Reports Of Meetings.

sanction of his chiefs , Mr . Haig Brown and Mr . Lee . he hoped , notwithstanding the London demand , to retain the greater portion for the Manchester district . The party arrived home at 10 o'clock , after a pleasant day ' s outing .

ROYAL ALFRED LODGE , No . 1028 . ON Monday , 24 th ult ., several of the members of this Lodge , and their lady friends , had a day ' s outing in the Dukeries . The journey was made by rail to Mansfield , at which place the party was met by brakes , visits

being made to Welbeck , Clumber , and Thorsby . The company afterwards returned to the Swan Hotel , Mansfield , where a capital dinner was provided . Alfreton Station was reached on the return journey about 8 p . m ., the trip having proved itself a delightful one .

CONCORD LODGE , No . 323 . A LARGE party of members , some of whom were accompanied by their wives and friends , paid a visit to Shrewsbury on the 20 th ult . They were met at the station by Bro . W . H . Blackwell ( the chief-constable of Shrewsbury ) , and after visiting the Castle , Museum , & c , sat down to luncheon if

at the George Hotel , where they were joined by the Mayor ( uro . x . . Deakin ) . In the afternoon the visitors were conveyed to many places of historical interest in the neighbourhood , and expressed themselves delighted with the beautiful scenery in the vicinity of Shrewsbury . On returning to Shrewsbury a sumptous dinner was partaken of at the George TTnfol

HARMONY LODGE , No . 220 . THE annual installation took place at the Garston Hotel , Garston , on Wednesday night , 26 th ult ., Bro . Robert G . Mitchell being installed Master for the ensuing year . The ceremony was very impressively performed by Bros . T . H . Short W . M . and G . W . Hughes P . M .

During the evening Bro . Short was presented with a very handsome and valuable Past Master's jewel , the inscription showing that it was a token of esteem and regard from the Brethren of the Lodge , and a recognition of services rendered .

SINCERITY LODGE , No . 189 . THE annual installation and banquet was held at Stonehouse Tovrahall , on Monday , 10 th ult ., the retiring W . M . Bro . F . S . Hodge presiding . The W . M .-elect was Bro . H . W . Mayne S . W ., and the installation ceremony was taken part in by Bros . G . Dunsterville , C . Dunsterville , A . S . Hendry , F . E . Sach , and J . Parker .

V V VJ METEOPOLITAN : INSTEUCTION .

EYRE LODGE , No . 2742 . ON Wednesday , at the Eyre Arms Hotel , St . John's Wood , N . W ., Bros . W . Mitchell W . M ., W . P . Clarke S . W ., A . Barrell J . W ., P . J . Weeden Sec , J . D . Graham S . D ., J . Wynman J . D ., C . Murless I . G . Bro . Weston , with the assistance of the Brethren , worked the first

Section of the Lecture . The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of initiation in excellent style , for which he was highly complimented by the Preceptor .

There being no meeting on Wednesday next , the Lodge was adjourned till the 16 th inst .. when Bro . W . P . Clarke will take the chair .

NEW CROSS LODGE , No . 1559 . ON Tuesday we had the pleasure of visiting this Lodge at the commodious quarters of Bro . Lewis Lane , the Kemblo ' s Head , 61 and 62 Long Acre , W . C , when Bro . C . Johnson P . M . Preceptor 1158 was in the chair , with Bros . C . Conquest S . W ., E . Beadle J . W ., J . D . Graham P . M . Prec , G . Faaz Sec , L . Lake S . D ., W . Manninger J . D ., W . Tipton I . G ., Wynman , and others . The W . M . rehearsed the ceremony of passing , with Bro . Manninger acting as the candidate . The whole of the ritual , including the explanation

of the working tools and . the lecture on the tracing board , was perfectly rendered . The W . M . resumed the Lodge to the first degree , and Bros . Conquest and Tipton were elected members , which compliment was duly acknowledged . Bro . Conquest will preside on Tuesday , 15 th inst . The New Cross Lodge of Instruction meets every Tuesday , at eight o'clock , and is under the Preceptorship of Bro . J . D . Graham P . M ., who is well known for his capable working .

Criterion . —A rollicking farce , just the thing for an after dinner entertainment on a warm summer evening , is now being played at this home of hilarity , under tho managemonfc of Messrs . Henry A . Lytton and Stanley Cooke , who have taken the theatre for a season . It is called " The Wild Rabbit , " and is written by George Arliss . We need not go back further than the Two Dromios for comparison ; suffice it to say that what proved highly diverting in Shakespeare ' s time is to-day received with equal amusement

