Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

BRI , HERBERT J ALLCROFT , Treasurer of the Royal Hospital for Incurables , VVest Hill , Putney Heath , will preside at the annual festival dinner which will be held at the Hotel Metropole , on Tuesdiy , the ioth May , in behalf of that Institution . THE MARRIAGE of Mr . William J . Barry , third son of Mr . F . T . Barry , M . P ., with the Lady Grace Murray , third daughter of Bro . the Earl and Countess of Dunmore , took place at St . Andrew's Church , Wells-street , on Saturday last .

BRO . VV . BIIRIIHTT-COIITTS , M . P ., will take the chair atthe annual festival dinner which will be held on Wednesday , the 12 th instant , in aid of the Westminster Philan thropic Society , and will be supported by Baroness Burdett-Coutts and the Duke of Westminster .

AMONG THK GUESTS entertained by Bro . the Duke and . Duchess of Portland at Welbeck Abbey last week were Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness of Granby , the Earl of Rosebery , Bro . Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox , Lord Rowton , and Bro . Lord and Lady Henry Bentinck . AMONG THOSE who attended the service held in Christ Church , Mayfair , on Sunday last in memory of the late Sir Henry Calcraft were Bros , the Duke of Abercorn , the Marquis of Tweeddale , and Lord Stanley , M . P ., Lorel Radstock , the Hon . II . Sturt , M . P ., and many other friends of the deceased .

THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Playgoers' Club wis held at the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Saturday evening last . Mr . Edward Ross , President , occupied the chair , and among the 400 members who were present were Bros . S . B . Bancroft , Lionel Brough , A . B . VValkley , Mr . Weedon Grossmith , and Mr . Carl Henlschel . A LARGE MEETING of the friends of voluntary schools was held in the Guildhall , Cambridge , on Monday afternoon , under the presidency of the Bishop of Ely , among those present in support being Professor Jabb , M . P ., Bro . Sir John E . Gorst , Q . C , M . P ., Viscount Peel , the Dean of Ely , the Master of Trinity , and others . " *

THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY has made arrangements for receiving the deputation from the Church of England Temperance Society on Friday next , the 7 th instant at 12 . 15 p . m . The deputation will include the Bishops of London , Durham , Peterborough , Ely , Winchester , Hereford , Rochester , and many other members of the Society .

THE IITH ANNIVERSARY DINNER of the Institution of Junior Engineers was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel on Saturday last under the presidency of Mr . Archibald Denny , among the guests being Sir Donald Currie , Mr . A . J . Durston , Engineerin-chief of the Navy , and Mr . James Dunn , Acting Director of Nival Construction . H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES has arranged to visit Brighton on the 15 th inst ., in order to lay the foundation-stone of a new out-patients' department of the Sussex County Hospital . Owing to the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg , intimation has been received in Brighton that the proposed visit will be postponed until the end of the month .

THE AMERICAN MAIL STEAMER ST . PAUL ran ashore off Long Branch on Saturday morning last during a dense fog . The passengers were all successfully landed , and hopes are entertained that the vessel will be got off shortly . The heavy seas , however , prevented any serious attempts to alfact this from bain ? mile till s > m : tima after the catastrophe . . .

THE TROOPS are fast returning to the coast from Coomassie , and it is announced that the West Yorkshire battalion will embark on board the Manila on her homeward voyage on the 7 th instant . Major C . B . Pigott , A . D . C , 21 st Hussars , has been appointed British Resident and Govarnor at the Ashanti cipital . The troops and prisoners are reported healthy .

A LETTER OF CONDOLENCE with the Queen , Princess Beatrice , and the Royal Family on the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg , has been forwarded to her Majesty through the Secretary of State for the Colonies by the Agents-General for the different Australasian Colonies , and for the Cape of Good Hope and Natal , as well as from the High Commissioner of Canada .

LARGE CROWDS of people visited Trafalgar-square on Monday last for the purpose of paying honour to the memory of General Gordon , who was killed at Khartoum on that day 11 years ago . The Gordon Statue was decorated with wreaths , crosses , Sic ., & c , and memorial services , which were vary numerously attended , were held in the Guards' Chapel and the Gordon Memorial Chapel .

