Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

ON ENQUIRY we are pleased to learn that the Grand Secretary , although unable to be present at Horsham on Saturday last on the occasion of the laying of the foundationstone of Christ ' s Hospital , has sufficiently recovered to enable him to resume his duties at the Grand Lodge office . THK FISHMONGERS' COMPANY have made a grant of 100 guineas to the Earlswood Asylum . BRO . ALDERMAN SIR GEORGE TYLER , BART , has almost recovered from his recent indisposition .

BRO . MURPHY , Q . C , has retired from practice at the Bar after a connection with it extending over the long period of 41 iears . BRO . W . H . CUMMINGS , the Principal of the Guildhall School of Music , has joined the London Gregorian Choral Association . SIR FLEETWOOD EDWARDS has forwarded , on the Oueen ' s behalf , to Canon Proctor a donation of £ 30 in aid of the Bishop of St . Albans East London Fund .

THE LORINERS' COMPANY . —At a court of the Loriners' Company at the Albion Tavern , on Monday , Bro . the Rev . J . H . Smith , the Chaplain , was elected a member of the court .

MONDAY , the 25 th inst ., was the 43 rd anniversary of the famous charge ofthe Light Brigade , which took place at Balaclava , under the command of the late Earl of Cardigan , on the 251 b October , 1 S 54 . BRO . ARCHDEACON SINCLAIR has contributed £ 50 to the fund that is being raised for the purpose of honouring the memory of the late Right Hon . George Denman , by founding a scholarship at Repton , his old school .

THE OUEEN has been pleased to approve the appointment of the Duke of Ruccleugh and Oueensberry , K . T ., to be a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter , in succession to the late Marquis of Northampton . THE COURT of the Goldsmiths' Company has given permission for the performance in their hall on Saturday , the 13 th prox ., of " The Tempest , " which will take place under the auspices of the Elizabethan , Stage Society .

THE QUEEN has been pleased to approve the appointment of Sir R . Henn Collins to be a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in succession to the Right Hon . Sir N Lindley , who has been appointed Master of the Ro'Is .

BRO . LORD LUDLOW , better known as Lord Justice Lopez , has resigned his position as a Lord Justice of Appeal . His lordship was made a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in December , 1 S 76 , and in December , 1 SS 5 , was elevated to the Court of Appeal . His creation as a peer is of recent date . THH DUCHESS OF PORTLAND has issued a further earnest appeal for increased

help in support of the Society for the Protection of Birds . The present income is only about £ 600 a year , but there is a lack of office room and clerical assistance , and it is estimated that a further £ 300 a year should be raised , and this her Grace thinks there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining from permanent annual subscribers of a guinea each .

FINSBURY PARK LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 128 S . —A meeting will be held to - morrow ( Saturday ) , at the Ccck Tavern , Highbury , Bros . H . Hill , P . M . 1305 , Preceptor ; W . Syckelmore , P . M . 12 SS , Treas . ; and W . Pocklington , P . M . 12 SS , Musical Director . The ceremony of initiation will be rehearsed with full choir and organ acccmpaniment at S p . m . punctually . Brethren are cordially invited to attend and will be heartily welcomed .

AMONG THOSE PRESENT at the first performance on Monday evening at the St . James ' s Theatre of Mr . Carton ' s " Tree of Knowledge " were the Duke of Teck and Prince Alexander of Teck , the Earl of Kilmorey , K . P ., the Earl of Ava , Baroness Burdett Coutts , Bro . Viscount and Viscoun ' ess Wolseley , Viscountess Helmsley , the Hon . Mrs . Egerton , Bro . Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft , Bro . Sir Bruce and Lady Seton , and Bro . Sir Douglas Straight .

THE MARRIAGE of Captain Claud Stracey , late of the Scots Guards , with Alice Maud , daughter of the late Lord Alfred Paget , was solemnised at St . George ' s , Hanover-square , on Monday , in the presence of a very numerous congregation , among whom were the Princess Victor of Hohenlohe , the Earl and Countess of Essex , Bro . Earl and Countess Carrington , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Listowel , Bro . Lord and Lady Suffield , Lady Hothfield , Lady Emily Hart-Dyke , and Victoria , Countess of Yarborough .

