''A Sprig Of Acacia''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA''

I NCREASING years may bring many advantages , but at the same time sorrows " and disappointments are equally certain , and it often happens that the regrets we meet with in our later days go far to rob our pleasures of the brightness that would otherwise be associated with them . We were nearing the completion of the twenty-sixth year ' s issue of the

FREEMASON S CHRONICLE , and were feeling a certain amount of satisfaction in consequence , when news reached us of the death , on Sunday morning , of Bro . John Purrott , of St . Albans , one of the founders of our paper , and one of its most consistent supporters during the whole of its career . His

death affects us the more as we have long regarded him not only as a Brother Mason , but as a personal friend ; he having been intimately associated with members ot our family in more than one Masonic enterprise . Our worthy Brother was Regimental Sergeant-Major of the Herts Yeomanry , and had

the distinction of being the oldest member of the Yeomanry force in England , his connection with it having begun early in the forties ; on this account he was accorded a military funeral . He was a splendid specimen of the Yeoman class

—a keen agriculturist and a straight and daring rider to hounds . Pie filled many public offices , including those of chairman to St . Albans Board of Guardians and Rural District Council .

THE mortal remains of the late Sir Francis Boileau , Bart , Prov . G . Superintendent of Norfolk P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Norfolk , who died on the 2 nd inst , were interred on the afternoon of Friday , 7 th inst , in Ketteringham Churchyard , in the presence of a large circle

of sorrowing relatives and sympathising friends , who assembled to pay a last sad tribute to one who in life was very much esteemed , and who was held in the highest respect by all , the Craft being represented by the Provincial Grand Master , the Prov . G . Sec , and many others . Born on the 26 th March

1830 , the hon . baronet led a most active life , and his beautiful home at Ketteringham Park is a real model of a country mansion . He performed most useful work on the County Council , of which body he had been an Alderman since its institution , and he also took the greatest interest in Church

work , and was a frequent attendant and speaker at Diocesan Conferences and other similar assemblies . Among Freemasons he was exceedingly popular . In 18 S 0 he was W . M . of Lodge Union , No . 52 , and in the same year was appointed Senior Grand Warden of Norfolk . Subsequently he was

appointed a Deacon in the Grand Lodge of England , and , a year or two since , was invested as Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Norfolk . When Lord Suffield relinquished the Office of Grand Superintendent of the Province , Sir Francis Boileau was appointed to succeed him .

/ CONSIDERABLE regret will be occasioned by the death VJ at Mentone of Brother Sir Alfred H . Bevan , who was elected to the position of Grand Treasurer of England for 1899-1900 , and was one of the Sheriffs of the City of London last year . For several months past Sir Alfred has resided

abroad on account of ill-health . Indeed , it was for this reason that he was unable to perform his shrieval duties some time before his year of office expired . The deceased , with Bro . Alderman Treloar , his fellow Sheriff , received the honour of knighthood on the occasion of the Queen ' s visit to the City

early in the year , and was a generous benefactor to a host of charitable institutions and philanthropic and religious movements . Some thirty-eight years ago he became associated

with the firm of Messrs . Barclay , Perkins , and Co , of which he afterwards was a director . As a prominent member of the Craft his death will be widely regretted , and as a philanthrophist his place will not be easy to fill .

THE funeral of Bro . F . W . Dabb , of Redruth , who died suddenly on Monday , 3 rd inst , took place at Treleigh , on Thursday afternoon , 6 th inst . Deceased was the oldest

member of the Druids Lodge , and had occupied many posts of honour in the Craft , being a Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden . The funeral was conducted with full Masonic ceremonial .

THE remains of the late Bro . William Pritchard , of Stockport , were interred on Saturday , 24 th ult , at the Stockport Borough Cemetery , the obsequies being attended by manifestations of the respect in which the memory of the deceased gentleman is held . Many of the Brethren of

''A Sprig Of Acacia''

the Lodge of Concord , No . 323 , of which the deceased was for seventeen years the Treasurer , and also Brethren of sister Lodges , took part in the last sad rites . The Brethren met at the Florist Hotel , Shaw Pleath , and formed in procession to meet the cortege .

rryPIE Vicar of Canvey Island , Brother Rev . Henry Playes , JL died on Saturday from the result of an accident which happened four years ago . He had been the Vicar of Canvey for twenty-six years , and during- his pastorate did much to improve the condition of the population of the island . He was a Past Provincial Grand Chaplain of Essex .

