"A Sprig Of Acacia."

This illustration of the universality of the Craft was added to by the fact that among the candidates for election to the Correspondence Circle , which was the special creation of Bro . Speth , were Brethren from Birmingham and Bengal ,

Warwickshire and Western Australia , Salop and New Zealand , North Wales and Natal , as well as from Manitoba and Michigan , New York and Victoria , Queensland and Fiji , Burma and the Argentine .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

— : < K — We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings tor insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative , to report Lodge or other proceedings . We do not sanction anyone attending Lodge meetings as our representative without a specific invitation .

— : o : — ROYAL ARCH . — : o : —

Mount Sinai Chapter , No . 19 . INSTALLATION OF COMP . SAMUEL TOYE . THE ninetieth annual festival of this distinguished Chapter was held at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street , E . C ., and was attended with general success , a very pleasant Masonic evening being provided for those who were privileged to be present . The convocation was opened by Comps . E . E . Redman M . E . Z ., Samuel Toye H ., and G . P . Gillard P . Z . as J ., after which the members were admitted .

After the minutes had been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken for Comp . Elihu Burritt Lane , Mus . Bac , P . Z . of the Farrington Without Chapter , No . 1745 , as a joining member , and he was unanimously elected . The Companions then balloted for Bros . William Chapman Barnes and John Walter Barnes , both of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , under whose banner the Chapter is held , who were also approved as candidates for Royal Arch Masonry .

The First Principal ' s chair was then taken by Comp . Gillard , who requested Comp . Orlton Cooper to act as P . S . The Brothers Barnes being in attendance were then introduced , and were regularly exalted as Companions of the Order . The Lectures were very admirably delivered by Comps . Gillard , Lane , and Read . Comp . George Read P . G . Std . Br ., who had kindly consented

to instal Comp . Toye as First Principal , then assumed the chair of Z ., and performed the impressive ceremony with great dignity and solemnity . A dispensation having been granted for the installation of Corn ]} . E . T . Pearce to the chair of H . without the usual qualification , he was summoned , together with Comp . Martin

Pulvermann J .-elect , and both were installed as third Principals by Comp . Gillard , Comp . Pearce being subsequently invested -A H . by Comp . Frederick Cambridge . Both these ceremonies were rendered in a most admirable , manner by the Companions mentioned .

The following are the Officers ejected to the subordinate positions of the Chapter : Comps . J . W . Heath P . Z . Treasurer , Fred Cambridge Scribe E ., H . Blackburn Scribe N ., J . Hewett P . S ., F . Shipton 1 st Asst ., B . H . Springett 2 nd Asst ., and Ricd . Whiting Janitor . The report of the Audit Committee was then considered , and certain suggestions were adopted .

Comp . Toye , in suitable terms , presented his predecessor with a P . Z . jewel , for which Comp . Redman returned thanks . The Chapter was then closed , and the Companions adjourned to dinner . The customary loyal and complimentary toasts were given and acknowledged by those present , the speeches being ' agreeably interspersed with songs contributed by Miss Webster , Comps . Lane' - and Parsons , and some cornet solos by Comp . Heath .

In addition to those above- mentioned there were present Comps . George Cowderoy P . Z ., William Pound P . Z ., S . H . Baker P . Z ., M . C . Gossett P . Z ., William Hyde Z .-elect 168 5 , and a large number of the members .

********** Sympathy Chapter , No . 483 . INSTALLATION OF COMP . WILLIAM HAWKER . THE annual installation mcetintr of this successful Chapter was held at the Clarendon Hotel , Gravesendon Tuesday 28 th ult .

, , The convocation was opened by Comps . R . J . Beamish M . E . Z ., William Hawker H ., and Orlton Cooper J ., after which the minutes of the previous meeting " were- read and confirmed . The report of the Audit Committee , which proved the Chapter to be in a flourishing financial condition , was received and adopted .

The ballot was taken for Comp . Thomas William Titley , of the Southwark Chapter , No . 8 79 , as a joining member , and proved unanimous .

A dispensation from the Provincial Grand Superintendent Earl Amherst was read authorising the installation of Comp . Spencer Bowen as Second Principal of the Chapter , notwithstanding his not having served the full term in the third chair of J . Comp . William Hawker M . E . Z .-elect was then presented and

regularly installed as First Princi pal . Comp . Spencer Bowen was placed in the chair of H ., and Comp . Thomas T . Hogg was inducted as third Principal . The first and last ceremonies were performed by Comp . Orlton Cooper , while the second was very admirably rendered by Comp . Henry Forss P . Z . P . Proy . G . D . C .

Reports Of Meetings.

The following Officers for the year were then invested : Comps . Orlton Cooper Scribe E ., John A . Gillett Scribe N ., J . Percy White Prov . G . S . B . Treasurer , C . P . Bowen P . S ., T . A . Mummery and George Masters Assistants , R . J . Beamish D . C ., Robert Vivian A . D . C ., Robert Matthews Organist , John Solomon and J . A . Axcell Stewards , and George Martin Janitor .

