Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

PROV . GRAND LODGE OF LINCOLNSHIRE . THE annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Lincolnshire was held in tho Masonic Hall , at Grimsby , on Thursday , the 6 th instant . The Right Worshipful Bro . W . H . Smyth , D . L ., Provincial Grand Master , was present , and was support ed by a very largo number of past and present Provincial Grand Officers . Every Lodge in the Province was

represented , about 260 brethren being present . The statements of the Prov . Grand Treasurer Bro . C . M . Nesbitt , the P . G . Registrar Bro . H . Watson , the P . G . Secretary Bro . P . Vickers , and the P . G . Steward Bro . H . E . Coasens , having been received , tho Grand Master announced that the offico of Deputv Provincial Grand Master

had been rendered vaoant by the resignation of Bro . Major E . Locock , whose failing health compelled him to relinquish the duties . He bad intended investing Bro . Sissons with the office , but a family bereavoment had rendered that impossible , and he had therefore selected Bro . James Fowler as bis Deputy . Bro . J . Fowler , having

been duly installed into the office , was presented with the hearty good wishes of all tho Lodges in the Province . It was resolved to present Bro . H . E . Consens with a jewel , in recognition of his services aa Charity Steward during a period of two years . Bro . C . M . Nesbitt was re-elected Treasurer . It was decided that the Girls' Institution

should be the Charity to receive the support of the Province during the year , and Bro . H . T . Bellamy and Bro . J . Ward were elected Stewards . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master then appointed and invested the Provincial Grand Officers for the ensuing year . It was announced that Provincial Grand Lodge would next

year be held at Sutton Bridge . The Lodgo was opened and closed by Bro . J . B . Morton W . M . and the Officers of the Pelham Pillar Lodge , who entertained the visiting brethren in a most hospitable mannor .

By the permission of the Provincial Grand Master the brethren were subsequently grouped and photographed in their Masonic clothing . The usual banquet took place in the Town Hall , 178 brethren being present .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Princess S . —The nautical drama by Henry Byatt , entitled "True Heart , " has proved a success . Wo need not wonder at this , the piece is a good one of its kind and deals with exciting events . These are well put together , and with the excellent comedy parts supplied the work cannot fail to amuse and interest an audience .

The author has not found much that is new to build his plot upon ; the villain has everything his own way , except when he desires to get rid of the heroine . She , with the help of a brave skipper lover , and the help of her mother , mauages to brave the troubles heaped upon her by the enemy . Such items as

a woman falling from a balcony , drugged champagne , with a ship , wreck and rescue by the lifeboat , are happily brought ID , with result that the hero and heroine are eventually made happy and the villain defeated . The balcony scene is effective , but puts us in mind of the scaffold scene in " Drink , " while the lifeboat business is

capitally managed , under tho direction of Mr . Richard Douglass . Whim the company get into better order , and work closer , this scene should provo very effective , but on the first night it was marred by lack of vigour . The company is all that can be desired , and each individual does credit to the author . Mr . Leonard Boyne makes a brave skipper of

the barque " True Heart , " while in the love scenes ho is in his element . Mr . Bassett Roe presents tho villain who causes so much troublo to the young couple , and he does his work well ; while Mr . Juliau Cro 3 S also scores as a rascally marine store dealer , Mr . Yorke Stephens has a part that suits him—a kind of Mr . Barnes of New York—and

his "repose ! ' denotes careful study . A very objectionable task is cleverly got through by Mr . H . H . Morell , while other parts are splendidly played by Mr . E . W . Garden and Miss Helen Leyton . Miss Grace Hawthorne , as tho heroine , makes the most of her opportunities in the more serious parts ; she is seen to be 3 t

advantage , however , in the love scenes . Mrs . Frank Huntley has but a small part , but , as usual , enacts it creditably . Excellent scenery has been painted by Messrs . Bruce Smith and Richard C . Dnrant . We hear the piece now runs much closer , and during the week has secured popularity . It deserves to do so for somo time to come .

Novelty . —A great deal has been , and doubtless will be written on Mr . William Archer ' s translation of Hourik Ibsen ' s play , ' ¦ ' A Doll ' s House . " That it will hardly -guit the present taste of playgoers we aro ready to admit , but now the management has decided to keep the piece on for another fortnight , we advise our readers to see

it . The moral of the play is hardly likely to become a popular one , whilo the idea of the wifo giving up both husband and children because she has deceived her husband , who does not shield , but , on the contrary , upbraids her , is hardly true to nature . Still these faults are not to be attributed to Mr . Archer ; he has simply

tvauslated the work . It is iu tbieo acts , and from start to fiuiah is interesting . The qnarrel is worked up to in masterly fashion , aud makes one anxious to know tho oud . Still , when the plt-y ia over the audience leave with an unpleasant feeling , and the reflection suggests itself could a mother bo found who would leave hor home

as does Nora Helmer in this case ? Whit is tho all-important canso ? Truo . it was brought about by her , aud with the husband ' s honour at stake , one can easily conceive him being annoyed . When ho learns

the secret is safe he ia willing to forgive , but this his wife will not listen to . The skill shown by the interpreters of tho piece is of the highest order . Miss Achurcb , as tho wife , iu the earlier scenes is capital , and when trouble comes to her she rises to the situatou

The Theatres, &C.

admirably . This portraiture will advance her a rung on the ladder of Fame . Mr . Royce Carleton ' s villain is another sterling piece of acting , carefully studied and well brought out . Mr . Herbert Waring makes the husband an interesting character , one much to be

pitied ; and his last scono is especially good . Mr . Charles Charrington realizes the peculiarities of an old doctor with marked success ; while Miss Gertrndo Warden is painstaking with the small p-vrt that haa been allotted her . We oonclude by saying "A Doli ' a Houso" is wtrth seeing .

