Consecration Of A New Masonic Hall At Hull.

our Charities are well known and justly admired , but it is by the personal habits of individuals that the world will judge of us . As Masons , may our thoughts and words With plumb rule strict compare ,

And may our conduct stand the test Of level and of square * Then let us the Great Architect With lowly hearts implore , He will cement and bless the Craft Till time shall be no more .

At the conclusion of this oration , the W . M . of the Kingston Lodge ( Bro . H . FAWCETT PUDSEY ) , proposed a most fraternal vote of thanks to the Deputy Prov . Grand Master for his attendance , and the able manner in which he had discharged his duties according to ancient custom , which was seconded by Bro . J . CHAPPELL , W . M . of the De La Pole Lodge , and accorded with acclamation .

Bro . the Hon . ORDE-POWLETT briefly acknowledged the compliment , and stated he was desired by the Prov . Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , to express his great regret that an important engagement in Scotland prevented his lordship ' s coming to Hull . The Grand Master desired to express his hearty good wishes and sincere hope that the bond of union cemented between the two lodges that day

might long continue . The Masonic anthem , " Hail ! Masonry Divine 1 " was then sung very impressively by Bro . J . York Torr , 250 , the brethren heartily singing the chorus . The Prov . Grand Officers retired in procession , and the lodge was closed . The musical arrangements were in the hands of Bro . C

W . Cheeseman , P . M ., P . P . G . O ., assisted by Bros . G . H . Lodge and A . Spring . Bro . Vessey King acted as Organist . Bro . Walter Reynolds , Prov . G . Treas ., performed the duties of Director of Ceremonies in his usual able and efficient manner .

Letters of apology for non-attendance were received from Bros . W . J . Hughan , the eminent Masonic historian ; Canon McCormick , D . D . ; F . B . Grotrian , M . P . ; Arthur M . White , W . M . iggi , P . A . G . P . ; Wm . Gillett , W . M . 2134 ; R . G- Smith , P . M ., Prov . S . G . W . ; W . Dodgson , S . W . 1605 ; J- Hurst , and others .

The Fund Of Scottish Masonic Benevolence.

THE FUND OF SCOTTISH MASONIC BENEVOLENCE .

The Grand Committee of the Grand Lodge of Scotland has now revised the proposed scheme for the working of the extended Fund of Masonic Benevolence , and a new plan on the basis suggested b y Bro . Caldwell , of Craigielea , Renfrewshire , will be submitted for the consideration of

Grand Lodge at its quarterly communication in the beginning of November . By this scheme it is proposed that the name of the Fund shall be " The Annuity Branch of Scottish Masonic Benevolence , " and the chief feature in which it is distinguished from the previous scheme is in regard to the Board of Management—a subject on which opinion

differed . By the former scheme it was proposed that the Board of Management should consist of the Grand Master , Past Grand Masters , Grand Master Depute , Substitute Grand Master , and 36 elected members ; but the proposal now is that the Fund shall be under the management of an Annuity Board , which shall

consist simply of the members of the Grand Committee , and be supervised by the Finance Committee—five members to form a quorum of the Board . It is provided that the fund shall consist of donations from lodges and individual brethren , and one half of the annual free income of Grand Lodge , and any other sums that Grand Lodge may see proper to grant ; and that the donations and one half

of all sums received from Grand Lodge shall be reserved to capital and invested in the names of the trustees of the Fund of Masonic Benevolence , or of such other trustees as Grand Lodge may from time to time direct . As to the other half of the sums which have been received from Grand Lodge , and the income which has arisen from the capital during the preceding year , under deduction of the

expenses incidental to the management , the proposal is that these shall , so far as may be required , be distributed in annuities . Any surplus remaining shall be carried forward for disposal in subsequent years , but it shall not be competent to make grants in anticipation of income . It is proposed that the Board shall have power to grant ten annuities of £ 15 and five of X * 2 o each in

