The Event Of The Week.

1888 . The Festival was held under peculiar circumstances , and the outlook appeared most gloomy , but the clouds have been swept away , aud , thanks to the untiring exertions of the Secretary , Bro . James Terry , and the Board of Stewards he was able to

secure in support of the Chairmanship of Sir George Elliot , we have a result which fully deserves all the encomiums which can be jmssed upon it . As an immediate effect we venture to think there is yet a ray of hope for some , at least , of the many candidates who will be unable to succeed in winning one of the vacancies which will be competed for at the next election .

The Consecration of the Argonauts' Lodge , No . 2243 , restricted to members of Rowing Clubs , -will take place at tbe Cromwell Hall , Putney Bridge Road , Putney , S . W ., on Monday , the 12 th iustant , at 4 p . m . Bro . Eugene Montennis P . M . P . G . S . is the W . M . designate , Brothers

J . C . Radford P . M . and J . F . Savory the Wardens designate . The Ceremonies of Consecration and Installation will be performed by Y . W . Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary of England ; assisted by Bros . E .

Letchworth P . G . D . as S . W ., R . H . Thrupp P . G . A . D . C . as J . W ., G . W . Weldon G . Chap , as Chaplain , Frank Richardson P . G . D . as Dir . of Cers ., J H . Matthews P . G . Std . B . as I . G . Gordon Smith W . M . 2041 is ] the Sec . pro tem .

Three candidates for the eleven vacancies in the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , which will be filled by the Election on the 14 th April , hail from Devon , viz ., from St . John ' s Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter ( also No . 710 , Totnes ) :

Sincerity Lodge , No . 189 , Storehouse ; and the Devon Lodge , No . 1138 , Newton Abbott . There are two also from Cornwall : —St . Martin ' s Lodge , No . 510 , Liskeard , and Fowey Lodge , No . 977 , Fowey . It will not be at all

an easy task to secure one for each county out of the total of five candidates on election day , but doubtless the local managers will succeed , as they usually do . The average subscriptions at the Festivals from Cornwall during the

last seven year 3 amount to £ 288 per annum , while those from Devon run up to £ ^ 31 , but as the sums to be received in annuities und grants for 1888 exceed , £ 400 and £ 1100

respectively , for those two counties , it is evident that it will require very large contributions from local brethren and Lodges to meet the fair claims that these Institutions have on Devon and Cornwall Masonically .

As wnl be seen by an advertisement in another column , the proprietors of the Holborn Resturant have made preparations for the entertainment of any brethren who , prior

to the meeting of Grand Lodge , on Wednesday next , may desire to dine , and no donbfc their resources will be put to the test by brethren from the Provinces , or those in London who cannot leave their business until a late hour .

It is not necessary for us to dilate on the capabilities of this establishment , justly described as " one of the sights of London . " It has a reputation throughout the country , and its managers evince their desire to meet the wishes of

patrons when , on occasions such as Wednesday next , they make a departure from their ordinary routine , with tbe view of offering greater facilities than are usually afforded , even by them .

We are extremely glad to hear that " Frankenstein" has " caught on" at the Gaiety to snch an extent that it is likely to prove as great a success as "Monte Cristo" and "Little Jack Sheppard . " Tbe house is absolutely full night after night , there not being a seat to be

had a short time after commencing . We need hardly add that this success is doe to the way in which the principals have worked the business up , while all co-operate with a will that can gain but one verdict—approval .

On Wednesday next will be produced , at Tool »' s Theatre , a new and original comedy , in three acts , entitled " The Don , " by Mr . and Mrs . Herman Merivale . Mr . J . L . Toole will be supported by the

following ladies and gentlemen . '—Messrs . Billington , E . W . Gardiner , C . M . Lown » , Anbrey Boucicault , C . H . BruntoD , F . Montague , George Sbeltou , W . Brunton , C . Payno Silk ; Misses Kate Phillips , Marie Linden , Violet Vanbrugh , and Imily Thorne .

