Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

Bro . Charles Belton , P . M . No . 777 , P . G-. D . Surrey , was installed into the chair of the Lodge of Honor and Generosity , No . 165 , on the 27 th ult . The Lords of thc Admiralty have re-appointed ( for the fourth time ) Bro . the Rev . Dr . P . H . Ernest Brette examiner to the Royal Naval College for Officers , at Greenwich .

' The meetings of the Langton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1 G 73 , have been adjourned until the first Thursday in September . A festival will be held in the month of September or October . Bro . Lord Leig h laid thc foundation-stone of the Jaffray Suburban Hospital , at Gravelly Hill , Birmingham , the gift of Mr . John Jaffray , newspaper proprietor ,

on Wednesday . The building will cost about £ 40 , 000 , and the endowment to support the institution is , { , ' 60 , 000 . The costly nnd massive furniture and appointments manufactured by Bro . George Kenning for the new Masonic Hall , Sydney , New South VVales , are now on view at his show rooms , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , Little Britain , 195 , 196 , and 197 , Aldersgate-street , City .

Bro . the Hon . and Rev . E . C . Byng , P . G . Chaplain , performed the ceremony of marriage at his church , St . Peter ' s , Crawley-gardens , of Mr . H . Jephson , Private Secretary to Bro . the Hon . G . O . Trevelyan , Chief Secretary of Ireland , and Miss Julie Reiss , of Cromwell Houses , on 29 th ult . Bro . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , M . P ., whose

progress towards convalescence it was feared had been materially retarded by the shock of the dynamite explosion under the windows of his house in St . James ' s square , has so far recovered as to be able to leave town for Wynnstay , his Welsh seat . Henceforward postal orders issued in the United Kingdom under the regulations promulgated on the 2 Gth

ult ., will be payable at the British Post Office at Constantinople ; and , in like manner , postal orders issued at the British Post Office at Constantinople will be payable at any money order office in thc United Kingdom . A Committee has been formed to promote the

recognition of Bro . Sir 1 . B . Monckton ' s able and esteemed services as President ofthe Board of General Purposes for ten years . The following brethren constitute the Committee : Col . Shadwell H . Clferke , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , Ralph Glutton , Thomas Fenn , VV . Bristow , and John L . Mather .

The following dinners , & c , have been held at the Freemasons' Tavern during the present week : —Monday , June 2 nd—5 th Dragoon Guards . Tuesday , 3 rd—Grand Lodge of Slark Master Masons . Wednesday , _} th — Grand Officers' Mess , iSth Royal Irish , 7 th Royal Fusiliers . Thursday , 5 th—Royal Engineers , 90 th Regiment , Sth Hussars , I . innean Club . Friday , Gth—Odd Volumes .

Several members of tho Royal Households from Buckingham Palace and Sandringham have honoured Bro . J . VVelford , P . M . ( the head of the firm of Messrs . VVelford and Sons , of the Warwick Farm Dairy ) , during the past week , with an inspection of his model dairy at the Health Exhibition , when Bro . VVelford was highly complimented for his beautiful cows , the freshness and richness of thc butter and milk , and upon thc sanitary principles upon which the Warwick Farm dairies arc managed .

The Anerley Chapter , No . 1397 , was consecrated on Thursday last , at the Thicket Hotel , Anerley , by M . E . Comp . Col . Shadwell Ii . Gierke , G . Scribe E ., assisted by Comp . VVilliam Lake , P . P . G . Reg . Cornwall , M . E . Z . 1589 and 1297 , asH . ; Comp . Rev . R . J . Simpson , P . G . A . S ., as J . ; and Comp . Frank Richardson , P . G . A . S ., as D . of C . The officers designate are Comp . Wm . Bennett , P . M . iio » .

M . E . Z . ; Comp . Chas . VV . Dommett , P . M . 1397 , H . j and Comp . R . VV . Inglis , P . M . 1397 , J . An account of the proceedings will appear next week . The members of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire met in unusually strong force at Hanley , ¦ on the 29 th ult ., and rejoiced to find that their Provincial Grand Master was once more amongst them , in restored health . This year is the jubilee of the Menturia Lodge ,

No . 41 S , Hanley , and that appears to have been one reason why the meeting took p lace in that town . The business transacted included a decision to present a statue ' of Edward III ., to be placed in the west front of Lichfield Cathedral . Part of the programme of the day was a procession to church and Divine service , followed by a banquet in the evening .

