Christmas Festivities, Past, Present, And Future.

and a ruff that might have done duty as a cover for an ordinary-sized round table—why it must have been an undertaking as difficult as Jason ' s hunt after thc golden fleece or the labours of Hercules taken singly or altogether . Yet , there arc thousands of men still living who have accomplished this , as there were thousands who did so in Elizabeth's reign . So , I repeat , there is no predisposing cause why our grandchildren may not do at Christmas as

our grandfathers and their grandfathers before them did at the same season . But the " toddling infant of to-day may live to see another kind of future . This is a utilitarian age , and our utilitarianism is advancing with rapid strides , and more than ever impressing all things with its peculiar mark . These are the days of steam and mechanicals , of telegraphs and photographs , of telephones and photophones ; and who knows but that sixty years hence we

may not eat , drink , and amuse ourselves mechanically—by the aid of steam and other inventions . I do not think so meanly of mankind as to suppose the kindliness which animates people towards each other , especially at Christmas , will ever be degraded into a mere mechanical operation of the mind , regulated by the pressure that is brought to bear upon it . But , even now , manual labour is in many things superseded by mechanical . Again , in respect of

domestic poultry , the arrangements of Dame Nature are rendered superfluous by hydro-incubators of various kinds , and cattle , which are no longer dependent for existence on their natural food , are reared by patent foods . Well , in forty years' time we may have roast beef and Christmas pudding , turkeys , geese , poultry , and all the good things of the season supplied by certain new contrivances . Perhaps the baron or sirloin of beef and haunch or saddle of mutton

will come into being already dressed for the table , just as Minerva did from the brain of Zeus , an adult and armed cap-a-pie * . People may still be conservative enough to retain predilection for eating and drinking and digesting their food in accordance with " old style , " but possibly contrivances will have been invented which will enable them to walk , dance , dress , and generally comport themselves by means of machinery . Churches and dwelling houses will

decorate themselves with ready-grown floral devices , concerts will be given by automaton vocalists and instrumentalists ; and by means of an improved telephone , one concert—say in the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington—will suffice for every city and town in the United Kingdom . But it would need the imagination of the most imaginative

Deing that ever lived to picture the possible eventualities of sixty years hence . Perhaps , therefore , I shall do well if I close my list of maybe's , and content myself with a final utterance in the form of a commonplace axiom , slightly altered to meet the circumstances— " Sufficient for the season are the good things thereof . " One word more—and that one word means several—and 1 have done" A HAPPY YEAR TO YOU ALL . "

Freemasonry In Portsmouth.

FREEMASONRY IN PORTSMOUTH .

In our issue in July we gave our readers an account of the consecration ) of thc New Masonic Hall attached to the Freemasons' Club in Commercial-road , and we are happy to note the great progress made by the several Masonic bodies which have availed themselves of the handsome accommodation provided by the Freemasons' Company . At the last meeting of the recently formed Landport Lodge ,

No . 1766 , an interesting ceremony took place in presenting Bro . E . S . Main , P . M ., who was one of the founders , with a marble clock , and his wife with a handsome trichord piano , in recognition of his services as the Honorary Secretary since its formation . Between forty and fifty brethren sat down to the supper , and the speakers dwelt on the great success which had attended the lodge , it being consecrated on the 20 th of November , 187 S , and on the same date in the

present year the number had increased from the seven founders to over one hundred members . Although the lodge had been a success , it had been hitherto unable to devote a portion of its funds to the great Masonic Charitable Institutions , as besides the large expense in fitting up a private house as a lodge room and paying for the requisite furniture and Masonic regalia , it had devoted the remaining part of its funds in assistingin promotingthe

Freemasons' Company in providing proper accommodation in the centre of the borough for all the Alasonic lodges in the town , if they chose to avail themselves of it . Having accomplished that purpose , and being now in a prosperous and thriving condition , we doubt not hut that the same energy in providing itself a home will bc used in supporting the great Charitable Institutions . In the course of the remarks of one of the speakers especial attention was directed

to the desirability of establishing a local charity as a . supplementary measure to the Great Metropolitan Institutions . Thc Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 342 , holding its meetings in the new room , is the oldest lodge , and offers a brilliant example for thc noble efforts it has hitherto made in its support of Masonic charity . It is still maintaining its old reputation for purity of working , harmony , and general financial success . May it still continue to flourish . The

Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 1 S 34 , is tbe youngest , and its members are , by almost unprecedented exertions , endeavouring to place it to the front—the present staff of officers is one of the most proficient in the borough . The other Masonic bodies are doing good work , and receiving increasing support in their new heme . The Freemasons ' Club , which occupies the front part of thc building , was opened on the 16 th of March last , the celebration of which

took place in the evening of the same day by the holding of the most successful Masonic ball ever held in Portsmouth at the Portland Hall , Southsea . We understand that it is to be an annual celebration , and we doubt not but that success will attend the efforts of the committee . Brethren belonging to all the lodges are members of the club , which now numbers 250 , and is rapidlv increasing . The club

building is a handsome structure , and the inteiror lull y corresponds with the elevation ; the appointments are good , and every accommodation is afforded—a spacious reading room , billiard , card , coffee , and dining rooms , arc replete with every essential , and the holding of thc meetings of the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce must add kudos to the undertaking .

We arc asked to stale that the report of the Union Wateloo Lodge which appeared in last week ' s issue was sent us hy an occasional correspondent , an . l not by Bro . Jolly , to whom we are indebted for reports ^ eiierally from this district .

The Masonic Charities.

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

AMATEUR DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE AT ROCHDALE . The second annual performance , given by the brethren of Rochdale and district , in aid of the above Charities , took place in the Theatre Royal , in the before mentioned town , on the 22 nd ult . Last year the handsome sum of £ 44 was realised , and this year no effort has been spared to make the performance equally successful . A dispensation

being granted for Craft and Royal Arch , the brethren appeared in full regalia , and the dress circle ( for which the whole of the seats had been secured about a week previously ) presented one of the most brilliant pictures ever seen in this Temple of Thespis . The pit and other parts of the house , too , were well filled by a very respectable audience . The first piece selected this year was a romantic drama called " Mystery . " The chief personage in the plot

is Sir Phillip Deverell , who in early life was known as Pcrcivnl Dalton , an impostor and a forger . In order to obtain possessson of some forged bills , he murders Charles Franklin , a banker's son , who is journeying to London to place the bills in the hands of the police . His crime , however , is a fruitless one , as the bills are not secured by the murderer . Suspicion falls upon upon George Alymer ( who was heard to threaten deceased ) , and who has since left the neighbourhood . The real murderer is at length discovered

by Sir Phillip's confession while in a somnambulistic state . ifladge Babbington also plays an important part in the plot , as the former mistress of the baronet when he was Pereival Dalton , and who follows him about in disguise . Bro . James Meadowcroft , as Sir Phillip , looked the part to perfection , and when it is remembered that this was his first appearance on the stage , and that the part is one requiring a large amount of dramatic ability , his debut may be pronounced a decided suresss . His cool assurance when he

meets with his old companion in sin—Dan Mcdlicott—was well sustained ; in the subsequent quarrel about the terms of secrecy he was quite equal to the occasion ; and in the closing scene where the involuntary confession is overheard his acting was greeted with hearty rounds of approbation . If there was any fault to be found , it was in occasionally allowing his voice to fall to too low a pitch , and a certain lack of dignified repose so essential to stage effect : he would

do well to study these points for his next appearence . Mcdlicott , a bill discounter , was remarkably well personated by Bro . li . T . Fletcher , who added to the laurels he won last year as the Marquis in the " Wonderful Woman . " His free and easy style of utterance , with an occasional outburst of dramatic declamation , combined with his general stage deportment , was quite in keeping with the character , and proved most conclusively that he

must have devoted much careful study to the part . Bro . James Dearden , a very popular amateur actor , scored another great success as the retired soap and candle merchant , Montgomery Brown ; his comicalities when he essays to ape the manners of the "hupper" classes , together with thc difficulties he experiences in trying to accustom himself to the wearing of tight collars and boots , and more especially when he sees the supposed ghost ,

