The Dorset Masonic Charity.

THE DORSET MASONIC CHARITY .

The first annual meeting of tlie Committee of this Charity was held at the Alasonic Hall , Weymouth , on Monday , the 4 th inst ., and amongst a fair attendance of members were the Al . W ., the Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster C . Hambro , P . P . G . S . W . Captain Hanham , Bros . Burt ( chairman ) , and E . T . Budden , Secretary . It " was

arranged that thc Finance Committee bc taken from one or two adjacent lodges , and be changed yearly , so that the whole province is represented in the matter . The Relief and Assistance Committee will be formed of one member from each lodge . Bro . Sec . reported that the subscriptions already paid amounted to £ oS 5 J is ., thus formedfrom twenty-seven donors , not Alasons , ^ , 355 11 s . ; P . G . L .,

P . G . M ., Deputy P . G . M . and P . D . P . G . M ., £ 300 ; loelgcs and brethren , £ 331 . Of this latter amount 10 lodges had voted £ 104 is . Gd . ; 151 brethren had given in donations £ 192 ios . ; subscriptions amount to £ 34 Ss . Cd . ; a sum £ 6 tjs . Sd . lor interest made thc total funds / . 993 0 s . Sd ., to which has just been added further donations , £ 2 ios . ; and may bc added hereafter ( promised ) , £ S $ 3 s . About

£ 850 had been invested , the brokers acting through the great firm of Hambro Bros ., charging no commission . There would soon accrue a sum of £ 12 iSs . for interest , making £ 19 7 s . Sd . available for charity . _ Preliminary expenses came to about £ 21 , and it was decided , after a

great deal of discussion , that this shall be defrayed out of capital , and not out of the interest , which was then left intact for charitable expenses , and a grant of £ 5 was made to thc first object presented to the lodge . Thc W . M . and brethren of All Saints' kindly provided luncheon for thc Committee .

Memorial To The Late Bro. Charles Coote, P.M.

MEMORIAL TO THE LATE BRO . CHARLES COOTE , P . M .

An interesting ceremony took place on Wednesday , the Gth inst , when the monument erected to the memory of thc late Bro . C . Coote , P . AL 205 , i * , iy , P . Z . 1319 , P . P . G . Org . Aliddlesex , was unveiled at Kcnsal Green Cemetery by Airs . Edward Swanborough , in thc presence of the

following friends of our departed brother : Bros . E . Frcwen , W . II . Crcmcr , W . A . Tinney , II . Lazarus , W . J . Kent , II . ] . Callcolt , E . Humphrey , C . S . Bradberry , G . Dyke , A , Gough , F . Pritchard , H . J . Phillips , Thaddeus Wells ; Alcssrs . J . Bishop , W . Pratt , C . Coote and Aliss Lizzie Coote ( grandson and grandaughter of the late Bro . Coote ) , Mrs . Bishop , Airs . Edward Swanborough , Bros . J . At .

Chamberlin , Secretary to the fund ; J . Weaver , Treasurer ; anel Edward Swanborough , Chairman . In opening the proceedings Bro . Swanborough made thc following few remarks : Brethren , ladies , and gentlemen —We have met here to day to perform a very interesting ceremony , namely , to unveil a lasting memorial of our love and regard for the memory of our late Bro .

C . Coote , erected by the members of thc Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , and the Lodge of Asaph , No . 1319 , assisted by a few members of the Knight's Club , and other friends . Thc good qualities of our late brother arc so fresh in thc memories of his friends as to require no comment from me , suffice it to say that he lived respected and died deeply regretted . I cannot allow this opportunity to pass without

expressing the very great assistance the committee have received from Bro . J . Weaver , P . AL , Treasurer to thc fund , and Bro . J . Al . Chamberlin , P . AL , thc Secretary . Airs . E . Swanborough then directed the veil tobe removed , and after thc meeting had expressed their approval of the memorial , the proceedings terminated . Thc Coote memorial is a very beautiful monument in

Sicilian marble , and consists of an Irish cross with a Past Alaster ' s jewel , surrounded with forget-me-nots , lilies of valley , and ivy leaves carved on thc face of same , and standing in a rock of marble with Alasonic emblems , with ivy carved thereon , and a marble pedestal with the following inscription : "In . Mcmori . im Charles Coote , Died Alarch Gth , 1 S 80 , aged 71 . This monument was erected by his

Alasonic and other friends as a mark of affection and esteem . " The lower portion of thc memorial is a marble slab , and post with iron bars , anti a large massive landing of Yorkshire stone , on which the whole is fixed . The monument stands nine feet in height . This chaste and beautiful memorial was designed anti executed by the well known monumental mason , Bro . E . Al . Lander , of Kcnsal Green .

