"Table Lodges."

The bond of fraternity is al'rcnjjt honed beeanse nil the Brethren have the knowledge of each ntlw in their social gatherings and learn what is the real ( .-harootor of each member . Those who . show a want of self- . 01 tin ] ; ro a warning to their Brethren .

A Table Lodge is an old institu ion nn . l it lias not yet demonstrated any objetion which might iwlnco its abolition . — 'i £ « ysfo * 4 < ' »

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

PROV . G . CHAPTER OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT .

fl ^ HE annual Provincial Gran d Chapter of the Province X of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight assembled on Monday afternoon , the 30 th ult ., at the new Masonic Hall , Lugley Street , Newport , under the presidency of the

Grand Superintendent ( Comp . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) , who was supported by Comp . J . E . Le Feuvre P . G . S . B . England P . G . H ., and a representative gathering of Companions , including G . F . Lancaster P . P . 3 rd G . Principal , G . Pearman P . P . G . O ., George J . Tilling P . G . Treasurer ,

D . S . Pring P . Z . P . P . G . D . O ., F . Rutland P . Z . P . P . G . O ., W . Miller P . Z . P . P . A . G . D . C ., G . Williams H . 2068 , W . Bates Z . 487 , Charles W . Bevis Z . 342 , Frank Trueman H . 175 , J . C . Airs I . P . Z . 175 , J . G . Garnham Z . 151 , G . A . Mursell Z . 151 P . P . G . R ., J . N . Palmer P . G . S . Eng ., R , Boughton Smith P . Z . P . P . G . J . Leicester and Rutland ,

M . F . Curtis Z . 1461 , L . Steele J . 394 , J . Lefcwich Z . 175 , G . Ward P . Z . 76 , R . E . Buckle P . Z . 1776 , Edward T . Wise H . 1461 , W . J . Miller J . 1461 , E . W . Watts P . Z . P . G . R . 151 , F . V . Paxton Z . 804 , Horace Groves J . 151 , Isaac Golden P . Z . 151 , H . W . Horan , R . G . Smith , W .

Lock , J . P . Pinnock , Fred . Pinnock , N . Armstrong , W . T . James , G . A . Brannon , J . Exell P . G . J ., G . Jones P . P . G . O ., J . H . Wavell I . P . Z . 151 , ' C . E . Pinnock , & o . After the

usual routine business had been disposed of Comp . G . J . Tilling was re-elected Treasurer ; and the Provincial Grand Superintendent appointed and invested the following as the Provincial Grand Officers for the year : —

Comp . J . E . Le Feuvre ... ... 2 nd Principal T . E . Faulkner 175 3 rd Principal E . Goble 309 ... ... S . E . G . Ward 76 S . N .

F . V . Paxton 804 ... ... Registrar F . Rutland 175 ... ... Principal Sojourner C . W . Bevis 342 ... ... 1 st Assistant Sojourner M . F . Curtis 1461 ... ... 2 nd Assistant Sojourner J . C . Borbage 1780 ... ... Sword Bearer

J . G . Garnham 151 ... ... Standard Bearer W . Bates 487 .,. ... Director of Ceremonies R . E . Buckle 1776 ... ... Assistant Dir . of Cers . G . Pearman 487 ... ... Organist G . F . Lancaster 257 ... ... Assistant S . E .

J . Exell 487 ... ... Janitor At the banquet which followed the company numbered abont forty .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Lyceum . —It WBB quite in accordance with the fitness of things that the birthday of our leading actor should have boon seleoted for the production of the tragedy of " Becket , " by the late Poet Laureate . Whether intentional or not the cirenrastarjee was certainly a happy coincidence . Those who have read Lord Tennyson's work will have beau struck with the beautiful imagery and many

noble passages it contains , though , as its author himself confessed , it was not in its original form suited for stage representation . Mr . Henry Irving has for some time been occupied in making judicious eliminations and transpositions , so that the Lyceum edition , while retaining the poet ' s words , makes an admirable dramatio work , with the story of the historic battle between the Church and the

Crown clearly and forcibly told . The play is now presented in a prologue and four acts , and opens with the avowed enmity of Queen JMoanor towards Becket and the friendship existing between King AOVK D < 1 ' 8 Chancellor - The relations of the King with Rosamund de Uifford are also intimated , and Henry requests the assistance of Becket to

convey the lady to a secret bowor , of which he gives him the plan . The scene closes with the announcement of Arohbishop ineobaldB death , and the intention of the King to appoint Becket to tne see of Canterbury . The first act shows the commencement of the swue ; in fcha words of the Primate , Henry has raised him to the office .

The Theatres, &C.

