Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRO . MATTHEW K . WEBB , J . P ., has been installed as Second Warden of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company . UNDER THE AUSPICES of Smith Child Lodge , No . 2064 , a ball will be given in the Town Hall , Tunsfall , Staffordshire , on Thursday , December 14 th . ON THE 12 th inst ., at Matlock Bath , Bro . William Jeffrey was installed W . M . of the Arkwright Lodge . The ceremony was performed in the presence of a goodly number of visiting brethren and members of the lodge . The usual banquet followed .

THE FIFTH EDITION of Bro . Dr . Thomas Dutton's work on " Indigestion , Gout , and Corpulency Clearly Explained , Treated , and Dietect , " a practical , non-technical work for the lay public , will be ready next week . It is published by H . Kimpton , S 2 , High Holborn , W . C . Five thousand copies of this work have already been sold . GOLDSMITHS' J EWELLERS' ANNUITY AND ASYLUM INSTITUTION

( FOUNDED 1 S 27 ) . —President : _ Lieut .-Colonel George Lambert , V . D ., F . S . A . — The 31 st annual dinner , in aid of the funds of the above Institution , will take place in the Throne Room at the Holborn Restaurant , IHolborn , W . C , on Vednesday , the Sth prox . Leopold de Rothschild , Esq ., will preside . Dinner at 6 . 30 for 7 o ' clock precisely . Tickets , 10 s . Gd .

THE DEATH is announced of Bro . John Bridgman , one of the prominent Freemasons of East Anglia . He was a vice-president of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society , and a very distinguished entomologist . His fine collections were bequeathed to the Castle Museum at Norwich during- his life-time , and are about the most complete of the kind ever formed by one person .

LION AND LAMD CHAPTER , NO . 192 , AND THE LORD MAYOR ' S FUND FOR THE REFUGEES FROM THE TRANSVAAL . —AS by the by-laws of the chapter , the funds were not available for the above purpose , except by notice of motion , which would have delayed the assistance until perhaps too late , the members , at their meeting on Wednesday had a whip round , resulting in the sum of £ to 105 . being raised , which , it is expected , will be supplemented by other companions , who were unable to be present .

GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . —The Grand Master Mason of Scotland , Bro . Lord Saltoun , will consecrate the new Lodge Trinity , No . SS 5 , at Newhaven , on the 3 rd prox ., and on the occasion will be accompanied by a deputation of the Officers of Grand Ledge . As his lordship retires from the Masonic throne on St . Andrew's Day , this is likely to be Ms last public appearance as Grand Master Mason ot Scotland . Bro . Lord Saltcun will then have occupied the chair for three years , and that with great acceptance to the brethren .

MASONIC PRESENTATION . —On the 12 th inst ., Bro . James Kave , P . P . G . D . C , was presented at the Masonic Hall , South-parade , Huddersfield , with a life-size portait , in oils , of himself , in rt cognition of his 30 years' association with the Lodge of Harmony , No . 275 , and h > s services to the lodge and on Dehalf of Masonry in Huddersfield generally . The ceremony of presentation was performed by the W . M ., Bro . Alderman R . H . Inman , who was supported by Bro . Edward Armitage , J . P ., P . P . G . W . The gift was acknowledged by the recipient in a neat and touching speech . There was a large gathering of brethren , including Bros . G . Wilson , Deputy Prov . G . M . ; Hood , Prov . G . T .: and about 24 other Pist and Present Prov . G . Officers .

ON THE 14 th instant , the elder children , to the number of 150 , of the Royal Masonic Institution -for Girls , at Clapham Junction , were entertained at the Mansion House by Bro . the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress . After a variety performance in the Saloon , and tea in the Egyptian Hall , dancing was kept up for some time , the host and hostess taking part in the quadrilles . Among those present were Bro . Alderman and Sheriff and Mrs . Treloar ; Bro . Sheriff Bevan , G . Treas ., and Miss Bevan j Bro . Sir John Monckton , Bro . J . H . Matthews , Bro . Peter de Lande Long , Bro . T . H . Gardiner , Bro . Frank Richardson , Bro . Spaull . Bro . Under-Sheriff Langton , and others of the School ConrniitUe . The giils sttmed delighted with their visit .

