Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) . MASONIC SOIREE AND BALL AT FLEETWOOD . The brethren of the Hesketh Loclge ( No . 950 ) held a Soiree and Ball on the evening of the 4 th inst , in tlie lodge rooms , at the Fleetwood Arms Hotel . The wives

and lady friends of the members having arrived by invitation , were joined by the brethren after the termination of the regular lodge busiuess ( which will be found in another column ) . The brethren appeared in Masonic clotliing , a dispensation to that effect having been obtained .

Bro . Norwood , " of Preston , attended with the requisite music for dancing , winch commenced soon after eight o ' clock , and was kept up with unflagging spirit till six a . m . on the morning of the Sth , but , as may be inferred , not without occasional visits to the refreshment room , which was set out with great taste and contained every

delicacy of the season—both substantial and light—the worthy hostess , Mrs . Whiteside , fully maintaining her reputation as a successful caterer to the " public taste , " as all who visit that favourite hostelry can testify . Never was a lodge closed with more regret than on this hitherto happy morning , when , after singing the

National Anthem , the W . M . stated that this must be done , and the ladies leave them a short time to themselves , for the party ( partaking , as it did , of so much of a private nature , and into which was infused that beautiful feature of the Masonic chai-acter , " Harmony" ) , were very loathe to separate , the guests convinced " No mortal

can more the ladies adore , than a Free and Accepted Mason , " and all eagerly looking forward to " our next merry meeting . "

IRELAND . GRAND MASONIC CONCEUT AT CORK . The brethren of the Third Lodge of Ireland have announced a grand Masonic concert to come off on the day we are now going to press , and which the local papers anticipate will prove one of the greatest musical

treats ever enjoyed at Cork . The Masonic body are to appear in the full costume of their several grades . The commanding officers of the three regiments in garrison have kindly given permission to their bands to perform , and selections and combinations have been made , which , with the orchestra in training , and the trained fine voices

of the local amateurs , must produce grand effects in such choruses as " Glory to the men of old , " by Gounod , from " Faust , " & c . M . Henry Distin , of Great Newportstreet , London , who recently gained such celebrity by the manufacture of the monstre drum for the Handel Festival , and the silver drums for the Life Guards , has

kindly sent the Secretary for the concert , free of charge , a new and very novel instrument—a 4-octave peal of beautifully-toned hells , played on by the pianoforte action finger-board—an instrument much needed to produce rare and pleasing orchestral effects . It may be mentioned to the uninitiated in Masonic lore , that the Protestant Hall has been selected for the concert , simply from the circumstance that it is the best

Masonic Festivities.

adapted room in the city to give effect to performances of this magnitude . The voices and instruments can be distinctly heard without clashing and producing discords , which entirely mar the effects and spoil the performance , as well as distort the very melodies sang or played in apai-tmeiits unfitted for musical purposes . The proceeds of the concert are to be devoted to the purposes of building a Masonic Hall in the city of Cork .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BEO . CHAELES WILLIAM EAMSAY-EAMSAY . We regret to have to announce the death , on the 30 th ult , of Bro . Charles William Ramsay -Ramsay , a highly respected member of the Apollo University Lodge , Oxford , No . 357 . The deceased Bro . was initiated in the Apollo Lodge on the 4 th February , 1862 , in company with the

present Sir John Gage Saunders Sebright , Bart , and ou the -2 nd of December in the same year was appointed Junior Grand Deacon in the Grand Lodge of Scotland . He became a joining member of the Churchill and the Alfred Lodges , Oxford , and served the office of Secretary in the former lodge . Bro . Eamsay was present at the celebration a few

weeks ago of the coming of age of Sir Norman Macdonald Lockhavt , of Lee and Garnwath , and was then in his usual health . While returning to Lanark from a ball given by Mr . Monteath , of Oarstairs , the driver of the omnibus on which Bro . Eamsay , with other gentlemen , was riding , confused by the darkness of the night , mistook a turn of the road , and drove the omnibus

under some trees , a branch of one of which dragged Bro . Eamsay off the 'bus . In falling Bro . Eamsay ' s leg , coming in contact with the iron step of the 'bus , sustained an abraded wound below the knee , which was at first disregarded , as a mere scratch . Bro . Eamsay returned to Barnton on the following day ; and , as showing how little he thought of the injury he had sustained , we may mention that he did not think it necessary to

confine himself to the house , but went out as usual to the hunt . Shortly , however , the leg became inflamed , and otherwise feeling himself unwell , he was induced to call in Dr . Carruthers , of Cramond . His symptoms getting worse , Dr . Keiller , of Edinburgh , Bro . Eamsay's usual medical adviser , was sent for , and subsequently , in consequence of erysipelas and fever supervening , it was

deemed prudent to recommend a consultation , and , accordingly , Professor Simpson and Dr . Begbie were requested to see Bro . Eamsay . Professor Spence was also consulted regarding the condition of Bro . Eamsay ' s leg . During the week previous to his death the erysipelas was diminished , aud occasional favourable symptoms appearedbut the continuance of the feverand the

, , shock which his naturally weak constitution had sustained , rendered his case almost hopeless . For a week before his death Bro . Eamsay ' s state was so critical that Professor Simpson and Dr . Keiller found it necessai-y to give constant attendance , and remained at Barnton , the seat of the deceased , during the greater part of his serious illnessNotwithstanding the use of every means

. which his medical attendants could suggest , Bro . Eamsay's state gradually sank , and he expired calmly at about nine o ' clock on the morning of the 30 th ult . The deceased was unmarried , and had only attained his majority in February last , so that he has been cut off in his 22 nd year .

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IT is all very well for prosperous men to prate of the vices of their unfortunate brethren . A clock that marks the most exact time will , if you tilt it the least on one side , go all wrong , or suddenly stop going at all .