Responsibilities Of Office.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE .

EEPLYING to the toast of the Grand Officers , at the annual banquet of the Charity Lodge , Plymouth , Bro . F . B . Westlake Prov . G . S . W . P . D . G . D . C . of England said the conferring of a Grand Lodge collar upon him had met with the cordial approval of the Brethren who knew him

best , and it was that which gave the honour its greatest value for him . With the honour came great responsibility , for the Craft was one of the greatest institutions of the world , spread all over the world , and the duty of the Grand Lodge was to administer its affairs and bring the whole into

harmony . The Grand Lodge regarded with some anxiety the great number of initiations , and looked to the W . M . of each Lodge to be jealous that those only should be admitted who were calculated to become Brethren pf whom they would be proud . ' 5 " r " "

Eighty new members were enrolled by the Liverpool Masonic Cycling Club last year , and the present fully paid-up membership is one hundred and forty-three . The Club'is open to cycling Masons residing in the Provinces of West Lancashire and Cheshire : it is not restricted to members of

any Lodge , and in its ranks are representatives of no fewer than forty-six Lodges . Every member of the Masonic C . ' C . is insured against accident whilst cycling , and the Club is affiliated to the Liverpool Centre N . C / U . at its full strength . At the annual general meeting it was shown that the

substantial sum of £ 27 6 s had been subscribed to various local charities by the club last year , five guineas of which was given to the Reservists' Fund . Bro . J . Campbell Robinson was elected President , Bro . H . Robinson Captain , Bro . T . B . Harrison Hon . Treasurer , and Bro . Harry Lord , 17 Beresford Road , Liverpool , Hon . Secretary .

At the installation meeting of the Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 1446 , on Saturday , at the Holborn Restaurant , Bro . G . M . E . Hamilton P . M . Secretary was presented with a 'Secretary ' s jewel , together with a silver tea service

for Mrs . Hamilton . The inscription on the silver tray was as follows : " Presented to Bro . G . M . E . Hamilton P . M ., together with the jewel , by the members of Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 1446 , as a mark of esteem , and in recognition of his valuable services as Secretary , 1891-1900 . "

We are pleased to welcome a new Lodge of Instruction , held under the sanction of the Earl ' s Court Lodge , No . 2765 , at the Greyhound Hotel , Kensington Square , on Wednesday evenings . The first meeting was held on Wednesday , when several members were elected .

Lieutenant-Colonel Sinclair , a Brother of Past Grand Chaplain the Archdeacon of London , is going to the front from India . He served in the Ashanti and Tirah campaigns .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

BRO . Edward Francis Railing , a member of the Angel Lodge , No . 51 , and brother of Bro . Thomas J . Railing Provincial Grand Secretary of Essex , died very suddenly on Saturday , 10 th inst . It seems that the deceased—who has for many years been assistant to Messrs . Smart , contractor ' s , of Nottingham—was returning to the office , between eleven

and twelve , after transacting some business , and on reaching the entrance was seen to fall . Assistance was promptly rendered , and a medical man living close by was called in , but he pronounced life to be extinct . The matter was reported to the Coroner , but as the medical man was able to

certify the cause of death to be apoplexy , he did not consider an inquest necessary . Bro . E . F . Railing , who was in his 51 st year , leaves a widow but no family . The remains of the deceased were interred in Nottingham Church Cemetery on

Wednesday , amongst the floral offerings being a handsome wreath from the Executive Committee of the Nottingham Hospital Saturday , in which movement the late Bro . E . F . Railing took a deep and active interest .

NEWS has been received by cable of the sudden death , at Holmesdale , Darlington , Western Australia , of the Hon . J . G . H . Amherst , a member of the Legislative Council of the

colony . Mr . Amherst , who was fifty-three years of age , was a brother of Earl Amherst Pro Grand Master of England . Much regret is felt in the West of England at the unexpected death .

Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

AS what may be termed their official contribution to the War Relief Funds , the Freemasons of the Edinburgh Metropolitan District and Province of Midlothian organised a . special service in St . Giles' Cathedral on Sunday afternoon , 4 th inst ., which came off under distinguished auspices , and W . as a great success . The result will be an important

addition to the Lord Provost's Fund , to which the money is to be sent . As patrons of the Service appeared the Grand Lodge of Scotland , the Lord Provost , Magistrates , and Corporation of Edinburgh , and General Chapman , with the Scottish headquarters military staff ; the several Lodges of

the district took up the matter in a hearty spirit , and the public generally also evinced much interest in it . One fortunate circumstance also was that the Committee enlisted the aid of Madame Ella Russell , the distinguished prima donria , to sing at the function , and that gifted lady travelled

specially from London to be present on the occasion , and gave her . services without fee or reward . The result was that the Cathedral was crowded in every part by an audience numbering , it was said , between 3 , 000 and 4 , , and though a trifle slow at the outset , the proceedings subsequently were of an impressive character , and were followed with the utmost attention .

The Masonic Brethren mustered in the Parliament Hall , and thence , in their regalia , marched to the Cathedral , which they entered by the west door . They were accommodated in the nave and transepts . Thirty-five Lodges were represented , and in all 674 Brethren were present . The

public had seats in the nave aisles , the Moray aisle , and near the throne gallery ; and every part of these sections of the building was densely crowded . The procession of clergy , who were escorted to their places at the communion table by the beadle of St . Giles , included the Rev . Dr . Colin

Campbell , V . D ., Dundee , Grand Chaplain ; Bro . Rev . Archibald Fleming , Tron Church , Edinburgh ; the Rev . T . D . Fraser , the Rev . John Stirton , the Rev . A . R . Yeoman , and Mr . "H . G . Donald . The military staff included General Chapman ; Colonel Jerrard , chief staff officer ; Captain

p . undas , D . A . A . G . ; Captain Metcalfe , District Inspector of Musketry ; Captain Moulten Barrett , A . D . C ; and Colonel Sir William Dick Cunynghame , A . D . C . ; and many were glad to '' see " present also a detachment of the Imperial Yebmanry in their khaki uniforms , who were accommodated in the two front seats of the south transept .

Grand Lodge walked up the centre passage preceded by the Grand Sword Bearer , and the Brethren received these high Masonic dignitaries upstanding . Among those in this part of the procession were the Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., Grand Master of Scotland , the Right Hon . the Earl of

Haddington Past Grand Master , Robert F . Shaw Stewart Acting Grand Master Depute , John M . Martin Acting Substitute Grand Master , Major F . W . Allan Acting Senior Grand Warden , D . Murray Lyon Grand Secretary , David Reid Grand Treasurer , ' & c , & c .

Last of all came the civic procession , with the halberdbearers and sword and mace . The members of the

Corporation , who were in their robes of office , included Lord Provost Mitchell Thomson , Baillies Mackenzie and Hay , Dean of Guild Ormiston , Treasurer Cranston , Convener Field , and several Councillors . While the audience gathered , the band of the Gordon

Highlanders , placed in the gallery above the north doorway , played a paraphrase on the well-known " Loreley " air , and Brother John Hartley , who was at the organ , rendered a processional march . The Rev . Archibald Fleming conducted the first portion of the devotional service , which commenced

with the singing of the Hundredth Psalm . The singing was admirably led by a special choir under the baton of Brother J . A . Moonie . The lessons were read by the Most Worshipful the Grand Master Mason of Scotland the Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., in a clear and distinct voice , which was well

heard over the Cathedral . The first lesson was followed by the singing by Madame Ella Russell of the lovely Handelian air , which is known in its English version under the name of " 0 , heavenly rest . " The prima donna was in splendid voice , and gave a cultured and wholly artistic rendering to the air ,

which she , at the same time , suffused with a sweet devotional feeling . Her singing seemed to awaken a tender chord of sympathy throughout the large audience , and many could be seen affected to tears . M . Chollett played a charming violin

obligate , and the accompaniment on the organ left nothing to be desired . Madame Russell was again heard with wrapt attention in the solo part of the Mendelssohn anthem , " Hear my prayer , " the first half of which was rendered with fine