Public Amusements.

Public Amusements .

DRURY LANE . That the audiences who nightly crowd what is properly called our National Theatre , should be pleased with the new play , and should demonstrate their pleasure in a way that must be highly gratifying to the author , is no matter for surprise , for the performance is in every way very satisfactory . Nor is there much cause for wonder that

the large majority of critics have found fault with Mr . Wills ' s . last drama ; they appear to think that an historical drama should be analysed on its historical , not its dramatic meritr , the improbable incidents they confound with , or rather declare to be the impossible . They allude to history as if it were a second gospel , ami altogether lose sight of the fact that there are no lies more monstrous than the

traditional . We regret that this is no great cause for wonder , since the critical mind today is for the most part preservative , and to preserve too long is to grow musty , and to lessen in quality anil quantity . If Shakspeare ' s Richard 111 . is to be judged by the received historical facts , and its power of language , its force in incident , its breadth and depth of character to go for nothing , it would never

hold the stage , and in a lesser degree , what docs not however , lessen the strength of the argument , the same may be said of Mr . Wills ' s " England . " The late Mr . Hayward in his essay entitled " Pearls and Mock Pearls of History , " must have rudely shocked many a lover of this branch of literature , and even to a greater extent must George Lewes Cornwall have done so , when in his

satirical but pleasant way he played at historical nine-pins and bowled over so many of our pet facts . What these gentlemen accomplished in essays , is perhaps , what Mr . Wills now essays in drama . From a purely literary point of view " England , " is a perfect gem . Mr . Wills never worked in better style-, and the little song , admirably sung

by Mr . Collard , as Sir Geoffry Hudson , is almost Shaksperian . From a theatrical point of view the play is a great success , and fulfils all the requirements of Drury Lane . With the exception of the parts of Charles II . and Buckingham , minor parts in the story , the acting was satisfactory , and the scenery being by Mr . W . Beverlcy , we need not tell our readers that twice two m ikes four .

OLYMPIC THEATRE . By f . ir the best domestic drama put up jn the stage in modern times is the " Moonstone" of Mr . Wilkie Collins . In novel form "The Moonstone" was regarded by able critics as the best of Mr . Collins many good stories ; there was a weird charm surrounding the superstitious mysteries connected with the precious eye ot the heathen god that

fascinated tile reader . Sjm ; limes in spite of himself , there was a strange and powerful interest excited in following the various movements , so to speak , of the wonderful stone which had so great an influence upon the lives and destinies of those in whom the reader was interested , that often thrilled one with an admixture of pleasure and pain , and finally when the book was finished and put on one

side with a sigh of relief that all suspense was over , and yet with another and deeper sigh ol regret that there were no more such stories 11 turn tn , ( lie impression left upon the mind was one of keen admiration and deep gratitude to the talented author . Much of the weirdness that fascinated and of thc interest that excited us in the novel is of necessity lost in the drama , yet such is the

dramatic and aitbtic power of the author that not for one moment is the interest of the audience allowed to flag , nor their sympathies to lie dormant . It has long since passed into a kind of theatrical probcrb , " that the betterthe novel ihe worse the play ; " and if this be so , to Mr . Wilkie Collins must be awarded the exceptional praise of having discovered the exception that somehow or somewhere

exists from every rule . Having said so much for the play , it is painful to be compelled I ) add our conviction that it will not be a monetary success . Mr . Collins has written " over the heads" of most playgoers , and above the level of not a few critics , there is no claptrap " to stricken the ears of the groundlings , " no overdoing nor tardiness to " make the unskilful laugh , " no feasible abuse for those

whose plague it is to be " critical or nothing " to spy in its acting , it is sufficient to say that all the clever actors and actresses engaged did their best , and that their best was excellent . As to Miss Bella Pateman we confess that until we saw her , as Richel bewilder , we did not think her

capable of so much grand and tragic power ; in the scene where she accuses her lover of having stolen the diamond , she is simply perfect . We wish Mr . Neville would adopt the excellent example set by the management of " The Gaiety , " The Prince of Wales , " " Thc Court , " and " The Princess ' s , " of abolishing all fees .

