Essex Freemasons At Warwick Castle.

UH 0 . KALL 1 XO KXJOYS A QUIET SJIOKE . lissex ; and it has ahvays been our great desire to receive the brethren of Essex , with Avhom I have been for many years so intimatel y and pleasantly connected , in our old

historic home here . " The Earl then briefly indicated Avhat the visitors ought to see during their stay at Warwick , and , in conclusion , said they OAved the deepest debt of gratitude to their old friend , Bro . T . J . Railing , Prov . Grand Secretary , for liis excellent arrangements , a sentiment which Avas loudly

applauded . The remainder of the afternoon was spent within the precincts of Warwick Castle . But first of all a visit Avas paid to the Beauchamp Chapel at St . Alary ' s Church , where the Earls of Wai'Avick are buried . It is a magnificent pile . The

pillars , arches , and roof are beautifull y sculptured , and the arms and crest of the house of Warwick , cunningly carved in stone , meet the eye at every turning . In the east is a " storied AvindoAV , richly dight , casting a dim religious light " on the marble tombs of the Beauchamps , surmounted by the mail-clad recumbent figures of ancestors of the present Earl .

ESSEX FREEMASONS STORMING WARWICK CASTI . E .

Here reposes the great Richard Beauchamp , AVIIO built the chapel over 400 years ago , and here also lies the dust of the famous Robert Dudley , Earl of Leycester . It would , of course , be impossible to describe Wanvick Castle and its treasures within the compass of a single article .

The castle itself , toAvering 150 feet above the River Avon , Avhieh laves its A \ -alls , has been rendered as familiar to the public by sketches and photographs as the ToAver of London . Still , nobody who visited Wanvick could fail to be delighted with the ancient stronghold Avhich dominates the toAvn , some

of Avhose masters have made English history . A portion of the castle is modern , and has been furnished Avith consummate taste . The great hall , containing splendid specimens of sixteenth century armour , and Aveapons of different periods , excited admiration , as also did the red

drawing-room , the dining-room , the library , the armoury , and other apartments , adorned with priceless pictures and ornaments . But Avhat impresses one most about Wanvick Castle is the old-world charm of the place . There are the grey tcnvers and lofty battlements surrounding the spacious

courtyard , looking the same as they did in the clays of " the King Alaker , " stive for Avhat change summer suns and Avinter frosts have wrought during centuries on the massive Avails . There

IX THE CASTLE GROUNDS . . also , is the ancient gateway under which you enter , with its portcullis , which is lowered nightly as in feudal clays . And if after climbing patiently up the winding stair to the

battlements on Guy ' s Tower , or descending into the dungeons beneath Cesar's ToAver , you could forget that you have been Avhirled from London in an express train , it Avould not be difficult to fancy yourself back in the sixteenth century— -for such an illusion is possible beneath the SIKICIOAV of these old

Avails , which marked the rise of feudalism , Avitnessed its pomp of pageantry and pride of power , and have survived its decline and fall . By six o ' clock most of the brethren and their lady friends had taken their departure from the castle . A special train

conveyed a number back to Paddington on Saturday evening , but many stayed on at Leamington . On Sunday these Avere driven to Kenihvorth to see the castle ruins , returning b y Avay of Stoneleigh Abbey and Guy's Cliffe . On Afonday , after breakfast , a pilgrimage Avas made to Stratford-on-Avon to visit

Shakespeare's house and other objects of interest in the vicinity . Later in the day a special train brought the excursionists to London , and thus concluded one of the pleasantest holidays that those who took part in it were ever privileged to enjoy .