Masonic Luncheon To The Earl Of Carnarvon.

streets , its magnificent buildings , its great institutions , its stately halls , and its pleasant homes—when I see all this , and remember that 50 years ago this was a tangled forest , I cannot , often as the remark must have been repeated , refrain from expressing my wonder . Masonry has kept pace with all the other great institutions of Victoria and Melbourneand it is a pleasure to me to think that with

, these other institutions , Masonry also is the seed which has been dropped by the hands of ihe English sower . May the harvest of the future be even a hundredfold of its great present promise . In 1 S 42 , I think the first lodge was founded in Victoria . In 1 S 61 , I am told , there were 28 lodges with about 1000 members ; and in the present year of grace there are something just short of a hundred—1

think—99 lodges , and 6000 members . This great building gives accommodation , I believe , to something like 40 lodges , and could give more , if necessary ; while in the colony generally most of the great lodges have their own Masonic halls , and are not dependent on chance hospitality . I think with shame of the niggardliness of our own Parliament and Government of England when I know that here ,

from public sources , a fine plot of land has been given , which you have devoted to the best and highest objects of Masonry—the solace and comfort of aged and infirm Freemasons and their widows . Institutions like that justify , in the eyes of the world generally , the existence of our great Order , and vindicate it from those aspersions which from time to time are thrown upon it . In many

parts of the world Masonry has been associated with ideas of discord , internal faction , and sedition . Our Masonry has known nothing of this . Our record is perfectly clean . We are associated only with ideas of law , of order , of constitutional rule , and of sympathetic Charity . The Queen is the Patron of our Order . The Prince of Wales , to whom you paid a few minutes ago

a most just tribute of applause , is our Grand Master . lt was but a short time since I numbered up no less than 17 members of the Royal Family of England who , at different times , had either filled the high office of Grand Master or had occupied some other high position of trust in the Cralt . It is well from time to time to remind our brethren and those outside cur mystic pale of what is our real position in

these- respects . _ 1 am jealous for the honour of the Order when I hear of its being connected with dark and seditious associations , and I desire the whole world to know what the foundation stone is upon which we build , and what the keystone of our arch is . If anything could make this plain perhaps it was the remarkable sight witnessed only a few months ago in the Albert Hall , in London . It was my duty

on that occasion , at the command of our illustrious Grand Master , to move a resolution of congratulation to the Queen on the completion of her fiftieth year as Sovereign , lt is difficult for me to think that only in the month of June I stood in the Albert Hall moving that resolution , and that now in the beginning of November I stand in the Masonic Hall of the great city of Melbourne . I feel grateful to

modern science , which has enabled me to enjoy so great a piivilege . It was a very wonderful sight that was witnessed that day in the Albert Hall . That great circular building was packed as close as it could hold of brethren from all parts of the world . India sent her jewelled princes , the colonies sent their loyal adherents , Scotland and Ireland contributed their quota , and from every province in

England many Masons went up . It was a most striking sight . Tier above tier they were ranged , and the glories and colours from the different dresses and insignia were only extinguished by the hearty loyalty which broke out . I am bound to say that when the great doors were opened , and the stately procession moved up the big central avenue amidst continuous cheering , and those

hearty strains of " God Save the Queen , " which , I trust , will last as long as the British Empire , I have rarely heard or seen anything that could match with it . You , Right Worshipful Sir , were pleased just now to speak of the Prince of Wales and the Imperial Institute . I take this opportunity , inasmuch as his Royal Highness was pleased to place me with other gentlemen in a position of confidence

and responsibilit y in regard to the Institute , to say a word upon it . I need not assure you of the wish of his Royal Highness that the Institute shall be a great success . It will be in a central position in England , a continual memorial of a reign unexampled in prosperity and in goodness on the part of the Sovereign . Already , I have over £ 400 , 000 collected . More , no doubt , will flow in as time goes on and the

, result will be a really fine edifice , worthy of the Empire , and calculated quite as much to further the interests of the colonies as of any section of , or interest in , lingland itself . Those who , on the day I have alluded to , witnessed in the Albert Hall the grand sight , must have acknowled ged there was never a more orderly , law-obeying , and JoyaJ concourse than was then gathered together . That was in England , but there are the same characteristics in

