Freemasonry In 1896.

H . Leslie , R . A ., Past Dist . G . Warden Punjab , and of the Lodge of Honour , No . 526 , Wolverhampton , 1846 to 18 9 6 , by Bro . Thomas J . Barnett , P . M ., P . Prov . G . W . Staffordshire , which made its appearance as recently as in the month of October in connection with the lodge ' s celebration of its jubilee . Both

these works have been carefully and ably written and well deserve a place in the library of every Masonic student . Of the literary work done by the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 ,

we can say no more than that under the able editorship of Bro . G . W . Speth , the hig h character of its Transactions and Antigrapha is well maintained , while as regards the Freemason , we feel justified in assuming that our labours have given satisfaction to the Craft from the increased measure of support which has been forthcoming during the year .

OBITUARY .

The list of brethren who have departed this life during the past 12 months is neither longer nor shorter than such lists usually are , but it contains the names of several who have done material service in promoting the welfare of Freemasonry , and of not a few who were among its brightest ornaments . Chief

among these must be mentioned Bro . Lord Kensington , who , after attaining the rank of S . G . W . in Grand Lodge and that of G . P . S . in Supreme Grand Chapter , was appointed , firstly , in 1881 , Prov . Grand Master , and then , in 1892 , Grand Superintendent , of the Western Division of South Wales . His lordship

died while getting over a fence early in the month of October , and the loss thereby sustained is deeply regretted by the members of the several lodges and chapters under his charge . Another distinguished brother whose place will know him no more is the late Bro . the Earl of Limerick , who for many years

presided over the fortunes of Freemasonry in the Province of Bristol , and was a P . G . S . N . of Supreme Grand Chapter . His lordship was also for some time Great Prior of the Order of the Temple , and was a P . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , as well as G . Prior in the Supreme Council , 33 , of the

Ancient and Accepted Rite . We have also to deplore the death of several P . G . Officers of Grand Lodge , among them being the Rev . Sir J . Warren Hayes , Bart ., who was initiated in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 , as far back as 1819 , that is to say , during the very year of its constitution . He served as G .

Chaplain from 1844 to 1846 , and subsequently held the office of Dep . Prov . G . M . of Berks and Bucks . He had reached the almost patriarchial age of 9 6 , and was probably the oldest Mason in England , seeing that he had been a member of our Order for close upon 7 6 years . We have also to regret the death of Bro .

the Rev . R . N . Sanderson , who served as G . Chaplain in 1 S 85 , and was a highly respected member of the Province of Suffolk . We note also the death of two Past G . Treasurers of England in the persons of Bros . Horace Brooks Marshall , J . P ., and Sir

Augustus Harris , both of whom had proved themselves among the most loyal supporters of our Institutions ; Bro . Marshall in particular , having subscribed 100 guineas to one of the three , when he was only an E . A . P ., while Bro . Sir A . Harris , in the

fulness of his heart , gave a hearty welcome to the children of our Masonic Schools , who could always reckon upon seeing a pantomime at " Old Drury " shortly after Christmas . Bro . Marshall served as Grand Treasurer in 1884 , and Bro . Sir Augustus Harris in 1890 . The latter , will also be remembered as the

founder , lirst Senior Warden , and second Worshi pful Master of the Drury Lane Lodge , No . 2127 , which he loyally supported to the end of his life and for which he provided a home within the walls of our national theatre . Among other Past G . Officers will be found Bro . John Symonds , who was appointed A . G . D . C .

as far back as 1861 , and who about that time was rendering important services to our Scholastic Institutions ; Bro . George Mellor , Past G . D ., who did not survive his retirement , on the ground of lailfng health , from the Post of Dep . P . G . M . of East Lancashire ; Bro . Joseph Todd , P . G . Std . Br ., who for many

years , and up to the time of his death , was Prov . G . Treasurer of North and East Yorkshire , and one of the ablest and most prominent Masons in that Province ; Bro . Thomas Cubitt , Past G . Pursuivant ; and Bro . Bradshaw Brown , a P . M . of Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . I , and Past G . Steward . Among leading

Provincial brethren there have died Bros . Lord Fitzhardinge , P . P . S . G . W . Wiltshire ; Morrison , P . P . S . G . W . Sussex ; James Self , P . P . G . W . Esssex ; Jabez Church , P . P . G . W . Middlesex ; J . Lancaster Mine , P . P . S . G . W . East Lancashire , and for many years the Chairman of its Charity Committee ; Thomas S .

