Marriage Of The Duke Of Connaught. Past S.G.W.

procession having taken their seats , the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Barrington returned to the State entry to await the arrival of Her Majesty , whose coming was shortly announced by the cheers of the assembled mnltitude . The Queen was accompanied by the Princess

Beatrice and Prince Albert Victor of Wales . Shortly after the arrival of Her Majesty , the cheers of the people announced the appearance of the bridegroom , who

was attended by his brothers , the Prince , of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh . The bride was the next to arrive , Her Royal Highnoss being escorted by Lord Hertford and the Vice-Chamberlain . The father of the bride marched

close by her on the ono side and the Crown Prince of Germany and Prussia on the other . On reaching the dais she was met by the bridegroom , and the couple knelt before the altar . Tho ceremony was commenced by the Archbishop of Canterbury and carried out without interruption .

The Primate having given the benediction , the bride was sainted by her mother and the Queen , and the happy couple returned to the Castle , amid the thunder of artillery and rounds of applause from the multitudes in the streets . The other guests followed . Later in the day the Duke and Duchess left for Claremont .

Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

THI regular monthly meeting of the Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held on Wednesday , in the Board Room , Freemasons' Hall . There were present Bros . Col . Creaton ( in the chair ) , Griffiths Smith , Raynham W . Stewart , Dr . Jabez Hogg , L . Steau

J . M . Case , S . Rawson , A . H . Tafctershall , R . Warner Wheeler , F . Adlard , C . A . Cottebrune , Edgar Bowyer , William Stephens , Thomas Cubitt , J . G . Stevens , James

Brett , Charles Lacey , James Willing , W . Hilton , W . P . Nettleship , and James Terry ( Secretary ) . Bro . Terry reported that three of the annuitants had died . Grants were made to some widows of half their late husband ' s

annuities ; aud after the discussion of a new petition , and authority given to the chairman to sign cheques , Col . Creaton gave notice of a motiou he would make at next meeting , to raise the Secretary's salary £ 100 a year .

It was resolved to invite tho Stewards of the late Festival of the Institution to pay a visit to the annuitants at Croydon , and the proceedings were concluded with the usual compliment to the Chairman .

Royal Order Of Scotland.

ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND .

Provincial Grand Lodge of Lancashire and Cheshire . A MEETING of this Provincial Grand Chapter and Lodge was held at the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Thursday , Gth March 1879 , at three o ' clock in the afternoon . The R . W . Bro . H . H . Hutchinson Prov . G . M . presided , supported by the following present and P . Prov . G . Offioers—Bros . C . Fitz Gerald Matier Dep .

Prov . G . M ., G . P . Brockbauk P . Prov . S . G . W . as Prov . G . S . W ., Thos . Entwisle P . Prov . J . G . W . as Prov . J . G . W ., John Chadwick Prov . G . Sec , John Duffield Prov . G . Treas ., Thos . Chorlton P . Prov . G . VV . of T ., Samuel Spratley Prov . G . Marshall , Jack Sutcliffe Prov . G . B . B ., J . McKie Prov . G . Kecorder , and Geo . Mellor . R . Butterworth , Townsend , Jaffrey , Cumberland , Hoffgaard , Pollitt , & c , & c .

Visitor—Rev . W . Spencer Stanhope . The minutes of the last meeting of tt e Prov . G . Chapter and Lodge having been confirmed . The ballot was takon for Captain Mnrphy of the Barracks , York , Major Henry Plac ; of Goeddinog . Bangor , and Thos . S . Ainsworth of Blackburn , which resulted in tho unanimons election of the candidates . These brethren being inatttndanco were introduced , and admitted to the degree

of H . D . M . or their respective characteristics , the ceremony c induction bei ig presided over by the Depnty Prov . G . M . Bro . Matie the T . W . R . g larded by Bro . Chorlton , Bro . Spntley being G . Mursha tho lectures given in extenso , the AVardenV chairs occupied b Bros . Brockb ink and Eotwislo . A Provinci il G . Lodge of Knights of the R . t . Y . C . S . was fortbwit

opened , and the brethren before-named , beii g admitted , were pro sented to the Prov . G . Master , and by him > xalted to the rank o Knig hts of tho R . S . Y . C . S . Bros . Geo . Higgin : and R . McE . Soiitl were appointed auditors of tho accounts for ti e past year . Bro . J . Duffield was nnanimonsly re-elected Prov . G . 1 reusurer . Tho annual meeting and Festival was fixed for Thursday I ne 3 rd Jul y . At theconclusion of business tho brethren adjourned t ) banquet , which was

presided over by the Prov . G . Master , after vhich tho usnal Loya toasts were given . Bro . Matier proposed the 1 ealth of tho Prov . G . Master , eulogising the services he had rendered to the Order , aud expressing a hope that he might long be spared to give the beuefit of his Bervices to the Order . Bro . Hntchinson in repl r warmly thanked the brethren for their kindness , aid expressed hiir iclf much indebted to the various Officers who so efficiently aupporteo , him in the discharge

Royal Order Of Scotland.

of his duties . Bro . Chorlton proposed the health of the Depnty Prov . G . M . Bro . Matier , and remarked that the formation of the Prov . G . Lodge and its contiuued prosperous existence , had been mainly due to tho zeal and ability- with which Bro . Matier had conducted its proceedings , his unvarying promptitude in attendiug at the meetings , aud his felicitous rendering of the quaint and interesting ritual of the

