Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

1 lie costly and massive furniture and appointments manufactured by Bro . George Kenning for the new Masonic Hall , Sydney , New South Wales , are now on view at his show rooms , i , 2 , 3 , 4 , Little Britain , 195 , 196 , and 197 , Aldersgate-street , City .

Tin-: GRAND TREASURER . —Brethren wishing to unite with a Committee appointed to present a testimonial to V . W . Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , Grand 'Treasurer , may ascertain particulars on application to the Hon . Secretary at Sa , Red Lion-square , Holborn , W . C .

Bro . Charles Belton will be installed Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Honour and Generosity on Tuesday evening at the Inns of Court Hotel . Bro . John Greenfield will be installed as W . M . of the Sir Hugh Myddelton Lodge this ( Friday ) evening at the Cock Tavern , Highbury .-

Bro . the Duke of Portland has again invited the Honourable Artillery Company to go down to VVelbeck about the end of July for the annual drill " outing . " The ramp will be pitched at the end of the extensive park , and it is expected that a ball will be given at the Abbey during the visit of the regiment , of which his Grace is Honorary Colonel .

The M . K . Comp . Horace Brooks Marshall , C . C ., & c , Grand Treasurer , was installed First Principal in the Royal Hanover Chapter , No . 1777 ( Province of Middlesex ) , which was consecrated on the iGth inst ., at the Albany Hotel , Twickenham , by Sir Francis Burdett , Bart ., the Grand Superintendent . A report is in type , and will appear next week .

The following dinners , \ -c ., havebcen held at the Freemasons' 'Tavern during the present week : —Monday—Grand Masters Lodge and British Lodge . Tuesday—Royal Caledonian Asylum . Wednesday—Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ( Annual Festival ) . Thursday—St . George's Chapter , Mount Moriah Lodge , Bedford Chapter , and University of London Lodge . Friday—Jerusalem Lodge . Saturday—Army Pay Department and 79 ' th Cameron Highlanders .

Bro . P . H . Emanuel was on the idth inst . presented with a dozen silver table spoons by the Chief Constable on behalf of the whole of the members of the Portsmouth police force on the occasion of his marriage . A large number of the force were present to witness the ceremony , and to wish Bro . Emanuel ( who has interested himself very considerably in all movements in the interests . of the police at Portsmouth ) and the lady of his choice a long , happy , and prosperous union .

'GRAIIH . VM MI ' . MORIAI . FUNMJ . —An effort is being made to raise a fund for the benefit of the widow of our late Bro . E . II . Grabham , who has been left totally unprovided for . A committee has been formed , of which Uro . Wm . " Bywater , P . M . 19 , has kindly consented to act as Treas ., and we trust a substantial sum will be raised . Bro . Grabham devoted a considerable portion of his time and his

constant energies in the promotion of Freemasonry in all its branches . He was a I . itcGovernorof all the Charities , and had served the respective Stewardships on many occasions . He was an ardent advocate of deserving candidates , and spared no efforts to secure their success . He also constituted Mrs . Grabham , on whose behalf this appeal is made , a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution .

At the regular meeting of the Granite Lodge , So . 202 S , Narborough , on Thursday , the Sth inst ., there was a good attendance . The batch of ten members initiated at the first meeting aftcr consecration were raised by the W . M . and his officers . Though onl y consecrated on the 14 th ol February last there arc already 27 members , of which onlv

three havebeen joining brethren . Meld on Thursday , thc halfholiday of Leicester , and with a good train service , there is no reason wh y many should not join it from thence . Like his superior ( Bro . Dr . Magee , the Bishop of Peterborough , ) the Rector of this village in his officcof W . M . thoroughly believes in the Craft , and has as his officers and supporters in the lodge those who are most active in every good work in the parish .

