Annual Picnic Of The Gallery Lodge ,No.1928.

ANNUAL PICNIC OF THE GALLERY LODGE , No . 1928 .

Jn pursuance of an invitation given to the W . M . by Rro . Baron H . De Worms , M . P ., some months ago , the annual picnic of the Gallery Lodge took place on Saturday , the 30 th ult ., to Henley Park , near Guildford , the beautifully-situated Surrey residence of Baron and

Baroness De Worms . Between 80 and 90 members of the lodge and ladies travelled by the 11 . 25 a . m . train in saloon carriages , kindly provided by Mr . Scotter , general manager of the London and South-Western Railway , from Waterloo to Brookwood Station , the company comprising Bros . E . E . Peacock , W . M . ; C . K . Moore , S . W . ; J . C . Manning , J . W . ; G . Tarran ,

A . D . C . ; C . Lock , S . D . ; H . J . Sanderson , J . D . ; P . \ V . Husk , I . G . ; B . Striem , Stwd . ; W . T . Perkins , l . P . M . ; H . Wright , P . M . ; W . M . Duckworth , P . M . ; j . C . Duckworth , P . M . ; T . Minstrell , P . M ., A . G . P ., Sec ; and Mrs ., Mr . H ., and Miss Peacock ; Miss Moore , Mrs . Perkins , Mrs . Minstrell , Mrs . W . M . and Miss Duckworth , Mrs . J . C . Duckworth , Mrs . Tarran ,

Mrs . Striem , Mrs . Lock , Mrs . Sanderson , Mrs . Husk , Mrs . and Miss Wright , Bro . and Mrs . Merton Clarke , Bro . and Mrs . Temple , Bro . J . D . and Mrs . Irvine , Bro . and Mrs . Baines , Bro . and the Misses Fishbourne , Bro . Basil Cooke , Bro . B . and Mrs . Sykes , Bro . J . and Mrs . Lobb , Bro . and Mrs . Brodie , Bro . and Mrs . Bell , Bro . G . T . Vincent , Comp . Hurdell , Mr . W . T .

Lawrence , and others . From Brookwood they were driven to Henley Park , some four-and-a-half miles distant , where they were warmly welcomed by Bro . Baron and the Baroness De Worms , who had invited a few guests , including the Rev . ] . W . Dunn , vicar of Pirbright , and Mrs . Dunn , and the Rev . Father Fowler , to meet them .

After an inspection of the grounds and hot-houses , the guests were entertained at luncheon . Bro . Baron DE WORMS proposed " The Health of the Queen . " Bro . PEACOCK , W . M ., then proposed the toast of "Our Host and Hostess , " observing that Baron De Worms besides being a brother Mason , not unknown

in the field ot literature , and having achieved distinction as a politician and administrator , was a personal friend of some of the members of the lodge . That he was not unmindful of the truth that " the hand of a Mason given to a Mason shall be a sure pledge of brotherhood , " was shown by his invitation of them to Henley Park , and they were equally under an obligation

to the Baroness , whose graceful cordiality in welcoming them well befitted the daughter of the first Lord Mayor , who had ever officially invited a body of English Freemasons to be his guests at the Mansion House . The toast was enthusiastically drunk . Bro . Baron DE WORMS responded , and proposed "The Gallery Lodge , " coupled with the name of his

old friend , the WORSHIPFUL MASTER , who replied . During the afternoon , which was brilliantly fine , the visitors found ample entertainment in going through the extensive grounds and the magnificently timbered park of 600 acres , boating on the lake , or fishing in the fish-stews . In the evening tea was served alfresco in front of the

hall , and a concert was given in the large drawing-room by Bro . and Mrs . Merton Clark , Bros . Temple , Sykes , Irvine , Husk , and Mr . H . Peacock . At dusk the party took farewell of their hosts , and having given them a parting cheer drove back to Brookwood , whence they reached town shortly after 10 o ' clock , having spent a most delightful day .

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The annual Masonic dinner of the Lodge Himalayan Brotherhood came off at Simla on June 13 th . The hall was beautifully decorated , and about 70 guests were present After the usual loyal toasts of " The Queen and the Craft , " " The Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of

England , " "The District Grand Master of the Punjab , and Officers , Present and Past , " had been proposed and responded to , Bro . MCDERMOTT , the LP . M ., proposed the toast of "General Collen , the present Worshipful Master , " which was drunk with musical honours . The speaker said that Bro . General Collen entered on his duties

enjoying the fullest confidence of the lodge , and that he would be certain to leave it in a more prosperous condition than that in which he found it . . Bro . General COLLEN , in replying for himself and 'ncoming officers , returned his best thanks for the manner in which the toast had been received . He

felled , he said , on the warm support of officers to enable him to fulfil the expectations which had been raised . He also said that though the work of the Military Secretary to Government left him hut little spare time , he would do his best to attain success equal ° '"at which BroMcDermott as Worshiful Master

