Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

ST . JOHN CHAPTER , No . 80 . THE annual Convocation was held at Sunderland , on Tuesday , 17 th inst . The Principals-elect were respectively presented by Comp . R . Hudson , and were installed as follows : —T . Gibbons Z ., M . J , Todd H ., and J . W . Biggam J .

EAST MEDINA CHAPTER , No . 175 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Ryde , on Friday , 29 th ult ., when the following were installed * . Comps . E . G . Stroud Z ., A . Dashwood H ., R . H . A . Woodman J .

ST . JOHN'S CHAPTER , No . 673 . THE installation took place at the Masonic Hall , Hope Street , Liverpool , on Wednesday , llth inst ., when Companions Morton , Owen , and Simpson were installed in the three principal chairs , the installation being impressively performed by Companion Goodacre . Afterwards Companion W . B . Sweetman was presented with a handsome Past Principal's jewel .

EARL OF CARNARVON CHAPTER , No . 1642 .

A WELL-ATTENDED convocation was held at Ladbroke Hall , Notting Hill , on Thursday , 12 th inst ., Comp . Edward Monson M . E . Z . After the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , and the Auditors having satisfactorily gone through their duties , the following Brethren were balloted for , elected and exalted : Bros . William Middleweek , Kensington Baths , Lancaster Boad , W ., Sir Charles Bright Lodge , No . 1793 ; Alfred Eobert Finch , 63 Lancaster Road , W ., Gooch Lodge , No . 1238 ; Henry Francis Foale 96 Ladbroke Grove , Kensington Lodge , No . 1381 .

, The ceremonies were performed in a thoroughly workmanlike and interesting manner . After a well-served banquet by Mr . Linscott had been done justice to , the remainder of the evening was devoted to the usual toasts and somo excellent harmony .

Mark Masonry.

MARK MASONRY .

FRIENDSHIP LODGE , No . 16 . THE annual meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Devonport , on Thursday , 12 th inst ., when Bro . A . Broom was installed W . M . by Bros . H . Holman and J . Bray . The members and Visitors afterwards adjourned to the dining hall , where supper was provided .

o o o BRUNSWICK LODGE , No . 48 . THE regular meeting was held at East Stonehouse , on the 18 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . T . Rogers Prov . G . I . G . W . M . Brother Radmore was unanimously elected Worshipful Master for the ensuing year , while Bro . Endicott P . P . A . D . C . was unanimously re-elected to the office of Treasurer , and Bro . Bartlett to that of Tyler .

There was a large gathering of Brethren on the occasion , those present including Bros . G . Dunsterville P . P . G . T ., Blackell P . P . J . W ., Trout P . P . D . C , H . Holman P . P . G . O ., Pittrick , W . Tucker , Lathlean , Bracken , J . Jacobs , & c . During the evening a very interesting event took place in the unanimous election , as Honorary Members of the Lodge , of Bros . Holman and Tucker , of Friendship Lodge , No . 16 , and Bro . Jacobs , of Temple Lodge , No . 50 .

The Brethren afterwards adjourned to the refectory , where supper was laid and a most enjoyable evening was spent .

DUNELM LODGE , No . 356 . ON Friday , 13 th inst ., a meeting was held at the Masonic Hall , Old Elvet , Durham , when an official visit was paid to the Lodge by members of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Durham and Northumberland . In the unavoidable absence of the Master Bro . W . H . Patterson , Bro . T . Bell occupied the chair .

After the ordinary business the Brethren adjourned to the Banqueting Hall , where an excellent repast was highly appreciated , the purveyor being Bro . W . Macfarlane , of the Rose and Crown Hotel , Durham . The usual Loyal and Mark toasts were given .

Lyric . —The manager having failed to obtain a renewal of the lease of the Lyric Theatre , regretfully announces that , notwithstanding its enormous success , the run of the comedy-opera , " The Bric-a-Brac Will , " at this Theatre must terminate with its sixty-third performance , this evening ( Saturday ) , the 23 th inst .

