Royal Arch.

Grand Superintendent , seconded by Comp . Geo . Cooper ? a hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho members of the Colne Valley for the excellent arrangements they had made for the reception of Provincial Grand Chapter .

At the conclusion of the business the Companions dined together at the George Hotel , under the genial presidency of the Grand Superintendent . A most excellent repast was well served by tho host of the George , Mr . Tuinell .

Consecration Of The William Shurmur Chapter, No. 2874.

CONSECRATION OF THE WILLIAM SHURMUR CHAPTER , No . 2874 .

SINCE the constitution of Provincial Grand Chapter in the Province of Essex in 1883 , when there were but four Chapter . * , Royal Arch Freemasonry has been gradually extending in the county , the formation of the Plume Chapter in July last year briugimr np the number to nine . The tenth Chapter was added to the roll on Thursday , the 1 st inst ., when the Grand Superintendent , Companion

Fred . A . Philbriok , Q . C ., Grand Registrar ( Recorder of Colchester ) , attended at the Royal Forest Hotel , Cbingford , and in antient and solemn form consecrated a Chapter to be attached to the William Shurmnr Lodge , No . 2874 . The Grand Superintendent was assisted by the following Provincial Grand Officers : —Comps . Rowland Plumbe H ., Francis A . White J ., Thomas J . Railing S . E ., and Albert

Lucking Dir . of Cers . There was a large gathering of Royal Arch Masons to witness the ceremony . The Grand Superintendent , in opening the proceedings , expressed himself as extremely gratified to see so many present to take part in the consecration of this—tho tenth—Chapfer on tho roll of the Province of Essex . This new Chapter was to bo attached to a Lodge

which , although it was one of the youngest , was ono of the most numerous in the county ; a Lodge that had met with unexampled success , and had testified to tho genuineness of ita Masonic feeling by such efforts and contributions in behalf of the canao of charity as had made it famous throughout tho kingdom . The legitimate out . come of its Masouio work was that the Lodge had expressed tho

laudable desire for a Chapter , and he was pleased when the matter came before him to strongly recommend the petition to the Supreme Grand Chapter , who had received it favourably and granted the neoessary charter . The ceremony in which thoy wero about to engage was one of comparatively infrequent occurrence , but , liko nil tho cere . monies of the Craft , was one of great solemnity and calculated to

make a deep impression on thinking minds . As regarded the excellent Companioni into whose hands they were to entrust the destinies of the new Chapter , ho was glad to be able to feel that they were those who had shown by their Masonio career in tho Province that they wonld work with an earnest desire to make it a success , and would exercise wise care in selecting good aud worthy brethren to

beoome members . On behalf of 'the Province he would express a fervent hope that the new Chapter might prove an ornament and accession of strength to Royal Arch Freemasonry in the county . At the conclusion of tho ceremony of consecration , tho Grand Superintendent inducted Comp . Wui . Shurmur P . Z . 1471 as the first M . E . Z ., who in his turn installed Comps . Geo . Gravoley nud W . Ernest

Dring as H . and J . respectively . The Officers for the year wero elected and invested , as under : —Comps . James Pinder P . Z . Scribe E ., John Byford jnn . Soribe N ., Nathaniel Fortescne Treasurer , James Speller Soj ., W . Stopher Wright and Chas . MacColla Asst . Sojs ., Christian Herat Dir . of Cers ., J . F . Haskins Prov . G . Org . Organist , John Ives Janitor , B . Jobnson , G . P . Pointer , and Win . Chas . Mann

Stewards . A Committee having been elected to frame Bye-laws , a large number of propositions for exaltation and joining wero made , and the baby Chapter showed its vitality by at once voting thirty guineas to the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys , to be placed on the list of the M . E . Z .

On the motion of the M . E . Z ., a hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho Grand Superintendent and other consecrating Officers for their attendance ; they were elected honorary members of the Chapter , and were each presented with a handsome founder ' s jewel as a f onvenir of the occasion . The Grand Superintendent , on behalf of himself and the other

Provincial Grand Officers , acknowledged the compliment , and tho Chapter was duly closed . Between 80 and 90 Companions afterwards dined together under the genial presidency of the M . E . Z ., tho 30 present including Comps . Richard Clowes P . G . Stand . B . Eng ., G . H . Grimwood , E . J . Barron . After dinner the usual toasts wero honoured . Comp . E . J . Barron

Past Grand Standard Bearor responded to the toaBt of tho Pro Grand Z . and tho rest of the Grand Officers , and gave bis experience of the greut strides which Royal Arch Masonry had nnde during the 25 years that he hai been a Grand 0 dicer . C < mip . Philbrick responded to the t'wst of the Grand Superintendent , which wa ? proposed by the M . E . Z . in tenns highly Haltering toCouip . Pt iibrick ' s

energy and siuceiity in the C-. HFO of Freemasonry . Comp . Philbrick said it was not only with peculiar pleasure but with great pride to ono circumstanced as he was to see an addition to tho roll of Royal Arch Chapters at once so numerous , so strong iu the qnality of the Ci . mpani'ms who belongod to it , and so thoroughly Masonic that the veiy Hist act when they appointed a Treasurer was to spend hia " " funds in benevolence , and afterwards

to take care how those funds came to him by proposing an unexampled strong list of candidates for oxaltation and joining . If the Masonio spirit continued to run liko that , there wan a very distinguished career heforo tho Shurmur Chapter . A Lodge , that was started and attained unexampled success and prosperity found ita legitimate flower and development iu having a Chapter . The Royal Arch was the crown and development of tbo full career of tho

Consecration Of The William Shurmur Chapter, No. 2874.

