Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

YORKSHIRE ( WEST . ) BEADEOED . —Conclave of Faith ( No . 29 . )—A meeting ofthe above encampment ivas held on Monday evening , February 3 , at the rooms of the Lodge of Hope , at which there ivere present Henry Smith , E . C . ; Thomas Hill , P . E . C . ; H . Butterworth , Registrar ; John Garnet , E . ; J . B . Lawrence , and others . Apologies from Sir Knight AVm . Gathand others

, , were received ; several candidates ivere prevented attending on account of other engagements . The previous minutes were read and confirmed , and other necessary business disposed of , when practice ivas conducted up to the close of the evening . Thg " Registrar was ordered to procure forms from the Grand Conclave of England , in order to have the necessary returns made , as Avell as to the Provincial Encampment .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

SotrTHWAEK LODGE ( No . 11 , S . C . )—This prosperous and excellent lodge met on Monday , February Srd , at Bro . Stevens's , Royal Oak Tavern , High-street , Deptford , Kent . The lodge was opened in due form by the R . W . M . Bro . R . Slade , assisted by his Officers , Stevens , AValters , Stahr , and AVeir . There were five brethren in attendance for the honor of being advanced to the Mark Master's Degree , viz : —Pembroke , Collington ,

Abrahams , J . R . Stevens , Junr ., and Moore , who were in a most impressive manner advanced in due form . This being the first night the R . AV . M . has had the opportunity of meeting the Brethren since his Installation , they , through their P . M . Dr . Dixon , expressed their entire satisfaction and awarded him their thanks for the very efficient manner he had performed his duties . He gave the legend himself and instructed the brethren in the use of the Masonic Alphabet . It is seldom our

lot to Avitness any ceremony better performed than the advancements were on this occasion . The R . AV . M . has commenced his year of office under very favourable auspices . Dr . Dixon , P . M ., by the R . W . M ' s . commands , invested the iemainder of the Officers with their respective collars , the offices having been purposely left open for this meeting . The Officers for the ensuing year are J . Thomas , S . AV . ; F . Walters , J . AV . ; Lennard , M . O . ; H . A . CollingtonS . O . ; J . H . PembrokeJOLowenstarkC

, , .. ; , ; Milling , [ S . D . ; Stahr , J . D . ; "White , T . K ., and Aldhouse , Tyler . Visitors , J . AV . Weir , P . M ., 25 , and several other brethren . The brethren then adjourned to an excellent Banquet , prepared in Bro . Stevens's well known superior style , which elicited the universal praise of the brethren . After spending a happy evening , the brethren separated , highly gratified at such an agreeable re-union . This was the first meeting of a Mark

Lodge in Depford , and there is every prospect of its being firmly established in the town , as there are numerous applications of candidates who are anxious to be advanced . This will now make the second lodge added to Deptford since last June , and we hear it rumoured there Avill be an early application for a chapter warrant , which we hope will be attended with success . It is very gratifying to see Masonry rising and flourishing so rapidly in Depford .

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

BEO . ADAMS ' S BALL . —AVe Avould remind the brethren that our respected Bro . T . A . Adams , G . Purst , holds his annual ball at Willis's Booms , on Monday next , when we are sure those brethren Avho honour him with their company will have themselves only to blame if they do not pass a happy evening . OLD CONCOED LODGE ( No . 201 . )—The annual ball of this lodge look place at the Queen ' s Conceit Rooms ,

Hanoversquare , on Thursday the 30 th January , and as usual , Avas attended by a numerous and elegant company , the officers of the lodge and many of the visitors appearing in their collars and jewels . Alter the first part of the programme had been gone through , upwards of 300 ladies and gentlemen sat doivn to y very excellent supper , which Avas „ Avell served b y Mr . Withers , the wines , Avhich were of superior quality , being supplied hy Bro . Dixson , a member of the lodge and one of the

Masonic Festivities.

Stewards . Bro . H . A . Taylor ( also a member of the lod ^ e ) officiated as Master of the Ceremonies , and performed his duties in a very efficient manner , and Bro . Bradley ' s Band of twenty performers was very much admired , and gave great satisfaction . The Board of Stewards , consisting of Bros . Waters ( President ) , Swainston , Davis , Corben , Green , G . Watson , Dixson , Mogenie , Perkins , Stannard , Cronin , Mansfield , with Bro . EmmensHon . Seccarried out all the arrangements

, , admirably . AVe are happy to add that about Thirty Guineas Avas realised for the Masonic Charities , and it must be very gratifying to the members of the lodge that this , their twentieth anniversary ball , should close > vith such happy results , particularly when it is known that the Stewards never advertise or make any public announcement whatever of the Old Concord Ball taking place .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THEODOR CLAISEN . AVe have to record the unfortunate death of Bro . Theodor Claisen , which took place at the Charing Cross Hospital on the 1 st February , 1862 , owing to an accident which hef el him at the St . James's Union Lodge Ball , at AVillis's Rooms , Kingstreet , St . James's , on Friday the 31 st ult . The immediate cause of his death was as folloivs : —After supper the ladies

and the brethren re-commenced dancing , and Mrs . Claisen , Mrs . Gladwin , ancl another lady Avere seated on a sofa close hy a window . Bro . Claisen was in the act of passing that sofa when Mrs . C . complained of the draught which came in from the window , the top sash being doAvn , and Bro . Claisen immediately , Avithout saying a word , stepped on to the low seat inside the window , and endeavoured to push up the top sash that being some eiht feet or more from the seathe found he

g , was unable to get sufficient purchase to move it , and , intending to close it from the outside , exerted all his strength and threw up the lower sash , which , from the power used , and beingbetter hung , flew up about nine feet , the Avhole passing entirely out of his hands , and the windoAV being too wide for him to catch the sides , at which he clutched , he was precipitated into the street , a distance of thirty-five feet , where he fell , breaking his ' ribs and an arm , and receiving considerable wounds about his

head , ivhich is supposed to have struck the railings in his descent . He Avas immediately picked up , placed in a cab , and conveyed to Charing Cross Hospital , Avhere Mrs . Claisen visited him , and he tried to cheer her up by stating " he should soon get over it , although some of his bones were broken . " So confident did he seem that Mrs . Claisen left him about three o'clock on Saturday morning , after which he slept a little , then awoke , and asked for some tea , which was given him , and he was

thought to be likely to recover , but about half-past six he gave a slight groan and instantly expired . Some of our daily contemporaries immediately distinguished themselves by attributinghis death to a premeditated act , a statement which we , who have known him well , and deeply respected him , unhesitatingly denounce as false , being borne out hy the Coroner's inquest held before Mr . Bedford at tbe hospital , on Wednesday the Sth inst ., Avhen the jury unanimously returned a verdict of " Accidental death . "

The mortal remains of our brother were taken to St . Mary's Catholic Cemetery , Kensall-green , on Thursday , the 6 th inst ., and the little mortuary chapel there has seldom accommodated such an assemblage of friends of the deceased since it has been opened , the chapel being filled . The beautiful and impressive Missa pro defunctorum was said by the priest in attendance , and full , free , unconditional absolution pronounced , after which his body was committed to the gravesurrounded by more than

, forty sorrowful relatives , friends , and brethren , who all deeply deplored his untimely end . The brethren who took part in the proceedings ivere Bros . W . Watson , Newall , Carter , Exall , Brown , Spier , Borser , Lee , Miles , and Leidersdorf , all of Lodge No . 536 . Bros . T . A . Adams , G . Purst . ; and M . Cooke , 23 ; GladAvin , Lobel , and Nicholls , 25 ; Chambers , 53 ; Fellows and Seyfried , 725 ; and Pym , 1035 .

Bro . Claisen was a native of Cologne , but had been settled in this country for some yearn . He married here , and has left a Avidow and four children to bewail his loss . These , together Avith Mr . William Claisen , his brother , will , it is to be hoped , still carry