Prov. Grand Lodge Of Staffordshire.

valuable , h * pointed to the Wolverhampton Orphan Asylum and ofh . fi Inatitnfcions as being efficiently managed at less cost por head than the Masonio Institutions for Boys and Girls , and he expressed a hop thafc n , reform in this direction would In effected . He directed

attention to fcho rapid growth of fche Staffordshire Masonic Charitabb Institntion , aud sn / gested for consideration whether some of the re cipients of tho Benevolent Fund could not bo maintained in tho Provinces instead of afc Croydon . Thn list of toasts was shortly afterwards concluded . —Staffordshire Advertiser .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must hear tho name unci address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

REPRESENTATIVE PROVINCIAL STEWARDS ,

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR Snt AND BROTHER , —I do not think thafc " J . B . " need have been apprehensive of being stormed at or abused for his letter on the above subject , although I confess that Masonic correspondents seem frequently to display unnecessary excitement in the tone of their

fraternal controversies . He has spoken from experience , and doubt , less there is something in his argument . I always thought that the object of any brother in undertaking a Provincial Stewardshi p was to secure to that Province the benefit of the cumulative vote , wbich would otherwise be lost . If a number of brethren go np as Stewards

from a Province each bringing his own list , the chances are thafc such lists will be small and will nofc carry with them any extra votes , whereas if all these lists were added together the result would be a gain iu the shape of a number of extra votes . If a brother acts as Provincial Steward it is certainly his duty as well as to his

interest to do his best for bis list . My own impression is that the increasing number of unattached Stewards is occasioned by these '' rovers " finding themselves better able to annex stray subscriptions from all quarters as independent Stewards than if they represented any particular Province or Lodge .

i remain , Yours fraternally , T . B . W . 22 nd June 1885 .

Reading Room And Museum.

READING ROOM AND MUSEUM .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Every now and then an attempt is made to awaken interest in the intellectual cnlture of Freemasons , and although efforts iu that direction have hitherto remained stillborn , I am not without hope that something will ultimately be dono

if a few earnest men keep pegging away . It is no nse railing against the social habits of the brethren , and it is , to say the least , questionable tactics to talk about the monotony of our ceremonies . Freemasons , like most other people , enjoy the pleasures of the table , and why should they uot ? Englishmen are , and always have been , what

may be termed good livers , and ifc would be strange indeed if members of the Craft who possess special facilities should be an exception to tbe general rnle . Monotonous , as I admit the proceedings of most Lodges to be , and abused and shamefully shorn of their beamy as the ceremonies often are , it is gratifying to know that so many

brethren attend to Lodge business aud are therefore compelled to listen to the ceremonies , the good seed of which does not always fall on stony ground . Lectures have been recommended as a means of varying the proceedings of Lodges . That is au excellent plan provided lecturers can

be fonnd competent to fnlfil the necessary conditions of office . It shonld be remembered that there are few brethren so capable as Bro . Woodford and Bro . Stevens to entertain and interest a Lodge . Afc any rate only one here and there has come forward , and among that honourable number may be mentioned Bro . W . W . Morgan . A

lecturer , to be successful , should be well-read in the literature of fche Order , should bave a cultivated mind , a ready address and pleasing manners . These qualifications nre not often found in combination , ancl where they , or any of them are absent , their efforts ere more

monotonous than tho ceremonies are alleged to be . Still , I would not discourage even the feeble efforts of those who think they have something to say . Tho chief object at present is to galvanise dead bones , to stir up the dormant energies of the few , and to educate the mnnv .

I am of opinion thafc mnch good mighfc be dono in Lodge ; of Instruction were questions put by members to fche Preceptors , not only ns to the precise words of the ritual , but as to the history of the ceremonies and their relative bearing . Discussion might very fairly be raised on questions of jurisprudence , such , for instance , aa to tho

meaning of suspension and exclusion ; also as to the nam . ' ng and numbering of Lodges , Provincial honours , and many other mr iters of interest . No doubt ifc wonld be discovered thafc tbe Preceptors , as a rnle , arc as ignorant , ns the brethren generally of all question ;* outside of their irnmediato duties . Wero thoy pressed with question- !

they would either havo to seek information , or point out where it conld be obtained . By this moans a spirit of inquiry would be aroused , i ' . nd a demand for Masonio literature would be creased . Once make ignorance an object of contempt , or even unfashionable , nnd one greafc step towards u remedy will have boon taken . Thero would

Reading Room And Museum.

<* oon be a library worthy of the name at Freemasons Hall , with a Reading Room where brethren could go and sit and peruse the Masonic literature of the world at their leisure . Tbe same room would do for the brethren who have to attend on matters of business . For example , afc elections and on occasions when the Lodge of

Benevolence meets . Instead of the brethren having to lounge about in corridors , sometimes for hours , in semi-darkness , kicking their heels , or ruminating over their misfortunes , they might be snugl y

ensconced in a room well-lighted , with papers and books as companions . The weariness of waiting would be lessened if not removed , and unwholesome and troublous thoughts would be superseded , for the time afc least .

