Metropolitan Masonic Benevolent Association.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION .

THE annnal meeting of this Association was held on Friday , the 27 th ult ., at the Portugal Hotel , Fleet Street , when Bro . J . R . Stacey P . M . 180 was re-appointed President of the Association , Bro . J . While P . M . Vice-President , and ton other brethren members of the Committee , with Bro . W . W . Snelling S . D . 1541 Secretary .

Bro . Snelling announced that he had received on account , of the Association subscriptions amonnting altogether to £ 1642 Os 10 d , and that he had paid over to the Royal Masonio Benevolent I stition for Aeed Masons' Fund £ 482 10 s , and to the Widows' Fnnd the sum of £ 316 7 s ; to tbe Royal Masonio Institution for Boys £ 341 5 s ;

and to the Royal Masonio Institution for Girls the sum of £ 393 15 s . Affer providing for expenses of printing and postage tho sum of £ 80 12 s 8 d remained in bank towards ballots already drawn . By means of this useful Association brethren and their friends may become Life Subscribers or Life Governors of the various Masonic

Charities , by payment of the small snm of 4 s per month . We strongly recommend all brethren who are not Life Subscribers or Governors to become sneh through the medium of this or a s ' milar Ass cintinn . Bro . Snelling will be pleased to forward Prospectus and Bye-Laws of his Association to any one making application for the same .

A Masonic conversazione , in connection with the Province of Surrey , is arranged to take place on Thursday evening next , at the Assembly Rooms , Greyhound Hotel , High Street , Croydon , and extensive preparations are being

made to ensure a numerous and successful gathering . The affair is under the patronage of the Provincial Grand Master of the Province ( R . W . Brother General J . S . Brownrigg , C . B . ) and Mrs . Brownrigg , and many of the

officers of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodges , and the Committee is headed by Brother F . West P . M . and Treasurer 1328 as Chairman , with Brother J . D . Langton P . M . No . 1 as Treasurer , and Brother C . H . Woodward

P . P . G . W . P . P . G . N . Surrey as Secretary . We hear that there is already a large demand for tickets , and a very strong p-atherinof of the leading Masons of the Province and their lady friends is confidently anticipated . A most attractive programme is in course of preparation .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of Tho Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere "Works , Hermea Hill , Pentonville , London , IN .

Ye THarlie Englyshe Almanack , 1886 ; with a Treatyse on the Occult Science of Mesmerism , ThoughUBeadynge , and Seconde Syghte . London : Imprinted and solde by T . Pettitt and Co ., 23 Frith Street , Soho , W .

WE have before ns a third animal issue of this qnaint nnd nnique almanac , which , as its title implies , is got up after the old English style , and which displays many features of improvement over previous numbers . These are set forth in folk-lore manner in the editor's preface , which is itself a literary curiosity ,

and there is , moreover , a vein of dry humour running through the whole of the volnme , which is a perfect marvel of comprehensiveness , originality , and cheapness . There are anciente carols , and racy verses for certain festivals of the year , such ns St . Valentine ' s Day , the Annunciation

( the date nsunlly fixed for what are termed Lady-tide vestries ) , " Maye Daye , " Bank Holiday , & c , whilst interleaving the monthly calendars , are chapters on folk-lore , " old Englyshe" merriments , health notes , astronomical , meteorological and other observations ,

garden operations , and a host of other interesting subjects , all treated in a Chaucerian vein , and thus made doubly attractive . This almanack is quite an originality in its way , and should command a very extensive circulation .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Vaudeville . — " Loyal Lovers , " a comedy in four acts , from the French play , " Voyage de M . Perrichon , " was presented here , with success , on Wednesday afternoon last . A cockney tradesman , who has amassed sufficient money to retire upon , goes on a tour to the Mer de Glace , his wife and youthful daughter accompanying him .

Two young friends , who are both in love with the fair daughter , also set out on a tour . They meet , make known to each other their intentions as regards the young lady , and both agree to conduct an honourable contest and win her as best he can . While on his travels one of these is lucky enough to save the father , old Coverham

( Mr . Thomas Thorne ) , from falling over a precipice ; he thus secures the sympathy of the family circle . The other , by pretending to fall down a dangerous precipice , gains to his side the old man , who is naturnlly proud of bis supposed achievement . Consequently onr young friend never tires of telling Coverham the boundless gratitude he owes him ' or his bravery in saving his life , aud in the end , as a

The Theatres, &C.

matter of course , secures the old man ' s daughter . Mr Thorne , in tho character of Coverham , is seen to perfection ; he keeps the house in continual roars of laughter . Miss Lavis took the part of Mrs . Coverham , while Misa Kate Rorke that of the daughter . Ifc is to be regretted such a powerful actress as Miss Kate Rorke should have

to play so insignificant a character ; there is little for her to say , atmf little to be done . The weakness of the piece , however , is in its want of female characters . Mr . Gardiner and Mr . Everard , the two lovers ,

played their parts with vigour and success . Mr . Mackintosh waa loudlv anplanded f - •• th « mann"r in which he portrayed the part of a retired French officer . We have no doubt the piece will soon take a place in the regular bill .

