Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

AT A MEETING ot the Doric Lodge , No . 2362 , Grantham , Bro . T . Vincent , S . VV ., was unanimously elected VV . M . for the ensuing year . Co . MP . VV . H . LEE has resigned the position ot Prov . Grand Scribe K . of Middlesex , and is succeeded by Comp . Small , the recently appointed Prov . G . Secretary . THE DUKE OV CAM HI ; ID OH sent a hamper of rabbits from the covers in Richmond Park to the Asylum for Soldiers' Widows at Kingston bearing his name , to be distributed amongst the inmates as Christmas gilts .

THE NEW YEAR ' S ENTERTAINMENT to the inmatf s of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon will take place on Wednesday , the 5 th instant , when , no doubt everything will pass off , as it has done for many years past , satisfactorily . BKO . J . VV . GIEVE , who has for several years been elected as Prov . G . Treasurer of Hants , presided at the last meeting of the Boys' School Committee Dinner Club , when if was stated that he would at a future date seek election as Grand Treasurer of England .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OK VVAI . ES , who are entertaining a house party at Sandringham , go on Monday , the 3 rd instant , to Chatsworth , on a visit to Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire , and will stay there until Saturday , the Sth instant , when they come to town . ON TUESDAY EVENING members of the City police force , with their wives , were present , by invitation of Bro . the Lord Alayor and the Lady Mayoress , at the Mansion House , when a performance of amateur theatricals vvas given by the Misses and Messrs . Davies and friends , the pieces played being "The Area Belle " and " The Jacobite . "

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR at Christmas sent telegrams of good wishes for the season and the New Vear to the Prefect of the Seine , the Burgomasters of Vienna , Berlin , and Brussels , the Syndic of Rome , and the Mayors of New Vork , St . Petersburg , Madrid , and Lisbon , and received from those functionaries cordial messages in reply .

THE STATE apartments and the Albeit Chapel at Windsor Castle were open to the public on Monday between 11 and three o'clock , and attracted many sightseers from London and the surrounding country . The weather was mild , with a comparatively clear sky , a strong south-westerly breeze having swept away the fog that veiled the Castle precincts during Christmas ; 750 visitors were admitted to the Royal rooms durinp- the day .

BKO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OI * ' MARI . ISOROUGH are spending the festive season at Blenheim Palace , surrounded by a family party , including Lady Randolph Churchill , the Ladies Lilian and Norah Spencer Churchill , the liarl of Chesterfield , Viscount and Viscountess Curzon , Lady Saiah Wilson , Lord Churchill , and the Hon . A . and Mrs . Bourke . The tenants and yeomanry ball takes place on New Year's Kve .

THE FIRST ANNUAL SUITER of the Earl of Clarendon Lodge of Instruction , No , 1 yS .-, will be held at the Masonic Hall , Watford , on Monday , the lolh instant , under the presidency or Bro . G . li . Lake , P . G . D ., Dep . P . G . M . The installation ceremony will be rehearsed by the members at 7 p . m . prompt , and the supper will follow . Tickets , price 3 s . —( he actual cost of the supper—may be had on application to Bro . J . P . Taylor , P . AL , Preceptor , 05 , High-street , Watford .

THE HONORARY SECRETARIES of the Prince of Wales s Hospital Tund for London have received from Sir Edward Lawson 755 . jyy shillings and sevenpence ( jL . 37 , 779 'y - 7 < L ) —being the amount subscribed up to December 24 th , 1 S . J 7 , in answer to tlie appeal on behalt of his Royal Highness ' s Jubilee Hospital Fund . Only the cost of collection and out-of-pocket expenses have been deducted , no charge whatever having been made on account of the Daily Telegraph itself or any member of its staff .

THE QUEEN ' dinner party at Osborne on Christmas Day included Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Duchess of Albany , Princess Louise Marchioness of Lome , the Marquis of Lome , Mr . Bernard Mallett ( Commissioner of Inland Revenue ) , and the ladies and gentlemen of the Court . Princess Henry of Battenberg , on behalf of her Majesty , on Christmas live presented , at Whipping-ham Schools , articles of clothing and toys to the children . Presents of beef and pudding were distributed to the labourers on the estate .

