At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar

The Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys lias issued his usual statement of income ( which , by the way , is every year promptly placed in the hands of the subscribers on the ist of January ) , together with the amount received for the twenty-four years from 188 4 to 1903 , by

which it appears that the total income of the past year has been £ 40 , 440 ros . rod ., which is the highest in the history of the Institution , apart from the centenary year , exceeding that of 1901 by more than £ 10 , 000 . Bro . McLeod is to be congratulated on the splendid success which has attended his

¦ efforts on behalf of the Institutions , and it is gratifying to learn that he pays a hearty and grateful tribute to the members of the Board of Management , the Stewards of the Festival , and alt other friends who have helped to bring about the satisfactory result .

© o The announcement that H . R . H . the Duke of Connanght bad appointed Bro . John Thornhill Morland , M . A ., as Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire , has been received by all the lodges and brethren in the province with unqualified satisfaction . During the Provincial Grand Mastership of the

late Duke of Clarence and of Lord Wantage , as well as during the intervening periods after the death of both , Bro . Morland , as Deputy Prov . Grand Master , has been practically in charge of the province , and his promotion , therefore , has been well deserved and fully earned . Bro . Morland resides

at Abingdon , and has been an active and prominent Mason for forty years . He is a Past Grand Deacon and has been Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch Chapter of Berkshire since 1891 .

© < g . < s > An equally popular appointment is that of the Rev . H . W . Turner , ALA ., Rector of Surrey , as Grand Superintendent of Royal Arch Freemasons of Surrey , in succession to the late Col . John Davis , A . D . C , who died in 1900 . Bro . Turner was appointed Grand Chaplain in 18 90 in the Craft , and in the same year filled the office of Grand Scribe N . in the Royal Arch .

There has been a very nice and highly appreciated compliment paid to the Army and Navy Lodge of Freemasons by its permanent W . M ., H . R . H . Field Marshal the Duke of Connanght , Worshipful Grand Master . The Duke has presented every member of the lodge with a Masonic jewel , and it need scarcely be added that these are highly treasured by the recipients . © « 3 >

Wor . Bro . Vice-Admiral Sir Albert Hastings Markham , K . C . B ., Commander-in-Chief at the Nore , was , in November , installed as Worshipful Master of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , in succession to Bro . E . J . Castle , K . C . The ceremony was performed by Bro . R . F . Gould , P . G . D ., one of the founders of the lodge , and there was a large attendance

from all parts of the country to witness the interesting event . The first Master of the lodge was General Sir Charles Warren , and the first Treasurer Sir Walter Besant . Our readers will scarcely need to be reminded that a literary or artistic qualification is essential to membership , and there are about

three thousand subscribers to its printed transactions who are at the same time members of what is termed the Outer Circle .

« 5 > « 0 > & The Bishop of London , in answer to a correspondent , says , " though not a Freemason myself , I have not objected to Freemasonry at all , nor to the best of my belief has any order with which I am connected . " Had he done so , a contemporary asks , what would vigorous Archdeacon Sinclair liave said ?

We regret to record the death , after only a few days illness , of Bro . Peter de Lande Long . Bro . Long was for a great number of years associated professionally , as well as by family ties , with the late Sir John Monckton , and for nearly the whole of that period shared with him that lively interest in Freemasonry which was so prominent a feature in the

career of that wise and zealous Craftsman . Like Sir John Monckton , his best efforts were put forth in connection with the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , on the committee of which he has long rendered valuable services . Bro . Long was initiated in the Jerusalem Lodge , No . 197 in the year

, 1866 , shortly afterwards joining the Buckingham and Chandos Lodge , No . 1150 , of which he was a Past Master and a member until his death . He was also a member and a Past Master of the Royal Union Lodge , No . 114 . In 1877 nc was

THE LATE UltO . l'ETKIi UK LANDE LONO . made Senior Grand Deacon . Bro . Long was exalted in the Royal Arch in the British Chapter , No . 8 , in 1870 , and was elected M . E . Z . in 1877 . In the same year he was appointed to the office of Principal Grand Sojourner in Grand Chapter .

For many years he served efficiently as a member , and for some time Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , then under the presidency of Sir John Monckton . Bro . Long was a Patron of the Girls' School and a Life Governor of both the Boys' School and the Benevolent Institution , in each of which he has stood several times as Steward .

< £ > < 2 > < 2 > The Province of Derbyshire has sustained a heavy loss by the death of Bro . Thomas Cox , who for many years has occupied a distinguished and deservedly respected position in that province . Bro . Cox was initiated in the Tyrian Lodge , No . 253 , so long ago as 1857 , and from that time

until his death , was distinguished for his zeal , not only for the Craft as a whole , but for the practical application of the principles of the Order . At a time when it was not thought imperative that the officers of a lodge should be quite conversant with the ritual , Bro . Cox rendered valuable services ,

and for many years the province was dependent on him for assistance in connection with all the ceremonies of the Craft , with the result that he soon became recognised as the Installing Master for Derbyshire , and the present reputation of the province for its excellent working is in a large measure due to his good and sound tuition .

13 « s > ' & He was a P . P . G . S . B . in the Royal Arch , and a thorough worker in that degree , having after the usual chapter work been preferred to the office of Prov . G . J . in his province . He also held the oilice of Prov . G . Treasurer of Derbyshire