AN EXHIBITION , which is devoted to the inauguration of the industries of East London , was opened at the People ' s Palace , Mile End-road , on Monday evening by Bro . Sir Walter Besant , and will remain open till January . There was a very large attendance to witness the brief ceremony , and the National Anthem was sung with the greatest enthusiasm as a commencement of the proceedings . Some very good work was sent for exhibition by the students of the technical classes , while the display generally is excellent .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OK WALES , Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) , and Ihe Marquis of Lome occupied the Royal Box at the Royal Opera , Covent Garden , on Saturday evenirg , and witnessed the first performance of " Diarmid . " On Sunday H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , attended b y Miss Knollys and Sir Dighton Probyn , irurneyed to Wolferton and thence to Sandringham , where her daughter , the Princess Victoria , hrd airived the preceding day . The Duchess of York left Sandringham and arrived at White Lodge , Richmond Park , on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Teck on Saturday last .

THK EARL OF CADOGAN visited his Suffolk estate at Calford , near Bury St . Edmunds on Saturday last , and according to annual custom entertained at dinner about 300 of his employes on the completion of harvest . His lordship was accompanied by the Countess Cadogan and their eldest son , Viscount Chelsea , M . P . On Monday , the ist prox ., the Earl and Countess will visit the Marquess of Londonderry at Wynyard Park , and on Saturday his lordshi p will return to Ireland and resume his Viceregal duties , the Countess Cadogan remaining in England for a short time longer .

A NUMEROUS GATHERING of " Old Blues" met and dined together at the Hotel Cecil on Monday evening , to commemorate the birthday of the Royal Founder of the School of pious memory . Mr . James Martin presided , and Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan , Treasurer of the Institution , acknowledged the toast of the eve . aing— " The Religious , Royal , and Ancient Foundation of Christ's Hospital ; may those prosper who love it , and may God increase their number . " In the course of his spjech , Bro . Morgan urged on "Old Blues" to make a great effort to raise £ 25 , 000 for the erection of a new chapel in connection with the new school at Horsham .

AT THE half-yearly meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of West Yorkshire , held on the 20 th instant , at the Saltaire Institute , Shipley , the P . G . VI ., Bro . the Right Hon . W . L . Jackson , M . P ., conferred upon Bro . John T . Last , P . M . 2321 , the brevet rank of P . P . G . Reg . Bro . Last has done good service ih Lodge 387 for the Masonic Charities . He was a founder of Acacia Lodge , 2 3 21 , Bradford , of which he is a P . M ., and , with the exception of two or three years , when he was qualifying for passing the chair , he has acted as Secretary throughout . He was also the promoter of the lodge

Masonic Benevolent Association in aid of the Masonic Charities ; he is a Life Governor of the Girls' and Boys' Schools , as well as of the Benevolent Institution , for which he has served two Stewardships . Bro . Last was exalted , and has held office , in the Movavia Chapter , 387 , Shipley , and , on removing to Cleckheaton , in 1895 , he found there the Zetland Chap ' er , O 03 , which had been dormant for 10 years , and the two or three members that survived had lost all interest in it ; however , Comp . Last persevered , and in October last year his efforts were rewarded , and the chapter was resuscitated . At

the first meeting two candidates were exalted , and Comp . Last was elected a joining member . Several meetings have been subsequently held , with the result that the chapter has a membership of 22 . Comps . S . H . Holdsworth , P . Z . 44 8 ; J . Wilson , P . Z . 302 ; and W . Dyson , P . Z . 295 , have ably assisted at the meetings , and largely ccntributed to the success of the chapter . Bro . Last is a P . M . of the Old York Lodge ( T . L ) of Mark Masons , also a Royal Ark Mariner , and at present occupies the chair of E . P . in the Faith Preceptory , 15 , of Knights Templar ar . d of the Order of Malta .

Masonic And General Tidings.

LORD HALSBURY , supported by Lord Justice Henn Collins and Bros . Justices Gainsford Bruce and Kennedy , inaugurated the Inns of Court Mission Institute in Drury-Iane on Tuesday . BRO . THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF LONDESBOROUGH have been entertaining a shooting party at Londesborough , and so , too , are Bro . the Earl and Countess of Portarlington during the present week at Etmo Park .

