Our Weekly Budget.

The history is very interesting , the orig inal of the present Lodge having been warranted in 1804 by the Grand Lodge of Connecticut , and to it belongs the honour of having first suggested tho organisation of the Grand

Lodge ot Ohio . It was for many years in abeyance , but was revived in 1854 , when it received the prefix of " old " in order to distinguish it from another Erie Lodgo , which had been established during the period of its cessation from work .

At the General Committee of the Boys' School , held on the 5 th inst . Bro . W . Raynham Stewart presided , and there were present Bros . H . Browse , Jessie Turner , W . Roebuck , S . B . Wilson , C . F . Matier , T . Meggy , H . Massey , E . C . Massey , F . Adlard , Dr . Morris , J . W . Dosell , W . F . C .

Moutrie , R . B . Webster , J . G . Chancellor , Hyde Pnllen , S . Rosenthal , and others . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . Copy of the report on increased accommodation was submitted and taken as read , but the question was deferred for further

consideration . Three applications to bo placed on the list of candidates were read and entertained , and several outfits were granted . The House Committee were then noniinited for the ensuing year . The following sixteen names from which the required number will be chosen being handed

innamely : —Bros . H . Browse , J . G . Chancellor , A . Durrant , T . B . Grabham , Benjamin Head , H . W . Hunt , W . F . C . Moutrie , George Newman , W . Paas , W . Hyde Pullen , W . Roebuck , S . Rosenthal , G . Rowe , J . B . Scriven , Raynham Stewart , and S . Wood . The Audit Committee were re-nominated .

The Regular Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held on Wednesday , the 9 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Bro . Col . Creaton P . G . D . in the chair . The Secretary , Bro . Jas . Terry , read the minutes of the former meeting , which were confirmed . The various reports were read and adopted , and several matters in connection with the Institution discussed . The three members of the

Committee who retire b y rotation were unanimously re-elected . Bro . Griffith Smith gave a notice of motion—That in the opinion of the Committee , the accommodation provided for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution in Freemasons' Hall is totally inadequate for the increasing labours

which have to be performed , and that it be referred to the Board of General Purposes to ascertain what better accommodation can be provided . A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman , and the meeting was adjourned to the following month .

Prince Iskander , nephew of Shore Aii , King of Affghanistan , who has been residing in London for the last few years , has gone to Constantinople , for the purpose , it is stated , of offering his sword to the Sultan in defence of Turkey . He is a most accomplished Oriental . In 1874

he became a Freemason . He was initiated and passed in the Board of Avon Lodge , in the Province of Middlesex , by Bro . J . C . Parkinson P . G . D . Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and subsequently raised to the third degree by Major C , Harding P . M ., acting as W . M . on the occasion .

UiVDER the auspices of the Phccnix Lodge , and in the presence of a fashionable and numerous audience , a couccrt was given in the Portland Uall , Portsmouth , on JViondny last , the proceeds being intended for the Masonic Schools . The vocal part of tho entertainincut was entrusted to Hiss Ellen ilonic , Mrs . Hayman , Mr . C . E .

McCheane . and Mr . C . Cotiam , whilst the orchestra was filled with the combine I bands of the liojal Marine Artillery and the Royal Mai-mo Light , Infantry , under the conductovship of Mtssrs . SYinterbottom and Kreyir . The concert proved a decided sneccess , and will wo hope , substantially benefit those charities on behalf of which it was organised . —Portsmouth ' limes and Naval Gazette .

HOILOWAY ' S 1 ' . N AND OisTiri . vi . —Help under Suffering . —So diseases which afflict the human body ; ire move irksome to bear , or more difficult tu rare , than skin diseases , whether suptrticinl sores or deep ulcerations , liolloway's ( hutment Las proved itself ; i icnicdy for these maladies ; it clears oh scurvy , incrustations , heals up cracks and fissures , reduces unnatural heat , mitigates irritation and inflammation and it at once iissuacres pain , cleans wounds , and works out a sound and lasting cme more certainly and more rapidly than any other application . In those affections , which ave probably constitutional or chronic , uebilitated habits and constitutional ailments , Holloray ' s Pills should be taken to increase the salutary effects of this unguent ,

Opera Comique.

OPERA COMIQUE .

