Supreme Grand Chapter.

Comp . Col . DIXON , G . S . B ., seconded the motion . Comp . BEACH thought it was a very fit object to which to devote Grand Chapter funds . It was not one of the cases where much of what was contributed very often went in expenses . He hoped that the fund would be well managed , and then the companions would have reason to congratulate themselves on contributing to the fund .

Comp . Sir J MONCKTON said the Mansion House Funds were well managed . There was no fund in the kingdom which was better administered or in such a remaikable way . The motion was carried , and Grand Chapter was closed in ancient and solemn form .

Art And The Drama.

Art and the Drama .

GUILDHALL ART GALLERY , CITY , E . C .

In a recent issue , there is a very brief notice of the interesting function which took place on Wednesday , the iSth ult ., on the occasion ol the unveiling of the picture representing the visit of the Queen on the morning of her Diamond Jubilee , June , 1 S 97 . We think that many of our readers would be pleased to read fuller details . We , therefore , make this

subject the first of our paragraphs in our new column of " Art and the Drama , " and it appears to us singularly appropriate , for how could British art be better represented than in depicting such a memor-able incident in the life of our beloved Queen , who has during her long useful career so endeared herself to her loyal subjects 1

We received an invitation from the Lord Mayor to be present at a very interesting ceremony on the 18 th ult . The Lord Mayor , Sheriffs , Aldermen , and Court of Common Council visited in semi-state the Free Art Gallery , at the Guildhall . There was a large gathering of ecclesiastical , civic , artistic , and other distinguished personages to assist the Lord Mayor in unveiling the picture of the Queen attending the service at St . Paul ' s

Cathedral , on the occasion of her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee , 22 nd June , 1 S 97 . This important picture is the work of the well-known artist , Mr . Gow , R . A ., and represents the Queen in her semi-state carriage with H . I . H . the Dowager Empress of Germany , H . R . H . Princess Victoria , and H . R . H . the Princess of Wales . The moment selected by the artist is that when her Majesty , in her carriage drawn up at the Cathedral steps , is listening

to the service of thanksgiving read by the Archbishop of Canterbury . Her Majesty is surrounded by her court , all in the most brilliant festive attire . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , with his Royal brothers , and the leading men of the military , naval , and civil services are on horseback , surrounding the carriage . The Cathedral steps are cro . vded with bishops and other high dignitaries of our English Church , in such gorgeous vestments as

are only worn on similar important state occasions , while joined with them are the chief civic functionaries . In the crowded assembly is the choir , the members of which were selected from the principal cathedrals of the kingdom . At the base of the steps is to be seen the Archbishop , supported by the Bishop of London , the Dean of Westminster , and many other distinguished ecclesiastics . In the right-hand foreground are the gaily-harnessed cieam-coloured horses , so familiar to London sightseers . The portraits of

the Queen and the other occupants of the carnage are most successfully depicted , whilst the details of the uniforms worn and the surrounding decorations are carried out with much artistic skill . The general effect of colour contrasts happily with the brilliantly-attired throng , as seen in the sober greys of the venerable fane . The value , however , of this work of art is to be estimated by the fact that it is now , and will be for future ages , a lasting record of the most interesting event in our modern English history .

When the procession reached the dais , and the members composing it were seated , the company assembled resumed their seats . Mr . Henry Clarke , the donor of the picture , trusted that the Corporation would accept his gift , and suggested that all funds that might afterwards be acquired should be expended in the purchase of works of art by British artists . The Lord Mayor ( Bro . Sir John Voce Moore ) accepted the handsome picture on

behalf of the City of London , thanking most warmly the generous donor . His lordship , in alluding to the artistic talents of Mr . Gow , unfortunately made a curious lapsus lingua ' . He spoke of Mr . Gow as being a distinguished member of the Royal Artillery . A ripple of irrepressible laughter was heard on all sides . Sir Reginald Hanson rose and said that , though doubtless at the present time the air was strongly charged with war-like

elements , he trusted he might be excused for reminding the Lord Mayor that Mr . Gow was a distinguished Royal Academician—not a member of the Royal Artillery . Risibility hiving ceased , Mr . Barber , on behalf of the Library Committee , said he would , with much pleasure , undertake the charge of this important work . In reply to thanks tendered to the artist , Mr . Gow said that he felt proud that the result of his labour , which to him

had , indeed , been a pleasure , should have achieved such an honourable position . He added that the portraits of her Majesty and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales owed their truthfulness to the special sittings which had been graciously accorded to him . This brought the proceedings to a close . Many of the company remained to examine the picture , and also the artistic productions of Sir John Gilbert , R . A ,, and other well-known painters ol the British School .

Princess's Theatre

PRINCESS'S THEATRE

There is an interesting drama now being performed at the above theatre . The joint authors are Robert Buchanan and Harriet Jay , playwrights of repute . It is entitled " Alone in London . " This is a fairly well-written piece , sensibly constructed , and free from those absurdities and gross exaggerations which are the prevailing characteristics of so many of this kind of dramatic work . The heroine of the niece is Annie Meadows , the keensi- ' c :

daughter . This character is undertaken by Miss L'llah McCarthy , who , in addition to her good looks , has a charming unaffected manner , which enlists the sympathies of the audience . The villain of the piece , Richard Redcliffe , upon whom the greater part of the work falls , is undertaken by Mr . Wm , Clavton ; his villainy is not repulsive , but tempered by moderation , theonlv

wonder is , how he can behave so cruelly to his ill-fated young wife , who so lovingly confides in him , trusting implicitly in his honour , from which pleasing dream she has a rude awakening . This is the pivot upon which the story turns . Her former happy country life , her removal to London , where she is abandoned by her worthless husband ; the trials and sufferings she undergoes on behaU of herself and her boy , are not without

