Channel Islands.

in its success and prospects . Ihe Prov . G . M . suitably acknowledged this expression of gratitude . The AA . M . announced several presents from himself and Bro . Joseph Stevens towards the lurniture , and a velvet cushion for the Master's chair from Mrs . Hopkins . A otes of thanks were passed to the several donors . The AV . M . reported that he had had some pleasing correspondence with Bro . V . Bird , of the St . Aubyn ' s Lodge ( No . 954 , Devonport ) , and read a letter from him containing an invitation

to be present at the consecration of the said lodge on October 28 th , and other matters . Bro . Le Bas , having been placed before the pedestal , received tho cnstomaiy charge on initiation from the W . M ., and also the lecture on . the first tracing board . Bro . the Rev . F . de la Mare addressed the members in feeling terms , announcing that , having obtained an appointment to a distant foreign chaplaincy , he was shortly about to leave Jersey . He expressed the satisfaction bo had derived from his connection with St .

Aubyn s Lodge , bis pleasure in having shared m its formation , his wish still to continue a member , because he saw in it a manifest desire earnestly to carry out true Masonic principles , and his desire to present , as a parting token of his regard and interest in it , a set of columns for the lesser lights , for the preparation of which he had given directions . The manner in which this address was received by the brethren indicated their sense of the loss they are about to incur . The Rev . Chaplain

proposed the nomination of Bro . Capt . Philip A eary as a joining member of the lodge . No other business being brought forward , the lodge was closed in the usual form at half-past eight , and the brethren proceeded to the ordinary light refreshments . These concluded , the W . M . brought before the notice of the brethren the customary routine of toasts , commencing with " The Queen and the Craft , " and appropriately descending in the social and Masonic scale to " All poor and distressed Masons . " The Prov . G . M . returned thanks for himself and Provincial

Grand Lodge , and finding a visitor from London present , who was his namesake , expressed a hope that he would carry back , and convey to his brethren , a favourable impression of the working of Masonry in Jersey , as produced by the proceedings of the evening . The Prov . G . M . concluded by proposing the health of the AV . M ., iu support of which the rev . the Chaplain addressed the brethren , taking advantage of the opportunity to enforce the fact , that so long as

a man pursued a conscientious and imdeviating course of conduct , whatever opposition he might encounter , and however obnoxious he might temporarily become , he would be certain to be ultimately appreciated . This he exemplified by reference to the course of the AV . M . in Jersey , who , at first obscure and unknown , had , by taking up what he deemed to be abuses—social , political , moral , and Masonic—for a time rendered himself unpopularbut was now esteemedand

, , able to be the founder of a useful and efficient lodge , which , he trusted , was already firmly established , and was gradually working its way to distinction . The rev . brother again alluded to his approaching departure , adding that , though it would be painful to' sever many associations here , be had scriptural authority for what he was about to do , namely , " If any provide not for his own , and specially for those of his own house , lie is

worse than an infidel . " On this ground he had felt it a duty to obey the call made upon him . The AV . M . briefly replied , expressing his extreme regret at losing so valued a friend and brother—one to whom he had looked for counsel nnd assistance ; he also stated his gratitude for the allusions made for the first time in public to the difficulties under which he had laboured , and the manner in which he had overcome them , assuring the brethren thatwhether in the chair or out of it , he wouldso

, , long as he should reside in Jersey , be ever ready to perform any duty called for by the lodge , at the same time expressing his intention to retire from the position of W . M . after one year's term of office , in order to give opportunity to others for gratifying a laudable ambition for advancement . He further urged the older brethren to look to their laurels and study to obtain Masonic knowledge , or some of

those recently initiated in the lodge would vie with and outstrip them . Bro . Hammond , member of a lodge in London , responded on behalf of the visitors , assuring tbe Prov . G . M ., in reference to his observations , that though he visited many lodges , he seldom found one better worked , or in which so much harmony and regularity appeared to prevail . He was especially pleased with the temperate and moderate style of the refreshments , which conduced to the benefit of the brethren , by enabling them to return at an early hour to their families , to

Channel Islands.

sleep well afterwards , and to rise next morning refreshed , without being unfitted for the labours of the day . Thus , too , greater means were afforded for the exercise of that truly Masonic virtue , charity . Several other brethren addressed the members briefly in the course of the evening , and after a most pleasant social meeting , in the course of which due honours to the newly initiated brother were not forgotten , the party broke up before ten o ' clock .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION . " OPERA DI CAMERA . " Mr . German Reed , to whom the English public are alreadyindebted for very many genial entertainments , is about to produce an Opera , Di Camera ;—namely , a work of simple dramatic form , and requiring for its execution a limited number of vocalistswith the accompaniment of a pianofortea species of

, , entertainment very popular on the Continent . Should the experiment succeed great advantages are also likely to be derived by our rising vocalists from the production of this class off musical entertainment ; for , though there undoubtedly exist among us many young singers of considerable skill , who possess voices of excellent quality , the opportunities hitherto afforded for tho display of their talent have been so fewthat many

ac-, complished artists have been condemned to comparative obscurity , whose abilities amply qualified them to contribute , in a high degree , to the intellectual enjoyment of the musical world . The first work of the kind , to bo produced on Monday next , will be entitled Jessy Lea , and is the joint production of Mr . John Oxenford and Mr . G . A . Macfarren . The combination of two such distinguished names is an assurance that the highest talent

has been selected for the inauguration of , it is hoped , a new era in onr musical annals . The artistes engaged for the experiment are Miss Edith Wynne , Miss Poole , Mr . AAllliamson , and Mr . Whiffin , whilst Air . Walter Macfarren will -preside at the pianoforte . Whilst wishing Mr . Reed every success in his new enterprise , we hope that we are not altogether to lose the delightful entertainments of himself , his accomplished wife , and Mr . Parry .

The Week.

THE WEEK .

THE COURT . —Her Majesty left Balmoral on Tuesday on her return to Windsor , where , with the younger members of the Royal family , she arrived on Wednesday . The Prince and Princess Louis of Hesse took their departure from the Highlauds on the previous day , but their Royal Highnesses halted at Edinburgh , where they remained for the night . The Crown

Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia are apparently prolonging their stay in Scotland . Their Royal Highnesses left Aberdeen on Monday for Gordon Castle , Elgin , on a visit to the Duke of Richmond . It is semi-officially announced that the Princess of AVales may be expected to become a mother in March next . The Prince of Wales and Prince Christian of

Denmark visited Newmarket on Tuesday to see the Cambridgeshire Stakes run for . The Prince of Wales has accepted the Presidentship of the Society of Arts , an office held by tbe late-Prince Consort . Iu a letter to the Council , his Royal Highness says he trusts that as their president he " may be bettor abie to promote that great and beneficent object which his dear

father had at heart , and in which he was so zealously supported by the Society . " GENERAL HOME NEWS . —The mortality of London continues to be very high . Small-pox declines hut slowly ; the other fatal diseases maintain their predominance . The deaths last week amounted to 1216 , which is 58 beyond the amount given by the

calculated average of the last ten years . To counterbalance the mortality it appears that the birth-rate is also high : 1951 children were born last week , which is 62 above the estimated average . Earl Powis has been elected High Steward of the University of Cambridge in room of the late Lord Lyndhurst .