Sir Henry Harben, P.M. No. 92.

" That in giving this jewel to our W . M ., we do so in Ihe belief that the diamonds which sparkle therein are not more pure in their nature than in the true Masonic heart over whicli they are . destined to bo suspended . "

Bro . Potter , who was the first initiate of the Moira Lodge that attained the rank of a Grand Oflicer ( . J . G . D ., 1850 ) , passed away in 1871 , and of the Past . Masters who followed iiim in ( lie chair during the present half of the century now expiring , space forbids miadducing more than a solitary example , Sir Henry Harben , whose biography I now resume .

Our brother was exalted in the Moira , Chapter in 1881 , and retired from it in 1886 . To the Charitable Institutions of the Craft he has been a liberal benefactor , and is a Life Governor of the Boys' and Girls' Schools . It also deserves mention that he assisted in founding the Hampstead Lodge , No . 2408 , established in 1891 .

But it is as a successful " man of affairs , as a public character , as a philanthropist , aud , above all , as ( he - ' 'Napoleon of Insurance , " that Sir Henry Harben will be best known to posterity . The growth of the system nf Life Insurance forms one of the most

striking characteristics of the current , century , and it may be well doubted whether any other living man can point to a gigantic concern like the Prudential Assurance Company as the fruit of his life ' s work .

At , an early age , ouv Brother developed great commercial instincts , which attracted the attention of his uncle , Mr . Jose ]> h Chamberlain , father of the Secretary of State for the Colonies . After completing his education , and in order lo train him for a mercantile career , the

next seven years of : Ins life were passed m the wholesale provision stores of another uncle in AVhilechapol . He was ( hen articled to a surveyor , and in 1851 applied for the vacant secretaryshi p of what was at that time the " Prudential Mutual . " This he did not at once

succeed in obtaining , and was obliged to content himself with the position of accountant ., in which , however , he displayed such ability as to secure for himself , four years later , the appointment of Secretary of the Company , then called the '" British Prudential , " an alteration followed in turn by the more simple designation of " Prudential . "

"When I first joined the Prudential , observed the subject , of these remarks , " the British public were not at all favourabl y inclined towards life assurance . The country was flooded with rotten friendly societies , which were established in all the large towns . They were nearly all absolutely insolvent , and were really promoted for the sole benefit ofthe secretaries and oilier officials .

Hie Juembors used fo pay ( heir premiums , and awoke one morning to find tho society unable to meet its obligations . They understood that nothing was to be paid to them for six months ,-when they would be entitled to half benefit , and full benefit at the

expiration ot twelve months . It was at this period , when the claims began to fall due , that the societies went bankrupt , the inevitable solution being that the premiums had been poeketcd by the officials . This happened everywhere , and can you wonder , " continued Sir Henry , " that the public looked askance at us j- "

lt is scarcely necessary to remark that the preceding strictures were only meant to apply to the host of mushroom societies which were rife at that time , aud not in the slightest degree to such thoroughl y reputable and well-managed industrial associations as the Oddfellows , Old Foresters , and other similar organisations .

The most ennous part of the story has next fo be related . Some of the officials who controlled these mushroom societies , in their search for a locus paeuilettliae , a ]) proa died Mr . Harben , as Secretary of the Prudential , and asked him to take them over—which was done wherever possible . This was a stroke of genius on the part of the Secretary , and laid the foundation of flic Com jinny ' s jiojuilarily in the large manufacturing towns ,

J . ittle lioatfl mnttt ' coop / lie shore , " jiu-gor ships may vent are more , * OS the old proverb tells us—or perhaps ( he following , from ( hc J and a Prmhntnm of George Herbert , may be still more in jioint ,

A great slap askes ileepo waters . At the First blush , it appeared , indeed , a very riaky step fo incorporate these insolvent clubs with the Prudential " . But the end has more than justified the means , for whereas in 18 f 5 the income

was only £ 4 , 000 , eleven years later it was ; C 180 , 000 , since which time it has increased by leaps and bounds , until it reached at the end of I 8 D 5 , and beyond this dale my information does not extend , the enormous figure of £ i ,. 'i 52 , G 25 .

