Prov. G. Lodge Of Staffordshire.

tinguished Masons who had been present at the Lodge . The toasts of the Queen , and the Princo of Wales Grand Master of England , having been duly honoured , Bro . F . Jamea proposed the Pro Grand Master the Earl of Carnarvon , the Deputy Grand Master the Earl of Lathom ,

and the Officers of Grand Lodge present and past . He remarked that he could remember the time when Col . Vernon waa the only member of the Provincial [ Grand Lodge who waa an Officer of Grand Lodge , but so high was the Freemasonry of Staffordshire now

thought of that there were at this time four present and past Officers of Grand Lodgo belonging to the Province . He thought there had been no appointment in Grand Lodge that had conferred such honour aud obligation upon Staffordshire as tho appointment of Dr .

Randall to the office of Grand Chaplain of England . He ( Bro . James ) had believed that he was nearly the oldest Freemason in the province , but he found that Dr . Randall could give him three years . It was a subject for the greatest gratification that having been 46 years a mgmber of the Craft their rev . brother could look back on his

connection with it with such satisfaction and say , in effect , that if he had seven times 47 years to look a-head he would again be initiated . There were few institutions of which a man could say with regard to them that he had never for a single moment regretted the stop ho took 46 years

ago . Dr . Randall , in responding , referred to the eminent and distinguished men in all walks of lifo that were met with at Grand Lodge , and said there was no other

institution but Masonry that could possibly bring them together . Tho tenets of the Craft , he went on to say , were calculated for nothing but good , and any man who lived up to them must be a better man than he could ever be without a

knowledge of the principles and tenets of Freemasonry . Dr . Randall concluded by proposing , in terms of the greatest cordiality , tho health of tbe Provincial Grand Master Col . Gough , remarking that Col . Gough had by time and study mado himself thoroughly acquainted with

all the principles , ritual , and everything that could be known in Freemasonry , and by his activity and punctuality he set them all an excellent example . In these Masonic virtues ho stood unsurpassed by auy Provincial Grand Master in the kingdom . Tho toast having been

drunk with every mark of esteem and regard , Colonel Gough returned thanks for tho warm reception given to the toast and for tho exceptional loyalty which was shown to him at all times . Ho proposed the health of his highly esteemed colleague and Deputy ,

Colonel Bindley , to whom ho folt greatly indebted for having in the midst of his thousand ancl one other avocations undertaken the onerous and troublesome duties of Deput y Provincial Grand Master . The toast having been vory cordially honoured , Colonel Bindloy returned his

acknowled gments . Tho other toasts woro tho Officers of Provincial Grand Lodgo , proposed by Brother F . Taylor aud responded to by Brother J . Bodenham , the Visitors , the Masonic Charities , and tho Provincial Grand Stewards , special merit being accorded to Bros . Batkin and

Mousley , of tho Staffordshire Knot Lodge , who , as tho local stewards , had carried oufc all tho arrangements for the annual meeting with singular forethought and ability . etweeu the toasts songs , part-songs , and glees were given

V f . ot tho Noah ' s Ark Lodge , Tipton , to the great satisfaction of the assembled company . Ifc should be stated , liat darin g tho banquet a collection was mado on behalf of too athletic sports' fuLcl in connection with tho Royal masonic Institution for Boys , £ 5 boraf ? thus subscribed .

On Wednesday evening , tho 30 th ult ., tho mombors of " » o 1 antilcs Lodgo , No . 2200 , met at tho Pump Room , Br i dgo r W °VB » u , ldor tho Pudency of thc W . M . ° ' —; T . Simpson . Bros . Best and Hoadloy wero ina ? d * initiated and P « sed , and Mr . Barton nom-\~ h « a ^ L ° k hreni afterwards sat down to supper , at th e Swan Hotel .

"Psetnersnno „ i 1 Lls , ~ , 10 changes of temperature ami weather frequently rticts . Thnin are •most cautious of their health , and most par , icular in their remedy for T , ii ? F ? , Y ' Purifying , and gentle aperient Villa are the best " [ 'Petite ( til .. actions of tiic digestive organs ; the ? augment tho le stomach stomach

"" sious ' rrnm »?„ . , correct biliousness , nnd carry off all that is noxious from tin i , correct biliousness , and carry oft all that is " ••mixed win . {„„ systcra - Holloway ' s 1 'ilU aro composed of rave balsams , •or the ynm , " , „ , ? '' jnatler , and on that account are peculiarly well adapted ' ? ^ e past « n '« , iiV ?! . ' aml ll « - As , llis Peer ess mtuiismo has gained iamo u , 18 MUuIitiVqAmi •. I . 1 ' 0861 ' ™ it in ( lie future by its renovating and invigorates , . md its incapacity of doing harm

