Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

LORD AND LADY FARQUHAR have arrived in Paris en route for Cannes . BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF BEDFORD have come to town from Woburn Abbey . BRO . THE DUKE OF ATHOLL has returned to Blair Castle , Blair Atholl . The Duchess of Atholl is staying in the Isle of Wight . WE REGRET to learn that the condition of Sir Richard Ouain has become worse , and that the distinguished physician ' s strength is failing .

PRINCES EDWARD and Albert and Princess Victoria Alexandra of York , who have been staying with the Queen , left Windsor Castle on Alonday . LORD BELLEW ' S appointment as Lord-Lieutenant of the County Louth , in the room of Viscount Massereene , resigned , has been approved by her Majesty . BRO . ADMIRAL LORD C HARLES BERESFORD , M . P ., will give a lecture on the Navy in the Speech Room at Harrow School on Saturday , the 19 th inst ., at 8 p . m .

THE PRIVATE VIEW of Mr . David Lee ' s 16 large oil paintings , portraying passages f i « . ! -. ! the life of Our Saviour , Jesus , will be held tc-day ( Saturday ) , at the Modern Gallery , 175 , Bond-street , W . AT THE NEXT Drawing Room the Diplomatic presentations will be made by the Marchioness of Lansdowne , in the absence from Court of the Marchioness ot Salisbury and the Duchess of Devonshire .

WE ARE PLEASED to hear that excellent news has been received from Madeira respecting the health of the Earl of Lathom . The Lord Chamberlain has greatly benefited by the sea voyage and the beautiful climate . THE DUKE OF YORK is enjoying good angling sport on the Balmoral and Birkhall Dee waters , especially considering the inclement state of the weather . The Balmoral pools have been yieldmg splendidly since the season opened .

THE DUKE OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA is not yet well enough to receive any visitors . It was arranged that he should leave Malta for Villefranche on Thursday , but a telegram received on Tuesday night states that his Royal Highness will not sail until next week . THE sun COMMITTEE appointed to make arrangements for a memorial to the late Bro . Sir Frank Lockwood met at the House of Commons on Tuesday under the presidency of Lord James of Hereford , when a report was drawn up for presentation to the general committee next week .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUKE OF VORK are to pay a visit to Reading on Saturday , the 1 ith June , when the new buildings of the University Extension College will be opened . Lord Wantage , president of the college , intends to give a grand luncheon in the Town Hall . BRO . THE EARI . OF A RRAN has been appointed a Knight of St . Patrick in place of the late Earl of Carlingford . His lordship , who commenced his public career as a

diplomatist , and was afterwards a Commissioner of Customs , was made a Peer of the United Kingdom by Mr . Gladstone in 1 SS 4 . LIEUT .-COL . L OFTHOUSE and the members of the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers will have an "At Home " and smoking concert in the Inner Temple Hall on Friday evening , the 25 th instant , when Bro . the Earl of Halsbury , Lord Chancellor , % vill be present , and several of the judges have accepted invitations to attend .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF W ALKS went from Cannes to Mentone on Tuesday , and lunched with the Duchess of York , afterwards visiting the Empress Eugenie at Cap Martin . His Royal Highness drove thence to Monte Carlo . In spite of three days ' incessant rain , visitors to the Riviera are arriving in large numbers . THE DUKF . OF SAXE-C OUURG GOTHA , who is still indisposed , remained on board the Surprise on Sunday . It was announced the following morning , however , that his Royal Highness is better . Prince Alfred of Coburg has landed and is staying at the Governor ' s Palace at Valetta as the guest of Gmeral Sir A . Lyon-Fremantle .

AT THE ANNUAL ladies' night , on the 20 th ult ., of the Gallery Lodge , No . 192 S — when there were present , among other guests , Bros , the Right Hon . Lord Glenesk , H . C . Richards , M . P ., and R . Eve , P . G . T . —a special jewel was presented to Bro . Alfred F . L . Robbins , in recognition of the valuable services he , for over five years , has rendered as Treasurer of thc Lodge Benevolent Fund .

