At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

The M . W . Grand Master having been pleased to grant a Avarrant , on the application of many residents in the Strand , the Willing Lodge , No . 298 3 , will be consecrated by the Grand Secretary on Tuesday , March nth , at the Tivoli Restaurant , Strand . The Worshipful Master Designate is"J Bro . James Willing , jun ., AVIIO is a Past Master and

founder of several successful lodges ; the Senior Warden is Bro . T . V . Bowater , CC , and the Junior Warden is Bro . Willis H . Wilson . The lodge starts under auspicious circumstances and bids fair to play a prominent part in London Masonry .

Bro . Arthur b . Benjamin , Avhose installation as W . M . of the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge is reported in another column , is the son of one of the earliest settlers in Melbourne , Victoria , Avas born in London , after his parents return to this country , in 18 54 , and Avas educated at University College , Gower Street , and at the Handel School , Berlin . In 1875

Bro . Benjamin Avent to Queensland , and Avith his brother founded , in Brisbane , a large mercantile business , returning to this country in 18 90 , and subsequently joining a Avell knoAvn firm of tobacco brokers . He became a member of the Sir Walter Raleigh Lodge in 18 92 , and has worked up to the chair through all the offices .

J » «> - & Bro . Colonel J . D . Murray , P . G . Treas ., presided on February 19 th at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , over a large representative gathering of brethren interested in the Avelfare and prosperity of the West Lancashire Alpass

Benevolent Institution , founded for the purpose of giving needed assistance in the A \* ay of annuities to the widows of deceased Freemasons . Continuations of grants to fourteen AvidoAvs already on the fund Avere considered and passed for the approval of the yearly court of goA * ernors to be held at

an early date . One HCAV candidate was also selected as an eligible annuitant at the meeting referred to , Avhen the Hon . Secretary and Hon . Treasurer ' s reports will be submitted .

o ¦& ¦& Bro . Captain Edmund Bailey , whose installation as lirst W . M . of the Khartoum Lodge , No . 28 77 , Avas recorded in our last number , Avas the moving spirit in the formation of this , the first lodge consecrated in Egypt and the Soudan since it has been organized as a District , and his Avell

HMO . CAITAIX ISA I LKV . (/ ' //„/« E / ifr J ' urlniil '' « . ) known energy and zeal for the Craft will be of great service to his confreres in the somewhat difficult task of establishing a sound Masonic organization in that region . His position on the staff of the Sirdar , who is also District Grand Master , cannot fail to be of advantage in this direction .

The installation meeting of the Lodge of United Strength , No . 228 , took place at the Guildhall Tavern , E . G ., on Tuesday , nth February , Avhen W . Bro . Benson C Kirby yvas installed as the 105 th Master . The outgoing master , W . Bro . A . V . Miller , installed his successor in a very able manner , and Bros , the Rev . S . B . Mayall and W . A . Smith Avere

appointed S . W . and J . W . respectively . This is one of the centenary lodges , and its oldest member is W . Bro . James Terry , P . G . S . B ., and Secretary of the R . M . B . I .

There are several members AYIIO can claim thirty years membership , and the Treasurer , Bro . Hickman , P . M ., was initiated twenty-nine years ago . He A \ -as W . M . in 1882 , and then initiated Bro . Ashb y , the present Secretary of the lodge . With the additional strength it has acquired by new

members , the lodge has started upon its second century with every prospect of flourishing for many years to come . The present W . M . is an ardent Mason , and will further the interests of the lodge in every Avay .

It Avill be heard Avith regret that , in consequence of illness , Bro . F . H . Macklin , of the Lodge of Asaph , No . 1319 , has for some time been unable to folloAY his profession . It Avill not be for the want of good wishes of all AY ho have been associated with him in the dramatic world that the matinee to be held for his benefit on Tuesday , the 18 th March , at the Haymarket Theatre , is not a huge success .

¦ © ' 5 ) - " > It is not uninteresting to note in a well-informed contemporary that Bro . Walter Parratt , P . G . Organist , Avill assist in the performance of the music at the Coronation , and that V . W . Bro . the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells , P . G . Chaplain , will be one of the bishops to assist in the duty of supporting His Majesty .

•© «> «» An interesting incident took place at Rangemore recently , Avhere His Majesty paid a visit to R . W . Bro . Lord Burton , of Bass ' s Ale fame , who is a Past Grand Warden of England . On the 22 nd February , " His Majesty mashed live lots of Bass ' s best product , No . 1 Strong Ale , which was then stored , to be used on great occasions twenty or thirty years hence . "

Bro . Hermann Klein , P . G . Organist , in the interesting account of doings in New York , which he periodically sends to a weekly contemporary , relates that Boer emissaries are endeavouring to stir up political feeling in the Masonic lodges there . So far as Ave know American Masonry has not , up to now , allowed the purity of its scutcheon . to be tarnished by

political intrigue , and it is not surprising to learn from our worthy raconteur that little success has been met with in this direction In * politicians across the " herring pond . "

Ar01302

PORTRAITS WANTED . The proprietors of "THE MASONIC ILLUSTRATED " are desirous of borrowing portraits of the following eminent

Masons for the purpose of illustrating the ' * History of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement . " Care Avill be taken that no injury be done to them , and they will be returned in the course of a few days : — Urn . Jons' DOWI . KV , I ' . AI . do , 1 S 0 , 231 , " 4 c . ., \ V . R . G . Kiev , I ' . AI . 7 , 19 S , & e .

„ CIIAK ' I . KS k ' oiiis , I ' . AJ . 11 . 3 1 , tSrc . ,, GKOKCK SO .-XXKS , I ' . AI . <) ij , I ' . G . S . „ NiciiAi-n J . J . K . DALY , P . M . H , I ' . G . S . ,, WII . I . IAM FN ' I-: I )| -: RILI ; HKAIKIN , Past Grand Warden ( Metropolitan Police Magistrate , died iS ( u ) . „ Hl'l'liKI'T Ll . ovi ) , 14 , I ' . S . G . I ) e : icon ( died 1 S 67 I . THOMAS IlKNKY HAM . c ; t ) , tfcPast Prov . G . AI , Cambridgeshire

,, , , ( died 1 S 70 I . ,, Jons' L . Kv . ws , Past Pres . Hoard of General Purposes . ,, HOK . UK I . l . oYl ) , O . C ., Pasl Pres . Board of General Purposes . ., SAMI'I ' I . ToUKixs , Past (' rand Treasurer . ., I . tiun Ti-: xri-: Ki )| - \' , K ' . C . Ii ., Pasl Prov . G . -Alasler Ksse . v . ,, I . OKI ) I \ i-: xs ! Xi ; rox , Past Prov . G . Alasler South Wales 1 W . D . 1 .