Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN SHEDDEN , P . M ., No . 313 ; P . Z ., Chapter No . 313 . IT is our melancholy duty to record the death of a most excellent and esteemed brother . Bro . John Shedden , P . M . always presented to the Masonic body a lively and pleasing instance of the true zeal and integrity which ought to belong to the Craft . He was & native of Scotland , and when settled in Dudley joined the Harmonic Lodge , No . 313 , about twenty-six years ago , at a period when Masonry in AVorcestershire was at a very low ebb . AVith that energy and zeal which belongs

to our Caledonian brethren , Bro . Shedden applied himself at once to the practice ancl promulgation of Masonry , ancl in 1 S 41 was unanimously elected as AV . M . of tho Harmonic Lodge . From that period up to the time of his sad affliction ( paralysis of the legs ) , Bro . Shedden was the life and soul of the Craft in Dudley , and thc neighbourhood , Endowed with a lively sense of the beautiful and sublime , his rendering and delivery of tho solemn services of the Craft was of a very exalted character ; and many are tho living P . Ms , of the various JLodges in the locality who can bear a grateful testimony to the beauty of conceptionand excellency of

, practice , which he invariably exhibited in his Masonic duties . On the establishment of the Royal Arch Chapter , No . 313 , our departed brother , always the foremost in the ranks of Masonic progress , speedily passed through all the chairs in the Chapter . As advancing years and infirmity pressed upon the father of Masonry in Dudley , the vital spirit of the Craft shone more brightly upon his

character and actions ; and the old disabled Masonic ptitrkrca was to be found giving his sublime lessons , acquired iu early youth , to the younger brethrenin Dudley , teaching them the way they should go , and exhorting them to hold fast the faith ancl principles of tho Craft . Bro . Shedden was followed to " that bourne I ' vvui whuuco no . traveller ever returns , " by a highly influential and exalted number of thc Craft iu Dudley and neighbourhood . Tlie funeral cortege ( in addition to his relatives aud friends ) comprised , amongst a large number of Masons , the 1 V . M ' ., Bro . Sheppard ; Bro . Burton , S . AV ., and the Officers of Lodge , No . 313 ; the mayor

of Dudley , P . M . No . 313 ; Bro . Bristow , P . M . No . 313 , Prov . G . S . B . ; Pattison , P . M ., No . 313 : Clark , P . M . No . 313 , Prov . S . G . D . ; Bro . Masefield , P . M . No . 730 , Prov . G . J . ; Bro . Bennison , P . M . No . 720 , Prov . G . Reg . ; Bro . Dr . Davidson , J . AV ., No . 730 ; P . M . Bro . AV . Howells , Noah ' s Ark Lodge , Prov . [ d . Sec . ; Bro . Hollier , AV . M . No . 819 ; Bro . AA'igginton , S . AV ., No . S 19 , Prov . G . D . C . ; Bro . Horton , AV . M . No . 839 ; Bro . Harrison , P . M . No . 838 ; Bro . AVilliscroft , P . M . No . 833 ; and a large number of the brethren from the various Lodges , whose names we could not obtain . Bro . Shedden died ou the 16 th of April , and was interred in the Methodist chapel burial ground , on Wednesday , the 20 th , 1859 , an object of our Masonic remembrance , and a truly enlightened apostle on earth of the faith once delivered to the saints .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

"A C OLONIAL BROTHER" asks , —1 . Should a Master Mason belonging to a Lodge resign or declare off , cau he again become a member of such Lodge without the usual petition , being proposed and seconded , and remaining one month before the