LORD HAWKE ' team of cricketers playing 12 men were unexpectedly but decisively beaten by a colonial team of 15 , at Natal , on Saturday last . The English nude 154 in their first innings , while Natal were out for ico . In thtir second innings the former scored 173 , when the Colonials went in and knocked off the required 22 S runs with nine wickets still to fall , Lieut . Moore , who had previously distinguished himself at Pietermaritzburg , carrying out his bat for 107 runs .

A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION occurred on Saturdiy night last at the powder mills belonging to Messrs . Curtis and Harvey , at Hanworth , near Hounslow . Fortunately the men employed had left the premises only a short time previously , so that no lives were lost and no one was injured , but three mills were totally destroyed . The reports , of which there were two in quick succession , were heard within a radius of four or five miles , and caused a considerable degree of excitement in the neighbourhood .

VERY SINCERE REGRET is | felt in all quarters at the unexpected death of Lord Leighton , President of the Royal Academy , at his residence in Holland Park-road , on Saturday last . His lordship had been in bad health for some time past , and was prevented presiding at the Royal Academy dinner in May last . But no one anticipated the occurrence of the sad event , and the mournful news has surprised as well as pained the public . Lord Leighton was born in 1 S 30 , and as recently as the ist ult . was raised to the peerage , so that he has not survived long to enjoy the honour conferred upon Mm by her Majesty . The funeral will take place in St . Paul ' s Cathedral on Monday next . '

WE LEARN from the fifih annual report of the Hornimin Museum , London-road , Forest Hill , S . E ., that many valuable additions have been made to the several collections on view in the museum , the majority of which are gifts from friends of the institution , while otheis have been purchased . Among the most notable are a duplicate of the original " Irish Wishing Chair , " at the Giant's Causeway , Antrim ; an "Old English Violin , " in excellent condition , made by "John Crouck at Ye 3 Lutes in Drury Lane , near Princes St ., London , 1682 ; " and a " Panel from the Juggernaut Car of India , "

in which are represented "Vishnu and his Salite or female form Lakshmi , riding on the watery principle of nature—the alligator , & c . " We are also glad to learn that the number of visitors on the iSS days it was open during the year 18 95 was 85 , 807 , ' which shows an increase of over 20 , 000 when compared with the number in ISIJ .-, of 44 , 000 as compared with that in 1 S 93 , and of 49 , 000 as compared with that of 1 S 92 . Institutions such as this museum , which has been established by Bro . Ilorniman , M . P ., deserve to be encouraged in every possible way , and we trust that during the present year a further advance will be made in popular favour .

IT IS ANNOUNCED that Prince Henry of Battenberg , in accordance with the wish expressed in his will , will be buried in Whippinghim Church , in which his mirnigewith the Princess Beatrice was solemnised , and that his remains will be interred in a vault beneath the Royal pew . The first-class cruiser Blenheim , which conveyed home the body of the late Sir John Thompson , Prime Minister of Canidi , who expired suddenly at Windsor f astle , and which is capable of 21 knots an hour , has been despatched to meet the Blonde , and bring home the body of the Prince . On her arrival in Portsmouth Harbour , the body will be transferred to the Royal Yacht Alberta , and conveyed

across the Solent toCowes . Surgeon-Captain Hilliard , who attended the Prince during his illness , will relurn to England with the remains . Innumerable messages of condolences with Ihe Queen , Princess Henry of Battenberg , and the Royal Family on the sad calamity which has befallen them , have been received at Osborne , among them being one iiom Admiral Sir Algernon Lyons , Commander-in-Chiei Devonport , and First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the Queen , from all classes of the Fleet in the Pljmouth comrrand , while resolutions of a similar character have been passeel by vaiicus bodies , an . ong them being the Constitutional Club , the London Indian Society , per Bro . L . Naoroji , and the Berkshire County Council , on the motion of Bro . Sir John R . Mowbray , Bart .. M . P .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Tin ? OUEEN has been pleased to grant to Bro . Colonel Egerton the use of the -Stud House , Hamilton Court , formerly occupied by the late Sir George Maude . ACCORDING to present arrangements , the christening of the infant son of the Duke and Duchess of York will take place at Sindr " n . ** him on Monday the r / st inst . THE LADY MAYORESS ( Lady Wilkin ) will hold receptions at the Mansion House on the first Tuesday in every month , the first being held on Tuesday next , the 4 th inst ., from 3 to 5 p . m .

THE SPOT-BARRED MATCH , 24 , 000 up , which his been in progress for a fortnight , and in which Roberts , the champion , gave his opponent , Mitchell , a start of 9000 , was concluded on Saturday last , the champion winning by 277 points .

