The ball given by the Ancient Free and Accepted Freemasons of Shanghai is alway one of the big events of the year, and th
thei it of 8 and masons and guests and follo cribers to the Charity Fund who were prot ut at th Masonic Hall on Thursday evening one and all bear testimony to the fact ti the ball of 1884 was no wit behind its predecessors in brilliance or in the enjoy-mont it afforded. The Right Worshipful Grand Master, Cornelius Thorne, the honoured head of English Freemasonry Northera China, whose leadership acknowledged also by the members of lodges working under other constitutions, was again the President of the Ball Committee, while W. Bro. Drammond Hay acted this year as Treasurer, and Bro. J. Findlay as Secretary. The building was most tastefully decorated under the superintendence of a Committee consisting of W. Bros. W. ©. Howard, T. Pom!
N.P. Andersen, M. B. Cook, 0. Middle: ton and W. H. Anderson, and'ttro. J. M. Cory. The invitations were issued by the Right Worshipful President, and W. Bros. ''t, Pemberton, J, L. Hammond, W. C. Howard, R. D. Starkey and A. Johusford of dances was drawn up al_arrangements were made by W. Bros. G. B. Fentum, E. P. Laleaca, J. L. Hammond and Drummond Hay and the provision of light and substantial bodily refreshments was made under the guidance of a Committee composed of W. Bros. O. BIN. Donaldson, D. C. Jansen, W. H. Anderson, J. L: Hammond and Drummond Hay." The decorations were particularly artistic, though they were somewhat less elaborate and with fewer masonic emblematic designs than at some previous balls. The designers had avoided eel At too many of the balls with the common fault of repeating them-
hich the Shanghai season is enlivened the decorations of one year exactly reproduce those of previous years this case the designs were essentially different from those of last year. A brilliant star of gas-jets on the face of the building shed a bright light over the neighbouring portion of the bund. - The covered which led from the street to the en 3 hall was filled with evergreens and flowers; and festoons and garlands ornamented the pillars and walls of the staircase, among them hanging banners of the different lodges and emblematical Gignres, The aspect presented by the great hall was mest. pi and effective, although here as well as in the rest of the building we believe the adorn. ments were mitch less costly than at recent balls, The permanent decorations the building have just been renewed throughout at the expense of the Exeonti Committee of the Hall, and conse the Ball Committer were enabled pense with much of the drapery whi usually called into requisition. Flowers in abundanes, evergeeons, banners and masonic emblems very artistically arranged gave the room a most pleasing appearance, and immediately in front of the organ stood a magnificent structure which puzzled ever ily old masons learned in the mystori the craft. Tt was in the form of a k castle, with draw-bridge and everything complete, and with numerous mystic aymbois on all side of it, We undrataud that it appertains to the Royal Order of Soot land, of which the gui iit in Shang hai is that most energetic and ent of masons, W. Bro, C. M Donuldson. the little gallery, very prettily adorned, was devoted to' the band, and this was a dive appointment to many ladies and gontlomen who had at previous balls been wont to make occasional trips to the upper regions, to overlook and criticise their friends dancing below. he small lodyoroom was devoted to the consumption of light refreshments, and was very elegantly farnished for the occasion. Lhe members of the Masonic Club yave up their rooms for the night, and hero gentlemen when not dancing diverted themselves by playing cards, smoking, chatting and refreshing them: The guests bo.an to arrive at about nine o'clock, being revived by the stewards in gorgeous regalia, in most cases that of the Grand Lodye of Northern China, The room rapidly tilled, and by about the third dance the for became somewhat over crowded, though not to any serio extent. The groat strength of the craft in North-China was soon made apparent by the numbers of gentlemen in the brilliant royal in of the various lodges and orders in Shanghai, interspersed with a fow from Yokohama and other Eastern ports. The Royal Arch was abundantly represented, and later in the evening, when the Knights Templars donned their long whits robes adorned with the Multese cross they made most imposing show. The ladies for pact showed a preference for their ball dresses. Many of the costumes wore, we need hardly say, exceedingly pretty, others particularly quaint, and blending with the bright hues of the aprons, sashes and jewels of the masons, English, Scotch, American and German, they produced n very brilliant spectacle, At ubout half bust twelve, after a dozen dances, the Knights Templars arranged themselves on exch side of the entrance of the hall and formed an Arch of Steel with their swords, under which the guests, headed by the District Grand Master, escorting Mrs. Hughes, wife of H.B.ML's Consul, trooped to the tune of the Grand March from' Tolanthe" down to the supper room in the basement of the building. Some of the taller youtlemien appeared to be in imminent danger of losing portions of their scalps when the Templars occasionally relaxed their hold on their keen-edged weapons, but happily all passed through without accident, The supper room was very handsomely decorated with flags, and was brilliantly lighted by a design in gas-jots representing the familiar square and compasses. An excellent cold supper was well served, and dancing was kept up with spirit till nearly four o'clock.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.