Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ANNOUNCE that the address of Bro . William Watson , Hon . Librarian of the Prov . G . Lodge of West Yorkshire , is * ' 105 , Victoria-road Headingley , Leeds . " Communications respecting the Prov . G . Lodije Library , if no t urgent , can , however , be addressed to him at the " Masonic Library , 2 , Park-place , Leeds . "

BRO . DEPUTY J and family are staying at their cottage at Heme Bay . BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR is spending a few days in camp at Pirbright with his Volunteer regiment , and will then proceed to Scotland for a stay of several weeks . MBSSBS . GEORGE KENNING AND SON , of Little Britain and Aldersgate-street , are making a banner of arms for the senior Sheriff , Bro . Alderman Sir William Treloar .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES are expected back from the Isle of Wight about the middle of next week , and will then leave almost immediately for their accustomed autumn visit to the Continent . ADDITION TO E PPING FOREST . —The Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation have recently added 13 acres , to the Forest in exchange for the granting of certain way-leaves and accommodation over and across strips of forest land at Seawardstone .

WE REGRET TO STATE that the Lord Chief Justice ( Lord Russell of Killowen ) , died at 3 o ' clock on Friday morning , the 10 th inst . Mr . Cyril Russell , son of his lordship , conveyed the news to the War office . He passed peacefully away after Thursday's operation . THE DUKE OF C ONNAUGHT , who returned to London on Tuesday from attending his brother ' s funeral at Coburg , and visiting the Empress Frederick at Frederickshoff , left town on the Sth inst . for Ireland , travelling by the North-Western route , via Holyhead .

BRO . W . W . B RAMSTON BEACH , _ M . P ., is announced to preside at the 103 rd anni versary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys on June 26 th , 1901 . Bro . Beach is Prov . G . M . for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , and a Trustee of the Institution . THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE at Cape Town of the Mansion House Fund for the Transvaal Refugees reports that the expenditure to the end of June has been £ 168 , 986 , and that 10 , 405 persons were still under relief . The total number of persons assisted had been 41 , 064 .

THE AMOUNT or £ 163 has been handed over to the secretary for the benefit of the Guards' Convalescent Home , this sum having been realised by the sale of tickets for the performances of " Sweet Nancy , " which took place at the Queen ' s Hall , Harrington-road , early in July . THE WORKMEN employed in making excavations in connection with the new Roman Catholic Church , Wapping , have discovered a valuable oil painting in a perfect state of preservation by one of the old masters . The rector , Father Becklcy , is from home , but a gentleman has offered £ 400 for the , picture .

THE LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL on the ist inst . accepted a bequest under the will of the late Hugh Frederick Hornby , cotton broker , of a valuable art library and a collection of engravings , autographs , & c ., for the use of the public , together with £ 10 , 000 to assist in providing a suitable building for the collection . THE PERFORMANCES of the military bands , which were suspended in the Royal parks on Sunday last , will be resumed next Sunday evening , when the band of the Royal Horse Guards Blue will play selections in Green Park , between six and eight o ' clock , and that of the Grenadier Guards from half-past seven till half-past nine o ' clock .

BY AN INADVERTENCE in the report of the quarterly convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter in our last issue , Comp . G ^ W . G . Barnard , P . G . Std . Br ., and Prov . G . S . E . Norfolk , was given as one of the Grand Sojourners present , whereas it should have been Comp . Rear-Admiral W . II . Chisholm St . Clair , P . A . G . Soj ., who acted as ist Asst . Soj . LORD AND LADY BRASSEY received an enthusiastic welcome at Hastings , on the Sth irst ., on their return from Australia . Thousands came from surrounding

neighbourhoods to join in the welcome . An illuminated address was presented to Lord Brassey , who , in course of a speech in oeply , said the loyal faelings of Australians to the mother country were instinctive . They were felt because blood was thicher than water , because colonists were men of the British race , spoke our language , and shared our history as fellow subjects . Referring to the federation of Australia , he said the day seemed drawing near for the federation of the Empire , which had been advanced so much by the loyal help given by Colonies in South Africa .

