The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

At a meeting of the Lodge Star of Southern China , No . 2013 , held at Canton on Saturday , January yth , Wor . Bro . J . Christie , P . M ., the Master elect for the ensuing year , was duly proclaimed . Wor , Bro . Christie then appointed the following officers and invested those who were present —S . W ., Bro . R . B . Allen ; J . W ., Bro . VV . Stebbins ; Treasurer , Bro . H . Schroeter ; Sec , Bro . G . H . Brunt ; S . D ., Bro . VV . Luhess ; J . D ., Bro . W . Pike : D . C , Bro . D . Reid ; Steward , Bro . W . Luhess ; I . G ., Bro . Karaniia .

COSMOPOLITAN LODGE . ( S . C . ) At the meeting of the members of the Cosmopolitan Lodge , held recently at the Masonic Hall , Shanghai , the office-bearers for the ensuing year were installed by the Past R . W . M . of Northern China , Bro C . Thorne , in the presence of between Go and 70 brethren , including about 20 P . M . ' s . Bro . T . S . Southey , the retiring S . W ., was installed into the position of R . W . M ., and the

following were invested as the office-bearers : Bros . C . J . Holland , I . P . M . ; T . Pemberton , D . M . ; J . Bannerman , S . M . ; E . D . Meldrum , S . W . ; L . F . Gowing . J . W . ; A . Olsen , Treas . ; W . Voungson , Sec . ; J . Gould , S . D . ; A . Laidrich , J . D . ; J . W . Mielenhausen , I . G . ; J . Kinghorn , D . C . ; F . A . A . Kofod and H . Freudenthal , Stwds . ; and C . Merritt , Tyler . Right Worshipful Bro . C . Thorne having resigned the high office of District Grand

Master of Northern China , which he was held since the formation of the District Grand Lodge eight or nine years ago , the occasion was availed of by Scottish Masons to present him with an address and a Cosmopolitan Lodge jewel . The presentation was made by W . Bro . C . M . Donaldson , the senior Past Master of the lodge . The gathering was interesting from another fact , it was the celebration of the coming of age of the Cosmopolitan Lodge ,

which has now entered on the twenty-second year of its existence . VV . Bro . Donaldson was the founder of the lodge , and the opportunity was taken to present him with an address and a tangible gift in recognition of his untiring services in the advancement of its interests and prosperity . This presentation was made by VV . Bro . Pemberton , and it was characteristically acknowledged by W . Bro . Donaldson .

The annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Hongkong and South China was held recently , R . W . Bro . C . P . Chater , Dist . G . M ., presiding . Amongst the visitors present was R . W . Bro . Col . Withers , Past G . M . of the G . L . of Virginia , who was received with honours . The following officers were appointed , and such of them as were present were invested by the Dist . G . M .: — Bro . W . S . Adams , M . D Dep . D . G . M .

„ W . H . Ray Dist . G . S . W . „ R . H . Pye , Amoy Dist . G . J . W . „ W . Young , M . D Dist . G . Chap . „ P . Jordan Dist . G . Treas . „ P . B . C . Ayres , M . D Dist . G . Reg . r- r p , „ C Dist . G . Pres . Bd . » E-CRay t Gen > Purs _ AO'DGourdin DistGSec

. . . . . . . „ J . Christie Dist . G . S . D . „ G . C . Cox Dist . G . J . D . „ Danby Dist . G . S . of VV . „ Alf . Woolley Dist . G . D . C . „ J . W . Tilley Dist . G . A . D . C . „ j . Robertson Dist . Swd . Br .

„ G . S . Goodwyn D . G . Org . „ W . C . Lewis D . G . Purst . „ W . F . D . Cochrane D . G . A . Purst . „ M . Falconer , E . Mackean , C ) Rae , H . R . Best , C . H . $ ¦ D . G . Stewards . Erskine , and J . Phillips } „ J . R . Grimble T y ler . Bros . C . L . Gorham and E . George were elected members of the Board of General Purposes .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . GEORGE BORER . Bro . G . Borer died suddenly at his office , no , London Wall , on the 26 th ult . He was for some years architect and surveyor to the Industrial Dwellings Company , and was in his . jSth year . Some members of the local Mark Lodge and the Local Board of Health attended the funeral at Edmonton Cemetery , on Thursday , the 1 st inst ., when Bros . T . Blashill , H . Lovegrove , and C . Stanger represented the architectural profession .

