Craft Masonry.

a show of hands , in the room of Bro . G . J . Mason , whose resignation , on the score of failing health , had been accepted with regret , and it was directed that the appreciation by the brethren of his valuable services as Tyler during the existence of the lodje should be recorded on the minutes . Bros . M . A . Shaw and N . Dadge were elected Auditors . A Past Master ' s jewel vvas unanimously voted to the retiring Master , but Bro . Captain Hoey having expressed a preference that the sum thus voted should be given to one of the Masonic Charities and carried to the credit of the Bisley Lodge , the matter was , after discussion , referred to the Audit Committee to settle and arrange . Letters were

read , from tbe Grand Secretary giving particulars of the meeting to be held at the Albert Hall on June 14 th for the purpose of voting a loyal and dutiful address to the Queen ; from Bro . Langston , announcing that a Masonic service would ba held at the Collegiate Church of St . Saviour's , Southwark , on Ascension Dav , May 27 th ; and from three members of the lodge—Bros . Major G . Collins , Charles Pulman , and James Webb , Past Masters—all of whom were unavoidably prevented from being present . Two candidates were proposed for joining , after which , there being no further business , the lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned for refreshment . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were duly given from the chair .

The W . M . alluded in graceful terms to the long and happy reign of her Majesty the Queen , whose health was drunk with great enthusiasm . The toast of " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Most Worshipful Grand Master , " was also proposed in very eloquent terms and received with much applause . In proceeding with the toast of "The Earl of Lathom . Pro Grand Master ; Earl Amherst , Deputy Grand Master ; and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " the VV . M . said they had one present that night in the person of Bro . Gould , whose merits were well known to them all , and with whom he had himself been acquainted for a period of over 38 years .

Bro . Gould , in the course of his reply , said that the officers of the Grand Lodge of England were very much in evidence at the present time , because a few days only had passed since the new ones had been appointed for the year . The noblemen and gentlemen upon whom the choice of their Royal Grand Master had fallen at the recent annual festival of the Society would , he hoped and believed , be considered in every case to have amply merited their preferment . It gave him much pleasure to be present at the Bisley Lodge that evening . He had seen five Masters placed in its chair , and while he could not quite say that he had witnessed every ceremony which had been performed in the

lodge since his first visit to it in 1892 , nevertheless he had enjoyed the good fortune of being present at most of their meetings , and there was not a single member with whom he was not personally acquainted . The working had always been excellent , and he felt sure that in that respect , as well as in the reputation the lodge had justly acquired for hospitality , it would go on and prosper in the future , under the genial sway of the Master elect , Bro . Askham , as it had done in the past , under the retiring W . M ., and

the worthy brethren who had preceded him in the chair . Of Bro . Hoey , he must , however , say a parting word . The Past Masters of No . 2317 had all done good suit and service in the Craft , and were very highly esteemed , but he thought that when towards the close of the year , Bro . Hoey passed into their ranks , it might be said without any fear of contradiction , that the Bisley Lodge would possess one of the finest galleries of " Old Masters , " not only in Surrey , but in all England .

" The Health of the W . M . " was then proposed by the I . P . M ., Bro . Littleboy , who , after referring to the terms in which he had spoken of Bro . Holy ' s capabilities at the beginning of the year , went on to claim that his prophecy had been a true one , as the VV . M . had fully realised all the sanguine hopes which had been entertained by the brethren when they elected him . The W . M . having suitably replied , other toasts followed . In the course of the evening some excellent vocal and instrumental music was rendered by Bros . F . M . Wilkins , E . Head , W . H . Long , G . W . Smith , and the W . M . Bro . Dadgc ? particularly distinguished himself in a cornet solo , while the office of pianoforte accompanist was in the able hands of Bro . E . J . Eastes , Organist of the Galen Lodge , No . 2394 .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Wycombe Lodge , No . 480 . A meeting of this lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , High Wycombe , on Tuesday , the 4 th instant , when a large number of brethren were present , including Bro . E . Margarett , P . P . G . Treas . Berks , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed , the balancj-sheet was read , which showed a balance of £ 5 2 s . 4 d . ; this was adopted and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Bro . F . Johncock , S . W ., was then duly installed into the

chair , the ceremony being very ably performed by Bro . Margarett . The W . M . then invested the following officers : Bros . G . T . James , I . P . M . ; C . Batting , W . M . 257 , S . W . ; J . J . Simcox , J . W . ; J . Bowden , Treas . ; J . Bliss , Sec . ; G . T . Rees , M . O . j H . Hambling , S . O . j J . C . Coppick , J . O . ; J . Williams , S . D . ; W . Birch , J . D . ; W . L . Bradshaw , I . G . j and J . N . Hodgkinson , Tyler . A Past Mister ' s jewel was presented by the W . M . to the I . P . M ., Bro . James , for the excellent services rendered to the lodge during his year of office . Various matters were discussed , after which the lodge was closed .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE COOK , S . D . 16 93 . We regret to announce the demise of a much respected member of the Kingsland Lodge , No . 1693—Bro . George Cook—who was initiated therein seven years since , and was S . D . at the time of his death . He had been in indifferent health for a considerable time ; but not such as to cause anxiety to his family until very recently , when he was compelled to lay up ; but all medical assistance was of no avail , and he succumbed to his complaint ( fatty degeneration of the heart ) on

