Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Cheshire will be held at Birkenhead on the 2 Sth inst . THE RECEPTION of Bro . the Lord Mayor-Elect by the Lord Chancellor has been fixed for Thursday , the 24 th instant . BRO . THE HON . TATTON EGERTON , M . P ., will lay with Masonic honours the corner stone of Christ Church new school , Stalybridge , on th ; 19 th inst .

A HEARTY Highland welcome was on Monday accorded to the King and Queen when they arrived at Mar Lodge on a visit to Bro . thc Duke and Duchess of Fife . * MR . WALDO R . BRIGGS , the son of Bro . George Briggs , C . C , has passed the preliminary examination , and been admitted a Uw student at Christ ' : College , Cambridge .

A GRAND "send-off" was accorded Bro . Sir Henry Irving , Miss Ellen Terry , and the rest of the Lyceum Theatre company , who left London on Saturday f jr the United States . A REQUISITION has been signed by 60 Aldermen and Councillors of ths Paddington Borough Council requesting Bro . Sir J . Aird , M . P ., to allow himself to be nomiraled as Mayor for the ensuing year .

THE KING has conferred upon Mr . P . Cic-mieu-Javal the "Orderof Mercy , " in recognition of services rendered to the Prince of Wales' Hospital Fund and other benevolent organisations in the metropolis .

THE TIVOLI , always up-to-date , announces that on and after the 12 th instant the prices cf admission to the Saturday matinees will be reduced by about one-half . The present programme is a very strong and popular one . AUCTIONEERS' BENEVOLENT FUND . —The annual generel meeting of the supporters of the Incorporated Auctioneers' Benevolent Fund will be held at the Auction Mart , Tokenhouse-yard , E . C , at three o'clock on the 21 st instant .

SOUTH KENSINGTON SKETCHING CLUB . —The Club ' s Annual Exhibition of Holiday Sketches will open on Monday , the 14 th instant , in the buildings at the back of the Natural History Museum , and will remain open for about a fortnigh ' . IN VIEW of the fact that Islington is the largest of the metropolitan bo-ou jhs in point ef population , the Mayor , Bro . W . J . Crump ) proposes that the Council should petition the King to permit the mayor , aldermen , and councillors to be represented at the forthcoming Coronation .

FOUNDLING HOSPITAL CHAPEL . —Sunday next will be observed as the harvest festival . The morning service will be held at 11 o ' clock , and a speciel afternoon service at 3 . 30 , when Adams' Harvest Cantata , " The Rainbow ol Peace , " will be sung by the children and choir as an anthem . THE INSTALLATION BANQUET in connection with the Lodge of Union , No . 3 S , postponed from the usual date in February owing to the death ot Oueen Victoria , took place at Chichester on the 3 rd instant , and proved a succes . fufand enjoyable function . The W . M ., Bro . E . B . Wannop , was in the chair .

SALE OF ROYAL CATTLE—His Majesty the King sent four beautiful Highland Scotch bullocks from Windsor Great Park to the Slough cattle mirket on the Sth instant . Thev attracted considerable attention , and were very much ad nired by all who saw them . They were offered for sale by auction , and fetched exceedingly good prices . BRO . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , K . C ., is to be installed as Grand Master i . f Mark Masons for the Province of Hampshire and the IJIC of Wight at a Provincial Grand Lodge to be held at Portsmouth on the 2 s ; th instant . The Earl of Euston , Pro Grand Master , and the officers of Alark Grand Lodge will attend on the occasion .

A TEMPERANCE LODGE , "Temperantia , " has been estib'ished at Whitehaven . The consecration was performed by Bro . Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck , M . P ., P . G . Master of Cumberland and Westmorland , assisted by Hro . Colonel F . R . Sewell , D . L ., P . G . I ) , of England , D . P . G . M ., and othir ofli-irs of Provincial Grand Lodge .

THE LONDON SKETCH CLUB . —The private view of the seventh exhibition of sketches by the members of the London Sketch Club will b : held to-mirrov ( Siturdiy ) at the Modern Gallery , 17 j , Bond-street , W ., and th- ! exhibition will be open to the public from tho 14 th to the 26 th inst . inclu-ive . M . j i .--General Balm Pj vill Ins been elected a member uf the club .

