Round And About.

Bro . Lennox Browne , after whom the new Lodge 2 , 318 has been named , is a striking example of the zealous Mason who has , by his own persevering love of the Craft risen to an eminence in it in a very few years . He was only initiated in 1878 , and , as he is now under fifty , we may expect to see him rise still higher in his Masonic ambitions and achievements . We shall have an early opportunity of saying more about him and his private life .

* * * I suppose everybody saw " The Profligate , " and appreciated the exquisite performance of our Craftsman , Forbes Robertson . From the first visit I made to the piece I came away with very undefined feelings as to its morality , but as I saw it more often the beauties of

Mr . Pinero ' s work became more apparent , until I was convinced a better domestic drama or a finer moral lesson has not been seen on the stage since I first went a sight-seeing . Bro . Robertson has surely done nothing finer than this . His misery in the third act was really grand to a degree , and when he pleaded for a little

hopeonly a little hope—from his unconscious wife , surely the highest note of dramatic art was touched . Among so much rubbish one is compelled to look at now-a-days , a play like this is a play to be remembered , and if anti-stagists find anything immoral in such a work , their acquaintance with the inner recesses of human nature must be very superficial .

* # * Whether or not it is good for a section of humanity that children under a certain age should not be employed at theatres is another matter . The measure , which at the moment of writing has not yet become law , will materially affect in many ways several eminent

members of the Craft , to whom the moral influences of the little ones have been their greatest care . Personal opinions on these matters which have not the substance of any practical experience to back them up are of little value in discussion , and , although we cannot look at the stage as promising a healthy atmosphere wherein

immoral tendencies might be sweetened , a better acquaintance with the darker side of the footlights would purify somewhat the gloomy reputation moralists seem to give it .

# * * I have had occasion to visit the stage department of every theatre in the metropolis with the exception of two recently built . With Drury Lane , in the pantomime season , I have an extended acquaintance , and never have I on any of my visits seen or heard

anything that could offend against the susceptibilities of a modest girl . We may convince ourselves of this one fact , that it is the vice and crime surrounding the home life of the little ones which lead them eventually to ruin . That they reach that ruin via the footlights is a coincidence , a chance ; but if they took any ordinary road—the

road of gutter or factory life—their eventual degradation would be of a lower order , and infinitely more rapid and more sure . The modern stage-manager of any standing in his calling is a man of wide experience , and any offence against the rules of the house is met in almost every case with instant dismissal of the delinquent .

* * * Mr . Edmund Yates , the Senior Grand Warden of Middlesex , celebrated his fifty-eighth birthday on the 3 rd of last month . It is just fifteen years since—after having experienced the usual vicissitudes of a scribbler ' s avocation—he started the World ( in the same form it now appears ) which was the pioneer of that class of

journalism known as " society . " In his reminiscences " Atlas " tells us how successful his venture immediately became , how he very soon bought his partner out of the concern , and bow ever since he has been solely responsible for the journal . He was a Bohemian then ; but now he is drifting into the sear and yellow leaf , sticks

closer to his dressing-gown and his easy chair , with which he has retired amid the firs and silver beeches at The Chase , at Farnham . His brilliant pen is as smart and as telling as ever , and his imagination as fertile as a schoolboy ' s . He does not always say what he thinks , writes much too seldom of moi-meme , and is the finest afterdinner speaker—outside of politics—in the kingdom .

The consecration of the Scots Lodge is an event in the year ' s history of Masonry . It is its intention of becoming quite exclusive , for none but Scottish men in London arc eli gible for election or initiation , and each member must move in a certain circle of society . I believe there is a great future for the Craft if we can but establish class Lodges . The backbone of Freemasonry can never be affected

by them if they are worked on sensible lines , for as the Rev . Bro . J . Studholme Brownrigg says , "in their multiplication , without in any way endangering the landmarks of our order , they will open it out by providing Lodges and Chapters which will attract into our ranks those whom otherwise we should lose "

* * * I am sorry to hear that Bro . Terry , the Grand Treasurer , has been suffering for some time from a severe chill , which has debarred him from performing many of his private and social duties . * * *

I shall be happy to propose any gentleman for membership of the Kyrl Society , which has for its head the Earl of Meath , better known , perhaps , as former ]}/ Lord Brabazon . The Society gathers funds for converting disused burial-grounds and other open spaces into playgrounds and miniature parks for the poor , and has done

more practical good to the working classes than many more pretentious institutions . The offices of the Society are at 8 3 , Lancaster Gate , and any sympathetic person who would like to help in this noble work may know his contribution will be faithfully applied to a good object . #

* * The Masonic Garden Party at Cannon Hall , Hampstead , given by Bro . H . Clarke , C . C ., and W . M . of the Alliance Lodge , last month , was attended by many distinguished guests and Masons . Lord Rosebery , Lord and Lady Lurgen , Sir George Harris , Colonel

and Mrs . Rotton , Lord and Lady Knutsford , Mr , and Mrs . Seymour Lucas , Sir Richard Temple , Bart , and Mr . Harry Marks were among the number .

•__¦** The appointment of Bro . C . F . Matier as Grand Secretary of Mark Masonry in the place of Bro . Frederick Binckes resigned , has given great pleasure to his host of friends in the Craft . Bro . Matier has been a zealous Assistant Grand Secretary for many

years . He has done much for Masonry and the Mark Grand Lodge , and has now an opportunity for furthering his ambitions in the latter sphere . The annual allowance granted to the retiring Grand Secretary was quite necessary , to express the appreciation of the Mark Masons for his efforts on their behalf .

* * * The dusky Potentate of the East has gone , with all his jewels and jingoism , as Jonathan would say . Perhaps the entertainment he most appreciated during his visit was the Sassoon affair at the Empire , which was very gorgeous . The whole of London and the

City , parts of the provinces and foreign dependencies were there . It was not a question of finding out who was present , but who was absent . Bro . Charles Bertram tells me of the complete astonishment His Majesty indulged in when he performed before him at one of the country seats visited during his provincial tour . Nobody

who has seen the Professor produce billiard-balls from the calves of his legs , and induce the Queen of Hearts to rise from a pack of cards can doubt it . Bro . Bertram is the favorite conjuror of the Prince , from whose pocket he once contrived to extract a silver cigarette case , and " discover " it hiding among the folds of the Princess ' s dress .

* * A well-known man of society some short time ago was curious er . ough to inquire as to the earnings of the heads of the various professions , and he found that ^" 25 , 000 was about as much as any one man could comfortably secure in twelve months . Sir John Millais admitted he could reach , £ 30 , 000 by surrendering his annual Scottish holiday . The most successful " man of letters " is , without