Supreme Grand Chapter.

Streng th , No . 22 S , London , to be called " Thc United Siren ? 1 ' Chapter , " and to meet at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , in the City of London . 6 th . From Comps . John Ross Gallant as Z ., William Crawford as H ., and Joseph Wright as J ., antl six . others for a chap ter to be attached to the New Concord Lodge , Kir , Si *? , London , to be called the New Concord Chapter ,

and to meet at the Rosemary Branch Tavern , Southgateroad , Islington , in the County of Aliddlesex . ? th . From Comps . Charles R . Dallas as Z ., Peter Scott as H ., and James Wilkinson as J ., and eight others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge of Industry , No . , g- Nowlucka , Lahore , Punjaub , to be called the Progress Chapter , and to meet at Lahore , Punjab .

8 th . From Comps . Christopher William Calthrop , M . D ., as Z ., Thomas Cooke as H ., and Richard Hill as J ., and seven others for a chapter to be attached to the Lodge Morning Star , No . 1439 , Palumpur , Punjab , to be called ihe Calthrop Chapter , and to meet at Palumpur , Kangva , Punjab . The prayers of these petitions being in all respects

regular , the Committee recommend that they be respectively granted . ( Signed ) J CREATON , President . Appeals against the judgment of thc Grand Superintendent of Aliddlesex , suspending the Royal Union Chapter , No . 3 82 , Uxbridge , and the three Principals thereof , for non-payment of Dues to the Provincial Grand Chapter , and for contumacy .

Consecration Of The Samson Lodge, No. 1668.

CONSECRATION OF THE SAMSON LODGE , No . 1668 .

The Samson Lodge vvas consecrated on Wednesday , 18 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Henry Aluggcridge , P . AL , P . Z ., & c , was the officer appointed by the AI . W . G . AI . to perform the ceremony of consecration on the present occasion , which he did in his well known faultless manner .

At the appointed hour the Consecrating Officer took his position in thc chair , and having appointed his assistant officers , proceeded to deliver an oration , which was listened to by the assembled brethren with profound attention . The lodge was then consecrated in the customary form , and at the conclusion of this part of the proceedings Bro . Aluggcridge vacatctl the chair in favourof Bro . A . D .

Loewenstark , P . AL , who proceeded to instal in the chair of K . S ., his son , Bro . M . D . Loewenstark , antl the latter invested the following brethren as the first officers of thc newly consecrated lotlge : —viz ., J . D . Barnet , P . AL , S . W . ; VV . H . Rudderforth , J . W . ; A . Loewenstark , I . P . M ., and Treas . ; Charles Oschc , S . D . ; Baron D . Barnett , J . D ., and Sec . ; Lever , I . G . ; antl Obcrtloicr , Tyler .

Before the closing of the louge Bro . Aluggeridgc was voted an honorary membership , and thc brethren who assisted him received the compliment of a vote of thanks , A banquet followed , at which the usual loyal and Alasonic foasts were given antl duly responded to . A novel feature on the present occasion was the presence of several ladies .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

Alost gootl men , except the Pope antl the Editor of Truth , arc Freemasons . The Prince of Wales is Grantl Master of England , antl 'tis saitl his two brothers arc this year to be Grantl Wardens . Thc Craft is prosperous ; the Craft is powerful : it is an honour to belong to the Craft : and the worltl will have it that to be a gootl Alason you

must be a good man . We need not tell our readers , so many of whom belong either to the military or naval service , that , go where they will in either hemisphere , every Alason will find a brother , one not only in name but in fact , one reatly to aid him in all his laudable undertakings , antl willing to bear his burdens and console him in the hour of his affliction . Now , some Alasons arc born with silver spoons in their mouths , marked , of course , with

armorial bearings and other Alasonic signs of material prosperity ; but , confound it ! there be wooden-ladle babies also in the Craft , antl many a poor brother has to work in the quarries , while the chief architects flourish in purple and fine linen in the innermost recesses of thc Temple . Among the fortunate there arc few whose hearts tlo not

warm to Ihe unfortunate , and even among thc easy-going there are few who do not iccognise with pride thc worth and claims of those who have provctl their zeal for the brotherhood by long antl faithful membership , recognist . il ty hi gh esteem and promotion in Masonic rank . A gootl Mil friend who had seen everything , been everything , and oonecveiything in Masonry , once remarked , " Well , I can

