Commemoranda.

sight-seers , so that the Londoners had no reason to be dissatisfied . It is seldom we have more brilliant weather , and if the kind of pleasure indulged in had far too much of the make believe about it , that too , we imagine , must be taken as an essential feature in the programme .

Other attractions there were on the same day . At Lord ' s , the first important match of the season , North v . South , for the benefit of the M . C . Professional Fund , was played . North went first to the wickets , but only put together 90 runs ( A . Marshall 13 , A Shaw , not out , 26 ) , the bowling

of Southerton , who took nine out of the ten wickets , being far too effective , South made 123 ( Charlwood 24 , Mr . G . F . Grace and Pooley each 22 , and T . Pierce 21 ) , or 33 to the good . In its second innings North scored only 72 , of which Clayton , the only one who reached double figures ,

made 27 . This left the South just 40 to win , which they did Avithout the loss of a wicket , Mr . W . G . Grace being answerable for 28 , and Jupp 13 . Thus this three days ' match was concluded in a single day , a result unsatisfactory

as regards tho Professional Fund . There were not far short of 10 , 000 spectators . The next North and South match is fixed for the 27 th , and following days , at Prince ' s , for the benefit of the Cricketers' Fund . There have been

several other matches played , in one of which , Cambridge University v . Surrey , a good total was achieved , the Cantabs making 342 in their only innings , nine of the eleven being in doubles . Surrey scored 170 and 125 in its two innings , being thus defeated by an innings and 47 runs .

In the Athletic world we have to note the Dulwich College sports , held on Saturday , on their own ground , and tho Kennington School sports the same day , at Lillie Bridge . At both these meetings the attendance of friends and visitors was very considerable , especially at the former .

The Dulwich grounds are prettily situate , and there is always a very fairdisplayof Athletic power . A . Meredith , who won the hurdles , the long jump , the final of the hundred yards , and throwing the cricket ball ( distance 93 yds . 2 in . ) , being the most conspicuous , as he was the most successful

performer . Beebe won the Avalking race , by fair walking , but in slow time . There are few meetings so genial as a Public School Athletic Fete . The boys enter so heartily into the spirit of the contest , and the pretty sisters and she-cousins take such an interest in the various contests .

The Athletic Fete in the Alexandra Palace Grounds on Monday presented a sorry contrast . There was no order , no management , in fact . The trial heats should never have been run , and Mr . Clements , the judge , showed judgment in postponing tho finals and the two miles open

handicap till a future occasion . To-day the most attractive Athletic meeting is fixed to come off at Lillie Bridge . All the world finds its way to this ground on the occasion of the Civil Service Sports . There is always good sport , and good music and gay dresses greatly enhance the

pleasure of the night . The various Yacht Clubs have already bestirred themselves into activity , the Royal London , tho Royal Alfred , the Royal Ulster and others having held their opening cruises , and not a few matches . Polo , again , is in force at Lillie-bridge , and there is to be a skating-rink

there for tho ladies . The Four-in-Hand clubs' first meeting is fixed for 5 P . M . on Wednesday next , the locale being the Magazine in Hyde Park , The Coaches are now in full swing of Avork . The Crystal Palace flower show will be held on Saturday next , and there are other botanical fetes

already announced . Thus the entertainments of all kinds as arranged for the present season are both numerous and varied enough to suit all tastes . Nor must we pass over the Royal Academy and the other Picture Galleries , which every one is expected to do more or less thoroughly , or tho

Operas , both Her Majesty ' s and the Royal Italian , Madame Christine Nilsson and Mdlle Titiens being the reigning favourites at the former , Madame Adelina Patti and Mdlle Albani at the latter . Perhaps the most important of late has been the production , at the Royal Italian , of Herr

Wagner . s ronr .-ntic opera . "Lohengrin . Ihc house was crowded the first nioht of its performance , the Prince and Princess of Wales , ire Duke and Duchess of Teck , the Dowager Grand Lncu'ss of Meeklenlnirg-Strelitz , the Duke of Connaught and i ; ce Louis of Battcnberg being

among the audience . Some parts of the opera were loudly applauded , but others were ill-received . Madame Adelina Patti has also made her first appearance at the same

house in Dinorahj while the principal performers at Her Majest y ' s have been Madame Christine Nilsson ami Mdlle . Titiens . There are , likewise , the Floral Hall Concerts , the Saturday " Pops" at the Alexandra Palace ,

Commemoranda.

the Crystal Palace Summer Concerts , and various at the Royal Albert Hall and elsewhere . We do not doubt that our musical readers will be able to find some pleasure amidst so many attractions ; if they cannot , they must be hard indeed to please .

