Lewis Lodge, No. 394.

Holman Prov . G . J . D . was duly placed in the chair ns W . M . for the ensuing year . The ceremony was performed by the retiring W . M . ( Bro . J . H . Every ) , and the uewly-elected Master then appointed his Officers , as follow : —Bros . Every I . P . M ., Wright S . W ., Lamette J . W ., Weston M . O ., Wilson S . O ., Hunt J . O ., Gates S . D ., Deuman J . D ., Farncombo Treasurer , Granger Secretary , Legg Dir . of Cers .,

Snellgrove I . G ., Hall Tyler . Subsequently about twenty brethren sat down to a social supper , provided by Bro . Cox , there being present , in addition to most of those mentioned , Bros , t ho Very Rev . tho Dean of Battle D . P . G . M ., J . P . Slingsby Roberts Provincial Grand Secretary , Adams , Gill , Abell , Spracking , and Smith . A few formal toasts were honoured , and the procedings passed off most cnjoyably .

Royal Ark Mariners.

ROYAL ARK MARINERS .

— : o : — IT is not often our good fortune to witness Bach an enthusiastic Masonio meeting as was held at Dudley , on Monday , the 19 th inst . Bro . Abraham Green , the Deputy Provincial Grand Mark Master for Worcestershire , taking advantage of the meeting of Provincial Grand Mark Lodge for that day , convened also a meeting of the Royal Ark Mariners' Lodge , moored to the Lechmere Lodge of

Mark Master Masons , No . 59 . No sooner was it announced than at least twenty Mark Master Masons hailed the Commander and desired to be taken aboard the Ark . The worthy Commander was taken aback by such a large addition to his orow , and signalled for assistance . Past Commander "W . Vincent , of the Grand Masters' Royal Ark , observed the signals and bore down all the way from Mark

Masons Hall , London , to Dudley , to render assistance . His offer of help was cordially accepted , and when the Ark was launched shortly after two o'clock , there was plenty of work to be done . First the acting Commander , Bro . Abraham Green , had to be taken aboard and taught how to box the compass , reef his top sails , and to manage the Craft . Jnst after he had been installed in his cabin a

reverend brother hailed , and was taken aboard , and allotted to tbe chart room to take the bearings and exercise religious supervision over the crew . And then oame the deluge . Eighteen or nineteen Mark Master Masons all wanted to ooine aboard . Commander Bro . Wm . Vinoent courageously stuck to the rope ladder and hanled them into tbe Ark . No sooner had he disposed of one batch than

another lot came up who had missed the first boat and were late . Bro . Vincent put them throngh their facings , and a spell of fair weather seemed approaching ; bnt again another boat load of belated landsmen bore down . The Commander had to go throngh his work for the third time . At last the work was over , and when all hands were piped on deck to know how the skipper had allotted them

berths , they found the following Officers were in commission for the year : —Abraham Green W . C . N ., W . B . Williamson P . C . N ., J . F . Bland J ., A . Comber S ., Rev . J . W . Dowue Chaplain , T . L . Smith Treasurer , B . Rhodes Scribe , J . MossopS . D ., B . Gibbons J . D ., Murray Hay nes P . C . N . D . C , H . M . Jackson Organist , E . J . Chambers Guardian , J . Jones and M . Smith Stewards , I . Knott and S . Spittal Warders .

The crew connsted of the following : —W . T . Page , R . J . Surtnau , J . G . Bennett , T . F . Bland , A . Comber , R . Egar , M . D ., G . R . Green , John Mossop , H . M . Jackson , M . Smith , W . E . Walker , J . Jones , G . H . Parke , E . J . Chambers , B . Rhodes , D . J . Shedden , J . E . Green , E . A . Hicks , E . Roberts , S . Spittle . The officers and crew took up their respective quarters , while the Grand Superintendent of the Province

( Bro . A . F . Godson , M . P . ) read the Articles of War to them in the shape of a lecture as to their soveral duties . After they bad promised obedience to all orders they were piped below , the Ark waB moored until next voyage , and the officers and crew adjourned to banquet with the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Worcestershire . Special votes of thanks were awarded to Bro . Past Commander Wm . Vincent for his trouble in coming from London , and to Past Commander Murray Haynes

( representative of the FKEEMASON ' CHRONICLE ) , who was his chief officer during the whole work . The next voyage of the Ark will be to Worcester in a few week ' s time , and afterwards to Kidderminster . Any M . M . M . desiring to book a berth for the voyage shpnld siddress the Purser , or Scribe Bro . C . R . Rhodes , Netherton , Bewdley . The Commander for next year will be Bro . T . F . Bland , of Stourbridge , who waB unanimously elected to fill that post .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 14.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 14 .

BY BRO . CHAS . P . FORSHAW , LL . D ., 2417 . — : o : — THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH .

The way was dark and drear , savo that a star Shone with unsullied lnstro in the East ; Its light not larger grew , nor yet decreased , Nor was there aught its full , bright ( lamo to mar ; And yet tho star scarce chased away the gloom

That hung its solemn dnlness all around ; Here drear and lone , ' mid sombro awo profound , I trod my path , on ench side of tho tomb , And in the valley where Death's shadow flings

Its bony arms about tbe innu who dares To scok the vnst , unknown , and hidden snares That lino tho path where ' er his footstops springs ; I walked—well-gnidod by a brother ' s lovo , And trust in the Great Architect above . Winder House , Bradford .

The Theatres, &C.

THE THEATRES , & c .

