Mark Masoney.

MARK MASONEY .

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT . THE Provincial Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Albion Place , Southampton , on Friday , 21 st inst ., under the presidency of the Provincial Grand Master W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Past Grand Master of England . There was a large attendance , including Bro . R . Eve D . P . G . M . M ., and other Officers .

. . The sum , of ten guineas was voted to the Mark Benevolent Fund , and a like sum to the Hants and Isle of Wight Masonic Benevolent and Educational Association , the annual Festival of which followed the Prov . Grand Lodge meeting . The ; following Officers were appointed and invested for the year : —

Bro . R . Eve - - - - - Deputy H . G . Giles ... - Senior Warden J . H . Wavell .... Junior Warden W . Baker --- -- Master Overseer H . Durrant .... Senior Overseer W . Miller - - - - Junior Overseer

Rev . Norman Lee - Chaplain J . Harwood .... Registrar D . O . Hobbs .... Secretary E . Soldah -- - -- Senior Deacon T . Taylor ----- Junior Deacon J * . Cox - - - - Inspector of Works

A . H . Smith - Director of Ceremonies M . Willis ----- Assistant Dir . of Cers . J . C . Burbage - - - - Sword Bearer A . J . Colledge - - - - Standard Bearer H . Gale ..... Organist

J . G . Pinnock .... Inner Guard J . G . Jordan ... . Steward J . Exall - - - - - Tyler . Other business was transacted , after which Provincial Grand Lodge was closed in ancient form .

SUSSEX . THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge will be held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Monday , 7 th November .

MACDONALD LODGE , No . 104 . THE installation meeting took place on the 10 th inst ., ab Mark Masons ' Hall , Great Queen Street , W . C , when Bro . Walter H . Stone S . W . was installed as W . M . The . Lodge was opened by the W . M . Bro . Chamberlain , and the usual business having been transacted , Bro . W . Vincent P . M . P . G . A . D . C . by special assumed the chair

request as Installing Officer , and in a very impressive manner placed Bro . W . H . Stone in the ohair of A ., where he was saluted , primarily by a board of Installed Officers , and then in tbe usual manner by the Brethren of the Lodge . A Past Master's jewel was presented to Bro . Chamberlain , and a cordial vote of thanks tendered to Bro . Vincent for his services as Installing Master , to which he responded in suitable terms .

FRIENDSHIP , UNANIMITY AND PHILANTHROPIC LODGE , No . 191 . AT the meeting held at the Railway Hotel , Highbridge , on Monday . evening , 17 th inst ., Bro . W . Leaker , of Glastonbury , was unanimously elected * W . M . for the ensuing year , as successor to Bro . Coggan . Bro . T . Floyd . Norris was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . W . Webber Tyler .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Drury Lane Theatre . —Mr . Arthur Collins has opened this theatre for the autumn with a distinct success , which is nightly attracting crowded audiences , and bids fair to run up to the time when the final preparations for the pantomime will necessitate its withdrawal . The new drama is entitled " The Great Ruby , " and is written by Messrs . Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton . This wonderful jewel has always brought misfortune to its possessor since ifc was stolen from an Indian Rajah many centuries ago . At the time the drama it is in the custod

opens y of Alderman Sir John Garnett , a jeweller , for the purpose of sale . Here enters the Countess Charkoff and Prince Kassim to inspect the ruby , but the price , £ 50 , 000 , is too much even for the Prince . The Countess is however in league with a gang of thieves who by a bold trick secure the stone , and make off . It is then given to the Countess , for security in a chocolate box , placed by her in a patent safe belonging to Lady Garnett , who in turn drops it , during a sleepwalking scene , on the floor of a hotel , and so on until by a series of ingenious devices it comes

into the possession of the Prince , after a terrible struggle with the original thief in an ascending balloon . How it is restored to Sir John is too good to be anticipated , but intending visitors , and they will doubtless be numerous will thoroughly enjoy this exciting yet perfectly legitimate play . As is customary there are several characters , who are cleverly and artistically woiked into the general play by various interesting sketches . Thus the worldly , good hearted , but vulgar Lady Garnett , and her worthy honest husband , form a pathetic episode , and are admirably represented bv Mrs John Wood and Mr . J . B . Gordon . J

Entertainment Notes.

The Countess and the Prince tell a story of passionate love , capitally sustained by Mrs . Raleigh and Mr . Robert Loraine . The penniless society lady Mrs . Elsmere , seeking a rich marriage for her daughter , who naturally prefers a poor gentleman to her rich admirer , form another set of characters presented by Miss Bella Pateman , Miss Hoffman , Mr . Milward and Mr . Shirley . The detective James Brett is effectively undertaken by Mr . 0 . R . Eoss , while the desperate leader of the theives finds a forcible exponent in Mr . Robert Pateman . Indeed , all the dramatis person ® are in efficient hands ,

and have evidently been carefully selected . The picture is set in a frame that is simply gorgeous . The scenery and stage effects surpass anything we have seen at this house of marvels , and reflects infinite credit upon Mr . Erank Dainer . ' V / e must refrain from even attempting to describe the truly beautiful dresses , whioh represent every modern costume known to fashionable society , and would fill a volume . Appropriate music has been supplied by Mr . J . M . Glover , whioh is rendered by an admirable orchestra . The expense of this production must have been enormous , and it is satisfactory to find that the public appreciate the enterprise of the talented and energetic manager .

Lord Lathom was taken suddenly and somewhat seriously ill on Sunday , and his condition has been such as to cause the gravest anxiety . His lordship was about to start on a yachting cruise , which has now been postponed .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer not necessarily for publication but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE PEB . STONIAN LECTUKE .

. To the Editor of the EBEEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAB SIB AND BROTHER , —Record is made in this year ' s " Calendar , " at page 110 , that Bro . William Preston " bequeathed , among other Masonio gifts , £ 300 Consols for the Prestonian Lecture . " I have spoken to several Brethren about this Lecture , but no one can give me tbe slightest information on the subject , never having heard of it . Can you , my worthy Brother , throw any light on this matter , when and where is the lecture given , and in whom is the gift entrusted ? Yours fraternally , M . M .

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