Ireland.

Ireland .

THE LORD LIEUTENANT AT HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE . On Tuesday morning , the 15 th inst ., his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant , who , with the Countess of Carnarvon and Lady Winifred Herbert , is the guest of Lady Downshire , at Hillsborough Castle , received deputations representing the tenant-farmers and inhabitants of Hillsborough and the Masonic body of County Down . The deputations

were received in the ballroom of the Castle . His Excellency was accompanied by the Countess of Carnarvon ; Lady Winifred Herbert ; Col . Caulfeild , Comptroller ; Capt . Jekyll , Private Secretary ; Capt . Ormsby Gore , A . D . C ; the Right Hon . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P . ; and Sir Thomas Bateson , Bart ., M . P . There were also present Dowager Marchioness of Downshire , Marchioness of Downshire , Lady Arthur Hill , Countess of Roden , Lady Annesley ,

De Ros , Lady Bangor , Hon . Miss Ward , Hon . Mrs . Lady Caulfeild , Hon . Lady Bateson , Mrs . Ker , Montalto ; and Mrs . Forde , Seaforde . A deputation of Freemasons , representing the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down , was introduced to his Excellency by Lord Arthur Hill , Prov . Grand Master of Down . The deputation was composed as follows : Rt . Hon . Lord Arthur Hill , M . P ., P . G . M . ; Major Thompson , D . G . M . ; Capt .

Alexander , S . G . W . ; W . T . Henry , P . G . S . W . ; S . Gordon , P . G . S . D . ; J . M . CIeland , G . L . I . ; W . J . Bains ; T . S . Howe , P . M . 66 ; W . Graham , Lisburn , P . K . 66 ; J . Ludlow , Sec . 659 ; W . J . M'Gifford , P . M . 66 , P . S . B . ; A . Morrow , P . M . 6 S 3 ; R . Philpot , 6 S 3 ; J . Vaughan , J . W . 66 ; M . Frazer , P . M . 240 ; J . A . Vaughan , Sec . 66 ; Thos . Poole , 314 ; F . Clayton , S . D . 66 ; A . Burden , 683 ; J . Jackson , I . G . 66 ; J . Naylor , 6 S 3 ; W . J . Irvine , J . W . 6 S 3 ; G . Waugh , W . M . 66 ; T . M'Kaig , 240 ; A .

M'CIelland , G . J . W . ; G . M'Clure , 109 , Banbridge ; T . A . Robinson , P . G . S . W . ; W . Johnston , P . M ., P . K . 17 S ; and J . Gibson , D . D . 6 S 3 . Lord ARTHUR HILL , who wore the insignia of Provincial Grand Master , then read the following address to his Excellency from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down : — To the Right Worshipful his Excellency the Right Hon . Henry Howard Molyneux , Earl of Carnarvon , P . C , Lord Lieut .-General and General Governor of Ireland ,

Pro Grand Master of the Freemasons of England . Right Worshipful Sir and Brother , — We , the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master , Grand Officers , Past and Present , and brethren of the Masonic Province of Down , wish to extend to you a truly fraternal greeting upon this your first visit to our province . As the representative of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen , we desire to assure you of our devoted

attachment to her Majesty , and to convey to you that we , like all good and true Masons , will ever be found arrayed upon the side of law and order . We rejoice to see the position in which our brethren on the other side of the Channel have placed you , showing as it does the estimation in which you are held by them . Allow us to add the prayer that the Supreme Architect of the Universe may long spare you to be an active member

to adorn the Brotherhood , and that from His Sovereign hand you and Lady Carnarvon may receive the double blessing of long life and happiness . We remain , on behalf of the Provincial Grand Masonic Lodge of Down , yours fraternally , ARTHUR HILL , P . G . M . LESLIE J . THOMSON , D . G . M . W . T . HENRY , Sec . pro tern .

Hillsborough , 15 th September , 1 SS 5 . His EXCELLENCY , m reply , said -. Lord Arthur Hill and brethren—I see before me an assemblage very Masonic in some respects , but yet I fear wanting in some other elements which I consider necessary to Masonry . In the first place , I am not myself attired in the proper garb to receive such a deputation as this—an omission , however , which is not my fault , the emblems which it is my privilege to wear as a

member of the Brotherhood having been left in England ; and , in the next place , we are honoured to-day by the presence of a good many ladies in this room , and highly as we prize their society in all other matters , of a Masonic meeting they really do not form a part . ( Laughter . ) However , though from a strictl y Masonic point of view your deputation is a somewhat informal one , it is none the less welcome to me . I am delighted to meet my Masonic brethren

in all parts of the country , and wherever I may go . I have listened to the address which Lord Arthur Hill has been good enough to read with feelings of the most lively pleasure and interest . You assure me in that address of your loyalty to the person and throne of her Gracious Majesty the Queen , and I am satisfied that those feelings of loyalty animate you , as , indeed , they seem to animate every class in this country with whom I have yet been brought into

contact . The assurance of the loyalty of Masons , indeed , is almost unnecessary when it is remembered that the head of the Order in England is his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . ( Applause . ) You also assure me of your devotion to the cause of law and order . That sentimentthough again I did not need to be assured of it in so many words—I rejoice to hear , because law and order and reverence for the Constitution lie at the bottom of all Masonry .

