At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

The ancient apron , of which we give a photographic reproduction , belonged to a brother of some distinction as a naval officer , and although we have not been able to trace his Masonic career , other than by the certificate , of which we also g ive a reproduction , we have been favoured by his grandson , the Rev . J . R . Crawford , Rector of Bay ton Thorpe , East Walton , with some particulars of his professional career .

t Bro . John Garritt Fisher Crawford was , it seems , a man of T " parts . " He closed his

pro" . " ;^ f fessional career after much active service and much surveying work in the Indian seas , as Acting Superintendent of the Indian Navy , a rank which placed him at the head of that navy , and gave to his successor ,

on the amalgamation of the Indian with the Royal Navy , the rank of Admiral . He was thanked twice by the Indian Government in Council for his services . One incident is of interest . He , and Sir Stamford Raffles , as the Civil Administrator , annexed the then fishing villages of Singapore , in 1817 ,

a station to take the place of one we had foolishly given over to the Dutch . It was Bro . Crawford who had selected this place , and now , as everyone knows , it is one of the most important stations for our navies and merchantmen in the world , with a population of hundreds of thousands .

IlllO . CUAW'FOIIir . S APItON . On Tuesday the 4 th inst ., a special meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex was held at the Roval Pavilion ,

Brighton , when a resolution was passed in favour of presenting an address of congratulation to the Grand Master , the Duke of Connaught , on the occasion of His Royal Highness's daughter's betrothal . © © ©

We regret to have to record the death since our last issue of V . W . Bro . Major J . Woodall , Past Grand Treasurer . Bro . Woodall had not been in good health for some time , and was about to undergo an operation had he lived a few days

longer . He was a man of literary tastes and of considerable attainments as a linguist . The estimation in which he was held by his brethren may be gathered from the following resolution of sympathy which has been adopted by all the

Scarborough lodges : — " On behalf of the Freemasons of Scarborough we beg to express the deep regret felt at the death of our distinguished and lamented V . W . Bro . J . W . Woodall , Past Grand Treasurer of England , Past

Provincial Grand Warden , etc ., whose great urbanity , liberality , and Masonic zeal have endeared his memory to the Craft generally , and particularly to the brethren of the Order in this town . We desire to convey to the widow and representatives of our deceased brother the

liHO . CHAWFOHII'S APROX ( RKVKRSK ) . expression of our deep sympathy and condolence in this sad dispensation of Divine Providence . " © © © The annual festival of the Emulation Lodge of

Improvement ( founded 1823 ) was held in the Temple of Freemason ' Hall , by special permission on Friday evening , the 24 th February , under the presidency of the Right Worshipful Bro . the Earl of Malmesbury , S . G . W ., supported by about 150 Stewards , including Sir Edward Letchworth , Grand Secretary ,

R . W . Bro . R . Loveland Loveland , P . G . W ., V . W . Bro . Rev . F . B . Norman Lee , P . G . C , V . W . Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton , P . G . Reg ., W . Bro . Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . D ., W . Bro . Sir Bruce M . Seton , Bart ., P . G . D ., etc . The first lecture was worked admirably under the direction of W . Bro . R . Clay Sucllow ,

P . A . G . D . C , as W . M ., with the assistance of W . Bros . Cassall , West , Collins , Bennett , Jenks , Dear and Allsop . During the assembling of the brethren in Grand Lodge , and at the close of the ceremony a varied selection of music was rendered on the organ by W . Bro . Arthur Briscoe , P . P . Grand Organist

( Surrey ) , P . M ., in the unavoidable absence of W . Bro . E . Cutler , K . C , who was unfortunately absent through illness . A large number of brethren were present and the Festival was as usual a great success .