Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . John Newton occupied the chair , and there svere present Bros . S . Vallentine , G . P . ; James Brett , P . G . P- ; W . J . Murlis : C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; ] . ' P . Fitzgerald ; C . H . Webb ; J . S . Cumberland ;

H . J . Strong ; A . Mullord ; U . Boulton ; H . Cotter ; G . E . Fairchild ; C . J . Perceval ; C . Lacey ; John Barnett , jun . ; C . Carrell ; W . F . Smithson , P . G . D . ; D D . Mercer , P . G . P . ; F . Mead , P . G . S . B . ; T . B . Purchas , P . A . G . D . C . ; T . G . Bullen , P . G . Std . Br . ; A . Durrant ; R . P . Stevens ; J . Dorton ; W . H . Making ; J . Bunker ; Hugh M . Hobbs ; W . H .

Hubbert ; W . Webber ; R . Turtle Pigott , D . C . L ., P . A . G . D . C ; C . F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br ., R . Griggs ; J . Dixon ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) . The minutes of the January meeting having been read and verified , the SECRETARY reported the deaths of six annuitants ( three men and three widows ) , and

of two male and one widow candidates , the latter being also a half annuitant . The Warden ' s report for the past month vvas read , andan application from the widow of a deceased annuitant for half her late husband ' s annuity vvas granted . The number of candidates vvas

declared to be 139 , of whom 6 9 were men and 70 widows , and the number of vacancies 18 and 8 respectively , but it vvas resolved to elect 28 men and iS svidosvs , together with the three deferred annuitants on each fund , or together . 31 men and 21 svidosvs . A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings .

Ladies' Night Of Tiie Eucleston Lodoe ,No.1624.

LADIES' NIGHT OF TIIE EUCLESTON LODOE , NO . 1624 .

A banquet and ball vvas held in connection vvith the Eccleston Lodge , No . 1624 , at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Wednesday , the 3 rd inst ., vvhen -members and friends attended to the number of 200 . The success of the

evening was somesvhat marred by the unavoidable absence , through illness , of Bro . A . J . Bignold , W . M ., for svhose speedy recovery hearty wishes vvere expressed , and his place was filled by Bro . W . Weston , I . P . M ., svho presided at the banquet . The officers of the lodge present vvere Bros . J . Grist , F . Arnold , J . W . ;

I . Isaacs , P . M ., Treasurer ; A . VV . Beckham , P . M ., Secretary ; G . Messenger , J . D . ; H . Giddings , I . G . ; C . Taylor , P . M ., D . C ; and R . T . Roberts , P . M ., Stwd . ; and there was also a strong muster of Past Masters and lay members . Ample justice having been done to the good fare

provided , "The Queen and the Craft" vvas the first toast heartily honoured , and vvas followed by " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " and "The Grand Officers , Present and Past . " Bro . FI . ATTEKLY , P . M ., then said it svasa time-honoured custom to propose " The Health of the W . M ., " vvho

occupied an onerous position in the lodge . They regretted Bro . Bignold's absence through illness , but their hearts vvere vvith him in his trouble , for they missed his genial face and happy smile . Their W . M . was ably represented in the chair that evening by a brother who had passed the chair—the I . P . M . —svhom

they looked forward to vvith some amount of hope that he svould be of great assistance , as the Past Masters were expected to be . Bro . W . WKSTON , I . P . M ., returned thanks for the cordial manner in which the toast had been drunk . He vvas unfortunately acting as Master that night ; he

was sorry to say it was not by his own desire . It was their misfortune that their W . M . ( Bro . Bignold ) was laid up through illness , but the telegram they heard read said he vvas progressing . He was sure thai if the W . M , had been present he vvould have enjoyed himself very much , for he had been knosvn to them for many

years and vvas much respected . Hc ( the I . P . M . ) regarded the hearty manner in vvhich the toast had been received as intended for Bro . Bignold , and he hoped they would soon see him in his place with his usual smile and genial manner . Bro . FLATTERLY , P . M ., responded for "The Past

Masters and Officers , " after svhich "The Treasurer and J-ecietary " were cordiall y given . Bro . ISAACS , Treas ., having replied , Bro . BECKHAM , " ¦ •«•., returned thanks , and said he regarded the toast as a great compliment . He had the interest ot . the lodge ycy much at heart , and anvthinn he could do for its

benefit he was only too glad to do . As they were aware ,, was going up as Stesvard for the Royal Masonic 'ienevolent Institution , and the Committee svished < ? . ' ? llect a large sum for that Institution . He hoped nf il 1 cn would make their wives Life-Govcrnors UI me Institution before the next Festival .

V " , ? ' y ? WILK > P -M . " -P lied for " The Ladies and in ti J " able speech . One often heard it said \ v . « V that the ageof chivalry was past , but he hoiaTw i * •W 0 uld a" asree that on , ythose could and M 0 pinion •vl - 0 were unacquainted with Masonry ( rati , is " ' They P r'ded themselves upon their wI I their hospitalitytheir care for the sick

, , ' , to th ^ T'A l 0 - Valt - the 9 ueen and their dev- ' tion temir' L They also prided themselves on their sinJrn tu 1 ladies ' and on their behalf he returned been g - ' 0 r lhe mann < - '' in which the toast had

Ladies' Night Of Tiie Eucleston Lodoe ,No.1624.

