Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

waa always accorded the foremost place , and there was no body of men who drank it more enthusiastically than the brethren of the Province of Middlesex and Sarrey .

The next toast , Col . Burdett said—that of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales M . W . G . M . —would be received with equal enthusiasm ; his Royal Highness had for a considerable time ruled over them , and during that time the

brethren had been perfectly satisfied with what he had done . They hoped his Royal Highness wonld continue to rule over them for many years to come , he had done what he could for the Order , and had induced his son and others to become M . M . Masons . In giving the Pro G . M . and the

rest of the G . Officers , the Prov . G . Master remarked that the brethren knew what those Officers were , and what they has done for the Order , and how they were always ready to come forward to assist . They had had some excellent

Grand Masters , who had performed their duties in a most satisfactory manner . Without trespassing upon the time of the brethren , he would ° ask them to drink the toast , with which he coupled the name of Bro . Brighten .

Brother W . G . Brighten said that as the virtues of those whom the brethren had honoured were so great and his own so small , and as the brethren were waiting for the fragrant weed , they would take the will for the deed , as far as his speech

was concerned . He fully acknowledged the manner in whioh the brethren had recognised the merits of tbe Present and Past Grand Officers . Brother Rev . J . Hutchens proposed the health of the

Provincial Grand Master , and said the honour devolved upon hira in consequence of the regrettable absence of Bro . Davison , who should have occupied the Deputy ' s chair . He was

quite sure the toast would be received by all present with the honour which should be accorded to it . Bro . Col . Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., P . G . M ., who was heartily received , said he would not hesitate to rise auicklv . after the toast

so kindly proposed and received , and thank them most sincerely for the kindness they had shown , not only that night , but on many previous occasions when they had had

the pleasure of meeting together . For nearly 20 years he had been Provincial Grand Master , and they might begin to think he was getting too old , but as long as he was able he wonld do ali he could for the

interest of the Province , particularly when he found he was so kindly supported by all . Ho had found so many kind friends that he could not express the feelings of gratitude he owed to the whole of the Brotherhood in the Province . He had been re-elected for

terms of three years until nearly 21 had elapsed since his first appointment , and he began to find he was an old man ; but , at the same time , wherever he was , he should always

look with the greatest gratitude upon the kindness ho had received . Ho thanked them sincerely for tbe enthusiastic manner in which they had received his health .

The Provincial Grand Officers was proposed by tho Provincial Grand Master , who referred to them as a body of brethren who had always exerted themselves and done much , not only to support him , but for the good of the

Province in general . On this occasion he had the honour of calling upon a brother who had exerted himself not only in this Degree but in all others—one whom they all loved

and honoured , and whom they all felt glad to have the opportunity of seeing iu the chair . He asked them to drink the health of Bro . Lovegrove and the rest of the Prov . Grand Officers .

Bro . H . Lovegrove Prov . G . S . W . said he felt very proud at being able to respond for the Prov . Grand Officers . Middlesex and Surrey comprised a very large Province , being practically London—with the exception of some few

Lod ges which for somo reason stood aloof . Ho had labourjd considerably in Middlesex and Surrey , where Ark Masonry had taken firm hold , but in the Provincial towns

they required assistance . On all occasions iu the Mark he spoke upon one subject— -the Mark Benevolent Fund—in which ho was a firm believer , ancl for which

some ycar . i ago he represented this Province . It was a fund which had no expensive buildings or officers , and practicall y tho whole of the sum subscribed was devoted to Charit y . A certain portion went to indigent Masons and

their wives , and another part to assist in tho education of the children of Mark Masons without taking them from their homes , which was a very praiseworthy

object . He was never tired of advocating this fund , and only hoped the brethren would do their best to send tu cir Steward—Brother Duukloy—with a good sum , for

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex And Surrey.

the money would be thankfully received and faithfully applied . The officers appointed that night thanked the Provincial Grand Master for his kindness in promoting them , and they would do their best to perform their duties

to the best of their ability . Every Prov . G . Lodge sent up one Grand Steward , but they sent four . They could not speak too highly of their P . G . Master , for , wherever they met hira , he was not only a thorough Mason , but a

courteous English gentleman . He felt sorry the Dep . Prov . G . M . —Bro . Davison—was not present , but he hoped that brother would yet be with them . Of their great Executive

