The Senior Warden.

p latform upon which all Freemasons meet , " yet taking no honour from a man that he had before , " and reminds him that strict impartiality , without respect of persons , should govern his distribution of that " just due" which the Master has , through him , to render unto every man engaged in the Lord's work . He stands in relation to the work of speculative Masonry in similar position to

that of the overseer of the work in Operative Masonry , and that his support of the Master should be effective , a regularity of attendance at commencement of proceedings as well as a continuance of supervision until their close , is an essential part of his obligation and responsibility . His presence is required both at the rising and

the setting of the sun that a full day's labour may be the result . Of the nature of most of the Senior Warden ' s duties the ritual of the Order itself affords ample information , and there are portions of the Ancient Charges particularly relating to his office with whicli he should make himself thoroughly acquainted . J AMES STEVENS .

A Golden Wedding.

A GOLDEN WEDDING .

MR . GLADSTONE is not a Freemason , which is a loss alike to the Craft as to himself . Had he been initiated into the order in his younger days , there is no telling what effect its influence would have worked upon him and his public career ; but that it could have improved his private life no one will believe . There are two sides to every man's existence . The more famous the man is

the more defined is his private from his public life , and there are always occasions on which the one must be dealt with without any influence from the other . To live in the bondage of a first married tie for fifty years is granted but to very few people , and it is more than significant that such an event should have been providently

permitted to Mr . Gladstone and his wife . There is in Mr . Gladstone ' s career many events whicli will have militated somewhat against that universal respect which is shown to great men on such unusual occasions ; but there are so many more events which to a just mind will make themselves remembered in his favor , that one

may forget for the moment his political solecisms and see through the being of the statesman the being of the man . It is a curious coincidence that the year 18 39 is responsible for the marriages of Mr . Gladstone , Mr . D'Israeli , and Lord Palmerston ; and that Lord Lyttelton married the sister of Mrs . Gladstone on the same

day as she herself was united to the present leader of the Opposition . Between Mr . Gladstone and his brother-in-law the closest friendship alwa 3 'S existed , and they brought the Misses Catherine and Mary Glynne from the altar wedded to two of

the most refined , scholarly , and intellectual men Oxford or Cambridge had ever turned out . Mr . Gladstone was in his thirtieth year when he married . He had taken a few years before a double first-class in " Litera Humaniores et Disciplinac : Mathematical , " but no University honors he ever obtained made such a firm impression upon his friends as his famous speech

against the Reform Bill at the Oxford Union . Sir Francis Doylethe " best man" at the subsequent marriage of his friendcharacterises this speech as the finest he has ever heard . Be this as it may , it gained for its deliverer an immediate seat in the House of Commons , where he first sat as a Conservative member

for Newark . Of his subsequent Parliamentary career , much should be forgotten or remembered , we do not know whicli ; but this we do know , that however divided opinion may be upon the particular views Mr . Gladstone takes of various national affairs , there is a complete unanimity upon the grandeur—if we may call it so—of

his private life . From July 26 , 18 39 , down to the present day the married years of Mr . and Mrs . Gladstone have been a perfect model of happiness and conjugal example . The home circle at Hawarden Castle has never had its tranquility disturbed ; but when the hand of Time does point in its direction , and the Angel of

Death waits without to claim its noble victim , we may hope it will be merciful in that hour as in this , and that two such well spent lives may end together .

Masonic Mems.

Masonic Mems .

In connection with the Oxford Commemoration Festival , held the beginning of last month , the Apollo University Lodge gave a Musical Fete in the gardens of Worcester College . The visitors , numbering about 1 , 5 , included the Vicc-Chancellor , the Bishop of Ripon , Dr . Billings , Baron and Lady Pollock , Lady Craven , Sir Henry and Miss Acland , Sir James Fergusson and his wife , Mr . and

Mrs . C . Monier Williams , Professors Burrows , Max Miiller , Rogers , Price , and others , the Dean of Winchester , Sir William and Lady Markby , the Rev . Sir John and Lady Hawkins , and hosts of other well-known Collegiate and Oxford people . The arrangements were under the efficient management of a Committee of Brethren

representing the various Colleges : —President , Bro . Rev . II . Sayers , M . A ., Christ Church , W . M ., Prov . G . Chap . ; Vice-President , Bro . Rev . H . A . Pickard , M . A ., Christ Church , P . G . Chap , of England ; Hon . See , Bro . Rev . H . Sayers , M . A ., W . M ., and Bros . F . Allen , Merton College ; A . W . Andrews , Magdalen College ; A . C . Clarke ,

M . A ., Queen ' s College , P . Prov . G . D . C . ; C . S . Currie , Brasenose College ; W . G . Hyde-Lees , Wadham College ; J . E . Koecher , New College ; W . Lewis Morgan , M . A ., Exeter College , Prov . G . See , P . Prov . G . W . ; Rev . R . W . M . Pope , B . D ., Worcester College , P . G . Chap , of England ; Colville Smith , M . A ., St . John's College , Prov . G . Purs .

* * * Sheffield Masons are forming a local charity , as distinguished from the great Masonic charities in London . The objects are to assist poor Freemasons or their wives , and to educate and help their infant children . The funds will be raised by subscriptions or

donations from Sheffield Lodges , Chapters , and other Masonic bodies , and from brethren residing in the locality . Subscribers are to have one vote for the current year for every 10 s . subscribed by them .

* * * The members of the Menturia Lodge ( 41 S ) have presented Bros . E . V . Greatback and W . Tunnicliffe with gold Past-Master ' s jewels , in recognition of their services rendered in the recent searching inquiry into the administration of the Royal

Masonic Institution for Boys . The W . M . of the Lodge , Bro . Windle , made the presentation . Bro . Greatback , acknowledging the presentation , said their only object had been the advancement of the craft and to see that the large sums of money con tributed annually should be devoted to the purpose for which

they were intended . He thought one result of the inquiry would be that in future they would be able to educate and provide for three boys , where they had only been able to educate two in the past . What they had done had been for the good of that best of all Masonic virtues—charity .

* * * The children of the Dorchester Union were treated to an excursion to West Bay a short time since , and spent a very pleasant day . The expense of the trip was borne by the Dorchester Lodge of Freemasons from a special collection made for the purpose at

the annual banquet in January . The youngsters , who were accompanied by the officials of the Union , and several of the brethren who were anxious for their complete enjoyment of the outing , were provided with a good dinner and tea . * * *

The Dawlish Masonic Hall Company , Limited , was registered on June 25 , with a capital of ^ 700 , in £ 2 . 10 s . shares , to provide a Masonic hall at Dawlish , Devon . Registered office , 1 , Brook-street , Dawlish . * * *

Bro . Henry Phillips , a working Gloucestershire Mason , and the Tyler for a period of thirty-four years of no fewer than five Lodges , has been presented b y the brethren of the Foundation Lodge ,