The Queens Long Reign.

THE QUEENS LONG REIGN .

THE Brethren of Scarborough having decided to celebrate the Jubilee by installing the electric light in the Hospital and Dispensary as a special gift , gave an entertainment in aid of the same Institution on the 26 th ult . The Theatre Koyal had been placed at the disposal of the committee by Bro . H . Mayhew , and the building was crowded in every part at special prices ,

amongst the seat-holders being the Mayor and Mayoress . The first part of the programme consisted of a concert , which was opened by Bro . B . Bent , with a splendid rendering of" The Longshoreman . " Bro . F . A . White followed very successfully with the song " Is your Mammie always with you . " A recitation by

Bro . G . B . Boyle was well received . Mrs . W . Peacock sang very sweetly " Marguerite , " and Bro . C . G . Broadwood ended the concert with a splendid rendering of Franco Lionie ' s " Stars . " Brother J . S . Parker acted as accompanist . The second part of the programme consisted of the ever-popular comedy drama , in

three acts , by Tom Taylor , " Still Waters Eun Deep . " The piece was excellently staged , and the characters were well taken by the following ladies and gentlemen : —Mr . Potter , Bro . Charles B . Bradley ; Captain Hawksley , Bro . John Whitehead ; John

Mildmay , Bro . H . Mayhew ; Dunbilk , Bro . W . Ascough ; Langford Bro . G . W . Tiudall ; Markham , Bro . E . Bent ; Gimlet , Bro . F A . White ; Jessop , Bro . T . Whitehead ; Servant , Bro . W Wildon ; Mrs . Mildmay , Miss Emilie Ornstein ; Mrs . Sternhold Mrs . H . Mayhew .

ABEANGEMENTS for commemorating upon a befitting scale the Queen ' s long reign have been made under the auspices of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Nottinghamshire . The proceedings , which are to take place on Thursday , the 24 thinst ., will be participated in by representatives of the Craft from all

parts of , Nottinghamshire , as well as from several distant Provinces . The members are to assemble at 10 . 45 a . m . on the date mentioned , at the Albert Hall , Nottingham , and , wearing Masonic clothing , will walk in procession to St . Mary ' s Church . '

The sermon is to be preached by the "Very Eev . the Dean of York , Dr . Purey Oust . It has been decided to devote the offertory to the Jubilee Fund for the General Hospital , inaugurated in his capacity as Lord-Lieutenant of the County by his Grace the Duke of St . Albans Provincial Grand Master of

Nottinghamshire . Upon the conclusion of the service , the procession having been reformed will return to the Albert Hall , where luncheon is to be partaken of , during its progress music being supplied by the band of the Eobin Hood Eifies . At five o ' clock a couversazione is to take place at the Castle , where one

hour will be devoted to the formal reception of members and their guests , the band of the Eobin Hoods playing during that period . For the delectation of the company until 11 a very interesting programme has been arranged . From six until eight the Forester Glee singers and the Court Carl Pierrot Quartette are to render

vocal selections . Mr . Ben Greet ' s dramatic company has been specially engaged to give an open air performance of Shakespeare ' s pastoral play , " A Midsummer Night ' s Dream . " At 10 the Castle and its grounds are to be illuminated , and the subsequent hour

there will be further instrumental and vocal selections . The function , which it is hoped to render memorable in a record year , will conclude with the singing of the National Anthem and a simultaneous discharge of a large number of rockets . — " Nottingham Guardian . "

A MASONIC service was held at All Saint ' s Church , Aldershot , . on Friday , 28 th ult ., to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee , and will long be remembered by all who took part in it . It would be difficult to imagine a service more solemn or more picturesque than that to which Colonel John Davis , A . D . C .,

P . D . G . D . C . England Worshipful Master , and the Brethren of the Army and Navy Lodge , No . 1971 , invited a large number of friends . The service was arranged for five o ' clock , but an hour before that time the congregation commenced to arrive , and by half-past four there was scarcely a vacant seat , except those which were set apart for the Masons themselves .

The band of the 2 nd Eifle Brigade , under the direction of Mr . Connor , were early in their place , and in the interval before the service they played some exquisite music . One selection that

was specially admired was the incidental music to " Henry V , " which was sent over from Berlin by General Swaine . The " War march of the priests " and "The Holy City " were also given with rare excellence .

After this a fanfare of trumpets sounded , and the procession of Masons in the regalia of the Craft , preceded by their banners borne aloft by their bearers , was seen slowly advancing up the church . First came the Camp Lodge , followed by the Army and

Navy Lodge , with their three banners , presented by Past Masters , and another of black and yellow , presented by Mrs . Newcome in memory of the late Major Newcome . Next came the Provincial Grand Lodge , with the Provincial Grand Master

The Queens Long Reign.

