Notices Of Meetings.

The I . P . M . received a handsome gold jewel as Past Master of the Lodge , voted unanimously at the previous meeting . Bro . Blarney also received the clothing as a Deacon of the Province . Bro . Dodge made the presentations in foliciteus language , and the recipients acknowledged the same . Bro . John Lane was re-elected a representative on the Committee of Petitions . In the evening the brethren dined together at the Royal Hotel .

STAR LODGE , No . 1275 .

rpHE installation meeting was held at the Ship , Greenwich , on X Friday evening , the 7 th inst ., when there was a good attendance of members and numerous visitors . The W . M ., Bro . Needham , opened the Lodge , and transacted some formal business , including the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last regular

meeting and those of an emergency meeting . The ceremony of installation was performed by Bro . Needham . At the close of the ceremony , the new W . M ., Bro . W . F . Crook , invested Bro . Needham as I . P . M ., and also his officers for the year , viz .: Bros . Pringle S . W ., Long J . W ., Major Williams Treasurer , C . W . Williams Secretary ,

Dr . Collis Chaplain , Blanohard S . D ., Coate J . D ., Sohrier I . G ., Woodliffe D . C ., Bore Steward , Pearson Assistant-Steward , W . J . Kipps jnn . Organist , and Gilbert Tyler . The W . M . 's next act was to present Bro . Needham with a P . M . ' s jewel , which had been accorded him by the unanimous vote of the Lodge , which was then

closed , and the brothers of the Lodge , with their guests , subsequently dined together . The W . M . proposed in flattering terms Tho Queen and the Craft , and the M . W . The Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . The Worshipful Master was proposed by the I . P . M . They

were all well aware the W . M . had discharged his duties in a thoroughly conscientious manner as S . W ., and he had no doubt that he would do similar credit to the choice of the Lodge during the present year . Bro . W . J . Kipps presided most efficiently at the pianoforte , tho Tyler's toast olosing the proceedings .

Mussoorie.

MUSSOORIE .

THE Correspondent of the Morning Post writes as follows : —Our great excitement last week was the Masonic Ball , and some of us have not got over it yet . I don ' t intend to follow the lead of a local paper , edited by a prominent Mason , ancl say that everything connected with tho ball was lovely in every respect . That it was a

good ball in most respects is now a matter of history . Tho band played to perfection , the dancing was good and popular , the dresses were notably , with but very few exceptions , shabby , and had evidently seen their best days . Groat credit is due to Mrs . Church and her satellites for tho way in which the hall was decorated , tho effects

obtained being very tastofn ! and pretty . It says a great deal for tho improved moral tone of Mussoorie that the Chinese lanterns in the kalajagas were yet alight at 4 * 30 a . m . on Friday ; in former years they have usually been extinguished at periods varying from ten minutes to half-an-hour after the ball opened . The supper was not

good ; it was coarse and heavy , and not what we have been led to expect . At these kinds of entertainment we don't want quantity but quality— " little and good" should be the motto . I trust the caterer ( somewhat of an amateur ) will tako thoso words to heart , and try and do better on the next occasion . Tho wines aorain were

not all there , " and aro responsible for many , many aching heads . One doesn't like to see champagne poured out of a bottle three foot higb , with black sealing wax running down tho neck of it . Tho effect is not appetising ! And while on the subject of balls , the return ball ( Fancy Dress ) to

the volunteers and Masons h to be given on the 24 th inst . The leader in the movement ( tho gallant proprietor of a piggery in Mussoorie ) is a gentleman who is very fond of organising bazaars , Christmas trees , and the like , on which occasions he induces tradesmen in tho station to provide toys and other trifles at cost price . In return for theso

favours he has , at the earliest opportunity , taken the precaution of iviring to Calcutta for the wines for the forthcoming ball , without even asking the local tradesmen to tender ( though they have always done so ) . Such patriotism and disinterestedness should verily meet

its reward , and I trust a substantial one . The supper will be in the hands of the gentleman who catered for the Masons , but he will on this occasion be aided by the manager of a well-known hotel . The joint production should be interesting .

Masonic History.

MASONIC HISTORY .

MASONIC history is untainted by crime or cruelty . Its record is clean and untarnished . It has never violated its professions as an organisation , although like other human organisations it is compelled to bluBh for some of its individual members . It lias alwavs proceeded upon the 1 heory

that"Truths on which dopend our mam concern , That ' tis our shame and misery not to learu , Shine by the sido of every path we tread With such a lustre , he that runs may read . " This constant and tireless search after truth , and the fostering

care bestowed upon edncation , has endeared Masonry to all who lovo truth better than error , and has enabled this grand old Institution to retain the germ of intellectual integrity by wh cb the world has been enlightened through the dark a-j-es of mental thraldom . A great philosopher has said that " one truth discovered is

immortal , and entitles its author to bo so ; for , like a new substance in Dature , it cannot be destroyed . " Thus Masonry has ever been engaged in discrvering new truths and in endeavouring to preserve from obscurity t'nose old truth ;) which had already shed their refulgent rays upon the benighted understandings of men .

Masonic History.

