A Masonic Jubilee.

A MASONIC JUBILEE .

AN interesting feature of the Installation meeting ot the Perfect Friendship Lodge , No . 376 , Ipswich , on Wednesday , 16 th inst , was a presentation to Bro . N . Tracy P . M . Prov . G . Sec . Suffolk , to commemorate the Jubilee of his

membership of the Lodge . It was made on behalf of the members by Bro . S . R . Anness P . M . P . P . G . S . W ., who said they all felt that such an occasion should be specially marked in some way . Bro . Tracy was initiated in that Lodge fifty years ago , and had continued a subscribing member ever

since . He thought this was a record of which the Lodge might be proud , especially when they recollected the devotion with which Bro . Tracy had served the Lodge , and the very valuable help he had always rendered to it . It would , he

was sure , be very gratifying to Bro . Tracy to know that practically all the members had contributed to the little present he had the pleasure to hand to Bro . Tracy—a handsome silver tobacco jar , suitably inscribed—and they trusted it would be a source of comfort to him for many years to

come . Bro . Tracy , on rising to acknowledge the gift , received a perfect ovation . He was , however , so overcome by his feelings that it was some minutes before he was able to reply . He said he could not find words in which adequately

to thank the Brethren for the mark of their esteem , and he trusted under the circumstances they would excuse his addressing them at any length . He should value their gift

most highly . Amongst the large gathering of Brethren on the occasion were Bro . John E . Cheese W . M . 51 and Bro . Arthur Turner J . W . 51 .

Concert In Belfast.

CONCERT IN BELFAST .

BRILLIANT as a social gathering , and eminently happy as a " musical evening" of the season , was the Masonic concert held on Wednesday evening , 16 th inst ., in the Ulster Hall , Belfast . That which was present was

probably the most distinguished assembly which has come together in Belfast for a considerable period . While the auditory embraced the chief Officers of the Order in Ireland , with those of course of Lodge 88 . The general public were

largely represented by quite a number of ladies and gentlemen of note . Unfortunately illness prevented the Earl of Shaftesbury , the Provincial Grand Master-designate , from attending ; the Duke of Abercorn M . W . Grand Master of Ireland was conducted to the chair by a procession .

The concert was in aid of the Masonic Orphan Boys School Century Fund .

The manner in which the events of the moment are occasionally crystallised in the names of newly-warranted Freemasons' Lodges has escaped the notice of the historian , but it is curiously interesting nevertheless . In the course of 1 9 , for instance , among the many fresh Lodges established

under the Warrant of the Grand Lodge' of England , one called after Lord Roberts was founded at Somerset , as well as the Alfred Milner Lodge at Muizenberg , both in South Africa ; while the Cecil Rhodes Lodge at Bulawayo was a fruit of the previous year , as was the Lord Kitchener Lodge

at Greenwich . Victorious generals have been recognised in this fashion , indeed , for a century and a half . The Marquis of Granby so distinguished himself at the battle of Minden , in 1759 , that he was made Commander-in-Chief , and in 1763 a Marquis of Granby Lodge was founded at

Durham , and still exists . Later in the eighteenth century a Nelson of the Nile Lodge attested , at Batley , the popular admiration for a naval hero ; as a Wellington Lodge , warranted at Rye in 1814 , did that for a military victor ; while the Wolseley Lodge , at Manchester , in 1883 carried

on the tradition , and honoured the late Commander-in-Chief very speedily after his success at Tel-el-Kebir . And not the least interesting of such crystallisations is the Prince

Frederick William Lodge , founded in London , in 1858 , and in its name commemorating the marriage of the late Emperor Frederick to our own Princess Royal . —" The Westminster Gazette . "

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

''A SPRIG OF ACACIA . ''

ON the 23 rd ult there passed away in his 62 nd year Bro . J . J . Cantle , who died at his residence , 41 Holland Road , Kensington . Bro , Cantle attended an Audit meeting on

''A Sprig Of Acacia.''

Wednesday , 19 th ult , and was in his usual robust state of health , but no doubt caught a chill on his way home , which developed inflammation , and he passed peacefully away on the following Sunday , in the presence of his wife and family , also his old and highly esteemed friend Bro . R . H . Rogers

P . M . 1791 . Beneath an exterior that at times seemed a little brusque there beat a very kindly heart , and to know Brother Cantle was indeed a pleasure . He was initiated into the Craft many years ago ; was P . M . of the Grosvenor Lodge , No . 1257 , one of the founders and P . M . of the Ivy Lodge ,

No . 144 1 , also a founder of the Creaton Lodge , No . 1791 and its Secretary since its Consecration in 1878 . In Royal Arch Masonry Companion Cantle was P . Z ., and a most able worker in the Industry Chapter , No . 1 S 6 . Flis brisk and

cheery presence will be greatly missed in the large circle of his Masonic Brethren , but at no meetings more than those of the Creaton Lodge , for Bro . Cantle always looked after the comfort of the visitors and members . Music was one of

his studies , and to its cultivation he devoted many leisure hours . Being possessed of a very fine voice he was always in a position to arrange with professional Brethren and artistes , and the excellent musical programmes at the

Creaton Lodge meetings were carried out solely under his direction . Bro . Cantle was a most zealous and energetic Freemason , always active in the cause of charity , had served the office of Steward several times and was Life Governor

of the three Institutions . He was a great supporter , both in votes and canvassing , of the West London Masonic Election Association since its foundation in 1893 . The burial took place on Friday , 28 th ult , at Acton Cemetery , and the coffin

was covered with wreaths from those who respected and loved him . Many Brethren , in spite of the shocking weather , attended at the cemetery to pay a last sad token of respect to their departed Brother .

THE death occurred on the 16 th inst ., of Brother Alderman Thomas Walton , of Stockton , in his eightieth year . He was a member' of the Stockton Town Council for twenty-four years , and was elected an alderman on the extension of the borough in 1889 . He held the office of

Mayor in 1895-6 . For oyer thirty years he was an overseer of the poor , and he was one of the oldest Freemasons in the town , being a member of the Lodge of Philanthropy , No . 940 , of which he was Worshipful Master in 1873 .

Until 1897 he enjoyed good health , but then had a paralytic stroke , which left him infirm . On Friday , nth inst , he was attacked in the same way , and he gradually sank . He was three times married , and leaves a widow , one son , and four daughters .

A PAINFUL sensation was caused in the Halifax district on Saturday , by the death of Bro . Alderman Gaukroger , which took place that morning at his residence , Fernside , after a few minutes illness . Aid . Gaukroger , who was in

his sixty-fifth year , had been a member of the Halifax Town Council since 1890 , and was elected an alderman in 1895 . He was also a borough magistrate and an ex-President of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce . Pie was a P . M . of

Probity Lodge , No . 61 . THE death recently occurred of Bro . C . L . Carson , proprietor and editor of " The Stage , " Past Master of the Drury Lane Lodge , who succumbed after a long and terribly

painful illness . Bro . Carson was born in 1847 , was in early life engaged in the laboratory of the Liverpool public analyst . He afterwards made his appearance as a baritone vocalist in opera and oratorio , and had also long experience as an actor , manager , dramatist , and journalist .

In Memoriam.

In Memoriam .

QUEEN VICTORIA . Ourr , 22 nd January u ; oi . No mortal sorrow is akin to ours , Nor words , nor thoughts our feelings can portray ; Grim Death , 'fore whom the mightiest shrinks and cowers Ne ' er took a soul so much beloved away . Language is weak , the very sense is numb ,

We feel the awesomeness of Death ' s Abyss , We strive to speak—the fluent tongue is dumb For never grief was likened unto this . Well may we mourn a mighty monarch dead ,

A world in anguish is our world to-ni ght , Yet comfort comes—her Queenly soul has fled Into a Lovelier Land of Life and Light . So dry the tears and hush the throbbing breast Peace now is hers—Peace and Eternal Rest ! Bradford , sznd January igoi , CIJAS . F . FQKSHAW , LL . D