Presentation To Bro. W. Dawes, P.M., P.P.G. Reg., P.P.S.G.W., &C.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . DAWES , P . M ., P . P . G . REG ., P . P . S . G . W ., & c .

On Thursday , the 18 th ult ., the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo , the brethren of the Wellington Lodge mustered strong at a lodge of emergency to do honour to Bro . Wm . Dawes , their oldest and one of their most esteemed members , by presenting him with a watch . The W . M ., Bro . Rev . A . J . VV . CROSSE , B . A ., vicar of Rye , in making the presentation , said Bro . Dawes was initiated . 1 member of the Wellington Lodge more than 32 years ago . He had thrice bcen elected

VV . M ., viz ., in 1865 , 1 S 76 , and 1 S 93 ; from 1 S 6 S-S he served as Prov . G . Steward , and as Prov . G . Reg . from 1868-70 . In 18 S 5 the Prov . G . M . appointed him P . S . G . W . For a period little short of 20 yenrs he had been their Secretary , and of his work in that position it was impossible to speak too highly , as in him each successive W . M . found a kind , sympathetic friend , on whose sound advice he could implicitly rely . Bro . Dawes' interest in our Masonic Charities was well known and

t' -. roughout Sussex there was no warmer supporter or more earnest advocate of their claims . He had served Stewardships for all three Institutions , R . H . I . for Girls 18 S 5 , R . M . L for Boys 1889 , R . M . B . I . 1892 , and had always taken up very handsome lists , that for the Girls being considerably over £ 100 . The present gathering was purelya Wellington Lodge affair but if they looked outside their own

lodge they would find Bro . Dawes well known and appreciated throughout the Provinces of Kent and Sussex , both as an orator of no mean Order and as a high authority in Masonic laws and customs . He was a P . M . of both the Weald of Kent and St . Leonards Lodges . The W . M . then , in the name of the brethren of the Wellington Lodge , begged Bro . Dawes acceptance of a watch with every good wish from his brethren .

The watch bore the following inscription : " Presented to W . Bro . Dawes , P . M ., P . P . G . Reg ., P . P . S . G . W . Sussex , by the brethren of the Wellington Lodge , No . 341 , Rye , as a mark of affection and gratitude for valuable services rendered during the past 32 years . June 18 th , 1896 . " Bro . DAWES , who was much affected and replied with . difficulty , thanked the brethren and said the only mark of appreciation he desired was that which day

by day had been extended to him , viz ., the sympathy and loving kindness of the brethren and a silent and considerate passing over his many faults and shortcomings , of which he was fully conscious . A quarter of a century was a bi g slice out of a life time and to that they must add seven years , and it was a matter of pride to him that during that period he had been able to retain the esteem of the brethren of his native town , as evinced by their kindness to him that evening .

At the close of the lodge the brethren gave an open dinner , the principal guests being Bro . Wm . Dawes and his two brothers , the Lord Bishop of Rockhampton and Mr . Walter Dawes , Town Clerk , and Bro . Dr . Trollope , P . G . D . Eng . The toasts were , of course , non-Masonic . Bishop DAWES in a most happy speech , replying to the toast of his health , said that in spite of the zealous care

with which the secrets of Freemasonry were guarded some had got abroad . He had met one secret face to face in nearly every little bush-town or back settlement where members of the Order were to be found . The mystery they could not help revealing was their true fraternity , kindness of heart , generosity , and all the virtues which bind man to man .

Masonic Presentation At Dudley.

MASONIC PRESENTATION AT DUDLEY .

The members of the Harmonic Lodge , No . 252 , at their ordinary lodge meeting on Tuesday , the 2 nd ult ., at the Saracen ' s Head Hotel , took part in an interesting presentation to Bro . Samuel Smith , P . P . S . G . W ., on the occasion of his resigning the oflice of Secretary of the lodge .

The W . M ., Bro . J . SIDAWAY , presented to Bro . Smith a beautifully-illuminated address , accompanied with a purse of gold . The former was a very clever piece of penmanship , and expressed the high esteem and appreciation of the brethren for Bro . Smith ' s valuable services rendered to the old Harmonic Lodge during the 13 years he had acted as its faithful , painstaking , and energetic Secretary . At the foot of tho address were the autograph names of every member of the lodge .