Bro . W . W . Beach , M . P ., in the rear . On entering the church the juniors passed in first , and formed two lines , through which the seniors passed . As the last part of the procession advanced the sun shone through the windows with dazzling brightness , and the scene was strikingly brilliant . It illumined the delicate white and green foliage plants , bright-hued pelargoniums , and feathery white spireas , in the chancel . The banners grouped on either

side of the chancel added to the general effect . In the body of the church there were the Masons , with their bands of purple , blue , and gold , on sombre black , with the scarlet and gold of the uniforms of military Masons , and visiting Brethren from Panmure Lodge , Farnborough , and North Camp , St . Andrew ' s , Farnham , and Border Lodge , Blackwater . Ladies in light-coloured gowns and hats crowned with the brightest of summer flowers added further attraction to the scene .

Once the service had commenced these details were unheeded . Throughout it was exceedingly simple , but deeply impressive . The Eev . J . Blackbourne conducted the service . The Eev . H . ' T . Coney read the prayers , and the sermon was preached by the Eev . F . B . N . Norman Lee , chaplain to the forces at Gosport . Before the sermon a special hymn in commemoration of the Queen ' s long reign , by the Eev . H . D . Eawnsley , was sung .

The preacher , having spoken of the beauty of Solomon s temple , said that now they were no longer engaged in the construction of a material temple , but they had a grander Lodge and Master than even Solomon himself in all his glory . They were engaged in the construction and adornment of the grandest of all temples that had ever been designed on earth . He meant

the temple of piety and purity , that Lodge of Brotherhood and universal charity . If Jesus was their keystone they would be built up , to use St . Peter ' s Masonic imagery , " Living stones unto a Holy Temple . " Living stones , yes , once simple unpolished rough ashlars on the tessalated pavement of this world , but how squared and polished under the hand of the

great Master Builder , daily being tried and fitted , and squaring their lives by the undeviating conduct laid down in the saered law , by justness and uprightness of life and action , by prayer to the great Architect , by remembering that all their actions were noted in His book , and by profiting by the example of the truth , the devotion , the unshaken fidelity of their Grand Master , who

was no unfitting type of Him who had suffered death upon the Cross . On that special occasion he could not but remember what , when he considered it , almost overwhelmed him , the fulness , beauty , and divine excellence of their Order of Freemasonry . It was no secret society this . All that was done in secret was good work , divine charity , and almsgiving . When

they saw what it meant if they were true Masons , how they were raised through the various degrees , was it not typical of what was done for them by Christ , who had come on earth and entered into Heaven to prepare that Grand Lodge for them . And knowing this did it not make them feel what manner of men did Masons need to be . On that historic day he could not

but remember that bishops , cardinals , kings , and princes had been proud to lay aside the mitre and the sceptre for the plane and chisel . They welcomed in their ranks the noblest blood of the land , the noble princes of the realm . Another thought which came to him was the thought of that day when the blessing of the church was laid upon the maiden Queen set to rule over this

mighty Empire . Did they remember the first royal command of their Gracious Queen , when she said to the Duchess of Kent , " Mother , I wish to be alone . " He would make bold to say that as she knelt alone God came to that young Queen , and when she asked for wisdom , purity , and the light to rule her people wisely , God gave her power and riches and honour

besides . He could not speak then of the strides the Empire had made in those sixty years , but of the strides that Masonry had made he would speak briefly . In 1837 there were in England 643 Lodges . That day there were 2 , 200 . That did not include the Independent Lodges that had been founded in their colonies in Canada , Nova Scotia , and Australasia . In 1837 their Grand

Lodge of Hampshire had eighteen Lodges . To-day there were forty-eight . 260 boys and 260 girls were being educated in their schools , and during the year £ 60 , 000 had been spent in charity . Yet there was still room in their ranks . What they did in secret was to relieve the fatherless and widows . The qualifications for Masons were that they should be of mature

age , sound judgment , and strict moral character . In conclusion he asked their alms for the Aldershot Hospital . Here was an opportunity . The hospital had the support and approval of the Duke of Con naught , and he asked them to show their thankfulness for the great and glorious reign of Her Majesty by helping

to alleviate the suffering of those around them . He prayed that the Great Architect of all would prosper all their work , not only for the good of mankind but to His own honour and glory . He prayed that God would bless their Queen , the Grand Lodge , and Provincial Grand Lodge , and especially their own Lodge , who watched over her sons with loving care when they were serving