Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

LAUV B URDKTT-COUTTS and Bro . VV . Burdett-Coutts , M . P ., are spending the autumn at Holly Lodge , Highgate . WK ARE requested to state that the Tyssen Amherst Lodge of Instruction , No . 2242 , meets every Monday , at 7 . 30 , at the Amherst Club , Rectory-road , Stoke Newington , N .

THE OUEEN ' WESTMINSTER LODGE OF _ INSTRUCTION , NO . 2021 , will resume its weekly meetings on Monday next at the Criterion Restaurant , Piccadilly , at eight o ' clock p . m . BRO . THE RIGHT HON . SIR J MOWBRAY , BART ., M . P ., and Miss Mowbray , have returned to Warrennes Wood , Mortimer , the Right Hon . gentleman's country seat near Reading .

BRO . THE EARL OI * DURHAM who had been the guest of Lord and Lady Tweedmouth at Guisachan , has since been staying at his place at Exning , and will entertain H . R . H . the Prince of Wales for a lew day ' s shooting some time during the latter half oi November . LADY HELEN STEWART , only daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry , who recently attained her majority , was on Saturday last presented with an address of congratulation and a handsome carriage clock by the tenants , estate employe ' s , and servants at Wynyard Park .

PRINCE ALEXANDER OK BATTENHERG left Balmoral Castle at the end of last week in order to return to his school at Park-place , Lyndhurst , his mother , the Princess Henry of Battenberg , accompanying him as far as Ballater . About thc same time the Duke of Albany returned to the same school . A COURT OF ALDERMEN of the Outer Chamber was held in the Guildhall on Tuesday , when the Sheriffs elect—Bro . Alderman Frank Green and Bro . T . R . Dewarwere installed in office and invested . The usual breakfast followed at Vintners' Hall , the Royal and other toasts being duly honoured .

A DINNER was held at the Hotel Metropole on Saturday evening last to commemorate the 40 th anniversary of the relief of Lucknow by General Havelock on the 25 th September , 1 S 57 . General Sir W . Olpherts , V . C , presided , and 26 others were present , amonff them General Sir H . Havelock-Allen . son of General Havelock .

THERE HAS BEEN more sharp fighting on our Indian frontier , and this time it is the Kerda 1 % 'hels who have been thoroughly chastised at the cost of only a few wounded men on the British side . More tribesman have submitted and others are displaying a less war-like attitude , but it is said the Afridis are preparing to make a desperate stand . IT IS RETORTED that the Khalifa has sent instructions to Mohmond to fight at Mettmmeh , and that Osman Digna has crossed the Athara River and is proceeding towards the Blue Nile . It is doubtful , however , if any further advance in the Soudan will be made until the Egyptian force has been strengthened by the addition of British Troops .

HER MAJESTY ' S Jubilee gifts , which are about Coo in number , will be removed in the course of the present week from the Council Chamber at Windsor Castle to the Imperial Institute , where they will beon public exhibition for several weeks . The presents have been carefully catalogued by the officials of the Lord Chamberlain ' s Departmental Windsor .

HARTLEPOOL was visited on Monday afternoon by a cloud of gnats so dense that it was almost impossible to see from one side of the street to the other . People for the time suffered great inconvenience , as the insects got into their eyes , ears , nostrils , and mouths . Happily , the plague did not last very long , and the cloud was speedily borne away by the wind .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , accompanied by Bro . Captain Holford , arrived at Marlborough House on Saturday last on his return from visiting the King and eueen of Denmark and the Empress Frederic of Germany . On Sunday his Royal ighness visited the King of Siam at the Siamese Legation , and on Monday left town for Sandringham .

THE KING OK SIAM , accompanied by two of the Princes , the minister , and his suite visited the Natural History Museum , Cromwell-road , South Kensington , on Sunday afternoon last , and afterwards took tea at 36 , Stanhope-gardens , the resident of Sir William and Lady Flower , one of whose sons is now in Bangkok , re-organising the Royal Siamese Musuem .

PRINCE CHRISTIAN OK SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN , attended by Bro . Col . the Hon . Sir Henry Byng and Major Evan Maitin , arrived at Victoria on Tuesday , and proceeded at once lo Buckingham Palace , ln the evening his Royal Highness left town for Balmoral , in order to report personally to her Majesty upon his mission to represent her at the King of Sweden and Norway ' s silver Jubilee .

