Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

LIVERPOOL . GKAND MASONIC BALL . Tho annual ball in aid of the "West Lancashire Educational Institution , is ahvays a popular one . Its benevolent- object appeals to the -warm-hearted ; and the picturesque badgesmystic jewelleryand emblematical

, , robes of the various orders of the ancient Craft have their share in the attractions which always cause the annual event to be well attended . Much , of this popularity is also due to the growing respect in which the order is held—an order non-sectarian , non-political , but chiefly benevolent in its objects , of an age beyond date , and of a - prestige arising out of the benefits which

history has received from its ancient masters of practical masonry , in the conservation of arts to which we owe the birth , and preservation of the grand structures ot ancient nations , both in the eastern and western portions of the Old "World . Additional interest was given by the arrangement which placed at

the service of the committee tbe brilliant , though frigid , temporary corridor connecting the ballroom in the town-ball with the larger and more elegant room of tbe exchange company , and the elegant adornments of the rooms , including tbe bronzes and statuettes , which Messrs . Elkington and Co . kindly permitted to remain .

The front of the town-hall bad been covered in , and the space was sufficient for three or four carriages to set down at once . Ladies' and gentlemen ' s cloak rooms were provided in tbe various offices on tbe ground-floor . The large ballroom , tbe gallery leading to tbe newsroom , and even that room also , by half-past ten , were thronged . The fine suite of rooms in the town-hall

were wisely left without ; any special decoration . The passages and condors on the ground-floor were lined with white and green muslin , which had a very light and pleasing effect . Perhaps one of the prettiest sights

was that ot the long sloping gallery from the large ballroom to the exchange newsroom . It was most tastefully decorated with drapery , mirrors , and lights , and , standing at either end , the spectator beheld a long vista of moving figures reflected in mirrors on either ¦ side , the whole forming a most brilliant and interesting picture . The new exchange newsroom , under the hands

of half a hundred busy workers , had been transformed into probably the most perfect ballroom in the world . The proportions of the room are magnificent . It has an area , nearly square in form , of over 700 square yards , without a single break or interruption of any Trind . It is very lofty , and over the centre rises a magnificent dome , fifty feet in diameter . The many natural

beauties of this noble ball , if they may so be expressed , required no temporary embellishments , and when a most elegant and beautiful dais had been erected in a recess on the south side , and the eastern gallery transformed into a tastefully appointed drawing-room , overlooking the hall floor below , when the orchestra had been erectedand the main floor of the hall made resplendent

, with beeswax , the principal preparations were here completed . It was intended , of course , that this hall should be special !} ' devoted to dancing . The use of the exchange newsroom was granted by the proprietors for the purpose of gracefully falling in with the suggestion to make this concession to the Masonic committee for the courtesy with which

they had given up the town-hall rooms , which they had previously engaged the preparations for the royal ball rendering it necessary that another evening should be substituted for the ball . This difficulty , which at first appeared likely to be prejudicial to the success of that " usually brilliant affair , by the tact and energy of tbe honorary secretary , Bro . Geo . Broadbridge , W . M ., 241 , was made an additional element

Masonic Festivities.

of success . Instead of the number of tickets being limited to 1 , 000 , they were enabled to issue 600 or 700 more ; and the grand ball mania excited by the event of the previous night and by the general desire to see tbe exchange newsroom before it was restored to its more legitimate use , caused the further issue to be quickly absorbed . A rumour also became current that Prince Arthur intended to visit the ball incog ., but this was like a thousand other canards arisino- out of the

royal visit . Ihe company began to assemble shortly before eight ; and the arrivals continued up to midnight , when the small and large ballrooms of the townhall were tolerably full , aud , on passing through the arctic regions to the newsroom , the agreeable surprise of late comers was general , to discover in that noble triumph of modern architectural art a scene which , for

picturesque brilliancy , has never been surpassed in Liverpool . This room , like those in the town-hall , was comfortably filled , and here , as in tbe ballroom proper , dancing was kept up with great spirit until the " wee sma' " hours . Owing to domestic affliction Br . Lieut .-Colonel Sir T . G . P . Hesketh , Bart ., - M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire , was unable to be

present , and the customary semi-military reception by the Knight Templars under "the arch of steel" was dispensed with . Amongst those present we noticed Bros . Lieut .-Colonel Thomas Birchall , W . Prov . J . G . W ., West Lancashire ; C . J . Bannister , P . G . S . B ., Eng . ; Edward Busher , G . S . B ., Eng . ; A . C . Mott , Prov . G . S . B . ; HW . CollinsP . Prov . G . D . C ; W . AllendorP . Prov .

. , , G . Dir . of Cers . ; Thomas Wylie , Prov . G . S . ; the Worshipful Masters and Wardens of the different local and neighbouring lodges , and many of the leading residents of the town and neighbourhood , the total number present at one time being stated to be about 1 , 700 . The excellent band of tbe 4 th Artillery Brigade played selections of classical and other music in the vestibule , but

the dance music , of which the following is the programme , was entrusted to the skilful quadrille bands of Bro . G . A . W . Phillips : —1 , galop ; 2 , quadrille ; 3 , polka ; 4 , lancers ; 5 , waltz ; 6 , quadrille ; 7 , Schottishe ; 8 , galop ; 9 , lancers ; 10 , polka ; 11 , quadrille ; 12 , waltz ; 13 , polka ; 14 , quadrille ; 15 , galop ; 16 , lancers ; 17 , waltz ; 18 , quadrille ; 19 , Schottishe ; 20 , galop ; 21 , lancers ; 22 ,

polka ; 23 , quadrille ; 24 , waltz . Bro . Molyneux , as heretofore , courteously and most efficiently discharged the duties of M . O . The arrangements for refreshments were under the direction of Mr . Ballard , managing director of the Liverpool Dining Company , Limited , and there was an excellent bill of fare , though a struggle at "the supper hour" to take advantage of

, it , was a necessary consequence of the comparatively limited accommodation in the bancjuetting-roorn for so large a number of visitors . The most gratifying fact , however , remains , and one which fully compensates for any trifling inconvenience of this kind that may have been experienced is , that a balance of about £ 400 will remain in the hands of the committeein aid of the funds

, of an excellent educational institution , for tbe benefit of children of old and distressed Freemasons—an institution which , though largely supported b } - subscriptions from the Lancashire lodges , has so much good work in hand that this annual surplus of the Masonic ball proceeds will find a ready and praiseworthy application . — Liverpool Albion .

Her Majesty's Theatee And Bro. S. May.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATEE AND BRO . S . MAY .

On Tuesday the 23 st ult an adjourned meeting of the Masonic and theatrical friends of Bro . May was held at tbe Freemasons'Tavern , Great Queen-street . Bro . John Udall , P . G . D ., was unanimously voted to the chair . Bro . Thomas Beard , the hon- secretary , read the