Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

A portrait bust of Bro . Sir Krasmus Wilson , which is destined to be placed in the library of the College of Surgeons , is being produced by Mr . Brock . Bro . the Rig ht Hon . the Lord Mayor was entertained at a banquet by the W . M . and brethren of the Alliance Lodge , No . 1 S 27 , on Thursday evening . We hope to give a report in our next .

By the kind invitation of Bro . Charles Du Val about 50 of the girls from the Girls' School will be present at his entertainment at the St . James ' s Hall , Piccadilly , on Monday afternoon . Bro . J . D . Allcroft , G . Treas ., will preside at Exeter Hall to-day ( Friday ) upon the occasion of the third annual gymnastic display and tug-of-war competition , under the direction of Professor G . L . Melio .

We omitted to state in our report of the Burgoyne Lodge last week that a Past Master ' s jewel , of thc value of 10 guineas , was voted to Bro . Williams , the I . P . M . The Gallery Lodge , No . 1923 will hold its first

, regular meeting under Bro . Thomas Minstrell ' s mastership to-morrow ( Saturday ) , at Brixton Hall , at six o ' clock in the evening . There are two raisings to be conducted , and the bye-laws to be read . A little supper at Kennington Oval will follow .

Bro . T . G . Vickery , 1657 , solicitor , Church-court , Old Jewry , is a candidate for the clerkship of the Leathersellers' Company . No gentleman could be better qualified to fill the office ; joined with professional aptitude , he has a graceful and genial bearing which has won him many friends .

Bro . Hiram Henton , the W . M . of thc New Cross Lodge , No . 1559 , has granted thc use of the warrant of that lodge to enable the New Cross Lodgeof Instruction , No . 1559 , to be held on Tuesday evenings , at 8 o ' clock , at the Chester Arms , Albany-street , N . W ., from S to 10 o'clock . 'The ceremony of installation will be worked on Tuesday next , by Bro . Koester , P . M .

Bro . Major J . G . Shanks , K . M .. P . M . 189 , 1 SS 7 , and of 12 Scotland , P . Prov . G . W . Devon , was recently thc recipient of a very gratifying testimonial consisting of a handsome silver salver subscribed for by the principal inhabitants of Kensington , Oxfordshire , and presented to him in recognition of his valued and unremitting services as I lonorary Secretary and 'Treasurer to the Charitable and

Social Institutions of the neighbourhood ( of most of which hc was the originator ) , for upwards of four years . In the church of Si . Helen ' s , Bishopsgatc , of which Bro . the Rev . J . E . Cox , D . D ., P . G . C , is the vicar , thc Lord Mayor , on thc 29 th ult ., unveiled a stained glass window to the memory of Shakespeare , who was at one time an inhabitant of thc parish , in which he brought out

several of his plays . Bro . Cox delivered a very interesting address , in the course of which lie referred to the church as the Westminster Abbey of the City , and Uro . thc Lord Mayor congratulated our reverend brother on the occasion which had brought the company togcrhcr . A new lodge , to be called "The Abbey Lodge , Westminster , No . 2030 , " will be consecrated on thc 10 th inst . at the Town Hall , Westminster . Bro .

Burdett-Coutts will be installed as first Worshipful Master by Col . Shadwell II . Clerke , Grand Secretary , assisted by Sir Albert IWoods (( Garter ) , and other Grand Officers , thc other officers designate being Bros . VV . II . Baker , S . VV . ; F . Seager Hunt , J . W . ; and J . E . Shand , P . M . 1563 , Secretary . A banquet will afterwards take place in the I irgc I lall , at which Bro . Uurdctt-Coutts will preside . The musical arrangements will be under thc direction of Bro . II . R . Baker .

The R . W . Bro . Wm . Kelly , F . S . A ., F . R . Hist . Sec , P . P . G . M . Leicestershire , will preside at the annual festival of the Union Lodge of Instruction ( formerly the Union of St . John ' s I-odge , No . 279 , John o' Gaunt Lodge , No . 523 , Commercial I . odge , No . 1391 , and AlbertiEdward

Lodge , No . 1560 ) , to be held at Freemason ' s Hall , Leicester , on Friday next , at G o ' clock . A large attendance is anticipated , VV . Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., having undertaken to deliver his Masonic lecture " Knobs and Excrescnccs , " as a part of the interesting programme of the evening's business .