England s colonies . The Freemasons are the pillars of law and , order . They are one more especial instance of the similarity which prevails between the England of the northel n and the England of the southern hemisphere . It has been sometimes said that history is not a mere record of battles and sieges and of public events . Acts of Parliament and official documents and public records , very good things in their uherent ways , do not constitule the whole life of a great nation . There is something- much more than this . It is

me everyday concern . It is in individual kindness and uioad and quasi-public Charities . Great societies like this P'ay a large part in the history and the life of a people . It is here that this great Society to which we are so proud to pelong performs its part . In every town , in every village , in every country district in England , there are people who nave sons and daughters and dear friends who have crossed the seas , and have cast in their lot in your inheritance here , vviien 1 go home to mv own villare . 1 have no rlnnht I shrill

De questioned as to Thomas , and Eliza , and James ; and you may depend upon it that ' if I am fortunate enough to wh a £ those lads and lasses whom remember , and wno have grown up with me , and in whom I take the h « 7 most affectionate interest , I shall give them as m « if a # reetin !? as Possible , both for their own friends and VM , i . omethln i ? more I would say , and it is this . Many iT , t 8 rolled hy since these colonies were founded and "e ^ an to acquire life and health anrl HIP fWlinn-s „ f nr « t

M f ' rles > bu ' a new generation has also been growing up . hpr-n t as , been more apparent to my mind since I have En « la A , ? n that Whereas many who were born in retain " and have come here and carved out their fortunes , to the M ° ' d recol , ecti ° ns and sentiments with regard Austr » r countr y > a new generation has sprung up in airaua-a generation which knows England only

Masonic Luncheon To The Earl Of Carnarvon.

by books and hearsay , and the recollections of their elders . I would say here , as I would venture to say in almost every Australian town , our earnest desire in England is that the younger generation shall not be allowed to let their hearts grow cold to the old country . Our earnest desire is that they should be taught and learn

that , although Australia is their dear birthplace , to which they owe many obligations and duties , there is also a little island in the Northern Sea which claims their affection , and is the home , and , so to say , the seat , of the whole Empire . Let me assure them that , although it would be impossible to say we remember them , they are often spoken of , and often thought of , and are looked upon with pride and satisfaction , looked on as kith and kin , looked on as

sons of Old England , as the young swarm of bees that has gone forth from the parent hive ; looked upon as the members of a great common family . I have overstayed my time . I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kindly welcome you have given me , and assure you that when I return to England I shall tell my Masonic brethren how well and truly Masonry flourishes in the great colony of Victoria .

After the applause had subsided , Lord CARNARVON proposed "The Health of the Chairman , " which was duly honoured and responded to . The CHAIRMAN then presented to Lord Carnarvon a massive jewel commemorative of his visit , and of the laying of the foundation-stone of the hall . His lordship having acknowledged the gift . The toast of "Our Visitors" brought the proceedings to an end .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

As we anticipated , a large and enthusiastic audience assisted at the re-opening of the Royalty , after the Christmas recess , and the very welcome rentree of Mdlle . Mary Albert in her favourite role of "La Grande Duchesse , " of which she is so refined and charming an exponent . Offenbach's masterpiece was indeed done justice to , and our

prima donna , so full of espieglerie and bewitching wilfulness , showed what can be done to elevate a part that has sometimes suffered by the touch of a less delicate hand ; her " Dites lui " alone is enough to prove her a perfect artist , and good as was her acting—especially in the "leap-frog" quartette—at her Majesty's , in December , iSSfj , it is even better now . The part of "Fritz " requires a master hand to avoid the Scylla and Charybdis of buffoonery and boorishness—with either orboth of which

we have occasionally been afflicted—and M . Dekernel demonstrated that he could be stolid without gaucherie and amusing without donning the motley . General Bourn was well represented by M . Curini , though he has not the traditional rotundity of—well , our familiar Commander-in-Chief ; and M . Numes played and sang the difficult part of "Prince Paul" most satisfactorily . Band and chorus were alike excellent .

A really new dramatic criticism has a wonderful charm , especially to one who has rung the changes on every form of praise or tender reproof . Having entrusted our important position to a young lady of very artistic taste , she wrote as follows : " My sister and I were greatly delighted with the performance of ' Lady Clancarty , ' and if we did not both cry it was Mrs . Kendal's fault , as she never shed a tear , but cried dry , like a child . "

The annual cutting- of the Baddeley cake , which Bro . Augustus Harris has madeagreat feature of since his becoming the reigning monarch of Drury Lane , took place on Twelfth Night in the presence of a company numbering about a thousand ladies and gentlemen celebrated in the social , literary , political , civic , and dramatic world . The guests were welcomed at midnight , whilst the band of the

2 nd Life Guards discoursed sweet music At about 12 . 30 the curtain rose and displayed the Baddeley cake , which Bro . Fernandez , master of the fund in the Three per Cents ., proceeded to cut , after making an explanatory and interesting speech . The W . M . of Drury Lane Lodge then bid his guests to come on the stage and partake of the cake and a sumptuous supper , which was served on the staircase

used in the last grand set scene of the pantomime . Dancing followed until 4 a . m ., when the guests departed , thanking Bro . Augustus Harris for the pleasant gathering , and inwardly wishing they may be fortunate enough to get an invitation for next year . Amongst those present we noticed Bro . the Earl of Londesborough , I . P . M . Drury Lane Lodge ; Bros .

