Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The consecration of the Duchess of York Lodee , No . 2482 , will take place on the 13 th prox .. at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester . Bro . Col . Le Gendre Nicholas Starkie , Prov . Grand Master , will perform the ceremony . The late Miss Mary Gordon has left directions that four Chinese flags which had belonged to her brother , General Gordon , and £ 100 shall be handed over to the Committee

of the Girdon Boys' Home . The term of Bro . Sir Evelyn Wood ' s command of the troops at Aldershot will expire very shortly , and he xyill take up the duties of Quartermaster-General , tn which post he has been appointed , on or about the nth October . During the present week the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry have been entertaining the I Zingari Cub

at Wynyard Park , Stockton-on-Tees , while Lord and Lady Curzon left on Monday on a visit to Bro . the Duke and the Duchess of Devonshire . Bro . the Earl of Rosslyn and Major Swain arrived on Wednesday . There was no lack of wind on Tuesday , when the Royal

Torquay Yacht Club held its annual fixture , and the Prince of Wales ' s Britannia secured another first prize for its owner , being followed home by the Calluna . Mabel took first honours in the race for 40-tonners , Vendetta taking the prize in her class and Dragon that , awarded for ^ n-tfynners .

Bro . Alderman H . Davies , who was returned as M . P . for Rochester at the last General Election , and held his seat for a short time only , was recently presented with a handsome memorial , in the form of a massive silver-gilt centrepiece , of his connect !) n with the city . The subscribers numbered upwards of 1300 , and the presentation was very gracefully acknowledged by the recipient .

The Court Journal , says : "The Italian Freemasons intend to give the Pope a quid pro quo for his denunciation of Freemasonry , as the Grand Orient of Italian Freemasonry intend to hoist their flag on the Palace Borghese , where the Pope Paul the Fifth used to bless the people . The Freemasons have purchased this palace , and the ( lag will be displayed on the anniversary of the Italian Army marching into Rome . "

If the ollicers of each lodge were to realise the fact that the diffusion of Masonic knowledge was part of their work , and w-re to take the matter energetically in hand , the ignorance existing would no longer prevail , lt rests with the rulers of the Craft to guide tbe researches of the initiate into the paths of knowledge . This duty is all the more important as the impression of thc initiate will , as a rule , affect his Masonic conduct through life . —Australian Keystone .

lwo accidents have recently occurred in the cricket field . In one Mr . Thomas Huet , J . P ., who was acting as umpire in a match at Barns'ey , was struck on the temple vvith such force lhat he had to be assisted from the field , and has since lost an eye . In the other case , in a match betiveen

Chadwell St . Mary and Orringham , one of the umpires , named John Grover , was struck on the head , and . though he was able to resume his duties and walk home , he ultimately succumbed , the post-mortem showing that death had resulted from effusion of blood on thc brain .

St . George Royal Arch Chapter , No . 2025 , at its meeting on Thursday , the 17 th instant , at Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , elected as its officers Comps . A . Debnam , M . E . Z . j VV . Sweet , II . ; H . Reynolds , J . ; J . Harvey , S . E . ; C . I " . Matthison , S . N . ; F . M . H . Somerville , P . S . j T . J .

Cole , ist A . S . j G . R . Slanlake , 2 nd A . S . j 1 . Buchan , Org . j R . L . Drake , D . C . j E . S . Osmond , A : D . C ; G . R . Barratt . Treas . j VV . H . Strathon and R . T . Blatchford , Stewards j and VV . H . Phillips , Janitor . Comps . F . H . H . Somerville and C . G . Withell were appointed Auditors . Comp . XV . Allsford officiated as M . E . Z .

As the close of the cricket season approaches , the question which county will succeed in winning the county championship txcites increased attention . Of the matches played this week , that between Middlesex and Lancishire resulted in a win for the former , while in the Kent v . Yorkshire match , the former were defeated by eight

wickets . 1 he Somersetshire v . Notts match ended in a decisive victory for the former in one innings by 99 runs , the Notts team scoring 100 and 112 , while Somerset comp iled 311 in its single innings , Mr . H . T . Hewett contributing no less than 120 towards this total . The fourth match was between Gloucestershire and Surrey , and resulted in a victory for the western county by 33 runs .