Early Use Of The Term Freemason.

EARLY USE OF THE TERM FREEMASON .

Thc following letter had been handed us for publication by Bro . li . F . Gould : " 33 ) Bloomsbury-strect , Bedford-square , " 11 Hi July , 1 SS 1 . " Dear Sir , —

" Presuming that you have thoughtfully sent me a copy of thc Freemason oi gth inst . for the . purpose of noticing the communication signed ' Alasonic Student , ' I herewith do so , but with some hesitation , considering it is now twenty years since I wrote the two papers on ' Thc Superintendents of English Buildings , ' and on ' The Alasons During the AIedi : eval Period ; ' a subject

interesting alike to myself as nn 'architect , ' and to yourself as a' Alason . ' Steinbreuner ' s statement that in 1396 he finds an entry , ' Lathomos vocatos I'fremaccons , ' is , most probably , a copy from Findel , who , at page 51 of his' History , ' or page 4 6 of the edition of rSGG , cites as his authority for the reference one of thc two papers by myself . These papers were read at meetings of the Royal Institution of

untisii Architects , and printed ir , their ' Sessional Papers , ' and were not only much condensed , but were given without referring to authorities . Hence Findel could not do more than quote my paper . 1 have the pleasure of stating that the Words above quoted , followed by ' Lathomos vocatos ligicrs' wm ue found in Rymer's Foedera , ' Syn . xvii ., **"' , , ? '¦ a ! e I . 5 < j 0 ; an unquestionable reference . ., . . "' . ! " ! ' 1 am also answerable for the first asseition

that " Simentarius " before , and " fremason " after 131 / 1 , are found in the Fabric Rolls of Exeter Cathedra ) . ' In another- short paper ( in the ' Dictionary of Architecture , ' issued b y the Architectural Publication Society , sv Fri-cinason ) 1 have , perhaps , mure carefully written ' The I'ahric Roll , of Exettr Cathr dial , dating 1 ' 96-7 , are said Ui contain the word fremason . ' In another artie . ' e are the wouts Wilham I oundyng i , mentioned in the Fabric Rolls

Early Use Of The Term Freemason.

of Exeter Cathedral , 1396-7 , as a fremason engaged at thc yearly wages of 26 s . Sd ., ' quoting my authority , ' Britton's Exeter Cathedral , - ( to ., London , 1 S 27 , page 9 G ; ' and adding 'This is the earliest instance known of the word " freemason . "' " Not having been quite satisfied ( for some reason now forgotten ) with Air . Britton ' s statement , I obtained the assistance of a friend at Exeter ( this was in thc year 1859 ) ,

and the reply ( thc letter is now before me ) was— ' Unfortunately , I cannot lay my hand on that ( Roll ) of 1396-7 . ' He added that thc Rolls of 1427-30 have 'Fremason '; and that previously to about 1400-1420 , after which the English term prevailed , the terms used were'Sementarius' and ( oddly enough ) ' Latharius . ' Thus , although thc Roll was not seen , it may be taken for granted that the reference is

correct , and ijgG-7 stands good . No doubt Air . E . W . Shaw obtained his dates 1396-7 and 1427 also from Britton ' s work above quoted bymc . I am not aware that 1 ' take practically thc same view as docs the ' Alasonic Student' that 'Freemason' is of fifteenth century use . ' 1 still consider it as of the fourteenth century , though late in the century , and that it came from working

'freestone . " I may , perhaps , bc excused , in conclusion , in expressing my opinion lhat thc use of thc term ' Freemason ' has no connection with the Society of Free and Accepted Alasons . " Yours truly . " WYATT PAPWOKTH . " R . F . Gould , Esq . "

Amusements.

Amusements .

GAIETY THEATRE . — " Belle Lurettc . "—We must confess to a feeling of disappointment at thc performance of this piece . Like the " Edwin Drood " of Charles Dickens , like the " Lord Kilgobbin " of Lever , it is evidently a moribund attempt on the part of thc composer . Both in its music and its plot it smacks a good deal more of thc "Tambour . Major" than of thc " Orpht ' e aux I ' nfers , " which has always been , to our mind , thc most powerful of

Offenbach ' s works . The overture is meagre , and devoid of anything promising for thc future ; and when thc curtain draws up to a very pretty chorus of blanchisseitscs in the first act , we arc completely taken by surprise . _ Offenbach must have had " Tambour Major" on the brain when he composed " Belle Lurettc . " In the first scene the work of thc laundresses is interrupted by the entrance of the military , who , on the approach of thc chief washerwoman ,

arc concealed in tubs , clothes baskets , and jn any other laundry property which may appear appropriate . This very much reminds us of tlie first act of "Tambour Major , " where the nuns and soldiers fraternise in the absence of tlie lady-superior . And , later on , some of the airs have an unmistakeable resemblance to those of the more popular opera , more especially thc chorus "Cherchons tous ; r l'instant meme , " at the end of Scene V ., Act

