The White Stone And New Name.

THE WHITE STONE AND NEW NAME .

W HITE is the symbolic hoe of purity , innocence , peace and prosperity ; white is the colour and livery of heaven . The white ball approves . In all ages , and in almost all nations , white has been regarded as par excellence the colour of colours ; and yet it is not strictly

a colour , but a composition of all the colours . An object that is white absorbs all the rays of light . The diamond , the stone of stones , is white' when purest , and it is a flashing light . Light itself , at its utmost intensity , is

white . The white stone was of old a mark of good fortune . Persius refers to it iu this connection in his Satires . The Greeks pronounced sentence of acquittal by depositing a white stone . Among the Romans the tessera hospitalis , or

gnest ' s token , wao highly prized . It was a small cube of white stone , which was divided into two parts , the host inscribing his name upon one , and the guest his name upon the other , and then these two parts were exchanged ,

and afterwards retained as a perpetual token of good will —literally implying , " what you have done for me , I will do for you . " The Eoman guilds gave these tessera to

their brethren , to ensure them fraternal reception and treatment by their fellows . Then , besides , the tessera Jwspitalis , according to Plautus , admitted to the heavenly feast , the banquet of the gods .

The respect and reverence for white as a colour may be traced back prior to the Greek and Roman eras . The " white isle" of the Hindoos was the dwelling-place of translated and immortal man . Osiris , the head of the great

Egyptian trinity of deities—Osiris , Isis and Horus , is represented as wearing a white crown . The Egyptian High Priest wore around his neck , suspended by a golden chain , a white stone , engraved with an image of Ma , the goddess

of Truth . So the Urim , which the Hebrew High Priest wore beneath his breastplate of twelve gems , is said to have been a diamond , and symbolic of Light , as the Thummim was symbolic of Truth—the two thus being symbolic of

Light and Truth . Among the American Indians white was regarded as a holy colour . Their sacred birds were depicted white . Among the Ojibwas , a large white bird is mentioned as a sacred symbol of tbe Sun , the source

of light and life . The North-west tribes believed that their dead were carried to the happy hunting grounds of the blessed in a white stone canoe . Many Algonkin words ,

for east , dawn and light , are from a root signifying white . The Quinches , of Central America , had a legend that the earliest men were white , and lived a white life beyond the dawn .

Approaching now an object around which cluster some of the happiest thoughts and words of Freemasons , Josephus tells us , in his " Antiquities , " that " Solomon ' s Temple was built with stones which were white and

strong ; " and in his " Wars of the Jews" he says : — " The Temple appeared to strangers , when they were at a distance , like a mountain covered with snow , for as to those

parts of it which were nofc gilt , they were exceeding white . " We may say , then , that tbe Masonic Temple is symbolically white , but the symbolism does not end here . The candidate that enters it—what is he ? The word

" candidate" literally signifies " clothed in white , " The candidate's character must be " white , " that is , blameless , of good report , or he cannot be allowed to enter the tyled

Lodge . And how is his entrance secured ? By the deposit of white balls—all white balls . White , as a colour , is thus of deep Masonic significance .

Let us turn now to its Scriptural use and meaning . When Jesus was transfigured , St . Matthew tell us , " His raiment was white as the light . " But ifc was reserved for St . John , in the " Revelation , " to give us the highest and

noblest references to the colour white , and the white stone . The Evangelist saw , in his vision afc Pafcmos , " a great white throne . " " And I looked , and behold a white cloud , and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man . "

And the Spirit said to the Churches , " To him that overv cometh will I give * * * a white stone , and in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth save he that

receivetb it . " There are several analogies which the Mark Master Mason and Royal Arch Mason will be led to recall .

¦ Days marked with a white stone are days of pleasure , days to be remembered , days to be duplicated if possible . The Romans used a white stone , or piece of chalk , to mark their luck y days 011 the calendar . We may not only mark ,

The White Stone And New Name.

but make our lucky days , since we believe that we are largely the architects of our own fortunes , rather than the slaves of fate or chance .

Do you ask , what is the new name which the Freemason receives ? It is the endearing name of " Brother , " by which he is ever afterwards addressed and recognised .

