District Grand Lodge Of Tasmania.

ter , the D . D . Grand Master , the D . G . Wardens , Treasurer , Secretary , W . Masters , and two Past Masters from each lodge ( five to form a quorum ) shall be members of the Committee , the Chairman to be annually appointed by the R . W . the D . G . Master . Bros . John Hamilton and Thomas May Evans were appointed Auditors .

The draft copy of laws and regulations for the government of the District Grand Lodge was then considered , and the clauses read seriatim , anel with a few alterations passed , and ordered to be printed and distributed amongst the members of District Grand Lodge , with a view to their confirmation at a subsequent meeting . Apologies for non-attendance were read from the

following members of D . G . Lodge : W . Bros . R . M . Johnstone , W . M . 618 ; F . C . H . Dean , J . W . 618 ; W . A . B . Jamieson , andF . H . Huston , P . M . ' s 536 . There not being any further business , the District Grand Lodge was cltsed in due form , after solemn prayer , the R . W . the District Grand Master intimating that he would hold the next annual communication at Launceston .

Grand Council Of Royal And Select Masters.

GRAND COUNCIL OF ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS .

A meeting of the Grand Masters' Council ( No . 1 ) was held at the new lodge rooms , No . 2 , Red Lion-square , on Thursday , 27 th June . Present : M . P . Bro . the Rev . G . R . Portal , M . P . G . M . ; F . Davison , Grand Treasurer ; II .

C . Levander ; S . C . Dibdin ; H . Court ; D . M . Dewar ; and HI . Comp . A . G . Goodall , 33 , of New York . Bro . the Rev . E . Y . Nepean and the Rev . P . M . Holden were received and admitted to the degrees of Most Excellent Master , Royal Master , Select Master , and Super-Excellent

Master . Several brethren having been proposcel for admission to the Order , and the other business of the Council concluded , the Council was closed in ancient form and adjourned to Tuesday , the 30 th of July , at s o ' clock .

Dramatic Notes.

DRAMATIC NOTES .

" Abstract and brief chronicles of the lime . "—Hamlet . ADEI . I ' . — "Proof , " at this theatre continues to give proof that a good sensational , emotional drama is sure to go down , especially with an Adelphi audience , who never

enquire too nicely into the construction , the diction , or the character painting , as long as there is plenty of incident , and that incident , sensational . There is some talk of a burlesque on this piece ; the title at any rate is happy" Over Proof , or our celebrated guinea case . "

AI . IIAMBBA . — " Fatinitza " is by no means a good comic opera , the book is exceedingly poor , even worse than Reece ' s last—the music , except here and there but sadly indifferent . The audience generally , however , truly not a critical one , seems to tolerate it , if not enjoy it . Albery ' s ballet

" The Golden Wreath , " at this house still bears the bay leaf . By the way , he should have consulted some " old Indian" before he selected his meaningless , crackjaw names . The main idea of "The Golden Wreath" is not original as most critics seem to imagine . It is taken from Schiller's " Diver . "

CRITERION . — "Pink Dominoes" still reigns here in its gay and festive immorality . Personally , 1 do not consider this very clever play immoral , but then perhaps I am no index , for I am not a hyprocrite . It shows up married men as they are , especially your ejuiet men of

business ; they are the men who , as Albery said to me , more than any other class of men go , in for scoring . Shows them up certainly . " Ignorance is bliss where lis folly to be wise . " Nonsense , let knowledge cost what it will , ignorance is dearer .

COURT . —Wills ' s last great success "Olivia , " continues to draw crowded houses . Chapel-goers may see " Olivia " and enjoy it , there is a real hymn in it . I don't like the play myself , but then I never go to chapel , which may account for my dislike . The fact , however , must be recorded , the piece is a great success .

FOLLY . — " Lcs Cloches de Corneville " will yet rival its Paris original in the number of productions . The music is charming , the book is rather silly . Shiel Barry's acting as the old miser is alone worth seeing , in fact he made the piece ; without him it would never have held the boards a month . GAIETY . —Closed for repairs . Open in a month .