( Applause . ) By the favour of our illustrious Grand Master in England , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , I hold the high and honourable office to which you allude , which office has brought me into connection largely with Masonic matters in England . I can only say this , that the Masonic body is a strong one there , and that we consider the great landmarks of the Order—the fundamental principles by which we live and act—are Charity and kindness

and the relief of those who are in distress —( applause)—and these I know to be the principles taught by Masonry all the world over . We have , I am happy to think , done much in England in this respect . Year by year large sums have been subscribed for the purposes of Charity ; and Institutions for the relief of the suffering , the destitute , the old , the young , have been founded and maintained from me funds of the Order . These are objects in which men 0

' all classes and creeds may unite in promoting ; and I hope and believe that in Ireland , as in England , these are the great objects and principles which you will always keep steadil y in view . ( Applause . ) Gentlemen , 1 thank you yery much for your attendance here to-day . The address I have heard read is a very welcome one , and it gives me g ^ at pleasure to make my first personal acquaintance with my brother Masons of this country .

Ireland.

The officers and members of the provincial Grand Lodge were then each presented to his Excellency by Lord Arthur Hill , after which the deputation retired . The weather from early morning up till an advanced hour in the afternoon was simply wretched , heavy rain falling incessantly , and the Viceregal party were prevented from leaving the Castle . It had been announced that his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant , accompanied by the

Countess of Carnarvon and Lady Herbert , would drive from Hillsborough to Lisburn , in order to visit the Thompson Memorial Home for Incurables , but in consequence of the terrible weather their Excellencies were reluctantly compelled to abandon the visit . This naturally caused much disappointment , not only in the town in which the Viceregal party were eagerly awaited , and the principal streets of which had been gaily decorated with flags in

honour of the expected visit , but also at the Home itself . At the latter , notwithstanding the inclement weather , a large company had assembled to receive their Excellencies , including Rev . Canon Pounden and H . J . M'Cance , J . P ., Trustees ; R . H . Bland , J . P ., Deputy Chairman ; J . N . Richardson , Dr . S . Musgrave , J . P . ; M . J . Smyth , H . M'Call , E . J . Bristow , T . Montgomery , J . P . ; Rev . S . Moore , J . Richardson , H . Darbishire , Rev . G .

Chamber-Iaine , Major M'Clintock , J . P . ; J . Pirn , Rev . J . L . Bigger , J . Barr , R . Morrow , R . G . Dunville , J . P . ; H . H . M'Neill , LP ., D . L ., R . Bland , ] . P ., G . H . Clarke , Rev . J . CSmythe , J . Preston , G . W . Ferguson , Dr . J . W . T . Smith , J . M'Cance Blizzard , S . Bruce , W . R . Bruce , members of the General Committee ; Mrs . Pim , Mrs . J . Richardson , Mrs . T . Richardson , Mrs . W . Ewing , Miss Corken , Miss Bruce , Miss Pounden , Miss M'Cance , lady members of the Board

of Management ; Rev . Messrs . Powell and Brownrigg , Mr . E . Blackwood Wright , Mrs . Corker , Miss Corker , Mrs . Smythe , Mrs . P . Goodbody , the Misses Richardson , Misses M'Cance , Mrs . and Miss Johnston Smyth , Mrs . J . D . Barbour , Miss Fennell , Bray ; Miss M . J . M'Call , Mrs . St . George , Mrs . Major , and others .

Their Excellencies visit was expected to take place at three o ' clock , but about half an hour after that time an orderly rode up with the following letter from the Lord Lieutenant addressed to Canon Pounden : " Hillsborough , 15 th September . " My dear Sir , —

" I had arranged with Lord Arthur Hill to take advantage of your invitation to pay a visit to the Thompson Memorial Home , of which I had heard so much , and which I was very anxious'to see . But the weather is such that I very reluctantly give up the visit at the last moment . It is a disappointment to me , and I can only hope that the

change of plan will not give inconvenience to those who expected me . —Believe me , yours faithfully , " CARNARVON . " Rev . Canon POUNDEN announced the receipt of the letter to those assembled , and-wrote a reply to his Excellency ' s note , which he forwarded by the mounted messenger .

South Africa.

South Africa .

