Masonic Portraits. (No. 57.)

( No . 80 ) was held at the Angel , Macclesfield , having been constituted in the year 1731 . This connty then was in the short period of fourteen years in a position to boast of no less than four Lodges , and though the oldest existing Lodge dates from tho year 1754 , there can be no question that

Freemasonry , albeit its earliest Lodges have disappeared from the roll of Grand Lodge , was soon firmly established in this county . It is only indeed since tho year 1882 that a fifth Lodge , of whose establishment we have a record , has ceased to meet , namely , the Royal Chester Lodge , Chester ,

founded in the year 1738 , and No . 58 at the Union , No . 80 after the "Union , and No . 71 in 1832 . We may go further , and , without any wild stretch of the imagination , picture to ourselves some Masons from Cheshire being present in the Lodge at Warrington in Lancashire on that memorable

16 th October 1646 , when the antiquarian , Elias Ashmole , was made a Freemason by Mr . Richard Penket , the Warden , and the Fellow Crafts of the Lodge . At all events , the Colonel Henry Mainwaring , who was " made" at the same time with Ashmole , is described as of " Kerthingham in

Cheshire ; " therefore , even in those days the fame of Freemasonry had already made its way into Cheshire . All these points we have referred to are so many reasons why the present province of Cheshire should be entitled to our regard . Yet aro there other reasons equally valid . As

regards the number of its Lodges , it is especially well provided , having , according to Grand Lodge Calendar for this year , no less than thirty-nine of them , to eighteen of which are attached an equal number of R . A . Chapters . It has also been unusually fortunate in the rulers who have been

placed over it by onr Grand Masters . The predecessor of him who is now the representative of the Grand Master in this province , was one whose name will live in history , as long as there is a history of Great Britain . He ifc was who , as Sir Stapleton Cotton , covered himself with glory as the

Cavalry general of Wellington in the Peninsular campaigns ; and he it was who , in 1826 , reduced the previously impregnable fortress of Bhurtpore , and afterwards was rewarded with a peerage , by the style and title of Viscount Combermere . The memory of the late Field Marshal Viscount

Combermere , is , and ever will be , dear to all Englishmen , and the memory of Viscount Combermere , Prov . G . Master of Cheshire , is , and ever will be , equally dear to all English Freemasons , and especially to his Cestrian fellows , by whom he was beloved as a brother , and respected as their ruler .

In his successor , who is tho subject of our present sketch , and who has held his exalted position during some thirteen years , we see ono of whom the Province has every reason to be proud . He is a Mason of long standing , and during the period of his Provincial Grand Mastership no less

than eleven Lodges have been added to the roll of Prov . G . Lodge But the strength of Cheshire Freemasonry must not be judged solely from a numerical point of view . The support it extends towards our great Central

Charities is liberal and frequent , as a reference to the official lists of the several Institutions will show ; and what is equally , or in the eyes of many brethren even more to its credit , it has an educational Masonic Institute of its own , for the maintenance and education of the children of its

own indigent brethren . Thus , while in the minds of those who have given the matter any thought there never can have been any doubt thafc Cheshire holds a foremost rank among our Provinces , we have given the less informed brethren a sufficient batch of reasons for the proposition

with which we started , namely , that the Masonic Province of Chester is dear to the whole English Brotherhood . But it is time we began to trace the portrait of our respected brother . A few of the details of his career will suffice . When yet a student at Christ Church , Oxford ,

he was initiated into the mysteries of the first degree in Freemasonry . This was in the year 1831 , and the Lodge in which the auspicious event took place , we need hardly say , was the Apollo University , No . 357 . That he had a love for the Royal Art , and took the deepest interest in

its working , may be well imagined , and though we do not find any record of his official career in connection with his Mother Lodge , yet Cestrian Masons will tell ns with justifiable pride of tho admirable manner in Avhich he has

fulfilled the duties of every office he has held , whether subordinate or that of W . Master . That at an early period he received Provincial honours is likewise well known , while his name will be handed clown to future

generations m connection with the Province he has governed so well , seeing thafc one of its thirty-nine Lodges , held in the neighbourhood of his country seat , is named

Masonic Portraits. (No. 57.)

