Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

DOWN TO Thursday night , the Lord Mayor ' s Indian Famine Fund amounted to £ 471 , 000 , including a donation of £ 5 5 s . from the Friars Lodge , No . 1349 . THE LAST performance of the Drury Lane pantomime , "Aladdin , " took place on Saturday last in the presence of a crowded and most enthusiastic audience . THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE , attended by Col . FitzGeorge , arrived at Gloucester House from Cannes on Tuesday , having exchanged visits by the way with the President of the French Republic .

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OK SCHI . ESWIG-HOLSTEIN , President of the Royal School of Art Needlework , has appointed the 12 th May and three following days for the annual summer sale , at which her Royal Highness , assisted by the ladies of the com-nitt . ee , will preside in person . BRO . THE DUKE OK FIFE presented the prizes to the successful pupils of the Exeter Hall Classes of the Young Men's Christian Association at Exeter Hall en Monday , and congratulated those present that athletics formed so considerable a part of the Association's curriculum .

THE SURREY MASONIC MALI . LODGE , No . 1539 , will hold a ladies' banquet , concert , and ball , in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty , at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell , on Tuesday , the 13 th inst ant , under the able presidency of the W . M ., Bro . T . Side . A MASS MEETING of the members of the dramatic profession will be held , by the kind permission cf Bro . Charles Wyndham , at the Criterion Theatre at 3 p . m . on Thursday , the 29 th inst ., to decide as to the advisability of adopting Bro . J . Passmore Edwards's proposal to build an Actor ' s Orphanage .

THE 73 RI 0 ANNUAL MEETING of the Royal National Life Boat Institution was held in St . Martin's Town Hall , on Saturday last . The First Lord of the Admiralty presided , and among those present were the Ear ] of Galloway , liro . Lord Charles Beresford , Bro . Admiral Sir ] . E . Commerell , V . C ., Sir E . Birkbeck , Chairman of the Institution , and Captain Sir J . Sydney Webb .

AMONG THOSE PRESENT at the St . James ' s Theatre on Monday evening on the occasion of the production of Mr . A . W . Pinero ' s new play , " The Princess and the Butterfly ; or the Fantastics , " were the Princess Christian , Bro . Lord Glenesk , Bro . Lord and Lady Suffield , Bro . Lord and Lady Skelmersdale , Bros . Sir F . Milner and Sir Douglas Straight , and Bro . S . B . Bancroft .

THE QUEEN has expressed her willingness to witness a demonstration of schoolchildren on the occasion of her visit to Sheffield on the 21 st of May , and the Duke of Norfolk has most generously undertaken to entertain all the elementary schoolchildren and their teachers in the city , to the number of 50 , 000 , at Norfolk Hall , where they will be massed and sing on her Ma jesty's arrival .

J EWISH CELEHRATION OK THE DIAMOND J UIUI . EE . —The Jewish community in London propose to celebrate the 60 th year of the Queen ' s reign by erecting and endowing a home and hospital for Jewish Incurables at Tottenham . A site of close upon four acres has been acquired , and accommodation will be provided for 50 patients . The scheme is expected to involve an outlay of £ 20 , 000 .

THE ANNUAL DINNER of the Devonians in London was held at the Hotel Cecil on Saturday evening last , there being present some 600 ladies and gentlemen , while 200 ol he is were unable to be present for want of Ihe needful accommodation . Bro . C . Seale Hajne , M . P ., was in the chair , and among the other prominent guests were Bro . Sir Rcdvcrs Buller and the High Sheriff of the County .

BRO . LORD HERSCHELL will preside at a festival dinner in aid of the funds of the East London Hospital for Children and Dispensary for Women , Shadwell , E ., on the nth prox ., at the Hotel Cecil . The dinner is promoted with the view to obtaining a sum of £ 1500 , the balance of the estimated cost of the proposed Convalescent Home at Bognor , and also £ 2000 for current maintenance expenses .

THE COUNTESS STANHOPE gave her last evening party at her house in Grosvenorplace on Saturday evening last , among those present being the Russian Ambassador , Bro . Loid Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , and the Hon . Evelyn Giffard , Bro . the Earl of Arran , Ihe Earl and Countess of St . Germans , Bro . Lord Glenesk , Bro . W . C Gully , Q . C , M . P . ( the Speaker of the Hcuse of Commons ) , and Mrs . Gully .

"MY FRIEND THE PRINCE , " at the Garrick Theatre having now settled down into a permanent success , Mr . Brickwell , the lessee , will take this opportunity of paying a Ian * premised visit to America , during which time he will combine business with pleasure by negotiating on the other side for two or three plays he has already secured and copyrighted in this country . Mr . Brickwell hopes to sail the third week in April .

THE DUCHESS OK WESTMINSTER , who was accompanied by the Duke , Honorary Colonel of the Queen ' s Westminster Volunteers , distributed the prizes at the headquarters of the corps , on Saturday last , and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for her kindness in attending . Among those present were Viscount Balgrave , who has just joined the regiment , and Captain Boisragon , one of the survivors of the Benin massacre .

THE LORD CHAMIIERLAIN ( Bro . the Earl of Lathom ) has made it known that the da ' es of the three Drawing Rooms , which will be held at Buckingham Palace , after Easter , have not yet been definitely settled , but that in all probability they will be held between the 3 rd and 21 st May . Ladies who desire to be presented must send in their names by Monday , the 51 ) 1 inst ., and at the same time must specify whether it is the first , sicci d , oi third Drawing Room they are desirous of attending .

