Instruction.

The lodge was opened and the minutes read and confirmed . The ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Fischer being the candidate . The ceremony of initiation was afterwards rehearsed , Bro . Kerly being the candidate . Bros . . ] . A . Reid , W . Wilson , H . B . Ranger , and A . Berliner were elected members of the lodge . Bro . H . Coxen was elected W . M . for the ensuing week and appointed the officers in rotation . The Treasurer ' s accounts having been audited , were received and adopted . This showing a sufficient balance , a ballot for a Life Subscribership to one of the Charities will take place at the next meeting in accordance with the bye-laws . The permanent officers of the lodge were unanimously re-elected . It was unanimously resolved that the subscript ' oa to the Freemason be continued . The lodge was then closed .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE GUILDHALL ART GALLERY . —The permanent collection of pictures was re-cpened at the Guildhall Gallery on the 3 rd instant . SIR ATRHUR ARNOLD is unable to resume his duties at the London County Council , as Lady Arnold is lying seriously ill at their country house , Hyde Hill , Dartmouth . SOUTH KENSINGTON SKETCHING CLUB opens its annual exhibition of holiday sketches on the 14 th instant ; . for a fortnight , in buildings at the back of the Natural History Museum .

VISCOUNT CRANLEY , elder son of Bro . the Earl of Onslow , has been appointrd an attache in the Diplomatic Service . He is 25 years of age , and distin guished himself at Oxford . ST . PAUL'S CATHEDRAL . —The harvest thanksgiving service will be held on Monday evening next , the preacher being the Rev . G . Hodges , M . A ., vicir of St . James , Bury St . Edmunds , and Hon . Canon of Ely .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY . —The company have earned the thanks of the travelling public for the promptitude with which they hive . issued Ihe time tables announcing their winter train service .

ST . LAWRENCE JEWRY . —The harvest thanksgiving service ; will be held on Sunday next , Bro . the Rev . J . Slephen Barrass being the preicher . Tne off .-rtories will be devoted to the general repair , lighting , and decoration fund . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR has forwarded to the Trades'House of Glasgow a letter of thanks for the casket presented to him with the certificate of free lorn . The sifts will be regarded , he says , as a valuable possession of his family .

ADDRESSES WERE DELIVERED at several of the metropolian hosptals in connection with the opening of the winter session of the medical schools . Professor ) . Risien Russell pointed out that there were 1 O 00 fewer practitioners now than eight years ago . AT A GATHERING of medical men and public officials at Cardiff last night ( Thursday ) it was resolved to form a branch of the National Association for the Preverticn of Tuberculosis , and a committee was formed toanaige lectures and promote the establishment of an open sanatorium .

FOURPENNY TELEGRAMS . —A North London resident , having recently addressed a letter to Lord Londonderry advocating the introduction of forfroenny telegrams for inland transmission , has received a reply intimating that the Postmaster-General is not able to hold out any prospect of reduction in the present chirge . PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S WILL—Bro . McKinley ' s wi'I has been granted probate . He bequeaths his estate to his widow , with the exception of an annuity of 1000 dollars left to his sister , Helen McKinley . The late President ' s estate is valued at between 225 , 000 and 250 , 000 dollars , including life insurance to the amount of G / , ooo dollars .

WHITE SPARROWS IN THE CITY . —The unusual sight of several white sparrows may be seen any day in Smithfield Gardens . White sparrows appear in these gardens about the same time every year , and then disappear . Dming their stay they arouse no little interest , and many people visit lha gardens to look upon these singular birds .

RAILWAYS AND BICYCLES . —At a meeting of the General Committee of the National Cyclists' Union , held at the Union offices in Lonsdale Chambers , Chancerylane , it was reported that legal proceedings wtre being taken in reference to the bss of two bicyles which had been entrusted to the care of railway companies for conveyance by rail , and for which loss the companies refused to give any compensation .

PREPARATIONS are already being made for the homecoming of the Djke and Duchess of Cornwall and York . The Ophir is due at Portsmouth on the 1 st of next month , and it is understood that the Navy and Army will participate in the reception . The . Royal vessel will be met off the Irish coast by the Channel Squadron and escorted to Spithead , where a flotilla of destroyers , it is anticipated , will lead the way through lines of saluting men-of-war to the harbour . I : is expected that the King and Qieen will be present .

THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH ( Dr . Carr-Glyn ) has been turning his knowledge of agriculture to account . Recently his head gardener fell ill , and his lordship was unable to get the grass in the palace-grounls properly cut . He forthwith ordered about 30 sheep to be bought in the local market and put to pasture , and after three weeks' grazing they cleared the episcopal pirk as e ' eanus if it hid been cut with a grass-mower . This work having been accomplished , the bishop sent his 11 > z '< bick t j market and sold them at a profit of 3 s . a head .

