The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Lyceum . —It is very seldom that we see such a gathering as attended this theatre last Saturday evening , the occasion being the return of Mr . Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry from their successful American tour . Punctually at eight o ' clock the orchestra commenced the overture to " Faust , " and on looking around we

found that the seats , with but few exception *? , were occupied . The audience was a most representative one , and when the mist disappeared aud Mr . Irving was seen on the stage , the shout that went up will long bo remembered by all present . It was two or three minntes before the play could be proceeded with . But for one or

two hitches in the scenery , everything went as smoothly as of yore . Tho welcome accorded Miss Terry was as great as that to Mr . Irving , in fact the whole of the well trained company camo in for round after round of applause . As for " Faust " itself , we may say that the numerous little touches introduced since we last saw it has

vaatly improved the action of the piece . The Mephistopheles of Mr . Irving is a grand creation , perfect in every particular , and ever what it shonld be—a devil . Then we have a charming Margaret in the person of Miss Terry , who was never seen to greater advantage in the character than on Saturday . As for Mr . Alexander as " Faust , "

Mr . Glenney as the soldier , Mrs Chippendale as Dame Martha , and the rest of the company , we need bnt say thoy worked with a will , and the result was an unqualified success . With regard to the staging , it was done completely , and but for the one or two hitches

already referred to , would have been perfect . At the conclusion , Mr . Irving was called on for a speech , and ho announced that after a month of "Faust , " he intends to produce " The Amber Heart , " in which Miss Terry recently scored such a success . A version of " Robert Macaire " was also promised .

If Messrs . T . Edgar Pembleton and W . H . Ternon's new drama , " The Loadstone , " was written expressly for Miss Genevieve Ward , we are afraid it will fail in the object it was intended for . A thinly constructed plot has been spun through four acts , while the wished for heroine has but really two good situations , and these occur in the

last act , when moat of her audience have grown weary of waiting for a good scene . Throughout tbe piece the action is slow , while the curtains are as ineffective as could possibly be conceived . The first act is drawn ont far too long , and becomes terribly monotonous , and not until the scene between Warbnrton and Lady Polwarth is

there anything like excitement . " The Loadstone " will best be described as a melodrama without excitement or strength . Fifteen years before the play opens Sir Polwarth was murdered by his constant adviser Kirke Warbnrton , who was in love with Lady Polwarth , but now Kate Trevenna is the damsel he favours . He

threatens this girl with all kinds of penalties unless she consents to be his wife , but Kate is befriended by Lady Polwarth , who has recovered her senses , which she lost after tho death of her husband . Later on , all the principals meet in Cornwall , where Warbnrton has conceived a plot to disinherit Osmund Polwarth . He is , however ,

defeated by Lady Polwarth , whose madness has again asserted itself . She first accuses Warbnrton of the crime , and then shoots him , after this there is a long and tedious dying scene , spun out to a length that wearies every one . As Lady Polwarth , Miys Ward had nothing to do until the last act , but here she came out

vigorously ; yet failed to impress her audience . Miss Ward ' s dying scene was good , bnt length spoiled the effect . As the villain , Mr . W . H . Vernon had not mastered his part ; he was , however , cool and colected . Mr . Fuller Mellish was a manly Osmund Polwarth , while Mr . Edward Sass was a conventional

doctor . The best character in the piece was that of an old boatman ; for this Mr . Arthur Wood gained well deserved applause . Miss Dorothy Dene was sufficiently miserable as Kate Trevenna , while Mr . Leonard Outram had evidently not studied the little he had to do . A rather cool reception was accorded the piece , but the authors received a call .

Princess ' s . — " Dorothy Gray , " a drama by Mr . A . Nisbet , whioh was produced at this theatre recently , is a work not likely to be much heard of in London , unless considerable alteration be made . The plot is feeble , while several of the situations are absurd and unreliable . From a man with such experience as Mr . Nisbet has

acquired , we are suprised that such a weak play should emanate . It was announced that the play was written for Miss Grace Hawthorne , and with this object in view the author has written up a character that combines a woman betrayed , deserted , a phenomenon in the way of singing : one who goes mad , only to be brought to her senses

by tho help of her lover . All this balderdash is clumsily put together , and it entirely unsuited to tbe West End . It is not our intention to give an outline of the play , we need only say that those engaged worked hard and deserved success , even though it was not attained . A friendly audience called for Mr . Nisbet , but announcement was made that he was not in the house .

As the final nights of "Frankenstein" at the Gaiety approach , so the last two of the annual benefits is announced . On Monday , Mr . Fred Leslie takes his benefit , when numerous attractive

incidentals will be given ; while on Thursday , the courteous acting manager , Mr . F . J . Potter , will invito the support of his frionds . Mr . Potter will rely on " Frankenstein" for the chief item in his programme , and we trust the selection will prove a happy one .

Thursday , the 26 th inst ., haa been appointed for the reception of Works of Art intended for the Summer Exhibition ( tho fifteenth ) of the 19 th Century Art Society , at thu Conduit Street Galleries . We are "lad to call the attention of our readers to Bro . , T . F .

