At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

Our congratulations to W . Bro . Sir Ge * erge D . Harris , P . G . D ., President of the Committee of Grand Chapter , on his re-election for the Paddington Division of the London County Council . It wtis but a short time since that he wtis

\ V . littO . Silt OKORGK 1 J . H . UiHIS .

returned as a Borough Councillor for Paddington . Although our distinguished brother wtis born in the twenties , work would seem to agree with him , for he carries his years light !} . May his cheery presence long be spared to the Craft " !

In our Ittst issue we ventured to express a hope that the result of the forthcoming Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution would be a very substantial addition to the funds of this great Masonic Charity . That

hope litis been fully realised , and Bro . James Terry was able to announce the largest contribution that had ever been made at any ordinary Festival of the Institution , viz ., £ 25 , 900 . This sum wtis only exceeded on the occasion of the celebration of the Jubilee at Covent Garden Theatre in the year 1892 , when £ 69 , 000 wtis realised .

Freemasons' Hall presented a very animated scene on the day of the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , the attendance of bretliren in cabs , omnibuses , and on foot , never ceasing from the time of the opening of the poll for the election of Grand Treasurer at 2 o ' clock until its close at

6 . 15 . One would indeed have supposed the voters to have been in considerably greater force than- was subsequently disclosed at the announcement of the result of the election .

Up to the time of going to press we tire unable to learn that any arrangements are in progress , or indeed that any preliminary steps have been taken in regard to the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master . That it

will be a right Royal function rivalling if not surpassing till such Masonic gatherings of the past is quite certain . Since the Prince of Wales was installed at the Royal Albert Hall in 1875 , the number of lodges litis nearly doubled , and brethren qualified to attend have therefore increased in the same ratio . Much difficulty wtis experienced on that occasion in allotting

seats to applicants , and it was found necessary to confine each lodge to a very limited number . Under the present circumstances we do not envy the officials the task of dealing with probably double the number of applications and with only the same space for them . Unfortunately the Royal Albert Hall has not kept pace with our Order in growth and its capacity is no greater than in 18 75 .

if- «¦ * Thirty years of London journalism necessarily leave some interesting experiences in their wake . Such , certainly , is the case with Bro . Edward Eden Peacock , who for a little over that period has been a prominent figure in the newspaper life

of the great metropolis . Successively , reporter and subeditor of the ( i / obe , n member of the staff " of the Morning Posl , chief of its Parliamentary corps , and lobby representative , lie retired from the Parliamentary press gallery after a quarter of a century ' s eventful service , on being appointed general manager of the Morning Posl in 18 94 , which position he

tit present holds . In every effort making for the elevation of journalism , Bro . Peacock has borne a conspicuous part , and his services have been recognised by his fellows by his election to almost every post of honour in their gift . As President of the Press Club ( 1886 ) , he wtis honoured with tin invitation to the memorable Jubilee service of Queen Victoria

in Westminster Abbey . For many years tin active member of the Council of the Newspaper Press Fund and of the governing body of the Institute of Journalists , of which he

w ; ts one of the first fellows , he is named in the charter of each of those organisations tis one of the persons to whom it was granted by Her lafe Majesty . But perhaps one of his most unique experiences is the compliment paid him by the Lord Chancellor in connection with the Libel Law Amendment Bill of ieS 88 . When the Bill reached the House

of Lords , it wtis blocked by Lord Halsbnry who entertained a strong objection to some of its proposals . A joint deputation of newspaper proprietors and members of the Institute of Journalists was invited to confer with his lordship in his private room . Bro . Peacock was one of the deputation , and

he it was who drafted the proviso which banished the lastobjection from the Chancellor ' s mind . " I think sir , " said Lord Halsbnry , " you have solved a problem which I confess I thought insoluble , " and with the insertion of the proviso he allowed the Bill to pass into law .

It HO . KDVVAIU ) KI 1 KX I'KACOCK .

Socially , Bro . Peacock is very popular . For many years a member of the Savage Club , he wtis , on his appointment to the management of the Morning Posl , entertained at a complimentary supper b y his fellow members , who , further , in 18 99 , elected him their Honorary Secretary on the

retirement from that office of the popular actor , Bro . W . H . Denny . Bro . Peacock wtis initiated into Freemasonry in the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , in 1882 , becoming W . M . ten years later . As he was appointed S . W . of the Savage Club Lodge on February 5 th last , it will be seen that he is on the point

of becoming W . M . of that lodge also . He is ti P . Z . of the Gallery Chapter , has served tis Steward for the Roval Masonic Institution for Girls , and is , generally , a most ardent supporter of the Craft .