Masonic Portraits (No. 15.) A Merchant Prince.

In his own social circle he is know as a man of taste and refinement , a patron of the fine arts , a princely host , and a generous friend of the poor . He is no mere slave of wealth , but uses tho advantages with which Providence ha . " blessed him well and wisely . Even Mr . Ruskin might

admit , if he were privileged to walk through our brother ' s picture gallery , that some at least of the merchant princes of England have as just an appreciation of the aesthetic side of life as any of the dreamers who , in tho secure fastnesses of their ideal artistic arcadia , can afford to rail

at the gross material tendencies of the age in which we live To such men as our brother England owes a debt of gratitude . It is our bowt that the nobles and the

upperranks of society generally busy themselves with tap practical work of life . Some of these men could afford , if it so pleased them , to sink into the condition of mere Lotos eaters , or into that state of swinish ease which contributed to

mnke the old aristocracy of France and Spain a bye word and a reproach to the civilized world . Many of our richest men are amongst the hardest workers in the community , and our distinguished brother finds in toil and responsibility , his highest pleasures . Wo are here for something higher

than mere frivolity ; and it is because we are an earnest and practical people that we are great and powerful . Duty is the keynote of an Englishman ' s moral philosophy ,

and life , to all who think , is a solemn reality . "It is all we have to front eternity with . " Let us all work , then , " even as he has done and does—like a star , unhasting , yet unresting . "

At the usual weekly meeting , on Wednesday next , at Bro . C . Gosden ' s , Masons' Hall , Masons ' -avenue , of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be rehearsed by Bros . Terry

and Constable respectively . We trust there will be a strong muster of members on the occasion . After tho business of tho evening is over , the brethren will sit down to a slight and economical repast .

We have to announce that the proposal to purchase the lease , for 88 years , at £ 100 per annum , of the house and promises known as " Kent House , " and situated opposite the Boys' School , Wood Green , for a sum not exceeding £ 500 , was carried at the pecial General Court held on Saturday last .

It is with feelings of deep regret we inform the brethren of the demise of Bro . Rev . E . Thompson , Chaplain of No . 1 , Grand M aster ' s Lodge , and Chaplain of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . He expired on the 2 nd instant , at

Worthing , after a very short illness . He was present at the Centenary Festival of the Lodge of Prudent Brethren . His loss will be deeply felt by his bereaved family , and a numerous circle of private and Masonic friends .

Sir Michael Costa , P . G . O ., not being sufficiently recovered from his late indisposition , was unable to conduct the Sacred Harmonic Society ' s Concert , on Friday evening last . M . Sainton conducted . Mr . Sims Reeves was also unable to appear , Bro . Vernon Rigby , who was in excellent voice , supplying his place .

The brethren of the Fitzroy Lodge , No . 569 , which meets at the Honourable Artillery Company ' s Head Quarters , Finsbury , intend giving a ball , in connection with their Lodge , on the 16 th instant , under the presidency of the

W . M ., Bro . F . Graves , No . 4 Company , and under the patronage of Bro . Lord Colville , late Lieut . Col . ( who has signified his intention of being present ) , Bro . Major Burgess , and other distinguished members of the Lodge and the Regiment .

As the pantomime season is now so well advanced , those of our friends who have not yet paid a visit to Covent Garden for the purpose of seeing the grand pantomime of Cinderella will do well to lose no further time . They will be highly delighted with the performance , the acting , scenery ,

and ballets being all of unusual excellence , while the harlequinade leaves nothing to be desired . If wo mention that Miss Nelly Power—to speak more TJibernico , the prince of pimtominiists—is the leading actress , we offer one of the strongest inducements to our brethren to act upon the

advice we tender . Wo may add also that Cinderella is preceded bv a curtailed version of tho Merchant of Venice , in which Bro . Rico very ably enacts tho part of Shylock .

Just at the moment of going to press we have received Le Monde Macounique , for tho months of January and February . It contains much valuable matter , to which we -ihall have occasion to refer in a later issue . We may mention , however , as very far from boing the least meritorious contribution to its columns , a paper on " Causerie , " signed " E . Littru . "

Advancement Of H.R.H. Prince Leopold To The 30th Degree.

ADVANCEMENT OF H . R . H . PRINCE LEOPOLD TO THE 30 TH DEGREE .

