Notices Of Meetings.

ing . In response , Bro . Woodman , W . M . 1950 , said ho appreciated the honour done him by coupling his name with the toast . He had had the privilege of visiting the Lodge frequently dnring tho last few years , and was glad to see the progress that had been made . It had afforded him much pleasure to see the W . M . invest his Officers

in so able a manner , and he was sure he would perform his duties to the entire satisfaction of tho brethren . In conclusion , he heartily thanked the W . M . for his hospitality , and in tho name of tho Visitors wished him every success during the coming year . Brother Bird P . M . 1897 also testified to the excellent working and profuse

hospitality . The W . M . then proposed the health of the Past Masters , which was responded to by Bros . P . M . ' s Weston and Osborn . The toast of the Officers followed , which was suitably responded to . The Tyler ' s toast brought the proceedings to a close , when the brethren separated , after having spent a very enjoyable evening . We must

give a meed of praise to Bro . J . Baker , for the excellent manner in which the banquet was served . Tho musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . Wright Organist , assisted by Miss Edith Phillips , Miss Coyte Turner , Bros . Probert and Bayne . The selection of vocal mnsio rendered gave great satisfaction and deservedly gained applanse .

THIS Lodge hold its first meeting in the new Masonic Hall , St ' Saviourgate , York , on Monday , the 11 th inst . The brethren attended in full force , and the Lodge room was comfortably filled . The fittings of the hall were far from completed , but sufficient had been accomplished to give a good idea of what the effect would be

EBORACUM LODGE , No . 1611

when all was finished , and very general satisfaction was expressed at the handsome , comfortable , and well furnished appearance of the place . In the absence of tho W . M ., Sir F . Milner , Bnrt ., M . P ., and the I . P . M ., Bro . John Blenkin ( through indisposition ) , Rro . T . B . Whytehead , senior P . M ., took tho chair . After the usual formalities

and successful ballots for a candidate and a joining membpr , Bro . Whytehpad addressed the brethren on the occasion of their meeting for the first time under their own roof . He congratulated them on their efforts having been crowned with success , reviewing tho progress of tho Lodge since its commencement , and pointing out the

result of harmonious working . He said that the spirit evinced by tho members of the Lodge was of tho true Masonic kind . Not only had they been able to purchase and pay for the handsome building in which they were then assembled , but members of the Lodge had come forward in the most handsome manner and offered to present

various articles of furniture . Chairs , pedestals , and other important properties would be presented bv individual brethren , and , indeed , no sooner was it known that anything was required for the Lodge than some brother at once came forward and offered to give it . Ho was proud to be a member of a Lodge containing so many good

and true men , and ho looked forward to a future both prosperous and happy . After the close of tho Lodge the party met at the refreshment table , and passed a most harmonious evening , every one expressing the utmost pleasure at the accommodation experienced in the now building . Amongst those present wero Bros . Balmford P . M .

as S . W ., Brown J . W ., Chapman S . D ., Dal ton J . D ., Kay Sec , Lackenby I . G ., Stephenson S . ; P . M . ' s Millington , Padel , Seller , Simpson ; Polkinghorne W . M . 1991 , Major McGachen P . M . and S . W . 1991 , Foster , Abbey , Mills , Ware , Pearson , Storry , Irving , Thorpe ,

Cooper , Wriggles worth , Stnbbs , Lamb , Tnff , Thackray , White 1991 , Kersopp 1991 , Tnke 236 , and two visiting brethren from the Lennox Lodge , No . 123 , Richmond . A candidate for initiation and a joining member were proposed .

EWELL LODGE No . 1851

ON Saturday , 23 rd inst ., this Lodge met at the Sun Hotel , Kingston-on-Thames , and was opened by Bro . George Joseph Dunkley ( G . S . Graham ) Worshipful Master , and Bro . Parker was duly installed W . M . for the ensuing year . After the ceremony , the W . M . was presented with a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel , of 18-carat gold , bearing the following inscription : —

Presented by the Brethren of the EWELI , LODGE , No . 1851 , To BRO , GEORGE JOSEPH DUNKLEY P . P . Grand Org . Mddx And fourth Master . 23 rd May 1885 .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

< The Strand . —A great authority has declared that every possible combination on the dramatic chessboard has been long ago exhansted , and that though we may give onr plays new names , we must needs put them through some ancient opening to close in a denouement of no less ancient invention . Will Mr . Sidney Grundy ' s

new comedy "Tho Silver Shield , ' so successfully given lately at a Strand matinee , disprove this pessimist view ? The dialogue is brilliantly written , bnt not made too prickly with smart things ; they seem appropriate to tho speaker aud the situation , not a mere firework show by the author . The play may take its stand , for its

literary merit , a rare quality in these days , when the horse-collar school of wit is in the ascendant , but the merit is perhaps in the manner of the story rather than iu the story itself . We have our lion raging in the forest of Arderi , an animal as fierce and unaccountable as that "which made sweet Rosalind tremble aud turn pale . Mr . Grundy's lion

is green-eyed , and this is the havoc it creates : Alma Blake , a charmingactress ' and charming wife , when the curtain rises , is visiting at the house of Sir Humphrey Chetwynd . She is separated from her devoted husband . The lion of Arden has made Tom read a letter of scornful dismissal to an impertinent admirer , but so worded it that

The Theatres.