LYCEUM . — " The Bells" and "Jingle . " In the former Mr . Irving is always worth seeing , in " Jingle " he reminds us of the elays when he played the clown in the provinces . In good comedy Mr . Irving is seen to better advantage than in tragedy or heavy drama , but I don't admire him as a buffoon .

A report of the proceedings at the Consecration of the Metropolitan Chapter , No . 1507 , unavcidably stands over . Royal Savoy Lodge , No . 1744 . —This lodge will hold its first summer festival at Lewis ' s Hotel , Maidenhead on Thursday , July 25 th , under the presidency of the W . M ., Bro . J . Willing , assisted by his Wardens , Bros . J . Douglass ( Standard Theatre ) , and F . H . Clemow (

Anderton ' s Hotel ) , and the indefatigable Secretary , Bro . Stiles . These brethren being so well known in the Craft , and the place designated affording such delightful scenery , it only wants a continuance of the presentsplendid weather to render the meeting a very pleasant one to the brethren . The Ban-Huet is fixed for 5 s . Special arrangements have been made with the Great Western Railway , who have acted with their customary liberality .

Launch Of The Lifeboat " Albert Edward " At Clacton-On-Sea.

LAUNCH OF THE LIFEBOAT " ALBERT EDWARD " AT CLACTON-ON-SEA .

( From our V oolwich Correspondent . ) As the columns of the Freemason have for some time shown , Woolwich and its vicinity take no small interest in things Masonic , particularly that poition of its divine principle that relates to charity , or why should some three hundred of its people assemble at Kiff's Pier , as they did on Wednesday morning week , anxiously awaiting the arrival

of the " Queen of the Thames , " Captain Kirby , which superb vessel had been chartered by a few of the leading Masons of Woolwich and Clacton for the especial purpose of a trip to that " Queen of the Eastern Coast , " to see the "Albert F . dward" launched by loving hands into the sea , from whose insatiable maw it is , by God ' s blessing , destined to rescue many a priceless life , and the charity comes in

here , that every farthing of the surplus proceeds will be devoted to the Masonic institutions . And so at 9 a . m . precisely on that day the gallant ship steamed away with a cargo of such youth , beauty , and quality , that no Plimsoll mark could have for one moment prevented the keen eyes of H . M . inspectors from seeing the state we were in , and piacing us all ashore at , say , Long Reach or Rainham

Ferry ; but thanks to the speed of the magnificent vessel , the Thames police were left behind , and we presume did their duty by running down in the Queen ' s name some two or three recalcitrant bargees , as is not their wont . Well , wc looked in at Gravesenil , and missed some two or three of our brethren , simply because they were not on the pier when the ship arrived , but were there when the

ship left , only on the wrong end of it , and so on to Clacton . The weather was most delightfully cool , and tempered down by the cloud masses that hid the sun , and screened us from his too aident gaze . There could be no doubt that Clacton had thoroughly made up her mind to enjoy the good the gods had sent her , for before our boat came

fully into range we could see through our binoculars a clustering mass of humanity upon the beach , awaiting , as we poor mortals thought , our arrival , but " alas for the vanity of frail humanity , " e ' er we could make the pier , we , through those excellent optical arrangements above mentioned , Faw the procession converge upon ihe shore , and the Lifeboat , manned by its " gallant , gallant crew , " drawn

down the beach by a team of horses , and placed in position for launching . Our band on board started " See the conquering hero comes , " and " God bless the Prince of Wales , " and we fervently wished it might have the effect of staying the proceedings until the arrival of us , "the distinguished visitors , " but

