Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The Committee of Management lof the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold their next regular meeting at freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the ioth instant , at 4 p . m . Personalty of the net value of £ 4787 1135 been left by the late Bro . Thomas Harris Devonshire , P . G . D ., of 1 , Frederick ' s-place , Oldijewry , the chairman of the Gresham Life Office .

The Arkwright Lodge , No . 1495 , have fixed their annual ball for the second Thursday in February , at the New Bath Hotel , Matlock , where there is a lovely room and a floor set on spiral springs . The opening chapters of Miss Braddon's new story , " Thou art the Man , " perhaps the most powerful she has ever written , commences next week in The Gentlewoman , and will be profusely illustrated by Everard Hopkins .

ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY , LIMITED . —Interim interest on the paid capital of the company , at the rate ol five per cent , per annum , for the half year ending the 31 st "December , 1 S 93 , is now payable . The marriage which has been arranged to take place between Mr . Baillie , of Dochfour , and the Hon . Nellie Bass , daughter of Bro . Lord Burton , will be solemnised at Holy Trinity Church , Sloane-street , on VVednesday the 31 st instant .

Bro . J . E . Shand , P . M . 1563 , is leaving north west of London for the south-western district , consequent upon the expiration of the lease of Mrs . Shand ' s premises , and her retirement from business . We wish them the well-earned rest after their long years of trading .

We regret to announce the death of Sir Samuel Baker , the great African explorer , who discovered the great lake on which he subsequently bestowed the name of the Albeit Nyanza , and who also distinguished himself in the service of the Khedive in putting down the slave trade . His body was cremated at Woking on Thursday .

Our well-known brother , George Markham Tweddell of Stokesley , and his literary wife , " Florence Cleveland , " though for some time past in very poor health , celebrated their golden wedding on the last day of the old year . Both of them have been constant contributors to the Masonic press in England , America and Australasia .

Bro . Emra Holmes' loyal effusion , addressed to the Princess of Wales at Frcdensburg , has been graciously acknowledged by Miss Knollys on behalf of her Royal Highness . The verses were published in our own columns and in those of several of our contemporaries throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland , and a week or two since found their way into one of the Texas papers . —East Sussex News .

We are glad to learn from the Registrar-General ' s returns for the last week , that the death-rate in London has still declined , and is recorded as 23 * 3 per 1 , 000 . Influenza is shown to be diminishing in virulence , the deaths which had fallen the previous week to 147 , having declined to 10 S . In fact in every other class of disease a decline is reported , except in the case of diphtheria , the deaths from which have risen from 63 to 79 .

On Monday in last week at the Cavendish Rooms , Regent-street , Miss Jessie Morrill , ot Hull , pupil of Miss Annie Rutter , London , and formerly of Hull , made her debut ? s an elocutionist before a London audience . Miss Morrill did , we are told , remarkably well . She is

settling in town , and we hope in time will be one more artist to add to those who have made their reputation and added to that of Hull . Our readers will learn with pleasure that this young and talented lady is the daughter of Bro . Thomas Morrill , J . W . of the Humber Lodge , No . 57 , Hull . We wish her all success .

Bro . R . W . Steggles , J . W ., of the Holborn Lodge , No . 239 S , has vacated the important post of Superintendent of the E Division of the Metropolitan Pjlice on account of failing health , after 27 years of active service in the "force . " During his long term at Bow-street he has not lorce . L / uung ins lung iciiii ai uuw-succi 11 c ima IH , L only earned the respect and commendation of his official superiors , hut has endeared himself to his subordinates . His geniality and many other good qualities have made him a host of friends among the public generally , who , doubtless , j cordially join with us in wishing him all health in his wellearned retirement . Weunderstand thatstepsaiebeingtaken ' to present him with something in the shape of a souvenir , and we wish the movement every success .

MASONIC ENTERTAINMENT TO THE AGED . —On Monday , the ist inst ., at the Victoria Hall , Weston-super-Mare , upwards of 300 old folks weie c-nte'tained to a high tea by the brethren of St . Kew Lodge , No . 1322 , such festival being now regarded as annual . The duties of waiters were discharged bv the brethren , whilst their wives or daughters

presided at the respective tables . During the icpast selections of music were contributed by the Grosvenor Quintett band , and after the tables had been cleared several songs were ' sung , and humorous , musical , and mimetic sketches , given by Bro . R . A . Roberts ( of the Crystal Palace ) . At eight o ' clock pipes and tobacco were introduced for smokers , I and beverages —teetotal and otherwise — were supplied ad lib ., according to the tastes of the guests . A thoroughly

