At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

The late Sir Hedworth Williamson was appointed Provincial Grand Master in 188 4 , and Provincial Grand Superintendent in 1886 , and the number of lodges and chapters on the roll of the Province has considerably increased during his rule . The late baronet ' s father was a Junior Grand Warden of England , and his brother , Bro . Victor Williamson , C . M . G ., is also a Past Grand Warden .

Till- ; LATH KAMI . OF PORTA 1 ( 1 . 1 XGTOX .

The late Earl of Portarlington ' s was an Irish title , and as well as being a popular Mason , he was , what appears to be somewhat more singular , an Irish landlord beloved of his tenants . He held at one time a commission in the Scots Guards , and up to the time of his death was Hon . Colonel of the 4 th Batt . Leinster Regiment . He was possessed of a splended physique

, was a keen sportsman , a crack shot , and accounted one of the best of good fellows . He was created Senior Grand Warden of the Mark Degree in 18 95 , Senior Grand Warden of United Grand

Lodge and Past Grand Scribe N . of Supreme Grand Chapter in 18 97 . He was a Knight Templar , had taken the 30 Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and was an Officer of Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters . Considering that the late Earl had been only a Mason for ten years , it will be conceded that his record was no mean one .

Bro . The Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , has ¦ consented to take the Chair at the next Festival of " the Royal Masinic Institution for Boys . The Boys' School is to be -congratulated , for not only is the Provincial Grand Master of Hants and the Isle of Wight one of the most popular and

active Freemasons of the present day , but he is so beloved and respected in his own province that its loyal and generous support in aid of the Institution may be counted on as a certainty . Few amongst those who have taken the lead in English Freemasonry during this generation can show a better record than the Rt . Hon . Member for the Andover division of

Hampshire , whose term of rule in the Craft is only exceeded by his services as a parliamentary representative . Ever genial and always ready not only to fulfil all engagements appertaining to his own province , but to render similar services when ¦ called on in any other part of ,. the country .

Bro . Beach , whose patent as Provincial Grand Master dates from 186 9 , stands fourth in order of date of appointment amongst Provincial Rulers . The doyen of these is Lord Leigh , who was installed as Provincial Grand Master for Warwickshire in 1852 , followed b y the Duke of Devonshire for Durham in 1858 , and Earl Amherst ( then Lord Holmesdale ) , the present Pro Grand Master , for Kent in i 860 .

The installation of Bro . the Rt . Hon . the Lord Henniker , Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man , who is already Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk , as Provincial Grand Master of the Isle of Man , creates , we believe , the only instance—unless we include that of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , who is Provincial Grand Master of Sussex and

District Grand Master of Bombay—of two Provinces being under the same ruler . Looking back into 1 Sth century records , we lind in Bro . Sadler ' s interesting work on " Thomas Dunckerley and his times , " that Mr . Thomas Dunckerley , Past Grand Warden

of England , was Provincial Grand . Master for the city and county of Bristol , the counties of Dorset and Essex , Gloucester , Hereford , Somerset , Southampton and the Isle of Wight . Dunckerley was the Grand Old Man of Freemasonry of those days . Here we get rather a vivid impression of the difference between the extent of Freemasonry in those days and in our own .

* # . » $ ¦ The alread y numerous list of Provincial and Private Lodge Histories is to receive an additition by the publication of a History of Freemasonry in West Cornwall from 1 765 to 1828 b y Bro . Joseph G . Osborne , P . M ., & c . The book we are told will contain extracts from , and fac-similes of " , some of the Old Lodge Minute Books , and as a sample of the quaint

entries so often to be found in such records , the writer reproduces in fac-simile the following Bill from the Cash Book of the St . Ives Lodge : — 17 S 0 . J ; iiHi ; iry 41 I 1 . Regular Lodjjc Xiy'Iit To Expenses of this Xi . y'lil , as pr . Hill ... n o To Tyler ' s Fee ... ... ... ... 1 s . d . Todv N ^ Hear 1 Tob . iel ; . ) S

) o Our Deputy Grand Master , the Earl of Warwick , and the Countess have recently had the pleasure of welcoming home their son , Lord Brooke , from South Africa , where he has had the distinction of serving under General French .

We cannot refrain from adding our own modest congratulations on a home-coming so dear to the hearts of the Earl and his wife and to their thousands of well-wishers all over the country . ¦ * <& # We are glad to be able to append a photograph of father and son taken recently by Mr . Fred Spalding , of Chelmsford .

TIIK KARI . OF WARWICK , AND LORD I 1 HOOKF .