Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE KING has been pleased to extend his patronage to the City of London Hospital for Diseases of the Chest , Victoria Park . THE SPANISH ART LOAN EXHIBITION—Since its opening the exhibition has been visited by 154 , 000 persons . The daily attendance is between 3000 and 4000

persons . NORTH-EASTERN HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN . — This Hospital , in Hackney . road , has received a donation of £ 100 from Mr . F . C . T . Gascoigne towards the building iund . BRO . DR . TURTLE PIGOTT , of the Turners'Company , who , since his sudden bereavement in March last , has been dangerously ill , has left Tunbridge Wells for Karlsbad to take the " cure . "

TEN WEEKS from the day on which the census was taken the country is in possession of the preliminary report of the Registrar-General . The total population of the British Isles is given 3542 , 005 , 177 . BRO . LIONEL MONCKTON , the son of the Town Clerk , Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , has written the greater part of the music for the play which succeeds " The Messenger Boy " at the Gaiety Theatre .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR AND THE GLASGOW EXHIBITION .-Bros the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs have received cordial invitations from the Corporation of Glasgow to visit the exhibition and to accept the hospitality of that city early ir August . BY PERMISSION OF Bro . Alderman Sir Whittaker Ellis , Birt ., and Lady Ellis , an Oriental fete will be held on Saturday , the 29 th instant , at Buccleuch House , Richmond , in aid of the branch of the Children ' s Ministering League working in the North-West Provinces of India .

THE DIRECTORS of the Dore . Gallery had the honour of submitting " The Real Stone Face" ( Nature ' s portrait of the Man of Sorrows ) to their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family at Marlborough House on Thursday , the 13 th instant , by command . GENERAL H . R . H . THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT AND STRATHEARN , Commanding the Forces in Ireland , on Tuesday commenced his 34 th year of Army service . His first commission , in the Royal Engineers , was granted on the 19 th of June , 1 S 6 S , when his Royal Highness was in his 19 th year .

BRO . LORD ROBERTS , who has consented to open the fete at Portsmouth on the 24 th prox ., has intimated that in consequence of the prolongation of the war he will not receive Portsmouth ' s sword of honour on the 23 rd , as arranged , nor the congratulatory address from pensioners . Both presentations are indefinitely postponed . BRITISH AND GERMAN FIREMEN . —The British delegates to the Firemen ' s Congress at Berlin laid a wreath on the tablet at the Berlin Central Fire Station , commemorating firemen killed in execution of their duty . The wreath bore the inscription : " In memory of their fallen German comrades , from the oflicers and men of the London Fire Brigade . "

T . HE ALDERSGATE PAST OFFICERS' CLUB . —The monthly meeting was held at the Manchester Hotel last week . Among those present were Bros . V . I . R . Longman ; CC , President ; Deputy Goodinge , Thos . Briggs , CC , and J . Mayhew , Hon . Secretary . This was the last meeting of the session , the club now adjourning till October , lt was decided to abandon the summer outing for this year . Bro . Longman was heartily thanked for his presidency throughout the year .

ROYAL FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM .-At the half-yearly court of the guardians of the Royal Female Orphan Asylum , held last week at the Cannon-street Hotel , Bro . Sir John B . Monckton presiding , it was announced that on Tuesday , the 2 nd prox .. Lady Beatrice Pole-Carew , who would be accompanied by Major-Gen . Sir R . Pole-Carew , would attend at the ins titntion to distribute the prizes . The committee regretted to state that they had been obliged to realise ^ . 325 Bank of England stock , in order to meet the current expenses , and an urgent appeal was made for new annual subscriptions .

A DEMONSTRATION OF MEMBERS of the various trade , benefit , ' and friendly societies , clubs , & c , having branches in South London , will be held on the occasion of the opening by Bro . the Duke of Fife on Saturday , the 29 th instant , of the Horniman Museum and Paik , when an address will be piesented to Bio . F , J . Horniman , M . P ., thanking him for his valuable gift to the people of London . The demonstrators , wearing the regalia of their various orders , will assemble at Peckham Rye , and , accompanied by banners and bands , will march to the museum , where , after the official ceremony of taking over the building by the London County Council , the address will be presented .