The installation meeting of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No . 155 8 , took place on Thursday last , when Bro . Sleap was installed W . M . by Bro . W . Cackett , the outgoing W . M . A report will appear in our next . At a court of the Needlemakers' Company held on Thursday week , Bro . Dr . Ramsey was elected master of the company , and Bro . . / Eneas J . Mclntyre , Q . C ., and Mr .

E . B . Webb were elected wardens of thc said company for the year ensuing . —City Press . The Lord Mayor has received a telegram from the Madras Committee , acknowledging the receipt of a further remittance of £ 50 , 000 for thc Indian Famine Fund , and stating that the committees and agencies are at work all over thc presidency with most satisfactory results ; that

the prospects are improving ; and that , should the northeast monsoon , due in a few days , prove good , the famine will end in four months . During that period , however , Ihe re'ief must continue . A licence for music and dancing was granted to the Freemasons' Tavern , by thc licensing magistrates at the Guildhall , Westminster , on Friday , the 5 th ins .

Consecration Of The Prince's Lodge At Glasgow.

CONSECRATION OF THE PRINCE'S LODGE AT GLASGOW .

The consecration of the new Lodge , No . 607 , the " Prince ' s , " for which a charter was granted at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in May last , took place on Thursday week in the Pillar Hall of the Queen ' s Rooms , Glasgow . Thc Provincial Grand Lodge was

opened at six o clock , when the chair was taken by Col . Walter Montgomerie Neilsoi ' , R . W . P . G . Master , who was supported OT the dais by Bros . H . Inglis , of Torsonce , R . W . Dep . Grand Master ; the Lord Provost ; Sheriff Clark ; D . M . Neilson , Senior Grand Deacon , Ac . The Senior Warden ' s chair was filled by Dr . M'Innes , R . W . M . No . 27 , and Bro . John Kinnaird , R . W . M . No . 73 , discharged

the duties of Junior Warden . Among thc other Prov . Office bearers present were Bros , the Rev . J . W . W . Penney , D . D . Chap . ; W . H . Bickerton , Secy ; J . Morgan , S . D . ; Alex . Bain , B . B . ; James Balfour , D . of C . ; Thomas Halket , D . of M . ; J . Robb , Marshal , eVc . ; and in addition almost every Lodge in the Province was represented . Thc Lodge having been openeel in the E . A . degree and raised

to that of thc M . M ., the ceremony of consecration was proceeded with in the usual form . Bro . Rev . J . W . W . Penney delivered thc oration . He said—The consecration of every new lodge , brethren , is an indication of a desire to spread the principle of brotherly love . The apo-tle makes this the chief of three graces . Faith will end with the realisation of our hope in the future , but charity shall have no termination in the eternal temple

of love . Be it ours , then , in our life and conversation never to lose sight of the distinctive features of that charity which must glow within each Mason ' s breast . As it " suffereth long , " there is no virtue which undergoes greater probation . He who would rightly praticc it has indeed much to suffer , long to suffer , for there is hardly an hour which does not bring with it something to ruffle and vex in the outer world , and even at our homes , from our very familiar friend * . What a noble attribute is that which checks

the angry word , expels thc angry thought . If charity is long suffering , we arc also told that it is kind . Alike slow at taking and giving offence , it does not return evil lor evil , but contrariwise , good—ever anxious to benefit and contribute to the happincs of all . It envieth not the success of others , and how liable are we all to envy prosperity and other blessings denied to us . We must learn to be content

m whatever state God has placed us . Charity does not even seek her own . There is . then , ever a self denying spirit in the truly charitable , which may yet be of an unostentatious kind . Another characteristic being humility , in that it vaunleth not itself , is not puffed up . As thinking no evil , a brother's character is held sacred , and slander frowned upon . Filially , charity , in the vulgar sense of the

