Proposed Visit Of Irish Freemasons To Newcastle.

PROPOSED VISIT OF IRISH FREEMASONS TO NEWCASTLE .

ARRANGEMENTS are now being mado in Newcastle by an influential committee of Masons for the reception of abont 25 Freemasons belonging to the Lodge of Israel , No . 126 , on tho roll of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . This is tbe first recorded visit of an Irish to an English Lodge , and the committee are determined to make it a success . The Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Sir Matthew White

Ridley , Bart ., M . P ., promises , if his engag ements will permit as also other eminent brethren , to hononr the Lodge by their presence on the important occasion . This visit of the Dublin brethren is to St . Nicholas * Lodge , No . 1 ( 570 , Newcastle , and is a return visit , the St . Nicholas' Lodge and others having visited Dublin last October . The Irish party are expected to arrive at the Central Station on Monday morning , 12 th September , and , after breakfast , will be

conveyed in open landaus aronnd the city , and throngh the Heaton , Armstrong , and Gosforth Parks . In the evening they will visit the Lodge in Grainger Street . On the second day a voyage down the Tyne will take plnce , and , if Tie permits , a visit to some of the industries on the Tyne . On thu third day the Cathedral , Old Castle , Museum , and other pnblic buildings in the city will be visited , terminating with an inspection of the Fire Brigade Station , when the brigade will tarn out especially for the visitors .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to tho Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , IT . — : o : — " Elementary Lessons in Freehand Design , " by William MoDongle ' ( designer of the Minerva Series of Freehand Outlines ) . ID

packets of eight stoat cards , ten inches by six and a half inches , with instructions for use , and directions for colouring . Price ls per packet . Now ready , No . 1 . Greek . No . 2 . Moresque . ( Others in preparation . ) London : W . MCDOUGLE , 11 Newgate Street .

WE have examined with muoh interest Bro . MoDougle's handiwork as described above . We are muoh pleased with it . For attractive simplicity , elegance of outline and clear printing it cannot be

surpassed . The examples before us—rthe Greek and the Moresqueare artistically drawn , and the modest price at whioh they are offered shonld command for them a large sale amongst the scholars at Public , Private , and Elementary Schools .

The Theatres. &C.

THE THEATRES . & c .

Haydn Parry's new romantic opera " Cigarette , " which has been most favourably received in the provinces , will be produced for a short run , at the Lyric , on Wednesday next , the 7 th inst . Mr . Haydn

Parry will conduct his own orchestra ; the front of the honse will be nnder the management of Mr . W . H . Griffiths , and the opera produced under the stage direction of Mr . Charles Collette .

On Saturday evening , 10 th inst ., at eight o ' clock , will be produced at tho Trafalgar Square theatre , in conjunction with Mr . Horace Sedger , a new comic opera , in three acts , entitled " The Wedding Eve . "

"The Prodigal Danghter" is the title chosen by Sir Aognstus Harris for his new sporting drama , whioh is in active preparation for production at Drury Lane .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of Lincolnshire will be held at Gainsborough , in October .

We are informed thafc the next session of the East Surrey of Concord Lodge of Instruction , No . 463 , will commence on Tuesday next , the 6 th insfc ., afc the Greyhound * Hotel , Croydon , at eight o ' clock p . m . punctually . Meetings will be held every Tuesday , at 8 p . m until May 1893 .

The funeral of tbe Duke of Manchester took place on Wednesday , 24 th ult . Ifc was conducted with Masouic honours . The chief mourners were Visconnt Mandeville , son of the late Dnke , Lord Charles Montagu , the Earl of Gosford , and the Hon . Edward Stanley . A number of

personal friends , the members of the late Duke ' s household , and the tenantry of the estate also attended . The coffin was covered with the wreaths sent by the Duchess of Manchester , the Duchess of Devonshire ( mother of the late Duke ) , fche Dnchess of Hamilton ( his sister ) , Lady Alice Stanley , and others .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOSEPH WILSON . ON Monday , the 22 nd nit ., the funeral took place , at Stow , of Bro . Joseph Wilson , who died on Thursday night , the 18 th nit ., in his 70 th year . The burial took place with Masonio honours—deceased being the eldest member of the local Lodge of Freemasons , into

whioh he was initiated in 1813 . He had thns been for almost half a centnry an active member of his Mother Lodge and of the Craft , and he was at the time of his decease Treasurer of the Lodge . In recognition of his long and faithful services in this office he became last year the recipient of a testimonial from the members .