BRO . SIR J . BLUNDELL MAPLE has undertaken to preside at the annual festival dinner of the Royal Eye -Hospital at the Hotel Metropole on the Sth prox . This institution , which is doing a vast amount of good in one of the poorest neighbourhoods cf London ; benefiting as many as 18 , 000 persons last year alone , is worked and conducted on the most efficient and at the same time economical lines ; while , unlike many other charities , it never gets inlo debt . Thanks to the services of the honorary medical

staff the patients have the advantage of the most skilled and expert opinions in the metropolis . Great anxiety is felt as to funds for carrying on the work during the current year , and as many of our readers as can conveniently do so are requested to forward their donations immediately to the institution's bankers , Messrs . Coutts and Co ., 59 , Strand , and the treasurer , Major'General Sir Francis de Winton , G . C . M . G ., CIS ., or to Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple himself .

IN OUR advertisement columns we draw attention to the facilities offered for Masonic Summer Banquets on the Upper Thames by the proprietors of the historic hostelry at Henley , known as the Red Lion Hotel . A spacious banqueting room has now been added to the accommodation with windows and balcony overlooking the river and far-famed regatta course , and nothing can be more delightful on a warm summer evening than an after-dinner prospect from this point of vantage of the beautiful scenery of the Berks shore to the accompaniment of the murmur of the rippling river

and of the cool breezes wafted over the suiface of the water . The splendid fleet of steam and electric launches , equipped in every way in a manner equal to the craft of private owners , is at the disposal of visitors at reasonable prices , and the new express service of ! he Great Western Railway from Paddington to Henley in 50 minutes with return trains in corresponding quick time affords the facilities so much desired nowadays by the travelling public . It will be noticed that the management are prepared to quote tetms per head inclusive for railway journey in saloon carriages , launch trip on Ihe river , returning to town by the 9 . 15 express , arriving at Paddington at 10 p . m .

THE KING AND THE SOCIETY OF ARTS . —The Council of thc Society of Arts attended last week at Marlborough House to present the King with the Albert Medal of the Society , which had been awarded to his Majesty "in recognition of the aid rendered by his Majesty to arts , manufactures , and commerce during 3 S years ' Presidency of Ihe Society of Arts , by undertaking the direction of important Exhibitions in lhe ccuntiy , and the executive control of British representation at International 'Exhibitions abroad , and also by many other services to the cause of British industry . " T he medal was piesented to the King by the present President of the Society , Sir

Frederick Bramwell .. In receiving it , his Majesty said that he accepted the interesting medal , founded in memory of his lamented father , with much pleasure , because , during his long association with the Society of Arts as its President , he had always taken a warm interest in its proceedings and its success . A special reason which enhanced the gratification with which he accepted the medal was that not many years ago he had himself , as President of the Society , presented it to his beloved mother , her late Majesty Oueen Victoria . His Majesty added that , although he had retired from the active duties of the Presidentship , he would continue to take a warm interest in the Society as iis Patron .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-manufactured condiments , currie stuffs , chulnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stembridge and Co ., iS , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Established iSzi , Write for price list , JUmovcd from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

IN OUR REPORT of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent last week Bro . H . F . Whyman was inadvertently described as P . M . of Lodge No . 1050 instead of 2046 . THE PRINTING AND ALLIED TRADES CHARITY SPORTS . —Bro . the Lord Mayor distributed the prizes at the conclusion of these sports at the Crystal Palace on Saturday last . THE HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS has been conferred upon Miss Weston , of the Royal Sailors' Rest , by the University of Glasgow , at the celebration of their 450 th anniversary , in token of their warm appreciation of the great work carried on by herself and her coadjutors in the British Navy .

THE ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES , PUTNEY . —The annual salo of the work of the inmates was held at the Hospital , Putney , on Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday last week . On the first day the opening ceremony was gracefully pert formed by Mrs . Allcroft , who was accompanied by Bro . H . ] . Allcroft , the treasurer . Mrs . Allcroft was received by the president , the Marquis of Northamoton .

