Obituary.

it is only now , after upwards of 20 years' labour , in the sphere of duty upon which he was then entering , that our Bro . Sir D . Gooch , at the ripe age of 74 , and in the enjoyment of the respect of all bis brethren in Masonry , has laid aside the cares of worldly office , and o-one to his eternal rest . We must add that Bro .

Gooch was exalted to the R . A . Degree in the St . George's Chapter , No . 112 , Exeter ; was a joining member and P . Z . of Mount Moriah Chapter , No . 9 ; and founder and first Z . of the Wiltshire Chapter , No . 155 ) Swindon , in 1856 , as well as of the Britannic

Chapter , No . 33 , in 1861 . In 18 75 his Royal Hi ghness the Prince of Wales appointed him Grand Superintendent of Berks and Bucks , and since then he had in his hands the presidency over both branches of Constitutional Masonry , to their undoubted benefit and the honour of our deceased brother .

BRO . H . R . C . LATIMER . Bro . Henry Ridley Cranmer Latimer died suddenl y at his residence , 23 , Marlborough-road , Bradford , on Tuesday night , the Sth inst ., from , it is believed , heart disease . Bro . Latimer transacted business as usual during the day , the afternoon of which he spent at Leeds . In the evening he was present at a supper at

the Masonic Hall in Rawson-square . While there he complained of a slight pain , and one of his friends offered to accompany him home . Bro . Latimer , however , said he could manage very well , and he accordingly started for home alone . He reached his residence shortly after eleven o ' clock , was taken suddenly ill , and

died in the course of a few minutes . Medical assistance was summoned , but without avail . Bro . Latimer was in the 65 th year of his age . He was a widower , and leaves one married daughter ( Madame ter Meer , the contralto vocalist ) . He came to Bradford upwards of 50 years ago , and in time became well known in various

circles in the town . Bro . Latimer was the Bradford agent for Henry Bentley and Co ., Limited , Brewers , of VVoodlesford , a position which he had held for 23 years . He was also for about 20 years Secretary to the Bradford Licensed Victuallers' Protection and Benevolent Society . Bro . Latimer was a Past Master of the Shakspeare

Lodge , and Past Principal of the Chapter of Sincerity . He joined the 2 nd Volunteer Battalion Prince of Wales ' s Own ( West Yorkshire Regiment ) shortly after its formation in 1859 as tne 3 rd West York Rifle Volunteers , From the position of private Bro . Latimer

rose to that of Quartermaster-Sergeant of the corps , a post which he occupied at the time of his death . In the municipal elections of 1884 Bro . Latimer , as a Conservative , unsuccessfully contested the Bolton Ward against Mr . John Rhodes , of Heaton . The funeral took place on Friday , the 1 ith inst .

Gold And Silver Wyre Drawers' Company.

GOLD AND SILVER WYRE DRAWERS ' COMPANY .

A Quarterly Court of the above Company was held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Monday , the 14 th inst ., when there were present Bros . Gabriel Lindo , Master ; VV . Hays , Alderman Evans , W . A . Higgs , and E . F . B . Fuller , Wardens ; H . W . Johnson , P . M . ; Geo .

Davenport , P . M . ; D . H . Jacobs , P . M . ; J . K . A . Knapton , P . M . ; George Kenning , P . M . ; H . F . Stewart , P . M . ; H . A . Joseph , P . M . ; H . W . H . Prance James Bishop , E . W . Streeter , Edward Turner , Thomas Clarke , Wynne E . Baxter , Clerk and Solicitor ; and others .

The minutes of the lact court and subsequent meetings were read and approved . Bro . Lindo , the Master , presented the banner of his arms and a handsome ivory and silver hammer to the Company .

Mr . Alderman and Sheriff Knill presented the banner of his arms . A poor freeman of the Company was relieved with a sum of money . The Master and Wardens entertained the members of the court with a chop dinner .

Masonic Orations.

MASONIC ORATIONS .

We are under obligations to those immediatel y interested for a new Masonic book , worthy of a place in every brother ' s home , and certainl y in every Masonic library . The title page shows it " to be " Masonic Orations by Brother L . P .. Metham , P . G . D . ( England ) 1 -D . Prov . G . M . Devon , & c , " delivered in Devon and

Cornwall from A . D . 1866 , at the dedication of Masonic "alls , consecration of lodges and chapters , installations , & c . fhe introduction , of nine pages , is by Brother William J . Hughan , and of itself is sufficient guarantee pt the merit of the book . This treats of Freemasonry

1 , 1 Devon and Cornwall from 1732 to 188 9 . The number of lodges in these two provinces is 82 , and of chapters 42 , and Brother Hughan tersely shows their growth , from St . John the Baptist Lodge , No . 39 , to Western District United Service , No . 2258 ; and from ^' •John ' sChapter , No . 70 , to St . George ' s , No . 202 = ; .

ihe book is edited b y Brother John Chapman , P . M ., 1 •Prov . G . D . Devon , author of " The Great Pyramid and Freemasonry . " The imprint is that of George Venning , 16 , Great Queen-street , W . C , London . Ihe editor ' s preface concludes with the following orris

, and they appeal to every Freemason : " I trust V > at the funds of the Royal British Female Orphan syhir ^ Stoke , on whose behalf this work is published , Wl 'l be substantially aided by its sale . "—Liberal Freentison , Boston , U . S . A ., September , 1889 .