THE LONDON AND M IDDLESEX ARCH . KOLOGICAI . SOCIETY . —Mr . John Tolhurst , F . S . A ., presided last week at the London Institution , Finsbury-circus , over the annual meeting of this society . The council , in their 45 th annual report , stated that 14 new members had joined during the year , bringing the total membership up to 161 . During the year four meetings were held , and two rural excursions had taken place . The publications issued to members comprised the society ' s album , with a first instalment of reproductions of three scarce London prints , and a new part of the society ' s

transactions , including a continuation of the London and Middlesex Inquisitiones post-mortem . In regard to general archiuological activity the secretary had continued to watch the demolition . of the church of St . Michael , Bassishaw , and had secured for the Guildhall Museum additional architectural fragments of the edifice , which existed before the Great Fire . Furlher , the extensive discoveries of mediiuval ruins at Blackfriars had been carefully watched , and photographs and measured drawings obtained . The treasuier ' s statement of accounts showed a balance in hand of £ 2 GS 15 s . i id . The report was adopted .

THE FOLLOWING item regarding the Masonic apron made by Mary , Qjeen of Scots , appears in the Louisville , Ky ., Commercial : " There has recently come to light a Masonic apron—probably the most exquisite example of needlework extant—that busied the fingers of the hapless Mary , Queen of Scots , during her long imprisonment , and served to divert her mind from her impending doom at the block . The fair sovereign —all hope gone—centered her interest upon itduiing the latter pirt ot her long confinement , and created the masterpiece of needlework . Just b : foreherexecu un shes ; cre : ed

her prized apion under the lining of one of her robes , which kept her treasure safe until recently the garment was ripped apart . Its history his since been fully authenticated through let ' . ers written by the ill-starred queen to a friendly ambassuhr at Paris , who smuggled the matetial out of which it was wrought into htr dungeon . By strange chance tie apron came into the possession of an American , who has refused $ 50 , 000 for it , and has also declined $ 5000 for the privilege of unravelling a single stitch to learn its secret , which is a mystery to all the experts . It was undoubtedly made by her for a relaive that belonged to the Order at the early period , but was never presented . "

THE STATEMENT that Bro . John Ross Robertson has decided to retire trom the Dominion parliament will , we trust , turn out to be unfounded , or , if he has so decided , let us hope that he will reconsider the matter . Canada cannot spare one such man from the House of Commons . There are not enough of them there now . From Bro . Robertson's standpoint , it may well be that retirement is tempting . He would have more leisure and more time to devote to his own business—absence from which is not compensated for by the comparatively small sessional indemnity . And he would escape

the lot of the conscientious member who attends faithfully to his duties though wearied by windjammers and wirepullers . Bro . Robertson , again , is too independent , too upright , and too sincerely patriotic to stand in with "the gang" even on his own side of the house , or to stand in with the plundering promoters , or to become one himself . AH this is an insuperable bar to " making money in politics , " and a sure way to incur the disfavour of the wirepullers on both sides of the house . It is , however , in a man of Bro . Robeitson ' s ability , sound judgment , insight and force , a sure way of rendering

invaluable service to his country . Such service liro . Robertson has performed for Canada as a whole and , especially for Manitoba end the west . If but half of our western members were each half as devoted to the welfare of the west as this Toronto member has shown himself to be , legislation , and particularly railway legislation , would be vastly more conducive to our interests , and to the sound , prosperous , rapid development of this part of Canada—upon which the future of all Canada dependsthan as a matter of fact , it has been :

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE MUSEUM OF PRACTICAL GEOLOGY , in Jermyn-street , is closed until the 10 th prox . ON THE gth inst ., the contributions to the Daily Telegraph Widows and Oiphans Fund amounted to 30 S 3 shillings , bringing the grand total to 4 , 119 , 971 shillings . BRO . VISCOUNT WOLSEI . EY has notified that the review of troops , Aldershot district , arranged for Monday next , at which the Shah of Persia was to have been present , had been abandoned .

