Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The meetings of St . Leonard Lodge , No . 1766 , are now held on the second Wednesdays in October , November , December , February , March , and April in each year . Bro . Sir J . Blundell Maple , M . P ., is steadily gaining strength at Brighton , taking bath-chair exercise twice daily when the weather permits .

A Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Lancashire will be held in the Queen-street Schools , Queen-street , Oldham , on Saturday , the 21 st prox ., at jialf-past two o'clock prompt . The Tredegar Lodge of Instruction , No . 1625 , resumes its meetings on the 12 th prox ., when a hearty welcome will be given to any brother who can attend . The meetings are held at the Wellington Arms , Wellington-road , Bow , at 8 o'clock p . m .

The North London Chapter of Improvement will resume its meetings at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Thursday , the 5 th prox ., at S o ' clock . The Preceptor , Comp . Edmonds , will be glad to meet all his old friends and companions on this occasion who can make it convenient to attend .

" Her Majesty's battleship Camperdown—the same which came into collision with the ill-fated Victoria—grounded near the entrance inside the harbour of Malta . She was going to make a trial of her engines , but her steering gear broke down and the accident was the result . She has , however , since been floated . ' •' ,

The cenotaph in memory of the late | Bro . Archbishop Magee , which is of Sicilian marble and for the present remains at the artist's studio , will be placed in Peterborough Cathedral in time to be unveiled on Monday , the 9 th prox ., by Earl Spencer , Chairman of the Memorial Committee and LordJLieutenant of the County .

The exhibition of the Photographic Society of Great Britain , in Pall Mall , has proved a very successful one , the exhibits including some very beautiful specimens by all the best known processes , many of these being so highlyfinished as to convey the idea that they are delicate watercolours or artistic crayons .

At a social meeting recently given by the Austral Salon , in Melbourne , Bro . Edward Terry made an excellent speech on the subject under discussion— " Should Clever Women follow the Fashions f" Bro . Terry gave it as his opinion that women should make themselves look as nice as possible but without spending too much money on new clothes .

The Prince of Wales , and the Duke and Duchess oi Yolk visited the Queen at Balmoral Castle on Sunday last , and stayed to luncheon with her Majesty , returning aflerivafds to Mar Lodge , The Prince during his sojourn in Scotland as the guest of the Duke and Duchess of Fife , has been having some excellent sport at deer- « talking .

The anniversary of the first Relief of Lucknow by Generals Havelock and Outram on the 25 th September , 1 S 57 , was celebrated by the surviving officers at the Hfitel Metropole on Monday evening , under the presidency of General Sir William Alpherts , V . C , K . C . B ., who is only just recovering from the serious accident that recently befel him at York .

The remains of the late Bro . Wm . Mackney , P . M . 1 G 20 , were interred at the West Derby Cemetery on the 25 th inst . There was a good muster of the members of the lodge , including Bros . Jas . Gresham , W . M . ; Richard Armitage , P . M . ; H . Peers , P . M . ; W . Naylor , S . W . j James

Tarbuck , J . W . j Luke Bagnall , I reas . j and Frederick T * . Parry , Sec . Bro . Barratt , W . M . of the Fairfield Lodge , and several members were also present . The deceased was much respected , and the Marlborough has lost one of Its most enthusiastic members .

A numerous section of the Institute of Journalists and their wives , among whom were M . and Madame Zola , visited Portsmouth on Monday , at the invitation of the Mayor and Corporation and the Hants and Isle of Wight District of the institute . In the evening all the members

who were able to be present attended the reception at Covent Garden Theatre by Bro , Sir Augustus Harris . The guests began to arrive as soon as the Promenade Concert was over . Supper , at which Bro . Sir Augustus Harris presided , having been served , the guests devoted themselves to dancing , which continued till daybreak .