" Then and there was heard the thundry tread Of many thousands on the shingled shore , " And when we , after tearing like madmen through the clustering masses on the long pier , and in our progress receiving the maledictions of some unfortunate people with toes , crept as close as we possibly could , we heard our D . G . M ., in a most eloquent and appropriate speech ,

commend the gallant boat and its crew to the care of Him " whose hand alone can save when mighty tempests sweep the angry wave . " Many years ago , more , perhaps , than my readers care perhaps to acknowledge , who remember the circumstance , and when H . M . Dockyard at Woolwich was in its palmiest days , one of the mothers of the present generation , then a

blushing and lovely girl , christened a ship there , and before she threw the bottle of old port at its stem , said in clear and ringing tones , " Into the deep I commit thee , thou 'Niger , ' and long mayst thou prosper , " and so , while memory brought me back lo that event , I seemed to feel thirty years younger , as I saw through the crowd of upturned faces a lovely girl throw a bottle of wine against

the white bow of the beautiful Lifeboat , as it laid on its cradle ready for the sea . " God bless the Prince of Wales and the Lifeboat , " was the prayer of many a heart in Clacton that day , and the beautiful and eloquent address of Lord Skelmerselale was listened to by the multitude with quiet but earnest reverence , as he spoke of the great good likely to result from the establishment of a Lifeboat on

that coast , and when he had finished , from the port side arose a melody replete with devotion and praise , and down many a rough check poured the tears as the sweet strain and beautiful words broke upon the air , telling how solemn and grand was the work of that ark , that waited but the cry of distress to go forth on its mission to succour and save . Then came a prayer , listened to by all with bare

heads , and then amid the shouts of the thousands assembled , away went the beautiful boat from its carriage into the blue sea , and all was over . But Clacton , nestled like a bird upon the bosom of our genial eastern coast , rose from her nest with shout and song , and her streets were lined " with purple and fine gold , " and the voice of the people waxed great , for never

in our remembrance have we seen this eastern queen of all watering places so full of the elite as upon that occasion , and there can be no doubt that , as our D . G . M ., Lord Skelmersdale , said , " she must become e ' er long the 1 Brighton of the eastern coast , ' and while her inhabitants enjoyed the health borne to her by the breath of the sea , they would never forget that her coast was adorned with

a Lifeboat , perpetually dedicated to the G . A . O . T . U . as a thankoffering for the safe return of our beloved G . M . from his Indian expedition . " Well , then , with the inner man refreshed , and the heart thankful , the joyous com | any gathered on board the " Queen of the Thames , " and soon that ship was

ploughing her way home through the waters , now glowing ' neath the rays of the descending sun , and after a quick and enjoyable run Woolwich was reached in safety . Too much praise cannot be given to the Stewards for their courtesy and endeavours for the comfort of all ; they were Bros . Hayes , Webster , Jessup , Prycc , Haggett , Turrell , Iron , Reed , Topp , Ellis , Baker , and Watt .

Launch Of The Lifeboat " Albert Edward " At Clacton-On-Sea.

We heard afterwards that the sports in front ot Bros . Hayes , Haggett , and Penfold ' s houses , and the pyrotechnical display opposite the hotel , were all that could be desired to fill up the measure of a most unbounded and liberal day ' s enjoyment .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . F . W . THIEL . It is with very great regret that we have to record the decease of Bro . F . W . Thiel , who has for many years been connected with Canterbury , N . Z . Bro . Thiel was a prominent member of the Masonic body , having been indentified for many years with the Craft both in Australia and New Zealand ; indeed , in

Christchurch he was the father of one lodge—the Canterbury—and he lived to see the small slip of the great tree of Masonry which he had planted blossom into goodly proportions . As a Mason Bro . Thiel was energetic and zealous to a degree ; no trouble or expense was spared by him to advance the cause of the Craft . To his endeavours in no small degree the present flourishing condition

of Masonry in Canterbury is due . The Canterbury Lodge , io 48 , E . C , which now holds a high position amongst Craft lodges in N . Zealand , was established by him , and through many vicissitudes of fortune was sufely piloted by him to the haven of prosperity . Bro F . W . Thiel had the rare gift of organisation in a high degree , which stood him in good stead in the woik of re-organising and building up

the Canterbury Lodge , 111 which he held several offices , and of which he was Treasurer at the time of his decease . Beloved and respected in no ordinary degree by his Masonic brethren as well as by the outer world , ihe decease of Bro . Thiel will , we feel sure , bi widely regretted . It may be interesting to the Craft to give the Masonic biography of Bro . Thiel . He was originally initiated in a

lodge working under the Irish Constitution , and his Craft career may be biiefly traced as follows : —In Australia , member of the Australia Felix and Golden Lodges , Bendigo ; founder of the Aurora Lodge , E . C , Inglewood , in 1861 . In 1862 Bro . Thiel went to New Zealand , and threw in his lot with the Lodge of Dunedin , E . C , of which he was P . M ., and he was also a member of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , S . C .

