Provincial Grand Lodge Of Durham.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DURHAM .

The Provincial Grand Loelge of Freemasons in the county of Durham was held at thc city of Durham . The business of the lodge was transacteel in the lodge room , under the presidency of the right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . John Fawcett , J . P . ) , and there' was an

unusually large attendance . After the transaction of the routine business , the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master offered his hearty congratulations to the brethren present on the prosperous condition of Freemasonry in the province , as indicated by tbe reports of the respective W . Ms . cf independent lodges . He was particularly pleased to hear that in several instances

there had been no single case of blackballing" during the year . ( Hear , hear . ) He attached very great importance to that , because it showed that Freemasonry was being properly understood . It showed that no person was proposed fcr initiation without due inquiry , and it also showed an absence of personal animosity . The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master took the opportunity

of deprecating , which he did very sirongly , the action taken by the Grand Orient of France in expunging from their constitution the essential belief in a Diety ; and he expressed the profound pleasure with which he hailed the bold stand made by the Grand Lodge of England on this subject , and enjoined on the various Masters of lodges in the province , particularly in seaports , thc duty of carrying

out and observing the edict of the Grand Lodge , that none be admitted into the Craft from French lodges who had been made since this change had been effected , unless he fully avowed his belief in this cardinal doctrine , and recognised its importance .

The remaiks of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master were received with every mark of approbation . The Provincial Officers for the ensuing year were then invested . They are as follows : — Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart . ... Prov . D . G . M . Alderman Thomas Robinson , Mayor

of Newcastle Prov . G . S . W . Dent Prov . G . J . W . Bev . J . M . Shepherd Prov . G . Chap . Metcalf Watson Pun . G . Reg . Rev . Canon Cunelill Prov . G . Treas . W . H . Crookes Prov . G . Sec . Fred Maddison ... ... ... Preiv . G . S . D . W . J . Watson I ' rov . G . J . D .

Robert Hudson ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . George Greenwell ... ... ... prov . G . A . D . C . John Tilman Prov . G . S . of W . Johnston ... ... ... ... Prov . G . Swel . B . Muller Prov . G . Org . W . J . Turnbull Prov . G . Purs . E . Sutherst , F . W . Poe , W . H . Emerson , J . E . Lazenby , J . B .

Hall Prov . G . Stewarels . John Smith Prov . G . Tyler . The brethren , about 250 in number , afterwards assembled at a sumptuous banquet held at the Town Hall . We ought to add that the Provincial Grand Loilge , at its meeting decieled , amiel universal acclamation , to

fix a tablet in the Cathedral ( with thc perm ission of the dean and chapter ) in commemoration of thc lengthened period r . f service rendereel by Bro . John Fawcett , in his capacity as Grand Master of ( he province , he being the olelcst Provincial Granel Master in the kingdom . It is to be placed beneath the memorial window which was put in some time ago by the Masons of the Durham Province .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

The monthly meeting of the Lidge of Beneveilence was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall . The three chairs were filled by Bro . John Clabon , President ; Bro , Joshua Nunn , Senior Vicc-Piesieicnt ; anel Bro . James Brett , Junior Vice-President . The other brethren who attended ¦ were Bros . Henry Garrod , C . A . Cottebrune , Griffiths Smith ,

W . Stephens , S . Rawson , J . M . Case , John Constable , L , Alexaneler , W . H . Honey , C . F . Hogard , John White , J , Wright , Daviei Roberts , Treasurer , 754 , P . G . S . B ., Herts ; F . Binckes , W . Jones , P . M . 862 ; G . H . Rawley , D . J . Robinson , W . M . 186 ; W . Mann , P . M . 186 -, W . Stuart , Robert . E . H . Halford , G . P . Britten , John Davis , J . Nicholson , A . J . Manning , R . A . Steel , Charles K . Killick ,

J . Newtin , W . C . Comer , and H . Massey ( Freemason ) . Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , Bro . II . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . W . Dodd , ancl Bro . C . B . Payne , Grand Tyler , also attended . The brethren first confirmed grants to the amount 0 ' £ 155 made at last meeting of the lodge , and afterwards considered thc new cases . Of these there were eighteen

on the list . Three were dtferreel for evidence that thc brethren had paid two years to their lodges . The fifteen remaining cases were relieved with a total sum of £ 319 , which was composed of one £ 30 ( £ _ o ) , three £ 40 ( £ 120 ) , two £ 30 ( £ 60 ) , two ^ 20 ( £ 40 ) , lour £ 10 ( £ 40 ) , one £ 5 , and two £ z ( £ 4 ) . Lodge was then closed .

Reviews.

Reviews .

THE ROSICRUCIAN . Edited by Bro . W . R . WOODMAN , M . D ., and Bro . 11 . C . LnvANiir . n , M . A . 198 , Fleet-street . Thff eelitorship of this quarterly and very interesting High-Grade magazine has changcel hanels , in that our

esteemed and able Brei . Levander has succeeded in the jennt editorship to eiur lamented Bro . 15 . W . Little . The number for April is a very good one . All the aitielisare worth reading , especially " A Templar Precepteiry , " ( based on Kcnrick's interesting little work , to which we have often alluded ) , and Bro . Kenneth Mackenzie ' s article on the

Reviews.