after him . But not only has he had bestowed upon him Provincial honours ; he has likewise been honoured by the G . Master himself , and rewards of this description are only bestowed on those whose prominence in the (' raft will Justify their bestowal . In 1850 he was appointed by

the late Grand Master tho Earl of Zetland to lie Grand Senior Warden of England . In 18 G 5 , on the death of Prov . G . Master the lato Viscount Combermere , he was appointed by the same G . Master to be his representative for the Province of Cheshire . Since then he has takon

an active interest in everything that could concern tho welfare of the Province . It was no lig ht task to succeed a Provincial Grand Master who had won such splendid popularity as the late Lord Combermere ; but , as years passed on , the brethren found they had a ruler who

was in every respect fit for the exalted post . Among tho qualities which tho occupant of such an office stands most in need of , are firmness combinedwith tact , and energy tempered by discretion . He should likewise be one who will

command respect , as much by the moderation of his counsels as by his general capacity as a counsellor . In all these respects , onr brother has shown himself worthy of the great honour conferred upon him .

Nor have his labours been confined to simple Craft Freemasonry . He is , indeed , what has been described by another member of our Society , a Constitutional Mason , and we search in vain for any trace of his connection with Templar , High Grade and other Masonic bodies , but in Royal Arch

Masonry he has attained as high distinction as in Craft . We need not speak of his work in subordinate Chapters , for of its merits we may judge from tho high rank he holds in his Province and in the Supreme Grand Chapter ; being in the

former the Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter —to which Office he was appointed in 1808 ; while in the latter he is Grand J ., having been nominated to that position in 1875 , when His Royal Highness was installed Grand Z ., and having been annually reappointed since .

Having now mentioned the several official claims ho possesses to the respect of all Craft and Arch Masons , we will notice him in connection with our several Charitable

Institutions . Of each and every of these he is a firm and liberal supporter , and has filled the office of Steward for each of them . He is , moreover , President of the Prov . Educational Masonic Institntion , to which allusion has already

been made . Nor is he President in name only . He is one of its most liberal supporters , and takes an active and most energetic part in promoting its welfare , while his lady is one of the two lady Patronesses . But why say more ? The mere enumeration of our brother ' s titles in Craft and

Arch Masonry , and the part he has played m connection with our Masonic Charities , both central and local , are evidence of his sterling qualities , and though his career as a Mason will , at no great distance of time , extend over half a century , we trust he may yet be spared to us for many

a year to adorn that society of which he has been so long a worthy and an honoured member . As a member of the hereditary House of Parliament , in his Connty , and as a Mason , he is loved and respected by all who are brought in

contact with him . More than this can be said of no man ; or rather to attempt to say more than this would be to descend from the praise which is just , to the adulation which is fulsome .

The Society Of French Cooks.

THE SOCIETY OF FRENCH COOKS .

THE Twenty-tbird Annual Ball of the Cnisiuicra Franeais was held on Thursday , the IGth inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , and was numerously attended . The object of this annual gathering is—Charity : any surplus monies accruing are handed to the French Hospital and the Snciete Franeais . The assembly was a brilliant one . and the Crown and Sussex rooms were filled . A sumptuous and recherche supper was provided by Bro . A . Host , under the superintendence of Bro . Burlet . The tables were artistically

decorated , and blocks of ice were provided by Bro . Shingleton , in the shape of Cleopatra ' s Needle , surrounded by ferns ; imparting a delicious coolness , and , moreover , presenting a novelty . M . Yallefc occupied the chair , and Bro . C . W . Parsons , in felicitous terms , proposed tho health of that gentlemen . Bro . H . M . Levy proposed the health of the Stewards , coupling with the toast the names of Bros . Penefc , Francois , Le Gendre , and Burlet , whose exertions had contributed to the comfort of the Visitors and to the success of the

ball . M . Pierre Calkin ' s band discoursed most eloquent mnsic , and the efficiency of the M . C . ' s , Bros . Tripp and Harris , received full recognition . Among those present were Bros . Lakin , C . W . Parsons , Gianelli , De Bouf , Forge , Peuet , Francois , Le Gendre , Bonyard , Thotimire , Bordereti , Gon , Fournier , Beaver , Baton , H . M , Levy , & c