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ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOB AGED FREEMASONS A J . D WIDOWS OF FREEMASONS CROYDON . Grand Patron and President : His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . THEAMIYERSARYFESTIVAL OF THIS INSTITUTIO-f -WILL TAKE PLACE 02 . WEDNESDAY , 24 TH FEBRUARY 1886 , FREEMASONS' TAVERN , GREAT QUEEN STREET , LONDON , TJPO-. WHICH OCCASION The Most Honourable the MAHQTJ IS OP HERTFORD , R . W . SENIOR GRAND WARDEN , has been pleased to signity bis intention of presiding . Brethren lire earnestly invited to accept the Office of Steward upon this occasion , and they will greatly oblige by Cor warding their Names and Masonic Rank , as soon vis convenient , to the Secretary , who will gladly give any information required . It is fraternally hoped that upon this occasion , owing to the large number of applicants and the few vacancies , Brethren will use their influence to obtain donations towards the funds of the Institution , which are much needed . JAMES TERRY , 1 ' . l ' rov . G . S . W . Norths and Hunts , Secretary . i Freemasons' Hall London , AV . C .

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THE HOLBORNRESTAURANT, HIGH HOLBORN . ONE OF THE SIGHTS AND ONE OF THE COMFORTS OF LONDON . THE UNEQUALLED TABLED'HOTE, AT SEI-AllATJ . TABLES , EVEI-V EVENING ( SUNDAY EXCEl'TEI )) , IN THE GRAND SALON & r . 0 YAL VENETIAN CHAMBER , Prom 5 . 30 to 9 o ' clock . Two Soups , ~ ~ J Sweets , Two kinds of Fish , ___ > / A ' Cheese in Variety , Two Entrees , O / O < Salads , dc . Joints . ! With Ices ancl Dessert , A Selection of High-Class Instrumental Music Accompanies this Favourite Dinner . DINNEKS AND LUNCHEONS FROM DAILY BILL OF FARE .

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Masons Whom We Have Met.

MASONS WHOM WE HAVE MET .

No . V . - < IN" our last issue reference was briefl y made to the death of Bro . C . T . Speight , who was one of the best known brethren in London and the surrounding districts , which event occurred on the 17 th instant , nt his residence , 9 Mona

Road , Peckham . The departure from amongst us of a brother who was so . hi ghly esteemed by a very iarge section of the Craft in the Metropolis , as well as in the Provinces deserves , we think , more than a passing notice . Brother

Speight , throughout his Masonic career of nearl y half a century , displayed an amount of zeal , activity and intelligence such as we have rarely seen equalled , and certainl y not surpassed . Few weeks , or even days , passed without

our coming in contact with the short , but portly , figure of Bro . Speight , whose pride it was to assert that , as Provincial Grand Tyler of Surrey , he tylcd more Lodges and

Chapters than any other of the veterans who held capacities similar to his own . With a cheery countenance , and a cordial , though becomingly respectful , greeting to the

Masons Whom We Have Met.

numerous body of the Craft who " passed through his bands , " he was a general favourite with all who experienced his genial courtesy , and ihe cheerful readiness he displayed in the carrying out of his particular functions in the Lodge .

ft is a t . i . e saying that some men are " born poets , " aud we have move than once heard the remark that Bro . Speig ht was certainly a born Ty ler . There was a dignified stateliness , amounting almost to potentiality , with which " onr

little friend " went about his business , but this never rose to pompousness , nor was he afflicted with any of the " uppishness " or fuss we occasionally detect amongst those who enjoy similar posts of responsibility . He seemed

selfconscious of the importance of his trust , and applied himself to the discharge of his duties with quiet unostentatious zeal , which commanded for him universal respect . When in a communicative mood he used frequently to remind the

writer that he had the honour of preparing His Royal Highness for some of the degrees through which our Most Worshipfnl Grand Master has passed , and thafc he had for years tyled the Lodge to which the Prince of Wales belongs .

This little incident seemed to have possessed a peculiar charm for our deceased brother , who , in repeating it , glowed with pardonable pride , and spoke with an enthusiasm that no one could fail to appreciate . As the Ty ler and Janitor of

thirt y or forty Lodges and Chapters in London and the Province of Surrey , Bro . Speig ht ' s time was fully occupied , and rarely was he absent from his post when his services were in requisition . Many a time and oft have we seen him

bustling along , as he wended his way to the suburban railway station nearest to his late home , bound for the City , in methodical fashion , and with evidently as profound a sense of the importance of his mission as any of the " City men "

who travelled in the train with him , and whose friendly salutations he so cordially returned . As befitted his aristocratic status in his particular line , Bro . Speight invariably travelled first class , armed with his portmanteau , iu

which he carried his regalia and other accessories of his office ; and amongst Masons np and down the line he was always recognised in the heartiest and most courteous manner . In the preparation of his Lodge for the

convenience of the brethren , he went about his work with quiet regularity , the result unquestionably of long and varied experience * and as the members arrived , they one and all , from the Past Masters to the novitiate , exchanged those amenities

which are characteristic of the members of " ye mystic tie . " Every matter of detail was studiously considered and looked after , so that when Lodge was opened , not a single minutias had been nee-lected . All was done without fuss or

confusion ; yet every detail of the preliminaries was in perfect shape and working order . In the active duties of " labour , " he was equally diligent and exact , and with mild , though rigid , discipline he saw that minor matters as

well as great were all conducted with decorum and in thorough regularity . From the time of his request that brethren should "sign Ihe attendance book , p lease , " to the closing hour of tlie banquet , when lie gave his own

particular toast in stentorian tones , Bro . Speight was always active , watchful , and diligent , arid compliments which necessarily did not reach his cars were frequently paid to him for his efficiency and urbanity . Our deceased brother ^

was peculiarly sensitive and punctilious as to the position and status of a Tyler . He indignantly repudiated the idea , which seems to run in the minds of many of the brethren , that a Tyler ' s position in a Lodge room is on all fours with

that of a waiter afc an hotel , or a flunkey iu an aristocratic establishment . He contended thafc the office was one of trust and responsibility , in bis opinion little short of thafc of the Treasurer or the Worship ful Master , ancl that the

fulfilment of its duties was based on a strict observance of the attributes of honour and integrity . Ho despised the practice adopted—we are sorry to say too frequently—by officers of his ilk , of touting for

" orders " from initiates and others , and was far above receiving " considerations " which in any way bordered on " Trading on Masonry . " Thns Bro . Speight gained the

esteem of the numerous body of Masons amongst whom he was known , as a pattern Tyler , and he retained thafc enviable distinction to his latest honr . The removal of so

old and valuable a servant , at the comparatively early ago of sixty-nine years , baa proved a sonrce of very genuine aud wide-spread regret amongst the brethren who were most

frequently brought into contact with him . It is not long . itK .-c—only a few months—thafc we had to record the dtvc . t .-e of Mn .. Speight , after a long and painful illness ami the chief _ . oku . e to the " heart bowed down" of our