Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE HEALTH of the Marquis of Salisbury continues to improve , although he has not yet been out of doors . A CONFERENCE of local authorities in London was held at the Guildhall on Tuesday to consider questions in connection with the telephone service . THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE will preside at the 160 th anniversary of the Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain , at the Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Meiropole , on April 23 rd .

BRO . ALDERMAN TRUSCOTT will preside at the annual dinner of the Royal Hospital for Incurables , West Hill , Putney Heath , on Tuesday , June 7 th , at the Hotel Metropole , Whitehall Rooms . IT WAS ANNOUNCED at Maidstone on Tuesday ithat Bro . Sir Frederick Seager Hunt had , on the ground of ill-health , tendered his res gnation as the Parliamentary representative of the borough .

LADY LUCY HICKS-BEACH will give a reception at the official residence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Bio . Sir M . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., MP . ) , in Downingstreet , on Wednesday , the 30 th inst .

BRO . HENRY LOVEGROVE , in addition to his many Masonic duties and active membership of several societies , finds time to take prizes with his black Italian fowls , he having won the first prize of both clubs for four consecutive years . BRO . FI ELD-MARSHAL VISCOUNT WOLSELEY has fixed July 14 th as the date on which he will visit Dumfries for the purpose of having the freedom of the burgh conferred upon him , and also to open the bazaar in aid of the Dumfriesshire Volunteers .

THE ANNUAL SUPPER of The Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 1426 , will take place at the Red . Cross Hotel , Paternoster-square , E . C , on Thursday , the 24 th inst ., at 6 . 45 for 7 p . m ., precisely . Bro . G . Mackenzie Fraser , W . M . of the mother lodge , will preside , and a large gathering is anticipated . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT has arranged for the Queen ' s Westminster Volunteers to be quartered in Tournay Barracks at Aldershot during Easter , the London Scottish in Blenheim and Malplaquet Barracks , the Civil Service Rifles in Albuhera Barracks , the South Middlesex in Barossa and Corunna Barracks , and the West London in Inkermann Barracks .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES , attended by Miss Knollys and General Sir Dighton Probyn , left Marlborough House on Saturday afternoon last for Sandringham . Her Royal Highness previously received Comte de Casa Valencia ( late Spanish Ambassador at the Court of St . James ' s ) , Comtesse de Casa Valencia , and the Mesdemoiselles de Alcala Galiano .

BRO . J . . TOOLE ' S birthday on Saturday last was made exceptionally happy to him by the receipt of numerous telegrams and letters of congratulation from friends in every part of the kingdom , many of them accompinied by pleasant gifts , testifying to the esteem and affectionate regard in which he is held in his enforced retirement from the work he loves so well , and in the exercise of which he has for many years given delight to the public .

THE LORD MAYOR ( Bro . Alderman Davies , M . P . ) at a meeting of the Court of Aldermen at the Guildhall on Tuesday , nominated Bro . Lieut .-Col . Probyn , " Citizen and Pattenmaker , " as a candidate for the Shrievalty on Midsummer Day next . Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , who is the next Alderman in rotation , explained that in consequence of continued ill-health he had felt it impossible to undertake the duties of

Sheriff for the year ensuing , and announced that Bro . Alderman Allistnn was prepared to take his place , and would accordingly offer himself to the Livery on Midsummer Day . He felt that the citizens would be well served by Bros . Alderman Alliston and Lieut .-Col . Probyn as Sheriffs for the year ensuing . No opposition to the two gentlemen named is apprehended . Bro . Lieut .-Col . Probyn has appointed Bro . Clarence Halse his Under-Sheriff .

AMONG THE many exhibitions of pictures this season , that of ^ the artist , David Lee , at the _ Modern Gallery , 175 , Bond-street , W ., Is well worth a visit . He exhibits 16 large oil paintings portraying passages from the New Testament . Mr . Lee visited the East some years ago for the express purpose , during a long stay , to become acquainted with the inner life of the people among whom he sojourned . The result of his careful

observation is seen in the correctness of the minute details relative to costume , & c , which are found in the treatment of his sacred subjec t s . The harmony of colour shown in his conscientious work , the absence of anything like sensation cannot fail to arrest the attention and forcibly impress the most careless spectator . We heartily commend the exhibition to the public .

THE LORD-LIEUTENANT AND COUNTESS CADOGAN have been entertaining the following guests at Dublin Castle during the present week in connection with the investiture of Bro . the Earl of Arran as a Knight of St . Patrick , and for the festivities in connection with St . Patrick ' s Day : The Duchess of Manchester and Lady Alice Montagu , the Earl of Listowel , K . P ., Countess of Listowel , and Lady Beatrice Hare ,

Bro . the Earl and Countess of Arran , the Earl of Carysfort , K . P ., the Earl of Erne , K . P ., Bro . the Eatl of Kilmotey , K . P ., the Countess of Rosse and L * dy Muriel Parsons , the Countess of Ancaster and Lady Alice Willoughby , Bro . Viscount Powerscourt , K . P ., Lord Inchiquin . K . P ., and Hon . Eileen and Hon . Maud O'Brien , Hon . Norah Diwniy , Miss Marjorie Van de Weyer , Mr . and Mrs . Farquharson , Col . Swaine , and Capt . Orr-Ewing .