Bro . 'MacCalla , editor of the Keystone , has published , in convenient pamphlet form , a sketch of the early history of St . John ' s Lodge , Philadelphia , now generally regarded as the earliest Masonic lodge in America . 'The history from the beginning of the organization , 1731 to 1738 , is included in the published sketch . As already noticed in the Repository , Bro . MacCalla has

recently brought to light an original hook of Masonic record , which furnishes important evidence as to the establishment of Masonry in Philadel phia . The book thus fortunately discovered contains the minutes of St . John's Lodge for the years above named , and a-list of the members , with much information that is suggestive and valuable . 'The author has our thanks for a copy of this interesting sketch . —Freemasons' Repository .

Ihe Canada newspaper in commenting on the stand Prof . Gregg and Archbishop Lynch have taken toward secret societies , says : " It is questionable , however , if the game is worth the candle in answering the idiosyncrasies of either of these individuals from the standpoint of Masonry ; but it may not be out of place to clinch the falsehoods by quoting a paragraph from the last Allocution

of the Great Prior of Canada , Col . McLeod Moore , of St . John ' s , Quebec , delivered at Ottawa , in July last . In alluding to efforts made b y some American enthusiasts to introduce' , Unitarianism , Univcrsalism , and other ' isms ' into the Order of Knights Templar , Col . Moore said : ' I revere the Order of the 'Temple as taught in the British

Dominions , not because it represents the once famous , religious , and military confraternity o ! that name in the middle ages , but because it holds up to the view of its members the crucifixion , death , resurrection , and ascension of Jesus , the Lord and King of Glory , the Prince of Peace , teaching the Divinity of Christ , and Trinitarianism of the God-head . ' The Unholy Alliance will have to look about for some other sensation . "—Toronto Mail .

Masonic And General Tidings

The York Lodge of Mark Master Masons was consecrated at Cambridge on the 14 th inst . We shall give a report in our next . A new chapter in connection with the Anerley Lodge , which meets at the Thicket Hotel , Anerley , is to be consecrated on Thursday , the 5 th prox . Bro . C . S . Graham will be installed on Saturday W . M . of the Ewell Lodge , No . 410 , at the Sun Hotel ,

Kingston . Bro . the Rev . Dr . P . H . Ernest Brette has been appointed Examiner to the University of New Zealand , where all examinations are conducted by means of papers only . It is stated by a theatrical paper that Mr . Irving's profits from his tour in the United States amounted to some £ 15 , 000 ' , while Miss Terry ' s are estimated at about , ( , " Sooo

A court-martial was held at Dover last week on two privates in the York and Lancaster Regiment , who were sentenced to two years' imprisonment for cowardice on the battlefield .

Bro . Horace Jones , G . Supt . of Works , City Architect , and ex-President of the Royal Institute of British Architects , conducted a party of 70 members of the Institute over the Guildhall Abbey a few days ago . At the Ro 3 al Alfred Lodge , No . 777 , held at Guildford , Bro . Charles Belton installed his successor , Bro . Collier , as VV . M . For the first time in the annals of the lodge , a private meeting was held , at which it was resolved to present Bro . Belton with a P . M . 's jewel .

The Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., wc think has made a strong plea for the Masonic status of Sir Christopher Wren , in the Freemason . Our views coincide entirel y with his own . We take pleasure in reproducing his article in another column . —Keystone .

The ceremony of installation will be rehearsed b y Bro . VV . H . Richardson , P . M . 134 S , Preceptor , at the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction , No . 1 G 14 , at the Cranbourne , Upper St . Martin ' s-larie , W . C , on Thursday evening next , the 29 th inst ., at eight o'clock .

