Masonic Amateur Performances At Plymouth.

What happiness twould be if all could feel For pangs that simple kindness oft mi ght heal ; If all could comprehend the gen ' rous , flame , I And be led on by philanthropic aim j

To win , by deeds of charity , true fame ;' To show as much desire for public weal As for each selfish end we all reveal ; Then many poor weak hearts would live and hope , That now in bitterness and sorrow mope ; Many who now give way to sad despair , Would hapjiiness and sweet contentment share 1

To you my brethren of the mystic tie I need not say , " pass not affliction by , " Your duty and your glory is to try To give relief , and dry each tearful eye : May Masonry throughout the world extend , Then man of man will be the certain friend Ladies , I need make no appeal to you ,

For , in your hearts , you all are Masons true ; Although , no doubt , you think we ' re very rude The fair sex from our Lodges to exclude . But to the outer world I may appeal And boldly say , you will most surely feel Still closer drawn to Him who reigns above

By every deed of charity aud love . Then give your utmost ; ne ' er put out the flame Of charity within you , for its fire Is so ethereal that its passing gleam Conveys the joy mere gold cannot inspire . We hope that your dramatic appetite Will be but whetted by the plays to-night : Aud that you'll come on Friday : —but be blind

To all our faults ; to all our merits kind . The favourite play" Colleen Bawn , " was then produced , aud with scarcely more than an exception , the characters could not have been in better hands . The part of Eily O'Connor was taken by Miss Maud

Randford , who showed throughout a deep sense of the confiding and true affection for her secret husband which the author evidently intended , Miss Masson played the part of Ann Chute to perfection ; while " Sheelah " found a most admirable representative in Miss Louisa Dalby ; and Miss Harvey was a very good Mrs . Cregan ;

these ladies are professional actresses , and came down from London expressly for this occasion . The gentlemen jilayed the parts entrusted to them , with very great success , and where all did so well it is almost invidious to particularise any , but we must mention Bro . Pikewhoas

Myles-na-, , Coppaleen brought out all the best points of the part , showing a noble regard for the Colleen Bawn combined with true Irish generosity . Danny Man found an equally good representative in Bro . Lucas , who is a first-rate actor and whenever he

appeared he kept up all the exciting interest of the play until it culminated iu f ; hat splendid sensation scene , of the attempt to drown Eily O'Conner ; these two impersonations were undoubtedly most successful . ITarclress Cregan met with a

good interpreter in Bro . Curteis ; Bro . R . Franklin ( 1 st Lodge of Ireland ) , sustained the character of Mr . Corrigan with all the requisite assurance which belongs to the part , whilst Bro . Rendel and Bro . Twose were very effective as Kyrle Daly and

Father Tom respectively . On the IGth the evening ' s amusement again commenced with a Prologue also written b y Bro . Shanks , but spoken on this occasion by Bro . Curteis , and which was very well received by a densely crowded house : —

PROLOGUE "B . " Ladies and gentlemen now gathered here , Lend for a moment an attentive ear To what I have to say about our aim , Before you greet the actors with acclaim—Before the merry laughter moves you all From box to pit—from gallery to stall . Blest be our work to night , we seek to

gam Assistance for the helpless , and we fain Would minister to those who now are left To povertj ^' s neglect—of care bereft : Would soothe the orphan boy ' s pathetic woe , And guard the maiden from each hurtful

foe . Friends of the widow and the fatherless , ( As you desire that God should aid or bless , ) Do you , in deeds of charity and love , With gen ' rous rivalry , unwearied prove ; Be't yours to dry the widow ' s burning tear , The wretched oiphan ' s poverty to cheer ;