History Of The Week.

our readers may be interested to learn their nature , Ave quote the following from tho Act passed in the early part of the present reign , which provides : — That this exemption shall not extend to any suck Society or Lodge , unless two of the members composing the same shall certify upon

oatb , which oath any justice of the peace , or other magistrate , is hereby empowered to administer , that such Society or Lodge has , before the passing of this Act , heoii usually held ; or if so formed , after the passing of this Act , lias been so formed , antler the denomination of a Lodge of Freemasons , or Society of Friendly Brothers of

ho said Order , and in conformity to tho rules prevailing among the Societies or Lodges of Freemasons , or of stich Societies of Friendly Brothers in this kingdom ; which certificate , duly attested by the magistrates before whom the same shall bo sworn , and subscribed by the persons so certifying , shall , within the space of two calendar

months after such formation of snch Society or Lodge as aforesaid , be deposited with the clerk of tho peace for the county , riding , division , shire , or place where such Society or Lodge hath been usually hold , or shall be so formed ; provided , also , that this exemption shall not extend to any such Society or Lodge , unless the name

or denomination thereof , and the usual place or places , and the time or times of its meetings , and the names and descriptions of all and every the members thereof , be registered with such clerk of tho peace as aforesaid , within such two months , and also on or before the 25 th clay of March in every succeeding year , while this act shall continue in force .

This Act , from the operation of which I reemasons were provisionally exempted , was passed for the purpose of preventing the administration ancl taking of unlawful oaths in Ireland . There is also the Friendly Societies Act , which the Chief Secretary for Ireland alluded to . The Act

passed in George lll . ' s reign was for the suppression of secret societies and the prevention of seditious practices . In this case the exemption was extended only to such Societies or Lodges as had been held as Lodges of Freemasons before the passing of the Act . A difficulty arose , in

consequence , in the Grand Lodge of Scotland , as to the formation of new Lodges . A memorial was accordingly submitted to the Lord Advocate of the day , R . Dunclas , who replied that he did not know why tho Act was so anxiously limited , but that it must certainly bear the construction

assigned , and he gave his opinion that after the 12 th July 179 'J , Grand Lodge had not the rig ht to create new Lodges , except by a direct application to Parliament , to entitle them to do so . Several meetings were held but without effect , till , in 1800 , at the suggestion of the Earl

of Moira , the Grand Lodge of Scotland determined to follow the practice adopted by the Grand Lodge of England , and assign to new Lodges the numbers and charters of Lodges that had become dormant , or had ceased to hold regular meetings .

The regular meeting of the Grand Lodge of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , the 24-th instant , at Freemasons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , Bro . J . Clubon , President , in the chair . The minutes of last meeting wore read and confirmed . New grants to the amount of £ 50 b were made .

Tho close of Bro . Baum ' s direction of the Alhambra Theatre was signalised on Monday by two performances , morning and evening , for his benefit . A number of very popular artistes , including the Yokes family , who appeared in the farce of the Belles of the Kitchen , and the

Lauri family , who took part in a comic ballet , gave their services on the occasion gratuitously . In the evening , at the conclusion of the grand barbaric ballet , Bro . Baum appeared , in response to a very general call , and delivered a short , but very feeling address , in the course of which he

expressed , in happy terms , the regret he felt at the severance of his connection with the theatre , and particularly for two reasons , lie must bid farewell to the artistes of the establishment , who had always so loyally supported

him in his efforts to make the theatre popular . He would no longer be brought into contact with the thcatre-eroinppublic , from whom he had received so many frequent marks of approval .

The spirited proprietor of Evans' Hotel , Brother Barnes Amos , has entirel y renovated that old established resort . Determining to follow in tho footsteps of Ids predecessors , he lias clone till he can to add to the comfort of the visitors ; a splendid carpet has been laid down , aud he has opened

the vast hall to tne puolic , lor tne supply of luncheons and dinners . The evening entertainments remain as before . The well known and talented artist , Mr . Jonghmans , not only gives the habitats selections from his repertoire of gongs , but also conducts the choruses and glees sung by

History Of The Week.

the highly trained boys . MY . Dalton is a wood tenor , Rowley a clever comique , while the other members of the company invariably receive an enthusiastic reception .