Princess's Theatre

the bounds of probability , and consequently make a stronger appeal to the spectators . The dark shade is relieved by the comic element which is introduced . Here there are several phases of character . Jenkinson , who is a strange compound of a thief and philosopher , and who later on assumes the disguise of a dissenting parson , by his drunken propensities reminds us of the Rev . Mr . Stiggins , as depicted by Charles Dickens . Then we have

the swell dandy thief , who stands upon his dignity , and cannot "abear anything low . " Charley Johnson , a humble professional , and Liz Jenkinson , the daughter of her worthless father , are most amusing . Tom Chickweed , the waif and stray , who has a rather important part in the development of the plot , and is the agent of the denoument is intelVgently rendered by Miss Sydney Farebrother . We

must not forget to notice John Biddlecomb , who may be considered the guardian and protector of the distressed heroine , admirably played by Mr . Frank Cooper , who is a good type of the rough honest farmer ; it is a pity he is not more prominent . Other characters are Mr . Burnaby , a rich banker , and Ruth Clifton , an heiress , who is well represented by pretty Miss Minnie Sadler . It has been a pleasure to us to give the outlines of

the prominent characters . We have purposely refrained from telling the story of " Alone in London , " it would detract from the enjoyment those will experience who pay the theatre a visit . In bringing these remarks to a conclusion we have only further to say that it is a good wholesome piece , not 0 unburdened with slang , and perfectly free from suggestions and veiled indelicacies , which so often disfigure the clever productions of our modern play writers .

The English And Music.

THE ENGLISH AND MUSIC .

Not so many years ago it was a common thing amongst foreigners to aver that English people had no appreciation of , nor soul for , good music . Strangely enough , this dictum was accepted at once by ourselves , without question , or giving any thought as to whether the assertion had any foundation in truth . John Bull is very often a careless , foolish sort of fellow ; let him be told something that does not redound to his credit , the accusation , if

backed up by an amount of authority , will be acknowledged unhesitatingly , and its veracity will not be put to the test . We may remind our readers of the well-known story of the stump orator , who , telling a large crowd of ignorant country people of their imagined wrongs , and of which , till then , they were totally ignorant , after reproaching them for not asserting and demanding their rights , observed " but you wretched people are such

confounded fools . " Thereupon , a shout of unanimity rose from the assembled yokels , " We are , we are ! " In like manner the mass of our people in past years used to accept and coincide in the reproach of our Continental neighbours , and lament their deficiencies in music . But a change , considerably for the better , has arrived , and is increasing at a rapid ratio . Music , if it has been neglected in the past , is no longer so in the present .

It forms an important item in our ordinary education . No longer the amusement of the few who have time and inclination for it , it has become a serious study amongst the upper , middle , and the poorer classes . That it has taken a firm hold of the working population , let any sceptic pay a visit some Sunday afternoon to Albert Hall , Royal Italian Opera , Covent GarJen , the Alhambra , and many other places , not confined only to the West-end ,

but to the poorer East-end , of our great metropolis . He will there notice , especially in the part where admission is free , how selections from the works of the chief classics in music are intelligently appreciated and applauded . Let us , therefore , no longer submit to the now , at least , unmerited reproach , but let the intelligent (?) foreigner visit the places we have named ; and he will fain confess that the English nation no longer deserves the stigma which had been cast upon it .

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Sussex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF SUSSEX .

The annual meeting of the above Provincial Grand Mark Lodge was held in the Queen ' s Hall , Worthing , on Monday , the 25 th ult . About 50 brethren attended and transacted , the business , under the presidency of Bro . Rev . E . R . Currie . D . D ,. Den . Prov . G . M . Everv lodee in the orovince was reore .

sented , and the finances were reported to be in a flourishing condition . Bro . J . H . Wright was unanimously elected Treasurer and re-invested as such . The other officers for the ensuing year are as follows :

Bro . H . Langton ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ S . H . Pocock ... ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ W . Hillman ... ... ... Prov . G . M . O . „ J . J . Abell ... ... ... ... Prov . S . G . O . „ E . T . Cooksey ... ... ... Prov . J . G . O . „ Rev . P . Crick ... ... ... Prov . G . Chap . , „ C . E . Bottley ... ... ... Prov . G . Reg . „ J . P . S . Roberts ... ... ... Prov . G . Sec . „ W . A . Field ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ W . Potter ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ j . Corringham ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of Wks . „ H . Pearce ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ F . C . Golding ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D , of C . „ C . A . Milnes ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ V . W . Binden ... ... ... "In , - > n „ „ F . D . Carnell j Prov . G . S . Bs . „ W . Lintott ... ... ... ... Prov . G . I . G . ,, P . Beer ... ... ... ... „ T . MacQueen ... .., ... /? r . <_ . . . „ T . H . Langford-Sainsbury ... J Prov . G . Stwds . ,, G . D . Brown ... ... ... )

The investiture of these brethren being complete , the acting Provincial Grand Master said he was desired by H . R . H ., the Djke of Connaught to express his regret at being unable to attend the lodge that day . He was pleased to find that a satisfactory state of things existed in the province , both as regards the number of members and the financial position of the lodge . He trusted the good feeling and excellent working which now obtained might long continue .

Some routine business having been transacted , the brethren adjourned to the Steyne Hotel , where a banquet had been provided .