Swedenborgian Rite , which , however , has nothing properly to do with Swedenborg . We do not profess to agree with Bro . B . H . Burrows , in respect of " Hiram the Builder . " Bro . Burrows repeats Mackey ' s mistake , that Hiram was not an architect ; in which he is , like the great doctor quite in error . See the Bible . The history of Hiram , like to the central figure and legend , no doubt , of all early

mysteties , is a very interesting subject of discussion , but we see no reason to doubt , especially remembering the significant silence of the Bible , that our own history has in it no a piiori objection to its truth . The Magazine contains a good likeneis and memoir of our lamented Bro . R . W . Little , whose services to Masonry and Masonic literature cannot be overrated .

OUR RED COATS AND BLUE JACKETS . By HENRY STEWART . B , John Hogg , Paternoster Row . This is a very interesting work , which will repay perusal , and will gratify many of our younger readers . The deeds of our gallant Red Coats and Blue Jackets are always very pleasant reading , and we can find nothing

better for " stalwart youth , " than those acts of heroism , which have immortalised our two great services . The book begins with the wars of the French Revolution , "" takes us . through our great sea and land wars , through Indian wars and Indian mutinies , through China , the Crimea , and ends with Abysinnia and the Ashantee

war . Such a varied history is , like thc kaleidoscope , full o f ever changing views anil startling aspects , but in all British pluck and British heroism by land and sea predominate , and come H-onderous ' y to tbe fore . To those who have studied more elaborate works , ( for them the book is not intended ) , of ceiurse , the details of the battles appear

somewhat slight—and especially at Waterloo ; those of us who have rcaei Hooper ' s book will remember much that is necessarily omitted . Indecel , the account of Waterloo can only be a sketch . Still the work is most interesting in itself , especially for the young , and we predicate for it much populari-. y anel a remunerative sale .

TEACHER'S ASSISTANT . Eyre and" | Spottiswoodc , Printers to the Queen . This very useful appendix to the Sunday school teacher and the Bible , as put forth by the Queen's Primers , deserves perusal anel patronage . It c * eals , and though succinctly , deals successfully with the poetry , music , ethnology , plants , animals , money and weights , chronology , & c , ef the

Bible , and it will bc most useful as it is needful to Sunelay school teachers . Much of our Sunelay school teaching is fragmentary , unsatisfactory , ai-d incomplete , owing to want nf informaiion , and we recommend Sunday school teachers to study , not skim over , this little and unpretending , but valuable work . It is quite clear that you cannot teach if you are not taught yourself , and from all evils , defend us from unlettered and untutored instruction .

Out Sunday schools might do more than they do , if all our teachers receiveel certificates of competency , as with the best intentions in the world , they often fail in absolute knowledge of the subject , as well as power of teaching . Let them , however , stuely this little help , and they will be able to give their classes a gooel eleal of valuable information . The study of the Bible is the strength of our Sunday school system .

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . Yokohama , 1878 . This is an aelelress delivered to the Grand Lodge of Burmah , June 24 th , 18 7 8 , by D . G . M . Bro . C . H . Dallas . It is well worth reading . Without travelling over old ground , or repeating an oft told tale , wc commend the outspoken words of the D . G . M . to the attention and study of our many readers .

Dramatic Notes.

DRAMATIC NOTES .

OLYMPIC . —That sooner orlater Bro . Neville would re vive poor John Oxenford ' s adaptation of " Les Deux Orphelines" was taken for granted by those who remembereel how highly successful the piece proved when produced at this theatre some few years ago , and the only wonder was that its revival hael been delayed so long , considering the

many favourable opportunities that have presentee ! themselves during the last two seasons , thanks to the unfortunate failures the house has seen . There can be no two opinions as to " The Two Orphans " being a clever sensational piece , and exactly suited to , the traditions of the Olympic , and the ctowdeel houses that nightly testify their approval is the criticism no doubt Bro . Neville appreciates

most . Under these circumstances we need only congratulate him upon the efficiency of the cast he has obtained for its due representation . We are glad to see him in his old part of Pierre , the faint-hearted cripple , for it requires all his art to enlist one ' s sympathies in a character , to say the least , far from heroic , and almost contemptible . Of the original cast , we have , besides Mr . Vollaire , Mr . Rignold ,

Mrs . Huntley , and Miss Ernstone , who have lost none of their force , especially Mr . Rignold , who , perhaps , a little exaggerates the bully . Cf the new impersonations we cannot speak too highly of Miss Helen Barry ' s " Countess , " which shews only too clearly the advantage of having an accomplished artiste in a small part ; and of the others , Miss Marion Terry anel Mr . K . H . Macklin merit praise for

their careful acting and finished style . HOVA LTV . —Miss Kate Santley has resumed the management of this bright ami pretty little house . Somehow it seems " The Royalty " is never in good hands except Miss Kate Santley's . The programme , one of the best in Lonelon , consists uf three pieces , namely , " Kerry , " an excellent one act drama , but in this present instance ntit well cast , excepting , of course , thc " Kerry" of Mr .

