Notices Of Meetings.

Moody Secretary ; P . M . Bro . James Stevens ; Visitors—Bros . W . Ferguson , St . Mark ' s Lodge , S . Browne , J . Boulton , T . W . Headon , A . Hicks , J . Bumpirs and Keeble . Raised Bros . Gray and Crickmay ; Passed Bros . White , Bristow , Measures , Hicks , Durrant , MeNiven and Farmer ; Initiated Messrs . W . H . Rowe , J . Liscombo , C Lord , G . S .

Goodman , aud S . Benskin . Opened at 3 , closed 8 15 . Called off for i-efreshment at 5 " 45 , resumed at C-15 . Five propositions for Initiation were made . Another Emergency probably in June . Apologies for non-attendance were received from about twenty members .

Consecration Of The Priory Chapter, No. 1000, Southend.

CONSECRATION OF THE PRIORY CHAPTER , No . 1000 , SOUTHEND .

THIS Chapter , attached to ono of the most important Lodges m the Province of Essex , was consecrated in a most admirable manner on Saturday , 1 st May , at Middloton Hotel , Southend-on-Sea , by E . Comp . R . Wentworth Little P . Z ., Grand Scribe E . Middlesex , Secretary Girls' Masonic School , & c ., assisted by J . Percy Leith P . Z . P . G . 1 st Assistant Sojourner as acting H ., John Boyd P . Z . Prov . G . P .

Sojourner Middlesex as acting J ., and E . Comp . II . G . Buss P . Z . Prov . G . Treasurer ( Middlesex ) as Director of Ceremonies . There wore also present , in spite of the most inclement weather , and the opening of the Alexandra Palace , Comps . Rev . S . R . Wigram P . Z . 214 , Grand Chaplain of England , Col . Wilkinson P . Z . P . Prov . Sojourner-Cheshire , II . A . Dubois 132 fi Pro . G . D . C Middlesex , G . Cooper M . E . Z .

214 , J . H . Spencer 73 , Mason 73 , Willing jun . 177 , F . Dawson 188 , W . T . Christian 544 , C . Eltham 554 , W . Skilleter 829 , J . G . Marsh 975 , J . Green 975 , E . G . Phillips 379 , A . Lucking 1293 , Spencer R . Weston 7 , J . C . Johnstone , J . A . Wardell , Rev . H . J . Hatch , and T . W . Gower , all of 1293 , and W . T . Allen , Comp . Gilbert Janitor , & c . Comp . R . W . Little having opened tho Chapter according to ancient

form , the -Companions were marshalled and admitted in due precedence . The Petitioners were called upon to signify their approval of the officers named in the warrant , viz . Comps . Rev . S . R . Wigram Z ., E . G . Phillips H ., and A . Lucking J . This being unanimous , Comp . Little gave a very interesting address , and the Chapter was consecrated in a most impressive manner , most highly appreciated Toy

every one present . The installation of Principals was then proceeded with , after which the following Companions were duly elected to tho various offices , viz . Comps . S . R . Weston Treasurer , J . C Johnstone Scribe E ., Rev . H . J . Hatch Scribe N ., J . A . Wardell P . Sojourner , James Willing jun . 1 st Assistant Sojourner , J . W . Gower 2 nd Assistant Sojourner , E . B . Mountain Janitor . The musical arrangements were

ably conducted by Comp . F . Dawson . Comps . R . W . Little , J . Percy Leith , J . Boyd and II . G . Buss were unanimously elected honorary members of the Chapter . Several companions and brothers were nominated for joining and exaltation respectively at tho ensuing meeting , Wednesday , 12 th May . All Masonic business being finished , the companions adjourned to a splendid banquet provided by Bro .