It has been officially announced by the officers of the London County Council that the surplus bedding plants in the Parks and Public Gardens over which the Council has control , will be distributed to the public on application to Hie superintendents of the said parks on the

undermentioned dates , namely : Battersea Park , Octobe , -Ith ; Myatt ' s Fields , October , 21 st j liavenscourt Park , October 21 st j Royal Victoria Gardens , North Woolwich , October 14 th ; Southwark Park , October 27 th ; Victoria Embankment Gardens , October 13 th ; and Waterlow Park , October 18 th .

the freedom of the City of London was conferred at the Court of Common Council at Guildhall on Tuesday on Sir John Gilbert , R . A ., in recognition of his munificent gift of pictures to the City Art Gallery . The freedom was contained in a handsome gold box , and was presented to Sir

John by the City Chamberlain—Sir Richmond Cottonwho , as well as the Lord Mayor , who also offered some remarks , spoke in very complimentary terms of the donor ' s generosity . Sir John Gilbert , who was accompanied by i (* veral members of his family , made a suitable acknowledgment of the honour .

So * - ' * THE SKKJIS of pood health , prune antl strengthen sickly " »< 1 weak brandies of the lite of life , with the aid of Holioway ' s World Renowned i'ills and Ointment . The Pills improve the 'I Mile , strengthen the digestion , and regulate the liver . Under a ' - atmen * . with the Ointment , bad legs become sound , scorbutic ** . " , - * s cast oil' their scales , and scrofulous sores cease to annoy . IVl IHCH acnes , dim ni . iu . iiitM . n n . uIM i _» j . i : > t : . . . . tin .. / , .

W'IIMI rubbed upon the abdomen , it checks all tendency to irritaj' *' i in tliC bow els , and averts diarrho'H , and other disorders of J , intestines fre'i'ientlv prevailing through the summer and n " . Se . ' - '' M " " . Heat bumps , Uotcbes , pimples , inllnmrnation of 11 ^ S ' ' » IU 1 ^ enlarged glands , can be eilcctivcly _ overcome by ' !! 'K Molloway ' s remedies according to instructions giicn to ratl > purrtascr .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Duke of Edinburgh ( Duke Alfred of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha ) will arrive in England during the first week in November on a short visit to the Queen . The Grand Dukes Sergius and Paul , brothers of the Czar of Russia , are about to pay a visit to this country , and have already left St . Petersburg for that purpose .

The honorary colonelcy of the Fourth Hussar Regiment of the Austrian Army has been conferred by the Emperor Francis Joseph upon his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught . By command of the R . W . Prov . G . Master , tbe annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland

will be held on Tuesday , the 3 rd prox ., at Windermere , under the banner of Windermere Lodge , No . 2217 . The friends and admirers of Signor Piatti , the great violoncellist , will be delighted to hear that he has recently had conferred upon him by the King of Italy the Order of Commendatore of the Crown of Italy .

The Prince of Wales will lay the memorial stone of the St . Bride ' s Technical Institute , now being erected in Bridelane , Fleet-street , on November 20 th . The announcement was made at a meeting of the vestry on Thursday by the Rev . E . C . Hawkins , who presided . The midsummer holidays of Eton College , to which a week was added at the special request of the Duke and

Duchess of York , came to an end on Wednesday , when the lower boys returned to school . The fifth and sixth forms were to resume by Thursday and to-day ( Friday ) . The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Right Hon . Sir Charles S . C . Bowen , Knt ., one of the Lords Justices of Appeal , to be a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary , and to grant

him the dignity of a Baron for life by the style and title of Baron Bowen of Colwood in the County of Surrey . A deputation from the Corporation of London has been appointed to wait upon their lioyal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York , at York House , St . James's Palace , on Thursday , the 12 th prox ., for the purpose of presenting the wedding gift of silver plate to their Royal Highnesses .

The International billard match which was played at Chicago last week between John Roberts , the English champion , and Ives , the American , resultad in a victory for the latter by 75 S points . Scores : Ives , CODI J Roberts , 5243 .

Owing to the long spell of dry weather , the Committee of the Surrey County Cricket Club hive decided to proceed at once with the woikof re-levelling and re-turfing that part of the Oval at Kennington which is s- ; t apart for football , and , as this will occupy a long time , there will be no football matches on this grouni during the present season .

The recent match at the liunnymede Rille Ranges between the London Ride Brigade and the St . George ' s and Victoria Rifles combined resulted in favour of the former by 15 S points , the L . K . U . scoring 1533 to their opponents ' 1375 . The teams were 20 aside , and the shooting at 200 , ¦ joo , and Goo yards , under the usual " First Stage of the Oueen ' s" conditions .