BRO . JAMES STOCKER

On Saturday , the 27 th ult ., the funeral of the late Bro . James Stocker , an old and much . esteemed resident of St . Thomas , Exeter , who died at the age of eighty-seven , took place in the parish church * yard . The officiating clergymen were the Rev . W . R . Bleazley ( curate ) , Dr . Dangar ( principal of St . Peter'a College ) , and Rev . 0 . H . Williams ( onrate-in-charge of Emmanuel Church ) , As the

procession entered the church the organist ( Mr . H . Stokes ) playod " I know that my Redeemer livetb , " and the Psalm was followed by the singing of a hymn by the choir . As the body was borne forth the Dead March in " Saul" was played on the organ . Bro . Stocker waa an old Freemason , and also one of the oldest Past Masters in the Province , he having been initiated in 1845 . Bros . John and ) Henry

Stocker , his sons , are both Past Masters of No . 39 , the senior Lodge of the Province , and have both held the office of Provincial Grand Treasurer . Bro . J . Stocker is also a Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden , and Bro . Henry Stocker is Provincial Grand Secretary of Mark Master Masons of Devon . There was a largo attendance of brethren at the funeral .

Stability Of Masonry.

STABILITY OF MASONRY .

Amid this life of change , how glorious , the thought Tbat one bright link survives the wreck By warring nations wrought j This Mystic Tie doth proudly scorn The touch of change and blight , And like the pinions of tbo morn , Spread o ' er tbe world her light .

Six thousand years of winged flight . Havo chased tho hopes of man away Like withered loaves in tempest ' s might ; Bat tbis one fabric nobly braves Tho tooth of Time , lhe Papal power , The traitor ' s fang , the trick of knaves—Sublime , immutable , unchanged its tower

And each successive ago has taught How weak the venom of ber foes ; Iu God's right arm her strength she sought , Hope , Charity aud Holy Faith , A garland woven for her brow j Love ' s pure cement the fabrio bath , And crowned with youth ' s eternal glow . —Si / dnfly Freemason

The accounts of the Crystal Palace District Gas Company , to be presented to the proprietors , afc the ordinary general meeting , on tbo 9 th inst ., show thafc tbe result of tho half-year ' s working gives a balance to the credit of revenue account of £ 7 , 874 18 s 3 d , reduced by the payment

of interest ; on tho loan and on debenture stock , as shown in profit ancl loss account , to £ 7 , 523 8 s 7 d , thus necessitating the transfer of £ 7 , 351 lis 5 d from reserve fund to make statutory dividends . Tho extra cost for coal , in consequence of the Durham miners' strike , was £ 2 , 687 ,

and the amount realised for coke and sulphate shows a decrease of £ 4 , 036 4 s 4 d aa compared with that of tho corresponding half-year of 1891 . There has been an increase of 1 * 23 per cent , in tho quantity of gas sold over the corresponding half-year , which is satisfactory when ifc is

remembered thafc ifc follows aa increase of 12 * 86 per cent , due to the abnormally severe weather of the early parfc of last year . Tlie whole of the £ 37 , 500 of 6 per cent , debenture stock has been allotted , and 5 s in the pound paid thereon , amounting to £ 9 , 375 . The Directors recommend

that a dividend be declared for tbo half-year ended 30 th of June last at the following rates per annum , viz . : —6 per cent , on the preference stock ; 7 per coufc . on fche ordinary 7 per cent , stock ; and 10 per cent , on the ordinary 10 per

cent , stock ; amounting to £ 14 , 875 , less income tax of £ 371 17 s 6 d , ancl that fcho warrants , for the net amounts , £ 14 , 503 2 s Gd , be forwarded by post , on or before the 16 th September , to the registered proprietors on 30 th June last .