The Craft Abroad.

Our same correspondent has also favoured us with the following remarks on the Canadian . Craftsman : — " Nothing can well be in stronger contrast than the feelings by which our South Australian brethren appear to have been actuated throughout these proceedings and the miserahly-peity spirit which seems to influence the Canadian Craftsman . The former have shown throughout the truest respect and reverence not only for the parent

Grand Lodges to which they owe their existence as Masonic bodies , but likewise for those grand principles by which all Masons should be influenc-d towards each other . The latter seems never to be so happy as when indulging in some wretched snarl at the parent Grand Lodge of the "whole world and its proceedings . What , for instance , can possibly be in worse taste than the following editorial remarks from the Craftsman for last month : —

" lhe Grand Lodge of Victoria is becoming most bitterly opposed by a certain class of Masons , who , like the members ot St . Paul , St . Lawrence , and St . George , of Montreal , fancy there can be no Masonry unless it exists under the authority of either the Grand Lodge of England , Ireland , or Scotland , and the result is ' spleen , ' ' intrigue , ' and ' venom ' against our younger sister . The rival organisations of the above-named countries in Victoria

have even gone so far as to sink their differences and , in order to overwhelm the Grand Lodge of Victoria , have had the millionaire and newly-fledged Master Mason , Sir VV . L . Clarke , appointed Provincial , or District , Grand Master ( as the case may be ) of the three Constitutions , and in order to make his 'inauguration' a success , free railway passes and free tickets to the banquet , and free tickets to the hall , were scattered hroadcast . This is all very wull , but it is

not Masonry , and will not help those who thusseek to injure the Grand Lodge of their own country . " Be it remembered that this so-called Grand Lodge of Victoria is opposed by an overwhelming majority of the lodges warranted in that country by the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland respectively . If your Canadian contemporary will kindly turn to Bro . Addison ' s speech at the preliminary meeting for the formation of a South Australian Grand Lod ^ e he will find at page 9 of the

proceedings the following passage : "It would be most prejudicial to the interests of Freemasonry in this province , if a minority , such as obtained in the other colonies "—that is , in Victoria and New South Wales— " were to say— ' We are the Grand Lodge of South Australia . ' It would bring Masonry in South Australia into disrepute throughout the world . The reason why would be , that the minority would be usurping that authority and honour which should belong to the great majority . "

Antiquarian Notes.

ANTIQUARIAN NOTES .

BY BRO . ROB . MORRIS , PAST G . M . KENTUCKY . There are no passages in the very interesting correspondence with which your columns are enriched that interest me so much as those which embrace the early history of Masonry . The jurisprudence and ritualisms of the Order in your country are so different from ours , that 1 lose

taste for their study , and feel that we shall never agree upon that field . But the origin of Freemasonry , its introduction into England , and the manner in which it was moulded into shape , are themes of which I never weary . As far back , as 1 S 54 I published , at large expense , a fac simile copy of Anderson ' s Constitutions , even going to the cost of cutting antique type upon the pattern of 1721 . I

translated ( very poorly , I am sure ) , and published in 1 S 53 , the "Articles of Athelstane , " and very apocryphal , I am afraid , they are . At my cost Dr . Mackey transl ted the celebrated Cologne paper , which I published in 1856 , and these were the first copies of those three works ever circulated here . I mention these things as evidences of the interest I have

long taken in Masonic antiquities . Many of your readers are aware that I visited the Orient upon this search in 1 S 6 S , sent Bro . John Sheville there in 1 S 73 , and Bro . H . R . Coleman upon two successive expeditions to Syria and Egypt . While I live I shall never cease to follow your correspondents in their course , slow , laborious , often discouraging as it is , towards the head-springs of Masonic his ' ory .

In our Congregational Library at Washington City , D . C , there is a complete file of a London daily paper—the Public Advertiser—commercing about 1695 . Those who have turned the pages of any journal of the last century can bear witness how little real news they contain , and it is a

task to go through , as I did , a century of them . Yet , among the advertised events , I gleaned sufficient hints of a Masonic character to make up a column or two of readable matter . From 1 G 95 to 175 6 I found absolutely nothing , though I ran my finger down every column ; but under date of January 1 st , 1756 , my eye caught this : "BY ORDER OF THE GRAND PRESIDENT .