According to the Montreal Daily Star members of the Freemason lodges connected with the Grand Lodge of England arc the only ones connected with secret societies who ace exempted , when being sworn into the police force , from taking the oath that he is not a member of a secret society . We hear , says the Malta Standard , that General

Mattci is in possession of a silk colour of the Senglea Regiment of Militia , which existed during the Government of the Knights . We venture to express a hope that the example set by Dr . Graham Weir may be followed by those persons who may chance to have relics of bygone times in their possession . —Broad Arrow . Bro . Cuthbcrt E . Peek , who our readers will remember was married to the Hon . Augusta , eldest daughter of Viscount Midleton , on the 3 rd of January last , has

sustained a severe bereavement by the somewhat unexpected death of his mother , Lady Margaret M ., wife of Sir Henry W . Peck , M . P ., which took place at Wimbledon House on the 2 nd inst . Lady Peek , whose onl y child was Bro . Cuthbert Peek , was closely associated with her husband in his philanthropic works . Her ladyship's remains have been interred at Rousdon , Sir Henry Peck ' s new scat in Devonshire .

The gift from the Dutch people to Bro . Sir Moses Montefiorc will consist of an album containing some 3000 signatures , together with a suitable address . The inscriptions have been most artistically executed by one of the principal functionaries at the office of the State archives , and the handsome binding of the album is the work of the Court bookbinder . The request of the

committee that the testimonial might be handed to Bro . Sir Moses Montefiorc by the Dutch Minister in London was promptl y acceded to by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in a ' cordial and sympathetic letter . At the regular communication of Montgomery Lodge , F . and A . M ., of Milford , Mass ., Thursday evening , April 10 th , there were present delegations from several

different lodges on a friendly visitation . About sixty came by special train from Excelsior Lodge , of Franklin ; thirty from John Warren Lodge , of Hopkinton , and others from different places , ten different lodges being represented by over a hundred visitors . Among the other Interesting events was one worthy of special mention . On the 30 th of November , 182- ; , there were made in Montgomery Lodge two

Masons , Nathan Burr , now of North Star Lodge , of Richmond , Vt ., and James H . King , now of John Warren Lodge , of Hopkinton . These hyp met this evening for the first time since that night , fifty-qfie years ago , one of them being now eighty-three , the other eighty-four years old . District Deputy Wiggin , who was present , appropriately referred to this rare fact in remarks made by him . After

the regular work in the Third Degree , one hundred and seventy-five brethren assembled in the banquet hall , and partook of a collation . —Keystone . A presentation has been made to Bro . James Curtis , P . P . G . S . B . Sussex , of Brighton , who has occupied the position of Corresponding Secretary of the Brighton District of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows for over

five and twenty years , by his colleagues of tne Directorate of the Unity , on which he has served by annual election for twenty-one years , and trom which he has been compelled to sever himself by reason of his accepting the office of editor of the magazine of the Order . The presentation took the form of a very elegant tea and coffee service , on the principal piece of which the following inscription is

engraved : " Presented to P . G . M . Jas . Curtis , of Brighton , on his retirement ( to become editor of the magazine of the Order ) from the Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows , aftcr twenty-one years' service , by the Officers of the Order , the Board of Directors , the 'Trustees , the late editor of the magazine , and other friends

as a token of their esteem and appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the Institution . May 8 th , 18 S 4 . " The testimonial was handed over at the private residence at Liverpool of an old friend and colleague , who generously invited the whole of the Board of Directors ( then sitting at Manchester to transact the business of the usual quarterly meeting ) to a sumptuous banquet ,

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

l 1- —;—ir - ~ -- ^ aj- , l"T-r ^ " 1 VAJ— - ' ¦ Bro . J . L . Toole ' has taken off "A Mint of Money , " and again brought out an old favourite , " Upper Crust , " in conjunction with " Paw Clawdian . " The latter burlesque is likely to run so long as its original is played at the Princesses , or until Bro . „ TooIe g ° in the country for his annual tour .

* s # " Called Back " was produced on Tuesday at the Prince ' s with a most efficient cast , including Miss Lingard , Mr . Kyrle Bellew , Mr . Beerbohm Tree , and Mr . Anson . We haye not had an opportunity of judging of its merits ; but we know its appearance has been looked forward to with some amount of interest .