The Japanese Village . —The Japanese Village , which , until its destruction by fire a few months since proved a s / reat attraction to a large number of Londoners and visitors to tbe metropolis , has been rebuilt on its former site , and is now open , with similar but neatly extended claims for public favour . The new structure ia

indeed , a handsome and capricious range of buildings , constructed of brick nnd iron , and erected with every modern appliance to lessen the risk of fire . The familiar t . emplna and tea-hon ^ es in tbe new home gather around a Japanese garden , and th « work-shop * h-ive

been multiplied till the villaore has grown into the r * pre * enfat , nm o '' a tjoodly-sized town . It is an ill wind thathlow- * nohndv any . » ool , anl the public have profited by the destruction of th ^ former mini I'ur ' Japan in bavins ? substituted for it an amn ' irr soerc , bnsi ^ l with n < ri vnrietirs of this form of Oriental life than c > nld b .- cr > wd -d int . >

rtvprevious one , which , nevertheless , proved uucim'nnnlv invrnr . Amoni ? the natives there are a nnmher of new fao" - * . All , . if ¦ ' *> nir-. \ wear the qnaint dr ^ ss of their country , and look so impa ^ siv . ' . vhen sitting about unoccupied , that it is sometimes difficult to siy wheth-i

they were living persons or mearly tho counterfeit pre-i ^ ntme ^ 's thereof . Bat this is only one of the peculiarities of a drr . ^ nr . Oriental people , which find picturesque and vivid illustration in the new hall at Albert Gate .

Institute of Painters in Oil Colours—There are only a few really good pictures in this exhibition , and these are not , it is almost needless to add , by artists who have made a name . No . 87 , by T . R . Way , is a charming little picture , painted simply and finely , of an old French courtyard with the tvpieal French h' < u <"

with trreen blinds . Solomon J . Solom > n sen

distance , and the central figures are common-place and out of keeping . Possibly the best thing in the exhibition i * the " Portrait of my Mother , " No . 197 , by L . Bernard Hall , which is hung too high to allow of distinct appreciation . However , it looks very well there . The best landscape by a long way is that by Julius M . Price ,

" Blackwall , " No . 689 , a genuine London effect , red , struggling in faint bine , on the misty river , admirable in composition , tone and feeling , and painted with fine restraint . Mr . T . B . Kennington ' s " Fancy free , " No . 426 , is spirited , but rather too flourishing and loose both in drawing and painting . Mr .

Henry Moore ' s " After a Storm , " No . 372 , is wonderfully tine , but hard . We prefer this artist ' s " Moonlight , in the Channel , " No . 475 , which is quite as truthful and more broadly pointed . There are some clever genre pictures ; Nos . 7 , 125 , 364 , 518 , 535 , are all good

in their way , especially tbe last , by J . B . Clark , which is excellently painted . These are about the only pictures of real interest in the exhibition , which is on the average of very poor quality . There may be some other good works bidden away in corners but the search for them involves much trouble .

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STANMORE HILL , MIDDLESE X THI ABSRCORX HOTKI . 10 utiles from Marble Arch , by road . 2 mite » from Erfffivare Station , G . N . It . ' J $ miles from the Harrow Station , L . & N . W . B . 3 $ miles from Mill Mill Station , Midland Bailway . TDIS old established Hotel is very retired , healthy , and charmingly situated , it offers great inducements to private families , and a largo Assembly Room has lately been added for Meetings , JJallg , Wedding Breakfasts , Dinners , Masonic Lodges , Banquets , & c . Arrangements can bejnade for conveyances . CHARLE 3 VE-AI , Proprietor . The Abercom Lodge , 1549 ; Sub-TJrban Lodge , 1702 : and the Stanmore Chapter , are held here .

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INSTALLATION OF H . R . H , THE PRINCE OF WALES As the M . W . G . M . of England , AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 28 th APRIL 1875 . COPIES of this BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVING by Brother HARTY P . M ., consisting of Artist's Proofs , Proofs before Letters , and Lettered Proofs , India Prints , and Plain Prints may be bad at Cost Price byapplying to Bro . W . R . WORE IS , 29 Southampton Buildings , W . C , London .

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FUNERALS .--Bros . W . K . L . & G . A . HTJTTOW , Goran Makers and Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , "V / . C , and 7 Heme Villas , Forest HiU Road , Peckham Rye , S . E .