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unionism , when viewed from the " competitive " standpoint of the present age , for however beneficial it may be for the members of different trades to combine for

mutual support there is much that is bad surrounding their present practices , and very little , so far as we can see , to identify them with either modern or ootn

ancient Freemasonry . Beyond the lact that preach " Liberty , Equality and Fraternity" we cannot see how they can be associated , and the

connection in that particular seems to end with the preaching—for the practice is widely different in the two cases .

We are very pleased to learn that at the last meeting of the Doric Lodge , No . 2359 , the sum of twenty guineas was voted to the West Lancashire Alpass Benevolent Institution , and Bro . Clare Edgar Towell

I . P . M . the Charity Eepresentative oi the Lodge , will hand over this amount at the next meeting of the Institution , which will shortly be held in

Southport . Brother Towell , who is a very active worker in this direction , is making strenuous efforts to augment the sum voted by the Lodge , and in this we hope he will be successful .

Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

— : o *—CRAFT . — : o : — DERBY LODGE , No . 1055 .

AFTER an interregnum of two years , a preliminary meeting or the above Lodge waa held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , ° n Wednesday the 23 rd ult . Bro . J . II . P . Leresche P . Prov . G . Ret , ' . fc ook tho principal chair , being supported by Bros . Col . Hy . II . Robinson Prcv . G . Reg . as S . W ., W . Slater Boddington P . Prov . G . Ren . as J . W ., Johu Chadwick Prov . G . Sec , and Fred Hilton Prov .

G . D . of C . as I . G . The Lodge was opened in the first degree by Bro . Leresohe , who delivered a very powerful and characteristic address to the brethren , after which the Proviucial Officers resigned their gubernatorial positions in favour of tho following original Officers of the Lodge , viz : —Bros . Charles Smith W . M ., Jos . Challender S . W .,

Jno . VV . Hallam J . W . and J . 13 . Pearce , Seo . There were also present , Bros . Joseph Hilton Tions , C . Bagofc I . P . M ., J . Hey wood S . D ., II ' IJU . Leech P . M ., Thos . E . Rigby l ' . M ., Fredk . R . Cooper P . M ., Robt . Williamson P . M ., Geo . Kenyon P . M ., T . Nesbitt , Thos . Smith

N . Tragheio , W . Grierson , Geo . MoWilliams , P . D . Ohlmiis , H . Wray , F . Koowles , W . A . Brown , H . Grimsbaw , Jamea Chapman and E . Roberts P . M . Assist . Prov . G . T . ( FKEBJIASON ' S CniuwicLE ) . The next ordinary meeting of the Lodge will be held on Thursday , tho 11 th inst .

Walton Lodge, No. 1086

WALTON LODGE , No . 1086

BETWEEN 20 and 30 members and their friends took part in the annual picnic of the Lodge last week . The place chosen for this year ' s outing was Grasmere , whither the party travelled by special train from Lime Street Station , Liverpool . On arriving at Windermere , the party drove in wagonettes to Grasmere , and lunched at the Rothey Hotel . Some time was spent in the grounds of the hotel , and excursions were subsequently made into tho surrounding

country , and mountain climbing indulged in . On returning to tbe Rothey , tea was partaken of , the catering of Mr . Copperthwaite , the host , giving ent're satisfaction . The return journey was completed by about 10 o ' clock . Among those present , iu addition to Bro . Garrett , the W . M . of the Lodge , were Brothers J . Lawson Senior Warden , George Young Junior Warden , Joseph Wilde . Secretary , M'Laren , Taylor , Bridge water , and G . G . Coope Past Masters .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

SOUTHDOWN LODGE , No . 164

riIHE installation meeting and banquet was hold on Wednesday of - ' last week at the Station Hotel , Haywards Heath . The Lodge was presided over by Bro . Wickham P . Prov . S . B . W . M ., there being also present Bros . J . J . Abell P . Prov . J . D . I . P . M ., J . C . Buckwell P . P . S . P . M . Secretary protein , A . F . Lamette G . S . S . W ., G . Masters

P . M ., C . Clarke P . Prov . S . B . J . W , F . J . Culley S . O ., E . II . M . Ffennoll J . O ., A . Alvven Reg . of Marks , E . Tebbs S . D ., F . C . Golding I . G ., T . H . Cballis , H . Iloghes Tyler , and the following : Visitors : —Bros . W . Gill 926 P . M . P . G . M . O ., W . Hillman 386 J . W . P . G . S . B ., J . Eberall 75 386 P . M ., H . Langton 409 P . G . O . England , W . Wright 371 419 I ' . G . Secretary , W . Endacott 25 , Ii . Voysey 22 P . M ., & o . The formal

Mark Masonry.

business of the Lodge was transacted and the balance-shpe f . passed . Bro . Wickham W . M . thanked the brethren for the support accorded him during his year of office , particularly Bro . Buckwell for acting as Secretary . Bro . Buckwell then presented Brother Alphonse P . Lamette the W . M . elect for installation . A dispensation was received authorising the installation of Brother Lamette , he being already

W . M . of the Adur Mark Lodge , No . 386 , and he was then installed with due ceremony by Bro . Wickham , appointing and investing the following as his Officers : —Bros . C . Clarke P . Prov . S . B . S . W ., P . H . Beeny J . W ., G . Masters P . M . Treasurer , P . J . Culley M . O ., A . Alwen S . O ., E . H . M . Ffennell J . O ., E . Tebbs Registrar of Marks , T . U . Cballis Secretary , A . D . Bailey S . D ., P . 0 . Golding J . D ., G . E .

