The Craft Abroad.

THE DISTRICT G RAND LODGE OF VICTORIA , ENGLISH CONSTITUTIONS . The regular Quarterly Communication of this District Grand Lodge was held in the Town Hall , Melbourne , on Wednesday , the 2 Gth March last , under the presidency of R . W . Bro . Sir VV . J . Clarke , Bart ., D . G . M . The business was of the usual character and included the submission and approval of the reports of the Board of General Purposes and Benevolence , and the D . G . Treasurer ' s statement of account for the year . The following brethren were appointed and invested as D . G . Officers for the year 1 SS 5-6 ,

namely : — Bro . Dr . Balls-Headley Dist . G . S . W . ., Dr . Hinchliffe Dist . G . J . W . „ Rev . E . A . Thomas Dist . G . Chap . „ Rev . VV . W . Mantell Dist . G . A . Chap . „ H . VV . Lowry Dist . G . Treas . H . Thompson Dist . G . Reg .

„ „ Major Trythall Dist . G . P . B . G . P . „ T . H . Lempriere Dist . G . Sec . „ John Scott Dist . G . S . D . F . L . Flint Dist . G . S . D .

„ 1 . Chapman Dist . G . . I . D . „ j . Cleverdon Dist . G . J . D . „ A . Purchase Dist . G . S . of VV . „ I . G . Morton Dist . G . D . C . „ A . L . Levy Dist . G . A D . C . „ J . Mackie Dist . G . Swd . B .

„ J . G . Hornblower Dist . G . Std . Br . „ David Lee Dist . G . Org . „ J . W . Wright Dist . G . Purst . „ W . Mills Dist . G . A . Purst . „ A . j . Clark Dist . G . Tyler . Bros . T . P . Di g ht , T Haydon , H . B . } D ; st G Stwds-Blashki , and Miser ... ) The District Grand Lodge was closed in due form .

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF N SOUTH WALES . The following is a complete list of the officers of this District Grand Lodge for the year ISS 5-6 , namely : — Bro . lohn Williams , J . P Dist . G . M . „ F . A . Wright , M . P Dist . D . G . M . „ Gustavus Gabriel Dist . G . S . W . „ W . H . Tulloh Dist . G . J . W . „ Rev . E . Madgwick Dist . G . Chap .

„ W . Webster Dist . G . Treas . „ T . Read Dist . G . Reg . „ C . Stokes Dist . P . B . ofG . P „ A . H . Bray Dist . G . Sec . „ J . Levison Dist . G . S . D . „ J . Booth Dist . G . S . D . „ S . Hodge Dist . G . J . D . VV . Cracknell Dist . G . J . D .

„ „ John Sutherland , M . P Dist . G . S . of VV . ' A . A . P . Tig he Dist . G . D . C . ,, F . P . Meares Dist . G . D . D . C „ C . B . Airey Dist . G . A . D . C . „ A . Hancock Dist . G . Swd . Br . „ J . Marshall Dist . G . Std . Br . f . Munday Dist . G . Std . Br .

„ „ G . F . Garland Dist . G . Org . „ P . L . Murray Dist . G . A . Sec . „ H . Pedriau Dist . G . Purst . „ T . W . Knight Dist . G . A . Purst .

„ C P . Middleton ^ „ H . Richardson " £ ' £°£ 1 > Dist . G . Stwds . „ G . C Clarke r „ J . Myers

„ E . Beale ... J „ James Stainec Dist . G . Tyler . It should be added that Bro . James Macdonald , P . M . S 6 S , is President of the Committee of Benevolence , and that R . W . Bro . J . Williams , D . G . M ., is President of the Freemasons' Orphan Society and Chairman of the Freemasons' Hall Company .

THE CARNARVON LODGE , No . 1735 . CAPE TOWN . The regular meeting of this . . lodge , on Wednesday , the 25 th March last , was marked by a highly interesting ceremony ; Bro . George Brittain , P . M ., who had occupied the chair of the lodge for close on three years , being presented with a very handsome P . M . ' s jewel in recognition of his great interest in , and the signal services he had rendered to , the lodge . The presentation was made by the W . M ., the

Very Rev . the Dean of Cape Town , who spoke very felicitously , and in the warmest terms of admiration of Bro . Brittain's conduct , both as a member and ruler of the lodge , and Bro . Brittain , in acknowledging the gift , expressed his cordial thanks for the kindness of the brethren . The jewel bears the following inscription : " Presented to Bro , George Brittain , P . M ., by the members of the Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1735 , in appreciation of services rendered the lodge . "

Obituary.

Obituary .