H . R . H . THE P RINCESS OF WALES , accompanied by Princess Victoria , and attended by Miss Knollys and General Sir Dighton Probyn , arrived at Sandringham House on Saturday evening last , shortly after six o'clock , from visiting the Queen at Windsor Castle , having travelled by special train Great Western Railway to Tottenham , and thence by 2 . 35 Great Eastern Railway from St . Pancras to VVolferton .

HER MAJESTY ' ships Prince George , Repulse , and Resolution have been unable to obtain pratique at Cartagena , owing to the fact that there are cases of measles on board . The ships therefore returned to Gibraltar on Sunday to complete their quarantine . Her Majesty ' s ship Repulse has obtained pratique and rejoins the Squadron . The battleships Cciar and Mars have come back with scarlet fever or measles aboard , and have been quarantined for a period of 13 days .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR presided on Saturday afternoon last at the 94 th anniversary meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society , held in the Guildhall , which was crowded in every part . An address was delivered by the Rev . J . E . C . Welldon , Master of Harrow School , who traced the connection between that institution and this great society from its foundation , nearly a century ago , when the first President , Lord Teignmouth , was a Harrow boy , to Lord Harrowby , the present President , who was also educated at Harrow School .

HUNTING . MEMBERS of the House of Commons held a meeting to discuss the preliminaries of the Parliamentary Point-tc-Point Steeplechase , which it is propo : ed to hold towards the end of the present month . Bro . Walter Lo . ig , Pres dent of the Board of Agriculture , occupied the chair , and Bro . Lord Valentia , Sir Henry Meysey-Thoir . pson , Bro . Sir J . Blundell Map ' e , Bro . Hermon-Hodge , Mr . Greville Verney , Mr . VV . D . Green , and Mr . J . VV . Logan were present . In the absence of Mr . Mildmay , who acted last session , Mr . Verney was requested to serve , with Bro . Hermcn Hodge , as Hon . Secretary , whilst Bros . Lord Valentia and Hermon-1 ledge were appointed to select a suitable spot for the interesting contest .

OLD E TONIANS assembled in great force in Limmer s Hotel on Monday evening for the purpose of founding a club for those desirous of carrying in social life the honoured traditions of Eton . Bro . the Earl of Dartmouth presided , and among thise present were the Earl of Rosebery , Lord Windsor , the Hon . VV . V . D . Smith , M . P ., Hon . A . Lyttelton , M . P ., Sir E . W . Hamilton , and Bro . TL McCalmont , M . P . It was unanimous decided that a club be constituted , to be called " The Old Etonian Club , " and

that all Etonians who have left the school in the ordinary course be eligible . Lord Rosebery was elected President ; Mr . A . T . B . Dunn , Treasurer ; and Mr . W . Durnford Hon . Sec . The Committee of 14 includes Bros . Lord Harris , the Eirl of Dirtmouth , Major Henniker , Hon . A . Lyttelton , M . P ., and the Hon . W . F . D . Smith , M . P . All old Etonians who wish to join are requested to apply to Mr . VV . Durnford , Eton College . Great success is anticipated for the new club .

THE P RIME MINISTER and the Marchioness of Salisbury made the first stage of their journey to the Continent on Tuesday afternoon , when they travelled from Hatfield to London . Her ladyship , who was accompanied by Lord Hugh Cecil , came to King ' s Cross Station by train , and drove to Arlington-street in an open carriage . . In order to avoid the discomfort of the double change between train and carriage at Hatfield and King ' s Cross the Prime Minister drove to town by road , and was accompanied in his brougham

by Lady Gwendoline Cecil . Barnet was reached at three o'clock , and the carriage drew up at the Salisbury Arms , where the horses were changed . Arlington-street was reached at 4 . 25 . The Marquis is very much better , but his medical advisers wish him to be spared for the present all official work , except what is positively urgent , as the weakness which has followed the influenza is easily inclined to feverishness . The date of the departure of the Marquis and Marchioness for Beaulieu is not yet fixed .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF WESTMINSTER have returned to Grosvenor . House , after a three weeks' stay at the Osborne Hotel , Torquay . H . R . H . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , with her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , visited the Queen on Tuesday , and remained to luncheon . IT IS ANNOUNCED that the dates of the Drawing Rooms to be held after Easter are not yet fixed . No names ior presentation can be received until official notice is given to that effect .