EARI . AND COUNTESS STANHOPE entertained a party at dinner at their residence in Grosvenor-placeon Saturday evening last , after which Lady Stanhope held a reception . Those present inrluded the Austro-Hungarian Ambassador , the Danish Minister and Madame de Bille , the Swedish Minister and Countess Lowenhaupt , the Netherlands Minister and Baroness Goltstein , the United States Charge d'Affiires , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Dartrey , the Earl and Countess of Romney , Earl Bathurst , the Countess of Albemarle and Ladies Keppel , Bro . Viscount Doneraile . Viscountess Knutsford , Lord

and Lady Eustace Cecil , Bro . Lord and Lady Balfour of Burleigh and Hon . Miss Bruce , Lord and Lady Plunket , Lord Welby , Lord Greville , Hon . Sydney and Lady Mary Holland , Hon . Sir William Colville , Hon . Benjamin Bathurst , M . P ., Col . and Lady Emma Crichton , Right Hon . St . John Brodrick , M . P ., and Lady Hilda Brodrick , Bro . the Right Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , M . P ., and Lady Lucy Hicks-Bea : h , Sir Francis and Ladv Jeune , Sir Howard Vincent , M . P ., aid Lidy Vincent , Sir Gioree Baden Powell , M . P ., and Lady Powell , Col . Blunddl , M . P ., Bro . Lees Knowles , M . P ., Bro . R . B . Maitin , M . P ., and Mrs . Martin , and many others .

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE MARCHIONESS OF SALISBURY arrived at Nice on Wednesday afternoon , and drove to Beaulieu . BRO . EARL EGERTON and the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos have arrived at 7 , St . James's-square from Cheshire . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF FIFE were present at Terry's Theatre on Wednesday evening , and witnessed the performance of " The White Knight . "

THE RIGHT HON . CECIL RHODES is expected to arrive in town early in April , in good time for the general meeting of the Chartered Company , which is fixed for the 21 st prox .

BRO . THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF DERBY being away in Egypt , Bro . Lord Stanley and Lady Alice Stanley will entertain the house party next week at Knowsley for Liverpool races . BRO . THE EARL OF ONSLOW , has for some time been suffering from a laryngeal attack , and having been ordered to spend some weeks in the South of France , left London on Thursday morning , with the Countess of Onslow , for Cannes , till after Easter .

THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Art has received information , through the Foreign Office , of an Art Exhibition , to be held in Vienna this year , in celebration of the 50 th anniversary of the Emperor of Austria ' s accession . The exhibition will be opened about the middle of April and closed at the end of June . A FANCY and evening dress Cinderella will be held on Friday next at the King ' s Hall , Holborn Restaurant , proceeds of which will be devoted to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Dancing will commence at 7 o'clock to the strains of Bro . F . R . Pritchard ' s band . By special dispensation , brethren may appear in Craft and Royal Arch clothing . Tickets to be had from Bro . H . Kemp , 7 , Thavies Inn , Holborn .

THE QUEEN went out on Wednesday morning at Cimiez , attended by the Countess of Antrim , and her Majesty drove in the afternoon accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and attended by the Countess of Antrim . Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the Duchess of York visited the Queen . Mr . F . Dugdale was in attendance .

THE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT arrived at Lansdowne House , Berkeley-square , at three o ' clock on Thursday alternoon for the purpose of opening the annual exhibition and sale of the Irish Industries Association . At Lady Arthur Hill's concert on the occasion the following artistes performed : The Marchioness of Waterford , Lady Maud Warrender , Madame Kate Lee , Miss Eldina Bligh , Miss Devine , Mr . Denis O'Sullivan , and Mr . Thomas Meux .

BRO . DR . HASKINS ' S Grand Evening Benefit Concert will take place in the great hall of the City Terminus Hotel , Cannon-street , on Tuesday next , the 22 nd instant . A very full programme of vocal and instrumental music has been arranged for the occasion , and , considering the services which our worthy and respected brother has rendered to Freemasonry as a musician , and the infinite pleasure he has assisted in affording them during our after-dinner proceedings , we sincerely hope that his friends and his friends ' friends will rally around him on Tuesday next , so that his Benefit Concert may prove a bumper .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY have just issued , in vastly improved form , their handy pocket list of Dog and Poultry Shows , Cattle and Horse Fairs , Racing Fixtures , & c , for 1 S 9 S . Copies can be obtained gratis of the Company ' s Agents or by enclosing stamp lor postage to the Superintendent of the ] Line , King ' s Cross Station , London , N . The Great Northern Railway card list of Agricultural Shows for 1 S 9 S has also just been issued , and copies may be had by enclosing stamp for' postage to Mr . L . Brightman , Chief Goods Manager ' s Office , King ' s Cross Station .

