Congratulatory Dinner To The Grand Treasurer.

hoard . The number might have been ten times as large had they at all allowed iVie banquet to be known ; but they all felt that their Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall would rather have a recognition of his worth and of the appreciation in vhich he was held by those personal and intimate friends who knew his career , lot only Masonic but alio in his priva ' e capacity . Bro . Marshall ' s Masonic life was known to all of them . He was initiated at a lodge in Twickenham , but he was not unknown to lodges in London . He was a founder and the first Master

of one lodge ; he was a founder of another lodge , and he had held high office in - tne county of Middlesex , being a Past Grind Warden . As to his charitable inclinations— ( applause)— he was Patron of the three great Masonic Clarities ; fe had served the office of Steward no less than 40 times . But his charity and benevolence did not stop with Mtsonry . It had b en his ( Sir J . C . Dimsdalc ' s ) privilege to know Bro . Marshall ' s father before him He hid known the big heart of his father , and had met him on

irany p hilanthiooic occasions ; and it was not singing the praises of his son too highly to say that their guest that night walked in the footsteps of his father in benevolence and charity , and did not come one whit behind him . The brethren greeted him that nig' t—and heartily greeted him as the Giand Treasirer of England . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) The position was a very high one , and it was their pleasure to see him there , and the manner in which he had been placed there . He was asked twj jeirs ago to be a candidate for the office , but he would

not - he thought that another brother had a prior claim , and he stood aside . ( Applause . ) He was asked a second t me , but he thought another brother had a greiter claim ; but at the third time -he stood , and he had obtained what he ( Sir J . Dimsdale ) as a Past Grand Treasurer thoug ht the big blue ribbon of the Craft ; it was one of the greatest positions in the Craft , being elected by tbe Craft —( hear , hear)—and if onu'hinr / could add to the pleasure of seeing him there that night it-would be the

fact that his antagonist atthe election—and when he used the word antagonist he used it in a friendly way . ( Hear , hear . )—Captain Barlow was present ; that was an act worthy of a Mason —( hear , hear)—and he hoped the brethren as Masons in future would not forget it . ( Applause . ) But it was rot in Masonry alone that they that night greeted Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall ; it was for the fact that he carried out those great principles and ideas of Masonry in his personal and private life . ( Applause . ) Masonry was nothing but a skeleton if its

principles were not practised in ordinary life ; if they were confined to Masonry and there ended it was noe worth living for . But the true Mason was the man who as husband or father or man set examples of those principles which Masons believed in and inculcated . ( Applause . ) Further than that , when they considered what had made our country what it was morally and commercially , he thought to-nig ht that they could justly plume themselves on having as their guest one who had strictly acted on those principles of rectitude which had marked his

family for generations . He ( Sir J . Dimsdale ) was not one who could make long speechef , and certainly he ought not to do so after the resolution he moved in the House of Commons —( laughter)—neither was be one who could ladle on the butter , but he could speak what he meint , and he , therefore , in as few words as possible , would convey to Bro . Marshall what they all felt ; their feelings were that they were very proud to see him in the position of Grand Treasurer ; they thought he was the right man in the right place—that of Grand Treasurer . They looked upon him as a true citizen of London , one of those true citizens they

liked to look upon ; and before many weeks were over he was sure the citizens of London would show their feeling by placing him in one of those honourable positions which were in the gift of the citizens of London . If itshouldbe his ( Sir ] . Dimsdale's ) lot , by a fortunate coincidence , to be with him he wanted no better man , no truer Englishman than Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall . ( Applause . ) He would merely wind up by saying of him , in the words of old George Herbert : " Who is the honest man ?

He that doth still and strongly , good pursue ; To God , his neighbour , and himself most true . " He would ask the brethren to drink " Long Life , Health , and Prosperity to Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , Grand Treasurer , " and might T . G . A . O . T . U . shower His best blessings on him ! ( Applause ) . Letters of apology for not being able to attend had baen received from Bros . Sir John Monckton , Alderman Vaughan Morgan , and others .

Bro . HORACE BROOKS M ARSHALL , G . Treas ., who was enthusiastically received , said in response that nothing was more difficult than to return thanks , and he felt great diffidence in speaking to the brethren , for nothing in his Masonic career had merited the kind compliment which the brethren had been good enough to pay him to-night . In the first place he most gratefully thanked Sir Joseph Dimsdale for his presence as chairman , and no person was better fitted for that position , and no one could have given greater pleasure to be in the chair .