Earl of Onslow , Lord Deerhursr , Lord Mandeville , Sir Morell Mackenzie , Lord Alfred Paget , Mr . Edgar Bruce , Bro . Alderman Lieut .-Col . Cowan , Under-Sheriff Beard , Sir John Bennett , Under-Sheriff Rose-lnnes , Bro . Barrow Emanuel , P . M . Paltenmakers' Company ; F . Binckes , Secretary Boys' School ; Mr . Frank Wyatt , Miss Melnotte , Mr . E . Ledger , Miss Clara Jecks , Miss Millward ,

Miss Nellie Farren ; Bros . H . C . Richards , Col . Fletcher , C . C . ; Squire Bancroft , J . C . Parkinson , Sydney and Lionel Brough , Messrs . K . Pateman , Blakeley Murphy , Q . C ; Lockwood , Q . C ., M . P . ; Charles Harris , Antonio Carati , Bros . Frank Richardson , R . Grey , President Board of Benevolence ; W . A . Barrett , Haydn Coffin , Miss C . Graham , Deputy Bedford , Misses Mary and Kate Rorke ,

Mr . T . H . Bolton , Miss Marie Tempest , Miss Neville , Miss Sylvia Grey , Bro . Edward Terry , Mr . Hugh Drummond , Dr . Frost , Mr . C . J . Abud , Bros . Coote , Henry Wright , Walter Everard , W . S . Penley , VV . Lestocq , W . M . 1319 ; Miss Jennie Lee , Miss M . Nultz , Miss Alma Murray , Misses Wadman , Caroline Hill , Gertrude Warden ; Bros . Rutland Barrington , Geo . Giddens , T . H . Mackhn , C H . Hawirey , Beveridge , J . J . Dallas ; Miss M . A . Vict , r , Miss Kat . i

Lanner ; Bros , David James , A . M . Broadley , Farquhar ; Messrs . Oscar Wilde , George Edwardes , Misses Letty Lind , RoseLeclerq , Cissy Grahame , Cicely Richards ; Bros . Arthur Roberts , Marius , C . Lauri , jun . ; Mr . and Miss Emma D'Auban ; Bros . Herbert Standing , Fred Leslie ; Mr . Sedger , Mr . H . J . Leslie ; Bros . VV . Ganz , Dr . Hunter , M . P ., T . Thome , Col . Wellesley ; Messrs . Davenport , Adams , Arthur a'Becket ; Miss Sophia Eyre , Mr . Clement Scott , Sir Coutts Lindsay , Prince Victor Dhuleep

The Theatres.

Sing , the Maharajah of Kuch Behar , Mr . Dixon-Hartland , M . P . ; Right Hon . C . T . Ritchie , M . P . ; Lord Tarbat , Lord Wallacourt , Lord Curzon , and several officers of the 2 nd Life Guards , Prince Malcolm Khan , Lord Hay , Gen . Milman ; Bro . Admiral Sir Edward Inglefield , K . C . B .,

J . W . Drury Lane Lodge ; Bro . H . F . Hanbury Tracy , M . P . ; Bro . Sir Alfred Kirby , Messrs . Harry Furniss , Linley , Lambourne , Hamilton Aide ; , W . S . Gilbert , Miss Marion Mackenzie , Miss Ffolliot Paget , Miss Eva Sothern , and Miss Emma Gwynne .

We are not able to pronounce the favourable verdict on Mr . Robert Buchanan ' s new play "Partners " which we had much pleasure in doing when Mr . Beerbohm Tree produced Mr . Tristram ' s " Red Lamp " at the Haymarket in the summer . The run of " Partners " cannot be as lengthy as that of the piece whose place it has taken .