R . W . BRO . SIR W . WATKINS-WYNN , BART ., M . P ., P . G . M . NORTH WALES AND SALOP . By the death , on the 9 th inst ., of Bro . Sir VV . Watkins-Wynn , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of North Wales and Shropshire since the beginning of the year 1852 , there has been removed from among us one of the most prominent , as well as one of the most beloved and respected , members

of the Craft in England . Our deceased brother was not only ready , but anxious , to play his part in Masonry , and the fact of his having been present at the consecration of nearly every one of the lodges in this province which have been warranted since his accession to the office of P . G . M ., is convincing testimony , if testimony is needed , of the personal , as distinguished from the official , interest he took in

whatever was calculated to affect for good the welfare of our Fraternity . We have also the most direct evidence of the great personal esteem and respect in which he was held by the brethren he ruled over in this further fact , that when he had completed 25 years of Mastership over his province , the sum of 500 guineas was voted for the purpose of

purchasing a "Sir W . Watkins-Wynn Life Presentation " to the Boys' School . Thus the ruler and his province conjoined with each other in giving practical effect to the grand principles of Freemasonry , the former by personally interesting himself in the proceedings of the brethren , and the latter by reciprocating that kindly feeling in the manner most likely to find favour with their

Obituary.

chief—promoting the cause of true Charity . That the loss of such a brother must be the cause of deep sorrow everywhere , but especially in North Wales and Shropshire does not need to be specified , the gathering around his grave of the Prov . Grand Officers and the representatives of the lodi * es constituting the province on Friday , the 15 th inst ., when his remains were consigned to their last resting place demonstrates this clearly enough ,

nor are we exaggerating when we say that , years and years hence when other Wynns are walking in the footsteps of our deceased brother , and striving—successfully we hope—to emulatehis numerous virtues , the memory of those virtues will beas bright and fresh as it is now . Bro . Sir VV . Watkins-Wynn was the Senior Prov . G . M . and Prov . G . Superintendent of Royal Arch Masons on the rolls respectively of United Grand Lodge and Supreme Grand Chapter , his

patent of appointment to the former office bearing date the 13 th January , 1 S 52 , and that to the latter September 1 S 59 . His connection with Freemasonry is , necessarily , of a still earlier date , bis initiation having taken place in the Cestrian Lodge , No . 425 , Chester , on the 27 th December , 1 SS 4 . He filled the S . VV . ' s Chair of ( hat Lodge in 1 S 50 and was elected and installed W . M . for the year 1 S 51 , his early progress in Masonry having been most kindly watched over by the

late Viscount Combermere , P . G . M . Cheshire . Early in 1 S 52 he was appointed by the late Earl of Zetland , and installed by the late Lord Combermere , as Prov . Grand Master of North Wales and Salop , the ceremony taking place at Shrewsbury , where at the lime two out of the four lodges constituting his province held their meetings . He was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree in the Fidelity Chapter , No . 4 > 7 , Birkenhead , on 4 th April , iS 53 , and five years

later joined the Friendship Chapter , No . C . In September , 1 S 59 , he was appointed Provincial Grand Superintendent of Noah Wales and ^ alop . Duringjthe period of his government the Craft has flourished abundantly , there having been only four lodges in the province at the time of his installation as P . G . M ., whereas there are now no less than ; 8 , of which iS are in North VValesand the remaining 10 in Shropshire . But Sir W . Watkins-Wynn's interest was by no

means confined to the proceedings which took place within the limits of his own province . He was a supporter of all our Institutions , being a Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and Life Governor , and once Steward , for the Girls' School , and a Vice-President , and once Steward , for the Boys' Schcol . Moreover , in 1 S 71 , the deceased took the chair at the Annual Festival of the last-named Institution , and hence , no doubt , the selection

of this School as the recipient of the Life Presentation Fund " when the question as to the form the proposed testimonial in his honour should take came to be considered . The funeral took place on Friday , the 15 th inst ., in Llangedwyn Churchyard , in the presence of a gathering of many thousands of persons assembled from the neighbouring parts in order to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of their deceased friend and neighbour . All classes

and bodies were strongly represented , and among the latler none more so than the Masons of North Wales and Shropshire , for whom ihe following brethren acted as a deputation : Bros . Sir Offley Wakcman , Bart ., D . P . G . M . ; Rowland G . Venables , 6 n , P . G . S . W . ; Rees Buckley Williames , 99 S , P . G . J . W . ; Rev . Robert Jackson , 1 S 9 G , P . G . C ; Rev . John Lewis , 1509 , P . G . C . ; J . P . White , 262 , P . G . T . ; W . H . Spaull , 1124 . P . G . S ., Secretary Charity Association ;

