New Hall At Nantwich.

NEW HALL AT NANTWICH ,

ON Saturday afternoon Barl Egerton of Tatton , in his capacity of Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire , visited Nantwich for the purpose of laying the north east corner stone of a Parish and Masonic Hall which is being erected . There was first held a meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge in the Crown Hotel , the duties at which were purely formal ; and , it

having been closed , a procession was formed and proceeded to the site . The people of Nantwich evinced deep interest in the event . They filled narrow streets of the quaint old Cheshire town in their eagerness to witness the pretty spectacle of these mysterious men in regalia as they carried the peculiar symbols of their Offices . As is usual at public Masonic ceremonies , there were many ladies present , and they displayed their usual

interest and curiosity in the extraordinary proceedings of the gentlemen of whose , doings in secret they heard vague but ominous rumours . The procession , which was pretty in its fulgence , made a picturesque show , as , headed by a brass band , it proceeded through the tortuous streets of the old borough ; and a large assembly of the public awaited its arrival on a large platform at the site—near by the old Parish Church .

The singing of the 100 th Psalm " All people that on earth do dwell" commenced the ceremonial , after which Bro . Bev . C . B . Jackson , as chairman of the Building Committee , asked Earl Egerton of Tatton to lay the corner stone . Bro . T . Jackson P . P . G . Treasurer also , on behalf of the Committee , presented his lordship with a trowel .

The Provincial Grand Master said he had great pleasure in complying with the request of the Chairman of the Building Committee to lay the corner stone of that parochial building . He had no doubt that the building that they were starting that day would be a very great addition to the machinery of the Church of England in that parish . The machinery of the Church

of England required rooms for holding meetings of various kinds , and no church or parish in these days was considered complete if it had not good parochial rooms which could be used for the purposes of the church . He felt certain that the building of a lasting addition to the good work which had been done in that which they were about to lay the first corner stone would prove

parish by the present Hector and a long procession of good Hectors from time immemorial . On behalf of Masons he rejoiced that a room which would form part of that building would be a convenient place for the meetings of the Brethren in that town , and that the Lodge , a very ancient one—which might perhaps be supplemented by others in the course of time—would find a

local habitation here . He felt sure that it would promote Masonry in that part of the Province , and he hoped it would be of lasting use to the good people of the district . Proceeding , his lordship addressed ali present according to the ancient usage , informing all that they were lawful Masons , true and faithful to the laws of the country ; and established of old with peace and

honour , in most countries , to do good to their Brethren , to erect magnificent structures , and to fear God , the Great Architect of the Universe . They were assembled in the presence of them all to assist in laying in ancient form the corner stone of that building , which they prayed the Great Architect to prosper for the promotion of Godliness , harmony , and Brotherly love .

The ceremony then proceeded according to custom . The Provincial Grand Secretary Bro . Newhouse informed those present of the contents of a bottle placed in the cavity of the stone . They consisted of copies of the parish magazine , newspapers , and a number of coins . Then there was placed over the cavity a brass plate bearing the inscription :

" THIS corner stone was laid with Masonic formalities in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe and to His glory by the Right Hon . Barl Egerton of Tatton , Viscount Salford , Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Free and Accepted Masons of Cheshire , in the Diamond Jubilee Year of the reign of Her Most Gracious Majest y , Queen Victoria . 2 nd October 1897 . Charles Edwyn Jackson , Rector . "

The Craftsmen having done their duty his lordship declared the stone to be well and truly laid , in accordance with the ancient rules of architecture . The customary emblematic rites were afterwards observed , the Provincial Grand Chaplain offered a prayer , and the ceremony ended with the singing of the Masonic version of the National Anthem . The procession was then reformed , and the Masonic body returned to the Crown Hotel , where thev disbanded . — " Manchester Courier . "

Freemasonry in France is , as everybody lsnows , a curious compound . We don ' t say it is worse than the Irish type , but it is certainly far more pugnacious . Perhaps , however , that is an improvement npon Irish Freemason methods . After all it is ,

perhaps , a great deal worse to sit in Dublin Castle and dispense lucrative posts to Masonic Biethren , whose sole qualifications could be stowed away in the diminutive pockets of their dainty aprons , than to hold public meetings and blackguard icligion .

New Hall At Nantwich.

