Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

Bro . Geo . Flint , of the Great Northern Lodge , No . 12 S 7 , was elected W . M . on the 17 th December , and will be installed at the next meeting in January . The annual Masonic ball , under the auspices of the Constance Lodge , has been fixed to take place in the New Town Hall , Consett , on Wednesday , February 3 rd .

In order to meet the great demand for seats to witness A . VV . Pinero ' s enormously successful play , " The Times , " at Terry ' s Theatre , the management have decided to give , in addition to the usual Saturday matinees , extra matinees on Monday , the 4 th inst ., and Wednesday , the Gth inst .

A Alasonic ball will be held at the Victoria Hall , Walthamstow , in connection with the Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , under the patronage of the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Lord Brooke , and the Deputy Provincial Grand Alaster , Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg .

The Prince and Princess of VVales , accompanied by the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , Prince George , and the two Princesses , Victoria and Alaud , left Alarlborough House shortly before 1 . 30 on Wednesday afternoon for Sandringham , travelling from St . Pancras Station by special train . Prince George did not suffer in any way by the journey .

One of our contemporaries received the following letter , which it reproduces verbatim et literatim : " DEAR SIRWill you rite and tel me how mutch it costs to joine a free masons loge . Sumbody tolde me to rite to you and you wood tel me . i want to joine a good loge because i am tolde it will helpe me in my biziness . i am a bose carpenter . " The best thing to strike him would be a black ball . —Keystone .

With the close of this year , "The Queen's Pipe" will be numbered among the memorials of past greatness . Hitherto all smuggled tobacco seized by Custom House officers has been smoked in " Her Majesty's Pipe , " at the place of capture—that is to say , uselessly burned in a

furnace specially designed for the purpose . Orders , it is reported , have now been issued to put out " The Queen ' s Pipe " for ever . All tobacco seized will be forwarded to head-quarters in London , and will either be sold or distributed among the inmates of institutions dependent upon the Government .

Pitman ' s Shorthand Weekly is the title of a new miscellany of popular literature , printed wholly in shorthand , which is commenced with the New Year . It is projected in order to furnish shorthand writers of all ages with entertaining reading , liberally illustrated . Recreation for winter

evenings is afforded in the shape of prize competitions for awards of the value of £ 25 , including a Yost Typewriter . "Q . ' s" weird romance , " Dead Alan ' s Rock , " is the serial novel , and there are several short humorous stories . The "Greeting" is from the pen of Air . Isaac Pitman , and is printed in facsimile .

The fourth annual ball of the Barnato Lodge , No . 22 fi 5 , in aid of their Benevolent Fund , will be held at the Whitehall Rooms , Hotel Metropole , on Thursday , the 1 ith prox . An efficient body of Stewards has been formed , and a dispensation granted by the AI . W . Grand Alaster for brethren to wear either Craft or Royal Arch clothing . The price of

the tickets , which includes refreshments , wines , spirits , and a _ chamagne supper , are—gentlemen , £ 1 ios . ; ladies , £ 1 is . ; double ticket to admit lady and gentlemin , £ 2 5 s . ; and as the number will be strictly limited , early application should be made to any member of the lodge or to Bro . Tom Honey , No . 1 , Drapers ' -gardens , the Hon . Secretary to the Ball Cnnimi tee .

The Rome Correspondent of the Daily Niws telegraphs : The Italian papers are much engrossed in the discu-sion of the statem _ nt made by M . Floquet that Pius IX . was a freemason . The Diritto first and other newspapers afterwards published a document testifying to Pius IX . ' s admission in the year 1 S 39 to a Palermo lodge . The

authenticity of this document , however , is denied by those who say tint the late P , . pe was never at Palermo in his life , and that such a lodge never existed in Palermo . I have received statements directl y from the Vatican on the subl ect and these , as migh : be expected , deny the truth of Al . Floquefs assertion in erery way .

