Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Buckinghamshire was to be held at Aylesbury , on Thursday , the 30 th ult ., when no doubt a very considerable muster of brethren will be found to have been present . The Freemasons of Cornwall presented a silver salver , teapot and stand to Lady Edith Edgcumbe , daughter of the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , on the occasion of her marriage with Major the Hon . John St . Aubyn on Thursday , the 23 rd ult .

Bro . Earl Cowper presided at a meeting on Wednesday of the Royal Commission inquiring into the new charter for the Gresham University , at which Professor Karl Pearson , of University College , London , was examined at length as to the reasons why the granting of Degrees should be withheld from the new Teaching University .

Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg paid a visit on Tuesday to Tonbridge , where her Royal Highness presided at the opening of a fete in aid of the funds for repairing the parish church . They were received at the station by Earl Stanhope , Lord-Lieutenant of Kent , the Marquis of Abergavenny , the Bishop of Dover , and the Rev . T . H . Gill , the vicar .

Bro . Joseph Joyce , Detective-Sergeant , who was killed on the 20 th ult ., was initiated in the Royal Oak Lodge , S 71 , Deptford , on 27 th November , 1 SS 4 . At the time of his death he held the office of Inner Guard . He was highly esteemed by all the brethren , and his loss will be keenly felt by the W . M . and officers of the lodge , whom he supported as loyally as he did the service in whose cause he so bravely met his death .

Commander his Royal Highness the Duke of York has commissioned his ship , the Melampus , second-class twinscrew cruiser , at Portsmouth . The pennant was run up a few minutes before nine o ' clock on Thursday morning , and the vessel thus formally added to the effective strength of the Royal Navy . The Melampus will proceed to Cowes in the course of a few days , and remain there during her Majesty's stay at Osborne , after which she will go on a cruise to Norway .

A pleasant day's racing took place at the Island Sailing Club , Cowes , on Wednesday . In the 2 * ,-raters' match Cockatoo and Papoose had a hard fight lor lirst place , the former eventually winning , whilst Molly took third . The Nansheen was leading the one-raters when , unfortunately , her mast was carried away , and the lirst prize went to Mr .

Langrishe ' s Argula , Cariad being second , and Oretta third . The race for halves fell to Mr . Ouilter's Bairn . Flags of all craft belonging to the Royal Yacht Squadron are flying half-mast in consequence of the death of the Marquis of Drogheda , who was a member of the Sailing Committee of the club .

The County Council have resolved once more to light the Victoria Embankment with electricity . It has been proposed by the Highways Committee to place lamps of IOJO to 1200 candle-power at intervals of about 50 yards , the current being supplied by an installation on the Council ' s

own land . This recommendation has been adopted , with the proviso that if plant on a sufficient scale can be established , Westminster and Waterloo Bridges and the Embankment-gardens are to be lighted from the same source . The initial cost is not to exceed £ 10 , 000 , while the annual outlay , it is calculated , will not be more than / . ' 2000 .

To-day ( Friday ) Bro . Lord Mayor Evans ( who is a native of Wales ) and the Lady Mayoress , attended by the Sword and Mace Bearers and the City Marshal , will leave London on a visit to South Wales . They will be received at Cardiff by the Mayor and Corporation of the town , and hy the Marquis and Marchioness of Bute , whose guests they will be at Cardiff Castle . In the evening his lordship will

he presented with the freedom of the borough of Cardiff in a gold casket , and entertained at a banquet in the Pa * k Hall . A series of other public functions follow at Cardiff , Bridgend , Llantrissant , Pontypridd , and Brecon . Bro . Robert Paget , vestry clerk of Clerkenwell , was killed at the Farringdon Station of the I 'nderground Railway on Tuesday evening . It appears that in trying to enter the carriage while in motion he missed his footing ,

and was crushed to death between the train and the platform . Bro . Paget , who had attained the age of 75 , had held the appointment of vestry clerk to the parish of Clerkenwell since the passing of Sir Benjamin Hall ' s Act constituting vesteries . Only 12 months ago Bro . Paget lost a daughter through the capsizing of a boat off Hayling Island . At the weekly meeting of the Holborn Board of Guardians held on Wednesday night a vote of condolence was passed with his widow and family in their bereavement .