enjoyable evening was brought to a successful close with a distribution of Ross and Co . ' s steaming hot punch and the s-inging of " Auld Lang Syne , " and hearty wishes for a Happy New Year to the entertainers . SEXTINCKD IO DEA H . —These arc the m <> :-t teriibly fcignilicaivt three Winds we have in the Eng Mi language . Thousands nf wretched creatures , whose lives have be-eiimt- forfeited to the outraged laws of ilieir country , have lie-aid them pronounced

with fee-lings oi sickening term ' . 'Die- man who has m-gle-cted the most simple laws of health feels that all is indeed lost , when the- dread . sentence is prommrccd by Ihe doctor , who has used all his medical skill upon him , in vain . In the latter case , however , thc ilcor of hope-has been opened , through tl e- medium of Holloway ' s Pills and Ointment . 'I hey have t-lli-cteii a cure at the last moment , at thousands of testimonials , being constantly received , will prove ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

The late Mr . Algernon Peckover , of Wisbech , has bequeathed £ 1000 to the Wisbech Hospital , and £ 500 to the Wisbech Working Men ' s Institute . Bro . the Hon . Sir I-L Stafford and Lady iNorthcote have returned to town from Brocket Hall , wherejthey have been spending Christmas with Lord and Lady Mount Stephen .

The Right Hon . C . P . Villiers , M . P ., the Father of the House of Commons , who is said to be making satisfactory progress after his recent indisposition , completed his 92 nd year on Wednesday . Her Majesty has signified her intention of conferring the Victoria Cross on Surgeon-Major O . E . Pennefather , for an act of personal valour , performed under a heavy fire , in thc campaign against thc Kachins , in January , 1 S 93 .

The Speaker of the House of Commonsjlhas gone to Brighton for the purpose of recruiting his strength alter his recent attack of influenza , and will remain until his recovery has been completely established . The Queen and other members of the Royal Family have promisee ! their patronage to a bazaar which will be held at Crathie in the month of August , in aid of the fund for rebuilding the parish church , and the Princess Beatrice has

consented to preside at one of the stalls . Bro . the Duke of Bedford , who is staying at his Bedfordshire seat of Woburn Abbey , is confined to the house by an attack of influenza , which , however , is not of a sufficiently serious character to cause any alarm to his Grace ' s family . The death is recently reported in the Newbury Workhouse of an inmate named John Shaw , who had attained the . age of 103 years . The deceased was a native of Melksham , and had followed the occupation of a bargeman .

The Duke and Duchessof Sutherland have been entertaining a large party of guests at Trentbam Hall , among them being Bro . the Earl and Countess of Warwick ,, the Earl and Countess of Westmorland , Lord Ronald Gower , and the Right Hon . Henry Chaplin , M . P .

The Commander-in-Chief has appointed Captain B . M . Hamilton , East Yorkshire Regiment to the post of Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General ot theSouth-Eastern District , in place of Captain the Hon , H . Henniker , Major cf the Coldstream Guards , son of Bro . Lord Henniker .

The remains of the late Donald Mackay , piper to the Prince of Wales , were interred in Kensal Green Cemetery on Tuesday , the service being conducted by the Rev . Dr . McLeod . eight pipers from the ist Battalion Scots Fusiliers , under Pipe-Major Fraser , escorting the body to the grave . The Prince and Princess . of Wales sent ureaths , and the service was attended by most of their household at Marlborough House .

A performance of Handel ' s "Messiah" was given by the Royal Choral Society at the Royal Albert Hall , South Kensington , on Monday . The performance took place under the direction of Bro . Sir Joseph Barnby , while amongst the artistes were Madame Albani , Madame Belle Cole , Mr . Philip Newbury , and Mr . Plunket . A large audience assembled , and frequently expressed the pleasure they derived from the rendeiing of the famous oratorio .

At the monthly meeting of the Kingston Lodge , No . 1010 , held in the Masonic Hall , Kingston-square , on Wednesday , 3 rd inst ., the W . M ., Bro . Dr . J . Wright Mason , presiding , an instructive and interesting lecture on " The Oiigin of Freemasonry " was delivered by the Prov . Grand Secretary , Bro . M . C . Peck , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . The

address was received with the greatest attention by the brethren , and at its conclusion a vote of thanks was proposed b , Bro . Dr . Herbett Woodhouse , I . P . M , and seconded by Bro . John Bilson , P . M . The proceeelings at the social board were enlivened by excellent reciutions and vocal perfoi-nances , accompanied by Bro . Dr . F . WiLon , and a most enjoyable evening was spent .

