New Prov G. M. Antrim.

NEW PROV G . M . ANTRIM .

f \ NE of the most interesting ceremonies ever seen in Belrast ^ will take place on the 15 th January , when the Earl of Shaftesbury will be installed as Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Antrim . The last ceremonial of a similar kind in the city was the installation of the Most Honourable the

Marquis of Hertford as Provincial Grand Master , in the month of October 1889 , on which occasion a grand banquet was given by the members of the Masonic body in the Ulster Hall . The gift of the dignity of Provincial Grand Master is the

especial prerogative of , his Grace the Duke of Abercorn M . W . Grand Master of Ireland , and the lot has fallen most worthily upon the Earl of Shaftesbury , who resides in the district and who promises to become exceedingly popular among the Brethren of the important Province .

A special communication of the Provincial Grand Lodge will be convened on the 15 th proximo in the Exhibition Hail , Botanic Avenue , at 4 p . m . At this meeting the Duke of Abercorn will preside , and he will be attended by the Deputy Grand Master Sir James . Creed Meredith , LL . D ., and the

Officers of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The newly appointed Provincial Grand Master will then be formally installed with the customary ceremonials and honours of" Masonry by the Duke of Abercorn , and having been duly saluted , the Prov . Grand Lodge will be closed .

Subsequently , a grand banquet will be given in the Ulster Hall , under the auspices of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Bro . R . J . Hilton , J . P ., and the Officers and members of the Prov . G . Lodge of Antrim , in honour of the installation of the Earl of Shaftesbury , and at this banquet the Duke of

Abercorn will preside . The Hall will be gaily and handsomely decorated for the occasion , and the arrangements of the tables will be similar to that of the banquet recently given to

General Sir George White . The balcony has been specially reserved for the ladies , who will be supplied with refreshments in the Ulster Minor Hall during the evening . Arrangements have also been made for the orchestral band to be in

attendance , and a choice vocal musical programme has been prepared to enliven the intervals between the various toasts . The members of the Order will appear at the banquet in full Masonic costume , representing the various degrees of Freemasonry .

New Hall At Newbury.

NEW HALL AT NEWBURY .

AT a meeting of Brethren held in the early pa , rt of last week the arrangements for . ' i ; he dedication of the Masonic Hall were discussed and settled . The ceremony will be performed on the afternoon of Friday , 4 th January , by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire Bro . J . T . Morland , Mayor of Abingdon , Past G . Deacon of England ,

assisted by the Provincial Grand Wardens and other Officers . Following this will come the installation of Bro . John Rolfe as Worshipful Master of 'the Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope for the ensuing year . In the evening there will be a banquet in the Council Chamber . It is hoped that the Provincial

Grand Master Lord Wantage V . C . will be able to honour the gathering with his presence . The Mayor of Reading Bro . A . H . Bull and other representatives of Lodges in the Province , as well as distinguished Brethren from the Grand Lodge of England , are expected to be present .

The premises which have been converted for the purpose of providing a commodious Masonic Flail and ante-rooms are well adapted for such a use , being spacious , and on a convenient site within a few yards of Northbrook Street , one of the main thoroughfares . For a considerable period prior to

the opening of the Municipal Buildings and the police-court , the house was the scene of the sittings of the Justices for the Newbury division , and also used as the Town Clerk ' s office during the lifetime of the late Mr . H . B . Godwin . The interior is notable on account of a quantity of oak panelling , which has been carefully preserved .

The Masonic Hall , which is upstairs , is a handsome apartment , 40 'ft 6 in by 17 ft 6 in , and the basement has been fitted up to meet the various requirements of the Brethren who will from time to time assemble within 'the walls in connection

with the Royal Arch Chapter and the Craft and Mark Lodges . The entire work has been carried out most satisfactorily by Messrs . G . Elms and Sons , of Newbury and Marsh Benham , from plans prepared by Bro . W . Ravenscroft , Architect , of Reading .

Our G.M. And Edinburgh Brethren.

OUR G . M . AND EDINBURGH BRETHREN .

