Mark Masonry.

Bro . Sweeny seconded , and said it had been one of the most delig htful treats he had ever heard in Mark Masonry . He felt sure , had their esteemed P . G . M . been present , he would have expressed his admiration in no measured terms . Bro . Penfold said that he was only in his infancy as far as Alark installation was concerned . He had been stimulated , however , by witnessing the grand manner in which

Bro . Dewar had a short time back installed Bro . Captain Sculley into the chair of the Florence Nig htingale Mark Lodge . If he had done the work to their satisfaction that was his reward . The Worshipful Alaster then presented Hro . Penfold with the jewel of his office of the usual value , and trusted that he mig ht live long to wear it . Bro . Penfold said he valued the jewel chiefly because he

had he hoped earned it in the lodge . Some few months ago he exercised his mind a great deal as to whether he should accept a jewel from the Iodge or not , because of the rather low state of the funds ; but then , he thought , they might carry economy too far and defeat the principal object in view , because the very fact of receiving a jewel at the end of a W . M . ' s year of office had . Jhe believed , a great stimulus in it . It also gave prestige to a P . M . when he

visited other lodges ; so , as the lodge had prospered and the funds were in a sound condition , he had thought it better to accept the jewel , for which he heartily thanked them , and would always wear it with pride and pleasure . The Worshipful Alaster then rose and said he had another pleasing duty to perform , and that was to present Bro . Penfold with a handsome jewel representing the office Bro . Penfold held as P . P . G . W ' . of Kent , and which had

been subscribed for by the brethren of the lodge as a testimony to the great kindness , courtesy , and geniality evinced to them by Bro . Penfold during his year of office . It was a mark of pure affection on their part , and with it went the heartfelt wishes of every "Excelsior" for Bro . Penfold ' s long life , success , and happiness . Bro . Penfold , who was greeted with several rounds of applause on rising to respond , said he could not say that he

was altogether taken by surprise at the handsome and valuable present made him , because he had heard of it inadvertently ; but what did surprise him was to know what he had done to deserve it more than any other Past Master . There was , however , one thing that pleased him in the jewel , and that was it showed him that he had gained the esteem of his fellow men and brother Masons , especially of the Excelsior Lodge . There might be , and he believed

there were , stoics in the world ; but he for one did not envy the man who professed contempt for thc good opinion of his fellow creatures . To him the presentation was a matter of satisfaction and pleasure , and he felt it deeply . It proved to him that he had " marked well , " and he could only thank them most heartily for their handsome present . The revision of the bye-laws was then proceeded with , the principal alterations being the changing of the date of

meeting from the third 'Tuesdays quarterly to the third Fridays bi-monthly . These alterations being agreed to the lodge was closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Earl of Chatham Arms , Thomas-street , where a superbly-appointed banquet awaited them . The toasts of " The Queen " and " Lord Henniker , G . M . A 1 . of England , " having been duly honoured , The Worshipful Alaster in proposing that of "The Grand Officers" said they had one of the most energetic and

esteemed Grand Officers present in the person of Bro . Dewar , who never failed the Excelsior Lodge in the time of need . He ( the W . AI . ) was exceedingly sorry that a very great omission was made in the lodge ; they had forgotten to pay Bro . Dewar the honours due to his position . That omission they would however now remedy , and he asked them to rise and pay grand honours to Bro . Dewar as representing Grand Lodge . Bro . Dewar having been saluted in due form , said it was

once more his annual duty to thank the lodge for their kind reception of him , and for the honour paid the officers of Grand Lodge in his person . He could honestly assure them that they never had a more energetic Grand Alaster than they had now . Lord Henniker was most anxious for the welfare and progress of Alark Alasonry , and spent any amount of time , and undertook any amount of difficult and arduous labour , to see that the work of Grand Lodge went

on well and satisfactorily . 1-or himself , he always experienced a vast amount of pleasure at the installation meetings of the Excelsior Lodge , and could never forget the consecration of it in 1 S 7 S , when 42 candidates were advanced en masse . He had consecrated a lodge at Norwich when 2 S were advanced at once , and on another occasion had seen 19 advanced in the presence of the Grand Master , but neither of the latter came up to the 42

