At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

Coronation , as being most appropriate , for it indicated the kindly feelings which existed between their two great countries , showing as it did that they recognised the fact that the great Washington , even when arrayed against Britain , maintained those proper feelings towards the Masonic Craft which would appeal to them all ; he drew attention to

the fact that on two occasions the Bible on which he took the Masonic obligation had been captured by the American forces and returned with clue Masonic honours , and was now in possession of the 46 th Regiment .

© © © The admirable acldress of Mr . Choate on unveiling the portrait was that of a polished and cultured speaker . Although not a member of the Ancient Order , he said he could not decline the invitation of Lord Warwick to attend

the presentation of that fine portrait of George Washington to the Grand Lodge of England . He congratulated the Grand Lodge , of which his Majesty was for so many years Grand Master , and in which office he had been succeeded by H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , and on whose roll appeared

the names of so many of the great men of England , on becoming the fortunate possessor of so fine a portrait of that illustrious champion of liberty and justice , about whom among all who speak the English tongue there was no doubt or dissent . After an eleoquent appreciation of the character

and career of the great patriot and statesman , he concluded by congratulating the Grand Lodge of England on thus accepting George Washington as one of their patron saints , and he trusted that his memory would be cherished in England , as in America , to the end of time .

«•¦ «> © The proceedings closed by a vote of thanks , proposed by Bro . Passmore Edwards , to the donor , Bro . Wellcome , who , in his reply , referred to the infinite trouble which the artist had taken in obtaining an authentic reproduction of the

regalia of Freemasonry as it existed in Washington ' s clays . The artist , he said , had gone so far as to obtain his replica from the actual Masonic clothing which Washington wore .

© ¦& < 5 > Hampshire and the Isle of Wight brethren have no reason to complain of inactivity on the part of their new Provincial Grand Master , the Right Worshipful Bro . Sir Augustus Webster , Bart . A week or two since , supplementing many

other visits of a similar kind , he was present at the Lodge of Peace and Harmony at Southampton , on the following clay he presided at the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at Andover , and on the next clay , at Brighton , he installed the Earl of March as Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , in succession to the present Grand Master , the Duke of Connaught .

* © < 5 » Of the many noteworthy functions at which R . W . Bro . Viscount Kitchener has attended since his triumphant arrival in this country , not the least interesting has been that of the meeting of the Welbeck Tenants Agricultural Society , at which

our distinguished brother was the guest of the Provincial Grand Master for Nottinghamshire , His Grace the Duke of Portland . Bro . Lord Kitchener eulogised on the occasion the services of His Grace to the Army during the War in connection with the Portland Hospital , as well as those of Lord and Lady Charles Bentinck and Lord and Lady Henry Bentinck .

© * © An amusing incident , states a contempory , was recently witnessed at Waterloo Station , when a body of Indian troops were leaving on the first stage of their long journey to the East . One of the number , attracted by the splendid coloured

plate of Madame Coronation Souvenir , showed it to his fellows , with the result that in two or three minutes they bought up every copy on the bookstall . The plate in question , it is interesting to observe , was an excellent reproduction of a portrait of His Majesty the King in Masonic regalia , entitled "The King as a Freemason . "

R . W . Bro . Sir Frederick Milner , M . P ., will have no more sincere sympathisers than the members of our Order in the sad bereavement which has befallenhim in the death of his wife . It will be remembered that our distinguished brother was appointed Past Grand Warden at the installation of the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master . The following

account of his interesting personality from the columns of a popular contemporary is not uninteresting : — " Sir Frederick is a born political fighter , and despite a slight deafness , which is sometimes inconvenient to both hearer and speaker in a public meeting , he has a wonderful power of grasping a

point , enlarging on it and thrusting it home in the way that seems best suited to his argument . His well-knit frame , commanding figure , handsome features , and military moustache , all contribute to his line presence on the platform . York people have a strong admiration for him ,

though they kept him as their Member only two years after he first entered Parliament in 1883 . In 1890 , on the death of his father-in-law , Mr . William Beckett , he was elected Member for the Bassetlaw division of Notts , the constituency which he still represents in the House of Commons . "

© © < o The King ' s gracious announcement some time since of his intention to visit Southwark will give pleasure to all South London Freemasons , who will not miss this opportunity of presenting to His Majesty the loyal address which had been prepared for him before the sad postponement of his Coronation .

© © © R . W . Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , M . P ., whose familiar figure is inevitably becoming less prominent on the political horizon , has been the Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire for the past twenty-two years . Our distinguished brother followed in the footsteps of another

eminent Mason and relative , the late lamented R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., when he became the Father of the House of Commons .

© © * s > It is our sad duty to have to record , since the appearance of our last issue , a further augmentation of the obituary list of Grand Officers , by the death of Bro . Dr . George Mickley , Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies ; Bro . the Rev . William Wliittley , Past Grand Deacon ; and Bro .

Frederick Mead , Past Grand Deacon . It was to London Masonry that each of these brethren had devoted their energies , although Bro . Whittley was a well-known and active member of the Craft in Devon before his removal to London . The news of their decease will be received with no little regret in Metropolitan Masonic circles .

© © © The lately installed Provincial Grand Master for Sussex , R . W . Bro . the Earl of March and Darnley , has recently been appointed Lord-Lieutentant for Elgin and Nairn in succession to the Duke of Fife , who has vacated that position .

© © © Sir W . J . Soulsby whose recent knighthood was not the least well-deserved of the Coronation honours , has been relating in the columns of a contemporary some reminiscences of his early career . It is not generally known that before Sir William occupied the position he has so long and

faithfully held as Private Secretary at the Mansion House , he was a journalist on the staff of one of the great London dailies . His acquaintance with civic life may be said to have commenced with his reporting experience at the Old Bailey , where he afterwards for some time practiced as a barrister .

© © < g > The splendid service provided for the Londoner of nautical proclivities by the New Palace Steamers is now , with the improving weather prospects , taken advantage of very fully , and few more enjoyable trips could be imagined than those to Boulogne , Ostend , and Calais , and , for the less

adventurous , to Margate , to which place the popular "Husband's Boat" continues to convey large numbers for the week-end and family re-union .