Laying The Memorial Stone Of The Victoria Public Library At Grangemouth.

oftener and remain longer . Speaking from the personal knowledge we have of his Lordship , I have no hesitation in saying he is a gentleman possessed of a very liberal mind , and is ever ready to come forward when able to do good . We have had a most striking instance of his liberality to-day . He has , as you are all aware , contributed a

handsome sum towards the building fund of the Library . That Library , as his Lordship has pointed out , will , it is to be hoped , prove a boon and benefit to the people of Grangemouth , and I am confident his Lordship is prepared to assist , not only tho public Library , but auything that has a tendency towards the welfare of

this particular sectiou of his domains . This is the third occasion on whioh his Lordship has come to Grangemouth for the purpose of laying a memorial stone , and on every occasion I have had the honour of taking part in the demonstration . I hope that his Lordship will soon be here again for the purpose of laying another memorial stone ,

and that it will be the memorial stone of Z 9 tland Lodge , of which his Lordship is a member . We all know that his Lordship has contributed to several local matters recently , and it is just possible he may pay a visit to Zetland Lodge . When he does come I have no doubt he will treat ns in the same handsome manner as he has done the

Pnblio Library . The toast was received with enthusiasm , the brethren singing "For he's a jolly good fellow . " Lord Zetland , on rising to reply , said : Right Worshipfnl Master and Brethren , I beg to thank you most sincerely for the extremely

kind manner in whioh this toast has been proposed , and for the very oordial manner in which it has been received . I can only say that in proposing this toast the Worshipful Master of this Lodge has spoken of me in much too flattering terms . I can assure you , brethren , I have looked back on every ocoasion on which I have

come to Grangemouth in a publio capacity with the greatest possible pleasure , and the oordial and kiud manner in which I have always been received on these occasions has been deeply imprinted on my memory , and it will be long before I forget what has passed on the present occasion . I confess that the Worshipful Master of this

Lodge has paid me the greatest possible honour in saying that it is his wish , and the wish of the other members , that my visits to Grangemouth should be more frequent and of longer duration . He has been good enough to say he hopes the day will soon arrive when I will come to lay a Lodge memorial stone , and do it in a handsome

manner . I can only say that when the time arrives that question will receive very great consideration from me . My only regret on this occasion is that it is not in my power to spend a longer time with you . I must thank you most sincerely for your kind reception , and before I sit down I must say that I feel the thanks of those who

have taken part in the ceremony to-day are due to the Worshipful Master and brethren for their most excellent arrangements and kind hospitality—the excellent arrangements for carrying out the proceedings of the day , and the kind hospitality of which we have been

partakers . Lord Zetland left shortly after concluding his remarks , the brethren rising to their feet and honouring him by singing the " Merry Masons " as he withdrew . Several other toasts were given .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

CANDIDATES FOR THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Under the above heading , in last week ' s issue , you strongly urge the absolute necessity for the Committee to declare a larger number of vacancies for election on the 27 th inst . Now , it must be well known to every observant visitor to the

Girls' School that the class rooms and dining room are fall , tho latter to overflowing — whilst the dormitories are crowded in every corner ; with this fact before ns , you say " it would be hard to justify the action of the Committee in refusing to declare extra vacancies . " Why ? Gimply becauso the Craft has contributed a large

sum at the recent Festival—not because tho buildings aro capable of holding more children . In my hnmble opinion tho fewer we admit the better , during tho reconstruction of the buildings . Ti ..- _ - additional beds at the Junior School will certainly not hold the children displaced for a time during buildiug operations . For thoso reasons I entirely

disagree with your leader , nor can I advocate paying for children out of the School . Those who were acquainted with these Institutions 30 years ago will remember how this privilege waa abused , more particularly in tho case of the Boys . If you can find space for the above yon will oblige , Yours fraternally , A VICE PATRON OV THE THREE INSTITUTIONS

A CARD . —Ax IMPORTANT DISCOVERY is announced in the " Paris Figaro , " of a valuable remedy for nervous debility , physical exhaustion , and kindred complaints . This discovery was made by a missionary in Old Mexico ; it saved him from a miserable existence

and premature decay . ihe Rev . Joseph Holmes , Bloomsbary Mansions , Bloomsbury Square , London , W . C ., will send the prescription , free of charge , on receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope , Mention taio paper .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — St . James's . —Thi 3 theatre was re . opened on Saturday last , when Mr . Rutland Barrington entered into possession . The pieoe chosen was Messrs . Sydney Grnndy and F . C . Philips' four act play " The Dean's Daughter . " Albeit this is woll written and constructed , it is a play that loaves an nnsavonry flavour behind it .