F . Cantor , presided over by tho M . E . Z . The usual Loyal and Royal Arch toasts having been duly honoured , that of the Grand Officers being acknowledged by E . Comp . J . Percy Leith , the M . E . Z . proposed tho Masonic Charities , and allnded to the excellent manner the ceremonies had been performed , and the truly fraternal feeling always evinced by Comp . Little , Secretary of the Girls' School , in doing his

utmost for tho Craft . E . Comp . R . W . Little responded in feeling terms , acknowledging tho courtesy of the companions , and wishing tho new Chapter every prosperity . Ho thanked the Comp . J . for placing his name as Steward to the Girls' School . Rev . Comp . 11 . J . Hatch gave , in the course of the evening , an original Masonic song ,

composed by him , to commemorate the M . W . G . M . 's installation , which gave great satisfaction . Tho Janitor's toast being given , the companions separated at a late hour , having thoroughly enjoyed themselves , several taking the opportunity of staying the next day to view the town and note tho vast improvements recently made .

Money Market And City News.

MONEY MARKET AND CITY NEWS .

FRIDAY . The Bank rate remains unchanged . Very little alteration has taken place in the Homo Railway Market , and prices are for- the most part about the same ns last week . The principal changes being an increase of 1 \ in Great Northern A , 2 \ in Lancashire and Yorkshire , 1 £ iu North British , and 1 J in North Eastern Consols .

The Banker's clearing house return for the year endrng 30 th April 1875 , shows that the total amount of bills , cheques , & c ., cleared during the 12 months , amounted to £ 0 , 013 , 299 , 000 , or an increase of £ 19 , 713 , 000 as compared with the previous year . The number of disasters to shipping reported during the mouth of March is , according to the Bureau Veritas , as follows : —Sailing

vessels reported lost , 131 , viz .: 72 English , 14 American , 13 French , 9 Dutch , 7 Italian , 4 Norwegian , 3 Danish , 3 Greek , 2 Swedish , 1 German , 1 Brazilian , 1 Portuguese , and one of which the nationality is unknown . In this number aro included 18 sailing vessels reported missing . Steamers reported lost , 15 , viz .: 9 English , aud ( i American .

The National Bank of Australasia have declared a dividend of 10 percent , together with a bonus of 2 percent . ; written £ 10 , 000 oft Bank Premises account and carried £ 7 , 246 forward . A company has been formed to carry into effect a scheme for establishing a steam ferry between Wnppir . g and Rotherhithe .

At the annual meeting of the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Company of Liverpool , held on the 6 th inst ., the net premiums for 1874 were stated at £ 251 , 5315 against £ 203 , 53-1 in the preceding year . Fire losses for 1874 were £ 1 G 0 , 779 . Tho reserve and general fund is increased bv the results of tlio year to £ 33 , 262 .

A company has been projected for the put pose of providing the Freemasons of London and suburbs with a Clnb which shall be open to members of the Craft only . The principal features are the formation of a Lodge of Instruction , to he presided over by efficient

Money Market And City News.

instructors in Masonry , to provide accomodation for Lodges and private parties , and to give to members the means of obtaining every information respecting Masonry at home aud abroad . The capital is divided into 10 , 000 shares of £ 5 each , 2 , 000 of which are now offered as it is considered that this number will be sufficient to start the Club in a complete and commodious manner , aud , as it is not at

present proposed to erect promises , it may be assumed that this amount will be sufficient for all requirements . Shareholders aro offered the advantage of entering the Club , subject to election , without paying tho entrance feo it is proposed to impose so soon as the number of members reaches 500 . The directors state that thoy intend securing suitable premises for the club in a central part of London as soon as possible , and estimate that the subscriptions of the

members , together with tho profit to DO derived from tho sale of provisions , & c , will be sufficient to pay all working expenses , and leave a surplus available for dividend , which will allow of a large return being made to the shareholders . Forms of application for shares ( which will be received from the general pnblic as well as from Freemasons ) or membership , together with all information , may bo had from the Secretary , at tho offices , Victoria Buildings , Queen Victoria Street , E . C .

