Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE COMMITTEE OK MANAGEMENT of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold their regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the nth instant , at 4 p . m . BRO . LORD PIRBRIGHT has decided to erect at Pirbright , adjoining the fountain which he presented to the village in commemoration of her Majesty's J ubilee , a spicious hall for the use and recreation of the inhabitants .

THE SUCCESSOR TO Sir Henry Hawkins , as a judge of the High Court of Judicature , is Bro . T . T . Bucknill , Q C , M . P . for the Epsom or Mid-division of Surrey . Bro . Bucknill was appointed Dep . ~ G . Regist ar of G . Lodge in 1 S 95 . THE MARQUIS AND M ARCHIONESS OE LONDONDERRY brought the Christmas festivities at Wynyard Park to a close on Saturday last , with private theatricals and a servants' and tenants" ball , most of the members of the large and distinguished house party being present at both .

THE EIRST MEETING of the Board of Stewards for the approaching Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Thursday afternoon , when the ofiicers were appointed and the preliminary arrangements in connection with the celebration were made .

T . R . H . the ; PuiNCE AND PRINCKSS OF WALES , the Duke and Duchess of York , the Duchess of Fife , and Princess Victoria of Wales attended the New Year ' s service in the church of St . Mary Magdalene , Sandringham , oa SunJay morning last . The Rev . IC . J . Hervey officiated and preached . BRO . SIR J R . MOWBRAY , M . P ., father of the House of Commons , is spending the vacation at his Berkshire residence , Warennes Wood , Mortimer . Sir John , who is S 3 years of age , is in the enjoyment of excellent health , and hopes to resume his official duties on the re-assembling of Parliament .

THE OUEEN and the Empress Frederic went out on Monday morning , accompanied by H . R . HT Princess Henry of Battenberg . The Marquis of Lome and the Right Hon . J . Chambeil ? in and Mts . Chamberlain have left Osborne . Captain F . Ponsonby has succeeded Lieut .-Col . Davidson as Equ ^ . rry-in-Waiting to the Queen . THE Si'EAKRR ( Bro . W . C . Gully , Q . C . ) will spend some days with his constituents at Carlisle . During this brief holiday he will deliver a lecture on a nonpolitical theme , " Some old Parliamentary Journals . " The right hon . gentleman has equipped himself for his task in the library at the Speaker ' s house .

AT THE Royal Military Chapel , Wellington Barracks , a very large congregation attended the special musical service held on Sunday evening last , at six o'clock , many having to remain standing throughout . A small but ellicient orchestra drawn from the bands of the brigade played the accompaniments during the service , and a grand piano was also largely employed .

AMONG THOSE ON whom her Majesty has heen pleased to confer honours of different degrees and kinds at the commencement of the New Year are Bro . Sir Joseph H . Bailey , Bart ., who has been Prov . G . Master of Herefordshire since i . S-Jo , and who is now raised to . the peerage , and Bro . the Earl of Dunraven , who has been made a member ofthe Privy Council for Ireland .

THE "FREEMASON " C HRISTMAS NUMBER , though intended mainly for members of the Order , contains much which those outside the mystic circle may read with interest . In addition to a full and complete resume of all that affected Masonry during 1 S 9 S , the proprietor ( Mr . Geo . Kenning ) had secured the services of several wellknown " story-tellers , " whose contributions would have done credit to any of the special Christmas numbers brought out this season , ln every respect this issue of thet Freemason ranks with the very best of any that have preceded it . —Kingston and Surbiton New-.

BRO . LORD AND LADY LEIGH ' golden wedding was thc occasion of a brilliant gathering cf Warwickshire county families at the County llall , Warwick on Monday afternoon . Prior to the meeting , Bro . J . S . Dugdale , the Chairman of the County Council , entertained alarge party to meet I' . ro . Lord and Lidy Leigh at luncheon , lhat gentleman also presided over the presentation gathering , and in addition to Bro . Lord and Lady Leigh , there were present Viscount Peel , Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , the Earl of Denbigh , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Warwick , the Iiarl and Countess of Aylesford , Bro . Lord Norton , Mr . F . A . Newdieate , M . P ., Mr . P . Muntz , M . P ., Uro .

Dean Leigh of Hereford , the Hon . Dudley and Mrs . Leigh , the Mayor , thc Hon . Rupeit Leigh , the lion . Rowland and Mrs . Leigh , the lion . Agnes and Hon . Cordelia Leigh , and others . Bro . Dugdale unveiled , amid applause , Mr . Ouless's portrait of Lord Leigh , a most successful work , which is intended to adorn the walls of the County Hall , and he also presented to Lady Leigh a beautiful diamond brooch and earrings , en sui'e . The Hon . Agnes Leigh pinned thc brooch on her mother ' s cloak amid muih applause . Bro . Lord Leigh , who spoke with deep emotion , acknowledged the kindness of h smany Warwickshire friends , and the great blessing which 50 years of happy married life had been to him .