"The brethren of the Right Worthy and Amicable Order of A NTIGALLIC MASONS are desired to attend the lodge to-morrow , the 2 nd inst ., at Brother Hopping ' s , The Fox , in Castlc-st ., Southviark , at G o ' clock in the evening , in order to elect a Grand President , and on other specific affairs . " A day later the following paragraph appears :

"TRUE BRITONS . " The brethren of the Grand Lodge of this Honourable Order , held at the White Tavern , Without Bishopgate , are desired to meet at their lodge this day , being the 2 nd of January , at 6 o ' clock in the evening , in order from thence to attend the Grand Master and his officers to constitute a lodge at Brother Cooley's , the Red Lion and

Phaniix-st ., Spitalfields . By order of the Grand Master . " During the same week "the brethren of the'Laudable and Honourable Association of Loyal Britains" are notified of an approaching meeting ; and "the brethren of the Most Antient and Honourable Order of Cneltiberians " are summoned . " By order of the Grand . " To all these notices initials are signed . The terms "Grand" and

" Past Grand , " borrowed now a days by the Oddfellows , appear thus early . But the earliest Masonic notice has date March 6 , 1754 . It is a summons to the Craft "to attend the corpse of Brother John Newland , late Senior Warden , of No . 14 , it being his desire . " Bro . Hughan can tell us whether" No . 14 " is yet an active lodge and where . The title " Ancient and Honourable Brotherhood of Loyal Georges " appears at this time , also the well-worn expression " without fee or reward . "

Antiquarian Notes.

In April of the same year a theatrical notice catches the eye : "To THE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS . "The brethren who intend to favour Brother Lander with their company at his benefit on Thursday , the Sth inst . ( that is , April 8 , 1756 ) , at the New Theatre , in the Hay Market , are desired to meet at Brother Bankins , in Bear-street , Leicester Fields , at 4 o ' clock that afternoon .

Boxes 5 s . ; Pit 3 s . ; Gallery 23 . A Freemason ' s song to be sung by Brother Lander . " During the same year I see an official notice from Grand Secretary Revis , which is worth reading : " All former and present Grand Officers , as also the Masters of all regular lodges of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons who have contributed to the General Charity of the said Society within

twelve months of the date hereof , are desired to meet in a Committee for the disposal of the said Charity , at the Anchor and Baptist Head , in Chancery-lane , to-morrow evening at 7 o'clock ; whereof all persons concerned are desired to take notice . By the Grand Master ' s command . J . REVIS , Secretary . " But now I find a droll advertisement , to which the attention of all your antiquated correspondents is invited . I confess myself " considerably stumped , " as my old friend

Davy Crocket would have said . " To the brethren of the Most Antient and Honourable , Free and Accepted Antient York Masons , such as are concerned in E . G ., commonly called R . A ., at Bro . Sargent ' s , the Prime of Wales Plead , in Cople-street , near Well Close-square , this day at six in the evening , to accommodate P . L . R . S . as yi'ur forefathers were . By the order of P . I ' . Z . L . J . A ., President . J . COLEMAN , Secretary . "

I should like to see all that unravelled . Had I sent it to my friend , Dr . George Oliver , 25 years since , doubtless he would have taken out the wrinkles . Does R . A . signify " Royal Arch ? " Here is another notice of the same class : " This is to acquaint all brethren of the Most Honourable , Free and Accepted Masons concerned in A . G . ( note , it was ' E . G . ' in the other , perhaps the error is typographical ) ,

commonly called R . A ., that your company is desired to meet at Bro . Watson ' s , The Feathers , in St . Alban-street , next Friday , at the hour of five , to accommodate P . L . R . S . as ycur forefathers were . By the order of P . T . H . J . L . L ., President . J . COLEMAN , Secretary . " Here is an announcement , genuinely Masonic : " To the brethren of the Most Antient , Honourable , Free and Accepted Masons . Your company is desired to

attend the corpse of Bro . Anson , of No . 30 . To meet at the house of Bro . Watson , at The Feathers , in St . Albanstreet , near Pall Mall , in proper clothing , to-morrow the 22 nd inst . ( that is , January 22 nd , 1756 ) to attend the corpse to the burial ground . " Besides the pseudo-Masonic societies already named I find advertisements such as these , " lhe Nobility , Clergy , and Gentlemen disposed to meet the Honourable Society of

Antient Britons : " " BELGRADKS . Your FATHER will broach a fresh tun on Friday next and desires your attendance on special affairs . S . P ., Inspector . " " The brethren of the Antient and Honourable Order of Gregorians belonging to the Rummer Chapter . " "SoL-iMON . In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found . But the rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding . The brethren of the Antient .

