Correspondence.

terms of the landmark , nor the law of that body which for the previous fourteen years had by consent of fche governed assumed the exclusive power of authorising fche existence of Lodges . And as early as 1734 this fact became so apparent to its second Master tbat he took the earliest opportunity of seeking fco remedy this io him serious defect .

And further , if these conditions are correct , Bro . Gould s claim , and upon which Bro . McCalla has retired for bis now entire support , that St . John ' s Lodge of 1731 in Philadelphia had as much right to

be self-constituted as did the Lodge of York , Eugland , is plainly an error , because of fche radical change which had taken place in the laws and government of Freemasonry between the institution of the Lodges afc York and Philadelphia respectively . Fraternally yours , J . FLETCHER BRENNAN . CINCINNATI , OHIO , U . S . A ., 27 th Aug . 1880 .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Lyceum . —So lately has fche greatest living tragic actress fcro 1 the boards of fche Lyceum , and so lately was Sarah Bernhardt preceded by the farewell words of Henry Irving , thafc when the curtain rises on their successors , unconsciously we judge them by the highest standard of excellence . That Mary Anderson should mosfc completely realign

all the tender , happy girlish grace , fche idyllic innocence of sweet Perdita , fchafc we all anticipated ; that she shonld rise to the royal dignity , the Madonna eaintliness of Hermione , the insulted queen and outraged mother , for this her warmest friends must have had misgivings—misgivings that , notwithstanding her momenta of inspiration ,

notably in the trial scene , have been realised . When Hermione first enters with Leontes , despite her gracefulness , there is a jarring note of too easy a familiarity of bearing . We find here fche royal lady and proud mother of future kings—sweet and winning , and most divinely fair ; bufc nofc Hermione , as she shapes herself in the

imagination of those fco whom Shakespeare is dear . In the trial scene Miss Anderson ' s quiefc sympathies and intelligence make up for the something lacking . She has one moment of inspiration , when she rises fco the tragedy of the situation , her frame quivering with passion , her lips white , and with uplifted right hand she calls

on the gods to justify her . Then , again , in the icy horror of the moment when she is stricken speechless by news of her son ' s death , she lifts fche end of her trailing white pallium above her head , then falls like one struck by lightning prone on the ground . Tbe house felt the thrill of true passion here ; the studied graces , and

carefullyelaborated attitudes , which so often excite our resentment while we admire , all were forgotten here , and warm applause followed the fall of the curtain . The warmest applause , however—" pity 'tis 'tis true" —is reserved for thedelighful dance of shepherds in the fonrth act , and here we find our Perdita as blithe and sunny with

innocent joy as a butterfly in fche sunshine . She dances with the rustics , laughs and jests with Mopsa and Dorcas , with no air of conscious superiority . Iu the last act , where the closed curtains open to disclose fche breathing statue , Mary Anderson was well advised to give to this embodiment of cruel

wrong a marked shadowing of much sorrow , the poignancy of unshed tears . The beauty and pathos of the presentment were very touching . Alas ! that when fche statue speaks , something too much of tbe spell is broken . Miss Anderson has still much fco learn in fche modulation of her voice , and no less to overcome in provincialism of

accent , which in tragedy and blank verse is strangely irritating . Of Mr . Forbes Robertson , as Leontes , we have nothing but praise ; his interpretation has all the refinement of a scholar , whilst his sincerity and quiet dignity ennoble a character which less sympathetically rendered is apt to excite only aversion

and contempt . Assuredly , in the expression of the virile passions and emotions of maturer life , Mr . Forbes Robertson will find the best field for the exercise of his gifts . As the young lover he fails to convince us , but here in a turmoil of suspicion , jealousy , hate , remorse , he lifts the veil from the hidden recesses of the heart of

humanity . Mr . Collette as Antolycns is very clever , very amusing , but too self-conscious , and too desperately determined to make his points . Mr . J . Anderson deserves praise for his clown . The Mopsa of Miss Tilbury was a pleasant bit of rustic blithness . We regret we cannot more heartily praise clever Miss Sophie Eyre . Why

does she outscold Paulina's self , and why speak in such jerky sentences , all stuccato ? Surely Paulina shonld have more composed dignity , she the chosen friend of gentle Hermione . The scenery is as beautiful as anything the Lyceum stage has seen ; the dresses are lovely studies of classic form and colour .

Toole ' s . — During the building of the New Court , Mr . Johu Clayton is occupying the above theatre , with Dandy Dick . The smart writing of Mr . Pinero has once more won for him the high opinion of lovers of laughter-making pieces , for not only is Dandy Dick humorous , but it is free from offence of any kind . Each time

you see this piece something original and cleverly conceived is el aborated . Two alterations have taken place in the cast , namely , ^ r . Alfred Bishop , a good character actor , in place of Mr . Arthur Cecil , and Miss Eva Wilson , a happy and vivacious follower to Miss Norreys . Mr . John Clayton has perfected his representation of the

IW . Augustin Jedd , while Mrs . John Wood's Georgiana Tidman could not be better . Messrs . F . Kerr and H . Eversfield have toned their military bearing somewhat , and Mr . Edmund Maurice is still good as Sir Tristram Mardon . Mr . W . H . Denny and Miss Laura Linden still thoroughl y delight their audiences with their rustic behaviour . A

^ w comedietta precedes Dandy Dick , it is entitled " Woman ' s Wrongs , " written by A . M . Heatbcote . The story runs on tbe question ° » Woman's Rights , and is very amusing . The outline is as follows . Mrs . Margaret Woodleaf , a young newly married lady , is very much 'tnpressed on the question , and resolves to join a club for the promo *

The Theatres, &C.

