Provincial Grand Lodge Of Kent.

. . F . R- J . Champion , P . P . S . G . D . ; and H . Pen-]' , PPGO . The P . M . ' s present inclnded Bros . J . t . lo » . p Day , G . Smith , W . A . Weston , VV . L . Seyfang , le , R , ' rhaffl , G . Naylor , S . Field , C R . Cockburn , J . J * I \\ W . lude , ] . Husband , A . J . Bateman , J . Mitchell , '" 1 < £ air F . T . Gerand , H . Ward , W . J . Harris , G . F , J '„ W Bond , G . Goble , M . Priestman , G . Green , H . P y VV . Shaw , F . G . Homan , B . Kilby Thorpe , T . Bla ' rv 0 :. h P . Avrn . A . Dour / htv . I . Mason . R .

Cham-Hug I W Court , S . Varren , P . W . Philpott ,. Henrv Bond , £ vV Wallis , F . Leest , J . C . Briggs , Thomas Dean , P . A . V iS Kennedy , C . R . Buck , A . VV . Durst , J . Storey , f B BiWs , W . H . Tanner , VV . Russell , E . Palmer , J . , « u ; ff- > n ° F . Nicholls , and VV . Wilson . There were also Wh ' „ Tthose present Bros . G . Church , W . M . ; W . T . Sfc . * Collins > w * h - Idishj E ^ ^ - ' A ' i imorris

e , inner G . rl . Leavey , c . . omun , n . . , ucu , rhutch ? jun ., Cooper , S . Seager , VV . Hollis , W . J . Hay-« ird T . Stafford , and others . The usual arrangements for the Grand Festival to be held „ cittinebourne this year were made .

The P . G . TREASURER reported that nearly the necessary mount—Jiooo—had been subscribed by the lodges tothe rids' School Presentation Fund , and the recommendations of the Charity Committee were adopted . A banquet subsequently took place at the Sun Hotel , when Bro . Spurrier provided an excellent dinner .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The second meeting of the Board of Stewards for the ooth Anniversary Festival of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall on Tuesday , Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P ., in the chair . The report of the Special Committee was read and adopted , and alter transacting what other business remained to be done , the Committee adjourned till Thursday , the 2 lst instant .

It has been arranged that the usual distribution of prizes shall take place at the School , Wood Green , on Saturday , lhe 23 rd instant . The usual programme will be prepared , and after the proceedings in the Great Hall have terminated , and the visitors have been regaled with the necessary refreshment , the several athletic sports vvill be held in the playing-fields .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

ST . G EORGE LODGE , No . 1152 , SINGAPORE . The above lodge met on St . George ' s-day , the 23 rd April , when Bro . D . G . Presgrave was installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The officers appointed are as follows : Bros . T . de M . L . Braddell , S . W . ; C . F . McKie , J . W . ; VV . Evans , Treas . , * J . S . Sturrock , Sec . ; C . D . H . Currie , S . D . ; N . H . S . Charlwood , J . D . ; C . G . Garrard , I . G . ; and J . Lannon , Tyler .

PERAK J UBILEE LODGE , No . 2225 , PERAK . This lodge vvas consecrated on the 14 th April , by W . Bro . J . P . B . Beal , as D . S . G . W . of the Eastern Archipelago , who installed the following as officers * . Bros . C . A . Schultz , W . M . j F . St . G . Caulfield , M . I . C . E ., S . W . ; J . F . Toft , J . W . ; W . Cowan , Sec . and Treas . ; W . Buswell , S . D , ; W . Givan , I . D . ; and J . Symes , I . G .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Mr . Willie Edouin has taken " Katti" out the Mis at the Strand and substituted a new three-act farce by Mr . T . G . VVarren , called " His Wives . " It is something in the same strain as lhe author ' s " Nita's First , " but not nearl y so clever or amusing . In one or two acts it would

go much better . The first act is decidedly funny , the second , except for Mr . Edouin and Miss Susan Vaughan , "rags , and the third is not very lively . The plot is a little mixed , but one laughs over " His Wives . " " Airey Annie " makes a good wind up of the programme , for it is a really witt y and amusing burlesque .

