Facts And Fancies.

members , her life would have fallen a sacrifice to what was then esteemed her crime . The first care of his Lordship was to resuscitate the unfortunate lady without alarming the house , and endeavor to learn from her an explanation of what had occurred . Having done so , many members being furious at the transaction , she was placed under guard of the Tyler and a member in the

room in which she was found . The members re-assembled and deliberated as to what , under the circumstances , was to be done , and over two long hours she could hear the angry discussion and her death deliberately proposed and seconded . At length the good sense of the majority succeeded in calming , in some measure , the

angry and irritated feelings of the rest of the members , when , after much had been said , and many things proposed , it was resolved to give her the option of submitting to the Masonic ordeal to the extent she witnessed ( F . C . ) , and if she refused , the Brethren were again to consult . Being wailed on to decide , Miss St . Leger ,

exhausted and terrified by the storminess of the debate which she could not avoid partially hearing , and yet , notwithstanding all , with a secret pleasure , gladly and unhesitatingly accepted the offer . She was accordingly initiated . Mrs . Aldsworth , possessing a large fortune , was afterwards a great friend to the poor , and the Masonic poor in particular .

SIR MICHAEL R . SIIAW-STEIVART , BART . Sir Michael Robert Shaw-Stewart , of Greenock and Blackball , Bart ., first saw Masonic light in Greenock Kilwinning , No . 12 , and in February , 18 4 8 , was appointed Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire West—a position which he still holds . His

introduction to office in Grand Lodge is referred to in Bro . Murray Lyon ' s "History of Freemasonry" in the following terms : — "Upon the retirement of the Earl of Dalhousie from the Throne in 1 S 70 , his Lordship , on account of his well-known interest in the Craft , and business abilities , recommended Sir Michael for the office of Grand

Master Depute , with the ultimate view of his succeeding the Earl of Rosslyn in the Grand Mastership . Lord Dalhousie ' s recommendation was unanimously given effect to by Grand Lodge . " In November , 1873 , Sir Michael was elected Grand Master-Mason of Scotland , which post he held till 1 SS 1 , when he retired in favor of the Earl of Mar and Kellie . In 1 S 77 Sir Michael inaugurated the

much-needed reformation in the conduct of affairs in Grand Lodge , which was carried through with signal success . Through his instrumentality the financial position of the Grand Lodge was immensel y improved , Grand Committee was re-constituted and popularised , and confidence in the executive full y established . In proof of the

high esteem in which Sir Michael was held by the Craft , his bust in marble was presented to Lady Octavia Shaw-Stewart , at Ardgowan , in November , 1879 ; and in February , 1880 , a duplicate bust was placed in the Freemason Hall , Edinburgh . In the beginning of 188 3 Sir Michael had a further mark of the appreciation of the

Craft , when he was presented with a Past Grand Master ' s jewel in gold , enamelled , set with brilliants and rose diamonds . The Provincial Grand Mastership of Renfrewshire West has been in the Stewart family since the erection of the Province in 1826 , and at present the Provincial Grand Lodge of that Province is in a most efficient condition .

PROVINCE OK ESSEX . —The Prov . G . M . Lord Brooke , M . P ., has within the last week granted two warrants for new Lodges in the Province—viz ., the Mistley Lodge , No . 2339 , to meet at Manningtree , and the Easterford Lodge , No . 2342 , to meet at Kelvedon . Both Lodges promise to be well supported , and when they are consecrated Lord Brooke will have thirty-one Lodges under his rule .

On Sunday last Bro . Sir F . Ball y Ashton , K . C . M . G ., completed his fiftieth year in the public service , having been appointed to a regular clerkship in the Foreign Office on January 5 , 1840 . He has been chief clerk since December , 1866 . The event was celebrated by a dinner given by Sir Philip Currie , K . C . B ., the permanent head of the department , at his private residence .

Among The Bohemians.

Among the Bohemians .