go no further , unless the old Earl makes me Past Deputy fovincial Grand Bantl of Music , " and evidently sighed ¦ or more Alasonic lands to conquer . " Become a Vice-1 resident of thc Boys' School , " saitl wc , and slraight way he drew a cheque for fifty guineas , an 'l entered on a new era of Masonic interest and usefulness . But we know also a brother who cannot

raw a cheque for fifty pounds , and yet has been a vcry orlh y Mason , and after paying seventy-two years' dues " the benevolent funds of his lodges , now has to seek thc -li ' volence of his brethren to aid in his election to the j 0 > 'al Alasonic Benevolent Institution in Alay . Bro . 'Ward Barnes has subscribed to one lotlge for forty-one rs i has been honr . rary secretary to it for thirty-five

In ')' , ' " 0 W the fathi ; r ( , f lllat ° - * S - Hc has subfat jl , t 0 another lotlge for thirty-one years , and is thc hon " ° " lat lc "' £ c also * " c nas k " 'l ' irty Ycars fa ( , 0 lary socretary of another Alasonic botly , and is the Scll ci . 'hat botly . Prosperous and respected as a year , aster for many years , he is now , at sixty-three dCp ? j £ e > . from failing eyesight and other troubles , ved of his means of livelihood , and with a wife and

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

three children , to support , is seeking an honourable retreat in the excellent institution we have named . His case is a very hard antl a very deserving one ; and the Editor of the Broad Arrow , knowing the worth and misfortunes of this worthy Mason , asks that those of his readers who have votes for thc Masonic Charities unpromised , will kindly forwartl them to him to be used for Bro . Richard Barnes . —Broad Arrow .

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre At Stratford.

THE SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL THEATRE AT STRATFORD .

The first stone of the Shakespeare Alemorial Theatre was laid at Stratford-on-Avon on Tucstlay , 24 th inst ., by Lord Leigh , in due Masonic form . The theatre is situated

on the margin of the Avon , within a few yards of the church where the remains cf the great poet lie . The day was observed as a holiday . There was a vcry large gathering of ladies and gentlemen , many of whom went down from London , and for these special arrangements were made by the Great Western and London and North-Western

Railway Companies . The Freemasons of the provinces of Warwickshire and Staffordshire took great interest in the event , and all the Alasonic lodges of the province , as well as the Provincial Grand Lodge , of which Lord Leigh is the Grand Alaster , were reprcscntetl . The ceremony was to have commenced at two o'clock , but it was considerably after that hour when the brethren emerged from the

Provincial Grand Lodge , and in full Alasonic clothing , headed by the 1 st division of thc Administrative Staffordshire Rifles and their band , marchetl to thc spot where the ceremony was to be performed . On arrivinsr at thc scene Bro . Lord Leigh took ut > his position behind the stone , and was surrounded by thc Provincial Grand Officers , Lieut . Colonel Machen , Canon Collis , the Earl of Yarmouth , Bros . Theodore Alartin , Tom Taylor , Professor Leo , Henry Graves ,

VV . Sawyer , Creswick , thc Mayor of Stratford , Bros . Nason , Charles Lacey , the Rev . F . AL Beaumont , the Rev . T . N . Rigby , "Bros . John Vaughan , Edmund Worrell , J . T . Collins , Provincial Grand Treas . ; George Beech , Provincial Grand Sec . ; and Charles E . Flower , the Chairman of thc Shakespeare Alemorial Association . The Provincial Grantl Chaplain , in his address , urged that refining the drama would do much , if popularised , to supersede music hall and modern objectionable

amusements . Bro . Creswick also delivered an address , in which he pointed out that provincial theatres , which formerly existed in nearly every town , affortletl the preliminary training for the metropolitan stage , antl that Ihe Alemorial Theatre might in this respect supply a want long felt . A luncheon followed in New Place Gardens , when the

Alayor of Stratford expressed regret that Prince Leopold coultl not be present , but s . iitl the time was not far distant when one Royal name at least would be associated with the project . Sir Eardley Wilmot , ALP ., proposed "The Immortal Alemory of Shakespeare , " antl urged the propriety of his memory being venerated ami honoured specially in

Warwickshire , though his words were the heritage of the world . Bro . Tom Taylor , in proposing " Success to the Alemorial , " considered the project had received its full baptism of disapproval from insignificant people , and that its detractors did not mean all they had saitl . Believing in the

potency of the drama as a means of social culture , he advocated theatres in towns having eien smaller populations than Stratiord-on-Avon . Bro . Theodore Alartin proposed " Success to thc Drama , " and advocated theatres subsidised by the State for the training of actors .