* # * The book by Mr . Gunter has become so popular 'hat it is no wonder " Mr . Barnes of New York " has been dramatised . As a whole , those vvho go to see it at the V'ympic will be nleased . for the vvork is well and smartly

"one and the action is rapid . In the first act Antonio aoli , young Corsican of good family serving in the ant Tt ' llas a c l uarre ' ' th an English navy lieutenkill ' rl u ^ ^^ ' ^ ' ** Ajaccio , and the Cors ' can is th v i- ' ' ster Marita arrives upon the scene just as ne Englishman has left to reioin his shio . which is bound

w * . Iexandria , the event taking place in the Egyptian her h 'Ii ? ' girl swears vengeance over the body of and fc * i *^' P ursues her lust for blood into Egypt , GerarfI A nursing in 'he hospital she falls in love vvith Cn-iJt n nstrut her . She is loved , however , by a certain CM . ™_ DaneHa , a Corsican like herself , and he furthers her

hassl 6 * , crreven ge with all his fervour , hopingthat when she When" ! , ' Drother ' s murderer she will love him—Danella . 0 f r " '" forms him that love has conquered the spirit he is I " !• * ler ' that she is engaged to be married , £ ) , „>¦ orr | fied . When she mentions her fiance ' s name , ¦ " rec ° gnise 5 that the name of Gerard Anstruther found h V A" on the P isto 1 used at the duel > and which he Marita * nton ' ° body . Danella , being guardian to lnsst

Alter Ou , s on the wedding taking place in Corsica . A [ ter d . ""* *¦» on the wedding taking place in Corsica , venge * ? ' £ e he insists she shall fulfil her vow of tewitn-s ' s ii coun ' hides behind a curtain in order to \ vife on t il . P ectacle of a husband being murdered by his soli r . " Wedding- nioht . hnf * this hpmmw fatal tn

himavenge h ? -ful servant finding that Marita hesitates to and assUrn * ther ' s death , seizes the knife from her hands , "" akesasM * " ' " - ' Gerard is coming through the curtain , "Ponthpo a ' ** antI kills Danella . Gerard , of course , comes and ela *^ *! 6 "" hurt . Mr . E . S . Willard gives a very careful Steph en ° ' study of the Count Danella . Mr . Yorke very ^ ' ™ is Mr . Barnes of New York , has a part not '" 'Westing- * h ' ° 'l ' > * ' " ' ways about and s himself in other people ' s affairs , and ultimately

The Theatres.

interests himself in marrying Miss Anstruther . This young lady is represented by Miss Gertrude Kingston , who vve hope will soon drop her peculiarity of pointing vvith her fingers all over the place , and become less affected . Miss Amy McNeil is the Corsican girl , and quite surprised us by her intelligent acting . We remember her in the Drury Lane pantomime the season before last , and vve think

we have seen her elsewhere , but vve were not prepared for such a highly finished style of acting . She had thought out the character well . Her facial expressions when she is vowing vengeance for the death of her brother , and then when love for Anstruther conquers her , are well put on . We think " Mr . Barnes of New York " a highly interesting dramatic play , and one . ivhich will bear seeing a second time .

vP w w Bro . Henry Irving has changed his programme at the Lyceum , and put in the evening bills Mr . Calmour ' s pretty poetical play produced at a matinee last June . "The Amber Heart" is a beautiful conception . Miss Ellen Terry is in possession of a part vvith which she is personally delighted , and with vvhich she captivates her

audience . ' Ellalline is given by her mother a talhsmanan amber heart—by vvhich she escapes the pangs of love , but she wants to be like other women , and when she learns what it is prevents her she tears off the amber heart and throws into the lake . She immediately falls in love with Silvio , but he is false and is won by the charms of Mirabelle . Ellalline would now commit suicide , but

Coranto fishes out of the water the talisman , and placing it once moie on her neck Ellalline becomes as before , and fancies she has been in a dream . Miss Ellen Terry once more brings to bear in the part of Ellalline her unrivalled powers of maidenly tenderness and pathos . Nothing can be more exquisitely touching than her appeals to Silvio in the second act , nothing more full of outraged womanly

pride than her demeanour to Mirabelle , who has stolen Silver's affection . Hearty praise must be given to Mr . Alexander , the inconstant Silvio , for a truly admirable performance . Mr . Hermann Vezin , as Coranto , it is needless to say , speaks with elocutionary grace . There being no part for Bro . Irving in this play , he has put "Robert Macaire" in the bills as well , in vvhich he plays the title

role . The contrast in the two pieces is like going from the sublime to the rediculous . It may seem like heresy to say it , but we felt Bro . Irving was wasting his splendid talents on a stupid pantomimic performance , and it is only his ereat name which makes it tolerated and creates the least

interest in " Robert Macaire . " "The Amber Heart" is such a romantic and beautilul play , and Miss Ellen Terry depicts the heroine so conscientiously , that one is irresistably drawn by her charming acting . During the summer months "The Amber Heart" should draw crowds to the Lyceum .

Masonic Funeral At North Shields.

MASONIC FUNERAL AT NORTH SHIELDS .

