The Prov.Grand Master Of Warwickshire.

told him he might have a rabbit if he would ask for it , and added : "Now you go down to the kitchen and get some bread and cheese and beer , and don't you come here again . "

The Prince of Wales' cruise to the West will include a visit to Plymouth , in order that his Royal Highness may have an opportunity of witnessing the series of annual regattas which commence on Monday next , and last

throughout the week . The Prince will be the guest of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall Past Deputy Grand Master of England , who has specially hired two steam launches for the Prince ' s use .

The Grand Lodge of Virginia , U . S . A ., has invited the Grand Lodges in Australasia to be represented on the occasion of the grand meeting next year to mark the centenary of the death of Grand Master George Washington , which took place on 14 th December 1790 . The invitation

was sent through the senior Grand Lodge—that of New South Wales—and the Grand Master Sir J . P . Abbott suggested that if representatives could not be sent from the various Grand Lodges some prominent Mason might , perhaps ,

be induced to attend the ceremonies , which will take place at Mount Vernon . As there is no hurry about making arrangements , the Victorian Grand Lodge has allowed the matter to stand over for the present .

A correspondent , who signs himself , or herself , " No Nanie "—it is impossible to distinguish the sex of the writer from the back-handed scrawl in pencil—sends us a terrible warning , which only finds parallel in our recollection in the denunciations of Solomon Eagle . He , or she . states that

several communications have been sent to the custodians of the "Masonic Hall" ( Freemasons' Hall ?) to the effect that a terrific storm is brewing , which , when it comes , will vent its force upon their headquarters . To show that there is nothing in the shape of narrow sectarianism in the visitation ,

our amateur Zadkiel prepends that it will be the worst " the world has seen for ages past , " sweeping away three City churches , and setting a " large building " on fire . Why we should have been favoured with the missive we do not know , except that the Masonic authorities have proved callous .

We are informed that it is our duty to give notice of the disaster , or take the consequences of neglect . Here comes our difficulty , for " No Name " has forgotten to mention the date of the calamity . Both Zadkiel and Old Moore prognosticate , in somewhat ha ^ y fashion , what mav hanoen

on or about certain days , but our correspondent stops short even at the month . We will make an offer . If " No Name " will tell us the day of visitation—the hour , it appears , is to be six o ' clock in the evening—we will publish his , or her ,

letter in full ; with the stipulation ( backed by a solid security ) that a handsome donation shall be sent by our correspondent to the London Hospital if the disaster does not " come off . " — " Daily Chronicle . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

" A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

IT is with deep regret we have to announce the death of Bro . George Prendergast a highly esteemed member of the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge , No . 2021 , and chief Inspector of the X Division of the Metropolitan Police , which occurred at his residence , go Ilbert Street , Queen ' s ParkW .

, on the 17 th inst ., at the age of forty-nine . The funeral of our Brother took place at Kensal Green Cemetery , on the 19 th , in the presence of a large gathering of sorrowing friends . In deference to the expressed wish of the deceased , the funeral was a private one , the mourners being- Mr . W H

Prendergast ( brother ) , Messrs . W . and F . Prendergast ( nephews ) , Mr . Caseley ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . Shoobert ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . Christie , Mr . Wall , Mr . White , Superintendent Cuthbert ( X Division ) , Brother Dr . G ! Robertson ( Police Divisional Surgeon ) , Mr . Doley , Mr .

Boscombe , Rev . H . Heath , and Mr . Gillies . The cortege was met at the Cemetery gates by a large number of Police ( both in uniform and private clothes ) , and Masonic and other friends , among whom we noticed Brothers

Superintendent Hammond ( now of G Division , Bro . Prendergast's predecessor in the X Division ) , Superintendent Saunders ( Special Police Department Great Western Railway ) , Chief Inspectors Pryke ( B ) , Belton ( F ) , and Rieman ( T ) , D . Morgan ( late Local Detective Inspector X Division ) , Local

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

Inspector Scott ( X Division ) , Sub Divisional Inspectors Bell , King , Cooper , and Brownscombe ( X Division ) , Inspectors Walsh , Bristow , Burridge , Weller , Hodder , and Jenkins , Detective Sergts . Tallin and Palfrey , Sergt . Pearce , together with several members of the Westbourne Lodge , including

