Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

A CONFERENCE of those interested in the important questions of conciliation and arbitration was held in the Toynbee Hall , on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of Bro . Sir John E . Gorst , Q . C ., M . P . CONSEQUENT on the death of Lady Keyser ( who was a membre d'honncitrof the Belgian Benevolent Society ) , the

banquet which was to take place on Thursday , has been postponed until Thursday , the 7 th inst . BRO . PASSMORE EDWARDS opened in Canning Town , on Thursday , the 24 th ult ., two houses that have been purchased as the headquarters of the Medical Mission connected with the Settlement of Women Workers .

BRO . SIR POLYDORE DE KEYSER has received from His Excellency the Belgian Minister , Baron Whetnall , a letter conveying , on the part of the King and Queen of the Belgians , an expression of their Majesties' sympathy and condolence .

Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon William M . Sinclair , B . D ., has consented to act as one of the examiners of the Training College for Lay Workers , which is conducted by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge , in Commercialroad , Stepney . Amon ? st thosj present at the memorial se vice held in

Westminster Abbey in honour of the late Bro . Lord Randolph Churchill , were Bro . Sir Edward Clarke , O . C ., M . P . ; Sir Richard Webster , Q . C ., M . P . ; Bro . Sir Ii . Lawson , Bart . ; Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P .: Bro . Sir F . Seager Hunt , Bart ., M . P . ; Bro . Col . Howard Vincent , M . P . ; Sir Donald Currie , M . P ., and others .

' THE DEATH is announced of | Bro . Major Barge , of Hampton-road , Bristol , a well-known and prominent Freemason . He was a Past Master of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Hospitality ( No . 1 S 7 ) . Amongst others who attended the funeral were Bros . C . E . Barry , VV . M . ; E . B . Colthurst , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W . ; Pierrepont Harris , P . M ., P . P . G . S . W ., P . G . Sec .: and A . Petter , P . M ., P . G . S . B .

BRO . VV . G . LEMON , J . P ., L . C . C ., has intimated that he will not seek re-election to the Council for Lewisham . Bro . Lemon has been a very useful member ot the Council , and long served as chairman of the Corporate Property Committee for his work upon which he was warmly and publicly commended by Lord Rosebery . Ceitainly not less important has been his work as chairman of the Parks and Open Spaces Committee , so that he will be a distinct loss to the Council .

A GRAND BAZAAR AND FANCY FAIR will be held under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Provincial Grand Lodge of Armagh , in the Brownloiv House and Grounds , Lurgan , on Monday , the 24 th of June , and three following days , the object being to raise funds sufficient for the purpose of erecting aMasonic H all suitable for the requirements of the three lodges—the Acacia , No .

24 ; the St . John's , No . 134 ; and the Uhdia , No . 151 — which meet in Lurgan . An influential Committee , ot which Bro . H . E . Kincaid , M . A ., is the Secretary ., has been formed to carry out the arrangements , and to judge from the very liberal programme which is set forth in the prospectus , there should "„ be no difficulty in raising a good round sum in behalf of this commendable project .

OUR MEMORIES of the great struggle in the Crimea , when the allied French , English , and Turkish forces marched , after a victorious conflict with the Russians at the Alma , on Sebastopol , and laid siege to that redoubtable stronghold , have just been revived by the news , received during the present week from Paris , of the death of Marshal Canrobert , at the advanced age

of 85 years . Marshal , or as he then was , General Canrobert , succeeded to the command of the French army on the death of Marshal St . Arnaud , and was present at the battles of Balaclava and Inkennan , but in the spring he resigned in favour of General Pel'ssier , and resumed command ot the 1 st Division . In 1 S 55 he received thebatonof

Marshal ; in 1 S 59 he fought under Napoleon III . in Italy , rendering valuable assistance at the battles ofJMagenta and Solferino . In tht war with Germany in 1 S 70 , he was with Bazaine ' s army , and became prisoner on the capitulation of Metz . The deceased warrior's funeral will take place with military honours .

