Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

METROPOLITAN . THE WESTBOU - JRNE LODGE BALL . The success which the Westbourne Lodge Ball met with on the 20 th ulfc . must be a source of great satisfaction to the indefatigable committee of Stewards , and a reward for their labours during the last two or three

months . The arrangements were complete , and met with unqualified approbation . The large room at Freemasons' Hall , where the ball took place , was handsomely decorated , and every suggestion which could add to the comfort of the 220 visitors present was carefully adopted . Bro . Reed , W . M ., President , presided at the supper-table , and , after a few formal toasts , the dancing

to Bro- Harriot ' s excellent band was kept up with unflagging energy till an advanced hour iu the morning . The programme contained some very choice selections , but the one which attracted the greatest notice was the " Immensikoff Quadrille , " composed and arranged solely by Bro . Marriott , who conducted in person . The whole body of Stewards , consisting of Bros . Reed , Helsdon , Woodstock ( Sec ) , Oottebrune , Staeey , Treadwell ( Domatio ) , & c , were most assiduous in their attentions , and indeed the whole proceedings left nothing to be desired .

LANCASHIRE ( WEST ) GRAND MASONIC BALL AT PJIESCOT EOR THE BEXEBIT OP THE WEST LANCASHIRE MASONIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION . For many years there have been known and acknowledged difficulties in the way of getting up a first-class

ball in Prescofc , with any strong probabilities of success . In December , 1863 , the Prescot Lodge of Freemasons , No . 86 , gave a ball iu the Town Hall , which , so far as the numbers and respectability of those attending was concerned , was not to be classed as amongst the failures ; still the inconvenience of holding a ball in the Town Hallwith ante-rooms borrowed for the time being from

, the houses adjoining , was so great that there need be little surprise that until very recently , when the opportunity occurred of securing the new building useti for the Petty Sessional business , the brethen of the Prescot Lodge had not seriously contemplated a second ball . The completion of the New Court House , and its admirable adaptation for ballsconcertsand public meetings

, , , appear to have incited the members of the craft to make another attempt . The following distinguished brethren very readily accoi - ded their patronage : —Sir T . G . Hesketh , Bart , M . P ., E . W . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; the Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , R . W . ProvD . G . M .,

West Lancashire ; the Right Hon . the Marquis of Hartington , R . W . Prov . G . M ., Derbyshire ; Le Gendre Nicholas Sfcarkie , P . G . W ., [ High Sheriff of Lancashire ; the Hon . Frederick Arthur Stanley , M . P ., P . G . S . W ., West Lancashire ; the Right Hon . Lord De Tabley , R , W . Prov . G . M ., Cheshire ; and the Right Hon . Viscount Combermere , R . W . P . Prov . D . G . M ., Cheshire .

The committee appointed for making the arrangements in connection with the ball was composed of the Worshipful Master of the lodge , Bro . Frederick Green , Bros . J . Twist , P . M ., J . T . Hall , P . M . and Z , T . Prescott , S . W ., J . T . Birchall , J . W . S . Morris , Sec , J . I . Biiggs , S . D ., J . W . R . Fowler , Jun ., J . C ., J . S . Gisborne , I . G ., J . S . Robertson , steward , F . Pendlebury , Dir . Cers ., C . Webster

and Bro . J . W . J . Fowler , P . M . P . Z ., Prov , G . S . B . for West Lancashire , Hon treasurer ; and Bro . C . Caldwell , hon . secretary . The ball was fixed for Friday evening , January 8 th , the dancing to commence at nine o ' clock . The following gentlemen had consented to act as stewards : —Bros . Joseph Welsby , J . Bowes , P . M . and Z ., P . P . G . D . C . for C . and W . ; T . Boasley J . T . Knight , T . Carter , and W . Hall . About nine o'clock the company began to arrive ,

Masonic Festivities.

but it was not until half-past nine that the dancing commenced- The hall presented a splendid appearance as tho gentlemen and their fair partners arranged themselves for the opening quadrille . The decorations of the hall itself had been arranged with most admirable good taste . Festoons of artificial flowers and evergreens ; gay silken banners ; the arms , badges , and devices of Knights

Templars , companions , masons and fellow craftsmen , mysterious aud awcinspiring to the uninitiated observer ; splendid mirrors reflecting the graceful forms of many "ladies faire , " whose smiling countenances and flashing eyes told how eagerly they had looked forward to the pleasures of tho dance ; the handsome costume of the Knihts Templarstho flowing mantle on which was

g , worked the Red Cross ; and the brilliant decorations of the Royal Arch and other high degrees , conspired to render the scene one which was more likely to excite the admiration aud lead to the bewilderment of the onlooker , than to endow him with the ability to portray on paper a scene so exciting and entrancing . That the brilliancy of tho assembly was heihtened in a very great degree

g by the brethren of the craft appearing in lull Masonic costume was unquestionable . Jewels sparkling with gems of various hues , silken sashes of many colours and adornings ; and the well-known Masonic apron itself—appearing in as many shades of colour as a stand of 24 varieties of roses on the flower show day —must be allowed their due weiht in the l effect

g genera produced . The ball throughout was a most decided success . Nothing occurred in the least to mar the pleasure and enjoyment of those assembled . Long before the time came for breaking up , both ladiers and gentlemen began to give expression to the wish that the Freemasons would make the ball an annual one .

Obituary.

Obituary .

THE LATE BRO . WILLIAM CAMPBELL PATON . We learn with regret the sudden and early death of Bro . William Campbell Paton , of Lodge Caledonian , No . 392 , Scotland , aud a partner of Paton Bros ., Engineers , Leeds . He died at the early age of 21 , and , - although he did not have the opportunity of taking office in lod

ge , he served two years in Grand Lodge , and took a deep interest in the progress of the Craft . He was a son of the late Hugh Paton , Esq ., H . M . carver and gilder for Scotland , and was very much respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing him , and his loss will be felt outside of a largo and affectionate family circle .

Public Amusements.

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS .

ROYAL ORIGINAL CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS . This celebrated troupe of negro delineators , Bros . Wilsomand Montague , proprietors , appear nightly at St . George ' s Hall , Langham-place . This well-known and talented company have not appeared in London for several years , and had the honour , by special command ,

to appear before Her Majesty and the members of the Royal Family , at Balmoral . Tho entertainment consists of the usual popular melodies , but are of a superior class . The song of "Just before the Battle , Mother , " by Mr . Bernard , and the quartette . " Come whore my love lies dreaming , " without any accompaniment , was loudly and deservedly applauded . It was followed ban operatic

y extravaganza , entitled " Tho Very Grand Duteh-s ! " with beautiful scenery and drosses . Mr . Vestris sang the various songs and acted the part of the Grand Duteh-s , creating roars of laughter ; indeed , every character was capitally sustained . Bro . A . Nimmo is tho acting manager .