BRO . THE MAKOUIS AND MARCHIONESS OI * ZETLAND invited a number of friends in Noith Yorkshire and South Durham to the Christmas theatricals at Aske Hall , near Richmond , on Tuesday evening . " Rosemary " was performed by permission of Mr . Charles Wyndham . 'Ihc leading parts were admirably portrayed by Mr . A . Owen Lewis , Capt . G . L . Du Mauiier , Capt . G . S . Bullin , Mr . R . Fielden , the Hon . A . Orde-Powlett , Bro . the liarl of Ronaldshay , Miss Mildmay , Viscountess Milton , Miss Fitzwilliam , and Miss Drummond Boynes .

PRINCESS LOUISE ( Marchioness of Lome ) , who is President of the Girls' High School Association , will visit Liverpool on thc 21 st inst . to distribute prizes at the High School for Girls , lli-r Royal Highness will be the guest of the Duke of Westminster at Eaton Hall , and on her way to Liverpool will alight at Birkenhead to visit the Delia Pottery Works in that town , in which she and the Marquis of Lome have taken much interest . She will then go to Ivverpool , anJ , after being enteitiinel ta luncheon by the Lord Mayor ( Alderman Houlding ) , will proceed to the Philharmonic Hall , where the prize distribution will take place .

BRO . THE EARL OI * DURHAM , who has been entertaining a house party at Lambtcn Castle , visited liuinmoor Colliery village on his estate on Boxing Night , and inaugurated a new billiaid table in the village reading-room by playing a game ol mo up against his chief agent , Mr . Stobart . A large crowd of miners keenly watched the contest , his lordship being made the favouiite . Both players started well , but Mr . Slobait eventually won by 41 points . Replying to a vote ot thanks Lord Durham said he was a great advocate of such pastimes as billiards . Although he had played the game all his life , as they had seen , hc was not perfect .

PRINCE AI . HKRT oi- - SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , Julia Marchioness of Tweeddale , Bro . Rear-Admiral Lord Chziles Beresford and Lady Charles Beresford , Lord Kilmarnock , Bro . General Sir Evelyn Wood , V . C , Sir Heibert Stephen , Bro . Henry Allhusen , M . P ., and Mrs . Allhusen , and the Hon . Hubert Howard were among the guests who have been entertained during Christmas by Sir Francis and Lady Jeune at their country

seat , Ailington Manor , near Newbury . Amateur theatrical enteitainments have been successfu'ly given by Lady Jeune , assisted by her daughters , Mrs . Henry Allhusen , and Miss Madeline Stanley , and several of the guests , on Boxing Night and Tuesday evening , before audiences comprising the residents oi the district , the local tradespeople , and other .- ; .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN will be accorded a public reception upon hcrvisit to Chatham eaily in the new year . Her Roya ) Highness will participate in the ceremony associated wilh the dedication of the Victoria Tower at St . Mary's Church , which has been erected asa public memorial of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee , and also lay the foundation-stcne of the new Chatham Town Hall . The church tower is already completed , and in the

couise of a week a peal of eight bells will be erected in the bellry . One of them will be nairnd "Victoiia , " this , os in the case of the tower itself , being by special permission of Ihe Oueen . Ihc building forms part of an extensive scheme ot restoration , Sir Arthur multifield being the architect ; and additional interest is imparted to the project by the fact that there has been a church on the site since the time of William the Conqueror .

THE LORD MAYORS and the Mayors who held oflice in England and Wales in the Jubilee j car fonvarded to her Majesty an address of congratulation in an album . The He me Secretary has acknowledged the presentation in the following letter to Sir George Faudcl-Phillips , late Loid Mayor of the City of London : " Whitehall , Dec . 2 u , i . Sy ; . — Sir—I have had the honour to lay before the 1 ' uecn the loyal and dutiful addiess wnich

was sent to me by Messrs . Synge and Curtis un behalf ol the Chief Magistrates of the cities and towns of England and Wales un the occasion of her Majesty attaining the sixtieth year ol her reign , and I have tu inform yuu that her Majesty was pleased to receive the same very graciously . Her Majesty desired that her thanks might be expressed fur this inleiesting and beautifully prepared souvenir of the Diamond Jubilee . — I am . Sir , your obedient servant , M . W . Ridley . "

Masonic And General Tidings.