THE COMMITTEE of Management of Queen Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital , Marylebone-road , have received a donation of £ iooo from Mr . Henry L . Raphael , to name a bed in perpetuity in memory of the late Mrs . H . L . Raphael . A MASONIC SERVICE will be held on Sunday next in St . Andrew ' s , Holborn Viaduct , at 330 p . m , ; full Craft or Royal Arch clothing to be worn . The service will be conducted by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Sinclair , P . G . Chaplain .

BRO . LORD GEORGE HAMILTON , Secretary of State for India , his arrived at Balmoral Castle as Minister in attendance upon the Queen , and had the honour of being included in her Majesty's dinner party on Saturday evening last .

_ THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF AYLESFORD entertained last week a shooting party , which included Prince and Princess Hatzfeldt , Bro . the Earl of Euston , Sir John Willoughby , Bro . the Earl of Warwick , Capt . the Hon . Ronald and Mrs . Greville , and Bro . Sir Francis Burdett . PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SCHLESWIQ-HOLSTEIN , eldest daughter of Prince and Princess Christian , left town on Tuesday evening , on a visit to the Grand Duke and Duchess of Darmstadt , and after a brief stay will go on to St . Petersburg on a visit to the Emperor and Empress of Russia .

BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING , with Miss Ellen Terry and the Lyceum Company , concluded his engagement at the New Lyceum Theatre , Sheffield , on Saturday last , after a week of marvellous success . Crowds were turned away from every performance , and the final one was witnessed by a crowded house and with the greatest enthusiasm . As ONE of the crew of the Lonjsand Lightship off Harwich was in the act of ramming home a cartridge in one of the warning guns on Sunday , the charge exploded and blew off both his hands . Signals were made to a passing steamer , which conveyed him to Harwich , whence he was put on board H . M . ' s ship Mersey , where he lies in a serious condition .

A BALL in aid of the Masonic Charities will be held under the auspices of the St . James's Union Lodge , No . 180 , on the 19 th prox ., at Freemasons' Tavern . This lodge recently elected the wife of the esteemed Secretary—Bro . VV . C . Parsons , P . M . iSo , 1687—10 represent them at the forthcoming Centenary Festival of the Boys' School , and placed 25 guineas on her list .

THE LORD MAYOR elect , Bro . Alderman Davies , M . P ., was formally presented to the Lord Chancellor ( Bro . Lord Halsbury ) at the House of Lords , on Monday . Bro . Davies was accompanied by the Recorder , the Sheriffs , the Under-Sheriffs , and other civic functionaries , and in due course the Lord Chancellor conveyed to him her Majesty ' s approval of his election .

CONTRIBUTIONS are invited towards providing a dinner and entertainment tor the poor of the East-End of London on Lord Mayor ' s Day , which has now become an annual fixture . Among those who have already subscribed are the Lord Mayor elect , who has promised 50 guineas ; Bro . Alderman Vaughan , £ 3 ; Bro . Horace B . Marshall , £ 21 ; and the Skinners' Company , £ 5 ss .

BRO . THE EARL OF DERBY was entertained at dinner by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool at the Town Hall on Tuesday and presented with his portrait in oils by Mr . W . A . Orchardson , R . A ., in recognition of his services as Lord Mayor during the year 1 S 95-G . His lordship gracefully acknowledged the presentation , and requested that the portrait might be allowed to remain on the walls of the Town HaU .

POULTRY SHOW AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE . —The 29 th annual National Poultry and Pigeon Show , which will be held at the Crystal Palace this year on November the 15 th , iGth , 17 th , and iSth , will consist of 53 G classes , 245 of which will be for poultry , 253 for pigeons , and 38 for rabbits . There will be many first , second , and third prizes , and 26 special prizes , which take the form of cups , and in commemoration of her Majesty's long reign Co Diamond Jubilee Cups of the value of five guineas each will also be offered for competition .

BRO . PASSMORE EDWARDS AND THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES . —The trustees of the Friendly Societies' Convalescent Home hive issued an appeal to the Affiliated Friendly Societies of the United Kingdom for £ 3002- to purchase a sight at Heme Bay for th : new Convalescent Home which Bro . Passmore Ed yards has generously offered to bu'ld and dedicate to the use of the friendly societies . The existing Convalescent Home at Dover has for some time past been insufficient . The proposed building is to accomm 0-date about 50 beds , and will not cost less thin £ 6000 . The ground selected comprises about seven acres and a half , and will provid : tor fl ower and kitchen gardens , and recreation grounds for the patients .