Doubtless tho characters are taken from real life , bat we hardly think such people are dosirnble on the stage . The plot is as follows : The Rev . Aagastus St . Aubyn deliberately sells his daughter in marriage to a man who is old enough to be her father , with result that unpleasant times come aboat . Sir Henry Craven is proud of

having such a womau for his bride , bat he also has dealings with another woman , and his escapade is tho talk of the clubs . Tho young wife accidentally hears that horhu 3 band is going to Constantinople and is about to take another woman with him . She bega her husband to take her , but he doolinos . After warning him there is

danger in leaving her behind , she makes a final plea , bat the old man is obstinate . Of coarse tho wife is sabjeoted to temptation by a young and handsome man being thrown in her way , and when her husband learns of this he retains , only to find her in the arms of her admirer , who has caught her as she fainted , after being insulted by

Russian prince . A divorce follows , and not until tho wife ha 3 gone through some further trouble is she allowed to meet her real lover , who promises to make hor his wife . The termination to the pHy is most abrupt , and leaves the audience to form its own conclusion on many details . Luckily the acting is good ; if it were not the play

would be uninteresting . As the Rev . St . Aubyn , Mr . Barrington has a very difficult part , and but for very careful handling it would become repulsive . A clergyman who thinks of nothing else than drinking and eating , and who preaches Christian resignation , is hardly an agreeable acquaintance . Miss Olga Nethersole was most earnest

as the young wife ; her scene in the second act was oapitally enacted , while in other parts she played with dignity and feeling . Miss Caroline Hill delivered the good lines she had with point , and by that means enlivened the piece considerably . Mr . Lewis Waller

made a manly and interesting lover . Mr . John Beanchamp was tho husband , Mr . Edward Sass the Russian Prince , while Miss Adrienne Dairolles made a capital servant . The piece was carefully mounted and staged .

Princess's . —Saveral changes in " Tho Still Alarm" have recently beon inaugurated , aud with advantage . The piece has been made more English , a fire engine of the London type is now requisitioned , while two Enerlish horses have b ? en substituted for the

American ones . The " pruning knife " has been liberally used , and the play runs along smoothly . Mr . Charles Glenny now plays the hero , and iu such a spirited mamier that the piece is greatly benefited . Another alteration is Mr . Bassett Roe as Doc Wilbur in

the place of Mr . Harry Parker . The broken down old cripple is most forcibly portrayed by Mr . Roe , who acts with such nervous force throughout that he brings an already prominent part right to the front . Mr . E . W . Garden has taken Mr . Harry Nicholls

pai t of Willie Manley , aud is exceedingly amusing , while Mr . G . Dalzcll now makes a fairly good Franklin Fordham . Mr . W . L . Abingdon is good as John Bird , while Miss Fanny Leslie and Miss Cicely Richards are as anmsiug as ever .

Miss Grace Hawthorne has arranged with Mr . Henry Pettitt for tho production of "Hands Across the Sea" at the Princess ' s Theatre , to follow " The Still Alarm , " the first week in November . The cast will bo an exceptionally strong one , aud the scenery , which is very elaborate , will be painted by several of tho leading artists .

Saturday , the 27 th inst ., has been appointed for tho private view of the Autumn Exhibition ( the Sixteenth ) of tho 19 th Century Art Society , at the Conduit Street Galleries , and tho exhibition will opou to the public on Monday , 29 th inst .

Brother J . F . H . Woodward , who siuco tho lamented decease of Bro . Henry Levander has so ably undertaken the duties of Provincial Grand Secretary for the Province of Middlesex , finding his engagements now occupy all his

time , has deemed it necessary to tender his resignation as Provincial Grand Secretary , to the R . W . the Provincial Grand Master , which resignation Sir Francis Burdett has accepted . We are iuforrned that Sir Francis has appointed

as Bro . Woodward ' s successor Bro . Howard H . Room P . M . and present J . W . Royal Hanover Lodge , No . 1777 , aud ho trusts the Masters and Secretaries of tho Lodges will e-ive to him the same cordial support in carrying on the business

of the Province which they have accorded to Bro . Woodward during the past lour years . Bro . Room ' s address is 30 Eardley Crescent , Earl ' s Court , S . W ., and all

communications relating to Masonic business in connection with tho Province of Middlesex should in future be addressed to him .

Comp . W . H . Lee P . P . G . Standard Bearer , and lately Assistant Provincial Grand Scribe E ., will succeed Comp . Woodward as Scribe E . of the Province of Middlesex-.

Comp . Lee ' s address is 32 Shakespeare Road , Heme Hill , S . E ., to him all communications relating to Chapter business should in future be addressed . We must crave indulgence from our friends . We arc again compelled to hold over several important matters .