Freemasonry Abroad.

By way of conclusion , we shall content ourselves with expressing the hope that in any future accounts it may be our privilege to render of American Freemasonry , the record vvill be at least as satisfactory as that of the year which has now virtually run its course .

Announcement.

ANNOUNCEMENT .

We beg to inform our readers that in our next issue—the commencement of the New Year—the section of " Art and the Drama" will be enlarged , so as to include Science . In future it will bear the title of "Science , Art , and the Drama . " We do not intend to treat of Science in the abstract , which would render

it distasteful to many , but simply in a practical utilitarian point of view . We shall take a subject for our consideration , and continue it week by week , until completed . The last portion of second column will be entitled " Notes , " consisting of short paragraphs relative to Science , Art , or the Drama .

Art And The Drama.

Art and the Drama .

CRITERION THEATRE .

There is a good piece at the above theatre , which has been so well received by the general public , that it will continue its successful career during the present Christmas season . It is entitled " My Daughter-in-Law , " an adaptation from the French of MM . Fabrice Carre and Paul Bilhauld . The translation has been well done ; it retains all the spirit of the original , bubbles over with innocent fun , and there is nothing improper

or suggestive in it , so that Mrs . Grundy and her daughters may visit the theatre in full assurance that their modesty will not be slighted . As may readily be imagined , the leading character is the mother-in-law , who , in her devoted love for her son , makes herself decidedly objectionable to her daughterin-law . The one serves as a good foil to the other . The part of Mrs . Mainwaring , sen ., is enacted most cleverly by Miss Fanny Brough . All the

different shades of character in this important part are well brought out by this talented actress ; the by-play she makes use of is naturally conceived . The daughter-in-law has a fitting exponent in charming Miss Ellaline Terris . She has a pretty , musical voice ; she certainly seems to enjoy her part , which is a good one , and , as a natural consequence , in her interpretation of it she enhances the enjoyment of the audience . Mr . Herbert

Standing has the role of Mr . Mainwaring , sen ., who carries on his flirtations unknown to his wife , but who at last is discovered in flagrante delicto , much to his consternation and the amazement of his severe wife . The easy-going husband , vacillating between the love for his mother and that he owes to his dear little wife , is well represented by Mr . Seymour Hicks . Thprp are some r / ood unobtrusive character sketches , which receive full

justice at the hands of those clever competent artistes , Messrs . Kemble , AUckay , Little , and Vane-Tempest . The intriguing countess is archly depicted by Miss Cynthia Brooke . Those who can enjoy a hearty laugh at the imbroglio which ensues are not likely to be disappointed . Among the many attractions which during the present Christmas season offer themselves to intending visitors , the comedy of " My Daughter-in-Law " should occupy an important place . One last word—go and see it .

CHRISTMAS AT THE INNS OF COURT . This is our concluding article . Alike at the Temple and Lincoln ' s Inn it was customary for the " Prince of Purpoole " to be attended by counsel , barristers , and all the accessories of a Court of La * , and to have mock causes placed before him . Evelyn , in his diary , rails against

" The solemn foolerie of the Prince de la Grange , at Lincoln's Inn , where came the King . There was a grand masque and a formal p leading before the mock Princes , Grandees , Nobles , and Knights of thc Sunn . " ater on he writes— " Went to see the revells at the Middle Temple , which

is an old riotous custome , and has relation neither to virtue nor policy . " King Charles I . and his Queen , King Charles II ., Peter the Great , and even ) ames I ., did not thinK with Evelyn . The men of the coif were independent , at times , in those days , and the Templars incurred the disp leasure of King James at Christmas , 1622 , for drinking to the health of his sister , the Lady Elizabeth , Queen of Bohemia . Middle Temple was gratified in 1601 by the production of Shakespeare ' s " Twelfth Night , " and when

Sir Francis Vivian was Prince , at Christmas , 1635 , he expended upwards of , £ 2000 out of his own pocket money , beyond the allowance granted , in pageantry , and this , although the Lord Mayor supplied the wines and Lord Holland the venison . The same year the masque of the Prince d'Amour , lhe title of the Christmas Prince at the Middle Temple , was presented before the King and Oueen and the Knights ' of the Quiver . Of the poor Prince it is

written" He dyed of a Common Infectious Disease , called Opinion , Upon the Sixth Month of Candlemas Day , and may be buried in oblivion with His ancestors , if tongues Dig him not up 1 "