Officer—Bro . Brighten—he could only say , if somo of the Craft Provinces were managed in tbe same way as theirs , greater snccess would ensue , for Bro . Brighten left no stone unturned , and kept the entire Province in a first

class state . Bro . Rev . J . Hutchens gave the Visitors , which was replied to by Bro . Sparks , and the Tyler ' s toast then closed the proceedings .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Vaudeville . — " The Old House , " a new comedy-drama bj Mr . Robert Buchanan , has been favourably received here . The play appears to be an Anglicised version of the comedy above mentioned , " lie Gendre de M . Poirier . " In the present instance the

father-inlaw is Septimus Porter , a wealthy colonist , whose only child haa married Sir Charles Fenton ( le Marquis de Presles ) a rained baronet , much against the wish of Matthew Bramble ( Verdelet ) , a hard headed man of business , and Poirier ' s ( we beg pardon ) Porter ' s partner . Sir Charles has been restored to his estates and position

in tho world by Porters kindness , which ho repays by neglecting his wife and flirting with Mrs . Waldegravo ( la Comtesse ) , a former sweetheart . His friend Major Dashwood take . 1 advantageof this state of affairs , makes Wo to L * idy Fenton , and carnes herto believe that Sir Charles has betrayed Mary Misou , one of hia

father's tenants ., Hia ovenures aro rejected , but Lady Fenton decides to leave her huabaud and r ituru to her old home in Australia . Mary is found , and confessor it was Dashwood who deceived her ; Sir Charles is forgiven , on promise of amendment ; and the Major is rewarded by a severe horsewhipping , inflicted by the indignant

Porter . Underlying the main interest in fche story is a scathing satire on the follies and privileges of modern society , and for this purpose the Honble . John Hackaboat , a young man of the " masher " type , and Dolly Drew , a burlesque artiste , are brought on fche stage . These characters , evidently the reflection of

certain personages in real life , are cleverly portrayed by Mr . Cyril Maude nnd Miss Edith Bruce , and caused considerablo amusement . Mr . Tom Thorne gives a fine representation of the simple minded old squatter , but the frequent use of the big , big D , might be toned down with advantage . Miss Winifred Emery gives a graceful and

pathetic rendering of Lady Fenton , and Mr . Wallace Erskine does well as the weak-headed Sir Charles . Mr . C . W . Garthorne looks and acts admirably , as tho wicked society man , Mr . Fred Thorne is excellent as Bramble , while Misses Marion Lea , Fanny Robertson , Ella Banister and Mr . F . Grove must be cougratulated on their

assumption of ihe minor characters . Mr . Sydney Alport , the courteous and capable acting manager , announces his annual benefit for Saturday next , 6 th July , when the Vaudeville Company will appear , and several eminent artistes will take part in a miscellaneous entertainment . We heartily wish him snccess .

Gaiety . —The engagement of the French Company afc this theatre came to a brilliant termination on Tuesday last , when a crowded audience assembled to witness and enjoy the final performance of these clever artistes . The piece selected was " Le Gendre de Monsieur Poirier , " the part of the old bourgeois being undertaken by

M . Coquelm . This is a character he plays to perfection ; it ia faU of minute artistic touches , while his facial expression and tone of voice are so precise that even persons nofc conversant wifch the French language mi ^ hfc readily follow the action of fche play . M . Coquelin was admirably supported by his son Jean , as Verdelet , the friend and

partner of Poirier—another artistic performance , when ifc is consi . dered the actor is so young a man , and which sufficiently proved him fco be a tTorfchy follower in his father ' s footsteps . Mdlle . Alice Lody , as Aatoineifce , and M . Daquesno as le Marq-iis de Presle , also plajel wich considerable spirit , and materially assisted in the success

achieved . The comedy was received throughout with acclamation , and fche curtain had to be raised again and again afc its conclusion to enable the performers to witness the enthusiasm of their admirers . The Company will certainly nofc regret their short visit to London . The regular Gaiety troupe return here this ( Saturday ) evening , with the successful burlesque " Faust np to date . "

Ad01103

MASONIC LITERATURE . WANTED . —To Purchase , for Cash , OLD BOOKS ON FBEEM . VSO . VRV . State full Title , Date , and style of Binding ; with prices required . Address , J ? . W ., -11 Thornhill Square , Barnsbury , Loudon , N . Four days' silence a negative . ^ ^ •¦¦•¦ ' ¦ . ¦ . ¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦¦^ ¦¦¦^ ¦ ' - ¦¦•¦¦• ' ¦•¦' ¦ ^ ^

Ad01104

Wanted to Purchase . FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE and MASONIC MIRROR . The Volume for July to December 13 !* 3 . Address , statin" ; price asked , W ., Office of tho Ic'itEKMASOM ' s O 1111 OS 101 . E , lieUidcrc Work .- * , Hermes Hill , l ' entouville , London , N .