Under the patronage of the Duke of Connau ; ht , and for the benefit ot the Gordon Boys' Home , of which the Oueen is Patron , and the Prince of Wales President , a channing representation of Gluck ' s " Orfeo , " in Italian , with full orchestra , chorus , and ballet , was given on Tuesday evening in the great gallery of the Grosvenor Club . The performance was under the control of Signor Arditi . The cast was

very strong , ani entirely foreign . Miss Meisshnger , from the Imperial Opera Ilouse , Vienna , and now ot Covent Garden , impersonated Orfeo with dramatic effect and thrilling vocalisation ; Miss Gherlsen , a Belgian lady , was a dainty and sweet-singing Eurydice ; and Miss Pauline Joran , from America , lillcd the audience with surprise and admiration by her rendering of Amore . In no London theatre could the opera have bi-en better rendered or placed

upon the stage , and every credit is due not only to the performers , but also to Captain Cleathii-Gordon , who was re sponsible for the management . A very fashionable audience completely filled the auditorium , anil a ** the opera was to be repeated last night , there can be little doubt thc Gordon Boys will reap material advantage from this delightful departure from the usual methods of combining charity with pleasure .

A GOOD PLAN . — The Eleventh Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent free , gives valuable and reliable information how to operate successfully in Stocks and Shares and obtain handsome profits . —Address , Geo . Evans and Co ., Stockbrokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Princess of Wales , who , with Princess Victoria and Princess Maud of Wales , is still at Bernstorff , Denmark , will return to England at the end of next week . Bro . F . A . lewson was on Tuesday last installed as W . M . of the Keystone Mark Lodge at the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhall-street . A very enjoyable concert was afterwards provided by Bro . Jewson , to which ladies were

also invited . VVe hope to give a report of both in our next . The London and North-Western Railway Company announce that they will commence their conducted tours in Shakespeare ' s Country ( including rail , coach , dinner , tea , sightseeing , and waiters' fees ) , on July 2 nd and 4 th , leaving London at 9 . 30 a . m ., and returning same evening . The tours will be on Saturdays to Stratford-on-Avon , and on Mondays to Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick .

The Divisional Conclave of Kent of the Order of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine had been fixed to be held at the Sun Hotel , Chatham , on Monday , the 4 th instant , under the banner of the Pentangle Conclave , but at the last moment ( after issue of summonses ) a postponement to Tuesday , the 5 th instant , has been rendered necessary owing to the Parliamentary election at Chatham being appointed for the 4 th .

A new Rosicrucian chapter was added to the roll of chapters of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite by the consecration of the Belgrave , No . 121 , at 33 , Golden-square , on Monday last . Bro . Belgrave Ninnis , P . G . Std . Br ., was installed as first M . W . Sovereign , and the proceedings passed off most pleasantly . We shall hope to give a fuller report in our next issue .

A special Masonic service will be held at St . Chad's Church , Romiley , on Sunday , the 17 th instant , in aid of the Aged Freemasons . The sermon will be preached by Bro . the Rev . J . Grant Bird , M . A ., P . P . G . Chaplain Cheshire , and Bro . " Robert VV . Baker , P . M ., P . P . G . Org ., will actas Organist . The service will be held under the banner of the Oakwood Lodge , No . 112 G , of which Bro . the Rev . Henry Leathley , P . M ., is the W . M .

Accompanied by Bro . the Duke of Fife , the Princess Louise visited the Infant Orphan Asylum at Wanstead , and , in presence of a large and distinguished company , distributed the prizes to those of the 3 C 11 inmates of the institution who had distinguished themselves during the past year . The regularity and grace of the musical drill , and the wonderful activity and ingenuity shown by a dozen of the elder girls in a skipping-rope exercise were loudly

cheered . One of the elder boys—Master S . F . M . Gumming —delivered an address of welcome to the Princess , which was alike admirable in composition and delivery ; and at a later stage , when the company sat down to luncheon , Bro . the Duke of Fife expressed the pleasure with which the Princess and himself had listened to it . The burden of the speeches was that the amount of annual subscriptions had not during recent years increased .

Eighteen members of the Coaching Club assembled at the Magazine in Hyde Park on Wednesday morning . The gathering of spectators was not very large , owing no doubt to the weather , but the display of teams was eminently good . Major Shuttleworth , who led the parade , drove three browns and a "jubilee" grey ; Baron Deichmann , with whom were Lord and Lady Lawrence , an entirely new

and fine-stepping team of browns ; Col . Somerset , two piebalds , a skewbald , and a brown -, while bays were before the Hon . Albert Y . Bingham , Major Tumour , Mr . Budgett , Mr . Forbes Leith , Mr . Gerwyn Jones , Bro . Albert Brassey , Mr . F . Cook , Mr . Hope-Morley , and Captain T . Roche .