Sir Francis Bacon spent upwards of ^ 2000 over one masque , and the united efforts of the four Inns , " The Triumph of Peace , " presented before Charles IL , at Whitehall , during Christmas , 1663 , caused anjexpenditure of / 2 o , ooo . Sometimes the proceedings at the Inns were too pronounced , as when the gentlemen of Gray ' s Inn at Christmas , 16 O 2 , fired off several small pieces of ordnance which they had borrowed from the Tower , and the hours chosen being the " dead of night , " the luckless King James leaped from his bed in terror , shouting " Treason ! " A very quaint masque called

Art And The Drama.

" Universal Motion" was presented at Lincoln's Inn before the Prince de La Grange and King Charles II ., during the Yule Tide of 1662 . It was a semi -political ballet , one dance showing that " All Frenchmen are not Butterflies , " another " That a Fantastic Don can be as ridiculous as the most Antic Monsieur , " and a third consisting of " Two Clownes with their

Lasses ( a double pair of Northern Tikes ) who dance a Jigge , the first born of a Scottish bagpipe . " Unhappily the Inns of Court , like other institutions , fell upon evil days . In 1652 , Christmas revels were abandoned , " the Fools being all turned Commanders , or Parliament men , " and not all the enforced gaiety of the Restoration could recall the mirthful seasons , gone , never to return .

CHRISTMAS ANTIQUITIES AND THEIR ORIGIN . At this festive season , it appears to us that a few details respecting Christmas and its antiquities would be appropriate . In the early Church Christmas was always a Sabbath day , or Sunday , and , like it , was preceded by a vigil . In old times it was fully believed that were any one , in a li ' . ting * frame of mind , to go into a cow-shed at midnight , just before the dawn of Christmas Day , all the cattle would be found kneeling , in honour of the

Infant Saviour . This superstitious belief is , we are told , fully held even now in some of the remote northern districts of England . The word Christmas is derived from Christi Missa , the Mass of Christ ; thence the Roman Catholic Liturgy is termed their Missal or Mass-book . The word Yule formerly signified Christmas . This is derived from Ol , ale , this being much used in the festivities of merry meetings of the season . This word , Ol , or

ale , did not only signify the liquor then made use of , but it also gave denomination to the greatest festivities , as the Yule , at Midwinter . At Whitsuntide there were Whitsun-ales ; at Midsummer , Midsummer-ales . There were also bride-ales , lamb-ales , &* c . The carols sung at Christmas are derived from cantare , to sing ; and rola , an interjection of joy . Bishop Taylor observes that the Gloria in excclsis , the well-known hymn , sung by

the angels to the shepherds at our Lord ' s nativity , was the earliest Christmas carol . In the earlier ages of the Church the Bishops were accustomed , on Christmas day , to sing carols among their clergy . It is customary for us , at Christmas , to deck our houses with laurel and other evergreens . This has come down to us from the ancient Romans . The laurel was , with them , an emblem of peace , joy , and victory . With us , as Christians , it may be applied to the victory gained over the powers of darkness by the coming of

Christ . The misletoe is so called because its seeds are said to be dropped by the misle-thrush , which feeds on its berries . The misletoe was held sacred by the Druids , because they had an extraordinary reverence for the number three . Not only the berries , but the leaves grow in clusters of three , united on one stalk . Its growing upon the oak , their sacred tree , was doubtless another cause of its veneration . The cutting of the misletoe by the Arch

Druid with a golden sickle during the full moon , on certain nights of the year , was a religious ceremony of the highest importance . Although the misletoe is usually associated with the oak , as a fact , it is seldom found on that tree , it more commonly grows on the apple tree . The misletoe is a vegetable parasite . The misletoe is never permitted to form part of the Christmas decoration of churches . Mr . Brand says , " that by the clergy it

is considered a heathenish and profane pl ** nt , fitted only for hanging up in banqueting halls , kitchens , kc . " 'lolly is so-called , because of its supposed corruption from holy , as Dr . Turner , our eailiest writer on plants , calls it holy and holy-tree , this appellation was given it most probably from its being used in holy places . It has a great variety of names in Germany ,