THE ALFRED MILLENARY . —At one of the closing meetings in connection with the celebration of thc Alfred Millenary , the Mayor of Winchester , Mr . Alfred Bowker , declared that the success of the commemoration was due largely to the national executive committee , of which Bro . the Lord Mayor of London was the chairman . The time and labour devoted to the movement by , amongst others , Lord Avebury , Sir Arthur Arnold , Sir E . Maunde Thompson , Mr . Shaw Lefevre , Mr . R . K . Ciuston , M . P ., Mr . J . K . J . Hitchens , and Mr . William VV . Portal , he especially eu ' o'ised .

THE HOSPI I'AL SATURDAY FUND . —The committee of the fund met at the effiees , Gray ' s-innroad , on the 29 'h ult . The secretary reported that the receipts from the workshops and business houses from January Sth to September 14 th , amounted to £ 186 5 , being an increase of £ 737 compared with the total for the corresponding period of ' lastyear . The expenditure since January was £ 1343 . During that period rg 550 letters of recommendation to the various participating medical charities ( including y 2 . S for convalescent homes ) had been issued upon application of the collectors . The annuil " special " collection in the industrial establishments ( in lieu of the abandoned street collection ) will be held on Saturday , the 12 th instant .

ON THE 1 st instant the Corporation of London inaugurated a public golf course , a novelly in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis . The course is situated at Chingford , ar . d is that played over by the Royal Epping Forest Golf Club during the last 12 years ; the first tee is within three minutes' walk of Chingford Station , which is but 30 minutes ' rail from the heart of the City . The course , which was formally opened by the Epping Forest Sub-Committee playing a foursome over it , is in excellent condition , and fully justifies the amount of labour that has been expended on it . The com nittee is also about tolay out a number of artifical hazards , which should make the ground one of the best round London .

SATURDAY LAST was a busy day with all interested in the municipal government of the City . Michaelmas Day falling on Sunday it became necessary lor the inauguration of Sheriffs and the election of a successor to the present occupint of the Civic chair to take place simultaneously . The Common Hall throughout was marked by a unanimity that has seldom been exceeded . The new Sheriff ; wore imuiruraSed in thc presence of a large gathering of their fellow-liverymen , and there was even . 1 more

representative assembly at the proceedings connected with the election of the Lord Major fcr the year ensuing . The proceeding's were singularly uneventful from first to last ; ard Sir Joseph Dimsdale had the satisfaction of being returned to the muchcoveted ptsition of Lord Mayor without being called upon to give a single pledge , or to answer a single question . Below will be found a full report of the several ceremonies that were observed in the time-honoured fashion . —City Press .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . COLONEL T . DAVIES SEWELL returned to town from iCromer last week . MUCH-NEEDED RAIN has fallen in the north of England , and that parched and thirsty district is hopeful that thc oppressive drought has definitely given way . QUEEN ALEXANDRA has sent a subscription of £ 10 to the funds of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children , of which her Majesty is patron .

MR . WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR has contributed £ 10 , 000 as the nucleus of a fund for providing new and permanent headquarters for the National Society for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Children . EARL JERSEY last night ( Thursday ) inaugurated the extension of Ilounsloiv Polytechnic , which has been established as part ot the Middlesex County Council scheme of technical education .

SOCIETAS ROSICRUCIANA IN ANGLIA . —The quarterly convocation of the Metropolitan College will be held at the Restaurant Frascati , Oxford-street , on Thursday , the 10 th instant , at 5 . 30 p . m . precisely . THE challenge cup given by Major W . H . Greenfell , M . P ., for the best " shot in the Wycombe detachment of the 1 st Bucks Rifle Volunteers his been wo . i by Colour-Sergeant Johnson , with a total score of 507 points ( including drills ) .

FINAL arrangements have been completed for the Leeds Musical Festival , the full rehearsals for which begin at the Town Hall this ( Friday ) evening . The 35 S chorus singers are to be presented with medals , no outsider being allowed this decoration . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Court of Governors of thc West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution will be held at the Masonic Hall , Liverpool , this ( Friday ) evening , at 7 p . m ., for the election of children on the several funds and other business .

MR . A . M . TORRANCE , Chairman of the London County Council , opened on the 29 th ult . the Battersea Borough Council ' s central electric generating station . The system has been laid down by the council ' s own workmen at a cost of up . vard ; of £ 150 , 000 . GREAT PREPARATIONS are being made in Manchester to ensure the successful cpening of the Royal Military Tournament bv Bro . Earl Roberts on Wednesday next . All branches of the Auxiliary Forces in the City and district are being organised to give a fitting reception to the Commander-in-Chief .

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ( Bro . the Earl of Halsburv ) and Mr . R . VV . Hanbury , M . P ., President ot the Board of Agriculture , were the chief guests at the Cutlers' Feast at Sheffield last night ( Thursday ) . The newly-elected Master Cutler ( Mr . A . R . Ellis ) presided over a company which numbered 400 . THE LORD CHANCELLOR ( Bro . the Earl of Halsbury ) will receive h ' s Majesty's Judges . King's Counsel , Benchers of the Inns of Court , and others at breakfast at the House of Lords on Thursday , the 24 th inst ., at 12 . 30 , on the occasion of the reopening of thc Law Courts for the Michaelmas sittings .