Chestnuts found favour with Captain Guinness , Mr . Chas . Hanbury , Mr . F . G . Banbury , and Prince Hans Henry of Pless , with whom was the Princess . Mr . J . Hargreaves handled crossed bays and browns . The second meet of the Four-in-Hand Club will be held on the Horse Guards Parade on Thursday evening , the 14 th inst .

The festival of the London Sunday School Choirs at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday was a most successful gathering , except for lhe lamentable balloon accident which occurred during the evening . Some 0000 members participated , and the morning and afternoon choral performances attracted large audiences , and elicited warm approval . The earlier performance consisted of a concert of 5000 treble and alto voices , conducted by Mr . J . Rowley ,

and accompanied on the organ by Mr . H . G . Holmes . A song with illustrative action was encored rapturously . For the second and more pretentious concert adult aid was called in , and the 4000 selected voices were accompanied both by the Crystal Palace and the London Sunday School orchestras , under the direction of Mr . Carl Jung . With Mr . D . Davies at the organ , and conducted for the 20 th time by Mr . Luther Hinton , thc choir acquitted itself with great credit .

We regret to have to announce thc sudden death of the Marquis of Drogheda , which took place early on Wednesday morning , at his London residence , in St . James's-square . The Marquis arrived from his club shortly after midnigh 1- , and retired , apparently in good health , giving orders to be called at seven o ' clock , as he had intended to leave town with the Marchioness for the Continent . His valet , on

going to his lordship ' s room at the appointed time , found him lying on the floor fully dressed , and subsequent examination showed that death was due to apoplexy . Henry Francis Seym ) ur Moore , third Marquisof Drogheda . was born at Math in 1 X 25 , and succeeded his uncle in the marquisate when only twelve years old . He married , in 1 S 47 , thu Hon . Mary Caroline Stuart-Wortley , eldest

daughter of the second Lord Wharncliffe . There is no issue of the marriage , and the marquisate becomes extinct , butthetitles Earl of Drogheda , Viscount Moore , and Baron Moore of Mellefont , together with the English barjny of Moore , Kent , descen I to tha cousin of the deceased , Mr . Ponsonby William Moore , a grandson of the fifth Earl of Drogheda , and nephew of the lirst Marquis .

HOLLOWAV s OiMiiKsr AMI PILLS . —Never at Fault . —In all irritations nf lite skin , sores , ulcers , burn * , and scrofulous enlarge nent of the glands , Holioway ' s Oint ' ent presents a ready and easy means of cure which never disappoints the most favourable expectations . It manifests a peculiar power in restraining inflammation , removing stai / nation , co din ' the heated

blood , and checking all acrimonious aud unhealthy discli * ir , 'es . Whilst thus artiiif- * locally , the Pills arc no less remarkable for their power in improving the general condition and habit of body , which renders the cures complete and permanent . Under the general influence of these potent remedies the puny infant becomes the robust child ; the pale and emaciated regain colour and rotundity ; and the dyspeptic eats freely and without fear .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Oxford City Council on Wednesday decided , after a debate lasting four hours , to proceed to the erection of new municipal buildings , at an estimated cost of £ 50 , 000 . Field-Marshal his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge is expected to visit Aldershot to-day ( Friday ) , for thp purpose of inspecting the battalions of militia now undergoing a course of training at the camp .

The Accident Insurance Company , Limited , St . Swithin ' s House , give notice that interim interest on the paid capital of the company , at the rate of 5 per cent , per annum , for the half year ending the 30 th of June , 1892 , is now payable . According to the report of the Select Committee in whom is vested the control of the kitchen and refresh .

ment rooms of the House of Commons , 594 ( 1 luncheons and 79 S 5 dinners were served in the dining room , 1437 luncheons and CSo dinners in the strangers' room , and 119 luncheons and 79 G dinners in the terrace dining room during the session just ended . Needless to say , all the arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr . VV . C . Saunders , the superintendent , with his wonted skill .