The premises known as the West Lon Jon School of Art , 155 , Great Tichfield-street , have been taken by the Carpenters' Comuany in conjunction with the Institute of British VVood Carvers , for tne purpose of carrying on their classes in wood carving , which have become too Urge for the more limited accommodation in the present quarters in Chapel-street , Bedford-row .

Bro . Col . George Lambert celebrated his 70 th birthday on Saturday last in a manner which was both characteristic and lilting . As the newly-elected Master of lhe Tinplate Workers , he invited the members of the court and their ladies , together with a few friends , to dinner at the Criterion , Piccadilly . The toast list was commendably href , but Col . Davies Sewell ,. in responding for * ' The

Army , found time to say that he had been connected with the Corporation for 47 years , and that there was no association or organised body in the world that could equal it . Other speakers referred to the great services rendered lo all good works in the City by their worthy host , who responded by asserting that he loved the City companies , and hoped always to be an active worker of the Tinplate Workers .

Great preparations have been made for the visit next week of the Duke and Duchess of Vork to the city from which they derive their title . Their Royal Highnesses will arrive on Wednesday , the 4 th prox ., when the Lord Mayor and members of the Corporation will meet them and present an address of welcome . On the following day the freedom of the city will be presented to the Duke , and

afterwards the wedding gifts from York and Sheffield to the Royal pair . After luncheon at the Guildhall , the Free Library will be opened , and their Royal Highnesses will drive through some of the principal streets and attend a short service in the Minster . The Duke and Duchess leave on Friday . The Duke of Connaught , commanding the Southern

District , has intimated his wish for the formation of an Association for the encouragement of team shooting and field practices in musketry among thc yeomanry and volunteers of the district under his command , and invites the cooperation of commanding officers to this end . His Rjyal Highness is of opinion that an association formed for this

purpose on the lines of the Army Rille Association would lie of much practical use in improving the musketry efficiency of the volunteers . The lines on which the Army Rifle Association works are tbat company teams of eight men fire on their own ranges at anytime between March 1 st and October 31 st , and at the end of the year prizes are awarded .

After the ceremony of swearing-in at Guildhall , Mr , Alderman Moore and Mr . Alderman Dimsdale , the Sheriffs elect , were driven on Thursday to the new and beautiful hall of the Grcccrs' Company , in Princes-street , where they presided jointly over the inaugural breakfast , according to immemorial usage . The guests made up a thoroughly representative City gathering . there were present men who have either passed the civic chair already or will do so

in due course , several deputies , the heads of many of the livery companies , and a number of other gentlemen more or less associated with the square mile situated in the heart of the Metropolis . Both the Sheriffs of the chair received a cordial greeting , the welcome extended tothe junior being particularly flattering . Each in turn proposed the toasts , and all the references to the Sovereign , the members of the Royal Family , and the Corporation evoked enthusiasm .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Albion Lodge of Instruction , No . g , now meets at the Swan ' s Nest , Great Swan Alley , E . C , every Friday evening at seven . The Duke and Duchess of Connaught arrived in London to-day ( Friday ) from Germany , and , after a short rest at Claience House , proceeded to Bagshot .

The Provincial Grand Chapter of Cheshire will be held at Hyde on the 12 th prox . Comp . Rev . C W . Spencer Stanhope , Grand Superintendent , will preside . Mr . J . E . Neale Shand , son of Bro . J . E . Shand , won the first prize , a silver cup with inscription , for swimming at the annual athletic sports of Messrs . Bertram and Co . at the Crystal Palace on the 22 nd inst .

In accordance with an ancient custom , the Croydon County Council presented the Mayor ot the Borough ( Bro . Alderman Foss ) witb a miniature silver cradle in honour of his wife having given to the community during her husband ' s term of office a future potential Mayor .

The anniversary luncheon of the Church of England Soldiers' Institute at Aldershot will take place on Monday , the iOth prox ., under the presidency of the Duke of Connaught , who will take the opportunity of opening a new and spacious billiard room in connection with the Institution .

The Prince of Wales will formally open the South London Fine Art Gallery on Monday , October gth , at 12 . 30 . The lectures will begin on October 1 st , and every Monday evening there will be a lecture especially addressed to children . The library will be opened on October 2 nd , from 7 to 9 p . m .