HER MAJESTY ' S COMMISSIONER OV WORKS announce that Big Ben , the great clock at the Houses of Parliament , will be stopped for about three weeks , from the 13 th instant , for the purpose of being cleaned . THE NEW MASONIC TEMPLE in Corsicana , Texas , will cost about 10 , 00 dollars . It will be three stories high , and will be one of the handsomest structures in Texas , Work has already commenced on it .

THE PRINTING of companies prospectuses , plans , illustrations of industrial works Masonic work of all description , & c , produced with rapidity . Fast machinery and every modern appliance for the production of large quantities at short notice . Freemason Printing Works , 16 and 16 a , Great Queen-street , London , W . C . THE THREE PRINCIPAL Foundation Scholarships at BradHeld College , Berks , value yo guineas per annum , have been awarded to R . M . J . Martin , St . Leonards D . P . M . Donald , Blackheath ; and W . L . Miskin , East Sheen . A Women ' s Exhi . bition , value 50 guineas , has been won by A . G . Buchanan , of Bradfield College .

WE REGRET to record the death , which took place on the Sth inst ., of Bro . Major Eustace Anderson . Deceased was a prominent member of several lodges and chapters , and was well known in connection with the Stability Lodge ot Instruction and the Jubilee Masters' Lodge . The funeral takes place at Mortlake Cemetery , at 3 . 30 , on the nth inst .

BY THE ALLAN LINER PARISIAN , which left Liverpool for Canada on the 9 th instant , the passengers included Sir Charles Tupper , the leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Legislative Assembly ; the Hon . A . G . Blair , Canadian Minister of Railways ; the Hon . W . S . Fielding , Canadian Minister of Finance ; and Sir Louis Davies Canadian Minister of Marine and Fisheries ,

THE LORD CHANCELLOR has approved of the appointment of Mr . Frank S , Jackson as the Assistant Judge of the Lord Mayor ' s Court . Mr . Jackson has been the Registrar of the Court for some years , and the appointment of Assistant Judge became vacant upon the death of the late Recorder , Sir Charles Hall , Q . C ., M . P ., when Mr . F . Roxburgh , who had acted for 12 years , ceased to sit .

AN APPEAL FOR FUNDS IS made by _ the Industrial Law Committee , which was started two years ago with the object of giving information as to the laws for the protection of the industrial classes to district visitors , club workers , deaconesses , nurses , and others . Subscriptions and donations should be sent to Mr . H . J . Tennant , M . P ., hon . treasurer ^ , Palmer-street , Westminster , S . W .

THE EARL OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY , G . C . V . O . ( Lord Steward ) , in the absence of the Lord Chamberlain , who is abroad , represented her Majesty at the Requiem Mass for his late Majesty King Humbert the First of Italy , held at the Italian Church of St . Peter , Hatton-garden , on Thursday morning . Lord Suffield represented H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , and the Duke of York was represented by Major-General Sir Francis de Winton .

As CHAIRMAN of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Help Society , of which her Royal Highness Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein is president , Major-General Trotter writes to say that it is not the case that the " Princess Christian Homes , " at Bisley , are now being merged into the society , but they have always been part of and owe their origin to it . A home has also been established at Portsmouth , and their are hopes of opening similar institutions in other counties .

THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Cheshire was held on the 8 th inst . at the Mechanics' Institution , Stockport . Earl Egerton , Prov . Grand Master , presided , who said that he contemplated retirement from the position he now held . He felt that other responsibilities and duties which had been placed upon him , of a public nature , would prevent him from giving the time he had hitherto to Masonic work in that province . A full report will appear in our next issue .

