Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent . Institution will hold its regular meeting for the current month at Freemasons' Hall on VVednesday , the 12 th inst ., at 4 p . m . THE CITV DISPENSARY . —The number of cases treated at this dispensary last week was 592 . BRO . SIR SQUIRE BANCROFT gave his famous reading of Dickens ' s " Christmas Carol " to the boys at Christ's Hospital on the 4 th instant .

THE St . Prancas Borough Council have accepted with thanks the offer of Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , Bart ., M . P ., to present the mayoral insignia . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR will preside on Tuesday next at the Myddelton Hall , Islington , at the annua ! distribution of prizes to the pupils of Penrith School , Stamford Hill . ' THE MERGERS' COMPANY have given £ 3 to the fund being raised by Bro . Alderman Sir William Treloar for the entertainment of 500 crippled children at Christmas .

BRO . PROFESSOR SHUTTLEWORTH MEMORIAL . —About £ 500 has already been received by the committee organising a fund for the benefit of the widow and family of the late Bro . Professor Shuttleworth .

THE SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES OF LONDON give notice that at the meeting of the Court of Assistants on Tuesday , the 17 th instant , it is proposed to admit some 10 licentiates to the freedom of the society . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cambridgeshire will be held at the Masomc HaU , Cambridge , this ( Friday ) afternoon , at 5 . 30 p . m . We hope to give a report of the proceedings next week . WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE that the illness of Bro . Henry Russell , the popular song writer of more than 50 years ago , terminated fatally on the Gth instant . We hope to give an account of his Masonic career next week .

BRO . UNDER SHERIFF J . D . LANGTON has been obliged to remove from 12 , Newinn in consequence of the premises being required for the purposes of the new street from Holborn to the Strand . He has therefore removed to 2 , Paper-buildings , Temple . PROSPERITY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 65 . —On and after the 12 th instant the above lodge of instruction will meet every Wednesday night , seven o ' clock , at the Manchester Hotel , 145 , Aldersgate-street , E . C . ( near the Metropolitan Railway Station ) , instead of the Whittington .

A CABINET COUNCIL was held on Tuesday at the Foreign Office , among the Ministers present being the Marquis of Salisbury , Bro . the Right Hon . A . Akers-Douglas , Bro . Lord Balfour of Burleigh , the Right Hon . A . Balfour , Bro . the Right Hon . G . Balfour , the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . the Earl of Halsbury ) , the Lord Chancellor of Ireland ( Bro . Lord Ashbourne ) , the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Bro . Sir M . Hicks-Beach , Bart . ) , Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , Bro . Lord George Hamilton , Bro . the Right Hon . W . H . Long , Bro . the Right Hon . C . T . Ritchie , and the Earl of Selborne .

THE session 1900-1 of the Strong Man Lodge of Instruction is now in full swing , and on Wednesday , the 12 th instant , the ceremonies of raising and installation will be rehearsed . The lodge meets at the Blue Anchor Tavern , Fenchurch-street , E . C , at 7 p . m ., on the second and fourth Wednesdays in every month , and at the Green Man Hotel , Essex , at 8 p . m . every Tuesday . The session will last till the end of May , and the lodge will resume its duties in September , 1901 . Further particulars of Bro . S . W . Heaton , Secretary , 13 , Booksellers ' -row , Strand , W . C .

THE ILLUSTRATED HANDBOOK to "The Riviera for a £ 10 Note , " just issued by the Brighton Railway Company , gives a series of inexpensive Riviera tours vid Newhaven and Dieppe . By a ticket costing £ 10 first class , and £ 7 7 s . second class , it is now possible to visit the whole Riviera coast , including Marseilles , Cannes , Nice , Monte Carlo , San Remo , & c . The journey can be broken at Paris in both directions , thus saving the fatigue of the long through journey between London and the Mediterranean .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES presided on Tuesday morning at a meeting of his Council of the Duchy of Cornwall , at the offices in Buckingham-gate . H . R . H . the Princess of Wales and Princess Victoria , attended by Miss Knollys and General Sir """ tighten Probyn , left Marlborough House for Sandringham . Commander the Hon . Seymour Fortescue has succeeded the Hon . Sidney Greville as Equerry-in-Waiting to the Princeof Wales , who later in the day left London by special train on a visit to Bro . Lord and Lady Pirbnght , at Henley Park . As his Royal Highness passed through the village bells were rung , and the Prince was enthusiastically cheered by the inhibitints who had assembled to greet him .