cases which are considered deserving of special treatment , but that it shall not be competent to have more than these respective numbers of special grants current at the same time . All other annuities shall be of £ 10 each ; and the Board shall have power to appoint annuities to be paid by instalments , and also , if deemed expedient , to fix in what wav they are to be applied for the

benefit of the annuitant . Every Master Mason registered in the books of the Grand Lodge and his widow or children shall be qualified to be placed on the roll of annuitants . Regulation 8 provides that every application for an annuity shall be forwarded by the lodge of which the member applying is a member , or in the case of a widow or children , of the lodge of which the brother in respect of

whom they apply was a member . It is also proposed that the Grand Secretary shall be Secretary , and the Grand Cashier Treasurer to the Board , and that the annuities granted shall be reported to the quarterly communications of the Grand Lodge in February and August , and the remuneration to be paid to the Secretary and Treasurer shall be fixed by the Board and defrayed from the annual

income . The accounts of the income and expenditure of the fund will , it is proposed , be kept separate from the other funds of Grand Lodge , and balanced and published simultaneously therewith . The scheme as so amended will shortly be in the hands of the lodges throughout Scotland , for consideration by them preparatory to the discussion in Grand Lodge .

At the Court of Common Council on Thursday , Ibe 4 th instant , a letter was read from Bro . Alderman Whitehead expressing his readiness to accept the office of Lord Mayor for the ensuing year , and Bro . Sheriff Newton , who was present , was invited to take his seat on the Aldennanic bench .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee held their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Saturday last . Bro . Raynham VV . Stewart , P . G . D ., Trustee , occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . S Richardson , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; J . Rayner , A . E . Gladwell , J . Bodenham ,

Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; T . A . Motion , Geo . Mickley , M . A ., M . B . ; James Moon , Richard Eve , Past G . Treas . ; Henry W . Hunt , Rev . R . Morris , M . A ., LL . D . ; C F . Hogard , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . S . Cumberland , W . A . Scurrah , A . F . Godson , M . P ., P . G . D . ; W . M . Stiles , Geo . P . Gillard , W . H . Saunders , Joyce Murray , John Glass , and Frederick Binckes , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , and those of the House Committee read for information , the recommendations of the House Committee providing the usual allowance for the education and clothing of two boys out of the establishment , were confirmed . The resolutions of the same Committee , relating to the Committee of Inquiry , were also confirmed , and it was

resolved that all necessary expenses of the staff , officials , and inmates , consequent upon the requisiti ns of Bro . Philbrick ' s ( . Committee , and the resolutions passed in pursuance thereof , be allowed and paid out of the funds of the Institution . " The petition on behalf of a boy , subject to the production of the certificate of the father's death , was accepted ,

and the name ordered to be placed on the list of candidates for election in April , 18 S 9 ; and an application for a grant towards the outfit of an ex-pupil was acceded to . Three additional vacancies were declared in consequence of the unexpected withdrawal of three additional boys from the establishment . A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings .

The Girls' School Centenary Festival.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL CENTENARY FESTIVAL .

We have much pleasure in announcing that at a recent competition for the purpose of selecting a design for the Illuminated Address of Thanks , which will in due course be presented to the brethren who acted as Stewards at the Centenary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for

Girls , that submitted by Bro . George Kenning was chosen , and is already in hand for the purpose of reproduction . We must , however , remind our readers and the Craft generally that the design is more elaborate and artistic than those which have been adopted for ordinary Festivals , that four or five times as many copies as are usually required will be needed , and that some time must necessarily elapse before they will be ready for delivery .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of Management held their regular meeting at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday . Bro . Jab ; z Hogg , P . G . D ., occupied the chair , and there were present Bros . James Brett , P . G . P . ; J . J . Berry , G . Bolton , W . B . Daniell , Hugh Cotter , C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . P . ; E .

