Notices Of Meetings.

Among those present were Bros . Goodaore , J . Evans , R . Brierley , and W . D . Finney . In the absence , through illness , of Bro . W . H . Robinson , that Officer ' s duties wero undertaken by Bro . Finney , and Brother John TIesketh acted as Senior Warden . The W . M . elect , Brother H . Young , wa 3 presented and duly installed by

Brother W . D . Finney , and afterwards the following Officers were duly invested by tho W . M . . —Brothers R . W . Hill S . W ., Dr . Adams J . W ., W . B . Roberts S . D ., H . F . Groenongh J . D ., and Ward I . G . The Rev . Mr . Rigby was appointed Chaplain of tho Lodgo . After the ceremony the brethren , to tho number of nenrly fifty , sat down to a banquet , presided over by the Worshipful Master .

CONFIDENCE LODGE , No . 193 .

THE usual monthly meeting was held at Anderton's Hotel , Fleetstreet , on Monday , tbe 9 tb ult . Bro . S . Smitber W . M . occupied the chair , and thero was a good attendance of members and visitors . The business comprised the initiation of Messrs . Kington and Merrifield , the ceremony being ably worked by the W . M . and his Officers . Bro . Davey S . W . was eleoted W . M . for the ensuing year ,

and it was agreed to present Bro . Smither with a Past Master ' s jewel and collar in recognition of his services during the past year . At the close of the business the brethren adjourned to the banqueting-room , where an excellent dinner was served , after wbioh the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured , the W . M . being especially complimented on tho excellence of his working and the

prosperity of his year of office . Amongst tbe members present were the W . M . Bros . J . Smith P . M ., H . Jones , Elvin , H . Alexander , T . R . Smither , Doughty . Visitors from No . 1766 : Bros . J . Cox W . M ., G . T . Barr P . M ., R . S . Rioketts Orgt ., J . Tidball , R . Jeremy ; A . Dorvelle 704 , G . Andrews 1420 , E . T . Pearce 1260 , Siguor Alberto 1685 ( the latter entertained the gathering with somo clever feats of legerdemain ) .

WILLIAMSON LODGE , No . 949 .

A LARGE gathering of members of the Masonic Fraternity assembled at a spooiol meeting in their hall at Monkwearmoutb , on the 23 rd nit ., under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . G . W . Bain , for tho purpose of presenting a congratulatory address to tho Mayor of Sunderland , Bro . R . Sbadfortb , on his accession to the Mayoralty . Tho Lodgo having been opened , the W . M . called npon the D . of C . Bro . G . Porteons to read tbo address , which was as follows : —

" To Worshipful Brother Robert Shadforth P . M . P . P . S . G . D ., Mayor of Sunderland . ¦• OH . AU . on . A .-. T > DKO .. ^ ., — . J . tho Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Wardens , and Brethron of the Williamson Lodge , JNo . UA 9 , of Aueisnt , Free , aud Accopted Masons , in open Lodgo assembled ,

do with the utmost plerrsnro and fraternal respect approach you to offer our sincere and hearty congratulations on the very auspicious occasion of your being unanimously eleoted to the onerous and distinguished office of first magistrate of the County Borough of Sunderland . We believe that every Freemason iu the province of Durham will hail with equal satisfaction as ourselves your elovation to so

distinguished a position . Wo need not remind you of the requirements of tho high office you have assumed , but we would venture to say that the tenets of Freemasonry ( of which you havo already made yourself Master ) will assist in no small degree to the maintenance of that dignity and respect whioh constitutes so vital an element in the successful holding of that office .

" Let prndonce direct you , Fortitude support you , And justice be the guide of all your actions . " We rest assured that if your government is carried out on these principles , aided by the blessing of the Great Architect of the

Universe , your term of office will be marked by the most lasting and pleasing results . In conclusion , we proffer yon our very best wishes for a happy and successful term of office ; and we ask you to convey to the Mayoress our most respectful good wishes and congratulations , and subscribe ourselves ,

GEOHGE WASHINGTON BAIN W . M . FREDERICK MADDISON I . P . M . REMICIUS BLAKE S . W . LEMUEL R . DAVIES J . W .

JOHN G . KIRTLEY Treasurer . ANDREW LOGAN Secretary . JOSEPH S . CHATT S . D . TnoMAS HUNTER J . D .

LUKE R . SIMPSON I . G . GEORGE PORTEOUS D . of C . BRADY SWAIN Tyler . HEDWORTII WILLIAMSON , Bart ., P . M . R . W . HALPNicnr P . M . WILLIAM LIDDELL P . M . ALFRED GRAY P . M .

GEORGE B . HALL P . M . ALEX . T . MUNRO P . M . NICHOLAS TAILOR P . M . JOHN HEWSON P . M . "

Tho addross was set out with Masonic and other emblems , and was handsomely worked by Mr . Ezra Miller , of Sunderland . ' The * W . M . Bro . G . W . Bain , in the course of a very eloquent spnecb , presented the address to his Worship the Mayor . He said that the

brethren of his Lodge wonld look with a degree of happiness and pride at the Mayor ' s career through the chair . They also associated the namoof the Mayoress with the presentation and had no doubt their term of office would be linked with benefit to every good cause . Tho Mayor , who was cheered on rising , said , this wa 3 one of the

Notices Of Meetings.

peculiar moments of his life . He fchankcl the W . M . for the very excellent remarks he had made , nnd felt thankful at the attendance of so many of the leading brethren of Sunderland . He should prize the handsome ad-iress they hid presented him that night , and felt sure that the Mayoress wi-. uld also partiu ' pate with him iu the pleasure that the present u ion gave . She had nobly aided him

in tin discharge of the duties of the mayoralty , and was seeking to help everything that had n tendency to promote the good work in all directions . The Lodgo was afterwards closed , and the brothron eat down to an excellent supper , under the chairmanship of Bro . W . Bain W . M ., who was supported by the Mayor , and many Provincial Officers and others .

