Notice Of Meetings.

C USTOMER SMYTHE OF ASHI ' OKD . —The most imposing monuments in Ashford Chnroh are the tombs of the Smythes , who ware the lord .- * of the manor in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries . They stand at the east end of the south transept , in a , space formerly railed off as the Strangford aisle , and are splendid specimens ' of Jacobean work . The oldest and by * far the finest of the throe i .-i

that of Customer Smythe , the founder of tho family whoso history forms so interesting a place in Kentish annals . The younger son of tt Wiltshire yeoman , John Smythe , of Corsham , Thomas Smythe camo to London at the age of sixteen to seek his fortune . There ho prospered so well that about the year 1553 , soon after the accession of Mary , he married the only child of a wealthy Kentish merchant

and Lord Mayor , Sir Andrew Judde , the founder of Tonbridgo School . At the same time he became collector of the Customs of the Port of London , and when eleven years later the great increase in the value of the Customs caused a change to be made , he obtained the right of farming the Customs of London and the neighbouring ports for the yearly sum of £ 20 , 000 . This post , which he held for

eighteen years , was no doubt a lucrative one , but Queen Elizabeth , careful not to Jose a chance of filling her pnrse , repeatedly-exacted larger fines , and in the last years that he held office he paid the Treasury as muoh as £ 42 , 000 . On one occasion when a certain Caermarden , whom Camden calls " an understanding and subtil fellow in the mysteries of Customs , " supplied her with secret

information as to the increasing valne of the receipts , several of hor chief advisers—Burghley , Leicester , and Walsingham—ventured to remonstrate with their royal mistress for lending ear to so inconsiderable an informer . Upon whioh Elizabeth rebuked them roundly , saying " that she was Queen of the meanest subjects as well as of

the greatest , neither would sho stop her ears against them , nor endure that the farmers of the Customs should , like horse-Ieaohos , suck themselves fat upon the goods of the Commonwealth , whilst tho poor Treasury waxed lean . " —From " Cathedral Churches" for September .

The Masonic concert in the City Hall on Saturday would have been a much greater success if a score of loving but thoughtless mothers had either left their children . in-arms at home , or—what would have been better—had stayed at home themselves . The very fine part singing by the Select Choir waa frequently and unpleasantly broken in npon by the cries of infants , much to the disgust and annoyance of the audience , and before the programme was half

through at least a dozen women had perforce to carry their little ones out . How long will it be . ere women realise that it is cruel to an infant to take ifc fco evening entertainments , and thafc it is sacrificing the comfort of hundreds to their own sefisb desire for ill-timed recreation . The rule prohibiting the admission of children-in-arms , which holds good in theatres , might with advantage be extended to all evening concerts . —Glasgow Evening News ,

Tnn WAY TO DO IT . —When a strange brother appears in tho anteroom the Tylor should greet him in a quiet , manly ( friendly ) way , ascertain his wishes , and offer him accommodation . Every brother who enters should spsak to the stranger and show him little attentions , nnd , in demeanour mora than words , make him feel that he is welcome . The Tylor shonld send the stranger ' s card by the Jnnior Deacon to

the Master , and if there is any delay in Bonding a committee to examine tho brother , an apology should be sent to him with assurances that he would soon be attended to . As soon as ho is introduced and recognised , the Senior Deacon should take him by the hand in a cordial manner , and conduct him to a seat , quietly introducing him to the brother on his right and left . If a Past Master he is conducted by the Senior Deacon to the East , where the Master takes his band

and seats him on his left . During the evening , as opportunity offers , every member of the Lodge should speak to tbe stranger and converse with him , and at the close of the Lodge the stranger should be escorted part of the way , at least to the first corner , to his hotel , with manner and words showing that all were " happy to meet , sorry to part , and hope to meet again . " Such conduct will give an enviable reputation to the Lodge , * and , better still , will give it real merit , cementing fche brotherhood—Masonic Home Journal .

DERIVATION OF PICNIC . —Almost any boy or girl can tell you what a picnic is like , but I wonder how many know why it is so called , or that the custom is said to date only from 1802—not a hundred years ei ^ ° - _ Then , as now , when snch an entertainment waa being arranged "'f , it was customary for those who intended to bo present should supply the eatables and drinkables . Originally the plan was to draw

l 'p a list of what was necessary , which is an excellent ono to follow , fur ofion , when there has been no previous arrangement , it is dis . covered , when too late , that there is coo much of one kind of food and not enough of another . The list was passed around , and each person picked oufc the article of food or drink hen * sho was willing fco furnish .

ana the name of the article was nicked oil' tha list . So it was from fcnwso two words , " picked " and " nicked , " that this form of out-door ^ "turlaiiiuient first became known au a " pick and iiiuk , " aud thon as picnic , " the old-fashioned name for the basket parties of to-day . — ¦ "" O'i ^/ j ,- Young People .

¦ t'eemasonry has had to mourn , with many other sections of ^ fc y , tho death , last Saturday , of the Earl of lloaslyu , who was a . -ist Wand Master of Scotland , and a brother who took cousMoraMo th i '" l ' P r"ctico of the Craft this side of the border . It w . is 0 ate Earl of liosalyu who , presiding at tho auuivoreary FostiyaJof

Notice Of Meetings.

the Eoyal Masonic Institntion for Boys , in 1879 , drew attention to what ho considered was an omission on the part of those who managed the great educational Charities of English Masonry . He thought it was hardly sufficient that boys or girls should receive a thoroughly good education , but felt some kindly supervision shonld fullow them after they left the Schools . As the result of bis remarks ,

tho Mi : sonic Pupils' Assistance Fund was suggested , and ho worked hard to secure the success of that scheaie . He , with the many other distinguished Masons who gave it encouragement were , however , doomed to disappointment , as the fund did not meet with general approval , it being thought the three Charities already maintained by the Craft were ample for all requirements . The suggestion of Lord

Eosslyn did nofc , however , fall wholly flat , for very mnch of what he pointed out as necessary has since then been undertaken by the two scholastic Institutions , and many of the pupils of those Schools who have been assisted to good situations have to thank the genial nobleman whoso decease we have now to record for arousing the powers that be to a fuller sense of their duties towards the orphan children entrusted to their care . —Evening News .

The Prince of Wales , Grand Master of England , and Patron of tho Scottish Craft , the Duke of Edinburgh , the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , the Marchioness of Lome , and the Duke of Clarence and Avondale havo consented to become patrons ancl patronesses of the

Grand Masonio Bazaar which is to be held in tbe Waverley Market , Edinburgh , during December . Tho Bazaar , which is for the purpose of raising £ 10 , 000 for tho annuity branch of the Scottish Masonio Benevolent Fund , will probably be opened by a member of the Royal Family .

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