We announce with regret the death of Lord Sandford of Sandford , K . C . B ., in his 70 th year . The deceased was better known to the public as Sir Francis Sandford , who for many years was Assistant Under-Secretary to the Committee of Council on Education , on whom in that capacity

devolved the duty of taking the neces = ary measures for organising the School Board system established by the late Mr . W . H . Forster ' s Education Act of 1 S 70 . ln 18 S 4 he was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Boundary Commissioners under the Redistribution of Seats Bill , and in 1 SS 5 was Under-Secretary ior Scotland . He was raised to the

peerage in 1 S 91 , and as he leaves no issue the title becomes extinct . He was son of the late Sir Donald R . Sandford , Professor of Greek at the University of Glasgow , and took first-class honours in classics at Oxtoid in 18 4 6 . WORLD ' FAIR AT CHICAGO . —Messrs . C . J . Van Houtcn and Zoon , at the " World ' s Fair " at Chicago have again upheld the reputation of their well-known firm . Their

handsome detached building in Old Dutch style on the Michigan Lake , aroused general interest . The building is of two stories consisting ot six attractively furnished rooms , where 20 girls attired in Dutch costumes had more than enough to do to satisfy the requirements of the multitude of visitors . From June until the close of the Exhibition about 700 , 000 cups of Van Houten ' s cocoa were degustated , a number never leached at any other exhibition where the ...... ut .. ........ . ^ ubn ^ u a . a .. j uuiu i ; All ! Ull . lU ! l WIICFC OlC

| firm has exhibited . Not only did Van Houten ' s cocoa receive tne highest award , but Messrs . Van Houten ' s exhibition architect , Mr . G . Wijnen , received a medal for the building , the only award given to an architect for an unofficial building . in . the exhibition grounds . Towards the close of the year a most enjoyable gathering was held at the Northumberland Hall ,

Newcastle-onlyr . e , in connection with the Walker Lodge , No . 1342 . The object of the meeting was to br . ng together for a short time the families < 3 brethren connected with the above and other lodges for social intercourse , and this object was fully attained , an attendance of about 150 being secured . An interesting lantern exhibition was given by Uro . John Watson , S . W . 1342 , and songs were admirabl y rendered b

y Bros . L . Guthrie , J . Armstrong , 1 OC 4 , and Hro . A . HaU , 1342 . Another enjoyable tait of the entertainment was the p . rfonnance of two pianoforte and concertina duets by Miss Page and Mr . II . tiuyd . Bro . Alfred Page , 1076 , gave a recitation , ' -Polly , " in capital style . Miss Page acted as accompanist throughout , in her usual able style , and Bro . F . W . Sykes , I . P . M . 1342 , as director of ceremonies .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Andrew H . Moyes , who lately resigned thc office of Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cambridgeshire , died at his residence in Petty Cury , Cambridge , on Thursday the 2 Sth inst ., aged C 5 . The Earl of Elgin , accompanied by the Countess and their three daughters , left Broomhill House , Dunfermline , for London on Wednesday morning , and will leave England so as to start from Brindisi on . Sunday .

The Chester Infirmary Ball was held at the Grosvenor Hotel , Chester , on Tuesday evening , when the Duchess of Westminster , Countess Grosvenor , the Lady Constance Grosvenor , the Marquis of Tullibardine , the Earl of Yarmouth , and a numerous party of guests from Eaton HaU were present .

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 .

There has been a very serious outbreak of influenza in Peterborough , the mortality from which during the present week has been quite alarming . There is scarcely a workshop in the city unaffected , and the daily services in the cathedral have been suspended , as most of the members of the choir have been laid up with the disease , while the Dean is but slowly recovering from a very severe attack .

Baron Henri Solvyns , the Belgian Minister in London , has just died suddenly . He had suffered recently from an attack of influenza , and was thought to have made a good recovery . * On Monday evening he retired to rest as usual , and on his valet entering his room the following morning ,

he found him dead in his bed . The deceased had represented Belgium in this country for upwards of 20 years . The funeral will take place at Kensal Green Cemetery on Monday , a funeral service being previously held at the Brompton Oratory at 11 . 30 a . m .