— : o : — Drury Lane . — Sir Augustus Harris is a great believer iu realism , and has on many previous occasions shown what can bo done on his fine staje to give a faithful representation of the varied scenes of life , bat even he might have been deterred from presenting a Bteeplechasc , with real horses , jockeys , hurdles , and

water jump . Still this has been achieved in the drama , " The Prodigal Daughter , " written by the astute manager himself and Mr . Henry Pettitt , which was successfully produced last Satur . day . Though professedly a sporting spectacle , the play is full of emotional interest , the prodigal daughter being the deceived child

ot Sir John Wood mere , who impetuously elopes with Julian Bel - ford , though circumstances point to Captain Henry Vernon , the lover of Violet Woodmere , as the guilty party . AH the ovil i 3 caused by Maurice Deepwater , who , having been refused by Rose , endeavours to ruin both her and Sir John . His wrong-doing cul .

ruinates in the third aot , when he seeks to poison the favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase , on which Sir John has staked heavily . Vernon , however , not only counteracts his nefar . ious schemes , but rides the "Dnke" to the winning post , amid a scene of real excitement . This is marvellously worked up

by the crowd upon the stage , who depict the progress of the race in a truly wonderful manner . In fact the p icture is the perfection of stage management , and has nevor been surpassed . The last aot winds up the various threads of the story ; Deepwater is dofeated though retributive justice is not meted

out to him ; Rose and Julian are united , and Vernon receives his reward by Violet's hand . The humorous portion of the play is sustained by Mr . Harry Nioholls and Miss Fanny Brougb , who represent a weak headed lord ling and a demure young Quakeress , who marries him in order to regenerate him . ' On the understanding

that she is to accompany him wherever he goes , she cures him of gambling by losing large sums at baccarat , and weans him from betting by making heavy books on the turf , while she outdoes him in extravagent costumes . The scenes in whioh these two appeared caused roars of laughter . Every playgoer oan imagine what sort of

charaoter Mr . Henry Neville makes of Sir John , and Mr . Leonard Boyne , as the deus ex machina of the plot , reoeives quite an ovation after riding the Duke in the steeplechase . Miss Millward as Rose has a highly sympathetic part , and is well supported by Mr . Julius , Knight as Belford , their scone at the Hotel Mirabeau being the most

artistic in the play . It is a long time since Mr . James Fernandez enjoyed the execrations of a virtuous audience , but his impersonation of Deepwater was so real that on his appearance before tbe curtain their indignation could not be restrained . Another olever sketch is given by Mr . Arthur Williams as the sorely tempted stable boy , Tim Blinker ; while Miss Blanche Horlook as Violet , Mr . J . L . Shine

ns Dudley Roper , Jew oard sharper , and Mr . Dodsworth ns a ruined " sport , " all help to fill in tho lights and shades of the play . In addition to tho scone above stated there aro many others equally admirable , among which wo may mention tho Grand Hotol nt Pari ? , Woodmero Hall interior , nnd tbe L ' IWP , as boing beautiful works of art . Sir Augustus Harris may now rest upon his laurelt ) until Boxing Night , when his next pantomime will be produced .

Trafalgar Square . —The handsome little theatre erected in St . Martin ' s Lane , Charing Cross , by Mr . and Mrs . Frank Wyatt , has been launched upon the sea of popnlar favour under very fair auspices , and we heartily wish it success . It is of about tho size of the Strand Theatre , beautifully decoratod iu whito and gold , and presents a hnze

of amber colour , with its incandescent electric lights and yellow hangings . Unfortunately there is a fly in the amber which oauses dissatisfaction . The fee system is in vogue , and the audience were not altogether favourably disposed towards the new manager , Mr . M . Laveston , before the curtain drew up on the first bright scene of the

new comic opera , " The Wedding Eve , " the music of whioh is by Mr . jF . ToulmoucheandthebookbyMr . W . Yardley . The story describes a quaint Breton oustom , which causes a betrothed couple to spend their wedding eve at the Castle of the Nightingales , where the lady has to prove herself a proficient housewife by spinning , mending ,

baking , & c , and presumably the groom has to make himself agreeable , as either party can repudiate the contract next morning if so disposed . Yvonnette , only daughter of Doulas , an old smuggler , is betrothed to KernGe , a peasant of Saille , but their path of true love is crossed by the Seneschal of Saille , an old reprobate , who has very feudal ideas

as regards his subjects , and having caught Doulas in flagranti delicto makes his pardon dependent upon his lordship wedding Yvonnette . Kornoe defeats the Seneschal ' s plans by intimating to him that the stars fortell the young lady ' s first husband will die within a week , so tho lovers are re-united . The music is light and pretty without

being catchy , but the two dnets for Kerutie and Yvonnette , capitally sung by Mr . Joseph Tapley and Miss Deciina Moore , are very taking . An interpolated song for Elizabeth , a frisky matron , is lively enough to be encored , and Miss Kate Chard finds her opportunity with " Polly up a Plum Tree . " Mr . William Elston , as the Seneschal , recalls memories of bis impersonation of Gaspard in " Les Cloches de

Corneville , " and is appropriately grimly humorous . Mr . George Barrett is an excellent Doulas , aud Messrs . A . Wilkinson , Leonard Rtissell , aud C . Royallc also materially assist with the minor characters . The chorus hna boon well trained , aud look exceedingly pretty in tbeif idealised peasant costumes , while the scenery is paiuted by Messrs . Ifann , Telbin aud Perkins , and is consequently moat artistic . Altogether the '' Wedding Eve " is a treat to be enjoyed .

Haymarkot . —A crowded aud fashionable audience assembled last Thursday to witness the first pjiforriiaucoof anew [ day of modern life , with which Mrs . Laugtry started her season , but we ate