ON SATURDAY LAST tlic Queen ' s annual gifts to the Windsor poor w . * re presented to upwards of a thousand recipients . The distribution of the beef , which is always an interesting feature in the Koyal alms-giving , took place early in the morning , in the Oueen ' s Riding School at Windsor Castle , in the presence of the Dean nf Windsor , Domestic Chaplain to her Majesty ; Mr . Edward Lawley , Clerk of Ihe Queen's Kitchen ; Lieutenant Hickey , Superintendent of the'Royal Meivs ; Mr . J . T . Soundy ( Mayor of Windsor ) , the Rev . J . 11 . 1- Ellison , the Vicar ; the Rev . H . L .

Warnelord , 'if Holy Trinity j the Kev . G . D . Nicholas , Vicar of Clewer St . Stephens ; the Rev . G . 1 ' . King , Mr . II . Wether , and others . The great hall in which the Princes and Princesses ol thc Queen ' s family learned to fide , was decorated with bunting , the flags including Ihe Koyal Standard and Prince Consort's banner ; do . vn the middle of the floor a table had been erected hy the Lord Steward ' s officials , and upon the white cloths draping it numerous holly-decked joints were arranged in templing profusion . The recipient ? , mottly women and children , were admitted through the St . Albans-street Gate , and on entering the building selected their poitions . These varied from 3 lb to

? lb each , the total weight of heel aim unting to 30971 b , or nearly a ton and threequarters , the whole of which was carried by 10 o'clock out of the Castle precincts . The Queen aLo gave away Ul / Civt of c ' jal , or over 67 ton * :, which in quantity of one to three hundredweights were conveyed to the homes of the ticket-holders , and proved most seasonable gifts , the weather being old aid \ y--t . The value of the Roval alms was about £ 200 . Her Majesty also cmtribuUs £ 101 annually to the Royal Clothing Club , which has been established at Windsor many years , and is greatly appreciated by its members .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE QUEEN has sent a present oE game to St . George's Hospital tor the use oi patients . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . CECIL RHODES is expected to arrive in town on the 15 th inst . from Cape Town . A MEETING oi * the trustees of the fund for the Gordon Memorial College a ' Khartoum will be held at the Bank of England on the iSth inst . HER ROVAL HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS OF YORK , President of the Children's Happy Evenings Association , has again sent a welcome gift of toys to its So branches .

THE HOME SECRETARY ( Bro . Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., M . P . ) and the Hon . Lady White Ridley will reside at Blagdon Hall , their seat in Northumberland , till the opening of Parliament .

THE PLUMBERS' COMPANY will entertain Bro . the Lord Mayor , Mr . Alderman and Sheriff Alliston , and Bro . Colonel and Sheriff Probyn , L . C . C ., at dinner at Salters ' Hall on Wednesday , the iSth inst . MR . A . W . BASKCOMII , son of Bro . William A . Baskcomb , of Drury Lane Lodge , has been engaged by Bro . Edward Terry to play a part in Mr . Bancroft ' s new play to be produced next month at Terry's Theatre .

BRO . THE RIGHT HON * . W . C . GULLY , Speaker of the House of Commons , accompanisd by Mrs . and Miss Gully , have gone to Carlisle , where they will spend some time previous to the opening of Parliament . THEIR MAJESTIES THE QUEEN AND THE EMPRESS FREDERIC drove out on Tueday afternoon at Osborne , attended by Countess Perponcher . Lord Rowton had the honour of dining with their Majesties and the Royal family . The several members of the Queen ' s private band attended at Osborne in the evening and performed a selection of music , conducted by Bro . Sir Walter Parratt . The ladies and gentlemen of the Royal Household had the honour of ioining the Royal circle in the Drawing Room .

SYSTEMATIC FRAUDS ON- FREEMASONS . —At Ashton Borough Police-court , on the 29 th inst ., Joseph Lomas Bullock was charged on remand with defrauding the local lodge of Freemason ? . On Thursday last he went to the local Treasurer of the Sojourners Fund , and asked for relief in the name of Frank Bradley . The Treasurer charged him with being Joseph Bullock , which he eventually admitted . He was previously given 2 s . It was stated that he had been practising like this for the last nine years . He was imprisoned for one month . —Manchester Covrier .

BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS or MARLBOROUGH , who have been entertaining a large party at Blenheim , have returned to Sysonby Lodge , Melton Mowbray . On Wednerdav they took part in the opening of a new council chamber and reading room at the Town Hal ' , Woodstock , when there was a Urge attendance , which included Viscount Curzon , M . P ., Lady Norah Spencer-Churchill , and many municipal dignitaries . The Duchess unlocked the door , and declared the rooms open . At the subsequent meeting a silver key was presented to her Grace ' as a memento of the event , after which the honorary freedom of the borough was conferred upon the Duke of Marlborough .

