Notices Of Meetings.

NOTICES OF MEETINGS .

LODGE OF UNITY , No . 183 . THIS Lodge met at the Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall Street , on Monday , the 25 th March . Present : —Bros . B . A . Francis W . M ., H . Hooper , E . Corsham , G . P . Britten , G . W . Speth , J . W . Oliver , G . H . Lindaey-Kenton , S . Richardson , G . R . Langley , G . W . Pinnock , F . W . Zimer , A . J . Hirsoh , R . P . Angel , W . E . Watson , W . Newbold , G . Pragnell , W . J . Godwin , J . A . Goudge , J . D . E . Tarr , T . O . Tassell ,

A . Cook , E . Wareham , A . O . Side , W . F . B . Watts , F . W . Mcllwraith , and Thos . Heath . Visitors : —J . Dorton and C . R . Higgins of 1076 , W . Hopekirk G . P . and J . Kew of 179 , F . P . Lister and H . Nilson W . M . of 1293 , A . Rolley W . M . 1524 , J . Godwin 1343 , F . A . Smith W . M ., J . H . Hastie and T . Edmonston of 1669 , H . Sprake 2192 , Raymond Thrupp P . A . G . D . O ., H . H . Room Prov . G . Sec . Middlesex ,

N . L . Dalville 1607 , W . B . Trick 1366 , L . Hirsoh 1818 , C . J . Oxford 1949 , W . P . Brown 90 , J . Harling 30 , P . Saillard and H . G . Cubitt of 2020 , J . S . Tavener 1044 . W . A . Brown 1567 . A . Blenkarn 1558 .

C . Quilter 51 , and P . Phillips 820 . The report of the Permanent Committee was read and adopted ; Bro . J . S . Goudge was raised . Bro . H . Hooper S . W . was installed as W . M . of the Lodge , and

invested and appointed his Officers , as follow : —R . Corsham S . W ., J . W . Oliver J . W ., G . P . Britten Treasurer , G . W . Speth Secretary , G . H . Lindsey-Renton S . D ., F . W . Zimer J . D ., J . D . E . Tarr I . G ., S . Richardson Director of Ceremonies , G . W . Pinnock and A . O . Side Stewards , G . W . Speth Organist , L . G . Reinhardt Tyler . The

presentation to the I . P . M ., Bro . Francis , of a Past Master's jewel by the W . M ., on behalf of the Lodge , evoked great enthusiasm , and after the ordinary routine work the brethren adjourned to the banquet . The toasts and speeches were of the usual kind and used no special comment , but the applause with whioh the W . M . was

greeted was remarkable for its warmth and spontaneity , and was , perhaps , even excelled in both these qualities when the health of the I . P . M . was proposed . Harmonious as this Lodge has ever been , it is evident that these two Officers are special favourites . The vocal music provided by the members and visitors was above the average

of amateur work , and the evening , from beginning to end , was one of the pleasantesfc and most successful we have ever spent . One little fact , mentioned by the Secretary , struck ns as curious , viz . —that although this old Lodge has been nninterrnptedly at work for 120

years , doing its duty staunchly and bravely in every respect , it has never had a Grand Lodge collar conferred upon one of its members . As one of the visitors remarked , this is possibly owing to its great modesty .

CROOK LODGE , No . 2019 .

A MEETING was held on the 27 th ult ., in the Masonio Hall , Queen Street , Crook , for the purpose of installing Bro . Edward Milburn S . W . The Lodge was opened by Bro . John Graham , the retiring W . M ., and , the ordinary business having been transacted , the installation ceremony was proceeded with , being performed by Bro . Babington Boulton . The newly-installed Master then invested

his Officers for the ensuing year . A banquet in celebration of the Festival of St . John the Evangelist was subsequently held in the Mechanics' Hall , at which the Loyal and Masonic toasts were duly honoured . Bro . E . Milburn W . M ., in the name of fche Officers of the Lodge , presented a handsome Past Master ' s jewel to Brother John Graham , the retiring Master .

CHOUGH LODGE , No . 2264 .

AT the regular meeting of this prosperous Lodge , which completed its first year ' s existence on the occasion , afc the Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on the 28 th ult ., Bro . E . T . Edwards the W . M . presided , and after the minutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed , Bros . James Ridley and J . W . Breeze was raised , and Bro . Alfred Haynes was passed . A sum of ten guineas was

voted from the Lodge Fund as a donation to the Benevolent Fund of this Lodge . Bro . W . B . Marcus S . W . was unanimously elected W . M . for the next twelve months ; this brother is the outgoing W . M . of the Duke of Cornwall Lodge , No . 1839 . Bro . H . Saxelby was re-elected

Treasurer and Bro . T . Bowler Tyler . A . P . M . ' s jewel of a special aud most substantial character waa voted to fche Worshipful Master for his most valued services as first Worshipful Master . After routine work , Lodge was closed in perfect harmony .

Perseverance Lodge of Instruction , Wo . 1743 . —On

Monday , the 1 st inst , at the Old Cheshire Cheese , Addle-sfcreet , E . G ., Bros . Mitchell W . M ., Martindale S . W ., Watkins J . W ., Sparrow Sec , Coxon S . D ., Broad I . G ., and several others . After preliminaries , the ceremony of raising was rehearsed , Bro . Park candidate . After routine work Lodge was closed .

Star Chapter Lodge of Instruction , " No . 1275 . —On

Friday , 29 th nil ; ., afc the Stirling Castle , Camberwell , when there were present Compa . F . Hilton P . Z . Preceptor , V . T . Mnrcho M . E . Z ., Wingham H ., Neeld P . Z . J ., Stone S . E ., C . Woods S . N ., C . H . Stone P . S ., Addington A . S ., Eckersall , Latham , Martin and Patrick .

Visitor— Comp . Allison . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Eckersall as candidate . Comp . Wingham was elected M . E . Z . for the meeting on the 12 th inst ., as the popular Preceptor Comp . Hilton P . Z . will preside on the 5 th instant at the annual supper .

At the next regular meeting of the Jordan Lodge , No . 1402 , at the Masonic Hall , Torquay , on Tuesday , the 9 th instant , Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . D . England , P . S . G . W . Iowa , & c , will deliver a Lecture , entitled "A Glance afc Freemasonry during the last Five Centuries . " The proceedings will commence at 7 p . m .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Opera Comique . — " The Panel Picture , " a new melodrama by Mr . Outram Tristram , is a play of the penny novelette order , and deals with ghosts , sliding panels , secret passages , midnight robbers , and all the mysterious workings of those exciting bnt somewhat

trashy stories . We have also , in addition , the return of a supposed dead husbantl of the re-married wife , a friendly Jesuit priest , who allows murder to be committed in order to save the honour of an old family , a foppish police Prefect , an English nobleman , accompanied of an Asiatic of Thnggish tendencies , and nnmerous other personages ,

au very well in their way bufc hardly necessary to the slender plot . The main incident is the fear of Countess Sinbert that her son Adrian , a communist , should fall into the hands of her present husband , though this motive is rather weak , aa it is hard to understand the antagonism of this gentleman , while in order to assist his escape the

Countess is compelled to agree to the robbery of the family jewels . This is about to be carried oat by an arist cratio robber named Dumaresq , but is prevented by the Hindoo strangling the intended thief ; another of the gang , Marasca , who turns out to be the husband of the Countess , being shot by his son the communist . Eventually

Adrian escapes , and the curtain falls on an unfinished story . The scene is an old Brittany castle , picturesquely painted by Mr . Banks from a design of Mr . Herbert Rail ton's . The play was not unfavourably received on the occasion of our visit , but in its present state cannot hope for a long run , in spite of the admirable acting of the

principal personages . Lady Monckton displays great feeling in the character of the Countess , her performance in the third aot eliciting considerable applause . Mr . L . Cautlev as Dumaresq , Mr . Giradot as

the foppish Prefect , Mr . John Beauohamp as the Jesuit , and Mr . N . Gould as Lord Saltash , all work with a will to ensure success ; while Miss L . Roche , Miss Cudmore , Messrs . Grahame , L . Grey , Batson , and Esmond make the most of their respective characters .

THE EIFFEL TOWER . —One of the chief attractions of the Paris Exhibition will doubtless be the extraordinary iron tower whioh the ingenuity of M . Eiffel is rearing in the grounds . It is more than twice as high as the Great Pyramid , nearly three times as high as the topmost point of the Invalides in Paris , while , comparing it with

buildings in London , we find that after doubling the height of St . Paul's Cathedral , we shonld have to go 176 feft higher . It seems probable that many people will not care to go tu this s . upeudous height , but on the first platform , which is some thirty feet lower than Notre Dame , there need be no fear of vertigo , while a superb

view of Paris will be obtainable . Here on the south west side there will be a commodious restaurant , with a joint , luncheon , and dining room , and English and American bars , which have been placed under the management of Messrs . Spiers and Fond . It should be noted

also thafc this first floor of the Eiffel Tower , whioh is very spaoioufl , will be covered in , and visitors can ascend fco ifc comfortably for there are four lifts , so thafc it is likely to be a very popular resort during the Exhibition .

The Committee announce their intention of publishing a book in connection with the forthcoming Al Fresco Fayre and Floral Fete , to be called " The Golden Grain Guide . " Sir Frederick Leighton , P . R . A ., Mr . Harry Furniss , Miss Alma Tadema , Miss Clara Montalba , and others , have kindly contribnted original drawings for the book . Mn

Rider Haggard will relate a ghost story , Mrs . Kennard will tell one of her sporting tales , and John Strange Winter , the Countess of Munster , Lady Constance Howard , Violet Fane , Mr . Oscar Wilde , and

other well known literary people will write special stories or poetry . The book will be nnique in shape and get np , and as a first edition of £ 10 , 000 copies will be published at the Al Fresco Fayre and Floral Fete , it is hoped that a large profit will be made for the Charity .

Portsmouth Freemasons' Hall And Club Company.

PORTSMOUTH FREEMASONS' HALL AND CLUB COMPANY .

THE annual meeting of this Company was held in the Lodge-room , Commercial-road , Landport , on Friday , the 29 th nit . Ifc was resolved that a dividend of five per cenc . free of income tax be declared , and the balance carried to the sustentation and maintenance fund . Bros . H . Croucher , T . C ., W . Miles , and James Jenkins , the retiring directors , were unanimously re-elected , as were also the

retiring auditors , Bros . T . P . Wills and T . H . Casey , C . A . Complimentary votes of thanks were unanimously given to the Board of Directors and Secretary for their services dnring the past year . Bro . H . Croucher , the Chairman , and Bro . E . S . Main , the Secretary , suit-, ably responded .

A very pleasant gathering of members of the Isca Lodg Q of Feeemasons was held at Newport , on Wednesday * 20 th ultimo , when the "Worshi pful Master , Bro . Barnett ,

was presented with n very chaste loving cup to commemorate the birth of his son on the day of his installation as W . M . of the Lodge . In order to mark tlie occasion , the boy was named Gerald Isca Barnefct .

dinner of the " Old Masonmns , ( ex-pupils of tlie Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ) , will he held at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , on Saturday next , the 13 th inst ., when the President , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . G . D ., Deputy

We have pleasure in announcing that the third annual

Prov . G . M . of Worcestershire , and Patron of the Institution , will pvesidei