The toasts were interspersed svith an excellent selection of music , in which Bro . Sackville Evans and others assisted . Bro . S . Wright sang several humorous songs in his inimitable manner , svhich vvere enjoyed by all , and several encores vvere demanded .

Dancing vvas then indulged in to the music of an excellent band , and the early hours of the morning had arrived ere the company departed , one and all congratulating the executive on the great success of the evening .

West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution.

WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION .

On the 5 th instant , under the presidency of Bro . R . Foote , P . P . G . Treas ., a numerously-attended meeting ot the General Committee of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution vvas held at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street . There were about 30

applicants for the benefits of the Charity , and the cases were approved and recommended for adoption by the next Court of Governors , involving an additional outlay of nearly £ 400 , the largest sum ever voted at any similar meeting . Twenty-two candidates vvere placed on the foundation of the Institution , two children were placed on the combined Fund , three had

grants for advancement in life , and the Committee agreed to grants tor an extra year ' s education to boys who are at present being taught , clothed , and maintained . A vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding concluded the proceedings . The balance-sheet of the Charity for the past year

, vvhich had just been prepared by Bro . J . T . Callow , Hon . Treasurer , shows that there was a balance of . £ 868 at the beginning of 1891 ; a deposit note realised £ 1200 ; the proceeds ofthe ball in 18 91 amounted to £ 420 ; 100 guineas had been received from the Prov . Grand Lod ge ; 50 guineas from the Masonic Club ; , £ 1039 from donations and subscriptions of the brethren of the various

lodges in the province ; £ 530 from interest on dock bonds , £ 7 8 from Swansea Harbour trusts , and £ 2 $ from Corporation stock ; the total income being . £ 4500 . The payments included ^ 1588 for the education , clothing , maintenance , and advancement of children on the foundation of the Charity ; £ 262 ios . for the purchase of one right of presentation to the Orphan Working

School ; £ 1114 for Liverpool Corporation stock ; ^ 800 for a bond of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board ; and the balance in the bank vvas . £ 638 . The proportionate cost of nine presentations of children to certain institutions for full maintenance and education was £ 211 Ss . The total incidental expenditure vvas £ 96

for printing , stationery , and postages , and 6 s . for insurance . The whole of the svork is entirely voluntary , Bros . Broadbridge , Walker , and Coxon being the Hon . Secretaries , and Bro . J . T . Callosv the Hon . Treasurer . There are now nearly 300 children receiving the benefits of the Institution , and the invested capital amounts to about . £ 21 , 000 .

Cycling And Athletic Lodge " At Home."

CYCLING AND ATHLETIC LODGE " AT HOME . "

The officers of the Cycling and Athletic Lodge , No . 2335 , gave their second annual " At Home , " in St . George ' s Hall , Wavertree , on Thursday , the 4 th inst . The principal amusement was dancing , but there vvere also a lantern exhibition and lecture b y Bro . W . R . Brewster , T . C ., P . P . G . D . C , entitled , " Glimpses of

the Continent , " and a musical entertainment in vvhich Messrs . W . Berry and Godfrey Marks , Bro . W . Sweetman , and others took part . The Secretaries were Bros . T . G . Parkes , W . O . Callow , and F . W . Herbert . The ofiicers of the lodge concerned in the ball svere Bros . R . R . Ellis , W . M . ; J . Shield , P . M ., D . C . ; R . Foote , P . P . G . T ., I . P . M . ; J . Winsor , P . M . ;

R . Lloyd , S . W . ; T . G . Parkes , J . W . ; J . Lane , Sec . ; A . H . Morecroft , C . C ., Treas . ; W . O . Callosv , S . D . ; J . L . Langforth , J . D . ; J . F . Walker , I . G . ; W . Rimmer , Org . ; P . Chambers , W . Pringle , J . C . Robinson , and J . Costain , Stsvds . ; and J . Doran Tyler . Mr . Frederick Wright ' s band vvas in attendance ,

and the caterers svere Messrs . Shacklady and Walter Holmes . Messrs . Archer and Son illuminated the hall with limelight , and Mr . W . Berry took several flashli ght photographs during the evening . The surplus proceeds are to be given to the local Masonic Benevolent Institutions , and , as there were about 1200 ladies and gentle , men present , it is expected that a substantial sum svill be available on their behalf .

Laying Foundation-Stone Of A New Masonic Lodge Room.

LAYING FOUNDATION-STONE OF A NEW MASONIC LODGE ROOM .

Between four and five o ' clock on Tuesday , the Sth ult ., the very imposing ceremony of laying the cornerstone of a nesv Masonic lodge room , in the Pine Longroad , Bridge Town , Barbados , by the members of the

St . Michael ' s Lodge , No . 2253 ( E . C ) , took place in presence ot a large audience . Besides his Excellency Sir James Shasv Hay , K . C . M . G . . Acting Governor , and his Lordship the Bishop , there svere present Bros . Col . Elliott , C . B ., C . M . G ., District Grand Master ; Hon . C . C . Knollys , Colonial Secretary ; John Locke ,

Robert Haynes , F . W . Gittens , and R . J . Clinckett , and members of thc Albion ( 196 ) and Victoria Lodges , and visiting members of the Order . An amateur band and a choir , under the direction of Mr . M . E . Doorly , Bachelor of Music of the Durham University , assisted in the ceremony .