Mr . D Oyly Carte s opera house is to be turned into a theatre of varieties ; at least , an attempt is being made in that direction . It is proposed to start a company for its purchase under the title of " The Palace Theatre . " The capital will be £ 200 , 000 , £ 170 , 000 of which will be devoted

to the purchase of the freehold and the theatre . The necessary musical-hall licence will be applied for in due course , and in the meantime the project will go forwaid with the Lord Chamberlain's licence , and a programme embracing drama , variety , and ballet . Sir Augustus Harris is the managing director of the " Palace Theatre . "

According to a writer in the Atlantic Monthl y , the Chicago Public Library , supported by general taxation , has accumulated 175 , 000 volumes , increases at the rate of 20 , 000 annually , has a general circulation of twelve hundred thousand , and is the seventh in size in America . The new

Chicago University Library takes rank in a single day as the third of the United States great libraries by the purchase of 300 , 000 volumes at Berlin . The Newbery Library has So , ooo books and an endowment fund of § 3 , 000 , 000 ; while another , the Crerar Library , is about to be established with a like endowment .

The directors of the Empire Palace , Limited , have declared the second interim dividend for the present yearat the following rates : is . Sd . on each share of £ 1 on which ios . has been paid ; 2 s . 6 d . on each share of £ 1 on which 15 s . has been paid . The said interim dividend to be payable on the nth day of July next . The transfer books of the company will be closed from the 4 th July to the nth July , both days inclusive .

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presided at a meeting of the Governors of Wellington College on Wednesday , the other Governors present being Colonel Talbot , Vice-President , the Archbishop of Canterbury , the Duke of Richmond and Gordon , the Duke of Wellington , Viscount Cranbrook , the Bishop of Rochester , Sir Henry Ponsonby , Sir George Russell , Sir Lintorn Simmons , Sir

Dighton Probyn , Mr . J . Walter , and Mr . J . F . Chance , Secretary . Princess Beatrice , who was accompanied by Prince Henry of Battenberg , visited the Albert Hall on the occasion of the annual competitions in military drill and physical exercises of scholars in London public elementary schools on Wednesday . Merely regarded as a spectacle , the sight in the area of the Albert Hall was exceedingly attractive , the

picked detachments from the selected schools going through evolutions and simple drill with a precision which in more than one instance came pretty near perfection . The challenge banner for the competition in military drill was awarded by the judges to Bellenden-road School , with 97

marks out of a possible 100 . In physical exercises Eltnngham-street School carried off the boys' banner , also with 117 marks , and the "Dulwich Hamlet" was similarly successful with 96 marks in the girls' competition . On the awards being announced , her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice presented the banners to the several victors .

The King of Roumania and thc Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen visited the Prince of Wales at Marlborough House on Tuesday , and in the evening his Royal Highness gave a dinner to his Majesty . The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princesses Marie and Victoria Melita , Princess Louise Duchess of Fife , the Duke of Fife , the Duke of Aosta , the Prince of llohenzollern-Sigmaringen ,

Prince Ferdinand of Roumania , Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , and Count Albert Mensdorff were among the guests . On Wednesday the King paid a visit to the Queen at Windsor Castle , a suite of rooms overlooking the Home Park having been prepared for his Majesty's

reception . The King will probably return to Buckingham Palace to-day ( Friday ) , and leave again for the Continent to-morrow ( Saturday ) . It was for this reason that his Majesty was unable , to his great regret , to accept the invitation of Bro . Lord Mayor Evans to visit the City during his stay .

Prize-day at the London School of Medicine for Women brought a large muster of lady medicos on Tuesday to Handel-street , Brunswick-square , where thrives the institution established in connection with the Royal Free Hospital . The report of the dean , Mrs . Garrett-Anderson , M . D ., was encouraging , as it announced that there are now I . V st . dents attending the school and hospital . Among the

ladies who had won honours during the year were Aliss Pace , who obtained the second gold medal in obstetrics at the London University ; and Miss M . Sturge , who took the Helen Prideaux p . ize of £ 50 . Thanks to a gift of ^ loo " from a " generous friend , " the council were enabled to wipe off their deficit . The awards were distributed by the Duchess of Bedford , one of the vice-presidents , who

congratulated the students on the noble choice of a profession they had made , and referred to the increasing number of appointments held by graduates of the school , at home ana abroad , as indicating that the services of medical women ate now appreciated . FISH ! FISH ! FISH ! The CO-OI > ERATIVE FISH S * JP *"* - CO ., LTD ., are now sending out cheap BASKETS of l ' "

or OYSTERS , carriage paid , to any part of the King * w . ' from 2 s . Gd . each and upwards , direct Irom the landips stage . Address orders and remittances to the Co-Operativ Fish Supply Co ., Ltd ., Pontoon , Grimsby , or to Billingsg ?" Buildings , London , E . G ., as may be most convenient . ' | J our London House for their celebrated Bloaters , Finn 0 Haddocks , Kippers , & c ,