The funeral of Bro . the Rev . John Core took place at Peterborough on Thursday , the 17 th inst . A service was held jn the parish churcb ,. Padstow , a . large congregation assembling . The members of the local Artillery Corps , of which he was Chaplain , Court Excelsior , A . O . F ., of which he was an honorary member , and many of the members of St . Petroc Lodge , No . 1785 , marched in procession to

church , accompanied by the Padstow Artillery band , playing the Dead March in "Saul . " As the procession entered the sacred edifice the * organist played " O , rest in the Loid " as a voluntary . The lesson , a part of the 15 th chap . I . Corinthians , was read by the Rev . E . G . Gurney , and a sympathetic address was delivered by the Rev . R . S . Pascoe , rural dean . The other clergymen present were

the Rev . Viscount Molesworth , Canon Carter , representirg the Cathedral Chapter at Truro ; the Rev . Mr . Chase , St . Minver j and the Rev . J . J . Gratiex . At the close of the set vice , the organist played the " Dead March , " and a mullled peal was rung on the bells . Many of the business houses of the town were partially closed , and flags were half-mast high .

A K ACI H'R LIFE is taking place 01 our midst every day , and too often , alas , the resn't ends in denlli . People , as a rule , are apt to look upon some slight ailment wli ch may overtake them wilh c litemp , and t' ey thus ignore thc simple remedies w ich would speedily restore them tr ) lira th . When too late lhey see 1 bewail the foll

their error , and bitterl' y which bring them to a premature grave . Holioway's I'il . s , il taken in regular doses according tn circctions , enrich and purify the blood . Disease is thus prevented from weakening tl . e system , and the blessing ol * a sound constitution is enjoyed . At Ihis season , when fevers , dysentery , and stomach disorders arc common , . this wonderful medicine is specially useful .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Duke and Duchess of York have promised to lay the memorial-stone of the Seamen ' s Mission Institute in London . The Lord Mayor of London is now making holiday in Scotland , and is not expected to return to the Mansion House till about the middle of next month , his duties being in the meantime discharged by one . or other of the Aldermen who have passed the chair .

Bro . Gen . Lord Roberts is to be presented with the freedom of the city of Edinburgh in recognition of his brilliant military services to his country . The ceremony will probably t'ke place in November next , when Lord Rob-rts is expected to be in Edinburgh in connection with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society .

King Oscar of Sweden has invited the King of Denmark and his guests to join him in some hare shooting on the Swedish island of Hoen towards the end of the present month . The Czar of Russia with his Consort and family were expected to reach Liban on Thursday evening , and were to leave immediately for Copenhagen .

More than the usual interest was taken in the Highley Agricultural Show at Inverness this year in consequence of the Duke of York , who is also Earl of Inverness , having presented a challenge cup to be competed for by the best sheep breeders in the North . The winner at the recent show was Mr . Robertson , of Lintrewood , Elgin .

The Portsmouth contribution to the Fund that has been raised for tlie relief of the relatives of those who perished by the disaster to the battleship Victoria amounts to £ 4350 , and a local naval Committee has been appointed in accordance with the terms of the trust as set forth by the Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund .

Hop picking has commenced , and the vanous railway companies which traverse Kent have made the usual special provision for the hoppers , many hundreds of whom arrived in the hop districts about Maidstone , Faversham , Tunbridge , Melling , & c , on Sunday and Monday , so that Clare Market , Whitechapel , and the Borough are nearly as empty as Belgravia .

A relic of Charles I ., which was used by his Consort-Queen Henrietta , has just been added to the collection of relics in the Vandyk Room at Windsor Castle . It consists of an elegant sedan chair , which , after laying for some 250 years amid the Lord Chamberlain ' s stores , has recently been unearthed and renovated . A second sedan , which was used by the monarch himself , is also in course of restoration .

An appeal was recently made by Sir Henry Fletcher , M . P ,, in behalf of the sick and poor of Worthing , where here had just prevailed an epidemic of typhoid fever , and in response a sum of £ 1600 has been received , including contributions from the Duke of Norfolk , the Marquis of Abergavenny . Ladv Lnder , Mr . Gerald Loder , M . P ., Bro , F . de Rothschild , M . P ., and Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , M . P .

