Masonic Festivities.

well as to Bros . _ Howard , Gambeil , Eott , Stone , Jacob , and more especially to the indefati gible Secretary , Bro . Taylor , the eminent success of the present hall is chiefly to be attributed . There was no lack of music for the enlivenment of the company . The capital bands of the Second Lancashire Militia and of the First Lancashire Eifle "V olunteers

were stationed in the vestibule ou each side of the grand staircase , and played alternately selections of popular music in very creditable style . The orchestras of the ball rooms were occupied b y first-rate quadrille bands , under the direction of Bro . Wielopolski Phillips . . . In front of the orchestra of the larger ball room was " suspended the magnificent banner of the Provincial Grand

Lodge , on which are emblazoned the Freemasons' Arms , quartered with those of the county of Lancaster , and the arms of tho Provincial Grand Lodge . The supper room was appropriately decorated with the numerous and richly-emblazoned banners of the chapter . Lady Skelmersdale and Lady Araballa Hesketh officiated as lady patronesses ; Bro . Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas George Heskelh , Bart ., M . P ., as president ; and Bro . the Eight Hon . Lord Skelmersdale as vice-president . The company began to arrive between eight and nine

o ' clock , ancl dancing was commenced soon afterwards , Bro . Molyneux , professor of dancing , officiating as master of the ceremonies . By ten o ' clock the splendidly fitted up suite of apartments was filled by a brilliant , merry throng . The majority of the Craft wore the regalia appertaining to the various degrees to with they belong , bedecked with glittering jewels and golden emblems of

the Craft . Some of the Knights Templar appeared in the long , flowing white mantle of their Order , with the Cross of the Crusaders upon the shoulder . Several gentlemen wore military and naval uniforms as well as elaborate Masonic adornments . The ladies generally were very elegantly attired . Amongst those present we noticed Lord Skelmersdale , J . G . W ., aud Lady

Skelmersdale ; Sir T . G . Hesketh , D . Prov . G . M . and P . G . W ., and Lady Arabella Hesketh ; his Worship the Mayor of Liverpool , Charles Mozley ; Mr . Grimes , of Lima ; Bros . Thomas Wylie , P . Prov . j ' . G . W . ; James Billinge , P . Prov . J . G . W . ; Captain James Bourne , Prov . J . G . W . ; H . S . Alpass , Prov . G . S . B . ; James Hamer , Prov . G . Tyler ; William Allender , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; John L . Hower , P . Prov . G . J . D . Cheshire ; Major Bousfield ; Brandon Mozley ; Frederick Mozley ; Francis Shand ; J . R . Jeffery , & c . Upwards of 600 persons were present .

[ We have been informed that the result of the ball has enabled the Committee to hand over to the Treasurer of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution the handsome amount of £ 135 in aid of its funds , which is most gratifying . This Institution was established in 1852 by a few of the brethren in Liverpool , who are

worthy of all praise in originating it , as it has for its object the education ancl advancement in life of the children of deceased and distressed Freemasons . The principle on which it is worked is such that it cannot fail in realising its object in a greater or lesser degree , as the interest only of donations ( now forming a capital of

£ 4 , 400 ) is used so that every contribution to the funds puts it in the power of the executive to admit further candidates for its privileges . ]

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CHOICE OI ? WORDS . —When you doubt between two words , choose the plainest , the . commonest , the most idiomatic . Eschew fine words as you would rouge ; love simple ones as you would native roses on your cheeks . Let us use the plainest ancl shortest words that will grammatically ancl gracefully express our meaning .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . THE REV . THOMAS GILBERT . Bro . the Rev . Thomas Gilbert died on the 22 nd December , 1863 , at Trinidad , aged 47 years , of apoplexy . Pro . Gilbert was born at Barlow , Derbyshire , on the 30 th March , 1 S 16 , had been a resident at Trinidad for 25 years , and was at the time of his death rector of the parish of St . Paul . He was a Past

Master of Trinity Lodge ( So . 572 ) , under the registry of the Grand Lodge of England . He has left a widow , four children , and a numerous number of friends and brethren deeply to deplore his loss . BRO . JOSEPH WALKER .

On the morning of the 26 th ult ., the W . M . of St . John's Lodge ( So . 827 ) , Dewsbury , received intelligence of the death of the respected Bro . Joseph Walker , Dir . of Cers ., after a very brief illness .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

GALLERY OP ILLUSTRATION . Mr . and Mrs . Gorman Reed have just added to their popular illustrations a new " Anglo-Egyptian Entertainment , " written by Mr . Shirley Broolcs , and entitled the "Pyramid ; or , Footprints in the Sand , " which affords ample opportunity for the development of dramatic character—Mr . and Mrs . Reed and Mr . John Parry being made to alternate variety of

impersonations with an amount of dexterity which shows the fulness of their resources , both mechanical and mental . The piece opens with a scene in Alexandria , when a prologue is giveu by the three performers ia their own individual characters . Having explained , in song and otherwise , the object of their meeting under such peculiar circumstances , they immediately start on a

tour up the Nile , and a scene is next introduced , representing " the Sphynx , the jSTile , and the Pyramid , " one side of the stage being occupied by a tent , in which the owner of it has deposited a pianoforte ancl a hull-dog . Both the instrument and the animal are frequently brought into useful requisition ; and it is only to be regretted that , although Mr . Reed discourses much excellent music , Mr . John Parry is not furnished with au opportunity of giving one of those buffo-scenas on the

pianoforte , which nave been his great speciality as a public entertainer . Amongst the more prominent features are characters representing the Hon . Dangleton Spangledone , the owner of the tent ; Miss Rose O'Grady , an Irish young lady ; Mr . Barnabas Boanerges Bradshaw , M . P . ; Achilles Rododaculos , a Greek ; the Pasha Suleiman Ataghan , a very grand Turk ; Signor Mongantino , a magician ; Mrs . Stratford Bow , a lady from

London , & c . All those are admirably rendered by the artists , who sing and act with a degree of taste and skill which it would be difficult to surpass , seeing that each is evidently anxious to promote the general effect without endeavouring to outrival the others . Many of the personations were amongst the best which have been seen at the hands of these deservedly

favourite performers ; and when the entertainment shall have become more completely under their control than it could possibly be expected to he on the first night , it will be doubtless prove one of the most attractive that they have ever produced . The scene describing the Sphynx , the Nile , and the Pyramid is one of the best illustrations of scenic painting

( aided by broad mechanical appliances ) which the ability of Mr . Telbin has yet brought to light ; ancl the audience testified their appreciation of it by the heartiest applause .