The House that Jack Built - Playbill, 1866
Title
The House that Jack Built - Playbill, 1866
Date
8 January 1866
Description
Playbill for the 1865-66 New Theatre Royal Nottingham pantomime, The House that Jack Built.
What's the story?
Playbills were the main way of advertising upcoming performances at the Theatre Royal, and would be posted at key sites around the town. This playbill advertises a Grand Masonic Night, staged for the benefit of the Freemasons in the town of Nottingham. A new prologue was created for the performance, staged in front of the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Arthur Clinton, MP, both wearing masonic costume.
The prologue was written by Brother Walter Montgomery, otherwise the Manager of the New Theatre Royal, and performed by Miss Reinhardt. The Prologue ended with these lines:
Before I make my bow, now ladies all -
I've matter to disclose of great import -
A secret! ah, I see you're anxious now,
The secret of Freemasonry in short.
In strictest confidence, I have been told
It is to scorn the false - and love the true,
To do to others in its fullest sense
What others ought to ever do to you -
To live in peace and harmony with all, -
No matter what their politics, or creed, -
Their social status, - or their worldly wealth, -
It is to ever be a friend in deed, -
To feed the hungry - help the weary on -
All enmity - all love of greed to smother -
To honour law - put earnest trust in God -
This is to be a true Masonic Brother.
The prologue was written by Brother Walter Montgomery, otherwise the Manager of the New Theatre Royal, and performed by Miss Reinhardt. The Prologue ended with these lines:
Before I make my bow, now ladies all -
I've matter to disclose of great import -
A secret! ah, I see you're anxious now,
The secret of Freemasonry in short.
In strictest confidence, I have been told
It is to scorn the false - and love the true,
To do to others in its fullest sense
What others ought to ever do to you -
To live in peace and harmony with all, -
No matter what their politics, or creed, -
Their social status, - or their worldly wealth, -
It is to ever be a friend in deed, -
To feed the hungry - help the weary on -
All enmity - all love of greed to smother -
To honour law - put earnest trust in God -
This is to be a true Masonic Brother.
Type
Playbill
Location of item
Nottingham Local Studies Library
Rights
Nottingham City Libraries
Contributor
Jo Robinson
Related to
Rights Holder
Nottingham City Libraries