STANFORD LODGE , No . 1947 .

' nHE installation meeting took place at the Town Hall , Hove , on JL Saturday , the 14 th ult ., when a large number of mombers and visitors were present . The Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . E . S . Medoalf , assisted by his Officers . The usual routine business having been concluded , a dispensation was read , - giving permission for the Lodge to meet on Saturday , tho 14 th , instead of the usual day , Wednesday , the 11 th . The W . M . Elect , Bro . F . A . Channing , M . P .,

was duly presented aud installed in the chair as W . M ,, the ceremony being performed by the out-goiug Master , Bro . E . S . Medcalf , iu a very efficient manner . Tho addresses were given by Bros . Eberall and Styer , Bro . J . W . Stride acting as D . C . Tbo W . M . appointed as his Officers : —Bros . E . S . Medcalf I . P . M ., A . Du Pont S . W ., H . Eudacott J . W ., Jacques Massis Chaplain , J . W . Stride Treasurer ,

J . J . Clark Seoretary , A . F . Lamette S . D ., W . E . Hughes J . D ., J . H . Glassingtor D . C , J . Crapps Organist , W . Potter I . G ., andC . F . Goode Senior Steward . Bros . E . L . Voysey and Dudney were elected on the General Purposes Committee , and Bro . A . F . Lamette as Charity Steward . The W . M . then presented the I . P . M . Bro . E . S . Medcalf with the Past Master ' s jewel , which bad been voted to him at the

last meeting . A vote of condolence was passed to the W . M . on his recent bereavement , and the S . W . Bro . Du Pont thanked the W . Mt on behalf of tbe Officers for the honour he had done them in appointing them to office . The W . M . suitably acknowledged the vote of condolence , and expressed his regret that he was nnable to remain to the banquet . The Lodge having been duly closed the brethren sat

down to a banquet , which was of a choice description , and was served and personally supervised by Bro . E . Booth , of East Street . The I . P . M . Bro . E . S . Medcalf , presided , and remarked as a musical evening was intended he should not occupy much time iu making speeches . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , the Rov . J . Pnttick Prov . G . Chaplain , responding for tbe Provincial

Grand Officers . The health of the W . M . was drunk in his absence , with much rej « n > 6 that he was nnable to be present . Bros . Dr . H . E . Price , F . G . C . May , and W . Cuvless responded for the Yisitorp , and expressed their pleasure both with the working and the bauquet . There were fifteen W . M . ' s of the Province present , but many wero compelled to leave before the toast was reached , responses being

given by Bros . J . H . Whatford , Anscorabe , and Dowell . The Past Masters , proposed by Bro . J . W . Stride , was acknowledged by the Chairman and Bro . L . R . Styer . Bro . Du Pont responded to tho Officers , the Tyler ' s toast completing the list . The musical programme was carried out under the direction of the Organist , Brother

J . Crapps , assisted as accompanist by Bro . W . N . R » e . Tho vocalists were Miss Minnie Freeman , Miss Edith Hands , Mrs . Alfred Roo , Mr . G . Welling , and Mr . Pilbeam ; violin solos being given by Mr . H . Crapps ( from the Brussels Conservatoire ) , and recitations by Bros . J . A . Thilthorpe and J . J . Clark .

Duke of Cornwall Lodge of Instruction , No . 1839 . — A meeting was held on Tuesday , the 31 sc December , at the Queen ' s Arms , Queen Street , Cheapside . Bros . Dixie Preceptor , Cox W . M ., Scherer S . W ., Davison J . W ., Williams Treasurer , Miller Secretwry , Ashby S . D ., Lowry J . D ., M . Hart I . G ., and several others . After

customary formalities the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Cnlver acting as candidate . The first and second sections of the lecture were worked . The Fifteen Sections will be worked hereby the members of the West Smithfield Lodge of Instruction , On Tuesday , 14 th January 1890 . The Lodge will be opened at 7 o ' clook .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Avenue . —One of the most successful of the numerous burle ^ qaea produced at the " merry little Strand " was Brough ' s " Field of the Cloth of Gold , " and by its revival at this theatre we are enabled to perceive how the public taste has changed vviih regard lo ihu form , of amusement . Capitally acted and brilliantly mounted , with new songs and dances , it nevertheless did not go with that verve thao

made the fortune of the Swanborough management , thnngh it is quite possible it will be witnessed and enjoyed by nnmerwm visiiors during tho holidays . MrB . Malaprop justly says , "comp ' iris'jos are odorous , " and ifc would be manifestly unfair to compare the uiesduc company with that which was so thoroughly schooled in iho art of bnrlesqne of one and twenty years ago . Mr . Chevalier and Mr . Geo . Capol represent the rival mouarchs , with considerable I umuur , nnd

their langhablo encounter in the ring was ht-amly appended . Miss Amelia Gruhn sang well as Anne Boleyn , Mits Minnie Byron was a dashing Earl of Darnley , and Mr . Julian Cross scored well an the cripple Sir Gny . Henry ' s first spouse Kaihmiuc , here represented us a very strong minded ludy , is cleverly sustained by MHS Maria Davis , while Miss Marie Linden , Miss Violet Evelyn , toaeitier with Messrs . Alec Marsh , J . Tapley , G . Sinclair aud W . WarJe