West , William Smith , Chas . Daniell , W . Hilton , L . Stean , Charles J . Perceval , James S . Fraser , R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C ; C . W . D .-iver , P . G . S . of Wks . ; C . H . Webb , F . B . Purchas , Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; C F . Hogard , P . G . S . B . ; Charles Lacey , W . f . Murlis , W . H . Perryman , P . G . P . ; and James Terry , P . G . S . B . ( Secretary ) .

The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and verified , the Secretary reported the deaths of two male annuitants and one male candidate . The Warden ' s report for the past month was read and adopted . The Committee reduced the sum payable annuall y to one of the widow annuitants by one half , and the petitions of two candidates were withdrawn , one of them being in receipt of half her late husband ' s annuity , which

likewise ceases . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart ' s report as to the purchase of land was read , adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . Five petitions—two male and three widows—were considered and accepted , and the names ordered to be entered on the list of candidates for election in May , 1 SS 9 ; and a vote of thanks to the Chairman having been passed the proceedings terminated .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . ALLAN CARSWELL WYLIE . We regret to have to announce the death of Bro . Allan Carswell Wylie , P . M . 869 , P . P . G . S . B . Herts , which event took place at Tientsin , North China , on the 17 th August last , from cholera . The deceased brother was initiated in the Gresham Lodge in June , 1868 , and had been a subscribing member for just 20 years . In the year 1 S 75 , he

wielded the gavel of K . S . in his mother lodge , and in the same year received from the Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire ( Bro . Wm . Stuart ) the collar of Prov . G . S . B . The great respect in which Bro . Wylie was held can be estimated by the fact that upon his departure for North China , in September , 1 SS 7 , a number of his friends and Masonic brethren entertained him at dinner , at the Holborn

Restaurant , to wish him God speed , and a happy return to his native country at the termination of his engagement , which , we understand , was for five years . The G . A . O . T . U . has , however , in His wisdom willed it otherwise ; but Bro . Wylie's genial manner and quaint sayings will long live in the recollection of his friends and brethren . The deceased brother leaves a wife and four children to mourn his death .

Bro . Earl and the Countess Cowper arrived in town on the 6 th inst . from Torloisk , IsIeoE Mull , N . B ., and subsequently left for . their seat at Panshanger Park . TAKEN A HIGHER DEGREE . —Mrs . Pompano — "Mary Ann , just run across the street and ask that man with a white-wash bucket if he is engaged . " Mary Ann ( returning after an animated conversation with Julius Plumbob)— " Please , mum , he says he ' s been married for twelve years . "

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Mr . John Lart deserves encouragement for his own courage . He wrote a play which he called "The-Monk ' s Room . " He produced it at a matinee . N 0 manager bid for it , or at least he did not get his terms . The critics suggested alterations . Mr . Lart made them . ' Again he played his piece . Result the same as before " . After making further alterations he has such an opinion

that " The Monk ' s Room " is a good play , and has taken the Globe Theatre himself , and put his piece in the evening bill . There is much in it that is interesting , and if Mr . Lart should not find his coffers filled we hope he will go on and write another piece . With experience he ought to succeed . The play is written in a prologue and three acts , of which the prologue is far and away the best

One is intensely interested with the opening of this romantic piece , but this relish is not kept up to the end . It gradually dwindles down in interest . " The Monk ' s Room" is a ghost story , much the same sort of thinothat one reads in Christmas annuals . The author has not got the best—perhaps the worst—theatre in which to bring out such a piece . Then

again , he makes a great error in dressing it in the nineteenth century costume . In these days nobod y but country yokels believed in ghosts . It should be told to the audience in the form of three hundred years ago . We are sure that were it played at the Lyceum , and Bro . Henry Irving would stage it with his elaborate system and play in it himself , "The Monk's Room , " would be Mr . Lart ' s

fortune . The drama has a strong plot , a powerful love interest , and a startling ending . The story runs that Sir Darell Erne inherits an old castle in which his grandfather had murdered the wife of a Russian . The old famil y butler tells him the tale of the murder and how the ghost continually haunts that room . Sir Darell has married a Russian girl—well played by Miss Marion Lee—who turns