HER MAJESTY has been graciously pleased to contribute the sum of £ 1000 to the Oueen Victoria Clergy Fund . WE NOTE the Pelham Pillar Lodge , No . 7 < j 2 , Grimsby , are intending holding their annual ball and children ' s patty on the nth and 13 th inst . THE DUCHESS OI * ALRANY , who , with the young Duke and Princess Alice , is on a visit to the Queen , intends to stay at Osborne for a fortnight , and will afterwards proceed to Cannes tor about two months .

SIR EUGAR VINCENT , K . C . M . G ., is now able to take carriage exercise in the grounds of Esher Place , and next week he will leave , with Lady Helen Vincent , for a short stay at Brighton . HER MAJESTY ' S ( list-class cruiser Powerful , 14 , 200 tons , 25 , 000 horse-power , 22 knots , which has been ordered to reinforce the China squadron , arrived at Singapore on Tuesday , and sailed again for Hong Kong on Wednesday .

THE MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL , by desire of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , has received the sum of £ 2925 from the Prince of Wales ' s Hospital Fund , £ 1925 of which is given as a special donation in honour of her Majesty ' s Diamond Jubilee , and £ iooo as a subscription .

THE i-AMif . Y ot the late Princess Mary Adelaide ( Duchess of Teck ) have entrusted Mr . C . Kinloch Cooke with the duty of writing the memoir of her Royal Highness . The book , which is to be illustrated with portraits and other engravings , will be published by Mr . Murray some time before Easter . A DEPUTATION from the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers'Company , consisting of Col . Phineas Cowan ( Master ) and Mr . James Bishop , Major J . Roper Parkington , and Mr . Matthew R . Webb ( Wardens ) , waited upon Bro . the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House , and presented him , on behalf ot the Company , with an address of congratulation on his attaining the Chief Magistracy .

K . S . RANJITSINHJI , who is still suffering from his tonsils , has undergone a minor operation , which has afforded him relief . As soon as the test match is over he will pro eeed to Sydney to consult a throat specialist . England ' s team in the test match which begins here on Saturday , will probably be the same as in the last test match at Sydney . Mr . Stoddart had some practice to-day . —Renter ' s Special Service .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES and Princess Victoria , on their arrival at Rowley Station on Monday , will be met by Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , and driven in a carriage , with postillions , to Chatsworth House , which , with the cascade and fountains , is to be illuminated by the electric light . According to present arrangements , there will be private theatricals- on the 7 th instant , and probably three days' shooting .

BRO . E . VALERIANI , P . G . S . B ., has for sometime past been working with energy to secure a Iodge for Italian brethren in London . The M . W . G . M . has approved of a warrant being granted , and the new lodge—the Italia , No . 26 S 7—will have for its VV . Master Bro . F . Gallizia , of the Cafe Royal , Brighton , a P . M . of the Rothesay Lodge . The working will be in the Italian language , and the Italia Lodge will meet atthe Hotel Cecil .

'I HE DUKE OI- - CONNAUGHT made his annual inspection of Cambridge Hospital , Aldershot , on Thursday morning . His Royal Highness , who was accompanied by Col . Talbot Coke , Deputy Adjutant-General ; Col . Miles , Assistant Adjutant-General , and several members of the distiict headquarter stall , was received at the entrance by Surgeon-Major-General O'Dwyer , principal medical oflicer . Each ward was visited , and the Duke , who spoke to several of the patients , expressed himself much pleased with the arrangements for the comfort of the men in sickness .

MASONIC TREAT TO THE AGED AT CI . I-. CKIIEATON . — The annual Christmas treat given to the aged of Cleckheaton by the brethren of the Zetland and Friendship Lodges took place at the 'Town Hall on Wednesday , the 22 nd ult . About 140 guests were present , and a parcel of good things will be sent to some 30 others who could not attend . Mr . H . Waddington presided after tea , when a programme of music was provided by the Cleckheaton Glee Club , Mrs . Elstub , Mr . H . E . Cookson ( Bradford ) , and other local friends . Each of thc guests received a shilling , presented by Bro . Alfred Law .