A TRIBUTE was paid to the memory of the late Duchess of Teck on Wednesday , when a fund was inaugurated at the Mansion House for the endowment of a bed at the Great Northern Central Hospital as a memorial of her work in connection with that institution . With the Baroners Burdett-Coutts at their head , a Ladies' Association has brought the claims of the hospital so strongly before the public , that no less a sum than /" iS . ooo has been the direct outcome of their efforts . The late Duchess closely identified

herself with the objects of the Association , and was one of its warmest supporters , while her interest was cordially seconded by the Duchess of York , after whom one of the largest wards is named—the Victoria Mary Ward—and in which the bed will be placed . Bro . the Lord Mayer , Colonel Saunderson , M . P ., Sir A . Arnold , Bro . the Archdeacon of London , Bro . Burdett-Coutts , M . P ., and many others bore testimony to the unceasing interest and sympathy with which she engaged in the hospital work . Upwards of £ 600 was promised .

PROFESSOR ALLKSON , of the Berlin Geographical Society , has described to a representative of the Newcastle Leader his remarkable discoveries in "Dawson ' s Island , " a lone island in the Pacific . It is , he says , one of the most wonderful places ever visited by man . Stretched out before us was a broad tableland , probably three miles in extent , and utterly devoid of vegetation . For the most part it was smooth and flat as if levelled by the hand of man , and upon it were strewn masses ot wonderful ruins in all stages of decay . Here were the remains of buildings that had probably

once been well-formed structures , and the last crumbling remains of walls , of which only a few feet remained standing . Far in the distance rose a huge pile that crowned the extreme edge of the plateau , and looked majesticall y out over a deep volcanic ravine that extended for hundreds of feet below . Around this , on all sides , could be seen th : ruins of structures in the last crumbling stages of decay . The natives took us arouni to the side of a mountain , where they said the workshops of this long dead people had been located . This side of the mountain was of hard volcanic rock , which rose to a

series of ledges of from 10 to 15 yards each to a peak several thousand feet high . Upon each ledge was a number of gigantic stone heals . Some were cutoff at the neck , while in others the whole bust was shown . They ranged in size from 10 to 30 feet high , and were hewn out of solid volcanic rock . Some of the images were standing erect ; others thrown down upon curious platform ; , that looked as if they had been specially

constructed to hold them , and upon which they probably had once stood . Others again were broken , and some had tottered so far over that they seemed ready to crash down upon those below . All the faces bore a striking resemblance , and the expression was most sinister . In each case the head was long , with protruding chin , and expanded nostrils , and all of them appeared to be the faces of men . The whole place is full of the most remarkable archaeological remains .

THE NEW ELECTRIC RAILWAY at the Alexandra Palace , arrangements for which have been progressing during the past three months , is now taking a practical form under the supervision of the consulting engineers , Messrs . Tayl or and Field . The work is being carried out by the Imperial Electric and Power Company , who are working in conjunction with Vlessrs . Wandruszka and Co ., of Berlin . The estimate of this which was originally to be ^ * 6 ooo has had to be materially increased to have a double line of rail and the cost now will reach nearly ^ 10 , 000 . ltis intended to run th ;

electric cars with the overhead trolley system . Each car will seat Co people and will b : about 40 feet long . They are facsimiles of the American Pavillion Car , and will b : fitted with 70 horse-power motors . The arrangements for admitting the public will be by four automatic turnstiles , and the fare will be id ., either up or down the hill . This will be a great convenience to all visitors to the Palace travelling by the Great Northern Railway , the North London Railway , the South Eastern Railway , and the London , Chatham and Dover Railway , to Wood Green Station , as well as to visitors going to the Palace Gate ' s Station on the Great Eastern , and in fact the whole of that enormous

district including Hornsey , Wood Green , and Tottenham . The contractors undertake definitely to have the whole line in working order by the opening day , April 8 th . This will , undoubtedly , afford an additional attraction of great interest , as nowhere in or around London is there an Electric Railway of this class , and the management may rely on the public appreciating this novelty , and taking a ride about the grounds for the small sum of id ., as an additional amusement . Some hundreds of workmen are now busy in various parts of the Palace and grounds , and everything looks most promising for the opening at Easter . DEATH .

MEAD—On the ist March , at Ascent Villa , Red Hill , John Alexander Richmond Mead , late Colonel R . A . Aged 72 .

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