Provincial.

was ably catered by Bro . and Mrs . Biggs , under the efficient directorship of Bro . H . Hussey P . M . The usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given and enthusiastically received , Bros . Lavington , Payne , Berry , Thompson , Pearce , Prowse , Ritchie , and Kiteatt adding greatly to the harmony of the evening with songs and recitations . The Worshipful Master Brother J . Burrow was heartily congratulated by all the visitors , who wished him a successful year of office .

PORTSMOUTH TEMPERANCE LODGE , No . 2068 . ^ ¦^ HE installation meeting was held at Speedwell Hotel , Commercial Road , Landport , on Monday , 24 th ult ., when Brother H . J . Boyce was installed as Worshipful Master , in the presence of a large gathering of Provincial Officers and Worshipful Masters , by Bro . R . G . Pither . A handsome P . M . ' s jewel was presented by the Worshipful Master to Brother T . H . Biggs , for his services as W . M . during the last twelve months .

PANTILES LODGE , No . 2200 . A GOODLY number of members assembled at the Pump Room , Tunbridge Wells , on Wednesday , 4 th inst ., for the purpose of making a presentation to Brother Rufus Stevenson Secretary , in recognition of the valuable services rendered by him in that capacity for the past five years . Those present included : —Bros . T . Potter W . M ., Gallard P . M ., Ryder P . M ., Corfield S . W ., Burslem J . W ., Grunwell Treasurer , Stevenson P . M . Secretary , Rule S . D ., Best J . D ., Howis I . G ., E . Westbrook and E . Fenwick Stewards , Boulter Tyler , and other Brethren .

The presentation took the form of a cheque and a very neat and artistically executed scroll , by Mr . S . Waters , who had certainly performed his task with admirable taste . Masonic columns enclosed the address ( which was otherwise ornamented with Masonic emblems ) , and which ran as follows :

To BBO . RUFUS STEVENSON P . M . and Secretary 2200 P . Z . 874 and P . G . A . D . C . We , the undersigned , being respectively members of the Pantiles Lodge , No . 2200 , desire you to accept the accompanying gift in recognition of the valuable services rendered by you to the Lodge , as a Founder and Secretary ,

for the past five years—your untiring exertions , assiduous attention , unvarying promptness , and constant study has brought the Lodge into one of stability and credit to the Province of Kent , and thereby you have commanded our respect , esteem , and regard—and it is with the greatest possible pleasure we bear testimony in this humble manner to your good

deeds , and to show our entire appreciation of the sacrifice and time given for the benefit of the Brethren of the Pantiles Lodge . We trust the Great Architect of the Universe may spare you for many years to still fulfil the office of Secretary , for which you are so well qualified . Yours faithfully and fraternally .

Here follow the names of the whole of the members . In making the presentation on behalf of the Brethren , the W . M . said it was in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered as Secretary during the past five years . His untiring zeal and energy had , no doubt , to a great extent been the means of bringing tbe Lodge up to that high state of efficiency and success which it now undoubtedly enjoyed , and he ( the speaker ) believed

that he was voicing the feelings of all the Brethren when he said that they all hoped he would be spared for many years to continue to act as the Secretary , and enjoy the company of the Brethren of the Lodge . On behalf of himself , he also thanked Bro . Stevenson most sincerely for the services he had rendered during the time he was Treasurer , and also during his year of office as W . M .

Bro . Stevenson , in appreciative reply , gave a resume of the progress of the Lodge , reverting to the Prov . Grand Lodge and its success , and returned his warmest thanks to Bros . Corfield and Burslem ( joint Secretaries to the Presentation Committee ) , and the W . M ., and the whole of the subscribers . An excellent supper ( supplied by Bro . Rule ) was afterwards enjoyed in the Pump Room , there being the usual Masonic toasts .

Subsequently the W . M . proposed the Treasurer and Secretary , and again paid a high tribute to the latter , expressing his opinion that he was one of the best Secretaries in the Province .

HARDWIOK LODGE , No . 2373 . THE anniversary was celebrated at the Masonic Hall , Chesterfield , on Monday , 2 nd inst ., with very pleasant auspices , under the presidency of Bro . B . Waddington W . M ., there being a large attendance of members and . visiting Brethren . The chief business was the installation of Bro . Hill S . W . as W . M . of the Lodge for the ensuing year , which ceremony was very impressively performed by Bros . Waddington and L . F . Shaw .

After the ordinary business , as a token of the appreciation of the Lodge , and as some slight acknowledgment of the services rendered to the Lodge by Bro . Waddington , he was presented with a Past Master ' s jewel , which had been subscribed for by the Brethren .

FORTITUDE LODGE , No . 78 . rriHE election meeting was held at the Masonic Rooms , Truro , on JL Tuesday , 3 rd inst ., when Bro . J . T . Letcher S . W . received the votes of the members for the position of Master for the ensuing year . Other appointments included Bro . W . J . Johns Prov . G . Sec . as Treasurer , and John Langdon as Tyler .

MARK MASONRY .

DEVON LODGE , No . 215 . THE members held their installation meeting at Newton Abbot , on Monday , 2 nd inst ., when Bro . Matthew Fortescue was installed W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . H . Martin P . M . P . P . G . Registrar .

