Past And Present Of Freemasonry.

PAST AND PRESENT OF FREEMASONRY .

WE represent an institution that has enriched the thought and sentiments of the world ; that has smoothed the rough and rugged paths of life for millions ; that has rifted the skies above humanity and thrown wide open a door into a large and grander life . W e take the candidate from Symbolic Masonry , who has been raised out of the perishable material into the

imperishable spiritual existence , and teach him how to work , how to rule , how to pray , and how to die . In all our labours for novices and one another we are aiming at the construction of character . Masonry is an illustrated compendium of the human heart and human experience . Masonry has stereotyped the existence of God and the Brotherhood of man . Masonry has

opened the Holy Bible on its altars , and bids defiance to theological controversy or scientific speculation to change or remove it . Masonry has taken the discoveries of all ages , in art , science , architecture , poetry and literature , and symbolised them in character and manhood . While it may be said that Masonry never changes , and is ever the same , yet , by a strange law of

assimilation , the very progress of our age has crept into the Masonic Lodge , and our ritual has been gradually transformed into harmony with the widest sweep of the human mind , and the larger outstretch of the undying soul of man . We need not go very far back in history to find the period when Masonry was formative , when it was a system of hieroglyphics , indistinct and

indefinite , when its adherents were ostracised and persecuted , when its . convocations were unheralded and doubly guarded ; but we are living now in a day when Masonry has its own literature , sparkling with gems of poesy and thought , its own system of jurisprudence , bold in its assertions of justice and inexorable in

its infliction of penalty , its own code of morality ; alive with the spirit of God and broad in its relief of suffering and woe , its own temples of worship and liturgies of service , its rituals , methods , symbols , all definitely planned to solve the problem of our destiny , and add coronal graces to human character . — " Masonic Sun . "

Misplaced Humour.

MISPLACED HUMOUR .

IT is unfortunate for the Craft that there are a few Brethren who think they must be funny . They delight in approaching a candidate witb remarks which in their perverted imagination are excruciatingly humorous . It is needless to repeat their catch phrases . None of them are new or -original , but all of

them are un-Masonic , as they destroy in advance the beautiful lessons sought to be conveyed . The lectures and ceremonies of Freemasonry have been compiled by the best intellect and experience of the ages , with an earnest and sincere desire

to impress wise and important truths . To have their serious contemplation burlesqued by a thoughtless Brother is embarrassing to candidates and distasteful to the Craft in general . The degrees of Masonry are too earnest and by far too serious to be made the object of attempted witticisms . —Ex .

Her Majesty ' s . —The 100 th performance of "The Musketeers , " at this Theatre , will be reached on the evening of Wednesday next , 1 st Feb ; , when Mr . Tree will present a souvenir of the play to every member of the audience .

Misplaced Humour.

Empire . —Tho new entertainment now offered to the public is both varied and interesting , and most of the turns have already secured general popularity . To mention only a few of the many attractive features of the programme , there are Alfred de Bessell , the lightning clay modeller ; Misko and his wonderful singing , speaking , and kicking pony , " Punch" ; the Bicycle Polo Team ; Mdlle . Camille-Ober , the new French star ; and the new ballet of " Alaska . " Ihe management provides neatly io-ui " nouia oi excellent and diversified amusement .

The Theatres, &C.

The Theatres , & c .

Adelphi . —Twice Daily , Dick Whittington . Avenue . —8 , The Rift within the Lute . 8-40 , Lord and Lady Algy . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . Comedy . —8-15 , Milord Sir Smith . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 .

Court . —8 , For Love of Prim . 8-45 , A Court Scandal . Matin-ie , Saturday , 3 . Covent Garden . —Friday , 10 th Feb ., Fancy dress ball , 11 p . m . Criterion . —8-15 , Nicolete . 8-45 , My " Soldier " Boy . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Daly ' s . —8-15 , A Greek Slave . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 .

Drury Lane . —Twice Daily , The Forty Thieves . Duke of York's . —8 , Bed Roses . 8-45 , The Adventure of Lady Ursula . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Gaiety . —8-15 , A "Runaway Girl . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . Garrick . —8 , The Three Musketeers . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday ,

2-15 . Globe . —8 , Six and Eightpence . 8 * 30 , School . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Haymarket . —8-10 , A Golden Wedding . 9 , The Manoeuvres of Jane . Wednesday and Saturday , 2-15 . Her Majesty ' s—8-15 , The Musketeers . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-15 .

Lyceum . —8 , Carl Rosa Opera Company . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . Lyric—8 , Little Miss Nobody . 9-30 , La Loie Fuller . Matinee , Thursday and Saturday , 2-30 . Opera Comique . —Twice Daily , Alice in Wonderland . Prince of Wales ' s . —8-15 , La Poupee . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Princess ' s . —On 30 th January , The White Heather .

Royalty . —8-15 , Confederates . 9 . A Little Ray of Sunshine . Matine ' e , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Savoy . —8-20 , The Lucky Star . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . * Shaftesbury . —8 , The Belle of New York . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2 . St . James ' s . —8-30 , The Ambassador . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 .

Strand . —8-35 , An Empty Stocking . 9 , What happened to Jones . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Terry ' s . —8-15 , What will the world say ? Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Vaudeville . —8 , A Bad Penny . 9 , On and Off . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 .

Alexandra . —7 . 30 , Cinderella . Monday , Thursday , and Saturday , 1 * 30 also Dalston . —7-30 , Aladdin . Thursday , 2 also . Grand . —7-30 , Babes in the Wood . Monday , Wednesday , Saturday , 1-30 also Parkhurst . —7-45 , Aladdin . Wednesday and Saturday , 2 also . Queen ' s Opera House , Crouch End . —Next week , Lyceum Company .

Alhambra . —7 . 45 , Variety Entertainment . Jack Ashore , & o . Aquarium . —Varieties , Minting , Paula , The Great Dive , 10 , 2 and 7 . Empire . —7-50 , Variety Entertainment . New Ballet Alaska , & c . London Pavilion . —8 , Variety Entertainment . Oxford . —Variety Entertainment . Palace . —7-45 , Variety Entertainment . New American Biograph , & c Royal . —7-30 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2-30 also . Tivoli . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2-15 also .

Crystal Palace . —Varied attractions daily , Pantomime , Santa Olaus , Egyptian Hall . —3 and 8 , Mr . J . N . Maskelyne's entertainment . Madame Tussaud ' s ( Baker Street Station ) . —Open daily . Portrait models of modern celebrities , & c . Father Christmas and Monster Lucky Tub . Olympia . —Barnum and Bailey ' s Show .

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Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . Offices—5 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London , W . C . .... .. Chief Patroness— HERMAJESTY THEQUEEN . - , ' Grand Patron and President— H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , K . G ., & c , M . W . G . M . :, ; : " .- , . : , J Grand . Patroness—H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES . Bankers—LONDON & WESTMINSTER BANK LTD . ( BLOOMSBURY BRANCH ) , HIGH HOLBORN , W . C . 19 U 1 Girls haVe been provided With Education , Clothing , and Maintenance , the full number of Girls now ? receiving its benefits being 267 . The I nth Anniversary Festival will take place on 10 th May next , under the distinguished Presidency of THE RIGHT HOU . VISCOURBT DUftlGARVAftI , D . L-., R . W . PROV . CM . SOMERSET . The names of Brethren Milling to serVe as Stewards are earnestly solicited . F . R . W . HEDGES , Secretary , 5 FREEMASONS' HALL , LONDON , W . C . Registered Office Telegraphic Address : " Girlands , London . "