As to home politics , thero is but little to excite interest , Parliament re-assembled after the Whifcsun recess on

Thursday , and forthwith set itself to work . Abroad , there appears to be a very unsettled feeling . Peaceful rumours are in the ascendant . Any immediate disturbance of tho peace of Europe seems , for the present at least , unlikely . But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the

elements of danger are in great force , and that , any moment , a state of things may arrive , when the efforts to maintain peace of the ablest statesmen may be paralysed . Europe is very much in the position of the man seated over an open barrel of gunpowder , smoking his

pipe . It may escape an explosion , but the slightest spark will produce one . As to actual news there is little to record . The French Assembly has met again . The Emperor Francis Joseph has returned to his capital , and experienced a very hearty reception from the Viennese .

We fancy few sovereigns stand so high in the estimation of the world as the Emperor-King . Spain is in statu quo , but the Pope has paid Masonry the very great compliment of abusing us , the new pamphlet of the Bishop of Orleans being the text of his sermon . We refer to this subject elsewhere .

Ihe regular meeting of the Grand Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , the 19 th inst ., at Freemasons ' Hall , Bro . John Clabon P . G . D ., President , in the chair . Tho Grand Lodge of Benevolence was opened , and Bro . J . Hervey G . S . read the minutes of the former meeting , nominations for brethren to serve on the Board of General

Purposes , Colonial Board , Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and the Audit Committee . Grants from the former meeting were confirmed , and new grants , to the amount of ; 6301 , were awarded to 13 applicants . The Grand Lodge of Benevolence was then closed . Among

the members present were Bros . J . Nunn P . G . S ., J . Savage P . G . D ., J . Smith P . G . P ., Brackstone Baker P . G . D ., T . Cubitt P . G . P ., J . Brett P . G . P ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., Hyde Clark D . G . M . ( Turkey ) , J . E . Saunders P . G . D ., Henry Smith , J . A . Rucker P . G . D .. W . Smith P . G . S .,

Griffiths Smith P . G . S ., March P . G . S ., Jas . Willing , J . R . Stedwell P . G . S ., J . Wright G . P ., Cox , Crick , Hilton , C . Pulman , L . J . Drew , W . O . Parsons , H . Garrod , Kcnnett , W . Mann , Purkiss , Middleton , H . Gabb , Payne , W . Stephens , H . M . Levy , J . Hervey G . S ., H . G . Buss , Pendlcbury , & c .

H . R . H . the M . W . Gz'and Master , having graciously sanctioned tho 77 th Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys being held at the Alexandra Palace , and the Palace being engaged for 30 th June , the Board of Stewards have decided , with the consent of the

Chairman , the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro . Grand Master , that the Festival shall be held on Wednesday , 7 th July 1 . 875 , instead of the date originally fixed . The following brethren have been elected as special Stewards : —

. Bros . F . Acllard ? , C . J . Morgan 8 , W . R . Marsh 9 , Joseph Clever 12 , C . W " . Gray 22 , 1 . J . H . Wilkins 73 , Joseph Griffin 90 , John Seex 186 , Edward Jones 192 , Sig . Rosenthal 435 , Thomas J . Cusworth 813 , Samuel Hose 1155 , Goo . W . Terry 1278 , William Kipps 1531 , II .

Hacker , Prov . of Hants . I . of W . ; Thomas Smith , Kent ; J . H . Thompson , Middlesex ; Charles Moody , Surrey ; Thomas J . Morris , W . Yorkshire ; Thomas J . Sabine , Mark Degree ; Henry Yetm , Rose Croix and the Officers of the Board , cv-officio . With power to add to their number .

At the Guildhall Tavern , Greahara Street , on Friday , 14 th instant , a testimonial war ; presented to Bro . Gore , late second Clerk at the Mansion House . In the absence of Benjamin Scott , Esq ., the Chamberlain , the chair was taken by Bro . J . li . Monckfon . He regretted tho

absence of the Chamberlain , and in the course of an eloquent speech said he was pleased to have had the opportunity of presenting the testimonial , as ho ( Bro . Monckton ) had started in life as an attorney , in

Kent , and at that time he never thought that ho and Bro . Gore would bo associated in the same Corporation . Bro . Gore , it was true , had retired from it early , but he was pleased to say that he was leaving one post of honour