Devonshire Provincial Mastership.

DEVONSHIRE PROVINCIAL MASTERSHIP .

VISCOUNT EBEINGTON , who for many years has been Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire , has intimated to the Grand Master his intention to resign that position in consequence of the pressure of other engagements . The announcement has been received with general regret , as his

lordship is held in great esteem throughout the Province . Ifc is probable , says the " Daily News , " that the office will be conferred on Sir Stafford Northcote , C . B ., M . P ., who has for a long period filled the position of Provincial Grand Master of Mark Masons in Devon , and his appointment to preside over the Craft would be hailed with satisfaction throughout the Province .

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

ON the 15 th , a Masonie Sunday , promoted by the Phoenix Lodge , No . 94 , Brother M . Cohen W . M ., was held for the benefit of the Sunderland Orphan Asylum . The invitation was a general one to Masons , and no doubt but for the unfavourable weather at the hour fixed for meeting afc the Masonic Hall , Toward Eoad , the attendance would have been larger , says the

" Sunderland Herald . " As it was between forty-five and fifty Brethren put in an appearance . They walked in procession to Sunderland Parish Church , where the Eector preached a sermon on the training up of a child in the way he should go . He pointed out that the lads brought up and educated in the Orphan

Asylum were put on the rough road to fit them for the battle of life , and were taught to be good men . He also referred incidentally to the fact that when fche last old boys were invited to meet at fche Asylum or to give some idea of how they were

progressing m life satisfactory answers were received from all but two . The offertory at the close of the service amounted to £ 7 odd . Afterwards the Masons visited fche Asylum , and were shown over the building by the Eector , who , on the initiative of Mr . W . Watson , was thanked for his sermon .

We are pleased to have further evidence thafc Bro . F . T . C . Keeble , who made a name for himself in London Masonic circles as Worshipful Master of the Great City Lodge , No . 1426 , has not abated his interest in the Craft since his removal to

Inverness , where he has resided for some years past , and as proof that he is as much appreciated there as he was in London we may refer to his recent election as Provincial Grand Bible Bearer of Inverness-shire , an honour in Scottish Masonry we hope he will long live to enjoy .

The installation meeting of the New Concord Lodge , No . 813 , was held on Thursday , at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham Street , when Bro . Herbert Sprake W . M . presided and

initiated two gentlemen into Freemasonry . Bro . H . D . Blake was subsequently installed into the chair by Bro . C . Weeden , and the Officers for the year appointed . We hope to give a full report of the meeting in our next issue .

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

YEEY unexpectedly the death occurred on Monday , 9 fch inst ., of Brother Eichard Thomas Nye , a long established Brighton tradesman , and one of fche oldest members of the Eoyal York Lodge , who succumbed to an attack of influenza .

COUNCILLOE JACOBS , Birmingham , died afc his residence , The Eookery , Handsworth , on Monday night . Brother Jacobs was born in Sheffield , in 1839 , and was consequently fifty-seven years of age . He was a very active member of the Craft , of which he was a Past Master .

ON the 17 th inst . the funeral of the late Bro . Williax Coxon , of Allergate , Durham , took place at St . Margaret ' s Cemetery , Durham , and was very largely attended , especially by members of the Masonic Order , of which the deceased for many years had been a prominent representative . The body was conveyed by road from Newcastle , where Bro . Coxon died , and

was met afc the entrance to the city by members of the Marquis of Granby , Norman , and other Lodges , of the former of which the deceased was a member . At the graveside the hymn " Days and moments quickly flying" was sung , and the Masonic

composition , " May we all meet in the Grand Lodge above " was also rendered . A number oi beautiful wreaths were sent , including one from the members of the Marquis of Granby Lodge , and each Mason dropped a sprig of acacia into the open grave in accordance with Masonic custom .

The Regalia Of The Grand Masters.

THE REGALIA OF THE GRAND MASTERS .

THE following interesting particulars are given in last week's issue of " Answers " : " Yes , " said Mr . George Kenning , tho head of the great Masonic firm of Kenning and Son , of Little Britain , in conversation with an "Answers " representative one day recently , " we have manufactured the regalia for all the Grand Masters of the past half-century . Here "—pointing to a beautiful piece of work in blue and gold— " is a duplicate of the apron worn by the

Prince of Wales at his installation . It cost 30 guineas . The chain and callar is worth 200 guineas , the guantlets 10 guineas , and so on in proportion Altogether His Royal Highness ' s full-dress Masonic regalia cost about 400 guineas , and every single article came from our own workshops . In design it is precisely similar to that we supplied to the Marquis of Ripon , the Grand Master who preceded the Prince of Wales .

" Here are some expensive gavels , or mallets , for the chairmen of meetings . They are of solid ivory , and cost 10 guineas apiece . Over in that corner is an exceedingly handsome banner we are making for the Transvaal Doornfontein Lodge , 2585 . Curiously enough , " added Mr . Kenning , leading the way to an adjoining room , " we are , at the present moment , designing the colour for a new Boer regiment—the Pretoria Volunteer Cavalry . Here it is . " And we paused in front of a handsome standard , made of red , white , and green silk , the Boer national colours .