On Monday , al Marlborough House , the Princess of Wales , who has always taken a deep interest in the life-boat work , personally presented medals to two coxwains of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , as rewards for gallant services in saving life . The recipients of thc decorations were Robert Legerton , thc coxswain of thc Albert Edward , the lifeboat presented by Grand Lodge

and stationed at Clacton , who has assisted to save 91 lives , and Rowland Hughes , the coxswain of the Sloelfre ( Anglesey ) lifeboat , who at the advanced age of 82 years is now retiring from the post , after 34 years' service having assisted to save 49 lives . Each of the men was personally presented with the medal by her Royal Highness , and they were congratulated by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and thc Princess on their heroic services .

I < reemasonry discusses no religious questions . It docs not reject or receive any formulations of religious faiths , or any church-pronounced religious dopjmas . Its members and brethren are free to adopt any faith , and to cherish any dogmas . But the Institution itself has no knowledge of them , and does not , therefore , enjoin her fraternity in any way concerning them . But it is of importance to note that to the student of Masonry the

holiest truths of the holiest religion are 'aid on the points of thc compasses , and quicken thc vital parts which are folded within the breast of every true and . faithful brother . The question Is Masonry religion ? is one . of easy answer , if Masonry be permitted to Shine forth by the light whicli Masonry has , and is . For Masonry teaches , and true Masons feel and know that the " Secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him ; " and that the " Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom , and to depart from evil is understandinc . "—Masonic Review .

Masonic And General Tidings

A new Masonic Temple has been proposed for Cincinnati , although there is already one in that city . Bro . Pearce Morrison , C . C , on Monday last presided at a dinner of the London Scottish Bicycle Club , held at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel .

' 1 hc first Masonic Temple west of the Alleghanies , erected at Lancaster , O ., where the Grand Lodge of Ohio was organised , has , by a vote of the City Council , been ordered to be demolished . The Panmure Mark Lodg . ; , No . 193 , met on Monday evening at the Hall of Grand Mark Lodge , S . \ , Red Lion-square , Bro . J . Walmsley , W . M ., in thc chair . Two Mark Masons were elected joining members , and five Craft Masons were advanced to the Mark Degree .

A memorial bust of Longfellow was unveiled in Poet's Corner , Westminster Abbey , on Saturday last , by Canon Protheroe , the Sub-Dean . Among those present were the daughters of the poet , by whom the bust , the work of Mr . T . Brock , A . R . A ., has been pronounced to be an excellent likeness .

The D . D . G . M . and tbe G . D . of C . got lost in the snow storm while returning from Lambton Mills , where they had been attending a meeting of Mimico Lodge on Tuesday evening . They did not arrive in the city until a late hour in the morning . The D . of C . lost his valuable English setter dog . " Long Primer . " — Toronto Paper .

Bro . I he Duke of Portland recently visited the Guildhall Library , and was conducted through the museum by the librarian , who explained the various relics which it contains of the past history of London . The Duke expressed himself as highly pleased , and was especially surprised at the excellent advantages wliich the library freely affords to all visitors .

The three Masonic lodges in the Isle of Man holding warrants from the Grand Lodge of England , having appointed Committees to enquire into thc advisability of making application to have the island formed into a province or district , thc several Committees have met and agreed to a joint report . Our space will not admit of our giving the report this week , but we hope to do so in our next .

Like many other ancient institutions many extraordinary statements present themselves to one in the attempt to sound the origin of Freemasonry . Here are a few for example : That Adam and Eve held the first lodge in the garden of Eden ; that Noah founded the Order

after the flood ; that Zoroaster founded Masonry in Ania ; that our Saviour and the Esscnians were Freemasons in Palestine ; that the Caliphs were of the Craft , and divulged thc secrets of the Order to the Knights of the Temple , & c . —Toronto Mail .

The Masonic Fraternity of Benares Lodge , No . 174 G ( E . C . ) "Fraternity and Perseverance " were well to the front during the visit of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught on the 12 th December . The arch on the north side of the boat-bridge over the Ganges , composed

of evergreens , was very tastefully decorated with Masonic emblems on each side , and the lodge banner , suspended to a lloral square and compass , hung from the arch centre . His Royal Highness seemed pleased to find that he was among : t the Craft even in Benares . —Masonic Record of Western India .

