Notices Of Meetings.

above 100 brethren being present . Mr . George Newman ( a P . M . of the William Preston Lodge ) was installed by Mr . Henry Muggeridge , and the father of the Lion and Lamb Lodge , in the chair of this Lodge , in succession to Mr . George Abbott , who was presented with a P . M . jewel on vacating the chair . There were several eminent Freemasons present , among whom were the G . S . ( Mr . John Hervey )

Colonel Burdett ( P . G . M . of Middlesex ) , Colonel Peters , the Rev . E . E . Brette , D . D ., ( P . G . C ., Middlesex ) , Mr . R . W . Little ( G . S . of the same province and Secretary of the Masonic Girls' School ) . Mr . W . Worrell ( Secretary of the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum ) . Mr . H . Garrotl , Mr . George Kenning ( a P . M . of the Lodge ) and Mr . Roberts ( a P . M . of the Lion and Lamb Lodge ) . In

responding to the toast of " Lord Skelmersdale D . G . M ., and the Grand Officers , " Mr . Hervey reviewed the progress of Freemasonry during the past year , on which he looked with great satisfaction The events which had occurred iu the Order , he said , were of great importance , aud would have some influence on Freemasonry in the future . The Prince of Wales , tho present Grand Master , was installed

in the early part of tho year as Master of the Prince of Wales ' s Lodge , and on the same night , when he ( tho Grand Secretary ) was present , proposed his brother , tho Duke of Connaught , as an initiate in the Craft , thereby showing most conclusively that he did not consider Freemasonry inimical to the government of the country , or that there was anything in it subversive of the authority of her Majesty .

In March , the Duke of Connaught was initiated , which was an event of great gratification to Freemasons . In the following April , Prince Leopold was proposed by the Prince of Wales , in tho Apollo Univer . sity Lodge , at Oxford , and was initiated at the end of the month . Those were three significant events . But there was yet another , the installation of the present Earl of Zetland , in succession to the late

earl , as Provincial Grand Master of the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire . There was another event , which ho was very sorry to allude to the secession of the Marquis of Eipon from the Grand Mastership . He could speak most strongly in his lordship ' s favour , because the way in which he conducted the duties of his office showed that there could not possibly be a better Grand Master . At all times he was

ready to perform his duties , ho was most attentive to business , and ready to do anything that would further tho prosperity of the Order . At all times ho endeavoured to uphold in every shape and way the ancient and honourable fraternity , and as late as March last he took the chaiv at , aud pleaded most powerfully the cause of , the Freemasons' Boys' School . After

the excitement caused by his lordship ' s withdrawal had passed away the Craft in their calmer moments would feel that they had sustained a great loss by the Marquis of Ripon ' s resignation , and that they had a great deal to thank him for during the 20 years that he was an active member of Grand Lodge . It had , however , been said that

" there was as good fish in the sea as had come out of it , " and although the Marquis of Eipon had resigned Freemasonry , the Heir Apparent to the Throne of England had consented to occupy his post . These events were significant of the high position the Craft held in the opinion of the Royal family , and of the standing it was destined to take in all civilised communities on the face of tho globe .

New Concord Lodge , No . 813 . —The members of tho above Lodge met at the Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , Bro . T . Bartlett W . M . ( this being his occupation of the chair for the second time ) , supported by the officers of the Lodge , with the valuable assistance of Bro . W . H . Main ( P . M . ) Secretary , and a numerous assemblage of the brethren . The Lodge being opened , Bro . A . W . Medwin was raised to tho third degree . Bros . Boydcn , Swales , W . Gabb

and Shipway were passed to the second degree . The ceremonies were carefully and impressively delivered in Bro . Bartlett ' s usual manner . Messrs . Baylis and Foye were duly initiated into the Order ; and Bros . A . Hill and Marshall were re-elected joining members . After other business matters had been discussed , the Lodge was closed . The banquet , which was provided by the worthy host , Bro . H . G . Gabb , gave great satisfaction . The usual toasts were given and the brethren enjoyed a very agreeable evening .