St. Mary's Cathedral Restoration.

ST . MARY'S CATHEDRAL RESTORATION .

A Correspondent of the Limerick Chronicle sends the following suggestion to the Editor : " The restoration ot the Cathedral is slowly nearing completion , and I understand the contract for the present portion of the work expires on the ist April , on which day the contractors are bound to finish the work .

The porch is not , however , in the contract , and anyone vvho goes in and out on Sunday cannot fail to observe hosv greatly it requires restoration and repair . It occurs to me that my brother Freemasons might fairly take this burden on their shoulders and restore the Western entrance in memory of their late beloved Prov . Grand Master , Sir James Spaight .

The Freemasons . of Cornwall gave £ 600 tosvards the building of Truro Cathedral . The Gloucester Freemasons gave £ 1400 for the reredos of that noble Cathedral . The Bristol Freemasons restored the Lady Chapel in St . Mary Redcliffe Church in that city , and laid the foundation-stone ( if I am not mistaken ) of the nave of the Cathedral in that city . The Somersetshire

Freemasons restored the West front of Bath Abbey . Peterborough Cathedral , St . Albans , Tewkesbury Abbey , Worcester , and Durham Cathedrals , and numbers of parish churches in England have been assisted in their restoration by the Freemasons .

May I hope that the Irish Freemasons will not be behind the age , and that they will remember the antiquity and historical interest which attaches to the venerable Cathedral of Limerick , and do their part towards its restoration , and keeping green the memory of one of their most distinguished members . "

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Just as it is the lot of a monarch to have to lay foundation-stones of public buildings , and of certain Grand Officers to have to dine out very often , so it must needs be that when an actor has become recognised as one of the leading members of the profession he must appear as Hamlet and an actress as Juliet . Unfortunately many who strut on the stage wish to play these parts when no one else wants them to . But

Mr . Beerbohm Tree has well won his right to play Hamlet , and now at the Haymarket devotees of William Shakespeare ( for we implicitly believe he did svrite this play ) may , and will flock to see the new Hamlet . Mr . Tree gives a rendering of the part quite his own . But then all great actors before him have done the same . We have seen this celebrated play

many times but vve candidly say it has always been to us a weird , gloomy piece , and vve betook ourselves to the Haymarket not vvith the anticipation of pleasure , but with a sense of duty . We sat and looked on with admiration at Mr . Tree ' s portrayal and in the end came asvay , not svearied , but delighted . Mr . Tree makes the Dane an eccentric-lookingyoungman , but then he was .

His melancholy has a fascination about it which one cannot get over . We have seen several renowned actors of late years in this part , yet we like Mr . Tree the best of them all . Mrs . Tree ' s Ophelia is splendid . Her rendering of the mad scene and her singing in it bear good comparison with previous Ophelias . If we were asked to mention what particularly struck us in

the reproduction , we vvould say the play scene , the mad scene , and ( Bro . Fernandez ) the ghost scene . Mr . Fred Terry ' s Laertes is a clever performance . His natural appearance fits him peculiarly well for the part . Mr . Kemble's Polonius is also much to be commended .

All playgoers know " Hamlet" well , but just as they all rush to see a new Lady Teazle or a nesv Joseph Surface in " The School for Scandal , " so will they go and see Mr . and Mrs . Tree as Hamlet and Ophelia , and they will be agreeably impressed . The acts are not too long .

* * * Mr . Henry A . Jones ' s " Judah" created quite a sensation in 1890 vvhen it was produced b y Messrs . Last and Willard at the Shaftesbury Theatre with the last named in the title-rdle . Before it had been played out it had to be taken off , so nosv the authormanager has put his play on again at the Avenue ,

where it ought to be good ior another run of luck if the public will content themselves without Mr . Willard . Mr . Vanderfeldt is a good actor and understands well the att of elocution , but he makes "Judah " look more like a namby-pamby curate , the ideal of the young

ladies of the parish , than a Primitive-Methodist minister brought up as a shepherd on the hills . Miss Olga Brandon is again the Vashti Dethic , vvhich is the finest part she has ever created . The other characters are all carefully acted . This remarkable and unconventional play deserves serious study .

? * » Bro . Edward Terry , P . G . Treas ., having recovered from the effects of the prevailing complaint , is nosv back in " The Times , " svhich has reached its 100 th performance , and , judging from its reception , is likely to keep at Terry ' s Theatre for some months yet . Mr .

Pinero has svritten the part of Mr . Egerton-Bompas , M . P ., exactly to suit Bro . Terry ' s inimitable style . Miss Fanny Brough , Mr . Esmonde , and Mr . Elliot ably support their principal in this comic-pathetic play . "The Times" easily bears seeing more than once . A play of Mr . Frith's svill follow " The Times " in due course .