Instruction.

S . VV . ; P . Coughlan , J . VV . ; J . Gibson , Treas . ; G . Mussen , Sec ; Grist , S . D . ; Foulson , J . D . ; Power , I . G . ; Lewis , Tyler ; Wray , P . AL and Preceptor ; Albert Hayes , Adams , Balchin , Swingler , McCullagh , Heil , Newby , Glynn , and Greenway . The lodge was opened in due form

with solemn prayer , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Balchin candidate . The First and Second Sections of the Lecture were w'orked by Bro . Wray , assisted by the brethren . The ceremony of raising was also rehearsed , Bro . McCullagh candidate .

EARL OF LATHOM ( No . 1922 ) . —The weekly meeting of this lodge was held on the 31 st ult ., at the Station Hotel , Camberwell , there being present Bros . Smith , VV . AI . ; Sims , S . VV . ; Parkhouse , J . W . ; Johnson , Preceptor ; Paton , Sec ; also Bros . Eidmans , Thomson , Sutton , Palling , Lecquire , Treacher , and Gill . The lodge was opened in due form , and the minutes of read and confirmed

the last lodge meeting were . Bro . Johnson , worked the Second and 'Third Sections of the Lecture , assisted by the brethren . The ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Paton acting as candidate . Bro . Lecquire , 1 GG 9 , was admitted a joining member of the lodge , and Bro . Sims was elected to fill the post of W . AL for the ensuing meeting . Bro . Sims replied , and was pleased to appoint officers in rotation . A vote of thanks

was accorded to the W . AL for the able manner in which he had fulfilled his office . Bro . Smith replied and hoped that on some future occasion , when he might be called upon to fill the chair of K . S ., he might give the brethren more satisfaction than he felt he had done on that occasion . Bros . Sims and Eidmans were appointed Auditors , and nothing further offering for the good of Freemasoniy , the lodge was closed in perfect peace and harmony .

Royal Arch.

Royal Arch .

UNION WATERLOO CHAPTER ( No . 13 ) . —The installation meeting of the above chapter took place on the 30 th ult ., at the Alasonic Hall , William-street , Woolwich , and was one of the most successful that has taken place for some years past . The grand ceremony of installation was performed by Comp . A . Penfold , P . / ., and P . P . G . P . S . Kent , and under his guidance Comp . J . Scott

Mutch was placed in the chair of Z . ; J . Wilkins , TL ; and G . Kenncday , J . ; Comp . R . Gooding was appointed S . E . ; Comp . E . West , P . Z ., was elected 'Treas . ; Comps . T . Ovenden , S . N . ; G . Spinks , P . S . ; VV . Rickey , ist Asst . S . j and J . Bilton , 2 nd Asst . S . A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Comp . Penfold for the admirable manner in which he had carried out the duties of I nstalling Officer , and

was ordered to be entered on the minutes , and after Comp . Penfold had returned thanks , the chapter was closed in due form . 'The companions then adjourned to Comp . De Grey's comfortable hostelry , the Freemasons' Tavern , opposite the Dockyard Station , where a superbly appointed banquet awaited them . Amongst the companions present , besides

those above cnumernatcd , were W . Gamble , P . Z . ; VV . Weston , P . Z . ; Col . Richardson , R . E ., P . Z . 1331 , and P . P . G . R . Herts ; R . Pidcock , P . Z . Harlingham ; W . B . Lloyd , P . Z . 913 ; T . Hanlin , P . Z . 1572 ; R . Edmonds , i . 913 ; T . R . Richardson , 013 ; J . Aillud , S 29 ; R . Hodginson , H . S . Sycr , Rev . C . II . Reilly , VV . Alclnnery , 'T . West , H . Kcrridgc , and C . Jolly , 913 ( Freemason ) .

The cloth having been cleared , the ALE . Z . gave the usual loyal and Arch Masonic toasts , which were drunk with honours . Comp . West in gracful terms , projiosed the health of the M . I .. ' / .. He said they had seen Comp . Mutch in all the minor offices do his work most admirably , and with credit both to himself and the chapter he cordially wished him success and prosperity in his office .