Original , Free and Accepted Sols , are desired to attend the Grand Master and Committee . " In a review of the earlier numbers of the Public Advertiser I was more fortunate than at first , and was gratified to see this advertisement of lhe Antient Constitutions under date March 13 th , 1730 : " Just published . —Dedicated to the Right Honorable the Lord Kingston , "THE ANTIENT CONSTITUTIONS OF FREEMASONS .

Containing the rise , progress , patronage and interest of the science of Masonry , with the solemn Charges and Orders ; also the usual Songs all curiously engraved on copper , to which is added a speech delivered at the Grand Lodge in York ; and a speech delivered to a lodge in London , setting forth the utility and excellency of the Craft , with Instructions for the improvement of the Society in general ; likewise the prologue and eoilogue spoken by

a Mason and a Mason's wife at the Theatre in Drury Lane . Printed for and sold by B . Creake , at the Red Bible , in Ave Mary Lane , in Ludgate-street , and at his house at the Bible , in Jermyn-stieet , St . James ' s , & c . Price three shillings bound . " It is assuming too much for an American to remark in an English journal that this year—1730—on the 15 th September , the first Grand Master , Anthony Sayer ( elected

1716 ) , was sternly reprimanded before Grand Lodge , and came nigh being expelled from the Order , on account of his liberality to those portions of the Craft not in harmony with his own Grand Lodge , then composed probably of members of " the Grand Lodge of All England " so-called , established at York in 1725 . A secession also occurred in London this very year—1730—and , as Bro . Hughan has shown , before the close of the eighteenth century there

were four Grand Lodges in active operation in your " right little , tight little , island . " Lord Kingston , to whom the volume above-named was dedicated , was Grand Master in 172 S , and was succeeded the next year by the Duke of Norfolk—1729-30 . John Revis , whose name appears in one of the advertisements , was Grand Secretary , 1734 to 175 6

—some 23 years . After my hasty notes above I am reminded , somewhat tardily , that I have my good Bro . Hughan ' s " Memoirs " as No . 101 cf my Masonic collections . Looking at page n I see no reference to the edition of 1730 . How is that ? Is there no copy extant ? He names no edition between 1723 and 173 S .

Licut .-Colonel and Sheriff Cowan presided at a public meeting held at Barnes on Thursday evening to protest against a proposed scheme of the Richmond authorities to establish sewage works in Barnes , and bring thereto the sewage of four other parishes . The Sheriff ,

who was heartily received , pointed out that there were features peculiar to Barnes which made it an unfit place for the deposit of its own sewage , and that is was only divided by the Thames from the densely populated district of Hammersmith . A resolution indicating the objections to the scheme , and pledging to opposition , was unanimously carried , also a vote of thanks to the chairman .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

We have the best authority for mentioning that Bro . Alfred Bishop will go to the Novelty Theatre on its reopening with a new comic opera next month , in which Miss Lillian Russell will be the principal lady artiste . * * * For the present Mr . Hollingshcad contents himself with dishing up a former Gaiety burlesque— " Camaralzaman ; 'by Mr . Burnandin which the old

-, company Mr . Elton , Bro . Royce , Miss Karren . and Miss Gilchristdistinguish themselves . But we are promised a succession ?< ^ n j ' " rlesql , e dramas , the next being a parody on Called Back , a burlesque , by Messrs . Paulton and Burnand , on " Ivenilworth , " and " Robinson Crusoe , " so that the "sacred lamp" is not going to be extinguished in its own home , as has been rumoured ; nor will the company be disbanded . We believe Bro . Edward Terry will rejoin at Christmas .