THE PRINCE OK WALES presided at the house dinner of the Council of the Imperial Institute on Monday evening , the guest of the evening being Dr . Jamieson , C . B ., Administrator of the British Chartered Company ' s Territories in South Africa . Later in the evening his Royal Highness occupied the chair at the meeting , which was held in the Great Hall of the Institute , and Dr . lamieson

delivered a long and most admirable address on the Past , Present , and Future of South Africa . 'I'he address was listened to throughout with the closest attention , the cheers with which many of the lecturer ' s sentiments were received being most enthusiastic , and at the close a vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to Dr . Jamieson on the motion of the Prince . Among those present were Bro . the Right Hon . Cecil Rhodes , Premier of Cape

Colony ; Lord Knutsford , Secretary of State for the Colonies under Lord Salisbury ' s administration ; Bro . Lord Herschell , Lord Chancellor , representing the present Government ; Sir Lintorn Simmons , Lord PSayfair , Bro . Sir Charles Mills , Bro . Sir F . Leighton , P . R . A ., Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , Bro . Sir T . Somers-Vine , Sir S . Samuel , Sir G . Bowen , Sir Horace Farquhar , Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , and others .

CAPPER ' CELEIIRATED C ONSTITUTION CURE . —IS a new and original preparation not contained in any other advertised medicine , and has proved to be a reliable remedy for all complaints resulting from a disordered condition of the Head , Stomach , Liver , and Blood . It is also strongly lecommended by all who have tried it

for the cure of Gout , Rheumatic Gout , Rheumatism , Sciatica , Lumbago , Stiff and Swollen Joints , and all nerve pains . It is perfectly safe in all cases , and for all ages . Testimonials in favour of it are being received daily . Post free is . 3 d . and 3 s . per case . —Agent by special appointment , BRO . G . COUCHMAN , Rutland-place , Charterhouse-square , I ^ ondon , E . C . —ADVT .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . ALDERMAN TRELOAR will not contest Finsbury East , London County Council . BRO . THE LORD MAYOR returned to the Mansion House from the Coast , last Monday , much invigorated . BRO . J . TICKLE has been elected Chairman of the Billingsgate and Lcadenhall Committee for the ensuing year . THERE HAS KEEN a large demand for Bro . G . A . Sala's

Autobiography , published this week by Messrs . Cassell & Co . The first Hrge supply was exhausted on the day of publication . AT A MEETING held at Anderton ' s Hotel on-Wednesday , the 23 rd ult ., of St . Dunstan's Lodge , No . 15 S 9 , Bro . Walter H . Wellsman , J . W ., was elected Worshipful

Master for the ensuing year . The W . M . elect is the second son of Bro . Wellsman , C . C . BRO . LORD HERSCHKI . L ( Lord Chancellor ) has very kindly consented to preside as Chairman at the anniversary festival , which will be held at the Hotel Metropole , in aid of the funds of the Royal Sea Bathing Infirmary for Scrofula at Margate , on Wednesday , the 20 th instant .

A CORRESPONDENT has very kindly informed us that of the 72 persons who were elected members of the Fulham Vestry in December last , 12 are Freemasons , and that of these 12 one has been elected to the Chairmanship of the Vestry , and ten others to be Chairmen of different committees .

AT THE NEXT MEETING of the Court of the Spectaclemakers' Company , the Master ( Mr . J . Sebag Montefiore , J . P . ) will move a resolution asking the court to confer the honorary freedom of the company upon the Astronomer Royal ( Mr . VV . H . M . Christie ) , in recognition of his services in the cause of optical science . IN OUR announcement last week that a special Masonic service would be held at the Highbury Quadrant Church , on Sunday evening , the 24 th inst ., we stated inadvertently

that it would be held under the auspices of the "Highbury" Lodge , No . 2192 , whereas it should have been the "Highgate" Lodge , No . 13 G 6 . We regret the error . THE Q UEEN will hold Drawing Rooms . at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday , the 19 th February , and on Tuesday , the 5 th March , under the same regulations as last lyear . More Drawing Rooms will be held later in the season . The Prince of Wales will hold a Levee , on her Majesty ' s behalf , at St . James ' s Palace , towards the end of February . The precise date will be shortly announced .

