Obituary.

and uniform working by which the Birmingham lodges have since been distinguished . A Local Instruction Lodge was then formed , and existed for some years , of which the writer and his now departed friend were among the most regular attendants .

These two occupied the Master ' s chair of St . Paul ' s Lodge in 1851 and 1852 in succession , and with their predecessor in 1850 regularly met once a week for more than two years for mutual instruction , in addition to the regular lodge for that purpose . For several years Bro . Bedford's attendance at St . Paul ' s Lodge was very regularand during the term of his Mastership there in

, 1852 he resigned his connection with the Athol , after having held the rank of S . W . in it . He was also at one period connected with St . James's Lodge at Handsworth . About this time a strong feeling arose among a few brethren , that the appropriation of any part of the funds of a lodge to banquets and festivities was not in

accordance with the principles of Masonry . A petition had been prepared by other parties for the formation of a lodge on a system equally objectionable in another respect , to which the writer gave his most determined opposition , the result of which was that the nonbanqueting brethren , as they were called , joined in the new project , and converted the new warrant to their own

purposes , thus removing the objections before urged . Bro . Bedford was among them , and thus became one of the founders of the Howe Lodge , 587 , in the year 1851 . As all records of him in the books cease soon after his Mastership , it may be presumed that he very soon resigned membership of 43 , to some extent on principle , as inconsistent with his new professions , and partly owing to the absorbing urgency of his duties in the Howe . He was W . M . of the latter lodge in 1854 , and also held the appointment of Instructor in the branch Lodge of

Instruction connected with it from the date of its formation to the day of his decease . It may be stated here , as a proof of the uncertainty of ¦ human life , and of the change produced in a few years , that of the twelve founders of 587 , which has since been so distinguished , only three now survive , and only one of these resides in Birmingham , the other two being so

distant as to have virtually ceased connection with it , and there is reason to suppose that they are no longer members . About this period arose a desire to form a lodge of Mark Masters in Birmingham , and as there was then no regularly constituted body in this branch of Masonry , an authority was sought and obtained from the Newstead

Lodge at Nottingham . A considerable alteration was made in the form of ritual , in which Bro . Bedford took part , and subsequently the workings of the lodge mainly depended upon him . In the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire , the eminent services of Bro . Bedford received tardy recognition , owing to circumstances probably unavoidable , and

which are capable of explanation , but ultimately he received the highest honour possible , by appointment to the chair of G . S . W . The members of St . Paul's , his mother lodge , marked their sense of his worth and efficiency by electing him an honorary member , and that rank was subsequently conferred upon him by the Temperance , Leigh , Bedford ,

Grosvenor , and Fletcher Lodges . In Royal Arch Masonry he also achieved signal success and distinction , having been for some years Past Z . of the Howe Chapter , of which he was one of the founders in 1855 , and holding the same honorary rank in the Athol , Grosvenor , Fletcher , and St . Peter ' s Chapters . Of his precise status in what are called the "higher degrees " no very certain record has been found . It is believed that he first obtained admission to them soon after the formation of the Howe Mark Master ' s Lodge

Obituary.

from the same authority whence that was derived . It is , however , acknowledged that he belonged to the Rose Croix Chapter , and to the Baldwin encampment of Knights Templar . Long as this account of the lamented brother is , the writer fears that he has done scanty justice to bis

Masonic deserts . His heart and soul and time and energies were devoted to the Craft , and in this respect he offers a brilliant pattern for imitation to those in whom his training has excited a love for it , always however with the reservation that they are not to pursue it so far a =- to be detrimental to themselves or their connections . To the whole Craft tbe loss is great ; to the members of

those lodges which have received daily benefit from his guidance and aid , it is irreparable ; to the author of this memoir there will be a void on his next periodical visit to Birmingham , for which nothing can compensate . It only remains to add that Bro . Bedford's departure from this frail and uncertain existence was as calm and quiet as his life had been- He had taken tea with an

ardent brother and esteemed friend , apparently in his usual health aud spirits , and was immediately after occupied in writing a letter , when he suddenly fell , and expired without a struggle- Let us indulge in the fond hope that his spirit was thus summoned to the mansions of eternal bliss and glory in the Grand Lodge above , there to meet again with those founders of the Howe Lodge

who had preceded him . His surviving brethren , while mourning his loss , have much cause for thankfulness to the Great Architect of the "Universe , in that he was spared to them some years beyond the three score years and ten allotted to man , and that throughout his whole Masonic career to the very last he continued to be their faithful brother , companion , guide , counsellor , and friend-

Death Of Bro. Isaac Smith.

DEATH OF BRO . ISAAC SMITH .

Bro . Isaac Smith , whose death is alluded to in the report of the proceedings of the Fletcher Lodge , was initiated in-the Bedford Lodge , 925 , in the latter part of the year 1862 , and continued a member until within a short time of his death in the year 1864 . He took an active part in the formation of Lodge 1 , 031 , and accepted the office of Treasurer . To his pecuniary assistance and

exertions may in a great measure be ascribed the great success that attended this lodge in the first year of its existence . His numerous engagements prevented him rising higher in the Craft or acquiring a knowledge of the working , but he was always ready to extend a hand to a brother in need , or in any way promote the interests of Freemasonry , and his loss will cause a void not easily

filled in the Fletcher Lodge . "' Bro . Isaac Smith was a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers , —a clever mechanician , and a laborious cultivator of the Sciences . A quiet , unobtrusive man , constantly engaged in good works : he was an active advocate for the introduction of a better system of educating the leand thoroughly understood the

peop , necessity for the creation of technical schools in which youths may be properly trained , and a better class of skilled workmen created , so as to maintain the prestige of this country for its manufactures .

SCOTLAND . —Rifle Lodge No . 405 has been celebrated for years for the brilliancy of its annual balls . The annual assembly of the 7 th inst . was not only in advance of previous balls , but is likely to prove the meeting at" the Edinburgh season . Of course much of the success is attributable to tiie kind hearted and genial R . W . M , Bro . J . T . Douglas , and the indefatigable endeavours of the B ^ ll Committee , under the governorship of Bro . T . H . Dauglas . Without a hiteh , with the orchestra filled with the best talent , the bail from commencement to close was a nure success .