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. „ jCT SATURDAY , 25 TH NOVEMBER 1893 .

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1 he Fund of Benevolence had heavy calls made upon it at the monthly meeting on Wednesday , no less than 59 petitions requiring consideration . After a meeting extending over 5 h hours a total of £ 1 , 210 was voted , to fifty- one of the applicants .

We are pleased to have the opportunity of offering a special word of praise to the brethren of the St . John ' s Lodge , _ No . 1306 , whose efforts on behalf of the Charities entitle them to the warmest congratulation .

A great part of the success so far achieved is to be traced to the working of the Charitable Association connected with the Lodge , the contributions to the Charities from this source alone reaching the

handsome total of 4 * 527 during the last three years . This is , indeed , a gratifying result , especially in view of the manner in which it is raised , —mainly by subscriptions of Is per week !

The nomination of Bro . Shurmur for the office of Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of England was one of the chief topics of conversation on the occasion of the Installation meeting of the Shurmur Chapter , held on Thursday , at Chingford . It was but natural

enthusiasm should prevail at this meeting in regard to the outlook , and the probable success of the distinguished Companion who has given his name to both a Lodge and a Chapter in Essex . As we have

said before he will prove a hard candidate to beat , if he goes on with his candidature , and one feeling of regret in connection with the coming contest is that two such distinguished Masons as Bro . Shurmur and

Bro . W . M . Stiles should ajmarcntly act in opposition to each other by both running for the same appointment . However , we aro convinced the struggle will be a friendly one and whichever wins he may rely on having the congratulations of his defeated competitor .

We offer our congratulations to Bro . John Mason , "well known throughout English Freemasonry by reason of his association with the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on his re-appointment to the office of Worshipful Master of the Elliot Lodge ,

No . lobv , ot which he was the hrst W . M . It was a pleasing idea to re-appoint so distinguished a Craftsman to the chief office at the one hundreth meeting of the Lodge , and we cordially endorse the wish

expressed on that occasion that he may be spared to receive a similar honour when the 200 th meeting is celebrated . A report of the gathering is given elsewhere in this issue .

In another part of this issue we reprint an article from the Catholic Times which deserves attention chiefly because of the absurdity of the views put forward . It is very much to be regretted the Eomish (

opponents ox lreemasomy do not get a proper knowledge of their subject before they attempt to address their remarks to English audiences . To talk as did tbe speaker we quote , to a company of Englishmen .

is very much like addressing an audience in this country and arguing with them as if they were cannibals ; W' wild Indians . The Freemasonry known to the !

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fanatics of the Romish Church is as different to that of our country as our civilisation is to that of Central Africa , and to assume that it is the same

thing not only displays gross ignorance , but nullifies the force of any arguments that are put forward .

Obituary.

Obituary .

IT is with deep regret we have to announce tho death of Bro . the Rev . John Room , M . A ., P . P . G . O . West Yorkshire , which , occurred at Eastwood Vicarage , Keighley , on Monday night last , after a lingering illness . Born at Dewsbury on the 20 th of Februrary 1820 , tho poetical bent of

— : u ;—• BRO . THE REV . JOHN ROOM , M . A ., P . P . G . O .

his mind manifested itself very early , and when only fourteeu years of age several of his productions bad found their way iuto the public prints At fifteen ho wrote some verses on tho death of the Rev . J . Duckworth , vicar of I Dewsbury , which were published in pamphlet form with

[ immense success . A year or two later be contributed poems ! to the " Family Herald . " At twenty he married , and soon I after entered the scholastic profession , whioh he prosecuted for some seven or eight years . In 1848 he entevod St . John ' s College , Cambridge , and graduated B . A . in January 1852 ,

obtaining his M . A . degreo forty years afterwards . In 1852 he was ordained Deacon by Dr . Longley , Bishop of Ripon , and priest the year following . The curacy to which he was ordained was Keighley , at that time under the incumbency of the Rev . W . Busfeild , M . A ., rector . After 15 months '

service as curate , he was appointed by the Bishop to the living of Eastwood , Keighley , which he has held for thirtynine years . A few months ago he resigned the living ou account of failing health . On 20 th February 1890 , the deceased clergyman gave an " at home" at his

newlyerected residence , iu celebration of the double event of his golden wedding aud his seventieth birthday , and the occasion was taken advantage of by his congregation and friends to present him with an address and an escritoire . Duriner his louer

vicariate his poetic pen was not allowed to lie idle , for since publishing a book of " Random Rhymes" in 1854 , he had contributed scores of pieces to the press . Ia 1882 he published a book entitled " Tho Recollections of a Worsted Inspector . " In descriptive poetry ho held a high position ,

and was also noted as a satirist . It is thought that his works vvheu published will make a volume of from four t ) five huudrcd pagos . Deceased was au enthusiastic Freemason , aud Chaplaiu to the Koighley lodge . Many yeirs ago he was appointed Provincial Grand Chaplain , a

distinction of which he was always proud . The funeral of the deceased took place at Keighley , on Wednesday , whoa a largo number . of friends and Masonic brethren assembled

to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of Bro . Room . In another part of our paper will be found au In Memoriam Sonnet by Bro . Dr . Forshaw , an old aud valued friend of Bro . Boom ' s .

BPvO . THOMAS STANFORD . ON Monday afternoon , tho mortal remains of Bro . T . Stanford who was for upwards of 40 years tho general maniger of the Gospel Oak Ironworks , Wolverhampton , were laid to rest in tho family vault at Christ Church , Coseley , amidst

every token of respect . Tho deceased Brother , who was 74 years of age , was well known throughout the Black country , though of late years he had practically retired from public

life . He had beeu a member of Noah ' s Ark Lodge for upwards of 25 years , and passed tho chair therein . The funeral was attended by members of his Lodgo , which also sent a handsome wreath .

Every Masonic Lodge has its Tyler ( or Tiler as it is occasionally spelt ) hub that of the Bard of Avon can especially lay claim to call its own the newest Brother

Tyler of all , in the Lord Mayor , who somewhat later thau usual in life has taken upon himself the oaths , the secrets , and tho duties of the aucient and mystical fraternity . — World .