Jubilee Guildhall For Cheshire.

nominal sum to £ 96 per annum . ( Applause . ) Commenting on some misapprehensions which had arisen respecting the ownership , he asserted that the building was the absolute property of every society of an honourable character . He referred to a clause in the deeds whir h had caused q lite a rumpus . It prohibited the sale or use of intoxic ints on the premises . The building- had been out up in competition with pjblic houses , and if thev

wanted to take intoxicants they must go to the public house . Let them , however , keep it away from their business , and the business would bs the better for it . ( Applause . ) Mr . T . BURT , M . P ., delivered a stirring address on Trades Unionism . During the evening Sir John Brunner entertained every member of the district trades and friendly societies at tea . The proceedings throughout were most enthusiastic .

Mark Masonry.

Mark Masonry .

Portsmouth Lodge , No . 17 . The installation meeting of the above lodge was held at the Masonic Hall , Highbury-street , Portsmouth , on Monday , the 16 th ult ., when Bro . G . F . Lancaster , P . G . O . Eng ., P . S . G . W ., installed Bro . W . E . Soltau , P . P . S . G . D ., as W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony was ably andjimpressively performed . The new W . M . appointed and . invested his officers as follows : Bros . J . J . Coates , P . S . G . O ., S . W . ; J . Day , I . W . ; A . H . Mace , P . G . Std . Br ., S . O . ; G . Coilis , J . O- * H . S . Duke , P . pr . l . W .. . Treas . ; R . H . Plat-rtn . P . M . fi . P . P . G . Std . Br . and of Kent . Sec . :

E . Pratt , R . of M . ; E . Drury , S . D . ; G . Wild , J . D . ; Rev . F . B . N . Norman Lee , P . G . Chap . Eng ., Prov . G . Chap ., Chap . ; Lieut .-Col . O . G . Wood , P . M . 310 , P . D . S . G . O . Punjab , D . C ; L . J . Gunnel ! , Stwd . ; and J . Exell , Tyler . The following visitors were present : Bros . Capt . C . D . Wise , P . D . D . G . M ., and W . D . L . Hack , P . M . 71 , Bombay ; W . Gillman , P . S . G . D . Eng ., P . P . S . G W . ; G . Edmonds , W . M . 2 ; A . E . Fiddy , P . M ., and W . R . Green of 205 , Bermuda . A hearty vote of thanks to the Installing Master concluded the ceremony . At the invitation of the W . M ., the brethren retired to the banquet room for refreshment .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

Ancient and Accepted Rite .

Alleyn Chapter , No . 139 . The lifth meeting of the above chapter was held on Wednesday , the Sth instant , at the Masonic Hall , 33 , Golden-square , W ., when there were present : III . Bros . John Read , 30 ° , M . W . S ., in the chair ; W . J . Songhurst , 30 ° , I . P . M . W . and Treas . ; W . Portlock-Dadson , 33 ° , Recorder ; R . C . Leversedge , 31 , ist Gen . ; E . and P . Bros . J . W . Stevens , 18 , 2 nd Gen . ; A . H . Thornton , lS ° , Marshal ; A . E . Churchward , iS ° , M . D ., Raphael ; J . P . Norrington , iS " , D . C ; H . E . Herman , rS ° , Herald ; W . H . 0

Kidson , iS ° , Captain of the Guard ; - J . F . Henley , 18 ° , Steward ; W . Llewellyn , 1 S ; J . M . Rogan , 1 S ; Walter Lawrance , and Gordon Hills , 18 ° . Visitors : HI . Bros . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., 33 ° ; Thomas Fenn , | 33 ; J . C . F . Tower , 31 ° ; Francis W . Pixley , 31 ; Harold Burke , 30 ° ; C . M . Biden , 1 S ; A . J . Thomas , 1 S j and C . C . Powell , rS \ The chapter having been opened , the usual initial business was transacted . Consentient unon a favourable ballot . Bro . William Walker was ocrfected bv thc M . W . S .:

also on a favourable ballot E . and P . Bro . W . C . Gngg , M . D ., iS , was' received as a joining member of the chapter . This being the annual period of installation of the M . W . S ., E . and P . Bro . F . A . Powell was presented to tbe M . W . S ., and was by him installed as M . W . S . of the Alleyn Chapter . E . and P . Bro . Powell appointed and invested the following officers for the ensuing year : III . Bros . R . C . Leversedge , 31 , Prelate ; W . J . Songhurst , 30 , Treas . ( invested ); Capt . W . Portlock-Dadson , 33 , Recorder : lohn Read , 10 ° . I . P . M . W . S ., Ore . ; E . and P . Bros . 1 . W . S . Stevens ,

st Gen . ; A . H . Thornton , 2 nd Gen . ; A . E . Churchward , M . D ., Marshal ; J . P . Norrington , Raphael ; H . E . Herman , D . C . ; W . H . Kidson , Herald ; John F . Henley , Captain of the Guard ; W . Llewellyn , 1 st Steward ; J . M . Rogan , 2 nd Steward ; and George Austin , Outer Guard . The Treasurer submitted his annual report , which was a most satisfactory one . The chapter having unanimously voted a P . M . W . Sovereign ' s jewel to III . Bro . John Read , 30 ° , for his able services in the chair , advantage was taken of the fact that he already possessed three P . M . W . S . jewels , therefore , to add to the

vote of the chapter , the amount was supplemented by many of the members , enabling the M . W . S . to present Bro . Read with a handsome gold watch , as a souvenir of his year of office , with hearty good wishes that he may long be spared to render his ready and valuable assistance to the Craft in general and to the Ancient and Accepted Rite in particular . ' Letters of regret at inability to be present were received from the M . P . Sovereign Grand Commander , Capt . N . G . Philips , 33 ; 111 . Bros . Sir A . F . Godson , 33 ; Sir Wm . Pearce , Bart ., rS ° ; and E . and P . Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair . Nothing further offering , the chapter was closed .

The brethren subsequently dined together at the Cafe Royal , under the presidency of the M . W . S ., E . and P . Bro . F . A . Powell , and a most pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent .

Art And The Drama.

Art and the Drama .

ROYAL SOCIETY OF BRITISH ARTISTS .

ENGLISH GOETHE SOCIETY . VVe availed ourselves of an invitation to attend a memorial meeting of the above Society , at the Picture Galleries of the Society of British Artists , on Saturday evening , the 4 th instant . In spite of the unpleasant weather , a large number of members and visitors were present . At the commencement of the meeting , the Chairman , Dr . Thorne , announced that the object

of their meeting was to hear a paper from their Secretary , Dr . Eugene Oswald , entitled " A time to continue in remembrance many centuries " ( Carlyle ) . Our space being so very limited , we can only summarise this remarkably comprehensive paper . It was a rapid review from the birth ol Goethe , 28 th August , 1 749 , up to 28 th August , 1890—the 150 th anniversary . In a masterly manner , the Dr ., who is an ardent admirer of his great

ideal , sketched , rapidly , the leading incidents o f Goethe ' s literary career , showing how the influence , feeble at lirst , of this master mind was felt in his own time by his countrymen , how that influence had increased year by year , until now Goethe was acknowledged in Germany , England , America , and , in fact , by all civilised nations , as the giant intellect of his age . At the present time , Goethe , to a considerable extent , holds the position so justly due to him , by the way in which his works have been considered and

at the monthly meetings ot the cngnsn uoetne society , which was founded 1886 , and has continued its laudable work up to the present year of grace . The raisou d ' etre of this Society , is to promote the study of Goethe ' s work and thought . By the way , he was a Freemason , and a warm advocateof the Craft . In 181 * 1 , the scope of the Society was extended so that while always keeping Goethe as the central figure , the attention of the members might also be directed to other fields of German literature , art , and science . Goethe , like Shakespeare , with whom he has most justly been compared , wrote not for his own time alone , but for future students

Art And The Drama.

and admirers . Prof . Fielder submitted his report , as the representative of the English Goethe Society , of the Goethe Commemoration at Frankforton-the-Maine , during August of the present year . It proved most interesting and valuable as a true and graphic record of one of the most important events of 1899 . We trust that the papers contributed by Dr . Oswald and Prof . Fielder will appear in the Transactions of the Society , as

a lasting souvenir of this most auspicious occasion . A discussion afterwards took place on some points of difference of opinion ; an important one was the real meaning of Goethe ' s dying words " Mehr licht , mehr licht . " Various ideas were ventilated , some very materliastic . Our own opinion is that the spirit , on the point of shaking off its earthly trammels , was already

entering into immortality , and was vouchsafed a faint vision of that Divine light , which no mortal eyes can approach unto , and cried out in ecstasy , " Light , more light . " The Secretary of the English Goethe Society , Dr . Eugene Oswald , 49 , Blomfield-road , VV ., will be happy to give information to those who may contemplate becoming members .

Vaudeville Theatre.

VAUDEVILLE THEATRE .

We spent a pleasant evening at the above theatre last week . They have a strong programme now . The pieces are "Hook and Eye" and "The Elixir of Youth . " With regard to the "Hook and Eye , " by Kille Norwood , though only a curtain-raiser , it possesses considerable merit . Our general experience with regard to " curtain-raisers " is that , as a rule , they should be religiously avoided . In the maiority of cases they are

either lamentable cases of inanity , or else of idiotic buffoonery , trying to the patience of the audience and an insult to their understanding . In the present case we have a praiseworthy exception . The leading idea is good , well conceived , and fairly interpreted by those who take part in it . We would especially notice the role of the old sergeant , taken by Mr . Walter Howe , his brusque military

manner , attributable to the irritation of gout , is natural and not overdrawn . The game of cross purposes between him and the young artist is most amusing . We should imagine the author has not had much experience in dramatic writing ; still it is very creditable , and shows promise of future excellence ; but we would caution him against a too frequent repetition of a joke—we allude to the cross purposes , amusing at first , but tedious when

repeated . One last word—we strongly advise visitors to come in time to see this clever little comedietta . The piece de resistance is " The Elixir of Youth , " by the well-known and experienced dramatist , Geo . R . Sims , who , with his collobarateur , Leonard Merrick , has produced a farcical comedy , founded on the " Bockspriinge" of Hirschbergerand Krantz . The meaning of this German word is " goal ' s leaps . " We have not seen the German text ,

and , therefore , ace unable to say how far the leading motive of the English comedy is consistent with the original . In criticising this comedy we should , in a general way , call it a piece of " lost or unused opportunities . " As an example , we may instance the lion , changed into a lamb , who only appears in that capacity just before the fall of the curtain . If properly worked up , there might have been an amusing scene , in which the fire-eater might

appear perfectly subdued . The burden of the piece falls on Mr . G . Giddens , who well sustains this role . Miss Florence Wood does full justice to the character of Mrs . Jeffrey , which some perhaps might think " unpen risquee , " but there is really nothing to shock Mrs . Grundy , or even the proprieties of the boarding-school miss . Suzette , Cora ' s French maid , is made ths most of by Miss Juliette Nesville . The dancer , Cora , is undertaken by Miss

Ellis J effreys . She brings out effectively the salient points of the character , The mock tragedy scene , however , is too prolonged ; it should be shortened . The other characters are of too shadowy a nature to call for much comment , The piece , taken as a whole , is good , and affords occasion for hearty laughter . Wc strongly recommend Londoners and country cousins to pay a visit to the theatre and see the whole performance .

Albert Hall.

ALBERT HALL .

SUNDAY CONCERTS . To all lovers of really good music we would suggest a visit to Albert Hall some Sunday afternoon . There are choice morceaux from classic authors , such as Handel , Hadyn , Mozart , Beethoven , Mendelssohn , Wagner , & c . „ interpreted by the fine string and brass band of the Royal Artillery , under the baton of Cavaliere L . Zavertal , who ranks as one of

the ablest conductors in Europe ; then there are performances on the great organ , and songs by lady and gentleman vocalists . Every part of Albert Hall is crowded by appreciative audiences . The prices of admission are moderate , ranging from 3 d . to 2 s ., according to the situation . The gallery is free . These concerts were given four or five years ago as an experiment , and they were so well attended by the general public that they are now en

permanence . When first started there used to be t * o rows of chairs round the gallery front ( the free part ) . Aftera time , as some of the chsappaying parts did not fill so well as could be wished , the Directors determined to compel those who had free admission to go to the paying parts by depriving them of the seats they had previously used , removing the two lines of seats , and issuing stringent regulations to the effect that camp stoals are forbidden ,

and people are not even permitted to sit on the iloor . Notwithstanding , the free part is still crowded every Sunday afternoon by the humbler lovers of music , who will patiently endure the fatigue of standing during the concert . Perfect order and good conduct prevail . In the selection last Sunday we had the "War March of the Priests , " from the " Athalie" of

Mendelssohn ; Adagio movement from one of Mozart ' s symphonies ; Spanish dance music , by Rubinstein , while among the vo : al pieces were " Recked in the Cradle of the Deep , " " The Deathless Army . " Two fine performances on the organ . These concerts last from 3 . 30 to 5 p . m . A pure musical education can thus be obtained at a very trilling cost .

BRO . THE EARI . OF ONSLOW , Under-Secretary for India , is the Chairman elect 0 ; the Council of the Westminster Orchestral Society for the forthcoming season . THK . MARRIAGE of the popular prima donna , Miss Pauline Joran , to Bro . Baron De Bush will take place at St . Margaret ' s , Westminster , on Wednesday , December 6 , at 2 . 30 . The bridal couple will afterwards hold a reception at the Whitehall Rooms . THE ARTISTS' GUILD . —Her Maiesty the Queen will send the followine loans

from the Royal Collection at Windsor to the nth exhibition of thc Artists' Guild : ( 1 ) Contemporary drawing of Queen Elizabeth . ( 2 ) Work-box given by King Charles I . to the ladies of Little Gidding . ( 3 ) Coloured prints in satin of George III . and Queen Charlotte . ( 4 ) Five portraits on silver by C . de Passe . The exhibition will be opened on Tuesday , the 14 th inst ., at 3 o'clock , at the Royal Albert Hall , by Princess Christian , and will remain open three following days .