"Our American Contemporaries.

temporaries , " and such like articles , are desirable features in THE FREEMASON , and remind us , like the " Masonic Calendar , " that Freemasonry is cosmopolitan . I send you an account

of the Temple just erecting in Manchester , _ New Hampshire . The old structure was burnt , but the Craft in that country soon determined to repair that loss .

Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

The Monthly Meeting of the Committee of this Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , on Thursday , the 26 th inst ., Bro . J . A . Rucker in the chair .

The minutes of the last General Committee were read and confirmed , and the minutes of the last Quarterly General Court and the House Committee were read . The medical officer ' s

allowance was increased from ^ 25 ^ 40 a year , in consequence of the great increase of work . Also a notice was given to present him with a gratuity of one hundred guineas for his

great exertions during the recent heavy sickness at the school . The subject will be brought before the next Quarterly Meeting . One petition was received . A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting .

Masonic Miscellaner.

Masonic Miscellaner .

» A GRAND Masonic assembly is to be held at Aberdeen early next month , which we have no doubt will be the means of bringing the members of the various lodges together , and have a fine fraternal effect .

THE "Stockwell" Lodge , No . 1339 , will be consecrated on Thursday , the 2 nd proximo ( by Brother R . Wentworth Little , G . Sec . Middlesex ) , at the Duke of Edinburgh , Stockwell , at 5 .

WE arc glad to see that Bro . Dr . Jones , of Aspatria , Cumberland , has been presented with a purse of gold in recognition of his musical talents , and more especially for his services in connection with the church choir .

A GRAND Masonic ball , to which the public will be admitted , will be held at Pendleton Town-hall , by united Lodges of Salford , on Thursday , Feb . 2 , in aid ofthe Salford and Pendleton Royal Hospital and Dispensary Funds .

AT the forthcoming festival ofthe Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Bro . If . G . Buss , of 127 , Offord-road , Barnsbury , will represent tlie Knights of Constantine , and will bc happy to receive additions to his list .

A MEETING of the Bectivc Sanctuary of the Rile of Misraim will be held at Freemasons' Tavern , on Tuesday , the 31 st inst ., when the Levitical and other high grades of the Rite will be conferred on

brethren in attendance . In order to remove erroneous impressions , it may be as well to state lhat none of the grades worked in any wise conflict with the degrees worked under the Ancient and Accepted Rite .

WE arc informed that the following now conclaves of the Red Cross Order have been , or arc about to be , opened : — The " United States' Premier , " No . 38 , at Washington , Pennsylvania .

No . 39 , at Cleveland , Ohio . No . 40 , at Cincinnati , Ohio . No . 41 , " St . James ' s , " at Maitland , Ontario . No . 42 , "St . George's , " at Bolton , Lancashire . No . 43 , " Roman Eagle , " at Poona , East Indies

WF . have received some lines on the Roval Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , at Croydon , Surrey , written by the venerable Bro . John ' Harris , P . M . and P . Z ., an inmate of this Institution , and who is now in his Soth year . They arc published on a

4 to royal sheet , price 2 d ., and the proceeds arising from their sale will be given to the Royal Masonic Life-Boat Fund . Bro . Harris is now totally blind , but his faculties are evidently as bright , and his zeal for Masonry as unabated , as they were in his younger days .

Masonic Miscellaner.

WE understand that the majority ofthe copies of " Masonic Sketches and Reprints , " by Bro . W . James Hughan , are already subscribed for , and that in all probability there will not be a copy left when the book is ready for issue , early in February . The brethren who have had circulars sent them

respecting it should lose no time in applying direct to the author ( Truro , Cornwall ) , or disappointment will be theirs . The -first part will be a careful reprint of the " History of Freemasonry in York , " which has been exceedingly well received by the press both at home and abroad . The second part ,

which Bro . Hughan has just completed , will contain " Unpublished Records of the Craft , " and valuable appendices , copies of the Harleian MS . ( "No . 2054 ) and the Sloane MS . ( No . 3323 ) , from the British Museum , and other MSS . never before published .