FOUNDERS' DAY at Christ ' s Hospital is to be celebrated this year on Wednesday , the 23 rd instant , by a banquet in the Great Hall , where 500 "Old Blues" will assemble , under the presidency of the Duke , of Cambridge , who his been the nresi len t of the hospital since 1 S 54 . The school will , it is expected , be remrjed to Horshm next spring .

BRO . LORD ROBERTS has promised to preside over the festival dinner of the Victoria Hospital for Children on November 20 th . This engagement is the fulfilment of a pledge given before the jcallant Commander-in-Chief was aware that his services would be required in South Africa . The object of the banquet is to raise £ 25 , 000 in order to rebuild the waids of the hospital .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR presided over a Court of Common Council oi Thursday , which was occupied for several hours in disposing of an apoiren'W shirt paper of business . A letter from the Lord Mayor elect , Bro . Sir Joseph D ' msdil ; , agreeing to accept the office of Lord Mayor , was received with applause , as were the new Sheriffs on their entering the court .

ONE RESULT of the unusually fine and warm weather lately has been an extraordinary crop of mushrooms and fungi . Observant passengers on the London and North Western Railway round Rugby ar . d Tamworth , for instance , this week have been amazed at the quantities to be noted in the rich meadows , and , in the case of the mushroom . " , at their noticeable size and symmetry of shape .

SHAMROCK II . again succumbed to the Columbia , which has thus won the first two of the five races which decile the possession of the Amjrici Cup . Thursliy ' s contest took place in a stiff lireez :. The American yacht , after a magnificent struggle , crossed the line 1 min . 34 sec . ahead of her rival ; but h ? r actual margin of superiority , af ' er making allowances for the handicap and the diffe .-e . ic ; be ) fve ? n the siart /' ng ci-n . * J , was 3 min . 15 sec .

QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL . —Following Ihe precedent of previousoccisions when a national fund was being raised , the London School Hoard recently authorised the collection of subscriptions from school children for the memorial to Qjeen Victoria . The result is now announced , and is highly creditable to the youtliful subscribers . Altogether iny schools contributed , and the total is £ 105 os . id ., made up entirely of copper coins o ) the realm .

IN THE INTERESTS of higher commercial education the London Chamber of Commerce has organised a course of lectures and classes . The Michaelmas term commences on Mondiy next . The lectures arranged inclule orrmercial geography , banking and currency , commerc ' nl and industrial law , machinery of business and commercial history . Spanish classes will be conducted under thefdirection of the Spinish Chamber of Commerce .

AFRICAN AND CANADIAN POSTAGE STAMPS ( the property of a well known foreign collector ) fetched high prices yestordav ( Thursday ) at Puttick's , and upwards of £ 1000 wis realised for the 200 lots disposed of . A Miuritijs 2 1 . dirk blue , cf 1 S 59 . with large fillet , want for £ 27 roi . ; on unused 1 S 51 Canadiin 12 I . blic'c for £ Gi ; a New Brunswick is . m ; i ive , no gum , for £ , V >; a is . purple of Novi Scotii , in Mint state , but no gum , lor £ 36 ; and a Newfoundland 2 ] . scarlet , with part gum , for , ( , 40 .

AN OPPORTUNITY of communicating with Tristran d'Acunha will be afforded by his Majesty's ship Beagle , which will prcceed to that island from St . Helena after the arrival there of the mail to be despatched from this country oi the 12 th instant I )/ the steamship llford . Correspondence ami parcels fir fiistran d'Acunha should lie posted in time to reach the General Post OTice , Lon : lon , on thc evening of the nth instant . The rate of postage for letters is id . per half-ounce and that for parcels SJ . per pound up to 11 lb .

THE LORD MAYOR ELECT ( Bro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , M . P . ) has appointed Bro . William Jameson Soulsby , C . B ., CLE ., cf thc Middle Temple , to be his private secretary during his year of oflice . Bro . Soulsby has filled ihe same position in the 2 f > prcceding mayoralties . The Lord Mayor elect has invited his brother , the Rev . Henry C . Dimsdale , Vicar of Christ Church , Watney-street , to be his official chaplain ; but , having regard to the pressure of work in his large and populous East-end parish , Mr . Dimsdale hasbeen reluctantly obliged to decline the appointment .

HIS MAJESTY THE KING , who is patron of the Royal South Bucks Ag . icultural Association , showed his interest in thc prosperity of that useful society by giving a silver cup for competition at the annual ploughing ini ' . ch and exhibition of farm and garden pioduce which took place on the 2 nd imtant , and also a prize of five guineas for the best ploughman in the lisld . The exhibition an ! contests proved very successful , and a gratifying part of the proceedings was the evidence of good feeling existing between farmers and servants , shown by the long periods in which the la ' . terhal remained with their employers .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-mnnufactured condiments , currie stuffs , chulnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stcmbriilije and Co ., i . S , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Establihhed 1 S 21 . Write for price list . ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .