Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

ie Editor it not responsible for the opinion ) expressed by Correspondents . 10 TUB EDITOE OB THE EHEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIKEOU . Sir , —Yi hilsfc you have set your face against testimonials in general , one in particular , you have made an exception in favour of—the one for which great efforts are

being made , on behalf of Bro . Binckes , who , hoivever , much he has done for the Boys' School , it was simply his business , and his duty as a Secretary to do ; and not alone has he been most liberally paid for his services , but has received large sums as Commissions on the large receipts , and , if report speaks truly , tbe present is

not the first "substantial token , " & c , that Bro . Binckes has had " thrust upon him ; " in fact , he seems born to honours as Avell as having them thrust upon him . AN OH > MASON .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE ELLIS , The mortal remains of the late Bro . George Ellis , professor of music , were committed to the earth at Blackburn , Lancashire , on Thursday , 12 th . inst ., with more than usual solemnity . Bro- Ellis exercised his talent and

his opportunities to the edification ofthe public , displaying , on all occa-sions , the highest musical talent , observing the utmost punctuality iu the keeping of his engagements , and the different traits of a public and professional character untainted by narrow views or aggrandisement , but ever

trying , with unassuming and vigorous energy of character , to hand down to posterity a musical legacy at once elevating , humanising , and divine . Like all successful men of his class , his worth will be best appreciated after his death , and the loss that the musical world has sustained will onl y bo measured by a correct estimate of the blank that his death has occasioned .

In Blackburn Bro . Ellis was extremely well known , and on the morning of the funeral the town was well astir . The shop windows in tbe principal streets were partially closed , and dense masses of people ccme to pav a last tribute of esteem to an old townsman who had obtained for himself a niche in the temple of fame . The

relatives and friends of the deceased gentleman assembled at his residence in Park-Terrace . The Masonic brethren met in their lodge room at the Old Bull Hotel , and at eleven o'clock proceeded to Bro . Ellis ' s house , and shortly afterwards the funeral cortege filled off , to the strains of the grandly solemn " Dead March in Saul . "

The following brethren attended in the full costume of the Order : — Bros . Denis Tower ? , AV . M . 345 ; R . C . J . Duckworth , S . AV . 345 ; George Duerclen , J . W . 345 ; Charles Tiphidy , Treasurer 315 ; Robert liirkctt , S . D . 345 ; J . AV . Leutener , St . 345 ; T . Bramley , J . D . 345 ; John Ingham , St . 355 ; W . Croft , Tyler

345 ; S . Preston , Joseph Markland , Thomas Sharpies , P . M . 346 AVilliam Palmer , WM . 678 ; Roger Houghton , John dough . John Oldfield , James Pye , R . Livsey , William Bury , Charles Aspden , Frankland Thomas , P . M . 345 ; John Proctor , P . M . 345 ; James Brooksby , John Neville , James Longstaff , Thomas Sowerbutts , William Hillidge , S . W . 346 ; John Pomfret , Thomas Yates , Joseph Joy , J . B . Carr , J . W . AValsh , John Margerison , AVilliam Stuart , John Leaver , J . J . Thompson ,

J . AV . 346 ; AVilliam Henry Cunlifie , S . D . 269 ; William Hirst , Henry Stowe , Joseph Wilcox , AVilliam Baron , David Tliornber , S . AV . 269 ; Joseph Callis , Job Clegg , George AVood , P . M . 3 SL ; W . T . Toivnley , PM . 269 ; John Forrest , J . Harwood , Rev . Charles Hughes , Chaplain 245 ; Henry Hindle , Nicholas Gillett , John Coupe , Robert Edge , AVilliam Gelson , John Simpson , James Beadsworth , II . Shuttleworth , I . G . 345 ; Edwin EastwoodP . M . 345 ; Ellis NuttallThomas HowarthThomas

, , , Clarkson , P . M . 269 , P . G . D . C . of E . L . ; Ralph Ibbotson , G . P . Hartley , P . M . 345 ; Amos Armistead , AV . M . 316 ; Joseph Parker , John Robinson , John Stones , John Ingham , Henry Duckworth , L . Roberts , P . M . 3 S 1 ; Robert Crossiey , P . M . 268 .

As the funeral procession was passing through Penny street on its way to the Cemetery , there were fully 2000 persons in the front of the cortege . A halt was made at the Cemetery gates , the Bacup band went a little forward , and the other bands , with the Masonic brethren , took open order and uncovered ; the hearse and the mourning coaches passing between the lines . The band

commenced again to play the " Dead March in Saul , " and in that Avay proceeded to the chapel of the Church of England . The coffin was met at the church door by the Rev . "W . Mayor , who repeated those grand lines in the Church of England service , " I am the resurrection and the life . " The coffin Avas of oakwith a brass plate , on which was

, inscribed the simple sentence , " George Ellis , died October Sth , 1871 , " and it was circled with a magnificent wreath of flowers . A choral party went to the Cemetery , consisting of Mr . Jones , Organist of St . Peter ' s Church , Miss Heaton Mr . Birkett , Mr . D . Towers , Mr . Anthony Green , and Mr . Jennings . A harmonium had also been conveyed

to the church , and when all the mourners were assembled and a vast concourse of people had congregated , the choir sang Avith much sweetness and effect the psalms appointed for that day . The Rev . W . Mayor then most impressively read the first portion of the burial service , at the conclusion of Avhich the choir sang " Vital spark of heavenly flame . "

with much feeling and pathos . The body was then borne to anew A ault whieh had been lately purchased by the deceased , made out of two grave spaces . The Eev . Mr . Hughes , of Tockhales , concluded the burial servioe at the grove side , the people uncovering . Tho Masonic funeral ceremony was then gone through . The two hymns , one beginning

with—There is a calm for those who weep , A rest for Aveary pilgrims found ; and the second beginning—It is decreed in heaven above That we from those Avhom best we love must sever , wore sung in such a way as to visibly affect the vast assembly . The Worshipful Master , Bro . Denis Towers

, Avho was deeply moved , concluded by reading an address couched in terms of . thrilling eloquence , from which Ave give the subjoined extract : — " In conformity with this usage , and at the request of our deceased brother , whose memory wo revere , and whose loss we deplore , we are assembled in the character of Freemasons , to resign his body to the earth , whence it came , and to offer up his

memory , before the Avorld , the last tribute of our fraternal affection ; thereby demonstrating the sincerity of our pasc esteem , and our inviolable attachment to tho principles of the Order . "