Daring his eight years' residence in Shanghai Mr. John Goodnow has boon associated with many public and semi-public bodies, but with none more happily than with the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasons, of which he was instrumental three years ago in establishing ® lodge in Shanghai, over which he has lately presided as V. M.K. As is generally known Mr. Goodnow is leaving for home on Saturday on affairs connected with his office of American Consul-
General here, and the members of the Rite took the opportunity last night to show their appreciation of his services, to express their confidence in him, and to wish him a pleasant rayage and speedy return. The banquet at the Astor House was something of an innovation from a Masonic point of view for the tables were graced by the presence of many ladies and there were a number of other non-Masonic ests as well. Altogether more than a hundred sat down in the long private dining room, which had been beautifully and effectively decorated with greenery, flowers and electric lamps, as well as with banners and other insignia of the Order.
The arrangot committee consisting of Brothers 8. R. Gale, 0. F, Gammon, E. I. Ezra, Chas. Sturmann, and Ivor Thomas; and Bro. George A. Derby, a8 Prior, occupied the qT toast list was brief one, but the Chairman, as was fitting with gers present, dilated on the principles of the Order and of the Scottish Rite more particularly. Bro. Fobes proposed the toast of the evening, and in response Bro. Goodnow made a characteristically incisive speech. He dwelt on the stirring events which have made history in Shanghai during the last eight years and said he had been proud and happy to play a part in them; spoke of the harmonious relations between all the fifteen nations officially. represented in Shanghai; paid a tribute to the interest of H.E. Sheng Kung-pao in the welfare of the Settlement; and then addressed himself more particularly to the; members of the Rite, who included men of all nations and creeds united in the great bond of Freemasonry. Ho expressed his thanks for the compliment paid him in the banquet and said that next to his wife, whom he is leaving behind, it would be the Masons of Shanghai that ite would most look forward to greet on his retura in about three months' time. The "guests" and more particularly the ""Jadies" provided a congenial theme to Messrs. E. I. Ezra, the Hon. J. W. Davidson, C. F. Gammon, and W. P. Bentley in subsequent speeches.
Among those who contributed peculiarly to the harmony of a particularly harmonious evening were Mrs. C. F. Gammon, who gave piano solos and accompanied the vocalists, Mrs. Lany hier, Miss F. V. Fobes and Bro. C. Laleac who sang, and Bro. B. P. Luleaca, who gave a mandolin solo.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.