Pythagorean Lodge, No. 79.

THK DECEPTION INTO FREEMASONRY OF THE MARQUIS OF BAYRKUTH | DIE AUFN \ LUNE ]) ES MARKURAFKN VOX BAYREUTH DuRElI FRIKllHICH HY FREDERICK THE GREAT IX 1710 . DKN CRASSEX 1710 Alter an Oil Painting in the powe ** ivn of the Zitr Vereelticuyenhert at ltayreeth , Jtaearia .

Bro . C . F . Forshaw , LL . D ., sends the following item to the editor of Notes and Queries . '—Blind Freemason . —I have taken the following item from " Biography of the Blind , " by James Wilson , published at Birmingham by J . W . Showell in 1838 : — " Though Blind from his birth , Mr . Francis Linley became a

most excellent performer on the organ he went to London , and was the successful candidate among seventeen ccmpetitois for the place of organist of Pentonville Chapel , Clerkenwell He died at his mother ' s house at Doncaster , en 13 th September , 1 S 00 , at the age of twenty-nine . Being a Freemason , by his own request be was attended by the Master and brethren of St . George ' s Lodge in that town . " Can this latter statement he correct ' . '

O « S > 'S > The question of bodily perfection in candidates for initiation into Freemasonry is one that has long ceased to he a matter for serious discussion , it being agreed on all sides that if a candidate possesses the requisite moral and mental qualifications he is a fit and proper person to become a Mason , but we still find it difficult to understand how a man who is blind can comply even partially with the requirements oi the ceremony .

« s > < s > < s » Somersetshire Masons will deplore the death , which occurred on Saturday , December 31 st , at Clifton , of Bro . R . C . Else , Past Grand Deacon . Bro . Else was appointed Grand Deacon in 1882 , and for over a quarter of a century occupied the position of Deputy Grand Master of Somersetshire , in which province

he was held in the highest . regard and esteem . He was formerly Mayor of Bridgewater , and as an engineer more than half a century ago , had been associated with the celebrated Mr . Brinel in the construction of the Bristol and Exeter Railway , and also in the building of the great bridge spanning the River Tamar at Saltash . He was a liberal contributor to Masonic Charities ,

and when , on his retirement from Masonic work , he was presented with the sum of 500 guineas . He devoted this sum to the purchase of votes , now known as the " ' 13 l . se " votes apportioned among the three Masonic Charities .

The accompanying illustration is a reproduction of a charming picture post card issued by the Yost Typewriter Co ., Ltd ., 50 , Holborn Viaduct , London , E . C . On receipt of a stamped , addressed envelope , the Yost Company will be pleased to send one of these cards to readers mentioning this journal .

"HIS PRIVATE 5 ECRCTAH *"

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