THE STATE APARTMENTS of Windsor Castle will be open to the public on and after Monday next , the 14 th inst ., on every week day , Wednesdays excepted , under the usual regulations , until further orders . THE ANNUAL MEETING of the London Society for the Extension of University Teaching will be held in the Mansion House , on Saturday , the 23 rd prox ., Bro . the Lord Mayor presiding . Mr . Asquith will deliver the customary address .

BRO . THE EARL OF HALSBURY makes an appeal on behalf of the Church of England Young Men's Society , of which he is president . The head-quarters are at Leopold Rooms , Ludgate-circus , where a useful work is being carried on . SINCE THE OPENING of the exhibition of the late Bro . Sir F . Lockwood ' s sketches , the number of visitors has been remarkable , and the daily attendances seem to be increasing . Visits have been paid not only by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York , but by most of those who are the subject of the artist ' s fancy .

BRO . EMRA HOLMES has been appointed District Collector H . M . Customs Harwich , which includes Ipswich , Woodbridge , and Aldeburgh . Over 20 years ago Bro . Holmes was stationed at Ipswich , at which time he contributed constantly to our columns and to the pages of the " Masonic Monthly , " but he has been for the pist ro vears in Guernsey and Ireland , and latterly in Scotland , at Aberdeen . Bro . Emra Holmes ' _ " Notes on the United Orders of the Temple and Hospital , " published in our columns in 1 S 72 , caused some controversy at the time . They were translated into French and published in La Verite .

ON TUESDAY night it was decided to hold a Parliamentary Golf Handicap again this Session , the competition being open to both Houses , as well as to officials and Press representatives . Entries which close on Monday , the 21 st inst ., are to be made with Bro . Hayes-Fisher , one of the Government Whips . There is every prospect of a large field , and Mr . Balfour exhibited his keen golfing enthusiasm by being one of the ( irst to place his name on the list . In addition to Bro . Hayes-Fishes the Committee consist of Bro . T . W . Leigh , M . P ., Bro . H . VV . Foster , M . P ., Mr . Seton-Kirr , M . P ., Mr . j . P . Croal , and Mr . Felix Skene .

ON THURSDAY , the 3 rd inst ., a most successful dance was held in Dingwell under the auspices of the Fingal Lodge . There were upwaids of 70 couples present , and these included a number of representatives from the Inverness and other northern lodges . Bro . Capt . Denholm , Junior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , was also present . Bro . Sir Hector Munro , ot Foulis , Prov . Grand Master , telegraphed from Perth his inability to be present , and wishing the gathering every success . About midnight the Urge company sat down to an excellent supper , when " The Health of B -o . A . Henderson , the Right Worshipful Master , " was drunk with acclamition .

AT THE MASON ' S ARMS , Heywood , on Thursday , the 3 rd inst ., Bro . VV . Cockerill . W . M ., on behalf of the brethren of the Napthali Lodge , No . 266 , presented an illuminated address and a Past Master's jewel to Bro . John Kay , on his retirement from the town . Bro . Kiy ' s connect ! ) n with the lodge has extended over a period of 25 years , during the course of which he his held the important office of Treasurer , & c , and the presentation was made as a mark of the high esteem in which he is held . Amongst others present were Bros . GUaves , P . M . ( who as-istel the VV . M . ); J . Ho . varth , S . W . 1392 ; J . Melling , I . G . 1392 ; J . R . Bailey , W . M . 2229 j and Booth , 2229 .

THE QUEEN held a Council at Windsor on Monday at three o ' clock , at which were present Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , K . G . ( Lord President of the Council ) , Bro . the Earl of Kintore , G . C . M . G . ( Lord-in-Waiting ) , and Lord James of Hereford ( Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ) . Her Majesty pricked the list of Sheriffs for England and Wales . Sir Charles Lemox Peel was in attendance as Clerk of the Council , and Mr . J . H . Harrison as Assistant Cletk . Bro . the Duke of Devonshire had an audience of her Majesty before the Council . Afterwards Lord James of Hereford was introduced to

the Queen's presence , when her Ma-esty pricked the Sheriffs for the Duchy of Lancaster . General Viscount Bridport and Bro . Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edmund Commerell were in attendance as Lord and G 00 m in Waiting . THE QUEEN was present at the confirmation of Princess Margaret , eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught , which took place in the private chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday morning last , the ceremony being psrformed by the Bishop of Winchester , the Dean of Windsor , and the R < -v . J . H . Ellison . The invited guests