L , and also the chorus " Nous avons pns a qui micux mieux , " at the beginning of , Scene VI 1 L , in the same act . Nevertheless , throughout the opera are scattered some airs of undoubted merit and originality , particularly thc solo , " Belle Lurettc , a des beaux yeux , " of Canipistri'l , in Scene IX ., Act I . ; the original half-hummed song of Marceline , in Scene X ., same act , which was a great success ; thc duo of Belle Lurettc and thc Due , " Je m ' en vais , "

in Scene VII ., Act II ., which received an encore ; and the chorus " Attaquez le gouverncment mais , ne touchez jamais a la Blanchisserie , " which was , to our thinking , the best piece of music in the piece . The plot is but slight . A duke and his two companions find their way into a laundry . Thc Duke de Marly falls in love with Belle Lurette , one of the washerwomen . Marcclinc , thc chief laundress , opposes the marriage . In this opposition she is joined by

Mnlicoriie , a sort of groom of the chambers of the Due , who ends his arguments against what he calls a mesalliance by proposing to Marcclinc himself . After the laundry scene we are conducted into the duke ' s palace , where , after a few obstacles necessary to the plot , all ends well . Madame Jeanne Granier , as Belle Lurettc , acted and sang magnificently , showing not only a familiarity with the piece , but also with all manner of stage business . She

is a great musician . She commenced the air " Parlous ce caressic , " at the end of the second act , without any accompaniment , and when thc orchestra joined she was found to bc in thc right key . Nothing but a deep knowledge of the music and a good car could have warranted so unusual a proceeding . Aliss Alily Meyer , as Marcclinc , also showed unusual talent , although wc could not help thinking she looked more inclined lo join the fun of the first act than all

the laundresses put together , whom she was supposed to bc keeping in order . Al . Jolly , as Malicornc , quite came up to all expectations as a comic boulfo singer . Some of his business was rather peculiar , as when he fences and dances at the same time , and when he lies on the table Hat to bc [ lulled up by Belle Lurettc ; but as it is all put down for him to do in the book of course he is obliged to act up to it . AL Alexandre ( as Campistrel ) sang splendidly , and his acting was also considerably above the average of that

usually seen on the Renaissance stage , lt may be mentioned that H . R . H . the Al . W . G . AL attended the performance on 'Tuesday night , his presence causing no little sensation amongst the tilnnchisscuses , who had possibly never seen him before . II . R . II . the Princess of Wales was also present . Under these circumstances it may bt inferred ( hat all did their best to support the great reputation the Renaissance Company has so fairly earned . Alay we sec them next time in a better piece , and one with wbicl ; we arc all more familiar .

BRO . HENRY MURRAY . Our readers will no doubt remember Bro . Henry Murray's appearance before a London audience , at thc Adelphi , in the character of Sir John Fahtaff ' m " The Merry Wives of Windsor , " a few months since . We are pleased to note that the estimate then formed of his powers has been more than confirmed . We extiaet the following notice of his

appearance in the character of Sir Pertinax Miicsycofihnnf at Ihe Royalty Theatre , Glasgow , from the North British Doily Mail : Last night witnessed the revival of Macklin' -. famous ( omer ))' of - 'The Alan of the World . " Of the piece a :, a lilciary production we need now say but little . Time was when our English ancestors had their lungs tickled to the seie by thc poi trait of Sir Pertinax , and the vox popttli

Amusements.

shouted laudations to thc creator of a character deemed by Londoners to bc a true and tried highly-finished portrait of a Scotsman , but which was in truth but a daub and a caricature . At present , however , wc tolerate thc character for the scope it affords thc dry humour of the actor , not for the merit of the dialogue or character . Sir Pertinax was a favourite , however , with Macklin , Cooke , Kcan , and lastly Phelps . Nearly every English star who dared to brave

the Scottish tongue in Scotland has tried the part , but of the legion who have adventured from time to time their reputation on its portraiture , Cooke and Phelps were the only ones who in justice may be said in it to have won their spurs . Where excellence , then , is so rare in a part , it becomes a double pleasure to be able to offer congratulations in such a character to a new votary and comparative novice in thc Thespian art . Wc arc glad to say then , for

its masterly portrayal last evening , we may give all but unstinted praise to Air . Henry Murray . Mr . Alurray is , as we stated yesterday , a son of the late Air . William Murray , for so many years manager of the Theatre Royal , Edinburgh . His name , however , was not a guarantee of success . Histrionic talent is not by any means as a rule hereditary . A name has been found but in too many instances but a peg , and the only one , to hang a fame , and

thc son of many a noted actor who should have borne hts father's blushing honours thick upon him , has , in- numberless cases , served hut to recall thc talent of the sire , and make us feel the width of thc gap existing between them . It by no means followed then lhat because Air . William Alurray was once in his day one of the best and most versatile actors thc stage had seen , Mr . Henry Murray should , thirty years afterwards , create a success as Sir