PRINCE OF WALES ' S THEATRE . —On the iCth inst . we paid our second visit to the above theatie . We were so interested with the " Moonlight Blossom " that we determined to suspend our critical judgment . Our first impression was lhat this Japanese romance is an important addition to the dtamatic literature of the day . Our second visit confirms that opinion . To those of cultured taste and poetic feeling we heartily commend the present programme of the Prince of Wales's . The leading idea of the " Moonlight Blossom" on which the incidents hang is delicately and gracefully

developed . We will not detract from the pleasure of visitors by disclosing it . The author , Mr . Fernald , may indeed be congratulated on the admirable manner in which Viis beautiful work has been presented to the p ublic . There is a completeness in the costumes , scenic accessories , and minor details , which enable us to foim a correct idea of Japanese life at the present day . A friend who accompanied us , and who has lived a considerable time in this interesting country , verifies what we have stated . We consider the acting of all to be good . But we would especially commend the excellent

way in which tr . ose _ accomplished artistes Mr . Forbes Robertson and Mrs . Patrick Campbell have sustaintd the principal roles . Place aux dames , we would notice the skill with which Mrs . Patrick Campell depicts the dawn of the tender passion in the bosom of the heroine ; the pretty , graceful , modest coquetry , the deepening of love , the mistaken self-devotion she afterwards shows , rivets our attention . Then how well Mr . Forbes Rcbcilson presents lo us the mental struggle between honour and duty , how beautiful are the love scenes between the hero and heroine . The romance of Mr . Fernald

is an exquisite idyll , to which intelligent justice is done by its chief interpreters . Hitherto we have spoken in terms of commendation . We regret that we should have to use words of dispraise—we alludeto the incidental music—it may be Japanese music , but , if it be so , we have only to say that , however intelligent the Japanese may be , their ideas of melody and haimony are very crude , and that they have much yet to learn . We would especially draw ( he attention of the management to the overture , and would urge that the horrible infliction in the ears of the audience should no longer be perpetrated . We speak thus

strongly , having been requested to do so by several friends , whose opinions entirely coincide with ours . We must , however , in justice , say that the song of Mitsu , in Act 3 , though quaint and original , is pretty and melodious , and is gracefully rendered by Miss Rosina Fillippi . We find we have encroached upon the space allotted to u =, but we must fain say a few words on the powerful play which succeeds the " Moonlight Blossom . " It is entitled " The Sactamentof Judas . " In what strong contrast they stand—the one to the other ? The principal character , as depicted by Mr . Forbes Robertson , aff > rds an

excellent opportunity , of which the artisle has availed himself , of portraying the conflict of contending passions which agitate his soul , his self-devotion , at the conclusion , is a masterpiece of acting . _ We have often seen Mr . Forbes Robertson in his principal roles , but we consider this , his last , to be the finest . We regret that Mrs . Patrick Campbell has not a stronger part ; she made the best she could of it . We consider the present programme cf the Prince of Wales ' s Theatre to be a charming ar . d intellectual entertainment .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . J AMES SPELLER has been unanimously elected on the Court of the Gald and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company . THE DUCHESS OF CONNAUGHT and her children came to town this ( Friday ) morning from Ballater . BRO . THOMAS BRIGGS , C . C ., has been unanimously elected President of the Aldersgate Past Officers' Club for the enduing year .

H . R . H . THE PRIXCE OF WALES has forwarded £ 5 to Bro . Alderman and Sheriff Treloar's fund for providing Christmas hampers for the crippled poor children of London . THE CITY ' S NOVEL IDEA . —The City Corporation [ on Thursday decided to erect ,, at a cost of £ 10 , 669 , a shelter in Golden-lane for the reception , from time to time , of families whose houses are being disinfected after outbreaks of disease .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES enjoyed , on Wednesday , some excellent sport at Iwerne Minster , Lord Wolverton ' s Dorsetshire residence . Among the other guns out were the Grand Duke Michael of Russia , Bro . Lord Elcho , the Eirl of Dudley , and the Hon Seymour Fortescue . MENDELSSOHN LODGE , No . ' 2261 . —In our report of the installation meeting of this lodge we inadvertently stated that Mr . Charles Freeman was duly initiated by Bro . R . J . Hennings , Sec . j it should have been Bro . F . P . Baxter , P . M ., who performed the ceremony in his well-known accurate and dignified manner , at the request of the W . M .