Parkhurst . —The Pantomime produced here on Christmas eve was deservedly well received , and its many meritorious features should enjoy a long and successful ^ run . The subject selected for representation is the familiar " Dick Whittington , " and the whole performance may be summed up as excellent , a good company being engaged , with a large number of performers who really excel in their different parts . The dancing , perhaps , deserved the chief praise , although that feature was very closely pressed by

others of almost equal merit . There were numerous encores on the first night , when the palm was carried off by two juveniles—a boy and a girl—in blue silk , who danced exquisitely , and fairly brought down the house . There is an amount of bright music and lively songs , some really funny situations , good dresses and scenery , combined with an all round joviality that should , as we have said , lead to a long continuance of appreciative audiences at this pleasant little North London house of amusement .

Blunders Through Pretended Knowledge.

BLUNDERS THROUGH PRETENDED KNOWLEDGE

AFFECTATION in the use of language , or a pretended acquaintance with subjects where the knowledge is only elementary , or of whioh ono is entirely ignorant , sometimes leads an unfortunate wight into committing a ridiculous blunder . An instance of this is found in the story of the Irishman who , hearing the Sphinx alluded to in company , whispered to a friend , " Tho Sphinx ! whG's that now ? " " A monster man , " was tho reply .

" Oh yes , of course , a ' Munster man '; but I always thought he was from Connaught , " was the ready rejoinder . It is told of a certain Glasgow Bailie ( Bailie is the Scottish analogue oi Alderman ) that when visiting Paris as one of a deputation from Glasgow to Louis Philippe , the King , who was showing the party through his library

where he kept many of the English classics , said , " You will no doubt know Milton very well ? " ( meaning the poet ) . " 0 , bless you , yes ; bless you , yes , " replied the Bailie , cheerfully delighted that something had been mentioned that he did know , " yes , your majesty , I know Milton very well ; we are just building slaughter houses there , " meaning a little place in tho vicinity of Glasgow .

A learned barrister once quoting some latin verses to a brother " wig , " who did not appear to understand them , " don't you know the lines ?" interrogated he ; " there are in Martial . " "Marshall , " replied his friend , " Marshall--oh 1 I know—the Marshall who wrote on the understanding . " When this anecdote was related to a certain judge of the court of review he is said to have observed , " why , after all , there is not much difference between the underwriter and a minor poet . "

Quotations sometimes give the reporters trouble . Mr . Bnght once stigmatised the malcontents on tho Liberal side of the House as the Cave of Adullam , but the reporters seemed to have but a very limited knowledge oi the scriptures , or at least of that portion which speaks of the cave where

David retired from the frowns of his father-in-law , for a member of the staff thus spoke to another with regard to the meaning of the speaker ' s illustration " Do you think our fellows understand that quotation of Bright's ? " "Oh yes , " was the answer , " they understand it well enough . None of them can be so confoundedly ignorant as not to have read the ' Arabian Nights . ' "

Dr . M'Cosh ( President of Princeton Seminary ) tells the story of a negro who prayed earnestly that he and his coloured Brethren might be preserved from what he termed their " upsettin' sins . " " Brudder , " said one of his friends at the close of the meeting , " you ain't got de hang ob dat dere word ; it ' s besettin ' , not upsettin ' . "

" Brudder , " replied the other , " if dat ' s so , it ' s so , I was a prayin' de Lord to save us from do sin of intoxiflcation , and if dat ar ain't a upsettin ' sin , I dunno what am . " " The Book of Rarities , " by Edward Roberts P . M .

A smoking concert in connection with the London , Tilbury and Southend Railway will be given on 30 th December , at the King ' s Hall , Holborn Restaurant , under the direction of Bro . Albert James , assisted by Bros . Jas . Horncastle , Frederick Bevan and Arthur Thompson , together with many other well-known artistes . Mr . Arthur S . Stride , the Managing Director of the Company , will preside .

Ad00503

GAIETYEESTAUMNT, STZR ^ nSTD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5 * 30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) aud a la Carte . In this room the Vienuese Baud performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till 12 * 30 . PRIVATE DINING EOOMS FOR LAEGE AND SMALL PASTIES . SPIEES AND POND , Ltd ., Proprietors .