The funeral of the late Bro . W . H . Atkinson of Cullercoals , which vvas attended with Masonic honours , took place on Ihe iSth ult . at the Old Cemetery , South Preston , North Shields . The remains were followed to the grave by a large number of relatives and friends , vvho assembled at the residence of the deceased , Beverley Terrace ,

Cullercoats . The members of the Percy and Priory Lodges , under their respective marshals , Bros . Dixon and J . Wallace , joined Ihe funeral cortege on its arrival at Holy Saviour ' s Church , taking up a position in front of the hearse . At the cemetery Bros . C . A . Bushell , I . P . M ., P . P . S . G . W ., and J . M . Winter , P . M . ( Priory ) , Prov . G . R ., took the direction of the ceremonies . The Rev . E . W . Evans , vicar of St . George ' s , Cullercoats , and Rev . H . S . Hicks , vicar of

Holy Saviour ' s , Tynemouth , conducted the obsequies at the grave . After the ceremony , the hymn " Days and moments quickly flying " was sung by the brethren and the friends . The brethren then filed past the grave , each dropping on to the coffin a sprig of acacia . A good numberof merchants and shipowners belonging to the Quayside , Newcastle , where Bro . Atkinson had been a familiar figure for many years , attended the funeral to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

BIRTHS . ANDERSON . —On the 27 th ult ., at Bonchurch-road , North Kensington , the wife of J . Anderson , of a daughter . MuRR . —On the 26 th ult ., at Bardney Manor , Lincoln , the wife of W . T . S . Murr , of St . Ann's Villas , Notting Hill , London , W ., of a daughter . BISHOP . —On the 27 th ult ., at Clairville , Surbiton , the wife of A . R . Bishop , of a daughter .

MARRIAGES . BROWNE—LEE . —On the 29 th ult ., at St . Jude's , Dulwichroad , S . E ., Harry Tillman , son of James Browne , of Grosvenor Park , S . E ., to Frances Phcebe , eldest daughter of William Henry Lee , of Shakespeareload , Herne Hill , S . E . FARLEY—COLLINS . —On the 28 th ult ., at St . Saviour's

Denmark Park , Charles James , son of C W . Farley , of Camberwell , to Louisa Maria , daughter of W . S . Collins , of Peckham . ROBINSON—POULTON . —On the 29 th ult ., at St . Peter's , Bexhill , Robert , son of Robert Robinson , of Fleetwood ,

to Edith Annie , daughter of Samuel Poulton , of Bexhill-on-Sea . WILKINS—COLLINS . —On the 28 th ult ., at St . Leonard's , Streatham , L harles England , son of the late T . Wilkins , Ipswich , to Helena Jane ( Lena ) , daughter of the late VV . Collins , of Emsworth , Hants .

DEATHS . CUMBERLAND . —On the 24 th ult ., at Alfred House , Rosendale-road , West Dulwich , S . E ., in his 19 th year , John Bertie Stanley , the dearly loved and only son of John S . and Nancy Cumberland , formerly of York . — American papers please copy .

DEAN . —On the 29 th ult ., at Elgin-avenue , VV ., Ellen Willis , widow of the late H . Dean , of Falmouth-road , S . E ., aged 78 . PERKINS . —On the 27 th ult ., at Philcap Farm , Winchmorehill , W . Perkins , son of the late H . Perkins , of Plattstreet , St . Pancras , aged 48 .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

THE STAR AND GARTER HOTEL , RICHMOND . It will be gratifying news to our readers to learn that this old and tavourite hostelry has passed into the hands of a new and energetic proprietor , Bro . A . Mella , who , by the experience he has had in the management of similar large establishments , is well qualified to conduct it successfully , with satisfaction to his patrons , and , as vve trust will prove

the case , with advantage to himself . Though in the matter of age the Star and Garter is surpassed by many other houses both near London and elsewhere , there are few , if any , which have enjoyed a higher reputation . The original house vvas built in 1738 , on a part of Petersham Common , leased by the then Earl of Dysart , lord of the manor , to John Christopher for the yearly rental of 40 shillings , but

the accommodation vvas scanty , and visitors were unable to sleep there . But in course of time it vvas rebuilt , and in 1780 it had two storeys with a porticoed entrance , while on the west side was a house , which vvas subsequently rebuilt and added to the hotel . In 1803 a large piece of ground was leased by Lord Dysart to Richard Brewer for 60 shillings a year rental , on condition that the view from

