Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . C . E . Peek , P . M ., 3 1 , left England on Thursday for Brisbane , as one of the observers attached to the British Transit of Venus Expedition . Our worthy brother is one of our small band of Masonic students , and has kindly promised some reports of Masonic proceedings from Brisbane , as Special Correspondent of the Freemason .

Bro . Col . M . Petrie , Treas . 1974 , of whose consecration our columns gave last week a detailed report , is the author of books on Hospital service and the Infantry ( Army Equipment ) , which works are published under the direction of the Intelligence Branch of the Quarter-Master-General's Department , Horse Guards ; Col . Martin Petrie being a member of the Topographical Staff .

A petition is about to be presented lo Bro . the Right Hon . Shaw-de-Fevre , M . P ., Commissioner of the Board of Works , praying to throw open the Private Enclosure in Regent's Park for the use ot the public at large . Earl y in September next their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Albany will visit the Royal School of Art-Needlework , Bath-street , Glasgow , in connection with a proposed special exhibition of the work of the school .

Bro . R . E . Bence , of the Lodge of St . John s , 673 , chief officer of the White Star steamer Germanic , was presented with the medal of Mercantile Marine Service Association , at a meeting of that body , on the nth inst . ; Capt . H . J . Ward , president , in the chair . The presentation was made in recognition of the gallant service of Bro . Bence in rescuing a ship's crew , under the following circumstances On the ist December last , when the Germanic was voyaging from New York to Liverpool , a large steamer was seen

exhibiting signals of extreme distress . The Germanic layby till dawn , when the lifeboat was launched , and Bro . Bence and a volunteer crew , amidst great difficulty and danger , effected the rescue of the whole of the officers and crew . Capt . Ward , in making the presentation , alluded to the fact that in 1876 Bro . Bence had similarly distinguished himself for gallantry and daring in the rescue of the crew of the Assyrian , of Newcastle . Bro . Bence , in a brief reply , said that a testimonial coming from a body of nautical men was most highly prized and appreciated by him .

The marriage of Mr . Rashleig h with the Lad y Edith Bligh , eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Darnley , took place on Thursday last at St . George ' s , Hanover-square , the principal officiating clergyman being Bro . the Hon . and Rev . Purey-Cust , Dean of York , Past Grand Chap lain of England . Among the euests at the banquet which followed at the residence of the noble earl , in Hill-street , Berkeley-square , were Bro . the Dean of York and Lady Emma Purey-Cust ; and Lord Pelham , P . Prov . G . Master , Sussex , and Lady Pelham .

The Cooks Company has just completed the celebration of the fourth centenary of the grant of its first charter—which is dated nth July , 14 S 2 , and was given by King Edward the IV . in the twenty-second year of his reign . The celebration consisted—first , of a service at St . " Botolph's , Aldersgate-street ; secondly , of a dinner given by Mr . Robert Milder , the present master to the Company ; and , thirdly , of a presentation by the master to

each member of the livery of a memorial plaque of the arms of the Company , and a record of the dates it was desired to commemorate—viz ., the grant to the charter b y King Edward IV ., 14 S 2 , and the celebration of the 400 th anniversary under Queen Victoria , 1 SS 2 . In view of the work recently done by the Company in forwarding technical education , and of this fourth centenary of its incorporation , Her Majesty graciously signified herintention of honouring

the Company by accepting a commemorative p laque , which vvas forwarded to the Board of Green Cloth with a letter to the Lord Steward , adverting to the work done by the Company . —Times . At a convocation of the Wawanosh Royal Arch Chapter , No . 15 ( Canada ) , lately held at Sarnia , Ontario , after the ordinary business had been disposed of , Comp . lohn A . Mackenzie was presented by the members of the

chapter , with a very handsome Past First Principal s iScarat gold jewel , sash and apron . The presentation was made by Comp . Thos . Ellison , who , in reviewing briefly the history of the chapter , referred in appreciative terms to the many valuable services rendered it by the recipient during the long period of his connection with it . Comp . Mackenzie replied at some length , thanking them warmly for tlieir magnificent gift , as well as for their kind

expressions of goodwill towards himself . The occasion furnished undeniable evidence to Comp . Mackenzie that Masonry is indeed a remarkably secret society , as the first intimation he had of the matter was when the presentation was made . The jewel and regalia were purchased in England , from Comp . George Kenning ' s Liverpool branch , by Comp . Ellison , who was commissioned by the chapter to do so during his recent visit there . There was a good

