Royal Arch.

LADIES' BANQUET AND BALL OF CONFIDENCE LODGE . AMONG the many enjoyable entertainments arranged by the Lodges of the metropolis for the winter season there are few which are looked forward to with more pleasurable anticipation than tbe Ladies' night of the Confidence , which has come to be regarded as an event of the year , by ladies and others who have attended in the past , and is known by repute to many who have not yet had the pleasure of being present at one of the

re- . This year ' s celebration took place on Tuesday , 29 th ult ., at the regular quarters of the Lodge , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , and success again attended the efforts of the Worshipful Master Bro . B . Pennock and the strong Committee who worked with him , this latter including Bros . G . Spice S . W ., 3 . W . Simeons J . W ., W . Cutting S . D ., S . W . - ells J . D ., Metcalfe Baillie I . G ., T . Wifien and J . E . Fells P . M . Stewards , T . Kington I . P . M ., F .

S . Plowright P . M ., Alfred Jay , and B . M . Owen , with Bro . E . J . Davey P . M . in the position where he has won so much renown—that of Hon . Secretary . The company , numbering in all about 150 , sat down to a most enjoyable banquet shortly after seven o ' clock , and at its conclusion the brief toast list usual on such occasions was dealt with by the Worshipful Master , the

various speeches being interspersed with songs , & c , given under the direction of Bro . E . H . Lough Organist of the Lodge , the following Artistes assisting in this part of the programme : Mr . B . E . Miles , Bro . Eeginald F Evitt , Bro . B . B . Hopkins ( with his ever popular silver bells ) , Bro . Jules Guitton , Bro . Fred W . Stephens , Mrs . B . M . Owen , Bro . J . W . Simeons , and Bro . E . H . Lough .

After the Loyal toasts Bro . Davey Secretary of the Lodge proposed the health of tbe Worshipful Master , who responded . "The Ladies" was proposed by Bro . W . Cutting S . D ., and responded to by Bro . Simeons J . W ., who said it was with the greatest pleasure he rose on behalf of the Ladies , to respond to the toast of their health , which had been so eloquently proposed and enthusiastically received . In identifying himself with the Ladies that evening he de-iired , in the first place , to

congratulate the Worshipful Master on having attained the honour of presiding over them—the Ladies—that evening , and thank him for the hospitality that had been so liberally bestowed upon them . Might the Ladies have the samo favour shown in the Ball room as they had received at the Banquet table ; on their part he promised a full measure of sympathy , as at the ordinary meetings of the Lodge the members were deprived of their

presence . But on what he might term their state occasions , to gaze on the fair faces and graceful proportions of the Ladies , and benefit by their society , must be a very great encouragement to them to belong to the Craft . Bro . Simeons concluded by again thanking the members , and by expressing the hope that the Ladies might have the pleasure of supporting the Masters of the Confidence Lodge for many years yet to come .

Bro . F . S . Plowright P . M . proposed the health of the visitors , for whom Bro . Spedding W . M . 939 replied . No small part of the evening ' s enjoyment may be put to the credit of Bro . J . Fells P . M . who , as usual , faithfully discharged the duties of his office , and looked to the comfort of the guests . The champagne was supplied by his firm , the brand being Bocher & Fils , Vintage 1889 , and it was much appreciated .

DINNER TO BRO . LIEUT .-COLONEL PROBYN . A COMPLIMENTABY dinner was given at the Hotel Cecil on Tuesday of last week to Lieut .-Colonel and Sheriff Probyn , L . C . C ., Grand Treasurer of Freemasons , by friends who desired to congratulate him on the Masonio and civic honours recently gained by him . The Earl of Euston Provincial Grand Master for Northamptonshire and

Huntingdonshire , and Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master of the Mark Degree , presided over a gathering of more than one hundred gentlemen , the guest of the evening occupying a seat on his immediate right , and Colonel Sir Horatio D . Davies , K . C . M . G ., M . P ., the seat on his immediate left . The Honorary Secretaries of the movement were Bro . C . F . Matier Grand Secretary of the Mark Degree and Bro . J . D . Langton , of New Inn , Strand .

