the insciption : — " Presented to

Bro . Wade , P . M ., by the Brethren of Unity Lodge , Xo . 797 in token of past services . " Bro . Wade is a member of the Prince of Wales Lodge , Renfrew , Scotland , and was one of the founders of the Lodge of Unity . «' . ¦& < S >

The Royal Lebanon Lodge , Xo . 493 , Gloucester , held a most successful "Ladies Evening" on the nth Januaryquite a new departure for this ancient lodge . The W . M ., Bro . Brendan , accompanied by his wife , received the brethren and guests , and after fraternal and sisterly greetings , the

company adjourned to the banqueting room , the tables of which were very tastefully laid out and decorated . A concert afterwards took place in the lodge room .