THE CANCER H OSPITAL ( FREE ) , FULHAM-ROAD , LONDON , S . W . —We desire to draw the attention of our readers to the claims of this valuable special hospital on their support . Founded in 1 S 51 , the institution is just completing its 50 th year , and the result fully proves the necessity for establishing such a special refuge for those suffering from this most terrible malady , for over 54 , 000 persons have sought relief within its doors . One great feature of the hospital is that it is absolutely free to all poor persons .

irrespective of nationality or creed , suffering from cancer , tumours , or allied diseases , no letter of recommendation being required . Applicants are seen each week day at two p . m . There are several beds set aside for life cases , so that their few remaining weeks may be rendered as happy and comfortable as possible under th : circumstances . To continue this good work involves a heavy expenditure , and we would strongly urge the generous public to heartily support this much-deserving charity . The Secretary , Mr . Fred . W . Howell , will be glad to receive and acknowledge all contributions .

REDUCED RATES FOR C HRISTMAS PARCELS . —In connection with the Christmas and New Year traffic , the Midland Railway Company will make the most complete arrangements for the collection , quick transit , and prompt delivery of Christmas parcels in all the chief towns on their system , and for their conveyance at the reduced rates . Special trains will be run and through vans attached to the principal express and mail trains to accommodate the parcels traffic , which , it is anticipated , will be much heavier than before , in view of the low rates applicable to both English and Scotch towns ( now

in some cases less , and in no instance higher , than the parcels post rates ) . As a timely reminder to many sending parcels at the " owner ' s risk " rates , such as game , poultry , tobacco , cakes , cheese , & c , it may be stated that the minimum as to weight has been abolished , and the charges are now based on the actual weight of the packages . It is requested . that all parcels should be fully and legibly addressed , and the address cards firmly attached . As an extra precaution , a duplicate label should be enclosed in each package , so that the name of the consignee may be ascertained in the event of the outside address becoming detached or defaced .

Masonic And General Tidings.

A MEETING of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire will be held at the Town Hall , Chester , on Monday , the 17 th instant , when Bro . the Hon . Alan de Tatton Egerton , M . P ., will be installed Provincial Grand Master in succession to Earl Egerton of Tatton resigned . BRO . ALDERMAN SIR DAVID EVANS , K . C . M . G ., who a fortnight ago had a severe accident in the hunting field , is getting on well , and although still confined to his bed , hopes soon to be out again . His escape from a fatal disaster was little short of miraculous .

WE UNDERSTAND that the practice of our late Bro . Chas . Henry Driver , F . R . I . B . A ., A . I . C . E ., of 17 , Victoria-street , Westminster , is to be carried on by his eldest son , in conjunction with Bro . Stanley Barrett , architect ( son of our Bro . J . Leach Barrett ) . The practice will be transferred to Bro . Stanley Barrett's office , 53 , Blomfield-road , Maida Vale , W ., under the style of Barrett and Driver .

A BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN OF CHINESE MASONRY . —In the Imperial Gardens at Peking is a stone boat built in a lake . It is supported on a grey granite bed laid down in the lake , which is not very deep . Great sums of money and much time were expended on the beautifying of the Imperial pleasaunce , and the cost of building the stone boat must have been heavy . Banquets and concerts were held on the boat in the happier days of China . On summer nights with the full moon above , and the lotus flower rising from the sparkling water around the glistening boat , the scene was one worthy of inclusion in the story of Aladdin .

HANTS AND ISLE OF WIGHT FREEMASONS are invited to subscribe towards the fund for purchasing a perpetual presentation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to be named the " Beach Perpetual Presentation . " The appeal is being made in connection with the Festival of the School to be held in June next , over which Bro . the Right Hon . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., the popular Prov . G . Master , will preside . The cost of the presentation is estimated at £ 1000 . Those brethren who intend to

serve as Stewards are asked to send their subscription of 10 guineas to the Prov . G . Secretary , Bro . Commander H . G . Giles , R . N ., Alverstoke . A grant will be asked for from the Prov . G . Lodge funds , and it is expected that not less than £ 500 will be received from this source . The long and valuable services of the Prov . G . Master have gained for him the affection and esteem of every member in the province , and it is confidently exp ected that the appeal will produce a very much larger sum than is required for the presentation .

