Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . MAJOR-GENERAL LORD METHUEN has returned from his leave of absence and resumed command of the troops in the Home District . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has forwarded a donatirn of 25 guineas to Dr . Barnardo's Homes for Waifs , in aid of the special reserve and foundation fund which is in course of being raised .

A MEETING OF THE DEVENCE COMMITTEE was held at the War Office on Saturday last , at which Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , the Marquis of Lansdowne , and Mr . Goschen were present . The conference lasted for about one hour and a half . AMONG THOSE who have been staying at Quidenham Hall as the guests of the Farl of Albermarle , were the Prince and Princess Adolphus rf Teck , Rear-Admira ] Stephenson , Bro . Admiral Sir Henrv Keppel , and the Hon . Sir George Keppel .

THE MARRIAGE of Miss E . Maud Jackson , daughter of Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire , with Mr . Arthur P . Beddard , will take place at the Parish Church , Leeds , to-morrow ( Saturday ) , at two o ' clock p . m . THE QUEEN , accompanied by Princess Henry of Battenberg , the daughters of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , and Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg , visited the Earl and Countess of Clanwilliam at Birkhall on Sunday last .

A GRAND MARK LODGE of the Province of Kent will be held at the Masonic Temple , Cameibury , on Fiiday next , the 16 th inst ., at 3 p . m ., when Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Euston will install Bro . the Right Hon . Viscount Dungarvan as Prov . Grand Master of Kent . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES concluded his visit to Stowlangtoft Hall on Monday , and in the course of the evening returned to Sandringham . The following day his Royal Highness lelt for Norwich , where he was the guest of Bro . Lord , Suffield , Prov . G . Master of Norfolk , till Thursday .

MR . WILLIAM WEBB HAYWARD , solicitor , who was Mayor of Rochester in 1 S 4 G , has consented to occupy that position , after an interval of 50 years , for the ensuing 12 months . This mayoral jubilee , if it may be so termed , constitutes a unique incident in the history of municipal Corporations . THE NORWICH MUSICAL FESTIVAL was opened on Tuesday with a performance of " Jephthah , " the principal solo singers being Miss Ella Russell , Mrs . Katherine Fisk , Miss Sarah Berry , Miss Gertrude Izzard , Mr . Ben Davies , and Mr . Watkin Mills . Mr . Randegger conducted with marked success .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT visited Eton College on Tuesday , and took leave of their son , Prince Arthur , who is residing with the Lower Master , Mr . E . C . Austin Leigh . In the evening they witnessed a performance of " The Mikado " at the Savoy Theatre , and on Wednesday returned to Bagshot . THE DEATH-RATE for the 33 great towns in England last week as reported by the Registrar-General was 15 . 7 per 1000 , Brighton and Leicester sharing the honours of

lirst place with a rate of 10 per 1000 , Norwich standing next with 11 , and Croydon , which the week previous had a rate of 9 . 3 per looo , next with 11 . 5 . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of Great Britain and Ireland was opened in the Good Ramgate Hall , York , on Tuesday morning , under the presidency of Mr . Walter Hudson , of Darlington . Those present included delegates from London and most of the great railway centres .

WITH A VIEW to induce Islington to adopt the Free Libraries Act , Bro . Passmore Edwards has volunteered to provide buildings at a cost of ^ 10 , 000 . A meeting was accordingly held at the Northern Polytechnic , Holloway-road , oh Monday evening , at which the proposal was waimly advocated by Sir Albert Rollit , M . P ., and Mr . Cohen , M . P .

BRO . H . H . CRAWFORD , the City Solicitor , at an approaching meeting of the Fan Makers' Company , intends bringing forward a resolution to the effect that it is desirable to hold an exhibition of fans during the ensuing year , and that a Committee , consisting of the Master , Wardens , and Past Masters , be formed for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements .

ADELINE , DUCHHSS OF BEDFORD , reopened the Children ' s Happy Evenings at the Board School in Vere-street , Claremarket , on Monday evening , delivering a brief address to the assembled children and advising them as to their enjoyments . A vote of thanks to her Grace having been carried by acclamation , the children began games and dancing , in which they were assisted by a number of ladies .

ON WEDNESDAY , Bro . Field-Marshal Lord Wclseley paid his first visit since his appointment as Commander-in-Chief to the Portsmouth garrison . His lordship was accompanied by the members of the Head-quarters Staff , among whom were Bro . Sir Redvers Buller , Adjutant-General , and Bro . Sir Evelyn Wood , Ouartermaster-General , and was received by General Davis , C . B ., commanding the Southern District , and his staff .

AT TUB Lady Mayoress ' s musical reception at the Mansion House on Tuesday , a handsome and valuable diamond bracelet was presented to Sir Richmond and Lady Cotton on the occasion of their golden wedding . Sir Richmond was Lord Mayor in 1 S 75-C , and the whole of the Court of Aldermen joined in the subscription for the gift . The presentation was made by the Lord Mayor , Bro . Sir W . Wilkin , and very gracefully acknowledged by Sir R . Cotton on behalf of Lady Cotton .

A LARGE number of guests were invited by the Chairman and members of the Library Committee of the City of London to meet the Lord Mayor , Bro . Sir Walter Wilkin , at dinner at Haberdashers' Hall on Monday evening , among them being the Bishop of Stepney , Alderman Sir Stuart Knill , the Chief Rabbi , and many others . The principal toasts were those of " Prosperity to the Guildhall Library " and that of the guest of the evening , the latter being proposed by the Bishop of Stepney . Some very interesting particulars were furnished in relation to the Committee ' s Art Loan Exhibitions .

1 HERE HAS BEEN some rare sport lately in the Highlands during the present deer stalking season , the Duke of Sutherland having brought down a "Royal" in Loch Choire Forest , Sutherlandshire , with a magnificent head , the tines of which measured over 39 inches between beams . Viscount Curzon was also successful in securing a fine specimen in Guisachan , and so , too , was Bro . Lord Roberts , who was the guest of Lord Tweedmouth . Among others who have had good sport are Bros , the Duke of Fife , the Duke oi Atholl , the Duke of Portland , the Marquis of Breadalbane , Lord Burton , and Lord Glenesk .

THE SOUTH COAST was visited by a tremendous gale from the South-west on Tuesday , and reports from various harbours tell of a considerable amount of damage to shipping . At Plymouth , the Broughty Castle , of Bude , which was anchored in the Sound , patted her cable , and was driven ashore under the Rifle Butts at Mount Batten . The captain and four men were rescued by a line thrown by the Coastguard before the ' Plymouth Lifeboat reached the spot . The ship will probably become a total wreck . The Admiralty Pier at Dover was the scene of great excitement when the Calais and Ostend steamers were leaving , the seas sweeping right over the structure . The reports from Newhaven and other places are to the same effect .

THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF RUSSIA took their departure from Portsmouth on board the Polar Star under escort of the Channel Fleet , Vice-Admiral Lord Mark Kerr commanding , early on Monday morning , and when distant about 30 miles from the French coast were met by the French Squadron , under the command of Vice-Admiral de Prismeniel , which at once took the place of the English Fleet as escort . Later in the afternoon Cherbourg was reached , and a most enthusiastic welcome was given to the Imperial visitors , who were received by the President of the French Republic , M . Faurc ,

and his principal Ministers , the military and naval and municipal authorities of the port , Sic . The Emperor and Empress having landed under salutes from the forts and fleet , his Majesty and the President went on board the State barges and inspected the fleet , after which they again landed , and the Emperor was entertained at a State banquet , bhoitly before 9 p . m ., the Kmperor and Empress and their suite and the President and his Ministers left by train for Paris . In anticipation of the visit , Paris has been for days past crammed with visitors from all parts of the country .