There were great claims by his civic and Parliamentary duties upon his time , but yet he had spared time to come to their dinner . In Freemasonry he ( Bro . Marshall ) had fortunately made many friends , and , he hoped , no enemies . ( Hear , hear . ) He felt , in the first place , that he must refer also ~ for one moment to Bro . J . D . Langton for the assistance he had given him in his candidature for the office of Grand Treasurer . He thought it was the greatest compliment that could be paid by a prominent ollicer of Grand Lodge , who a few days before the election

said to him " ycur arrangements are complete ; they could not be more complete if the election had been for the President of the United States of America . " He thanked Bro . Langton and his Committee for his success , which he thought was due to them . He knew that many had assisted him because lie was the son of his father , and he took that as a great compliment . ( Hear , hear . ) He also felt great pleasure and a eompliment that his opponent , Captain Barlow , was present . There was no

feeling in the contest , and never had been between them . In Captain Barlow ' s presence that night there had been an exhibition of that Masonic feeling which ihould at all times characterise Freemasons . ( Hear , hear . ) He also felt very much indebted to Bro . Catling and Bro . Wakefield . He knew they had had great difficulties in arranging that friendly meeting . He greatly appreciated their cflotts . He did not know that he had very , much to add except tint he felt that in the position the brethren had placed him in the Craft they had given him the

blue ribbon in Freemasonry—the highest honour in the Craft—and it was p ; culiail y gratifying to him to hold tbe high office his father held 17 years ago . ( Hear , hear . ) He pledged himself that to the best of his ability he should mainlam the dignity of the office , and ever remember the cardinal principles of Masonry—Brotherl y Love , Relief , and Truth . He thanked the brethren tor the compliment paid him that night , for the rt-ception they had given him , and for Iheir exertions on his behalf during the last year . ( Applause . )

Bro . Sir J . C . DIMSDALE proposed a further toa , t , and said he thought the brethren would be wanting if they separated without a toast which would be congenial to all present . Two gladiators had met , and one must be successful , "till , that was no reason why they should not wish health and prosperity to the defeated . One : tenet in Freemasonry was that there should be a friendly and fraternal feeling among brethren . In the arena where there was a contest they

wished happiness and prosperity to the combatmts , whether they were winners or losers . In Capt . Bail jw they had a true brother . Although there were at the board the supporters of Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , they appreciated the foeman worth y of his steel , for he conducted the contest fairly , and did not hit elow the belt . They therefore seized the opportunity of drinking Capt . h H u S lleailn an ' prosperity . Might his Masonic life in tha future be what it nad been in the past—worthy of the best traditions of the Craft ! ( Cheers ) .

Congratulatory Dinner To The Grand Treasurer.

Bro . Captain BARLOW , in reply , said that when Bro . Langton asked hi . n to join in this congratulatory dinner to the Grand Treasurer , he replied that nothing would give him greater pleasure , and nothing had given him greater pleasure . With regard to the contest for the Grand Treasurership , he might say he was going up again . ' If he did not get to the top of the tree the first time , he hoped he should the second . There had not been on his part the slightest ill-will in his opposition , but he had striven to work in that true Masonic spirit which was

summed up in the word "Charity . " The name of Horace Brooks Marshall and his father had been known to him lor years and years . They and he belonged to a body who had striven to do good in the world . Bro . Marshall and his father , and he ( Captain Barlow ) and his father , had worked in the same way , and Bro . Marshall and he had followed in their father ' s footsteps . ( Hear , hear . ) When he ( Captain Barlow ) got home after the election for Grand Treasurer , his wife said to him , "John , I hear you have been knocked down . " He said , " Yes , but I am coming up again . " ( Hear , hear , and applause . )

The LORD MAYOR , in proposing " The Health of the Chairman , " first expressed his pleasure in listening to the thoroughly Masonic and manly speech of Captain Barlow , which evinced the true spirit they all appreciated . Speaking of the subject of the toast , he congratulated the brethren on having secured Sir Joseph Dimsdale as president of that evening ' s meeting , as he always presided in a masterly way . He was a many-sided man ; he had found time for a great variety of pursuits , and in all of them he had taken a useful part .