Ihe toast having been drunk with heartinc ; s , Comp . Mutch thanked the companions for the kind manner in which they always received him , and for assembling around him in such numbers that day . He thanked the officers for their attendance , and also the visitors for their hearty support . _ He re-echoed the kindly wish of Comp . West that they might have a good and prosperous year . There had

been a great amendment of the affairs of the chapter during the past year , and he saw every prospect of still further improvement . He trusted that they should be able to do something handsome towatds the Charities of the Order . He again cordially thanked the companions , and resumed his scat admid applause . The ALE . Z . in giving the toast of " The Second and

Third Principals , " said he felt sure the interests of the chapter were safe in the hands of Comps . Wilkins and Kenneday . These companions having acknowledged the toast , the health of " The Installing Officer " followed , and in proposing it the AI . E . Z . spoke in eulogistic terms of the masterly style in which Comp . Penfold had installed the Principals . He wished him most cordially long lite and

prosperity . Comp . Penfold considered it but a part of his duty as a member of the chapter to carry out any work entrusted to him . He was very g lad to see the old chapter prospering . It would have been in existence just 57 years on the 7 th inst . ; and they might imagine that 57 years ago some few companions were cogitating the ways and means to bring it into existence . Comps . Clark , Taylor , and Johnston were

the first Principals of the chapter , which had had many vicissitudes of fortune , but he looked forward for the coming year to bring back some of its ancient lustre . The antiquity of a lodge or chapter was generally an evidence of importance , position , and dignity , but sometimes of senility ; and he thought they would agree with him that the latter term did not apply to that chapter , for there in

that antique chapter they had evidence of both life and vigour . They had an excellent set of Principals and officers , and he wished them every success and prosperity . The next toast was that of "The Visitors , " and in giving it the AI . E . Z . deeply regretted that illness prevented their esteemed companion , Captain Eugene Sweny , from

attending . He coupled the toast with the names of Comps . Colonel Richardson , Alason , and Pidcock , who severally returned thanks . The other toasts were "The Past Principles , " "The Officers , " andjanitor's toast . Comp . De Gray was complimented upon his excellent catering , and briefly returned thanks , and then the companions adjourned , after a most enjoyable reunion .

Royal Arch.

SUNDERLAND . —De Lambton Chapter ( No . 94 ) . —The annual convocation of this chapter was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Queen-street , on Tuesday evening , 29 th ult ., E . Comp . AL Frampton , P . Z ., presiding . The election of officers for the ensuing year took place as follows : E . Comps . W . Brandt , Z . ; J . Hudson , H . ; J . R . Smart , f . ; T . Henderson , S . E . ; Frampton , P . AL , Treas . ; Comps . J . Rainbow , S . N . ; J . C Moor , P . S . ; and J . Brown , Janitor .

YORK . —Zetland Chapter ( No . 236 ) . —The election meeting of this chapter took place on the 30 th ult . There were present E . Comps . A . Buckle , AI . E . Z . ; Rev . VV . Valentine , H . ; W . H . Gainforth , J . ; J . Todd , P . Z . ; T . B . Whytehead , P . Z . ; McNay , P . Z . ; G . Kirby , S . E . ; AL Rooke , S . N . ; I . S . Rvmer . P . Z .: and others .

Two exaltations were effected , after which the election took place , Comps . Rev . VV . Valentine , VV . H . Gainforth , and AL Rooke being elected to the chairs , and J . 'Todd , P . Z ., to the Treasurership . On the motion of the latter companion , thechajiter voted £ 1 is . to the "Hughan Testimonial Fund . " «

YORK . —Eboracum Chapter ( No . 1611 ) . —The installation meeting of this chapter was held on Tuesday , the 5 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of members . The chapter having been opened , Comp . T . B . Whytehead , P . Z ., proceeded to install Comps . J . T . Seller as '/ .., and Geo . Simpson as H . Comp . J . S . Cumberland ; P . Z ., then installed Comp . AL Alillington as

J ., after which the companions were admitted , and the officers invested as follows : Comps . J . Kay , S . E . ; A . T . B . Turner , S . N . ; J . S . Cumberland , P . Z ., Treas . ; VV . B . Dyson , P . S . ; S . J . Dalton and VV . Lackenby , Asst . Sojs . ; and P . Pearson , Janitor . A successful ballot was taken for Bro . George Lamb , 1 G 11 , and that brother was thereafter exalted by the late Z ., Comp . C G .

Padel , the mystical lecture being given by Comp . T . B . Whytehead . Comp . VV . Brown , Philanthropic Chapter , 304 , was elected a joining member , and Comps . J . Blenkin , W . AL Kin , of the Zetland Chapter , 230 , and B . L . Mills , of the Cannongate Kilwinning Chapter , 56 ( S . C . ) were

proposed as joining members . The chapter voted a guinea to the Hughan Testimonial Fund , and the Auditors' report was read , showing a balance in the 'Treasurer's hands . After the close of the chapter the members met at supper under the presidency of the AI . E . Z ., and spent a pleasant evening .