Pearl Life Assurance Company (Limited).

PEARL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY ( LIMITED ) .

The 25 th Annual General Meeting of the Pearl Life Assurance Company ( Limited ) was held at the Company ' s Offices , London Bridge , on Friday , the 27 th September , and to judge from the report which was then presented to the shareholders , the past year has been a most successful one . No less than 388 , 313

policies , representing a new annual premium income of . £ 155 , 26 3 19 s . 3 d ., were issued , while the total income , which amounted to ^ 252 , 935 17 s . 8 Jd ., exceeded that of the previous year b y .- £ 13 , 522 12 s . gel . The premium income on the policies in force on the Company ' s books amounted to ^ 279 , 212 12 s . 5 M ., and the

Directors have every reason to believe that this will be maintained during the year now current . There were paid by the company 14 , 180 claims and grants amounting to , £ 94 , 116 5 s . 5 Jd ., raising the total sum thus paid since the establishment of the Company to ^ 673 , 305 us . The Assurance Fund , with the capital paid up , now amounts to ^ 210 , 428 5 s . 7 od ., the increase during

the past year having been £ 32 , 840 , so that under the circumstances the Directors had no hesitation in recommending the payment of a dividend of 10 per cent , in two half-yearly instalments , one of which has already been satisfied . We congratulate the Directors on the progress of the Company during the past 12 months , and trust their report may prove equally or even more satisfactory still in the future .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

" Sweet Lavender" will reach its 600 th performance on the evening of Friday , November Sth . Mr . Charles J . Fawcett is busy on a three-act play for that rising young volatile comedian , Mr . Forbes Dawson , which will be produced at a matinee during the ensuing season at Terry ' s Theatre , under the management of Bro . H . T . Bric'kwell .

By special request Bro . Edward Terry will give an extra matinee of "Sweet Lavender" on Wednesday , the 23 rd inst ., in addition to the usual Saturday ones . : ! : % * Mr . W . Duck having taken the Criterion again , during Mr . Wyndham ' s absence in America , has

arranged with the lessee , who has purchased five years ' rights of Robertson ' s plays , and wisely selected " Caste " for a revival , it being one of the most popular of that distinguished and lamented dramatist ' s works . First produced at the little Prince of Wales ' s Theatre in Tottenham Court-road , it was revived by Bro . and Mrs .

Bancroft when they had the Haymarket , and has been seen at other times , for "Caste" is an evergreen play written for all times . Notwithstanding that Bro . and Mrs . Bancroft made its name in the parts of Captain Hawtree and Polly Eccles , and though only two—Bro . David James and Mr . Brookfield—of the former

company are in the revival , the piece has caught on with the play-going public , and bi g business is the order of the ni ght . Most people have seen " Caste , " and cannot help comparing the new company to the old ones . It would be heresy to say they are as perfect as in former days , but Robertson ' s work suffers nothing

in their hands . Miss Olga Brandon distinctly made a hit as Esther , the unhappy innocent heroine , and must be very glad Mrs . Kendal cancelled her engagement to go to America . Mr . Leonard Boyne , in his quiet unobtrusive , yet manly , George D'Alroy , won the sympathies of all . Mr . Brookfield , as Sam Gerrish , is such

an accomplished actor that he could not fail to succeed . Bro . David James once again gives us a treat of his rendering of the bibulous working-man democrat , Eccles . It is a part many would be tempted to overact , but Bro . James never goes off the line . Miss Lottie Venne , Mrs . Bancroft ' s successor as Polly Eccles , was

not so satisfactory . She emphasised her words too much . We all know " Caste " so well that we are ready for the jokes and easily see them . Miss Venne pointed them out to us , and seemed to forget she had left the farcical comedy of " Betsy " for comed y pure and simple . Mr . Elwood , in Bro . Bancroft ' s part as

Hawtree , gives a rendering of his own , for which we think he is to be commended , as had he attempted to imitate Bro . Bancroft be must have failed . We suppose we shall have in due course some other of Robertson ' s comedies , but judging from the reception of " Caste " on the first ni ght and the full houses since it will be some time before the Criterion requires another change .

