Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

A Knights Templar Preceptory will be consecrated in the County Hotel Carlisle , on Thursday , the 15 th inst ., at two p . m . Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach has kindly promisd to open a bazaar at St . John ' s Mission-room , Clifton , Bristol in April next . The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke of York

received the French Ambassador , and Mdme . Dacrais , the Netherlands Minister , and the Baroness C , iltstein , and the Japanese Minister , at Marlborough House , on Tuesday . . The Prince of Wales has very kindly promised to lie present at the festival , which will be held on the 13 th April , in aid of the Middlesex Hospital , which was founded in 1745 , and for the extension of which a sum of £ 12 , 000 is needed .

1 rlor to tne Queen leaving Buckingham Palace , on Wednesday , on her return to Windsor Castle , the Prime Minister was admitted to an audi ; nce of her Majesty , that he might make the usual communications previous to the assembling of Parliament for a new session .

We regret to announce the death at Brighton on Monday of Mrs . Reginald Hart-Dyke , the youngest daughter of the late Lord Alfred Paget , and wife of Mr . Reginald Hart-Dyke , the youngest brother of Bro . Sir William Hart-Dyke , Bart ., M . P .

The Queen ' s dinner party at Buckingham Palace on Monday included the Empress Frederick ot Germany , trie Princess Louise , Duchess of Fife and the Duke of Fife , Prince and Princess Louis of Battenberg , the Djwager Duchess of Roxburghe , and the Mirquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne .

Mr . and Mrs . Gladstone gave a dinner party at the Premier ' s official residence in Downing-street on Wednesday , at which there were present the Italian Ambassador and the Countess Tornielli , Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness of Breadalbane , Earl Granville , the Speaker and Miss Peel , Sir Algernon and Lady West , and others .

The Duke of York has declined the freedom of the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne , on the ground that he is unable to depart from the rule already laid down , that he should accept the freedom only of metropolitan cities and that from which he derives his title . At the same time his Koyal Highness has expressed his gratitude to the city of Newcastle for the distinction it proposed to confer upon him .

We regret to hear that the Right Hon . C . P . Villiers , M . P ., the " Father of the House of Commons , " was suddenly overtaken by a fainting fit while at the Wt Kington Club on Wednesday evening , and after a time was removed to his residence in Cadogan-place . The right honourable gentleman completed his 92 nd year on the 3 rd January .

Bro . Lord Mayor Tyler presided at a meeting held at the Mansion House on Tuesday in connection with the East London Nursing Society for tending the sick poor in their houses by means of trained nurses . The report , which was adopte I , was moved by Bro . Alderman Sir Divid Evans , K . C . M . G ., and was supported hy Alderman Faudel Phillips , and others , who all bore willing testimony to the increasing value of the Society .

Owing to the absence of the Duke of Cambridge on the Continent , the Earl of Waldegrave presided at the Winter General Meeting c > f the National Rille Association , held in the Banqueting Hall , Whitehall , on Wednesday evening , among the members present being Sir Henry Fletcher , Hart , M . P ., Bro . Lord Kinnaird , Major Knox , Colonel Mackinnon , Serjeant Fulton , Mr . W . Wirrans , Captain Dalton Hunt , Mr . C . F . Lowe , and other well-known marksmen .

Bro . Alexander Howf ll ' s great " History of 257 , Portsmouth , " is rapidly approaching completion . Proof sheets have been received , covering pages 91 to 130 , and bringing down the narrative to 1 S 44 . The portion thus referred to begins with the election of Lord John George Lennox as W . M ., a presentation to his lordship later on , with interesting correspondence ; By-Laws of 1 S 37 ; tracing boards

purchased ; laying of foundation stones with Masonic ceremony ; appointment of Admiral Sir Lucuis Curtis as Dep . Prov . Grand Master of Hants ; erection of a Masonic hall , ; Sir . Lucuis Curtis appointed Prov . Grand Master , and address voted ; By-Laws of 1 S 42 ; installation ceremony ; death of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G . M ., & c . Illustrations to hand include facsimile of first page of the

premier Minute Book of the Royal Arch Chapter of 17 C 9 , allttdivg to the Mark Degree ( the earliest of the kind known ); and two of si gnatures and marks of the members from late last century down to 1 S 40 , very curious and interesting . The names of subscribers are still received at one guinea each until publication . "A word to the wise , " should be good enough .

