Mark Masonry.

CHILDKEN'S MASONIC CARNIVAL AT READING . ON Thursday , the 21 st April , the New Town Hall was the scene of one of the most interesting gatherings which havo ever been seen iu Eeading . Early in the present year the Worshi pful Masters of tho various Masonic Lodges of tho town met for the purpose of considering in what way the Jubilee of tho Queen ' s Accession to the Throne could bo most fittingly celebrated by

themselves and their children and friouds . As might havo been anticipated , various schemes presented themselves and much anxious thought was devoted to the subject . Of course the question was very soon disposed of as far as tho Masons themselves and thoir friends wero concerned . But tho difficulty was about tho

children—howcould they bo helped to celebrate the auspicious event , and how could matters be managed so as to mako it live in their memory , and mark it as something always to be looked back on with pleasure ? At last the brilliant idea presented itself that the Jubilee should he celebrated b y holding a Children ' s Carnival and Fancy Dress Ball in

the Now Town Hall , aud this seemed to fit in so well with tho inclinations of those having tho matter under consideration , ' that it was carried unanimously . Meetings wero subsequentl y held , and it was finally arranged that the Worshipful Masters and Worshipful Masters Elect of all the Masonic Lodges iu tho town should form

themselve into a committee , take the matter in hand and carry it out at there own individual expense , so that the funds of thoir Lodges should not be touched . Tho following are tho names of the brethren who thus took upon themselves the responsibility : Bros . J . W . Martin W . M . 414 , W . Eavonscroft W . M . 1101 , C . H . Tench W . M . 2043 , F . J .

Ferguson W . M . 235 ( Mark ) , E . Margrett W . M . Varan Council of St . Lawrence , No . 18 , J . E . Sydenham W . M . Elect 2043 , and VV . VV . Ridley W . M . Elect 235 ( Mark ) . The Committee thus formed met many times to consider the necessary arrangements , and the first idea soon expanded . It was decided that the fact ofitsbeinga

children ' s carnival should always bo kept steadily in view , and though friends might be invited to look on and assist in helping to make the little ones enjoy themselves , yet tho children shonld be the honoured guests on the occasion , and should stand first all through . It was next decided to invite in the first place the children

of Masons residing in Eeading and the neighbourhood , and then , as far as possible , the children of friends , the ages being limited between 4 and 14 ; that the children shonld be accompanied by their mother or lady friend , and that the balcony should be reserved for those invited to view the Carnival . The next question considered

was as to the date when it should be held , and as most of tho children eligible would be at school when tho general festivities took place in June , it was settled to fix tho date during tho Easter holidays , and accordingly the day was decided on . Theso preliminaries having been adjusted , the invitations were sent ont—the

invitation card as well as the card of admission ami the programme being unique in design and execution . We may mention that thov were designed and executed by Mr . W . G . Lewfcon , under the direction of Bro . VV . Bavenscroft , Worshipfnl Master of Greyfriars Lod ge . Letters expi * essing regret for not being able to be present were

received from Prince and Princess Christian , tho Earl and Countess Carnarvon , the Earl and Countess Jersey , and several others . The balcony was crowded with brethren and friends who had beou invited to see tho Carnival , and it was ono of tho great troubles of the worth y hosts that they wero totaJly unable to provide places

for many who had expressed a wish to bo present and all of whom they would havo been pleased to see . Among thoso to whom invitation cards wore sent was the Queen . An invitation was also sent to H . E . H . the Prince of Wales , as most Worshi pful Grand Master of the Craft , as indicating the event . Both the Old and New

" own Halls were engaged , including tho Council Chamber Committee Eoom , & c . The Old Town HaU was divided into three compartments , tho lower end being converted into retiring rooms the centre serving as the cloak room aud tho upper end being devoted to refreshments . The Committee Eoom was also devoted

to a refreshment department . Very elaborate arrangements had to bo made for the entrance and reception of tho numerous guests . Visitors to the balcony were received at the entrance leading to the passage under tho main Corridor , and conducted up the stairs direct to their seats : communication with the other parts of the hall

being temporarily divided off . The children and thoir friends were received at the main entrance to the Old Town Hall , and passing up the steps were conducted to the cloak room , and from thence to the Council Chamber where they wero received auel cordially welcomed by tho seven hosts and their ladies . As they passed out of tho