Also extracts from the Records of the extinct Grand Lodge of all England , lately discovered . The work is to be dedicated to the Prov . G . M . of Cornwall , and will be sold on behalf of the Masonic Charities .

CAPITULAR Masonry is spreading in New Zealand , the Grand Chapter of England having recently warranted a new Chapter at Hokitika . Thus is Masonry taking the place of paganism and cannibalism .

IT is announced that the Crown Prmce of Denmark , who has recently been made a Mason by Charles V ., King of Sweeden , is to succeed the late M . W . Bro . Bastrup , as the Grand -Master of Danish Freemasons .

HUNGARY , where Masonry has been dormant for almost eighty years , through the prohibition of the Austrian Government , is rapidly throwing off its lethargy . The three lodges already established at Pesth , Temesvar and Osdengurg , are said to

number fifty members each . The establishment of new lodges at Prcsburg and Baja is under contemplation , and we hope to be able to announce the formation of a Grand Lodge in Hungary at no distant day .

THE Masonic fraternity in California is enjoying a prosperity unexcelled by any State in the United States , reaping bountiful harvests of blessings innumerable ; numbering its hundred and four score lodges , with a membership of nearly ten thousand ; with a magnificient temple , at once the pride of the Order and of the city in which it is located ; with

a Grand Lodge fund of twenty thousand dollars ; with private lodge funds and hiills all over the State of millions of dollars value ; with a membership of the first citizens of the State for wealth , wisdom and social and moral standing . On its trestleboard is laid out a plan for a Masonic Home for Masons in distress .

Royal Arch.

ROYAL ARCH .

On Thursday , 26 th January , a meeting of the Mount Lebanon Chapter , No . 73 , was held at the Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . Present : Comps . J . AV . Avery , M . E . Z . ; T . J . Sabine , H . ; F . Walters , P . Z ., as J . ; A . D . Loewenstark , P . Z ., Treas . ; M . E . Loewenstark , S . E . ; J . T . Moss , P . S . ; E .

Harris , 1 st A . S . ; & c . Tlie election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows : Comps . T . J . Sabine , M . E . Z . ; J . Trickett , C . E ., IT . ; M . A . Loewenstark , J . ; A . D . Loewenstark , P . Z ., re-elected Treas . ; W . Roebuck , C . E ., S . E . ; T . J . Moss , S . N . ; and E . Harris , P . S . Comps . Shalless , Stedman , and Timms were elected Auditors . It was

carried unanimously that a five-guinea P . Z . ' s jewel be presented to Comp . J . W . Avery , M . E . Z ., for his efficient services during his year of office . Comp . T . J . Sabine , M . E . Z .-clect . represents the chapter as its Steward for the Boys' School at the next festival in March . The chapter was then duly closed . No visitors were present .

Instruction.

INSTRUCTION .

The usual weekly meeting of the Confidence Lodge of Instruction , was held on Wednesday last , the 1 Sth inst ., at Bro . Fosters , Railway Tavern . Bro . C . C . Taylor on the chair . Bro . Maud , S . W . ; Bro . Fclton , J . W . and Sec ; Bro . Gottheil , S . D . and P . M . and Bro . M . Davis , I . G ., and several

other brethren . After the minutes were read and confirmed , and the third degree ably worked by the W . M ., as also , tlie 1 st and 2 nd sections of this lecture by Bro . Gotthiel , the following propositions were carried unanimously : — I ' m . C C . Taylor , elected as Treasurer ; Bro . T . V . l- ' eltnn , re-elected

as Secretary ; Gotthiel , P . M . elected Preceptor ; Bro . Eltham , ( Priory Lodge , No . 1000 ) elected joining member , it was also deemed necessary in the interest of the lodge to alter the time of meeting from seven to half-past seven o ' clock , and to close at half-past nine instead of nine o'clock as heretofore .

Masonic Ball At Liverpool.

MASONIC BALL AT LIVERPOOL .