Amateur Performance in aid of the Eoyal Masonio Educational Institutions . 'PHE distinguished company of amateurs who assembled oil Satur . - *• day last , tho 5 th inst ., to give their services in aid of tho funds of tho Royal Masonic institution , for Girls and the Royal Masonio

institution for Boys deserve , and will doubtless receive , the thanks of tho entire Craft . The programme had been wisely selected , and all engaged exerted themselves to make the gathering a brilliant sue cess . We had the pleasure of announcing , a fortnight since , that at that early period the applications for tickets were most satisfactory ,

and that Bro . J . B . Monckton , the respected President of tho Board of General Purposes , had guaranteed , in the name of his talented wifo , that tho performance should produce tho substantial amount of 100 guineas to each of our two Educational Establishments . Under these circumstances wo were not all surprised , when we reached the pretty

little theatre , to find that the seats were well filled , and that a fashionable and brilliant andicuco had assembled to witness tho performance . After an overturo by ihe band , the curtain rose for the well known farce , by J . Maddison Morton , of A Most Unwarrantable Intrusion , which was well sustained by Mr . E . G . H . Bingham , E . A ., as Mr .

Nathaniel Snoozle , and Mr . Barington Foote lt . H . A . as the Intruder , tho latter gentleman displaying an amount of energy seldom witnessed from an amateur . The next piece was the late T . W . Robertson ' s adaptation of MM . Scribe and Legonvo ' s interesting drama , The Ladies' Battle . This , if we remember rightly , was originally

produced some-twenty-five years ago at tho Itoyal Olympic Theatre , when it was supported by tho Bros . Henry and William Farreu , and by Mr . Leigh Murray , while Mrs . Stirling and Miss Louisa Howard respectively represented the Countess d'Antreval and Leonie de

Villegontier . The scene is laid in Prance , at the Chateau d Antreval , and the period assigned for the action is tho year 1820 . Henri de Flarigneiil , a prescribed Bonapartist , is being sheltered and protected by the Countess d'Antreval , at her chateau j he assumes the disgnise of a domestic , and his adventures with the Baron de

Montrichard , the Prefect of Police , forms the plot on which the drama is constructed . Tho casto on the present occasion comprised Capt . Hughes , as the Baron de Montrichard , Capt . Fitz-George ( 20 th Hussars ) , as Henri de Flavigneul , Mr . S . Brandram as Gustave do Grignon , while Mrs . Monckton and Miss M . C . Helmore appeared as the Countess d'Autreval and Leonie . The acting of Mr . Brandram

was characterised throughout as of a high order . His heroic speeches wero admirably delivered , and he fairly carried tho audience with him . It is seldom , indeed , that auythiug approaching this is co be seen , except from those who have made the stage their profession . Capt . Hughes played the rather up-hill part of tho Baron carefully ;

here and thoro , perhaps , he displayed a trifle more impetuosity than was warranted ; bnt this , should he repeat the performance , could easily bo remedied . Captain Fitz-George , as Henri de Flavigneul , was , to our mind , rather too jaunty , and a little more repose would decidedly have improved his performance . We will mention one

instance to which our attention was more particularly attracted . After tho arrest of Grignon , Henri enters and receives from the Baron his promised reward ; the Baron exits , and Henri , throwing himself into a seat , bursts into a fit of exultation . This part of the perform , aucc was keoulv watched by a young lady who sat immediately in

front of us , and when Captain Fitz-George thus interpreted the part , she exclaimed , involuntarily , " ltidiculous ; he will betray himself through his own indiscretion . " But though we feel bound to find a little fault here , we cannot but accord to the ladies the hi ghest praise . Mrs . Monckton ' s portraiture of the witty and kind-hearted

Countess was excellent . In some of her scenes she exhibited great dramatic power , and in recounting her triumphs over the wily Baron , when he held the post of Procurcur , she exhibited talent that was thoroughly appreciated by the audience . Miss Helmore ' s modest interpretation of tho part of Leonie was a most happy contrast , and

the deep interest of the piece was thoroughly sustained throughout . The smaller parts , so frequently overlooked by amateurs , were all carefully represented , thus tending greatly to the success of the piece . The entertainments concluded with a comedietta , translated from the French by Miss Bolton Bowe , entitled Tears . The scene is laid

at Baden Baden , and the piece recounts the adventures of two married couples who are on their wedding tour . Mr . Arthur Gooch , as Gerard Vivian , gave a very happy assumption of the confiding husband who had entrusted his wifo with that most necessary attribute to comforthis cheque book ; while Mrs . Monckton , as Kate , gave a pleasing

disp lay of the powers she had so generously been entrusted with . In happy contrast with the endearments of the more matured couple , were tho love-sick vaponriuga of Sir Francis Ainslie and his wife Mabel , while the small part of Jean , a French waiter , waa made the most of

by Mr . Uundas . The stago arrangements wero under the direction of Mr . E . F . Edgar , and from that gentleman ' s well-known ability , it is scarcely necessary for us to say that everything passed off satis * factorily .