IHE NEW P . and O . steamship Egypt , which left Southampton on a trial trip on Friday , the 24 th ult ., arrived at Tilbury from Cherbourg on Tuesday , among those on board being Bro . Sir Thomas Sutherland , M . P ., Chairman of the company ; Bro . John Aird , M . P ., Sir Owen T . Burne , Sir R . W . G . Herbert , Bro . J . M . Maclean , M . P ., Bro . J . C . Parkinson , and many others . The Egypt will make her first voyage to Bombay about the middle of this month .

J UBILEE MASONIC HONOUR . —H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of Ihe Order , recently sanctioned the distribution of certain honours among tbe Provincial Grand Lodges of the country , and one of these has bcen conferred by the acting Prov . Grand Master of Berkshire , Bro . J . T . Morland , upon Bro . William Ravenscroft , who has been an active member of the Craft for some years , and rendered particularly good service as Secretary to the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Berks and Oxon , of which Bro . Viscount Valentia , M . P ., is Prov . Grand Master . Bro . Ravenscroft will hencelorth take rank as Past Prov . Senior Grand Warden .

MAIDSTONE has had a terrible visitation of typhoid fever , the number of cases , which was reported at 714 on Saturday morning last , having increased to S 15 by Monday morning . The number of fatal cases is very considerable , while , as ifgaids the origin of the outbreak , there is no doubt whatever , the water supply from the springs at Tutsham having been shown to be contaminated by hop-pickers , who had the disease . Happily , there has been a marked exhibition of calm self-possession on the pait of the inhabitants , among whom not even a suspicion of panic has been noticeable . The most strenuous measures were at once taken to cope with the outbreak .

THE KING OK SIAM visited Oxford on Tuesday , travelling by special train from Paddington . He was received on hisanival about noon by the Mayor and many members oi the Corporation ^ to whom he graciously returned thanks for the heartiness of his welcome . His Majesty then drove in a carriage placed at his disposal by the Duke ol Marlborough , to the Sheldonian Theatre , where he was received by the Heads ol

Houses and other University dignitaries . When these had been introduced , his Majesty was conducted through the University School to the Bodleian Library , where he was shown the Siamese MSS . it contains . Having inscribed his name in the Visitors ' Book , the visitor made a call at Christ Church , and then partook of luncheon at Balliol College , returning to town about . ; p . m .

A WHII ' JI . VU , —in connection with which the Heartiest good wishes" will be entertained by all in this neighbourhood and by very many friends in other puts of the island and elsewhere , took place , on Wednesday last , at St . Mark ' s Church , Regent ' s Park , London , the contracting parties being Bro . Alfred Aloore , of London , who is wellknown in the island , and Miss Emma Brook , the youngest daughter of the late Mr . Edward Brook , of the Priory , Carisbrooke , I . W . The ceremony , which had been deferred for a short time on account of the lamented death recently of the bride's father , was for the

same reason very quietly celebrated . Notwithstanding thc privacy of the occasion , the numerous friends ot both the bride and bridegroom did not allow the opportunity to pass without evidencing the high estimation in which both are so widely held by many good wishes for their future happiness , and by numerous handsome and valuable presents , prominent among the latter being a solid silver tea and coffee service , enclosed in polished oak case , bearing the engraved inscription : " Presented to Uro . Alfred Moore , P . M ., P . Z ., by the brethren of the Pheenix Lodge and Chapter , No . \ j \ . " —Count 1 Press , I . W ., Sept . 18 , 1897 . J

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OK ST . ALISANS have returned to Bestwpod Lodge on the conclusion of their yachting tour . BRO . LORD AND LADY WANTAGE , who are spending the autumn at Lockinge , are entertaining a scries of small parties of friends . BRO . MR . J USTICE GAINSFORD BRUCE has been elected Worshipful Master of thc Coach makers' Company for the ensuing year . Bro . LeiRD AND LADY PIKHRIGIIT have arrived in town from Pirbright , and are making a short stay at their residence in Grosvenor-place .