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

St . James's . —Considerable interest was evoked by a crowded honse last Saturday at the appearance of Mrs . Langtry as Esther Sandraz , the heroine of a drama by Adolphe Belot , entitled "La Femme de Glace . " Mr . Sydney Grnndy has skilfully adapted tha piece for the English stage , bnt has not quite succeeded in eradicating the staginess of the story . Esther Sandraz is a young lady who

has placed her affections , " not wisely but too well , " upon Henri Vandelle , who in order to retrieve his fallen fortunes makes a marriage de convenance with Eenriette , the latter lady having been secretly engaged to Henri's friend Oliver Desohamps . These are the four central characters of the play , the others are merely supplementary . Esther arrives at Yaudelle ' s house on the occasion of

a party given to celebrate hia farewell to bachelor life , aud then learns from him his intentions . In a moment love is turned to hate , the trusting girl is transformed to a revengeful fury ; and Esther , after telling the assembled guests the story of her wrongs , departs , vowing to devote her future life to vengeance . This she endeavours to achieve by forcing her way into the family of her former lover as

companion to his wife , by poisoning the young girl ' s mind against her husband , and by trying to inveigle her into an intrigue with Desohamps . All these schemes fail , and at length Esther , touched by the innocence aud resignation of Madame Vandelle , acknowledges her fault and implores forgiveness . When about to leave the house she is shot by Vandelle , under the impression that she is his wife

eloping with Desohamps . Discovering his mistake the unhappy man rushes from the room , a second pistol shot is heard , and the curtain falls on the assumption that Henriette aud Desohamps will be united . The piece is thoroughly French , and presents many points not easily comprehended by au English audience , it is therefore greatly to Mrs . Laugtry'a credit that she succeeded in enlisting the sympathies of the spectators . The denunciation of her lover that

terminates the first act was forcible and dignified , and her leaving as la femme de glace may also be commended ; but in the more sentimental scenes the fair actress wanted the true ring of pathos . It ia pleasing to note what improvement has been made by Mrs . Langtry since her American tour . The acting of Miss Marion Lee , as Henriette , was altogether admirable , and Mr . Bourohier played carefully as Desohamps , but Mr . Sugden was singularly unsympathetic as Vaudolle . Mr . Everill and Mrs . Chas . Calvert caused

considerable amusement by their impersonations of two country magnates , and assisted materially to brighten the somewhat gloomy play . As may be supposed , the piece is beautifully placed upon the stage , aud Mrs . Langtry's costumes will be greatly admired by the ladies . Princess's . —It speaks highly for the art displayed by Miss Grace Hawthorne that she was able to keep a large audience

enthralled , through what was virtually seven acts of a drama , without any sign of impatience being exhibited , so far as the play itself was concerned , though the long intervals towards the termination evoked a few murmurs . It was no slight undertaking for a comparatively young actress to appear in a character that was written purposely to display tho many sided talent of so great an artiste as Madame Sarah

Bernhardt , and without at all inferring any comparison we may congratulate the fair manageress upon so satisfactorily coming through the ordeal . The story of " Theodora " is essentically melodramatic , and is well known to all readers of Gibbon's "Decline aud Fall of the Iloman Empire . " The circus rider who became an empress , and caused the fall of Justinian by her reckless conduct , has

bean considerably elaborated by M . Victorian Sardou , and Mr . Robert Buchanan has toned down the character as much as would bo compatible with the action of tbe play . Miss Hawthorne was seen to best advantage in the more impassioned portions of the drama , notably in the murder of Marcellus and the scene at the Hippodrome . Her love passages with Andreas were lacking in tenderness , and

consequently fell flat , in spite of the passionate ardour of Mr . Leonard Boyne , who played the part splendidly . Mr . W . H . Vernon made tho most of theweak minded tyrant Justinian , his acting in the last scene being especially good . Mr . Charles Cartwright was excellent aa Marcellus , and Mr . G . W . Cockburn presented a picturesque appearance as Caribert . Messrs . C . M . York , Bernage , Grange and Cross

effectively sustained the characters of Belisarius , Euphratas , Amron and Timodes , while Miss L . O'Connor may be commended for her quiet performance of Zona . The play is sumptuously mounted , and the costumes , especially those worn by Theodora , are of the most magnificent description . Some very beautiful music has been composed by M . Massinot , which is artistically treated by the orchestra ,

under the direction of Mr . E . Boggetti . We would again draw the attention of the management to the unpleasantness caused to visitors by the " harpy" system , which appears to be iu full force at this house . Wo are convinced that if Mr . Fartado could have heard tho opinions expressed by some ladies in our vicinity tho other evening the evil would bo remedied , for it cannot pay iu tbo long run , while the popularity of the theatre is decreased .

Pleides Chapter, No. 710.

PLEIDES CHAPTER , No . 710 .

rpilE annual Convocation was held at tho Masonio llall , Totnes , ou X tho 24 th ult ., when the Principals were installed : — ( Jumps . Win . Southwood aa Z ., L . J . Gary JLIaiuy as H ., D . Alexander Fraser as J . The Ollicora wore afterwards invested , Comp . W . Bennett Maye con . tinning as S . E . Tlie installation v / iu ably performed by Gump . F . 0 . Hallett .

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FUHEHALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . O . A . HUTTOW , 17 Nowcastlo 8 fcre « t , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations mad ?