Pcrtinax Macsycophant . I'he shoes in which he had to tread in such a character were those of no less an actor than the late Mr . Samuel Phelps , and of all that gifted artist's embodiments , Sir Pertinax was universally pronounced the best . The difficulty thus presented Air . Alurray overcomes by sinking all comparisons and taking an entirely new conception of the part . Air . Murray ' s Sir Pertinax is neither hard , dry , or stern , and what it

lacks of Phelps' quaintness is atoned for in its geniality . In pungent humour , dry retort , wily sarcasm , and the point which experience alone can give , Air . Alurray's conception is certainly in some degree deficient . Sir Pertinax is with him a bon vivnnt , genial , convivial , self-willed , and iron-nerved ; a man , however , whose suavity would carry his point quite as surely as would his cunning . For such a conception nature has furnished Air . Alurray very

generously . His figure is stout , broad set , his face the personification of good humoured merriment , his voice high and singularly clear , and his Scotch accent admirable . A recognition of his merits by thc audience was speedily shown , and thc well-known dialogue and advice on the " infallible instinct of booing " in the second act met with a response hearty enough to secure for him a well-deserved call at thc fall of the curtain . Wc can certainly call to

mind no other actor of thc present day who could compete with him in the character . Except in the case of Miss Ryder , who plays Lady Rodolpho , and of Air . F . Wyndham , who gave a careful empodiment of Egerton , Mr . Murray is " weighted" rather than supported by the remainder of the company , who appear to anything but advantage in " A Roland for an Oliver , " which precedes the comedy .

New Zealand.

New Zealand .

OPENING OF A NEW MARK LODGE . A ceremony of considerable importance in Masonic circles occupied the attention of the brethren of the Craft at Wanganui , New Zealand , recently . Through thc exertions of Bro . Anchor a charter was obtained for the opening of a Alark Lodge , and as many Alaster Alasons were anxious to pursue their studies in the ancient and mystic

lore of the Craft , the membership of the new lodge speedily became strong . The formal opening of the lodge was fixed for Thursday , and thc impressive ceremony was gone through with telling effect under the presidency of Bro . Anchor . The following is a list of the officers : Bros . Anchor , W . AI . AI . ; Sewell , S . Warden ; Alatthews , J . Warden ; Fleetwood , AL Overseer ; IL Nathan ,

S . Overseer ; Culpan , J . O . ; Nicholas , Treasurer ; Wales , Secretary ; Ccnci , Registrar ; Horn , S . D . ; Spurdlc , J . D . ; Robinson , D . of C . ; Keesing , I . G . ; Richmond , Steward ; Firth , 'T yler . The service was a full choral one , and was specially directed by Bro . Holden , assisted by Bro . John Stevenson at the harmonium .

After the ceremony the Alark Lodge adjourned to Bro . F . W . Evans ' , where refreshments were provided . The opening of this lodge marks an onward stride in the history of Alasonry on this coast . We are informed that thirty-eight brethren were advanced to Ihe Alark Degree on the opening night , and a Royal Ark Alariners' Lodge was then opened , to which Degree thirty-two brethren were elevated .

Jamaica.

Jamaica .

A new lodge has recently been formed in Kingston , called the Kingston Lodge . 'The first Alaster is to be the Worshipful Bro . Win . Andrews . A dispensation to work until the pleasure of Ilis Royal Highness the Grand Master is known having been obtained from the Deputy District Grand Alaster , thc lodge was organised at Sussex Hall . Protests have been made against the constitution of this new lodge by the brethren of thc oldest lodge in the province , thc Royal , No . 207 , on account of the injury it

will be doing to others , thc non-necesity for another lodge in the city , and , more particularly , on account of Ihe behaviour of most of thc promoters towards the Royal Lodge . 'The protests arc accompanied with requests that they bo forwarded to the Grand Secretary , with the petition . Notwithstanding this , thc Deputy Grand Alaster ( contrary to all expectations ) has granted a dispensation for the brethren to meet as a lodge . It is to be seen whether he has acted wisely or not .

The Kxpo , ition ( n ' m ' -ialo cles Beaux-Arts at Brussels will be opened on the 1 | th of August , and closed on thc lGth of October .