advanced at the consecration of the Excelsior Lodge . He congratulated them upon their prosperity ; and could safely say that in the whole of bis experience never had he seen better working than had been done by Bro . Penfold in the installation of his successur that afternoon . His ( Bro . Penfold ' s ) kind and cordial manner had he felt sure endeared him to the brethren , and therefore he ( Bro . Dewar ) was not surprised at the handsome and gratifj ing

testimonial they had presented Bro . Penfold w-ith . His ( Bro . Dewar's ) visits were of necessity very brief , and the time had nearly arrived for him to depart , but before going he must thank the VV . M ., Bro . Shaw , the Past Masters , and brethren for their cordial reception of the toast and their continued kindness to himself . "Thc Health of Bro . the Rev . 'ThomasRobinson , M . A ., Provincial Grand Alark Alaster of Kent , " was drunk with

honours , and universal regret was expressed at his absence . " The toast of "The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past , " was responded to by Bros . Hollyrnan and Hayes severally . " The Health of thc W . AI . " was proposed by Bro . Penfold in eloquent and felicitous terms . He was pleased to have installed Bro . Shaw , because he was as they all knew a good and worthy Mason , and would do honour to the chair . Bro . Shaw had told them that he meant to do the

work well , and if he said so he meant it . 'They all knew that there was a large amount of business to do for the lodge , as well as the ceremonial work , and the happiness of the brethren was promulgated by the assiduity displayed by the W . M . in managing the concerns of the lodge . Bro . Shaw was a good business man in private , and would he knew make a good business man in the lodge . He trusted that he might have . a good year of office , and every success he could wish himself . Bro . Shaw , who was warmly received , said he fully appreciated the kindness of the brethren and the advice of Bro ,

Mark Masonry.

Penfold . He should endeavour to do his duty , that at the end of his term of office they would say he had tried at least , if he had not succeeded , although it was a very difficult thing to follow such a W . M . as Bro . Penfold . The toast of "The Past Alasters " followed , and Bros . Penfold , Coupland , and Weston severally responded . The toast of " llie Installing Officer " having been

responded to by Bro . Penfold , that of "The Visitors " was acknowledged by Bros . Sculley and Gieseman-Chillingworth . Bro . Coupland then announced that he intended to stand Steward for the " Mark Benevolent Fund " in Jul y next , and made an appeal to the pockets of the brethren with such effect that the sum of £ 35 was at once subscribed ; Bro .

Sculley further promising to assist from the Florence Nightingale Lodge . Bro . Chilling worth said the largest amount yet subscribed to the fund was £ 60 subscribed by a lodge in Lancashire . Ten to 15 guineas was a fair average at present . He intended to have stood Steward himself , and spoke to Bro

Penfold about it , so that he might fairly claim the honour of starting the present subscription . The other toasts were "The Advances , " " The Officers , " " The Alasonie Press , " " The Host , Bro . Capon , " and the Tyler's toast . The harmony was excellent , and the whole affair both memorable and enjoyable .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Bro . Alexander Henderson ( husband of Miss Lydia Thompson ) has taken the Criterion , and when the structural alterations are completed will re-open it about October with a new play and a strong company .

# # # After a tour in the provinces , Mons . Marius and Miss St . John will return to London , and at the Avenue play the principal characters in the opera " La Princess aux Canaries , " which has not yet been seen , in London . # # #

On Monday evening Bro . Bancroft entertains Bro . Henry Irving at supper at the Garrick Club . The committee of the club have lent the dining room specially for the occasion . We understand that the guests will be strictly confined to actors .

* # * We are requested to state that Mr . Gilbert Farquhar has not retired from the stage as has been rumoured by some contemporaries . His temporary withdrawal has been occasioned by illness . Air . Farquhar will re-appear on the stage at Alargate next week . # #

* At the Globe " Lady Clare " has been withdrawn and another company is now occupying the theatre for thc summer season . " The Flowers of the Forest" is the title of the present piece , in which Air . Charles Kelly and Aliss Harriet Jay are appearing , but not with much advantage . Aliss Ada Cavendish is about going on a tour .

# # 3 " Pluck " has been reproduced , this time at the Adelphi ; but it is hardly the drama for this home of melodrama . It cannot be placed on a level with "Storm Beaten" or "Taken from Life , " the two recent plays at this house . There are some exciting scenic effects , but the dialogue is not very concise ; still as a sensational piece " Pluck " should be seen .