This latter relaxation is about to be indulged in by the French Lodges . The thing is to be done on a large scale . Choice attacks are to be made upon the church , worthy indeed of Sir Knight of Ballykilbeg . A public complaint is to be made that Masons are not so powerful in the Government of France as they

might be . In this blessing , at any rate , we are far ahead of them . In proportion to population we have probably more Masons governing us than any other European country . No wonder this is called blessed Isle of the Sea , with so many

silvertrowelled , silk-aproned , abstemious members of Benevolent Masonie Lodges , looking after its interests . When the public Masonic celebrations end in Paris may we hope , for the good of France , it will be in the Seine . — " Daily Nation " ( Dublin ) .

English Freemasons are chary of mixing with their Brethren of the French rite ; and they have good reason on their side . There is a world of difference between the two . This difference is conspicuously shown in the hysterical and nonsensical

manifesto just issued from the annual " Convent" of the Freemasons of France . English Freemasons would scorn to make use of their Lodges for such extraordinary purposes as were decided upon , says the " Manchester Chronicle . "

The Eoyal Savoy Mark Lodge of Instruction resumed its meetings for the season on Sunday , 3 rd inst ., at the Station Hotel , Highbury , where weekly gatherings will be held during the winter , on Sunday evenings , at 7 . 30 . Bro . Thompson Lyon occupied the chair at the last meeting , and was supported by

several Brethren eminent in Mark Masonry . The Lodge is under the Preeeptorship of Bro . T . C . Edmonds , who is supported by Bro . A . McDowall Treasurer , aud W . Collins Secretary . Members of the Mark Degree are cordially invited , and may rely on receiving a hearty welcome .

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The TfeiefJliC THE "SAFE" PURSE . ^ l | jC . ^ A FEW days ago a lady Nurso was ^ EsgSsfe-, - ^» s « - iT " walking in High Street , Islington , ^ EBflpsllfe / when a man snatched at her purse , bnt he did V ^^« ^ not get it . The purse remainrd SAFE in the ¦ HlNMilr Lady ' s hand—it was one of tho Hon . Mrs . WllBlIIIlk Perry ' s " Safe" Purses which prevents all ^^ HHWv danger of losing money while carrying it about . « BllliililiI & IT CANNOT BE SNATCHED FROM THE ^ IPliP ? Of all Fancy Goods Warehouses Prices 1 / - to 42 / - or post free 3 d extra from the SAFE PURSE DEPOT , 7 Wood Street , London , E . C .

The Theatres, &C.

The Theatres , & c .

Covent Garden . —Royal Carl Rosa Opera , 8 . Lyceum . —8 , Hamlet . Drury Lane . —7-30 , The White Heather . Matinee , Saturday , 1-30 . Haymarket . —8-20 , The Tarantula . 9 , A marriage of convenience . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Globe . —8-15 , Our bitterest foe . 9 , " Miss Francis" of Yale . Matin 6 e , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-15 .

Lyric—8-15 , The Sign of the Cross . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 . Adelphi . —8 , In the days of the Duke . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . Garrick . —8-20 , La Perichole . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Daly ' s . —8-15 , The Geisha ; A story of a Tea House . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Vaudeville . —8-15 , Round a Tree . 9 , A Night out . On Monday , 8-15 , The Cape Mail . 9 , Never again . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . Prince of Wales's . —8-15 , La Poupee . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 .

Savoy . —7-40 , Old Sarah . 8-20 , The Yeoman of the Guard . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Gaiety . —8 , The Circus Girl . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . Terry ' s . —7-50 , Apron Strings . 8-20 , The French Maid . Matinee , Wednesday , 2-30 . Criterion . —8-15 , The Liars . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Strand . —8-15 , The Greek Soprano . 9 , The Purser . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . 820

Avenue . — -, The Barons' Wager , My Lady ' s Orchard , and the Mermaids . Duke of York ' s . —8-15 , Francillon . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Comedy . —8-10 , The Guinea Stamp . 9 , One Summer's day . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Court . —On Wednesday , The Children of the King . Royalty . —8-15 , A bit of old Chelsea . 9 , Oh I Susannah I Princess ' s—8 , Two little Vagabonds . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday ,

2-30 . Grand . —Next week , Augustin Daly ' s Company . Parkhurst . —Next week , at 8 , La Poupee . Alhambra . —7-50 , Variety Entertainment . Victoria and Merrie England . . Cinematographe views of the Jubilee Procession .

Empire . —7-50 , Variety Entertainment . New Ballet , Monte Cristo , & c . Palace . —8 , Variety Entertainment , New American Biograph , & c . Royal . —7-30 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2-30 . Egyptian Hall . —3 and 8 , Mr . J . N * . Maskelyne ' s entertainment . Crystal Palace . —Varied attractions daily . Royal Aquarium . —Open , 10 a . m ., close 11-30 p . m . Constant Amusement .