A STATUE of the late Queen Victoria , which his been presentel to th : Truitee ; of the Alexandra Palace by Mr . Onslow Ford , was unveiledon Saturday last by H .-o . the Lord Mayor of London , who attended in state , accompanied by the Lady Mayoress . The Loid Mayor subsequently opened an exhioi ion of the presents male to Ojeen v'ictoria on the celebrations of her Jubilee and Diam ind Jubilee . ~

BRO . PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT has contributed to the sixth volume of Mr . Laird Clowcs ' s history of " The Royal Navy " a long and critical account of the nival operationsof the war between Great Britain and the United States in 1812-15 . The volume will be published in a few diy . 5 . The characteristic of Brj . Colonel Roosevelt ' s chapter is its unflinching impartiality in the besto . val alike o £ , praise and of blame .

FREEMASONRY IN BERKSHIRE-Bro . John Thornhill Morland , who has been in charge of the Province of Berkshire since the death of Bro . Lord Wantage , the Prov . G . Master , has fixed Tuesday , the 29 th instant , for the annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge , and also the Prov . G . Chapter , at Windsor . The last time the Prov . G . Lodge was held in the Royal borough was ia July , iSy ; ( nine years ago ) , and liro .

Lord Wantage had intended to hold the meeting there in July last , but in consequence of his lamented death it was postponed until the autumn . Great interest is expected in the forthcoming meetings , not only on account of the appointment of ollicers for the ensuing year , but also in the number of members who have qualified for the Charity jewels and bars .

A NOTABLE ACADEMY PIClURE .-One of the most notable pictures in the Royal Academy this year was Professor V . in Herkomer ' s portraits of his o . vn class in his famous life school at Bushey . The professor is seen playing his mandoline to them , and the young men arc indolently listening in characteristic pose or graceful attitude , whilst they smoke , to the great artist ; who is also an accomplished musician . M iny of the portraits are speaking likenesses of men who will be famous son : d iv , like the great

master , who it is said , by the bye , makes L- 30 , 010 a year by his works . M ireus Holmes , formerly of the Aberdeen School of Art , figures among the rest of the students depicted wilh such matvellous skill . It is a wondir the picture has not been bought for the Chantry bequest . —Northe u Figaro . ( The young artist is a son of Bro . Emra Holmes , whose fa'her , also Marcus Holmes was a notable artist , and studied at the Royal Academy under Fuseli in 1 S 24 .

rROM I lib 22 nd annual report of the Minnehaha Amateur Minstrels , we see that during the past season the sum raised was £ iG ! 3 IOI . 3 d ., being the second largest amount contributed in any session to the various charitable institutions in and around this city , and making a grand total , since the formation of ths So : iety , of jt > > 7 . 5 * 7 os - 2 d . nett . It is gratifying to state that another record has been made as the effort of a single night's troupe performance ; the entertainmmt given on behalf of the Railway Servants' Orphanage , atthe Free Trade Hall , Manchester , March oth .

realised the magnificent sum of i ' f . ' oO 1 is . 61 ., with which result the members may feel justly proud . It is also pleasing to record the fact that in connection with the various sums , amounting in the aggregite to £ 1 , 7 . } : 19 ; . 9 I . nett , raised on behalf of the Railway Servants'Orphanage , the committee of the institution have granted a permanent presentation to the troupe , our esteemed Presi lent no . v hivin' the privilege of

nominating , for immediate admission into the orphanage , the child of aiy decease ! rail . vay ollicer or servant . Ihe work of theseason has necessitated extra an J lengi ' ny rehearsals , and your committee think it only right to place on record the cheerful way i . i . viica the acting members have complied with their requests ; they feel that so ling as this esprit ile turpi is maintained no apprehension need t > - felt for ( he continue ! suet-ess of the Minnehaha Amateur Minstrels ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . SHERIFF H . B . MARSHALL , G . Treas ., will preside at the forthcoming annuel festival of the Coffee and Eating-House Keepers' Benevolent Association . THE Paddington Borough Council have unanimously decided to ask Bro . Sir John Aird , Bart ., M . P ., to accept the ofiice of Mayor of the borough for a second year . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR ELECT , the treasurer , will preside at the autumn election of the Earlswoed Asylum for Idiots at tho Cannon-street Hotel , on Thursday , the 31 st instant .