attendance of members , many being present from Point Edward , Mooretown and Brigden , in addition to those in town . Refreshments were afterwards served in the ante-room , where an enjoyable time was spent . Bros . Bedford Lemere , and Co ., ( Architectural Photographers to the Queen ) , 147 , Strand , London , attend Masonic Gatherings , Wedding Parties and Social Reunions , and execute every description of Out-door Photography

with promptitude , in first style and at moderate cost . A large collection of photographs on view and sale . Catalogues and printed terms free by post . —[ ADVT . ] HOLLOWAY ' PILLS . —IJvcr , Lungs , and Kidneys . —Most diseases ° f these dcpuratlve organs arise from obstruction , over thc removal ° f which these celebrated Pilis exercise the most perfect control . A course of them is strongly recommended as a remedy for such chronic allertions as liver enlargementscongestion ol the lunjs ,

, torpidjtv of the kidneys , and other functional disorders which cause much present suffering , and , if neglected , lay the foundation of 0 r Kanic diseases . Hohoway ' s Pills are specially adapted for the young and delicate •the gentle and purifying action ranks them ahove all other medicines . In indigestion , nervous affections , gout , ? "d rht-um .-ttism , the Pills have achieved for themselves universal 'amc . T | , cy expel all impurities from the blood , and thus restore cheerfulness and vigour . —[ A DVI . ]

Masonic And General Tidings.

A special Grand Lodge of the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , will be held on Monday evening next , at 7 p . m ., at the Masonic Hal ,, Albion-place , Southampton , under the presidency of the Prov . Grand Master . Bro . VV . VV . B . Beach , M . " P ., for the purpose of giving a welcome to those members of the British Association who are Masons , as well as to other visitors to Southampton on the business of the Association , who are members of the Order .

A Provincial Grant ! Lodge of Cornwall will be held on Tuesday next , at Truro , Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe presiding . Bro . J . Collings , Preceptor of the Ranelagh Lodge of Instruction , will preside at the meeting of the

Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction , to be held atthe Westbourne Hotel , Craven-road , Paddington , VV ., on Monday next , the 28 th inst . The ceremony of passing will be rehearsed . Lodge opens at eight o ' clock . Bro . Sir John Bennett gave a watch as a prize at the Hastings Regatta , on Thursday , the iSth inst .

Bro . T . VV . Boord , M . P . one of the governors of St . Bartholomew's Hospital , placed his grounds at Ockenden at the disposal of the Cuckfield Horticultural Society for their annual show , and exhibited a number of plants and flowers , not for competition . Bro . Ex-Sheriff Sir Moses Montefiore , Bart . * was among the visitors to a bazaar held at Ramsgate

towards removing a debt on the Congregational chapel there , and the Rev . Dr . Bevan , formerly of the London School Board , performed the opening ceremony . An arrangement has been arrived at b y which Messrs . Gordon , the caterers for the House of Commons , are in future to receive a subsidy of £ 1000 per year , instead of as at present £ 500 , towards the expenses of the

service , which have been increased by the opening of the new dining and smoking rooms . In consequence of vacancies occasioned b y deaths among the members of the Historical Manuscripts Commission , Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon , is among those who have been recommended to the Queen as Commissioners .

Bro . J . VV . Benson , of Ludgate-hill , had the honour of submitting for Her Majesty ' s inspection the gold casket presented to His Majesty the King of the Netherlands by the Corporation . Bro . the Rignt Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Sir R . Hanson , and Sheriff Sir VV . A . Hogg will attend the opening of the Potatoe Show at the

Crystal Palace , on Tuesday , September igth . Mr . Blanchard de Forges has been approved by Her Majesty as Consul-General in London for the French Republic . Bro . the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Prov . G . M . for Cornwall , has joined the committee of the New Volunteer Service Club . The club-house , 2 , Grafton-street ,

Piccadilly , will be open for members on 2 nd October next . Bros . Sims Reeves , Henry Irving , and J . L . Toole are staying at the Crown Hotel , Scarborough . Bro . Sir Michael Costa has been invited to accept theconductorship of the re-constituted Sacred Harmonic Society . At the National Hospital for Diseases of the Heart and Paralysis , Soho-square , the number of patients

under treatment for the week ending August the 19 th , was 969 . Major Bovton , late Adjutant of thc City of London Regiment ( Royal Fusiliers ) , has command of the newly-constituted infantry military police force , now on the way to Egypt , which body also contains several volunteers from the City corps in question . The Post Office Volunteers havearrivedat Alexandria .