The Earl of Shrewsbury and the Hon . Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms recently entertained , at their mess , in St . James ' s- Palace , H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge , Earl Beauchamp ( the Lord Steward ) , the Lord Chamberlain , Marquis of Hertford , tho Earl of Ilchester , Lord Skelmersdale and other guests .

The death of Mr . Bateman , the lessee of the Lyceum Theatre , has cast a gloom over the successful performance of Hamlet . The death was painfully sudden , Mr . Bateman having been in excellent health till the morning of Monday the 22 nd , ancl having dined with Mr . Irving the clay

previous . In the morning , when dressing , he complained of pain in the region of the heart , ancl remained quiet on the bed during the day . In the evening he died peacefully ,

as though in his sleep . His daughter , Miss Bateman , being at the time engaged in Hamlet , as Ophelia , was kept in ignorance of the sad event , as also was Mr . Irving , till the performance was over .

Bro . Sir Henry Edwards Bart , has , at the invitation of the M . W . G . M ., accepted the Provincial Grand Mastership , West Riding , Yorkshire .

The Fifteen Sections will be Avorked in the Langthorne Lodge of Instruction , No . 1421 , at the SAvan Hotel , Stratford , E ., on Wednesday next , 31 st instant , at 7 p . m ., by Bro . B . Cundick , J . W . of the Langthorne Lodge , assisted by several eminent members of the various East End Lodges .

All the members , to the number of over 3 , 000 , in the Sheffield district of the Nottingham Order of Odd . Fellows , have been suspended for agitating for the equal representation of all Lodges in the Grand Annual Assembly and other reforms . A large meeting Avas held in

consequence , on Wednesday , at Sheffield , under the presidency of Past Grand Master Councillor Robertshaw . The Grand . Master , the Earl of Scarborough , wrote to the effect that he had read the proposed alterations , ancl considered some of them reasonable . He trusted the discussion Avould be

conducted fairly and temperately , and Avould result to the benefit of the Order . Mr . Mundella wrote in a somewhat similar strain . Mr . S . Isaacs , M . P ., promised to be present , if possible , at the July meeting . Resolutions

were passed condemning the action of the Nottingham Grand Lodge , and expressing the determination of the meeting to bring the controversy to a final issue . It was also decided to submit the correspondence to all the Lodges n the LTn ited Kingdom .

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

Nicholas Niekleby—Easter Novelties . WITH an exceptionally strong cast , Mr . Halliday ' s new version of the story of Nicholas Nicldeb y was produced at the ADECMII THEATKK on Saturday last , and with complete success . Avoiding the temptation to complicate the plot by the introduction of too many incidents and characters , Mr . Hallidar has . iu this nlav . c . nnfmwl

himself to the story of Smike , whoso death forms the close of the piece . Tho iniquity of the system of Dotheboy ' s Hall is a sufficiently slight motif for a drama of this character , but the incidents are , in themselves , so interesting that few will be disposed to cavil with the author on the choice ho has made . The parts have been admirably

cast , and no bettor representatives ccukl be found on the stage for some of the chief characters . Tho John Brodio of 3 Ir . Emery , the Squeers of Mr . John Clarke , and the Xcwman Xoggs of Mr . Bolmore 'ire excellent delineations of eccentric comed y . Smike , himself , duds m admirable exponent in Miss Lydia Foote , " who renders the pathetic

side of the part as few bat herself could render it . The uuamiable character of . Ralph iS'ickicb y is effectivel y poartrayed by Mr . Fernandez , and . Nicholas himself is wall sustained by Mr . Terns ' Mrs . Alfred Mellon has accepted , and plays , with exceeding ' fidelity . ha rooiilsivn character of Mrs . Snnpw ) i .- ! , ; t-., i- ¦ v r , \ . r , IT .....- „? n '

„ as Miss Squeers , and Miss Hudspeth as Tilda Price , aro also desorvmg of much praise . The play has been admirably put upon the stage , and as it is at tho same time dramatic and interesting , a considerable run may fairly be anticipated .

The L ' asfcer . Novelties aro now for the most part announced , but do not appear to be of a very startling character . An adaptation of the great French melo-drama , Rose Michel , at the G . UKTY , the re-opening of ST . J . UIES ' * TIIK . VI'HE , under the management of Miss Litton , and the return of a French Company to the OPERA . COJUQUE are the most important items in the programme ,