Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

HUYSE CHAPTER , ROSE CROIX

riIHE annual convocation was held at the Freemasons llall , J- Plymouth , when Frater James Griffin the M . W . S . elect was installed , Frater D . Cross , the retiring M . W . S ., being the acting Officer . Fraters the Rev . Dr . Lemon , Westlake , Keats , Aitken-Davies , Clemens , Hoarder , Trevena and Goodall , formed the board of Past M . W . S . The Officers invested were Fraters Cross I . P . M . W . S .,

Rev . Dr . Lemon High Prelate , Westcott 1 st G ., Dunsterville 2 nd G ., Keats Treasurer , Westlake Recorder , Hiffley G . M ., Wilson R ., Pinching Herald , Aitken-Davies C . G ., Trevena Dir . of Cers ., Hoarder O ., Phillips Equerry . In the evening the Fraters dined

together at the Freemasons' Club . The M . W . S . Frater J . Griffin presided . A capital banquet was furnished . Several toasts were given , and a vory pleasant entertainment enjoyed . Bro . and Mrs . Harvey were thanked for their excellent catering .

AT a meting , hold on Monday , the 9 th inst ., at the White Hart Hotel , Chelmsford , Comps . Dehane and Allman were admitted joining members , and the following were elected Officers for the ensuing year : —Comps . Kellett M . E . Z ., Sutthery H ., Maskell J ., Durrant Scribe E . and Treasurer , Cavill ( who has held the office of M . E . Z . dnring tho past year ) Scribe N ., A . C . Durrant P . S ., Meggy

ESSEX CHAPTER , No . 276

1 st Assist . Soj ., Copua 2 nd Assist . Soj ., Pascall Steward Sarel Janitor . Comp . Kellett , of Halstead , was prevented from attending in consequence of a call to visit bis father , who is lying dangerously ill in Ireland . The Companions afterwards sat down to a banquet ,

excellently served by the hostess , Mrs . Barber . Comp . Allman , who assists the ohoir at the church of the Carmelites , S . K ., added to the harmony of tbe proceedings by a graceful rendering of " The anchor ' s weighed . "

BRITANNIA CHAPTER , No . 312

THE installation of Officers took place on Monday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Masonio Hall , Whitby . The following are the appointments for the ensuing year : —Comps . F . Thornton M . E . Z ., B . W . White H ., J . T . Stewart J ., H . W . Attlay P . S ., J . T . Oliver aud T . Bryan Assistants , S . Reed S . E ., J . N . Lawion S . N ., T . H . Trueman Janitor . Comp . J . Stevenson ably officiated as Installing Muter . The installation banqnet was afterwards held at the Crown Hotel .

The first Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons was held on the 3 rd inst ., at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Qneen Street , London , tho Marquis of Hertford presiding ; the Earl of Euston Deputy Grand Master ; Sir Francis Burdett as Past Grand Master

Colonel Shadwell Gierke as Grand Senior Warden ; Bros . Baron de Ferrieres , W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P ., and many others heing present . On the recommendation of the Prince of Wales , the Marquis of Hertford moved , the Earl of Euston seconded , and the brethren unanimously

voted the rank of Past Grand Master to the Duke of Connaught . On the motion of tbe Rev . Joseph Cator , Master of the Bisley Lodge , seconded hy Bro . Alfred

Williams , the Prince of Wales was unanimously re-elected Grand Mark Master for the ensuing year . Bro . Gordon Miller was afterwards unanimously elected Grand Treaflurer , and Grand Lodge was then closed .

Since we , last week , published tho several amounts collected by the respective Stewards for tho Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival , farther sums , amounting in all to something like £ 150 , havo been reported . The result of the Festival now shows a total of over £ 15 , 600 .

Alderman Thomas B . Fox , who has been three times j Mayor of Dewsbury , was , on Tuesday , installed as Wor-, shipful Mastor of tho United Northern Counties Lodgo , at j the Inns of Court Hotel . I

The Theatres, &C.

THB THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Princess ' s—Mrs . Langtry is very happily placed as tbo heroine of Mr . Coghlan ' s new comedy " Lady Barter , " and the piece being smartly written and capitally acted there is no reason why it should not prove a financial success . The story is reminiscent cf previous

The Theatres, &C.

plots , notably " The Colonel , " Diplomacy , " & c , but it is none the less efl ' octive on that account . The keynote is struck immediately on the rise of the curtain , when we find two elderly admirers of the lady General Peters and Archdeacon Short , playing at diamond cut diamond in order to obtain her favour . Lady Bjrter in her first few sentences betrays herself as a scheming adventuress , and adds a third

lover in the person of Lord Brent , whom she wishes to inveigle into matrimony . Uufortnnately for her the arrival of Colonel George Pearce , au old friend of Brent , puts a fetop to the lady's scheme . He has come to England to find a Miss Nelly Marshall , formerly the sweetheart of a deceased comrade , and hand to her certain letters and his friend's will . Lady Barter repudiates her identity , and a sharp

war follows , until the adventuress is informed that Nelly Marshall is en . titled under the will to £ 200 , 000 ; acknowledging herself , she walks off with her two elderly admirers , leaving Lord Brent broken-hearted at her deception . This portion of the play is the blot on the piece , and jars considerably on the spectator . The case might be possible , bnt it is not dramatic justice to reward vice with a fortune . As the