Bro . Sir J OSEPH DIMSDALE replied . It was no small honour to have his health proposed by the Chief Magistrate . He had had many honours , but the greatest of all was that of representing the first constituency in the Empire in the Imperial Parliament ; but it was a great responsibility , and it was the consciousness that he could rely upon the sympathy of his fellow citizens which led him to believe that by doing his best in looking after their interests he could win their approval . ( Hear , hear . ) It had been a special pleasure to preside over this meeting , for all had had heart in it . They desired as friends to their guest

to show their appreciation of him . Whether he took the position of Grand Treasurer or whether higher honours were in store for him , he might rely upon the Craft for the esteem and support of those who were worthy of the name of friends ; and friendship was something to be worth having . A man might have heaps of associates , but when he met his friends , and the friends who were desirous to give support and comfort just at the moment when it was necessary , those were the individuals who were worth gathering round him . ( Hear , hear . ) The brethren shortly afterwards separated .

Masonic Rifle Match.

MASONIC RIFLE MATCH .

SOUTH MIDDLESEX LODGE v . SECOND SOUTH MIDDLESEX V . R . C .

The annual match for the " Challenge Cup " presented by the Iodge was held at Caterham Range on Friday , the 24 th ult . The weather was beautiful and fine , the wind was very strong and gusty from the front , which made shooting very difficult , but the fine day made the match very enjoyable , which resulted in a win for the lodge . The conditions were seven shots at 200 , 500 , and 600 targets and scoring , Bisley position , Kings 1901 , - eight to shoot and six to count .

MASONS' TEAM . 200 500 6 co Total . Private E . B . Vaughan 29 32 27 — 88 Private W . Landregan 31 31 22 — 84 Sergt .-Bugler C . H . Matthews ... 29 26 26 — 81 Serg . F . Surrey 26 38 26 — 80 Armr .-Sergt . W . H . Hobbiss 27 27 25 — 79 Capt . F . J . Buhl 28 22 23 73

405 Counted out . Col .-Sergt . E . Hayes ... 69 J Lt .-Col . R . H . Grey ... 65

REGIMENTAL TEAM . 200 Soo 600 Total . Col .-Sergt . L . Pocock 31 27 27 85 Sergr . 0 . Borrett 26 31 23 — 80

Sergt . H . D ivies ... 28 25 26 — 79 Sergt . J . Dowling 28 26 21 — 75 Private W . Page 28 22 24 74 Piivate L . Blanc 24 29 17 — 70

463 Counted out . Private R . Cushion ... 64 | Co ' .-Serg . J . H . Cooke ... 56 Majority for Lodge 22

Opening Of Sydenham Wells Park.

OPENING OF SYDENHAM WELLS PARK .

A HISTORIC SITE . Sydenham Wells Park , opened to the public on Monday , the 27 th ult ., is a p lace with a history . The name commemorates some mineral spring * , el scovered in 1640 . More or less fashionable for nearly 200 years they are now forgotten , if ever heard of , by all but a few students of Lindon history . It is the story of more than one medicinal spring in the metropolitan aria . Who nowadays goes to drink the waters at Hampstead , of which the chalybeate springs were once in

repute , or to Sadler ' s Wells , and Spa Green , or to Dulwich Wells , or Streatham , Spa ? While Sydenham Wells flourished , there was no Crystal Palace . The former , like the latter , was a pleasure resort ; but the day on which they received 1000 vis-itors was probably a great day in their annals , whereas the Palace has had more than IOO . within its bounds at once . Their sites are near each other , one representing old England , the other new England , with its vast gro-. vth . In

Evelyn s Diary , he speaks of having , in Septembsr , 16 75 , visited " Cer ain medicinal Spi waters at a place called Sydnam Wells , in Lewisham Parish , much frequented in Summer . " It is said that the wells were patronised by George III ., and that once , when he spent the best part of a day there , Life Guardi surrounded the pump house . The story may be true , for wonderful virtue was attributed to the waters , one physician going so far as to say that they were " A certain cure tor every ill to which humanity is heir . "

Another interesting memory of the neighbourhood relates to the poet Campbell . Having won fame with the " Pleasures of Hope , " he took a house at Peak Hill , where he lived for 16 years , the happiest , he said , of his life . The district is charming now , but populous . It was beautiful and sylvan then . Sir Charles B-ll , writing of a visit to the poet , says that at night they " rambled down the village and walked under the deli ghtful trees in the moonlight , " and next morning they " wandered over the forest ; not a soul to be seen in all Norwood . " By means of plantations , rivulets , and small lakes the new park does it j best