Our Weekly Budget

Grand Lodge of the same jurisdiction was held on the 22 nd February—the anniversary of Washington's birthday—for the purpose of exemplifying the three degrees of Freemasonry . The occasion excited more than ordinary interest , as it had been arranged that the only son of the Grand

Master , Bro . Van Slyck , should figure as the candidate in the ceremony of initiation , and would subsequently receive , by virtue of a special dispensation granted for the purpose , the second and third degrees the same evening . The following Lodges worked the ceremonies incidental to the

several degrees—namely , Corinthian Lodge , No . 27 , that of the first degree , Union , No . 10 , that of passing , and after a brief adjournment for refreshment , Adelpboi No . 33 , that of raising . A cordial vote of thanks to these Lodges was passed unanimously , and after brief addresses from Past

Grand Master Doyle , W . Bros . Arlington and Knapp , and a few chosen words from Grand Master Van Slyck , the Lodge was closed . There was a numerous attendance of brethren , nearly all the Lodges in the State being represented .

A Benevolent Fund having been established m connection with the Upper Norwood Lodge , No . 1 * 86 , an evening concert will be held in aid of its funds , in the Opera Theatre of the Crystal Palace , on the 23 rd inst . Amongst the vocalists will be Bros . George Perren , Barton Mc

Gackin , George Stedman , and George Fox , together with Madame Worrell-Duval and Miss Frances Brooke . Among the instrumentalists are the names of Bro . Dubruck , solo oboe , and Bro . Henry Gadsby , who will preside at the pianoforte . Bros . Henry Gadsby and James Coward and

Mr . L . C . Venables will be the conductors . Bro . Aug . Manns , musical director at the Crystal Palace , has kindly undertaken to superintend the whole of the musical arrangements . The programme will be in two parts , one classical and the other miscellaneous , and will include a

quintet by Beethoven for pianoforte , clarionet , oboe , bassoon , and horn , one of Reicha ' s quintets for flute , oboe , clarinet , bassoon and horn , a new serenade from Hiawatha by Bro . H . Gadsby , with accompaniments for piano , woodwind , and horn , and a new Shakespearian song by Bro .

George Fox . Among the stewards occur the names of Bros . F . Binckes , Secretary Boys' School , J . Bertram , William Bertram , R . Wentworth Little , Secretary Girls '

School , Magnus Ohren , Rev . R . J . Simpson , Tattershall , James Terry , Secretary R . M . B . I ., E . Cox , James Stevens , Thiellay , Frances , Coward , Fox , & c , & c , & c . Tickets , including admission to the Palace after 7 p . m ., as follows :

¦ —Numbered stalls , 5 s and 2 s 6 d ; unnumbered reserved seat tickets Is . The concert has our heartiest good wishes , and we doubt not , will materially assist the Benevolent Fund in whose behalf it has been prepared .

The first number of Touchstone fully realises the expectations we had formed of it . Music and the drama receive the chief share of attention , and the criticisms , freely interspersed among the notices of different theatres and concerts , metropolitan , provincial , and foreign , are written carefully

ancl with great judgment . Social questions are also treated both ably and impartially . The columns devoted to " Varieties , or What you Will" are highly interesting , while the portion set apart for " Field Sports " is entirely free from that obnoxious slang which is considered by so

many a necessary element m sporting chronicles . A page is devoted to Masonic intelligence , but of this we leave our readers to form their own opinion . In fine , the general tone of the paper is excellent , and we heartily wish our new contemporai-y a long and prosperous career .

Eoyal Kensington Lodgo , No . 1627 . — -This Lodge held its last regular meeting for tbe season ou Friday , tho 6 th inst ., at Freemasons' Hall . Present—Bros . Hyclo Pullen Treas . as W . M ., Chas . E . Soppet S . W ., W . E . G . Leith J . W ., Donald M . Dewar Secretary , E . F . Cramer J . D ., H . JL Sydney I . G ., Potter Tyler ; and Bios . Steele , Dunning , Wainright , liobinson , Gass , Tnstin , & c ., & c .

Visitors—Bros . Henry A . Lee , Lodgo No . 50 I . G ., C . H . Paine , Cadogan Lodgo 102 , and Chas . Taylor , Great City Lodge 1426 . Bnsiuess—Lodge opened by Bro . Hyde Pullen , in tho ' nnavoidable absence of tho W . M . After the minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed , Mr . D . N . Easlea was initiated , Bros . Steele and Wainwright passed , aud

Bro . Tustin was raised , the whole of the ceremonies being performed by Bro . Pullen in hia usual able ancl impressive manner . Tho petition to the M . W . G . M . on the subject of the exclusion of Jews from the benefits of Freemasonry by certain Grand Lodges in Germany laying been approved and ordered to be signed , the brethren adjourned , to a banquet , and passed a most enjoyable evening .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

It is announced that the sections will be worked afc the following Lodges of Instruction : — On Monday the 16 th inst ., at tho Hydo Park , No . 1425 . Wostbonrne Bestauranfc , 1 Craven-road , Paddington W ., at 7 . Bro . Beed P . M . Silas W . M *

On Tuesday tho 24 th inst ., at the Dalhousie , No . 860 , Royal Edward , Triangle , Hackney . T . J . Barnes as W . M ., Thomas Austin S . W ., W . H . Wallington J . W . On Friday the 27 th inst ., at tho Eoyal Standard , No . 1298 , Castle , Holloway , at 7 . Bro . Cull as W . M .