beantifnl , heartless woman of fashion , Mra . Langtry is perfection , and maintains her share of the duel in an admirable manner . Her scenes with Col . Pearce are delightful , though we m « y take exception to that in which she pretends to make love to her enemy ; so clever a woman would not have adopted such a transparent triok . Aa may be supposed her dresses are magnificent , and as Mrs . Langtry knows how

to wear them , the effect is considerably enhanced . The part of Colonel Pearce is played by the author witb an ease of style and manner that is highly refreshing , thongh reminding us somewhat of the other Colonel above mentioned . The veteran Mr . Arthur Stirling made the most of the fiery General , Mr . Fred Everill , as the

mild mannered Archdeacon , presented a perfect picture ; Mr . Lewia Waller was fully equal to the important character of Lord Brent , and Miss Forsyth as Mary Brent made a small part effective . The single scene of the comedy , Lady Barter's house in Park Lane , is prettily contrived ; it has been fnrnisbed by Messrs . Oetzmann & Co ., of Hampstead Boad .

Criterion . —Pending the production of " The School for Scandal , ^ Mr . Charles Wyndham has revived for a short time Mr . C . Vernon * t two act comedy " Sowing and Reaping , " originally presented las July . Mr . Wyndham has made some alterations in the piece , whioh runs smoothly enongh and shows ns tbe popular actor-manager at hia brightest and merriest . The retribution that overtakes the married

rake is capitally told , and , thongh his punishment is merely evolved through the recollections of hia former pranks , like the miserable PozdnisheEf , in " Tbe Kreutzer Sonata , " the andienco cannot help roaring with laughter at the jealous rage into wbich he ia thrown by the most trivial incidents . The contrast of the character is admirably rendered , and Mr . Wyndham is equally diverting as the

reckless Lothario and the jealous husband . The acting of Mr . Geo . Giddens , as Joseph Shenston , the true hearted friend , is worthy the highest praise , and Miss Beatrice Lamb makes the most of the some , what unsatisfactory part of Mrs . Sampson Paloy . Miss Mary Mcoro ia happily placed as Julia , Miss M . A . Victor gives an amusing

account of Mrs . Charity Smith aud Mr . W . Blakely ploys tho confiding hnsband in his usual genial manner . William Brough ' s good old farce " Trying it on , " with Mr . Wyndham aa Walsingham Potts , can only bo seen this evening , ns Tom Taylor ' s little comedy , "Nine Points of tbe Law " is to be played on Monday .

Royal Strand . —Truly this cosy and comfortable little theatre might just now be called tbe home of laughter . Mark Melford ' a revived farcial comedy , " Turned Up , " is the chief item on the bill , and Mr . Willie Edouin and hi ? company have again proved the popularity of the piece by securing , we might almost aay , compulsory rounds of applause from their audience . Certain it is that

night after night , the fun is kept np , and tbe laughter echoed and re-echoed throughout the building , only brought to a olimax when Carraway Bones , the undertaker , Mr . Edonin ' s impersonation , appear ! on tbe stage , half drowned , after his nnoxpected dip in the Thames . On Thursday evening , we regret to say , Mr . Edouin waa indisposed , but Mr . Robert Nainby stepped into the shoes of Bones , and right

well too . The antics , drollery , and woea of the persecuted undertaker were capitally brought out by tbia gentleman , and he waa splendidly snpported by Messrs . Beauobamp and Fawcett in their respective characters of General Baltic and George Medway . Mr . Barraclough was also good as Nod Steddam . Moreover , the

ladiea were not behindhand in the rendering of their reapeotive parts . Misses Annie Goward , May Whitty and Georgie Esmond showing especial aptitude . " Turned Up " waa preceded by " Daggers Drawr , " a bright little comedietta , by Mrs . Pryoe Seaton , in wbich Mr . Sydney Barraclough and Miss Esmond pleasured their audience mightily .

Alhambra . —Ever on the search for novelty , Mr . Charles Morton baa secured a decided attraction in Mr . Carl Hertz , an exceedingly clever professor of legerdemain , who puzzles our wits and mystifies our senses with bis remarkable illusions . His latest novelty is some ingenious arrangement whereby a young lady , Madlle . D'Alton , is suspended in mid-air without any visible support , walking , somer .

saulting and rolling about seemingly npon nothing ; and all our theories are dispersed when she takes to skipping witb a hoop tbat passes entirely round ber several times . This device , wbich Mr . Carl Hertz entitles " The iErolithe , " is not assisted by any mirrors or tnips , and is certainly most surprising . The beantiful ballet of " The Sletping Beauty , " with its varied groupings and

charming costumes , tbe really good singing of Miss Ada Lincoln , the lively Mdlle . Bercat , the Edmonds Troupp , and a host of other artistes combine in moking a most attractive and enjoyable programme . Mr . Morton announces his annual benefit for Thursday afternoon , 19 th inst ., when in addition to a long list of professional friends who havo promised to appear , the ballet of * ' The Sleep ' ng Beauty " will be given , for the only time at a morning performance .