To every AI ison , " wherever scattered over land or sea , " the " Freem isons" Calendar and Pocket Book , " published by George Kenning , will pro / e invaluible . When we state that their compiler is no less exalted a brother than Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , Grand Secretary , it is sufficient proof that the work i > both complete anJ correct . The 1 S 92 Calendir contains , am ingst other matter usiul in pocketbooks list of

, a all the Regular Lodges and Royal Arch . y '^ Pters , and a variety of articles concerning Alasonry . Ihe same publisher issues "The Cosmopolitan Alasonic Calendar an . I Pocket Book" for iS ) 2 , and this contains Pirticiilarsof the Grand Masonic bodies of Scotland , Ireland , and all Colonial and Foreign Jurisdictions . It is a thoroughl y comprehensive book of reference . —Kentish axbress . of

^ he fnnffal Bro . Samuel'Trotman . late boitswain of H . VI . S . Edgar , took place at Antony Churchyard on Saturday , the 2 Gth December . The funeral air / eire left the residence of deceased , 35 , Wellington-street , Torpoint , about three o ' clock , and proceeded to Antony . Among tiose present , in addition to the relatives , were a large number of members of the Carew Lodire . T ' orooint . of

which deceased wis a member , including Bros . T . Tresize , P . AL ; Heath , P . AL ; White . P . M . ; Pearce , P . AI . ; Dirk , P . M . ; A . Akenhead , W . AL ; G . Davis , S . W . ; I ' ,. } ¦ greet . » . C . ; H . Lewis , T y ler ; B . Stoddon , B . r 1 _ ¦ __'••Irud ff ° . and Horrocks . Visitors : Bros . J . <~ o-ks , Whitelock , and G . Penny . The deceased , who was only 45 years of age , leaves a wife and seven children .

ne was greatly respected , not only in the service , but by a » thi inhabitants of Torpoint . a number of whom followed ms remains to their last resting place . 'There were also present a large number of warrant officers from thc Seamen s Barracks and ships in harbour . The Rev . J . H . Kitson officiated in the church and at thc graveside . The funeral arrangements were ably carried out by Air . J .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bro . Whymper has collected the titles of over Gooo books in the English language upon Freemasonry . The Corporation of London have given 100 guineas to the funds of the St . Bride ' s Youths' Institute , Shoe-lane . Air . Edward Hugh Rea , C . A'I . G ., Assistant-Secretary of the General Post-Office , retires on the ist of January , after

a service of 53 years . Lord Aberdeen has been appointed a vice-president of the Royal Colonial Institute , in succession to the late Right Hon . W . H . Smith , AI . P ., and Air . Laurence R . Fyfe , of Grenada , Honorary Corresponding Secretary for Windward Islands .

The Accident Insurance Company , Limited , notifies that interim interest on the paid capital of the company , at the rate of five per cent , per annum , for the half year ending the 31 st of December , 1 S 91 , is now payable . Bro . Ben . Franklin's A . D . 1734 edition of "Anderson's Constitutions , " sold ( one copy ) at Birch ' s Auction Rooms , Philadelphia , on Wednesday , December 16 th inst ., for

S 320 . Ben ' s Alasonic productions are decidedly above par . —Keys / one . A bronze statue of Robert Burns is about to be placed in Roger Williams Park , Providence , R . I ., and the Freemasons of Rhode Island are furthering the plan . The park is a beautiful one . The statue referred to will fittingly add to its adornment .

The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have awarded the Greenwich Hospital Pension of £ 50 a year , vacant by the death of Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets Andrew Alurray , to Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets William H . Adam . Mr . W . Noel Sainsbury , Assistant-Keeper of the Public Records , retires on a pension after 40 years' service , but will continue to edit his " Calendar of Colonial State

Papers , " of which seven volumes have already been published by the Government . Owing to the favourable weather which has been prevailing in South Russia during the past two months , reports have been received from all parts as to the good condition of the winter crops . This information has helped , to a small extent , to dispel the general gloom which prevails in all circles in South Russia , especially as all previous accounts had been very unfavourable .

WEST HARTLEPOOL AI ASONIC HALL COMPANV ( LIMITED ) . —Registered by Waterlow Bros , and Layton ( Limited ) , 24 and 25 , Birchin-lane , li . C , with a capital of £ 3000 , in £ 5 shares . Objects—To establish in West Hartlepool a hall for Alasonic and other purposes , and to maintain the same . There shall be not less than seven nor more than nine directors . The first to be appointed b y the signatories to the memorandum of association . Qualification , 10 shares . Remuneration not specified . —Daily Oracle .