word , must actuate every Mason . If wealthy , there are many channels for benevolence ; if not wealthy , there are few who cannot do something to relieve and comfort the distressed . As then , under thc all seeing eye of Him unto whom all hearts are open , may brotherly love continue in our midst , with all its hallowing influence . The Lodge was afterwards again lowered to the E . A

degree , when the Office bearers of the Prince ' s were installed as follows : —Right Worship ul Master—Sheriff Clark Deputy Master—The Hon . James Bain , Lord Provost ; Substitute Master—W . J . Easton ; Senior Warden—Wm . H . Hill ; Junior Warden—Councillor J . Salmon ; Senior Deacon—Bro . Burnet ; Junior Deacon—Bro . Provan ; Secretary—William M'Lean , West George street ; Steward

—Bro . John Forrester . Bro . Inglis afterwards addressed the brethren , and in the course of his remarks said that he had worked patiently and waited long for the position he was now placed in . ( Applause . ) A good many of those present , and especially the elder part of the brilliant assemblage , knew perfectly well that this was not the first time that he had the honour

of appearing before his Glasgow brethren , nor would it be his first appearance in the Provincial Grand Lodge . Many of his visits had been very pleasant , while in others sorrow was mingled . He had appeared once , he was sorry to say , at a Funeral Lodge of the Provincial Lodge , held in the City Hall , on thc demise of Bro Spiers , and against this he had to set a very pleasant visit when he

installed the present Grand Master . ( Applause . ) The most interesting ceremony , however , was that in which he had just taken part , and he hailed with satisfaction the inauguration of the new Glasgow Lodge , being he thought the 31 st in this great province . ( Applause . ) They all knew their patron was the Prince of Wales , and the lodge called the Princes he accepted as a hopeful sign of

Freemasonry . ( Applause . ) He was proud to sec the Lord Provost present , and the Sheriff of the county , along with the other office bearers , and wished them every prosperity in thc new and youngest lodge in the province . ( Applause . ) He trusted that the principles which had been laid down so well , boti ; by the Provincial Grand Master , while conducting the ceremony , and thc other brethren , would be

carried out , as they were the basis of Christianity and Freemasonry . He hoped , and he believed that thc office bearers would discharge their duties in such a way as to show their sister lodges in the province , by their example , a cordial co-operation that they were worthy of the position they had attained . ( Applause . ) Bro . the Lord Provost said he was most struck with the solemnity of , as well as the eloquence , sobriety , and kindly

feeling which had characterised all the proceedings . He felt that truly he was among brethren . ( Applause . ) Freemasonry in Glasgow was a very old institution , and for a long time it was very successful , but since the death of Sir Archibald Allison , though he did not precisely say that it had declined , it had not been so prominent before the public as it might have been . By the assistance of his brethren , and that of the learned Sheriff , he hoped the palmy days of Freemasonry were to be revived , and

Consecration Of The Prince's Lodge At Glasgow.

that Masonry would again rise in Glagsow —( app lause 1 and that many of her best citizens—men of character -1 1 position—would embrace the opportunity held out to thetr and take part in the work . ( Applause . ) He , '' comparatively a young brother to speak on such a subject at any length , but he felt proud as Lord Provost to hav been received among such a band of gentlemen he w-i

proud to call his brothers . ( Loud Applause . ) Sheriff Chrk said that since he came among- t | lcm from Edinburgh , he had not felt so proud of bcinr ? received in any public meeting such as the one he was then addressing . He had been very fom i of Masonry , but his other avocations had prevented him from attending Masonic Lodges in Glasgow . He w ~>