Barwell Organist , and H . Hughes Tyler . Bro . J . J . Abell P . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , presented the retiring Master with a P . M . ' s jewel , which bore the Southdown emblem . The banquet followed , presided over by the W . M ., who was supported by his Officers . The nsual Mark Masonic toasts were honoured , and songs were contributed by Bros . Ffennell and Tebbs .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Criterion . —We arc glad to see that the bright , tuneful and vivacious "La fille de Madame Angot , " whioh was recently revived , has entered on a fresh run of popularity and success . As we mentioned on a previous occasion , the caste includes the names of Mr . Courtice Pounds as the tickle Ange Pitou , Mr . Charles Davenport as

the jealous Pomponnet , and Miss Amy Augarde as the luxurious Mdlle . Lange . All these olever artistes fill their parts in aa admirable manner and render their melodious music to the satisfaction of the audience , who follow the piece with the same interest as of yore . In addition we have Miss Haidee Crofton as Clairette ,

Mr . Sydney Valentine as Larivaudiere , Mr . W . Blakeley an amusing Lonohard , Misses Bertha Vere , P . Francos , E . Westlake and M . A . Victor as the Market Women , and Mr . Welton Dale as the Dandy Trenitz . We understand that Miss Decima Moore is about to resume tbe character of Clairette , which she so successfully filled when the piece was revived .

Alhambra . —Ou paying a visit to this popular and well managed house this week we were pleased to notice that the warm weather made no preceptible difference in tho number of the audience , though there is little fresh to chronicle . The attractions offered by tho charming romantic ballet of " Fidelia , " and the stately processions

and grouping of the nations at "Chicago" still continue to draw crowded houses to Leicester Sqnare . The new comers in thc variety entertainment are Mr . J . C . Rich , comedian , the Pincllis , musical grotesques , the Pantzors in their clevor acrobatic feats , Miss Lily

Hurnand aud Miss Marie Elsie . A selection played by M . G . Jacobi ' s magnificent orchestra is always a treat for those musically inclined , and of these throe aro given during tho evening . Anew ballet ia now in preparation and will be produced when the season is more advanced .

Royal Aquarium . —For many years past this popular place oi amusement has been noted for tho " novelties" that have been produced there , and the latest is certainly one of tho most extraordinary that has ever been seen . Hadj Soliman ben A'issa , a Fakir priest of the Arab sect of the Aissaonas , has been engaged with

a view of giving exhibitions of the arts and feats practised by the priesthood . Hadj Soliman ben A'issa , who certainly puts himself throngh a series of most extraordinary ordeals is 28 years or ago ; he was born at Meginnez in Morocco , he studied in Algiers and belongs to the A'issa sect . We may describe his performance as follows : —

A brazier filled with burning charcoal stood on a table , and Soliman , sprinkling some powder over the flame inhaled the fnmes . He thon went through the fakir dance , which consists of throwing tho head backwards and forwards with such rapidity that it needs must be screwed on well . Telling his audience that he was now insensible to

pain , he ran a long needle throngh the muscles of each arm , through each cheek , and through the throat below the Adam ' s apple . No blood came except at call , and tbe Arab did not wince in the least . Soliman's next feat was ever more peculiar ; he ran a dagger into his abdomen—abont the middle—fully three inches deep ; after this the

Arab with a thick needle pierced his tongue ; the tongue being , of course , one of tbe most sensitive parts of the human body . Tho fakir next drew out his left eye as far as it would go , with a dagger . This was indeed a most disgusting sight . After this it seemed qnite tame to seo the man take out half a dozen

vipers , brought from his native Morocco , and allow ono of them to repeatedly bite his hand . Tho venomous creatures were a little larger than those one often encounters in this country . Finally , Soliman put his bared arm over a fire , till tho limb blackened and tlio audience told him to stop . The flesh did not seem to scorch at

all . Then there was a repetition of tho dance , and the man went at such a pace that he fell forward . He dashed watar over his head , and made a bow to tho audience . The Medical Committee pronounced that the different feats were genuine , but to our minds such performance aro not tho proper ones for places of public amuse , ment .

Wo aro glad to notice that Bro . John Hollingshead is once moro about in theatrical enterprise and has taken a lease of the Princess ' fl Theatre in Oxford Street , which is being altered , improved and redecorated , so as to be ready for opening some timo in October . The floor of tho house is to bo laid ont as much ns possible on the American principle , and tbe spacious ancl handsome entrance-hall will be fitted