Round And About.

The corner stone of a new aisle to Mexborough Church , which is to be constructed at a cost of , £ 600 , was laid on Thursday , the 24 th July with masonic honours , by the Prov . Grand Master of West Yorkshire , Bro . T . W . Tew , J . P . The day was exceptionally fine , and the muster of Prov .

Grand Officers and brethren from Rotherham and Sheffield was large and influential . The arrangements for the ceremony were in the hands of Bro . John Gibbs , W . M . of the Phoenix Lodge , 904 , and his secretary . The brethren assembled at the National School where a procession was formed . They marched through the village to the church , the accommodation in which having proved most inadequate to the

increased population , was now to be supplemented by the addition of a north aisle . The sacred building was apparently already well filled with worshippers , but by an effort , room was made for the Prov . Grand Master and his numerous following . After a service of a most hearty

character , a most interesting and eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev . Canon Bullock , M . A ., Vicar of Holy Trinity , Leeds , P . Prov . Grand Chaplain . The offertory was in aid of the building fund , and at its completion was handed over to the R . W . Prov . Grand Master , who ,

accompanied by his D . of Ceremonies , and two Standard Bearers carrying their banners , walked up the nave and presented the offerings of the congregation at the altar rails .

* * * The service ended , the procession was re-formed , and , preceded by the choir in surplices , passed round the west end of the church to the north side , where everything was in order for the ceremony of the stone-laying . When all

were ranged in their respective positions , the sight was most animated and interesting . Every wall , window , and vantage-ground from which the ceremony might be witnessed was filled by eager spectators ; and even the roof and tower of the old church were similarly occupied . Bro . Tew , whose long experience has perfected him in every detail , performed the ceremony of laying the stone

with all Masonic reverence and ritual , and no one there present could fail to be impressed with the sacred character of the proceedings . After the architect had presented his plans , and had been enjoined to use all despatch in carrying out the work to its completion , the R . W . Prov .

G . Master delivered an excellent address , explaining the object of the ceremony . The Rev . Henry Ellershaw , Vicar of Mexborough , then in the name of himself , his churchwardens , his committee , and his congregation , tendered his thanks to the R . W . Prov . G . Master , to

the Prov . G . Officers , and to the brethren of the Phcenix Lodge , and the singing of the National Anthem closed the proceedings .

; > * * Mr . Stead , who runs the smartest thing living in modern journalism in the Review of Reviews , writes me that he has never had the " privilege of becoming one of us , whilst Mr . Hyde , the popular secretary of Kempton Park Racecourse ,

has never got beyond his second degree , all George Elliott ' s persuasions into the bargain . Bro . Hyde—I suppose he is a brother—hopes to live long enough to win the Waterloo Cup , for he is passionately devoted to coursing . And another ! Mr . Ashmead Bartlett , M . P ., an Under-Secretary at the Admiralty , and part-proprietor of

England , has never got further than his initiation . But some day he promises to proceed . That is a good intention , though it says very little . The road to hell , Mr . Bartlett , is paved with good intentions . Bro . Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , ex-Lord Mayor , is well known

in London , and has the reputation of being one of the shrewdest business men in the city . Possessing no position or means when he started in life , Sir Whittaker now enjoys distinction and " rolls in money . " He is one of the firm of Farebrother , Ellis , & Co ., the city auctioneers and surveyors , and had the honour of a baronetcy conferred upon him by the Queen in recognition of his public

services when he was Lord Mayor . Sir Whittaker has a residence in Mayfair and a nice place at Richmond , Buccleuch House , situated by the side of the river , which is his property , he having purchased it from the Duke of Buccleuch some three or four years ago . In this house Sir

Whittaker gives some pleasant dinner-parties , and is very proud of showing everyone his pictures . At Richmond Sir Whittaker . is very popular , and his presence at public dinners and public gatherings is much sought after . In more than one way he has proved an excellent friend to the Richmond

people ; for instance , only a short time ago he gave them a valuable site for the erection of a town hall . Sir Whittaker ' s Masonic days are ended .

Another new sixpenny weekly will shortly be sprung upon the long-suffering public in the shape of a handy guide to everything in the inhabitable globe that is worth being guided to in the search after pleasure . We shall be told where we may shoot the fattest partridges , and how to go to Rome

and back under half-a-crown . Now , who do you think the promoter of the enterprise is ? Well , no other man than A . G . Macculloch , whose beauteous countenance shines forth in the portrait attached hereto . « * a

Of Scottish family , Macculloch has seen about twice as much life as any man of his age . He was connected with banking , and threw up his appointment to make millions over a racecourse which has never yet been trodden by a racer . Last year he floated a gold mine , which put thousands

into the pockets of all his friends but himself , and , strange to say , it is about the only gold mine in existence which is worth a rap . He has ¦ manipulated some big financial schemes when older men have given them up as unwork . able ; but as time passes , " life "—whatever that may mean