NORTH LONDON CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT ( No . 1471 ) - —A convocation was held on Thursday , January 31 st , at the Alwyn Castle Tavern , St . Paul ' s Road , Canonbury , when Comp . Dean filled the chair of ' / .., with Comp . Kidder as II ., and Comp . Knight as J . ; Ratcliffe , S . N . ; and Lister , P . S . The chapter adjourned to Thursday , the 14 th , owing to the complimentary banquet to Comp . Preceptor T . C Edmonds at the Holborn Restaurant , on 'Thursday last .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

WHITEHAVEN . —Fletcher Lodge ( No . 213 ) . —The annual meeting of this lodge was held on Friday , the 25 th ult ., for the purpose of installing Bro . Thos . Atkinson as VV . AI . and investing the officers for the ensuing year . After the minutes were confirmed and a candidate had been balloted for and accepted , Bro . Atkinson was installed , and afterwards invested the following as his officers : Bros . Ed .

Tyson , Prov . G . J . W ., I . P . AL ; J . Rothcry , S . VV . and Sec . ; P . Suthcrst , J . VV . ; VV . Bewfay , M . O . ; Jas . Ramsay , S . O . ; J . Aloore , J . O . ; VV . B . Gibson , P . AL , P . P . G . S . VV ., Treas . ; B . Grey , S . D . ; VV . Holloway , J . D . ; J . Alills , I . G . ; and Thos . Richardson , Tyler . After a vote of thanks had been passed to Bro . George Dalrymple , P . AL , G . A . D . C , for acting as Installing Master , the lodge was closed .

Australia.

Australia .

[ FROM OUR MELBOURNE CORRESPONDENT . ] THE GRAND LODGE QUESTION . In Victoria generally , and MelDourne especially , the Grand Lodge question is now at a standstill , and will remain so pending the recei pt of important official communications from England , Scotland , and Ireland . Of course I refer to the present positions of the District and Provincial Grand Lodges , holding under the mother Grand

Lodges , two of which are practically without a head . The English district , it is true , has a Grand Alaster in prospect , in the person of Bro . Sir VV . J . Clarke , Bart ., the R . W . Prov . Grand Alaster of Victoria under the Irish Constitution , inasmuch as H . R . H . the AI . W . Grand Master some months ago offered the post to the popular Victorian baronet , who wijl be only too happy to accept the same providing his chief , the Duke of Abercorn , be agreeable .

Intimation of the latter fact is what we are all anxiously and patiently waiting for ; but there is another phase of the question , which I dare say has ere this been broached amongst the supreme authorities of the old country . It has been urged that , seeing the lodges under the Irish and Scotch Constitutions—the latter , by the way , without a head , _ also—are so small in numbers , as compared with the English lodges , it would be to the interests of the

Craft were some arrangement come to whereby the lodges under the two sister Constitutions amalgamated with England , under one head , and that head Sir William Clarke . There is only one difficulty in the way that I know of , and that in the status of Alasters and Past Masters of Scotch and Irish Lodges . Under our English Constitutions an Installed Alaster belonging to another Constitution has no standing ; I mean that he could not be elected to the chair of an English lodge till he had served

the office of Warden . And yet , with this disability , a Scotch or Irish Past Master out here is practically on the same footing as an English Past Master ; that is to say , he is allowed in all Boards of Installed Alasters , whilst every VV . AI . of a sister Constitution is always accorded the usual honours and courtesies as though he belonged to an English lodge , and the ritual is precisely the same under all three . 'This , therefore , is our present situation in Victoria , and the universal opinion and hope is that the whole of the English , Scotch , and Irish

Australia.

lodges may , before long , be welded together under one harmonious whole of the English Constitution . I should not omit to mention a very significant and graceful act in connection with the opening of a new lodge a fortnight ago . The place is Romsey , a small town about 30 miles from the metropolis , and in the centre of Sir W . J . Clarke's landed possessions . The promoters of the new lodge , by way of compliment to Sir William ,

suggested that it should belong to the Irish Constitution , he also being one of its founders , but waiving any claim of the kind , the R . W . brother preferred that the dispensation should come from the present acting head of the English district , which was accordingly done , and the Romsey Lodge was consecrated by the English District Officers , in the presence of a large assemblage , inclusive of Sir VVm . Clarke . No fewer than 25 candidates were subsequently

initiated into the Craft , under dispensation , so that the new lodge , making the seventy-third under the English Constitution in Victoria , commences most auspiciously . This one circumstance will go far to show the extent of Sir VVm . Clarke ' s sympathies with a proposed and not at all improbable united English District of Victoria . VVe hear very little of the so-called " Grand Lodge" of Victoria just now , and those most likely to know predict