Dr . E . Robinson , 998 , P . A . G . S . ; John Kitto , 15 S 2 , P . G . S . D . ; W . Putman , 611 , P . G . J . D . ; VV . J . Lovegrove , 19 SS , 1509 , P . G . S . of Works ; W . H . Foulkes , 1674 , P . G . D . of C . ; Dr . F . H . V . Grosholz , 15 S 3 , P . G . A . D . of C . ; A . T . Akeroyd , 1432 , P . G . C ; W . Simms , 1 C 21 , P . G . P . ; C . K . Benson , 1336 , P . A . G . P . ; V . C . L . Crump , 117 , Treasurer to the Charity Association , P . G . Stwd . ; T . A . Forster , 1504 , P . G . Stwd . ; I . Maclardy , 1432 , P . G . Stwd . ;

R . Lewis , 117 , Auditor ; T . C Royle , VV . M . 117 ; R . A . Craig , W . M . 262 ; William Norton , W . M . On ; Jno . Owen , W . M . 99 S ; G . P . Raynor , W . M . 1113 ; L . E . Wollstein , W . M . 1120 ; G . J . Morgan , W . M . 1124 ; J . Parry-Jones , W . M . 1143 ; J . F . Edisbury , W . M . 133 6 ; Samuel Morris , W . M . 1369 ; J . H . Parsons , W . M . 1432 ; J . L . Evans , 1488 ; Jno . Ginders , 1575 ; J . Jones , 15 S 3 ;

and H . A . Steer , 16 74 . Each of these , as he passed the grave , dropped his sprig of acacia upon the coffin , and in letting fall the curtain upon the closing scene in the story of one who had deserved so well of his family , friends , brethren , and dependents , it only remains for us to add our high but sincere expression of grief at his loss . To his widow and family , and , indeed , to all who knew him , we offer this tribute of our respectful sympathy .

BRO . WILLIAM CHUBB . We regret to have to announce the death , on the 20 th inst ., of Bro . William Chubb , solicitor , of 13 , Hinde-street , Manchester-square , and South-square , Gray's Inn . Bro . Chubb was an old and active Freemason . A P . M . of the St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 231 ; a Past Principal of the British Chapter , No . 8 ; and S . W . of the new lodge of King Solomon , No . 2029 . Bro . Chubb was a brother-inlaw of Bro . John Messent , P . Grand Sword Bearer , and had been associated with him in much Masonic work .

Bro . the Lord Mayor and the Lad y Mayoress , Bro . Alderman Sir Reginald and Lady Hanson , Bro . Sir E . and Lady Watkin , and Bro . Baron H . De Worms , M . P ., attended the Marchioness of Salisbury ' s reception on Wednesday , the 13 th inst . Bros . Viscount Powerscourt and the Hon . A . Kinnaird were among those present at the funeral on Monday , in Teston Churchyard , of the late Countess of Gainsborough .

Bro . the Earl of Fife had the honour of receiving their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at dinner on Friday evening , the 15 th inst ., at his residence in Cavendish-square . Bros . Earl Granville , the Marquis of Hartington , the Right Hon . Hugh C . E . Childers , Sir Charles Dilke , Bart ., and ; the Right Hon . G . J . Shaw-Lefevre , attended the Cabinet Council , held in Downing-street , on Saturday last .

Bros , the Earl of Dalhousie , K . T ., and Colonel Lord E . Pelham Clinton were in attendance on the Queen as Lord and Groom-in-Waiting respectively on Tuesday , when her Majesty held a Council at Windsor . Bro . Earl Granville was present , and afterwards had an audience of , and dined with , her Majesty , afterwards returning to town .

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Saturday week ( the 30 th ) is to bring another change in the programme of the Haymarket . Bro . Bancroft announces the revival of Mr . 'W . S . Gilbert ' s prettv play , " Sweethearts . " The programme will be comp leted by the comic drama " Good for Nothing , " and the compressed version of "The Taming of the Shrew , " by David Garrick . Mrs . Bancroft will play in the two first pieces .

* * * Mr . Levey announces he will produce a comic operaat the Royalty . The title of " Doctor " havinn- been already used , he will name Messrs . Colnaghi and Dick ' ' ; opera " Dr . D . "

* * Mr . Hare and Bro . Kendal announce that they will on an ear ' y date bring out a version of M . Sardou ' s " Maison Neuve , " and a new comedietta by the author of " Uncle's Will . " For next season the same managers are arranging the presentation in English of M . Claretie ' s drama , " Le Prince Zilah , " which is meeting with much success in Paris at the present time , and is about bein < r

played at the Gaiety in the French plays series . Mrs . Kendal just now is playing one of her best characters in " The Queen's Shilling . " We know some people consider ¦ it her very best part , and as pure English comedy is so rarely seen on the London stage in these days , we would urge every one to whom the play is a pleasure to go to the St . James's , and see Bro . and tVIrs . Kendal ' s splendid

acting . Mr . Hare also plays in this piece , as well as in the preceding comedy , " A Quiet Rubber , " to which people ought certainly to go in time , for they will bring something away with them to talk and think about , and to send their friends to . A more delightful evening cannot be spent in any theatre than at the St . James ' s , where the company are so efficient and the plays so well staged .