We are informed that the British Electric Light Company have recognised the fact of their infringement of the Edison patents for electric lighting by paying a substantial sum as royalty to the Edison Electric Light Company ( Limited ) . On Wednesday afternoon Bro . the Lord Mayor took the chair at a preliminary meeting of the Iceland Relief Committee at the Mansion House .

The new reply post-cards , made on the principle of a return railway ticket , will be issued on October 2 nd . The Midland Railway Company announce that on Friday , September ist , greatly reduced rates for the conveyance of parcels by passenger train will come into operation between all stations on their railway and lines in connection therewith . A parcel of 5 lbs ., for instance , will be carried a distance not exceeding fifty miles for Gd . ;

fifty-one miles , and not exceeding 100 , for cjd . ; and any distance over that iod . Again , a parcel of 15 lb . will be conveyed a distance up to thirty miles for 6 d . ; thirty-one miles , and not exceeding fifty , Sd . ; fifty-one and not more than 100 miles , is . ; up to 200 miles , is . fid . ; up to 40 a miles , 2 S ., and above 400 miles , 2 S . Sd . The new rates include free delivery within the usual limits in lxmdon and all the principal provincial towns ; and to places distant not more than half a mile from country stations .

WAR might with advantage be declared against scarlet fever , measles , and small-pox , and an attempt made to prevent further havoc amongst children and adults . Let everyone co-operate , and , in doing so , use WRIGHT'S COAL TAR SOAP as a preventive measure . It can be bought everywhere . See the wcrds " Sapo Carbonis Detergens" ( as doctors prescribe ) impressed on each

tablet and wrapper , without which none is genuine . — ADVT . TRUSSES , ELASTIC BANDAGES , ETC—SEELEV ' S HARD RUBBER TRUSSES . —The world's recognition of unequalled excellence . Reccving the only award of merit granted for trusses at the late International Medical Exhibition , 1881 . Made in every desirable and latest improved pattern , line steel springs , neatly covered with highly . polished hard rubber , lighl , cool , cleanlv ; unaffected bv

time , use , or climate . Free from all sour , rusty , chafing , or snapping unpleasantness . Used in bathing . Always reliable . The correct and skilful mechanical treatment of hernia or rupture a specialty . Under patronage of the world ' s most distinguished surgeons . Choice assortment of elastic surgical hosierv . Ilelts , improved suspensory bandages , shoulder braces . Establishments —74 , Fleet-street , London , ICC , and 1347 , Chestnut-street , Philadelphia . U . S . A . —LAuvr . J

The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

Thc new venture at Drury I . snc , " Pluck , " is a most sensational drama , after the style of " Youth" and "The World , " the preceding dramas . It is an extremely solid and substantial work , possessing a great deal of everything pertaining to drama of its peculiar order . It has no less than seven tableaux , or acts , one of them divided into two parts , and all extremely elaborate . On the first night the curtain did not drop until midnightbut we

, understand since the piece has been considerably curtailed of its dialogue . The drama has twenty characters , and many of them have much to do . It is , in fact , on a very large scale indeed , with a couple of villains always ready for any form of crime , from the forgery of a signature to the wreck of a railway train , with innocent folk made to endure all sorts of suffering . It is a story of a banker's clerk , who , while aspiring to the hand of his master ' s daughter , proves

to be an utter scoundrel , having taken advantage of his position to speculate and lose the hank moneys , commits forgery , blackens the character of his rival , and guides the banker ' s daughter nearly to believe her lover is a scoundrel f , who has brought a woman to shame , and to accept on the instant the man who has exposed the imaginary villain . One word would put all right , but that word is never spoken , and the young lady speedily goes to the altar with

the villain , who is , however , arrested on the wedding morning . There is a question of £ 50 , 000 mixed up in all this , the money being left to the banker ' s daughter , in the event of another lady not being found , the other lady being the wife of the hero's friend , a gentleman who has gotinto difficulties and left his wife in the hero ' s charge . Then extraordinary events take place , the villain plotting the destruction of the heiress , by suggesting to the man