* Bro . J . L . Toole closed his theatre on Wednesday , to testify his admiration of his friend Bro . Henry Irving , who was entertained at a banquet it St . James ' s Hall , when over a thousand persons were present . The Lord Chief Justice of England occupied the chair . The members of the Masonic fraternity present can only be called legion .

# * * "The Theatre" magazine , under its _ new management , has completed its first volume , and is even more interesting than any of its predecessors . It makes a handsome and handy book when bound . The dialogue is interesting , and the records of new pieces , whether successes or failures , are valuable , and will become more so as

time rolls on . The portraits , all taken specially for the journal , are alone worth the money . Amongst them are Bro . Bancroft and other ac ' . ors brethren : Air . Burnand , Air . Terriss , Airs . Stirling , and Airs . Kendal . We believe its circulation has increased ; but we know what expense there is attached to publishing such a work that we hope it

may considerably enlarge , and keep up to the standard of efficiency and usefulness it has gained this year under Mr . Clement Scott's judicious management . VVe do not think its existence is sufficiently known by the public at large . It is therefore for those who find it entertaining to introduce it to their friends .

* One of the most enjoyable and amusing spectacles just now in London is the burlesaue " Silver Guilt " at the Strand . It is a travesty of "The Silver King , " now being played so successfully at the Princess ' s Theatre . The Strand was so long closely associated with pure burlesque , as distinguished from music hall songs and

breakdowns , that it is quite refreshing to sec its stage once more representing this popular form of amusement . " Silver Guilt " is from the pen of Air . Warham . No one however should see the burlesque until they have seen the drama it takes off with so much good humour and cleverness . Mr . Warham having made such an undoubted success , will do well to turn his talents for writing to other dramas . There

is nothing vicious nor unpleasant in his burlesque . Mr . Wilson Barrett , Miss Eastlake , and other members of the Princess ' s company , with the authors of" The Silver King " —Messis . Herman and Jones , have been to the Strand , and joined as heartily in the laughter as the rest of the audience . From beginning to end good humour prevails ,

and Alessrs . Herman and Jones , rather than being annoyed at the take off on their piece , must feel flattered at the notoriety it brings their drama into . With good taste two or three weak points in "The Silver King " are shown up . " Silver Guilt" is one of the triumphs of burlesque , and is one of the brightest and funniest productions of recent years . Mr . Warham has not confined himself to "The

The Theatres.

Silver King" "in toto , " but brings in parts of "The Romany Rye " and " 'I he Lights , o' London , " Bro . Sims ' s two dramas . Mr . Edward RigrJfon , the chief performer , is soon discernible as burlesquing Bro . Wilson Barrett as VVilfrid Denvers . In company with Aliss Laura Linden , the heroine , who takes off Miss Eastlake , be dances a capital jig , so well executed as to demand an instant repetition . Miss Linden might easily

be mistaken for Aliss Eastlake , so well daes she imitate her ; she must have studied Miss Eastlake very closely in dress , manner , and voice . Her performance is marvellous . It is somewhat remarkable that this lady's sister , Aliss Marie Linden , also is burlesquing Mrs . Bernard Beere at Bro . Toole's theatre , in "Stage Dora , " Mr . Bumand ' s

travesty of "Fedora" at the Haymarket . She emphasises with speech and action Aliss Eastlake in " The Lights o ' London . " Some of our readers will remember Miss Eastlake preventing the police coming near her husband , by placing herself against the door . Miss Linden mimics this with precision and says : Against a door I always rest

It is an attitude that suits me best . Mr . Edward Righton we thought was perhaps most laughable in the second act , the chloroforming scene . In the drama the drunken man the moment he comes inside the door is seized and the handkerchief held to his nose to render him insensible . In the burlesque he is allowed to run all about the room amongst a number of people who make a feint of catching him , " and he himself walks up to

a man holding a chloroformed handkerchief in bis band and puts his nose to it . When he comes to , another amusing scene occurs . He finds the body of Geoffrey Ware in the room and takes his hand as in the original , but instead of exclaiming ' " What 1 No pulse , heart not beating ! Dead ! A pistol discharged ! What's this ? Blood ! a wound ! then I'm his murderer I I have done it , and must fly , " Air . Righton saystaking Ware ' s

