Obituary.

BRO . T . I . BIRD , P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . G . S . B . MIDDX . The remains of the late Bro . Bird were interred at Abney Park Cemetery on Saturday the 7 th inst ., when a vast concourse of people assembled to pay their I st tribute of respect to one who , during his whole career , had been so generally esoected . The principal mourners included—In the first carriage : Bros . T . Matthews H . Willsmer ( son-in-law ) , A . Wyatt , and Mr . P . G . Fox ; second

, carriage : Bro . J . Cantle , P . M ., and Mr . G . Wright ( cousins ) , C . V . Andrews fneohew ) and Bro . John Mason , 1567 , P . G . S . B . Eng . ; third carriage : Bros . 1 Osborn , P . M ., Sec . 1897 , Scribe E . 1602 ; Willie Wright , P . M ., Org . 1897 ; Lieut , lames PM-i M . E . Z . 1602 ; S . Sandiland , and Mr . Fox ; and others . The Elliot Lodge was represented by its W . M . ( Bro . W . C . Tyler ) , Bros . J . H . Pearson , A . Bevis , E T . Taylor , G . R . Nicholls , S . J . Millin , and W . T . Dillon , P . Ms ., and many members ; '

th p Citadel Lodge by Bros . J . J . Wrathall , W . M ., John Osborn , P . M ., Sec , W . WrigW , P . M ., Org ., Young , P . M ., Ball , P . M ., Gaskin , P . M ., W . Wright , J . W ., and others ; the Royal Commemoration and other Lodges by Bros . S . Pardoe , P . M ., T . Tiliey , P . Davis , Woods , ] . J . Horsted , Walker , Edgar , T . Matthews , S . A . Pardoe , and JL Strang '; the Sir Hugh Myddelton Chapter by Comp . Lieut Tames P . M ., M ; E . Z ., and members ; and the Citadel Lodge of Instruction by

, Bros . E- Dunstan , P . M ., Sec , Lebanon , Preceptor , and many others . Chief officers of the Gas Light and Coke Company were also very strongly represented : Bros . G . F . L . Foulger , 1076 , Chief Distributing Engineer ; W . C . Wigley . P . Z . 1348 , P-M-, J- J- Horstead , 158 s , G . Marvin , 1567 , and T . V . Fenn , 1567 Divisional Chief Inspectors ; J . H . Pearson , P . M . 1567 , Chief Coke Manager ; A . Bevis , P . M . 1567 , Accountant ; H . Rayner , Secretary , and

General Managers Department ; Bevan , 1585 , Architect ; Fagan , 1567 , Chief Meter Department ; and Bro . Geo . Grocott , 1364 , Vestry Clerk Hackney Contractors G . L . C . C ; and some hundreds of Masons and others . Fifty-eig ht beautiful wreaths were sent , amongst which were from members of the Elliot Lodge , Citadel Lodge , Sir Hugh Myddelton Chapter , Citadel Lodge of

Instruction , and New Concord Lodge of Instruction , and the rest from members of the family and private and Masonic friends , and from officers and workmen of the different departments of the' Gas Light and Coke Company . Bro . Bird had been nominated by two lodges of the Province of Middlesex ( Elliot and Citadel ) for Grand Treasurer of the province .

BRO . CHARLES VEAL , P . M ., P . P . G . D . SURREY . It is with regret we announce the death , at the age of 6 9 years , of Bro . Charles Veal , of the Abercorn Hotel , Great Stanmore , Middlesex . Many years ago the deceased was a member of the Dobie Lodge , No . 88 9 , Kingston-on-Thames , and in 1874 was appointed Prov . S . G . Deacon of Surrey . Having joined the

Abercorn Lodge , No . 1549 , Great Stanmore , he was elected and installed W . M . in 1890 , and for many years , even to the time of his death , was its Secretary . He was also a Royal Arch Mason , held the office of Scribe E . in the Stanmore Chapter , No . 1549 , and in 1885 was appointed Prov . G . 2 nd Asst . Sojourner of the Prov . G . Chapter of Middlesex . Bro . Veal was highly respected by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

Fidelity Chapter , No . 3 . The installation meeting of this chapter was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queenstreet , W . C , on the 6 th instant . Among those present were Comps . W . Mapleton , M . E . Z . ; H . J . Lardner , P . Z ., P . P . G . Std . Br ., H ., M . E . Z . elect ; Lieut .-Col . W . Hart , J ., H . elect ; E . Nash , P . Z ., S . N ., J . elect ; W . J . Collens , P . P . G . S . N ., P . Z ., S . E . ; J . Heming , P . Z ., Treas . ; Spawforth , 2 nd A . S . ; Cooper , D . C . ; Maj . T . C Walls , P . P . G . D . C , I . P . Z . ; F . McDougall , P . Z . j Weeks , P . Z . ; W . Ratcliffe , P . Z . ;

