At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar

\\ imborne , Dorset . After filling various Masonic offices in Dorset and Hampshire , he removed to Canterbury in 18 76 , and it was not long before he began to make his presence felt in the Province of Kent . Although himself a successful hotel proprietor and manager , he , in 1878 , took a prominent part in the endeavour to remove the meeting places of lodges from hotels to private premises , which resulted , in Canterbury , in the erection , in 1880 , of the Masonic Temple .

© »& » s > Although an authority , and an excellent exponent of the ritual and ceremonies of the Craft and of Royal Arch Masonry , Bro . Ward ' s activities were by no means confined to the parent stock of English Masonry . The Mark , Knight

Templar , Rose Croix , and in fact every other Order and Degree known to English Masons found a zealous and enthusiastic student of their mysteries and teachings in Bro . Ward , and it may be safely asserted that in neither of them was he found wanting when his services were requisitioned . His

excellent business qualities , too , made him a valuable member of all these organisations . *_ ¦» $ »» &

In his province Bro . Ward s claims to distinction were recognised by his appointment to the office of Provincial Grand Warden in the Craft and to many similar offices in other Degrees , while the estimation in which he was held by his brethren generally is indicated by his election as honorary member of no less than eighteen lodges . Of a

singularly pleasing and affable disposition , our late brother won the respect and esteem of every one with whom he came in contact , and his kindly and genial presence will be sadly missed for years to come in many a Masonic gathering .

• g . $ »¦ < s >» The Preceptor of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , Bro . Rankin , was duly installed Worshipful Master of the Kirby Lodge , No . 2818 , on Saturday , October 5 th . The ceremony was very ably and impressively performed by the Recorder of London , Bro . Sir Forrest Fulton , P . Deputy G . Reg ., the

out-going Master . Bro . Rankin was initiated in the Crichton Lodge , No . 16 41 , just ten years ago , and exalted in the Sphinx Chapter , No . 1329 , three years later . In 18 9 6 he entered the Southwark Mark Lodge , and in 18 9 8 was admitted to the Matier Council in the Royal and Select

Masters . He is at present S . W " . of the Columbia Lodge and Scribe N . of that chapter . He also holds the office of S . D . in the Thomas Railing Lodge . He has been for four years Preceptor of the Kirby Lodge of Instruction , certainly one of the most flourishing lodges in London , and he should therefore make a more than usually capable and efficient Master .

A correspondent writes to the Glasgow Herald as follows " Sir , —Allow me to correct a statement which Mr . M'Killop is reported to have made at Slamannan , that ' at the present day to be a Freemason is impossible for a Roman Catholic , be he layman or be he priest . ' I have had the privilege of being associated with man } " Roman Catholics who were and

are also Freemasons , and many who have held office in lodges . I can also say , from personal knowledge , that many of these brethren were devout Churchmen . "

»&» »< £ ' »?> We cannot help thinking that the "devout Churchmen " in question will be regarded by their co-religionists—to say nothing of the Catholic clergy—as anything but strictly orthodox members of the Romish Church .

We understand that Bro . Sir John Aird , M . P ., P . G . D ., has arranged to leave England for Egypt in the first week in December for the purpose of preparing for the reception of the Khedive , who has expressed a wish to inspect the great irrigation work , which is now speedily approaching completion . It will be remembered that Bro . Sir John Aird is the head of the great firm of Aird & Sons , who have been entrusted with a very large share of Egyptian contracts .

It is interesting to note in connection with Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall ' s shrievalty , that the Court of Common Council has resolved that he shall be allowed to sit as an Alderman of the Corporation during his year of office . Bro . Marshall was the recipient of the Lord Mayor ' s congratulations on the occasion , as the conferring of the double honour

is of rare occurrence . It is also a fact that Bro . Marshall , who is only thirty-two years of age , may lay claim to the honour of being the youngest Sheriff to attain to that office , with the exception perhaps of Mr . Dewar . # » < g » »©•

The installation of Bro . Geo . A . White as Worshipful Master of Lodge United Service , No . 2735 ( E . G . ) , was impressively carried out at the Masonic Hall , Bangalore , on 13 th September . Bro . White was initiated in Lodge Anchor of Hope , Wellington , Nilgiris , and joined United Service Lodge in March , 18 99 . He has , by hard work and special zeal for Freemasonry in general , earned the esteem of his

HIlO . GEOHGI-: A . WHITK . brethren and such rapid promotion to the coveted position of Worshipful Master . Lodge United Service , to which only those serving or who have served in His Majesty ' s regular Army or Naval Services are admitted , was

inaugurated August , 18 9 8 , and although seriously handicapped by the prolonged absence of so many troops in South Africa and China , has up to the present more than justified the most sanguine hopes of its founders .

The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall , never misses an opportunity of impressing on the brethren of his province the importance of exercising the greatest care in regard to the admission of members . Not only should the strictest investigation be made as to the moral fitness of all candidates for initiation , but only those

whose financial position warranted their becoming members should be received . In an address delivered at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge , his lordship said no doubt one of the functions of Masonry was to give relief to brethren and their families in time of need ; but he would

again urge great care in admitting to their lodges persons not in a position to contribute to their funds , but who were , on the other hand , likely to stand in need of receiving something . It was contrary to the principles on which the Order was based , and was not fair to the individual or his family ,

because it rendered him liable to have a grant refused ; that had been done by Grand Lodge on the ground that the member was not in a position to become a Mason at the time