THE COUNTESS DE CASA VALENCIA , who was instrumental in starting the London Spanish Sick and Wounded and Widows' and Orphans' Fund on the outbreak of hostilities between America and Spain , has received the following letter from the Duke de Solomayar , Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Palace at Madrid : " Dear Countess , —It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge receipt of 40 , 563 pesetas , equal

to £ 120 c , which you forwarded for her Majesty's acceptance as the result of the bazaar you organised in London in aid of the sick and wounded and widows and orphans of the late war . Her Majesty the Queen wishes me to tell you how deeply grateful she is to you for your charitable enterprise , and desires you to thank , in her name , all the lady patronesses for their kind support , and all those who helped you towards the success of the Spanish bazaar . "

COLONEL I . DAVIES SEWELL , Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court , enters this week upon his 54 th year of service at the Guildhall . When the pupils of the City of London School broke up for the Christmas holidays in 1 S 45 one of their number , a promising youth named Sewell , went straight to the Chamber of London , and was soon immersed in the figures of that important department . Looking back over 53 years , that erstwhile youth is able to say that he has " seen out" every alderman , every common councilman , and every corporation official , high or low ( with one exception ) , and every

clerk of a livery company who was in ofiice at the time he put his foot on the first rung of the business ladder . Two things , at least , the Colonel has not outlived—his buoyancy and his popularity . Let it be said , in addition , that he has been clerk of the Loriners ' and Spectacle Makers' Companies for 31 years , and of the Fanmakers' Company for 21 years . He could still give a good account of himself in a walking match , for his normal pace is at the rate of four miles an hour . Both physically and mentally he is as ilert and vigorous as ever—trained , in fact , to the hour . —London Are-us .

NORTHUMBRIAN MASONRY . —The work on "Northumbrian Masonry" from the pen of Bro . John Strachan , Q . C , Grand Treasurer , which has just been published , has experienced a most favourable reception , and deservedly so , seeing that it is a most interesting book and very ably written . One of the most appreciative reviews appeared in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle of the 4 th instant , and from this we have much pleasure in quoting the following complimentary remarks upon Bro . Strachan himself "Mr . John Strachan is to be congratulated upon his idea in applying his powers of

mastering a case to thc local history of the brotherhood . Mr . Strachan has risen high in the hierachy of Masonic honours . He is now Grand Registrar of England . A ? Past Provincial Grand Warden and Past Provincial Grand Secretary of Northumberland , his name is entitled to be attended on by a long retinue of those mystic and honorific initials which make ! the accounts of the fraternal foregatherings so pontilirially imposing , even so dimly awful to the unitiated . But Mr . Strachan is more . He is a Mason in that best and widest sense of the word , which means a man who has been the strong builder of his own admirable career . Mr . John Strachan has been the architect of his

own success . A native of South Shields , and the son of a former mayor of that characteristic Tyncside town , he began life as a journalist . His connection with the Newcastle Press more than 30 years ago led to law repotting , and then to further things . Like more than one able lawyer , the most notable instance being , perhaps , Sir Edward Clarke , Mr . Strachan left letters for law , and was called to the Bar . But the Bar is most like unto the Kingdom of Heaven in at least one of its features . Many are ' called' but few are chosen . Mr . John Strachan was one of the men who make a practice of making a practice . He has taken silk . His friends think further honours are in store for him . "

l . n-i-nuAT SERVICES IN iSyS . —Notwithstanding that the past year , taken as a whole , was a remarkably line one , from a lifeboat point of view , there was at times , during the lew fitful gales which were cxpsrienced , plenty of work for the lifeboats and their crews to do . The heaviest gales of the year occurred on the 24 m to 28 : h Mirch , the ifnh to 22 nd October , and the 22 nd to 24 th November . In the first case 3 G lifeboats of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were launched on service , resulting in tne saving of yU lives and the landing of five other persons from vessels in dangerous

positions ; in the second case 2 S lifeboats were launched , resulting in the saving of 30 lives and the safe landing of nine other persons from vessels in peril ; and in the third case there were 26 launches , resulting in the saving of Cp lives . In the March gale several of the lifeboats out on service were unable to return to their stations , and were compelled to put in elsewhere until the weather had moderated . During the month of August there were no less than 37 lifeboats launched on service , by which means 34 lives weie saved . This number of launches was altogether abnormal , having regard to the

time of the year . The long list of gallant services rendered by the lifeboats of the Institution during the year included the rescue of CS 2 lives , besides much valuable property , 22 vessels having been saved from total or partial loss . In addition , the lifeboats landed 137 persons , some of whom had taken refuge on light vessels and others coming ashore as a precautionary measure , their vessels being in danger in stormy weather . Great assistance was also given in very many cases to fishing boats returning from the fleets or fishing grounds , but unable to make a harbour without help from a lifeboat , owing to the badness of the weather . During the year the lifeboats were launched 3 C 7

tunes on service , besides which the crews were assembled on 7 O other occasions , when it was thought that their services might probably be required . Rewards were also granted by the Institution for the saving of 74 lives by shore boats or other means during the year , bringing up the total number ot lives for the saving of whicft the Society granted rewards in iSyS to 75 O , and 41 , 233 since 1 S 24 . The cost of maintaining thc Institution's fleet of 21 J 4 lifeboats in thorough efficiency is increasingly heavy , and the amount received in annual subscriptions and accruing from assured incom ? is insu'Iiciint for the purpose . Further financial help is , therefore , much needed by the Institution .

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