BRO . THOMAS PENN . We announce with regret the death of Bro . Thomas Pcnn , late of St . George ' s Lodge , No . 140 , after three days' illness , at his residence , Grove House , High-street , Lewisham , on Monday , the 29 th ult . Bro . Penn , who was first cousin to the late Mr . John Penn , of The Cedars , Lee , was in his 6 < ith year . For many years he had been manager

of Messrs . Penn's Engineering establishment at Deptford , and was truly respected by the employes of the works . He leaves a widow and one daughter , Mrs . Carpenter , wife of the manager , Mr . James Carpenter , of Messrs . Penn's , Deptford Pier Works . His funeral took place on Saturday afternoon last , the cortege leaving Grove House at two o ' clock , and he was interred in the vault of the Penn family

in St . Margaret ' s Churchyard , Lee . The family are greatly respected . It is but a very few days ago that the head of the firm , John Penn , Esq ., and his revered mother , Mrs . John Penn , each gave £ 1000 to the Lord Mayor ' s Fund for the relief of the unemployed . Although our late Bro . Thomas Penn , through the vast amount of claims on his time at the works , was unable to devote

much time to Masonry , and has not taken any active part in it for about 40 years , yet his every-day acts of kindness and benevolence proved how well he carried out all and every the sublime teachings of our Order . All his family are noted for their benevolence and Charity . It is but a few years back Mrs . John Penn founded some alms houses

for the support of the aged workmen who were past earning their living . That noble deed was done to perpetuate the memory of her late husband , Mr . John Penn . On all and every occasion the name of Penn is associated with every good work in or about their localities . Our departed brother was no exception to any of his worthy kinsmen . The noor have indeed lost a true friend . To all whom he

Obituary.

found worthy he was ever kind , thoughtful , and charitable . His was a quiet , good life , never letting his left hand know what the right hand did , but ever doing good . He retired a few years back from business , and had fully earned and enjoyed his retirement . We deeply sympathise with his widow and every member of his family over the great loss which they have sustained in his removal " into the silent land . "

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Though " Oliver Grumble " at the Novelty , burlesques nothing unless it be certain characters in English history , it is very amusing to those who like the lighter form of theatrical entertainment . It is prettily and elaborately mounted , full of puns , some clever and some indifferent catching though not original music , and supported by some of the best talent in that line . Mr . and Mrs . Edouin this time are not the Babes but the Twins , Harry and Carrie ,

as such they perform all sorts of pranks and romp about the stage , sings charming songs , and wear lovely costumes . Judging from the applause , one may say that this time the Novelty is in luck . Bro . Arthur Williams ( 1319 ) , is extremely droll as Oliver Grumble , and helps very much to the fun of the burlesque . The rest of the cast look nice , but have not' very much to do . We think Mr . Edouin , Miss Alice Atherton , and Bro . Arthur Williams will be able to keep the house full for some time to come .

* * It is with much pleasure we join in the unanimous verdict in praise of Mr . Pinero ' s new three act farce at the Court , which is called " The Schoolmistress . " It has met with a reception which must delight the Messrs . Clayton and Cecil , equally with the distinguished author . Mr . Pinero has got over the difficulty of following up his success of last year , " The Magistrate , " by not imitating

it in any way . The latter was remarkable for its odd story , * ' The Schoolmistress " has no plot of any importance ; but is interesting on account of its dialogue . This makes it very difficult to produce on paper the effect it has on one in seeing it . The moment the curtain rises the audience feel they are going to have a two hours' scream of merriment . Each person in the play has very amusing things to say from the admiral down to the buttons , from

the schoolmistress to the scholar . The author in this piece depends less upon ingeniously constructed situations and more upon witty p hrases . His new play is less improbable than " The Magistrate , " therefore , one must not expect such a substantial meal , nor be disappointed . Miss Dyott , mistress of Volumnia College , a young lady ' s academy , has taken to herself a husband in the person of the Honourable Vere Quickett , a younger brother to Lord

