Round And About.

master-General and the Deputy Grand Master , Lords Londesborough , Halsbury , Hardwicke , and Arthur Sullivan . Whilst " In Court" you find Messrs . Irving , Bancroft , and Toole , " G . A . S ., " Edward Samson , Major U A . G ., " "Atlas , " Doctor Russell , F . Lockwood , Q . C ., and Sir Edward Clarke .

* * * Bro . A . M . Broadley lives in one of the sweetest Bohemian houses I have ever met with . The Arabesque music-room , in which from time to time everybody who is anybody has smoked the calumet of peace , is luxuriously fitted in all the magnificence of Eastern art , and of its kind is perhaps one of the quaintest

rooms in London . Mr . Broadley knows everybody who is worth knowing , and is himself a perfect society polvglot . He it was who defended Arabi Pacha—not by force of arms , but by force of legal acumen—and trave'led the world over . His " pen pictures " are amongst the most brilliant gems of journalism this generation has

seen , and his knowledge of men and things is profound . He was Ambassador-Director-Superintendent-in-Chief of his friend Augustus Harris ' s nomination for the Grand Treasurership , which is an excellent instance of his power of organisation . His manner is persuasive in the extreme , his sharpness is equal to a packet of the

finest Nottingham needles , and his visionary powers have been known to be equal to a brick wall five feet thick . We have bearded this lion of interviewers in his den , and he will appear as one of our " Eminent Masons " in the coming year .

* * * Between writing the last paragraph and this , I have been reading " Essays on Life" in the Universal Review , and can hardly disconnect these " Essays " with my own experience . How selfish a bachelor ' s existence is 1 Here in my room is not a sound except the occasional fall of a cinder from the grate , the church bell

chiming out the early hours of the morning , and the swishing of the acacia tree—extraordinary coincidence—swayed by the frozen wind against the walls outside the house . Around my table I " fancy " faces which I shall not see again , and on the wall is the beautiful little canvas of a sacred spot poor H . H . painted ,

while I chatted with the lame old sexton at the Lodge , that morning in June , before he got swallowed up in the whirlpool of life . Opposite to me sits J . B . Cumberland , as I knew him when we rowed races on the dirty Cam together . " One is taken and the other is left , " but hanging behind me is the pair of T . B .

Hardy ' s sea-pieces he made me accept when I visited his rooms last I often wonder whether any inborn , unspoken presentiment prompted that gift . Then—but there are too many to remember , except by good deeds and kind wishes . Myself and me will fill our pipe from the pouch some fairy hand has " worked " upon , and put our feet where our feet have a right to be . We will puff clouds of smoke

over the photographs that cover every inch of the mantelpiece , and drink in a moderate " nightcap '' peace and contentment to all the world . Perhaps our chair and that cushion will invite us to sleep . What if we slept on till Christmas morn , and woke in time for the Christmas bells and the dear , dear Christmas dinner at home ? Well ,

we should then—as now—thank you , for everything thanks are due . We—myself and me—would wish you a happy Christmas and a prosperous and glad New Year , and we would ask in return nothing but a continuance of the approbation every one has showered upon us this six months past .

THE DRUID . At a recent meeting the members of Duncombe Ledge , Kingsbridge , decided on building a Lodge in Duncombe-street , and the site for the Lodge will be purchased of Mr . George Hooper , builder , the

architect being Mr . R . Watson . The Masons have felt the necessity of a Lodge for some years , and it has been the practice ever since the formation to hold the meetings at their room in the King ' s Arms Hotel . But Duncombe Lodge being almost the only remaining one in the three western counties that holds its meetings in a publichouse , the desire for a change is apparent . It is hoped to finish the work by May next .

Masonic Mems.

Masonic Mems .

On the 4 th ult . Bro . James Beveridge , of the Adelphi Theatre , was installed as Master of the Lodge of Asaph , the members of which consist principally of musicians and actors . Bro . George Fairchild , the outgoing Master , performed the ceremony . Presiding afterwards at the banquet , and proposing the toast , Bro . Beveridge referred to the fact that a professor of the dramatic art , and a

Past Master of the Asaph Lodge , Bro . Edward Terry , held the high Masonic office of Grand Treasurer of English Freemasons . As a proof of the interest actors had long taken in Freemasonry , he cited a passage from a book 150 years old , which had come into his hands , and which stated that in 1731 , amongst many

good effects arising from a renovation of Masonry , which had then fallen into rather low water , the theatre experienced its share . Masons , it said , were in general , warm friends of

the drama , which they deemed essential to the cause of virtue , and as charity was one of their leading principles , they constantly devoted the profits arising from one night ' s performance at the theatre every season towards the relief of their distressed and indigent brethren . At this time , however , 173 1 , their

laudable zeal carried them so far as to make them bespeak the tragedy of " Cato , '' then remarkably popular , the male characters of which were all performed by Gentlemen Masons ; the prices were advanced , and so crowded and brilliant an audience had never at that time been seen in this kingdom . The same book also stated

that an actor , named Griffiths , was Grand Secretary , and his great efforts in restoring Freemasonry to its pristine glory in Dublin were rewarded with a benefit , at which the Grand Master and Grand Officers in Masonic regalia attended , and the quaint old book added that Griffiths " thereby derived great profit . "

* * * On Wednesday , the 6 th ult ., the installation of the Alliance Lodge of Freemasons was held at the Guildhall Tavern . Bro . Henry Clarke , C . C ., the retiring Master , occupied the chair , being well supported by the several officers and a large number of visitors . Sir John B . Monckton , as usual , performed the installation

ceremony in a most admirable and impressive manner , and the new Master ( Lieutenant-Colonel J . Werry Godfrey , P . M . ) then appointed his officers . Bro . Edwin F . Fitch received the collar of Senior

Warden , Bro . F . S . Jackson that of Junior Warden , Bro . Scott was appointed Senior Deacon , Colonel Wilde , Junior Deacon , and Bro . Secondary Roderick , Inner Guard . # * # On the 7 th ult . the brethren of Sunderland , representing all the Lodges in the town , gave one of their social entertainments in the

Masonic Hall , Park-terrace , under the patronage of the Prov . G . M ., Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart ., and Lady Williamson , Canon Tristram and Mrs . Tristram , the Mayor and Mayoress , and Colonel Gourley , M . P . The proceeds were to aid the furnishing fund for the Masonic Ward in the Hartley Memorial Wing , Sunderland

Infirmary . There was a very large gathering of the brotherhood and lady friends . The result will be a large addition to the Masonic Ward Fund , for through the liberality of a few well-known members of the Craft , all the expenses were met by them , and the total income will go direct to the fund . ? * *

On Sunday morning , the 10 th ult ., the centenary of the Lodge of Harmony , Huddersfield , was celebrated , when about 400 or 500 members of various Lodges in the West Riding province attended divine service at Huddersfield Parish Church . They met at the Masonic Hall , South Parade , and walked from thence in procession to the church . Masonic clothing was worn , and the weather being

fine a large number of people witnessed the procession . The officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the West Riding brought up the rear . They were headed by the Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . T . W . Tew ( who was preceded by a sword-bearer , and supported by the two standard-bearers ) , and Bro . Henry Smith , Deputy Provincial Grand Master .