TRADITION ASSERTS that Washington and his Masonic brethren held military lodges during the Old French War . There is a cave near Winchester , Va ., where his headquarters for two years were held , which to this day is called " Washington ' s Masonic Cave . " It is divided into several apartments , one of which is called " the Lodge Room , " and it is said that Washington and his Masonic brethren held lodges in this cavern . In the spring of 1 S 44 the Masons of that vicinity held a celebration there to commemorate the event . —Taggart ' s Times .

THE FREEMASONS OF ROUMANIA are about lo publish the first number of their journal . " Roumania Masonica . " Freemasonry was introduced into Roumania , says the " Independence Beige , " in the time of Constantino Mavrocordal in the eighteenth century by the famous Cara , secretary of that Prince , and author of a history of Moldavia and Wallachia . From 1 S 21 to 1 SO 5 Freemasonry was political in its aims , for under the shelter of its institutions the patriot Boyards could secretly propagate the principles of liberty , and help forward the work of the Revolution .

THE SPEAKER OF the House of Commons has received , through Sir A . Condie Stephen , K . C . M . G ., the British Minister at Coburg , the following reply from the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to the message of condolence which he recently forwarded to her Royal and Imperial Highness by direction of the House through Sir A . Condie Stephen : " I am profoundly touched by the message of the House of Commons , and hasten to ask you , Mr . Speaker , to convey to members my warm thanks for their kind sympathy in the loss of my beloved husband , and in my great affliction . — Marie , Coburg , Aug . 7 , 1900 . "

ADDRESSING A MEETING of the Manchester Canal shareholders , in Manchester , on the 9 th instant , Mr . Bythell , chairman , said that after this year Manchester would cease to be a free port . Ship dues would be levied on a moderate scale , and shipowners with berths would have to pay for the space . Free tonnage , which was permitted at first , would not be allowed after this year . The new dock accommodation would go a long way to make the canal a success . The general prospects of the company were very satisfactory , and he locked forward to an increase in the traffic .

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES the P < ince and Princess of Wales visited the O-ieen at Osborne on the Sth instant . Their Koyal Highnesses Princess Louise ( Duchess of Argyll ) and the Duke and Duchess of York arrived at Osborne , having crossed over from Portsmouth with H . R . H . the Prince of Wales on board her Majesty ' s yacht Osborne , Captain Charles Windham . His Royal Hi ? hne > s the D jkeof Yjrk is staying on board the Royal yacht Oslnrne . Her Majesty drove out in the aftermm , ace > mpanied by ther Royal Highnesses Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and the Duchess of York .

AT THE present moment the annual expenses of the Royal National Hospital for Consumption at Ventnor , Isle of Wight , exceeds its income by upwards of , 65000 , and it is absolutely necessary for the board to obtain funds . The number of beds in the institution ( the President of which is the Earl of Rosebery ) has been increased to 153 , and there is a continuous succession of sufferers constantly begging admission . " We plead , " declare the managers , " in a cause which is truly national , and we ask aid to prevent the efforts of this great hospital being crippled for want of resources . " All donations sent to 34 , Craven-street , Charing Cross , W . C , will be thankfully acknowledged .

IT IS RELATED that , years ago , when the English were at war with the French , a drummer boy belonging to the English army approached too near the French outposts , and was taken prisoner . The French soldiers led him before their general , and he —fancying that the drummer ' s uniform was only a disguise assumed by a spy—sent for a drum and desired the lad to beat it before him . The drummer at once complied , and beat the " reveille , " " tatoo , " " charge , " " assembly , " & c . But the general was

still doubtful . "The drummer of the regiment should know all his beats , " he said , " let me hear you sound the ' retreat . ' " The boy threw the drum indignantly from him . " An English drummer does not know how to beat a ' retreat , ' " he said , " and does not wish to learn . " The brave general was delighted at his answer , and at once gave the boy his liberty , and sent him back with a letter to his comti ander , praising his courage and spirit .