Warne , P . P . G . W . Kent ; the Right Hon . Hugh C E . Childers , P . P . G . D . West Yorkshire ; W . Jacobs , P . P . G . H . Staffordshire ; W . Longden , P . P . G . D . West Yorkshire ; II . Nell , P . M . Nos . 45 and 2278 , P . P . G . D . Hertfordshire ; W . Yeo , P . P . A . G . Sec . Devonshire ; T . C , Horobin , P . P . G . D . Lincolnshire ; and F , Adlard ,

P . P . A . G . D . C . Essex . Among London and other brethren we note the deaths of Bros . J . R . Fielding , P . M . ; James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., whose lectures on Freemasonry were always listened to with pleasure ; Sir Joseph Barnby of the Guildhall School of Music Lodge , No . 2454 ; F . G . Goodacre , P . M . No . 2231 ;

J . W . Belsham , W . M . No . 1614 ; E . Farwig , P . M ., P . Z . No . 180 ; W . Wedderspoon , P . M . No . 306 ; G . T . Chretien , P . M . No . 1328 , M . E . Z . No . 1328 ; J . W . Banister , P . M . No . 971 ; Charles Dickens , son of the great novelist ; R . E . Fairclouo-h , P . M . No . 1365 ; W . Hill Wadham , S . D . No . 16 42 ; W .

Smallpiece , P . M . No . 21 , formerly Preceptor of the Emulation Lodge of fmprovement ; Lieut .-Col . Alex . Ewing , 18 ; Captain J . P . Ougham , F . Dixon Bramald , No . 1775 ; W . Poore , P . M ., P . Z ., a well known Preceptor of the Great City and Panmure Lodges of Instruction , and Sir B . W . Richardson , P . M . 2029 , 2076 .

SCOTLAND . The Craft north of the Tweed has enjoyed a considerable share of the prosperity which has been the lot of Freemasonry throughout the whole of the United Kingdom . There has been no such event as that of the Union of the two G . and Chapters which claimed to preside over Scottish Mark Masonry such as it was

our privilege to record in our review of last year , but the general condition has been greatly strengthened while sundry lodges have been added to the roll of G . Lodge , the most prominent among them being the Blythswood Lodge , No . 817 , which was consecrated at Glasgow by Bro . John Graham , of Broadstone , Prov .

G . M ., on the 7 th January , while Bro . Sir John Stirling Maxwell , Bart ., M . P ., was installed in office as its first W . M ., by the M . W . G . M . in person—Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , Bart ., M . P . In Grand Lodge there has been one important change ; Bro . Sir Charles Dalrymple , of Ncwhailes , Bart ., M . P ., M . W . G . Master

who has held office for the last three years having signified his desire not to be re-elected , Bro . Lord Saltoun , the Depute G . Master , has been unanimously chosen to succeed him . His

lordship is an active as well as an able member of the Craft both in Scotland and England , and we have every confidence thatunder his auspices the prosperity which has attended G . Lod ^ e will be well-maintained .

Among the higher Provincial dignitaries of the Order we note that on the 20 th May , Comp . Sir Hector Munro , Bart ., was installed by Comp . Major F . W . Allen , Depute First Principal , as G . Superintendent of the newly-formed Prov . Grand Chapter of Ross and Cromarty . In February , the first Quarterly

Communication of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Banffshire was held under the presidency of Bro . Capt . W . T . Reid , Prov . G . M . There have also been held the regular Quarterly Communications of

Grand Lodge and of the Prov . Grand Lodges , while the Festival of the former was celebrated , as usual , on St . Andrew ' s Day , under the presidency of the newly-installed G . Master Mason , Br . o Lord Saltoun .

On the 8 th October , a brilliant gathering , the effect of which , however , was greatly marred by the inclemency of the weather , was held in Glasgow for the purpose of assisting at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new bridge over the Clyde . The ceremony was performed with the consent of Bro . John Graham ,

of Broadstone , Substitute Grand Master and Prov . Grand Master of the City Province , by Bro . Sir James Bell , Bart ., the Hon . the Lord Provost , who was assisted in his dut y by the Prov , Officers . There was the usual procession through the streets to the appointed site , and among the emblems of interest which

figured in it were the working tools carried by brethren of St . John's Lodge , No 3 bis , the senior lodge in the Province , as well as an old flag , which had been carried in a similar procession on the 29 th September , 17 68 , when the foundation-stone ^ of the first bridge built where the new structure will stand was laid with similar ceremonial .

In short , nothing has occurred to lessen the general source of pleasure with which every one must regard the progress which Scottish Freemasonry has made during the present year and its highly prosperous condition at this moment .

IRELAND .

We still continue to labour under the very material disadvantage of being scarcely , if ever , informed of the proceedings of our brethren in Ireland , but from the occasional glimpses vouchsafed us of Provincial and Lodge doings , there are fair grounds for believing that a certain amount of progress has resulted

during the past year . Ihe most important event has been , as usual , the J ate of the Masonic Orphan Schools in Dublin , which was celebrated in the spring with all the accustomed iiclat , and

proved , as it invariably does , one of the chief attractions of the . season . In March a meeting of the Prov . G . Lod ge of North Connaught was held at Boyle , and Bro . Dr . Clarke , Dep . P . G . Master , had the pleasure of consecrating a new Masonic Ifaff ,