Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN , it is understood , will go to Osborne about the 19 th or 20 th instant . BRO . SIR FORREST FULTON , Q . C , has joined the Board of the Absolute Life Assurance Company . THE STATIONERS' COMPANY . —Bro . Alderman Frank Green has been admitted a liveryman of this company . BRO . LONGMAN , of Gresham-street , will be a candidate , on St . Thomas ' s Day , to represent the Ward of Aldersgate-street on the Court of Common Council .

WE UNDERSTAND that Bro . J . M . Klenck , who for many years has sat upon the City of London Board of Guardians as a representative of St . Helen ' s , Bishopsgate , intends seeking the suffrages of the electors of the Ward of Bishopsgate . BRO . LORD VALENTIA , speaking at Oxford , said his nephew , who was aide-decamp to Sir George White , had written to him saying they meant to defend Ladysmilh to the last , and had sufficient ammunition and supplies until reinforcements arrived .

THE LORINERS' COMPANY . —Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Treloar has received a handsomely emblazoned congratulatory address from the Masters , Wardens , and Court of Assistants of the Loriners' Company on his election as one of the Sheriffs of the City . A GRAND PATRIOTIC SMOKING CONCERT , in aid of the Soldiers' and Sailors ' Widows' and Orphans' Fund , is to be held at the Town Hall , Epsom , on the iSth instant , Sir Thomas Bucknill in the chair . The talent is to be of the best , several leading singers and music-hall artists having promised their services .

THE 235 th anniversary festival of the Royal Scottish Corporation was held on the 30 th ult ., at the King ' s Hall of the Holborn Restaurant , under the distinguished presidency of Bro . Lord Wolseley . The guests numbered nearly 400 . The subscriptio n list for the evening amounted to the large sum of £ 4759 14 s ., including £ 1200 from legacies , & c .

IN VIEW of the war in South Africa , the Oxford Press has just issued a " Knapsack Bible , " which is selling by thousands . Bro . Lord Wolseley , the Commander-in-Chief , has expressed his wish " that eveiy soldier carried one in his knapsack . " It is printed on India paper and bound in khaki . It weighs only 4 J ounces , and measures 4 J x 3 x i inches . To others ,. besides soldiers , such a compact / Iight and strong edition will be welcome .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has sent a photograph of himself , bearing his autograph signature , to the Grand Master of the Virginian Freemasons , in recognition of the invitation to take part in the Masonic ceremonies at Mount Vernon on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of Washington ' s death . The Earl of Londesborough and the officers of the Constitutional Lodge at Beverley , East Yorkshire , have sent a wreath of evergreens to be placed on Washington ' s tomb , ' and Canon Weeton has sent some verses to be read at the celebration . —Renter .

OWING TO ILL-HEALTH Bro . Sir Albert Altman has announced his intention of retiring from the representation of the ward in the Court of Common Council . For upwards of 20 years Bro . Sir Albert has been identified with the municipal work of the City , and in that period he has acted as the chairman of the leading committees . It will be remembered that he received the honour of knighthood to commemorate his chairmanship of the Bridge House Estates Committee at the time the Tower Bridge was opened by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales on behalf of her Maj ' esty .

DISCOVERY OF ROMAN REMAINS . —A series of discoveries has been made at Valle Crucis Abbey , Llangollen , where excavations have been proceeding for some time under the direction of Rev . Trevor Owen . While excavating along the south cloistera Roman bath was discovered , with remains of a hypocaust and Roman pottery . An ancient Celtic cross was also found and a tombstone of the 12 th century . The restoration of the Roman bath has been decided upon , and the Duke of Westminster , Sir Watkin William-Wynn , Lady Morgan , and others have taken the matter in hand .

AT ST . MARGARET ' S CHURCH , WESTMINSTER , on Wednesday , the wedding took place of Bro . William Ernest , Baron de Bush ( a Baron of the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , with Royal licence to use the title in this country , a well-known authority in the chemical world , and Miss Pauline Joran , the American prima donna and violinist . Bro . the Rev . J . H . . Smith , headmaster of Alleyns School Dulwich , officiated . The church was crowded . A reception was afterwards held in the Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Metropole . Later Baron and Baroness de Bush left for Paris en route for Rome , Naples , and Sicily , where they will spend the winter .

DISCOVERY OF A NOTABLE BIIILE . —A Florentine antiquary , Signor Leo Olschki , has found a beautiful Bible in the library of a Venetian patrician , perfect specimens of which are extremely rare . It is in five large quarto volumes , and was printed at Rome in the years 1471-72 , 11 years before Martin Luther was born . The value of this Bible lies in the fact that it contains the quaint and beautiful commentary of Nicolas of Lyra . Complete editions of this Bible are so rare that the last copy sold brought 30 , 000 francs . It contains a large number of coloured illustrations , plans , sketches of saned buildings , animals , views of Palestine , & c .

