Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

The Rt . Hon . tho Lord Mayor ( Bro . Alderman Ellis , who will , we believe , be installed as VV . M . of the Grand Masters' Lodge , No . i , early in the new year ) has kindly consented to preside at the eighty-fourth Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , to be held in June next . The Clothworkers' Company havc made another

grant of £ 200 to tbe City of London College , making a total of £ 500 contributed by them to this institution—City Press . Bro . Major-General Burnaby , M . P ., presided at the anniversary festival of _ the Dairymen ' s Benevolent Association , at Freemasons' Tavern .

Bro . Sir Thomas Brassey , Civil Lord of the Admiralty , has succeeded the late Dean Stanley as president of the Working Men ' s Club and Institute Union . Bro . the Marquis of Hartington has consented to preside at the annual festival of the Warehousmen and Clerks' Schools , at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Wednesday , Febiuary 15 th , 1 SS 2 .

Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Albany will lay the foundation stone of the new buildings of the Princess Helena College , at Ealing , this day ( Saturday ) . At the meeting of the Royal Gloucester Lodge Bro . George Davies , the S . W ., was elected W . M . for the

ensuing year . Bro . Henry Irving has secured the services of Brp . David James , one of the best comedians on the London stage , who will appear as Our Mr . Jenkins in the "Two Roses . "

Bro . James Weaver , P . G . O . Middlesex , will succeed Air . Alichael Connolley , as musical director of the Princess ' s Theatre . Mr . Henry Harvey has had the honour of s ' ub mitting to the Oueen , at Windsor Castle , his bust of B ro . General Sir Frederick Roberts , V . C ., previous to its

dispatch to India . We are glad to be able to announce that Bro . Alderman Knight is slightly better in health , and is now able to attend business for a few hours a day . —City Press . Bro . Sir T Brassey , M . P ., is . reparing for publication a work on " Recent Naval Administration . "

Bro . Alfred Potter , S 13 ( late of the Hackney Gazette ) , has been presented with a very handsome gold watch , made by Bro . Benson , of Ludgate-hill , and an address , on his retirement from the firm of Potter Bros ., by a few of his immediate friends , including a number of the brethren of his mother lodge ( New Concord , S 13 ) , as a token of their sincere respect and esteem in which he was held .

Bro . George R . Sims is announced as amongst the contributors to the Christmas number of the Penny Illustrated Paper . Bro . E . E . Barratt Kidder , Senior Warden Fortitude and Old Cumberland Lodge , No . 12 , has been unanimously elected W . AL for the ensuing year .

The Robert Burns Lodge of Instruction will , in future , be held at the North Pole , 3 S 7 , Oxford-street , six door- from Wardour-street , on every Friday evening at S o'clock , having removed from the Union Tavern , Airstreet , Regent-street . Bro . Baker , P . AL , is the Preceptor .

ERRATUM . —In the report of the meeting of the Skiddaw Lodge , Cockermouth , which appeared in our last , Bro . L . F . B . Dykes , VV . M . elect , was stated to be a Past Alaster of the Lodge . 'This was a printer ' s error . For Past Master read Past Warden .

At the National Hospital for Diseases of the Heart and Paralysis , Soho Square , the number of patients under treatment for thc week ending Dec . 10 th was 954 . At the last Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of New South Wales , it was decided , on the motion of W . Bro . A . Elkington , D . G . Supt . of VV ., and seconded by VV . Uro . N . Hopson , P . D . G . J . W . : —

"That , whli a view to render the object of Alasonic Benevolence more comprehensive , the laws of the present Benevolent Fund be extended , in order to an addition being made therein , so as to embrace the objects of the English law , viz , to extend permanent assistance to indigent Freemasons and their widows ; " and that " a Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the best means of increasing the present Benevolent Fund , especially with

the view of affording permanent assistance to aged and helpless brethren and their widows . " VV . Bro . J . Pope , as chairman of the District Grand Steward ' s Ball Committee , on behalf of his Committee , haneled to the R . W . District Grand Alaster a cheque for £ 130 , representing the net proceeds of the late Alasjnic Ball , given at the Exhibition Building , Prince Alfred Park , under the English Constitution , and which amount the Committee desired to present to thc Benevolent Fund .

