The Brook Smith Memorial Window.

Funeral March . As the notes of the organ died away , the Directors of Ceremonies , Bros . Felton and Forth , and the Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , Bros . R . V . Vassar-Smith , Baron de Ferrieres , J . B . Winterbotham , T . Nelson Foster , W . H . Gwinnett , and W . Renwick , preceding the Prov . Grand Master , moved in procsssion from the north porch ( which had been fitted as an attiring room )

to the upper part of the centre aisle , commanding an unobstructed view of the transepts . Simultaneously the memorial window was unveiled , and Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , addressing the rector ( Canon Bell ) , said : This window has been erected by the subscriptions of the Freemasons of the Province of Gloucestershire , to the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe ,

and in fraternal and affectionate memory of our late Deputy Provincial Grand Master , Bro . John Brook Smith . In the name of the Freemasons of this province , I offer to you , as rector of Cheltenham , this window for the use and adornment of the old parish church of that town of which our deceased brother was so long one of the most prominent and respected residents .

In reply , Canon BELL said : I have very much pleasure in accepting this window for the use and adornment of the venerable parish church in which we are met . It is a beautiful window , and not only an adornment , but a monument to future generations of the liberality of your Order , and a memento of one of your Brotherhood who was so greatly esteemed and loved .

The presentation having thus been made , the service , an abbreviated form of evensong , began , Bro . the Rev . P . Hattersley Smith intoning prayers . The special and appropriate lessons were II . Chronicles , ii ., verses i to 16 , and I . Corinthians , Hi ., verses 9 to 17 , and were read by Bro . the Rev . Chris . V . Childe ( Vicar of Christ Church ) and the Rector . Psalms cxvi . and cxxxiii . were chanted ,

the first to a setting by Cooke , and the second to a setting by the Prov . Grand Organist , by whom aiso the special sentences had been adapted . The versicles and responses were sung to Tallis . For the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis , Tours' service in F was used , the solo parts being perfectly sung by the Cathedral quartett—Master Palmer , and Messrs . Cooke , Evans , and Woodward . After

the collect , Spohr ' s exquisite anthem , " Blest are the departed , " was finely rendered by the Cathedral members , supported by a semi-chorus . The prayer for the Royal Family was followed by a special Masonic prayer , which was thus expressed" O most gracious Lord God , Architect and Ruler of the Universe , we acknowledge that we are unworthy to offer unto- Thee anything belonging to us . Yet we beseech

Thee of Thy great goodness , graciously to accept the dedication of the gift now presented to the service of Thy sanctuary , and to receive these our prayers which we offer to Thy divine Majesty ; and we also bless Thy holy name for all Thy Servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear , beseeching Thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples , that with them we may be partakers ' of Thy heavenly Kingdom , through Jesus Chri = t our Lord . Amen . "

The congregation then joined heartily in singing the Old Hundredth ; after which an " address" was delivered from the pulpit by the Dean of Gloucester . Selecting for his theme the words of the Psalmist' Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary "— : he DEAN said they were met together that day for a solemn service to the Great Architect of the Universe whom their Craft

loved to worship and adore , and the special object of this quiet , holy gathering was to ask their dear , divine , and perfect Master to acceptfor this His holy and beautiful house in Cheltenham , an offering which Masons dedicated to His eternal glory , and to the dear memory of the well-beloved brother of their Order , who in the flower of an honoured and a useful life , alas ! too soon for themhad fallen asleep .

, But they must be prepared to answer another question ; not only to tell their reasons for their service of piaise , but also to reply to the still mure positive query—To what purpose was this work , and why had they spent their money and pains upon this fair and costly window ? They were asked wh y they bestowed so much care , why they gave so much attention to the adornment of their Master ' s

sanctuary , and why they invited their fellow-worshippers to assist them in these works—an invitation to which so many on this occasion had liberally responded . "Oh , " argued some , " are not four bare white walls , lit by plain square windows , enough for us to gather in—in a building just protected from wind and rain ? What need we more ? " Prayer could , indeed , be offered and hymns sung , and the

m | n > ster STive his words of joy and comfort , of warning and rebuke , amid these grim sutroundings as in the walls adorned with colour and gold , and lighted with fair stained windows , casting their jewelled light upon pavement and upon worshi pper . True prayer could be offered in the cold , naked attic , on the wind-swept raft at tea , in the busy , crowded workshop , on the hill-sideir . the open fieldswithnd

