The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

The Dramatic Season— " Dan'l Druce "—Drury Lane and " Richard III . "—The Queens and " Henry V . " - " Jane Shore "— " Peril" at the Prince ofWales ' s .

THE dramatic season has thus far been marked by little of absolute novelty , and still less deserving of lasting record . Dan'l Druce at the HAYMARKET is the most important production , and bids fair to hold a permanent place in the acted drama of this country . It may , at least , bo prophesied that so long as Mr . Vezin is at hand to impersonate the title role the play will not lack

admirers . This excellent actor has appeared with distinction in many parts , and in some , Dr . Davy and the Man o' Airlie , for example , his performance has fallen short only of the very highest perfection of his art . Dan'l Druce completes a trio of imper . sonations which may be matched against any three of their kind

witnessed by the present generation of playgoers . We have cited tho play as a novelty , but it is only in a partial sense original , the plot and incidents being largely drawn from the Silas Marner of George Eliot . Mr . Gilbert has treated the subject with great skill , and we doubt if any of his previous productions was so thoroughly deserving of success .

All true lovers of the stage must rejoice to see DRURY LANE THEATRE once more iu the possession of the legitimate drama . Richard the Third , albeit tho version of that rain old gossip , Colley Gibber , is as far above the spectacular monstrosities of Mr . Halliday as the performances at our great national house should be above the broadsword melodrama of a country fair . The play might perhaps

have been more strongly cast ; but two at least of the parts could not be better filled than they are , and the acting of Mr . Barry Sullivan and Mrs . Hermann Vezin would alone suffice to redeem the performance from commonplace . Some other characters , moreover , notably the Henry VI . of Mr . Cuthbert , are played with commend , able ability , and the scenery aud general stage arrangements are deserving of all praise .

At the QUEEN ' , where Henry the Fifth has been produced on a scale of great magnificence , the effect is less satisfactory . We welcome Shakspeare here and elsewhere , and we have no objection to accurate and appropriate costumes ; bnt , in witnessing the per . formance , we cannot help feeling that the poet has been smothered by the upholsterer . Glitter and stage carpentry are well enough in

their way , but as adjuncts only , not as rivals , to the poem . They are at best but the frame , of which the play itself is the picture . Mr . Coleman , we fear , has been more anxious to dazzle than to pleasehas striven less to illustrate Shakspeare than to eclipse in magni . Sconce all previous representations . It was a happy thought to

introduce as a prologue the dying scene from Henry the Fmirth , for it has enabled Mr . Coleman to secure the services of Mr . Phelps . Even this fine scene , however , is marred by the noise of the stage preparations for the coronation . Mr . Coleman himself is stagey and pretentions as Henry the Fifth , and both Mr . Eyder and Miss Leighton , in their respective parts , are open to the same charge .

Mr . Wills ' s new play of Jane Shore at the PRINCESS ' S possesses considerable merit , and appears likely to draw good houses . The story is effectively told , some stirring scenes are introduced , and the language throughout is of a high order . The play was originally produced at the Leeds Amphitheatre in the spring of last year , and it is

somewhat surprising that it has not found its way on the London boards before this . However , here it is , [ and here it is likely to remain for some weeks to come . The play is very well acted , Miss Heath sustaining the leading character , whilst Mr . Fernandez , Mr . Edward Price , and Mrs . Alfred Mellon appear in other important parts .

The production of a new English version of Nos Inhmes at the P RINCE OP WALES ' S THEATKE may be considered on the whole a success . After having been performed by two French companies , and twice or thrice translated and produced at various London theatres , the experiment of a new adaptation was , it must be confessed , an extremely hazardous one . The work has , however , been

carefully done , and many of the faults observable in previous translations have been skilfully avoided in this . We see no reason therefore to doubt that Peril , as the piece is called , will maintain its position on the PRINCE OF WALES ' S programme for some considerable time to come . Of course , it need hardly be stated that the play has been mounted with great taste . Cela va sans dire at the PRINCE

OF WALES ' . Nor is the acting one whit inferior to the high standard which has hitherto prevailed at this establishment . Mrs . Kendal is , of course , a great acquisition to the theatre , and her performance of the part of the wife , Madame Caussade in the original , throws a new and additional light upon her capabilities as

an actress . As Dr . Thornton , Tholosan in the original , Mr . Kendal is gracefully effective . The good-natured husband , the victim of his many friends , is played with a quiet pathos peculiarly his own by Mr . Bancroft . Mr . Arthur Cecil , Mr . Younge , Mr . Sugden , Mrs . Leigh Murray , and Miss Bnckstone , sustain other parts iu the play with excellence and effect .

Ahiman Eezon was explained by Bro . Kev . Dr . Frederick Daloho as signifying " the thoughts or opinions of a true and faithful Brother , " being a corruption of the three Hebrew words Achi-man-Eatzon . Bro . A . G . Mackey , in his " Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry , " derives it from the three Hebrew words , ahim , " brothers , " marrah ,

"to appoint , " and ratzon , the " will , pleasure or meaning , —thus signifying , altogether , " the will of selected brethren . " The name Ahiman Rezon was devised by Bro . Lawrence Dermot , as the title of the Book of Constitutions of the " Ancients , " when they separated , about the middle of the last century , from the " Moderns , " who composed the regular Grand Lodge of England . —Keystone ,

Scotland.

SCOTLAND .

