Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 . PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . BLACKBURN , P . M . An emergency meeting of this important lodge was held on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., al ( he Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool-street , when there were present Bros . F . Orfeur , WM •T . T . Gething , LP . M . ; W . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas . ; W . D . Church , P . M ., Zr ¦ '' H . I . Dyer , I . G . ; Arthur H . Church , P . M ., Org . ; W . Finch , P . M . ; Alfred Tucker P . M . ; Wm . Forty , P . M . ; F . C . Lintott , P . M . ; W . H . Caton , P . M . ; D . 7 cers G . E . Zoers , J . Porteous , F . Brown , H . Allen , H . H . Bowen , J . Vincent , J . T . ¦ i-hiiKtonHarry GreeneT . W . VaughanF . MooreJ . DolmanH . MartinP . M ., i •¦— ¦

. , , , , , nuiswj J . - --o . .. - - and R . T . West . The lodge having been opened , the W . M ., Bro . F . Orfeur , passed Bro . H . Allen to the Second Degree , and afterwards the Secretary read the bye-laws of the lodge . The W . M . rose and said that one of the most pleasing duties that had devolved upon ¦ him during his year of office was to make a presentation , in the name of the lodge , to their esteemed Bro . W . Blackburn , P . M . Many of the members thought that his ereat services as Treasurer for so many years should be recognised , and a small committee was formed to carry out that object . with the result that the members had responded

liberally , and a very handsome massive silver epergne was purchased . Addressing Bro . Blackburn , the W . M . stated that his services as Treasurer had been carried out in a manner that could not be excelled and would never be surpassed , and he hoped he would live for many years to continue in his office as they would have great difficulty in finding a better man , and he asked him to accept the epergne as a slight recognition for the great services he had done for the lodge and as a token of the love and esteem they had towards him . Bro . W . Finch said as the senior Past Master of tbe lodge it gave him

very much p leasure to endorse every word of the W . M . ' s . Bro . W . D . Church , P . M . and Sec , remarked that he had the honour of being installed by Bro . Blackburn , P . M ., and having worked with him in the lodge for many years , he _ knew his great worth and he appreciated his very efficient services . In acknowledging the presentation , Bro . Blackburn , P . M ., stated that he was surprised with the proceedings , and he felt their kindness very much , but his heart was too full to thank them in an adequate manner .

Bro . Blackburn ' s short speech was given with much feeling , but received with great applause . The epergne , which is a work of art , bore the following inscription : " Presented to W . Bro . W . Blackburn , P . M . and Treasurer , Clapton Lodge , No . 1365 , by the brethren as a slight token of their respect and esteem for the efficient way he had fulfilled the office of Treasurer for many years . 15 th August , 1901 . " The lodge was then closed , and a substantial supper followed . After tlie usual loyal and Masonic toasts ,

Bro . T . T . Gething , LP . M ., proposed " The Health of the W . M ., Bro . F . Orfeur , " rbseiving that it was a pleasing duty to perform , but that was the last time he would have to submit the toast . It was not necessary for him to speak of his excellent qualities , because they were well known , and he was one of the best of fellows . The W . M ., Bro . Orfeur , who was received with much warmth , responded , and Slid

that his year of office had been a most enjoyable one , but it was too short , as when on ; was getting used to the work they had to vacate the chair . He acknowledged tbe great assistance he had received from them all , which had enabled him to carry out his duties , and he thanked them all for their kindness , which he should never forget , and he should look upon his year of office as a red-letter one . _

In giving "The W . M . Elect , Bro . W . Finch , P . M ., " the W . M . said that no words of his were necessary to commend the toast , because he was so well known , and he would not attempt to paint the lily . Bro . W . Finch , P . M ., in response , stated that he was honoured to nave been again elected W . M ., as it was 21 years ago since he was installed into the chair in the lodge . He hoped they would bring in the right men , and he would initiate them to tha b : st of hk ability , and at the end of his year of office he trusted they would be able to say

that he had been a good Steward . The W . M . gave " The Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . R . T . West , who responded . The W . M . proposed "The Treasurer , Secretary , and the Past Misters / ' and said that no words of his could express the worth the members placed on the services of the Treasurer , who was a careful warden of the funds , and did everything for the lodge . He was most genial , with always a . happy smile and a good word for all . Wnit could they have better for a Treasurer ? Then as to the Secretary , Bro . W . D . Church , P . M .,

the same remarks applied to him . He had known him for 25 years , and hid not a better friend , and if the Makers coming on followed the Treasurer and Secretary they could not go wrong . They had a goodly array of Past Masters that evening ; they were all jolly good fellows , and he hoped they would be there for many years , as it went without saying that the members appreciated their past labours . Bro . Blackburn , P . M ., Treas ., responded , and said he was a little taken aback by the presentation , and he felt he could * not express himself adequately in thelodge , but what he had done was a labour of love , as he and the Past Masters had the interests of

the lodge at heart . The presentation was a great surprise , and although he might have had a slight suspicion , when he camo to the lodge that evening , he had no idea that the presentation would be such a beautiful and costly present . It touched him very deeply , because it showed that there was a current of great friendship and good feeling towards him . The epergne would be handed down to posterity , s ) that those who followed him might conjecture that he could not have been a bad sort of fellow to have been the recipient of such a handsome token , and , in conclusion , he said the Past Misters appreciated the honour of an old Past Master having been elected to the chair .