THE LORI ; MAYOR has been the lirst to adopt the suggestion of Sir Henry Burdett , by making the Fancy Dress Ball to be given at the Mansion House on the Oth inst ., the first great "roll party" of ministering children in support of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund . The young guests , who bring with them their hospital stamp albums and stamps , will be entitled to be photographed free of cost at the Mansion House , and so to be included in the great roll of juveniles which is ta be presented to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales when completed .

A NEW departure of the Solicitors' Managing Clerks' Association has been started in the shape of the formation of a Masonic lodge , a petition for which has , we understand , been successful . The proposal originated with Merssrs . Briggs , Colley , and Bishop , who were amongst the founders of the association , and are now becoming founders of the new lodge . It will be called the "Justinian , " will meet at the Inns of Court Hotel , and will have as its first Master Mr . Swinfen Eidy , O . C . It has had the support of the Chancery Bar Lodge in approaching the high Masonic authorities . — La :, Tillies .

1 in * : CHICAGO COLISEUM , in which a manufacturers exhibition was being held , has been destroyed by lire . The Coliseum was said to be the largest building under one roof in the world . The arena was equalled in extent only to the Roman Coliseum . The lire is believed to have been due to the crossing of the electric-light wires . It was in the Chicaco Coliseum that Mr . Bryan was nominated for the Presidency 0 / the ! ' nited States . 'The visitors to the coliseum had just left when the lire broke out , but Joo exhibitors and eiiip ' o ) -.- ! remained in the building . Of these nine perished and 40 were injured . The loss is estimated at 700 , 000 dollars .

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION ' S Portsmouth Correspondent says the publication of a rumour that the Admiralty intend to call up the naval reserves caused some sensation in Portsmouth en Thursday evening , but careful inquiries in official quarters failed to ubtain any ccnliimation uf thc story , and so far as could be ascertained , no orders on the subject had been received by the authorities , while various members of the Naval Reserve who were questioned declared that they had received no notice of any kind . Moreover , there was no sign of unusual activity in Portsmouth Dockyard ; in fact , the majority of the cllicials were still on their customary Christmas leave .

THE BOARD OE MANAGEMENT of the Railway Benevolent Institution renew their New Year ' s Day appeal on behalf uf the fund for widows , orphans , and disabled railway seivants . All railway servants are invited to contribute in proportion to their means . The benefit of the casualty fund has been amply proved to all those who have been so unfortunate as to require its assistance . Upwards of £ 212 , 000 has been distributed amongst necessitous cases during the last 10 years out of the funds of this institution , established to alleviate distress amongst railway servants arising from disability or early or sudden death , by accident or otherwise . Donations will be received by all station masters , or by Mr . A . E . Mills , general secretary of the institution .

BKO . SIR J MONCKTON , the reluming ollicer in the recent School Board Election , has , in compliance with the ollicial regulations , deposited at the offices on thc Embankment an account of thc expenses of the contests , with the vouchers and bills in support of the same . 'Ihe acccunts will remain so deposited for the space of four weeks , previous to the expiry of which period any of the rating authorities liable to contribute

may , if desired , require taxation of any of them on the payment of the fees set out in the regulations , and which appear to amount to about ios . percent . 'The taxing oflicer is the Registrar of the Lord Mayor ' s Coutt . The total amount of the expenses of the election uf lSy / is £ 10 , 342 os . 3 d ., which , compared with the election of 1 S 114 , the expenses of which were / . ' , 143 Us . iod ., shows a diminution of i . Soi 14 s . 2 d .

. MENTION WAS made some three weeks since of a scheme having for its object the removal of all existing financial liabilities on the Mother Church of Methodism in the City-road , also the settlement and perpetual endowment of John Wesley ' s house , which adjoins . For this purpose the sum of £ . SJOO was required . The proposal has been taken up with so much heartiness by Wesleyan Methodists in London and elsewhere , that not only has the amount as | : ed for been subscribed , but more than ^ . 500 beyond . Among those who have generously supported the scheme is Sir 11 . 11 . Fuwler , M . P ., who during his boyhood , when his father was chief pastor of Wesley's Chapel , lived in the historic house in which the founder of Methodism died .