that the tirst year will see the end of a brief and inglorious existence . 'I here are also not wanting signs ol some of the " Grand" Officers " clearing out " at the end of their term . They are not by any means a happy family . At the recent Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Victoria , E . C , a Past Alaster who went over to the illegally formed grand body was expelled the Craft . His offence consisted in retaining the warrant of a lodge that had not been working for three years , and thus

defying the authorities of his district . The lodge in question was the one solitary English lodge that was claimed to have thrown in its lot with the scccders , " Verbum sat . " The District Grand Lodge of Victoria , E . C , has increased the salary of its VV . Secretary from £ 200 to £ 300 per annum . Seeing that Bro . T . H . Lempriere commenced more than a score years ago at the former figure , and with only 27 lodges , it must be admitted that the increase is well merited .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Miss Minnie Palmer again has come to London after her enormous successes in Glasgow , Edinburgh , and Brighton , and she certainly cannot find any fault with her reception at the Strand . The performances " Our Little Sweetheart "—as she delights to be termed—gave at Islington last September have not satisfied , but onl y whetted , the appetite—if we may use the term—of the London playgoers for more of her . It was rumoured there would be an

organised opposition to her at the Strand , owing to some unpleasantness caused at another theatre where a similar entertainment is given , and at first it seemed as if it were true , a slight disturbance taking place owing to the audience being kept waiting half-an-hour for the rise of the curtain . At last , however , the curtain went up , and that to loud and deafening cheers , which continued throughout the evening without any abatement . There can be but little

doubt that her 20 weeks at the Strand will be 20 weeks of the finest successes this charming little lady has ever had cither in _ England or America , and wc think we are not saying too much when wc aver that Aliss Minnie Palmer is likely to remain in this country for a long time to come . When she was at the Grand wc felt justified , whilst admiring her magnificent talents , still to find fault with some of her mannerisms . We notice with pleasure

she has dropped all little vulgarities and yet has not lost any of her sprightliness , but rather increased her hold on the affections of her audience and electrifies them . It is not in her moments of gravity she is . seen at her best , but they arc few , for liveliness and fun are her forte , and then " she is as beautiful as a peach , dances like a fairy , and sings like a canary , " " Aiy Sweetheart" is not a piece it is necessary to describe , but wc like it better at the Strand ,

where the company supporting Miss Palmer are stronger than before , not the least of whom is Miss Eleanor Bufton , the wife ol Bro . Arthur Swahborough , who was greeted with loud applause on her appearance on the stage . Air . Philip Ben Greet produced roars of laughter , and Mr . Hawkins , " a broken down Sport , " is _ another of the popular characters ; but Mr . Arnold it is who takes rank next to

Alinnie Palmer . His singing is delightful to hear either as a soloist or in his ducts with " Our Little Sweetheart . " The piece is mounted in a tasteful way , the music is pretty , and for this class of amusement nowhere could one goto spend a pleasanter evening . In a word Aliss Alinnie Palmer has taken the town and almost every one will flock to see her . # # #

Bro . Kendal and Mr . Hare have brought out at their pretty little house—the St . James ' s— "A Scrap of Paper , " which it may be remembered was originally produced by them at the Court in iS 7 G , and again played there in 1879 . The cast differs somewhat now , but its interest is as great and its reception quite as enthusiastic . Th e plot of "A Scrap of Paper" will be , probably , too well known to our readers to need a description here . Bro . Kendal , as

originally , plays Colonel Blake , and in this character is the same as ever , manly , amusing , and interesting . Dr . Penguin is rendered by Mr . Hare , and is chiefly to be noted because Air . Hare is the impersonator , and on account of his wonderful make up , but the comedy gives no opening for the display of the talents of this distinguished and popular actor . Air . Boucicault , jun ., as Archie Hamilton , is the weakest character . He does not seem to grasp what boy

love is . He is too artful , instead of being frank and genuine . Miss Linda Dietz , as Lady Ingram , sustains the name she has made here for herself in * ' A Scrap of Paper ; " she has lost none of her charm . But the best character we mention last , for Mrs . Kendal draws one with her tenderness and true womanlike ways of diplomacy .

i he mounting of the comedy is—as all St . James ' s pieces are—on an elaborate and tast 6 ful scale . Perhaps the second act is the finest for stage mounting . We hear no rumour of a change of programme at present , but we recommend our friends to see the comedy before the rush of the London season . The Prince and Princess of Wales witnessed the performance on Wednesday evening .