Bro . SMITH , in responding , saidi I rise with a full sense of my inability to give adequate expression of my thanks for the very kind words which the Worshipful Master and our Wor . Bro . E . Turner have spoken of me , or a fitting acknowled gment in regard to the other gratifying tokens of your brotherly good

will ; but I know your great willingness to make every kind allowance if I fail to ' say what I wish , or what I ought to say , for throughout the 3 G or more years in which I have joined in the harmonious gatherings of this Harmonic Lodge I have always seen

that" The brethren have vied with each other , In love ever hearty and true , To cheer and encourage a brother Who has laboured for two-fifty-two ( 252 ) . " Tliis , and many pleasant experiences of days past , are as links in a golden chain 01

happy memories of my Masonic life , recalling the early and fascinating allurements to stud y and to labour for the good old cause , and be lovingly devoted to ° "r old mother lodge ; also the glad feelings that attended my passing through Jlie several offices in the lodge , and the added gladness as preferment came , and "Kher position in Provincial Grand Lodge was granted to me , bringing the glow 0 enhanced Gratification at receivinp * such nssnranm > nf fhe unnrpniilnn = n ^

approval of those whom we all delight io serve and honour as our rulers , judges , and f ' ? j ! ensers of the awards which most brethren desire to obtain . But age a failing health have come to terminate this pleasurable service , and have coinpelled me to give up the office I was privileged to hold so long , but I *** ? teful . think that the last office held by me was the one which

Bro n ° last lleIcl by our late lamented and much honoured always J ' and that he ' and othcr honoured leaders of the past , I have ' f ^ j ? t * 0 f ( * ce as one oi considerable importance . And now that alivav ed from the position , I wish to take the opportunity to say that I have c ° vp . ter ] " jF d '' as an important office , although it is , I balieve , but little elocutin cause ' Perhaps , it does not afford such opportunities for displaying of the ' t , * ver and ab'l'ty as one that admits of taking part in the rendering asscmbl ' lK u ° "" sublime ceremonies so as to gain the applause of the of the . ~ j lren i and cause a warm thrill of pleasurable emotion in the breast - , _ i .. gratified performer . NnwrHir . | p « »»> m „< -K AinanAs „^ mm n , „ Cno » nt-. „ , —— j \ £ [ J ^ ... m

ll U Ihe full A' K . --- . .. m , . m .... mm .. * m . m .. ^ e u .. ^^ U . ULa . jr ret ! uisite . schar ge of his duties , for any oversight on his part , any omission of think of l ' ' ( i' | " - * ' s'aekening of thought or care for matters which some may "ttle importance , or any inattention to details , may hinder and greatly

Masonic Presentation At Dudley.

mar the best efforts of the Master and his officers to do credit to themselves and to uphold the credit and honour of the lodge . He has also to give time and attention to correspondence beyond the many matters pertaining to the lodge business , for I remember to have received letters from many parts and many conditions of men relating to various subjects , and , although there may be no compulsion in respect to satisfying all demands of this kind , one ' s human nature , with its yielding susceptibility and brotherly courtesy combined , is apt to prove

exacting and to constrain one to be compliant . These references to thc Secretary ' s duties are not made from any desire to claim special credit for myself , but merely as showing that my successor , or any brother who takes up such an onerous position , has a very strong claim to the kindly consideration and indulgence of all the brethren in the case of there being some oversight or other inadvertence on his part . 1 very gratefully acknowledge that you have always been thus kind to myself , and it is pleasant to me to think of the several occasions on which

distinguished brethren in the province , as well as in my mother lodge , have spoken of my secretarial work in special terms of approval a : ; d of praise . But my present object is more especially to thank you for the latest proof of your kindness , and in so generously rewarding the services I have been able to render to the lodge . You have greatly magnified the value of my service , and have passed over all my shortcomings , and thus added to the debt of gratitude which I feel I cannot repay . I can only plead that I have ever striven to do what was required of me with an

earnest intent to do it fittingly to the best of my ability , so that neither the work nor the workers of the lodge should suffer hindrance or discredit , but rather that our course might be kept clear for the best work , best results , and a growing fame for the Master and the officers of the lodge . Your very flattering appreciation of my efforts to justify the confidence and trust that you repose in me most assuredly claims my best acknowledgment , and , therefore , I beg to tender to you my warmest , sincere , and heartfelt thanks for your conferring upon me the honour

