Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

THE DUKE OF SAXH-COBURG GOTHA has made a liberal contribution towards the maintenance of the Missions to Seamen's Institute , in which his Royal Highness has always taken a deep interest . THE PRINCESS LOUISE , Marchioness of Lome , and the Marquis of Lome visited the Royal Lyceum Theatre on Saturday last and witnessed the performance of Bro . Irving's "A Story of Waterloo , " and " Don Quixote . "

THE QUEEN and Queen Regent of the Netherlands visited the Queen at Windsor Castle last week , their visit terminating on Friday , when their Majesties returned to Brown ' s Hotel , Dover-street . On Saturday their Majesties were visited by the Prince of Wales , while on Thursday their visit to this country came to a conclusion . A MEETING of Old Harrowians will be held at the

Westminster Palace Hotel , on Thursday , the 23 rd inst ., under the presidency of the Head Master of the School , the Rev . Dr . Welldon , when the form of the memorial which it is intended to erect to the late Earl of Bessborough , in recognition of his great services to the School , will be decided upon .

THE FIFTH of the series of Sunday Orchestral Concerts was held in the Queen ' s Hall , Langham-place , on Sunday evening last , under the direction of Mr . A . Randegger . The programme , which included selections from the works of Bro . Sir A . Sullivan , Schubert , and Berlioz , was a most interesting one , and the audience separated well satisfied with their entertainment .

T HE DUCHESS CV CLEVELAND , the Countess ot Jersey , Bro . Sir H . Drummond Wolff , Bro . and Mrs . Akers Douglas , Bro . the Hon . and Mrs . Gathorne Hardy , and Mr . Coningsby Disraeli were among the guests at the dinnerparty given by Bro . Sir M . and the Hon . Lady White Ridley at their residence in Carlton House-terrace on Saturday last .

THE QUEEN has lost one of her oldest and most valued friends , the Dowager Duchess of Roxburghe , who died at her residence in Hereford-gardens , from an attack of acute bronchitis supervening on a cold , on Wednesday morning . Her Grace , who was married to the sixth Duke of Roxburghe in 1 S 36 , was a Lady of the Bedchamber from 1865 , and Acting Mistress of the Robes .

AT A SALE by auction at Christie ' s Rooms on Saturday lastof the p icturesbelonging to the late Duchess of Montrose , the portraits by Sir Joshua Revnolds of Lady Smith and her children realised £ 5040 , and Gainsborough ' s " Madam Le Brun , " 2150 guineas , while " Lady Anne Fitzpatrick as 'Sylvia , ' " by Reynolds , fetched 1550 guineas . The total realised was £ 14 , 167 , and that of the whole week's sale of the late Duchess ' s effects , £ 55 , 016 .

ST . BOTOI . PH ALDERSGATE . —As the time is now drawing near for the withdrawal of Bro . the Rev . F . Selby Henrey from the parish , the churchwardens ( Bro . B . Norman and Bro . Holliday ) invite subscriptions towards the testimonial it is intended to offer to him as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the parishioners , and in recognition of the earnest work he has performed during the years he has been associated with the parish .

A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER to Sir W . Robinson on the eve of his departure for the colony of Western Australia , of which he has been appointed Governor , took place in the King ' s Hall of the Holborn Restaurant , on Monday evening . The chair was taken by the Marquis of Ripon , and among the principal guests were Bros , the Marquis of Tweeddale , the Earl of Jersey , the Earl of Donoughmore , Sir J . Dimsdale , and Sir j . Puleston .

ONE OF THE GREATEST attractions which the directors of the Crystal Palace have offered to the public will undoubtedly be the " Africian Loan Exhibition and East African Village , " which have been arranged and produced under the direction of Herr Carl Hagenbeck . This exhibition , which is known briefly as " Africa in London , " will be on view from the present month of May till October .

Already the bulk of the animals , birds , and reptiles , and about So Somalis , from Somaliland have arrived in London , and as among the arrivals are lions , elephants , dromedaries , leopards , antelopes , gazelles , & c , there is very little reason to doubt that the enterprise of the Palace authorities will have its reward in the shape of a largely increased number of visitors .