Order . Bro . Matier in reply expressed his thanks to the brethren for their kindness to him on all occasions he had to come amongst them ; ho stated that ho had now served as Depnty to the three Provincial Grand Masters , the first , a Lancashire man , known to all the Province as a sterling man and Mason , honoured and respected by ovcrybody , viz ., Bro . W . Roraaino Callender , who died in harness as Member of

Parliament for his native city of Manchester . Tho second , tho kindly , benevolent and genial Bro . John SutolifTe , whose death so soon after his appointment was so deeply to be deplored ; and lastly , Bro . Hutchinson , who now ruled the Province , and long might lie continuo to occupy and adorn tho position . Bro . Matior intimated that he thought somo othor brother should now be called upon to occupy tho

position he filled , as his residence was some considerable distance from the Province , but ho would always give to tho Order aud the Province a loyal and earnest support . Tho Prov . G . M . proposed tho health of Bros . Brockbank and Entwisle , and the past Officers of the Prov . G . Lodge ; he warmly thanked those brethren for regular

attendanco and assistance at all the ceremonials of tho Order . Tho toast having been suitably responded to , the Candidates was proposed and responded to by Bros . Ainsworth and Major Piatt . Tho Masonic Charitios were recognised , and the Visitors kindly rotnombered . The last toast was given at 9 p . m ., and tho pleasant meetiug termi . nated .

Bro. Henry Murray's Reading Of " Othello."

BRO . HENRY MURRAY'S READING OF " OTHELLO . "

A LARGE number of tho members of tho Order , many of whom wore Masonic decoratious , aud their friends assembled iu tho Masonic Hall , Birmingham , on Thursday evening , ( ith March , to listen to a roadiog of Othello by Right Worshipful H . Murray . To attempt to sustain the attention of an audionce for over two hours by a simple reading , no matter how splendid the subject , is at all times an ambitious task , Bro . Murray , however , acquitted

himself to the complete satisfaction of his numerous hearers in his delineation , by tho music and variatiou of the human voice , of tho varied characters and passions iu the tragedy of OthMlo . Iu tho first act tho scenes in which Roderigo , Iago , and Brabaulio take part gave a fair specimen of Bro . Murray ' s elocutionary ability . The linos of Roderigo were read lightly , aud tho interpreter did not fall into tho

comniou error of making Roderigo , who is simply a foolish gentleman , into the stage bnfToon . Iago was a blunt soldier , and only in tho hist scene of this act did tho audienco get the first glimpse of the subtle villain who i 3 to wreck the happiness of the noble Moor . In this act the reader gave spocial prominence to tho speeches of Hrabnutio , the powerful grief of the wronged and deceived father being rendered

with telling effect , and receiving hearty marks of approval from the listeners . Tho fine speeches of Ocbello before tho Senate were delivered with much taste , not in a loud tone , but with a voice capable of great modulation . The quiet dignity of manner was improved by the skilful use of emphasis in some of tho best-known passages , the words of which are probably as well known to u

Warwickshire audience as to the elocutionist himself . The reading of the second act was chiefly noticeable for tho accomplished manner in which the chief character in the play was brought into his place , the speeches of Othello beinsr rendered with increasing power , and eliciting hearty applause . Tho story of tho confiding and weak , minded Cassio's temptation to drink by Iago was also a cleverly

rendered scene , the part of the Moor s lieutenant being given with taste , and the snbtlo craft of his tempter showing in well-defined contrast . The closing speech of the wily Antient was read with spirit , which finely illustrated the hiddon hatred rankling in his breast . The third act , always afavourito with readers and audiences , showed Bro . Murray tofnll advantage . The well-known lines in which

the Moor is first taught to suspect the fair Venetian whom he has made his wife were not given , as we are so apt to bear them on the stage , in the half hiss , half whisper of the melodramatic villain , bnt in a subdued conversational tone , every word having its due effect and significance , vhiht the gradual breaking of the meaning of tho story on the mind of tho Moor was shown with a quiet powor which

was fully acknowledged by tho stillness of the audience during tho long scene . All through Iago never let his triumphs appear , bnt was tho plain blunt soldier and the seeming friend . Nor did Othello ' s sjrief take the form of boisterous rant , but was portrayed with a sympathy which wns effective becanso it was natural . When at last , b -vever , the full lik'ht of his position L > realised , then Bro . Murray

r- - " ¦ to the occasion , and tho burst of passion at the ond of tho third aei showed that t ho read -r possessed a reserve of dramatic power which the andienci' hr . d noi snspected . The spirit of this scene was finely illustrated , and th ' . dramatic vigour of the reader was heartily applauded . Much of th > f-nr h act was omitted—the incident of the handkerchief and t . Vie lii . ris of Deademon and Emilia were equal to

any part of the reading . Tho opening speech in the fifth act was a masterpiece of patriotic e ! cution—in fact , it was the gem of tho entertainment , every wcrd having its full weight in each sentence , and the deeply sympathetic- tone pictured finely the storm of passion and pity strugglinu for mn eery in the bosom of the Moor . The death of Desdemona , and the poetical justice which is meted out to

che fiendish Iago wen ? also very effective . The final speech of Othello was tho signal for long contained applause , in response to which Bro . Murray thanked hij audience for the attention they had given to his efforts , and trusted that that evening would be "the fair beginning of a time , " anc . that he should be again permitted to read to t Birmingham audience , whose kindnes he should long remember . -Birmingham Daily Gazette .