Tom thinks his wife faithless . Sho , instead of setting the misunderstanding right , as so clever and sensible a lady should have done , baa allowed her husband to depart , and then advertised her own death . Tom , when the enrtain rises , is embittered , but now seeks consola . tion from Lucv Preston , the ward of Sir Humphrey , a fair but

ille"lt . unate maiden , who is secretly married to her guardian ' s son Ned . When the fact of this marriage is intimated to the father , that amiable and genial old gentleman is suddenly transformed into the irascible father of " legitimate " days , and turns the son he adores and the girl he has loved out of doors , because of the misfortune of

her birth . Then Sir Humphrey seeks consolation from Alma , and offers her his hand , only to learn that she too is married . Ned Chetwynd and his bride are in London in the second act—he a successful play writer , and engaged on a comedy in which Alma is to take a leading part . Now reappears our lion , with eyes greener than ever .

A letter fcheactress has to read is found by Lnoy on her husband ' s desk ; she supposes it is an actual love letter . Here Miss Mary Rorke , as Lucy , showed a degree of emotional power that fairly carried away her audience . Those who have only steu this lady in the charmed circle of the Criterion , where displays of passion and grief

are perhaps unknown , would scarcely be prepared for such ability •as she displays . The lion has roared to snoh purpose that Lucy , like Alma , resolves to separate from the spouse she adores . We next find her , after three months , the leading actress at Alma ' s theatre . This achievement , for a country-bred girl , new to London and

unknown to the photographers , surely demand * too much strain on onr faith . However , we now come to a magnificent scene between the ladies . Lucy charges Alma with the intrigue , and offers to prove the charge by producing the letter ; vvhsn Alma , with half pir . y , half contemptuous good humonr , shows a copy of the words in the part

she is studying . Both ladies are reunited to their " loving husbands , waiting outside . " The story , told in the grey air of the morning , seems crude and improbable ; but probability is not a stage virtue . Mr . Beanchamp was excellent as the country gentleman , mingling tho modern man of the world with a survival of Squire Western . Mr .

Groves , as a very " shoppy theatre manager , played with gustoperhaps a little too much . Mr . Herbert , as Ned , was a pleasant jeune premiere . Mr . B . Harrington was a dignified Rev . Dr . Dozey ; Mr . Arthur Dacre , always refined and earnest in style , suffered from nervousness . To our mind ho spoke his words too slowly , The honour

of the occasion , 'however , fell on Miss Amy Roselle . It is long since this charming artress has had a part so worthy her powers . The brilliancy and playful wit of the artist Alma , the tenderness and pride of the insulted wife , were all delicately rendered , and with the touch of a master hand . This lady commands , with equal readiness , tears

and laughter . Only less important was the Lucy of Miss Kate Rorke , while Mrs . Leigh Murray was delightful as the fussy , good-natured clergywoman . There were , at the end of the second act , loud calls for

the author , but he wisely deferred his acknowledgments till the end of the piece , when he had to appear twice . On the second occasion ho was brought on by the tutelary genius of the occasion , Miss Amy Roselle .

The Avenue . —Tho sparkling comic opera " Les Manteaux Noirs" again sees the footlights at the Avenue , and will , we trust , bring back fortune's favours to the pretty house by the river . It is not long since Mr . Willing first adorned our hoardings with the mysterious triumvirate , suggesting tho thrco avengers from the

" Prophete , " and we gladly welcome these gay dissemblers once again . Full houses give plenty of laughter and applanse to the revival . Though the cast is not so strong—from a musical point of viow—as the original one , the story , with its picturesque Spanish setting , and endless complications , has quite enough dramatic force

to stand alone . However , Miss Hood deserves unqualified praise for her singing as the heroine , and very pretty she looks in her coquet , tish peasant dress . Mr . Wnlsham plays the hero , Don Louis , with spirit , and the right touch of cavalier gaiety . Mr . Wyatt is at his best as the Grand Chamberlain . Tho sincerity of his eccentricities

have an irresistible charm , and whether he sings or declaims he is delightfully amusing . Tho piece is well mounted , and the costumes costly and tasteful . Whether comic opera can hold its own for any length of time is now doubtful , but M . Bucalossi ' s work , by its graceful songs and clever orchestration , well deserves the success its revival promises .

The Royal Arch Masons of Surrey will hold their annual Provincial Grand Chapter at the Masonic Hall , Chertsey , this day ( Saturday ) at 3 ' 40 in f . i ' n . « afternoon . There will be a banquet at five p . m ., ticket- I' r vhich are 12 s 6 d each . A large attendance of Companions is expected .

Two important Mark meetings will be held in London next week , the one being the summer half yearly communication of the Grand Lodge , and the other the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex and

Surrey . The latter will take place on Monday , at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New Road , at 5 p . ni , nnd will he followed by a banquet , at G . 30 . The communication of Grand Mark Lodge will bo held at

Freemasons' Tavern , on Tuesday , at 5 p . m ., and will also bo followed by a banquet , which will be provided in the Venetian Salon , Holborn Restaurant , at 7 o ' clock . The

Grand Mark Master , the Rfc , Hon . the Earl of Kintore , will , it is expected , preside both in Grand Lodge and at the subsequent banquet .