The recent retirement , through failing health , of Bro . Sir Michael Costa from all professional occupations affords an appropriate opportunity for the movement now in progress to present him with a handsome money gift in recognition of public services honourably pursued during a career of 53 years , prominent features of which were his fulfilments of the office of conductor at many Birmingham

festivals , the Italian opera ( at both houses ) , thc concerts of thc Philarmonic and Sacred Harmonic societies , and thc Crystal Palace Handel Festivals . 'The testimonial , it is to be hoped , will soon reach an amount worthy of its object . The list of subscriptions already published comprises the names of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , H . R . H . the Crown Princess of Germany , and a large number of distinguished and eminent persons .

After the rain—thc sunshine . So it was on Wednesday both as regards the weather and the state of affairs at the New Hall of the Mission in Salmons' -lane , Limehouse . Thc prospect of giving another Irish stew dinner to the destitute children of this poverty-stricken district seemed so remote that Mr . Austin , thc director of this hard-working charity , felt , " hoping against hope "

but providentially , almost at thc last moment , hc saw his way sufficiently to provide at least one more dinner . If however funds are not at once added to the all but exhausted resources of the Mission , this week ' s dinner must be the last till next winter . An earnest appeal is now made to every kind and charitable heart for help to keep these dinners going until at least we have seen the last of the

" bleak wind of March , " bitterly felt at the East end of London , and by none more than by the half-naked and half-starved crowd of youngsters who look forward to each coming Wednesday as " Irish Stew Day . " Bro . Charles Du Val , in his work entitled " With a Show through Southern Africa , " relates the following curious Masonic incident as having occurred in Pretoria .

while bcleagurcd by the Boers during the late war in the Transvaal : "A meeting of Freemasons was held under circumstances so entirely novel that it may be worth while to recount them . In tlie first place , the ' members of the Craft had to obtain permission from their various commanding officers or respective Ward Masters to attend the meeting . These passes , countersigned bv the earrison

adjutant , were granted at the bearer's own risk—the Masonic Hall of the town of Pretoria being the place of assembly . Slightly at variance with the motto of the brethren— ' Peace , Love , and Harmony ' —was their appearance , clad in the various costumes of war , many carrying tlieir rifles and bandoliers ; a group of horses standing outside thc hall , while the Master and ofiicers of the lodge went through the various rites of the ancient

Craft in an apartment through which the breezes freely blew , entering a line of loopholes knocked out of the wall at the one side to escape by a similar set at the otherpossibly the most novel system of ventilation that ever admitted the fresh air—to participate in the mystic ceremonies of the Free and Accepted ones , in either South Africa or wherever else the maul has resounded or the compasses been extended in open lodge , "

Masonic And General Tidings

Bro . the liarl of Carnarvon has accepted tbe office of High Steward of the borough of Newbury , wliich had become vacant by the death of the liarl of Craven . Bro . Sir Thomas Brassey , M . P ., K . C . B ., has consented to preside at a festival dinner to take place at Willis ' s Rooms in June next , in aid of the Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen's Institution .

A New \ ork contemporary says " Tbe Prince of Wales has been invested with the Mark Degree in the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and is now spoken ot as the next Grand Mark Master Mason of that country ! " The Lodge of Joppa , No . 1 S 8 , met 011 Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Tavern , under the presidency of Bro . Bean , the W . M . Two brethren were passed to the Second Degree , and one brother was raised to the Third Degree .

Bro . W . Hopekirk , the Master of the Hairdressers' Guild , presided at a meeting held at the St . James ' s Hall , when Mr . J . Lichenfeld read a paper on " Physiognomical Hairdrcssing . " This term he defined as making the arrangement of the hair subservient to the natural proportions of the head , with due regard to outline , and to bring the coiffure in harmony with the lines formed

by the features . A daily newspaper , says the Court Circular , lias been started in Paris which " will change its politics every morning . One day the political article will be written by a Bonapartist , another day by an Opportunist , then by a Legitimist , and sometimes by an lntransigeant . Each writer is to be at liberty to say exactly what he pleases . In

like manner , the literary part of the paper will be surrendered upon alternate days to representatives of opposite schools . It is said that the journal is started with American capital . Mr . Irving bas evidently been appreciated by the St . Louis Spectator . "Never again , " says he , " will a ranting star and a lot of sticks pass for a dramatic company . Never again can a cheap-john American

manager make our people take John McCullough or Booth or Barrett or Tom Keene , supported by a gang of knockkneed supers in tin helmets , and female boarding-house keepers in ten-cent , cambrics , as a substitute for a fullgrown , evenly-balanced theatrical performance . The strolling gangs of barn stormcrs , with one boss ranter as the ' main attraction , ' must go . "