THE ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . The Grand Lodge authorities have , as we announced last week , made special arrangements for the expected rush of the brethren to the poll . Other authorities stem to have made special arrangements of almost equal importance in the direction of sustaining the inner man . Not only will

there be the usual provision for visitors at the Freemasons ' Tavern and Ilolbom Kestautant , hut | the manager of the Inrs cf Court Hotel has announced his intention , in our adveiti . 'ing columns , of providing a special luncheon in the large and splendid room so pleasanlly ovcrloeking Lincoln's Inn Fields . ' 1 his , at the moderate liguiecbarged , should be well attended

ANOTHKR UANK I- ' AIU- . K is unfortunately in these days a familur piece of new :- dished up at breakiast time as regularly as ihe matutinal cutlee ml roil , Fortunatel y , however , It , r the It-are and happiness of mankind tiding :, 1 J 1 Mircc-ses as well ; . s failures are received , 'ihe most pie sing and benelici ., 1 amongst the former are the letters which anive from all parts of

Ihe' wi . rld announcing the wonderful cures cllci'tcil by Holloway ' s Pills and Ointment . No disease can withstand their almost magical inlluei . ee . At the present time , when rapid weather changes a e helping to speed the progress of inlluer . za , rheumatics , and the various diseases of the throat , chest , and lungs , no family should be without . 1 supply of these valuable medicines ,

Masonic And General Tidings

The Duke of Cambridge has approved of Colonel G . M . Onslow , of the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury , being again commandant at the Royal Military tournament this year . The Duchess of Sutherland has consented to distribute prizes to the successful students of the Royal Female School of Art , at the Merchant Taylors' Hall , at three p . m . on th 13 th inst .

The Queen has consented to the services of Major J . F . Burn-Murdock , ist ( Royal ) Dragoons , Brigade-Major of Cavalry at Aldershot , being placed at the disposal of the Khedive as commandant of the Cavalry of the Egyptian Army .

Bro . Sergt .-Major Hazel , S . W . of the Eldon Lodge , No . 1 755 , Portishead , was on Thursday , the 22 nd ult ., presented with a marble timepiece , a dinner service , and a dozen knives and forks , on his reti'ing after 12 years' service from the post of instructor of the corps .

Brethren are invited to send for the list of Masonic Books published at the office of the Freemason . Many works of interest both to the Masonic student and general reader have recently been added , and the publisher will gladly forward a copy to any address on receipt of a post-card .

The Duke of Westminster presided at the annual meeting , at Chester , of the Industrial Training Ship , Ohio , stationed in the Menai Straits , Bango , the Duchess of Westminster and Bro . Sir Horatio and Lady Lloyd being among those present .

The Point-to-Point Races in connect ! n with the Bicester and Warden Hill Hunt were held at Stratton Audley , on Wednesday , among those present being Bro . the Earl of Jersey , Viscount Villiers , Lord and Lady Chesham , Bro . Viscount Brackley , and others . The Oxford University Race was won by Viscount Villiers , on his Ebony , and the Farmers' Race by Mr . G . Mansfield , on Spilsmore .

We regret to record the death of Bro . Col . Addison Potter , of Newcastle , who was at the time of his death Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch in Northumberland . He has held many important offices in Masonry during his long connection with the Craft , amongst others

that of Grand Master Overseer of Mark Master Masons in iSSfi . Col . Potter was in his seventy-fourth year , and it is stated was the oldest volunteer officer in the Kingdom . A more detailed notice of his Masonic career will appear in a future issue .

The Prince of Wales presided at a meeting of his Royal Highness ' s Council , which wis held at the offices of the Duchy of Cornwall , on Wednesday . Among the members present being the Eirl of Leicester , Sir Henry | ames , Sir Nigel Kingscote , Sir Dighton Probyn , and Mr .

Iloltzmann . In the evening the Prince and Princess ol Wales , accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of York , and the Princesses Victoria and M uid , witnessed a performance of " Charley ' s Aunt , " at the Globe Theatre . On Thursday evening the Prince left London for the Continent , travelling via Dover and Calais .

The Oueen left Windsor Castle for Buckingham Palace on Monday , and the day following held the first Drawing Room of the season , among the members of the Royal Family being the Grand Duke and Grand Ducal Highness Princess Alice of Hesse , the Prince and Princess of Wales

and their daughter , the Princess Victoria , the Duke of Connaught , the Duchess of Albanv , Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Duke of York , and Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein . A large number of presentations were made , the names having been previously submitted to and approved by her Majesty .