" Partners " deals with an old plot , and sadly lacks interest , whilst the comedy element in non-existent . Could these delects be made good we should have another Haymarket success under Mr . Tree's management , for both stage mounting and acting are all that could be desired . We rejoice to hear that since its first night the five acts have been considerably curtailed , and the audience are permitted to

depart at a reasonable hour . Ihe author boldly tells us that he has not followed the original French story , and has only founded some of the characters upon that book which is well for English ears . Heinrich Borgfeldt is a man of business , past middle life , and has married a young wife . She has a child , and everything that should make her happy—a loving husband , a good home , wealth , and

respect of those around her . This young lady Claire comes under the influence of her husband's partner , Derwentwater , a very handsome man but a consummate cad , for he has a good wife of his own . Claire is weak enough to listen to his addresses , and seems to encourage him , possibly only to flatter her vanity rather than from a vicious motive , or with any intention of dishonouring her husband . In the

original novel , we believe , she is made a thoroughly bad woman , but as this would be objected to by English people , the author has made Claire a vacillating , silly , and vain young woman . In one of the scenes with Derwentwater " she is awakened to her senses by her little child of five rushing into the room to be kissed ere she can go to sleep . This is one of the few good situations of the piece .

Borgfeldt is called away on business , and returns to find the wife , the apple of his eye , in the arms of his partner . It is true she was beseeching her lover to leave her , but the enraged husband will not listen to any explanations , and drives her from his home . Through the extravagance of the junior partner the firm is on the verge of bankruptcy , from which they are saved by Borgfeldt , who is so kind hearted that he

will not expose his wife s betrayer lest it bring shame upon the guiltless Mrs . Derwentwater . He reduces himself tor the honour of the house to the rank of a clerk , and with his little girl lives now in a cottage . It is Christmas time , and the mother , who has been cared for by a good lady , would fain see her child , and ask her husband ' s forgiveness , which of course is obtained . But the whole play , in our minds ,

lacks sympathy . Mr . free , as Borgfeldt , of course , acts carefully , and is scrupulous over every detail , but he failed this time to rouse us . We thought if the author intended a moral to his piece , then Mr . Tree teaches once more the folly of old men marrying young wives , and when they have done so not looking well after them . We felt little pity for Borgfeldt in his woes . As for Claire , she is so stupid that

she is not deserving of sympathy , for she encourages the young lover , though she may not mean harm . But she is old enough to know that it is dangerous to play with edged tools . ' Miss Marion Terry is cast for this part , but it does not add to her long list of successful delineations , although it gives her various opportunities of wearing some lovely gowns . Miss Kingston , a new actress to London , plays the

character of a designing woman of fashion , who plots the intrigue . This lady will doubtless maintain the position she has already taken here . Miss Janet Achurch is Claire's sister , and acts with much good taste ; probably she has given up by now the intonations of her lines—it does not add to her attractions . Mr . Brookfield has a small part—that of an actor

unemployed . This we think a libel , and wonder at Mr . free allowing such a skit on his own profession . Doubtless halfa-century ago there were many such broken-down gentry to be found , who lived on their wits and hung about taverns , but in these days , when an actor ' s profession is looked upon as an honourable and high calling , we would like to know where Mr . Buchanan

gets Mr . Brookfield s seedy actor from . Mr . Kemble , as a confidential clerk , plays excellently , in a genial , unpretentious style , which elicited warm favour . Miss Minnie Terry , as Gretchen , is one of the most delightful children we have ever seen on the stage . She does not seem to be acting , or to have been coached like a parrot , but plays her

little part in a thoroughly natural manner , as if she felt and enjoyed what she is doing . Beginning like this at the age of six , we may almost say Miss Minnie Terry is a born actress . If our readers want to weep they had better go to the Haymarket , for every other person in the audience seems unable to restrain their feelings , and they have scarcely any comedy to relieve them from " those tears . "

* * Miss Minnie Terry , to whom we have alluded above , is a daughter of Mr . Charles Terry , brother of Miss Ellen lerry and Miss Marion Terry , and also of Misses Kate and Florence Terry , who retired from the stage on their marriage . This pretty child is the fifth generation of Terry's who have been , or are , connected with the stage .

This is not her first engagement , for at the age of three she assisted in Miss Fortescue ' s repertoire at the Standard , Grand , Crystal Palace , and Haymarket theatres . She is one of the few children not made precocious by appearing before the public . The Haymarket audiences are already in love with her . Miss Margaret Terry ( Mrs . Charles Terry ) , her mother , was for some time a member of the Compton Comedy and other companies .

Bro . Lord Magheramorne presided at the first meeting after the Christmas recess of the Metropolitan Board of Works on Friday , the 6 th inst ., when the subject of the construction of theatres was considered , and it was resolved that the question should bs postponed till June , in order that the new Board might have an opportunity of dealing with it .