The Speaker , Daily Graphic , and Woman are out , and all three have . Masons intimately connected with them . If any one feels inclined to write me that of course Masons are intimately connected with woman , please don't . * * * We have been told all about Harry Nichollsand his home at Bedford Park . He is now a celebrity , and an author ; but I give it on the strongest terms of authority that our clever and enthusiastic brother has no intention whatever of becoming anything but a casual dramatic writer , and that he hopes never to let the ambition to become a manager , creep into his soul .

* Says an evening contemporary : — " Mr . Joseph Whi taker , F . S . A ., whose famous 'Almanack' has become as indispensable as Shakspere or the ' Ready Reckoner , ' possesses a singularly fine library , comprising upwards of twenty thousand volumes , many of them of rare antiquity and interest . Books have been the ruling passion of Mr . Whi takers life , and in the spacious

building which he has attached to his fine old-fashioned house at Enfield as a depository for his literary treasures , the greater portion of his time is spent . The wonderful almanack , which has grown year by year until it is now marly double its original size , is a labor of love to its compiler , who considers no expenditure of trouble or research too great to devote to the task of rendering it absolutely complete and reliable . Kvcry year has shown the addition of

some one or more new features , and it is already difficult to suggest any information of general utility that ' Whilaker ' s Almanack' does not contain Mr . Whitaker is the father of several clever children , some of whom assist him in the preparation of the unique work which has made his name a household word . "

* Bro . William Gorman Wills , the dramatist , is an Irishman by birth , having first seen the light in the town of Kilkenny . Mr . Wills is an artist by profession , dramatic writing having been only an after-thought with him . Some years ago he was near coming into the very front rank of portrait-painters . He painted a portrait of . Miss Ellen Terry , which created a marked sensation , and

gave promise of a distinguished future for the artist , but he has done little or nothing with the brush since then . True to his Bohemian nature , Mr . Wills has always lived in a studio , and he generally has two or three artist friends living with him . Art circles are rife with tales of the extraordinary personages to be met with in Wills' studio , and the eccentricity of the mode of life led there . Mr . Wills is himself an eccentric of eccentrics . The young dramatist Calmour used formerly to be Wills ' s secretary . Mr . Wills lives by preference in Chelsea or Fulham , in the midst of the brethren of the brush .

* # Says a brother scribbler of mine in OK Star : —A book that will be read with interest is about to be issued . This is Mr . Montagu Williams' Reminiscences . The two volumes should be fascinating reading , for few men have had ; t more eventful life than the occupant of the bench at Worship-street . He was born in Somersetshire in 1 S 35 . The son of a barrister , the grandson of a

solicitor , and the great-grandson of a barrister , it would have been natuial had he slipped at once into a wig and gown . But , no ; on leaving Eton he became a master at the Ipswich Grammar School . However , the work of teaching little boys Latin and Greek was not much to his liking . What he wanted to do was to go to the Crimea and win glory , so he joined the army . Unfortunately , Sebastopol fell almost at once . Growing tired ot barrack life

on the South Coast , the young man retired from his regiment and went on the stage . While starring in the provinces he fell in love with Miss Louisa Ket ley , and married her . Strangely enough , it was his father-in-law , Mr . Robert Keeley , the veteran comedian , who induced him lo leave the stage and read for the Bar . The legal father , grandfather , and great-grandfather had nothing to do with it , * # *

Bro . " Montagu Williams ' was called' at the age of twenty-seven . From the first he showed a leaning towards criminal practice , and quickly made his mark at the Old Bailey . In trials out of number he acted as junior to Serjeant Ballantyne , then in the height of his fame . In the course of time the Serjeant broke down and retired , and it may be said that Mr . Montagu Williams took his place . Wedded to his work , a stranger to fatigue , possessing oratorical

powers of a high order , he came in time to have the refusal of the bulk of ' defences . ' To him the professional thief looked as to a friend . It is , indeed , whimsical to hear Mr . Williams , when speaking of the past , complain that he could never walk through a crowded thoroughfare without being at once recognised . 'All the roughs and loafers , ' he says , ' knew me , and nudged one another , and sometimes they would greet me openly and with , I am afraid , more affection than elegance . " * * *

"When at the summit of his fame a painful and dangerous malady seized the advocate ' s throat . Specialists were summoned from abroad , and they successfully performed an operation of a highly delicate nature . Strength