Thursday , the 6 th instant , at his residence in St . Thomas-road , Finsbury Park , N . We tender our sympathy to his widow and family on their sad loss . Our late brother was buried at Highgate Cemetery on Saturday , the Sth instant , and the funeral was attended by his son , Mr . George Cook ; his three brothers , Mr . O . Whiting ( brother-in-law ) , Mr . Henderson , Bro . J . Michaelson , 860 ( who was the deceased ' s co-manager ) , and the whole of the employes of the firm of which our late brother was manager for many years ( Messrs . Burrell ) . The members of his lodge who attended 10 pay their last tribute of respect to a

brother who certainly enjoyed the respect of every member of the lod"e were Bros . S . Robson , W . M . ; J . S . Anthony , S . W . ; A . White , J . W . ; H . Hall P . M . ; ] . Potter , P . M . ; A . W . Cooper , P . M . ; A . W . Fenner , P . M ., Sec . ; and C . W . Potter . Bro . W . Windsor , Org ., also attended on behalf of the Kingsland Chapter , of which our late brother was a member . There were many beautiful wreaths from relatives and friends , also a handsome one from the Kingsland lodge , and with which the coffin was completely covered . A splendid wreath was received from the Paris Correspondent of the deceased ' s firm , which arrived too late to be sent with others at the funeral .

Ar01405

BIRTH . COUSANS . —On the 3 rd instant , at Leamington , the wife of Henry Edward Cousans , of Santos , Brazil , of a son .

Ar01402

DEATHS . COUSANS . —On the Sth instant , at Claremont , Arlington-street , Leamington , Beatrice Catherine , the beloved wife of Henry Edward Cousans , of Santos , Brazil . S MITHETT . —On the 9 th instant , at 40 , Inverness-terrace , Hyde Park , W ., the wife of William Smithett , Esq ., of Mincing-lane ; aged 58 years . The funeral took p lace on Thursday , the 13 th instant , at Brookwood ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

DOWN TO THURSDAY night the Lord Mayor ' s Indian Famine Fund amounted to £ 523 , 545-MADAMS FMMA EAMES has received the Royal command to sing at the first State concert at Buckingham Palace on the 2 Sth inst . MRS . GULLY will hold a Drawing-room meeting in aid of the Children ' s Country Holiday Fund at the residence of the Speaker ( Bro . the Right Hon . M . C . Gully ) on Friday , the 2 Sth inst .

THE RIGHT HON . A . J . BALFOUR and Miss Balfour will give evening parties at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury on Wednesday , the 19 th inst ., and VVednesday , the 26 th inst . THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK has returned fromJParis , where she has been giving sittings for her portrait to M . Carolus Duran , and has been joined at Warwick Castle by Bro . the Earl of Warwick .

THE ANNUAL DINNER of old students of King ' s College , London , will be held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Monday , June 28 th , Lord Kelvin presiding . The Duke of Cambridge has intimated his intention of being present . IN COMMEMORATION of the Diamond Jubilee , members of the various London hospitals and lay companies representing the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps will hold a dinner and smoking concert at the Holborn Restaurant , on the 27 th inst .

THE PRIVATE VIEW of the Cabinet Picture Society ' s Third Exhibition will be held on Tuesday , the iSth inst . Messrs . C . M . M . Dale , Bingham McGuinness , T . Neil Knight , Mary L . Mathews , Fred Morgan , M . Murray-Cookesley , and Alfred Powell have been elected members of the society . MEDALS COMMEMORATIVE of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee are _ to be issued from the Royal Mint . They will be ir . two sizes—one measuring about 2 V inches \ n diameter will be issued in fine gold , silver , and bronze , and the other about an inch in diameter , which will be issued in fine gold and silver only .

AT THE MEETING , on Saturday last , of the Addiscombe Lodge , No . 1556 , Bro . Layton A . Richardson , P . M ., presented for the use of the lodge a box of handsome ebony and plated working tools to mark the Jubilee year of her Majesty's reign . The gift was unanimously accepted by the members . THE PRIVATE VIEW of the Society of Miniature Painters' Second Exhibition will take place to-morrow ( Saturday ) at Messrs . Graves and Company's Gallery , 6 , Pall Mall , S . W ., and the exhibition will be open to the public from the _ 17 th instant to the end of June . All exhibits will consist of works by contemporary artists .

ON THURSDAY morning , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales left Oxford for Cheltenham to inspect the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars , and afterwards proceeded to Prestbury Park , and reviewed the yeomanry . He then rode at the head of the regiment , to Queen's Hotel , where he lunched with the yeomanry officers , of whom the Marquis of Worcester is colonel commanding . BRO . J LANE , P . M . 1402 , P . A . G . D . C . of England , was married to Miss

Maude Elizabeth Bailey , at the Upton Vale Baptist Chapel , Torquay , on Monday , the 10 th inst ., by the Rev . William Emery , the Pastor . His attached friend , Bro . William J . Hughan , P . S . G . D . of England , was the "best man" on the occasion ; a niece of the bride being the bridesmaid . The happy couple , after passing a few days in the Metropolis , anticipate spending the remainder of their honeymoon at Scarborough . They have had many valuable presents made to them , especially from the Companies of which Bro . Lane is the Secretary .