IT HAS BEEN definitively arranged that an Australian team shall visit England during the approaching cricket season , and the members that will compose it have already been selected . Among them are several who have visited England before , but three new players are also included . AT THE MEETING of the Herts County Council on Monday a resolution was moved by Bro . Earl Cowper , seconded by the Earl of Clarendon , and unanimously carried , of

sympathy with the Queen and the Princess Henry of Bittenberg in the terrible domestic bereavement by which they have just been visited . THE TREASURER AND BENCHERS of the Middle Temple gave their usual dinner on Wednesday , being " Grand Day " in Hilary Term , among the principal guests being the American Ambassador , the Bishop of Oxford , Mr . John ATorley , Bro . Sir John E . Gorst , Q . C , M . P ., and Bro . Sir E . Clarke , Q . C , M . P .

IT IS . ANNOUNCED under authority from the Lord Chamberlain ( Bro . the Eirl of Lathom ) that the Drawing Rrom fixed for the present month will not be held , and that the names of ladies submitted for presentation on that occasion will be included in the list for the Drawing Room to be held in March , unless otherwise desired . BRO . ALDERMAN TRELOAR has been able to pay over to the Ragged School Union , 37 , Norfolk-street , Strand , W . C , a balance of £ 91 ios . 2 d ., after meeting all expenses connected with the poor children ' s banquet recently given in the Guildhall under the presidency of the Lord Mayor .

THE J APAN SOCIETY held a very successful conversazione at their rooms in Hanover-square , on Wednesday , when a large number of guests assembled to meet the Japanese Minister and Madame Kato , among them being Bro . Sir Edward and Lady Reed , Lady Hannen , Sir Julius and Lady Rennie , Capt . Rdleston , and Bro . Imre Kiralfy .

MR . AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN , M . P ., Civil Lord of the Admiralty , and Bro . W . G Ellison Macartney , M . P ., Parliamentary and Financial Secretary , returned to town on Tuesday from Devonport , where they had been inspecting the Royal Naval Hospital and Royal VVilliim Victualling Yard . During their stay in Devonport they were the guests of the Admiral Superintendent , Rear-Admiral E . J . Church .

THE FUNERAL of the late Lord Leighton , President of the Royal Academy , will take place in St . Paul's Cathedral on Monday next . The Queen , who has signified her approval of the arrangements , will be represented , andso , too , will the Prince of Wales , while the German Ambassador will represent the Emperor William . Bro . Lord Mayor Sir VV . Wilkin and the Corporation of London will also attend in State .

His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES went to Osborne on Saturday last for the purpose of paying a visit of condolence to the Queen and Princess Beatrice on the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg . His Royal Highness travelled by special train from Victoria and crossed over to the Island in company with the Djke of Connaught . He returned to Mirlborough House on Sunday afternoon .

A CIRCULAR has been addressed to the junior members of the bar and lawstudents calling upon them to give all the support in their power to the Inns of Court Volunteer Corps , which has latterly been re-organised by Bro . Lord Wolseley , but which still retains its representative character . The circular is signed by the Attorney and Solicitor-Generals , and Bros . Sir Edward Clarke , Q . C , M . P ., and Sir F . Lockwood , O . C ., M . P .

THE NEW GOVERNOR OF THE ISLE OF MAN . —Bro . Lord Henniker was sworn in on Friday , the 24 th ult ., as Governor of the Isle of Man . The ceremony took place at Castletown , and the spectators showed considerable enthusiasm . Replying to an address of welcome , his lordship alluded in feeling terms to the death of Prince Henry of Battenberg and the sorrow of the Queen , and said the entire nation sympathised with the stricken Royal Family .

Bro . SIR AUGUSTUS HARRIS , as Master of the Loriners' Compiny , presided at the dinner given by that Corporation at Fishmongers' Hall on TuesJay evening to a distinguished company , which included Bro . Lord Mayor Sir Walter Wilkin , and Bros , the Earl of Londesborough and Viscount Dungarvan , Bro . Sheriff Cooper , Bro . Under-Sheriff Beard , and Bros . Alderman Sir Joseph Savory , Bart . ; Sir F . D . xon Hartland , Bart ., M . P . ; Alderman Davies , M . P . ; E . Boulnois , M . P . ; J . C Parkinson , Sir J . B . Monckton , Sir Albert J . Altman , Alderman F . P . Alliston , J . H . Matthews , Rev . Smith l * f * har \ lnin \ . P lie . faantt I r \ nor f K . Mnlapr . t . nvpland l ^ lvpland . lamp-1 Willmcr . jim