The Fifteen Sections will be worked by thc members of the Strong Man Lodge of Instruction , 45 , in the Corinthian Lodge of Instruction , 13 S 2 , at the George Hotel , Glengall-road , Cubitt Town , Poplar , on Tuesday , the 20 th inst ., commencing at 6 . 30 p . m .

The Town Council of Salisbury have decided on presenting to Bro . H . R . H . Prince Leopold an address of welcome on the occasion of His Roval Highness visiting that city and examining the cathedral . Bro . Sir Erasmus Wilson , F . R . S ., President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England , has had the honorary degree of LL . D .-of the University of Aberdeen conferred on him by the Senate of that University .

The Honourable Commissioners of Customs have appointed Bro . Emra Holmes , at present Collectoi II . AI . Customs at Fowey , to the Collectorship of Barnstaple , vacant by thc retirement of Mr . Richard White .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . the Earl of Lathom , thc Countess of Lathom , and Ladies Wilbraham have gone on a visit to the Alarquis and Alarchioness of Salisbury , at Hatfield House , Herts . Bro . Agg-Gardner is progressing favourably from the injuries he received from being thrown out of the baloon Saladin on Saturday last .

There was held at the Alexandra Palace this week a show of dogs , and in connection therewith some oil and other paintings of canine subjects were exhibited . Among the latter was a picture that attracted some attention . Two dogs , called Cavalier and Roundhead , are placed in admirable contrast , and telling the tale of these old opponents . It was well painted , ancl the work of Bro . H . E . Frances .

A special morning performance of the spectacular fairy opera " Black Crook , " and the Grand Ballets will be given at the Alhambra , on Boxing-day , Monday , December 26 th . It is announced that this is the only morning performance that can be given of the " Black Crook . "

Bro ., the Earl of Carnarvon and the Countess of Carnarvon , who have been staying at Highclere castle , near Newbury , left England on 'Thursday for the South of France . Bro . Sir Erasmus Wilson , LL . D ., F . R . S ., President of the Royal College of Surgeons , will take tbe chair at the ensuing meeting of the governors and friends of the Royal Medical Benevolent College .

Bro . His Royal Hig hness the Dukeof Albany has consented to preside at the sixty-sixth anniversary festival of the Royal Caledonian Asylum , to be held in the Freemasons' Tavern on Thursday , February 23 rd next . Bro . Professor E . M . Lott ' s , ( W . M . 1929 , P . M . 245 , 1765 , P . P . J . VV . Jersey , P . P . G . O . Surrey ) Communion Service was performed at the church of St . Ethclburga , Bishopsgate , on Sunday last .

Bro . the Earl of Jersey has forwarded the Secretary of' thc Swansea Constitutional Club a subscription of £ 5 and a donation of £ 20 towards the formation expenses . Bro- E . J . B . Bumstead who has been Secretary of the Wellington Lodge , No . 548 , for twenty years , was presented with a silver tea and coffee service , and an illuminated address by the members of the lodge on the 13 th inst . '

THE ROYAL MASOX . — " H . R . H . has of honours a plentiful store , Behold him Grand Alaster of Masons once more ; Far and near through the lodges great pleasure prevails , For he ' s Prince of good fellows as well as of Wales . " —Judy . Bro . Alderman Nottage continues to make satisfactory progress in regaining his health .

Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught honoured the Aldershot Dramatic Club with his presence last week , when " The Chimney Corner , " and " Our Bittere t Foe " were played with asgreatsuccessas their last entertainment . Bro . Irving was . visiting Birmingham last weelc , and Bro . Toole , Worcester and Bath , with their respective companies . Both these'distinguished theatrical brethren Will settle in London in January , at thc Lyceum and Toole ' s Theatre ( lately the " Folly" ) .