Going to Christchurch , Brc . Thiel joined the St . Augustine Lodge , 609 , E . C , and afterwards became identified with the Canterbury Lodge , 1048 , of which he was the founder , and with which his name will long be remembered in the Masonic annals of Canterbury . The lodge , in the day of small things , met in the room over the store of Messrs Thiel , Mytton , and Co ., and Bro . Thiel ' s fidelity

to his Masonic child never wavered to the hour of his death . The lodge was founded in 1864 , and , as we have said , passed through great vicissitudes , in all of which Bro . Thie never relaxed the hope , which he saw realised , of seeing his lodge take a prominent position amongst the Craft lodges here . He was Mark Master S . C . and E . C , Master of Instruction of the Canterbury Lodge , Master and honorary

member of the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge , S . C . ( Lyttelton \ honorary member of the Somerset Lodge , E . C , Ashburton . In the Grand Lodge he was P . D . D . G . M . Passing upward into the Sublime Degree of Royal Arch , Bro . Thiel was a companion of the Golden Royal Arch Chapter , Bendigo . He was also founder in Christchurch of the Canterbury Killwinning Royal Arch Chapter 1 36

S . C , of which he was P . Z ., and Treasurer of St . Augustine Royal . Arch Chapter . He was P . G . H . for New Zraland under the Supreme Chapter of Scotland , and with Comps . A . A . Dobbs ( since deceased ) and Booth went to Nelson to open the Trafalgar Royal Arch Chapter , where his admirable rendering of the ritual was the theme of much admiration from his Masonic brethren . He was also an Ark

Mariner and Knight of East and West and Red Cross . Going still higher to the 18 , Bro . Thiel was M . W . S . of the Memphis Chapter No . 2 , Sovereign Prince Rose Croix 18 He was also a member of the Supreme Council of Nine of the 33 of the Valley of New Zealand , holding under the Grand Orient of Egypt . It will thus be seen that the deceased brother held all degrees from 1 to 33 , and in all of

them he evinced the same zeal and sincere devotion to the interests of the Craft which marked his career in the Craft degrees . At the funeral the Masonic gathering was one of the most imposing that has ever been witnessed in Canterbury , or , indeed , in New Zealand . Shortly after half-past one the brethren assembled at the Canterbury Masonic Hall ,

and , after some preliminary ceremonies , formed a procession . Some ( ioo Ma 3 ons took part in the procession , every Lodge in the district being represented . The onerous duty of marshalling the brethren was entrusted to P . M . Bro . Coleman , who had for his assistants Bros . P . M . T . Stapleton , S . P . Craig , Kerr , Walker , M . Sandstein , and Bergh , D . C . of Canterbury Lodge . Those brethren discharged

their duties most satisfactorily . The usual Church of England service , chorally rendered , was performed in the Mortuary Chapel , and at the grave , by Revs . De Berdt Hovell and W . E . Paige . At the conclusion of this the Masonic service was performed by Bro . the Rev . W . E . Paige . The choral portion of the Masonic

service was rendered by a choir led by Bro . H . F . Towle , organist St . Paul's Presbyterian Church , who presided at the harmonium . The choir comprised Bros . John Marshall , F . Hobbs , Ellisdon , Funston , Comerford , Walton , & c . At the conclusion of the service , the brethren formed round the grave , throwing in evergreens . The procession then re-formed , and returned to the Canterbury Lodge .

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has intimated her intention of accompanying the Prince on the occasion of his laying the memorial stone of the new church at St . Mary ' s , Southampton , in August next . Prince Leopold also purposes visiting the Horticultural Society ' s annual show at Southampton on the 3 rd of next month .