KIMBERLEY . —Corner Stone ( Mark ) Lodge ( No . 217 ) . —The installation meetingof this lodge was held at the Giddy Masonic Hall , on Friday , the 21 st ult ., there being a full attendance , and the ceremony being ably and effectively performed by Bro . R . M . Roberts , P . M ., assisted by the retiring W . M ., Bro . T . J . Ball . The following is a

list of the officers for the present year , namely : Bros . G . Richard , W . M . ; Charles Aburrow , S . W . ; T . H . Burt , J . W . ; Shepperd , M . O . ; J . S . Stuart , S . O . ; J . Pain , J . O . ; F . E . Pistorius , P . M ., Treas . ; J . D . Norden , P . M ., Sec ; C . Rolfe , S . D . ; F . Wig , I . G . ; and C . Shaw , Tyler .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JAMES SMYTH . We regret to record the death of Bro . James Smyth , who had lately resigned the leadership of the Royal Artillery Band at Woolwich , at his residence in Forest Hill , on the 3 rd inst ., after a few days' illness , in the 6 Sth year of his age . He was initiated at Malta upwards of thirty years ago . He was a member of the Florence Nightingale Lodge , No 706 , then 100 S , when its members formed a Mark lodge under the Scotch Constitution , which lodge

fell into desuetude for some years , but was revived in 1 SS 0 , as No . 44 , under the Grand Mark Lodge of England , with Bro . Smyth as its first W . M . Our late brother was also W . M . of the Excelsior Mark Lodge , No . 226 . Served as Grand Mark Steward in 1 SS 0 . He was a member of the Ubique Craft Lodge , and of the Allied Degrees . Our lamented brother was also a member of the iS ° . He has left a widow to deplore his decease , but no children .

BRO . HUMPHREY HORSPOOL . The mortal remains of the late Bro . Humphrey Horspool were interred in Wallasey Churchyard on I ' riday , the iSth inst . The deceased was the youngest P . M . of the Temple Lodge , No . 1094 , Liverpool , and was much esteemed in Masonic circles , as well as by all who knew him in business . The chief mourners were Mr . H . Horspool ( son ) ,

Mise Annie Horspool ( daughter ) , Mr . T . Horspool ( brother ) , Mrs . Evans ( sister ) , and Mr . j . Garrett ( father-inlaw ) . There also followed Mrs . Balfard , Mr . T . Cockrill , Mr . J . B . Entwistle , and Mr . R . Wolf . Among the Masonic brethren present to testify their esteem were Bros . Dr . R . H . D . Johnson , P . M . 1094 ; R . R . Martin , P . M . 10945 Thomas Marsh , P . M . 1094 ; R . Washington , P . M . 1094 ; Wm . Healing , P . M . 1094 ; J . Alexander ,

P . M . 1094 ; R . C . Yelland , P . M . 1094 ; H . B . Jones , P . M . 1094 ; Evan J . Callow , I . P . M . 1094 ; R . Bethell , W . M . 1094 ; j F . E . Boustead , J . W . 1094 ; M . Alexander , S . D . 1094 ; G . Alexander , I . G . 1094 ; M . Yeoman , Sutherland , Bell , Edward Sefton , Chater , and other brethren of 1094 ; T . Rice , 1030 ; F . A . Rainbow , Sec . 1393 ; S . Fraser , Sec . 1264 ; W . Jones , S . D . 1264 ; and others . The funeral service was conducted by the Rev . Mr . Wiseman .

BRO . W . CRANE . On Friday , the iSth inst ., the mortal remains of Bro . W . Crane , P . M ., 1094 , Liverpool , were interred in Smithdownroad Cemetery , in the presence of a large gathering of friends and brethren . Amongst the latter were Bros . W .

Obituary.

Jones , P . M . 220 and 1299 ; J . Whalley , P . M . 249 ; W . H . Veevers , P . M . 594 ; Craig , 673 ; Sharpies , S . W . 724 ; Armstrong , 724 ; Tempest Fozzard , P . M . 1035 ; Ravenscroft , 1264 ; F . B . Bramham , P . M . ; J . F . Booth , I . G . ; T . S . Ramsey , J . Fletcher , Smallwood , 1299 ; W . Gilbert , Ladyman , P . M . 1 547 ; and others . It is a remark able circumstance that Bro . Horspool—referred to aboveand Bro . Crane were the first and last Past Masters of the Temple Lodge , No . 1094 .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The next novelty at the Comedy will be a comic opera by Messrs . Paulton and jakobowski , called " Erminie . " Miss Florence St . John will play the title role . Bro . Henry Bracey , the excellent tenor , will be one of the company .