, . p ° reached , and concluded that if unsuccessful he could onl y quote the old words of the play : " Ferdinanuo can do no more than he can do . " R '" proposing " The Health of the Visiting Brethren , " " - Major BOWYER . S . W ., referring to Simla as a

mmer capital , said that she was always glad to Da t me v ' ' tors i whether Masons or not , from all Wh ' * cou P ' ' the toast the name of Bro . , Jjytt . per , whom every Mason knew as a great utnority upon their ancient literature . Whf ? v KyM 1 ' responded in an amusing speech , in mcn he said that the duty of visiting other lodges

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was not only a duty but a pleasure ; and though he believed that all lodges should more or less follow a universal usage , he could not but with regret compare the chippy biscuits and dry sandwiches of the Murree and Rawal Pindi lodges with the turkey and champagne of Simla . Not only was it far better , he continued , but the company was also , and why ? Because Simla

always carried off the best men from the Punjab and elsewhere . Once a Viceroy expressed a wish to see a Punjab Lieutenant-Governor . The result was that after seeing him he kept him , and next took the Civil and Military Secretaries . Now Simla had seized upon Sir William Lockhart , the General of the Punjab Frontier Force . He no longer wondered at the lodge

being able to keep so many absentee members paying a high subscription . Bro . General COLLEN , in proposing the toast of "The LP . M . and Outgoing Officers , " alluded in the warmest terms to the good work done by Bro . McDermott , and concluded by saying : " I ought , perhaps , now to trace Freemasonry from its earliest

stages in the time of Athelstone , or I ought to give its history since the first Grand Lodge was formed in England in 926 . I refrain from doing so , because I see faces growing somewhat long at the mere suggestion , and because our guests are longing to speak for themselves in that eloquent manuer for which all Englishmen are renowned . "

Bro . MCDERMOTT , responding , warmly thanked the officers for their support , especially mentioning Bro . Carson . He said the lodge had made his task an easy one , and he should always be proud of the honour of having been Master . Bro . CULLIN in an eloquent speech proposed " The Guests , " alluding to the members of Commerce , the

Army , Civil Service , and the Press . Bro . General MORTON replying extolled the hospitality of Masonic lodges , and especially that of Simla . He alluded amusingly to the visit of the Inspecting Officer , Bro . Whymper , from Murree , whose portals none ever entered without sampling the most excellent of old crusted . He had discovered no flaws in the

accounts , and ended his remarks amid loud cheers . Bro . Col . WOODTHORPE , who proposed " The Ladies , " explained that this would probably be the last speech he should make in Simla . A man often , he said , proposes , and is sometimes accepted . " This time , " he continued , " I am going to propose all the ladies to you . Therefore , there will be little danger to myself . " He hoped that though many years had passed over his

head he might still meet that "not impossible she , " and after one or two anecdotes which were received with much laughter , concluded by saying he had discovered but little new in ladies since he proposed the toast last year . Bro . Captain HOLLAND responded in a few well chosen words , remarking that most appropriately he did so in his maiden speech . Several excellent songs were sung during the evening .

In Praise Of Masonry.

IN PRAISE OF MASONRY .

Masonry has just cause to be proud of its antiquity , proud of its ancient origin , dating back into the dim and misty past . We have just reason to be proud of our many Charities and of our vast numerical strength , as well as of our standing in every community , but more than that , above all this , we have reason to be proud of

the eternal truths taught in our Craft , of the tenets and teachings of our great Fraternity . Masonry at all times carried the torch of liberty and of thought ; carried always the light of love and universal tolerance to all mankind . It ever held aloft its sweet signal of brotherly love , and at all times taught the great truth of a Fatherhood of God and

brotherhood of man . At no time did Masonry ever lend its pure and sacred hand to wrong , to oppression , or to persecution , but quietly , in silence and secrecy performs its great mission of Charity and brotherly love . Quietly and in silence it aids the widow and the orphan , succours the poor and stands by the weak ,

shields and defends those who suffer in mind or body , and is at all times ready to battle for the right . It is thus that the great Masonic Fraternity has just cause to be proud as the advance guard of liberal thought , as the pioneer of our civilisation , as the teacher of the immutable truths that have been isolated

in former ages , but through its agencies , and through the workers in our vineyards has popularised them and brought them and kept them before the people . It is to this we can point as the great achievement of our Fraternity . It is in this we find our greatest pride as members of the Craft . —Keystone .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

It Mr . Van Biene will concede that there is absolutely nothing new in the plot of "The Broken Melody , " which he produced at the Prince of Wales ' s last week , on the occasion of his making his debut in London as an actor , then we are willing to allow that Messrs .

Keen and Leader have written round Mr . Van Beine ' s ' cello a drama which in this off-season may command some attention at the hands of the playgoing public . Most of us have heard of or seen " La Dame aux Camelias and Belphagor , " which " The Broken

The Theatres.