whom he has made his tool that he should wreck the train by which the lad y and her child will travel—a train by the way in which he is condemned by his misfortune to travel , but from which he manages to escape unhurt and go back to thc banker ' s home . Here he murders the old man , and by the aid of his accomplice hides his victim in a vault of the safe—a secret vault , only known to the banker and himself . He then goes to

town and gives out that he had been irrested on a false charge , the banker himself having absconded with a portion of the money entrusted by his clients to his charge . A panic ensues ; the mob smash in the bank windows , and nearly beat to death a Jewish friend of the banker . Trie rest of the piece is taken up by the vidian endeavouring to keep the heiress of the £ 50 , 000 away , and to gain possession of his wife , who , having denounced his rascality .

refuses to live with him , her heart being with her old lover . In this endeavour we are shown the heiress with her old love outside the Criterion Theatre , where mother and child are separated , and the little girl is found by her father , upon his return from India , half-buried in the snow in Piccadillycircus . After this the heiress is shown in her humble lodgings , where the villain , having found murder easy of accomplishment , sets fire to the house , so as to destroy the lady

and her child ; but they are rescued from the flames b y her husband and father , aid the villain is arrested , to reap the reward of his sins . This is the main idea of the plot . No better representative of tbe villain , Clinton , could possibly have been found than Mr . Barnes , for whose dashing iniquity the whining rascality of Mr . Harry Nicholls ' s Keene forms a most telling foil . Mr . Augustus Harris , as Jack Springfield , shows marked improvement ; playing the part with genuine spirit , and a certain amount of natural ease .

Miss Caroline Hill has unluckily very little to do as Florence Templeton . In " Youth " she had a good part given her . The same may be said of Miss Lydia Foote , whose re-appearance on the stage , as Mrs . Maitland , is very welcome . But , with Mr . Dacre , they make much out of little ; whilst Miss Victor proves more than capable of all that is asked of her . Mr . Bevis Marks is represented , we need scarcely say , by Mr . Harry Jackson , who will be remembered in " The World " as taking the same sort of character .

« * * Those whose recollect the immense popularity of Mrs . Beecher ' s Stowe ' s story of " Uncle Tom ' s Cabin , " cannot fail to take an interest in the drama from the celebrated story , now for the first time played in London at Her Majesty ' s Theatre . The first scene introduces us to Uncle Tom , Mr . Kenakel , and his wife Aunt Chloe , Miss May Vernon , visited by ElizaMrs . Rialwho inform

, , them that her little son Harry has been sold , and she is about to carry him off and run away with him . In the next scene we have Phincas Fletcher , Mr . Quinn , who meets Eliza Jand gives her shelter in a tavern , whither some time after her pursuers arrive . Phineas , who has been out , returns just in time to meet them , and detains them with a cleverly told story , during whicii Elisa and her child enter the room and escape through the window without

attracting notice . I he scene shifts , and the flight is seen , in which some half dozen real bloodhounds lead the pursuit . The scene then changes to the river , in which Elisa is seen stepping from one piece of floating ice to another , with the bloodhounds open mouthed in pursuit . Just as she reaches the shore of Ohio , one of the fierce creatures nears her , and she is at the moment dragged by Phincas Fletcher to the shore , where she falls utterly worn out but safe The fine and welltrained

. dogs are - animals , showing evident traces of the blood of the Scotch deerhound , and this scene is the most popular and thrilling of the whole drama . In the next scene Phineas again appears , and meeting Eliza ' s husband , George Harris , Mr . Daffield , in the same tavern , introduces himself to him , tells him of his wife ' s safety , and hearing his pursuers approaching makes lum go into the cellar while he parleys with them

. They leave the room after a useless questioning of Phineas , who then sends Harris off , his pursuers returning just as he shuts the cellar into which they incontinently descend . Phineas keeps them there till Harris has time to get clear off ; and in the next scene George , Eliza , and little Harry are brought to bay in a rocky glen

oy tne nuuters , whom , with the nelp of Phineas , they utterly defeat , Phincas , notwithstanding being a Quaker using his revolver with great effect . The comic ~ Vein in these scenes is well sustained by Mr . Humphrey . We have next Mr . Si . Clair , bringing home Eva and his newlypurchased slave , Uncle Tom , who , as well as Eva , act as