excited the risibility of the audience to the utmost . Bro . Charles Collingwood made a very graceful and gentlemanly George Alymer ; and , with a little more stage experience , Bro . Pickering , who played Charles , would make a verv acceptable juvenile amateur artiste . Bro . Wm . Swift undertook the banker , Franklin , and had he played the part as happily as he looked it , we should have had his success to chronicle amongst thc rest . His chief fault lay

in not being thoroughly conversant with his part , and in being almost inaudible—a very general fault amongst amateur actors . One of the best impersonations of the evening was that of Sparrow , a banker ' s clerk and wouldbe detective , by Bro . Roberts ; his acting throughout was most energetic and life-like , and he was frequently rewarded with unanimous applause . To the ladies ( daughters of Masons ) we can conscientiously award the

highest praise . It would be difficult to imagine a more striking conception of the part of the injured and noblehearted Madge Babbington than that given by Miss Lillian Myers ; her scenes with Phillip Deverell were pictures of the highest histrionic excellence . Lucy Franklin was beautifully , and occasionally very pathetically , expressed by Mrs . D . Moses ; and as Mrs . Brown , who found the aspirated " h " a great difficulty in her

otherwise glib utterance , Mrs . B . H . Lyons won a large share of the honours of the evening . Bro . Davies , who , although he only played the minor part of yames , the servant , seemed to throw heart and soul into his expression . At the fall of the curtain the whole of the artistes were honoured with a flattering recall . The afterpiece was the farce of " Intrigue , " and in this Bros . Collingwood and Fletcher

and Mrs . Moses kept the house in a continual titter of pleasure . Here again , Bro . Dearden was thoroughly in his element as Tom , the innkeeper , and his robust manner , together with his excellent "bye-play , " stamped him as an amateur possessed of more than ordinary talent . It is expected that something like £ 40 will be realised by the performance .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS PRICE . Wc regret to announce the death on the 24 th ult ., at his residence , New Cross-road , of Bro . Thomas Price , formerly of Clifford's Inn , Past Master of the Industry Lodge , No . 1 S 6 . Bro . Price was initiated in this lodge sixteen years ago , and immedistely devoted himself with great energy to

accomplish the working of the ceremonies . In this he rapidly succeeded , and he then went through the various offices of his lodge till he attained the distinguished position of Worshipful Master . Bro . Price had been in failing health for some months before his death , but a fatal termination of his illness was not expected so soon . Bro . Price died in his 66 th year .

HOLLOWAV ' S OJNTMKNT AND PILLS coir . ' : ' ne both sanitivc ami sanative powers in a high degree—hy tlie fortnci term is understood their ability to preserve health , liy * the latter their capability to restore health . With these remedies at hand , no invalid need be at fault to guide himself or herself safely through the many trials to which every one is subjected during our Jonfj and oft-ti'ne . s inclement winters . Coughs , colds , ulcerated throats , whooping cough , can be successfully treated by well rubbing this Ointment upon thc chest and by taking Ihe Pills ' . During damp , foggy weather asthmatics ! snlJ ' crers will experience the utmost possible relief from Ihe inunction of the Ointine'it , and all tender-chested persons will save endless miserv bv adoptinx this treatment . —[ ADVT . ]

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE ODES , & c , OF HORACE . Eighth Edition . Translated into English Verse by J CONINGTON . G . Bell and Sons , York-street , Covent-Garden , London . This translation of our old and valued friend Horace has reached an eighth edition . It says a good deal , we think , for the good taste of the English " reading public and the value and merits of the translation itself . We are not ,

indeed , among those who are blind to some faults which may be fairly alleged against Professor Conington ' s rendering of Horace's condensed meanings and pleasant measures . As Mr . Conington truly says in the preface , it is after all " translating the untranslatable . " It seems almost impossible adequately to render the concise and

compact Latin , and words are forgotten or meanings are sacrificed , either to suit the looser demands of an English paraphrase , or the claims of the imperative rythm . Still Mr . Conington's translation has many excellences , and has made , and will yet make , many friends . As an illustration of what we mean , we will take a very familiar instance— . ¦¦ .-.-. ' .. >

