Obituary.

heard with deep and sincere sorrow of the death of Rl . Wor . Bio . S . Constantine Burke , Provincial Grand Master , and desire to place on record an expression of their high appreciation of his many excellent qualities as a citizen , a friend , and a brother Mason . The Wor . Bro . Burke for many years held the high and responsible office of Provincial Grand Master , and by his courteous and kindly demeanour on all occasions won the regard and esteem of the Craft . The members of the Provincial Grand Lodge desire to convey to Mrs . Burke and the other members

of Bro . Burke's family the expression of their deep sympathy with them in their affliction , and to assure them that the brethren over whom Bro . Burke presided will long deplore the loss of so universally respected a ruler of the Craft . " On the motion of Bro . M . H . Lawrence , seconded by Bro . A . H . Jones , it was unanimously agreed— " That the daughter lodges be invited to co-operate with the Provincial Grand Lodge in its efforts to raise a fund for the purpose of obtaining some suitable memorial as a tribute of the respect and esteem in which the Rt .

Wor . S . Constantine Burke , late Prov . Grand Master , was held by those over whom he presided , and that a Committee of this Provincial Grand Lodge be appointed to confer with the daughter lodges on the subject . " The committee was thereupon named . After some further business in relation to the object for which the meeting had been called , was disposed of , a funeral lodge service was held , which was strikingly solemn and impressive . Those who were responsible for the getting up of this service did not fail in their efforts to

produce such a one as would have commended itself to Bro . Burke ' s well-known good judgment and taste . There was but one expression from all who joined in that service , viz ., that it was befitting the occasion which was being used to revere the memory of one , of whom it can truly be said , "A great man has fallen . " The lodge room , with its furniture , clothing and jewels , was draped in black . Each of the members was presented with a leaflet in memoriam , containing

portions of the service with the hymns used on the occasion , printed on mourning note . The Dead March in "Saul" and the voluntaries were executed with splendid effect , together with the loading of the hymns . Bro . Whittingham presided at the organ , and the thanks of the brethren are due to him for the success which attended this portion of the service . May the mantle of Bro , S . Constantine Burke fall on the shoulders of a worthy successor to him as Provincial Grand Master for Scotland in Jamaica !

BRO . A . M . LEVY , P . M . No . S 8 9 . Bro . A , M . Levy , P . M . of the Dobie Lodge , No . 88 9 , P . P . A . G . D . C . Surrey , passed away last Saturday , the 23 rd instant , after an illness ( paralysis of the brain ) which had lasted less than a month . The deceased had not been in good health of late , but he discharged the Secretarial duties of his lodge in May , in the absence of the Secretary , anel hoped that rest from business would restore him to health . With that object in view he went to stay at Southsea , and the change

seemed to be benefiting him ; but paralysis set in , and took him away . The interment was on Monday , at Willesden , in accordance with the rites of the Jewish faith . Bro . Chapman , P . M ., and Bro . W . Drewett , P . M . and Sec , Dobie Lodge , attended on behalf of the lodge , and laid a properly fashioned emblem , in white and purple blooms , on the coffin . The Noel Loelge , No . 2444 , of which Bro . Levy was a P . M . and the Treasurer , was represented by Bros . Brooker ,

W . M . ; Packington , P . M . and Sec ; and Hullett , and they also bore a tributory offering of flowers . The Kingston Traders' Association and Kingston Philanthropic Society , of which bodies Bro . Levy was chairman , were repre . sen ted , and sent wreaths . Bro . Levy , who was in his 59 th year , hail been in business as a jeweller in Kingston for 20 years , and his death is regretted by a wide circle of friends .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting was held at the Mitre Motel , Hampton Court , on Tuesday , the 26 th instant . The brethren present included : Bros . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master ; Sir John B . Monckton P . G . W ., Dep . Prov . G . Master ; J . C . F . Tower , Prov . S . G . W . ; Jas . Irvine , Prov . J . G . W . ; General Astley Terry , P . G . S . B . ; N . Sherwood , Prov . CO . ; Perriman , Prov . G . O . ; A . H . Scurrah , Prov . G . Reg . of M . ; A . Stewart Brown ,

Prov . G . Sec ; J . Hill , Prov . G . J . D . ; Hy . Longman , Prov . G . I . W . ; Lt .-Col C . D . Leyden , Prov . G . S . B . ; Dr . F . S . Toogood , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; Wyndham Hart , P . P . G . W . ; Major C J . Knightley , P . P . G . W ., and Prov . G . D . C . ; F . G . Ivey , P . P . G . D . ; Jas . M . Small , P . P . G . Reg . ; George Graveley , P . P . G . W . ; W . A Scurrah , G . S . D ., P . P . G . W . ; A . O . Hemming , W .. M . ; A . E . Park , W . M . ; L . Mieville , J . W . ; W . Ellis ; and many others .

