At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

At the sign of the Perfect Ashlar

The s ; id and sudden death of the late R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., a memoir of whom appears on another page , will have excited the deepest feelings of sympathy and sorrow throughout the length and breadth of our Order . The life of the late Bro . Beach Avas bound up with Freemasonry , and his time and services were

ever at the disposal of the Craft . No great gathering Avas complete without him , and his familiar presence will be sadlymissed from the paths of Masonry . ' «• < 8 >

It is interesting to note that the mantle of the Father of the House of Commons has IIOAV descended on R . W . Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Gloucestershire—whose photo appears on our first page—AVIIO has had a longer continuous Parliamentary existence than any present member of the House . Our distinguished brother is a cousin of the late lamented R . W . Bro . W . W . B . Beach .

¦ SEE fj ) - ? JV It is a matter of gratification to us that although His Royal Highness the Duke of York is not a member of our Order , the Grand Lodges of the different districts through Avhich His Royal Highness has passed during the momentous tour which has just been concluded did not omit to give

expression to their well-known feelings of loyalty . We notice that the address of Avelcome presented by the Grand Lodge of Netv Zealand included amongst the signatures that of Bro . R . J . Seddon , the distinguished Premier , who is a Past Grand Master of that Grand Lodge .

>@ « s > <& A fear has been expressed in some quarters that the " Queen Victoria Memorial Fund " has been alloAved to drift , and that for this reason the quarter of a million pounds required has not already been subscribed . It is interesting to learn that the amount at the time of writing has reached over _ X " i 2 5 , ooo , 500 guineas of which , it will be remembered , have been contributed by Grand Lodge .

" jET-- 'SEE - $ > The recent opening of the Victoria Park at Tipton is of interest by reason of the Freemasons of Staffordshire having taken the opportunity of presenting R . W . Bro . Lord Dartmouth , their Provincial Grand Master , AVIIO performed the ceremony of opening the grounds , Avith a gold key to unlock

the gates in commemoration of the event . The park is laid out on the site of numerous disused coal-pit mounds , and is thirty-four acres in extent . The cost of transforming the unsightly mounds into beautiful recreation grounds amounted to nearly £ 10 , 000 .

. « - •«< <>¦ We are pleased to announce that the office of Grand Superintendent for Gibraltar has been filled by the appointment of Bro . Captain Thomas Francis Taylor , R . A ., Avho is the Deputy Grand Master for the District , and therefore Avell acquainted with the needs of the companions over whom he

has been called upon to rule . It is a matter for congratulation that so excellent an appointment has been made to an office which has been vacant for some little time .

The office of Grand Superintendent for Suffolk , held for so long by the late lamented Comp . the Rev . C . J . Martyn , has been filled by the appointment of Comp . the Rev . J . H . Pilkington , M . A ., AVIIO is the Rector of Framlington , and is a Past Provincial Grand Sojourner for Sussex . We have little doubt that the chapters in the province will prosper and increase in number under such favourable auspices .

Bro . Ivan Haarburger , W . M . of the Rising Star Lodge , No . 1022 , Bloomfontein , enjoys the distinction of having been elected to that office for three consecutive years , from the 24 th June , 18 9 8 , to the 24 th June , 1901 . Dining a very trying period , in Avhich the principles of Masonry have been put to the severest test , Bro . Haarburger has piloted his

lodge safely , and has handed over itsAvarrant to his successor , not onlv unsullied , but Avith added lustre . What his brethren of Lodge Rising Star think of him may be gathered from the folloAving extract from an address presented to him on his retirement from the chair :

" The period during which you have directed the destinies of the Rising Star Lodge , and Ave may even go so far as to say of Masonry in this important division of the Eastern District of South Africa , has been a most eventful one .

The first year of your office everyone felt himself overshadowed by the dark clouds which hung over the land in consequence of the dread of a rupture betAveen the Republics of South Africa and the Paramount Power in this part of the Avorld , which , unfortunately , a few short

months after your election to the chair of King Solomon for the second time , culminated in a most bloody and desolating Avar which , unhappily , is not vet at an end .

JSRO . IVAX HAARBURGER . " During the Avhole of this anxious period , Worshipful Master , you Avere permitted by the G . A . O . T . U . to carry on the work of the lodge as if peace reigned supreme in this country . You not only acted the part of good Samaritan

by tending and ministering to the sick and Avounded men who fought under the British and Republican Hags , but you did your utmost to make the visiting brethren , AVIIO had by the exigencies of war been thrown in our midst , feel that they would not only receive a hearty welcome within the

four Avails of our lodge , but that they could realise that they had found a home there , while your kindness and everthoughtfulness have enabled you never to forget those great and solemn obligations Avhich are imposed upon every Brother Avhen he first sees the light of Masonry , and which

every true and faithful Mason must ahvays realise as a sacred duty , that of succouring poor and distressed Masons AVIIO may be cast upon his Charity " The sympathy of the wide circle of his acquaintances

among members of the Craft will be with Bro . Sir Robert Harvey , ex-High Sheriff of Devon and Connvall , in the loss he has recently sustained by the death of Lady Harvey .