- . ^ - . ; ., ' , - . " "" . - . rr : -tJ " Believing that I shouW go against the Church with him ; and I shall go ajiaiusthim with the Church . " This sudden change of feelintc is historically correct , and is stated by the del chroniclers to hive been due to the divine blessing on the ceremony of his oonsecratirn ,

when the oourtinr chai > gfid into the mouk . The first rupture occurs at the Castle of Northampton , where the Archbishop refuses to sign the " Constitutions of Clarendon , " which relegates to the Sovereign power over the clergy . This is undoubtedly the finest scene in the piece from a psychological point of view . Aot two is devoted to

" Rosamund's Bovver , " the brightest and most pleasing part of the play . Aot three deals with a patched up reconciliation between Henry and his Primate , through the mediation of Louis of France : and tho legendary meeting of Eleanor and Rosamund , with the rescue of the latter by Becket . Iu the first scene of the final aot we see

Henry ' s hostility fanned to fury by tho Cardinal s enem e % until at length he bursts forth with the historic sentence which was too readily interpreted as the order for Becket'a murder . The scene of the tragedy is marvellously portrayed . Beoker , knowing the intention of the Barons aud courting martyrdom , has assieted at vespers

in the cathedral , surronnded by his frightened flock of pale-faced monks , when Fitzurse aud his companions demand admittance . In spite of all protests ho admits his foes , who falling like wolves upon their prey , smite down the Arohbishop before tho altar of St . Benedict , and he dies with tho beautiful words—" Into Thy hands , O

Lord , —into Thy hands . " As the lightning flashes and the thunder rolls overhead , Rosamund creeps from her hiding place and kneels beside the body tellinjr her beads , and the onrtain descends . ¦ Of Mr . Irving ' s interpretation of the principal oharacter there oan be no two opinions . Differing greatly from his rendering of the two

previous Cardinal Statesmen , Richelieu and Wolsey , that he has portrayed , we see the bigoted side of Becket ' s oharacter depicted . Believing that Mother Church must compel even the obedience of kings , he declines Henry ' s overtures of peace , even while his heart warms towards his former friend . This certainly deprives

him to a great extent of the sympathies of the audience , and it is only by sheer force of art that ho rises above the author . It is a magnificent performance , and thoroughly deserves the appreciative plaudits of the delighted audience . The next most striking oharacter ia that of Queen Eleanor ,

as represented by Miss Genevieve Ward , who , gorgeously apparelled , marches with regal carriage throughout the piece , a woman with u purpose—the destruction of her enemies . Speaking her HneB with admirable emphasis sho made every word tell , the scene with Rosamund being especially commendable . The impetuous

Henry was forcibly portrayed by Mr . Terriss ; and it . is almost unnecessary to state that Miss Elleu Terry made a most winsome Rosamund . Of the numerous body of Monks and Barons the most notable were Mr . Alfred Bishop as John of Salisbury , Mr . Laoy as Gilbert Foliot , and Mr . Frank Cooper as Fitzurse , while Mr . Acton

Bond ma le a dignified Louis of France , and Master Leo Byrne , a remarkably olever little boy , appeared as Rosamund's obild . Miaa . Kate Phillips is good as Margery , and mention should also be made : of Messrs . Beaumont , Holloway , Tyara , Gordon Craig , and Haviland in supplementary characters . Last but by no means least we must

record the truly beantifnl and magnificent mountings of the tragedy . To the ordinary spectator they will prove dolightfnl , but the student will revel in the fine pictures of the Plantagenet era placed before him . The historical costumes have been designed by Mrs . Comyna

Carr and Mr . Charles Cattermole j and Professor Vilhera Stanford has composed an elaborate overture and incidental music , whiob . deserve the recognition of artistes . The production has been a labour of love on the part of the soholarly manager , and no expense has been spared to render it worthy of the noble author .

Trafalgar Square . —Messrs . Yorke Stephens and E . W . Garden , two very capable actors , have now entered upon the management of this pretty theatre , and have produced tho three aot farcical comedy entitled " The County Councillor , " by Mr . H . Graham , that was produced last autumn at a matinee performauoe . The fun is caused by

a peouliar wedding present in the Bhape of a flask of drugged brandy given to an expeotant bridegroom on his wedding morning by a practical joker . The spirit is given first of all to a lawyer ' s clerk , Cripps , who serves a subpoena upon Dick Wellington as an important witness in a breaoh of promise case brought by Lottie Singleton , a

mnsio hall artiste , against Frank Doubleton . Having deposited Cripps in an old fashioned settee , Dick goes in search of a cab to take him away , but the driver finding it " a dry job" partakes of the brandy , with the result that Wellington finds be has two viotims instead of one . Mr . Faddicombe , the Councillor and intended

father-in-law , coming in search of Dick , likewise refreshes himself , and is deposited in the settee by Cripps , who has returned to his senses . Thus Dick ' s surprise may be imagined when he finds tho bodies changed . Two packets of love letters also figure in the piece , one , written by Faddicome to Lottie , passes into the hands of

various personages before the final explanation comes . The farce is rattled through , in a merry fashion , and though the hypocritical Faddicome is intended to refer to an incident of a too zealous member of the first County Council , it is thoroughly amusing . Mr . Yorke Stephens is exceedingly funny in portraying the dilemmas

of Dick Wellington , and Mr . Garden is capitally placed as the vulgar linen draper , who poses as the virtuous councillor . Miss Fanny Brough makes a vivacious Lottie Singleton , and Mr . Cyril Maude

¦ works hard to make fun as Cripps . Mr . Mark Kinghorne as Doubleton , together with Misses Helen Leyton and Nellie Williams as Faddicombe ' s daughters , also assist in the general amusement , and the farce iB greeted throughout with roara of laughter .

The popular Mohawk Minstrel , Mr . William Francis , will take his annual benefit at the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , on Thursday next , the 23 rd inafc ., when a whole host of artistes will assist .