and the ladies and gentlemen of the Royal household having taken their places , Princess Margaret entered the chapel , with her father , and stood in front of the altar . The Queen was seated opposite the Duke of Connaught , having on her left H . R . H . the Princess of VVales , Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , Princess Henry of Battenberg , with Princess Victoria Eugenie , while opposite were the Duchess of Connaught , Prince Arthur and Princess Victoria Patricia , Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein .

A MEETING of the Executive Committee of the Royal Commission of the Paris International Exhibition was held at No . 23 , Great Gsorge-street , Westminster , on Tuesday , the following Commissioners being present : Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , K . G ., the Earl of Crewe , the Right Hon . Henry Asquith , M . P ., Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , Bart ., K . C . B ., Sir Edward Carbutt , Bart ., Bro . the Hon . Sir Henry Stafford Northcote , Bart ., M . P ., Sir Henry Bergne , K . C . M . G ., Maj .-Gen . Sir John Donnelly , Sir Edward Poynter , P . R . A ., Sir Richard Webster , G . C . M . G ., M . P ., Bro . Arthur J . Trendel

R . , C . M . G ., and Col . Herbert Jekyll , C . M . G ., Sec . Tuesday night ' s " Gazette " announces that the Queen has been pleased by VVarrant under her Majesty ' s Royal Sign Manual , bearing date the sth inst ., to appoint his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , K . G ., Bro . Baron Pirbright , Bro . Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Edmund Commerell , G . C . B ., V . C , and Charles Hubert Hastings Parry , Esq ., Mus . Doc , to be additional Commissioners for the Paris Exhibition of 190 > . COSBURN ' S ILLUSTRATED DIRECTORY . — This popular handbook has nude its

25 th annual appearance in a new garb , being bound in thick cirdboid covers , artistically printed in gold and colour , which render iti exterior lundsom : and attrac ' . iv ; . The ' same remark applies with equal force to the contents , the work being beautifully illustrated with clearly-printed process blocks . This year ' s frontispiece presents a striking portrait of Bro . Keyser , of Aid rroiston Court , accompanied by an interesting biographical sketch . The additional views introduced include a photograph of the

Municipal Buildings and New Art Gallery at Reading j also vignettes of Englefield ani Brimpton Churches . The reference contents are quite up to thi usual standard , a noticeable feature being a complete list of the Mayors of Newbury for the pist 300 years . The entire book , which consists of 510 pages , does great credit to the printer and publisher , Bro . Geo . J . Cosburn , of the Market-place , wha has been much complimented upon the vitality and completeness exhibited in this " silver " edition of thc Directory .

THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT , who , like his father and grandfather before him , has alwajs taken a great interest in the Badminton Hunt , was on Saturday last presented by members with his portrait , as a memento of long and pleasant associations , the interesting ceremony taking place at a lawn meet at Badminton House , the seat of the Somerset family . Upwards of a thousand subscribers contrituted to the picture , for which the Duke gave sittings at Stoke , the artist being Mr . Ellis Roberts . The presentation took place in North Hall , and only a tithe of the people who were present at the meet were able to enter the apartment . The Duke and Duchess had driven from Stoke early in the

morning , and the house-party consisted of the Marquis and Marchioness of Worcester , the Hon . Henry Curzon , Mr . VV . H . Harford , Sir Thomas Dancer , and Mr . John Fuller . Others present included Prince Hatzfeldt , Earl Bathurst , Comte G . de Madre , Comte D'Amilly , Viscount D'Espenilles , Sir J . Dickson Poynder , M . P ., Bro . Walter Long , M . P ., Sir J . Wallington , Sir R . H . Pollin , Sir Algernon Neeld , Sir Gerald Codring tonand others . The presentation was made b y Col . George Sotheron Estcourt , and the Duke made a feeling reply , in the course of whicli he said that no man could have been mote heartily and warmly supported in any hunting country in England than he had been all his life , and he was happy to think they were supporting his son ( the Marqus ot Worcester ) in the same generoui way .