In Memoriam

In Memoriam

ROBERT WENTWORTH LITTLE , BORN 10 th AUGUST 1838 , DIED 12 th APRIL 1878 . > a « Bm » m ^ MnHmnHIIIRIIIHni

IT is not surprising that , iu a numerous Fraternity like ours , the painful duty of recording the death of some distinguished brother should occasionally devolve npon us . Last Aveek , it Avas an able Preceptor Avhose obituary appeared iu these columns . This week our task is to chronicle the virtues of a still more prominent member of

the Craft , AYIIOSC death , unfortunately , albeit he Avas in the prime of life , has been for months past expected by all who kneAV him . For a long time our deceased brother had suffered from that insidious disease Avhose ravages in our variable climate are so terrible , ancl it was long ago

apparent that sooner or later , as his physical strength was capable of bearing a more or less prolonged strain , tlie end must como . But though so long foreseen , his death appears to have come upon us at the last as a surprise . We had been so accustomed to hear of his illness one day ,

and the next of his partial restoration to health , that many brethren can hardly for the moment realise that one Avhose name has been so familiar to them , is gone at last to that country , " from Avhose bourn no traveller returns . " But let us pass Avithout further consideration to the sad duty of

the moment . Bro . R . WentAvorth Little , the able and energetic Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , died on Friday last , and on Wednesday his remaius Avere committed to the earth , in the presence of a numerous gathering of Freemasons , Avho had knoAvn him intimately

in life , ancl Avere resolved on paying him this last tribute of their love and respect . That he Avas in every Avay Avorthy of such tribute nitty be gathered from a brief sketch of his career . We need not go much into detail , for in the year 1876 there appeared in these columns a pen and ink portrait of him as a brother Avell A ersed in the abstruse branches of

Masonic science . * He Avas initiated in the Royal Union Lodge , Uxbridge , in the year 1861 . In 1862 , he Avas appointed to a junior post in the Grand Secretary ' s office , ancl in I 860 , he rose to be second clerk and cashier . In 1872 , he became a candidate for the Secretaryship UOAV rendered

vacant by his death , and in the beginning of 1873 he entered on his important duties . How Avell he performed them it is needless to point out . In the year of his election the income of the Girls' School was only £ 5 , 200 . Last year , but little short of £ 10 , 000 Avas obtained at the Festival ,

Avhile the income from all sources Avas in round figures £ 11 , 854 . This is enough to shoAv how ably , how energetically , ancl how conscientiously he must have laboured in behalf of the Institution , and if for no other reason than this his memory will always be held sacred among English

Masons . He Avill be held up as an example to others , ancl whenever it may be judged Aviso to encourage a young brother to strive earnestly ancl laboriously to fulfil his duties , we can readily imagine that the successful labours of Bro . Little Avill be cited , and that he "will receive

the simple injunction , " Go thou , and do likewise . " At all events , Avhether Ave do or do not imagine this may happen , there is every reason Avhy such au injunction should be given to the Masonic novice , more especially as Bro . Little Avas not only an able official , but Avas likewise

a brilliant Mason , AVIIO had achieved distinction of no ordinary character in every branch of Freemasonry . Thus , in Craft he had held the honourable post of Prov . Grand Secretary of Middlesex from its erection into a

Province till a little less than a year since , Avhen he received the still higher honour of being appointed Dep . Prov . G . Ma > ter . He had been Prov . G . H . of his Prov . Grand Chapter ; while in the Mark Degree , in tho A . and A , Kite , and in the several Orders of Masonic Knio-ht-O

In Memoriam

hood , the honours he had had conferred on him were as numerous as they were considerable . Ho was , moreover , an able exponent of Masonic science . He had written much ancl well , ancl though it is probable that his health had latterly prevented him from using his pen as

freely as of yore , he Avas a safe adviser in matters of Masonic practice ancl a learned teacher of Masonic doctrine . Moreover , he enjoyed what may certainly be described as the unique honour of having consecrated all the Lodges in the Province of Middlesex , Avhile he Avas an honorary

member of upwards of eighty Lodges and Chapters . Again , in the practice of that particular virtue which is so strictly enjoined on all Masons , Bro . Little had played his part Avorthily . He was a liberal supporter of all our Institutions , ancl had served many Stewardships , but especially

was this the case with that Institution with Avhich , for nearly six years past , his name had been associated . But need we say more in praise of him who is gone for ever

from among ns ? The mournful procession of his brethren moving sloAvly round the place of his burial , and casting their sprigs of acacia into his grave , is testimony sufficient to the love and esteem in which he was held .

He Avas , indeed , a Avorthy brother . As an officer of ono of our Schools , ho was distinguished by energy and ability ; as a Mason , he Avas a Avise ruler and a trustworthy counsellor ; as an exponent of our mysteries in various Masonic periodicals , he had the pen of a learned as well as of a fluent Avriter . To her Avho is left behind to

mourn his loss , Avho kneAV him most intimately , and must therefore feel the burden of her sorrow almost too heavy for her to bear , we offer our humble tribute of respect . We dare not intrude further on the privacy of her grief , but Ave take leave to say that at this supreme moment of her

agony , she must derive her chief consolation from the knoAvledgc that every Mason who has heard the name of Little associated it , as a matter of course , with the

successful administration of our oldest Charitable Institution ; Avhile those who knew him , loved and respected him the more deeply the more intimate was their knowledge of his many ancl amiable claims on their regard .

As a matter of course there are already several candidates in the field for the vacant Secretaryship of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . The names Avhich have

reached us thus far tire those of Bro . Hedges , Bro . C . FitzGerald Matier our genial and energetic " Peripatetic Brother , " Bro . H . A . Dubois , and Bro . Crick . The address of Bro . Matier Avill be found in our advertisement columns .

The Installation Meeting of the Langton Lodge , No . 1673 , Avas held on Wednesday evening at the Masonic Club , Queen Yictoria-street . Bro . H . D . Stead W . M . presided , and in due course installed , in a manner to be greatly commended , Bro . Jos .. Langton as his successor . The

Officers Avere then appointed , and later in the evening the brethren adjourned to a banquet , Avhich Avas in every way Avorthy of the Club cuisine and its excellent chef . A most pleasant evening was spent ; but owing to pressure on our space , a full report of the proceedings is held over till next Aveek .

We have received copies of some catalogues of Bro . Dick Radclyffe and Co ., the Avell known horticulturists and floral decorators , of 129 High Holborn . To most of our readers the name of this firm must be familiar , for at many of our Lodge meetings—the Etonian of Windsor is

a case Avhich occurs to us at the moment of Avriting—we have had opportunities of jud ging of their taste in floral decoration . A Masonic banquet room , well furnished Avith rare plants ancl floAvers , presents a very effective picture . It is certainly " a thing of beauty , " if not exactl y "a joy

for ever . ' Indeed , our readers may easily picture to themselves the prettiness of such a scene , ancl there are many and valid reasons Avhy , at onr festive gatherings , Ave should endeavour to minister to the pleasures of the eye as Avell as to those of the palate . As regards the catalogues to

Avhich Ave have referred , it will suffice if Ave say that they contain lists of every kind of kitchen-garden ancl floralgarden seeds , of choice plants and of all things roq lisite for effective floral decoration , Avhether for conservatories

, for AvindoAv-gardening , for rooms and halls , or for the garden , arbours , & c . ; ancl Ave commend them to the notice of those of our readers Avho have a taste for this particular form of pleasure .