amongst which is Christdorn , in Danish it is also called Christhorn , and in Swedish Christlorn , from whence it appears , that it is considered a holy plant , by certain classes in these countries . Rosemary derives its botanical name , rosmarinits , from ros dew , and niarinus , alluding to its situation on the sea shore . One of the Christmas dishes was a b > ar ' s head stuffed with

rosemary . As fresh meats , in early times , were but seldom eaten , brawn was considered a great delicacy . The old chronicler Holinshed , says , that " in the year 1170 , upon the day of the young prince ' s coronation , King Henry 1 st served his sonne at the table , as server , bringing up the boar ' s

head with trumpets before it , according to the manner . " For this ceremony there was a special carol . Dugdale , also , tells us that " at the Inns of Court , during Xmas , the usual dish , at the first course , at dinner , was a large bore ' s head , upon a silver platter , with minstralsaye . " Mince pies were originally made in a long shape at Christmas , that they might imitate the cratch , that is the rack , or manger wherein Christ was laid .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of West Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF WEST YORKSHIRE .

CONSECRATION OF THE ARMITAGE CHAPTER ,

No . 2261 . At the hall-yearly convocation of the above Provincial Grand Chapter , holden at the Masonic Hall , Market-street , Milnsbridge , near Huddersfield , on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult ., under the banner of Armitage Chapter , No . 2261 , the following were present : Comps . Richard Wilson , P . Z . 289 , P . G . S ., acting * G . Supt . ; J . L . Atherton , P . Z .

Coo , P . P . G . H ., as Prov . G . H . ; C . L . Mason , P . Z . 304 , and H . Smith , P . Z . 302 , P . G . P . S ., P . P . G . Hs . ; John Barker , P . Z . 258 , Prov . G . J . ; Wm . Harrop , P . Z . 290 , and T . R . Vaux , P . Z . 20 S , P . P . G . Js . ; Capt . H . G . E . Green , P . Z . 154 , Prov . G . S . E . j G . H . Parke , P . Z . 154 , Prov . G . S . N . •W . Laycock , P . Z . 1001 , P . Prov . G . S . N , j T . Woods , P . Z . 448 , Prov . G . Treas . ; T . Hirrison , P . Z . 296 , and W . Smith , P . Z . 1042 , P . P . G . Treasurers- W . H . Hewson , P . Z . 304 Prov . G . Reg . ;

, J . Corrin Bell , P . Z . 12 S 3 , P . P . G . Rug . ; R . Sheard , P . Z . 1019 , Prov . G . P . S . * , J . Shoesmith , P . Z . 521 , C . Verity , P . Z . 208 , and A . Robertshaw , P . Z . 44 S , P . P . G . P . Ss . i Dr . I . Mossop , P . Z . 974 , Prov . ist A . G . S . ; James Lawton , P . Z . 337 , C . Whcawill , P . Z . 290 , W . Haigh , P . Z . 1283 , J . P . Hewitt , P . Z . 139 , T . I . Walker , P . Z . 1283 , and J . W . Tanner , P . Z . 337 , P . P . G . Ss . ; G . Hesketh , P . Z . 1462 , P . P . G . S . B ., as Prov . G . S . B . ; A . E . Powolny , P . Z . 304 , and J . A . Thornton , P . Z .

1019 , P . P . G . S . B-- .- J . P . Browne , P Z . 600 , Prov . G . Std . Br . ; F . W . Turner , P . Z . 20 s , Prov . A . G . Std . Brs . ; Wm . Cockcroft , P . Z . 307 , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; W . Dyson , P . Z . 1645 , Prov . G . D . C . ; E . Lord , P . Z . 910 , Thos . Gaukroger , P . Z . 12 S 3 , J . R . Fawcett , P . Z . 12 / 4 , W . D . Quarmby , P . Z . 208 , I \ G . Dimery , P . Z . 2069 , C . Goldthorpe , P . Z . 242 , and A . W . Fretwell , P . Z . 242 , P . P . G . Directors of Ceremonies ; E . R / Dickenson , P . Z . 308 , Prov . G . Organist ; J . Marshall , Org . 521 , P . P . G . Organist ; J . R . Barton , P . Z . 306 , as Prov . Asst . G . S . E . ;