Diary For The Week.

150-1—Red Rose of Lancaster , Starkie ' s Arms Hotel , Padiham , near Burnloy 1513—Friendly , King ' s Head Hotel , Barnsloy 1580—Cranbottrne , ReA Lion Hotel , HvttfteM . Herts , at 3 . ( Instruction ) 1594—Cedewain , Public Rooms , Newtoivn , Montgomeryshire 1807—Loyal Wye , Builth , Breconshire 1829—Burrell , Georgo Hotel , Shoreham

R . A . 187—Charity , Freemasons' Hall , Park Street , Bristol R ] A . 325—St . Johu , Freemasons' HaU , Islington-square , Salford R ! A . 381—St . John , Bulls Head Inn , Bolton R . A . 758—Bridgwater , Freemasons' Hall , Runcorn , Cheshiro R . A . 1393—llamer , Masonic Hall , Liverpool M . M . 53—Britannia . Freemasons' Hall , Sheffield

FRIDAY , 4 th SEPTEMBER . Metropolitan Masonic Benevolent Association , 155 Fleet-street , E . C . at 8 . 30 . Emulation Lodge of Improvement , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . 25—Robert Burns , Portland Arms Hotel , Great Portland Stroot , W ., at 8 ( In ) 144—St . Luke , White Hart , King's-road , Chelsea , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 607—United Pilgrims , Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruct . ) 768—William Preston , St . Andrew ' s Tavern , George St ., Bakor St ., at 8 . ( In ) 834—Ranelagh , Six Bells , Hammorsmith ( Instruction ) 933—Doric , Duke ' s Head , 79 Whitechapel-road , at 8 . ( Instruction )

1056—Metropolitan , Portugal Hotel , Fleet-street , E . G . at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1158—Belgrave , Jermyn-street , S . W ., at 8 . ( Instruction ) 1275—Star , Ship Hotel , Greenwich 1298—Royal Standard , Alwyne Castle , St . Panl ' s-road , Canonbury , at 8 . ( In . ) 1365—Clapton , White Hart , Lower Clapton , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 1642—E . Carnarvon , Ladbroke HaU , Notting Hill , at 8 . ( Instruction ) 1789—Ubique , 79 Ebury Street , Pimlico , S . W ., at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction ) 1815—Ponge , Thicket Hotel , Anerley

R . A . —Panmure C . of Improvement , Stirling Castle , Church Streot , Camberwell R ; A . 79—Pythagorean , Portland Hotel , London-street . Greenwich ( Inst . ) i R . A . 14 S 9—Ezra , 90 Ball ' s Pond-road , N i M . M . —Old Kent , Crown and Cushion , London Wall , E . C . ( Instruction ) j 44—Friendship , Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester j 81—Doric , Private Room , Woodbridgo , Suffolk . i 219—Prudence , Masonic Hall , Todmorden .

242—St . George , Guildhall , Doncaster . i 306—Alfred , Masonic Hall , Kelsall-street , Leeds 442—St . Peter , Masonic Hall , Peterborough 453—Chigwell , Public Hall , Station Road , Loughton , at 7 . 30 ( Inst ) 621—Truth , Freemasons' Hall , Fitzwilliam-street , Huddersfield . 837—De Grey and Ripon , Town Hall , Ripon 839—Royal Gloucestershire , Bell Hotel , Gloucester

1096—Lord Warden , Wellington Hall , Deal 1333—Athelstan , Town Hall , Atherstone , Warwick . 1387—Chorlton , Masonic Rooms , Cho .-lton Cum Hardy 1393—Hamer , Masonic Hall , Liverpool , at 8 . ( Instuction ) 1528—Fort , Masonic Hall , Newquay , Cornwall . 1657—Albert Edward , Bush Hotel , Hexham .

