Obituary.

BRO . RICHARD EVE , PAST G . TREASURER . It will be a long time before the full measure of the loss which has been sustained by Freemasonry as a whole and the Province of Hants and the I . of W . in particular , but more especially by the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , of whose Governing Body he had been the head for the past nine years , through the death on Friday , the 6 th instant , of Bro . Richard Eve , Past G . Treasurer of England . He was indeed one of the ablest and most energetic Masons of our

day , and whatever he put his band to that did he endeavour to carry out with all his heart and soul and strength . Whether it was in one of the many lodges or chapters of which he was a member , in the Prov . G . Lodge of Hants and the Isle of Wight , of which he was a Past S . G . Warden of nearly 30 years' standing—and not only was one of the most experienced but likewise one of its most esteemed and respected officers—or in Grand Lodge , in whose debates he took a frequent and leading part , especially in respect of English Freemasonry in chamoer

the Colonies—in all these various roles , but particularly in the council of the Boys' School , of whose Board of Management he had been Chairman ever since its establishment , Bro . Richard Eve was a central figure , whose opinions secured the respect even of those who differed from him , while his acts were uniformly directed towards bringing about some further advantage towards a Society of which he had been an honoured member of between 40 and 50 years . We have expressed elsewhere our sympathy with his relatives , his large circle of

friends and admirers , both within and outside the Craft , and our duty now and hereistogive some outline—a complete record is hardly possible at so short a notice when the duties of the week have been so heavy—of his services in Freemasonry . His record is a full one , his career having extended over some 44 years . He was W . M . of Guy's Lodge , No . 395 , Leamington , as iar back as i 860 ; but his chief

services have been rendered in the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , of which he had the honour to be appointed S . G . W . in 1 S 71 ; G . J . in the Prov . Grand Chapter , in 1874 ; and S . G . W . in the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge in 1877 . He was a P . M . and the Treasurer of the Panmure Lodge , No . 723 , Aldershot ; P . Z . and Treasurer of the Panmure Chapter ( R . A . ) , Xo . 723 ; P . M . and Treasurer of the Aldershot Military Mark Lodge , No . 54 , Aldershot ; and P . E . P . of the William

Stuart Preceptory , Xo . 7 6 , Aldershot . In March , 188 7 , he was elected by a substantial majority of votes to the office of G . Treasurer of United Grand Lodge , and in the following May became ex officio G . Treasurer of Supreme G Chapter . In the Mark he was Past G . M . O ., D . P . G . M . Hants and I . of W ., and a present , and for several years past , member—nominated b y H R H the M . W . G . M .-of the General Board , Past Prov . G . Constable Hants and I . of W . and Past 2 nd Great Aide-de-Camp in the Order of the Temple . He was a

Patron ot all our three Institutions , for each of which he served many Stewardships , and by his will he has shown the great love he bore them by bequeathing to each the substantial legacy of 1000 guineas , in addition to one of 2000 guineas to the Aldershot Hospital . In 18 90 , whon the fortunes of the Boys' School were in a critical state , Bro . Eve was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Provisional Management Committee , and in 18 91 , on the formation of the Board of Management , he was chosen to fill the important office of Chairman and

in addition was one of the Trustees of the property of the Institution . His great work in this dual capacity is familiar to our readers , who will gather from our columns to-day that the Richard Eve Lodge , which he helped to found in connection with the School , and of which he was the first W . M ., heads the London list of contributories with a total ci donations and subscri ptions amounting to The funeral took

C ' 315 . place at Aldershot on Thursday , and was attended by a large number of brethren desirous of paying their last tribute of respect to a brother who so richly deserved it . In connection with this sad event we have been asked to publish the following letter from the Secretary of the Boys' School who was present at the funeral : ' " Dear Sir and Brother ,

" I have been requested to make known that , through various causes , the following members of my Board of Management have been unable to attend the funeral of Bro . Richard Eve to-day : R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . Lord Leigh Trustee ; Bros . Attenborough , Everett , Strachan , J . J . Thomas , Willing , Benson ! Bevir , Diamond , Pulman , Smithson , VaJsar-Smith , and F . B . Westlake •and the Head Master . '

I am also Requested by Bro . Hedges , Secretary of the Girls' School , to express his regret that attendance at the Quarterl y Court prevents his b ° ingat the funeral ; also b y V . W . Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec . " Believe me , " Yours faithfully and fraternally