Prov . Grand Lodge was opened and the minutes confirmed . The Report of the Committee of General Purposes , which was unanimousl y adopted , shows the province to be in a very satisfactory condition . The Clapton Lodge had resumed working , and the number of members in the province was larger than previously . The Committee recommended that

io guineas should be voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , to be placed on the list of the Prov . G . Master . Bro . W . M . Stiles was re-elected Prov . G . Treas ., on the nomination of Bro . Fitzroy Tower . The roll of lodges was called , and three were found to be unrepresented . Bros . Kni ghtley , W . A . Scurrah , Graveley , and Towers were elected a Committee of General Purposes .

The following Prov . G . Officers were appointed and invested : Bro . Sir John Monckton ... ... ... D . P . G . M . „ L . Mieville ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ J . Linzell ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Alfred Clark ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ N . Sherwood ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ C . H . Perryman ... ... ... Prov . l . G . O .

„ Rev . W . Russell Finlay ... ... Prov . G . Chap . „ A . H . Scurrah ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ W . M . Stiles ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas . ,, A . Stewart Brown ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . B . I'Anson ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ fas . Hill ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D .

„ Henry Longman ... ... ... Prov . G . L of Wks , „ Capt . C . J . Knightley ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J . R . Ubsdell ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Col . C . H . Leyden ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Dr . S . Toogood ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ Jas . Bayne ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ H . Clark ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . „ Dr . Warren ... ... ... Prov . G . Stwd . „ F . Mitchell ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Tyler .

Letters of regret were announced from ninny brethren , and the Prov . G . Lodge was closed .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Middlesex.

After an excellent banquet , ihe loyal toasts were heartily honoured . Bro . Sir J MO . WKTON , P . G . W ., Dep . P . G . M ., replying for "The Grand Officers , " said the proceedings in Prov . Grand Lodce were good , and they had had an agreeable evening . The Grand Officers were all veterans in the art and good workers .

Bro . W . A . SCURRAH , G . D ., on behalf of the present Grand Officers , returred thanks , and expressed his gratification at having been selected for Grand Office at the last meeting of Grand Lodge . All the Grand Officers endeavoured to do the best they could to uphold the dignity and prestige of their beautiful Degree .

Bro . A . STEWART BROWN , Prov . G . Sec , proposed "The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , " whom he had had the pleasure of serving under for seven years—first as D . P . G . M ., and now as Prov . G . M . Although Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson had not the time to visit them as frequently as the late Prov . Grand Master , he had the welfare of Mark Masonry in

Middlesex at heart . The Prov . Grand Master was with them in spirit at their meetings if not in penon . When they had a brother of Sir Reginald Hanson's standing at the head of the province , it was bound to succeed and bound to grow . They would drink the ioast heartily , and hope to do so for many , many years to come .

Bro . Sir REGINALD HANSON , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . Master thanked the Prov . G . Secretary for the warm terms in which he had proposed the toast . In fact , he hardly recognised himself , for ¦ '' in their own merits , modest men are dumb . " It was a very great pleasure to preside over them for the first time since his installation . The Prov . G . Secretary had been good enough to hope he would do so for many years to come , and if

they were content with the slight amount of time he could give he also was content . He hoped they would have an accession to their numbers , including those who would take their turn at the head of affairs . Inasmuch as a Prov . G . Master was appointed for three years , it was expected there should be rapid promotion , for it was different to the Craft , where a Prov . G . Master remained until death or resignation . He hoped

the time would come when there would he such men who would be able and willing to take the position of Prov . G . Master , Before he sat down , as there were such things as trains , he would propose the next toast , that of " The Dep . Prov . G . M ., and the Prov . G . Officers . " The Deputy had already , in another capacity , been toasted . Several Prov .

Grand Officers had also attained Grand rank this year , and in honouring them the Grand Master had honoured the Province of Middlesex . The Prov . S . G . W . had been obliged to go , but the Prov . J . G . W ., Bro . Linzell , had rendered special services in Middlesex by resuscitating one lodge which had long been dormant . Bro . J . LIN / . ELL , P . M ., Prov . J . G . W ., briefly replied , and the proceedings closed with the Prov . G . Tyler ' s toast .

Instruction.

Instruction .