Craft Masonry.

Bro . W . D . Church , P . M . and Sec , also responded , congratulating the W . M . on his good working , and the financial success during his year of office , and he had given every satisfaction to them all . The lodge was a band of brothers and friends and good to all . If he had the honour of being the Secretary under the W . M . elect , he trusted to do his duty fearlessly , as he hoped he had done in the past . Bros . Caton , P . M . ; Tucker , P . M . j Forty , P . M . ; Arthur H . Church , P . M . ; Lintott , P . M . ; Finch , P . M . ; and Gething , I . P . M . ; also responded * in good and happy speeches .

In giving "TheOfficers of the Lodge , " the W . M . said he took that opportunity to thank them for their great assistance to him , and he had much pleasure in associating Bro . H . J . Dyer's name with the toast . Bro . Dyer responded in an able speech , observing that the officers appreciated the very kind words of the W . M . The lodge was a distinguished one , and the officers looked forward to attaining the high position of W . M . The Past Masters were men of intelligence in Masonry , and were good men to follow . The Tyler's toast brought to a close a most enjoyable gathering .

Several of the members vocally entertained the brethren , but a word of praise is due to Bro . Harry Greene , who gave Bro . H . Trotere ' s well-known Sing " Asthore " with marked effect .

Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 . The members of the above lodge met at the Masonic Temple , Torquay , on Tuesday , the 13 th instant , and elected Bro . John Glanlield , S . W ., as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . Samuel Wills was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . J . E . Newton , Tyler . Bro . J . G . Turle was appointed Representative on Committee of Petitions in succession to Bro . T . H . Wills , resigned . This being the closing meeting of Bro . R . D . Scholes ' s year of office as W . M ., he entertained the members at supper at the close of the lodge .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE SIR RICHARD SOUTHEY . A ZEALOUS FREEMASON . EXTRACT Cape Times , J 23 RD , 1901 . Sir Richard Southey was a most enthusiastic Freemason , and was initiated at the Hope Lodge ( E . G . ) , which was wont to meet in the old Commercial Exchange , Adderley-street , in 1848 . In 186 3 he was created Provincial Grand

, Master of South Africa and the Colonies adjacent thereto . Subsequently , when the command was divided , he was offered , but declined , the post of District Grand Master of the Western Province , and retired from active Masonic work with the rank of Past District Grand Master . He was also a Royal Arch Mason , and a member of the Rose Croix and Southern Cross Chapter , while for many years he was President of the Masonic Education Fund for South Africa .

EXTRACT FROM "SOUTH AFRICA , " J 27 TH , 1901 . The death of Sir Richard Southey at Cape Town this week removes one of the few remaining ties between the present generation of Cape politicians and the men who built up the Cape in the first half of the past century . They were men of great character and ability—Sir John Molteno , Mr . Saul Solomon , SirAndrics Stockenstrom , Sir Walter Currie , the Hon . R . Godlonton , Colonel Bowker , and

others , who exercised an enduring influence either in politics or in the field , and who were also distinguished for a certain fine manner rarely met . The conditions of public life have changed considerably , and there is not the same aloofness now on the part of the leaders that there was when the'young Devonshire colonist was making his mark on Colonial history . The son of Mr . G . Southey , he was born in Devonshire in 1808 , and was educated in England up to the age of 12

when he went out to the Cape , and was clerk in a mercantile house until 1829 . In the Kaffir War of 18 34 . 35 he commanded a corps of guides , and was subsequently present at the battle of Boomplatts between her Majesty ' s troops and the Boers . He was secretary to the Hi gh Commissioner during 1847-49 . In the course of the next 10 years he successivel y held the posts of Resident Magistrate of Swellendam , Acting Secretary-to the Cape Government and Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor , and acting Auditor General . From

1862 to 1864 he was Treasurer General , and from 186410 1872 Colonial Secretary at the Cape . In 1872 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Griqualand West , holding the office until 18 75 . He was created Knight Commander of the Order of St . Michael and St . George in 1891 . Sir Richard Southey married first , in 1831 , Isabella , daughter of Mr . John Shaw , of the Cape , who died in 1869 ; and second , Susan , daughter of Mr . A . D . Krynaurd , of Capetown , who died in 1890 .

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