At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

candidates for the mysteries and privileges of the Order , the ceremony , which should be a decorous and solemn one , is necessarily robbed of all solemnity and impressiveness by such an indiscriminate and wholesale addition to the ranks of the Order . * _!» ' . > ©

In a piquant new book , " Society under the New Reign , " the author says : — " If Sir Edward Letchworth be an organiser for the craft ( Freemasonry ) in society , a noticeable populariser of it is to be found in one whose dark , imposing figure , worthy of a Venetian Doge , is seldom missed from its

most important functions . Pageants and ceremonies of that sort have become part of the life of shrewd , genial , versatile , and energetic J . C . Parkinson . In early youth the discipline of Somerset House taught him habits of business and methods of routine ; under the greatest master of literary technique , as well as of fiction , whom the last century produced—Charles

BRO . J . C . PARKINSON . Dickens—he graduated in journalism ; marriage made him the son-in-law of Sir George Elliot—a name historic from its associations with the Atlantic cable—and gave a new turn to

his pliant energies . Capitalist , territorialist , and public diner , he combines with business aptitudes tastes which have made him a considerable traveller . During his tours he has acquired property and picturesque costumes in several parts of the world , notably in Austria-Hungary , where he has a vineyard , and is a naturalised grandee privileged to wear , on State occasions , a costume indescribably superb . "

© © © The stories that have gathered round the late Dean Hole , of whom a biographical notice will be found on another page , are legion . He used to say that many of them had been told about his predecessor , Dr . Scott , and passed on

with the Deanery ; the following , however , may be accepted as the Dean ' s own : — "An extraordinarily corpulent clergyman at a City dinner , being called upon to return thanks as a Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England , began , ' Attached as I have been for so many years to this great

corporation . ' His proem induced a perplexity among his audience which was very painful . They wished to laugh , but durst not , there was a battle between mirth and manners . At last , happily , the gentleman uttered a feeble joke , which was regarded as an outlet . The reservoir burst , and that man never before knew what a breadth of humour he hadlarger even than his breadth of person . "

Another favourite story with the Dean , who maintained well into his eighties the high spirits of an Oxford undergraduate , was one which illustrates how the demon of universal drunkenness haunts the imaginations of those who have to do with drunken persons— " One of the saintliest

bishops on the Bench was sitting one afternoon in a public park , and got into conversation with a little maid of about six . After ten minutes of the childish prattle the benign old gentleman said , ' Now , my dear , I must be going . But you must help me to rise from this seat . I am afraid you will

find me very heavy . ' ' Oh , that's all right , ' responded the little girl , with cheerful confidence ; ' you ain't ' alf as drunk as wot father often is . ' "

A special gathering of Freemasons attending the forthcoming Church Congress at Liverpool will be held at Liverpool on Wednesday , October 5 th , and will be followed by a banquetover which the Earl of Lathom , Provincial

, Grand Master for West Lancashire , will preside . It may be recalled that the Lancashire Freemasons have undertaken to build the Chapter House of the new Liverpool Cathedral at a cost of ^ 10 , 000 . The gathering on October 5 thwhich is quite unique in connection with the Church

, Congress , has no direct connection with the Chapter House Fund , but has been arranged in order to give an opportunity for a meeting of members of the Craft attending th & Congress from all parts of the country .

© © © The installation , for the sixth year in succession , of M . WBro . J . C . Remington as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales took place at Sydney last month in the presence of about 3000 brethren of the Craft , including

his-Excellency the Governor , R . W . Bro . Sir Harry Rawson . Past Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of England , and a number of distinguished Freemasons from the various States . On behalf of the 19 8 lodges in the State , Sir Harry Rawson presented the Grand Master with an illuminated address and

a portrait of himself , painted in oils , accompanied by a diamond tiara for Mrs . Remington . During his address ,, the Grand Master gave some interesting statistics with reference to the progress of Freemasonry in the territory ,. and these were supplemented by facts and figures quoted

by his Excellency . Anthems were rendered by a Masonic choir of 200 voices , and the proceedings were marked by much enthusiasm .

© © © In celebration of the golden wedding of Comp . Joshua . Hocken , P . Z ., the members of St . John ' s Chapter , Liverpool , subscribed to a beautiful testimonial which was presented tothe venerable member at the usual meeting in August . The

presentation took the form of a large size massive gold inkstand , complete with a solid gold desk pen . The inkstand was of special design , having a heavy rail at back and sidesof entirely hand-saw pierced tracery , with a gadroon border . The gold mounts of the two cut crystal bottles bore the

monogram of Comp . and Mrs . Hocken respectively , and on the stand was suitably engraved the inscription : — " Presented to Companion Joshua Hocken , P . Z ., P . P . G . D . C ., and to Mrs . Hocken by the Principals , Past Principals , and Companions of St . John ' s Chapter , No . 673 , on the occasion of the celebration of their golden wedding . August 8 , 1904 . "

© © © Bro . Wilson Frederick , of Plainfield , who was almost scalded to death in the wreck on the Jersey Central Railroad at Graceland in January , 1903 , has had his life saved by the brethren of his lodge . When the brethren heard of his

plight they volunteered to furnish skin for grafting purposes . Night after night they bared their arms at the Muhlenberg Hospital and had pieces of skin removed . This process was continued for nearly a year with complete success . On the 14 th of July last Bro . Frederick attended his lodge tothank the brethren for the sacrifice they had made for him .