Pomfret Lodge , 360 , Northampton . —The brethren of this Lodge celebrated the Festival of St . John , in their Lodge Room , George Hotel , on the 28 th ult . Bro . Val . Thomas Barford was duly installed W . M . for the ensuing year , the ceremony being very ably performed by Bro . Hinton ( of London , son of an old P . M . of the Pomfret Lodge ) , in the absence of the I . P . M . ( Bro . E . Cox , P . M . of

the Canonbury Lodge , London ) , who was , unfortunately , unable to bo present . Bro . J . T . Green P . M ., was appointed S . W ., Bro . Winter J . W ., Bro . George Robinson P . M . Secretary , Bro . B . Wilkins ( P . M . ) , D . P . G . M . Treasurer , Bro . Lalor S . D ., Bro . Gadsby J . D . Bro . J . U . Stanton P . M ., Senior Steward , Bro . T . R . Wood J . S .,

and Bros . Dead and Troup O . G . Amongst the visitors at tho ban quet were Bros . Hinton , Neall , Matthews ( London ) , Bro . Buckle ( P . G . Secretary Northampton and Hunts ) , Bro . Griffin ( W . M . elect of St . Peter ' s Lodge , Peterborough ) , and although the attendance was not so good as usual , owing to tho inclemency of the weather , tho

evening was passed in a very pleasant manner , harmony being contributed by Bros . Buckle , Hinton , Stanton , Winter , Wood , & c . In the course of the evening Bro . Buckle alluded , in a brotherly manner , to the loss the province of Northampton and Hunts had sustained .

m the death of the late D . P . G . M . ( Bro . S . Inns ) , and expressed the satisfaction he felt that so worthy a successor had been found in tho person of Bro . Butler Wilkins , a member of the Pomfret Lodge . ¦ » ro . W . B . Gates P . M ., P . P . G ., Treasurer , accepted the office of steward of one of the Masonic Charities .

St . Peter ' s Chapter , No . 1125 , Tiverton . —A regular quarterl y convocation was held at tho Masonic Hall , on the Gth instant ; the principal chairs being ocenpied by E . Comp . James * ulls P . P . G . D . C . Z . j E . Comp . W . H , Reed P . Z . aa H , and E . Comp .

Notices Of Meetings.

Henry Davey J . ; Visiting Companion , E . Comp . J . Killingly P . Z , E . Comp . Mills was re-elected Z . for the ensuing year , and E . Comp , Davey having been elected H ., and Comp . T . B . Patterson J . they were duly installed in their respective chairs . The following officers were also appointed and invested : —W . E . Williams S . E . ; W . H . Reed J . S . N . ; Thomas Parkhonse T . S . and Treasurer : Henry

Melhuish S . A . S . ; J . B . Crabb J . A . S . ; William Bartlett and Joseph Searle Stewards ; Edward Coleby M . C . ; A . Andrews Org . and John Patey Janitor . A handsome gold P . Z . jewel was presented to E . Oomp . Mills , in recognition of his services connected with the establishment of this Chapter . Two brethren having been proposed for exaltation , the Chapter was closed .

G-olden Rule Lodge , No . 1261 . —An emergency meeting of this Lodge was held , at the Regent Masouic Hall , Air Street , Regent Street , on Tuesday , 5 th inst ., there were the following brethren present . Bro . J . Harriss P . M ., W . M ., Bro . W . W . Smith S . W ., Bro . A . Torkington Secretary , Bro . P . Godfrey J . D ., Longley I . G ., Bros . F . Deane , J . Levy , T . James , T . Millington and

Fabian P . M . The Lodge was opened iu first degree . Mr . Alfred Curtis , who had been ballotted for and approved at the previous meeting , was initiated into mysteries and privileges of . ancient Freemasonry as an entered apprentice . Bros . F . Deane and J . Levy having proved their proficiency in the first desrree , by answering tho

usual questions , were entrusted and retired . The Lodge was opened in first degree , and Bros . Levy and Deane were passed to the degree of F . 0 . The Lodge was resumed in first degree , and this being the whole of the business for which the brethren were called together , the Lodge was closed , and adjourned till the first Tuesday in February .