When Mrs . Bernard Beere gives up management afc the Opera Comi qne Theatre , in August , Mr . F . J . Harris will resume control , producing comic operas , the first of which will be called " Carina , " compoaed by Julia Woolf , libretto by Messrs . E . L . Blanchard and Cunningham Bridgman .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . FRANCIS BUCKLAND . We regret to hear of the death of Bro . Francis Buckland , solicitor , who practised in London and Kington-on-Thames . Deceased was " made" in the Lodge

of Israel ; on taking up his residence at Kingston , be joined the Dobio Lodge , 889 , and Chapter , of which in due time he became P . M . and P . Z . respectively . He was the last surviving founder of the

Brownrigg Lodge , 1638 , first held at Thames Ditton , but removed to Kingston ; and both in Craft and At eh worked in a way which excited the admiration of all . Bro . Buckland ' s health compelled him to retire from practice , and two years ago he went to Southsea to live , but passed to and fro to visit the Kingston Lodges as often sis

he was able . His last working was in September 1880 , when he installed Bro . John Drewett , as W . M . of 1 G 3 S , and soon after , on resignation of membership , he was elected an honorary member of the Brownrigg , in recognition of past services . Since tho opening of the year , Bro . Buckland's malady ( dropsy ) grew upon him , and on the 22 nd ultimo he passed away . His last days were cheered bv visits of brethren from Kingston , and bv his

own desire his body was brought up to be buried at Kingston , in their midst . The funeral took place on Saturday last , and in spite of the bitterly cold wind there was an assembly of from fifty to sixty , representing tho

Lodges in which Bro . Buckland was well known aud highly respected . On behalf of the Brownrigg Lodge , the W . M . ( Bro . G . Moorman ) placed a beautiful floral device

upon tbe coffin , and tbe well known emblem was carried by every brother present . Bro . W . Lane , P . M . of 16-38 , conducted the funeral . Our deceased brother was

fifryfive years of age . BRO . J . C . COLLINGRIDGB . Another worthy Craftsman has departed this life , in the person of Bro . J . C . Collingridge , who was for many years a member of the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , and of the Joppa Chapter , No . 188 . Our deceased brother was well

known and respected , both in Islington , where he resided , and in Clerkenwell , where his place of business was located .

Norths And Hunts.

NORTHS AND HUNTS .

HPHE Freemasons of the Province of Norths and Hunts held a ball - *• in the Northampton Town Hall , on Monday evening , tbe 13 th ult ., and the gathering was the most brilliant that h . is been held in the Province for a number of years . The last invitatiou Masonio Ball was held on the 25 th January 1872 , at tho Corn

Exchange , whioh waa elaborately decorated for the occasion , and the number present was 470 . A return ball followed , at the Peacock Hotel , and was well attended . The previous gathering of a similar character was held on the 26 th January 1843 , and that was followed by a return ball , at the Angel Hotel , which proved very successful .

The ball of Monday evening was under the patronage of Bros , the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . the Earl of Rosslyn P . G . M . of Scotland , Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., Ex-Lord Mayor of London , P . M . P . G . W . Eog ., M > ijor Cook P . G . Assist . D . C . Eng ., Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke Gruud Secretary

Eng ., Butler Wilkins D . P . G . M . Norths and Hunts Past Graud Standard Bearer Eng ., W . Well , J . P ., P . M . 442 P . P . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts , Lord Lilford 607 , E . P . Monckton , J . P ., 463 , the Hon . and Rev . C . J . Vernon 607 , the Rev . F . M . Stopford P . M . 607 , the Hon . J . Powya W . M . 607 , J . A . S . Bouverie F . M . 3601911 P . P . S . G . W ., Major

Sandys 1911 , Major F . C . Turner 1911 . The decorations of the large room , and indeed throughout , were strikingly pretty and effective , and reflect credit on the firm of Messrs . Smith Bros ., and Mr . Alfred Smith , by whom the work was superintended . Tbe corridor downstairs was tastefully adorned , and at the entrance was a trollis-woik

porch . Large fir trees and several sbrnba also lined the front vestibule . The upper corridor was also treated with great decorative taste . The Council Chamber was used as a smoke-room , and an ante-room adjoining was set out as an oyster buffet . This was supplied by Messrs . Brown and Co ., of George Row , aud was under the

superintendence of Mr . Dongworth . Light refreshments were " served in n portion of the old reading-room , and the remainder and the old Museum-room were used as supper rooms . Mr .- > . Forth , of the Peacock Hotel , was entrusted with the catering , aud the tables were prettily decorated and set out with choice viauds of a varied

character . Although the invitations were eaid to be limited to 200 , it waa found necessary to issue a much larger number of tickets , aud the company numbered nearly 250 . Daucing , which commenced at nine o ' clock , wa 3 kept up till between four and five o ' clock in the morn , jng , Bro . Nicholson ' s Baud played an excellent aud well-selected programme of dance music .