New Masonic Bodies.

a most prosperous condition , and its gains have been larger during the past few years than ever before in the history of the institution in this country . In New York the membership is over one hundred thousand , and its financial strength is very great . This is in the aggregate . There are a number

of weak Lodges , whose organisation was a mistake , for they have maintained a struggling existence . We have recently been struck with the refusal of some Grand Masters to grant dispensations for the formation of new Lodges , using the arguments in some cases that the territory in which the

Lodges were proposed to be established was not sufficiently populous to justify the expectation that a Lodge could be properly supported ; and in other cases , that the formation of new Lodges would weaken those whose territorial jurisdiction would be affected by them .

There are too many small , weak Lodges in the country , and it certainly is unwise to increase their number . In some jurisdictions , until very recently , there was a number of Lodges whose representatives to the Grand Lodge drew from the treasury of the Grand Body a larger sum for

mileage and per diem than they paid into it . This has necessarily a weakening influence , and is an unfair taxation of the healthy to support or keep alive the unhealthy . This condition became so obnoxious as to call for legislation forbidding any Lodge to draw from the treasury of the Grand Lodge a greater sum than it contributed .

There are two things to be considered in the formation of a new Lodge : First , does the locality promise a selfsustaining body ? Second , will the organisation of a new Lodge be an injury to those already working in the neighbourhood ? The mere convenience of a few Brethren should

not enter into the matter at all ; neither should the ambition of some to hold office , or to be considered as the " father " of a Lodge influence " the powers that be" to grant a dispensation . There is no credit in establishing a weak Lodge , any more than there is in planting a dwarfed , half dead , scrub oak .

We are glad to know that the greatest care is being exercised in all grand jurisdictioms in investigating the country in which the petitioners for new Lodges reside , and the motives for desiring to form them . — New York Masonic Standard . "

* # * ## * # * # ** ### * ### Quarterly Convocation of Grand Chapter of England will be held on Wednesday next , when the business as set out in the agenda we published last week will be dealt with .

********** Some interesting particulars and illustrations of the new Chapter Room for the Grand Chapter of Scotland are given in the '' Building News " of the 27 th ult . The double page illustration of the interior impresses one with the beauty and usefulness of the new building .

** ******** The sad sea waves are no longer sad ! Our cheerful Bro . Charlie Collette , who is travelling round the south coast , has set them all a ' smiling . His performances of " What Happened

to Jones , " his revivals of " My awful Dad , " and his own world-renowned farce " Cryptoconchoidsyphonostomata " are drawing crowded houses everywhere . His coast tour extends from Great Yarmouth to Torquay . Next week he and the races will be the chief holiday attractions at Bri ghton .

Books Reveived.

BOOKS REVEIVED .

1 ne Uisciple . By Paul Bourget .--T . Fisher Unwin . The Mystery of Mr . Bernard Brown . By E . Phillips Oppenheim . Illustrated ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Ltd . The Seven Houses . By Hamilton Drummond . Illustrated by A . Forcstier ( 6 s ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited .

********* # * # * # *** # LIVING in one of the most picturesque and interesting suburbs of the great metropolis we take especial interest in any effort made to render it better known and more popular-, and accordingly wc are pleased to refer to the effort of Bro . Richard Anderson in this

direction . He has had three pretty views taken of Hadley Church and Hadley Woods and these , together with photographs of the interior and exterior of the Hadley Hotel—of which he is the proprietor—he proposes to have on exhibition at the Great Northern

terminus at Kings Cross , Broad Street and other stations from whence frequent trains run to New Barnct Station , which is within a mile of his establishment . The three views selected by Bro . Anderson should be enough to tempt the lover of nature to pay a

Books Reveived.

visit to the famous Wood and the very interesting old Church at Hadley , with its beacon still standing , and likely to be again used , in connection with the state ceremonial of the coronation in June next , as it was on each of the Jubilee celebrations of the late Queen . *** *******

OWING to the popularity of their present arrangements the New Palace Steamers , Ltd ., have decided not to make any material alteration in their Bank Holiday sailings . The Palace Steamers " Royal Sovereign " and ' Koh-i-noor " will sail at their usual times from Old Swan Pier to Southend , Margate and Ramsgate , the latter vessel doing her popular Husbands' Boat trip to Margate- to-day