Among those invited and present at the meeting on Friday , in the Chapter House , Westminster , presided over by the new Dean , to establish a fund and nominate a Committee for the purpose of perpetuating the memory of of the late Dean Stanley were the following : Uro . H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dublin , the ATinister of the United States , Right

Hon . Hugh'Childers , SirWm . Vernon Harcourt , Sir Henry James , Mr . J . G . Talbot , ALP ., the Bishop of Rochester , Mr . W . H . Gladstone , M . P ., Lord Coleridge , the Alarquis of Lome , Lord Granville , Duke of Westminster , Rev . Randall Davidson ( Chaplain to thc Archbishop of Canterbury ) , Canon Barry , Farrer , Prothero and Kowseil , Marquis of Salisbury , Air . J . B . Lee , Bro . Henry Wright

Air . Samuel Morley , ALP ., Bishop of Bedford , Bishop Claughton , the Dean of St . Paul ' s , Professor Huxley , the Baroness Burdett Coutts , Air . Ashmead Bartlett Burdett Coutts . A committee was formed , and it was decided the memorial shoulel take the form of a recumbent statue of

the Dean near the grave in the abbey , and the filling in of the Chapter I louse windows with stained glass , thc designs for which the late Dean had approved of and had also given one of the windows . Bro . H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught wrote expressing his regret at being unable to be present .

Loxbos' COTTACI ; MISSION - . —Poverty ' s home was largely represented at the Irish Stew Dinner given on Wednesday , the 7 th inst ., to half-clad , hungry children who crowded outside the London . Cottage Alission Hall , in Conder-street , Limehouse . Our readers may probably recollect that these dinners have been given weekly during the winter months for several years , and this was the first

of this season . A thousand quarts of rich Irish steiv was provided , and several hundred mouths soon emptied the pans and coppers . It was a grand sight to see so many littlp ones happy—gladness and joy being written on their faces . No hungry child was turned away . We understand that there is not half sufficient funds on hand to defray the expenses of this dinner , and we feel sure that

many a kind heart will be opened to aid this Alission to carry on this work of mercy and benevolence during this winter . The Mission Hall < s in wretched repair , and inadequate for the noble work carried on therein , and we arc glad to see a new building , containing two halls , is in the course of erection , a fe . v yards off , at the cost of about jfiooo , and to hear that two friends have promised X ' 50

and another jj . 25 , on condition that £ 800 be subscribed at once . We feel sure that the public will at once supply that amount . The Alission hopes to give another dinner on Wednesday next , but canw > t do so unless the benevolent send the necessary funds , which will be gladly received and acknowledged by Aliss Napton , 304 , Burdett-road , Limehouse , E . ; the bankers , the London and South VVestern Bank , 7 , Fenchurch-street , E . C . ; or by Air . Walter Austin , at the ofiice of the . Mission , 44 , Finsbury-pavemcnt , E . C .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . R . M . Field , who was for twenty years in Cheapside , has taken premises in Liverpool-street , close to the Great Eastern Railway Station , and purposes opening the same with a choice stock of silver , electro-plate , and cutlery .

Bro . Rev . Ambrose Hall , Grand Chaplain , was , on the 12 th inst ., presented with a complete suit of Grand Officer ' s clothing by the St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1 S 91 , to commemorate his _ being the first W . AL , and to mark the esteem he is held in by " the members .

Mr . John Maitland , one of the proprietors of the Liverpool Mercury , and chairman for the year of the Press Association , died between nine and ten o'clock on Monday evening , from an internal disease from which he had been suffering during the past six months .

A domestic and scientific exhibition , intended as an adjunct to the Brighton Health Congress , was opened at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on Monday by the Earl of Chichester . The Speaker of the House of Commons , Bro . Hollond , ALP ., Air . Al . D . Scott , M . P ., Bro . Dr . Richardson , Bro . Alderman VV . H . Hallett ( the Mayor of Brighton ) and Bro . Alderman Smith' ( ex Mavor ) were

amongst those present . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex welcomed at _ the Royal Pavilion the brethren attending the Health Congress in the evening . Earl Granville , who came to town expressly to attend the meeting for the Memorial to the late Dean

Stanley , returned to Walmer Castle the same evening . With reference to the alleged disappearance of Viscount Boyle , reported by the Press Association , information reached Cork on Wednesday evening to the effect that the Viscount was in London on a visit to some of his relatives .