THE FEBRUARY NUMIIER of " Cassell ' s Magazine " opens with an article upon " Some Royal Pots , " illustrated by drawings by Mr . Ernest M . Jessop , to whom special facilities were given at Windsor and Sandringham for sketching these lavourite retainers of royalty . In the same number appears an interview with the late Mr . R . L . Stevenson in Samoa from the pen of a New Zealand journalist .

IN "THE QUIVER" for February Miss T . Sparrow continues her account of her experiences " As One of the Penniless Poor . " " With the Fish-Curers " is the special subject of this month's paper . The same number contains " A Day in the Life of a Bishop , " by the Rev . Montague Fowler , Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury . The paper is illustrated by photographs taken at Lambeth and Wells and in the Melanesian Mission .

MEETINGS of the Philadelphia Sovereign Consistory , S . P . R . S . 32 , and of the Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection , 140 , were appointed to be held in the Gothic Hall of the Masonic Temple in that city on Friday the iSth ult ., when a number of candidates for acceptance into the latter body were set down for ballot . Both the Consistory and the Lodge are under the obedience of the Supreme Council , 33 ° , A . and A . Rite , for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction , U . S . A .

THK BRONZE MEDAL AND CERTII ' . MK have been awarded to Bro . James Noble , of the Zetland Lodge , No . 511 , by the Royal Humane Society fora recent act of bravery in rescuing a woman from drowning in the river near Blackfriars Bridge . The presentation was made on Friday last , the 25 th ult ., by Col . Henry Smith , City Com .

nnssioner , who , in addressing the recipient , alluded to his exemplary conduct while serving in the Royal Muns ' . er Fusiliers . Col . Smith also expressed his gratification at such recognition on the part of the Society , adding that Bro , Noble , by his action , had brought great credit en himself .

I ' m : ordinary general meeting of the Royal Aquarium and Summer and Winter Garden Society , Limited , was held in tne Theatre of the Royal Aquarium , Westminster , on Friday , the 25 th ult ., under the presidency of Mr . Josiah Ritchie , Chairman and Managing Director . The report and accounts were submitted and adopted , after which , on the motion of the Chairman , seconded by Mr . Dominy , a dividend of 5 per cent ., less income tax , was

d : clared for the year ended the 31 st December , 1 S 94 . Messrs . Ritchie and Dominy . were re-elected Directors , and Messrs . Cash , Stone & Co ., Auditors , and the proceedings terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman and Directors for their services during the past year . ST . LUKE ' S LODGE , No . 144 . —Bro . Benjamin Bridgman , W . M . —The above ancient lodge intend holding their lirst annual ball at the Freemasons' Tavern , Great ,

Oueenstreet , W . C , on the 20 th inst ., on which occasion the whole of the elegantly decorated suite of rooms will be thrown open . A dispensation has been granted the lodge , permitting brethren to wear Craft clothing . Tickets and further information may be obtained , on application to the following brethren , who have kindly promised to act as

M . Cs .: Bro . A . Saunders , P . M ., " Fairlawn , " Parsons Green , S . W . ; Bro . F . Ihoinas , S . W ., 1 , Gertrude-street , Chelsea , S . W . ; Uro . 11 . Beauchatnp , J . W ., 0 , Clovellyterrace , Parsons Green , S . W . ; Bro . K . Illing , l . G ., 7 , St . George's-circus , S . E . ; and Bro . S . C . Montague Austin , J . D ., u , Park-side , Albert Gate , S . W ., Hon . hec . and Treas .