SINCE THE FORMATION of the central board in connection with the Arsenal Reservists' Relief Fund the amount received has exceeded £ 300 , and the weekly contributions are still going on . An interesting suggestion has been brought Under the Committee's notice , and entered in their agenda as " Santa Claus and the Children . " The idea is that of presenting a useful little present to each child at Christmas , accomoanied

with the words " With Father ' s Love , " it being pointed out that the hearts of the children would , be gladdened , and they would remember through future years that the Arsenal men had manifested their love for their brothers on the bittle-field . Fathers would be remembering their little ones at Christmas , and would be cheered by the thought that they were not forgotten by their fellow-workers .

REDUCED RATES FOR CHRISTMAS PARCELS . —In connection with the Christmas and New Year traffic , the Midland Railway Company will make special 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 . Through vans will be attached to the principal express and mail trains to accommodate the exceptional parcels traffic concomitant upon the Christmas season , and which , 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 parcel post rates ) , will , it is anticipated , be much heavier than before . As a timely reminder to many sending parcels at the " owner's risk " rates , such as game , poultry , tobacco , cakes , cheese , Sir ., it may be stated that the minimum as to weight has been abolished , and the charges are no * based upon the actual weight of the packages .

THE CANCER HOSPITAL ( FREE ) , FULIIA . M-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 1551 , its work has gone on increasing year by year . During last year there were 83 s new in-patients and 16 . 12 new out-patients , whilst some ! 3 , So 3 visits of new and old out-paliants were made during the same period . The all-important feature in connection with this Institution is that it is absolutely free to poor persons suffering fiom cancerous disease—no letters of recommendation being required—the disease itself beintr a sufficient Qualification for admission or treatment irrespective of

rationality or creed . Theic are also a number of beds provided for Ihe use of patients who may remain for life . The average length of time which beds have been occupied by patients is necessarily longer than at hospitals which have not to deal with such a 11 ruble and chronic disease as cancer . Unfortunately , the continually increasing nurnbrr of patients treated each year involve a large expenditure , to meet which the Hospital has to rely upon the generosity of the public . Ihe Secretary , Mr . Fred . W . Howell , will be glad to receive contributions , and we would strongly urge those benevolent persons who may be disposed to help in this good work to send their donations to him .

ANNH . X NO run IKANSVAAL . —What will be the fate of the Transvaal after the war it is difficult to forsee , but one thing may be considered certain , and that is that every one who can will take care to annex a case of that delicious liqueur , Grant ' s Morella Cherry Brandy , which is so great a favourite at home and abroad . Sold everywhere ; also Grant ' s Cherry Whisky .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE Daily Telegraph Soldiers' Widows' and Orphans' Fund now stands at 1 ) 443 ) 903 shillings , of which £ 10 S 3 9 s . was received on Thursday . HER MAJBSTY THE QUEEN has forwarded , through the Lord Steward , 60 pounds of cast linen to the Royal Free Hospital , Gray ' s Inn-road , of which institution her Maj ' esty is Patron .

IN OUR RFPORTlast week of the La France Lodge , No . 2060 , we stated that Bro . J . W . Woodall was fighting in the Crimea , which has proved incorrect , he at that time was serving in the North York Militia in England , but subsequently visited the Crimea . MESSRS . H . S . PERSSE ( Limited ) , the well-known distillers , have , under competition , obtained the sole supply of Irish whiskey at all the bars and refreshment rooms of the Crystal Palace . The whiskey in age and quality is exactly the same as the firm supply to the House of Commons .

AN EXHIBITION OF WORK , manufactured by the pupils of the School for the Indigent Blind , St . George ' s-circus , Southwark , will be held in the concert room of the School , from J-S p . m ., on Wednesday next , followed by a concert under the direction of Mr . Herbert Hodge , F . R . C . O ., A . R . C . M . BRO . H . H . CRAWFORD , the City Solicitor , has been elected an honorary life governor and a member of the Council of Management of St . Mark ' s Hospital , Cityroad , in succession to his father , the late Mr . John Crawford , J . P ., who was for a great number of years closely associated with that institution .

A CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EXCURSION will be run on Friday evening , the 22 nd inst ., to Newcastle , Berwick , Edinburgh . Glasgow , Dundee , and Aberdeen , leaving King ' s-cross ( G N . R . ) , 6 . 30 p . m . The excursion , tor five , six , or 16 days , has been arranged by the Voluntary Early Closing Association , of ( 14 , Cheapside . AT A MEETING of the Old Masonians Lodge , No . 2700 , held on the 27 th ult ., it was proposed by the W . M ., seconded by the Treasurer , and carried unanimously , "That the sum of two guineas be voted from the lodge funds and given as a special prize ( subject to be hereinafter named ) to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . "

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has accepted the presidency of-a congress to be held in London during the spring of 1901 by the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption and other Forms ot Tuberculosis , and has expressed his intention of opening the proceedings in parson . A preliminary meeting will take place on the iSth inst ., at Gray ' s Inn Hall , with the Earl of Derby in the chair , at 3 . 30 p . m . AT THE MONTHLY MEHTING of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association S 3

, , Lancaster-gate , Mr . C . J . Stevens presiding , it was decided to render help in the laying out of a children ' s playground in Sumner-road , Cambirwell , and take steps to oppose any bill that might be introduced for enabling the Battersea Latchmere allotmmt land to be used as a building site , as it was formerly part of a common , and , if no longer required for its present purpose , should , fit was considered , b : utilised like other metropolitan commons tor public recreation .

