At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar

The proposal that on the retirement of the Earl of Warwick from the post of Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons of Essex , after twenty years' service , he should be presented by the brethren with some mark of the esteem in which he is held , has been taken up with great enthusiasm

by the Essex lodges . On Wednesday , December 3 rd , the Board of General Purposes of the Province met at Freemasons' Hall , London , to consider and determine what form the presentation should take . After a brief discussion , it was unanimously agreed to invite Lord Warwick to accept a portrait of himself , and it was decided to commission Mr . Milbank , R . A ., to carry out the work .

© « o » ®> The ever-flowing tide of prosperity which it has been the good fortune of our three Masonic Charities to experience for many years past has shown no sign of an ebb in the year which has just closed , although at the lirst glance it might

appear that a slight check had been experienced . It is true that the total receipts amount to some £ 5000 less than in the previous year , but that deJiciency is explained by the fact that exceptional items of income came into the 1901 account in the shape of annuities and perpetual presentations , which

augmented the total by £ 7971 , thus showing an increase in the annual donations and subscriptions , which , after all , is the most permanent and reliable source of income .

< i > » ^ " ^ We will not weary our readers with a long array of iigures , analysing and comparing the various items . This information will be duly communicated to the Craft in the reports of the respective Institutions , but simply give the total receipts of each for the year , which are as follows : —

Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , . £ 35 , 687 9 s . 7 d . ; Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 29 , 079 10 s . 2 d . ; Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . £ 34 , 673 17 s . 2 d . Aggregate receipts of the three Institutions , £ 99 , 440 16 s . jxd

The dinner given in honour ot Bro . Sir Alfred Cooper , F . R . C . S ., and his connection with hospital work , at which Bro . His Grace the Duke of Devonshire presided , was one of those events which , though not purely Masonic in their object , cannot fail to have been of interest to members of our Order . Bro . Sir Alfred Cooper , who received a well-earned knighthood in the recent Coronation honours , was created a Senior Grand Deacon in 18 97 .

We are pleased to see that the Jubilee Masters' Lodge , No . 2 7 , which is the only Installed Masters' Lodge in London , is becoming better appreciated by Metropolitan Masons , live new members being admitted at their last meeting , Friday , December 19 th . This was the last meeting under the presidency of their genial MasterBro . F . C . Van

, Du / . er , P . A . G . D . C , who , as previously mentioned in these pages , was the lirst American citizen to receive Grand Lodge honours in England , a fact highly appreciated , we understand , iimong our brethren in the United States .

< 3 > "is «> Bro . R . Clay Sudlow , that highly popular master of Masonic ceremonial , whose portrait we shall shortly reproduce in connection with the " History of the Lodge of Emulation , " was elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing

year , and we can prophesy another year of success . He signalled his election by bringing forward , on behalf of the permanent committee of ( he lodge , a motion for the . A'stablishment of a Charity organization among London

lodges , a proposition which we commend strongly to out " London readers , as it is calculated to prevent that lamentable loss of votes , which the present state of disorganization is responsible for . The organization is intended to be purely representative and every Loudon lodge will have equal chances of bringing forward its candidates . We think it

quite in the fitness of things that ( his proposition should have originated at a lodge occupving the unique position of the Jubilee Masters , and wc wish them every success . «> <& < s > Bro . Edward O . Farrerwhose portrait is given herewith ,

, is a well-known and much respected tradesman in the prosperous county borough of Reading , of which he is a native . He was initiated in the Greyfriars Lodge , No . 1101 , at Reading , in 188 9 , and was for nine years successively in office . On WednesdayNovember 12 thhe was installed as

, , Worshipful Master of the lodge , in the presence of a verylarge and representative assemblage of Masons . Bro . Farrer holds rank in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Berkshire . He was one of the founders of the Aldermaston Lodge , No . 27 60 . He is an experienced Mark Master Mason and a

HKO . KDWAKI ) 0 . FAKKKIi . Past Master of the Leopold Lodge , at Reading ; also Past Provincial Junior Grand Overseer . Bro . Farrer bore the leading share in the formation of the lodge of Royal Ark

Mariners in connection with the Leopold Lodge , and has been its Recorder ever since its consecration . Our respected brother also takes an active interest in other Degrees , and at the present time is Principal Sojourner in the Union Royal Arch Chapter , No . 414 ; Senior Warden of the Veran

Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees ; Steward of the Albert Victor Rose Croix Chapter ; and an energetic member of the Reading United Lodge of Improvement . ¦ 9 " 8 » * 3 > Amongst those who have recently declared their intention

of seeking Parliamentary honours who are members of the Craft may be noticed Bro . R . C . Lehmann , the famous rowing coach and sometime editor of the Daily Xcws , who is a member of the Westminster and Keystone Lodge , No . 10 ; and Bro . Hesketh Lever , the head of the well-known iirm at

Port Sunlight , where a lodge has recently been formed bearing his name . « f > < 5 >> S > The list of the present Ministry contains the names of a large proportion of members of our Order , including many Grand Officers . Lord Halsbury , the Duke of Devonshire , the Marquis of Londonderry , Lord George Hamilton , Lord