I 'i HE W . M . and Secretary of the Lodge of Edinburgh JL ( Mary ' s Chapel ) , No . 1 , Bros . W . W . Robertson and R . Wood Hawks , under date December 13 , wrote to Sir Francis Knollys . — In a letter received from you , under date 26 th February 1899 , you intimated that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales had been graciously pleased to indicate that he would accept a copy

of the tercentenary edition of the history of the Lodge of Edinburgh ( Mary ' s Chapel ) No . 1 . We have been instructed to express , on behalf of the Committee of the Lodge , on behalf of those members who assisted in the production of the work , and especially on behalf of the author , D . Murray Lyon , who this day demits office as Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland after twenty-three years

service , the deep sense of the honour which His Royal Highness has conferred upon the Lodge . The copy , which is sent under separate cover , has been specially prepared for , and is submitted to , His Royal Highness in all humility by the Lodge , with their most dutiful submission to the patron of Scottish Freemasonry . The following reply has been received : —

Marlborough House , Pall Mall , S . W ., 19 th December 1900 . Gentlemen , —I have submitted your letter and also the copy of the tercentenary edition of the history of the Lodge of Edinburgh to the Prince of Wales . His Royal Highness desires me to say that he sincereh' appreciates the kind feeling which prompted the members of your Lodge to send him this volume , and he feels

sure that the work is one which cannot jfail to interest the Graft generally . I am , Gentlemen , Your obedient servant , FRANCIS KNOLLYS . W . W . Robertson , Esq ., R . W . M ., R . Wood Hawks , Esq ., Secretary ,

Entertainment Notes.

Entertainment Notes .

Lyric . —Miss Kate Phillips has so charming a personality , and is so capable an . actress in her special line of character , that we cannot but regret her selection of Mr . Robert Ganthony's farcial comedv " The Ring Mistress " for her first essay as a manageress . The verv title is a misnomer , as there is not even a suspicion of the scent of the sawdust in the piece , the humour of which consists of

a man committing bigamy with his own wife . Miss Phillips represents Mrs . Van Brown , who is designated as " a retired circus proprietress , " but her husband is a photographer , who , finding the bonds of matrimony too galling , advertises for another wife . Mrs . Van Brown , by some occult means , finds this out , and answers the

advertisement herself , with the result that the pair are re-married at an adjacent registrar ' s office . An appointment is made for the next day at Southampton , whither another couple , Alderman Grinstead and the Countess Mobrais , proceed for their honeymoon . The Countess wears a dress similar to that of Mrs . Van Brown and is

mistaken bv the peccant husband for his inamorata , but the fun that ensues is very forced and entirely improbable . After believing himself to be the murderer of his wife , Mr . Van Brown returns repentant to the studio , where explanations arc made and the farce ends . Miss Phillips is vivacious enough as the jealous wife , but Mr . Robb Harwood is somewhat too heavy for the j ) art of Van Brown . Two pretty characters , Ada Grinstead and Lawrence

Mobrais are introduced , and are capitally played by Miss Victoria Addison , who makes her fi-rst appearance ; and Mr . Michael Dure . Admirable assistance is also rendered by Mr . Webb Darleigh and Miss Beatrice Lamb , as the Alderman and Countess ; by Mr . Chas . Garth as a Detective ; and Mr . M . Clifton as Willi ; - Wank . i'lu : piece requires to be played with greater briskness both in action and dialogue , but we cannot predict an overwhelming success .

Duke of York ' s . —Genuine fun , delightful humour , and charming romance are united in Mr . Louis Parker ' s play " The Swashbuckler , " which is now attracting large audiences , and may be recommended for the delectation of both old and young during the holidays . The story narrates the adventures of Count Maximilian , of Andlau , and Loretta , who , unknown to each other , are

heirs to the estate , which bv the eccentric will of the late lord is to belong to the first to arrive at the castle , This fact is known by the Baron of Randegg , who kidnaps Loretta for the purpose of marrying her to his son Johannes . Of course she is rescued by Max , who naturally falls in love with her , with the usual result . This brief description fails to convey the pretty and stirring scenes that lead up to the

denouement , and it would be a pity to describe them since it would detract from the pleasure of witnessing them . Suffice it to say that Mr . Herbert Waring is the Max , and there is no bri ghter hero of romance than he , while Loretta is pourtrayed by Miss Evelyn Millard , who a ] jpears to suipass her previous efforts . Nothing more delightful than the scene in the Forest , where Loretta , disguised

as a Boy , listens to Max ' s love for herself , has been conceived since Shakespeare wrote "As you like it . " Mr . William Day as the Baron , Mr . J . L . Mackay as his son , and Mr . Alfred Mansfield as Loretta ' s Page are also excellent , and Miss Oliffe , Miss Hunter , and Messrs . Snelton , Tyler , Willes . and Norrie ably sustain the minor characters . The play is beautifully staged , and the incidental music , by Edward Jones , is clever and appropriate .