Joan Of Arc. Conflicting Testimony About Her Having Been Burnt.

straight sword , a crown and handle of gold , and two fleiw-de . Ha at the side of the sword , of whioh a receiver of Vancouleur gave M de Caselis a painted oopy . The front of the small house in whioh she was born is covered with representations of her different exploits , but time has greatly defaced the painting . There is also a tree with a vine up it , which is called the " Maid's tree ; " but there

is nothing else remarkable about it . —Montaigne ' s Essays , by William Hazlitt , printed by William Amies , Philadelphia . Page 557 . From the above we can reasonably infer , first , that in 1580 Montaigne was ignorant of the legend of Joan ' s martyrdom ; second , that the inn-keeper , the priest , the schoolmaster , and the people generally of Joan ' s birthplace , were also ignorant of the said

martyrdom . Third , the painter of " her different exploits , " and those who engaged him to paint ( which must have been done many years previous to Montaigne ' s visit to Domremy ) , mnst also have been ignorant of the burning legend . And , fourth , the diary not only furnishes negative evidence , but positive evidenoe too . Montaigne ' s allusion to Joan ' s descendants , fully confirms Delepierre ' s statement about her marriage ; for , as no one ever disputed Joan's ohastity ,

her descendants were doubtless legitimately begotten . The legend of Joan ' s martyrdom probably originated in the brain of a wandering minstrel or troubadour , who turned it into a song , which Shakespeare , or some earlier dramatic writer wove into the play of Henry VI ., whioh a subsequent historian embodied into a history , and which hundreds of other historical writers have since then copied and embellished in good faith , each according to his own bias or notion .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . WILLIAM H . JONES .

THE death is announced of Bro . William J ± . Jones , who was recently one of the lessees of the Alexandra Palace , and also of Covent Garden Theatre during the Autumn Series of Promenade Concerts . The unfortunate effects of bad weather on the former undertaking , resulting

in the failure of the lessees some months since , and the consequent excitement and anxiety acting on a somewhat nervous temperament , doubtless brought about the attack of heart disease from which Bro . Jones had been confined

to his room for some days past , and from which he expired on Saturday morning , at the early age of thirty-nine . Previous to his connection with the Alexandra Palace he had been many years before the public , first as assistant in the

management of the Crystal Palace , Sydenham ; afterwards as manager of , and subsequently partner in , the firm of C . T . Brock and Co ., the pyrotechnists , whom he represented in India for tbe rejoicings during the Prince of Wales ' s

tour . His loss will be very deeply felt by his widow and family , as well as by a large number of sympathising friends . Bro . Jones was initiated in the Kilburn Lodge , No . 1608 , on tbe 28 th March 1881 .

Mr . J . G . Chambers , editor of Land and Water , and proprietor of the Lillie Bridge Grounds , was buried on Thursday , 8 th inst ., in Brompton Cemetery , in the presence of a large concourse of friends and relatives , assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to his memory . Many of onr readers must be well aware that Mr . Chambers had been

for many years past a conspicuous figure in the world of sport . His proprietorship of the Lillie Bridge Grounds gave him opportunities such as fall to the lot of few to promote healthy and honourable sport , and it is DO mere figure of speech to say that he made the most of those

opportunities . He set his face most decidedly against everything that had even the semblance of being of a questionable character , and by his invariably upright and honourable conduct he did more than any other man of his time to elevate the tone of athleticism . Mr , Chambers

was educated at Eton and Trinity College , Cambridge , and during his University career rowed two consecutive years against Oxford . In the days when Mr . Goldie , as stroke of the Cambridge eight , succeeded in turning the tables on the Dark Blues , and wresting from them the victory which

had been theirs during so many successive years , Mr . Chambers acted as coach to the Light Blue Crews , and to him therefore necessarily belongs a large share of the honour then gained by his University . He was also a great encourager of Brother

Captain Webb , of Channel fame ; in short , whether it was rowing , cricket , hunting , shooting , football , or other sport , Mr . Chambers's help was sure to be forthcoming , so

long as everything was honourable and straightforward . It will be a long time before we look upon his like again , for energy , activity , and zeal , combined with thorough practical and theoretical experience , as a genuine all round sportsman .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

ST . ANDREW LODGE , No . 418 S . C .

AT the regular monthly communication of St . Andrew Lodge , held at Auckland , New Zealand , on 12 th January , the principal business was the installation of Officers for the ensuing year . There was a fair attendance of members , and a number of visiting brethren were present to take part in the proceedings and offer their congra . tnlations . Amongst the visitors were Bros , the Bev . C . M . Nelson P . M . Prince of Wales , Munro P . M . Rodney , E . Kiohards Rodney , Kitt

