The Chancery Lane Safe Deposit.

THE CHANCERY LANE SAFE DEPOSIT .

As a rule , it is a wise injunction vvhich bids us not to put too much faith in appearances ; but if ever thtre has been an exception to this rule , it will be found on the premises of the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit . Once within the portals of this useful establishment and you find yourself surrounded on all sides by thc evidences of a security vvhich

is as real as it is apparent . I wo stalwart janitors of military mien , wearing what looks like volunteer uniform , greet you on the thieshold , and vvhen you have entered , the gates clang to again sonorously in a manner suggestive of the prison house . On descending a short flight of stairs you are met by more stalwait warders in the same kind of garb and bearing the same military aspect , and on being

civilly invited to a seat till the manager can be summoned to learn the object of your visit , and looking around , you see on all sides strong walls , heavy iron dcors , and grilles , through which last you obtain a glimpse of sundry long and well-lighted corridors , vvhich pass between walls built up of nothing but the iron doors of innumerable safes and strong rooms . You are , as it vvere , in the guard room of

an impregnable fortress containing little else than thousands of impregnable safes and rooms , which none but the renters and the official staff of the establishment can open or enter , and they can do so only when cooperating with each other and possessing the necessary keys . There are securities uncountable and of untold value in all directions , but you can neither see nor reach them , for the warders and

the grilles and the doors are there to stop your way , nor is it till the manager , before whom all things in the shape of "lecks , bolts , and bars" to arrest your further progress " soon fly asunder , " approaches and introduces himself , that you realise you are not as " safely deposited" —May heaven forgive the wretched word-play !—far the rest of your days in Chancery-lane as the safes and rooms by vvhich you are

surrounded , vet for all these evidences of a gum reality , the guard , or inspection , room , like the rest of thc premises , is cheerful enough , with its steady blight electric light and its well tiled floors . It is the only suggestion of counterfeit there is about the place , and it has been intentionally so oidered on the very sensible ground that what is strong beyond the utmost power of lire or burglar need

not be unsightly as well . And the courteous manager , when you press him for his story , might well reply in the words of Canning's Knife Grinder —• " Story , God bless you , I have none to tell , sir !" The safes and thestrongrooms , with their massive doors , tell their own tale . The wealth of Ormuz or of Ind may be concealed within each and everv of them , yet can you not

touch it any more than you can see it . 'The owner vvho rents it can—he has the wherewithal to open it . But he cannot do so alone , and without the aid of one of the attendants , vvho must first undo the outer lock before the renter can insert his own key and inspect his treasures , removing them in whole or in part or adding to them as he pleases . Nor is it possible tor an attendant to open the

safe without the renter , or for the latter to mistake another man ' s for his own , as each safe has its own particular key , and if this is lost , one of Messrs . Milner's men is called in and opens the dcor , by means of the necessary mechanical appliances , in the presence of the renter , whose property is placed in another safe while a fresh key is made . Thus every safe is in reality what its name implies , and the

rooms in which they are placed are equally impregnable , the doors which admit you to them being of massive iron , and weighing in some cases two and a half tons . But this is not all the security which the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit affords its patrons . Neither ingress nor egtess can be obtained to or from the premises but through a succession of iron gates and doors and grilles , and wilh the aid of

the attendant warders . The rooms everywhere are the larger safes , which contain thousands of smaller safes and many strong rooms , each of \ vhi .: h is sacred to all but the renter , vvho alone , though not without the manager's co-operation , can obtain access to its contents . But the protection does not end here . From 6 p . m . and throughout the night the premises are patrolled by the night-watchmen , vvho are

timed to be at certain points alter fixed intervals of time . Thus , a warder starting on his rounds at 6 p . m . by the clock , reache- his first point at io minutes past the hour , his next at 20 minutes past , and so on , till the round is computed and he is back again at his starting point in 50 minutes , vvhen , with a ten minutes' rest , he begins a fresh round , and socontinues throughout the night , with necessary

intervals now and again for refreshment . Each patrol i armed with a loaded six-chamber revolver , and in the event of any unusual sound reaching him , or any strange appearance attracting his attention , there is an alarm handy , vvhich enables him to summon the other warders to his ai . l . The clocks at the several points have e * ch a tell-tale attached , which it is the business of the man on patrol to

mark , so that any shirking of his duty is out cf the question . Of a tiuth , the security affon ' ed hy this Sale Deposit is such that none will venture to gainsay its reality , and our wo thy brother , Bro . Ex-Sheriff Clarke , the founderof the Institution , might do worse than have adopted as a motto , in addition to the many which already decorate the walls of the entrance and inspection halls , " Me duce ,