, hand , " Pulse like a steam engine ; heart beating a hundred to the minute , no wound , no blood , a pistol not discharged ; then am I a murderer . I ' ve done nothing so I must fly . " This is ludicrous in the extreme . In another he scene represents Bro . Wilson Barrett in the familiar picture poster on the street hoardings , as the benevolent old gentleman . In a moment he is transformed into that comfortable old gentleman who also on posters represents the

Richmond Gem cigarettes . He here sings a capital topical song , describing what , as a poster , he hears people say as they pass his hoarding . Of course Air . Gladstone and Lord Randolph Churchill come in for some satire . This sort of good humoured fun is carried throughout the piece . Though there are several scenes , the curtain never drops . A clever method is adopted in changing the scenes . The chorus is numerous and efficient , and though the

dresses are necessarily bright , the identity of the characters which they are supposed to parody is never lost sight of . Aliss Edith Bruce caricatures the "Spider ; " Aliss Hastings faithfully pourtrays the "swell" burglar ; Bro . Robert Brough is particularly humourous and clever in his parody of Old Jacques . VVe think Bro . Brough has not appeared lately to so much advantage as he is doing at present . His constant mention of dear

" morster " is very funny , the audience cheering him vociferously in finding the honest old servant transformed into a veteran thief . He takes off Mr . George Barrett ' s " Jaikes" splendidly , and sings a capital song "Never mind . " All the other characters are well represented . Mr . Max Schrceter ' s music is bright and catching . Mr . Bruce Smith ' s clever stage management calls forth an enthusiastic reception before the curtain , and the whole

burlesque may be said to be a genuine success , and likely to have a long run . So closely is the style of the original followed that it is hard to believe the Princess's company is not before one . In this burlesque there is a decided plot , every point of the original is caricatured in the most comical way , thc dialogue sparkles with wit , and the satire is throughout goodnatured . " Vice Versa " precedes "Silver Guilt . " It is a dramatic sketch by Air .

E . Rose on Mr . Anstey s book of the same name which lately has gained so much notoriety . The book should be read before the "sketch " is seen . This , too , makes up a strong programme for the "Strand , " which we hope may not require alteration for a long time yet . Bro . Warren Wright is the indefatigable manager . He is certainly to be congratulated upon his achievement since his return from managing a company through the United States We shall hope to keep him in London as a manager .

Ar01204

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ Thecharge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ] BIRTHS . COPE . —On the 2 nd inst ., at Douro-place , Kensington , the wife of A . S . Cope , of a daughter . PLATT . —On the 30 th ult ., at Wetherby , Yorkshire , the wife of the Rev . T . H . P . Piatt , of a son .

MARRIAGES . BETTISON—BATTEN . —On the 3 rd inst ., at St . Agnes , Cornwall , Sidney Bettison , of London , formerly of Truro , to Sarah J . Batten , eldest daughter of the late Air . Batten , St . Agnes . WALTERS—STEWART . —On the ist inst ., by licence , at St . Alary's Church , West Kensingtonby the Rev .

, John Macnaughton , A . AL , Vicar , Bro . Tristram I'Vederick Edwin Walters ( 132 G ) , 22 , Commerce-ter race , Greyhound-road , West Kensington , S . W ., eldest son of Bro . Frederick Walters , P . P . G . D . Middlesex . P . M . 73 , 871 , 1309 , & c , late R . N ., late of New Cross and Leicester , grandson of the late Bro ,

Tristram Walters , P . M . 65 l . C , to Elizabeth , widow of J . J . Stewart , 35 , High-street , Putney , eldest and only surviving daughter of thc late Mr . Thomas Diss , Clerkenwell . WRIGHT—POND . —On the ist inst ., at Christ ' s Church , Stratford , E .. Joseph Wright , to Clara , youngest daughter of James Pond , of Stratford .

DEATHS . ABBOTT . —On the 21 st ult ., in the 79 th year of his age , George Abbott , Esq ., 27 , Lupus-street , St . George'ssquare , Pimlico . COOK . —On the 3 rd inst ., at Bird-in-Bush-road , Peckham , J . Cook , late of H . M . Customs , aged 80 .