CHRISTMAS PARCELS TRAFFIC—The Great Northern Railway Company have made special and complete arrangements for the collection , quick transit , and prompt delivery of Christmas parcels' traffic to and from all towns on their system . Through vans will be attached to many of the express trains , and special parcels'trains will also be run to meet the additional demands made upon the company at this period of the year . The reduced rates , which are now in operation for the conveyance of parcels ' traffic , are in no case higher than thc rates by parcels' post , while in some cases they

are lower than the latter . The " minimum " weights formerly charged on packages of perishables at " owner ' s risk " rates have been abolished , and these parcels are now charged at actual weight . Special frequent collections of parcels will be made from receiving offices in London by the company's vans , and the traffic will be despatched from King ' s Cross by first trains after receipt . Full particulars as to charges , which will in no case exceed those in force by any other route , can be obtained on application at any Great Northern Station or receiving office .

PROVINCE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION . —The 17 th annual report was presented to a meeting of the Association last Tuesday , and was laid before Provincial Grand Lodge to-day ( Friday ) . Another successful year is recorded . There is an increase of 57 members subscribing to the Association , the total now being 210 , distributed as follows : Scientific Lodge , 61 ; Three Grand Principles , 49 ; United Good Fellowship , 29 ; Isaac Newton , 14 ; Alma Mater , 25 Etheldreda , 25 ; St . Audrey ' s , 14 ; other Brethren , 15 ; and Lady , 1 .

The contributions from the Prov . Grand Lodge , lodges and chapters in the province , during the year to the Masonic Charities through the Association , were : Provincial Grand Lodge , £ 10 ios . ; Scientific , 2 ^ 12 ios . ; United Good Fellowship , £ 5 5 s . ; Etheldreda , £ 10 ios . ; St . Audrey's , £ 10 ios . ; Pythagoras Chapter , £ 10 ios . ; Total , £ 59 15 s . The following were the contributions on Stewards' List , paid through the Association , during the year : Bro . J . H . Moyes , P . M . 88 , £ 115 10 s . ; Bro . F . H . Potts , J . W . 2107 , £ 101 5 s . ; Bro . O . Papworth , P . G . Sec , £ 102 18 s . This

£ 319 13 , added to the £ 5737 4 s . 3 d . paid since 1 SS 3 , makes the total in 17 years £ 6056 17 s . 3 d . The report gives a list of the recipients of the Charities who are directly or indirectly connected with the province ; and , in conclusion , the Committee thank all who have rendered support . Particular mention is made of Bros . W . J . Armitage , J . W . 859 ; W . Briggs , 45 ; G . J . McKay , P . G . Std . Br . Eng . ; and E . M . Money , P . A . G . D . C . Eng ., for their generous gift of votes . Bro . Oliver Papworth , Prov . G . Sec , is the energetic Secretary of the Association .

THE CHILDREN ' S HOME . —The fundamental idea of the Children ' s Home is that of the Christian family . From the day , more than 30 years ago , when Dr . Stephenson took two ragged lads from the New Cut into a poor cottage in Church-street , Waterlooroad , until to-day , when the Home shelters 1150 children , this family system has been essential . And the result justifies it entirely . The girls and boys grow up with an affectionate feeling towards the home of their childhood , and come back to it in later life to tell how God has prospered them . Many of the former inmates of the Children ' s Home

are Christian workers at home and in other lands . Several are ministers and missionaries whilst a number are teachers in elementary scnools . The majority , of course , occupy humbler stations in file , but the precentage of those who are " doing well" is very high . The Children ' s Home is peculiarly elastic in its administrations . No iron bound rules restrict the admission of children . The one condition is that the child is in need . Many of them are " waifs and strays , " many have been committed to the Farnborough Branch , which is a certified Industrial School by magistrates ; others are victims of the

cruelty and neglect of parents , and of others many have been se nt through the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children . The Princess Alice Orpha nage near Birmingham is specially dedicated to the care of the orphan children of Christian parents and amongst them—as at other branches—are children whose parents have been earnest and faithful workersin the Church of Christ . The Lancashire Branch , near Bolton , affords a splendid training ground for the stronger girls and boys , and from this branch some of the most successful young emigrants have gone to Canada and other Colonies . _ The seaside branch at Alverstoke , near Gosport , shelters a number of delicate children .

Here a new house for incurable cripples is about to be opened . A suitable hjuse has been purchased , which will accommodate 16 children . Smaller branches of the home are situated at Ramsey , in the Isle of Man , and at Chadlington ( Oxon ) . Dr . Stephenson has recently retired from active association with the work , under the pressure of medical advice , and the home is now under the direction of the Rev . Arthur E . Gregory , who will be glad to furnish information or to receive contributions . A special appeal is now being made for the removal of the debt of £ 12 , 000 on the first day of the new century . Communications should be addressed to the Principal , Rev . Arthur E . Gregory , The Children ' s Home , Bonner-road , London , N . E .

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