Mr . Davenport Adams , sen ., the well-known author , died suddenly on VVednesday last , after a long and painful illness , at Wimbledon . He was born in 1 S 2 S , and had been before the public as a writer for 40 years . He published a large number of works , including books of reference , like his annotated edition of Shakespeare and his Shakespeare

Phrase - Concordance , popular biographies , such as his "Good Queen Anne " and "Merry Monarch , " and very miny books for girls and boys , among whom he wis very popular . Latterly he had projected and edited the two well-known series , "The Whitefriars Library of Wit and Humour " and " The Victoria Library for Gentlewomen . "

The most notable event of the theatrical week has been , of course , the sudden and lamented death of Air . Alfied Cellier—an event which , in spite of his long-continued illhealth , was not in the least anticipated . It is to be feared that Air . Cellier fell a martyr to his sense of duty . Had he been able to leave England this winter as on previous occasions , there is every possibility thit he would have been

alive at th s moment . As it is , the frail frame has given way , and the bright sp irit is but a memory . His unexpected collapse is the more pitiable in view of the fact that it was , and still is , hoped that the score of " The Alountcbinks " would , and will , set the seal upon his reputation as a composer . Those who have heard the music of the opera are unanimous in praise of its beauty and sprightliness .

The Newspaper of December aGth says : People in Paris , the Daily Telegraph ' s correspondent says , are now discussing the likelihood of a serious split in the Masonic camp . Not a few members of the Order are dissatisfied with the political role which the heads of the Grand Orient of France have been playing , and there is talk of an effort to return to thc old state of things , when

Freemasonry in France was the purely benevolent and brotherly Institution—set off with various rites , symbols , and ceiemonies—which it still is in most other lands . As a matter of fact , in the majority of the provincial lodges the utmost harmony and tranquillity prevail ; but there has long been a tendency among certain members here to render Alasonry entirely subservient to politics , and the meeting

convened the other day by the Grand Orient seems to hive brought matters to a head . lt has beconn almost a stereotyped expression when recording another success of Bro . Sir Augustus Harris that he has excelled himself , and at the first fancy dress ball of the season , which was held on Wednesday night , at Covent Garden , this was certainly the case . As last year , the

whole area was on a level with the grand tier , and , as is always the case at what one may call the Hirris' festivals , the staircases , boxes , and alcoves were smothered with flowers and ferns . But , instead of the solid band stand which last year rose from a grove of green shrubs , this year the band were placed in a gallery which was supported on lluted white and gold pillars , draped with blue plush

curtains , and this scheme of colour wis cirried through all the decorative effects . VVhite and old gold silk curtains hid the flies , white and gold were the walls , and in the same colours the alcoves were decorated . It would be difficult to say whether more or fewer people were present on this occasion than at the bills last year , but at any rate it might

well have been supposed that a mo . e numerous party could not have been gathered together with comfort , nor could an added numb _ r , in spite of the proverb , hive made the merriment greater . Every variety of costume was to be seen , historical , comic , commonplace ; and hardly a prominent character now appearing on the London stage escaped representation or caricature .

Masonic And General Tidings.

Bros . Sir VV . T . Alarriott , Q . C , AI . P . ( Judge Advocate General ) , F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , and Pitt Lewis , O . C , are among the candidates for the office of Recorder , vacant by the death of Sir Thomas Chambers , Q . C . The third annual dinner of music travellers took place at the Holborn Restaurant on VVednesday . In response to an appeal by Air . Barton , the Chairman , a sum was collected to form the nucleus of a fund for disabled travellers .

A new Mark lodge is to be opened next month at Gloucester , when Bros , the Earl of Euston , Lord Dungarvan , Sir Reginald Hanson , and other Grand Lodge Officers will attend and assist in the installation of Bro . Sir Lionel Darell , Bart ., as first Master .

Sergeant Barber , R . M . L . I ., and Gunner Armstrong , R . M . A ., who were terribly injured by the gun explosion on board the Cordelia , are to be invalided out of the service . The former has now come into possession of £ 6300 , which he recently won in an Australian lottery .

lt is said that the Prince of Wales , Grand Alaster of Alasons in England , will attend the dedication of the Masonic Home now in process of erection at Utica , New York . It is stated that he will do so in conjunction with his visit to the World ' s Columbian Exposition at Chicago . — Rouirli Ashler .

A strange illness has broken out in the Zoological Gardens , Amsterdam , among the beasts of prey . In three days 16 creatures have died , including several of the finest lions and tigers . The cause has eluded discovery , even after an autopsy . All the beasts died after only two days ' illness .

