Northumberland.

strength to enable him to efficiently discharge the high and important duties annexed to tae office , express their belief that his appointment uot only honours him , and through him the Province of Northumberland , bufc also adds a lustre to the Government itself . "

. Bro . Spain P . M . 685 P . P . G . S . W . seconded the motion , which was carried with rounds of cheers , an additional cheer being given for Lady Ridley . The Provincial Grand Master replied in suitable terms , and the proceedings soon afterwards terminated . — " Newcastle Journal . "

The Legend.

THE LEGEND ,

r pHE legend , as it is called , for the Master Mason , is one of fche JL most touching and beautiful in the great drama of life . Founded as it is upon the mysteries aud ceremonies of the ancient Egytians , ifc has come down to us as the embodiment and substance of Masonry . It is an impressive exemplification of the

birth , the duties , the death , and resurrection of man . It stamps upon fche intelligent Mason the sublime doctrine of immortality of the soul ; and it was a wise provision of all Grand Lodges that the degree should never be mutilated ; that it should not be given in part only , but should be completed at every undertaking . To

omit this legend is to omit the degree itself . The legend is the grand landmark , the unfailing beacon of Masonic centuries . It is never changed . It will admit of no removal , for it is a rallying of the universal Brotherhood . Ifc conveys columns of thought , and furnishes food for the reflective mind down to the grave , and

as a simple drama stands unequalled beside any of the productions of genius . No Mason ever participated in and forgot it ; he felt its moral upon his soul as though it was the touch of a divinity ; and when properly understood it inspires a solemnity second

only to the scenes of death . Let no inventive or tinkering genius , therefore , ever tamper with the beautiful legend ; it wants nothing added to it , and will allow nothing taken from it . — " Freemasons Repository . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

A WELL-KNOWN figure in Oxford life and among the Craft in Oxfordshire has passed away after a short illness , in the person of Bro . W . R . Bowden , the editor and publisher of the Freemasons' Calendar and Directory for the Province of Oxfordshire and neighbourhood ; in this year ' s number his portrait in Masonic costume is placed as the frontispiece . He was born in

1819 at Plymouth , where he remained for about twenty-eight years , a busy life in London followed for six years more , and took him to Oxford in 1852 . It was in 1874 he was admitted a Freemason , and for ten years he was the Organist of the Alfred Lodge ; he passed successfully through each chair in the Chapter

attached to his Lodge , and at the time of his death was its M . E . Z . He was elected and insfcalled into the chair of the Bertie Lodge in 1890 , after serving that Lodge for some time as an honorary member . In 1866 he joined the Marlborough Lodge , at Woodstock , accepting the position of Inner Guard , and he rose until he

was elected to the chair ot W . M . in 1890 , but having been installed as W . M . of the Bertie in January of the same year , the Constitutions of Grand Lodge forbade him holding the two chairs together , and he retired . As a Mark Master Mason he passed through each chair to W . M . ; Provincial honours had fallen fairly

to his share , he receiving Provincial Grand Steward in 1877 , Pursuivant in 1878 , Organist in 1880 , from His Royal Highness ( the late P . G . M . ) the Duke of Albany , and , later on , P . G . Reg , from the Earl of Jersey . In the Royal Arch degree he was P . G . Organist and P . G . Registrar , and in the Mark , P . G . Organist and P . G . Senior Overseer .

WE are sorry to record the death of Bro . Alfred E . Tysoe P . M . Concord Lodge , No . 1534 , Prestwich , who died at his residence , Ashton-upon-Mersey , on the 6 th ult . His interment took place at Brooklands Cemetery on the 10 th , several Brethren of the Concord Lodge being present . The members

of the Lodge in question had marked their respect for their deceased Brother by forwarding fco fche family a splendid floral tribute , in shape a double triangle . Bro . Tysoe had taken a great interest both in Craft and Royal Arch Masonry , and was until recently Secretary of the Derby Chapter , No . 1055 .

BRO . W . RICHARDSON , an old and esteemed member of the Craft , died on Friday , 18 th ult . He was an old and much respected tradesman in Whitechapel , and was for about thirty years an active worker in Freemasonry , having for some time filled the position of Preceptor at the Israel and Upton

Lodges of Instruction . He hacl reached his seventieth year , and had been ont of health for a few months past . His death was referred to at thc last meeting of the Upton Instruction Lodge , and a vote of condolence with his relatives passed .