Limehouse , who is , like many younger sons of peers , in very straightened circumstances , and of no occupation . Miss Dyott very soon finds out that she has to increase her means in order to maintain the expensive luxury she has gone in for . As at the end of the Christmas term she accepts an offer as leading singer in a comic opera , leaving her husband , her articled pupil , Miss Hesslerigge , and three girls , who do not go home for the holidays . Now , these young

ladies , like many such in boarding schools , are of a precocious nature . One of them has secretly married , and having taken her companions into her confidence , they make up their minds , when Miss Dyott goes away , to have a " high old time " together , and celebrate the wedding . Mr . Quickett is delighted with the short liberty he is to have , and telegraphs to an old bachelor chum to bring a couple of good fellows round to his lodgings to supper , for

he has not dared to let it be known that he is married . Unluckily , Miss Hessclrigge finds the message , in a blotting pad , and after reading it in Mr . Quickett's presence sends it on to its destination . He is in her power now and she makes use of her opportunity . She proposes that Mr . Quickett and the girls shall join in giving their parties . Mr . Quickett , knowing he is in her power , has to consent . The young lady in whose honour the party is to be given ,

is Miss Dinah Rankling , daughter of Admiral Rankling , a distant relative of the schoolmistress's husband . The gallant admiral has put his daughter in Miss Dyott ' s charge in order to get some silly nonsense out of her head about a young ^ gentleman , not knowing she has married him clandestinely . The invitations are sent out by the articled pupil and Mr . Quickett , each relying upon the other to hide the transaction from the schoolmistress . Ouickett

pays for the feast out of funds left him to pay the servants wages and other household expenses . Quickett ' s guests are naval friends , one a handsome lieutenant , Mr . Mullary , another a midshipman of about 13 years of age , and the other Rear-Admiral Rankling himself , who , not having seen his daughter for some years does not recognise Dinah as his progeny , and in felicitous terms proposes the health of the couple in an extraordinary speech , in which he mingles

matrimony with nautical terms . Quickett introduces the young ladies as his nieces , but the admiral remarks that " your sisters children were all boys , " to which Quickett replies , " Ah ! yes , they were all boys . " The supper proceeds merrily , with numerous comical incidents connected with a lark pudding , the rear-admiral ' s speech , a dance , and a serious of jealous outbursts on the part of the juvenile bridegroom . The party is suddenly interrupted

by an alarm of fire , and the whole of the guests have to make their way out of a window and down a fire escape . At this juncture Miss Dyott arrives up the fire escape in her stage costume . We do not quite udderstand why she should return in this way , and conclude that she has been told of the fire and so rushes home from the theatre without changing her dress . The whole party , boys and girls , married and unmarried , are hurried off to a house hard by , which is the admiral ' s . It is somewhat difficult to describe

the incidents which follow , but the reader will judge they are many and complicated . The representation is excellent in every particular . The page boy of Mr . VV . Philips , the midshipmite of Mr . Edwin Victor , and the Jane Chapman of Miss Rorke , arc as natural and genuine as any of the more important characters . Mrs . John Wood is not furnished as Mrs . Dyott with such an elaborate part as the lord in " The Magistrate , " but when on the stage , this popular lady makes the whole house roar . Mr . John Clayton , as the crochety old Admiral , plays better than he ever has done , his make-up

The Theatres.

is in itself a study . Miss Noneys shares with Mr . Ciajton the credit of making two of the best characters , she is " struggling to be a governess , " and plays her part in a way no one else could . Miss Norreys has many opportunities for distinction , all of which she embraces . Mr . Arthur Cecil also has not perhaps such a good part as in Mr . Pinero ' s last play , but he plays the impecunious aristocrat in his happiest manner . Mr . F . Kerr , Mr . Eversfield ,

Mr . I . ugg . and Mr . Chevalier are excellent in their different parts , and we must not forget to mention lhe admiral ' s wife of Miss Emily Cross , nor the . young ladies of the school , played by Miss Cudmore and Miss La Coste , the latter of whom is the wife of the acting manager of the Novelty Theatre , who net only looks pietty . but acts very intelligently . A play of the type of " The Schoolmistress " must be taken at its fever height , unUss acted with spirit its

chance of success would be nil . Messrs . Cecil and Clayton are the fortunate possessors of a plav which is destined to have a long run . 1 he M . W . Grand Master , who witnessed it the evening of our visit seemed to be highly amused . From his long experience of theatres the Prince of Wales must be a critic himself . Since then the Duchess of Edinburgh has paid a visit to the Court Theatre , and we recommend our readers to follow suit without delay .

The Duval Restaurant.