tutus eris" which being interpreted in the vulgar tongue means " Place yourself as regards your valuables—your securities , your trust deeds , ' your jewels , cash , and plate' — in this stronghold , and you will be safe . " It is right toadd that everything is d me , consistently with a due regard to the absolute security vvhich is guaranteed , for ihe comfort and convenience of the renters . There

are well furnished and commodious waiting rooms , both for ladies and gentlemen , in vvhich they may rest or write letters , or examine their property ; and even within these waiting rooms are a number of safe boxes partitioned off from the rooms and from each other , in vvhich a renter can be absolutely alone , and examine in complete secrecy what ever of value he may wish to deposit , or may have temporarily

removed from its place of deposit . And the charges for all this security and accommodation ? Well , they are absurdly small by comparison , but on this matter we do not feel ourselves competent to speak , and vve must refer our readers to the Manager , vvho will receive them genially , as he received us , and initiate them , as he initiated us , into the merits and mysteries of this useful "Safe Deposit . "

The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio will hold its annual conclave at Columbus on the 1 ith and 12 th October next .

The Craft Abroad.

The Craft Abroad .

G . LODGE OV PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND . The 12 th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Prince Edward Island vvas held at the Masonic Hall , Charlottetown , on the 24 th June last , under the presidency of the Dep . Grand Master ; but on Grand Lodge being opened , it was found there was an insufficient attendance , and an adjournment till the following Thursday ( 30 th

June ) took place , vvhen Bro . John Yeo , M . W . G . M ., occupied the chair , and was supported by the D . G . M ., Wardens , and other Grand and Past G . Officers , the representatives of other Grand Lodges , and the subordinate lodges . The Grand Master ' s address referred to questions of local interest , while the G . Treasurer ' s and G . Secretary's reports were satisfactory , that of the former showing

a balance in hand of close on 1 S 9 dollars , or about the same as had been carried forward from the previous year , while that of the latter exhibited a slight increase in the returns of the members—from 44 S for the year to 30 th April , iSSC , to 455 for the year to 30 th April , 1 SS 7 , there being 11 lodges extant out of the 14 which have been warranted by this G . Lodge . After receiving the report of the Committee

on the G . Master ' s address , G . Lodge adjourned till the following morning , vvhen the following were elected G . Officers for the year , namely : Bros . John Yeo ( re-elected ) , M . W . G . M . ; Neil McKelvie , D . G . M . ; Roderick McNeill , S . G . W . ; Robett E . Sobey , J . G . W . ; Will . H . Findlay ( ic-elected ) , G . Treasurerj B . Wilson Higgs , G . Secretary ; G . VV . Wakeford , G . Lecturer ; T . B . Reagh , G . Chap . ;

Matthew Brehaut , S . G . D . ; Chailes Owen , J . G . D . ; G . R . Montgomery , G . Marshal ; G . VV . Bentley , G . Swd . Br . ; D C . Ramsay , G . Std . Br . ; Leonard Morris , S . G . Stwd . ; Edwin Procter , J . G . Stwd . ; Kenneth C . Holmes , G . Pursuivant ; and John Hobbs ( re-elected ) , G . Tyler . In the afternoon Grand Lodge , escorted by the Royal Arch Chapter and a large gathering of the members of

private lodges , as well as by visiting brethren , and headed by the band of the 82 nd Battalion , marched in procession to the Market-square , where the different Societies vvere assembled to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee ; and a procession liaving been formed , in vvhich the Freemasons had the post of honour in the rear , a start vvas made for the site of the New City Building , the first stone of which was , in

accordance with the formal invitation of the Mayor , about to be laid with Masonic Ceremonial in honour of the Queen ' s Jubilee . The Mayor of Charlottetown , the Hon . T . Heath Haviland , having presented the Grand Master with a handsome silver trowel—bearing the inscription : " Presented by the City Council of Charlottetown to the Hon . John Yeo , Grand Master A . F . and A . M . of Prince Edward Island , on his Laying the Foundation Stone of the

City Building on the celebration of Her Majesty Queen Victoria ' s Jubilee , ist July , 1 SS 7 "—the ceremony was performed in accordance vvith the ancient usages of the Ciaft , and to the delectation of the spectators , after which Grand Lodge returned to the Masonic Hall . In the evening the installation of th * Grand Officers for the year took place , and , after certain other formalities , Grand Lod" -e was closed , and the annual session ended .