Upper Norwood Lodge Benevolent Fund.

UPPER NORWOOD LODGE BENEVOLENT FUND .

The concert given on Alonday evening last , at the Crystal Palace , in aid of the Benevolent Fund of thc Upper Norwootl Lodge , No . 1386 , was a most brilliant success , the spacious area of thc Opera Theatre being well filled by a most appreciative audience , antl the performance

throughout being of the highest class . A novel antl interesting feature was the division of the programme into two parts , classical and ballad ; and all tastes were met in the music selected . The first half , classical , comprised two movements from a round quintelt by A . Riichcr , a composer too little known in England ; and Beethoven ' s beautiful quintett for piano antl wind instruments . The

p-Tner was most excellently rendered by Bro . Dubrucq , oboe , and Charles Wells , flute ; Clinton , clarinet ; Wendland , horn ; antl Wetton , bassoon ; antl the latter not heard publicly in or near London for the last ten ycars , was splendidly played by the same artistes , excepting the flute , rc-inforcctl by Bro . Henry Gatlsby at the piano , the loud applause at the end of each movement shewing that

thc audience was fully alive to the fact that they were listening to the best music , executed in thc best style , by perhaps thc best quintctl of performers who ever co-operated . Other members in thc first part were Bro . Henry Gadsby ' s new setting of Thaw .-itha ' s sercnatle in Longfellow ' s poem , perhaps thc finest love song composed since " Adelaide , " and most exquisitely sung by Bro . Barton Ale

Guckin ; Mendelssohn ' s " Garland , " Spohr ' s " Rose , softly blooming , " and Gounod ' s " Oh ! that we two were Alaying , " tastefully rendered respectively by Bro . Stedrran , Aliss Frances Brooke , and Alatlame VVorrell-Duvall ; and Alendelsschn ' s " Hunting Song , " given with great spirit by tne South London Choral Association . The second

pait introduced Bro Geo . Perrin , who excited thc greatest enthusiasm by his singing of " Alary of Argylc" and " Come into the Garden , Alaud ; '' and Bro . George Fox , who was in splendid voice , sang "Tom Tough " in grand style . Other numbers were contributed by Bro . Barton AIcGuckin , whose beautiful voice and perfectly artistic style fairly entranced the listeners to Blumenthal ' s " Alcssage "

Upper Norwood Lodge Benevolent Fund.

and " Savourneen Deelish ; " Bro . Stedman , who gained great applause by his sin ging "Tom Bowling ; " Miss Frances Brooke who sang brilliantly Bishop's " Tell me , my heart ;" Mme . Worrell-Duval whose renderingofthequaintold song " The Oak and the Ash , " was most effective , and Mr . Alfred Wells , whose perfect finish and ethereal tone on the flute astonished the audience , in a varied piece

oflRichardson ' s . The remaining pieces were Sir Robert Stewart ' s glee , " The Bells of St Alichael ' s Tower , " which , admirably sung by the South London Choral Association , evoked the first encore of the evening , responded by Macfarren ' s " Sands of Dee , " and Bishop ' s " Chough and the Crow , " which , as sung by Alisses Brooke and Leopold , Bro . George Fox , and the South London Choral Assosiation , brought the concert to a brilliant termination . We must not

conclude without adding that Bros . Gadsby and James Coward were most efficient and hard-working accompanyists ; that Bro . August Alanns , of the Crystal Palace , lent not only his powerful name , and his energetic and practical aid in superintending the musical arrangements ;

and that the pecuniary results must be most gratifying to Bro . W . Hopekirk , W . AL of the Upper Norwood Lodge , who took the initiative in the affair , and who , seconded by Bro . Grist , as musical director , worked most earnestly in season and out of season to bring the undertaking to a successful issue .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The installation meeting of the Ravensbourne Lodge , No . 1601 , takes place on Friday , the 27 th . inst ., at the Lewisham Board of Works office , Catford Bridge , at 4 o ' clock . The brethren will dine together at the Ship and Turtle , at 7 o ' clock . A report will be given in our next .