Once get the Reading Room , the Library would soon increase , and naturally would follow a Museum . The way to get both is first to awaken a spirit of inquiry , one method of doing wbich I have pointed out , and then to insist upon Grand Lodge loosing its purse-strings aud doing a duty ifc has too long neglected . " Where ignorance is

bliss , tis folly to be wise . " Masonic bliss has dwelt too long ia ignorance , and time is long past for action at improvement , I do not expect ; thafc many will stir in the matter , bufc the earnest ones need

not despair . Great things from little causes spring , and who knows how near the future may be when a brother shall be esteemed for his qualities of head as well as of heart , and nofc , as is too often the case now , because he possesses the one only qualification of being rich .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , WATCHMAN .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Vaildeville . —Much praise and all possible encouragement is due to the plucky little society modestly calling itself " The Dramatic Students . " Ifc was constituted by certain scholarly juniors of the dramatic profession , who purpose from time to time to present some play of recognised value from those rarely seen on the stage .

By this arrangement there will , from time to time , be offered works tempting to the curiosity of younger spectators , interesting recollections for those of the elders . On Friday afternoon , the 19 th inst ., afc the Vaudeville , a large and very appreciative andience gathered fco see onr "Students '" interpretation of the " Two Gentlemen of

Verona , " a play thafc has not seen tbe footlights in London for some thirty years . Anticipatory irony lnrked in the corner of many a critical eye , and surprise was no less great than pleasure when the audience listened to the refined and manly elocution of both gentlemen—Valentine and Proteus . Proteus is afc the best an

ungrateful character . He betrays his friend , and is false to the fair Julia ; for love ' s sake sinking to a very cad . Shakespeare , however , makes us forgive him—for this same Iovo ' s sake . In some hands , Proteus would be simply detestable , bufc Mr . Charles Fulton , by youthful impulsiveness and gallant bearing , made him sympathetic

despite himself . Mr . Bernard Gould , as Valentine , attained great excellence ; he spoke his lines with a ring of sincerity , and evidently felt tbe music of Shakespeare ' s exquisite verse . It was a fine bit of comedy , touched with pathetic sentiment , where Valentine ' s plan to escape with Silvia is discovered by her father , who snatches the

lover ' s cloak from his shoulder and discovers the rope ladder . Mr . C . Thorpe played tho small part of Eglamonr with taste and feeling . Mr . Haydon Coffin won a well-deserved encore in the deli ghtful song , "Who is Sylvia ? " He sang as a true artist , and kept well within the scene , gazing afc the

lady s window , nofc as though addressing fche orchestral stalls . Mr . Ben Greet created pleasant astonishment ; by fche thorough way in which he realised the unconth drollery of Lannce ; his scene with the dog delighted the house . Mr . Besley ' s Speed was a bright and racy vignette . He has the happy faculty of smiling so that the whole

face seems illumined with a flush of fun . Miss Norroys vvas charming as Sylvia—graceful , tender , and dignified . We congratulate her heartily on such evidence of power and earnest study . Miss Webster , as Julia , marred her opening scenes by too much effort and too loud a delivery . Towards the close , however , when nervousness , to which

these blemishes undoubtedly were due , bad been overcome , her final scene was very pretty . The rest of the cast was efficient ; , but ; we would especially praise Mr . Mark Ambiant for his gracefully

impertinent Sir Thurio . Ifc was a pretty bit of comedy , in the Osric vein . The Students next , propose giving Charles Lamb ' s "Mr . H ., " and Douglas Jerrold ' s " Housekeeper . " We wish them a full house , and that success intelligence aud hard work merits .

Strand . —So popular with playgoers is Mr . J . S . Clarke thafc a mere mention of fche /' act that he has increased the interest taken in the comedy of" The Heir afc Law " by a double impersonation ought to draw full houses . Mr . Clarke now sustains tho role of the mistrustful yonng rustic Zekiel Homespun , in addition to that

of tbe self-satisfied pedant with whom he has so long identified himself . Iu both characters he demonstrates thafc his power to provoke laughter has increased rather than diminished . Other artists worthy of special uvntion are Mr . IT . B . Conway as Dick Dowlas , ancl Miss Lucy Buckstone as Cicely Homespun . The " Heir at Law " is preceded by Mr . Rae ' s comedietta " The Sunny Side . "

HOLT . OWAVS OrxTMHN-T AVD Prra - . s . —Rheumatism and Rheumatic ' gout arc tho most dreaded of all disease .-, because their victims know that thev arc safo at no season , and afc no age secure . Tfolloway ' s Ointment , after fomentation of tha painful parts , gives greater relief t dan anv other application ; but it must be diligently used to obtain this desirable , result . It lias been highly commended liy rheumatic subjects of all ages and of both sexes , for rendering their attacks less frequent and less vigorous , and for repressing the sour perspirations and soothing tlie nerve- ,. In many cases Holloway ' s Ointment and Pills have proved tho greatest blessings in removing rheumatism and rheumatic gout which , haa assailed persons previously and at tho prime of life .