of a free life membership of my dear old mother lodge—for the very kind terms of the address presented to me , so beautifully illuminated , and so handsomely framed , and also for the generously added cheque . Considering the occasion and attendant circumstances , I feel that your generous thought and bestowal of them at such a time , and in such a manner , have conferred added grace and value to the gifts , and I shall ever treasure them in heart and memory , and whenever I look upon or think of them , I shall surely recall , and joyously dwell upon , the

gladdening thoughts of the many happy hours I have spent with the well-beloved brethren who gave them to me . Of course I have saddening thoughts on giving up active service in the lodge ; but I hope that I may still join you , my brethren , at some of its meetings , and again participate in the joy that all must feel when gathered together at the old mystic shrine , to listen to the sublime teaching of the

old and golden lessons that are meant to lead us , and to keep us in the best and sweetest way of life , so that" With heart to heart tenderly clinging , And cheered by sweet Brotherly Love , Our souls may be hopeful of winging Their flight to the Grand Lodge above . "

Mosquitoes In England.

MOSQUITOES IN ENGLAND .

Most travellers in foreign countries know full well the horror attached to the dreaded insect pests known as mosquitoes , and now , horror of all horrors , they will learn that these pests have made their appearance in England , but whether to become permanent settlers or not remains to , be seen . That they have already made their appearance in Hertfordshire is a fact , for the writer has caught them in his own room at Barley , Royston , where he will be pleased to

show the specimens to anyone doubting the fact that mosquitoes have invaded our island . These mosquitoes are very similar to the large midges so commonly seen dancing in the air on a warm summer ' s day , the only difference being that the mOsquitoes have a proboscis or trunk three-sixteenths of an inch long , containing two fine saws , a tube for drawing blood , and another tube for secreting a poisonous fluid into the wound inflicted , while the ordinary midge has only tufts

of fine hairs on its head and no proboscis , and hence is harmless . The mosqui - toes seen at Barley are a quarter of an inch long in the body , which becomes inflated with blood when filled , and have slender wings and legs about half an inch long . The specimens caught have every characteristic of the foreign mosquito , especially the American variety . Their custom is to make a musical hum when they approach one's hand , face , or ear , evidently delighted at the

prospective feast of blood on the unsuspecting victim , as they have been observed to do during the last month at Barley . They are most active at night time in the dark , when , by reason of the cool night air , and perhaps the scent of blood , they enter houses , and especially bed-rooms , and hover round the sleeper ' s face and hands , pouring out their musical strains , which once heard will never be forgotten . The hum , or buzzing , resembles very much the sound given forth by a weak-voiced blue-bottle fly .

At a fitting opportunity , and when ready to begin the feast , the mosquito suddenly pounces on the face or hands , and quickly saws its proboscis into the flesh , and fills itself with blood , leaving a poisonous fluid behind , which quickly causes the wound to itch and swell up to the size of a pea , marble , or walnut . On striking a light it vanishes almost like a dream , but soon after , as a rule , is seen to settle on the ceiling , or blind , or go into some dark recess . If , on the ceiling ,

or blind , the only way to catch it is to dab it with a slightly wet handkerchief , it being almost impossible to catch a mosquito with the dry hand . The cure for a bite is to rub on salt and vinegar , or tobacco steeped in salt and vinegar , or vaseline . Essence of peppermint and tobacco smoke are effectual in keeping them away , especially if the former is rubbed on he face , neck , or hands : but in foreign countries mosquito cartains , over

the bed are certainly the best means of keeping them away to secure a good night ' s rest . In America , where myriads of mosquitoes fill the air , I have caught as many as 50 in a night in my room before daring to go to sleep . But to return to our English mosquitoes . How have they got into England ? One way of explaining this , is , perhaps , owing to their being brought over with timber , for in foreign parts , the logs of timber which are usually carried down the rivers , have

on them mosquito eggs gathered from the surface of the water where they breed , and so in this manner are transported to England , where the sunshine hatches them out , and they fly away . Another reason , is owing to their coming over with the ships entering our ports , or by means of their eggs being secreted among the cargo . There is no denying the fact that mosquitoes are with us , as other persons besides myself have observed them in Barley and the surrounding district .

Since writing the above , a friend of mine , just returned from London , says he saw many moquitoes there , while another friend states that when a ship lands in London from foreign parts the inhabitants near the docks have to run and close their windows to keep them out . They have *** , lso been seen in Devonshire and other parts . That mosquitoes have been found so far inland as the Barley Royston district , which is 40 miles fio n London and the sea , is the strangest part about it , and proves that they are gradually working their way from the ports-