Shaftesbury . —The now lessees of this theatre havo preferred the prudent policy of presenting to the public an assured success to the bolder policy of putting on the boards a new play , and the enthusiastic applause which greeted Mr . Willard on hi 3 Qrat appearance , and at every suitable opportunity during the play , as also at

the conclusion , showed that the lessees were not mistaken in their opinion as to the drawing powers of the late Sir Charlea Young ' s drama , "Jim tho Penman . " The play is too well known to need description or criticism ^ . The same may almost be said of Mr . Willard's impersonation of James Ralston the Forger . It is a

masterly performance , and not less so when the actor is compelled to be silent as when it ia bis province to speak . It says a great deal for Mr . Willard ' s art that although Ralston begau hi 3 successful career by ruining a friend and depriving him of his intended wife , and ends by thieving his future Bon-in-law's diamonds , and is , in

fact , a thorough-paced blackguard , yet tho prevailing note is one of pity for a hunted , conscience-stricken man , whose every gesture reveals the depth of his mental anguish . The present writer had the pleasure of seeing Mr . Willard on hi 3 first appearance in London , when he supported Miss Helen Barry at the ill-starred Imperial

Theatre . His acting then gave promise of a successful career , and he has more than justified the impression he made . To return to the play . The honours of the performance were shared with Mr . Willard by Lady Monckton , who repeats her impersouation of the forger ' s tortured wife . This is Lady Monckton's best part , if we

may except her acting at the Opera Comique , when she almost saved Mr . Tristram's unfortunate play from being laughed off the stage . Miss Henrietta Lindley adequately resumes the role of Lady Dunscombe . For the rest the cast is new . Mr . Mackintosh takes Mr . Beerbohm Tree's part of Baron Hartfeld , but gives an independent

reading of it , and presents the Baron as a Dutch Jew . Mr . Mackintosh acted well , but suffers by comparison with Mr . Tree . Mr . Herbert is not yet quite at home as Lewis Percival . Mr . Elwood as CaptaiD Redwood , Mr . Fred Terry as Lord Drolincourt , Mr . Crofton aa George , Ralston ' s son , Mr . Keith as Dr . Petty wise , Mr . Watson as

Dr . Notherby , M . P ., Mr . Blatohley as Mr . Chepstow , Q . C ., and Mr . Rimbanlt as a servant were adequate exponents of the parts allotted to them . Mr . Fred Terry , perhaps , deserves , special recognition , and there is a future before him if he will but seize his opportunities . Mrs . Brooke as Mrs . Chepstow , a lady as inquisitive as her husband

is loquacious , and Miss Mabel Hardingo as Agnes , Ralston ' 3 daughter , who did her love making prettily and without affectation , completed an adequate cast . Mr . Willard , in returning thanks at the end of

the performance , promised the production of new plays by popular authors . Ono of these may be a social study by Mr . H . A . Jones . But as far so one can judge from first night appearances a new play will not bo needed yet awhile .

Gaiety . —Cordial support continues to be extendad towards the French company now in possession of the boards of this theatre , aod , in spite of the present changeable weather , the house shows each evening those appearances so devoutly wished for by the mauagers . Playing iu a different piece each evening mast bo very trying to the

performers , but no sign of slowness or inaccuracy is perceptible , and each play is presented as smoothly as though it bad been somo time in rehearsal . Although comedy forms the principal portim of the programme , it is exhibited in various phases . Thus , iu sequence , we have had "Les Precieusea Ridicule ? , " " L'Etraogere , "

"L'Aventuriere , " "Le 3 Snrprisea du Divorce , and the dramas "La Dame aux Camelias" and "Deniao . " In each of the 3 e playa Madame Jane Hading and M . Coquelin sustain the principal characters , and though sevoral of them are widely different in thought and action tho spectator still enjoys with satisfaction a perfect

presentment of the authora' ideas . Several of the piece 3 have been adaplod to the English stage , and it is interesting to note the different conceptions of the personages from a French and English point of viovv . We may add that for the benefit of those of the audience whose French is rusty , an admirable translation of each

piece is obtainable at the theatre . We dropped in hero on Tuesday evening to see M . Cojaelin play the role of M . Pcrrichon in 11 . Labiche ' s comedy , " Lo Voyage de M . Perrichon . " There was some discontent at tho long waits between the act ? , but this was unreasonab ' c considering the

elaborate nature of tho scenery . But for this tae play wont merrily enough , and M . Coquelin , as M . Perrichon , kept tho audience amused from beginning to oud . The plot of the play is somewhat thin . M . Perrichon'a daughter Las two lovers , and prefers ths one

whom hor father through a misune ' erstandin ^ dislikes . But all comes right in tho end . Those who wish to see an exemplification of the statement that the higho 3 t art is to conceal art should go and see M . Coquelin . ••iEaop ' s Fables , " by J . P . Hurst , will bo produced at the Strand , on Wednesday evening next , with Mr . W . S . Penley in tho cast .

A Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire was held at Tewkesbury , on Wednesday , the 5 th inst ., by the Provincial Grand Master , Sir Michael Hieks-Beach , Bart ., M . P . It was attended by nearly one hundred and fifty of the principal Freemasons of the province . A banquet followed .