A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC—Sir Edward Bradford , the Metropolitan Police Commissioner , has issued a notice cautioning the public against the dingerous practice of throwing banana skins on the footpaths . ON THURSDAY , the ioth inst ., Mr . Weedon Grossmith took "The Night of Party" to the Theatre Royal , Brighton , for a Hying matinee , of ciurse , returning to town in time to play at the Avenue Theatre the same evening .

THE LORD MAYOR ELECT ( Fro . Sir Joseph Dimsdale , M . P . ) fas appointed the Rev . Wil iam Page Roberts , M . A , Canon nf Canterbury and Incumbent cf St . Peter's , Veic-street , to be his Chajlain during his year o ! office . THERE is every prospect of the Australasian exhibits from the Glasgow Exhibition coming to the City , as at a nutting at Mercers' Hall it was decided to p ' ace half the inside space of the Royal Exchange at the dispoFal of the promoters .

THE ANNUAL GENERAL CONVOCATION of the Provinc ' al Grand Chapter of Warwick-. hire will be held at the Rectitude Chapter , No . 502 , at the Masinic Hall , Castle-ttreet , Rugby , on MonJay , the 28 th inst ., at 4 o'clock precisely .

MR . HUGH KELLY told a Laffan representative on the ioth instant that Sir Thomas Lipton will not challenge in 1902 . Members of the New York Yacht Club are sceptical abont the report that the German Emperor will issue a challenge . FROM WASHINGTON comes the news that Miss Stone and her captors have indeed been definitely located , but telegrams from places near the scene of the abduction still differ as to whether the bandits' hiding place is in Turkish or Bulgarian territory .

THE ANNUAL financial returns of the Ancient Order of Foresters for the year ended December 31 st , just issued , show total funds of £ 5 , 97-, ' - > which represents an amount equal to an average worth of £ S iSs . yd ., or 6 s . id , more than the average at Ihe end of 1 S 99 . THE honorary Secretaries of the Prince of Wales ' s Hosp ' tal Fund for London have received at the Bink of England the sum of 100 guineas from the King , who has been pleased to continue the annual subscription which his Majesty—as Prince of Wales—has hitherto contributed to this Fund .

THE LOYAL CAMBRIAN LODGE , No . no , Merthyr , of which Bro . Julius PraggisW . M ., entertained at a banquet at the Globe Hotel , on the 3 rd inst ., the officers and brethren of the Barry , St . George , Brecknock , Fforest , St . David's , Aber dare , 1 ' ennant , Cardiff , and Rhymney Lodges . " WHAT puzzling questions some of our readers ask } " growled the able editor of an Egiicultural paper . " Here is a city man , lately removed to the country , who wants to know how long cows should be milked ! " " Oh , that ' s easy ! " interjected the ollice boy . " Tell him just the same as short cows . "

" NOTHING , indeed , under the Bible itself , " declares Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , " can be more healthy , invigorating , and helpful than the strong , manly purity and idealism of the Waverley Novels ; they are the example to all time of what an admirable educational force may be found in wholesome fiction . "

IT HAS BEEN definitely decided to submit the histori : property known as Battle Abbey to auction . The estate , which includes the domain of the ancient abbey , an J extends over Oooo acres , will be sold under the hammer by Mr . Joseph Slower on Tuesday , the 27 th prox ., unless otherwise disposed of in the meantime . BRO . EMRA HOLMES has received the thanks of the Queen for his poem " Kiaora , " addressed to the Duke and Duchess of York on their tour , which originally appeared in the columns of the Freemason . Her Majesty has been pleased to accept from the author a copy of the verses , which have since been widely published in our contemporaries here and abroad .