, , 1 ° vu " ^ vvitbout cnoir - But 'hat was not the question . Was itnotneglectful , careless , thoughtless , irreverent , to leave our sanctuaries , our homes of prayer , cold , cheer'ess , desolate , devoid of beauty and of grace ? In the strange , eventful Hebrew story , told in the Old Testament

, what did they find ? In the golden days of tne great kings , amid the splendid dwellings of the names and chiefs of Israel , amid the ivory palaces of the L ngs > one house was conspicuous for its beauty , one Qt -A 7 Its lord ' y splendour—the house in the old and storied Jerusalem so prized b y brethren of the Craft . Did t ? . . ' P to build it ? Did thev not seem still to hear

U-J . 1- u the trowel and pickaxe which their brothers b « li ¦ 1 S and saintly work ? There was something actin g world than mere utility in the lavv of huma ' incr n ! tnou S surely none can reproach them for neglectchild j % . for lhe beautiful . Loved they not little M 3 c „ / f | ra'ned they not many a child in the great MasonsQ u 1 •y nuc raany a cnNU '" S « at

' Lord ? T •m the nurture and admonition ot the Drir-Pl ' ii- lhey not t 0 earn for their dear Craft 'hat ami ble . ssln S ' 0 f the widow and the orphan , and the sick world 9 fT lng' poor ? " wouId be a sad , grey , barren useful ., 1- - V L Cre t 0 thinlc alon " oE what the X deemed f .. i ul >< " ™ it they were to lav asi , ii > and fnrirpt- tho heaiiil .

"PcmuTf- > t bubl , me Architect had lavished beauty utilif-v i .-I , us there was something more than mere to mLi worId ' Masons loved with grateful hearts and rn , l , ! ° i me re . Ponse for all this , and to decorate , adorn , and itt 1 ? 1 eautlfu . ' t 0 the eye and to the ear His sanctuary which inin - ' ru "" „ „ - U was a > ° » & 'hought indeed beautiful ™ - 1 S , ? asonic brothers to give this costly , Ul wmdow w !» ch they offered and dedicated that

The Brook Smith Memorial Window.

day to their Master . Poor and scanty would be the response from the carping , narrow spirit which loved to find fresh and ever fresh fault with others' work ; which saw no beauty in the fair windows , which heard no voice from heaven in the silver and sweet-toned organ . The true helpers in all God ' s works were : firstly , those who delighted in what was lovely and beautiful , and saw

pleasure in offering what they prized most to God . And secondly , His true helpers who cared—and there were not a few—who cared , perhaps , but little for golden walls and jewelled windows ; but who just for dear love ' s sake helped on His works , because they felt that others loved these things , and wished by them to honour God . There were many such kindly souls in our midst ; dear , noble hearts ,

colour blind to beauty , deaf to song and melody , but who for love ' s sake helped on the work . Might God bless them for it . Brothers ( concluded the preacher ) , I have one more word , and then we will return to busy every-day life . That loving presence of our Master , the loving presence of the eternal and the divine , which I feei now is with us here to-day when we make our

offering to the memory of a dear and honoured brother ; that loving presence which , I believe , lives in our widespread noble Order here in England ; that loving presence may , if our hearts grow cold , neglectful , selfish , and if we forget to practise in life the high duties which we learn are the true traditions of our Order , be of little avail . That loving presence may leave us and our heloved Craft as it left the

holy and beautiful temple on Zion when that house had ceased to do its work—work still beautiful , still worldfamous for its awful rituals , for its sacrifices and song . There is a strange , weird legend which tells us that on the night before Jerusalem fell , the guards of the temple heard through the darkness a voice , mighty and sad , saying , " Let us depart , " and were aware also of the sound

of many wings passing from out of the holy place , and on the morrow the iron heels of the Roman soldiers trod the marble pavement of the innermost Holy of Holies , and heathen eyes gazed on the empty place where the glory of the God of Israel ever loved to brood ; and a torch flung by some unknown hand burned up with fire the holy and beautiful house where He had promised to put His name

for ever . O , holy and loving Master , keep bright in our souls the lamp of the brotherly love of the Divine and perfect Architect of the Universe to inspire all our works and days I Oh , blessed Spirit , who taught the builders of the Tabernacle in the desert , whose home is the heart of' every faithful Mason , never leave us nor forsake us ! God bless and preserve our Order ; keep ever burning in the heart of

