Royal Arch.

Finsbury Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 1288 . —Held at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Saturday , tho 7 th inst ., Brothers Loveday W . M ., A-istin S . W ., Taylor J . W ., Thorn S . D ., Coxon J . D ., Pinchin I . G ., HaU Preceptor , AUtia Treasurer , Hale acting Secretary , and Bros * . While ? , Gregory , T . 0 . Elmon . ls , Newbold , Pallat , Bishop , Boohhoffer , Smith , Bi-yen , ami others . The first and see md sections of the first lecture were worked by Bro . H ill , assisted by tho brethren .

The ceremony of initiation n * h' > arsed , Bro . Hall oandiuat . This being election ni ^ ht . 15 ns . II ill , Aldi , und Ans ; en wero unanimously re-elected as Preeeptjr , Treasurer , un . l Secretary for tho ensning year . Bro . Edmonds proposed a voto of thanks to be recorded on the minutes of the Lodge for their grea ** services and kind courtesy for the past year . Carried . Lodge was closed in peace and harmony . Brethren are cordially invited to attend .

Metropolitan Lodge of Instruction , No . 1507 . —Held at the Moorgate , Finsbury Pavement , on Monday , the 9 th instant . Present—Bros . Jackson W . M ., Gurnet * S . W ., Smith J . W ., Smith S . D ., Williams I . G ., Stiles Preceptor , Saalos Treasurer , Saunders Secret-try . Ceremony of raising rehearsed , Bro . Ellinger candidate . TBi * TV . if . vacated the ohair i-. t favonr cf Bro . Spooner W . M . elect of the

Crioklewood Lodge , who performed the ceremony of initiation in a very earnest and praiseworthy manner , gaining the approbation of some thirty brethren . ' Bro . T . C . Edmonds acted as candidate . Several brothren were received as members of this popular Lodgo of Instruction . All business being ended , Lodge was closed in peace aud harmony .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Terry ' s . —Miss Janet Steer , supported by a talented company which includes such names as Messrs . Murray Carson , Herbert Waring , Fred Kerr , and Miss Olga Brandon has opened this theatre for the season with a play by Messrs . Lawrence Olde and Maurice Noel ,

entitled "An American Bride . " Miss Steer doubtless intends this piece for a stop-gap pending the production of one likely to be more popular , but it is a pity for her clever colleagues that they did not have a better opportunity to start with . The handsome manageress has the heartiest wishes of her many admirers for her success .

Moore and Burgess Minstrels . —An entertainment that can show an unbroken run of twenty-eight years must surely be something out of the common , yet this has been accomplished by the popular troupe of " nigger" minstrels , established by Mr . G . VV . Moore and the lata Mr . Frederick Burgess in 1865 . The company

recently celebrated thoir twenty-ninth anniversary at the St . James ' Hall , when the" programme was interspersed by several of tho old Bongs that achieved such success years ago , and became popular in the English speaking world . The genial manager is over up to date , and has therefore introduced a " variety " second part which is

supported by several music ball artistes , and the entertainment concludes with a most diverting sketch entitled "The Masquerade Ball , " in which the entire company appear . A t ? r this length of time it may be safely said that tho Moore and Burgess Minstrels ai * a one of tho attractions of London .

Mr . George Edwardes has lately introduced at the Gaiety , for the decorations and upholstery of tho auditorium , a new and extremely beautiful fabric , which has already become popular for purposes of

household decoration , both on account of the durable nature of tho material as well as for its artistic appearance . It is known as " Romola figured corded velvet , " and is a close imitation of ancient Venetian tapestry .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 74.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 74 .

BY BRO . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D .