THE DUKE OF SAXE-COHURG GOTHA presided at the annual meeting , which was held on Saturday morning last , at the Royal United Service Institution , of the Royal School for Naval Officers' Daughters ; among those piesent being Lady Louisa Egerton , Lady Dowell , Lady Houston Stewart , Admirals of the Fleet Earl of Clanwilliam and

Bro . Sir J . Commerell , V . C ., Bro . Admiral Sir George Willes , and others . In the afternoon of the same day the Duchess of Teck presided at the annual meeting in the same place of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association , [ there being present Lord and Lady Kelvin , Lady C . Gordon Lennox , Lady Audrey Buller , Bro . Sir J . Whitaker Ellis , Bart ., and Lady Flowers .

THE ANNUAL BANOUET by the President and Council of the Royal Academy was given at Burlington House on Saturday evening last . In the absence of the President , who is abroad for the purposse of recruiting his health , the chair was taken by Sir John Millais , and he was supported on his right by the Prince of Wales , the Dukes of baxe-Coburg Gotha , Cambridge , and York , the

Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg Gotha , and the Duke of Teck , and on his left by the Russian , German , Austro-Hungarian , Italian , United States , and French Ambassadors , and the Netherlands Minister . Among those to whom invitations were addressed , and who , in the majority of cases were able to accept them , were the Archbishops of Canterbury and York , Bros . Lord Ashbourne , Sir M . E .

Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., Lord Carnngton , the Lord Chancellor ( Lord Herschell ) , Earl Cowper , the Earl of Derby , the Duke of Devonshire , Lord Halsbury , Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., the Earl of Jersey , the Lord Mayor ( Alderman Sir Joseph Renals ) , Lord Roberts , G . J . Shaw-Lefevre , M . P ., Lord Wantage , Viscount Wolseley , Sir Evelyn Wood and Baron H . de Worms , M . P .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Two FATAL boating accidents occurred on Monday , one at Portrush , County Antrim , and the other in Pool Harbour . By the former three lives were lost , and by the latter two . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Children ' s Country Holidays' Fund will be held at the Hotel Metropole on Friday next , the 17 th inst . The Duchess ot Albany has very kindly consented to be present on the occasion .

BRO . THE RIGHT HON . THE LORD MAYOR and the Lady Mayoress had the honour of receiving the young Queen and the Queen Regent of the Netherlands at the Guildhall , and afterwards escorted their Majesties to the Tower Bridge .

A FIRE broke out on Monday evening in the apartments occupied by Mrs . Chamberlain at Hampton Court Palace . The room in which it occurred was just under the Picture Gallery , but prompt measures were at once taken , and the fire was extinguished without doing any material damage .

THE PRINCESS Mary Adelaide , Duchess of Teck , will visit the Chelsea Hospital for Women on Wednesday , the 22 nd inst ., for the purpose of opening the " Mary Adelaide " Ward . Her Royal Highness will subsequently receive purses from ladies who are willing to aid this deserving institution .

THE FINAL SERIES of mural decorations illustrating the Art of Music have now been completed and placed in the Donaldson Museum . These paintings , which are presented by Mr . Donaldson , have been executed by M . Gaston de Vaerc , who has had the honour to submit them to the Prince of Wales , president of the college , at Marlborough House .

ALDERMAN FAUDEL PHILLIPS presided , in the unavoidable absence of the Duke of Cambridge , at the annual dinner , which was held at the Hotel Metropole , on Monday evening , in aid of the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association . In the course of the evening , contributions , including donations from the Dukes of Westminster and Bedford , were announced , amounting to iiooo .

THE ANNUAL BANQUET of the Library Committee of the Corporation of London was held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Monday evening under the presidency of Mr . J . D . Matthews , the Chairman , the Lord Mayor ( Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Renals ) , the Sheriffs of London , the Bishop of iStepney , Sir Stuart Knill , Bro . Sir George Tyler , and the Librarian , Mr . C . H . Welch , being among the principal guests .

THE AMATEUR ART EXHIBITION at Moncorvo House , Ennismore Gardens , which has been organised for the purpose of benefiting the East End Mothers' Home , the East London Nursing Society , and the Parochial Mission Women ' s Fund , was visited by the Duchess of York on

Monday . Her Royal Highness was received by sundry members of the Ladies' Committee , and conducted through the rooms , among them being Lady Chesterfield , Lady Romney , Lady Elizabeth Cust , and the Hon . Mrs . Charles Eliot .