, ' 6 , Freemasons' Hall , " J . M . MC LEOD , Secretary " 12 th July , 1900 . "

BRO . W . H . WOOD , P . P . G . W . WARWICKSHIRE . It is with regret we announce the death of a prominent member of the Craft in Warwickshire , Bro . W . H . Wood , Past S . G . Warden of that province , who at the celebration of the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in 18 98 , contributed the very handsome donation of 1200 guineas ( 1260 ) . We understand that by the terms of his willBro . Woodwith the

, , determination to be strictly impartial as regards his gifts to our Central Institu tions has bequeathed a legacy of equal amount to each of our other Charitiesthe Royal Masonic Institution for Girls and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Bro . Wood died at his residence in Birmingham , on the nth instant , and the funeral will take place on Tuesday , the 17 th instant , at Nunhead Cemetery , at 12 . 35 p . m .

The Warwickshire Benevolent Fund.

THE WARWICKSHIRE BENEVOLENT FUND .

There was only one cause for regret in connection with the Masonic festival at Stoneleigh on the 3 rd instant , and that was that Lord Leigh , the venerable Provincial Grand Master of Warwickshire , was unable to be at home to receive his guests . His lordship is at present in London , and he sent an apology for absence , in which it was stated that he had been forbidden by his medical man to attend any public functions . Otherwise the Lord of Stoneleigh would have rfjoiced in being amongst the brethren , for

the object of the gathering was to raise funds for the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent and Pupils' Aid Fund , which is very near to this grand old Freemason ' s heart . For 25 years the fund has ministered to the needs of distressed Masons and their dependents , and there are at present id receiving aid from it , cf whom all , save one , are ladies . The fund now amounts to nearly £ 7000 . It was with this view that the 32 Warwickshire

lodges organised this festival , and it must have gratified the many who have worked hard for some time past to hear the announcement that the result of their united efforts has been to add no less a sum than £ 3150 . Thearrangements for the gathering was made by an influential Committee , of which Bro . Councillor G . H . Capewell Hughes was Chairman , everything went off smoothly and successfully , as was only to be expected .

Stoneleigh Park was an ideal meeting place . The stately elms and oaks afforded agreeable shade when the sun shone brilliantly , as it did sometimes , and everywhere was the scent of the new-mown hay , which the harvesters were leisurely turning . With the approach oL noon visitors began to arrive from all quarters , and the shrill blast of the coach-horn constantly awoke the echoes of the spacious park . Two special trains , and both well filled , ran from Birmingham alone . There were conveyances to cover the couple of miles to the park , but many chose the pleasant walk through the fields .

Immediately on the left of the drive leading up to the Abbey , just where a view of the grand old pile itself could be obtained through the tree-tops , a cluster of tents was pitched on the greensward . In the largest of these , luncheon was laid for over 1000 persons , for on this pleasant occasion the Masons were accompanied by wives and friends , and there was no business to be transacted with closed doors .

It is difficult to make a selection of the prominent Freemasons present , but a few must be named . There were Bro . George Beech , P . G . Std . Br . Eng ., who , as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , took Lord Leigh ' s place in the chair . The invited guests included Bros . J . T . Collins and M . Barker . Amongst the members of the Central Committee were Bros . G . H . Capewell Hughes , P . J . G . D ., Chairman ; E . Burn Callendtr , D . puty Chairman ;

George E . Wootton , P . P . G . D ., Treasurer ; Thomas G . Pratt , Hon . Sec . ; F . I-:. Wattis , Prov . G . Std . Br ., Asst . Sec . ; W . T . Bilchar , P . P . G . O . ; M . Berlyn , P . P . G . P . ; G . M . Bird , W . O . Dingley , J . T . Harcourt , P . P . A . G . S . ; C . Hodgkinson , P . G S . ; M . Hoopar , P . P . G . R . ; S . H . Hossell , B . Hunn , Felix Jones , P . P . G . D . ; H . Jacobs , C . Lee , P . P . G . W . ; J . S . Pritchett , P . P . G . D . ; A . Rodway , W . G . Smith , P . P . A . G . D . C . ; F , G . Swinden , Prov . G . Sec . ; and C . M . Wrighton .

Amongst those who apologised for absence were Bros , the Eai 1 of Warwick , Deputy Grand Master ; and the Marquess of I lertforj , bath engiged in Ltmdon . The brethren sang grace before and after ths meal . On the proposition of the CHAIRMAN , the toast of " The Q jeen " was honoured with unusual heartiness , and after Miss Aimee Wathen had sung very sweetly the first verse of the National Anthem the ladies and gentlemen rose and repeated it with vigour .