To THE W . M . AND BRETHREN OF THE TYNWALD LODGE , No . 1242 , ON BEING ELECTED AN HONORARY MEMBER OF THE LODGE . Out goes my heart to Mona ' s bonny Isle—Where many hours of perfect bliss I ' ve spent ; With ne'er a cloud to dim my soul the while

—With ne er a thought to mar my sweet content . What though my body dwells in murky town ? My mind recks not its carking , sordid ways * They cannot hold my buoyant spirit down , Nor quell the torrent of my passion's praise

To you , my Brethren of TWELVE FORTY -TWO , Who ' ve honoured mo far more than tongue can tell By opening to me good LODGE TYNWALD true

Whene ' er I choose to seek its citadel . Words are too weak , too powerless , and too erode , To speak my thanks or tell my gratitude . Winder House , Bradford , 17 th October 1893 .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 74.

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on the 11 th inst . Bro . Henry Smith P . G . D . D . P . G . M . West Yorkshire occupied the chair , and was

well supported . The minutes of the previous Committee having been read and verified , the Secretary reported tho deaths of three male annuitants , and of Brother Frederick Burgess P . G . Steward Vice-Patron , who , by hia will , haa

bequeathed one-third ot the residue of his estate to the Institution iu the event of his daughter dying without issue . He also reported that a widow who had applied for half her husband's annuity had been unable to produce her

marriage certificate , and , therefore , that the money had nofc been paid . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read , and also that of tho Finance Committee , which was adopted , and ordered to be entered on tho minutes . The

Committee then took into their consideration the petitions of four candidates ( three male and one widow ) , wifch the result that ono of the male petitions was rejected , and the remaining threo accepted . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .

The Earl of Haddington , in compliance with tho strong desire of the Grand Committee , has consented to be nominated for the third year as Grand Master Mason of Scotland .

We noted in a recent issue thafc fche Dnke of Cambridge was about to become a brother and , Patron of the Ancient Order of Buffaloes . This has now become an accomplished fact , the following telegram having been received in reply

to one of congratulation : — " Thanks . Two hundred registered , twenty-five made . Brilliant Gathering . " From the S . P ., Great Eastern Lodge R . A . O . B ., the Institute , Southend-on-Sea .

Some of the ladies of Windermere were much exercised in their minds in regard to the Masonio parade which took place there a few days ago . One of them , with characteristic curiosity , went so far as to declare thafc she would

give all she had ( a problematic quantity ) to participate in a knowledge of the rites and secrets of the Order . Why , bless you , dame , you would think you had made a poor " swop . " For a shilling or two the fullest information thereon can

be picked up at almost any London book shop . If you could only bo assured that Freemasonry is no more than what your friend the Princo of Wales described ifc fco

bean order and an institution of charity and usefulness—you would cease to trouble yourself about it . Indiscreet or treacherous brethren havo revealed its secrets to the world a dozen times over . —Westmoreland Gazette .

Thoro will ho a competition to-day at the Staines range amongst Masonic Volunteer Lodges for some handsome gavels presented by Bro . Col . Georgo Lambert , whose interest in Craft and volunteer matters seems to be as strong as ever .

Obituary.

Obituary .

—• BEO . JOSEPH HARMER 2156 . _

IT IS witb great regret that we annonnce the death of Brother Joseph Harmer , of the Arthur Sullivan Lodge , No . 2156 , Manchester . On Wednesday of last week , Bro . Harmer , who was an accomplished musician , visited his Lodge , apparently in good health , and played a violin solo

which was received wifch acclamation . It appears thafc Bro . Harmer was suffering from a complaint which necessitated his becoming an inmate of the Manchester Infirmary , where he underwent an operation to which he

unfortunately succumbed on Monday . Our deceased brother was a young man possessed of superior attainments , and what promised to be a brilliant career has been cut short by his untimely death .

BRO . HENRY MARSHALL . TUE interment of this brother , on fcho 2 Gth ulfc ., at Walton ( Liverpool ) Parish Churchyard , was attended by a large

number oi members of the Craft . Among the wreaths was a handsome one from thc members of the Kirkdale Lodge , No . 1756 .