Is not this grand old institution worthy of immortal honour if it has performed no other work than to preserve from the iconoolasm of ecclesiastical fruy the sacred germ of all truth" That golden key That opens the palace of eternity . "

Why should we permit the selfish passions of men and the demoralising sentiments of a grovelling herd to taiut or mar the fair form of this majestic edifice , roared and sustained upon the Cornerstone of fraternal virtue ? Should any of its parts be weakened , or

should decay of time or the disintegration of moral subsidence threaten its perpetuity , let the fabric be at once strengthened by the exclusion of worthless debris , and its rehabilitation by ihe infusion of new work from the quarry which cannot fail to meet the requirements of rigid and technical inspection . —Zabriskie .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

Alexandra Palace . —Owing to adverse atmospheric influences Professor Baldwin was unable on Thursday , the 13 th instant , to fulfil his intention of rising " up above the world so high" as two milea before he commenced his perilous descent ; but nevertheless he managed to reach rather more than half the distance , viz . 6000 feet ,

and alighted in perfect safety at Highgate Woods about a mile from the Palace grounds . The apparatus used on this occasion was con . structed on improved principles which enabled the performer to st' -ei ' and otherwise manipulate the parachute so as to render the descent more or less rapid as suited his convenience . The easy manner and

perfect grace with which Professor Baldwin drops from the balloon considerably minimizes the danger in the minds of the spectntors , ancl the roar of applause that greets him on his return to tho Palace must assure him that the public highly appreciate his intrepidity . Accompanied by Mr . Coxwell , the veteran aeronaut , Mr . Farini , and

some of the directors of the exhibition , Mr . Baldwin subsequently appeared on the stage of the Centre Transept , and received a perfect ovation . Tho noise was too great to allow anyone beyond the footlights to hear what was said , but it was understood that in consequence of the great success of the performance , the Professor had been offered and had accepted a re-engagement .

Crystal Palace . —The directors have arranged for Aqnatia Firework Fetes on Saturdays , 22 nd and 29 th September . The Band of the Grenadier Guards has been specially engaged , and there will be concerts by the renowned Crystal Palace Orchestral Band . The other great attractions include tho beantiful al-fresco Ballet , "A

Midsummer Night ' s Dream ,- " a display of all the great fountains , and grand aquatic fireworks by Messrs . Brock from the lake spanned by the " Tower " Bridge . This bridge , it will be remembered , is a facsimile ( quarter she ) of that now being erected across the Thames , at the Tower , by the Corporation of London , at a cost of

threequarters of a million sterling . Among the pyrotechnic marvels promised by Messrs . Brock are a swan race , spouting whales and fiery dolphin , antediluvian scene , helix fountains and luminous sphere , a screen of diamond sparks , a sea of flitting fire , revolving rocket fountains , pentapyric shells , and huge rcckets with prismatic tints . Tho park , gardous , lakes , and rosery will be brilliantly illuminato ] .

Mr . Augustus Harris commences his season at Druvy Lane to-night ( Saturday ) , with the grand spectacular drama "The Armada . " Mr . Harris has collaborated with Mr . Henry Hamilton , and we hear thoy have built np a strong and exciting story , connectiri" * several of

the events of tbe Spanish Armada . The caste includes the names of the Misses Winifred Emery , Edith Bruce , Kate James , Ada Noilson , Maud Milton , Messrs . Leonard Boyne , Luigi Lablache , Edward Gardiner , Victor Stevens , A . Beaumont , S . Dawson , Mervin Dallap , Stanislaus Calhaem , and Harry Nicholls .

The new Court Theatre will be opened on Monday next , when there will be presented an English version of MM . Bisson and Mar ' s farcical comedy , iu three acts , " Les Surprises du Divorce , " adapted by Mr . Sydney Grundy , and entitled " Mamma . " Mrs . John Wood

will play a prominent part , and will be supported by Messrs . John Hare , Charles Groves , Eric Lewis , Arthur Cecil , the Misses Annie Hughes , Filippi , Caldwell , and Fanny Brough . New scenery has been painted by Mr . William Harford .

The Opera Comique will re-open on Thursday , the 27 th instant , with a new comic opera , entitled " Carina . " The music has been composed by Julia Woolf , while the libretto is by Messrs . E . L . Blauchard and Cunningham Bridgman . An excellent caste has been secured .

On Monday , the 1 st October , Mr . Richard Mansfield will produce , at the Lyceum , "A Parisian Romance , " in five acts , by Octave Feuillet . Mr . Mansfield will play the Baron Chevrial . Lately there has been a great increase in tbe articles , suoh as lace , embroidery , underclothing , pain tin ? , knitting , wood ' carving , & c ,

sent over to tho Old Irish Market Place by poor peasants in Ireland . In most 01 ?™ this work is the senders' sole means of support , and it is most desirable that it should not be returned to them unsold , Visitors to the Irish Exhibition would be giving material help and

encotnagement to these poor peasints by going to tbe Old Irish Market Place , and making some purchases , however small . The inmates of many a humble cottage in Ireland will have cause to be thankful during the coming winter if the work they have sent to the Exhibition is sold .

Ad00705

FUNERALS properly carried out and personally attended , in London and Country , by Bro . G . A . HUTTON , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . C , Monuments erected . Valuations made .