Asaph Lodge , No . 1319 . —The regular meeting of this Lodge was held on Monday , the 4 th inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street . Bros . E . Frewin W . M ., J , Jekyll S . W ., E . Terry J . W ., H . Tinney I . G ., E . Swanborough B . C ., and Past Masters . Bros . J . Weaver , Chamberlin and E . Stanton Jones . The Lodge was opened

aud the minutes were confirmed . Two gentlemen were initiated , one of whom was Mr . Stephenson , of the Strand Theatre , and one brother was passed . ' Great praise was given to the W . M . for his admirable working . The Lodge was then closed , and the brethren separated .

The Drama.

THE DRAMA .

The Merry Wives of "Windsor—The Pantomimes . AGREEABLY to our promise of last week , we return to the consideration of Mr . Hollingshead ' s revival of The Merry Wives of Windsor . This comedy , though full of a broad , racy humour , essentially Shakspearian , and containing many admirable sketches of character , can hardly bo considered as one of the most dramatically effective of the great poet ' s productions . The plot is

too slender to bear tho weight of five long acts , and , although it may bo heresy to say so , the humour in places appears forced and artificial . There is a tradition that this play was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth , in order to show Sir John Falstaff in the character of a lover ; and internal evidence would seem to favour this supposition . As Dr . Johnson aptly remarks , " No task is harder

than that of writing to tho ideas of another . " The poet approached as near as he could to tho task enjoined him ; yet , having perhaps , in the former plays , completed his own ideas ho seems not to have been able to give Falstaff all his former power of entertainment . " Only , however , with other of Shakspeare ' s plays can it be at all unfavourably compared ,

Considered by itself , it is a marvel of wit , humour and imagination In every scene may be found flashes of humour and sketches of character which it would be difficult , if not impossible , to match in the works of any other author . The characters of Dr . Gains and Sir Hugh Evans , of Slender and Ford , of the two wives and Anne Page , and even the serving men , Simple and Rugby , stand out in bold relief , and fix the imagination by the vigour and completeness with

which they are drawu . As for Sir John , he is older , fatter and perhaps a trifle duller than when he fought " a long hour by Shrewsbury clock , " but his wit is still keen , and his thirst for sack yet unquenched . The play was evidently an afterthought , for the fat knight was comfortably disposed of in Henry V ., but no one can possibly regret his resuscitation who has read or seen The Merry Wives of Windsor .

The GAIETY cast for this play is unquestionably a strong one . Since the death of Mr . Barrett and Mr . Mark Lemon , Mr . Phelps has been the only Falstaff on the English stage . His impersonation is carefully , almost too carefully elaborated , and groat point is given to all the speeches ; but there is a want of unction iu his rendering of the part . The humour is altogether too dry for a man of Falstaff ' s

"kidney . " Wo think , too , though here tho matter is more open to dispute , that Mr . Phelps ' s Falstaff is a little too old . In reading the play wo think of Sir John as an old man , certainly , but hale and hearty notwithstanding . These are points upon which critics will probably be divided , but none , wo think , will refuse to admit the great merit of Mr . Phelps ' s performance , both as regards the breadth and general accuracy of the conception , and the minuteness and

finish bestowed upon the execution . Mr . Phelps is , of course , the central figure in the revival , but some other of the performers deserve a word of commendatior . Mr . Herman Vezin as Mr . Ford exhibits characteristic power and earnestness , and his impersonation generally is essentially and artistically dramatic . Mr . Righton , albeit a little shak y in his Welsh accent , gives a very humourous rendering of the part of Hugh