The will of Bro . J . D . Allcroft has been proved , personalty £ ¦ 468 , 519 . In addition to the usual legacies to servants , the testator bequeaths £ 1030 each to the Church Missionary Society , Church Pastoral Aid Society , British and Foreign Bible Society , and Koyal Hospital for Incurables at Putney .

Bro . General Lord Roberts was presented on Monday afternoon with the freedom of the city of Inverness , and in acknowledging the honour his lordship paid a tribute of respect to the Scotch and Highland regiments for the courage they had shown and the support they had , given him in his campaign in Afghanistan .

A quarterly convocation of the Supreme Council , JJ ° , will be held at 33 , Golden-square , on Tuesday , the ioth prox ., at 5 . ^ 5 . The agenda on this occasion is not a full one , there being only one candidate for the 32 , two for the 31 ° , and three for the 30 " . The balance-sheet for the year presents the usual satisfactory features , showing , after payment of all expenses , including £ 211 12 s . Charity donations , a balance of £ 61 ) 3 14 s . 3 d ., being excess of income over expenditu-e for tne year .

The consecration of the ( Peveiil Preceptory , No . 159 ( not the Powell as stated in our last week ' s issue ) of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta will take place at the Masonic Hall , Dsrb y . on Friday , the Oth prox . The ceremony will be performed by the Very Eminent Great Sub-Prior , Sir Knight the Earl of huston . Sir Kni ght Abraham Woodiwiss is the E . P designate , and Sir Knights Percy Walhs and J . R . Fielding will fill the chairs of Constable and Marshal respectively .

lhe Vatican really reems to be unnecessarily touchy . It has always set its face hard against Freemasonry , and it may be o . vned that in France , at least , if not in Italy , Freemasonry has become almost synonymous with Free-thinking ; but that the Vatican should despatch a Note to all the Powers protesting against the fact that the Freemasons have taken the first ( ioor of the Borghese Palace and

established a Grand Lodge there , borders upon the ridiculous . No doubt it is annoying that a building which was once Papal property should be used for such a purpose , but when either a Pope or a private person sells a house he ceases to have any further control over the letting of rooms there . VVe have never yet heard of an Anti-Vaccinationist who has uttered a protest , because one who has bought a

house from him should choose to let the ground lloor to a public vaccinator . Such a complaint as this made formally to the Governments ot Europe is—to say the least of it—a serious blunder . It betrays a , petulant irritability that is in the highest degree undignified , and will lessen the force of future remonstrances , even upon subjects in which there may be a solid ground for complaint . —Standard .

SI'ECTACLEMAKERS' COMPANY . —On Tuesday night , at the Guildhall Tavern , the prizes and diplomas won by working men at the competitive exhibition of spectacles at the Agricultural Hall this year were distributed by Bro . Alderman Davies , the master of the Spectaclemakers ' Company . A dinner was held , presided over by the master , and amongst those present were the working men winners

of the prizes and the diplomas . The first prize of five guineas was awarded to Mr . C Smith for the excellence of his spectacle , frames . A second prize of three guineas was given to Mr . Uoran loe gold ( eames . A third prize of two guineas was handed to Mr . Wells also for his excellent frames . In addition to these , there were extra prizes and a large number of diplomas , and although most of the

prizes and diplomas weie won by working men in London , amongst the successful competitors were men Irom different parts of the country . In response to the toast of his health , which was proposed by Bro . Col . Lambert , the master said that although the company was one of the poorest of the City companies , it was ready to do the best it could for the interest of the trade . Every institution ought to justify its

existence , and ne thought that the livery companies of lindon had justified their existence . The one motive of the company in offering the prizes was to improve those who worked at spectacle-making , and hc believed that the assembly was unique in the history of the company . Some people wanted to do away with the City companies . He

had invested a considerable amount of money in the Spectaclemakers' Company , and the only interest he had received was an occasional dinner . When the time came for doing away with the companies he would demand the return of his money . The prizes and diplomas were then distributed , and after several toasts had been proposed , the proceedings concluded .

Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sent gratis and post free , gives reliable information how to make money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and lowest prices for past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stockbrokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C .