Grand Lodge Officers.

and next in order is the Duke of Devonshire , who has presided over the fortunes of Derbyshire for forty-eight Years . The only clergymen on this list are the Dean of Capetown and the Dean of Hereford , but for some years the District of Burmah was governed by a missionary of the Society f or the Propagation of the Gospel .

Recognition of merit of a purely Masonic nature has generally been made by addition to the roll of Grand Deacons . We do not of course suggest that other merit was absent , but our meaning will be clearer when we quote the names of Havers , Hervey . Mclntyre , MoncktonHughan

, , Fenn , Gould , Tew , among the seniors ; and Crucefix , Hogg , Philbrick , Grey , Letchworth , Westcott , and Rustomji , among the juniors . Lane and Speth are exceptions , their names appearing among the A . D . C . ' s . The alteration in Article 18 has been made With especial

reference to the just claims of London brethren , but it must not be forgotten that the Grand Master has , under Article 7 , an unlimited power of conferring past rank , and the same Article provides for the misfortune of any especially distinguished brother failing to " catch the Grand Master ' s eye " by allowing an appointment to Past Grand Rank to be made by a vote of Grand Lodge .

At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

At the Sign of the Perfect Ashlar .

The Pro Grand Master , Earl Amherst , was the recipient on the 27 th March of congratulations on his seventieth birthday . As those who attend Grand Lodge are aware he is still fairly hale and hearty , though he has lately found it expedient to resign one or two of his public offices , such as

the Provincial Grand Mastership of Kent , which he held for very nearly half a century . He descends from Sir Jeffery Amherst , the famous soldier who was ennobled in 1776 for his services as Commander-in-Chief in North America . His designation of Lord Amherst of Montreal , however , was

taken not from the transatlantic city , but from Montreal in Kent , which is still the name of the family seat near Sevenoaks . A charming place it is , especially in the long days of summer , when Lady Amherst entertains her friends and neighbours in the lovely gardens and under the shade of the gigantic cedars which adorn the grounds .

The late Provincial Grand Master for Hereford , Baron Glanusk , who died on the 6 th January last , left , in addition to settled estate , property of the gross value of £ 104 , 552 , of which the net personality has been sworn at £ 9 6 , 706 . He made the following , among other things , as heirlooms to follow the title : His copy of the lirst folio edition of Shake

speare ' s works , the casket presented to him by the Freemasons of Herefordshire , and the presentation inkstand , tray , and candlesticks presented by the Board of Guardians of Crickhowell . < i <& ©

An important point of law in connection with the Masonic Lodges of New Zealand has been settled . The matter arose out of the Dunedin Lodge , under the Scotch Constitution , deciding to join under the New Zealand Constitution , taking with it various properties of the lodge . The minority objected and claimed the properties , charter and moneys . An action

was commenced in the Supreme Court , and the Judge recommended the parties to confer , any agreement arrived at to be the order of the Court . The result of the conference is that defendants admit that the charter , books , moneys , etc ., specified in the statement of claim , belonged to the lodge under the Scottish Constitution , and they agree to give immediate possession thereof .

Our portrait is that oi Bro . William Phillips , one of the third generation in a direct line who have been members of the Shamrock and Thistle Lodge , No . 2 JS , under the Scottish Constitution . The first in the genealogy was an initiate of the St . Andrew Lodge , No . 126 , Kilmarnock , who was also named Wm . Phillipsand was R . W . M . in his mother country

, for five years . Having removed from Ayrshire to Glasgow , he became a joining member of the Shamrock and Thistle Lodge , and when his eldest son , William , father of the subject of our sketch , was in his 19 th year , proposed him for membership . That was in 1863 , and four years later ( 1867 ) the son

was elected R . W . M ., and was continued in the office for five years . This member of the family is still in active membership in the Province of Glasgow . He was one of the Charter members of the Clydesdale Lodge , No . 556 , and was its lirst R . W . M . in 1874 . He was again R . W . M . in his mother lodge

in 18 9 6 and 1897 ; is a Past Junior Grand Deacon , Past Prov . Senior Grand Warden , and presently fills the onerous office of Benevolent Fund Treasurer in the Prov . Grand Lodge of Glasgow . The third Bro . Wm . Phillips became an initiate of the Shamrock and Thistle Lodge on Oct . 12 , 1 S 94 . He

served the lodge as Junior Steward and as Prov . Grand Steward . In 18 9 S he threw in his lot with the promoters of a new lodge and became a charter member of it " The

una AVIIJ , IAM PIIILLU'S . Progress , " No . 8 73 , the rules of which bar the introduction of any intoxicating liquors at any meeting or function held under its auspices . Bro . Phillips was Secretary for this new

lodge in the first and second year of its existence , and in the third and fourth year was Junior Warden . At the request of the leading members of the Shamrock and Thistle Lodge he resumed an active interest in it , and after serving a year as Deputy Master was elected in 1902 to the office of R . W . M .

in which he was continued for three years . In recognition of his services for that period , and as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the members , Bro . Phillips was on March 28 th presented with a Past Master ' s Jewel with diamond centre , a gold watch ( keyless hunter ) , and gold albert

and appendage . Bro . Phillips is vice-president of the Scottish Life-Saving Society and well known in athletic circles in the West of Scotland . o o c At the Israel Lodge of Instruction , Mile End , E ., Bro . Aid .

Bowers , author of " Freemasonry and the Tabernacles and Temples of the Jews , " on March 25 th delivered an illustrated lecture , entitled " Some Signs and Symbols of Freemasonry , " with notes as to their origin and indebtedness to the Mosaic