A telegram from S ydney states that the English cricketers have played a three days' match there against a Sydney team , whom they defeated by sixty-eight runs . As an illustration of the value of land in the City . No , 50 , Eastcheap , containing 1 CS 5 superficial feet was let by auction by Messrs . ' Philip D . Tuckett , and Co ., of io . v , Old Broad-street , on Wednesday last , on a building lease for eighty years , at a ground rent of £ 1200 per annum .

The Lord Chamberlain has addressed a circular to the managers of the Aletropolitan Theatres , calling attention to the importance of having distinct and separate system of lighting for the stage and for the auditory . The authorities of several cities in the United States have also directed an examination of the means of exit from theatres .

Bro . the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon left Highclere Castle , near Newbury , on Wednesday for town . On 1 hursday the Earl and Countess , accompanied by Lord Porchester and Lady Winifred Herbert , started for the south of France , where they will probably remain about two months .

A State portrait of her Majesty the Queen , painted hy Air . Sant , R . A ., has been despatcheel to the Mikado of Japan , as a present from her Alajesty's Government . The Great Western Railway Musical Society ( President , Bro . Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., M P ., Prov . G . M . Berks and Bucks ) , gave its thirty-first concert on Friday

, the 2 nd inst ., at Ladbroke Hall , Notting Hill , which ivas filled with a very appreciative audience . Several glees and part songs were admirably rendered by the choir , anel heartily received by the hearers , whilst the majority of the soloists ( vocal and instrumental ) obtained ehe hpnour of a recall . We may notice Miss Osborne ' s finished singing in " Some Day , " and Aliss Dunsford ' s piquant interpretation

of "A Bird in the Hand , " both of which were encored ; Air . King's fine voice in "True till Death , " and Air . F . Tapner's artistic rendering of "The Powder Monkey , " compelling the same compliment . Alention should be made also of Air . Choveaux ' s brilliant playing on the pianoforte , and of some unaccompanied quartetts that gave great

delight . Altogether we may congratulate Bro . II . Dehane ( W . AL 1543 , P . G . S . Essex ) , Hon . Sec , and the rest of the Committee upon a very successful concert . Air . Walter S . White conducted ancl accompanied some of the solos with great care . We noticed a very fair sprinkling of the Craft among the audience .

PAINI ' CASE . — Richard Barnes , 66 , was charged on remand with having stolen a quantity of Alasonic jewellery . The prisoner had originall y oflered some badges and jewels of thc craft in pledge to a pawnbroker at Iloxton , and after he ivas in custod y it was found that aprons , swords , and jewels had been stolen from a Alasonic lodge , held at the Cannon-street Hotel , the

prisoner being door-keeper to the lodge . A number of pawn-tickets relating tn property of the same description were found at his lodgings , and it now further appeareel that these related to , among other things , a dirk anel trowel belonging to a chapter held at an . hotel in Fleetstreet . The prisoner was a paid officer of the chapter , and had a key of the box in which the articles were stored .

Barnes , in answer to the usual question , said lhat he was guilty , hut had pawned the things from want . He had a wife suffering from illness , and four children , but no employment . At one time he had been head of a large school in this district , and held a good position . The Freemasons , of whom he had long been a member , had made him an annuity of £ 40 , hut that , it was stated would now be lost to

him . When first charged , the prisoner had told the court that he had offered the goods in pawn in order to pay the rent , and save his sick wife from being turned into the streets . Air . Hannay sentenced the prisoner for the two offences to a month and two weeks' imprisonment ; but , as the sentences would run concutrently , the imprisonment would expire in one month .

Bro . J . Saffery has received a letter from Airs . Garfield thanking him for the poem " In Memoriam , " contained in the the Masonic Magazine . Bro . General Sir II . Ponsonby has promised to lay a copy of the magazine before H . M . the Queen . Dr . Thorn ( Theta ) has sent him a note wherein hie says : — " Every one must sympathise witlryour very feeling and manly poem on the death of the President . It is the poet who makes the actors in the great drama of life live in story , for without their aid who would remember even the most tragical events . "