Statistics , as a rule , do not form very interesting reading , but those furnished by Sir Henry Harben certainly constitute a striking exception . At thc close of 1895 his company had no less than 12 , 09 ( 5 , 885 policies in force . ' * This means Dial nearly one-third of the whole population of the United Kingdom is insured wild us , and

it will surprise most people to learn that we employ 1 . 178 clerks at the head office , receive ( 5 , 000 letters vvcry morning , and despatch 17 , 000 letters every evening . But this is not all . Wc have about 14 , 000 agents and . " { , 400 medical referees , while our assets amount now to £ 24 , 000 . 000 , and ( here is no insurance company in the country that , can produce anything like such figures . "

Like his distinguished relative , the Colonial Secretary , Sir Henry is fin ai-denf believer in old-age pensions , and has recently instituted a system of his own which is answering so well that no less than 10 , 00 ( 1 policies of this character arc being issued every week . Thc subject of this sketch served for nine years on ( he old Metropolitan Board of Works as the representative for JIaiimstcad , and

successful issue the scheme for a transfer of Hampstead Heath to the control of the central authorities , and subscribed very handsomel y to the funds which were required to secure this great public boon . Sir Henry Harben was a member of the old Hampstead Vestry , and when tho Parish Councils Act came into force he became the " chairman of the Vestry under the new retime . He has provided a Free

was one of two members of the old Board who were subsequentl y elected to the London County Council , in which he served for six years . He was Chairman o £ the Finance Committee of thc old Board of Works , and also a member of the Parks Committee . To his exertions is largely due the securing of the fields at Parliament Hill for the public use . He also took an active part in bringing to a

Library for Hampstead at a cost of £ 5 , 000 , without any charge to the ratepayers . He has also supplied a mission-room for St . Saviour ' s , Hampstead , at a cost to himself of £ 1 , 000 . He has built and endowed a Convalescent Home at Littlehampton for the benefit of working men , at au expense of upwards of £ 50 , 000 . He has also built and endowed a , club for working men at Warnham , near Horsham , where he has a country residence .

The portrait , of Sir Henry was painted by Norman Macbeth in 1875 , and the picture , after exhibition at the Boyal Academy of that year , was transferred to the Board Room of the Prudential Assurance Company . For many years he has been connected with the

Carpenters' Company of fiondou , of which he is a Past Master , and has given handsome prizes for wood carving in connection with tin . classes of King ' s College . He is a Governor of Christ ' s Hospital , and also of the Dental Hospital , to the building fund of which ho lias given a donation of £ 1 , 000 .

Sir Henry has more than once been a candidate for Pai-liamentary hoiioiir . s , contesting , though unsuccessfully , in the Conservative interest the boroughs of Norwich and Cardiff in the years 1880 and 18 S 5 i- » spectively . It is , however , an open secret that if he had been willing to stand at the last General Election the party would have provided him with a safe seat .

He is a . lastice of the Peace and a Deputy-Lieutenant for Sussex , and his name has been pricked for the office of Hi gh Sheriff of that canity . Tlie dignity of knighthood was conferred upon him in Junelast and seldom or ever has that distinction been more worthil y bestowed .

Among the congratulations that showered upon him were those of the brethren of his Mother Lodge , and that he may long live to enjoy the mark of favour conferred upon him by the Queen , and to exercise— more site—that virtue which may justl y be dominated the distinguishing characteristic of a Freemason ' s heart , will be the wish of the whole Craft .

Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076.

Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 .

3 nnnouval Stress , fceUvcrcfc Ittovembcr s , 1807 , at Jnstaltntfon flDccttiw .

By Rro . SYDNEY T . KLEIN , F . L . S ., F . R . A . S ., Worshipful Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 .

WISDOM . STl ' . KNC . TH . IIKAI'TY . IllBPJlRETHREN : Once more the Sun , our source of I ? ( f ^) M \ Light , Life and Energy , is found in the consteli- wilnr - at on ° * ' ¦''• - * - *• - lllc Fest ' val of the Quatuor \ ^ ^^ A \ Coronati Marti / res is with us , finding me , this j ^^ jgs ^ a time , placed by your kindness in the exalted

position oi Master of the greatest Cosmopolitan Lodge of Freemasons in the world . I assure you that I full y appreciate the hi g h honour you have done me , and it will be my earnest endeavour to fulfil the great trust you have placed in my

hands . Thc position now held by tlie Quatuor Coronati Lod ge with its representatives spread over the whole habitable globe , is one that we must all be proud of . In its ranks are to be found 280 Lodges and upwards of 1 : 150 individual Masons ; but even this great number is not linal , for every year brings tlr ; ' addition

of many Lodges and several hundreds of fresh Members to our outer circle . The reason for this great j ) ower of attraction for Masons is not far lo seek . When that small but energetic body

of Masons , with General Sir Charles Warren at their head , ( irst inaugurated the movement in lN . Nf ) , they were convinced that hidden behind the symbols and traditions of Masonry were great Truths which , b y diligent and energetic work , could be broug ht