This , one of the principal provincial balls of the season was held on Tuesday the 10 th inst ., in the Town-hall , and was attended , by between 500 and 600 . This was all the more gratifying , as the object for which this annual reunion is held is a charitable one—namely , providing funds for the education of

the orphan children of deceased brethren in West Lancashire who have been left unprovided for . We understand that upwards of forty such orphans ' are now being educated in this way in different schools in the kingdom , and the funds which are annually derived from these gatherings form a very

handsome nucleus for that purpose . Thus it will seen that those of the brethren , together with their uninitiated friends—including , of course , the Lancashire witches , who , however ardently they may desire to pry into the mysteries of Freemasonry , are unable to have their wishes gratified—have a

double motive to serve in attending the Masonic Ball—namely , that of deriving pleasure themselves and of conferring material benefit upon others . Two more powerful motives cannot operate in the minds of those who desire to enjoy the sweets of life to their fullest , and hence is to be attributed the

large attendances at the annual festivities . Next to a fancy dress gathering , nothing is so picturesque as the scene which a Masonic ball-room presentsthe elaborate costumes and costly paraphernalia of the brethren vieing in splendour with the elegant dresses of the ladies , which mav be said to include

more colours than are to be found in a rainbow . Indeed , nothing so nearly approaches a fancy dress ball as a full dress gathering of the Masonic body ; for among the number are brethren who rejoice in the dignity of " Knights Templar , " whose cloaks of many colours , with devices of every conceivable

kind , conspicious among the number being the red cross , hide completely the regulation broadcloth dress coat and give their wearers rather a romantic appearance . Then , again , the gold-edged collars and cuffs , the crimson scarfs , the white aprocs , and the adornments of other members of the craft ,

impart a very novel aspect to the ball ; while Scotch brethren , in their kilts , and military ar . d naval men , in their uniforms , add to the tout ensemble . Thus it becomes almost difficult in contrasting a fancy dress ball with that of the Craft to say where the

one ends and the other begins . The company at the Town-hall included the merest tyro in the mystic art , as well as those who had reached the ¦ thirty-second degree . Although the Tylers stationed at the bottom of the staircase had not very warlike countenances , their drawn swords were sufficient to

strike terror into the hearts of any who had come upon other than pleasurcable motives bent . The party began to assemble at half-past eight o ' clock , and continued arriving until midnight . The two ball-rooms were fully occupied by dancers up to an early hour and nothing that could contribute to the

terpsichorean delights was left unprovided . The excellent music discoursed by Bro . G . W . Phillipp ' s band appreciated by those who stood up in the dances , while the few who lounged upon the cushions and settees seemed to revel in the combination of sweet sounds , and to be bewildered by

the rapid movements of the dancers as they flitted to and fro like so many objects in a kaleidoscope . Although the two rooms were crowded , the space was so utilised as to prevent unpleasant collisions ; and this was in no small degree due to the admirable tact which that redoubtable master of his art ,

Bro . Molyneux , displayed in conducting the ceremonies . At eleven o'clock the supper-room was thrown open , and for the next two hours Bro . William Vines , of the Canton , was engaged in attending to the creature comforts of the party ,

which , with tho aid of an admirably selected and well-stocked cuisne , he was able most successfully to do . The list of dances , included four polkas , six quadrilles , four galops , four lancers , four waltzes , and two schottische .

Theatrical.

THEATRICAL .

OLYMPIC . —During the past week Mr . A . Halliday ' s " Nell , " has been performed here to crowded houses—followed by " Paul and Virginia , " which most satisfactorily finishes the evening ' s amusement . All the pieces meet with a good reception nightly and are well appreciated .

ROYALTY . —At this house has been acted " Diamond cut Diamond , " then " Dora's Device , " the progran .... roncluding with the burlesque if " Whittington Junior and his Sensation Cat , ' to numerous audiences who testify their approbation of all the pieces produced . We can recommend this theatre to all who may wish to enjoy a good

evening ' s entertainment . SADLER ' S WELLS . —It is sufficient to observe that Mr . Penninglon still appears at this house , to ensure the attendance of all those who appreciate his talents as an actor , in " Richard the Third , " " Merchant of Venice " aud " Virginius . " The concluding piece is the pantomime " Sinbad the Sailor . "