THE ROYAL DIAMOND J UBILEE NUMBER OF THE Freemason , as might be anticipated , stands out in bold relief among contemporary literature , Masonic and Secular , thoroughly representative of the O . der , and worthy of its present thems . It is impossible in the limited space at our disposal , to give any idea of the vast amount of interesting items it contains , or so justly estimate its value from a literary point of view . The lion's share of merit must necessarily fall on Bro . G . Blizard Abbott , who ;;

articles "The Queen and the Craft , " and "Royalty ani Freemasonry , " occupy over half the total number of pages . Bros . D . M array Lyon , Fred J . W . Crom , W . J . Chetwode Crawley , and VV . J . Hughan , are among the other contributors—the brief paper of the latter celebrated writer , Masonic Veteran Associations , beinj of wide reaching interest . The number is well illustrated , chiefly with portraits of celebrities which include the officers of Grand Lodge for iSiij . —Indian Freemason

WILL OF THE LATE BRO . J LARKIN . —Personal estate of the value of ^ 27 , 359 IS . has been left by Bro . John Larkin , of Delrow , Aldenham , and of J . Sweeting and Co ., 158 and 159 , Cheapside , who died on August 7 th last , aged Co years , and of whose will , of April 25 th , 1 SS 9 , the executors are his widow , Mrs . Fanny Jane Larkin , and Mr . William Potter , of Elmside , Beckenham . To the latter the testator bequeaths £ 100 ; to Mrs . Larkin , £ 500 ); to his daughter , Mary Elizabeth Clark , £ 1060 ; to his daughters , Ada Florence Larkin , Edith May Larkin , and Eleanor Maud

Larkin , £ 2000 each ; to his sons , John Larkin and Edwin Percy Larkin , £ 2000 each ; to any other child that may be born to him , £ 2000 ; and to the Treasurer of the Fishmongers' and Poulterers ' -Institution £ 500 , to found a "Home Pension , " to be called the "John Larkin Pension , " to be conferred on an aged fishmonger . Bro . Larkin leaves his residuary estate in trust for Mrs . Larkin during her life , and , subject to her life interest , in equal shares for his children .

THINGS MASONIC have heen very much to the fore in South Africa of late . First in importance is the fact that the new and handsome Masonic Temple at Johannesburg is now open . It has been erected in Plein-street , by a Committee representative of the brethren of the English , Scotch , and Netherlands Constitutions on the Rand . The building is an imposing three-storied edifice decorated with Ionic pillars of freestone , and embracing banquetting hall , chapter-rooms , and ^ numerous other apartments and offices , all beautifully fitted . The Craft throughout'South Africa are taking a keen interest in the new home of their Transvaal brethren and the opening festivities were

made the occasion of much mutual congratulation . The annual meeting of the Masonic Education Fund of South Africa has also been held at Capetown . The plan adopted by the Committee is to adopt grants towards the education of the children of deceased or indigent Masons in any paitof South Africa , it being left to the guardians of the young people to decide upon the school where the education is given . At the time of the annual meeting referred to 29 boys and 2 ( 3 girls were being cared for by the benevolent Masons in this way ; and liberal reductions in fees were being made by certain of the school authorities . —African Critic .

EVERY MASON should read " Volo , or the Will , " what it is , how to strengthen and how to use it . By Arthur Ldvell , author of " Ars Vivendi . " Crown Svo ., cloth , 3 s . Cd . net ; by post , 3 s . gd . Many curious and interesting facts are given about ancient and modern initiations . Catalogue post free . Nichols and Co ., Publishers , 23 , Oxford-street , W . Light , Sept ., 1 S 97— "The Author's theories seem to us reasonable and valuable . " The Glasgow Herald , Sept ., 1897— " Mr . LOVELL has much that is valuable to say on the subject of the Will . The advices which he gives as to the training and disciplining of the Will and its practical cultivation are excellent , while the central principle of his philosophy is beyond euaestio ' n . " [ ADVT . ]