Obituary.

W . Bnlkeley Hughes followed Lord Harlech , to be in turn succeeded , iu November 1882 , by Sir 0 . Wakeman , Bart ., as Deputy Provincial Grand Master . Of all the Officers appointed when Sir Watkin w ; is installed , the only survivor

is Brother J . P . White , of Shrewsbury , who has continued to act as Provincial Grand Treasurer . The late Brother Charles Wigan was at the same time appointed Provincial Grand Secretary . Brother W . H . Spaull succeeded him .

There were but four Lodges in the Province when Sir Watkin was installed , now there are twenty-eight , and he was present at the consecration of twenty-three of them . In addition to this Masonic work , the deceased laid the

corner-stone of Trinity Church , Llandudno , in 1864 , opened the Masonic Hall in the same town in 1867 , and laid the foundation stone of the Oswestry Cottage Hospital

in 1 S 69 . When he had completed the twenty-fifth year of his office as Provincial Grand Master , a subscription was raised for the foundation of a Sir Watkin

Presentation at the Masonic School for Boys . In 1853 Sir Watkin took the Royal Arch degree , and in 1859 he was appointed " Most Excellent Superintendent of the Province , " in which capacity he presided over

the Grand Chapters of Shropshire and North Wales . His loss will be felt in the Province and by the poor especially . He was a good man , and the memory of his deeds will be his best monument . We havo already

seen that he did not covet titles , and the following extract from an address Sir Watkin made to his constituents the electors of Denbighshire in 1868 , whom he represented in

the House of Commons for forty-four years , best indicate his views on the matter . He said , " It is a position which for more than a centurv and a half has been the most

prized distinction of my family ; it was preferred by my great grandfather to an earldom , by my father to an earldom , and by myself to a peerage . " The highest honour he coveted was the goodwill and love of his neighbours , He gained both to a remarkable degree .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Drury Lan © . —Carl Rosa has scored an undoubted success with his latest prodnction , Ambrose Thomas ' s " Manon . " On each occasion the theatre has been crowded from floor to ceiling in honour of the French composer ' s work . To those who go to the opera expecting to bring awav airs that will haunt them for days afterwards , tho

new work may produce disappointment ; it is essentially tuneful , but in no way so in the Verdi sense . It is of the modern school of music drama—not the lyrical . For this school a more adeqnate libretto is demanded than for its predecessor , and " Manon" somewhat suffers from the baldness of tho dialogue . The very force and fervour of the

artiste uttering it accenutates its shortcomings . To enjoy it we should let the music speak only in the accents tho composer gives , and it is then full of tenderness , gaiety , passion or despair , as the story is developed by him . Madame Marie Roze is at her best as Manon ; full of gaiety and simplicity at the opening , changing to the

vanity of the insatiate courtezan , and then awaking to a late remorse , she fixes the agony of the last scenes with tragic intensity . Her brilliant voice renders the music with the fluency and grace of a bird . Mr . Maas ' s gifts suit the requirements of de Grienx , though perhaps this talented artist looks somewhat too cherubic for a

sentimental young Frenchman . Mr , Lndwig is excellent as Lescat , singing and acting with equal spirit . The scenery is good , especially beautiful the opening view of the City of Amiens , from au inn yard , with a diligence of the period . The costumes are accurate and handsome , and with Mr . Earris to direct the miso en scene wo may

be sure no pains or expense is spared to make the work an artistic success . We regret Mons . Massenet has left some of the dialogue to be spoken , though happily the orchestral accompaniment is a consolation , but this arrangement always has a jarring effect , and to our mind militates against the feeling of homogeneity .

Lyceum . —From the first hour that Mr . Irving , with his keen , sad eyes , looked at London across the footlights , his Shylock has been acknowledged one of his chief triumphs . Ideal in its tragic intensity , and yet touching reality ; in its many toned presentments of human weakness , rage , and despair , some critics sny this is not Shakes .

peare ' s Jew , with its embodiment of centuries of the vilencss bred of scorn ; for whom mercy itself fitly takes the form of new insult . With Mr . Irving the very relentlesness of Shylock seems to be but the wild justice of tardy vengeance for tho sufferings of the race of Israel . The Pharisaical Autonio , the frivolous

Gratiano , the reckless dandy Bassanio , and the scampish adventurer Lorenzo—how they shrink and dwindle in presence of this heir of contumely aud injnstice . Of the present rendering we would say , " custom haih not staled its infinite variety , " whilst in the passages of greatest passion he no longer

yields to uncontrolled rage ; thus his grief gains doubly in pathos and dignity . That difficult point of " the wilderness of monkeys " was given with such heart-broken misery , the sob of the ontrageri father seemed echoed by every breast in the house . The Portia of Miss Ellen Terry has its own unapproachable charm , with something of more chastened dignity in her gay sprightliness than of old ,

The Theatres.