THERE WAS a large and fashionable attendance at the Garrick Theatre on Monday afternoon , when a matinee was given in aid of the Boys' Home , Limpsfield , Surrey . The Duke and Duchess of York , the Duke and Duchess of Teck , and the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz occupied

two boxes . The programme included " A Quiet Rubber , " "The Vicarage , " in which Bro . and Mrs . Bancroft , and Mrs . A . Cecil took part , and a new tragic farce , entitled , "Threepenny Bits , " and there is every reason to believe that the Home will be very greatly benefited by the performance .

THE FIRST great annual Summer Pastimes Exhibition will be held in the great galleries of the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , from the 29 th June to the 6 th July , under the patronage of Lord Hawke , Bro . Sir Albert Altman , C W . Alcock , J . P . ( Secretary of the Surrey County Cricket Club ) , and other gentlemen . The exhibits will be classified

into sections devoted to cricket , riding , boating , swimming , athletics , lawn tennis , & c , & c , while those relating to aquaria , apiaries , football , polo , & c , will be eligible for admission . Full particulars can be obtained by intending exhibitors of Mr . Ernest II . Lowe , at the officers , 222 , Strand , W . C .

THE QUEEN , accompanied by the Princesses Beatrice and Christian and the Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , and attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Court , left Windsor Castle for London on Tuesday morning . On arriving at Paddington shortly after noon , the Royal party drove , under an escort of the Household

Cavalry , to Buckingham Palace . In the afternoon her Majesty went for a drive in an open carriage , and in the evening had a dinner party . On Wednesday a Drawing Room was held , at which a number of presentations were made , the attendance of the diplomatic and general circles being very numerous .

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES the Prince and Princess of Wales gave a dinner party at Marlborough House on Monday , in honour of her Majesty the Queen Regent of the Netherlands . Among the guests were the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha , the Ducness of Albany , the Duke and Duchess of York , the Princesses Victoria and Maud of Wales ,

the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg Gotha , the Duke of Cambridge , Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Earl of Rosebery , the Netherlands Minister , Bro . Lord Carrington , Lord and Lady Reay , and Sir Edward and Lady Grey . The band of the Grenadier Guards , under Bto . Lieut . Dan Godfrey , played during the dinner .

BRO . F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M ., P . Z ., & c , author of "The Noble Soul , " "The Submerged City , " "Toujours Perdrix " ( poems ) , " A Novel Vengeance , " and " The Four Henries" ( prose ) , recites his original productions at musical entertainments , smoking concerts , & c . Fcr terms , address 62 , Lancaster-road , Notting Hill , W .

l . o . MMEW . ' h-, wiru ns SI'K K . MUNI ; WiMis , has traversed the KIIJIJL- many times , anil binds nations together with the strong tics til mutual scH-intcres :. Through its inlluciice London has become the metropolis of the world , anil her merchants have amassed wealth sullicicnt to make Ihem the envy ( if princes , llolloway ' s I'ills ami Ointment have now become essential

articles 01 commerce with all parts ol the world . They have ellectcd cures which have seemed miraculous , and ^ iven relict in complaints when all hope hail been lost . In all known iliseaM-s their success has at all times been wonderful . In cases of disorders of the stomach , bile , liver complaint , indigestion , fevers , ague , kc , they act like a charm , as the cure is speedy and cx-rUin .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . COLONEL SEWELL , D . P . G . M . Cumberland and Westmorland , has been appointed Grand Superintendent ( R . A . ) same province . THE KENSINGTON LODGE , NO . 1767 , will , in future , meet at the RoyalgPalace Hotel , High-street , Kensington . Saturday , the iSth inst ., will be the opening night at this address .

THE EIGHTH annual exhibition by the Universal Cookery and Food Association was opened by Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar at the Portman Rooms , on Tuesday , the 7 th inst . THE DUCHESS OF TECK occupied the chair at a meeting of the Society of Arts on Tuesday afternoon , when a papsr was read on the " Improvement in Design , Colour , and Manufacture of British Silks . "

THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY of the opening of the Parkhurst Theatre and complimentary benefit to the manager , Mr . J . H . Perfect , jun ., will take place on the 20 th instant , when a strong programme has been arranged for .