M . Birch , f . L . ; Larcomb , P . Z . ; and b . Cochrane , v . / ., F . u . Ireas . Among the visitors were Comps . T . Simpson , P . Z . ; Grassie , P . Z . ; Palmer , P . Z . ; and Dr . Sandberg , P . Z . The minutes of the previous convocation having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Bro . Clark , P . M . 3 , and it being unanimous , he was duly exalted to the R . A . degree by the M . E . Z ., who subsequently inducted Comp . H . J . Lardner as First Principal . The latter installed Comp . Lieut .-Col Hart as Second Principal , and Comp , E . Nash as Third Principal . Among the officers appointed were

Comps . W , J . CoIIens , P . Z ., S . E . ; Spawforth , ist A . S . ; Cooper , 2 nd A . S . ; and Goddard , Janitor . A Past Principal ' s jewel was presented to the I . P . Z . The sum of one guinea was voted to " Our Brother's Bed Fund . " The chapter was then closed . A banquet followed . , Comp . Samuel Cochrane , P . G . Treas ., responded on behalf of "The Grand Officers . '' ln the course of his speech he feelingly alluded to the great loss sustained

by the Order in consequence of the lamented decease of the Pro G . C . He was very pleased to be present that night at the installation of an old friend of his . When he ( iiis speaker ) was a candidate for the office of Grand Treasurer of England , Comp . II . J . Lardner was a most valuable and active member of his committee , and he was deeply grateful to him . "The Health of the M . E . Z . " was proposed in very flittering terms by the I . P . Z . In the course of his remarks , he said they all knew the working capabilities and worth of their First Principal . He trusted that th : M . E . Z . would have a prosperous year of oflice .

The First Principal , in his reply , briefly thanked the I . P . Z . for his kind remarks . He was of opinion that for any one to hold the position of M . E . Z . in a chapter so old and distinguished as No . 3 , was a great honour . He hoped that the companions by introducing eligiole members would give him plenty of work to do . He did not believe » either large lodges or chapters but it was necessary occasionally to have fresh blood . The toast ot " The Exaltee " followed , and drew a neat reply lrom Comp . Clark . "The H . and J . " came next , and Comps . Lieut .-Col . Hart and Nash acknowledged the compliment . The toast of "The Visitors " was coupled with the names of Comps . Simpson , tjrassie , and Palmer .

Royal Arch.

Comps . Mapleton , I . P . Z ., and W . J . Collens , P . Z ., S . E ,, responded on behalf of "The Past Principals and Officers . " The M . E . Z . had kindly provided a varied programme of music , which greaUy diversified the proceedings . The executive members of the chapter are to be congratulited upon the excellent manner in which the whole arrangements were carried out .

Freemasonry And Ocean Penny Postage.

FREEMASONRY AND OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE .

Ocean penny postage in connection with the Dominion of Canada and mos of the British Colonies is now an accomplished fact , and nothing happier could have been conceived than the idea which occurred to M . W . Bro . Ross Robertson , P . G . Master of Canada , and Representative of the Grand Lodge of England , of associating its inauguration with the Fraternity , whose aims and objects have so much in common with that ideal of universal Brotherhood which , it is hoped and

believed , the new system win largely help to foster . The idea once conceived , was carried out with the promptitude and energy so characteristic of Bro . Robertson . He determined that the first letter posted from Toronto to Great Britain with the two-cent , stamp should be a message of fraternal greeting to the Grand Lodge of England from its representative at the Grand Lodge of Canada . To

this end he arranged that the letter should be posted at the General Post Oflice , Toronto , and the assistant postmaster , who was in attendance , has certified that ; he letter mailed at the Toronto Post Office at | one quarter of a minute past 12 o ' clock on the morning of the 25 th of December , 18 9 8 , and was the first letter posted and cancelled at the Toronto office addressed to Great Britain bearing the new Imperial penny postage stamp .

The letter which was of a warmly fraternal character has , we understand , been received by Bro . Letchworth , the Grand Secretary , and the envelope bearing the new stamp and signature referred to , together with that of the Grand Secretary acknowledging its receipt , will be preserved in the Grand Lodge Museum and will , we feel sure , not be the least interesting exhibit in the new building which will soon be constructed in connection with Freemasons' Hall .