The sweetest , tho brightest creatnro ; Shakespeare himself wild have dreamed of no in > re exquisite interpreter of I ' o TJI !\ ! ' Belmont . For the lir .-t act tho scono has been changed from (' ¦ ¦ art vial Pi .-r / zo di San Marco to a street on the right , showivg ihe S-u Giorgio over tho water . A mac !; greater air of realitvis gained bv

the change , for the great Piazzo , with only half-a-dozon or .-upants , would not suggest Venice at midday in tho cinqno cento . Mr . Alexander phiys with refinement and sincerity , especially in tho sentimental passages . Tho Doge of Mr . Howe is of course stately and impressive . Miss Emery is a tender niul graceful Nerissa , making

us aluifist forget her heartle . ssness ; while Miss Payne is a bright and pleasant Jessica . Tho democracy of tho pit demands tho restoration of tho old privilege of tho crush at tho door . Mr . Irving yields , arid

will hnd himself tho richer by tho salaries of tho sixteen employes tho now arrangement had called into requisition . If a liumblo appeal from us to Mr . Ball would itulueo him to restrain the vigour of his band it would be a boon to those who sit out tho entractes .

Opera Comique . —Tho merits of "The Guv ' uor" havo so often been discussed , and the play criticised on so many occasions , that every ono is by this time familiar with its details ; wo havo therefore nothing to do bub to criticise tho actors and actresses engaged on its revival under tho management of Mr . David James at

the Opera Comique . Mr . James , as Old Macclesfield , portrays tho character of the deaf boat-builder with his well-known vigour and humour , causing roars of laughter by his quaint manners and funny speeches . Mr . Irish as Mr . Butterscotch , and Mr . Gardiner in tho part of his son Freddy , give clevor and natural I'onderings of their

respective characters , while tho ladies' parts aro well sustained . Miss Cicely Richards ns Mrs . Butterscotch , Miss Lucy Buckstono as Carrie , the boat . builder ' s pretty daughter ; Miss Erskine as Mrs . Macclesfield , and Miss Forsyth as Kate Butterscotch . "Tho Guv ' nor" is followed by a farce called "Chiselling "; this is a humorous little sketch , iu which the interest is sustaiued to the end .

Surrey . — " The Woman of tho People , mado famous b y that delightful actress Mile . Beatrice , has been produced at tho Surrey , chiefly , wo suppose , to offer Miss MacNeill tho opportunity for appearing in the leading part . For so young an actress the risk was great , but Mr . Conquest ' s faith in the emotional power of this

painstaking young lady has proved well founded . In tho scene where Marie , agonised by the necessities of her ailing child , appeals to tho better feelings of her ne ' er-do-well husband , she rose to the intensity of the situation , and held her robust , nut-cracking audience iu hushed expectancy . We are assured this lady will rise to high

position as an exponent of her art if she continues tho earnest student she now proves hersolf . Mr . George Conquest , who , if fame were less capricious , should stand in the foremost rank in his professiou , is perfect as tho workman who objects to work , though tho character of Remy gives no opportunity for his weird powers . Mr . Guruey ,

whose name will doubtless soon become better known , plays with careful truth to nature as the weak-minded husband , Bertrand . Tho way he depicted tho gradual decline in position attributable to selfindulgence , and his sudden awakening to remorse was ably conceived . We , however , think he missed a fine effect when , finding his wifo

prostrate in the snow , he calls her by name before lifting her from the ground . The situation would gain greatly if tho recognition came after he had seen her face . Tho piece throughont is carefully staged , and wo fully ondorso a remark made to us that if the same effects were produced at a West Eud house all London would go to see the snow scene .

Olympic . —Sir Randal Roberts has conrageonsly taken " A Dangerous Game " to the Olympic Theatre . The play made a marked snecess in the North , due to the brilliant and facile style of the baronet actor , and scarcely less to Mr . Clynds , whoso presentment of the British tar brings back pleasant memories of Davenport at the Hayraarket , when a pit was there to weep and applaud .

Freemasonry In Hampshire.

FREEMASONRY IN HAMPSHIRE .

THE following details as to the progress of Freemasonry may prove of interest . In tho Province of Ilampshiro and the Is ! e of Wight there are 79 Lodges , of which 36 are in the Isle of Wight . Portsmouth heads the list with 12 , Southampton has 5 , Aldershot 3 , and Gosport , Winchester , Havant aud Ryde , two each ; and Alton , Andover , Basingstoke , Bournemouth , Fareham , Lyrnington ,

Petersfield , Ringwood , Shirley , Woolston , Cowes , Newport , Saodown , Shankliu , and Ventuor , one each . There aro 20 Chapters , 18 in Hampshire , and two in the Isle of Wight , Portsmouth having 5 , Southampton 4 , Aldershot 2 , Basingstoke , Farcham , Gosport , Havant , Lyrnington , Winchester , Woolston , Newport , and Ryde , ono each . —Portsmouth Times .

The following dinners were held at tho Freemasons ' Tavern during the week ending Saturday , 16 th May : — Monday — Leigh Lodge , St . George aud Cornerstone Lodge .

Tuesday—Italian Ball . Wednesday—Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , New England Company , Lodge of Fidelity . Thursday—Lodge of Regularity , University of London Lodge . Friday—University Lodge .

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purify the blood , regulate the secrciiins , cornet all MI .-J ended or al . t til lunct ' ioiis , clear the complexion , and brighten the < ¦ eunteiaiM e . Tie lir .-t approach of disordered action should be met wii h appropriate doses of tin so Pills ; whilst taking them no restrictions need bo plated on the patient . They contain nothing which can possibly prove injurious to the sjstcm . They act , by purifying the blood and regulating every organ .