EXCELLENT REPORTS have been issued by the officers in command of the Shoeburyness Camp during the last meeting of the National Artillery Association . Colonel Barron , however , thinks " it is high time the practice of providing hairdressers in camp for officers and men was done away with . Many came to parade unshaved , and this would probably not be the case if the men had to shave themselves . " He also thinks that the cuisine should be looked after bythe Volunteers themselves , who would receive very valuable instruction under an experienced master-cook . "

IT WOULD APPEAR from the reports in the daily papers that at . the Grand Mark Lodge on Tuesday last , a statement was made that the " Patriotic Fund " did not recognise the claims of the widows of our soldiers who had married " without leave . '' Bro . J . M . McLeod writes : " Will you permit me to say that I hold a letter dated 20 th November , 1 S 09 , from Mr . W . T . Soulsby , the private Secretary to the Lord Mayor , in

which he states : ' The Patriotic Fund helps the widows and orphans of sailors as well as soldiers . Thewidows and families of soldiers and sailors who have married without leave will participate equally with the others . ' As considerable misapprehension appears to exist on the point , and may prove detrimental to the good cause all are so justly ready to help , I shall be glad if this authoritative announcement may be made known to the Craft through your columns . "

Tim QUEEN drove out at Windsor Castle on the Gth inst ., accompanied by her Grand Ducal Highness Princess Louis of Battenberg and Princess Alice , and her Majesty went out on Tuesday morning , accompanied by Princess Louis of Battenberg . H . R . H . Princess Henry of Battenberg , attended by Miss Bulteel and Colonel Lord William Cecil , went to London on Wednesday and opened the annual winter sale in

connection with the Working Ladies uuild at urosvenor House . In the evening her Royal Highness , accompanied by her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Halstein , was present at a patriotic concert in the Royal Victoria Hall , Waterloo Bridge-road , in aid of the Fund for the Wives and Children of the reservist soldiers serving in South Africa . Miss Bulteel and Lord William Cecil were in attendance . The Hon . Horatia Stopford has arrived at the Castle .

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 the rates by parcels post , while in some cases thev are

lower than the latter . The " minimum " weights formerly charged on packages of perishables at " owner's risk " 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 fbe obtained on application at any Great Northern station or receiving office .

THF . NEW GRAND MASTER MASON . —On the ist inst . the Grand Master Mason of Scotland ( Bro . the Hon . James Hozier , M . P . ) paid his official visit to the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary's Chapel , No . 1 . Previous to this function he was entertained at dinner in the Board Room , and meantime the members of the lodge and deputations from others lodges assembled in the Grand Hall in large numbers . At the visitation to the lodge the Grand Master was accompanied by a deputation of Grand Officers , including the Depute and Substitute Grand Masters and the Grand Secretary and

Treasurer . The chair was occupied by the Master of the lodge ( Bro . P . L . Henderson ) , and Bros . J . T . Sturrock , S . S . C ., and Officer , Stwd ., were in their places as Senior and Junior Wardens . In the course ot the evening- the Chairman proposed the toast of " The Grand Lodge and Grand Master , " and congratulated the lodge on the fact that the Grand Master had honoured it by making it the subject of his first official visitation . He said they could rely that Bro . Hozier would prove no mere figurehead . His aptitude for business and his courtesy of manners had distinguished him , and his popularity in his own province , and his diplomatic services had been appreciated by the

country , and no doubt on the Masonic throne he would prove the right man in the right place . Bro . Hozier had been affiliated some time ago to their lodge , and he had now much pleasure in pinning a lodge jewel on his breast to keep him in remembranceof old Mother Mary . ( Applause . ) He expressed the hope that his reign fn Grand Lodge would be one of great prosperity and unalloyed happiness to himself . ( Applause . ) The Grand Master , in reply , thanked the brethren for their cordial reception , and spoke of several matters interesting to them . He then proposed a toast to " The Prosperity of No . 1 . '' Other toasts followed , and a pleasant evening was passed .

Marriage.

Marriage .

SILVER WEDDING , Gitusii—HOOK . —On the Cth December , 18 74 , by the Rev . Frances Savage , at St . James ' s Church , Dover , James . Grose , of 4 , Old Jewry , E . C , and 17 , Meeklenburgh-scjuare , W . C , youngest son of trie late George Grose , of Falmouth , to Eliza ( Lou ) fifth daughter of the late Henry Hook , of Dover ,