every brother the knowledge of the great Masonic secret —the secret which teaches devoted love and fervent Charity I Then shall we be safe in the possession of the blessed presence . Then we shall go on as an Order from strength to stiength in mighty influence , higher and ever higher , till the day dawns and the shadows pass away , till we meet in that fairer temple beyond the veil , where is

heard no clink 01 trowel and pickaxe , where is no need for Masons' skill , for its builders were the angels and its Architect was God . An offertory was taken for Churchwardens' expenses , realising £ \ o ; and the impressive and remarkable service was then brought to a close by the RECTOR pronouncing

the Benediction . As the congregation were dispersing , Bro . Matthews , to whom a hearty word of compliment is due , played Handel ' s " The dead shall live , " and " The Hallelujah Chorus . " Bros . Felton , Waghorne . Forth , Powell , Fenner , Rea , and Lo ? an had charge of the seating arrangements .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THOMAS WOODSTOCK , P . M . The numerous friends of this much respected brother will be sincerely grieved on hearing of his death on Saturday last , the funeral being appointed to take place at Brompton Cemetery to-day ( Friday ) . Bro . Woodstock , who was 68 years of age , was initiated in the Lodge of Industry , No . 186 , on the 25 th November , 1856 , and was

a founder and installed first W . M . of the Belgrave Lodge , No . 749 , on the 20 th July , iSjS . He was also a joining member of the Westbourne Lodge , No . 733 , and P . Z . in Royal Arch Masonry , and had qualified . as a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . He was

well-known as a Tyler of lodges , in which capacity he had rendered very efficient service , and he had also acted as coach to many members of the Craft , who had benefited largely by his tuition , and by whom , as well as by all who came in contact with him , whether officially or in private life , he was held in great respect .

BRO . J . G . FRANKLIN , P . M ., P . P . G . T . NORFOLK . Among the many deaths it has been our mournful duty to record within the last week or two , few appear to have caused more general sorrow in the neighbourhood to which hebelonged than that of Bro . J . G . Franklin , P . M . of the Lodge ot Friendship , No . 100 , Great Yarmouth—thelodgein which H . R . H . Prince Albert Victor of Wales was passed to the Second Degree—and P . Prov . G . T . Norfolk . The funeral ,

which took place on Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., was very numerously attended by the brethren , as many as 43 members of the Friendship Lodge being present , besides deputations from other Masonic bodies ; while the coffin was borne to its last resting place by eight Past Masters of the same lodge , and the vicar and curate who officiated at the service were both members . Bio . Franklin , indeed , appears to have been very generally respected , and his death will create a void which it will be very difficult to fill . BRO . J . Y . LANG , DEP . G . M . OF ALL SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY IN INDIA . The Grand Lodge of All Scottish Freemasonry in India has recently sustained a very severe loss by the death of Bro . J . Y . Lang , P . M . of Lodge Caledonia , and Depute G , Master of Grand Lodge , for whom , by command of Bro . Sir Henry Morland , M . W . G . M ., all the Scottish lodges in

India wore the insignia of mourning , and in whose honour a memorial service was held at Freemasons' Hall , Byculla , Bombay , on the 27 th February . On this occasion there was a very full attendance of the brethren , and Bro . A . VV . Seabrooke , R . W . M . of the Caledonia , who presided , expressed the regret of Bro . Sir H . Morland that he was

Obituary.

unable to attend personally and show his respect for their deceased brother . The funeral service was very ably carried out by Bro . Seabrooke and his Wardens , Bros . Yates and Hepvvorth , with the assistance of Bro . the Rev . J . A . Dougherty , of H . M . S . Ranger , as Chaplain . A very eloquent oration was delivered by Bro . J . Young ,

I . P . M ., after which Bro . K . R . Cama , Depute G . Master —who is father of Bro . J . K . R . Cama , W . M . Regent ' s Park Lodge , No . 2202 , and W . M . elect of the Royal Alfred Lodue , No . 777 , Guildford , and cousin and brotherin-law to Bro . D . P . Cama , Past G . Treasurer—stepped forward , and paid a further tribute to the memory of their late distinguished friend and brother . The proceedings shortly afterwards terminated .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