Leicestershire And Rutland.

LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND .

A MEETING of this Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , on Wednesday nexfc , 6 th insfc ., under the auspices of St . John ' s Lodge , No . 279 , at 4 o ' clock , to be followed by a banquet at 5 * 30 .

In addition to the ordinary business of the year , the Brethren will be called upon to consider the rules and regulations of the Kelly Memorial Fund , as prepared by the Committee elected for that purpose , at the special meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge , held on 21 st November 1894 , and , if approved , to confirm and adopt the same .

We may add that the suggested objects of this Fund are such as should ensure its being heartily taken up , and in that case it will prove a lasting benefit to the district . They are

( a ) To relieve and assist aged , sick , or infirm Freemasons of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , who are in

necessitous circumstances . [ b ) To relieve necessitous Widows of Freemasons in this Province . { c ) To provide for the boarding , clothing , and educating , wholly or partially , of the children of poor or deceased Freemasons of this Province .

( d ) To assist the advancement of any such child on leaving school . The following is the seventeenth annual report of the Committee of the Masonic Charity Association of this Province , for thc year ending 30 th September 1895 , to be submitted for adoption at the general meeting to be held at Freemasons' Hall , Leicester , in January 1896 :

The Committee are gratified in being able to report that , although the past year will not bare comparison with its immediate predecessor , it has nevertheless been fairly successful . Thirteen new names have been added to the roll of members , and one or two of the old subscribers have again placed themselves upon the active list .

It will be observed that in the new list only two out of the fourteen Lodges are represented . This is not as it should be , especially as there are in the Province , as was shown in the table published in the report of the 13 th * October 1893 , some 400 Brethren who have not yet subscribed . The Committee feel sure that the objects and advantages of the Association have only to be made known ; and fchey would urge every member to use his influence to induce others to avail themselves of this easy method of nofc only

benefiting the Masonic Charities , but also of increasing the permanent voting power of the Province . Promises of support for the year 1895-6 have been received from some eight or nine Brethren of Lodge 1265 ; and it is hoped that before the annual drawing the roll will be still further substantially increased , and that all the Lodges in the Province , especially the large and prosperous ones , will be more worthily represented .

The general meeting and annual drawing were held on the 2 nd February 1895 , when thirty-one nominations for Life Subscriberships were drawn . Their value has been divided as follows : —Boys School , £ 1010 s ; Aged Masons Fund , £ 21 ; Widows Fund , £ 131 5 s . The revised rules , which were adopted at the general meeting , have been printed ; and copies have been sent to every subscribing member .

Bro . Wm . Sculthorpe , who has so generously given his services as Treasurer since the formation of the Association in 1871 , having resigned his office , has been unanimously elected a Vice-President , to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Bro . William Kelly ; and Bro . B . A . Smith has undertaken the duties of Treasurer in addition to those of Honorary Secretary .

The Committee again remind members that actual payment of subscriptions is absolutely required to secure a share in the drawing . All subscriptions become due on the 1 st October in each year , and should be paid to the Secretary , or to the account of the Association at the Leicestershire Bank or any of its branches .

The general meeting and drawing for Life Subscriberships will be held in or near January next . Names of new members should be sent to the Honorary Secretary , from whom the prospectus , bye-laws , and any information relating to the Association can be obtained . The names of the representatives of Lodges , who will also be pleased to afford information , will be found on page 33 of the Provincial Calendar .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND HEREFORDSHIRE

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Mark Lodgepostponed from July in consequence of the general election —took place at Gloucester on Monday of last week , and . was largely attended by members of the Lodges in the two associated counties .

The Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith presided , supported by his Deputy Brother Orlando Shellard , of Hereford , Bro . the Baron de Ferrieres Past Provincial Grand Master , and Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., Past Grand Warden England .

The following are the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year , as appointed and invested by the Provincial Grand Master : —

Bro . Orlando Shellard 243 - - - Deputy Edwin Lea 218 - - - Senior Warden J . Marchant 243 - - Junior Warden