LADY ISAACS , Ihe wife of Bro . Sir Henry Aaron Isaac ; , who was Sheriff of London and Aliddlesex in the Omen ' s Jubilee Year ( 1 SS 7 ) , when he was knighted , and was Lord Mcyirin 1 S 90 , has just died at her residence at Lawrie Park , Sydenham , after a long illness . The deceased lady male an admirable Lady Mayoress , . nd was much esteemed in corporation circles , where the news of her death has occasional sincere regret .

BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR inducted the Rev . A . Boyd Carpenter as the new rector of the united parish of St . Olave , Ihrt-street , and All Hallows Staining , tre ceremony taking place in the intcres'ing old church where Pepys , the fain ms diarist , lies buried , and which escaped the G eat Fire of if . GO . It derives its name from a Norwegian King and sa nt , and cf the 15 churches in London dedicated to his memory three are in the City of London .

IN MEMORY OF QUEEN VICTORIA an impressive service was held en Thursday evening la-t in ~ the chapel of Hickey ' s AlimhousiF , Richmond , at which a etair . ed-glass window was ur . veiled as a niimorial of her Majesty . Artiscally the work is very successful . In the congregation were Sir James Szlumper , Sir ChaTes and Lady Rugge-Price , and many of Ihe principal residents in the town . The Vicar of Richmond preached the serm on , and the Rev . Lionel Welsh dedicated the window .

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT imGiDE —The fifth annua ! concert , in aid of the fund for the relief of needy survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava , will be held at St . James ' s Hall , on the ev ming of Friday , the 25 th instan ' , the 47 th anniversary of the memorable ride . The services of a long list of artistes have been secured , while Mrs . Brown-Potter has consented to recite "The Charge of the Light Brigade , " the survivors of the charge being present on the stage .

TIIK LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE . —The first of the monthly dinners of the London Chamber of Commerce will take place at the Trocadero 01 Wednesday , the 23 rd inst . Bro . Lord Brassey , K . C . B . ( president of the Chamber ) , will preside , anil the subject for discussion will be "The Navy and Colonial Defence . " The guests will include Admiral Sir John Ommannev Hopkin ' , Rear-Admiral Fardley Wilmot , General the Hon . Sir Anarew Clarke , Colonel Bingham , R . A ., and the Agent-General for South Australia .

IN CONNECTION with the National Commemoration of the thousandth anniversary of the death of King Alfred the Great , a meeting of the committee was held at the Mansion House , under the presidency of Bro . the Lord Mayor , when it vr-s decided that the Mayor of Winchester should be requested to act as the . representat ve of the National Committee at the King Alfred Celebration of New Y irk on the 2 Sth instant . It was also agreed that should there be any surplus after the payment of all expenses the same should be devote d towards raising and removing to a suitable si e in Winchester the Viking boat now embedded in the Hamble river .

CHRISTMAS POSTING FOR IMAGES ABROAD . —The public are reminded lhat , in order to ensure whatever they post to places abroad reaching their destinition in time for Christinas , they must post some time in advance . For the Continent , letters , cards , books , & c , should be posted not less than from one to seven days before Christmas Day or New Years Day , according to their destination ; ani in the case of parcels from one to 10 days . The dates for posting for countries beyond the Continent of Europe are fully set out in a notice issued from St . Martin's-le-Grand . Letters sent to the forces in South Africa should be posted a week earlier than the tabulated dates .

ANOTHER ATTEMPT to fcund a penny weekly review of literature , politics , and social affairs is to be started to-morrow ( Saturday ) . The llAv . i ' j ,- . S '; cr ;'< M ' , as it will be called , is strongly supported both on the literary and the business sides , and it seems to have an exceptional piospect of permanent success . Ttie prompt reviewing n ' new books is to be a feature , ani there will lie special articles on literary and social ani

questions by distinguished writers , a short story , the latest gossip froai bookland , notes on events of tbe week , including comn ; rce and sport . The politics will b-Liberal Imperalist . 'The ideal of the paper is to be at once substantial and interesting , and so on account of the price to reach a much larger number of readers than is possible for a more expensive review .