, also fond of the City of Glasgow and the longer he remained in it , thc stronger grew his attachment , so that he almost forgot he had been born outside of its smoke ( Laughter and applause . ) He , therefore , saw with keen pleasure that both as a Mason and a Glasgow man he was proud to find himself installed in the way he hail been . ( Applause . ) For this honour he returned his

sincere thanks , and hoped that during the time he retained office he would endeavour to do something for Masonry in that great Capital of the West . ( Applause . ) Scotland from the beginning of last century had taken a prominent place in regard to Masonry , but sometime afterwards as had been remarked by Bro . Bain ( the Lord Provost ) , ( he Craft had not taken the prominent place in Glasgow and

the West , which they should like to see it doing . With the aid of those associated with him in this new lodae and by thc aid of their Brethren they hoped to do all they could to make the light blaze out in the West . ( Applause . ) Masonry was older than he himself believed until recentl y . When in view of delivering a lecture on the subject ( which he should have delivered had it been in his power ) he examined into all the most authentic records that he could

find as to the ancient history of the Craft . From these he had come to the conclusion that Freemasonry , although not to-day what it was in earlier ages , yet they found it beginning to flouiish and take ront in Europe immediately after thc downfall of the Roman Empire . When that important revolution took place and thc Northern hordes were fast destroying

art and science , those who wished to preserve the arts of antiquity , and principally the glorious art of architecture , bound up as it wasi n't hose days in engineering , from the ruin that was coming over Europe , formed themselves into societies which were undoubtedly forms of the Masonic Craft . It was by the aid of these societies that the arts were carried down through the middle ages , and preserved

till dawn of letters . 1 hese secrets of architecture and engineering which has come down to our times , link us with the past , and form the true explanation of what Masonry has done for Europe , ( Applause . ) There were other instances , beyond doubt , which he would have liked to enlarge upon , but he reserved the subject for another occasion . In thc course of his investigations he was struck

by one instance , that all over Europe , and out 111 the far East , and other parts of the world , bodies of Masons were to be found , using symbols so similar that there was no doubt whatever that they owed their origin to a common cause and at the same time , he was satisfied that these societies could not have originated within the compass of the present or last century , but must owe their origin to a

much earlier period . That similar signs were used in Great Britain , in India , in thc Himalaya Mountains , and in America , proved , beyond eloubt , the claims to antiquity of our Order . ( Loud Applause . ) In conclusion , the learned sheriff again returned thanks for the honour conferred upon him . Bro . Easton returned thanks to the Office Bearers of the

Provincial Grand Lodge , for the kind manner in which they had consecrated the lodge , and received and installed the Office Bearers of the Prince ' s . A similar compliment was paid to the Choir under the conductorship of Bro . Pentland , who rendered the vocal part of the ceremony in a most effective manner . The Lodge was afterwards closed , and an adjournment made for refreshments , when prosperity to the new lodge

was deeply pledged . At half past eight o'clock labour was resumed , when the Provincial Lodge was again opened by the Grand Master , assisted by thc same office bearers . The minutes of the committee meetings were read and approved , after which Brother Sheriff Clarke was installed as D . P . G . M . ; Bro . W . J . Easton , S . P . G . M ; Bro . Wm . Kyle , R . W . M . No . 3 I P . G . S . W . ; and Bro . John Monro , S . W . M . No . 3 60 ,

P . G . J . W . Bro . Monro then submitted his motion , to the effect that a test of membership be paid annually to the Provincial Benevolent Fund in the following ratio : —Prov . G . M ., £ 2 1 Depute and Substitute Masters , Senior and Junior Warden ? , Treasurer and Chaplain , £ 1 ; other office bearers , 10 s . each ; Masters of Lodges , es ; Wardens and Immediate

Past Masters , 2 s . 6 d . each . Bro . D . M'Dougal , R . W . M . of Lodge St . Vincent , No . 553 , seconded the motion . Bro . Balfour , seconded by Bro . Gillies , moved as an amendment the previous question , but on a vote being taken 28 declared themselves in favour of the motion and 15 for thc previous question . The motion was therefore

declared carried . The Provincial Grand Committee recommended that Lodge Clyde No . 408 should be reinstated to working order , which was agreed to . The Prov . Grand Master intimated that he would subscribe the sum of £ 100 to the Provincial Grand the

Benevolent Fund on condition that each Lodge in Province would pay the sum of , £ 30 in the course of the next three years to the same fund . The proposal was enthusiastically received , and an indication was given that a strong effort will be made to earn this grant . The Prov . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .