Performance For The Benefit Of The Masonic Charities.

PERFORMANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

On Tuesday , the 4 th inst ., a special performance of the pantomine , " Dick Whittington , " was given at the Theatre Royal , Rochdale , in aid of the Masonic Charities . The chief attraction of the evening was Miss Sarah Berry , a local contralto , who has lately distinguished herself in London . Bro . C . Parker , R . A . M .,

Bro . Bob Bradford , Bro . R . Wrigley , and Mr . Jas . Ashworth contributed songs , and Bro . A . Whipp , F . G . O ., played the accompaniments with his usual good taste . The theatre was crowded in every part , large numbers having to be turned away , and the packed audience

seemed highl y to appreciate the varied entertainment provided for them . The gross receipts were ^ 104 , one-half of which goes to the Charity Fund . This is the hig hest total yet reached by these annual performances , the receipts last year being over £ 93—at that time the largest sum recorded .

For this gratifying result hearty thanks are due to Bro . F . W . Purcell , proprietor of the theatre ; to the indefatigable Secretaries , Bros . C . E . Collingwood , P . M ., and W . A . Wright , J . D . ; to the sub-Committee , Bros . J . H . Collingwood , W . M ., and T . Stott , S . D ., upon whom chiefly rested the responsibility of arranging the programme , and to the brethren who kindly gave their services in the performance .

Viceregal Visit To The Masonic Female Orphan School, Dublin.

VICEREGAL VISIT TO THE MASONIC FEMALE ORPHAN SCHOOL , DUBLIN .

On the 7 th inst ., their Excellencies the Lord-Lieutenant and the Countess of Zetland visited the Masonic Female Orphan School , Ball ' s Bridge . They were accompanied by Lord Herbert Vane Tempest , the Earl of Clonmell , General Frazer , Capt . Orr-Ewing , and Capt . M'Calmont , and were received by his Grace

the Duke of Abercorn , Grand Master ; the Deputy Grand Master , Bro . R . W . Shekleton , Q . C . ; Sir Edward Hudson Kinahan , Sir John Banks , the Rev . Benjamin Gibson , Rev . Mr . Hamilton , Rev . Dr . Fuller , and a numerous gathering of the governors and officers of the School .

The DEPUTY GRAND MASTER thanked their excellencies for making so early a visit to their Schools on their arrival in Ireland , and expressed a hope that it would be possible for him to pay a visit to the Boys ' School at Clonskeagh at an early date . The GRAND MASTER also offered his thanks to the

Lord Lieutenant for this early proof of his interest in the Masonic Institutions of Ireland . The LORD LIEUTENANT said it afforded him very great gratification to visit the School . As one who had been so intimately associated with Freemasonry in England , having been for 16 years a Provincial Grand

Master , it afforded him great pleasure to find the charitable Institutions of the Craft on this side of the Channel so prosperous , and it would give him great satisfaction to convey to the members of the Brotherhood on the other side the very prosperous condition of Irish Freemasonry . Their excellencies were then conducted over the

various departments of the School , with the arrangement of which they expressed themselves highly pleased . The pupils were put through a series of calisthenics , which reflected credit alike on the children and their

instructors . The pupils of the Masonic Boys' School , under the charge of their head master , Mr . Holbrooke , were also present .

Presentation To The Lord Mayor.

PRESENTATION TO THE LORD MAYOR .

When Bro . the Ri g ht Hon . Sir Henry A . Isaacs was installed as Lord Mayor the members of the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , desired to present him with an address of congratulation , and a Committee of the lodge was appointed to carry out the resolution , but it having come to their knowledge that the Past Master ' s jewel

which had been presented to him on his retirement from the chair of the lodge had been stolen from him , the Committee thought that it would be a graceful act to" present him with another jewel . The Lord Mayor signified his intention to be present at the installation meeting on the 28 th ult ., to receive the same , but ,

unfortunatel y , he was too unwell to be able to attend , but he agreed to receive the Committee on Friday , the 7 th inst ., for the purpose of having the jewel handed to him . Accordingly Bros . M . 1 . Emanuel , W . M . ; C . F . Hogard , I . P . M ., P . G . S . B . ; A . M . Cohen , Treas . ; W . Littaur , P . M . ; H . J . Phillips , P . M . ; and A . J .

Henochsberg , P . M ., P . P . D . G . D . C . West Lancashire , attended at the Mansion House for that purpose . Bro . Rev . Marcus Haines , the proposer of the resolution , being unfortunately prevented by a serious attack of the prevailing epidemic from being present , Bro . M . I . EMANUELW . M ., madethe presentation on

, behalf of the lodge , alluding to the many services the Lord Mayor had rendered to the lodge in years gone by , both as a Past Master of the lodge and as President for many years of its Benevolent Fund , and read the inscription on the jewel :

" Presented by the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , to W . Bro . the Ri ght Hon . Sir Henry Aaron Isaacs , W . M . 1856 , as a sli ght souvenir of his being Lord Mayor of the City of London for 1889-1890 . January 28 th , 1890 . " Bro . the Lord MAYOR very feelingly acknowledged

Presentation To The Lord Mayor.

the gift , and expressed his regret that the great number of the members of the Drury Lane Lodge and the Grand Officers , and the want of sufficient room at the Mansion House to entertain all those he would have desired to be present at his installation as Worship ful Master of that lodge , did not permit him to invite the

members of the Committee to dine with him on the nth inst ., but he would , on a future occasion , ask them to dinner at the Mansion House . After the presentation , Bro . the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress entertained the members of the Committee at luncheon .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

The old proverb— " One may go farther and fare worse , " is not always true . Taking our walks abroad , out of the beaten track , we found ourselves in Shoreditch , and so went to see the pantomime of " Sinbad the Sailor , " at the Standard , the theatre which Bro . Melville , of Birmingham fame , has recently taken .

The old Standard , has been so thoroughly renovated and decorated , that we scarcely knew the place . " The play ' s the thing" though , and this we found hi g hly amusing , brimming over with all sorts of good old fun , free from vulgarity , prettily staged , well played , and singing all that can be desired . Miss Fanny

Leslie is the Sinbad and it is needless to say that she is very vivacious , as usual , and dances with eclat . Miss Maude Branscombe , as the Princess , is the leading lady , and in her dances is exceedingly graceful and neat , and though not possessing a strong voice , she can be heard very distinctly , her articulation being clear . The refined way in which Miss

Branscombe performs reminded us of Miss Kate Vaughan . The Milano Brothers are responsible for most of the business of the boisterous order . Miss Florence Coventry whom we have not before seen , is so artistic that we hope to have the pleasure of witnessing her acting again . The East-enders seem to enjoy Mr . Melville ' s pantomime , and well they might , for never have they had a brighter or prettier picture on their stage before .

Messrs . Eglington and Co ., have this year taken over the publication of The Theatre , which enters upon its fifteenth year . Mr . Clement Scott has resigned the editorship , | but his successor is not stated in the journal , but Mr . Scott is , we are happy to say , still a contributor to its columns . Miss Mabel Wotton blossoms out as a

poetess , and Mrs . Bernard Beere and Miss Jessie Bond as authoresses . The latter writes a very pathetic tale , which we presume , as she gives it as an incident of her life , is a true story . We would scarcel y have thought such touching affairs occur in Bloomsbury boarding houses . Mr . Cecil Howard , as of yore , contributes the

criticisms on the new plays , which are written in his well-known graphic style . A new departure is made by devoting a certain part of the magazine to thorough reports of amateur dramatic performances , which will be useful , as we shall learn who are the actors and actresses budding forth to take their places as

professionals . Miss Ellen Terry s son , Mr . Gordon Craig , who has made such a hit in " The Dead Heart" at the Lyceum Theatre , and Miss Ella Banister , of the Vaudeville , are the subjects of the photographs . It will be found that The Theatre has taken yet another lease of life , and becomes each year more and more valuable as a book of reference as well as of interest .

¦ f * * Bro . Irving ' s lieutenant , Mr . George Alexander , having , like many successful actors , gone in for management , he re-opened the Avenue on Saturday . His engagement with Messrs . A . and S . Gatti in " London Day by Day" not having terminated , he is

unable to appear at his own theatre . This , we think , is somewhat fortunate , as the Avenue has always been associated with comic opera and burlesque , and it would be a big step , not to say a venturesome one , to at once produce " The Struggle for Life , " Messrs . Buchanan and Horner ' s adaptation of " La Lutte pour

la vie , which Mr . George Alexander intends to put up when he can himself play in it . In the meanwhile , a new farcical comedy of the Criterion order b y Mr . Hamilton Aidee , of French origin , has been placed on the boards as a stop-gap . We fancy the new young lessee will find " Dr . Bill" such a draw that he may

have to defer his serious play promised for Easter . It would not be a very easy task , even if our space permitted , to explain the somewhat elaborate plot of Mr . Aidee ' s farcical comedy , though , while one is seeing it acted , it it quite easy to follow . Its interest , unlike that many of those sort of pieces , is kept up until the

end , for the last act is short , and does not flag . Miss Fanny Brough made a distinct hit in her new line . Heretofore she has not been associated with screaming farces , but her acting only showed how capable she is of being thoroughly satisfactory in all forms of dramatic art . Mr . Fred Terry , who , with Miss Brough , bears the burden of the piece , if not

quite so vivacious as Mr . Wyndham would be , plays with much intelligence and refinement , and one can tell he has carefully thought out and studied the part . Miss E . Robins , who made a great hit at a matinee recently , has been wisel y engaged by Mr . Alexander , and now has an opportunity of displaying her histrionic talent . Mr . Ben Webster deserves special mention for his rendering of the character of a duke . Miss Marie

The Theatres.

Linden , Miss Carlotta Leclerq , Mr . George Capel , and Mr . Chevalier are included in the very efficient cast . " A Fool ' s Mate , " which was a few months ago played for the first time at a matinee , opens the evening . Mr . Broughton ' s little curtain raiser is admirably played by Mr . Fred Terry , Miss Gracie Murville , and Miss Mary

Kingsley , a young lady who having now got a firm holding on the London stage should remain there . In the provinces she is well known and popular as leading lady in Shakesperian and other dramas . Fortune has - certainly smiled on Mr . George Alexander , and we hope the hearty congratulations he has received will last as long as he elects to be a manager .

India.

India .

BOMBAY . Wlalwa Lodge ( No . 1 994 , E . C . ) . —The installation of VV . M . took place on St . John ' s Day , after a special service for the brethren of this station , held in Christ Church , by the Chaplain , Bro . A . H . Etty , D . G . Chaplain . Bro .

R . Cubbon was presented by Bro . Nicholson for the benefit of installation , which he duly received from Bro . Etty . The same evening , and in the same lodge room , which is their own , Bro . Khan Bahador Besonjee was installed as VV . M . of the Lodge of St . Paul ( S . C . ) by Bro . J . Hall ,

P . M . The two lodges then banqueted together , and among the other toasts and speeches Bro . Etty congratulated the brethren on the perfect way in which their two lodges met together , first for Divine service on their patron saint ' s day , and then for the special work and refreshment suitable on

this , the chief day in the year to them . A beautiful Past Master ' s jewel was presented during the evening to Bro . Viney , of Lodge St . Paul . Malwa Lodge has also suitably presented Bro . A . N . Wickham with a Past Master ' s jewel , which is being manufactured by Bro . George Kenning , of London , and will shortly be sent to Bro . Wickham , at Aden .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . LORD JOHN TAYLOUR , P . J . G . W .

Bro . Lord John Taylour , whose death from pneumonia occurred in the early part of last week , was a younger brother of Bro . the Marquis of Headfort , S . G . W . of the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and uncle of Bro . the Earl of Bective , M . P ., Prov . G . Master of Cumberland and Westmorland . His lordship was

born in the year 18 31 , and , having joined the army as ensign in the 94 th Foot , rose ultimatel y to be its lieutcolonel , and retired from the service with the honorary rank of major-general in 1886 . He was a very active Mason , and had won distinction in the District G . Lodge of New South Wales , in the Province of Hants

and the Isle of Wi ght , and in United Grand Lodge itself . He was initiated in the Cambrian Lodge of Australia , No . 656 , Sydney , N . S . W ., on 3 rd January , 1862 , and was installed W . M . in December , 1866 . He was Dist . G . S . B . of New South Wales in 1863 , and Dist . S . G . W . in 1866 . On returning to England , he

joined the Fenwick Lodge , No . 1389 , Sunderland , in 18 77 , and continued a subscribing member till 1882 . He was also a P . M . of the Ryde Lodge , No . 69 8 , and Past Prov . J . G . W . of Hants and the Isle of Wight . In 1888 he was appointed and invested J . G . W . of United Grand Lodge . In the Royal Arch Degree , he

was P . Z . of the East Medina Chapter , No . 175 , Ryde , and P . P . G . Prin . Soj . of Hants and the Isle of Wight , and G . Prin . Soj . of Supreme Grand Chapter . In Mark Masonry , he was P . M . of the William Hickman Lodge , No . 320 , Sandown , and in 1884 was both Prov . S . G . W . of Hants and the Isle of Wight , and S . G . W .

of the Grand Mark Lodge of England . He was a P . M . of the Shadwell Clerke Lodge , a member of the Vectis Chapter of Rose Croix , and last , but not least , a supporter of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls . His death was quite unexpected , as he was among the guests invited to be present at the installation meeting of the Savage Club Lodge , on Tuesday , the 4 th inst .,

and it was certainly premature , as he was only in his 58 th year , and , in the ordinary course of nature , might have been expected to survive some years , and take an active part in the duties of life . It has , however , been ordered otherwise , and it only remains for us to offer our sincere and respectful sympath y to his widow and family on the terrible bereavement they have sustained .

BRO . THOMAS PERRY , P . P . A . G . D . C . Herts . We regret to hear of the death of Bro . Thomas Perry , P . Prov . Asst . G . D . of C . Herts , for many years manager of the Government Small Arms Factory , Enfield . Bro . Perry was initiated in the Gresham Lodge , No . 869 , in February , 1871 , of which he became W . M . in 1880 . The funeral took place on Saturday

last at St . James ' s Church , Enfield , and around the grave were gathered a large number of brethren and friends , the Gresham Lodge being represented by Bro . Dr . Dingle , the present W . M . ; Bro . W . E . Gompertz , Sec . ; and Bro . F . D . R . Copestick , Treas . Our deceased brother was for many years a companion of the Lion and Lamb Chapter , No . 192 .

Brockwell Park , Heme Hill , comprising some 78 acres of land , has been secured to the public for ever , the price paid first being £ 122 , 050 , including expenses . Towards this the County Council contributes £ 61 , 000 , the Charity Commissioners , £ 25 , 00 , the Lambeth Vestry , £ 20 , 000 , the Camberwell Vestry , £ 6000 , and the Newington Vestry , £ 5000 ,