* * To-night ( Saturday ) witnesses the long looked for play , " Dark Days , " dramatised by Mr . Comyns Carr , from the late Hugh Conway ' s book of the the same name . Miss Lingard , Mr . Barrymore , Bro . Pateman , Miss Lydia Foote , and Mr . Beerbohm Tree are the chief performers . The scenery has been painted by Messrs . Telbin , Perkins , and Johnstone .

The hitherto unfortunate Novelty Theatre is rendered still more so by the production of " The Japs , " the work of Mr . Henry Paulton and Mr . Tedde . From beginning to end it does the authors not the slightest credit . Should this burlesque be worked out of the mire it is in at present , it will not owe any thanks to its writers , but to the three principals , Bro . Lionel Brough and Mr . and Mrs .

Edouin . But we fear even all their talent will not make it successful . There is no plot , but in extravaganza one might overlook that , ; but the dialogue is weak , insipid , and stupid ; it begins no where , leads to the same place , and is entirely incoherent . Had Messrs . Paulton and Tedde combined to put together a piece devoid of interest , with not a particle of humour in it , then we must say they have scored a success . We noticed , owing to the long waits between the acts , many

people left before the last act began . We wish we had done the same , for then we should have been spared sitting out one of the dullest of the many performances we have seen , the last act being even worse than the first . If the dialogue of " The Japs " could be written up to its beautiful stage mounting and commensurate with the cast , then would it be successful . We can give nothing but praise to the scenery , dresses , music , and the principal artistes

who play in it , but the principals have no tools to work with . We felt it a thousand pities that Bro . Lionel Brough should be engaged in such poor stuff as "The Japs . " His catch phrase , "I'll have it stuffed , " even fell flat . On Miss Alice Atherton falls the burden of the burlesque , who makes her chief success in a ditty composed specially for her by Bro . Meyer Lutz , P . M . Asaph Lodge , which is arranged to admit the

characterisation of Irish , German , nigger , and other nationalities . 1 his pretty song was well encored , and we hope to hear it again in some other play . Miss Atherton also undertook to pourtray the various types of " masher , " and a lady in a ball room . These were only appreciated because clever . Mr . Edouin ( her husband ) did his best to shine ; but how could he when so handicapped ? He raised a laugh when Bro . Brough dropped a dish , and remarked that in England it

would be more prized when cracked ; he replied—representing a Japanese 'Arry—what a prize then he would be . He also performed the feat of lighting a cigar at the end of the red nose of a soldier , and his grotesque facial expressions caused laughter . Miss Harriet Vernon , a young lady whose name is quite new to us , plays the part of the lover very nicely—she has a commanding presence , and acts wiih perfect ease ; she probably will be heard of again . "The Japs " has a sub-name— " The Doomed Daimio "—

very appropriate , for we should say it was doomed from Saturday last . It was played for a week each at Bristol and Brighton , and we heard from the former place with success . This only shows once more that the provinces cannot speak for London . When , at the close of the performance , Bro . Brough came forward and announced that the authors were not in the house , he was told "we don't want them . " The sooner the management reinstate " The Babes , " which we think had not lost any of its popularity , the better for every one . # # #

Bro . Alexander Henderson has not long kept in retirement , for , although he has sub-let his own theatrethe Comedy—he has once more opened the Avenue with an old and favourite comic opera , which , we are glad to say , has been received with every sign of success . We hear that he has an opera called " Indiana , " by M . Andran , in preparation ; but at present it cannot be wanted . M .

Chassaigm's " Falka " is now holding the boards with all its old eclat ; but with two exceptions a new cast . We understand that there are at this time two companies playing " Falka " in the provinces . Of the many pretty and tuneful operas Mr . H . B . Farnie has given us in England , this is one of the greatest in favour . The choruses have been well rehearsed , the dresses are as pretty , and the stage management as perfect as before . Miss Violet Cameron ,

whom we all welcome back to her old haunts , repeats an impersonation she has made her own , and we do not think after seeing her we should like another Falka . Her solos and duets are encored , and responded to as much as ever , and she plays as vivaciously as she did in i 8 S 3 , when the opera was produced . Miss Lillie Wadman , as Edwige , we think , has improved even in the rendering of her part ; her voice seems more powerful , and she herself more at case .

From first to last she elicits applause , which is well earned . Mr . Lytton Grey , the successor of Mr . Kelleher , as Arthur , is very good , though not so droll as the original . Mr . Sam Wilkinson must be forgiven if he copies the voice and mannerisms of Bro . Penley , who previously played the lay brother , Peleian , the door-keeper of the convent

school ; he could not improve upon the character . The Tancred of Mr . Lonnin is very droll , but perhaps a little forced ; when more familiar with the part ; he will play it better . Bro . Dallas , as Folbach , is very funny , but he always is on any stage and in any part , his topical allusions produce much applause . Mr . Hayden Coffin , who was first