An accident occurred near Farningham on Tuesday to a large brake which was carrying a numerous party of ladies and gentlemen . While the vehicle was proceeding down a steep hill it was driven ton near the bank and overturned , all the occupants being violently thrown nut and sustaining injuries more or less severe , one gentleman of the name oi Stokes and a lady being very seriously hurt . The brake

was utterly smashed . 'The funeral of Julia , Countess of Jersey , mother of the Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , took place on Saturday last , at Middleton Stoney in that county , among those present to pay their last tribute of respect and

affection being Mr . Charles Brandling—husband of the deceased lady—Bro . the Earl and the Countess of Jersey , Sir George and Lady Julia Wombwell , Bro . Sir Robert Peel , Bart ., the Right Hon . the Speaker of the House of Commons , Bros . Lord Cremorne and Leigh , and Prince Louis Esterhazy .

The passengers on board the good ship Norwich must have had rather an unpleasant time of it on their voyage recently from Harwich to Antwerp , a Bengal tiger consigned to the Zoological Gardens at the latter city having escaped from its place of confinement during the night and

taken possession of thc lower deck . 1 he crew made a gallant attempt to secu-e the animal but failed . However , communication with the upper deck was cut off , and on reaching Antwerp a body of keepers from the Gardens appeared on the scene and secured the animal .

On Monday afternoon , the Baroness Burdett-Coutts opened the new buildings of the Free Library in Great Smith-street , Westminster . Her ladyship wis accompanied by her husband , and at the conclusion of the ceremony was accorded , on the motion of Bro . VV . E . Tomlinson , M . P ., seconded by Bro . H . B . Spink , a cordial vote of thanks for

her kindness . Later in the afternoon , Bro . VV . Burdett-Coutts , M . P ., opened the new baths and wash-houses , which have recently b * en erected ona site adjoining the library . A vote of thanks was in this case also passed to Bro . Bui dett-Coutts , and at the conclusion of the ceremony a swimming entertainment was given .

bt . Bartholomew s Day was celebrated by a very interesting old-world ceremony after the dedication service in the chapel of St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital , Sandwich . The origin of this institution is lost in antiquity j but Sir Henry de Sandwich , in 1244 , either founded or largely endowed lhe hospital , which receives iG brothers and sisters over 6 b years of age who have been respectable inhabitants oi the

town , each of whom , upon election , is given a comfortable little house and garden and a yearly allowance of £ 40 , After a short , bright service , and an appropriate sermon by the chaplain , the Rev . Dr . Payne , Mr . Mate , Mayor of Sandwich , and the trustees of the charity proceeded to elect from among the brothers present a Master for the ensuing year , who was duly sworn in .

Meanwhile a crowd of small ; hildren from the old town had congregated outside to await the arrival of Mr . Mate and his co-trustees , who , according to ancient custom , distributed buns to all who came forward to claim them . A formal house-to-house visitation was then made , and six shillings given to each brother and sister . Formerly the

trustees and inmates dined together in the hospital on St . Bartholemew ' s Day , and the dole given out to the townspeople consisted of bread , cheese , and ale , but the liberal supply of refreshments on these festive occasions gave rise to proceedings which led to the introduction of the harmless bun and a generous dinner allowance in money .

Masonic And General Tidings.

On the gold coast of Africa a lodge of Craft Masons i established , numbering over ^ 00 members , including nearlv all the representative men—civil , military and judicial—nf ' the district . Freemasonry in the Eastern Division of Aberdeenshire has , during the last few years , been extremely active , and all the lodges under the supervision of Provincial Grand Lodge are in a'flourishing condition .

As a result of the presence of the Duke and Duchess of York at the recent Sandringham Horticultural Show , the committee have been enabled to vote £ 50 out of the profits to local charities and to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution .

The house 19 , Lawrence-lane , Cheapside , in which the first Sir Robert Peel resided , is now being pulled down . It had a noble Doric shop-front , and consisted of a capacious warehouse and basement , together with ample accommodation for the family to reside in on the first floor . Their rooms were approached by a handsome staircase .

Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein . who has been staying with the Oueen at Osborne , left the Isle of Wight on Thursday . Her Highness , attended by Miss Loch travelled from the coast by South-Western train , and on arriving at Windsor drove to Clewer Hill on a visit to Lady Mary Currie . Princess Victoria leaves Windsor to-morrow ( Saturday ) for Darmstadt .