On Tuesday next , the 10 th inst ., the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall , at South Shields , Durham , b y his Worship the Mayor , Bro . T . G . Mabane , P . M ., Prov . . Senior Grand Deacon , Durham , assisted by the Provincial -Grand Lodge , and the officers and members of Lodges 240 and 1970 , will

take place . The procession will start from St . Hilda ' s Lodge , No . 240 , held at Freemasons' Hall , Fowler-street . At the conclusion of the ceremony the procession will return to close the lodge , and subsequently the brethren will take luncheon at the Golden Lion Hotel , King-street , at 4 . 30 p . m . We hope to furnish a report of the proceedings in our next issue .

Bro . XV . F . Lamonby , P . M . Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 , Cockermouth , Cumberland , was installed VV . M . of the Combermere Lodge , No . 752 , Melbourne , Australia , on the 17 th of March , it being two years on that day since our brother landed in the Victorian capital . The Combermere ' Lodge ( English Constitution ) is one of the strongest and most influential in the Australian colonies , being

popularly known as the " professional lodge , " with a membership of over 150 . Under its retiring W . M ., Bro . Dr . J . J . Eardley-VVillmott , the Combermere Lodge was one of the stoutest opponents of theso-called Grand Lodgeof Victoria , whose claims for recognition were refused at the Ouarterl y Communication of the Grand Lodge of England Tn March last . Bro . Willmott is P . M . of the St . Kew Lodge , No . 1222 , Weston-super-Mare .

Masonic And General Tidings

Bros . Westall and R . C . Driver , P . Ms . No . 1 G 5 , were , on the 27 th ult ., invested with the collars of Treasurer and Secretary respectively of that lodge for the twenty-seventh time . Bros , the Earls of Cork and Orrery , Zetland , and Haddington attended the annual meeting of the Hants Servants' Benefit Society , on 29 th ult ., when a vote of condolence was passed at the death of the late President—the Duke of Buccleuch .

THE GRANII TREASURER . — Brethren wishing to unite vvith a Committee appointed to present a testimonial to V . W . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , Grand Treasurer , may ascertain particulars on application to the Hon . Secretary at Sa , Red Lion-square , Holborn , W . C .

We regret to announce the death of Lord Claud Hamilton , brother of the . G . M . of Ireland , the Duke of Abereorn , K . G ., which occurred somewhat suddenly , on Tuesday , at his residence in Portland-place . Professor Tyndall is married to one of the daughters of the late noble lord .

The annual gathering of thc Temperance in the East Lodge , No . SgS , was celebrated on the 29 th ult ., when Bro . F . Pulsford , S . VV ., was installed VV . M . of the lodge by Bro . G . Graveley , the outgoing Master , who was well assisted by Bros . Past Masters H . Rogers , D . C . ; C . Chapman , as S . VV . ; Finch , as J . VV . ; and B . Carter . We hope to give a full report in our next issue .

Her Royal Hi ghness Princess Christian has just forwarded a present to the Bethnal Green Free Library , E . The present stock of books being inadequate to meet the requirements of many visitors , the committee appeal for 5 , 000 more volumes . Those on the various branches of industry and standard works of reference are most needed .

The Grand Orient of Italy has issued an ironical reply to the encyclical letter of the Pope against Freemasonry , lt says that the Vatican is tree to lament that it has been deprived of the temporal power to oppose Divine Providence , who had decreed its downfall , and that it may innocently rave with respect to what it considers thc abatement of its dignity . Not badly put . —Keystone .

THE HEALTH RXHIIIITION . —In "Old London " the Company of" Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers " is represented by Bro . George Kenning , Immediate Past Master of the Company , who exhibits a loom weaving Gold VVvre and Thread , as in " ye olden time , ' . ' cmbroidcresses deftly plying the needle , and sundry other objects of interest connected with thc " Wyre Drawers' Craft . "

Bro . the Most Hon . the Marquess of Londonderry on Monday last unveiled a handsome monument erected in New Seaham Churchyard , to the memory of 1 G 4 men and boys who were kilted in the explosion at the New Seaham Colliery , on Sept . Sth , 18 S 0 . A service was held in the church by Archdeacon Watkins and Canon Scott . The cost of the monument was subscribed by miners of New Seaham and Rainton Collieries and their friends .