When we adopted post-cards the Japanese promptly followed suit , and in style and price copied the English system pretty closely . But now they have gone further , and reduced the price ofa post-card to a farthing . —City Press . Sir Charles Dilke , M . P ., for Chelsea , wa ^ at the last Hireling of the Ranelagh Lodge , No . 834 , initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry , the ballot for his admission being unanimous .

A benefit will be given at the Folly Theatre , next Wetlnesday morning , in aid of the sufferers and rescuers in the late Welsh colliery accident . The whole o £ the receipts , without any deduction , will be applied to this purpose .

A vocal and instrumental concert in aid of the Infant Orphan Asylum , Wansteatl , will be given at the Lecture Hall , Woodford , on Tuesday , Alay ist , under distinguished patronage . THE ALBERT MEDAL AND THE WELSH

MINERS—The Queen has been graciously pleased to express her Alajesty ' s desire that thc Albert Aledal , hitherto only bestowed for gallantry in saving life at sea , shall be extended to similar actions on land , and that the first medals struck for this purpose shall be conferred on the heroic rescuers of the Welsh miners . The Maybury Lodge is maintaining its high

theatrical and social reputation . Air . J . L . Toole has just been admitted a member , antl Henry Neville was present at Ihe meeting on Wednesday last to qualify himself for ballot . Air . F . C . Hampton , the well-known and accomplished Secretary of thc Conservative Club , and Air . W . H . Cotton , eldest son of the late Lord Alayor , are the last initiates . —Maufair .

ANCIENT BRITON LODGE , NO . 167 , 5 . —Owing to the pressure upon our space , the report of the consecration of the above lodge ( in type ) is unavoidably deferred until our next . At a recent meeting of the United Brothers Lotlge the W . AL , Bro . Alark E . Frost , P . G . Treas . for Hampshire antl the Isle of Wight , referred to a somewhat

remaikable coincidence , viz ., the fact that the W . AI . ' s ot the whole of thc Portsmouth lodges this year are subscribing members of the United Brothers' Lodge . The several W . AI . ' s referred to are , Bros . F . Court , Phcenix , No . 257 ; Guy , Royal Sassex , No . 342 ; G . Bond , Portsmouth , No . 487 ; E . B . C . Churchill , Gosport , ; No . 203 ; Alark E . Frost , United Brothers , No . 1069 ,

and the Hon . C . Bnurke , United Service , No . 1428 . THE SCOTTISH FREEMASON . —No . r , Vol 1 , publishetl in Glasgow , Scotland , by Bro . George Kenning , is on our tabic . This new candidate for honours bids fair to be a most excellent workman . We give it a hearty welcome antl wish it a long life . —Masonic Eclectic .

The third public dinner in aid of the funds of the Royal Albeit Orphan Asylum , will be held in the Cannon-street Hotel , on Wednesday , 6 th June , at which the Alost Noble the Alarquis of Hertford will preside , supported by Bros , the Right Hon . the Lord Alayor and Sheriffs of London and Aliddlesex .

The eminent , tragedian , Bro . Creswick , will take a benefit at the Gaiety Theatre on Wednesday , 23 rd of Alay . A farewell dinner is to be given to the distinguished artist the Alonday following . The Amateur Dramatic Performance which will take place on Saturtlay next , at 2 . 30 p . m ., punctually , at the Opera Comique in aid of the Boy ' s and Girl ' s

Schools , will consist of " An Unwarrantable Intrusion , " " The Ladle ' s Battle " and "Tears . " Places still unlet may be obtained at the Box Office of the Theatre and at thc West Entl Libraries . Admission to the Gallery will be by Ticket , now obtainable at the Theatre . Mr . Walter Gosden has been appointed manager of the Inns of Court Hotel , in succession to the late Bro . Chas . Gosden .