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THE MASONIC REVIEW A . MONTHLY JOURNAL OF fllasonic anb Social ( Events for Sreemasons ,

CONTAINING RECORDS OF THE CRAFT , MARK , AND HIGHER DEGREES . Published the 7 th of each , Month . PHICE SIXPENCE . RATES OF YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION ( including postage ) ,

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other official persons printed forms for the purpose . The staff of writers on the "MASONIC REVIEW" is complete , but the Editor will read suitable matter that may be submitted to him , post paid . Books , Music , and periodicals for Review should be addressed lo the EDITOR , and not to any individual Member of thc Staff .

Eminent Masons At Home.

Eminent Masons at Home .

No . III . —COL . SIR FRANCIS BURDETT , BART ., AT RAMSBURY MANOR . THE deer have clustered together amid the beeches in Squire Popham ' s Park , frightened by the wholesale slaughter of the fawns which has recently taken place . You almost wish , as you

drive past , that the Squire was an eminent Mason himself , so that you might find an excuse for visiting his beautiful house at Littlecote , and ramble through the magnificent range of stables which has so much impressed the young coachman who tools your flatfooted mare along the lanes . But Francis William

Leyborne-Popham is young , and may-be some future historian will chronicle his career , and help him to thin down the deer that roam about his hills . Further along the road from Plungerford is Chilton Church , and the luxurious vicarage of Mr . Kitson ; a hamlet or two , a farm here and there , but nothing of more importance till you enter the

rambling village of Ramsbury . The " Bell Hotel " commands the High-street , which , after wriggling in and out among the cottages , turns abruptly to the right , past the " Bleeding Horse Inn , " and the smithy with its door ornamented with foxes' feet , and leads you eventually through a wooded lane and golden corn - field to the beautiful and secluded gates of the Manor .

It is only in the summer and early autumn of the year that Sir Francis Burdett is to be found at Ramsbury . The house itself is a large one , but cannot compare with the charming Derbyshire seat of the Burdetts near Repton—Foremark Hall—where the family usually resides during the winter months , but it is a charming

place for all that , and when a nephew of Inigo Jones built the house some century and a half ago , he built one of those solid brick residences which are so creditable to the reputation of his illustrious architect relative . Sir Francis , the fifth Baronet , born in 1770 , and

Eminent Masons At Home.

who was a well-known politician of his day , and had married the youngest daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Coutts , the banker , was fond of his Wiltshire estate , and occasionally resided there ; but the late Baronet allowed it to drop into sad condition , so that when the present owner inherited the property from his cousin Robert ,

the sixth Baronet ( who died some nine years ago unmarried ) , there was scope for an energetic reinstatement of the house and grounds . The reception-rooms of the Manor open direct from the spacious hall , round which are arranged some of the minor specimens of weapons and things Sir Francis has collected during his military

career . A few rugs and skins are scattered over the oaken floor , and a dozen or more portraits adorn the walls , but through the beautiful mahogany doors immediately opposite the entrance is the drawing-room . Here you disturb Lady Burdett diligently engaged

with local parish affairs at her writing-table . The walls are entirely of oak panelling , by Grindley Gibbons , with a charming statuary marble mantel-piece by the same master ; but your attention will be most attracted by the portraits of three lovely women , whom you learn were sisters of Sir F . Burdett , the fifth Baronet . From the windows of this room a magnificent view is obtained of the private

lawns adjoining the house , and far out over the beautiful park , but as your host intends escorting you round the grounds during the afternoon , he gives you but little time to lose yourself in admiration . Into his own special study , hung with hand-painted Japanese paper in extraordinary design , Sir Francis will take you to discuss the

many features of his Masonic career , and the formidable collection of certificates and numerous official and private communications connected with his various positions in the Craft will be carefully gone through and detailed for your especial satisfaction .

It was in India , whilst a cornet in the 13 th Light Dragoons , that he was initiated into Freemasonry , on January 18 , 18 37 , and his certificate , which is engraved on vellum , is signed " J . Fitzgerald , Master . " Having duly qualified for and obtained the rank of a Master Mason , a period of inaction set in , owing to the

travelling duties of the regiment and the difficulty in those days of a soldier Mason obtaining the benefit of visiting civic lodges . But in 18 41 we find him joining the Fidelity Lodge ( 6 th Dragoon Guards ) , and on Ma } ' 28 in the same year being instructed in the mysteries of the Holy Royal Arch under the R . A . Chapter of Scotland .

Also in this year , on December 27 , he was admitted a member of the Celtic Lodge of Edinburgh and Leith . In 18 4 8 he was back in Ireland , and seems to have devoted the whole of hie leisure time in continuing his Masonic work and qualifying himself for all the attainable positions he could find . On May 3 he was raised to the

Mark degree . On the same day , " Brother F . Burdett , Major , 17 th Lancers , Kilwilling Encampment , has been duly and regularly admitted , instructed , and registered in the books of the Supreme Grand Encampment of Ireland as a Knight of the Sword , Knight of the

East and King of the East and West , of the Royal and Mysterious Order of the High Knights Templars and Masonic Knights of Malta . " On November 10 he joined the Eureka Lodge ( 47 ) , Dundalk , and , just one month later , he was voted the Honorary Membership of the Clanwilliam ( 55 ) , Tipperary , and the Triune ( 333 ) , Limerick , " in testimony of the high esteem in which the members of these Lodges hold your Masonic zeal and worth . "

In the following year , in which he attended various Masonic meetings no fewer than 148 times , he founded two Lodges , accepted the Honorary Membership of three others , and added several posts to his long list of Stewardships . Plodding onward , as men do when the doctrines of Freemasonry have eaten into their souls , we find Lieut .-Col . Burdett , 17 th Lancers ,

in 1858 , admitted a Sovereign of Grand Rose Croix . In 1862 Lord Zetland , the Grand Master , invested him as Senior Grand Warden of England , since which time he has represented the Grand Lodge of Ireland at Grand Lodge , with the rank of S . G . W . ( Ireland ) . Five years later he joined the Harmony Lodge ( 255 ) . In 186 9 he was elected and installed as First Prov . Grand