On Saturday tho 28 th inst ., at the Percy , No . 198 , Jolly Farmers , Southgate-road , Islington , at 7 . Bro . Hewlett 141 as AV . M ., Austin S . W ., Pearcy J . W ., Musto I . P . M . * On Wednesday the 2 nd May , at tho Confidence , No . 193 , Whitting . ton , Moor-lano , E . C . Bro . Tnrquand as W . M .

* The following are the brethren who will work tho various sections at the Hyde Park and Percy Lodges , on the days referred to above . HYDE PAKK LODGE . PERCY LODGE . 1 st LECTURE .

1 st Section Bro . Walker 733 . Bro . Holford J . W . 228 . 2 nd „ Stiles l . G . 1507 . Fenner 1227 . 3 rd „ Powel 753 . Powell S . D . 186 . 4 th „ Side J . D . 1507 . H . P . Isaac D . C . 188 5 th „ Savage P . M . 1425 . Killick 228 & D . C . 1580 . 6 th „ Baker P . M . 753 . Webb J . W . 1607 , & o 7 th „ Davis l . G . 167 . Eudderforth D . C . 12 2 nd LECTURE . 8 th „ Wilkins W . M . 59 . Brasted 1524 . 9 th „ Cull J . D . 1446 . Macarthy S . W . 1613 . 10 th „ Eudderforth D , C . 12 . Job l . G . 1076 . 11 th „ Cole W . S . 511 . Myers P . M . 820 & 1445 12 th ; , Smith 1425 . Baxter 174 . 3 rd LECTURE . 13 th „ Gellion J . W . 1425 . Stock S . D . 1178 14 th „ Sones S . W . 1425 . Pearcy S . D . 228 . 15 th „ Mickleburgb , 1425 . Trewinnard 228 .

The Drama

THE DRAMA

The new bill at the Haymarket . "A Fair Encounter , " "Fame , "and " Tom Noddy ' s Secret , constitute the present bill of fare at the Haymarket . The first is a pleasantly written one-act piece by Mr . C . M . Eae , delightfully acted by Miss Kathleen Irwin ancl Miss Ella Dietz , and coutaioing a pretty song , warbled with characteristic effect by Miss Irwin . Tho second

is a new three act comedy , also by Mr . Eae ; ancl tho third is a capital old farce by Mr . T . H . Bailey . With regard to " Fame , " we fear we can only describe it as a failure . Destitute of plot , with a singular paucity of incident and situation , unenlivened by brilliant or amusing dialogue , and , by at least some members of the cast , indifferently acted , its success on the night of its production seemed

doubtful from the first , and when the curtain fell over the final tableau , but one opinion was expressed by all present , capable of judging . Miss Annie Lafontaine , to whom the chief part had been allotted , acted like an uneducated novice , and failed throughout to obtain the sympathies of the audience . To be sure tho character was au unpleasant ono , but in the hands of an artiste it might have

been made effective . Miss Marion Terry was fairly successful in a small part , but Miss Harris was altogether unsuited to the character she was cast for . Mr . Buckstone gave a droll representation of an impecunious speculator who was anxious to float a company for " milking cows by machinery , " Mr . Howe , Mr . Herbert , and Mr . Clarke sustained effectively the characters they assumed , and Mr .

Kyrlo deserves a special tribute of praise for the quiet humour with which he endowed the character of a stuttering baronet . The play was decidedly a poor one , aud we prophesy for it a short and melancholy career . Tho real hit of the evening was the revival of " Tom Noddy ' s Secret , " which had not been played in London for many years before . The complications , cross purposes , and genuine fun in this piece , would suffice for twenty such plays as " Fame . " Those capital

actors Messrs . Everill and Clarke were quite in their element here and their performance of the parts of Tom Noddy and Inkpen , elicited roars of laughter from the audience , as have not been heard in this theatre for years past . As Gabrielle , Miss Kathleen Irwin looked and acted to perfection . Nothing could be more becoming than the Cavalier uniform she wore during part of tho performance ; whilst the general sprightliness and vivacity of her acting were delightful to witness . Mr . Herbert aud Miss Dietz also contributed to tho

general success of the revival . If " Fame could be replaced by another good revival , say even Mr . Gilbert ' s " Palace of Truth , " tho programme we aro persuaded might remain unaltered , and bring crowds to the theatre for many months .

ihe members of the Peckham Lodge , No . 1475 , have promoted a Masonic Ball , which will take place on Monday , the 23 rd inst ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New-road . As the proceeds are to be devoted to the Charities , we hope the Craft will support the committee on this occasion .