The resignation of a member was accepted with regret , but his place will be filled by a Brother who was proposed for exaltation at the- next meeting . In highly complimentary terms the M . E . Z . presented a P . Z . jewel to Comp . R . J . Beamish , and bore testimony to . the admirable work he had accomplished in the Chapter . Comp . Beamish suitably responded , and there being no further business the Chapter was formally closed until November next .

The Companions subsequently dined together , and a very pleasant evening was spent . Among those present , in addition to those above mentioned , were Comps . William Russell P . P . D . C . Prov . Grand Treasurer , Frank Kitchens Prov . G . Registrar , Joseph Davis , Ernest Ingman , E . C . Paine , & c .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Alhambra . — -Mir . Dundas Slater , always in search of novelties for his patrons , has induced the Parisian favourite " La Belle Tortajada" to appear at Leicester Square for a limited number of performances . She brings a capital little musical sketch " Los

Contrabandistas , " which pourtrays her singing , dancing , and acting capabilities , to the best advantage . The little operetta is terribly dramatic , and is presented in three scenes , though the lady is really the onlv character . The piece was received with manifest approval . A new ballet is in preparation , so those who wish to see "The Gay City " should pay an early visit .

Wyndham ' s . —The talented proprietor of this handsome theatre has revived for a short season Mr . H . A . Jones's altogether delightful comedy " The Case of Rebellious Susan , " which was so favourably received at its initial production . Miss Mary Moore is seen to special advantage- as the rebellious one , who is taught so useful a lesson , iu-r . Charles Wyndham also excels in such characters

as Sir Richard Cato , and admirable assistance is rendered by Miss Violet Vanburgh . The great charm of the plays presented by Mr . Wyndham is the natural and easv manner of the actors , so that the interest is always sustained . The comedy is preceded by a short instrumental concert bv the theatre orchestra , under the direction of Mr . Alick Maclean , which is very agreeable for the early visitors .

BRO . CHARLES COLLETTE is busy supplementing his performance of " What Happened to Jones " with revivals of " My Awful Dad , " " Cool as a Cucumber , " " Crytoconchoidsyphonostomata , " and other pieces with which his name has been so closely associated . It is also quite " on the cards " that he will reproduce " The Colonel , " in which famous comedy he made his reputation throughout Great

Britain and Ireland . Since the initial production at the old Prince of Wales Theatre , London , early in 1 SS 1 , when the late Charles Coghlan played Colonel Woodd , several actors have attempted the part with indifferent success . Charles Collette however made the part his own , " put to bed " all his small rivals , succeeded in keeping the play well before the public for five years , and even eclipsed the

fame of the original . " The Colonel , " with Charles Collette in the title role , would be a treat to older playgoers , a revelation to the younger generation , and most remunerative to the treasury . Our worthy Bro . Charles Collette will appear all next week at the Crown Theatre , Peckham , as the Yankee Bagman in " What happened to Jones , " and supported by a very strong company under the management of Mr . Lilford Arthur .

M W " M H M M « J \ 1 «« UM ** MMUM H A 7 f IT Jt JTTt tf 7 f JlJIITJlJfllHJTff Messrs . Digby , Long and Co . have in the press the following new novels : — " The Maiden ' s Creed , by Alan St . Aubyn , author of "A Fellow of Trinity , " "The Junior Dean , " "The Loyal Hussar , " " A Prick of Conscience , & c . ; " A Black Vintage , " by Morice Gerard , author of " Murray Murgatroyd , Journalist , " " The Man of

the Moment , " "The Grip of the Wolf , " "Queen Mate , " & c . ; " Whose was the Hand ? " by J . E . Muddock , author of " Stripped of the Tinsel , " "Without Faith or Fear , " "In the King ' s Favour , " " Kate Cameron of Brux , " & c . : A Deal with the King , " by J . T . Findlay , author of " The Secession in the North , " & c . ; also a cheap edition ( 2 s 6 d ) of Sarah Tytler ' s popular novel "A Crazy Moment . " uuuuuuuuuu UUliHUUUM W W WW W W WW WW Jl R HTflMcirW

Book Received.

BOOK RECEIVED .

New Century Library ( 2 s net per vol . ) . —T . Nelson and Sons . The Works- of CHARLES DICKENS . Vol . xi ., Hard Times and Christmas Books . Poetical Tributes to the memory of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria . Edited by Chas . F . Forshaw , LL . D . F . R . S . L . With a foreword by Mackenzie Bell , F . R . S . L . — Swan Sonnenschein and Co ., Limited .

J »_ M , H Jl II Jtl HUH Rli H J 1 XVJi RH K THE Great Western Railway Company announce that on Mondays , 10 th , 17 th and 24 th June , an express da ) ' excursion to Frome , Yeovil , Dorchester and Weymouth will leave Paddington Station at 8 . 35 a . m . The clay trip fare to Weymouth will be 7 s 6 d ,

and passengers will travel by the n ° w direct route , and be due at Weymouth at 12 . 40 p . m . The return train will leave Weymouth at 6 . 20 p . m . and be due at Paddington at 10 . 35 P-ni . The new route considerablv shortens the distance between Paddington and Weymouth . Tickets at a higher fare will be issued available for 5 , 8 , 12 or 15 days ,