, and what more is required . The Earl of Ravenscourt and Christopher Smith have for some years been estranged from their families , and both meet at the Towers , the seat of the nobleman . Here , like the twins , they get mixed up owing principally to a change of hair , or rather the colour of it , and after the usual amount of comical complications they are sorted out , and the problem is demonstrated . Mr . Stanley Cooke as Christopher , and Mr . Cecil Ramsey as Cyril , sustain with much earnestness the two sons who are

so much alike as to be undistinguishable by their parents when their hair is dyed , and they make the piece hum merrily . Miss Georgie Esmond is a vivacious and pretty Polly , and a capital little sketch is given by Master Levey as an up-to-date motor boy . Mr . Aubrey Fitzgerald also adds a diverting character of " A Society Clown , " and Mr . Sydney Brought is seen to

advantage as Mr . Medlycot . Mr . Wyes as Chris' father , and Miss Talbot as Cyril ' s mother , join in the fun , which is sustained throughout the three acts ; Miss Violet Raye , Miss Margaret Watson , and Mr . Blake Adams complete the list of the laughter givers . Marsham Rae ' s pretty ' comedietta , " The JHrst in the Field , " precedes the farce , and is capitally played by Messrs . C . H ranee , Blake Adams , Harold West , and Miss Amy Francis .

Theory And Practice.

THEORY AND PRACTICE .

THEOEETICALLY , the Masonic Institution represents the best qualities of human nature and the noblest forces that minister to the good of the individual man and the welfare of society . The ideal of Freemasonry is every way bright and beautiful . At the very beginning a man who desires to become a Mason is told that he must present himself as a candidate " uninfluenced by mercenary motives , " being animated by " a desire

for knowledge and a sincere wish to be useful to his fellow-man . " Being thus prompted , he makes his application . Because of what he has read and heard of the Masonic Fraternity—of its high standard of morals , the clos " e fellowship of its members , and the beneficent work in which it is constantly engaged—he naturally expects to find associations of a worthy and exalted character , and to be greatly stimulated and helped by Masonic influences operating upon heart and soul .

It must be confessed that these ideals are not always realised . The practice , even within Masonic lines , is not always conformable to theory . The Brother just admitted to the Fraternity expects to find less of narrowness , selfishness , wrong-doing , and uncharitableness among Masons than he has been accustomed to meet with in the world at large , and he naturally expects to

discover in his new Masonic relation a more consistent regard for truth , honour , and right than is generally manifest , together with a special expression of those qualities which bind heart to heart , and contribute so much to the zest of life . Alas , that these expectations are so imperfectly realised ! In many things the " practice " is found to be at variance with the " theory . "

It is not pleasant to refer to some things which are known to exist in the Masonic organisation , and which work to its injury . Sometimes , however , they should be noted ; for it is the part of folly to confuse conditions and make pretense that everything is as it ought to be , when the facts , as they are generally known , do not bear out the assertion .

Not long ago we were present at the initiation of a candidate —a reputable business man in the community—who had waited until he had reached middle life before seeking entrance into the Fraternity . The Lodge was well attended that evening , the ritual was . rendered in an excellent manner , and the ceremony was edifying throughout . At its close the newly admitted Brother

w alked homeward in company with the present writer . In response to our question as to how he was impressed by the evening ' s proceedings , he said : " Almost the very moment I was told that I was a Mason , my glance rested upon a man whom I had known in business relations , and whose reputation in the community is far from good , and my thought was , How came this man to be a Mason ? It was a rude shock to find him in

the Lodge . " However we may explain and justify the admission of such a one , the fact remains that grievous harm is done the Institution by admitting within its lines a man who is not of good repute in the community where he resides . It is a rude shattering of the high ideal formed when the initiate notes the presence of such a class at his first entrance into the Lodge .

It is much the same sort of awakening when a newly-admitted Brother listens to the conversation of his Masonic associates , as they make harsh and reckless statements concerning an absent Craftsman of known repute , as they show a want of sympathy with the needy and distressed , and make light of principles supposed to be fundamental to the Institution . He comes to the conclusion that "theory" is one thing and " practice" quite another , even in Freemasonry .

But what then ? Is ha to turn from the Masonic Institution and only heap reproaches upon it because he has not found it to come up to the fall measure of his ideals ? Not at all . There is no call or justification for such a course . Masons , generally , are upright men , intelligent and large-hearted , who respect the principles of Freemasonry . But they all bear the touch of an imperfect human nature , and they do not always conform in word

aud deed to the obligations which they have taken upon themselves as Masons . We must excuse them often , as we must ask excuses for ourselves on the ground of the weakness of our common humanity . But all the same there should be a recognition of this variation between theory and practice , accompanied by an earnest purpose to make the real more like the ideal , both as relates to individual conduct and the action of a Lodge or other Masonic organisation .

It is not required that we should be so devoted to Freemasonry as to be blind to its faults . But when we notice defects , let it not be to disparage the Institution , which has so much to comment it , but rather to correct whatever is seen to need correction , so that it may become more glorious in its presentation of truth , and more useful in its practical ministries among men . — " Eepository . "

AT the Avenue Theatre " Pot Pourri " is going along famously , and is now well on towards its sixtieth performance .