The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

rpHE approach of Easter is heralded by tho announcement ot J ~ several novelties in the theatrical world , though none of them are of a veiy startling character . Foremost in importance , as to time , comes Mr . Hare ' s venture at the Co CUT , the opening performance of which is fixed for to-night . Mr . Hare is a general favourite with the public , and he has , moreover , secured an excellent

staff of artistes to co-operate with him . Mr . aud Mrs . Kendal , Miss Amy Fawsitt , Mr . John Clayton , Miss Hughes , Miss Hollingshead and Messrs . Cathcart , Kelly and Kemble , form together an exceptionably strong company for performance of comedy , and Mr . Hare

is to be congratulated on having secured their services . The opening programme comprises an original four-act comedy by Mr . Charles F . Coghlan , entitled Lady Flora , and a comedietta , entitled Short and Siveet . Commencing under such excellent auspices , his success cau scarcely be doubted .

The novelty promised at tho PRINCE or WALES ' S is the longtalked-of revival of the Merchant of Venice . It is now reported that Miss Carlotta Addison , and not Mrs . Bancroft , will play Nerissa , and that Miss Augusta Wilton will be cast for Jessica . The

Bassanio , we understand , is to be Mr . E . H . Brooke , late of the Liverpool Alexandra Theatre . Every one interested in the fortunes of this theatre—and their name is legion—will anxiously await this interesting production .

Mr . Horace Wigan is , it is believed , about to resume the reins of theatrical management at the HOIHORN . This theatre has not been generally a prosperous speculation , but it certainly succeeded with the Flying Scud , and we see no reason at all why , with proper management , it may not be made to pay again . Melodrama is , we understand , to be the staple attraction , and a strong company is to be engaged to play it .

Melodrama , by the way , appears to have been gaining in the favour of the public for some time past , probably owing to the very natural reaction from the dreary absurdities of French opera bouffe . The Two Orphans was the greatest success of last year , and is still one of the chief attractions of the season . On Monday last it

completed its 150 th night of continuous performance . The New Magdalen too , successful last year at the OLYMPIC , has this year been successfully revived at the CHARING CROSS , whilst the ever green Arrah-na-Pogue is now drawing excellent houses at the SURREY , and another version of The Two Orphans achieving a like success at the MARILEBONE THEATRE .

Colonel Cordova's Entertainment.

COLONEL CORDOVA'S ENTERTAINMENT .

In the gallery in Tichborne Street , formerly known as Dr . Kahn ' s Museum , an entertainment is now being given by Colonel Cordova , of a varied nature , comprising legerdemain in its very familiar form . " manifestations " after the fashion of spiritual seances , the so-called " spirit flight , " the escape from the corded box , and ventriloquism . The " manifestations , " in which Miss Dollie Dumas is the active

agent , are inexplicable . It is not claimed for Miss Dumas that she receives any assistance ; yet the various features of the spiritualistic representations are perfectly reproduced , while of tho real cleverness of the illusion there can be no doubt . Miss Dumas occupies an isolated position , and these manifestations must be the work of her own hands . How she manages to free herself from , and re-engage herself in the

bands , we cannot attempt to solve . Miss N ella Davenport makes her magical escape from the locked aud corded box , and also gives a representation of what is termed " spirit reading . " The triors in general are decidedly clever , and tho whole entertainment is calculated to inspire wonder and admiration . It must be understood that the deceptions throughout are attributed to mechanical agency , both Miss Dumas and Miss Davenport being termed " anti-spirit " mediums .

Ball At The Mansion House.

BALL AT THE MANSION HOUSE .

On Thursday evening the Lord Mayor and the Lad y Mayoress cave a grand ball . The company , nearly a thousand in number , included many of the Aldermen , the whole of tho Court of Common Council , with members of their families ; several of tho Deputy Commissioners of Lieutenancy of tho City of London , Masters of the Livery Companies , officers of the Honourable Artillery Company , and

many of the principal citizens besides . The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress received the company in the saloon , which was charmingly decorated and lighted for the occasion , and danciug began about ten o ' clock in the Egyptian Hall to the spirited music of the Coldstream Guards band , conducted , as usual , by Mr . Fred . Godfrey . The magnificent banners of many of the civic guilds were suspended from or grouped about the pillars of the E gyptian Hall

prouueing an agreeable effect . Danciug was maintained with treat spirit until midni g ht , when supper was served in various par : >; of tilt ! house simultaneously . At its conuiusiou tho greater part of tta guests took their departure , br . t many of the younger portion of them , remained to resume dancing , which was kept np with nnflag"in " zeal into the small hours of the morning . Altogether the occasion was a very enjoyable one , and will , no doubt , be pleasantl y remembered as an agreeable episode in the mayoralty of Alderman Stone .

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The Master Of A Lodge.

THE MASTER OF A LODGE .

