Masons Of The Year.

MR . JOHN AIRD , M . P . MR . JOHN AIRD , M . P . for Paddington , lives in Hyde Park Terrace , in the house originally purchased by Mr . W . H . Smith from the executors of Lord Romilly for his own occupancy , and which the eminent railway contractor obtained from the Leader

of the House of Commons when he determined , after mature reflection , to move to Grosvenor Place . Mr . Aird is noted , amongst other things , for his extensive patronage of modern art and artists , and his beautiful house , crowded from cellar to roof with an unique and priceless collection of modern pictures ,

is a home for the best traditions of painting and its sister art of music . Mr . Aird is the eldest grandson of a Scotch workman from Ross-shire , who lost his life through an accident during the construction of the Regent ' s canal . He is now , at the age of fifty-seven , at the head of the renowned firm of Messrs .

Lucas & Aird , contractors , which has carried out gigantic engineering enterprises in every quarter of the inhabited globe , from the construction of the Metropolitan Railway and the Royal Albert and Tilbury Docks to the never-to-be-completed Suakin-Berber Railways in the Soudan . Mr . John Aird admits

that , as regards Masonry , his kind guide has been Bro . Fenn . He is the Deputy Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge ; P . M . of the Evening Star Lodge , and an original member of the Drury Lane Lodge . He is a P . Z . of the Prince of Wales ' s Chapter , a Knight Templar of King ' s Lynn Habitation , a Past

Grand Steward and a member of the Board of General Purposes in Grand Lodge . For thirteen years in succession Mr . John Aird has seconded the nomination of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for the position of Grand Master in Grand Lodge , and did so at the last election , when the nomination was so ably moved by Sir Henry Isaacs .

MR . GEORGE EVERETT . MR . GEORGE EVERETT was initiated into Freemasonry on the 19 th August , 1858 . He is a Past Master , and the Treasurer of the Domatie Lodge ( 177 ) . A Founder , Past Master , and Treasurer of the Kennington Lodge ( 13 S 1 ) .

A Past Master of the Kilburn Lodge ( 1608 ) , and was for seven years its Treasurer . Founder and Past Master of the Chiswick Lodge ( 2012 ) . Founder and I . P . M . of the Duke of Fife Lodge ( 2345 ) . He is also a P . Z . of the Domatie Chapter ; P . Z . of the Rose of Denmark Chapter ; a P . Z ., Founder , and the Treasurer of the Kennington Chapter

( 1381 ) ; a Member of the Correspondence Circle of the Lodge Quatuor Coronati ; and the Grand Master ' s Council Royal and Select Masters . He was a Special Steward at the Installation of the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M ., at the Royal Albert Hall , in April , 1875 ; is a Vice-President of the three Charities—viz ., the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and the Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , and has served several stewardships to each . His work in connection with Freemasonry has extended over thirty years . He has been foremost in promoting the practical benefits and extending the active charity of the Order . As a member of the Provisional Management Committee of the Boys '

School , he has proved himself a painstaking and able administrator of the affairs of that Institution , and in matters connected with the amusements and outdoor games of the School he has taken a keen interest , and contributed valuable advice and liberal donations . George Everett is an ardent sportsman , and

is a director of Kempton Park , and one of the largest shareholders in that very successful undertaking ; he is also a member of the committee of the Surrey County Cricket Club . On the 3 rd of December last , at the meeting of Grand Lodge , Mr . Everett was nominated by Mr . John Glass for the high and important office of Grand Treasurer of England , and there being no opposition he is virtually elected to that post of honour .

PROFESSOR BANISTER FLETCHER . PROFESSOR BANISTER FLETCHER was a pupil of the late Charles James Richardson , the well-known architect and author of architectural books , and before entering the profession , went to work at the bench and in the workshop , so as to obtain

general practical knowledge of all the building trades . During his articles , he gained admission as student to the R . I . B . A ., the subjects he submitted being two sepia drawings from casts , and an elevation of a Casino ; and he gained the students' first prize in the year 1 S 52 , with his design for a parsonage house .

Again , desiring further acquaintance with the practical side of his profession , he spent further time in bricklaying , plumbing , and painting . Feeling now that he was not only theoretically but practically competent , he began work at Newcastle-on-Tyne , at the age of twenty . From his design , and under his

superintendence , wharves , warehouses , and numerous buildings were erected there ; but for the past thirty years he has practised in London , and has erected churches , chapels , lodges , public halls , and numerous country and villa residences , and helped to adorn our thoroughfares with excellent examples of

street architecture . His work on "Model Houses for the Industrial Classes" ( First Edition , published in 1871 , ) attracted great attention to this important subject , meeting with approval from the late Lord Shaftesbury . His practice as a Suveyor is very extensive , and his services are

in great demand as Witness , Arbitrator , and Umpire . He is District Surveyor for West Newington and part of Lambeth , and one of the Surveyors to the Board of Trade . Elected

Professor of Building Construction and Architecture at King ' s College , London , he , with characteristic energy , is carrying out his idea that such a chair should possess the advantage to students of casts , " mode ! s , diagrams , drawings , and photographs , and he has obtained liberal assistance from the Worshipful Company of Carpenters ( of which Company he is now a

Past-Master ) and the assistance of the Council of King ' s College . He is ( partly at his own expense ) fitting up an Architectural and Building Construction Reference Museum . It is a good sign that manufacturers are alive to its importance when we can mention that they are giving exhibits to the Building

portion . The Carpenters' Company have established a branch at King ' s College of their Technical Reference and Lending Library . During the last five years this Company has been devoting its time and money to furthering technical work connected with its trade , and Mr . Banister

Fletcher has given his valuable and earnest help . They have organised Annual Examinations , when certificates and medals are awarded ; the Lending and Reference Technical Library Exhibitions , the Technical Lectures given at Carpenters' Hall , School of Wood Carving for the Trade at Chapel

Street , Bedford Row , and for amateurs at King ' s College , London ; the Institute at Stratford , and the trade Classes and Workshops there . His professional work has not exhausted his energies , for we find that he is now a member of the Common Council of the City of London , Lieutenant-Colonel of his Volunteer Regiment , and also a Deputy-Lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for the County of London .

THE HON . CHIEF JUSTICE WAY . THE HON . CHIEF JUSTICE WAY , Grand Master of South Australia , son of the Rev . James Way , of Adelaide , was born in 1836 . He was educated at the Bible Christian Grammar SchoolNorth Devon , and at the Maidstone School , Chatham .

, He was called to the Bar , South Australia , twenty-nine years ago , and was made a Q . C . ten years later . He was elected a member of the House of Assembly , South Australia , and became Attorney-General , 1875-76 . He was elevated to the Chief Justiceshiin 1876 and has four times administered the

p , Government of the Colony . He was Vice-Chancellor of Adelaide University in 1876 , and became Chancellor in 1883 . He has a beautiful house at Montefiore , on the outskirts of Adelaide , has the most brilliant Masonic career of any man in