In addition to this interesting communication , Bro . Robertson has sent to a large number of English Freemasons a card of fraternal greeting " , on which is affixed the new two-cent , stamp with a brief description . We heartily congratulate Bro . Robertson on his happy idea and are confident in assuring him that we are expressing the sentiments of every Freemason in Great Britain in reciprocating the kindly and fraternal feeling which his prompted him to convey this message of good will across the sea .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ISLINGTON LODGE , No . 1471 . A meeting was held on the ioth inst ., at the Cock Tavern , Hieh ' i / jry , when there were present Bros . E . J . Harrison , W . M . ; C C Renaud , S . W . ; A . F . Hardyment , J . W . ; W . Hancock , P . M .. Preceptor ; C M . Coxon , P . M ., P . P . G . D . Herts , and J . Duncan , P . M ., Sees . ; W . F . Roberts , S . D . ; C Nicole , J . D . ; S . Cload , l . G . ; O . Oliver , P . M . ; j . Birks , F . H . Johnson , C . Islei , j . Ewings , and R . Philip Upton , P . M .

The lodge was opened , and the minutes read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . EVmgs being the candidate . TheW . M . vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Isler , and the ceremony of pissing was rehearsed . The investiture of officers was rehearsed . Bro . Renaud was elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed the officers in rotation . The lodge was then closed .

LA TOLERANCE LODGE , No . 538 . A meeting was held on Wednesday evening , the nth inst ., at the Frascati Restaurant , Oxtord-strett , W . Present : Bos . C . Lunley , W . M . ; W . Fisher , S . W . ; T . L . Bowden , J . W . ; J . Paul , P . M ., Preceptor ; Hovard E . Mullins , Sec ; T . W . Smale , P . M ., S . D . ; N . Dukas , J . D .: C Glaser , I . G . ; J . Leather , M . Beedle , W . Cumberland , T . E . They . G . Spiers , C . Ornstein , and C . Pinnell .

The lodge was opened in due form and the minutes of last meeting read and confirmed . The 1 st Sect ! jn of the Lecture was worked by Bro . J . Leather . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Cumberland being the candidate . The lodge was opened in the Second Digree . The ist Section of the Lecture was worked by Bro . J . Paul , P . M ., Prtciptor . The lodge was opened in the Third Digree , an ! resumed tothe First Degree , The 5 th Section of the Lecture was worked by Bro . Paul .

assisted by Bro . Leather . The W . M . rose for the first time , and dues were collected . At the second rising of the W . M , Bro . Fisher was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his officers in rotation . The W . M . rose for the third time . A hearty vote of thinks was unanimously accorded Bro . Lumley for the excellent manner in which he had officiated as W . M . for the first time in the lodge . The lodge was closed in due form .

BRO . THE EARL OK DERBY and Mr . T . Sutton Timmis , of St . Helens , have each given a donation of £ 1000 to the building fund of the Liverpool Church House . THE PRESENTATION of the freedom of Tiverton to the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . the Earl of Halsbury ) will be a memorable function in the history of the quaint little borough from which the Earl of Halsbury ' s son and heir takes his title . It is arranged that the ceremony shall take place on Thursday , th' : 19 th inst ., and will be attended hy the Loid-Lieutenantof the county , Lord Clifford , the Right Hon . J . W . Mellor , Q . C . Sir John Phear , and most of the leading residents in that part of Devonshire . ~

Ad01705

COUNTY—= ^ m ^^^^ FOUNDED 1807 . 60REGENTST.,W.,&.FXECE«, 14CORNHILL,E.C,,LONDON.OFFICE, TheDistinguishingFeatureofthisOfficeisTHERETURNSYSTEM. On Ordinary Insurances , under which Policyholders who have been insured for Seven Years and who continue insured—whether under an Annual or Septennial Policy—become entitled to a RETURN OF 25 PER CENT , of the Premiums they have paid during each ki'Yeii Years , provided no loss has arisen under their Policies in that Period . Insurances on Farming Stocks and on other than Ordinary Risks do not participate in the Returns , nor aro tho Returns given on ar | imints whicli , being in excess of its own holding , aro not retained by the Oflice . Policies may bo effected or transferred without any extra expenses . a *\ STEVENS , ) Joint Secret ' [ ¦* i * 3 « «\ A 1 LlrrCf y