Twe following are the dinners , to - ., held at the Freemasons' Tavern during the present week : Monday , Mar . 3 rd—Lodge of Unions , Robert Burns l-odgc , Lodge of Joppa , and Regularity Chapter . Tuesday , 4 th—Royal York Lodge , Albion Lodge , Old Concord Lodge , and Anglo-French Ball . Wednesday , 5 th—Grand Officers' Mess-Thursday , Gth—Old Acquaintance Musical Society ,

Johnson's Ball , Linnean Club , St . James ' s Chapter , St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Victoria Rilles Lodge , and Westminster and Keystone Lodge . Friday , 7 th—Lindon Invcrncss-shirc Ball , Fidelity Chapter , British Chapter , Royal Kensington Lodge , and Odd Volumes . Saturday , Sth—Phuinix Lodge and Duke of Cornwall Lodge . The thirty-fifth general meeting of the Railway

Pasengcrs' Assurance Company was held at the offices , Cornhill , on Wednesday . 'The report stated that the total amount of premiums received on all classes of business was £ 229 , 573 Gs . id ., compared with , £ 228 , 074 is . 5 d . in 18 S 2 . I ho total income , including interest on investments , vvas /' 240 , GG 5 os . Sd . Compensation had been granted during the past 12 months to 6 G 00 sufferers . Of the claims , 5 S had

been for fatal andGj 42 for non-fatal accidents , representing a total of £ 126 , 538 iSs . 3 d ., at the rate of 55 . 11 per cent , on the premiums . The balance ofthe revenue account was £ 115 , 150 2 s . gd ., from which it was proposed to declare a dividend of 5 s . per share , retaining , ( , ' 90 , 150 2 s . < jd . as a reserve . Mr . llarrie M . Farquhar occupied the chair , and moved the adoption of the report . He remarked that the

past year had bcen singularly uneventful as regarded sensational accidents . The company had now greater competition to encounter ^ but it continued to hold its high fiosilion in the estimation of the public , owing to the airncss with which all engagements had been met . The report was unanimously adopted . About six miles from Norwich , Conn ., off the

main road leading from Goshen to llozrahvillc , is an old and very curious lodge room . The house itself , a dwellinghouse , is said to date back to about 1740 . It is a low , two-story structure . Bro . Joseph Metcalf reared it , with his own hands and good broad-axe . I le lived in the lower part of the house , and his zeal for Masonry led him to fit up the upper story for a lodge room , in which the brethren

in that then sparsely settled country might meet . I-or many years it was the single cradle of Masonry in the eastern part of the colony . Now it is tenanted by bats , and the old residents about the plac ; Jthink very appropriately too . 'The decorations in the lodge room , though somewhat faded , still show a great amount of painstaking work and loving labour on the part of the early artists . There are

curtains , tents , and banners in gorgeous colours , but the most important of thc decorations consists of a wooden tablet , 3 by 4 feet , framed into the wall over the mantelpiece , upon whicli arc painted many symbols . The jewels of the oilicers form the border , and within arc the pillars , the "All-sesing Eye , " the . sousre and compasses , the drawn sworda pick-axetrowel , skull and cross-bones , sun ,

, , moon , and stars , mosaic pavement , shepherd ' s crook , and pot of incense . The coffin and bee-hive are pictured faithfully , and , in short , all the work is well executed , except for the glare from the bright colours used . The paint is wonderfully well preserved . Other features of the tablet

are a globe in the upper right-hand corner , winged spurs , and serpent , with palm leaves . In the lower left-hand corner is the most curious of all the decorations—a man's head with an arm sticking out of his mouth . This old room has for years been the object of numerous visits on the part of the Masonic Fraternity . —Loomis' Journal .

HOLLOWAY ' OINTMENT AND P ILLS . — Khucmatisra anil Neuralgia , —Though the former disease remorselessly attacks persons of all ae . , and the latter ruthlessly selects its victims from the weak ami delicate , the persevering use ' of these remedies will infallibly cure both complaints . After the all ' ectcil parts have been diligently fomented with hot brine , andthe skin thoroughly dried , Holloway ' s and Lis

Ointment must he rubbed in ( irmly and evenly twice a day , Pills taken according to the printed directions wrapped Jronnd each box of his medicine . Both Ointment and Pills arc accompanied bv instructions designed for the public at large , and no invalid who attentively reads them can now be at any loss how to doctor himself successfully , [ ADVT . ]