Council Chamber each one was presented with a programme , and they were then conducted ( tn the . Now Town UuH , where an organ recital by Bro . Tirbutt was given during the assembling of the , " * uests . The Past . Masters and present Officer * - * of the Lod ges acted ;| s Honorary Stewards , and the duties were divided amon , * them

ils follows : —At the entrance stood two Tylers , Bros . Ifomniinrrs "md Stevens ; in the cloak room Bros . Parry , Scubington , Greenaway , Payner , Millard aud E . Bidloy ; to introduce guests , B'ot * . Puljoy I ' . M ., Flanagan P . M ., Withers P . M ., Creed , Hawkes and Tnbbs ; programmes , & c , Bros . W . Ferguson P . M .. and Oudoj P . M .: in

corridors to conduct guests , Bros . Do Id , Slaughter , Huklu .-t , P-Knott a * id Hewett ; in bodv of II . all , & c . Bros . Sherwood , Uk-ki « . Thbutfc aud Blaekwell P . M ., ' Webb P . M ., J . Hawkes P . M ., Millar , Mount P . M ., ""• transom , Hill , James and Lindars ; in balcony , Bros . 1 ' eod , Shorwin , ¦ "ay ward . Hart , Luwes . Stewart . J . Brv . vn , . Sparrow una J . T . Brown .

" res . F . J . Ferguson and J . K . Sydenham oi ' tieioto . d at ; M ' . O . ' s : vt tl'e dancing ; Bros . E . Margrett P . M . and W . W . . Bidloy J . ' . M . superintended the refreshment ; department ; Bros . Jiavenscrof *; and Tench undertook the .. -eiier ; -. ! disposal of tho stewards , and Brother

Martin generally superintend : d the arrangement : ) iu the balcony In addition to the s : p > eiut duties , assigned to them , all the st-ewtirdsdid their utmost generally to ensure the sueeess of the Carnival . ; i "di it must be said , with GIL most periett success . The entrance -tops , the corridors uad bouh sides of tLo Lrgo hall v / oro co / ored

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with crimson carpet , lounges , settees and chairs being plentifully sprinkled about . The corridors aud halls were splendidl y decorated with flowers , shrub ; and moss bank-:, and a large number of fairy lamps and Chinese lanterns gave tho whole a most pretty and charming effect . Around the balcony of the large hall Masonio

emblems wero suspended , adorned with trophies of flags . The decorations were respectively entrusted to Messrs . Sparrow , of the West End furnishing warehouse , Oxford-road , and to Mr . Phippen , of Broad-street , who executed the work in a highly satisfactory manner . Thu refreshments were supplied by 3 fr . Smith , of

Broad-street , and gave entire satisfaction . Dispensations having beeu granted from tho Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Berks and Bucks , Sir Daniel Gooch , Bait ., M . P ., and by the Prov . Grand Master of the Mark Province of Berks and Oxon , tho Earl of Jersey , to wear Masonic clothing on the occasion , all the

brethren appeared in their aprons and white kid gloves and the Officers past and present in the collars and jewels of their respective rank . When the children and other guests wero assembled , tho scene was ono of extreme grandeur and beauty , and oue which will livo long in tho memories of every one who witnessed it . Five

o ' clock was fixed for the arrival of the guests , aud the scene for a long time after that hour was one of the liveliest description . At the proper moment the signal was given to commence the programme with tho ever-popular Eoyal Punch and Judy Show and the comic Dog Toby , iu act I . of that tragic history . VVe need say

no more than that the performance was thoroughly enjoyed by all present , old as well as young . The band ( which was provided by Mr . Davis ) then struck np a polka , to the merry tune of which the gaily berobed young folks danced with all thoir might and energy . Next came a quadrille , and then a conjuring entertainment by