The following statement shows the receipts for traffio on the undermentioned railways for the past week , as compared with tho corresponding week in 1874 : — Miles open . Receipts . Railway . 1875 1875 1874 £ £ Caledonian 737 J- 53 , 071 49 , 701 Glasgow arid South Western . . 315 J- 18 , 388 16 , 992 Great Eastern .... 703 50 , 686 40 , 183 Great Northern .... 523 55 , 104 51 , 4 ( 58 Great Western .... 1 , 525 101 , 165 101 , 468

Lancashire and Yorkshire . . 430 03 , 025 61 , 481 London and Bricrhton . . . 37 « i 31 , 075 33 , 341 London , Chatham and Dover . . 153 . V 17 , 787 16 , 496 London and North Western . . 1 , 582 J 171 , 865 169 , 675 London and South Western . . 626 f . 38 , 747 38 , 520 London , Tilbury and Southend . 45 1 , 697 1 , 793

Manchester and Sheffield . . 259 * 30 , 721 30 , 138 Midland 944 * 115 , 762 108 , 686 Metropolitan 8 9 , 049 8 , 396 „ District ... 8 5 , 426 4 , 466 „ St . John's Wood . . 1 | 474 427

North British 839 42 , 135 37 , 771 North Eastern .... 1 , 393 129 , 161 123 , 778 North London .... 12 7 , 229 7 , 170 North Staffordshire Hail way . . 190 10 , 967 9 , 792 „ Canal . . 118 1 , 665 1 , 589 South Eastern ... 350 34 , 188 34 / 116

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

! Shakspeare at the Gaiety—Mr . J . S . Clarke at the Charing Cross . I QTILL working that mine which , of late , has proved productive of ' -. ) so much profit , Mr . Hollingshead has now produced Much Ado About Nothing . In many respects this is tho best of Shakspoare ' s i comedies , and few stage stories have more charm and interest than

| that of the courtship of Beatrice and Benedick , whilst tho troubles of I Hero form a darker contrast to their playful love-making . The cast I at the GAIETY is a fairly good one : Mr . Markby is the Pedro and Mr . Boyne tho Claudio . Mr . J . G . Taylor ' s Verges is an admirable I picture of scurrility , and tho humours of Mr . Righton as Dogberry ,

though somewhat forced , is still eflfectrve . Mr . Righton must cure himself of a tendency to overact , if he wishes to take that high place in his profession for which he seemed to bo destined two or three years ago . Mr . Hermann Vezin plays Benedick in a manner which leaves nothing to be desired , except a little more youth and dash . His elocution , always admirable , never shows to greater advantage than

in the speeches of Shakspeare ; his distinctness and first' emphasis form a striking contrast to the slipshod delivery of many of his fellow actors . Miss Furtado looks charming as Hero ; the services of Miss Ada Cavendish have been secured for the part of Beatrice , and it could hardly be in better hands , whether in the playful badinage of the earlier acts , or iu the passion of the scene in which she incites

Benedick to challenge Claudio , she is equally admirable . All tho self-consciousness which used to mark and mar- this lady ' s acting have disappeared , and she merges herself entirely in tho character- she is playing ; her improvement during the past few years has been marvellous , and no one who saw her as Venus in Mr . Bnrnand ' s Ixion at the Royalty , would have then anticipated from her such a

performance as that of her Beatrice to-day . With acting like hers , and that of Mr . Vezin , it is not surprising that this revival is the most successful of the series , and that in spite of the warm weather tho GAIETY audiences are most enthusiastic . The programme concludes with the farce of " A Nice Girl , " iu which Miss Farren ' s pleasant vivacity is again welcomed by her numerous admirers .

Mr . J . S . Clarke is deservedly one of tho most popular of our enteilaiuers ; nowhere is one so sure of a hearty laugh as at tho place , where , fur the time b-iing , he is holding high carnival . All his little mannerisms , his curious inflections of voice , contortions of face , or expressive eccentricity of gesture , do but tend to promote greater hilarity . During a too short season at the CHARING Citoss , ho is playing iu two of his most popular characters , —Major De Boots , and

Toodlcs . Who has not admired him as tho lion-hearted , but slightly timid , the ostensibly fire-eating , but really chicken-hearted Major ; or laughed at the desperate struggles of Tood'es with his gloves , and his warm friendship with the pump handle ? His fuu is spontaneous and genuine , and equally so the laughter it provokes . Although Mr . Clarke's engagement at tho CHAKING CROSS is almost over , we trust that his absence will be of no long duration .