During dinner a beautiful selection of music was performed hy the string band of the Queen ' s Westminster Volunteers , Colonel Probyn ' s regiment . The toasts which followed were very few , the principal one being , of course , that of the guest of the evening . The Loyal toasts having been honoured , Lord Euston proposed the health of Lieut .-Colonel Clifford Probyn . He wished , he said , that they had

selected for the post someone who could have spoken more thoroughly than he could o £ what Colonel Probyn had done . They knew that in every walk of life that he had undertaken he had done his duty like an Englishman . The Colonel had succeeded in every path of life he had adopted , and that was one reason they were there that evening ready and willing to congratulate him on what he had achieved , whether in his own line of business , or in the defence

of his country as a volunteer officer , or in his connection with the glorious old city of London . They respected him mainly as an Englishman , and they were now presenting him with a certain little memento—a handsome service of plate—but they were going to give him something additional . It was not official , but it was done from their hearts , because his friends felt he deserved it . It was in recognition of his services , and they hoped he would look upon it as a token that those present were his friends .

Lieut .-Colonel and Sheriff Probyn , in acknowledging the speech and the gilt , said if he were to live the longest time given to mortal man he did not believe that that evening would be effaced from his mind . When he looked round and saw the gentlemen congregated to do him honour he was more than gratified . He did not know before that he had so many good friends , and such friends , in the world . He could not say he had done well , but that he had done his best to be straightforward , upright , and honest in his association with men . He thanked them for the testimonial they had

presented to him . They knew that men who were called to high office were often away from home , and he was certain the present made to him would be appreciated by his wife . He had been treated by his friends with great kindness on many occasions . Becently a presentation of his chain of office was made to him in the old historic Guildhall . There was a large sum over , and it was his intention to give it to the Masonic Charities . He could only hope that throughout his life he would never do anything which would in the slightest degree minimise the kind consideration which the Brethren had shown him , and which he should always recollect .

Viscount Dungarvan proposed the toast of Sir Horatio D . Davies , and a gratifying response was accorded to it . The Alderman briefly and appropriately replied . Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Alliston and Alderman Sir Eeginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., were amongst the subsequent speakers , says the " City Press . "

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

SHAFTESBURY THEATRE . —After a run of several months the Casino Theatre Company of New York is still attracting large and delighted audiences with the lively " Belle of New York . " As a specimen of Yankee , as distinct from American humour , the piece is highly diverting , especially as it serves to introduce us to such talented members of the troupe as Mr . Harry Davenport and Miss Edna May . The former is ubiquitous , never tiring , carrying the fun along yet never obtrusively ; while the lady presents

a picture entirely different to our own actresses in a similar role . She sings her songs in a quiet , almost impassive manner that is exceedingly effective . The other artistes are all admirable in their respective lines . Thus Miss Phyllis Bankin represents the little Parisienne to the life , were it not that her face is inanimate , her graceful dancing and arch manner of singing being all that could be desired . The stately Miss Helen Dupont gives due effect to the Comio Opera Queen ; a very quaint sketch is presented by Mr . J . E . Sullivan as " the polite lunatic "; Mr . W . P . Carlton rattles through the

part of young Bronson and renders his songs agreeably ; Messrs . Frank Lincoln and Leslie Stiles are very amusing as the Portuguese Twins , and Mr . G . K . Fortescue quite realises the dignified Impressario . Such are the plums of this enjoyable theatrical pudding , and they are supplemented by an excellent male and female chorus of really good singers , brilliant costumes and pretty scenery . It is no wonder that the piece is attractive , that the songs are whistled all over the town , and that our country cousins during the present week have been delighted with our cousins across the sea .

ALBERT HALL . —Without any desire to enter upon the merits of the discussion at the London County Council , which body decided that Sunday entertainments shall not be given for the sake of profit ( as such might be regarded as a topic of a religious nature ) , we cannot help drawing attention to the fact that the vast audiences which assemble at the Albert Hall on Sunday afternoons sufficiently demonstrate that there is a large section of

the public to whom a couple of hours of rational amusement on the Lord ' s Day undoubtedly appeals . Such being the case one is tempted to enquire why this section may not be catered for . Selections upon the magnificent organ , a performance by one of our best military bands , and a few songs of a religious nature , surely cannot have anything but an elevating tendency ; and we trust that the organisers of these Sunday afternoons , to which no reasonable objection can be urged , may be supported in their endeavours .

PALACE THEATRE . —The sixth Anniversary of this handsome musio Hall will take place on Monday next , when in addition to the ordinary company several other popular favourites who have previously appeared here will attend to swell the already ample and attractive programme .

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