THE USUAL WEEKLY CONCERT of the South London Cax ' on Musical Society , in aid of Ihe Caxton Convalescent Home at Limpsfield , Surrey , will be given to-rriorrow ( Saturday ) , at the Caxton Concert Hall , Warner-road , Camberwell , S . E . The chairs will be taken at eight o ' clock by Messrs . G . Morgan and J . Taylor , when an excellent and varied programme will be presented .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , with Princess Victoria and Princess Aribert of Anhalt , attended the annual concert of the choirs of St . George ' s and her Majesty ' s Private Chapel , at the Windsor Albert Institute , on Wednesday . Bro . Sir Walter Parratt , the Queen ' s Master of Music , presided , and Dr . Lloyd , Precentor of Eton College , and Mr . Edward Elgar conducted their own works . THE QUEEN went out with Princess Henry and Princess Francis Joseph of

Battenberg at Balmoral on Tuesday morning . Her Majesty drove in the afternoon , accompanied by Princess Francis Joseph of Battenberg , and attended by the Hon . Harriet Phipps . Cora Countess of Strafford and Lady Susan Byng lunched at the Castle , and afterwards had the honour of being received by ; he Queen . Lord James of Hereford had the honour of being included in the Royal dinner party .

THERE IS , perhaps , no lodge that represents the Masonic Brotherhood in so cosmopolitan a fashion as the Telegraph Cable Lolge does . It has numbers in every clime . This was notably proved at the last meeting , at the Hotel Cecil , where Bro . George C . J ack ( to whom the song of " We All Love Jack " particularly applies ) was installed W . M . in succession to Bro . W . O . Smith , whose mastery of the ritual is something quite exceptional , f ' rom Buenos Ayres and Shanghai , from Capetown and New South Wales , from A ' exandria and Durban , and other distant porls , often come members to the Telegraph Cable Lodge , which is in a very flourishing condition .

ON WEDNESDAY , in the Guildhall Art Gallery , the Lord Mayor ( Bro . Alderman Sir J . V . Mooie ) , who came in State , accompanied by the Sheriffs , unveiled a picture , painted by Mr . A . C Gow , R . A ., of the scene outside St . Paul's Cathedral on Jubilee Day , June 22 , 1 S 97 . Mr . Henry Clarke , the donor , in asking the Corporati > n ' s acceptance of ihe gift , said he hoped that all mjneys received in connection with it would b ; devoted to the purchase of works of art by British artists . He added that th ; portraits of the Queen and of the H . R . H . the Prince of Wales Wire the result of sp 3 cial sittings accorded to the artist . Bro . Sir John Voce Moore accepted the handsome picture , and expressed his hearty thanks to Mr . Clarke .

ST . PAUL ' DECORATIONS . —At Thursday ' s meeting of the City Corporation there was some discussion over a letter from the Dean of St . Paul ' s Cathedral asking a further contribution to the fund for completing the internal decoration of the cathedral . In his letter the Dean stated that already £ 150 , 000 had been spent on decorations , and about y . cn . nco more was still reauired . Mr . I . II . Lile declared the wisest nlan to adoDt

would be to have no more to do with the letter . Let the Church of England carry out the decorations . He moved that the letter should be merely received . The Lord Mayor said that , whatever the result might be , a letter from the Dean of St . Paul ' s respecting the national cathedral should be received with respect and sent to a committee . Eventually the letter was referred to the Finance Committee .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOSEPH CLEVER , P . PROV . G . SUPT . OF WORKS ESSEX . It is with very great regret we announce the death , not many days since , of Bro . Joseph Clever , who , in his professional capacity as architect , surveyor , and estate agent , of 54 , New Broad-street , had had a large and varied experience . He was lately engaged in the development of estates , and as a quantity surveyor he prepared the quantities for the Thames Embankment , the main sewerage for

London , and other large and important works . He had been for many years a member of our Order , and was Past Prov . G . Supt . of Works Essex ; but he will be chiefly remembered for his generous support of our Charitable Institutions , which , by his death , have lost a valued friend . He was a Vice-President of both Schools and the Benevolent Institution , and had served as many as 20 Stewardships in their behalf , namely , six for the Old People , seven for the Girls' School , and seven for the Boys' School .

Marriage.

Marriage .

CARDEX—EVERETT . —On ! ths iS ' . h instant , ' at St . Saviour ' s Church , Brixton , by the Rev . Walter Home , M . A ., Alfred Edward Ernest Carden , of Kensington , to Biondella Bertha ( Delia ) , second daughter of Bro . George Everett , of " Claremont , " Clapham .

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