Master Mas n . In conolnsion Comp . Philbrick thanked the large body of friends for the kind feeling they had extended to him and his f . mily in the almost unprecedented calamity whioh had fallen on them in the attack made on his daughter , at Bickley , on 3 rd August , He added that it had been mentioned to him that there had been no accounts in the newspapers lately about his poor child . He was sorry

he could not say as much as he would wish to say ; but although , nuder the blessing of Providence , hia daughter ' s intellect was left absolutely untouched , the power of speech had nnfortunately been affected . The family , however , had great hopes that , in the oonrse of a day or two , when the pressure upon the brain wa 3 removed , there would be oomplete restoration .

Comp . Shurmur , in reply to the toast of tho Pnnoipais of the Chapter ( whioh was proposed by Comp . Philbriok ) , said it would be the constant aim of the Principals to make this Chapter worthy of the Province of Essex , and worthy of the Grand Superintendent . He refened with regret to the death of one of the founders of the

Chapter , and asked tho assistance of the Companions in plaoing one of his children in the Masonic School . The Lodge had 1 , 500 to 2 , 000 votes , and these might be utilised in that direction . The proceedings of the eveuinsr were enlivened by some excellent singing by the Celt ' a Quartette Company .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : n : — Royalty . —We hasten to congratulate Brother W . S . Penley upon tho success that has attended his first production , a right good merry English faroe , by Mr . Brandon Thomas , entitled " Gharley ' s Annfc , " which was received with roars of laughter thronghont and greeted with enthusiastic applause at tho final fall of the curtain . We have seldom seen an andience laughing so heartily and honestly , and there

is little doubt that the piece will be an attraction for a considerable time to come . Two college chums , Jack Chianey and Charley Wykeham , invite two pretty girls to their rooms to meet Donna Lncia D'Alvadorey , Charley ' s aunt from Brazil , whom he haa never seen ; but as the lady telegraphs to say that she cannot come for a few days and not being willing to forego their flirtation they persuade

Lord Fancourt Babberley , another undegradnate who has a taste for amateur theatricals , to represent the lady . The plot works splendidly until complications arise , and then the fun ( for the spectators ) begins . Jack ' s father and Mr . Spettigue finding that Donna Lucia is a millionairess both make propositions of marriage , aud the perplexity of the " lady " may be imagined when we state

that she is represented by Mr . Penley . Tbe unexpected arrival of the real Lncia causes further amusement , and the eventual unravelling of tho tangled threads is capitally worked out so that the story runs merrily along without a hitch . Tha piece has been thoroughly well rehearsed and is performed in that light touch and go manner so necessary in farces of this description . Mr .

Penley has never appeared in a mora amusing character , and we should not be surprised if it gained a higher reputation than hia immortal curate in "The Private Secretary . " Jack and Charley are well represented by Mr . Percy Lyudal and Mr . H . Farmer , whilo their two sweethearts are prettily portrayed by Miss Nina Bouoicault and Miss Kate Gordon . The author gives a manly impersonation of

an elderly Indian Colonel , who pairs off with the real Donna Luoia , charmingly sustained by Miss Ada Branson . Mr . Ernest Hendrio playa Mr . Spettigue creditably , and Mr . Cecil Thornbury makes an excellent college tout . The small pnrt of Ella Delahay , with whom Lord Babs finds consolation in tho end , ha 3 an agreeable representative in Miss Emily Cudmore . If you want a real genuine hearty laugh here is the place to get it .

Royal Aquarium . —Mr . Ritchie , Chairman aud Managing Director of the Royal Aquarium , has inaugurated a monster Carnival for Christmas and following four weeks . A really marvellous bill of fare—literally as full as an egg , and all goldon yolk . The doors are to be opened at 9 a . m ., and at 1 CV 30 a . m . the performances are timed to commence with three quarters of an hour ' s entertainment by

Sandro Vio and Miss Honey wood , entitled " Flashes of Fan , " in which some clever conjuring is introduced , and the audience informed " How it is done . " Preceding the 1030 show , early visitors will find plenty of amusement and interest in the Theatrical and Inter * national Toy Exhibitions and the humorous pictures—a collection of over two thousand of the most interesting works of nearly all the

greatest caricaturists deceased aud living . Following the 10 " 30 conjuring comes African Dell , iu a now ventriloquial entertainment , and at 12 noon , a ono hour ' s variety entertainment , —the Dolly Varden danseuses , Zn , ro and Arno bar acrobats , Mortimer and Cassina , and Akro ? , who will perform hia really marvellous feat of falling Lead downwards from tho Aquarinin roof . Daring an

interval for lunch , tho grand organ ; an I at 2 p . m . commences one of the most varied varioty shows , supported by an unusually long list of well known and bosfc artistes the Aquarium has ever had . Added to which is Minting , who has been re-engaged , and who has undertaken to carry on his back , and on ouo wheel , a live

representation of a lion up a perpendicular spiral and over a narrow plank bridge , over 80 feet high and 200 fest long , and down a spiral of equal height . Akrcs , tho Continental wonder , is to fall from the Aquarium roof head downwards . Audrew Hull will annsh with hia head thick flagstones . Prince Ravalli is to band and break red-hot

iron bars with his naked hands and feet , and to enter a cage of living fiie . Among tho new arrivals are Zalva , E-pana , and Alva , who perform feats of a most wonderful character , carrying two human beiugs ucross a single wire nearly 80 feet high . This feat is said to bo extraordinarily clover , being performed without tbe aid of a balancing pole . Also now-comera from tho Continent are the .