WE tender Fraternal sympath y to Bro . W . R . Witt P . M . of the Farringdon Without Lodge , No . 1745 , on the death of his mother , Mrs . Martha Jane Witt , which occurred last week , at the age of seventy-nine years , at her residence at Leytonstone . The remains of the deceased lady were interred at the City of London Cemetery , Ilford , on

Tuesday , amid many manifestations of respect and regard . The funeral service was held in St . Augustine ' s Church , where a number of sympathising friends assembled . The deceased lady and her husband recently celebrated the fiftythird anniversary of their wedding day .

Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet . — : o : — The Captain . A magazine for Boys and " Old Boys . "' Vol . Hi . —April to September 1900 ( 6 s ) . —George Newnes , Limited . A SIX-SHILLING novel can usually be read in two days ; in this volume of the " Captain " there is reading for a fortnight . Moreover ,

while but a few young folk care for the average novel it is difficult to think there is any class of persons to whom the greater portion of the "Captain •would not be interesting . The articles and short stories of the usual magazine type are , we think , quite up to the standard set by the leading " monthlies , " while a special feature in the eyes of all who love the king of games are the articles on cricket by C . B . Fry and other well-known athletes . On turning

over the pages of this volume we have felt the full force of that French expression regarding the embarrassment of riches . We wanted to select the best story of them all , but found it difficult to do so . On the whole , however , we think most adult readers will agree with us that '" 'When Charlie reigned in Holyrood" is exceedingly well written , and as a competitive essay would certainly merit an " honorable mention . "

The Red , White , and Green . By Herbert Hayens . With illustrations ( 5 s ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . THERE is no lack of stirring incident in this story of the great struggle between Austrian and Hungarian . From start to finish Mr . Hayens has imparted just that swing and rush to his story which boys so dearly love . There is marching , burning , fighting , failure

and victory ; there are excellent descriptions and carefully drawn characters . Were this story less ably written we could none the less commend it as a grand gift-book , and one likely to be very useful if carefully read ; for there are hardly two nationalities of whom the schoolboy is taught so little as the Austrian and the

Hungarian . Kossuth filled once a large place in the eye of Europe and has perhaps hardly received so much attention at the hands of biographers as he merits . The chapter in which the writer describes Vienna in flames is a masterpiece of terse , concise writing , and other chapters are ' almost as good . Altogether , Mr . Hayens has scored a success .

The World-Wide Atlas of modern Geography , Political and Physical . Containing one hundred and twenty-eight plates , and complete index . With an introduction by J . Scott Keltie , LL . D ., etc . Fifth edition ( 7 s 6 d ) . —W . and A . K . Johnston . YOUNG scholars must look to their geography just now , for it promises to become an even more important branch of education

than formerly . We who were taught to regard South Africa as land given over to the tender mercy of half naked savages , and the Sahara as wholly unknown territory , can appreciate , by a glance at this superb atlas , how . great have been the recent changes in the ownership of the wide world . We are glad to say that these maps afford proofs of most efficient workmanship on the part of draughtsman and geographer alike . If we must single out some feature

worthy of special note we will point to the completeness of this atlas ; and in proof of this we may mention that about 3 , 000 names commencing with the letter K alone figure in its index 1 The extremely useful street plans of many cities are likewise worthy of notice , and add much to the value of the best atlas we have handled for a long time . It would be hard to name a more serviceable Christmas gift .

Daddy ' s Girl . By L . T . Meade . With thirty-seven illustrations by Gordon Browne ( 3 s 6 d ) . —George Newnes , Limited . THE name of L . T . Meade has " put a girdle round about the earth , " arid has long been known to everybody . It is not , we think .