\\ 11 . 1 . THAW : IU I ' ; r - SO 1 : 1 r everyone aiimil- Ilia : iHa ( is every whit as had ; h jbi | 3 . I ' niversnl gl mull ] ing prevails . Hut while we hope lor iirlter limes , lei lis mil lorge ! tll . lt we . ire olllset \ es ill some measure to lilanu- lur lilt' tniiilile , CerUlilil , we should have much Icsseause lorgr lllillg it we look lieliel

i-: irr 11 I unr health . Nothing unlils one lur work s eh as illness . Kven whal we are wont loeall minor i- ompiaints lead to endless ImnUe . Happily in lliiliuway ' i . Tills ami Ointment we have I lie means nl elleeiing a speedy Hire lor all sneli Iron hies , ami we slimilil lie loolish indeed II we neglected to a \ ail ourselves ol thellt .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . DR . RALPH [ GOODING , J . P . of the ] Poulters' Com . pany , has been elected Chairman of the Vestry 0 j Greenwich . Bro . A . ] . Hoi . T . ixr . TON , L . C . C ., states that his retire , ment from the representation of Mile End is due solel y to

ill-health brought on by overwork . THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association will be held at the Holborn Restaurant to-morrow ( Saturday ) evening , under the presidency of Bro . Ben . jamin Ward Richardson .

BRO . CHARLES GARTON presided at the annual dinner of the employes of Messrs . Samuel Bros ., on Saturday , the 20 th ult ., at the Talbot Hotel , London Wall . Bro . J 0 J proposed "The Health ol" the Firm . " Nearly 100 sat down to dinner .

BRO . F . VV . DRIVER , M . A ., P . M ., P . Z ., & c , author of " The Noble Soul , " "The Submerged City , " "TOUJOUR Perdrix " ( poems ) , " A Novel Vengeance , " and " The Four Henries" ( prose ) , recites his _ original productions at musical entertainments , smoking concerts , Sic . For ternis , address 62 , Lancaster-road , Notting Hill , W .

MESSRS . CASSELL & Co . will shortly publish a New Work , entitled "A King's Diary , " by Mr . Percy White , author of "Mr . Bailey-Martin . " It will be issued in a form peculiar to itself , and will be followed by other works produced in a similar manner . Mr . Max Pemberton is , we understand , to undertake the selection and editing of this new departure in the issue of Pocket Editions .

SUNDAY LECTURE SOCIETY . —The third seiies of lectures given by this Society bet / ins on Sunday afternoon , the 3 rd inst ., in St . George's Hall , Langham-place , at 4 p . m ., when Arthur Smith Woodward , Esq . ( of the British Museum ) , will lecture on "The Restoration of Extinct

Animals . " Lectures will subsequently be given by R . D . Roberts , Esq ., M . A ., D . Sc . ; Prof . Henry E . Armstrong , Ph . D ., LL . D ., F . R . S . ( President of Chemical Society ); C . T . Whitmell , Esq ., M . A ., B . Sc . ; C . W . Kiminiiis , Esq ., M . A ., D . Sc . ; Douglas Carnegie , Esq ., M . A . ; and VV . Mayhowe Heller , Esq . B . Sc .

BRO . J . STEVENS , P . M ., delivered a lecture on "Fruitgrowing in Australia " in the Sale Room of the Railway Gates , Queen's-road , Brighton , on Thursday , the 24 'h ult . Bro . C . W . Hudson presided as chairman , and introduced Bro . Stevens to the audience , which was a very numerous

one , and frequently gave expression of the pleasure it derived from the lecture . The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to Bro . Stevens , the Chairman proposing it , the audience adopting it with acclamation , and the lecturer acknowledging it with a brief but appropriate speech .