ROVAI . Mvso . N'ic INSTITUTION FOR GIRI . S . —Bro . Dr . Bowdler Sharpe , of the Natural History Branch of the British Museum , gave a lecture on "Birds , " to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , on Thursday , the 22 nd ult . The lecture , illustrated with lime-light pictures of the

different birds , was listened to with ; intense interest by the children . It was an act of great kindness on the pait of Bro . Sharpe , a kindness which was appreciated to the fullest extent by his listeners . We may add that our esteemed brother is S . W . of the Runnymede Lodge , and a member of the Savage Club Lodge .

THE GLASGOW MASONIC HALI . COMPANY , LIMITED . — This company was registered in Edinburgh on the 15 th inst ., with a capital of £ 20 , 000 , in 20 , 000 shares of £ \ , to ratify the purchase by John Graham , of Broadstone , Glasgow , of certain subjects in West Regent-street , Glasgow , and to enter into , and carry into effect , a certain agreement , and

to provide a hall , lodge-rooms , and other premises , within the City of Glasgow , suitable for Masonic and general purposes . There are not to be less than seven nor more than 15 ordinary directors , apart from cx-ojftcio directors . All the directors are to be Freemasons , and each is to hold in his own right not less than 50 shares . Thirteen directors have already been appointed .

An interesting circim-stance occurred on the 19 th ult ., duiing the visit of the Prov . G . Lodge of Dumfriesshire to Lochmaben . Bro . Johnstone-Djuglas , the Grand Mister of the province , had inspected the books of St . Magdalene Lodge , and complimented Bro . M'Millan , the W . M ., upon the satisfactory position of the Cralt in the old burgh , when Bro . W . Dryden , a P . M ., rose to thank the deputation .

He stated that he claimed to be more closely connected with St . Magdalene ' s Lodge than any other brother in the province , for his great-grandfather was one of its founders in 17 GG and there had been a Dryden in it ever since . Naturally Bro . Johnstone-Douglas was impressed with the statement , and he expressed the hope that the connection between the lodge and the house of Dryden would lung remain unbroken . But Bro . Dryden is still a bachelor !

Nut the least pleasant dance of the present season was that held on the 20 th ult . in the Central Hall by the officers and members of the Humber Lodge , No . 57 . Although numerous applications were made for admission—far more than the accommodation warranted—the Committee wisely d . cided to limit the number of tickets , and the result was lhat those present ( about 1 C 0 ) were not inconvenienced . The hall was very tastclully decorated ; indeed , one could

haidly recognise the interior of the building , so complete had bien the transformation . Ihe W . M ., Bio . James Wililhore , olliciated as Master of Ceremonies . He was ably assisted by the Stewards—Bros . T . G . Milner , S . W . ; G . H . Panton , J . W . ; J . Martensun , P . O . ; W . C . Thornton , I . G . ( who , with Bro . Milner , fulfilled the duties of Hon . Sees . ) ; G . W . Richardson , J . Milestone , T . Morrill , and Councillor P . Atkinson ,

Masonic And General Tidings

Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry has arrived r Hamilton-place from Wales . The Duchess of Fife has consented to re-open the We ] , beck-street General Dispensary , Marylebone , earl y th ; j month . The Earl and Countess of Dudley and family have ] ef ( Brown ' s Hotel , Albermarle-street , for Witley Court Worcestershire . '

. The funeral of the late Madame Patev will take pl to-morrow ( Saturday ) afternoon , at VVest Hampstead . On Thursday afternoon the coffin containing the remains were removed from Sheffield to London . The Marquis and Marchioness of Ripon , Earl avid . Countess Spencer , and Sir Edward Bradford arrived at Windsor Castle on Thursday evening on a visit to the Oueen , and were included in the Royal dinner party .

ROVAI . CHORAL SOCIF . TV . —The attendance beneath the great concert dome at Kensington on Thursday evening was not overpoweringly large . However , although there were many groups of empty seats to be noted , the excellence of the performance was not to be denied . Both the Requiem from Gounod ' s " Mors et Vita" and Rossini ' s familiar "Stabat Mater , " were rendered in a manner that did Sir Joseph Barnby and his forces all credit .

Some valuable MSS . and literary treasures will be offered at Sotheby's in the course of a four-days' miscellaneous sale next week . These include a series of the original editions of the works of Charles Dickens , which will be offered first in one lot at the upset price of £ 200 , and failing that , the

volumes will be sold separately ; a collection of books from Napoleon Bonaparte ' s Library at St . Helena , which became the property of Jerome Bonaparte , and eventudly came into the possession of Fraulein Malvine Fischer , of Arolsen , Waldeck , Germany ; and the MS . of Sir Walter Scott ' s " Life of Napoleon , " mostly in the author ' s handwriting .