THE DUVAL RESTAURANT .

To those who are most conversant with the habits and customs of the London resident in the matter of dining and refreshing himself generally , it would hardly seem possible for tne most enterprising caterer to present anything sufficiently new or attractive to induce a departure from either the old or modern haunts with which the rising generation have been familiarised through the firm of Spiers

and Pond and others . But although dinners and other meals 17 la carte are served almost everywhere , the idea has not been carried out as thoroughly as might be , or as it is in the celebrated Duval establishments , dotted about Paris , where the principle of payment for value received is carried out most religiously . The central idea is that the customer should have just as much or as little as he pleases , and only pay for what he has consumed , this principle is

carried out even to the smallest detail , such as a serviette , which is supplied at id ., or not as desired . We are aware that a modified form of this idea has been carried out for some years past , but it has not been the idea pure and simple , and Messrs . Spiers and Pond may be congratulated on taking the first step in this direction . A better opportunity for testing the principle could not have offered itself than was presented by the failure of the

promoters of the Palsgrave Restaurant , which was established opposite the Royal Court of Justice , on the old system . Messrs . Spiers and Pond have boldly entered into competition with the most popular existing establishments , and with characteristic pluck offer the very extreme of comfortable , not to say luxurious , surroundings , with the cheapest of cheap meals . To our minds the only danger in this is that the ordinary visitor

might be deterred from entering the palatial building , under the apprehension that the charges would be on a similar scale of magnificence , but the saving knowledge of the sagacious Briton whose intelligence is readily quickened on any matter where the stomach and the breeches pocket are concerned , will , we feel sure , soon set the matter right . We may mention that the service is wholly by females , and that the arrangements

of the kitchen are so perfect , that the maximum of excellence in cooking and in quickness of service is attained ; and we venture to predict that not only will the new venture be a complete success , but that it will be the precursor of a host of similardining places in London . We offer Messrs . Spiers and Pond our congratulations on this additional evidence they have given of their zeal and enterprise as public caterers .

Willing's Selected Theatrical Programme.

WILLING'S SELECTED THEATRICAL PROGRAMME .

DRURY LANE THEATRE . Closed . Re-open April 24 with HUMAN NATURE ,

ADELPHI THEATRE . Every Evening , at S , THE HARBOUR LIGHTS ; at 7 . 15 , Farce . Matinee every Saturday at 2 . STRAND THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , MY SWEETHEART . Matinee every Saturday at 2 . 30 . VAUDEVILLE THEATRE . Monday , April 12 , at 2 . 301 SOPHIA .

GLOBE THEATRE . Every Evening at S . o , THE SINS OK THE FATHERS ; at g . o , THE PRIVATE SECRETARY . Matinee every Saturday at 3 .

SAVOY THEATRE . Every Evening at S . 35 , THE MIKADO ; or , THE TOWN OF TITIPU ; at 7 . 45 , THE CARP . Matinee every Saturday OPERA COMIQUE THEATRE . Every Evening , at 8 . 45 , ON 'CHANGE ; at S . o , Comedietta . Matinee every Saturday at 2 . 30 .

GAIETY THEATRE . Every Evening at 7 . 30 , BORROWED PLUMES ; at 8 , J SHEPPARD . Matinee every Saturday at 2 . n . TOOLE'S THEATRE . Closed- Re-open April 24 with GOING IT and FAUST AND LOOSE .

COURT THEATRE . Every Evening at S . 45 , THE SCHOOLMISTRESS ; at S , BREAKING THE ICE . Matinee Saturday next at 2 . 10 . NOVELTY THEATRE . livery Evening at S . 15 , OLIVER GRUMBLE J at 7 . 30 , WET PAINT . EMPIRIC THEATRE . Every Evening at 8 , ROUND THE WORLD ,

GRAND THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , DARK DAYS . SURREY THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , THE SILVER KING , STANDARD THEATRE . Every Evening , at 7 . 30 , OUR SILVER WEDDING ,

ALBERT PALACE . Open Irom 12 noon to 10 p . m . Amusements all day . JAPANESE VILLAGE . Open from 11 a . m . to 10 p . m . Admission one shilling ; Children , sixpence ; Wednesdays half-a-crown , after six one _ shilling . Performances free daily at 12 , 3 , 5 , and 8 , in the New Japanese Shebaya .