* * 8 Miss Mary Anderson has re-opened the Lyceum ; and the same amount of success is with her as in her last season , despite what one or two even of the highest critics have said about her formalism . In " Pygmalion and Galatea , " opinions may differ as to her acting , but the character , we think , requires some formalism , but in "Comedy and Tragedy" she displays marvellous talents as

an actress . quite apart from her beauty and classical features . " Clarice" is a character which onl y few could play with any amount of success . We can imagine Sarah Bernhardt or Modjeska doing it justice , but we cannot call to mind many English ladies who would make their repu ; ation in it . Her delivery of the fine speech of the strolling player in" Comedy and Tragedy , " is a thing to be remembered . As Galatea she is thought by some to be soulless and without heart , but when

we remember that the character is that of a lovely marble statue , which by the aid of the gods receives life , it does not seem so extraordinary to represent it as Miss Anderson does , different from a human being brought into the world by birth . There is no denying the fact that Miss Anderson has been and is the hit of the theatrical season of 1 S 8 4 . Mr . Terriss now plays Mr . Barnes' part of Pygmalion , and it goes without saying that he does full justice to it . Miss M yra Holme—who by the way has not

been seen on the stage since her marriage with Mr . Pinero , and whom we welcome back—is the "Cynisca , " and displays no little ability in her rendering . Mr . Kembleis very droll as " Chrysos , " as is also Miss Sophie Larkin as " Daphne , " but we have not attempted to pit the present cast against the former one . Suffice it to say that for highl y intellectual and amusing plays the Lyceum presents a full programme . Mr . Abud has charge of the management of the front of the house , and in his hands everything is done that can be done .

* * After the lamented death of the late Charles Readc it was pointed out how several of the most important legal reforms of the day had been hastened by the influence of his dramas . When deep-rooted evils should be exposed , when wrongs require righting , when public feeling is to be roused , no medium is more powerful than the stage . At the present moment there is a call for the reform of the

Lunacy Laws . Several recent cases have demonstrated the mischief attending a system which leaves it possible for an individual to be imprisoned as insane at the desire of an interested party , and upon most unconcluaive evidence ; but until the people can cleaily understand the injustice which is too frequently perpetrated in the name of the law , so that they snail rise in a bod y and clamour for a reform , they must have their emotions excited b y a case brought clearly

before them . Such a case they will find in "The World , " the drama now being played at Drury Lane Theatre . The incident of Sir Clement Huntingford ' s incarceration in a private lunatic asylum is founded on fact ; and any one acquainted with the question will testify that such cases continually occur . An audience following with attention the fortunes ot the hero cannot fail to be moved with indignation when they see him the victim of a vile conspiracy

, especially when they know that his misfortune may be next day the experience of any individual amongst them . By reviving ' ; lhe World , " Bro . Augustus Harris hopes to keep public attent on directed to this blot upon our legal escutcheon , until , at the bidding of the public voice , our lawmakers erase it forever . " The World " was originally produced at Drury Lane on July 31 st , 1 SS 0 . It was the lirst of that class of spectacular melodramas which have

since become popular at several theatres . At the time it was a distinct departure . It ran 120 nights , oniy being withdrawn on the production of the Christmas pantomime , " Mother Goose . " After the pantomime it was revived on March 14 th , 1 S 81 , for a limited number of nights , as Bro . Harris had previously arranged with Mr . John McCullough , the distinguished American tragedianfor a season of

, legitimate drama , " commencing on April 25 th . On the present occasion Bro . Harris has reproduced all the great spectacular effects which formerly evoked such enthusiasm , and the piece has been mounted with the most elaborate care . The best artists have bestowed their thought and labour upon scenery , costumes , and accessories , and a company of popular favourites are engaged for the representation .

No one would be heartless enough to laugh at those sad vicissitudes of fortune which compel brethren once of , good standing In the Craft to seek , either for themselves or their children , the benefits of our Charitable Institutions . But one may be forgiven for smili ng at the manner in which the woes of others are occasionally described . Thus we have heard of a brother in whose behalf , or rather in behalf ot whose widow or child , it was pleaded that

" within a few months softening of the brain set in , and the complete destruction of his valuable furniture necessitated his removal to an asylum . " In another case we heard of a brother who was initiated in a certain lod ; e and certain day , and having remained a contributing member for twenty years , " in consequence of reduced circumstances he withdrew , a widower dependent on his children and the benevolence of friends , having dislocated one of his shoulders and the failure of his eyesight . "