BRO . THE RIGHT HON . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS and Mrs . Akers-Douglas have returned to Childs Park , Kent , from their place in Dumfriesshire . THE ST . AMBROSE LODGE OK INSTRUCTION , NO . 1 S 91 , resumed its weekly meetings on Thursday last , at the St . James's Restaurant , Piccadilly , W . THE WEEKLY MEETINGS of the Citadel Lodge of Instruction , No . 1 S 97 , were resumed on Friday last at the Farleigh Hotel , Amherst-road , Stoke Newington , at S . H . R . IL THE DUKE OK CONNAUGHT intends to visit Hastings on the 27 th inst ., in order to preside over the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Sussex , fixed for that date .

THE WEEKLY MEETINGS of the Faith Lodge of Instruction , No . 141 , will be resumed at the Victoria Mansions Restaurant , Victoria-street , S . W ., on Tuesday next . BKO . FIELD-MARSHAL LORD ROBERTS , V . C , completed his ( 15 th year on Thursday , the 30 th ult ., and was the recipient of numerable letters and telegrams on the auspicious event .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OK TECK will arrive at Appleby Castle , Westmorland , on Monday next , on a visit to Bro . Lord and Lady Hothlield , with whom they will remain as guests for the week .

THE LADY MAYORESS will distribute the prizes to the successful scholars of the City of London Girls' School on Wednesday , the 27 th instant , at the City of London Boys' School , Victoria Embankment . BRO . THE EARL AND COUNTESS OK AIRLIE have arrived at Cortachy Castle , their seat in Forfa rshire , and during the next few weeks will entertain a succession of guests , prominent among whom will be Bro . Lord Roberts .

A NEW-ARMOURED CRUISER has been added to the German navy , the ceremony of christening the ship , which is named the Prince Bismarck , being performed by the Countess Wilhelm Bismarck , in Kiel harbour on Saturday last . BRO . SIR WILLIAM FFOI . KES , BART ., of Hillington Hall , near Lynn , entertained some 160 of his tenants at luncheon and tea on Wednesday , in commemoration of the 2 ist birthday of his only child , Miss Dorothy Ffolkes , whom the guests presented with a valuable diamond bracelet and an illuminated address .

THE SMITHFIELD CLUII was founded a year earlier than the first Cattle show held under its auspices in 1790 . Under these circumstances H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has been invited , and has graciously consented , to succeed thc Marquis of Huntley in the presidency , so that his Royal Higbness ' s term of office may coincide with the centenary of the institution of the Club .

THE SECRETARY of State for the Colonies has received a letter from the ofiicer commanding and the non-com missioned officers and men of the detachments of New South Wales Artillery and Engineers , which visited London to take part in the celebration of the Queen ' s Diamond Jubilee , thanking the Colonial and military authorities for the attention that was shown them during their stay in this country .

THK FINANCES of the recently-formed West Lancashire Masonic Victoria Fund of Benevolence , instituted to commemorate the completion of the Go years' reign of the Queen , are likely to be substantially increased next Sunday afternoon at Knotty A ; h Church . A Masonic service will then be held , at which probably 400 or 500 Masons will be present , the offertory at the close being in aid of the youngest Masonic Charity in the orovince .

THE KING AND QUEEN OF DENMARK , with H . R . H . the Princess of Wales andother members of the Danish and English Royal Families , lunched with the Dowager-Empress of Russia on board the Imperial yacht Polar Star off Copenhagen , on Saturday last , and in the evening the Princess of Wales attended a performance at the Royal Theatre . Her Royal Highness is expected to start on her return to England towards the end of the present week .

WE HAVE GREAT pleasure in announcing that a strong and inlluential Committee of members of the Old Welcome Club has been formed with a view to raising and presenting a testimonial to Bro . W . A . Baskcomb , in recognition of the very great services he has rendered as the Secretary of the Club . Bro . Baskcomb devoted both time and energy to the discharge of his secretarial duties , and we trust the testimonial will be worthy of him .

THE KING OF SWEDEN AND NORWAY has conferred the Orderof the Seraphim upon Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein , K . C , who represented Queen Victoria at the celebration last week of the silver Jubilee of his Majesty's reign . The King , at the same time , with her Majesty ' s approval , conferred the Knight Commandership of the Sword of Sweden on Bro . Col . the Hon . Sir Henry Byng , and the Companionship of the same Order upon Bro . Major Evan Martin , who were attached to Prince Christian ' s mission .