The CHAIRMAN' next gave " His Royal Highness , the Prince of Wahs , M . W . Grand Master of England , " and this , too , was received wi . h the utmost enthusiasm .

Bro . W . F . J EITERY sang the first verse of "God Bless the Prince of Wales , " and the company joined heartily . Bro . Lord ERNEST J . SEYMOUR gave " Lord Leigh , " and the toast was received with round after round of applause . Bro . J . T . COLLINS submitted "The Vice-President , " and Bro . GF . ORGE BEECH suitably replied .

Finally on the proposition of the CHAIRMAN , the officers and members of the Festival Committee were honoured , and Bro . G . H . C . U ' EWEI . L HUGHES replied on their behalf . In an interval Bro . T . C . PRATT , as Hon . Secretary , announced the returns from the lodges . Except the Bedford Lodge , which with £ 310 is well entitled to first mention , we give the list as it was read out : —Provincial

Grand Lodge , £ 52 ios . ; St . Paul ' s , £ " 100 ; Athol , £ 90 105 . 6 d . ; Trinity , ; £ 66 2 s . 6 d . ; Snakespeare , £ 100 is . 6 d . ; Apollo , , £ 19 195 . ; Guy ' s , £ 3093 . ; Abbey , £ 11 lis . ; Light , £ & i 18 s . ; Faithful , £ 107 » Ss . 6 d . ; Rectitude , £ 28 7 s . ; Unity , £ 1 is . ; Home , £ 105 ios . 6 d . ; Stoneleigh , £$ S 17 s . ; Temperance , £ 163 12 s . ; Warden , £ 73 ios . ; Leigh , £ \ 17 12 s . ; Grosvenor , £ 92 iSs . 6 d . ; Fletcher , £ 130 4 s . ; Emulation , £ 132 6 s . ; Forward , ^ Si 7 s . 6 d . ; Holte , £ 135 95 . ; Athelstan , £ 42 ios . 6 d . ; St . Alphege , £ 6 i 4 s . ;

Israel £ 213 13 s . 6 d . ; Charity , £ 139 13 s . ; St . Michael's , £ 45 3 s . ; Alma Mater , £ 70 7 s . ; Machen , £ 220 105 . ; Swan of Avon , £ 48 11 s . ; Loyal Traveller , £ 38 17 s . ; General Lodge of Instruction , £ 3 3 s . id . ; Provincial Grand Chapter , £ 10 ios . ; Trinity Chapter , £ 2 2 s . ; Temperance Chapter , £ 5 5 s . ; Grosvenor Chapter , £ ?> 35 . ; Elkington Chapter , £ 5 5 s . ; St . Michael's Chapter , £ 5 5 s . ; Shakespeare Mark , £ 5 5 s . ; Howe-Beauceant Preceptory , £ 13 131 . ; Vernon Chapter S . P . R . C , £ 12 12 s . ; total , £ 315695 . id .

After luncheon the visitors dispersed to spend the remainder of the afternoon as inclination led . The Abbey , with its art treasures and curios , was open for inspection ; so were the gardens and grounds . Some visited the deer park , a couple of miles away . A cricket pitch was placed at the disposal of those who felt capable of undue exertion , and for those desirous of

resting in the open air Mr . Handel Pnasey ' s orchestral band played sweet and soothing music . An alfresco tea was served near the Abbey and near the deer park . Thunder was heard in the distance more than once , but the weather continued fine until just before six o ' clock , when a smart shower fell , causing the company to disperse a little earlier than was anticipated .

THE WAREHOUSEMEN , CLERKS , AND DRAPERS'ScnooLS .--Adeputation from these schools visited Bro . William M . Candy at his private residence on 6 th inst . lor the purpose of presenting him with a silver inkstand on beha'f of the governors and subscribers of the schools . The inscription upon the inkstand was as fallows : " Presented to William M . Candy , Esq ., by the Governors and Subscribers of the Warehousemen , Clerks , and Drapers' Schools a ? a souvenir of the 43 rd Annual Festival held at the Hotel Metrepole , London , on Friday , May 4 th , 1900 , under Mr . Candy ' s presidency , when a total sum of £ Si 66 3 s . Sd . was added to the Funds . "