Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

W . Harrop , J . S . Cumberland , Thomas J . Bnllen G . Std . Br , Hugh Cotter , W . H . Making , Robert Griggs , H . J . Strong , John L . Mather P . A . G . D . C , C . F . Hogard P . G . Std .- Br ., L . Steaii , T . Cubitt P . G . P ., R . Turtle Pigott , D . C . L ., P . A . G . D . C , W . H . Hubbert , E . M . Money , and

James Terry P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . Having agreed , by an overwhelming majority , that it was necessary some alterations should be made in the roles relating to candidates , the Committee settled to their work , with the result that the following rules as amended were adopted , and will in

due course be submitted for confirmation to a special general meeting of the Governors and Subscribers , to be held on a day as yet to be fixed . Rule 37 , which enables the Committee of Management to place a candidate who has been successful at two successive elections , and attained

the age of 80 years , on the list of annuitants at their June meeting , is modified by the introduction of the clause—If in their opinion efforts have been made to secure his or her election "—after the words " shall have power to place him or her on the list of annuitants . " As regards the

qualifications , & o ., of candidates for the Male Fund , the amount of the annuity remains unaltered , at £ 40 per annum , and the age of 60 years is retained at which a brother is eh ' gible ~ as a candidate , bnt instead of being " a registered Master Mason for 15 years , and a subscribing member to a Lodge

for at least ten years of that period , " it will be necessary , under the amended rule , that he should have been " a registered Master Mason , and a subscribing member to a Lodge for ] 5 years , " the exception being that " the brother shall be certified by two medical men

as suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction which , in the opinion of the Committee , shall permanently incapacitate him from earning a livelihood , " & c . The income which incapacitates a brother from becoming an annuitant is reduced from " £ 40 per annum " to " £ 32 per

annum , " while " a candidate having been a Life Governor for five years at the time of presenting his petition shall be entitled to 20 votes at each election , until successful , for every Life Governorship he may have qualified for before his petition was accepted , but after his election all future

rights to such added votes shall cease . " In respect of Law IX . relating to tho case of a male annuitant dying , leaving a widow " not otherwise provided for , " to whom he had boon married " not less than five years beforo his election , " and who is " not less than 55 years of age , or

altogether incapacitated from obtaining her support , " tho law as amended provides that she mnst have been married seven years to her deceased husband before his election as annuitant , that " she may be entitled" instead of " she shall bo entitled " on application , and if approved

by the Committee , to half her lato husband ' s annuity for five instead of fov three years , and that if in residence at the Asylum iu Croydon , hor continuance as a resident thero shall bo dependent on the approval of " the House

Committee . " As regards tho qualifications of candidates for the Widows' Fund , tho annuity remains unaltered , at £ 32 , and so also does tho amount of income , £ 30 , disqualifying her as a candidate , or , if sho has been elected

au annuitant , from , retaining tho full amount of her annuity . But tho minimum limit of age under the amended law for her acceptance as a candidate is raised from 55 years to CO years ; she must have been married to him seven years instead of five , and her husband must have

been a registered Mason , and subscribing member to a Lodge for 15 years , while , if she is the widow of an annuitant , she must have been married to him at least five instead of three years before the presentation of her petition . She is , however , eligible to become a candidate at

an earlier age , if two medical men certify she is suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction , whicb , in tbe opinion of tho Committee , incapacitates her from earning a livelihood . It is further provided that the widovv candidato who had qualified as a Life-Governor five years

before presenting her petition shall , like the male candidate , be entitled to 20 additional votes at every election until elected in respect of each Life-Governorshi p for which she may have qualifiedbut that when sho has secured her

, election , all further right to such added votes shall cease . J-he following rule , which is applicable to candidates on ooth funds , and which we give in full , was agreed to after a division : —

That no hrothir , or ividow of a brother , shall be eligible for the annuit y of this Institution unless the said brother shall have bom a bife-Governor of thin Institntion at least two years , or a Subscriber

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

of one guinea annually for five years , before presenting his petition or btf < re his dtath . " A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings-

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Criterion . —The hearty welcome that awaited Mi * . Charles Wyndham and his company ou their return from America must havo been most gratifyng to all ooncerne'l . " DavM Garriok" was the piece in which Mr . Wyndham chose to mako his reappearance , with tho result that fc ! : o play went as well , if not bolter , than over it did before . Wo have on several occasions spoken of Mr . Wyndham ' a Garrick , aud ifc only now remains for ns to say that all the old points

and situations were most admirably realised . Misa Mary Moore , Mr . George Giddens , and Mr . Blakeley resume their old parts with great success . Mr . William Farren is now Old Ingot , vice Mr . David James . His portrayal of the part is capital , with the exception that at times he is rather too aristocratic . In conclusion , me may mention that "David Garrick" can only be played a limited num . ber of nights , so that all who wish to see it should do so at once .