Sir Lionel Darell s house opposite should not be impeded . But the condition vvas not included in the terms of lease , and was evaded by the lessee , who was shortly afterwards obliged to close the hotel . For five years it remained so , but in 1 S 09 , one Christopher Crean , cook to the Duke of York , took it and opened it with some eclat , and on his death his widotf carried on the business , though in a

manner vvhich made it unpleasantly notorious for its excessive charges . In 1 S 22 , Mr . Joseph Ellis took the hotel off Mrs . Crean's hands , and it vvas during his tenancy , which continued without interruption till his death in 1858 , that the Star and Garter became so famous and popular a resort . From 1858 to 1 S 6 4 his son , Mr . George Ellis , was the proprietor , and then the hotel vvas conducted by a

Limited Liability Company , vvhich erected a large building by the side of the original hotel , and conducted the enlarged establishment in a manner worthy of the earlier reputation of the hotel . In February , 1 S 70 , the whole of the Old Star and Garter was destroyed , the new building by its side escaping , and since a grand palatial structure has been erected , which , in the summer time expecially ,

has been a regular resort for pleasure seekers , but more particularly for wedding and other parties , the Four-in-Hand Club making it a practice during the summer months to drive to Richmond on Sunday and dine under its hospitable roof . The present hotel contains some very fine rooms , the Grand Conceit Hall , being the dining-room of the building which escaped the fire of 1870 , being connected

with the new hotel erected in 1872 , and now known as the Hotel , to distinguish it from the more recent building , which is called the Pavilion , and covers an area of 116 feet by 70 feet . The principal feature of this is the Ball-room , So feet by 61 feet , vvith windows facing the terrace and river on the one side and the main road on the other , in which there is dancing accommodation for a party of 400 persons .

It is some 33 feet high , and about 16 feet from the floor is a loggia running round the hall , opening out of vvhich are 13 rooms for private parties , ranging in size from 8 feet by 14 feet to 22 feet by 14 feet , and all having a most beautiful prospect . The kitchen accommodation is on a very large scale , and will suffice for the requirements of iono persons , who can dine in the various portions of the

hotel without putting the numerous staff and the resources of the establishment to any undue pressure . There is also ample room for visitors who may be desirous of prolonging their stay over many days or weeks , while the cellars are amply stocked vvith the choicest wines . As for the surroundings of the Star and Garter , and the scenery upon which it looks , they are too well known to need

any description . It is important , however , to state that the new proprietor , Bro . A . Mella , while carefully preserving the reputation of the Hotel for the excellence of its accommodation and the character of the provision which is made for the customers , has regulated his tariff of charges so that they do not exceed those of other well-known

hostelries , nor need those vvho patronise him have the slightest fear of paying heavily , as in days gone by . We trust Bro . Mella will , during the coming and future seasons , reap a handsome reward for the generous efforts he has made to attract the custom of the public , fie has done his part admirably , and richly deserves the success vvhich we hope is in store for him .

On Monday Bro . Lord Mayor De Keyser laid the foundation-stone of the new Drill Hall and Head-quarters of the 2 nd London Rifle Volunteers , which is about to be erected at 59 , Farringdon-street . His lordship , who attended in state and vvas accompanied by Bros . Sheriff Higgs and Sheriff Davies , arrived at the site of the proposed Hall at 3 p . m ., and was received by a guard of honour of the regiment , and having performed the ceremony left amid the hearty cheers of those assembled .

A MINIATURE PARIS . —English people generall y take kindly to Brussels , which has for them an almost personal interest , not only because of the neighbouring field of Waterloo , but also on account of the part taken by England in the foundation and maintenance of the Kingdom of Belgium , and for the frequent allusions to the place which are found in the writings of Byron , Walter Scott ,

Thackeray , and other English men of letters . An experienced French traveller has declared that there is no place in which one can live better and cheaper than in Brussels . The cleanness of the city is proverbial . It is said that every day the mistress of a house passes her fingers over the furniture , and if there be found a speck of dust the careless housemaid is dismissed . On

Saturdays walls , passages , and staircases are thoroughly cleansed , and the exterior of the house is washed . The Frenchman has probably overstated the elaborate purifications which are supposed to take place , but it is certain that he has not entirely misrepresented the neatness and order of the streets and houses of the better class . The people are very polite , and if you go into a shop to inquire

the price of an article in the window , or only to ask the way , you are generally dismissed vvith thanks . The restaurants are good , and many of the hotels enjoy a high reputation ; the shops rival those of Paris or Vienna , and are not quite so dear . There are good theatres , in which

operas and French plays are performed by first-rate companies . During the summer a band plays every afternoon in the Park , and in winter concerts are frequent . Altogether a visitor can find plenty to occupy his time , and must indeed be a misanthrope if he cannot enjoy himself in Brussels . — From Cities of the World for June .