ENGLISH and Scottish Freemasons will be glad to hear that the Atheism or Agnosticism which for years had dominated French lodges , especially those of the "Grand Orient , " is markedly decreasing , and that a powerful movement is on foot within the Grand Orient itself to restore to their right a profession of belief in the "Great Architect of the Universe . " If this measure of reform be carried out , the English and Scottish lodges will be ready to re-admit into fellowship the French Freemasons , whom they have felt constrained to deny . —Echo .

CHARITY THROUGH THE MANSION HOUSE . — -Referring to the year ' s working of the outgoing Lord Mayor , Sir Faudel Phillips , London states that through the medium of thc Mansion House he has been the means of raising nearly £ 700 , 000 of charitable funds during his 12 months of ollice . The Indian Famine Fund amounted to £ 547 , 000 ; £ 40 , 000 was collected towards Hospital Sunday ; £ 30 , 000 in relief of distressed formers in Essex ; and _ the saline amount for the Princess of Wales's Jubilee dinner for the London poor ; £ 10 , 000 was raised for the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund , and a sum sent in relief of thc Montserrat famine .

BRO . ALDERMAN COL . H . D . DAVIES , M . P ., was elected at aCommon Hall held in the Guildhall , on Wednesday , the 29 th ult ., Lord Mayor of the City of London forthe ensuing year in succession to Bro . Alderman Sir G . Faudel-Phillips , Bart . Among those present on the occasion and at the service in the Church of St . Laurence , Jewry , which preceded the Guildhall meeting , were the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs , and Bros . Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart .. M . P ., Sir VV . Wilkin , Sir J . C Dimsdale , W . Vaughan Morgan , the Recorder , the Common Serjeant , and others . A vote was passed unanimously to the present Lord Mayor for his services and gracefully acknowledged .

THE KING OF SIAM , accompanied by two of the princes of his family , and Lord Bagot , Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen , and attended by his suite , visited Windsor Castle , on VVednesday , and was conducted over the Palace by Lord Bagot . On reaching Windsor Station lie received a hearty welcome from the Mayor and other members of the municipality , and having expressed his thanks for the reception , his Majesty was driven in one of thc Queen's carriages , several of which were awaiting the arrival of the Royal visitors , to the Castle . Having seen the State and other apartments , anel been conducted over St . George's and the Memorial Chapels , the king lunched in the White Drawing-room , subsequently visiting Eton College , anel then returned to town .

ECLECTIC LODGE UF INSTRUCTION , NO . I .-OI . —The 15 Sections will be worked on Sunday , the 3 rd irst ., at the Berkeley Arms , John-street , Mayfair ; Bros . G . Read , P . M ., P . G . Std . Br ., W . M . ; W . Cleghorn ; P . M . 12 S 7 , S . W . ; W . Whittaker , P . M . lSj-j , J . VV . ; E . C . Mulvey , P . M ., G . P ., Preceptorj Harnell , P . M ., Treas . ; and II . Evcndcn , P . M ., Sec . I'irst Lecture—ist Section , Bro . J . Williams , 1310 ; 2 nd , Bro . T . A . Marks , I ' . SI ; 3 rd , Bro . M . McVey , I . W . 1310 ; ith , Bro . W . Inman , Org .

224 ft ; 5 th , Bro . T . Kelly , 16 S 1 ; ( ith , Bro . 11 . Evendcn , P . M . 749 ; and 7 th , Bro . II . Hatton , jun ., 224 O . Second Lecture—ist Section , Bro . W . Brett , S . W . 1305 ; 2 nd , Bro . G . C . Stafford , 902 ; 3 rd , Bro . A . Carlstrom , 733 ; 4 th , Bro . D . Haslett , P . M . 145 ; and 5 th , Bro . Wh ttaker , P . M . iS-jy . Third Lecture—ist Section , Bro . R . Corry , P . M . 16 S 1 ; 2 nd , Bro . R . Sandland , 2390 *; and 3 rd , Bro . J . Mason , 1310 .