Professor Howard , late of the Egyptian Hall aud Crystal Palace . This was followed by a Schottisho and Quadrille Parisienne , and then the Mirthful Living Marionettes appeared , introduced by Mr . Hal Masque , tho eloquent ventriloquist of the Crystal Palace . The first part of the programme was brought to a close by a

procession of the children , which was most effective and pretty . Having assembled in the cloak room , they were formed into two ' s , and then headed by Bros . Ferguson and Sydenham , who were followed by four page boys—Masters Percy and John Ferguson , Master Harold Kaveuscroft , aud Master Launcelofc Martin—carrying

wands , the procession , with the assistance of Bros . E . Bradley , C . B . Tnbbs and * the other stewards , moved along the corridor , passed up the centre of the large hall , at the end of which were the worthy hosts , who again gave a hearty welcome to all . The procession then divided , the alternate couples passing right and

left back again down the hall . The movement of the procession was made to a march played by the band , and when all had passed round the march ceased and a jolly polka was danced in downright earnest , to the evident delight of every one present . Au interval then took place for refreshments , promenading , & c , and

the second part of tho programme opened with a Chinese entertainment by Foochoo Ohieo Jokoco , in which birds , rabbits , Guinea pigs , & c , wero introduced . This proved highly amusing , and a galop aud tho Hig hland Schottischo succeeded . Thou Mr . Felix Pietri , the musical clown , appeared , aud ho was followed by the second act of

Punch and Judy . Early in the course of the evening Bro . C . Murdoch ascended the platform , and addressed a few words to the children . He reminded them thafc they wero assembled to celebrate Hor Majesty ' s Jubilee , and he felt suro that the novel aud interesting way iu which they wero carrying oufc the festivities would never be

effaced from their memories . Their kind hosts proposed now to despatch a telegram to tho Queen in the following words : — ' * ' Children at Masouic Carnival , assembled at Eeading to celebrate the Jubilee of the Accession of their beloved Sovereign , send hor their loyal and affectionate greeting . "

Bro . Murdoch asked the children to express their approval of this , and immediately every hand was held up iu token of acquiescence . When fche programme had very nearly come to an end , Brother 0 . Stephens , in a few well-chosen words , proposed on behalf of the children a mosfc cordial vote of thanks fco thoir kind hosts for the

most pleasant and enjoyable Carnival which they had been holding , and asked them to carry this with three cheers . This was done with the utmost enthusiasm , and then the Highland Schottischo was danced as a fiuale . Wc may mention that the dancing of this Scottische was ono of tho most pleasing and charming features of the evening . The

lights haviug beeu lowered , a portrait of the Queen was thrown on the screen by the aid of a powerful lantern , provided by Mr . Lewis , of Broad-street , and all joined most heartily iu singing the National Anthem . The utmost praise is duo to the Worshipfnl Masters and W . M . ' s elect of the various Masonic Lodges for tlie completeness

of tho arrangements for the Carnival and tho most entire snccess with which every part of it was carried oat . From the hour of meeting—about five o ' cloek—until a few minutes before ten when the festivities were braneht to a close , no single hitch occurred . Tho

littlo follcs present , etie . nil all , evidently most thoroughly enjoyed themselves , and it may safely bo said that they will never forget the Children's Masonic Carnival of Queen Vietovia ' s Jubilee Year . The following is a copy of a letter received in reply from Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen to the telegram referred to above .

Aix les But nos , 22 nd April 18 S 7 . Sir , —I am commanded by the Queen to assure you that it gave Per Majesty much pleasure to hear of the celebration of tho Jubilee f the Queen ' s accession bv the children of Beading .

I am , Sir , your obedient servant , ( Signed ) HEM-IY POX-SONHY . F . J . Ferguson .

r-ii $£ . ' ! . ' -iiS properly carried out and personally attended n London or Country , by liro . G . A . KU'TTON , 17 INewcastle btreot . "SU ' iiiid , V / . C . iloiiuxneutd erected . Valuations aiado .