1661—Morecambe , Masonic Hall , Edward-street , Morecambe , Lancashire 1648—Prince of Wales . Freemasons' HaU , Salem-street , Bradford . 1664—Gosforth , Freemasons' HaU , High-street , Gosforth General Lodge of Instruction , Masonic Hall , New-street , Birmingham , at 7 R . A . —General Chapter of Improvement , Masonic Hall , Birmingham R . A . 359—Peace , Freemasons' Hall , Albion Terrace , Southampton

SATURDAY , 5 th SEPTEMBER . General Committee Boys' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 198—Percy , Jolly Farmers' , Southgate Road , N ., 8 . ( Instruction ) 1275—Star , Five Bells , 155 New Cross-road , S . E ., at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1364—Earl of Zetland , Royal Edward , Triangle , Hackney , at 7 . ( Instruction ) 1624—Eccleston , Crown and Anchor , 79 Kbury Street , S . W ., at 7 ( Instruction ) 2012—Chiswiek , Hampshire Hog , King Street , Hammersmith , W . ( Instruct ) Sinai Chapter of Improvement , Union , Air-street , Regent-street , W ., at 8 R . A . 820—Lily of Richmond , Greyhound , Richmond , at 8 . ( Instruction ) R . A . 976—Rose of Denmark , Star and Garter , Kew Brid"o

1223—Amherst , King ' s Arms Hotel , Westerham , Kent . 1362—Royal Albert Edward , Market HaU , Redhill 1458—Truth . Private Rooms , Conservative Club . Newton Heath , Manchester

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N " .

" Original Character Illustrations to Dickens . " Drawn and painted by " Kyd . " London : T . Gilbert , Dealer in Works of Art , 275 Pentonville-road , 378 Gray ' s Inn-road , and 85 Caledonian-road , King ' s Cross , N .

PASSERS along the Pentonville-road can scarcel y have failed to notice in the shop-windows of Bro . T . Gilbert , dealer in works of art , a series of original character illustrations to the works of Dickens which have attracted the attention and admiration of thousands . In this series of drawings , which number over 230 , illustratinG- the

writings of the most original and popular novelist England has yet produced , the artist " Kyd " has ponrtrayed in the most striking and successful spirit the leading features and peculiarities of each character in the various Dickensian works . With such a wealthy subject to choose from there are , of course , instances in which some

drawings are far more striking than others , but the text in every case has been strictly adhered to , and readers of these undying works will be qnick to recognise such characters without reference to the originals . We have long been accustomed to the quaint engravings with which the many editions of Dickens have been

embelh ' Bhed by Crnikshank , Phiz , and other caricaturists of the old school , but it is a novelty both ori ginal and picturesque to see the characters depicted in water colours and placed in new and more piquant attitudes by the modern artist . In all former illustrations the central figure is seen amidst a surrounding group , whichthough humorous

, enough in its way , as representing an antiquated Btyle of artistic illustration , nevertheless fails to bring out the peculiar traits npon which the great novelist descanted with such inimitable hnmonrand pathos . In the series now on view the artist has invested each character with an individual interest which cannot fail to lend

additional charm to the most favourite of all works of English fiction . In no single instance has the imagination been permitted ™ wander awav from tne ob Ject in view ; ancl whether depicting the benignity of a Pickwick , the humour of a Weller , the brutalit y tt . Sik ea bil 0 8 im P Iicity of a finch , the jauntiness of a Micawber , or the malignity of a Quilp , the artist has thoroughly entered into

Reviews.

and grasped the true spirit of hi 3 subject . It is hardly necessary to point ont to the student of English literature that the characters of Charles Dickens are something more than more fictional cro ; ttions , mere creatures of the imagination ; they breathe aud live in rea flesh and blood : they exist in our very midst . We know , or seem to

have known , them personally ; we have smiled with Sam Weller , we have sympathized with Tiny Tim , we have wept with little Nell , and we were almost going to say we can sniff tho perpetual odour of pine apple rum when we gaze upon the hypocritical " phiz " of Stiggins , the sanctimonious and sycophantic " Shepherd . " They will cease to

charm ns only when the English language is forgotten , or human nature ceases to exist . And these original illustrations , so eagerly sought after at the hands of Bro . Gilbert , will bnt tend to heighten the pleasure of , and to add zest to , a renewed perusal of Dickens ' works , which they must naturally stimulate . They are exquisitely

drawn and tinted , and the most prominent figures in eaoh of the works are portrayed in a style and artistic finish never before attempted . They are of a size most convenient for an album , and when bound together will form not only an ornament to any library or drawing-room table , but will serve as a most reoherohe companion

to the reader as he revels in the literary treats whioh Dickens has bequeathed , not only to his own country , but to every nation where the English language is spoken . We congratulate Bro . Gilbert upon his taste and enterprise in securing the copyright of this interesting and most picturesque collection of drawings ; and we can hardly be

surprised at the amount of attention they have evoked on the part of all admirers of conceptive art which they have already drawn around them in the very short time since they were published . We anticipate for these little gems of pictorial skill a very wide and extensive circulation , so soon as their merits and fame have become more gene .