TO THOSE who want a good cigar at a reasonable price , we can recommend the cigars of the Borneo and Havana Cigar Company , whose address is 13 , Billiter-buildings , E . C . The" Repeto " cigars are decidedly good , and several smokers consider them equal to Havana tobacco . The price is from 15 s . to 2 Ss . per 100 . The company ' s " _ Manuel Murias " at 28 s . per 100 ( a box of 50 cost 14 s ., post free ) are also excellent cigars , and in fine condition .

THE EPPING FOREST GOLF LINKS . —The Epping Forest Committee have decided to take over on Monday , the ist prox ., the management and maintenance of the Chingford golf course , which has been hitherto under the control of the R oyal Epping Golf Club . The Chingford course cost about £ 4000 . In future no play will be allowed on Sundays or Bank holidays , or during the months of July and Aujust , owing to the large number of children and other persons who visit the Forest during that period .

DURING LAST MONTH the officers of the Fishmongers' Company condemned as unfit for human food 85 tons 15 cwt . 3 qr . of fish at Billingsgate Market , representing one ton in about 215 tons ; 2 tons 10 cwt . at Shadwell , representing one ton in about 114 tons ; and 3 tons 7 cwt . 3 qr . at Portinan Market . The weight of fish delivered during May at and near Billingsgate Market was 18 , 687 torn , of which 14 , 6 71 tons arrived by land and 4016 tons were delivered bywater ; and at Shadwell the total delivery , 286 tons , was by land .

THE MOORISH MISSION . —The Marquis of Salisbury , after presiding at the Cabinet Council la t week , received the special mission from the Sultan of Morocco . The envoys , who had already paid a visit to the Foreign Office to see the Marquis of Lansdowne , arrived shortly aft ir 3 . 30 . They spent some time in the Premier ' s private room . In the evening , Bro . Lord Roberts , the Cormiander-in-Chief , drove to 94 , Lancaster-gate , was received by Kaid Maclean and Captain James , and was presented tothe Special Ambassador , who handed to him a jewelled sword of honour , a gift from the Sultan .

SAVED BY MASONRY . —Freemasonry once saved the life of Mr . Conger , the American Ambassador , who was with the beseiged in the Legations at Pekin . At the age of 19 he was fighting in the Union Army . In the forced marches across Tennessee many men , overcome by the intense heat , fell out . Conger was among them . Weak and delirious with fever , he was left by the wayside in the enemy ' s country , with only a comrade , who was to wait for the end and then rejoin the regiment . With scarcely

anything to eat and no shelter the situation was appalling . Finally a plan suggested itself to the watcher . He went as quickly as possible to the nearest village , and approaching the first group of men , said : " I am a Mason ; is there a Mason among you or near at hand 5 " One of the most prominent citizens of the village stepped forward and warmly greeted him , and in a few minutes Conger was removed to the village and given the best of treatment . —Sun .

AN AMUSING and perfectly true story comes from Tientsin . The Masonic Hall was very much damaged by shells last summer , and after the bombirdmet was over it was occupied by Japanese troops . It appears that in the Third Degree in Masonry a skull and cross-bones are employed ; and these horrifying properties were in a chest in the hall , with a pall . The Japanese soldiers found them , and knowing nothing of Masonic secrets ceremonies

or , came to the conclusion thit they were the ghastly evidence of a murder , which they duly reported to their colonel , who ordered the relics to be reverently buried . This was done , and now the Freemasons of Tientsin , who hive recovered and repaired their hall , cannot find where their precious properties were deposited , and have to do the best they cm with the cast-off skeleton of a Boxer . — Rangoon Gazette .