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES the Prince and Princess of Wales have signified their intention of visiting the Horse Show at the Royal Agricultural Hall , Islington , on 1 uesday afternoon , and the Duke and Duchess of York will atte . id on Friday .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK , the Duke and Duchess of Teck , the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz and suite visited the Lyceum on Th . irsday , to witness Mr . Irving in "A Story of Waterloo " and " Don Quixote . "

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , accompanied by the Duchess of Fife and Princesses Victoria and Maud , witnessed the performance of " Hansel and Gretel " by the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company at the Savoy Theatre on Thursday evening . IT IS ARRANGED that the Duke of York will be present

next month as the special representative of the Queen at the opening of the Baltic North Sea Canal . He will proceed in the first instance in the Royal Yacht Osborne to Hamburg" , whence he will join the selected ships of the British Channel Squadron .

THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL ' S returns for last week show a marked improvement in the health of London , the rate of mortality being as low as 16 . 5 per 1000 . The chief decline is , in the number of deaths from affections of the cjiest . Influenza was responsible for 34 deaths as compared with 27 the previous weeks .

THE ANNUAL general meeting of the corps of Royal Engineers will take place in the theatre of the Royal United Service Institution , on the Sth prox ., at 2 p . m ., and in the evening the Duke of Cambridge will preside at the annual dinner which will be held in the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole .

IN CONNECTION with the Convalescent Home , St . Margaret's Bay , to-morrow ( Saturday ) the Hon . W . F . D . Smith , M . P ., will open the Morley ,, House Caxton Wing , which has been established lor the benefit of the employes in London newspaper offices and the various branches of the printing and allied trades .

As AN INSTANCE of the promptness with which officers on leave whose regiments were warned for the Cjiitral expedition returned to duty , probably a record was broken in the case of Lieutenant J . S . Corlett , 13 th Bengal Lancers . He received his order from the India Office on the morning of Good Friday . The same night he left England , caught the Caledonia at Brindisi , and in 12 days from receipt of orders was in India , on his way to Peshawur .

THE ANNOUNCEMENT is made of the sale ^ by auction , on the 15 th inst ., of a portion of the histpficeand picturesque estate at Broadstairs known as Piurremont Park , formerly the residence of the late Duchess of Kent , and also of her Majesty the Queen when a child ; the property being easy of access from town , and situated in the centre of Broadstairs . The owner intends to reserve a large portion of the beautiful park , which will be laid out as ornamental grounds for the use of the residents .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES ho . jured Captain and Mrs . Naylor-Leyland with his presence at dinner last evening at Hyde Park House . There were present to meet his Royal High ess the Austrian Ambassador and Countess Deym , their Serene Highnesses Prinjt and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Marquis ana Marchioness if Ormonde , the Marchesa de Santuree ' , the Earl and

Countess of Dudley , the Earl of Rosslyr the Countess of Powis , Viscountess Coke , Lord Carrington , Lord and Lady Tweedmouth , Lord and Lady Rossmore . Lord and Lady Brougham and Vaux , Lady Gerard , fiady de Traflord , Sir Henry Calcraft , Mr . and Mrs . Ai ; ,. ur Sassoon , Mr . Alfred de Rothschild , Mr . Sykes , and ( iptain Holford ( in waiting on his Royal Highness ) . J

THE QUEEN , accompanied by Princess Christian , Princess Beatrice , and Princess Vict , ia of Schleswig-Holstein , and attended by the su . left Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening upon che ' conclusion of her visit to the Metropolis . The Royal departure was witnes : » d by a large number of spectators who ha' ^ - . seinbled in St . James ' s Park and along the route . Het iViajesty and the

Princesses drove under an escort to Paddington , where they were received by Viscount Emlyn . U'iiairman ) and several officials of the Great Western " ay . Leaving at 25 minutes past six o ' clock , the R- ' train arrived at Windsor at seven . 'The Palace Guar as mounted on the Castle Hill , opposite Henry VI 1 LV ; t , and saluted as the carriages proceeded to the Vict < " ower .

CRYSTAL PALACE J BOND ' S M RKING INK . — 1 he character of this well-known " Gold ' . " ' ; dal Marking Ink , " as prepared by the daughter of the lau . "Mr . John Bond , is too well known to need further commendation ; but we imagine that the inducement to purchase it will be greater since the proprietor has introduced his " improved linen stretcher for marking linen , cotton , silk , & c" This is

presented gratuitously to every purchaser of an " enlarged shilling bottle of the blue wrapper marking ink " in addition to the rubber stamp with name or monogram mounted , to which , for years past , every purchaser ot a sixpenny or shilling bottle ot this celebrated ink has been entitled . The stretcher fits compactly with the bottle in the case , and will be found very useful for the purpose for which it has been designed .