It was indeed a very gorgeous affair , with a typical burgher in the foreground , leaning against a trekking-waggon , and underneath the motto , " Eendragt Maakt Magt . " " Then you do not confine yourself exclusively to Masonic regalia ? " I asked .

" Oh , dear no , " replied Mr . Kenning , with a smile . " We could hardly keep three hundred hands—which is the number we employ—busy on that alone . Our business includes everything connected with the manufacture of gold and silver lace , embroidery , banners , and standards , military and naval decorations and uniforms , presentation caskets , badges , and so forth . "

THE OLD MASONIANS . THE old boys of our School at Wood Green spent a very pleasant evening on Friday , 13 th inst ., when they held their annual concert in aid of the Benevolent and Grant Fund of the Association at their headquarters , Anderton ' s Hotel . The President Bro . 0 . E . Keyser , J . P ., P . G . D . presided over the gathering , which consisted of a very fair number of members and their lady friends .

A capital programme had been provided . Miss Amy Sadler charmingly rendered " Will become " ( Sullivan ) and " Rory O'More " ( Lover ); Miss Lily Winch delighted everybody with her two songs " In the chimney corner " and " Rory Darlin , " and Miss Blanche Dunnett , G . S . M ., proved her thorough mastery of the instrument in ber brilliant playing of the pianoforte solo " Pluie de Corail" ( Durand de Grau ) . The programme was further contributed to by Bro . C . Patrick O'Doherty ( O . M . ) who sang " In love and

War" ( Dandridge ) , and in conjunction with Mr . H . W . Orchard admirably rendered the duet "Themoon hath raised her lamp above " ( Benedict ) . Mr . H . W . Orchard also sang " I seek for thee in every flower " ( Ganz ) . The Curfew Glee Singers were a great success in their rendering of " The Banks of Allan Water , " "Simple Simon" and " The Catastrophe , " earning welldeserved applause . Messrs . S . Hunt and A . H . Evans gave the duet " Excelsior" ( Balfe ) , and were heartily encored . Mr . Wynne Morgan ably contributed " I'll sing the songs of Araby " ( Day ) .

Of the humorous portion Brother J . B . Sarjeant created a good deal oi amusement with his two recitations " Fernando and Elvira " and " Gentle Alice Brown " ( W . S . Gilbert ); Mr . Fred Rome , F . O . S ., also caused much laughter with his comic songs " Ye simple Maiding" and " Ye scientific Man . " We must not forget to mention that the chairman Bro . Keyser also joined in the concert by contributing two songs " The Widow Malone " and " John Peel , " the audience heartily taking up the chorus of the latter .

At the close of the concert Mr . R . S . Chandler Hon . Treas ., in a brief speech pointed out that the object of the Benevolent Fund was to assist ex-pupils of the Royal Masonic School in after life . He also drew the attention of members to the presence of three who he considered were amongst the staunchest supporters of their old School , namely their president Bro . Keyser Treasurer of the School , their past president Bro . Geo . Everett

Vice-Chairman of the Board of Management , and their past president Bro . J . Morrison McLeod , the School's energetic Secretary . Mr . Chandler , before concluding , thanked Bro . Keyser for presiding , and said the Old Masonians were proud to have the Treasurer of their School as their president , and hoped he would often come amongst them . He also thanked the artistes for the able entertainment they had given during the evening .

Bro . 0 . E . Keyser , in response , said he was very glad to he present , for holding the position he did in connection with the School he naturally felt the keenest interest in the Association , which he looked upon as an outcome of part of their Masonic system . He said he thoroughly understood the need of such an Association , and the good work it was able to do in giving a helping hand to young men at what was probably the most critical period of their lives . He added that he was glad to notice that several of the members had recently become members of the Craft .

The evening concluded with the singing of the National Anthem . Mr . Chandler further announced that contributions to the Benevolent and Grant Fund had been received from Brothers Keyser , Colonel Lambert , and Vassar-Smith , also that Bro . Ewen Treasurer of the South Middlesex Lodge had intimated to him during the evening that his Lodge had decided to make an annual grant of one guinea towards the Fund .

The oldest Freemason is still thafc Dr . William Salmon to whom a year ago Mr . Gladstone sent " sincere wishes for here and hereafter ; " and he has just entered upon his 107 th year . In this exceptional case of longevity there is much to interest the profession fco which Dr . Salmon belongs ; for though he is out of bed for nine hours in the day only , thafc

is from noon till 9 p . m ., he sleeps both soundly and long , and keeps a hearty appetite . His own opinion of this excellent health is , of course , that he owes it in the first place to a fine constitution never abused , and next to his having left off smoking at ninety . Tobacco made him wakeful ; but he takes his daily modicum of wine at dinner with an excellent effect .