Alhambra . —The " Army and Navy at the Alhnmbra died game , as every well-regulated Army and Navy onght . It is never difficult to evoke the martial instincts of tho average Englishman who fights his country ' s foes by proxy with all tho enthusiasm imaginable . Messieurs Casati and Jaoobi have been well advised in their selection of the subject of the new ballet . Ifc is nofc a far cry from the legitimate

warfare of regnlar forces to the guerilla strife of bandits and brigands . And whether we confess it or not , we all like to play at war . The curtain rises on a very pretty Tyrolean scene . The snow clad mountains in the background , the picturesque inn on the left , and the rustic bridge iu the centre , do great credit to their creator , Mr . Ryan . The inn-keeper ( M . Marra ) is having a good time . The tables in front

are crowded with soldiers whose capacity for drink is at least equal to their capacity for war . This may , perhaps , account for the fact that their Captain ( M . Wagner ) fails to find brigands who are reported as being in the neighbourhood . Exeunt soldiers , enter brigands and their lasses , who of course drink and of course dance . These proceedings are , however , the prelude to more

serious work . The diligence approaches , and the brigand chief ( Mdme . Roffey ) despite tho appeals of his sister Zanetta ( Mdle . Verge , ) who gives the name to the ballet , attacks it with his band . They capture a renowned painter , Robin ( Mdle . Saracco ) by name , and his faithful servant ( Mdle . Rosa ) . Tho painter keeps his foe at bay with his pistol until Zanetta rushes in between him and ber

brigand brother . Needless to say ib is a case of love at first sight on both sidos . The painter temporarily turns brigand , great rejoicings ousue , and more dancing . The faithful Jean , though bound hand and foot , takes part in tho dance . His grotesque gestures lead to his release , he finishes the dance , and steals away unnoticed . He returns accompanied by peasants armed with weapons of all kinds , of

which they mako no nse . If they come to fight , they stay fco drink . The rejoicings are soon interrupted by the advent of the soldiers , who are baulked of their prey by the destruction of fche wooden bridge which seperates them from the brigands . Whether the artist marries the lady brigand , and all live happily ever afterwards , is left to the imagination of the spectator , for at this point the

curtain drops . One or two criticisms suggest themselves . The sign-board of the inn bears the quite un-Tyrolean English title " The Three Falcons . " The artist gives a specimen of his art . He proceeds on the lightning sketch principle , only more so . In less time than it takes to stato the fact the audience has a full-length portrait of Zanetta revealed to ib painted with infinite accuracy of detail .

The cmious part of it is that the painting grows even while tho artist is gazing on his beloved , and his back turned on hia work . All this would ' bo better omitted . It is not effective . It is ridiculous Tho dancing suggests the necessity of bearing in mind Mrs . Malaprop ' s aphorism that " comparisons are odorous . " Those who had the privilege of seeing Pertoldi

in the old version of this ballet , "The Alpine Brigands , " conld scarcely help an unfavourable comparison of Mdlo . Verge with her predecessor . Mdle . Verge dances well enough . Bufc her physical proportions unfit her for the part , and to see hor with Mdle Saracco recalled the diminutive Peuley and the stalwart Alma Stanley in "JEsop ' s Fables . " We cannot understand why it is apparently

deemed necessary to go to Italy for female talent when fche Alhambra already possesses dancers who could have taken Mdle . Verge ' s parD with credit . Mdles . Thurgato and Phillips were effective , and Mdle . Saracco ' s pantomime is always good . But the feature of the evening , which evoked a genuine burst of applause , waa the dancing of Mdle . Rosa , who for some reason or another was unable to respond

at the fall of the curtain to plaudits meant moro particularly for hor . Mdlo . Kosa secured tho success of the ballet . M . Jacobi ' s music is excellent . He does uot seek popularity by interposing " catchy" airs , bnt appeals fco the more cultivated artistic instincts ' of the audience . The sound of the approaching diligence is very skilfully convoyed in the mnsic . Tho music in the portrait scene is especially melodious . But why particularise ? We are accustomed

to expect good music from M . Jacobi , and M . Jaoobi never falls below expectation . If fche first night andionco showed a certain lack of appreciation of fche ballot , ifc was , wo think , omag to tho lack of judgment in beginning so lato ia the evening . There wore also traces of insufficient rehearsal . But a later visit shows that these deficiencies have been remedied , and the ballet bids fair to bold the boards for months to come .

Ad01103

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended in London and Country , by Bro . Q-. A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C . Monuments erected . Valuations made .