At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

Since Bro . Sir Squire Bancroft , P . G . D ., retired from the stage , remarks a contemporary , he has raised some £ 12 , 000 for charities by readings from Dickens's " Christmas . Carol . " The most recent of the famous actor ' s readings was that given at Cromer in aid of the Cromer College Hospital , amongst the distinguished audience present being Bro . Sir Thomas Bucknill , Past Deputy Grand Registrar .

'V " , u » > „» Bro . Dr . W . Hayman Cummings , P . G . Organist , Principal of the Guildhall School of Music has been the recipient of the heartiest congratulations of the Craft on his recent attainment of his seventieth birthday . The distinguished doctor was a pupil of Signor Randegger and of Dr . E . J .

Hopkins , and sang in the choir both in St . Paul ' s and at the Temple Church . In addition to occupying the post of Principal of the Guildhall School of Music , Dr . Cummings . is a Professor of the Academy of Music , a member of the Council of Incorporated Musicians , Vice-President of the Royal College of Organists , and Vice-President of the Musical Association .

< S » < B » < g » The death of the late W . Bro . Lieut-Colonel George Lambert , V . D ., F . S . A ., Past Grand Sword Bearer , removes a once familiar figure from London Masonic circles , and although the announcement does not come altogether as a

surprise to those of his more intimate friends , his loss will be none the less keenly felt . Our late esteemed brother was seventy-eight years of age , and had for some time retired from active participation in Masonic duties . He was latterly little less than a prisoner to his room , although his interest in Masonry never failed during his closing years .

< S > < S > <§> Our late brother was one of the oldest gold and silver smiths in the Metropolis , and occupied a very prominent position in the trade . Amongst the numerous offices he had held in the City was that of Prime Warden of the

Goldsmiths' Company and President of the Metropolitan Friendly Societies Asylum , Ball ' s Pond , N . He was a Liveryman of the Homers ' , Glovers ' , Tinplate Workers ' , Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers ' , Gardeners ' , and Patternmakers' Companies . A liberal supporter of charity in general , he paid marked

attention in this direction to those charities immediately associated with the trade of which he was so distinguished a member , amongst them being the Goldsmiths' Benevolent Institution , the Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Annuity Asylum Institution , the Silver Trades' Pension Society , and the City of London General Pension Society .

< 0 . < 3 > © The late Bro . Lambert was initiated fifty-seven years ago in the Percy Lodge , No . 198 , and took a very active part in the formation of the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 21 9 constituted in 1886 for the convenience of

, Americans in London . He was exalted in 18 47 in the Royal York Chapter of Perseverance , No . 7 , and was a member of the Cyrus Chapter , No . 21 , and a founder of the Anglo-American Chapter , No . 2191 . A Patron of the three Institutions , he had served seventeen Stewardships for the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and nine each for the Boys' and Girls' Schools . In 1881 the rank of Grand Sword Bearer was conferred on him by Grand Lodge as well as that of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in Supreme Grand Chapter . In Bro . Lambert the Craft has lost an interesting personality , and Masonry will mourn the loss of so stalwart an upholder of her precepts .

We learn that the latest of the many lodges which have recently been formed in connection with the great London hospitals is the Cheseldon Lodge , No . 2870 , which will be composed of brethren connected with St . Thomas ' s Hospital . Bro . Wakley , jun ., will be the first Master , and the new lodge will hold its meetings at the Trocadero Restaurant , Piccadilly , W .

Monday , the 16 th September , was a great day at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , when Bro . the Lord Mayor , accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and Alderman and Sheriff Vaughan Morgan , Past Grand Treasurer , paid a visit in state to that Institution . A display- of calisthenics , singing , and music was given by the scholars on the occasion , after which the distinguished visitors inspected the Institution and the grounds .

The Cape Argus has noted , as many ot those present at the installation ceremony at the Albert Hall must have done , the extraordinary enthusiasm with which the name of Sir Frederick Milner was received . It says : — "A straw may show which way the wind is blowing . At the great Masonic function when the Duke of Connaught was

installed Grand Master of England , an incidental reference was made to Sir Frederick Milner , a prominent Mason . The vast gathering caught at the name and received it with a perfect hurricane of cheers . They thought the name Milner applied to the High Commissioner of South Africa . "

« Bs ® © The well known organ of Roman Catholicism in this country , The Universe , has returned to its attacks on Freemasonry by publishing communications from two correspondents who have contributed their views on the subject to the Xew Zealand Tablet . The character of the

attacks may be judged from the following introduction : — " The Church ' s opposition to Freemasonry is based partly 011 general Christian principles , partly on such a long and intimate knowledge of the doings of the brotherhood as is practically inaccessible to the rank and file of its members ;

( 3 ) because of its peculiar religious tenets ; and ( 4 ) because of the atrocious war which the great body of the Fraternity have waged and are still waging against religion over widely separated portions of the earth . "

After a column or two of strongly worded calumniations of secret societies of every kind , except , of course , those of its own household , it has the grace to quote from ' a learned English Catholic writer' : — " It may be that English

Freemasonry is not used for any illegal purpose , but there is always the clanger that a secret society , if it gets into the hands of unprincipled men , may be used for illegal purposes . " It is somewhat consoling to learn that we are not whollydepraved , and that knowledge will help us in maintaining a

firm and fervent belief that the dangers apparent to this nervous cleric are wholly imaginary , and have no shadow of meaning to the English Freemason .

The Alfred Bevan Convalescent Home at Sandgate , so named after the late V . W . Bro . Sir Alfred Bevan , P . G . Treas ., has recently been acquired by the trustees of the Morley Convalescent Home at a cost of ^ 15 , , and is now managed entirely by London working men .

«» « Ss < $ > The constituents of Bro . Sheriff-elect Horace B . Marshall of the Ward of Farringdon Without will present him with his Shrieval Chain of Office . It is embellished with the arms of Bridewell and Bethlem Hospitals , Dulwich College ,

Dublin University , and the Stationers ' , Spectacle Makers ' , and Loriners' Companies . A golden key depending from the badge will indicate the wearer's position as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of England .

«& O < $ * The play entitled " Are yon a Mason , " recently produced in London , although quite harmless in its references to our Order , serves the useful purpose of reminding us of the reproaches sometimes levelled against the Craft by reason of

regrettable conduct on the part of certain of its members . It is well , we think , to remind our critics that the irregularities which Masons commit do not occur as the result , but in spite , of their Masonry .