THE SECOND annual report and financial statement of the Executive Committee of the " Liberator " Relief Fund shows that the total income for the past year was £ ' 5 > 345 ' ' -5 . 2 d ., of which £ 3397 4 s . id . was brought forward as balance from previous account . The donations and subscriptions and other moneys raised amounted to £ 11 , 488 17 s . id ., and the interest on deposit account

and dividends reached £ 459 us . Among the disbursements are ^ . ' CiOS 10 s . for relief , of which £ 3399 10 s . was for temporary grants , and the rest for grants in relief to annuitants , while £ 5000 was laid out in the purchase of Consols . A balance of £ 2937 lis . 1 id . remained at the close of the year . We trust the fund will be still more generously supported during the present year .

MASONIC BALL IN AID OE TUB OTLEY CHARITIES . — The officers and brethren of the Royal Wharfedale Lodge , No . 110 S , held another of their popular balls in aid of the Masonic Charities on Tuesday , the 22 nd ult . As usual , the Mechanics' Hall was tastefully decorated , and the attendance was again large . Messrs . Walker and Hardwick ' s band supplied the music , and the supper-room and

refreshment buffet were in the hands of Mr . and Mrs . Cooper , of the Queen ' s Head Hotel , Burley-in-VVharfedale . The Stewards were Bros . A . Dawson , F . C . Dawson , W . Strain , J . Macnab , 11 . Barker , W . Laycock , F . Coupland , VV . H . Dawson , and VV . A . Walker . Craft and Royal Arch clothing was worn under dispensations . FUNERAL OK BRO . WEIISTKR . —The remains of Bro .

Charles E . Webster , of the George Hotel , West Derbyroad , Liverpool , were interred on the 24 th ult ., at Smith , doivn-road Cemetery . The chief mourners were Mrs , Webster ( widow ) , Messrs . Charles E . and Albert Webster ( sons ) , Misses Rose , Mary , and Mabel Webster ( daughters ) , Mr . Joseph Webster ( brother ) , Mrs . 1 ) . Edwards ( sister ) , Messrs . D . Edwards , J . and VV . Hudson

( brothers-in-law ) , Messrs . E . Davies , F . Willings , VV . Wood , Thomas Johnston , W . Forbes , W . E . Goodwin , L . llarpur , H . B . Wood , R . Davies , and J . M'Call . There were also present Bros . James White , J . Brophy , R . Calder , A . Yates , and other brethren of Lodge No . 0 O 5 , of which

the deceased was a member . The collin , of polished oak , with brass mountings , covered with floral wreaths , bore the inscription : "Charles Edward Webster , died 21 st Jan . uary , 1 S 95 , aged 43 years . " The funeral service was impressively conduced by the Rev . 1 " . A . Howard , of St . Matthew ' s , Hill-street .

CAN WOMEN HE FREEMASONS . " There is nothing to prevent their joining , said Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson , in his lecture at St . George ' s Hall , on " The Past , Present , and Future of Freemasonry . " In 1775 there was a ladies ' lodge at St . Petersburg , and it was carried on with all true Masonic dignity for several years . But we have a record nearer home than that , of a lady—the great aunt of the

present Mrs . Basil Wilberforce—becoming a Freemason , and , as Dr . Richardson says , remaining one of the best who ever entered the Craft . There are two readings of the story as to how Miss St . Leger joined the Order . One is that , impelled by curiosity , she secreted herself in the room in which the lodge was to be held , but , being discovered by the Tylerwas dragged foith to be killedwhen her lover

-, , who was one of the body—rushed forward and exclaim ?'' that they must kill him first , whereupon , to save her lover ' s life , the young lady was made a Mason . The other and less romantic , but probably truer version is , that the lodge was being held in a kind of library , part of the wall ol which had been broken down to make a new window . Mi ;»

St . Leger , passing along the corridor of her father's house — he having a dispensation to hold a lodge on his premises- — perceived a light in the chink of the wall , and looked in > she was seen , seized , and taken into the lodge , where , a ' her brother ' s—not her lover ' s—suggestion , she was mails a Mason . —Ladies' Review .