" O Venus , Regina Gnidi Paphique , Sperne dilectam Cypron , et vocantis Thure te multo Glycera ; decoram , Transfer in -edem . " Conington thus renders these well-meaning and tripping words—¦ ' ' . - " " Come Cridian , Paphian Venus , come , Thy well-beloved Cyprus spurn ; nasten

, wnere ror rnee in uiycera s nomc Sweet odours burn . " Lord Ravensworth thus gives it" Oh ! Queen of Paphos . -goddess bright , Leave thy beloved Isles , and come Where clouds of incense thee invite To Glycera's congenial home . "

It will be noted by the accurate scholar that both translations , however well conceived and carried out , fail to give us the full force of the striking original . Lord Ravensworth does not impart to his lines the ' effect of "transfer" by "come ; " " genial " is not the true meaningof "decoram , " and "invite" is hardly the explanation of " vocantis , " the more so , as it is not really that the " clouds of incense invite" but Glycera , and in a

ceremonial sense . It is , however , poetry , and we must make allowances . Mr . Conington misses equally the true meaning of "transfer , " he leaves out all allusion to "decoram , " which has a meaning , and his "sweet odours burn " is hardly a fitting representation of " et vocantis thure te multo Glycera ; , " & c . This shows us how difficult it really is often , if not always , to give in " a translation the intenser vigour of the original version' Let us take another specimen , well known to many of our

readers" Diffugere nives ; redcunt jam gramina campis , Arboribusque Comae ; . Mutat terra vices ; et decrescentia ripas Flumina pratercunt ; Gratia cum Nymphis geminisque Sororibus audet Ducere nuda chores . Immortalia ne speres , monet Annus , et almum

Quae rapit Hora diem . " Lord Ravensworth thus translates these words , so familiar to some of us in school boy days" The winter snows have fled , the grassy lea Grows green , and foliage decks the tree ; Earth feels the change , within their banks the rills Diminished trickle from the hills .

With zones unbound , the nymphs and graces dare To frolic in the vernal air Do then take warning by the fleeting year , Nor hope for joys immortal here . " Mr . Conington ' s rendering is as follows" The snow is fled , the trees their leaves put on , The fields their green ;

Earth miss the change , and rivers lessening run Their banks between . Naked the nymphs and graces in the meads The dance essay ; ' No scaping death' proclaims the year that speeds The sweet spring day . " This , no doubt , is a very literal and effective rendering of some well-known poem of always genial and pleasant

Horace . - We think , however , that Mr . Conington in his holder rendering of " naked " has overrun the poet ' s idea , which was ' "lightly clothed" on account of the departure of winter and the approach of spring . Lord Ravensworth has no authority for " zone unbound , " arid

" frolic " is not the best rendering for "ducere chores . " - Thus it is always somewhat difficult to " translate , " though , we admit , it is much easier to criticize than to write at all . But , we repeat , we have read the book with pleasure , and can recommend it cordially to all Horatian students amongst us . !'•-

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

MORIN IN 1766 . The minute ofthe Grand Lodgeof France in 1766 ( there being an error of terms in my last ) was handed to me some years ago by Bro . Kenneth Mackenzie , who took it from Kloss ' s "Geschichte der Freemaurerci in Frankreich , "' vol . 11 , pp . 300 , 401 , and was extracted by Bro . Leblanc de '

Marconnay , 33 , Orator of the Chamber and Court of Appeal , Paris , 1852 . As Bro . Mackenzie is a Genran scholar he will perhaps tell us more about it before we offer further remarks thereon . The minute is well known to some of the American opponents of the Ancient and Accepted Rite ; but of late years I have not studied this literature . JOHN YARKER .

RITE OF MEMPHIS . In writing the article for " How , " the amount of space allowed me was limited , and I was obliged to condense ; hence 1 see 1 have been misunderstood , and which I will , proceed to explain . Thc A . and P . Rite terms Craft Masonry " York Masonry , " because the old Craft Constitutions attribute the origin of all Craft Masonry to an ancient assembly at York , therefore , I used the term York Rite as synonymous with Craft Masonry . But speaking ' especially of York , I admit that there are no Templar re *