The Sultan of Johore , who returned to town from Bonchurch . Ventnor , on Thursday evening , left for Ickleton Great Chesterfield , this ( Friday ) afternoon on a visit to Sir Robert Herbert , K . C . B ., accompanied by General the Hon W . Fielding and Mrs , Fielding , and attended by the Dato Sri Amar d'Raja , C . M . G . His Highness ' s health has been greatly improved by his three weeks' stay in the Isle of Wight , but he will have , probabl yto abandon his

inten-, tion of visiting the Chicago Exhibition . The three battalions of the Foot Guards—the 2 nd Scots the 1 st Coldstreams , and the ist Grenadiers—which , with the Scottish Rifles , will form the ist Brigade of the First Infantry Division in the approaching military manoeuvres , left their respective quarters at Wellington and Chelsea

Barracks for the Broadway , Hammersmith , on Monday afternoon , whence they started on their march to Aldershot . The strength of the three battalions was over 1800 , and they reached Hounslow Heath about 8 . 30 p . m ., where they camped for the night . On Tuesday they marched to Pirbright , where they rested at their musketry camp . On Wednesday the march was continued and completed .

Mr . James Dryden Hosken , the Cornish postman-poet , whose recently published " Verses by the Way " has been so well received , has had a varied , if not a very exciting , career . His father was a man of some culture . Though the business of his life was iron-founding at Helston , in Cornwall , his mind was well stored with Latin , Greek , and mathematics . His death left his family in severe straits ; and it was thus to ihe Helston National School that Mr .

Hosken owed his early tuition . He began his active life as an apprentice to the saddler of his native town . Like many another counry lad he determined to seek his fortune in London—and here , soon after his arrival , he was instrumental in saving an old gentleman from being run over . A p lace as extra out-door Customs officer was his reward ; and here , until his health gave way two years later , he saw and noted many a queer sideof life . Mr . Hoskenstruggledon . at

one time acting as librarian and secretary to a small institution , at another as stage ** super j" but in 1 SS 5 he returned to Helston to act as auxiliary postman . Mr . Hosken was once transferred to London , but bad health necessitated his return , and thus it comes about that a poet of undoubted gifts delivers letters for his daily bread . —Morning Leader . Washington and Lafayette were warm personal friends , as well as brothers in arms and in the great Masonic

Fraternity . On many a hard fought field Lafayette proved his friendship for Washington , and as a testimonial of his brotherly love for him he presented him a satin embroidered Masonic apron , wrought by Madame Lafayette and members of her family . The apron is still in existence and is the property of Mount Ncbo Lodge , No . 91 , Sheperdstown , W . Va . The apron is ot white satin fringed with black silk , with the following Masonic emblems beautifully

wrought in gold and silver tissue . At the top is the cable tow in festoon , then the gavel , square , and compasses , and over these , also forming compasses with their staffs , the French and American flags . Where the flagstaff ' s intersect are the skull and the cross bones , with the pilgrim ' s sword , and entwined among these is a sprig of acacia . Now tome

of the black silk Iringe is missing , but the satin and embroidery are well preserved . ' 1 he apron was often worn by General Washington , and it remained in the family as an heirloom until it was presented to Mount Nebo Lodge by Bro . Thomas Hammond , who married a Miss Washington , and who was initiated into the lodge in 1815 . —South Australian Freemason .

A NF . VV HOTEL AT BOURNEMOUTH . —Another of those palatial hotels wheh modern luxury demands has iust been opened at Bournemouth . The Hotel Burlington stands on the site of Boscombe Towers , which , with its charming grounds of many acres , was purchased by the present proprietors in 1 S 91 , who decided to build an hotel after the fashion of a well-appointed country mansion . How well they have succeeded those who were present at

the opening on the igth inst . can form an opinion , and thc assertion of the proprietors that the hotel is in keeping with its unique surroundings , and that it is the most picturesque hotel in England is not a statement that many would be prepared to deny . It would be impossible to describe in detail cither the decorations or fittings of the interior . There is one merit in it that will be all attractive . Immediately yi u enter you feel at home and comprehend the

general plan , and a special study appears to have made the whole luxuriously comfortable . An ori ginal idea contributing to the visitors' interest and comfort will be found in the Marine Lounge at tne top of the hotel , just adjoining the lift , with curious Cairene decorations , bright colourings of walls and unique surroundings . It opens on * promenade balcony commanding the sea view as far as the eye can reai h . 1 ms lounge will doubtless be highly apprebeen

ciated . The entire decoration and furnishing has carried out by Maple and Co ., of London , whose xuenence in furnishing hotels is evidenced by the effect produced . Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post tree , gives reliable information how to make money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and I , **? prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., StocKnrokers , 11 , Poultry , London , K . C .