Melody" closely resembles . The Russian refugee , who is a Nihilist and has escaped to London , where he ekes out a living by composing music , marries a pretty English girl , who loves and is loved by the Russian count , and who has a rival in a French duchess , who in her unlawful passion for the opera composer spirits away his trusting wife . We have

seen them all before . Still in its new clothing this old story does fascinate the audience , though we all know exactly what is going to happenthat the Russian and his wife will come together again , and that the wicked duchess will have an old enemy in the shape of a discarded lover turn up and expose her just as she thinks she has

triumphed . Mr . Van Biene has again shown his cleverness as a manager , for in case the drama will not carry weight he knows he can trust to his splendid musical gifts to enthral , and his wonderful handling of his violoncello in the three acts saved what mi ght have been a dull evenii . g . His playing stops the action of the piece , but who would grumble when they can listen to

such a master of his instrument . The Broden melody will suit two classes , those who go to see an interesting drama and those who go to hear Mons . Auguste Van Biene perform with such skill oh the violoncello . We all have known him for years as a first class musician and also as a manager of many provincial operatic companies . We now know him as an actor

who shows no little skill , though nature has not fitted him in physique for such a role . Miss Olga Brandon looked handsome in her various gowns , though not much opportunity was given her to act . Mr . Abingdon was again a splendid villain . Miss Blanche Horlock looked pretty . Mrs . Campbell Bradley was not quite fait with her words

au . Mr . Fred Thome gave a capital sketch as the lod ging keeper ' s husband , and Mr . Stephen Caffrey made a great hit in a very small part as a character actor—that of an Irish doctor . " The Broken Melody " is sumptuously mounted , but it is the ' cello round which it is written which will be the draw .

» * * The Brothers Gatti , long ago , established their fame , and on Saturday may be said to have broken the record in the splendid production of " The Li ghts of Home , " by Messrs . Sims and Buchanan , both of whom received vociferous cheers at the close of the new drama . It follows closely on the lines of old Adel phi pieces for

, frequenters of this favourite playhouse want one sort of entertainment—a hero , a heroine , a villain or two , and a comic man , with some murders and shipwrecks thrown in . The Brothers Gatti have given them their fill in the new drama . The plot is an oft told tale , but not a bit worn out , and in its new dishing up bids fair to fill the Adelphi for many months . In two

or three places it excites the whole audience . We wish we could afford space to go more into detail . No praise we can give " The Lights of Home " would be more than justice . The scene-painting of Bro . Bruce Smith is marvellous , and well deserved all the applause it obtained when it came to view . We do not think any manager has before attempted to depict a screw

ocean-going steamer foundering in the breakers . This we look upon as the cleverest feature of the evening . Mr . Kyrle Bellew is the hero of the piece , and makes love in the fervent way he always does , that one ' s heart goes out to him and Miss Millard who ably supports him . Mrs . Patrick Campbell is full of emotional expression as the wronged woman , and

hers is perhaps the finest piece of acting . In the hands of Mr . Lionel Rignold the low comedy part is thoroughly safe . His wheeze " I ' m on it , fair on it , " is likely to become a street saying . Miss Clara Jecks has scarcely as much to do as usual , but her acting shows her great popularity amongst Adelphians . We heartily congratulate the Brothers Gatti on another Adelphi success .

* * * Only tolerably old theatre goers will recollect Mr . W . S . Gilbert ' s " Wedding March , " which was so popular 20 years ago . Set to music by Mr . George Grossmith , who conducted on the first night , it is , under the title " Haste to the Wedding , " now being performed at the Criterion while Bro . Wyndham and

M iss Mary Mooretakeahol iday . 11 is j ust one of those bright easy piecessuitableforthe Criterion , and which one is sure to go again and yet again to see . ln it Mr . G . Grossmith , jun ., makes his bow to London audiences in a small part . Bro . Lionel Brough is in his element as the bride ' s father . His humour is very prominent , and he is provided with a capital song on " his late

departed . " Mr . Frank Wyatt in song and dance is highly appreciated . His duet with Miss Sybil Carlisle is one of the chief features of the evening . Most grotesque is their dance in the milliner ' s shop . Mr . D . S . James ( son of Bro . David James ) was doubly encored . Mr . Valentine , as a fiery Major General , is provided with a very funny song— " The Order of the Bath " —which he

sings sitting in a chair in a scarlet tunic and cocked hat and sword , and his feet in a bath . If the name had not appeared on the programme , one would know that the dialogue is by Mr . VV . S . Gilbert , as it is written in his topsy turvyism style . There can be little doubt that the Criterion will be filled by lovers of a light bill of fare for weeks to come to laugh at the nonsense in " Haste to the Wedding . "

Uro . Lord Mayor Evans and the Lady Mayoress , with their family , have left London for North Berwick , where they will remain until the ( irst week in September , when his lordship intends visiting- Wales for the purpose of presidingat the Rhyl Eisteddfod .