¦ /¦ ¦ ii i . l' her hobby ; but , after entertaining the president , who is attended by her ( the president ' s ) husband , she decides to abandon the idea altogether . Her husband ' s sister , whom she did nofc know , and who has disguised herself as the president , and Mr . Woodleaf aa the husband , bring about the desired end . The piece is well written ,

and contains some very amusing dialogue . The characters , taken by Miss Cudmore , as Mrs . Woodleaf ; Mrs . Percy , the sister , byMiia Roche ; and Mr . F . Kerr as Mr . Woodleaf ; are represented suitably , aud were well received . Judging from the way in which fche piece was accepted , Mr . Clayton will nofc require to change his bill while he has possession of the little house in King William Street .

N 0 V 6 lty . —This unfortunate theatre once more opened its doors on Monday , when Miss Harriet Jay took up the reins of management . Various kinds of entertainment have been tried here , but np to the present time comedy-drama has not been resorted to . Naturally , then , Miss Jay's opening piece was bnilfc on these

lines , and calling in the aid of Mr . Robert Buchanan , this gentleman has given ns a work in five acts , entitled " The Blue Bells of Scotland . " The author , iu a note , acknowledges that some of the characters and situations have been already used in the prose romance , " A Child of Nature , " while some of the earlier scenes are founded on facts .

Notwithstanding , the play is weak , commonplace and uninteresting ; dwelling mainly on the harshness of a landlord in Scotland , who evicts his tenants if they do not pay their rent . There are some good situations in the piece , thoroughly melodramatic in treatment , but we are afraid tho author will not add to his reputation by

" The Blue Bells of Scotland . " The scene opens afc a Scotch village by the sea . Here we find Peter Dalston , steward on Lord Arranmore ' s estates , persecuting the tenants , who have for their champion Graham Macdonald . There arrives , during a storm , Lord Arranmore , nnder an assumed name . His yacht has been saved by

Mina Macdonald , to whom Arranmore becomes attached , and persuades her to accompany him on his yacht . Once on board , a marriage takes place ; this , later on , Arranmore says is illegal ; but ifc turns onfc to be formal . In London Mina realizes her situation , and Arranmore , leaving her in charge of his steward , goes to Burmah with his

regiment . Mina is befriended by Ethel Gordon , a lady formerly engaged to Arranmore ; she is taken back fco fche Highlands , while Graham , benfc on revenge , joins the same regiment as Arranmore . However , he avoids an encounter until , by the fortune of war , both , are driven into the jungle . Here Graham challenges Arranmore .

Daring the duel which is about to take place fche enemy surrounds them , and they agree to oppose him back to back . Arranmore is mortally wounded , bufc Graham is rescued by a party of soldiers . On his arrival home , Lady Gordon proposes marriage to Graham , her excuse for making herself the suitor being that it is leap year . In fche

end Graham comes into the titles and estates of Arranmore , bnfc what is in store for Mina is not shown . The acting all round is fair ; Mr . Henry Neville is manly and vigorous as Graham Macdonald , Mr . Arthur Ellwood is hardly expressive enough as Lord Arrammore , while Mr . G . Canninge was fierce as Peter Dalston . Mr . Scott Brusfc

was amusing as the Hon . Sam Gordon , while Mr . Eardley Turner made a good Sergeant Milligan . Miss Fortescue was sympathetic and winning as Mina , while Miss Harriet Jay was a fair Lady Gordon . Miss Marie Stuart made a lively Scotch lassie . The Highland sword dance was capitally performed by fche Misses Nellie Mordecai and

Rosie Hall . The scenery is excellent , but the small stage rather encumbers the action of the piece . In consequence of the continued success of " Shadows of a Great City , " at tbe Princess ' s Theatre , a morning performance of this play

will be given on Saturday , 24 th instant , and upon every subsequent ; Saturday till further notice . On Thursday morning , 22 nd instant , the Princess ' s company will appear at tbe Crystal Palace , where they will present their successful drama for the second time .

The monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution took place at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . Edgar Bowyer P . G . Std . Br . and Treasurer of the Institution presided , and there were present Bros . Albert Fish , W . B . Daniell , John

Bulmer , James Brett P . G . P ., John Newton , A . H . Tattershall , Alex . Forsyth , Jabez Hogg P . G . D ., C . F .

Hogard , Charles Kempton , Joseph Freeman , A . Durrant , George Mickley , Hugh Cotter , John J . Berry , Thomas White P . G . P ., and James Terry P . G . S . B . Secretary . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read

and verified , the Secretary reported the death of four annuitants ( three male and one widow ) . The Warden ' s report for the past month having been submitted , the Secretary read a letter enclosing a cheque from the Grand

Secretary for £ 2 , 107 , being one-third part of the admission money to the Royal Albert Hall on the occasion of the Masonic Jnbilee meeting on the 13 th June last . An application from the widow of a late annuitant for half of her late husband ' s annuity having been granted , tbe proceeding terminated witb the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman .

That popular singer , well known to many of our readers , Madame Worrell , announces thafc her annual evening concert will take place at Brixton Hall , Acre Lane ,

near Brixton Church , ou Monday , 10 th October . Tickets ( 3 s . 2 s and ls each ) may be obtained of Madame Worrell , 69 Witshire Road , Brixton ; Mr . John Fenton , Post Office , 304 Brixtoi Road ; Miss Whitton , 428 Brixton Road ; and of Mr . H . Cox , Hall Keeper , Brixton Hall .