The Last Prestonian Lecturer.

Secretary of the same Institution in 1860 , until the election of Bro . Frederick Binckes . As an English Mark Mason he was one of the very earliest in the field , and at a meeting of the Phoenix Lodge in 1856 made a remarkable speech , from which the

following is an extract : — " Before a month shall have passed over our heads , I shall have from the Grand Chapter of Scotland a legitimate warrant , authorising myself and other regularly made Companions of that Chapter to

practise Mark Masonry in London . " He then added , " that he had been promised the adhesion and support of many of the most eminent members of the Craft in carrying out that object . "

The struggles of the Mark degree in England have now passed into the realm of ancient history , but there are still some brethren on tho active list , who remember the opponitinri it , finrinnntered . anrl tho nnwArfnl nqsistn . nno rfin ^ firfirl

M *~ . « -- V , * . £ , v . . . W .. . . *« » ww . U ~~ Vw - — w- w ~» by the Masonic Press in placing it in the high position it now enjoys . This brings me to that phase of Bro . Warren ' s Masonic career by which—without disparagement to his efforts in nthfir directions—he will be firnpfltr rfimflmhfirflrl . Tn 1853

he became editor of the Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine , and in the next or following year , joint proprietor of it with the Rev . Mr . Owen . This he conducted , in the face of great difficulties , until 1861 , the magazine developing

meanwhile into a monthly , and eventually into a weekly publication—when Mr . Owen ceased to have any further connection with it . In 1861 , Mr . Warren ' s ordinary work as City editor of

the Morning Post had so increased as to prevent his giving proper attention to the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror—the name it last bore—and be disposed of it to Mr . Smith

In the same year Bro . Warren delivered the Prestonian Lecture , first of all at the Grand Stewards' Lodge , and subsequently at some place in the provinces . His death occurred on 28 th May 1887 , and for three

years previously he had been totally blind , an affliction which he bore with patient resignation to the will of the Grand Architect of the Universe .

After his decease , and at the suggestion of Bro . James Terry , Past G . Sword Bearer , the MS . of the Prestonian Lecture , as last delivered , was presented to the Grand Lodge

of England , by his widow . The preceding remarks , are introductory of tho appeal which I am now about to make , to the Governors of , and

Subscribers to , the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , the Masonic press , and the representatives of British journalism , whersoever dispersed . It is that they will , by their votes and influence ,

promote the success of Mrs . Prances Elizabeth Warren , widow of our late brother , at the approaching election to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , in May 1889 . Bro . H . J . Warren not only served four Stewardships

to the Charity in question , but he was one of the resolute few who fought for and finally succeeded in obtaining for the youngest of our Institutions an Annual Festival . Not ,

indeed , that his labours were less distinguished with regard to the Masonic Schools , for no voice was raised higher than Bro . Warren ' s in favour of the disuse of badges by our " Boys " and " Girls . " ;

But it is as the editor of the Freemasons' Magazine that Bro . Warren made his principal mark , and here I am tempted to quote the familiar lines : —

The evil that men do lives after them , The good is oft interred with their bones . " The influence of the Masonic press ia now deservedly great , but it was not always so , and in England , before

Bro . Warren ' s time , the only journal of the Craft forfeited but too often the confidence of all moderate brethren , by a blind and factious opposition towards the Grand Master

and his advisers . If my memory is not at fault , somewhere about the year 1855 ( or 1856 ) the notification first appeared in the monthly Magazine , that the reports of Grand Lodge and

of private Lodges were published by permission of the Earl of Zetland , Grand Master , the paper thus becoming from that time the organ , not only of the Craft , but of the governing body .

The confidence thus reposed in Bro . Warren was not misplaced . He was a man of very independent views , and gave free expression to them in the journal over which he presided . But while the columns of the Magazine were

The Last Prestonian Lecturer.

open to all shades of opinion , nothing ever found a place in them that was couched in intemperate language , nor was the editor himself ever known to transgress the golden rule of Masonic journalism , that of due—but not undue—subservioncy to lawfully constituted Masonic authority .

Intheliterary department , Bro . Wai * ren was much assisted by the late Bro . Matthew Cooke , who in a certain way may be said to have died without leaving any successor , as he

was a constant attendant at the British Museum Library , where , by constantly poring over old manuscripts , he laboriously disinterred a quantity of useful information , which found its way , in due course , into the Magazine .

These and like researches gave a special value to the " Notes and Queries " which appeared in the weekly issue , and it may perhaps be said that no editor of a Masonic newspaper ever catered with such diligence and success for the benefit of the student class of readers as the late Bro . Warren .

The delivery of the Prestonian Lecture in 1861 is tho last event of his public lifo with which I am conversant , and , as forming a worthy pendant to the Masonic record of our

late brother , I again mention it in these closing observations , with the hope that it may be remembered iu cqnnection with the case of Mrs . F . E . Warren at the approaching election , and also that it may stimnlate some student

of our ritual to follow in the footsteps of her late husband , and redeem the English Craft from the reproaofc of the Prestonian Lecture—like the Grand Stewards' public night—being now one of those excellent old customs , which are , unfortunately , only honoured in the breach , instead of in the observance .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , 13 th inst . Bro . JV ^ .. I arnfield Treasurer , P . A . G . D . C , presided , and there ; were

present Bros . W . B . Daniell , C . J . Perceval , C . H . Driver P . P . G . S of W ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., Joseph Freeman , W . H . Perryman P . G . P ., S . Brooks , C . H . Webb , G . Bolton , C . Daniel , A . H . Tattershall , W . Smith , Hugh Cotter ,

J . JNewton , W . Masters , Jabez Hogg f . w . u ., Alex . Forsytb , W . M . Bywator P . G . S . B ., J . Dixon , B . E . Blasby , and Jas . Terry P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the

Secretary reported the death of six annuitants ( four men and two widows ) and one male candidate . A letter was read from a male candidate , withdrawing his name from the list of candidates for the May election . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , and also a letter from

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , on the subject of erecting a boundary fence . A fence was ordered to be erected accordingly . Applications from the widows of two recently

deceased annuitants , for the half of their late husband ' s annuities , were granted . A widow's petition , which had been deferred for further information , was accepted , and the name ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for

the election in May . A statement ot receipts and expenditure having been submitted , the Committee finally settled the lists of candidates for election on the two Funds , and declared the vacancies on each , which will be filled up in May , viz ., Male Fund , 62 candidates , 17 vacancies ( 14 immediate and 3 deferred ) ; Female Fund , 81 candidates , 10 vacancies ( 7 immediate and 3 deferred ) . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .

New Year Queries.

NEW YEAR QUERIES .

Has the gavel of experience polished your life until all recognise in yon a true Freemason ? Have you been divested of pride and invested with humility , and then realized that God alone is good and great ?

Have you been tried by the square of virtue , and tested by the plumb of uprightness , and then comprehended that God al me is perfect ? Have you felt the effects of the chisel and mallet , and then seen what sturdy blows are required to cut off the vices of life ?

Have you by the use of all the implements of the Graft subdued your passions and improved yourself in Freemasonry ? Have you in your heart conceived the beauties of Freemasonry , then beheld them in light , and made them the law of your temple ' s

construction . Have you seen the spade , the coffin , the grave , and the acacia , and taken to mind and heart the great lessons of mortal and immortallife ?