Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

IRELAND . LUKGAW . The members of lodge No . 134 , gave a grand ball on Tuesday , the 10 th inst . The invitations which embraced the elite of the North-eastern counties of Ulster , were numerously responded to . Long before the hour for

commencing the ball , the town presented a gay and animated appearance . Iu the vicinity of the hall , crowds were gathered to witness the entrance of those who availed themselves of the night ' s entertainment . The visitors were received by the stewards , who introduced them to the W- M . Bro . Fred "VV- Magahan , and thence they passed into the ball-room . The scene presented in

this apartment was of a very brilliant description . The room , which is eighty-two feet long , and thirty-two feet wide , is admirably adapted for the occasion , and that it should be so no pains had been spared- At the upper end was a dais , where a number of distinguished visitors occupied seats . The walls were draped in white , studded with camellias and roses of bright colours , and on each window a handsome Egyptian figure was placed ,

The ball was opened at ten o ' clock , and dancing was continued until one o ' clock , when supper was announced , After supper the W . M . Bro . F . W . Magahan called for bumpers , and gave the accustomed loyal toasts , after which , in a very well-expressed and well-delivered speech , he proposed the health of " The Three Grand Masters , " which was drunk with full Masonic honours , all standing .

Lord Lurgan then rose and begged leave to propose the health of the hosts—the Masters and Brethren of Lodge 134 . His lordship gracefully and appropriately referred to the Fraternity , and gave full credit to the members of the lodge for their very handsome and hospitable entertainment- His lordship was frequently applauded , and the toast with enthusiasm . In respondingthe

gave , Master made a capital speech on the merits and aims of the Masonic institution , and created a most favourable impression by his accurate delivery , and well-ordered sentiments . He then gave the health of the guests who had honoured the members of Lodge 134 by their presence , and called on Bro . Lord Newry , who responded in a short but humorous speech .

Dancing was then resumed and kept up with unflagging spirit until four o ' clock . The ball was an admitted success ; everything which could possibly contribute to the enjoyment , the comfort and pleasure of the company , was arranged and carried out in proper order , and the members of the lodge have reason to feel justly satisfied with the results of their active exertions and liberality , which resulted in an entertainment that did high credit to them and to the town and neighbourhood in which it took place .

Notes On Literature, Science, Music Drama, And The Fine Arts.

NOTES ON LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

Gounod is writing a new fourth act to Faust , believing he can produce a second success of that opera . Mrs . Howard Paul is , report affirms , about to appear in the character of Macbeth , and will also take the part of Hecate- in the same play . With the new year will appear a new periodical termed the Anglo-Colonial Magazineand its chief object will

; be to keep our countrymen abroad en rapport with the mother country . A new journal to be established in Paris has been issued . It is called Le Barbare , and is sold for two sous . The object of the founders " is to give a new organ Atheism . "

At the last meeting of the Geographical Society , Sir Roderick Murchison read a letter which had been received at the Foreign Office from Dr . Livingstone . It is dated Casembe , December 14 , and the doctor gives a satisfactory account of his progress . He mentions that he was more in want of shoes than anything else-Mr . J . L . Chester writes to a contemporary saying

that he has discovered among the marriage allegations in the Bishop of London ' s Registry , that the mother of John Milton was Margaret , the daughter of Paul JefFray of the parish of St . Swithin ' s , London . A wild story is circulating in the French papers about the Viceroy of Egypt being seized with a sudden desire to have a theatre at Cairoand setting seven thousand

, workmen upon it , in order that he may see again without loss of time ' ' La Grande Duchesse , " which amused him so much when in Paris-. 100 , 000 fr . have been offered , so runs the story , to Mdlle . Schneider for three performances .

Extravagant salaries are received by theatrical people , and especially by singers , in France . It is stated that Mdlle . Nillson , of the Grand Opera , gets not less than £ 7 , 200 a year ; that Faure and Villaret , tenors of the same theatre , get £ 3 , 600 and £ 3 , 200 respectively ; and that a lady named Sass , also of the Opera , who receives £ 2800 insists on having £ 6400 in future- As to

tra-,, , gedians , there are now none of any note , but comedians of first rank earn as much as a Prime Minister in England ; and even those of the second rank are exorbitantly paid , as appears from the fact that one of the name of Freville , of secondary renown , is to receive £ 2 , 000 from a secondary theatre for playing twice a week for nine mnnthH .

A Jewish theatre has been erected near Warsaw . The pieces to be played will be selected from the principal episodes of the Old Testament . The actors will be all Jews , and the parts of the females will be personated by boys . The dialogue will be in German . The Figaro announces the death of M . Lacoste , who was such a warm admirer of the Emperor Napoleon ,

that he purchased the ground on which the tomb of St . Helena stood at an exorbitant price . A mare having foaled in the apartment formerly occupied by Napoleon , he christened the colt Longwood , and conveyed him to France in order to . present him to the President of the Republic . The Musee des Souverains at the Louvrewhich already

, rejoices in a large display of Napoleon the First's old clothes , satin shoes , spangled jackets and cloaks ( quite fit for Astley ' s ) , and other similar rubbish , has just been " enriched "—so the Moniteur announces—by the wooden bench upon which he was used to " sit and look at the sea and meditate . '

A new volume of Essays from the Low Church point of view has just been published , under the editorship of the Rev- G . A . Sumner . Mc . Benjamin Shaw ' s article on " Ritualism and Uniformity " is the first and longest , and Canon Bernard contributes a paper on " Scripture and Ritual , " but other subjects of practical importance are treated .

As was feared from the first , the illness of Rossini has proved mortal . The distinguished composer died on Saturday , the 14 th inst-, at his residence at Passy , in the outskirts of Paris . He was born in 1792 , and was accordingly seventy-six years of age at the time of his death , Baron James de Rothschild , whose malady , it was

thought , had taken a favourable turn , died on Sunday morning last . He was the head of the Paris house of Rothschild , and had been settled in France ever since 1812 . He was born at Frankfort in 1792 , and was thus 76 years of age at the time of his death . Baron James de Rothschild was the last surviving son of Meyer Anselmo Rothschild , the founder of the family .