out to be a Nihilist . He brings her to his home , and in the monk's room calls upon her to explain why she has deceived him in not having told him of her revolutionary proclivities . Kulp , the old servant , has shown Sir Darell the dagger which his grandfather had used . This weapon the girl seizes and attempts to assasinate Sir Darell , but in the struggle the dagger goes into her

side . Sir Darell feels that the world would not believe his tale of his wife ' s death being accidental , and there being ( as he thinks ) no witnesses , and no one knows of his having brought his wife with him—he foolishly hides the body in a great chest , and orders the room to be locked up . The girl in her dying moments curses him , and promises to haunt the place for ever . Her

father , whose wife had been killed by Sir Darell ' s grandfather , was an unknown witness to the murder , and forthwith levies blackmail on Sir Darell . The latter , after a time , falls in love with Eleanor Brandon , and marries her . He brings her home , but his life is made unbdarable by the Socialist Lazinski , who accuses him of bigamy , for it turns out that the girl did not die of the self-inflicted

wound . However , two Russian police officers set that matter right , as we now learn that the woman had a husband living , therefore her marriage with Sir Darell Erne is null and void . Mr . Willard has changed his usual delineation of character . Instead of a villain ' s part , he now plays that of the wrongly oppressed Sir Darell . Whether in his love scenes with . . Miss Alma Murray or

when depicting the tortures of his mind when he recalls the past , and knows that hs is innocent he is equally good Mr . Herman Vezin , as Lazinski , again shows his rare powers as an elocutionist . Miss Murray is truly sympathetic in her rendering of the trusting wife , whose heart ,

through evil report , remains firm and loyal to her husband . Miss Helen Leyton and Mr . Forbes Dawson contribute to the comedy element , and Mr . Stephen Caffrey , as Kulp , the butler , invests an otherwise dull part with much interest . We hope Mr . Lart may find his romance profitable , and that he may go on and write other good pieces .

= ; : ¦ = r .. -B The Opera Comique has once more fulfilled its title , and light opera reigns in the stead of French comedy drama . "Carina" was brought out recently by Mr . F . J . Harris , the lessee . Madame Julia Woolf is the composer , and to her must be given the palm . The dialogue is poor stuff . We carefully listened to the two acts , but found the

plot very flimsy . The lyrics are delightful , and should " Carina " maintain its place , it will be solely owing to the pretty airs which run throughout , and to Miss Camille D'Arville's excellent voice . Every encore she gets she richly deserves . Miss Josephine Findlay is a good second , and evidently is popular with her audience . Mr . Durward Lely is the tenor , and takes the greatest pains with his singing . Miss Alice Lethbridge wins applause by some

pretty dancing of the Spanish style . Bro . E . D . VVard seemed quite out of it in fancy costume . His home is at Toole's , which he appears to feel . Mr . Snazelle has a part which he ought to be able to make one of the best , but he does not . 1 he mounting , dressing , & c , under Bro . Charles Harris , are deserving of all praise . " Carina " is , musically , a good piece of work , and ought to have a profitable , even it short career .

« * " The Theatre" this month contains portraits of Miss Wadman and Bro . Arthur Roberts . From the short sketches of biography we are informed that the latter clever comedian was born in 1 S 52 of a non-theatrical family . He was placed in a solicitor's office as clerk , and used

to sing at the music halls in the evening . He developed such an appetite for stage work , that he became a professional , a change he cannot regret . There are the usual notices and wood-engravings of plays produced in the month past , besides several good stories . This monthly magazine ought to become more and more popular , for it is replete with interest .

The next volume of Dean and Son ' s series ot "Books for Elocutionists" is to be entited " Speech Studies . " The volume , which is from the pen of Mr . Edwin Drew , is dedicated to Sir Morell Mackenzie .