Bros . M . Rockman , Meek , Shields ; Bros . Bellerby , Hartwell , Barrett , Godfrey , Summers and others of the Queen ' s Westminster Lodge ; J . Wynman ; and numerous others who had known the deceased , in addition to a large number of retired Officers who had been associated with him

during his long term of service . The coffin , which was of polished oak , bore the inscription " George Prendergast , Died August 17 th , 18 9 8 , in his 49 th year , " and was almost hidden by the numerous floral wreaths , conspicious among which were those from the Widow and Children , Brother

Willie and wife , Superintendent and Mrs . Cuthbert , Mr . and Mrs . Doley , Mr . and Mrs . D . Morgan , the Queen ' s West-• minster Lodge , No . 2021 , the Officers and men of each of the Harrow Road , Notting Dale , Willesden , Ealing and Uxbridge Sub Divisions ( X Division ) , the Officers and men

of the Molyneaux Street Sub Division ( D Division ) , the Officers and men of the Paddington Sub Division ( F Division ) , besides mafiy from private friends . The beautiful service of the Church of England was impressively read by the Rev . Huntly Heath , of St . jude ' s , Kensal Green . The late

Brother Prendergast joined the Metropolitan Police force as Constable oh 3 rd May 1869 , and served in the N Division up till September 1874 , when he was transferred to the L Division on promotion to the rank of Sergeant and served also in that rank in R Division , in which Division he was in

August 1878 promoted to the rank of Inspector , in which rank he also served in P and D Divisions . He was appointed Sub Divisional Inspector in charge of Molyneaux Street Sub Division on 2 gth April 188 9 , and on the promotion and transfer of Chief Inspector Hammond was , on

2 nd May 18 93 , appointed to the Chief Inspectorship of the X Division , since which time he has remained attached to the head quarters of the Division at Harrow Road Station , where , by his impartiality and kindness to his subordinates , his courtesy , and his untiring devotion to his duties , he gained

the affection of all ranks , the confidence of those in authority over him , and the admiration and respect of all with whom he was brought into contact . It is granted to but few men in the late Bro . Prendergast ' s position to leave behind such general regret as that which is freely expressed throughout

the X Division , and the men will long mourn him as a friend , and his superiors and colleagues as a most trustworthy and capable Officer . An excellent photograph of the flowers at the grave was afterwards secured by Mr . Wakefield , of High Street , Ealing .

THE funeral of Captain R . Rowe , of Camborne , who died on Friday , 19 th inst ,, took place on the 24 th . At the head of the mournful cortege were the employees on the Trevarno tin streams , of which deceased was the proprietor . Then followed the Brethren of the Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , of which deceased had been a member ,

while several Freemasons from other parts of the county were also present . Captain Rowe was P . M . of Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 1544 , P . P . G . D . C . of the Province of Cornwall , P . P . G . S . W . of the Provincial Mark Lodge of Cornwall , and P . P . G . Orgt . Grand Chapter of Cornwall .

A WHITE marble headstone , with kerb of Portland stone , has been placed in St . Anne ' s Churchyard , Lewes , to the memory of the late Bro . Henry Hall , who was for a number of years connected with the local Lodges . The stone , on which is carved the Masonic insignia of a square and

compass , bears the inscription : — " In memory of Henry Hall , for many years Tyler of the South Saxon and Pelham Lodges of Freemasons . Died February . 2 nd , 1898 , aged 76 years . This stone was erected by the Brethren of the above Lodges as a mark of fraternal regard . ' The Lord is my Shepherd . "'

THE interment of the late Bro . H . P . Mears , of the King's Head Hotel , Cuckfield , took place on Wednesday of last week , at the Cuckfield parish church , the service being conducted by the Rev . Canon Cooper . Several members of the Ockenden Lodge , of which the deceased was a member , attended the funeral .

WE are sorry to have to record the death of Fred Walter , youngest son of our esteemed Bro . J . Woodford , of the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 . The funeral took place on Tuesday , at the Kensal Green Cemetery , the lad being deeply mourned by his beloved parents and relatives .