* # » Mr . Wilson Barrett puts Bro . Sims ' s " Lights o ' London " on the Princess ' s stage to-night ( Saturday ) . It is sure to draw well for a few weeks , being one of the author ' s best dramas , and the cast being exceptionally strong . In a short time the new drama by Mr . Wilson Barrett and Mr . W . G . Wills will be brought out here .

Bro . Sims has achieved an unqualified success at the Adelphi , where "The Last Chance" has been playing for a mouth past . Owing to circumstances we were unable to see it in its earliest days , but are glad to have been now to witness one of the most realistic and life-like dramas which have ever been written . T he plot is a little mixed , there being so many characters that it is difficult to

take them all in at once , but the scenes help to elucidate . We have blended wit , pathos , sensation , stage carpentery , and scene painting . Many years before the play opens Richard Daryll and James Barton loved a foreign adventuress , one Marion Lisle . She has a husband living , whom she has betrayed and deserted . Daryll marries her , and two years afterwards she leaves him with her infant Rupert . Daryll , having the best grounds for believing she

is dead , marries again . He has another son , Frank , and many years are spent with his wife and son . Barton , for revenge of losing the woman he loved , is at enmity with Daryll , and seeks out Marion and confronts her with her husband . Old Daryll has made a fresh will , leaving his property to his second wife and son Frank , but is compelled to destroy it in favour of Marion and Rupert as the price of silence . Another complication comes in here . Frank is

secretly married to old Barton s daughter Mary . Marion is inclined to be merciful , but her son Rupert insists on his legal rights , the second Mrs . Daryll not being aware of the terrible secret . Old Daryll dies from the shock . Frank is left penniless . Rupert exclaims , " A fortune is mine and none to share it . " While he utters the words a most repulsive individual appears , holds out his hand , and merely says , " How do you do ? " Rupert startson

seeing him . 1 " rank and Mary are found occupying a garret . Meanwhile old Burton has learned of his daughter ' s secret marriage , and implores Marion to assist her , but in vain . Having repented of his revenge on old Daryll , Barton now seeks to revenge himself on Marion , and finds a Polish refugee , one Karasoff , who he observes fills Marion with fear . The famous scene at the London Docks , of which every one is talking , comes in here . We see Frank starving ,

applying for work , but first all the regular hands are taken on . A few more are wanted ; one good-natured labourer who has been chosen gives up his place to Daiyll , who meets with an accident through the breaking of a crane . Karasoff is here , being in search of his traitorous wife , and gets information aboutherfrom theinjured man . His wife goes out I of her mind from grief and trouble . Rupert finds her and prevents her seeing her husband . In the garden of a hospite '

Marion comes to see Frank , and is confronted by the Pole > whoattemptsher life , but is restrained by Frank . The last 3 Ct of course winds up well by Frank getting back his property when it is proved that Marion was already married when she became the wife of old Daryll . lMary ' s mind returns to her at the sight of her husband . Rupert is arrested for a murder , but the fate of Marion is left unsettled . Bro . Charles Warner as the hero , Frank , plays his p * " *

in his usual manly manner . Mr . Fernandez makes an effective figure as the malevolent old Barton-The make up of Mr . Beveridge is excellent ; he looks a political refugee . Mr . Garden , as Christmas Day . ' very amusing in his portrayal of a rustic . Mr . Charles Glenny is quite equal to the occasion as the villain , Rupert and gets well hissed after each act for his excellent playjfS of his part . Miss Louise Moodie , as Marion , though a li "'

too slow , is on the whole very good . Miss Mary Korke , » the heroine , plays nicely , but the part is not a strong one . The scenery , specially that of the Haddon Hall , which ' an exact reproduction , is very effective , and does the hig hest credit to M . ssrs . Hann , Telbin , and Smith . We can V !' sonally vouch for the London Docks scene being strictly accurate , having gone thereto witnessable and willing m , trying to get a day's work , and few succeeding . It is one o > the saddest of the many sad sights in London . Those wji * like sensational pieces should not omit a visit to '"' Adelphi .