How would thc ladies of the present day like this edict , . which in 1770 was solemnly passed and duly registered in France under Louis XV ., to be adopted in England ? " Whosoever by means of rod or white paint , perfumes , essences , artificial teeth , false hair , cotton wool , iron corsets , hoops , shoes with high heels , oV false hips , shall seek to entice into the bands of marriage any male

subject of his Majesty , shall be prosecuted for-witchcraft , and declared incapable for matrimony . " The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has now an opportunity to settle definitely thc " bogus rite " question . A Lodge of Perfection has been instituted in Haverhill , under charter from a Council proclaimed illegitimate by the recent amendments to the Constitution

of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts . It remains to be seen whether the Grand Master will enforce the penalties and expel the members for violating the provisions of the Constitution , or simply evade the direct issue raised . — Toronto Freemason . Masonic tramps vexed the souls of the Kilwinning ( Scotland ) brethren in days of yore , as they do the Society in these more favoured times . In 1717 thc members

( of Mother Lodge Kilwinning ) passed a resolution , that " as the lodges have bcen imposed upon by begging brethren , both here and at Irvine , itis resolved that no charity be given to travelling brethren without an order from the Master . " After the lapse of more than a century and a half , no better regulation has bcen made to lessen this evil , for indiscriminate and profuse relief to Masonic mendicants tends but to widen thc area over which their depredations extend . —Gould ' s History of Freemasonry .

It is announced that during the summer season the performance at the Alhambra will commence at 8 and terminate at 11 o ' clock . The tuneful " Beggar Student" is still running successfully , and the Whitsun holiday season has been signalised b y the reduction of the price of admission to the gallery to sixpence . Millocker's

opera is superior in dramatic idea and in musical execution to several works that might on the surface appear akin to it , and the two grand ballets—with Mdlles . Pcrtoldi and Palladino as premiere danseuses—fully sustain the prestige of thc house in this branch of spectacular attraction . The next production will be a new version of Burnand ' s popular " Black Eyed Susan , " supplemented by grand ballets .

The Chicago Inter-Ocean announces that a movement is now going forward for the establishment of a home for the widows and orphans of Masons in Illinois . It is proposed that the home shall be conducted under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Illinois , and that its objects shall be to furnish' a home for widows and orphans who are in need of aid , and to give the orphans such education and

training as will fit them for usefulness in their days of maturity . The plan now considered is to purchase 200 or 300 acres of land healthfully located in a central part of the State , and there erect the necessary buildings when the money is raised . To do this it is proposed to tax the Masons of thc State 1 dol . each , which will create a sum of

of about 50 , 000 dols ., after which plans will be devised for increasing . the capital , so as to furnish a permanent fund . The plan is a worthy one , and one which has long been favoured by prominent members of the Order . Now that some one is agitating the question in earnest , it is probable that the Masons of Illinois will soon have an institution which will reflect to their credit .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Owing to her provincial engagem ^ - „ Kate Santley closes the Royalty , therefore " L yf . , , must be withdrawn to-night after its very successful though somewhat short career . # # # . Bro . Toole announces the last weeks of his season . The " Upper Crust" and " Paw Claw * " . in the present programme . Mr . Ferris and & n American company take possession on July 19 th . # #

* Our prognostications were literally fulfilled , for on Whit Monday the Strand was crowded K " , ° . gallery to welcome the revival of the ever popular and famous comedy of poor Bro . Byron , to whose memory in their mirth we are sure no one forgot to pay a tribute ot respect . - We congratulate Bros . Arthur Edward bwan * boroueh and the actin _ r manager . Warren Wright , on what

would seem to be a new lease of life for this . pretty play and comfortable house . The Strand has been > n fort ( u [ n ' r way of late , and we hope long may continu e so . "Our Boys ' . ' was originally produced at the Vaud ev i ' > under the joint management of Messrs . David James and Thomas Thome , and had the good luck to be played nearly 1400 times , which means close on four years . But though it is ever fresh to those who have seen it over and oyer again in

the short number of years since its withdraw ' 1 ' a fresh lot of stage admirers have made their appearance- Only two of the old company are in the present cast , namely , Mr . David James and Miss Cicely Richards , a- < J curiously enough the former is once more acting on the stage where , if our memory be correct , he made his first aRP f ?? A London . Of course Mr . David James as " f « kyn Middlevvick , " the retired butterman , is the chief attraction ,

and to him is owing , after the author's meri *> 'he C "J success of the comedy . We are inclined to believe that what makes the late Bro . Byron ' s play so pop " . ' . ' . tnat it represents a class of society from which the majority of playgoers are drawn , namely , the middle class- Here they are on their own level ; they are not lifted up see lite in an atmosphere alien to them , nor brought doW" to witness the degradation thev can see in the streets without paying