Haskins' Benefit Concert , which will take place next Thursday evening , the 26 th inst ., at Shoreditch Town Hall , The lift of artistes will include such names as Madame Edith Wynne , Mis . s Ethel Wynue , Miss Minnie Kirton , Miss Lavinia Walker , and others .

The Theatres, &C.

Bros . Arthur Thomas , Prenton , Alderton , Weston and Olive . The celebrated actor , Mr . Hermann Vezin , will give a recital , and one of his pupils , Miss Deane , 1 years of age , will also appear . Messrs . Kift and Pritohard will be the humorists , and Miss Titterton .

violinist , will perform a solo . The pianoforte pupils of Bro . Haskins will perform Herald's overture to Z * impa , on two graud pianofortes and harmonium . With such talent Bro . Haskins must score a big honse . Bro . Haskins is Organist to Lodges 22 , 5194 , 212 , 1364 , and 2168 .

MASONIC ENTERTAINMENTS .

rpHE Centenary ofthe Royal Masonic Institntion for Girls , St . John a-1 hill , Battersea Rise , London , is to be commemorated by the creation of a fund of £ 22 , 000 required to carry out the extension of the Institution . Freemasons have been asked to make special efforts , and among those who have readily responded to this appeal is Mr . Alderman Williamson , J . P ., of this city . Mr . Williamson has

achieved a conspicuous position in Masonry , and although he has not undertaken any engagement for public recitals for some years pasfc , he has very kindly resumed the exercise of his undoubted elocutionary powers with a view to the furtherance of the interests of the Institution named . Mr . Williamson has entertained and delighted audiences

at Stonrport , Halesowen , and Kidderminster . He was present at a dramatic and musical entertainment held in the last named place on Tuesday evening , and his efforts were very heartily applauded by a large audience . The local papers state that Mr . Williamson has " a fine sonorous voice and a good deal of histrionic ability . " The

Alderman read portions of the play of Hamlet . The ghost scene was rendered with a dramatic effect which only an accomplished elocutionist could produce . The grave-diggers' scene was also admirably given , Mr . Williamson showing , in this performance , versatility as well

as genuine histrionic instinct . Later on the Alderman recited Macaulay ' s lay , " Horatius , " in a most spirited aud effective manner , but the much anticipated piece of " Rubinstein's Piano , " which is , perhaps , one of the most powerful performances in Mr . Williamson's repertoire , had to be omitted . —Worcestershire Echo .

The arrangements made for the rehearsal of the ceremonies of Consecration and Installation , at the Nelson Lodge of Instruction , No . 700 , at the Masonic Hall , Woolwich ' , on Tuesday next , lead tis to anticipate that a

large attendance will result . Bro . Frederick Binckes , who will act as Consecrating Officer , will be assisted by Bro . W . W . Morgan and a strong body of Masons popular in the locality . Lodge will be opened at 6 * 30 , and visitors will receive a cordial welcome .

Tenders are invited for the erection of a Masonic Hall at Kirkburton , Yorks . Plans may be seen , and quantities obtained , for the various works , from 20 th to 24 fch inst , Apply to Mr . J . W . Cocking , architect , Kirkburton .

Bro . H . W . Smith , the courteous assistant clerk to Messrs . Shipton and Hallewell , at the Chesterfield County Bench , and also known to Freemasons as an official of the Scarsdale Lodge , has been obliged to undergo the amputation of a leg , owing to an accident .

From an announcement which appears elsewhere it will be seen that a company has been formed , under the title of the British Fish Culture Society Limited , for the purpose of increasing the food supply , by the culture and sale of every description of Fish , and fco

increase the value of landed property , by stocking the inland waters and rivers with Fish , and by establishing Fish farms and erecting Fisheries . The capital of the Society is £ 50 , 000 , divided into shares of £ 1 each , full , particulars in regard to the payments , & c . on which will be found in the advertisement in our present ; issue .

Bro . Edwin Morgan died , at his residence , Frogmore-street , Abergavenny , on the 16 th ult . The deceased gentleman was one of the proprietors of the Abergavenny Chronicle , and had carried on a sneessful business as a printer and stationer in Abergavenny , of whioh place he was a native , for about a quarter of a century .

A new form of Freemasonry has come into being . It is one whioh if it becomes somewhat universal , will do much for the world a , large . It is a Christian Freemasonry , which , if developed , will compel the sceptic to exclaim , like ono of old , " Soe how these Christiana love one another . " Its basis is Christian charity . A card of

membership simply requires all who associate to render loyal and faithful obedience to the Spirit of Him who taught " Love one another . " Its aim is to promote personal holiness , and its members are invited to promote the spirit of unity amongst Christians , and that righteousness which exalteth a nation . — Yarmouth Gazette .

Abis , it is so easy even for brethren of the mystic tie to forget that wonderful saying , "And now abide : ) - , ' -- _ . ..,.- , !¦' , ¦• * -: h , Hope , and Charity , and the greatest of these ; C :.. i * . '*'

A CARD . —AN IMI'O UTA - DISCOVERY is announced in the "Paris Figaro , " of a valuable remedy for nervous debility , physical exhaustion , aud kindred complaints . The discovery was made by a missionary in Old Mexico ; it saved him from a miserable existence

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