No amount of touching-up will ever make " The Bungalow" an acceptable play . Had it been called " i'he Bungle " it would have expressed it better , for it is a mass of conglomeration of the most stupid order , with a few double entendres interwoven . It may do for French ears and tastes , but we want nothing so

devoid of wit and wholesomeness . It contains many risky situations and words , which if taken one way are as dull as ditch water , and if in another are disgusting , without being in the least funny . We sat out "The Bungalow , " mis-called a farcical comedy , and never could get the most feeble laugh out of it . As far as p lot goes it seems to be about an artist having a studio ,

The Theatres.

and whose intended father-in-law wants to borrow it for a day to meet his future son-in-law ' s model , and that on the same day two other friends wish the loan of it as a place of assignation to bring each others' wives . No , Mr . Horner , do not waste your time adapting such French plays , and do not waste your audiences' time

witnessing such nasty stuff . Pull down " The Bungalow" at once , and on its site give us something clean ancl witty , not imbecility and suggestiveness . The three acts are well mounted , and the company engaged are first class , which contains such eminent artistes as Messrs . Charles Glenny , Yorke Stephens , and Kaye ,

who is a faithful likeness both in voice , heig ht , and acting of Mr . Lewis , of Daly ' s far-famed company ; Misses Vane Featherstone , Cissey Grahame , Cicely Richards , Sallie Turner , ancl Helen Forsyth , who received a little demonstration on her return to the stage after a lapse of 18 months . Such a cast as above are worthy of a good play to act .

* * * If all music halls were conducted as is the Royal , which we have visited for the first time , we think that it would not only meet with the approbation of Mr . McDougall , but also that of my Lord Bishop of London , who , with his brother Bishop of Bedford , stated in St . James's Hall that he is in favour of such places of entertainment . We found there an audience for the

most part of the middle and lower middle classes , all conducting themselves decently and in order , and on the stage the behaviour was the same . Mr . Abe Daniels gave a very clever imitation on his violin of various musical instruments , animals , birds , and even made the violin repeat the words of his own mouth .

Miss Finney , the lad y who dived off London Bridge , with her brother , Professor Finney , do some wonderful feats in a tank with a glass front , the most marvellous of all was remaining under water for the space of two minutes . Mr . Rowley , who seems to be a specia ' favourite at the Royal , was well worth

hearing in his clear get-up and song of the costermonger driving his donkey to the Derby . Mr . Walter Munroe , a comic singer , and Messrs . Farrell and Willmott , Hibernian artists , are all excellent in their own line of business , and if the amusement be not of the classical it is at any rate of the innocent order . We are going

to find but one fault , and that is with the song , not the dance , of the Sisters Bilton , and suggest to Bro . Carlton that it be eliminated from an otherwise thoroughl y clean programme . The song is about a lady who sighs because she cannot get a sweetheart , as

all the men have wives , and so she would fall in love with a married man . The words are not vulgar , but the morality is bad . We are aware that the Sisters Bilton sing this at other music halls , but we hope a dead set will be made , not at them—for we wish them no harm—but at their song .

* * * It is often said that the " people " like what is known as low-class music , but the result of the plebiscite at Her Majesty ' s Promenade Concerts proves quite the contrary . We found on Saturday night a large gathering of different classes of society , all of whom seemed

to be intent on the music , which consisted of " 'Twas in Trafalgar Bay , " by Braham ; " II Bacio , " b y Arditi ; " Soldier Jim , " sung by Mr . Charles Manners , whose every word could be heard clearly all over the building ; a selection from , " La Favorita , " Sullivan ' s " Distant Shore , " Bucallossi , Wagner , Auber , & c . The

management hand papers to each visitor , asking them to put down the music they would like , the result of the sixth plebiscite being—for Bizet ' s " Carmen , " 3842 ; "Zampa , " 3580 ; Mendelssohn , 3185 ; Gounod's " Faust , " 3759 ; " II Trovatore , " b y Verdi , 298 7 ;

" Tannhauser , " Wagner , 2967 ; Beethoven , 2893 ; Rossini , Meyerbeer , Weber , Haydn , and Schubert following on . Who shall say that we are not becoming a music-loving nation , for whenever good music , well rendered as it is at Her Majesty ' s , is given , it is warmly appreciated .

We call attention to the fact that Miss Wallis ( Mrs . Lancaster ) , whose husband is the proprietor of the Shaftesbury Theatre , is announced to play on Monday for two weeks at the Grand in " Ninon , " which is a drama dealing , like " The Dead Heart , " with the French Revolution . It is by Mr . W . S . Wills , and will

draw people from the West-end . Islingtonians have for the last fortnight had amusement of a very different kind provided for them by Messrs . Freeman and Gooch in the shape of Geoffrey Thome ' s " Dand y Dick Turpin , " called a burlesque , but we prefer to call it an extravaganza . The author is well known to Masons as

Bro . Townley , who so frequently delights at after banquets with ori g inal songs and his clever skit on "The village blacksmith , " which he acts without singing . " Dandy Dick Turpin " is brimful of the latest topical jokes ancl songs , and those and its somewhat boisterous fun evidently suited the Islington audience , who cheered vociferously . Seeing Miss Florence Dysart ' s name in

the bill , we decided to make a pilgrimage north , for we have always found anything with Miss Dysart in it well worth hearing . We wonder managers ever let her be out of engagement , as she is possessed of such a sweet and gentle voice . Miss Fannie Leslie ( Mrs . Gooch ) much helped Mr . Thome ' s piece with sprightly acting and dancing .

Bro . Dr . J . Kellett Smith has been unanimously elected Trustee of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution , vice Bro . Lord Stanley of Preston resigned in consequence of foreign service .