" FROM MACKEY ' S LEXICON or FREEMASONRV . " THE Presiding Officer in a blue or symbolic Lodge is called " tho Worshipful Master . " In the French Lodges he is styled " L « Venerable , " when the Lodge is opened in the first or second degree , and " Le tres Venerable , " when in the third . The power of a Master in his Lodge is absolute . He is the supremo arbiter

of all questions of order , so far as the meeting is concerned , nor cau any appeal be made from his decision to that of the Lodge . He is amenable for his conduct to the Grand Lodge alone , and to that body must every complaint against him be made . For no misdemeanour , however great , can be tried by his Lodge ; for , as no one has a right to preide there in his presence except himself ,

it would be absurd to suppose that he could sit as the judge in his own case . This is the decision that has been made on tho subject by every Grand Lodge in the United States which has entertained the question , aud it may be now considered as a settled law of Masonry . Ho is elected annually , but must have previously presided as a Warden , except in the case of a newly constituted Lodge

or where every Past Master and Warden , as well as the present Master , have refused to serve , or have died , resigned , or been expelled . He is , with his Wardens , the representative of his Lodge in the Grand Lodge , and is there bound to speak , act , or vote , as the Lodge shall , by resolution , direct him . The right of instruction forms a part of our ancient regulations . Ho is to bo treated with

tho utmost reverence and respect while in the chair , aud his commands must be implicitly obeyed . The ancient charges on this subject are explicit . "You are not to hold private committees , or separate conversation , without leave from the Master , nor to talk of anything impertinent or unseemly , nor interrupt the Master ; * * # * # but to pay due reverence to your Master , Wardens , and

Fellows , and put them to worship . " The jewels and furniture of the Lodge are placed under the care of the Master , ho being responsible to the Lodgo for their safe custody . It is his duty to see that the landmarks of the Order be not infringed , that the regulations of the Grand Lodgo aud the bylaws of his own Lodge bo strictly enforced , that all his officers

faithfully perform their duties , and that no ineligible candidate be admitted . He has the right of congregating his Lodge whenever he thinks proper , and of closing it at any time that in his judgment may seem best . With respect to the removal of the Lodge , the Master possesses peculiar privileges , according to tho regulations of the Grand Lodge

of England , adopted in 1 / 35 . By these no motion for removal of the Lodge can be made during tho absence of the Master . But this is a merely local regulation , and does not appear , generally , to have been adopted by the fraternity in America . Lastly , the Master has particularly the charge of the warrant of constitution , and is empowered to select his Senior Deacon from

among the Master Masons of the Lodge . The Jewel of the Master is a square ; because , as tho square is employed by operative Masons to fit and adjust the stones of a building , so that all the parts shall ]) roperly agree , so tho Master of the Lodge is admonished , by tho symbolic meaning of the square upon his breast , to preserve tfiat moral deportment among the

members which should ever characterize good Masons , so that no ill-feeling or angry discussions may arise to impair the harmony of the meeting . I cannot better close this article than with the following extract from the writings of Dr . Oliver , in relation to the qualifications of a Master of a Lodge : — " I am decidedly of opinion ' thab much

general knowledge is necessary to expand the mind aud familiarize it with Masonic discussions and illustrations , before a brother can bo pronounced competent to undertake the arduous duty of governing a Lodge . A Master of the work ought to have nothing to Iearu He should be fully qualified , not only to instruct the younger

brethren , but to resolve the doubts of those who arc more advanced in Masonic knowledge ; to reconcile apparent contradictions ; to settle chronologies , and to elucidate obscure facts or mystic legends , as well as to answer the objections and to render pointless the ridicule of our uninitiated adversaries . "

ANCIENT MASONRY . —The principles of Masonry consisted in love , in obedience and in universal charity to the brethren and to mankind . In love , first of all , to the Great Architect of the Universe for all blessings which they enjoyed , and next in exhibiting their gratitude in return for those blessings by showing to their poorer brethren the love which they bore them and tho charity which they owed them .

. . . There was nobody in the country so loyal as a good Mason . He was loyal to his sovereign , ho was loyal and obedient to the laws and to tho Craft to which he belonged . If a man was a good Mason they might rely upon it that that mau was in every respect also a good citizen . Permit me to say that in tho dark days , when civil liberty and

religions truth were both endangered by tyranny and superstition , the Lodges of Masonry were the receptacles and protection of both . Tyrants have dreaded Masonry because Masons arc the patroua ot freedom . Superstition has denounced Masonry because Masonry is the friend and protector of truth . —Lord Dalhousie .

TRADITION . —Let no Masou , and therefore no Knight , speak disrespectfully of tra-. iMo ;; , for up : i : i it , : is a chief cumer-SL . ui . ie , is based the solid , ornament ; .,: , wu-Juriiig superstructure of our Older , and their foundation is not buiic either upon sand ! Let the M . uou rather emulate the faith and wisdom of tho learned Apostle Paul , wiw was deeply versed in the splendid traditions of the Jews , and wno ,

when writing to the Thessalomans , rebuked the sceptical in tuesa words : Therefore , brethren , stand fast and hold the traditions which yo have been taught , whether by word or our epistles ; and thus clearly announces his belief that , without the support derived from rational and trustworthy tradition , tho Church itself could not live and history would be a myth . Blessed , theroforo , aro the uses of tradition . —• Bra . E , A , GvMtert ,