THE GOLD AND SILVER WYRE DRAWERS' COMPANY . —The annuil dinner of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company took place on Monday last , at the Cannon-street Hotel . Under the presidency of Bro . M . R . Webb , J . P ., F . S . A . ( the Master ) , a numerous and distinguished company assembled . Bros , the Lord Mayor , Alderman and Sheriff Vaughan Morgan , and Sheriff Lawrence , M . P ., were the principal civic guests , while his Majesty ' s Judges were represented by Lord Justice

Vaughan Williams , Brc . Mr . Justice Kennedy , and his Honour Judge Bion . The pres nee of several members of the Court of Aldermen and a number of Riyal Academic ' ans made up a highly interesting company . Under the direction of Bro . Wilhelm Ganz some delight ' ul songs were contributed by M lile . Aurelie Riiy , Midime Kirkby Lunn , Mr . Penderel Price , and Mr . Richard Greei . Several violin silos were brilliantly rendered by Mdlle . Inez Jolinet .

AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION will be opened at the Holland Fine Art Gallery , 14 , Grafton-street , Bond-street , W ., on the 26 th instant . It will consist of the original drawings which have been specially made by the leading artists of Europe and America for the new Illustrated Bible , shortly to be published by the Illustrated London News and Sketch , Limited , on behalf of the Illustrated Bible Society . Amongst other

artists the work of the following will be represented : Mr . E . A . Abbey , Sir L . Alma Tadema , R . A . ; Sir E . Burne-Jones , Mr . Walter Crane , Mr . Frank Dicksee , RA . ; Mr . J . M . Swan , A . R . A . ; Mr . Briton Riviere , R . A . ; M . J . L . Gur 6 me , M . Benjamin-Constant , M . J . Israels , M . Jean Paul Laurens , M . Puvis de Chavannes , M . J . J . Tissot , Mr . Fritz von Uhde , Professor Max Liebermann , Signor Franco Paulo Michetti , Signor Giovanni Segantini , and M . G . Rochegrosse .

THE LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCH / T-OLOGICAL ASSOCIATION .-The members of the London and Middlesex Archioological Association had a very enjoyable outing on Saturday last , a visit being paid to the ancient Cinque Ports of Rye and Winchelsea . On reaching the Town Hall at Rye the visitors were welcomed by the Mayor ( Mr . Alderman Jarrett ) , who occupies the position of Speaker of the Cinque Potts , and at whese direction many municipal antiquities of special interest were displayed . A visit was paid to the ancient church , and Mr . Walton Dawes delivered an address on the architectural history of the building . Conveyances then took the party

to Winchelsea , where a cordial welcome awaited the members from the Mayor ( Major Stileman ) . Luncheon having been partaken of at the New Inn Hotel , an adjournment was made to the old parish church . In the absence of the Vicar , the visitors were conducted through the building by the Rev . G . N . Godwin . The next place of interest visited was the ancient Court House , which was purchased and presented to the town some time ago by Dr . Freshlield . " The Friars , " the beautiful and historic residence of Major Stileman , was also visited , and its interesting monuments were inspected . The party was entertained at tea by the Mayor , and afterwards had a ramble round the town .

LA MARGUERITE . —After a most successful trial trip which took place on Wednesday , the above steamer of the New Palace Steamers , Limited , will commence her season ' s sailings on Wednesday , the 26 th instant , when she will leave Tilbury at 7 . 10 a . m ., special train from Fenchureh-street Station at 6 . 15 a . m . for Margate and Boulogne and back in a day . A new feature will be introduced into the programme this season in the shape of a special sailing to Calais and back every Thursday , leaving Tilbury at 8 . 30 a . m ., special train from Fenchureh-street Station at j . xi a . m ., and this

arrangement will allow passengers about two hours ashore at the popular French port . La Marguerite has been thoroughly overhauled during the winter m oaths , and on her trial trip fully maintained her high reputation for speed , accomplishing som iw ' ut oirer 21 knots an hour . With the advent of La Marguerite on the statio . i the co npiny htve also arranged to supply a long-felt want , namely , a Saturday afternoon boat to M irgate , and the Koh-i-noor will , on and after the 2 y . h instant , leave Old S , van Pier , Lo . idon Bridge , every Saturday at 10 minutes before two o ' clock as the Husbands' Boat , calling nt 1 iii uiy 3 . 45 p . m ., special train from Fenchureh-street Station 2 . 40 ,