A NEW and very much enlarged edition of Rawdon Lee ' s popular and successful book on Sporting Dogs , being part of his series of " Modern Dogs of Great Britain and Ireland , " is promised by Mr . Horace Cox towards the end of May . The fresh issue , in two volumes , brought right up to date , will contain , amongst the new illustrations , Welsh hounds ( never previously produced in a work of this kind ) , Beagles , Deerbounds , Bassett Griffons , various spaniels , retrievers , & c , executed in collotype from drawings by Arthur Wardle . In all there will be 33 full-page illustrations , 724 pages of letterpress , and a copious index .

THERE IS an old lady living in Ireland born in 1781 . She remembers the Irish Revolution . Being in her 117 th year , she must be the oldest subject of the Queen . Having been asked to sign her name for Bro . Major Henry Wright ' s celebrated collection of autographs , Mrs . Armstrong , with great difficulty , has done so . By reason of her great age she is a celebrity . Bro . Wright took the autograph to Marlborough House to show H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , who was much interested in looking at it , and thanked him for the opportunity afforded her of inspecting this curious signature . A

short time ago most of the members of her Roya ! Highness ' s family , including the King and Queen of Denmark , Crown Prince and Princess and their family , honoured Bro . Wright by signing in his book . OWING TO the great success of the Sacred Concerts each Sunday at Wembley Park , arrangements have been made for them _ to be continued throughout the summer season . The new management are anxious to give Londoners thc opportunity of visiting

this beautiful place , and the free tnvitatim given to the public will undoubtedly be the best possible advertisement for the Park . A good selection of instrumental music occupies the afternoon programme , and the evening concerts , which are given in the large hall , have the assistance of many well-known vocalists , which adds greatly to the enjoyment of visitors . The adoption of this new and liberal policy is undoubtedly a generous and wise step , as it is evident that this beautiful place has only to be known in order that it become the mist popular resort in London .

THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY have issued a nicely illustrated pamp hlet , containing lists of farmhouses , seaside , and country lodgings , hotels , and biarding houses in the districts served by the Great Western line , including Jersey and Guernsey . The pamphlet shows the accommodation obtainable , and the features of interest in the various localities , and will be found exceedingly useful to tourists . Copies can be obtained free on personal application at the company ' s London receiving offices , and at

Paddington Station and the principal stations throughout the line . The company ' s divisional superintendents at Paddington , Reading , Bristol , Exeter , Plymouth , Penzance , Swansea , Llanelly , Cardiff , Pontypool-road , Hereford , Worcester , Birmingham , and Chester will forward pamphlets on receipt of twopence to defray pistage , and copies can be obtained at Messrr . Smith and Son ' s bookstalls at the stations on the Great Western Railway , at the price of id . each . The pamphlet is published by Messrs . Walter Hill and Co ., of 6 7 and 69 , Southampton-row , London , W . C .

THE QUEEN HELD A DRAWING ROOM at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday , having arrived from Windsor the day previous . The Prince and Princess of Wales and their daughter , the Princess Victoria , attended by Lord Colville of Culress , Lady Emily Kingscote , Miss Knollys , Bros . Lord Suffield and Sir Francis Knollys , and Captain Holroyd , arrived at the garden entrance under escort by a detachment of Life Guards , and the other members of the Royal Family present were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , the Duke of Cambridge , Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , and the

Princess Victoria and Prince Christian Victor , his daughter and son , and the Duke of Teck . The Queen ' s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms was on duty in the State Saloons under their Captain , Lord Helper , and the Yoemen of the Guard in the interior of the Palace , under Captain the Earl of Waldegrave . The great officers of State and ladies and gentlemen of the Household were in attendance , including the Mistress of the Robes ( the Duchess of Buccleugh ) , the Lord Steward ( the Earl of

Pembroke ) , the Lord Chamberlain ( Bro . the Earl 01 Lathom , G . C . B . ) , the Master ot the Horse ( Bro . the Duke of Portland ) , the Treasurer of th ; Household ( Viscount Curzon , M . P . ) , the Comptroller ofthe Household ( Bro . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P . ) , the Master of the Buckhounds ( the Earl of Coventry ) , Sir Fleetwood Edwards ( Keeper of the Privy Purse ) , and Sir Arthur Bigge ( Private Secretary ) . The Diplomatic and General Circles were numerously attended , and there was a large number of presentations , which had been previously approved by Her Majesty . WE BEG to inform Secretaries of lodges that copies of the circular letter issued by Grand Lodge , re the Albert Hall meeting of June 14 th , may be had at the office of this paper , at the following prices : 25 , 3 s . Cd . ; 50 , 4 s . ; 75 , 4 s . 6 d . ; 100 , 5 s . —Advt .