It is , we think , I 7 years since "Richard III . " was given in London , and that by our own tragedian , at the Lyceum . An opportunity has been given by Mr . Mansfield , who , although an English subject , hails from " across the pond , " to see this favourite play of the Immortal Bard . It is wonderful what the young lessee has managed to do with such a cramped space as the Globe Theatre must be ,

nevertheless , the piece is produced in all its splendour , and with the most elaborate details . Mr . Mansfield would seem to wish to make this revival a history of the manners and customs of the monarchical , civic , ecclesiastical , and military people under the House of York . He deserves his full meed of praise for his exquisite production . Mr . Seymour Lucas , A . R . A ., Mr . Weeks , Mr . Walter Pollock ,

and other authorities on the history of the times of the Piantagenets have all been called into recognition . We have heard that £ 6000 have been expended in putting " Richard HI . " on this stage . If so , it is to be hoped that the public will meet Mr . Mansfield in an equally liberal manner , and support our newest Shakesperian delineator ; they will certainly get value for their money . The battle

scenes have never been given before with such striking exactness , and in such a complete idea of the mode of warfare in the Middle Ages . Of the acting we are not able to speak with much fulness of heart . Mr . Mansfield himself , as the Duke of Gloster , is original , and has grasped the character he has to act . He has departed from the ordinary traditions of the part , for his Richard has no humped back . We think , in his anxiety to strike out a

new line , Mr . Mansfield has gone away a little too much from the text . We liked him best in the last two acts , where Richard has carried out his wicked designs , and has become a worn-out king seated on the throne , and the scene in camp on the field of Bosworth . Miss Mary Rorke for once failed to give us satisfaction . We believe this is her first attempt at Shakespeare . Bro . Fernandez , of

course , as the Duke of Buckingham , must be good . Little Miss Bessie Hatton , as the young Prince of Wales , pleased us more than any one else . She spoke and acted as if she felt and understood the part , and with a distinctness of pronunciation not common in one so young . To us she appears to be a child of about 13 , but she may after all be

older . We hope Mr . Mansfield will secure the confidence of the London public , for he certainly tries his hardest , and is much more worth seeing now in this beautifully staged play than in " Hyde and Jekyll , " or any of his earlier pieces . « * »

Mr . Wilson Barrett need never collaborate if he can again write , unaided , such a fine drama as he has recently put on the stage of the Princess ' s , and calls " Now-a-days . " To our mind it is the best thing he has done since " The Silver King . " Character paits suit this popular actor , and he would do well to keep to them . Only a few weeks ago we had the pleasure of writing a

short description of ' •lhe Good Old Times , " a drama written jointly by Mr . Hall Caine and Mr . Wilson Barrett . After seeing " Now-a-days , " we feel interested to know how much in the several collaborated dramas Mr . Wilson Barrett has himself written . It seems like the " good old times" returned to have now-a-days Mr . Barrett once more playing in a popular and healthy drama supported by his

brother George and Miss Eastlake , and the wants of the public lookeu after so well by Mr . Knox Furtado as of vote . We sincerely hope Mr . Barrett may find himself so strongly supported by his old friends and patrons—now that he has gone back to the line of business which suits him best— -that he may again become the owner of the house in Oxford-street . The new drama is a sporting

play , butis highly interesting to every one else . It does not contain horsey phrases or language which those not connected with the turf cannot understand . The characters in it seem almost too good for those one usually allots to the hangers on of the turf , for even the wicked baronet who swindles and bribes jockeys to " pull" their horses , at last starts on a fresh career and turns his back on his

former misdeeds . We spoke above of Miss Eastlake , but we regret that there is not a part for her in this drama ; however , she is to be seen every Thursday , Friday , and Saturday evenings , and Saturday mornings in "The Good Old Times . " "Now-a-days" is played every Monday , Tuesday , and Wednesday evening and Wednesday morning . A wise arrangement , we

think , to run two plays at the same time . In the newest drama , Mr . Barrett is ably supported by Mr . Austin Melford , Mr . Cooper Cliffe , Miss Norreys , Miss Webster , and others . We are sure any one will be delighted who goes to see either of Mr . Barrett's plays , but especially the one from his own hand . We hope now this estimable actor may remain with us for good .

A second visit to the little Vaudeville more than repaid us in sitting out " That Doctor Cupid , " which is running along as merrily as author and lessee could wish . We laughed much more at Bro . Tom Thome , Mr . Cyril Maude , and Mr . Fred Thorne , than when we saw the

play some weeks ago . The actorsall play together better now . Miss Winifred Emery , who is indisposed , is out of the cast , and her place is more than ably taken by the vivacious and charming Miss Annie Irish , whom , only having seen in melodrama before , we did not credit with the possession of such a strong vein of humourand pathos . We now look upon her as a good all-round actress .