Bro . Charles Warner has been out of the bills of " In the Ranks " for some little time , having had to rest himself on account of his voice leaving him . His place has been very efficiently filled by Mr . Herbert . We hrpe to see Bro . Warner back ere long . " In the Ranks " still draws big audiences to the Adelphi , and must have proved highly remunerative to all concerned in it .

* * . * Mr . Wyndham has also changed his programme at the Criterion , as he told his audience on _ his return from America he would do . " Fourteen Days " is the laughable comedy he has again put on his stage , and no doubt will be received as it was two years ago . In " Fourteen Days , " Mr . Wyndham , Mr . Blakeley , and Mr . Giddcns are seen at their best , and wc strongly recommend our readers to pay it a visit .

. m * Several changes have been made this week in the theatrical programmes . Amongst them " The Private Secretary " has been transferred to the Globe from the Prince's . This play , though not very well received at first ,

has been doing well of late ; but had to be taken off the Prince ' s stage to make way for the new comedy " Called Back . " Mr . Beerbohm Tree ' s comical character—the sickly and sentimental curate—is now played by Mr . Penley , and some other alterations have been made in the cast .

* * Owing to the ill-health of Bro . Edward Terry and Miss Farren , the Gaiety is closed , as Mr . Hollingshead does not approve of putting " understudies " on for chief carts . In the meanwhile , until the opening of the French

play season by Madame Judic and Miss Sarah Bernhardt , the theatre will be re-decorated and cleaned , which it sadly wants . The Gaiety has not been closed since its opening in 1 SG 8 , and for a long time has looked shabby and dirty . When re-opened its patrons will renew their acquaintance with increased vigour .

* # a This ( Friday ) night "La Mascotte" will bn brought on the stage of the Comedy , with Miss Florence St . John in the title rflle again . The cast also includes Mons . Gaillard , who . was one of the ' original company . VVe

shall miss Bro . Henry Braccy . Probably the pretty music , the " Glou Glou " song , the dances and dresses will serve to keep it running for a short summer season . At this late time of the theatrical year wc cannot expect new operas to be brought out , and frequently the old ones are very pleasant to seen again . #

» Of all the old plays which wc are sure at all times will receive a hearty welcome none will meet with a more cordial reception than "Our Boys , " not only on account of its own merits , but every one will remember its author , Bro . Byron , whom wc have just lately laid to his rest . " Our Boys , which was played with unparcllcled success longer

than anything before or after it , is to be brought out at the Strand on Whit Monday , with Mr . David James in hjs original character . Miss Fortescuc will appear in it . Already wc can picture the crowds besieging the doors for weeks to come . " Our Boys " is a play one never seems to tire of ; though we know the jokes , they always seem fresh and move us to mirth .

• * » In " Nitouchc , " Lotta , the celebrated American character actress , has got a part which suits her " down to the ground . " It is adapted from the French , and contains none of the vulgarities—though this is a mild term—which are in the original . Her cleverness has never been better displayed , and it is only owing to her cleverness and the help

of Mr . Patcman and Mr . Wyatt that the piece has been so well received . They have fallen back on themselves , knowing there is not much in the piece to applaud . It is onl y a pity that Lotta has not a better scope for her abilities ; but she may now b y her own fascination win the affections of the English public , who have not been over ready to accept her in the way they do in her native country . Ifi herself

she is a good entertainment . Her dancing , which is quaint and grotesque , appeals the most to one , and wc go as far as to say that " Nitouchc " without Lotta would be unbearable , with her ; n it is impossible not to be amused . Mr . Pateman , as the Major , has never to our mind acted better or

with more earnestness . A man who could be such a revolting Ouilp that made one ' s back creep , and be so lively as the Major in " Nitouchc , " much have a deal of genuine tact and talent in him . Mr . Wyatt dances in his own wild style , and webelieve has omitted now a certain scene which ought never to have been introduced . -

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