for . "Our Boys " essentially is a play 'or tn ? P P J it is a picture of their every-day life , anff "" "J ,. they see around them , not that all middle-class folk are vulgar , though kind-hearted tradespeople ; "tit there are few , if any , in this rank of life who can ) 0 ' remember meeting with characters as the retired vve ^ 'th ^ butterman and thc other people depicted in * ' Our B ° y * ' ¦ J is not the place to enter upon any comparsionS between the 111

original and the revival companies ; we shall cy" * "' - ""'" selves with observing that Mr . David James * j not lost his charm , but rather gained by his unparallele d repetition of his character . Who could suppress a Iauff" when the ignorant man is astonished at his son's coming h orne without seeing Vesuvius . in an eruption ? "For I tola 'you , , \ ° ^ everything ; I didn't limit you to a pound or 'wo- Ur atrain at his indignation when the aristocratic Pit yeottrey

corrects him , and tells him the butter is Dorse' - his scornful reply that " I ought to know , and I tell yer » fs Dosset . Mr . Thome ' s part is now played by Mr . Chaf ^ Sugden . It is only to be expected that he would not attempt to imitate Mr . Thorne s rendering of the aristocr 3- tlc s ° » but would strike out a new line for himself ; but we think he might do better . Neither his speech or acti _ f » are 1 uite satisfactorv . and his " makeup" is bad . WW a . . _'

man of fashion who is not gifted with over nfich brains should be represented with a bald head and livid complexion we do not know . We hope Mr . Sugden vV "" alter his appearance . Mr . Reeves Smith plays with i _** cn yj vaFL v and candidness the other character of " Our B 0- ^ . Mr . Frank Archer , as the dignified baronet , is all o *\ . can wish for , and has a part well suited to him . l " ^' y Richards we welcome again as thc lodeine-h- , use slavey ,

and in her hands not a point of tn y " ... lost . The two ladies , Miss Mary Melrose and Miss Violet Melrose , are represented by Miss Fo ^ 'f 50110 a "" Miss Lucy Buckstone . In " Our Boys " the ladies two parts arc overpowered by the gentlemen ' s characters , out tne . young ladies mentioned lose no opportunity *? L F e ? can of showing their skill in acting and all tl } . . 'J !! lrvnl / incr __ r __ fu Rnf > u # . tWmti \ t ivnnlrl tip W * " « '" Cy

changed p laces . Miss Mary Melrose is supposed to be a poor cousin , but b y Miss Fortescue's represent **'" . ' . ° jLf . part one would take her to be the rich heiress , whilst Miss Buckstone , in her gentle and modest manner * might ° e representing the humble cousin . The fault we "j *"" 1 Wlth Mr . Sugden ' s make-up applies as much to Miss t ' ortescue . Hcr coloured lips , blackened eyebrows , al " n * agnificent dresses are not in harmonv with tb character

which otherwise she so admirably repress * ' * " . ventured a few weeks back to say that Miss fortescue in " Dan'l Druce " showed much talent , but had Mile , scope to display it . Here , she has more , and certa » my j s not lacking in compliance or slow to seize , good poirj *?* ln our recent remarks we did her a slight injustice wh * . , ° ™ gladly correct on discovering our error . We stated the young lady had only bcen known as one of tl J . chorus

singers in Gilbert and Sullivan s comic operas t »"" ' . fr : event ' s brought her before the public . But tho- S * without a regular engagement she has played in sever 3 JJ dj 0 . ^ , ^ at matinees , such as " Mignon , " " Pygmalion an wnicn the vounp- ladv took without lookimr annoved' . Many ot

her words were taken up in a sense they had no business to have been , but the continued ovations she rec elved must have both astonished and gratified her ; but * ™ ot opinion that the less private matters are intr '* oaucea f on the stage the better . Miss Lucy Buckstone , t * earer ot a noble name in the profession , acts her part , as . he a'ways

does , with grace and quietness . Her elegance '" . t " ! ment and tender sympathetic voice make one wisn sne were always on the stage . There is every pr- " * aiiiiity or her making her father ' s name still more a house hold word . After each act the whole company were called uetore the curtain , and at the close both Bro . A . SwanbofPugh and Mr . D . James were forced to make short speedes . Bro . Lord Londesborough was amongst the first-night audience .