Masons Whom We Have Met. No. Iv.

It is almost superfluous to say that in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred these brethren who are so troubled with cacoethes scribendi are off the scent altogether , and have perpetrated a grotesque act of self-mistaken identity . In

fact , they have fancied themselves " somebody else ! " This

onl y furnishes us with proof of our success in carrying out the principle laid down at the commencement of our series of articles on "Masons whom we have met , " namely , that while on the one hand we would endeavour to

avoid maudlin sentiment and fulsome adulation , yet , on the other , while sparing no effort to ridicule folly and unmask deceit , we would " nothing extenuate , nor set down aught in malice" in any of the portraitures we might bring under the review of impartial readers .

Having , therefore , delivered ourselves of these conscientious resolves , we are at liberty to proceed with the delineation of men who live in our midst , and who still take an active part in tho motive principles of the Craft . Here is

one prominent figure , in the picture of a brother who , whilst he has a pronounced objection to the publication of the " doings of Freemasonry , " in any shape or form , yet h . \ s no strong objection to seeing his name in print when

an opportunity presents itself . Tn his own consciousness of strength he has the most implicit belief , and contests with Spartan vigour every inch of debatable ground which , whether real or imaginary , may be challenged by

others . We have it yefc fresh in our memory how , at a time when we were endeavouring to gratify fcho wishes of our many correspondents b y the collection and publication of Old Warrants , he strenuously resisted our obtaining a

copy of one over which he claimed to have especial custody . No ensign or colour sergeant ever defended the regimental colours more valiantl y than did our worth y brother the Old Warrant of tbe Lodge , which to the gratification of

the Craft in general—and we venture to believe to that of our obdurate brother in particular—was published in the columns of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . With all his little " fads " and crotchets , the brother to whom we allude

is an " all-round " good sort of fellow , and his hospitality is as lavish as his heart is big . We remember when , having started a West End Lodge , he thought nothing of inviting the whole of the members to the Holborn Restaurant , where

they might dine at his expense ; and , mind you , this was out of no ostentatious display , for he " hated the publication of any matters relating to the Craft , even in the Masonic papers ! " But , bold as he was in the performance of his

duties in Lodge , ancl genial as he always is at the festivities which follow labour , there is yet another trait in his character which we knew of before , but which was strikingly brought out and illustrated by an accidental

occurrence . We were , not long ago , on a visit to an esteemed friend , since gathered—let us hope—to the Grand Lodge above , who was dangerously ill , when our sad

interview was broken in upon by the bustle and energy which the subject of this sketch always carries about with him . It was evident he had gone out of his way to see somebody who needed the cheering countenance of a friend ,

and had drifted in—by intentional " accident "—to

shed a gleam of sympathy over a brother whose end was inevitabl y not far distant . We wished at the time we could have retreated , but could not , and now we are glad we were present , so as to be able to record an

exceedingly pleasing episode . With modest stealth our good Samaritan produced some grapes with which he had—of course—come provided , observing , in a whisper to the attendant on the invalid , that they were cheering in

sickness and tended to alleviate feverish thirst . From another capacious pocket there issued a bottle of liquid , the character of which we did not venture to inquire , but overheard the accents in which the nurse was assured that

ailments of the kind from which Brother So-and-So was suffering required a little stimulant , and with these little acts of kindness came words of solace and cheer to the poor afflicted one , such as must have lifted from his heart

for a time the heaviness and pain with which it was oppressed . And when at last Death , the great leveller of all , came , and the remains of our departed friend were borne to their resting-place , the brother whom we now

picture was there too , not conspicuousl y in the cortege , but watching the obsequies of his friend and brother from a " quiet corner , " inwardl y thinking and hoping he was

unseen . Yefc this sincere and trusty member of the Craft is by no means a millionaire ; oufc of the fulness of his heart come deeds of wholesome and disinterested Charity ; of love for the Craft , and sympathy with fche sorrows of those less

Masons Whom We Have Met. No. Iv.

fortunate than himself . His actions , we venture to say , are better known to others than to himself , and they form a bright page in the volume of Masonic excellencies which all will delight to read .

We hardly like to set in contrast with this honourable example another that is precisely tho reverse , —wherein the deeds performed partake of the heroic and bombastic character . Nor will we spoil the picture , which is pleasing

as it stands , by any comparison that maybe considered particularly odious . Yet a smile involuntarily arises as we think of another brother , whose name is familiar as household words to the ears of many of onr Metropolitan

Lodges and friendly societies . Like the one to whom we have referred above , this also is a " military " man , that is to say , he is attached to one of the most popular of our auxiliary forces . He holds an official

appointment in one of the " kindred societies , " and is a great gun at their periodical meetings , where he poses as one of the " pillars of the Order . " There is no discredit in that matter , —of course ; on the contrary , it shows an

energy and discernment which is commendable in all stages of public life . Nor can any one be found to quarrel with this brother ' s deportment on the chequered iloor . He has worked with zeal and assiduity , and the only

quibble one has to raise is , that there is a little too

much of the theatrical in his role . Our brother figures as a general utility man , arising no doubt from an inoculation derived from other associations with which he has so long boen acquainted . We recollect his attending a first meeting of Stewards , when

it was under discussion as to the place for holding the Festival , and of course the P . G . M . who was to be the Chairman expressed a wish as to the locale where the fathering should be held . "Oh , " exclaims our _ little " cock robbin " brother , " we will get another chairman

if he cannot come where we want him ; let us go where it suits its best , and find another to preside ! " Zounds ! we thought our little acrobat was about to suggest that he shonld take the presidency , ancl no doubt the slig htest invitation to him would have decided the momentous

question . However , when it came to he explained to him that it required a man of position to occupy the post of honour on so important an occasion , we give our brother credit for his very graceful retirement . On another occasion he was as "big as bull beef" when

it was announced that the Lord Mayor was expected at a banquet whereat our hero was to take a prominent part ; but when his Lordship and his attendant Civic dignitaries failed to put in an appearance , our hero considered " that all municipal institutions were a delusion

and a snare , and ought to be reformed , under the new Government Bill , or abolished altogether . " Well , there is nothing like complacency and self-confidence , and we hope that the shadow of our worthy brother may never grow less , as certainly it will not do if the old adage hold o-ood that " a contented mind is a continual feast . "

Eoyal Arch.

EOYAL ARCH .

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

nPHE usual Quarterly Convocation ot Grand Chapter was JL held on Wednesday , afc Freemasons' Hall , London , and was fche firsfc held in tho new Temple , which will bo used for fche future in accordance with fche resolution of the Companions at the August meeting . The Rov . H . A .

Pickard , M . A ., the new Grand Superintendent ot Oxfordshire presided as Z ., Comp . Powell , of Gloucester , acting as H ., and Ernest Emii Wendt , D . C . L ., as J . Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke Grand Scribe E . was in his place ,

and several other Companions were present . ihe business , as given in the agenda published in our last issue , was gone through , and the several recommendations approved of . Comp . George Lambert ,, referring fco

fche new fittings which bad been provided for Grand Chapter , thought that a vote of thanks ought to be passed to the Committee of General Purposes , expressing the approval of the Companions at fche manner in which the work had

been carried oufc . Comp . C . 1 . Hogard , as a member of tho Committee , deprreato 1 ll . v vote , for fcho reason that the success of tho work was entirely due to the suggestions made by thu Grand Scribe E ., to whom they