Lodge St . John 3 } . —This Lodge held its fortnightly meeting in their own hall , Buchanan-street , on Tuesday last , when its ; capacity was tested to the utmost by the large attendance of the members and their Masonic friends . Bro . D . M . Nelson E . W . M , who was assisted by nearly all his officers , presided . After opening the Lodge , he informed the brethren that they had expected the honour

of enrolling on their list of members Bro . Henry Inglis , of Torrance , Past Substitute Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and Bro . Sheriff Clark . Bro . Inglis had unfortunately been prevented from attending , but as the Sheriff was now present he would affiliate him j after which Bro . Clark expressed the gratification he felt at being enrolled as a member of one of the oldest Lodges in

Glasgow , if not in all Scotland . The E . W . M . afterwards announced that Sheriff Clark had consented to give a lecture to the brethreu of St . John 3 % , on their second meeting in November , on the " Antiquity of Masonry , " and he thought that another learned brother would give them a lecture at their next meeting . Bro . D . B . Bell then proceeded to pass seven brethreu to the 2 nd degree , and on tha Lodge being reduced to the E . A . degree , Bro . William Bell I . P . M . initiated five gentlemen in a very careful manner .

St . Mungo Lodge , No . 27 . —This Lodge held an emergency meeting on Wednesday , 11 th October . As their own hall waa occupied , that of St . John 3 J was kindly placed at their disposal . Bro . D . Butler presided , assisted by most of his office bearers . The

three degrees were wrought , the 2 nd by Bro . G . McDonald of 73 , who had a candidate of theirs to pass along with those for St . Mungo . Bro . A . Bain P . G . B . B . then raised three brethren to the sublime degree iu his usual careful style . Thanks were given to these brethren for their valuable assistance .

Cathedral Chapter , No . 67 . —This Chapter held its installation meeting ou Monday , the 9 th inats ., at 22 Struthers-street . The Chapter was opened by Comp . Jas . Duthie , who stated that after holding office for three years , he was glad now to resign it to one of his pupils . He then , with the assistance of Comp . T . M . Campbell , Z . of 69 , proceeded to instal Comp . David Bonald as Z ., George Pnrdie as H ., and J . Bilslow as J .

St . Andrew's Chapter , No . 69 . —The installation meeting was held on the 10 th inst ., the installing officers being Comps . J . Duthie I . P . Z . 67 , G . W . Wheeler Z . 73 , J . 0 . Park P . Z . 122 and H . J . Shield 33 ° I . P . Z . 143 . The officers installed were Comps . T . M . Campbell re-eleoted Z ., Wm . Harper H ., R . Prout J ., J . Fash S . E ., Wm . Thomas S . N ., J . Blackwood T ., J . Molnnis 1 st S ., Capt . Stark

2 nd S ., and W . Collie 3 rd S ., W . Bilsland S . of W ., J . Brand Capt . of the Veils and D . Eamsay Janitor . After the ceremony was concluded , the Compa . adjourned for refreshment . The following sentiments were given : —The Queen , the Supreme Grand Chapter , the Provincial Grand Chapter , responded to by G . W . Wheeler , Senior Officer

present ; Prosperity to St . Andrew's , by J . Duthie , and responded to by T . M . Campbell . The Principals of 67 , 73 , 122 and 143 , all suitably acknowledged by the respective Comps ., who congratulated . 69 on her having risen , Phoenix-like , from her ashes , the Principals , responded to by W . Harper ; the other Officers replied to by J , Mclnnis , 1 st Sojourner . The Janitor ' s toast concluded the meeting .

St . Mark ' s Lodge . No . 102 . —This Lodge held its regular meeting on the 9 th October , in its own hall ,. Bachanan-street . There was a fall attendance of members and several visitors . Tha work consisted of two passings and two raisings . Both ceremonies were admirably wrought by Bro . J . Hallket P . M ., and Z . of Chapter 113 , who is always equally afc home in either Craft or R . A . ceremonies .

St . George ' s Lodge , No . 333 . —This Lodge held its regular meeting on October 11 th , at 213 Buchanan-street . Bro . A . Thomson R . W . M . presiding , assisted by Bros . Jas . Findley D . M ., Jas . Forsyth S . W ., E . Henderson J . W ., A . Dunn T ., A . Mclntyre Secretary , A . Boyd S . D ., T . Hill J . D ., and W . G . Hickson Tyler . There was a large attendance , both of members and visitors , in the course of the

evening , amongst whom we recognised the following—Bros . D . M . Nelson E . W . M ., McMillan and MoCall P . M . of 3 £ ; A . Butler E . W . M . and Dick S . M . of 27 j McDonald E . W . M . 73 , and G . W . Wheeler 73 , A . Bain P . M . 103 , J . Campbell W . M . 128 , H . J . Shield 33 ° of 275 , W . Hay 332 , and J . Balfour 332 P . G . D . of C . The work was heavy , and the Lodgo considered a new code of bye . laws , then Bro . Findley W . M . initiated four gentlemen—Messrs . T . Corbett , J .

Merven , E . Walter , and J . Holme . The Lodge was opened in the Fellow Craft degree , and Bro . G . W . Wheeler passed three brethren , aud on the Lodgo being opened in the 3 rd , Bro . Findley raised to tho sublime degree three of the brethren . All the work being well performed . Thereafter a long discussion ensued , relative to the proposed arrangements for the visit of the Prince of Wales , and a deputation was requested to wait on the Lord Provost in relation to the same .

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A . ^ COnSTTJl ^ CElSrTA L WORK . NOW IN PBEPAEATIOW . HISTOEY OF EVEEY LODGE UNDEE THE GEAND LODGE OF FRiiE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND . Will be Edited by a distinguished Grand Officer . In a work of this magnitude , the kind co-operation of all Brethren who are in Qosaession of facts not generally known , will bo invaluable , and thankfully acknowledged . SPEHQER AUD 00 ,, Zk GREAT Qf / £ f / V STREETt WWflOlV , W , C ,