THE GRAND CHAPTER OF CANADA . The 30 th annual convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was held in the Masonic Hall , Brockville , on the 15 th July last , under the presidency of Comp . Thos . Sargant , G . Z . ; Comps . Rob . Hendrey , jun ., G . H . ; and R . B . Hangerford , G . J . ; the attendance of companions being numerous , and including the representatives of 52

out of the 92 chapters on the roll . The Grand Z . delivered his usual address , in which he reviewed the events of the ; a-, t year , and thn the G . Superintendents of District * handed in thtir reports . The statements of the G . Treasurer proved -atisfactory . The receipts for the year to 30 th June , 1 SS 7 , including balance from previous account , amounted to 3623 dollars , and the disbursements to 1 849 dollars , leaving a

balance in hand of 1774 dollars . 'The assets amounted on same date to 10 , 984 dollars , and the liabilities to only 2 S 7 dollars . The statistics show 92 chapters on the roll with an aggregate membershi p of 3431 . At the close of the proceedings the Grand officers , a list o . whicn vvas published in our last week's issue , vvere elected ( or appointed ) and

installed , and a cordial vote of thanks passed to Comp . Sargant , the retiring ' / ,., for his services during the last two years , a Committee being appointed for the purpose of determining the character of the proposal it is intended to present to him , a similar compliment , accompanied by a Past Disrict Superintendent ' s apron , sash , collar , and jewel , being paid to Comp . E . Mitchell , G . Treasurer .

GRAND LODGE OR WISCONSIN . This Grand Lodge held its 43 rd annual communication at Milwaukee on the 14 th and 15 th June last . There vvas a large attendance , and among the visitors vvas Bro . John Friz-jell , Past Grand Master of Tennessee . The Grand Master ' s address dealt only vvith matteis of local interest , while the statistical returns show a total membershi p in the

jurisdiction of 13 , 10 S . The following are the Grand Officers for the year , viz . : Bros . Eugene S . Elliott , M . W . G . Master ; Myron Reed , D . G . Master ; J . S . Reynolds , S . G . Warden ; D . McL . Miller , J . G . Warden ; N . M , Littlejohn , G . Treasuier ; John VV . Laflin , G . Secretary ;

Rev . W . E . Wright , G . Chaplain ; M . L . Youngs , G . Lecturer ; Thos . Armstrong , jun ., S . G . Deacon ; J . J . McGiliivray , J . G . Deacon ; H . D . Fisher , G . Marshal ; M . J . Pitkin , G . Sword Bearer ; C . H . Anderson and C . W . Wheeler , G . Stewards ; G . B . McMillan , G . Pursuivant ; and L . Barrett , G . Tyler .

GENERAL GRAND ROVAL ARCH CHAPTER UNITED STATES . The following are the General Grand Ofiicers of this body , as elected at the triennial convocation held at Washington , D . C , in September , 1 SS 6 , viz . : Comps . Noble D . Larner , Geneial G . H . P . ; David F . Day , General D . G . H . P . ; Joseph P . Hornor , General G . King ; Geo . L ,

McGahan , General G . Scribe ; Reuben C . Lemmon , General G . Treasurer ; Christopher C . Fox , General G . Secretary ; Benjamin F . Haller , General G . Capt . ot H . ; Roger W . Woodbury , General G . Pr . Soj .: Lansing Burrows , General G . R . A . Capt . j Sylvester ' s . Bean , General G . M . 'Third V . ; Henry S . Orme . General G . M . Second V . ; and Hiram Bassett , General G . M . Fiist V .

The Craft Abroad.

GRAND LODGE OF NEBRASKA . This Grand Lodge held its 30 th Annual Communication in the Masonic Hall , Hastings , on June 13 th , the following Grand Lodo . e officers being present , viz .: Rros . C . K . Contant , G . M ., Omaia ; ' M . J . Hull , D . G . M ., Edgar ; G . B . France , S . G . W ., Grand Island ; J . J . Mercer , J G . W ., Brownville ; C . Hartman , G . Treas ., Omah a ;

W . R . Bowen , G . Sec , Omaha j R . E . F . ench , G . M ., Kearney j B . F . Rawald , G . Recorder , Hastings ; L . A . Cooly , S . G . D ., Lincoln ; J . Randal , J . G . D ., Albion ; Rev . Hood , Chap . ; together vvith about four hundred representatives from the different lodges in Ihe State . In the course of the proceedings the G . Master in the customary address reviewed the events of the past year ,

while reports of Grand Officers exhibited the financial and numerical condition of the Grand and subordinate Lodges , the total membership being 7377 in 155 chartered lodges , an increase of 716 in the past year . The following vvere appointed and installed Grand Officers for the ensuing year : Bros . Milton J . Hull , G . M . ;

Geo . B . France , D . G . M . ; J . ] . Mercer , S . G . W . ; Rob , E . French , J . G . W . ; Chris . Hartman , G . Treas . ; VV R . Bowman , G . Sec . ; J . A . Hood , G . Chap . ; ] . A . Ebehardt , G . Orator ; L . P . Davidson , S . G . D . ; G . E . Whitman , J . G . D . ; and J . King , G . Tyler . Next session will be held at the City of Lincoln , the Capitol of the State .