rally known , and there will be very few who revere the memory of the immortal writer , and who show their affection for that memory by enriching their library shelves with his writings , who will not also

possess themselves of this wonderfully clever and admirably drawn series of illustrations whioh Bro . Gilbert is now submitting to public inspection at his various establishments in the locality named at the commencement of this notice .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Toole ' s . —Amid the multitudinous failures and half-successes which have beset our poor modern Thalia , very heartily we congratulate the most genial of the Muses on the merry little play for which London is indebted to Miss Eweretta Lawrence and Mr . Duck . " On 'Change " is very cleverly adapted from the sparkling original , whioh

achieved so great a success on the Berlin stage , and its author , Herr Von Moser , may congratulate himself on the spirit and sparkle preserved in the trying process of transplantation . " On 'Change " is described as a " farcical " comedy , and in accordance with the prevalent demand for the " hob poker " motif , fun more exuberant

than comedy should indulge m is introduced in two or three of the scenes ; but if the sad-eyed critic sighs , the house rocks and roars with laughter , and is glad to overlook the depression of trade and the horrors of the penny Press for a quiet , wholesome interval . But if comedy must be farcical , let her not descend to buffoonery , and , on

this ground at least , we must protest against an incident where Mr . Burnett ( Mr . Parren ) is taking wine with two young men and is made to choke and throw the contents of the glass over his face

by his companion ' s slapping him on the back . Mr . W . Farren has found in this genial stockbroker , with his weakness for a good cigar and occasional glass of " dry Monopole , " a personage after his heart . With a true touch of benevolence and a fine sense of humour he seta

himself to teach a lesson to his cousin , the impecunious Professor Peck , who having lived all his life in a laboratory with small pecuniary result , borrows bank notes from the city man and declares that " any fool can make siller on the Exchange . " James Burnett offers to place £ 10 , 000 at his disposal to try his hand at fortune

making . In the succeeding excitements and anxieties and final tribulation of the Professor the real originality of the play consists . Mr . Morris , as the learned Scotsman , gives us one of the finest so-oalled character portraits the modern comic stage has offered . The dry crude harshness and angularity , the restrained impatience , the eager

hunger for wealth , and agony at the thought of extravagance when his wife proposes to refurnish their house , all this is given with true discrimination , never passing into the least touch of caricature . The accent , too , is of the purest . If the play offered nothing else good but this one character it wonld deserve success , realised as it

is by Mr . Morris . How settling day arrives , to lower tbe vanity of the Professor , but to console him with news of wealth secured by a chemical discovery sold through the careful intervention of his cousin ; when the Professor hears that all his supposed purchases in " Grand Trunks" have landed him in insolvency , his despair is really tragic

and there was a fine bit of grotesque pathos when he would insist on giving up the money secured by the chemical discovery . The other parts are adequately filled , especially must we praise the thorough manliness , dash and pleasant youthfulness of Mr . Yorke Stephens , as Joseph Johnson ; he displays a fine sense of humour and a no less

gift of sincerity where feeling is required . Mr . Morton Selten , as a young doctor , in love with the Professor ' s daughter , played very pleasantly . Mr . Gerald Moore delighted the honse with his most amusing assumption of the Masher , perfectly vacuous and sublimely happy in the consciousness of bis own perfections . His love making

could not be surpassed in its delicious conceit . Miss Eweretta Lawrence makes a charming little maid home from school . Her method has improved since we last saw her in London . Miss Roaina Pilippi gives us an agreeable school girl pendant . A charming scene is that

where the two are exchanging their first love confidences . The play is well mounted , and well-filled houses will certainly continue at King William-street if " On 'Change "keeps the stage , till Mr . Toole ' s return , which ha 3 been arranged for September .