W . M . Eden , and other representatives of city , suburban , and country Lodges . A number of apologies were received , amongst others from Bro . G . P . Pierce R . W . M . I . G ., and the Masters , Past Masters , and Officers of various Lodges who were unable to attend owing to ill health or other causes . Bro . Malcolm Niccol officiated as Installing Master , and having re-obligated the R . W . M . Bro . Salter , the latter

proceeded to invest his Officers as follow : — Bros . R . B . Symons D . M ., J . F . Bulford J . W ., T . Ellison P . M . Treasurer , R . Knight Seore . tary , J . Robaon S . D ., W . H . Clarke J . D ., Williams and MoQuarrie Senior Stewards , A . J . Fisher I . G ., Captain Tonge Tyler . Brother R . Kaye S . W . elect was not invested , owing to his absenoe from the colony as mail agent , and Bro . the Rev . F . Gould ,

Chaplain elect , was also absent . Brother Dr . Walker was invested as Organist , and conduoted the musical portion of the ceremony . The Lodge having been duly closed , the brethren adjourned to a banquet in the banquet room of the hall . The R . W . M . presided , and was supported on his right by the D . M . and Brother Munro P . M . Rodney Lodge , and on the left by Bro . the Rev . C . M . Nelson P . M .

Prince of Wales E . C . An excellent spread was provided by Bro . MoEwen , and ample justice was done to it . After the oloth was cleared , the Chairman , oallingonthe brethren to charge their glasses , proposed the toast of The Queen and Craft . This was followed by the toasts of H . R . H . tbe Prinoe of Wales M . W . G . M . of England , Earl of Mar and Kelley M . W . G . M . of Scotland , and Duke of

Abercorn M . W . G . M . of Ireland . These toasts were responded to with Mason io honours , and appropriate musical selections . Bro . Hitohins , who occupied the vice chair , proposed the toast of the Provincial and District Grand Lodges of New Zealand . He referred to the unity which bound the three Constitutions together here , and the good feeling which had always prevailed . Bro . the Rev . C . M . Nelson

responded on behalf of the Very Worshipful Grand Master of the Distriot Grand Lodge E . C , Brother Graham . He was sorry Bro . Graham was not present . The reason probably that so many were absent that night was , that so many occasions of this sort had occurred recently that brethren could not attend them all . He thanked them heartily for the manner in whioh they had drunk the

toast of the Distriot Grand Master ' s health , He was sorry they now saw so little of him , on account of hia reBidenoe in Wellington , but that he was a good Mason they all knew . Brother NelBon then referred to tho benefits whioh had acorned to Masonry here since the establishment of the D . G . Lodge of England and the P . G . Lodge of Scotland . Some thought there was only room for one P . G .

Lodge , but since the establishment of the other two , there had been created a generons rivalry which livened them up , and they all worked amicably together ; and long might it so remain . Brother W . Robinson responded on behalf of Brother the Hon . F . Whitaker P . G . M ., aud for the P . G . Lodge S . C . The toast of the Masters of Auckland Lodges was proposed by Bro . Munro , and responded to by

Brother Kitt , W . M . of Eden Lodge . Brother the Rev . C . M . Nelson , in proposing the toast of the evening , The W . M . of Lodge St . Andrew , said he felt honoured in being called upon to propose this toast . They were met to do honour to the re-installation of Bro . Slator as W . M . of Lodge St . Andrew , and it afforded him the more pleasure to propose the toast , for Brother Slator was well known to

him personally—perhaps longer known to him than to any one there that night . He had known Brother Slator sinoe he came to the colony , and had the highest esteem for him in his private life , and although they worked under different Constitutions of Freemasonry , and did not meet perhaps so often as they ought , it gave him great pleasure to propose the toast . The position of Master of a Lodge

was one of great honour . It was also one of great responsibility . It taxed the ability of tbe Master , and bis patience , and it proved the man . It must be a matter of great congratulation to the W . M . to have been re-elected , and he heartily wished him and his Lodge a prosperous and successful year . Brother Slator , in responding , returned his hearty and heartfelt thanka for the manner in which

the toast of his health had been responded to , and for the kindly way in which it had been proposed by hia worthy and esteemed friend , Brother Nelson . He trusted he might deserve the good character given him by Bro . Nelson ; at all events , he wonld endeavour to do so . No man was infallible , and he may have made mistakes , but he hoped the brethren would give him credit for trying

to do his best for the benefit of St . Andrew s Lodge in particular , and Masonry in general . It was a great pleasure to him to do anything he could for Masonry . He liked his own Constitution best , probably because it was his mother Constitution , and he trusted they would have a flourishing year at St . Andrew ' s , and that the brethren would unite in furthering the interests of the Lodge and Masonry in

general . He regretted there were so few Masters of Lodges present , but many of them had sent apologies . He again thanked them for the cordial and heartfelt manner in whioh they had responded to the toast of his health , and for the honourable position in which they had placed him as Master of the Lodge St . Andrew for the ensuing twelve months . It proved to him that anything he had done in the past

year for the advancement and interest of the Lodge was appreciated . The toasts of the Installing Master , Visiting Brethren , and the Tyler ' s toast , " Poor and Distressed Brethren all over the World , " followed . A very pleasant evening was spent . Dr . Walker presided at the piano . Numerous songs were sung and some recitations were given , and nothing was left wanting which could condnoe to the enjoyment of those present .