Masonic And General Tidings.

WE ARE asked to announce that the Covent Garden Lodge of Instruction have resumed their meetings on Thursdays at 8 p . m . at the Criterion . THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH will preside at the autumnal gathering of the Homes for Little Boys , which is to be he | d at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday , the 24 th inst . and the Duchess will present the prizes . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES leaves Sandringham this ( Friday ) evening f 0 r London , and it is expected that H . R . H . the Princes ! of Wales will riach Marlborough House from Mar Lodge early next week .

THE DEATH HAS been announced of a farmer named Daniel Mahoney , residing at Glan nasra , County Cork , at the advanced age of 102 years . The deceased enjoyed fairly good health till within a few days of his death .

A DONATION OF £ 1000 has been received from two friends of the Ripon Wakelield Branch towards the redemption of the mortgage on the St . Chad's Home belonging to the Waifs and Strays Society at Far Headingley , Leeds . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT , who ' saw the Emperor and Empress of Russia off at Portsmouth on Monday morning , returned to town the same day anil witnessed a performance of "The Duchess of Coolgardie " at Drury Lane Theatre the same evening .

THE DOWAGER COUNTESS OF MALMESBURY opened a bazaar at Plumstead , on Wednesday , in aid of the funds for the completion of the new Church of St . Mark , of which the foundation-stone was laid on November , 1 S 95 , by her Royal Highness the Duchess of Albany .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT left Victoria for Vienna by the to a . m . train yesterday morning , while the Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein has returned from her visit to Balmoral , and rejoined her mother , the Princess Christian , at Buckirgham Palace on Wednesday . THE NEW EDITION of "The Little Genius , " together with the engagement of Miss Florence St . John and the popularity of the "La Goulue " Moulin Rouge Quadrille , has caught on so strongly that Mr . Brickwell , the manager for Mr . Love , is now advertising that , seats may be booked three months in advance .

A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT occurred at Buluwayo on Saturday last , when a powder magazine exploded . Five white men were killed and many injured , while 10 Kaffirs were killed and 22 wounded . The whole of the able-bodied population turned out under Eirl Grey and Sir F . Carrington to assist in caring for the wounded . H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , the Duchess of Fife ( Princess Louise ) , the Princess Victoria , and Prince and Princess Charles of Denmark visited the Emperor and Empress of Russia at Balmoral on Saturday last for the purpose of taking leave of their Majesties on their departure for France . Subsequently the Queen and the members of Royal Family at Balmoral tflak leave of the Emperor and Empress .

WITH THE death of Bro . Edward Bumpus , the bookselling trade loses one of its oldest and most respected members . He was one of the few booksellers who knew the inside as well as the outside of his stock , and many literary men embarking on a new enterprise came naturally to him to learn the proper books on the subject . Although his busi ness was largely in modern books , his hobby was in his unique collection of old books . ESTATE DUTY has been paid on £ 53 , 809 5 s . nd ., as the value of the personal estate of Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , of 34 S , Brixton-road , and formerly of 123 , 124 , and 125 , Fleet-street , late of Temple House , Temple-avenue , newspaper agent , who died at the Chimes , Streatham Common , on the ist ult ., aged 66 years , and of whose will , which

bears date May gth , 1893 , probate has been granted to his son , Horace Brooks Marshall , to whom the testator gave , devised , and bequeathed all his estate and effects whatsoever . WE HEAR THAT among the candidates for the chief officership of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade is * Bro . Augustus Hill , chief officer of the Bedford Brigade , which it will be remembered won the silver chillenje shield for manualjengine drill at the late International Tournament at the Agricultural Hall . Bro . Hill is an active and useful Mason ,

being now an officer in his mother lodge , Stuart , No . 540 . He was one of the founders of the Sir William Harpur Lodge , No . 2343 , and has passed the chair in that lodge , receiving a handsome Past Master's jewel . He is also Prov . G . Purst . for Bedfordshire ; one of the Principals in the Stuart R . A . Chapter ; and S . O . in the Stuart Lodge of Mark Masters , No . 434 , of which Bro . Lord Ampthill , Prov . G . M . of Bedfordshire , is this year the W . M .

THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF RUSSIA left Balmoral on the conclusion of their visit to the Queen , late on Saturday evening , the arrangements being very similar to those on their arrival . Their Majesties were accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught . A stoppage was made at Oxford , where the Imperial and Royal party lunched , and then the journey was continued to Portsmouth , which . vas reached about

half-past five on Sunday evening . Here the naval and military authorities were in attendance to receive their Majesties , and after a brief interval the Emperor and Empress went on board the Imperial yacht , Polar Star , and the British Fleet fired a salute , which was ack nowledged by the yacht . Before leaving Balmoral the Emperor made a large number of p resents , while he and the Empress also planted trees in memory of their visit in the gardens of Balmoral .

THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF RUSSIA having visited , in succession , the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Pantheon—where they descended in to the Crypt to view the tomb of the late President Carnot—and having laid the first stone of the new bridge over the Seine , which bears the name of the late Czar Alexandre 111 ., were received at the Academic Francaise . Later in the day there was a grand reception at

the Hotel de Ville , and in the evening the Czar gave a grand dinner at the Russian Embassy , to the President and Madame Faure and all the great functionaries of State . Alter dinner there was a gaia performance at the Comedie Francaise , and then the Imperial party returned to the Embassy for the night . The strain of all this si g htseeing must be immense and we dare say their Majesties will be glad when the time arrives for them to proceed to Darmstadt , where they will spend some days in quiet before returning to Russia .

"I DREAMT THAT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS" will be the pleasing fancy to every one who first crosses the threshold of the gorgeous Trocadero Restaurant , which now holds such a proud and enviable position in the " New London " starting into life round and about Piccadilly Circus ! . But instead of the " vassals and serfs " of the old song we shall find a warm and hospitable welcome from the courteous and spirited proprietors , ' Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , and the proverbial attention and personal comfort ever extended to the public by these well-known caterers and restaurateurs . The basement floor is devoted to the grill room , with the buffet , smoking ,

reading , and billiard room ; . The entrance floor is occupied by the grand restaurant , with its golden minstrel and great gallery in the style of Louis Quatorze , and attached to the gold hall and gallery is a splendid adjacent saloan in the style of _ ' Louis Quince Small but deliriousl y cosy dining rooms surround these splendid public rooms . The first floor of the new Trocadero is another welcome surprise , consisting as it does of a

ball room , a banqueting hall in the Empire period—a most admirable reproduction—anu an ante-rcom in the style of Louis Treize . On the gallery level , at the top of the grand staircase , will be found a reception room , again in the style of Louis Treize ; a magni ' ficent Masonic lodge in the period of Francois Premier , with , of course , the necessary ante-rooms for the comfort and convenience of the brethren of the Craft . Full particulars can be had on application at the Trocadero , Piccadilly Circus .

Marriages.

MARRIAGES .

GASPAR—MASSEY . —On the 3 rd instant , at St . John ' s Church , Angell Town , S . W ., by the Rev . A . EJ Tonkin , curate-in-charge , Ernest John Gaspar , late 01 Farnham , now of Balham , Surrey , to Charlotte , third daughter of Bro . Henry Massey , of 1 , Clifford ' s Inn , E . C , and 186 , Loughborough-road , S . W . MUIR—CHAPMAN . —On the 1 st inst ., at St . Mary ' s , Monken Hadley , Barn f ' Herts , by the Rev . A . W . Dewick , brother-in-law of the bride , assisted by tn Rev . A . 11 . de P . Cass , Alexander , eldest son of Matthew Muir , of Gatehill , M £ marnock , to Jane , daughter of Bro . Walter Spencer Chapman , of The Gle 0 Monken Hadley .