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 7 S 0 . A meeting was held on the 21 st instant , at the Star and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . Present : Bros . T . H . Johnson , W . M . ; R . H . Worth , S . W . ; Justin Allen , P . M ., J . W . ; Larkman , P . M ., Treas . ; A . H . Btidger , Sec ; Motley , P . M ., S . I ) . ; E . C . St . Aubyn , I . G . ; and R . H . Williams , P . M ., Preceptor . The lodge having been opened , the W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation , Bro . Bridger , Sec , being the candidate . Bro . Williams , Preceptor , worked the 2 nd Section of the Lecture . Bro . R . H . Worth will occupy the chair next week .

HYDE PARK LODGE , No . 1425 . The usual weekly meeting was held on the 25 th instant , at the Prince of Wales Hotel , Eastbourne-terrace , Bhhop's-roaJ , Paddington , when tnere were present Bros . W . H . Handover , W . VI . ie - 42 , W . M . j F . Spink , S . W . ; G . E . Harris J . W . ; II . Dehane , P . M . 1513 , P . P . S . G . D . Essex , Sec . ; ] . 11 . Beardon , S . D . ; VV . II . Smith , J . D . ; J . Chubl ) , I . G . ; I . Ford , Steward ; W . J . Ferguson , P . M . 177 , Deputy Preceptor ; A . Collman , W . M . 1425 ; W . Chappie , P . M ., Sec . 1125 ; j . L . Franklin , IS 4 " , ; and W . Peagram , 14 : 5 ( visitor ) .

The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed . Bro . Peagram having been instructed , the lodge was opened in the Second Degree . After the usual preliminaries , the lodge was opened in the Third Degree , and the ceremony of raising was rehearsed , Bro . Collman being the candidate . The lod ^ e wis resumsd to the First

Degree . The VV . M . rose for the first time , and Bro . Peagram was elected a membsr , and acknowledged the compliment . liro . Spink was elected W . M . for next meeting . Bro . Harris expressed his thanks for the congratulations of the brethren 00 his providential escape from iniury in the railway accident at Slough . After " Hearty good wishes , " the lodge was closed .

EARL'S COURT LODGE , No . 2765 . A meeting was held on Wednesday , the 27 th instant , at the Greyhound Ilotel , Kcnsington-fi | uare , VV ., when there were present Bros . C . G . llatt , VV . M . ; J . Cox , S . W . ; H . G . Cox , J . W . ; J . Worth , Preceptor ; J . Cox , Dep . Preceptor ; J . W . Facey , Trsas . ; Albert J . Taylor . Sec . ; J . Hallam , S . I ) . ; Joel Davis , J . D . ; VV . James , I . G . ; II . J . Cbusens , P . M . ; G . T . Taylor , II . O . Sanders , and Maurice Davis .

The lodge was opened in the First Degree , and the minutes of the last meeting read and conlirmed . The W . M . rehearsed the initiation ceremony , Bro . G . T . Taylor being the candidate . The lodge wa-. called off and on , and Bro . G . T . Taylor answered the usual questions leading to thc Second Degree . Bro . Cousens was entrusted and retired . Lodge Hen opened in Second Degree , Bro . Cousens being the candidate . The ceremony of pasting was rehearsed . The W . M . was congratulated on his good

working , and Bro . J . Cox was elected to the chair for Wednesday , the 4 th prox . Ihe Secretary announced the coming summer outing in connection with the Eirl ' s Court Lodge , when the brethren and their frknds will mike an excursion to Burntiam-on-Crouch , where Bro . J . Cox will provide and generally entertain the party at his hotel . All the arrangements have made made , and a thoroughly enjoyable day is anticipated . The date is the 21 st prox ., leaving Liverpool-street Station at S . 55 a . m . All particulars can be had from any member of the Earl ' s Court Lodge .

Dow . v TO THURSDAY NMIIHT , the 27 th instant , the Indian Famine Fund amounted to £ 306 , 400 . PKINCKSS HKNRV OF B ATTKNUKRI ; , who was attended by Miss Minnie Cochrane , had an enthusiastic reception in Kennington on the occasion of her visit , on the 27 th inst ., to lay the foundation-stone of the New Belgrave Hospital for Children . The ceremony took place in a large marquee : on the site of thc projected building , and her

Royal Highness was received on arrival by the Chairman of the Executive Committee ( Lord Windsor ) , the Vice-Chairman ( Mr . VV . 11 . Warner ) , Sir Alfred Ilevan , Mr . Douglas Frcshiield , and its other members ; while among thc company present were Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Countess of Bessiiorough , Vitcountess Hood , Lady Windsor , Col . and Lady Blanche Haygacth , thc Hon . Mrs . Talbot , Lady Helen Meller , Lady Lockwood . and many more .