The late Air . John Archer Houblon , of Hallingbury-place and Coopersale House , Essex , and Colverthorpe , Lincolnshire , D . L . and J . P . ( High Sheriff for Essex in 1 S 40 ) , who died on the Gth October last , aged S 7 years , has left personal estate valued at £ 23 , 817 5 s . 3 d . It was a direction in the testator ' s will that his body shoul J be carried to the grave by 24 labourers on his estate , and that each should have £ 2 and a good meat dinner , and " one pint of ale and no more . "

The Press Association is informed by the Church Alissionary Society that Samuel Aelji Crowther , the Bishop of the Niger Territory , died on Thursday . Bishop Crowther , a few weeks ago , had a slight paralytic seizure , but from the last letters received , it did not appear that an

early termination of his life was so near . The deceased first came into contact with the Church Alissionary Society in 1 S 22 , when he was rescued from a slave ship , and his whole life has been spent in connection with the society ' s work in VVest Africa .

During the busy hours of Thursday morning , an engine attached to a passenger train on the Metropolitan District Railway broke down at Charing Cross station . Fortunately no persons were injured , but the delay and inconvenience consequent upon the accident were considerable . At halfpast 10 o ' clock the line between Charing Cross and Blackfriars presented a curious spectacle , there being an almost continuous line of empty trains awaiting thc removal of the obstruction .

True manhood is the noblest product of Alasonry , and as our Order has its strength and excellency because it binds men together in confidence , esteem , and worthy emulation of the qualities which make up true minhood , so let us strive together for highest good . And yet , in entire

harmony with these high sentiments , we must reach out our hands to a fallen brother and lift him up . VVe must bear with an erring brother , and , with hand to back , give him kind admonition , and only cut him off when it must be done for the good of the cause , whose life his life dishonours . — Rouirli Ashler .

It may not be generally known that a curious collection of coins ol" considerable antiquarian value is to be found at the Calcutta Alint . The coins , it appears , are not for exhibition , but . for sale , and that at about the actual value of the metal . The real value of the coins lies in their historical interest , and for this there is nothing to pay . Their presence in Calcutta is accounted for by the law of treasure trove , under which all finds of hidden wealth come

into the hands ol the State . T hose who are curious in such things can obtain gold mohurs of the reign of Sultan Alaud-din Alohammed Shah , about 1300 A . 11 . ; rupees coined by _ Mohammed Shah , by Shah Jehan , the builder of the Taj Mahal , and Aurangzib , together with old copper pieces innumerable . Numismatists on the look-out for specimens doubtless know all about such matters ; but there are many others who might be glad to indulge a moderate taste for the genuinely curious .

The death of a very popular member of the staff of the Great Eastern Railway is recorded in the " East Anglian Handbook " for 1 S 92 . VVe refer to the black-and-tan collie dog long familiar to passengers at the Lowestoft station . 'This well-known animal appears to have originially appointed himself to fulfil the duty of starting the trains , but time and habit seem to have fully ratified the appointment .

By a marvellous instinct the collie , it is said , seemed to know the exact time at which the train should begin its journey , and a restless excitement characterised him as the appointed moment drew near . As the bell uttered its first sound he would scamper down the platform , and , planting himself close to the engine , bark furiously until the wheels began to move . Satisfied apparently in this respect , he would next make a move for the guard ' s van and hurry the

guard to his post . As the train passed out of the station he retired , and no more was seen of him till a similar operation had to be repeated on the departure of another train . No other bell than that used for starting purposes would bring the animal to view . For years the Lowestoft people have been diverted by the dog ' s performince , but now , as this obituary notice mournfully puts it , " the fun is at an end . "

HOLLOWAY ' S OI \ IIIE :, T AMI 1 'n . i . s . -V cure fur Abscesses , Piles , Fist-Jin , ami Sores ol every description . The very sat sfai-tnry results arising from Hi : use of this invaluable Ointment , when the patients hive bcen su'l ' ering from any of tlie above disorder .-. , have induced Hie Medical profession to introduce it into the hospita ' s an I th .-ir private practice , and iu mmv instances where the sullcrcr was considered incurable , Holloway's

Ointment , in e-t . njiiiv-lion wilh his Pills , healeil the most desperate case-. They are also une < iualled for the cure of scrofula , scurvy , and oil dis . as-s of the skin , an . I the cures they e-llcct are not temporary or imperfect , for by their purifying powers thev bring about . 1 marvellous and most be-nclirial change in the whole system , and enable il , with renovated power . * , to resist the approach of all future attacks of the same disease . —Anvr .