Dramatic Notes.

Groves ; his personation of the old Irish servant is an ad mirable performance ; "A Happy Pair , " one of the brightest , wittiest , little comediettas ever written , in which Miss Santley plays " Mrs . Honeyton , " and plays it so well too that I am surprised she does not essay some more ambitious character part , and " La Jolie Perfumeuse , " a capital piece of nonsense set to excellent music by Offenbach .

Notes On Art, &C.

NOTES ON ART , & c .

The monthly return of the number cf paupers in England ( minus about 3 per cent , for lunatic paupers in asylums , & c , not included ) shows that at the end of August the southern part of the kingdom , including London , had 59 61 fewer paupers than at the corresponding period of last year ; while the northern part of the kingdom ( with

Wales ) showed an increase of 15 , 091 paupers . But an examination of the return shows also that the south , with a population of 9 , 959 , 215 at the last census had 316 , 284 paupers at the end of August 1878 , or 3 - 17 per cent , of the population ; while the north , with 12 , 747 , 087 population , had only 339 , 852 paupers , or 2 * 66 percent , olthe population .

A telegram has been received at Bremen , by the Geographical Society , from M . A . Sibirakcff , announcing that the Lena , steamer , of the Swedish North-East passage Expeeiition , haei reached the mouth of the Lena , ascendeel that river 180 ( German ) miles , and arrived at Jakatsk in safety on the 22 nd of September . The Dutch schooner "Willem Barents has

returned from her Arctic expedition . No one of those who sailed in her has suffered in health except Dr . Sluiter , naturalist . Gravestones have been placed on the spots where celebrated Dutch explorers are believed to have perished , anel scientific experiments have been made . Accounts ot" these and charts of thc voyage will shortly be published .

A Brighton gentleman , who wrote recently to Mr . Gladstone on the subject of spiritualism has received the following reply : — " London , Ort . 16— . 1 do not share or approve the temper of simple- , contempt with which so many view the phenomena . It is a question , in the first instance , of evidence ; it then follows to explain , as far as we can , such facts as may have been established . My own

immediate duties prevent my active intervention ; and I remain , in what may bc called contented reserve , without any fear lhat imposture will rule or that truth can be mischievous . —Yours faithfully , W . E . Gladstone . Mr . J . T . Markley , Horsham , Sussex . " Some remarks on the subject of Op ium-smoking are recorded by Dr . Ayres , Colonial Surgeon at Hong

Kong , in his last report to the Department . According to the opinion and experience of this officer , it is a misapprehension to attribute to the smoking of opium , as a rule , thc fearful and ghastly results with which it is usually credited . When offenders are cemmitted to goal their

allowance of opium is frequently stopped altogether , but no evil results ensue , lt would appear that opium-eating has been confused with opium-smoking , and that many who practise the latter arc the subjects of scrofulous diseases in their worst forms and most advanced stages . —Lancet .

Four more minor planets have been discovered lately within a fortnight : —No . 18 9 on September 18 , by Professor Peters , at the Observatory of Hamilton College , Clinton , New York ; No . 190 , by Professor Watson , at Ann Arbor Michigan ; No . 191 , on September 30 , and No . 192 , on October 2 , both again by Peters , who for some years past has been the most successful planet-hunter , his last

discovery raising the number of his unanticipated discoveries to 32 . This last planet is announced to be of the ninth magnitude , and is on that account noteworthy , since such a bright planet has not been among the newly-found ones for some years . The planet No . 188 , discovered by Peters on June 26 , has received the name Mcnippe . —Academy Mr . Edward A . Bond has now entered on the discharge of the duties of Principal Librarian and Secretary

of the British Museum , under his appointmentby the Queen , Mr . Winter Jones having retired from the office on Saturday last after a service of upwards of 41 years . There is every probability that Mr . E . M . Thompson , the present Assistant-Keeper of the Manuscripts , will succeed Mr . Bond in the keepership of the department . Mr . T . Nichols has been appointed private secretary to the Principal Librarian .

The Papal Archaeological Academy will shortly resume its sittings . It has been closed for some time in consequence of political circumstances , but Leo XIII . has now granted permission for its resumption under the direction of Cardinal di Pietro . Besides the study of classical antiquities , to which the Academy formerly confined itself , it is now to turn its attention chiefly to the

middle ages . Meetings are to be held in the house of Cardinal di Pietro until a fitting locale is found for the society . —Academy In digging the foundations for a new shaft at the rear of premises in the occupation of Messrs . Morgan and Co ., in Long-acre , last week , some workmen came upon a chest containing a large number of gold and

silver coins of the reign of Henry VIII . in a high state of preservation . Be sides a quantity of miscellaneous articles , the box contained about 20 pieces of church plate and ornaments . Among these were a massive chalice , a ciborium , and a monstrance , all set with precious stones ; a

finely-carved crozier head , a lapis lazuli crucifix , a pectoral cross anel chain attached , some small vessels , and what appears to have been the mitie of an abbot or a bishop . At the foot of the chalice a cross with a nimbus is engraved , and in a scroll the Latin inscription " Ail majorem Deli crloriam . "