and Col . T . Davies Sewell . A MEETING was held in the Salisbury Town Hall on Tuesday evening under the presidency of the Mayor of the city for the purpose of aiding the fund that is being raised for the repair and preservation of the tower and spire of Salisbury Cathedral . Among the principal speakers were the Bishop of Salisbury , and Bros , the Earl of Radnor and Viscount Folkestone , M . P ., Earl Nelson , Colonel Williams , M . P ., and Mr . Halse , M . P . A donation of £ 100 from the Queen was acknowledged by the Dian .

ON WEDNESDAY the annual "At Home" and ball , under the auspices of the Constance Lodge , No . 2135 , took place in the New Town Hall , Consett . There was a large and fashionable gathering , Bros . John Coulthard , W . M ., and T . D . Dryden , S . W ., acting as MCs ., while about 30 brethren officiated as Stewards . Music was supplied by Mr . John H . Amers's Band ( Newcastle ) , and the following artistes sang at intervals -. " Madame Bellas Dryden , Miss Harker , Miss A . C . Harker , Miss Grainger , Miss Coulthard , Bros . T . D . Dryden , C . Stephenson , and Messrs . Davis , Millburn , Pallister , and others , Mr . Geo . P . Stephenson being the accompanist .

A MASONIC BALL will be held on Tuesday , the 1 Sth inst ., at the County Assembly Rooms , Leicester , under fhe auspices of the Knights of Rome and Red Cross of Constantine , Lodges 19 , 21 , 30 , and 194 M . M . M ., and ig R . A . M ., witth the distinguished patronage and presence of Bro . the Rignt Hon the Eirl of Euston , M . W . Pro Grand Master . By special dispensation full Masonic clothing will be worn . Dancing will begin at nine and continue till three , the tickets , including supper and light refreshments , are 12 s . ( id . each . After payment of expenses the surplus will be given to the Kelly Memorial Fund .

A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER was given at Goldsmiths' Hall , on Wednesday , to the Duke of Noifolk on the occasion of his retirement from the representation of the City in the London County Council . Among the So gu ? sts , who were presided over by Mr . Henry Clarke , were Bro . Lord Mayor Sir W . Wilkin , the Earl of Denbigh , Bro . the Earl of Onslow , the Attorney-General , Bro . Alderman Sir J . Whittaker Ellis , Bart . ; Bro . Sir F . Dixon-Hartland , Bart ., M . P . ; Bro . Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P . ; Bro . Alderman Sir Joseph Savory , Bart ., M . P . ; Bro . Sir John Puleston , Bro . Alderman and Col . Davies , M . P .: and Bro . Aldermin F . P . Alliston .

NEWS HAS BEEN received of the funeral at Libau , Russii , of Mr . C . B . Tickle , the son of Bro . J . Tickle , C . C . It was intended to bring the remains to England for inteiment , but that step proved impracticable owing to the superstition existing amongst the seamen . The body was followed to the grave b y the captains , officers , and crews of the ships then in port , and also by the British Vice-Consul and the chaplain to the

Consulate and the English residents of the place . The chaplain ( the Rev . Edward T . Woollard ) was mest assiduous in his care of the deceased throughout his fatal illness , scarcely leaving his bedside the whole time , and practically undertaking the nursing himself . The family have just received a communication from that gentleman and also from the British Vice-Consul containing an account of the last moments of their son . Both these gentlemen speak eloquently of the bravery and fortitude of the deceased .

A ' ¦ ' * i-:. \ r 1 ' I . IJSSING TO HI ' MAMTV is without ilouht a medicine composed of ingredients that , whilst it eradicates thc germs of disease , strengthens the system . Holioway ' s I'ills act in this inn n-JICT , 11 ml in general debility , mental depression , and nervous irrilability ( here is no remedy whii'li operates so beneticially . They parity tlie blood , give lone to the stomach , antl thoroughly regenerate the system . They are mild in operation , although most powerful in removing disease , delicate females and young children can take llu-m wilh safely and benefit . It would be difllciilt lo enumerate all the advantages lo be derived by taking these wonderful pills . No household should he without them , for there is no complaint whicli they cannot cure or relieve .