Bro . the Earl of Kintore , G . C . M . G ., Governor of South Australia , was on Thursday afternoon the recipient of the Honorary Degree of Doctor in Law at Cambridge . The honorary degree of Doctorin Science will be conferred upon Senor Ramon y Cajal , Professor of Histology in the

University of Madrid next Tuesday . Among those who pro . ceeded to the degree . of Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery on Thursday was Mr . J . C . Gardner , of Emmanuel College , the stroke of the Light Blue crews of 18 SS , 1 SS 9 , and 1 S 90 , who was greeted with loud cries of " Well rowed ! " from the occupants of the galleries .

In the unavoidable absence of the Countess of Wemyss , Lady Hilda Brodrick distributed the prizes to the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers , at the head-quarters , James ' sstreet . Lord Elcho ' s Challenge Cup was won by Major Brodie ' s ( D ) Company . Private J . P . Hunter , of thesame company , carried oft the Saltation Championship and Wemyss Cup . Colonel Nicol , in reading the report of the imentreferred feelingly to the death of Captain Hill ,

reg , for 13 years Quartermaster of the Scottish Rifles . The number of mest had increased from Soi in 1 S 90 to S 55 at the present time , and the battalion figure of merit has steadily increased , and now stands at 186-32 . An interesting feature of the evening was the presentation of a congratulatory address to Lord and Lady Wemyss , in honour of their golden wedding . An excellent concert followed the distribution of prizes .

Distinguished patronage has been given unstintedly to the ball which is to be held on Monday next , at the Cannonstreet Hotel , on behalf of the Firemen's Widows' and Orphans' Fund . The cause is one which naturally commends itself to the public , for the fund is intended to relieve the pressing wants of women and children whoss bread winners have died in the brigade service , but who , not

having been actually killed at a fire , could not pass on to thuse dependent on them a claim for pension . _ Under the circumstances , a ball to augment the fund which supplies the defici .-ncy has been arranged , and the Dukeof Vurk , the Duke of Portland , the Duke of Westminster , the Marquis of Breadalbane . the Earl of St . Germans , Lord Thorntonthe

Farrar , Viscount Curzon , M . P . ; Sir Edward , Lord Mayor , Sir Edward Bradford , Mr . John Hutton , and Capt . Simonds are among the prominent patrons . It rest ? , however , with the general public to ensure the success of the gathering by their support , and this they can give at any London Fire Station , before Monday , or to the Secretary oi the Fund , Mr . E . Hunt , at the Southwark Head-quarters .

Reference was made the other day to the adaptability of the Masonic Ritual for developing the elocutionary powers . There are many eloquent Masons , no doubt , but the common-place utterance of the present day compared with those of a hundred years ago are what a farthingcandle is to the electric light . In the Ettric Shepherds " Laird of Wincholm , " the learned propositions of Dominie and

were beyond the comprehension of poor Clinkum , those who listened to the addresses of some of the early Masons must have been as sorely puzzled as the blacksmith was with the schoolmaster ' s big words and overplus ol wisdom . No Masonic speech of modern date , for instance , could compare with the resp lendent eloquence of the Durham MasonSir William Applebywhen he presented

, , an address to George the Third on the occasion of l"S Majesty's recovery to health and wisdom in the year i /^ j " Most Gracious and Potent Monarch , " said he , " t h reat Britain -the Queen of Isles and Pride of Nations , Arbitress of Europe ( perhaps of the world ) , the Nursery 01 Arts , Freedom and Independence , the Terror ot her Enemies and the Scouree ot Tyrants is once more raiseo

from a depending humble situation to its present g lorious and resplendent acme of power , opulence and grandeur , by a dependent of the great and illustrious Chatham ano and his responsible coadjutors in administration , under tne immediate direction , benign and spiritual auspices of our most gracious , potent , and much-beloved Sovereign ; Wj whose happy restoration to the inestimable blessing 01 health , domestic felicity , and for the political salvation an adora

comfort of these realms , the humble and grateful - tions to the Omnipotent be ever due . Ihe valleys : nw now again be justly said to laugh and sing , and in mountains to leap for joy , praising the One Eternal tor infinite mercies . "—Newcastle Chronicle . Tvelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post free , gives reliable information how to rJia » money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest . and lo *» prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., b- " brokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C .