GRAND LODGE 01 ? MANITOBA . We have received copy of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba at the annual communication at Winnipeg in February last , and from these we learn that the meeting in question vvas held under the presidency of Bro . Alfred Pearson , M . W . G . M ., vvho was supported by Bro . Peter McGregor , D . G . M . ; Bros . I . W . H . Wilson and J .

Kerr Bryden , the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively , the rest of the Grand Officers , many Past Grand Ofiicers , representatives of other Grand Lodges , and of the subordinate lodges in the jurisdiction . The Grand Master ' s address was chiefly local in its interest , but he congratulated Grand Lodge on England having consented to an exchange of representatives , and announced

that he had been appointed , and that his patent of appointment had arrived a few weeks previously . He also referred in loyal terms to the approach of the Queen ' s Jubilee , and recommended that an address of congratulation to her Majesty should be prepared . The statistical returns show that on the 31 st December last there vvere 30 chartered lodges and nine lodges under

dispensation with a total membership of 156 S , being an increase of 22 S over the previous year . The Grand Treasurer ' s report showed that the receipts including a balance brought forward of over of 1167 dollars amounted to nearly 2699 dollars , that the expenditure was under 1527 dollars , and the balance at the end of the financial year 1172 dollars . Various other reports vvere presented , and at the

close the following vvere elected and installed to the principal offices in Grand Lodge for the new year , namely Bros . Thomas Clark , M . W . G . M . ; John Alex . Kerr , D . G . M . ; James Alex . Ovas , S . G . W .: WiU . G . Bell , J . G . W . ; Rev . Canon O'Meara , G . Chap . ; las . S ,

Greig , G . Reg . j John McKechnie , G . Treas . j W . G . Scott , G . Sec . ; T . A . Cuddy , S . G . Deacon ; David H . McFadden , J . G . Deacon j W . John McAdam , G . D . of C ; W . H . Seach , G . S . Br . ; A . VV . R . Markley , G . Org . ; Roland C . Brown , G . Puis . ; J . McBride , G . Tyler .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

If the means justify the end , then to utilize a theatre associated with comic opera is admissible . This Professor Crocker is doing just now with the Avenue . We have been to most circuses , but never have vve witnessed such marvellous performances as Mr . Crocker ' s horses . They seem to do nearly everything but speak . If it be true that a horse has a small brain , then all the more

credit is due to Mr . Crocker for what he has trained his troupe of about a dozen horses to do . They can rub out a wrong sum on a black board , find a handkerchief of any colour selected by the audience , fire cannon , sit on chairs , " see-saw" each other , and perform military drill . Ringing bells seems to be the favourite amusement , both with the horses and the audience , for the latter laugh heartily and the horses appear to enjoy taking up the bells and

shaking them with all their might ; indeed , the Professor has a little difficulty in getting them to put the bells down . It vvould have been better to have dovetailed this vvith some other performance , as we do not know that two hours " equirationals" is sufficient of itself for the ordinary public , but vve can promise those who care to go they will be highly entertained with the doings of these noble animals under Professor Crocker's tuition .

» # # The current number of The Theatre is more than usually interesting . The veteran Mr . Godfrey Turner , who tells us that at the age of C 2 he has a mother alive who still calls him her "boy , " concludes a delightful series of papers called " ' First Nights' of my Young Days . " They deal with the history of the stage in the first half of this

century . To those vvho remember the celebrated actors then living the perusal of Mr . Turner ' s articles must be of peculiar interest , whilst to those , like the writer , vvho were not born vvhen Mr . Turner ' s papers leave off ( 1 S 50 ) , they are of much use as a witness of the stage and those belonging to it at a time when the theatre was not so popular with all classes as it now is . We hope the author may be

induced—or some one eLse—to continue his history or First Nights from J 850 to the present time . Mr . E . A . Morton writes a very good article on the Court Theatre under the jurisdiction of its several lessess . Tne photographsby Mr . Burraud are those of Mrs . Brown Potter and Bro . Rutland Banington as the Wicked Baronet in

" Ruddy Gore . " The same publishers ( Messrs . Somerfoi'd and Corson ) have also just issued the eighth annual of Dramatic Notes , which deals vvith the theatrical events pt 1 SS 6 , month by month , from the pen of Mr . Austin Brereton , illustrated by Mr . Cox . It is a very usiful boo " to have for reference . The author has written records the various productions rather than criticisms ,