( Saturday ) . " La Marguerite"' will sail her usual trips to Margate on Saturday and Sunday , 3 rd and 4 th inst ., and to Boulogne and back on Bank Holiday Monday . On this date the summer fetes at Boulogne commence ; horse racing , and jail kinds of continental gala amusements will be in full swing , making an extra attraction at this

already most attractive watering place . A very pleasant stay can be made from the Monday to Wednesday . The trip to Calais and back on Thursdays is steadily increasing in popularity with the London , Southend and Margate trippers , they evidently appreciating a visit to this French port ( which is of such historic interest to Englishmen ) together with the popular times of sailing .

********** THOSE of our readers who make use of the excellent service ot the Belle Steamers would do well to send for the Company ' s official guide , which will be sent post free . The guide contains much interesting and useful information of a descriptive character concerning the daily trips to the various ports where the famous Belle Steamers call ; it is admirably illustrated throughout , and

has also a capital map of the route . We would specially direct the attention of our readers to the development of Clacton , Walton , Felixstowe , and Southwold made by this Company . On Friday next 100 plots of vialuable Freehold Building Land at Southwold will be offered at auction by their direction , and should find a ready sale . Further particulars may be had of the Coast Development Company , Limited , 33 Walbrook , E . C .

********** THK attention of our readers is directed to the special cheap excursions which the Midland Railway Company have arranged , leaving St . Pancras at 11 . 20 a . m . for five consecuth'e Saturdays

commencing 10 th August . Two classes of tickets will be issued , one available for eight days , and the other for sixteen days . Special facilities will be granted to the excursionists for combining a tour to the Trossachs , Loch Katrine , Loch Lomond , the Clyde and Crinan Canal , & c .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — AVENUE . 3 . 30 , The Night of the Party . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . 30 . COURT . S , The Sorrows of Satan . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . DALY'S . 8 . 15 , San Toy . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . 30 . GAIETY . 8 , Toreador . Matinee . Wednesday , 2 .

GLOBE . 8 , H . M . S . Irresponsible . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2 . 30 . Gr . QUEEN STREET . 8 . 15 , A royal betrothal . 9 , Charley ' s Aunt . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . LYRIC . 8 , The Silver Slipper . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . 30 . PRINCE OF WALES . 8 , A Previous Engagement . 8 . 45 , The Man

from Blankley s . Matinee , Saturday , 3 . SAVOY . 8 . 15 , The Emerald Isle . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . 30 . SHAFTESBURY . 8 . 30 , Japanese Plays . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . 30 . VAUDEVILLE . 8 , You and I . 9 , Sweet and Twenty . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . WYNDHAM'S . S . 30 , My Bachelor Past .

GRAND . Next week , 7 . 45 , The Trumpet Call . SURREY . Next week , 7 . 45 , Mysteries of London . ALHAMBRA . 7 . 45 , Variety Entertainment , The Gay City , Inspiration , & c . AQUARIUM . Varied performances , World ' s Great Show , & c . CANTERBURY . 8 , Variety Entertainment .

EMPIRE . S , Variety Entertainment . Les Papiilons , & c . LONDON PAVILION . 7 . 45 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2 . 30 also . METROPOLITAN . 8 , Variety Entertainment . OXFORD . 8 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday 2 . 15 also . PALACE . 7 . 45 , Variety Entertainment . American Biograph , & c .

ROYAL . 7 . 45 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2 . 30 also . TIVOLI . 7 . 30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2 . 15 also . CRYSTAL PALACE . Varied attractions daily . Grand Naval and Military Exhibition . Fireworks every Thursday and Saturday . EARL'S COURT . Military Exhibition .

EGYPTIAN HALL . 3 and 8 , Mr . J . N . Maskelyne ' s entertainment . LONDON HIPPODROME . 2 and S , Varied attractions . MADAME TUSSAUD'S ( Baker Street Station ) . Open daily . Portrait models of modern celebrities , & c . POLYTECHNIC . 3 , Our Navy .

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