THIS interesting ceremony took place on the afternoon of "Monday , the 7 th instant , at tho Masonic Hall , 33 Goldon . square . The R . H . the Earl of Carnavon , Sovereign Grand Commander , 33 ° , pre . sided . The proceedings were conducted in all solemnit y by General Clerk , assisted by Major S . IT . Gierke and flvde Pnllen , in the presence of Captain N . G . Philips , Lieutenant Grand Coiiiminder ; Montagu Pultoney Montagu , Grand Chancellor : Charles J . Vigne ,

Past Grand Commander ; Colonel Adair , H . D . Sandoman , Eaphael Costa , and Samuel Rawson , with Andrew Hay , members of the 33 rd degree . There were also present : —The Earl of Limerick , Charles H . Gregory , Jas . Glaisher , Colonel Goddard , Colonel Burdett , Major Barlow , and Captain VV . Portlock Dadson , members of the 32 nd degree ; General Brownrigg , Charles Horsloy , Arthur B . Cook , John

Hervey , and J . C . Parkinson , of the 31 st degree ; the Earl of Shrewsbury , Captain Bourko , Colonel Burney , Frederick Binckes , C . Grillion , Montague Gnest , R . VV . Little , J . B . Monckton , J . Read , Hngh H . Riach , Walter Spencer , Raymond Thrnpp , Captain Pr . Trower , E . B . Webb , Colonel West , and C . E . Willing , members of the 30 th degree .

At 5 p . m . the Supreme Chapter of Rose Croix was opened , in the presence of tho Prince and other visitors , for the purpose of consecrating a new chapter—the "Studholme "—a ceremony which was effectively conducted by the Earl of Carnarvon , assisted by Major S . H . Gierke , by tho Prelate , and Hyde I ' ullen . Tho " Studholmo

Chapter" being then declared open , tho following brethren received tho 18 th degree : —Sir John Harrington , Sir Brnco Seton , Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg , Captain Orinsby , H . II . Dobreo , K . R . Mnrchi . son , F . Pattison , Sir Georgo Prescott , George Claridge , Sir W . H . Drake , Captain J . Beaoham Haves , R . H . Collins , and E . H . Bedford .

General Brownrigg was installed M . W . S ., and appointed his officers : —Colonel Randolph and Captain Brownrigg ns hi- ; Generals , and tho Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg as Prelate . A banquet at Willis ' s Rooms followed . Tho notices of tho foregoing which har * appeared in the daily papers aro inaccurate .

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

" Anne Boleyn " at the Haymarket . A NEW poetical and quasi-historical drama , from the pen of Mr . x \ - Tom Taylor , is an event of somo importance in the present dearth of dramatic talent , in England . Notwithstanding what has been said of him by his detractors , Mr . Taylor cannot with justice be denied a place amongst tho two or three foremost dramatists of tho present day . In constructive skill ho is probably withoat a rival , and

if his dialogue is surpassed in force , brilliancy and humour by that of Mr . W . S . Gilbert , at least wo know of no other writer who can claim the same superiority over him . The life of Anne Boleyn offers opportunities for spectacular effect , of which most playwrights would gladly have availed themselves , but theso our author has , and we think wisely , avoided . The events of the timo were sufficiently stirring and

romantic to render unnecessary the adventitious aids of crowded pro . cessions , gorgeous tournaments , and impossible ballets . We do not , however , think that Mr . Taylor has been altogether successful with his materials . The heroine , to begin with , does not command the sympathies of tho audience . In the case of Mary Stuart , Queen Elizabeth , or Charles the First , askilfuhvriter is able to present them

under amiable and generous aspects . Their faults can be glazed over , their good qualities brought into prominence . But Anne Boleyn is a more difficult subject . She was condemned as an adulteress by a tribunal which comprised several persons who might be expected , from relationship or otherwise , to take a most lenient view of her case . But even if the verdict of modern times should acquit her of this

charge , the fact that she encouraged the attentions of Henry whilst Katherine , her Queen and mistress , was still his legal wife , prevents any deep feelings of sympathy from being awakened on her behalf . It is probably , therefore , owing to the inherent difficulty of the subject , rather than to any fault of the author , that the heroine of the play does not excite that high degree of interest which the occasion

would seem to require . But , admitting this difficulty , we still think that the most has not been made of the story . The first and second acts might with advantage have been compressed into one , arid this would have enabled the author to elaborate more fnlly the powerful incidents of tho accusation and condemnation . As it is , however , the play evolves some striking situations , and carries with it , from first to

last , a genuine and fairly-sustained dramatic interest . The fourth act in particular is full of excitement , activity , and bustle . Tho dialogue throughout is above the average , though here and there inclining to verbo-ity . As performed tit , the IIAYJIAKKKT , the characters are very fairly cast , Mr . Harconrt sustaining the role of King Harry , and Miss Neilson making a most charming and unconventional Queen Anne . The piece is well worth seeing .