Through the Arthur Sullivan Lodge , of which he is a member , Bro . Ben Brierley has forwarded an elaborately bound copy of his works tp his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in England , to Earl Lathom as Provincial Grand Master , and to Colonel Starkie , the R . W . Grand Master for the Province of East Lancas ire . The following acknowIedg ment of the gift has been received from his Royal Highness

through Lord Lathom : — " Sandringham , Norfolk , 7 th December , 1 S 93 . Dear Lord Lathom , —I have submitted your letter to the Prince of Wales , and I am desired by his Royal Highness to request you to thank the brethren of the Arthur Sullivan Lodge for the volume which they have been good enough through you to transmit to him . —Believe me , yours very truly , FRANCIS KNOLLYS . " Letters of thanks have also been received from Lord Lathom and Colonel Starkie .

MAURIAGE OF MISS M . SHEPHERD . —The marriage of Miss Marian Shepherd , second daughter of Alderman Shepherd , with Mr . Richard Ernest Frampton , of Harrison College , Barbados , took place in St . Helen's Church on Thursday afternoon , the 28 th ultimo . The bride , who was given away by her father , was prettily attired in cream Surah silk , with tulle veil and orange blossoms , and was

attended by five bridesmaids , Miss Frances Shepherd , Miss Fiampton , Miss Catherine Frampton , Miss Ida Shepherd , and Miss Millie Shepherd , sisters of thc bride and bridegroom . Their dresses were of cream serge , trimmed with beaver-coloured braid ; hats , & c , to match . The bride and bridesmaids carried bouquets of choice flowers , and wore ornaments , the gifts of the bridegroom . Mr . H . C .

C . Frampton , brother of the bridegroom , acted as best man . Ihe Rev . R . G . D . Frampton , vicacof Winshill , near Burton-on-Trent , father of the bridegroom , officiated , assisted by the vicar of Abingdon , the Rev . R . C . F . Griffiths . On the entrance of the bridal procession , Mr . Algernon Shepherd , brother of the bride , played " O rest in the Lord , " with much taste , and subseqaently the

accompaniment to the hymn " O perfect love , " Mr . F . K . Couldrey taking his place at the organ for the remainder of service , which was fully choral . After the ceremony , Mrs . Shepherd icceived a large party of friends at the Lindens . The bride and bridegroom left by the 5 . 43 train for Winchester , en route for Underwath , St . Lawrence , Isle of Wight , the residence of Mr . E . F . Shepherd , for the

honeymoon . DEVON MASONIC EDUCATIONAL FUND . —A meeting of the Committee who carried out the arrangements for the Masonic concert given in Plymouth Guildhall on November 29 th in aid of the Devon Masonic Educational Fund was held at Freemasons' Hall on Saturday evening to receive the balance-sheet , and to decide on the disposal

of the net proceeds . Bio . A . Parkhouse , 1247 , the Chairman of the Committee , presided , and others present were Bros . J . R . Lloyd , Treas . ; J . B . Gover and W . H . Dillon , the joint Secretaries of the Fund ; C . H . Cooper , G . Whittley , N . Radmore , W . Allsford , W . Sweet , J . J . Leonard , C . Mutten , E . Budge , C . F . Mattison , I * . J . Cole , J . Gidley , J . Harvey , and W . Willoughby , 1247 .

I he I reasurer reported that the gross receipts at the concert amounted to £ 118 ids ., and expenses £ 30 12 s ., leaving a profit of £ 83 3 s . It had been arranged that the profits should be devoted in Life Governorships to the principal promoters of the concert , and to the lodges which returned the largest amount on the sale of tickets . There were iG Life Governorships thus to award . Bro .

Willoughby , Mrs , Willoughby , and the Chairman ( Bro . A . Parkhouse ) , under the banner of whose lodge the concert was ( held , were each awarded a Life Governorship , on the proposition of Bro . Gover . To Bro . and Mrs . Willoughby , he said , the merit of the concert must chiefly be awarded , while to Bro . Parkhouse they were indebted for very assiduous and untiring exertions as their Chairman , and fur

furnishing the whole of the embellishments and ornamentation * of the Guildhall free of charge . The 13 remaining Life Governorships were awarded to the following lodges in order of merit for value of tickets sold : Piudence , 1550 ; St . John , 1247 ; St . George , 2 J 25 j St . John , 70 ; Brunswick , 159 ; liiendship , 202 ; Ebrington , 1 S 47 ; Harmony , 15 O ; l-. lina , 1212 ; Huyshe , 1099 ; Fidelity , 230 ; Chanty , 223 ; and Fortitude , 105 .

Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post free , gives reliable information hoiv to make money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and lowest prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stockbrokers , 11 , Poultry , London . E . C .