Gossip About Freemasonry; Its History And Traditions.

Abel that they would never leave the mountainous country which they inhabited to go down into the valley where tbe children of Cain lived , and he goes on to say that the inducement to violate this oath was the beauty of Naaraah aud the music of Jubal . The tests we now consider as

tokens of civilization were therefore possessed in a higher degree by the family of Cain than by that of Abel . It is not then difficult to understand that mon , leaving their rough mountain homes and descending into a pleasant country where much conducive to comfort was to bo found ,

tbe dwellings designed perhaps with somo regard to order and comfort by Enoch , ornamented by the naturally artistic , though probably rough , creations of Tubal Cain , and tbe skill of the beautiful Naamab , to whom the introduction of weaving has been attributed , Jubal's muse

cheering its hearers , while Jaleel and and his followers , " dwelling in tents , " watched over tho safety of tho city and provided it with its supplies of food , should , after seeing and partaking of their comforts and pleasures , bo anxious to exchange their wild lifo for that of a more peaceful

character . Of Tubal Cain , to whom our attention is called , and who then disappears , he , as I havo before noted , Ts aaid to have been the Vulcan of Greek mythology , and that Naamah was the Venus , and as it is admitted that the Greeks and Romans adopted that of the Egyptians as the

basis of theirs , the statement that Mitzraim built a Temple in honour of Vulcan is not an unlikely one , Tubal Cain being really to whom it was dedicated . It has been attempted to point out a somewhat similarity of name between them Thus , strike off the first two

letters from Tubal Cain and you have Bal Cain , which in course of time became pronounced as Vulcan ; tho relationship of Mitzraim to Tubal Cain and Naamah not being very far distant , these two being son and daughter of Lamech , who was great-grandfather of Mitzraim ;

I may on another occasion attempt to connect the visit of Abraham to Egypt with this origin , and the Patriarch ' s position as leader of all worshippers of the True God and of those men within whom existed the germs of that we now call Freemasonry .

I have now brought my subject to tho timo when tbo first Freemason , by whom I mean Enoch , mado himself prominent . Enoch , who walked with and was called by God ; but as I cannot enter iuto a subject so important in a Masonic point of view within compass of a paper , I thank you for your attention , aud close my evening ' s Gossip with you .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

— : o : — FRIENDSHIP , UNANIMITY , AND PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 191 .

ON Monday , the 20 th ult ., a goodly muster of brethren assembled at thoir headquarters , Royal Clarence Hotel , Bridgwater , on the occasion of tbe installation of Bro . J . T . Dunsford ( who was unanimously elected by ballot at the last meeting ) as W . M . of the Lodge , as successor to Bro . E . Fry Wade . The ceremony of installation was ably performed by the P . G . M . Bro . R . 0 . Else , and the

W . M . appointed fche following brethren as his Officers for the ensning year : —Bros . E . Fry Wade I . P . M ., G . B . Laffan S . W ., G . Strawbridge J . W ., 0 . Lucette P . M . Treasurer , F . J . Saunders Secretary , Dr . Kemmia D . C ., T . Floyd "Norris M . O ., B . C . Board S . O ., Dr . F . W . S . Wicksteed J . O ., A . Basil Cottam K . M ., T . H . Railton S . D ., Dr . Peskett J . D ., J . B . Siocock I . G ., T . L . Laxton Chaplain ,

VV . Webber Tylor . On the proposition of tho W . M ., the Secretary was directed to forward a voto of sympathy to Brother Dr . Kemniis , wbo is now slowly recovering from a severe illness , together with an earnest hope that he will speedily bo restored to his former health ancl strength . Afterwards the brethren partook of a capital repast , under the presidency of the W . M ., and tho customary toast list was gone through .

Messrs Dean and Son ( ICOA Fleet Street , E . C . ) announce a new volume by Mr . E . P . Scott , entitled " Stanley and hia Heroic Relief of Emiu Pasha , " which will contain biographical sketches of Stanley and Emin Pasha , and an interesting account of the Mahdi ' s rising . The work , which will be published at half a crown , will contain a map , and fourteen other illustrations .

Mr . Fred C . Milford's shilling novel " What became of him ? " is to bo published by Messrs Dean and Son , who will also publish Mr . Albert Vandham's exciting story " Accessory after the Fact , " which is translated from the original cf M . Reno de Camors .

Ad00503

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HTJTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Globe . —Mr . F . R . Benson's second venture is tho "' Tho Tanrug of thu Shrow , " which was produced last week and will be re . peated every Thursday and Friday evening until further notice , for his picturesque revival of " A Midsummer Night ' s Dream " is , we aro glad to notice , still attracting great audiences . Mr . Benson haa not aimed at any new arrangement of the phiy , as is the fashion

now-a-days , bnt has very wisely omitted the introduotion at Athens , whioh is unnecessary , and the curtain rises on the conversation between Lucentio and Tranio in the Public Place , at Padua . Mrs . Benson assumes tbe role of Katherina , and , while fnlly realising the hottempered vixen , does not forget that she is the daughter of a gentleman , and is therefore a lady by birth and education . The look of

startled surprise when she is first confronted with Petruohio , and the various phases ofthe taming do * . * . * , " are carefully depicted , and were readily recognised by the ami ' nee . Mr . Benson ' s rendering of Petruchio , though rather of a boisterous character , partook more of the light-hearted determined man than the extravagant blusterer he is sometimes represented , and though there are a few points , par .

ticularly in tho third act , that require rounding off , he may safely bo congratulated upon his conception . The remaining characters do not afford their representatives much chance of distinguishing them , solves , bnt Mr . Herbert Ross makes a humorous Tranio ; Mr . Otto Stuart looks and speaks woll as Lucentio , and Mr . Walter Shaw is a capital Biondello ; Miss Marion Grey ia graceful aa Bianoa ; Messrs . Athol Forde , G . R . Weir , G . F . Black , and G . M . Howard

furnish very fair representations of their respective parts , and Misa M . Townsend , who is introduced in the fourth act , gives an admirable rendering of Bishop ' s popular song , " Should he upbraid . " The scenery and costumes are both well designed , and the musio and dances are in good taste and very pretty . Mr . Benson baa now established a reputation for an earnest desire to represent oar immortal poet in an intelligent and scholarly manner , and hia future productions will be eagerly looked for .

Criterion . —The remarks we made on the recent production of "Caste" at this theatre may almost be repeated as regards the revival of Mr . Henry J . Byron ' s comedy , " Cyril ' s Snccess . " Tho public theatrical taste has so changed daring the last twenty years that the delicate humour and gonial cynicism of the dramatic authora of tha last generation ia passed by almost Jinnotioed , and it may even

be said unappreciated , by present audiences . It mast not be inferred that the performers are in any way to blame for this , aa the play ia well acted , and every one tries , and indeed succeeds , in giving a highly intelligible rendering of the piece ; but it may be readilyunderstood that whore a company has been indiscriminately gathered together for the performance of a pieco , it must necessarily be inferior

to ono that has been carefully trained under the supervision of an author . Miss Olga Brandon , a ? the neglected wife of Cyril Cuthbert , gives an impersonation that is full of feeling , though at times a trifle too mournful . Tho hero is capitally rendered by Mr . Leonard Boyne , especially in the last act , when he thoroughly aroused the enthusiasm of tho spectators . Mr . David James is also admirable aa Matthew Pincher , and shows the work of a finished artist . Mr . Arthur

Elwood is seen to great advantage as Major Treherne , and considerably assists the action of the piece . Miss Compton looks the part of Mrs . Singleton Bliss to the life . Miss Frances ( query Fanny Moore ) is well placed as Titeboy , and Miss Brunton adequately represented Miss Grannett . The revival shonld prove attractive to those who have the interest of the stage at heart , and may safely . be recom . mended as a foil to the more garish attractions at present in vogue .

Eoyal Aquarium . —The latest recruit to tbe ranks of Psycho-Physiology is a Doctor Onofroff , who gave a private performance before a number of representatives of the Press , last Tuesday , in the theatre adjoining this popular place of amusement . The Doctor has been well adapted by nature for the character he desires to assume , being tall and slim with large dark eyes , while the paleness of his

face contrasts strongly with the blackness of bis hair . Dr . Onofroff stated in his introductory address that he cannot explain the means by which hia experiments aro brought about . He f eela that he is impelled by some psychic force that causes him to obey the will of tbe medium , who must concentrate his thoughts entirely upon the objsct or matter decided upon , ond be in thorough sympathy with the

performer . He also said that he did not claim to be successful in every case , and an extraordinary failure waa made with Mr . Stewart Cumberland , himself a thoughtful reader , that conld hardly bo accounted for . A committee of press men having been formed , it was decided that the first experiment should take the idea of a person being murdered . The Doctor was blindfolded , not thafc ifc was

necessary , but to prevent his attention being diverted by the audience . He then succeeded in tracing the " murderer , " tho person supposed to be murdered , the weapon , which was a small penknife concealed in the lining of a hat , and also the exact spot where the wound was made . His second experiment was still more extraordinary . A member of the committee willed that the Doctor should unfasten

his coat , take the programme therefrom and burn it at a footlighfc in front of the stage . This was accomplished satisfactorily , as were also some other " thoughts" desired by some persons among the audience . Tho programme stated thafc the thought reading wonld take place without actual contact with the medium ; but iu eaoh

instance there was contact , because the Doctor commenced by touching the medium , and sometimes was constantly placing his hands upon him as though he were seeking inspiration . There can be no doubt as to the genuineness of the performance , which was highly interesting , and the Doctor received the hearty applause of the spectators at its termination .

Royal Albert Hall . —On Saturday last Mr . Kirwan gavo the first of a . series of dramatic recitals in tho West Theatre at the Royal