When age overtakes a Brother he is crowned with the crown of Osiris—his hair , though once it was raven , ia changed to white . Is not this to fit bim symbolically as a candidate for the realm of immortality ? He ia clothed in

white , to appear before the great white throne , there to receive a white stone , and in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth save he thafc receivefch ifc . Thenceforth his is " A soul as white as heaven . "

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Strand . —Taking into consideration the success that attended the production of " Devil Caresfoot " afc a matinee some three or four weeks since , it is nofc to be wondered at the work has thus been early transferred fco an evening bill . The task of adapting the piece from Mr . Rider Haggard ' s " Dawn" was undertaken by Messrs . C .

Haddon Chambers and J . Stanley Little , and these gentlemen , if they have nofc given us a thoroughly good piece , have given us one that is interesting throughout . Undoubtedly muoh more might have been made out of fche book , bnfc fche authors have done fairly well . The plot of the piece is by this time known

to the majority of theatre goers , so we shall not give even an outline . Several alterations have been made since the first performance , and these have certainly improved the piece . The third Act is still fche strongest , while the last could yet be greatly improved on . The audience are asked fco " suppose " too muoh , a

fault in this particular instance that could be easily remedied . Luckily , most of the' ladies and gentlemen who contributed to the success of the piece at the matinee are available . Mr . C . Charrington gives a most powerful interpretation of George , otherwise Devil Caresfoot . His earlier scenes are well conceived , while his acting in

the third and fourth Acts is exceedingly good . Mr . Royce Carlefcon is gentlemanly , though severe , as Philip Caresfoot 5 Mr . Fuller Mellish shows improvement on most of his previous efforts as the lover , Arthur Beaumont ; his parting was natural , while his manly bearing after his return was well conceived . Mr . Charles Dodsworfch

was good as fche suspicious Sir John Bellamy ; Mr . Eric Lewis made a capital Lord Minster , while Mr . John Tresahar gives a quiet ; rendering of Mr . Fraser . The great improvement shown by Miss Janet Achurch since her first appearance in the part of Angela warrants the assumption of selecting her for tho impersonation .

Her earlier scenes are given in a quiet and affable mode , while later cr »> her emotional powers are fully brought out . The recognition of her lover , who she supposes dead , was very realistic , while her pleas to be heard in explanation were simply heartrending . Miss Achurch is to be complimented on a careful

and really artistic rendering of the part . Miss Carlotta Addison was a refined Lady Bellamy , while Miss Lottie Venue made a fascinating Mrs . Carr . Mrs . John Carter was called upon afc fche last moment fco play her original part of the old servant Piggotfc , and well indeed she acquitted herself . After the usnal calls for artistes , the author and the adapters were summoned .

We are asked to state thafc Professor Crocker ' s Educated Horses , having admirably borne the sea journey , arrived safely in London on Monday last , and will make their first public appearance at fche Avenue Theatre on the evening of the 22 nd instant , instead of the 15 th , as already announced .

Mrs . James Brown Potter will appear , for the first time , in a romantic play entitled " Loyal Love , " at the Gaiety to-night ( Saturday ) . The work is in fonr acts , and has been written by Ross Neil . Mrs . Potter will be snpported by Messrs . Kyrle Bellew and Mr . B . S . Willard . The play will be produced under the direction of Mr . Charles Warner .

What Is A Mason?

WHAT IS A MASON ?

What is a Mason ? Not the clod Whose thoughts ne'er rise above the sod , Whose best ambition is—to know What joys that from the senses grow . What is a Mason ? Not the slave

To passions , that will dig bis grave , Nor yefc the miser , hard and cold , Who shuts his heart to all but gold . What is a Mason ? Not the hound That boldly treads on holy ground ,

At woman ' s honour dares to sneer , At truth divine to mock and jeer . A Mason , worthy of the name ,

Can never stoop to guilt or shame , His honour is his dearest care , Fidelity , his jewel rare . " Liberal Freemason .

Marriage.

MARRIAGE .

FENN'ELL—BA . YLIS . —On Saturday , the 6 th instant , at St . Mary ' s , Seymour . Street , N . W ., HABBT FBXXSLI . to KMZA H . A . ( LILY ) Bi . ri . iB .