Theatrical & Entertainment Notes.

THEATRICAL & ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

GILBERT AND S ULLIVAN ' latest opera , " The Grand Duke , or the Statutory Duel , " was successfully produced last Saturday at the Savoy Theatre . A detailed notice of the piece will be given in a short time . HERMANN VEZIN , the talented actor , announces a benefit matinee for

Thursday next , at the Haymarket , on which occasion he will appear as Othello , to the lago of Mr . Beerbohm Tree , and Mrs . Tree will be Desdemona . There will also be the Screen Scene from " The School for Scandal , " the fourth act of " Adrienne Lecouvreur , " and "An Ibsen Sketch" by George Grossmith .

THERE is no truth in the report that the Fancy Dress Ball whioh was given with so great eclat last night at Covent Garden is to be the last of the season . Bro . Sir Augustus Harris has arranged to give at least another three dances , as they have been so successful , and the theatre will not be required until the season of Grand Opera commences .

A HIGHLY successful entertainment , both from an artistic and financial point of view , was given at the St . James' Theatre , last Monday , in aid of the funds of " Siddon's House , " which has been established as a private Hospital ior Actors and Actresses . Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York honoured the performance with their presence . THE last weeks of the popular " Artist's Model , " at Daly's Theatre , are announced .

THE Royalty Theatre will close on Saturday , 21 st inst ., for a short vacation , re-opening after Easter , when the present successful run of " The Chili Widow " will be resumed . Mr . and Mrs . Arthur Bouchier , Miss Irene Vanbrugh , Mr . Blakeley , and the members of the Royalty Company will not be quite idle during the holidays , as they will get two plays ready for production in London when wanted , by giving trial performances in the country .

THE last nights of "The Squire of Dames" are announced at the Criterion , and Mr . Carton's play will be withdrawn after next week , when the Theatre will be closed for a few weeks in order to give Mr . Charles Wyndham a short vacation prior to the production , some time in April , of Messrs . Murray Carson and Louis N . Parker ' s new play . There will be the usual matinee on the 21 st .

OWING to the demand for seats to witness the Cinematographe at the Empire , the directors have decided to give a series of afternoon performances . THE great demand for seats for the matinees of " The Romance of the Shopwalker , " at the Vaudeville , has induced the management to announce a special morning performance to be given on Wednesday next .

THE latest novelty introduced by Sir Augustus Harris for his entertainment at Olympia is an exhibition of physical drill as a part of . the military display . The main body is made up of girls picturesquely arrayed , while picked men formed the right and left wings . An illustrated " Guide " to the whole show has just been completed by Mr . G . S . Edwards , chief of the Press Department .

Miss Lottie Collins has been suffering from a severe cold for the past few days , and her role in " The New Barmaid , " at the Avenue Theatre , has been taken by Miss Marie Alexander . PREPARATIONS for this year ' s Royal Military Tournament are rapidly approaching completion , and the new executive are ambitious of placing such novelties before the public as shall be worthy of the past history of this

annual exhibition . One of the leading features in this year s display will consist of a grand military pageant , in which representatives of the Home and Indian Army and of the Colonial forces will take place . Every colony will be represented by numbers proportionate to the strength of its armed forces , and in carrying out this portion of the pageant the Committee are

receiving most cordial assistance from the various Agents-General . The picturesque uniforms of our Indian Army will be seen side by side with those of their Home and Colonial Brethren in arms , while the first line of defence , our Royal Navy , will take a prominent part in this national display . It may be confidently anticipated that the tournament of 1896 , which commences on the 28 th May , will be a worthy successor of those which have preceded it .

The Grand Master And Guy's Hospital.

THE GRAND MASTER AND GUY'S HOSPITAL .

SIR Francis Knollys , in a letter to Lord Aldenham , says : " The Prince of Wales desires me to inform you that he has much pleasure in acceding to the request which has been made to him that he would preside at the dinner which is to be held in May next in aid of the re-endowment fund of Guy ' s Hospital . 1 am directed by his Royal Highness to observe that in past times the endowment of great institutions , whether educational or

philanthropic , was a feature in our national life of which all Englishmen were proud . The endowment of Guy's Hospital has , from causes that are well known , ceased to meet its requirements . He hopes , however , that a step will now be made towards the re-endowment of our old institutions , and that this movement on the part of Guy ' s may lead the way towards this very

desirable object . Guy ' s Hospital is not merely a metropolitan institution . It draws its patients from the whole kingdom , and the Prince of Wales trusts therefore that you will be able to enrol among your stewards prominent representatives of the great commercial and financial interests of the whole nation . "

WE have received notice from the Directors of Spiers and Pond , Limited , that a third instalment of 4 s per share , less income tax , on account of dividend , will be posted to the shareholders of the Company on the 1 st prox ., and that the share transfer books will be closed from the 18 th to the

31 st instant inclusive , for the purpose of preparing the warrants . This payment , with the two instalments paid on the 1 st October and the 1 st January last respectively makes 12 s per share on account of the year ending 31 st March 1896 , the full dividend for which will be declared in July next .

MESSRS . M . B . Foster and Sons , Limited , have this week paid a Dividend at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum upon their preference shares for the year 1895 .