A FAREWELL DINNEK was given at the Cafi ' - Monico , on Saturday evening last , to Sir Alfred Milner , the newly-appointed Governor of Cape Colony and High Commissioner for British Sou . h Africa . The chair was taken by Mr . Asr | jith , M . P ., and among those present were the Colonial Secretary ( the Ri ^ ht Hon . J . Chamberlain , M . P . ) , and his son , Mr . Austen Chamberlain , M . P ., tbe First Lord of the Treasury ( the Right Hon . A . J . Balfour , M . P . ) , Bro . Gerald Balfour , M . P ., Mr . Morley , M . P .. the Marquis of Lansdowne , the Earl of Portsmouth , and others .

A LFCTURE was given by Mrs . Johnson , by permission of the Duke and Djchessof Westminster , at Grosvanor House , on Monday , 03 " The Children ' s Story of the Queen ' s Reign , "the object of the lecture being to enlist the co-operation of young people in the National Commemoration Fund on behalf of the Queen ' s Jubilee Institute for Nurses . The Duchess of Teck , who had arranged to attend , was unfortunately prevented from fulfilling her promise , but the Duke and Duchess of Westminster were present .

SUNDAY , the 2 Sth ult ., was the 13 th anniversary of the d- ? ath of the Qjeen ' s youngest son , the late lamented Duke of Albany , P . G . W . of England , Prov . fi . M . of Oxfordshire . In the morning his widow , tbe Duchess of Albany , drove from l-. ' sher to Windsor Castle , and placed two wreaths on the sarcophagus containing the Dake ' s remains in the Memorial Chapel . After attending Divine service , her Royal Highness lunched with the Dean and Mrs . Eliot , and then drove back to Esher . At Cannes , where the Duke died , a memorial service was held , which was attended bv the Princess Louise ( Marchioness of Lome ) and Princess Henry of Battenberg , his sisters , and his niece , the Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein .

A MASONIC CHARITY S DANCE . —The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will benefit by no small sum if one is to judge by the numbers assembled at a dance held at the Holborn Restaurant on Fiiday , the 26 th ultimo . Bro . II . Kemp , who was mainly responsible for the arrangements , had spent a great deal of time and trouble in the promotion of the dance . A company numbering some 600 guests , many of whom were attired in fancy dress , was present . So large was the assembly that the King ' s Hall , the Throne Room , and the _ Crown Room were all utilised for the occasion . Many brethren appeared in full Craft and Royal Arch clothing , by dispensation gran ' . ed by

H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., and the effect was considerably heightened thereby . The programme included 22 dances , music being supplied by H . o . F . R . Pritchard's band , and Bro . 11 . Kemp undertaking the responsibility of acting as M . C . The following brethren acted in the capacity ol Stewards by seeing to the comfort of the ladies : Bros . Maj . Woolmer Williams , S . II . C . Rumball . H . Banks , Hughes , Dibley , Pauncefort , F . Berry , Ward , W . C . Tyler , Hartley , R . Palmer , P . DAY , P . Vacani , Gustav Miiller , Leclairc . Hill , Cumine , and Kobalt , also Messrs . II . II . Kemp , C . Lees Curtres , R . Rapkin , Bridger , and Sanders .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BRO . HORACE BROOKS MARSHALL , M . A ., J . P ., presided on Tuesday evening at the 3 nnual festival cf the Orphan Working School at the H 6 tel Metropole . Subscrip . tions were announced amounting to nearly £ 3000 . WE HAVE the pleasure of announcing that Bro . D . Harlow , P . M . 65 , Preceptor , will occupy the chair on Wednesday evening next , the 7 th inst ., at the Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , 17 , London Wall , instead of the W . M . elected for the evening .

AMONGST THE CONTRIBUTIONS received at the office of the Dily Telegram in aid of H . R . H the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund for London are the Tuscan Lodge , No . 14 , £ 21 ; Evening Star Lodge , No . 1719 , £ 5 5 s . ; Friars Lodge , No . 1340 . £ 5 Ss . ; St . John ' s Lodge , No . 1343 , £ 2 2 s . ; and the Orpheus Chapter , No . 1706 , it ' > s-

THE DUCHESS OF TECK will hold a reception at the United Service Institution on the Sth May , while on the sSth May the Duchess of Albany will receive purses at the Hotel Metropole on behalf of the memorial to raise £ 10 , 000 as a Qaeen's Commemoration Fund to extend the 2 S Soldiers' and Sailors' Homes , which have been founded in various parts of the empire by Wesleyan Methodists .

THE AMERICAN SOCIETY IN LONDON will give a farewell banquet to the Hon . Thomas F . and Mrs . Bayard in the Grand Hall , Hotel Cecil , on Friday evening , the 7 th prox ., at seven o'clock for 7 . 30 . On this occasion the gold loving cup , subscribed for by members of the American Society in London and other Americans in the United Kingdom , will be presented to the retiring Ambassador .

THE CRYSTAL PALACE will take the lead in the commemorative rejoicings of the Jubilee year . It will open proceedings on Easter Monday with the National Anthem and a patriotic concert , and the most signal event on the programme is a " Diamond Jubilee Costume Ball . " It is to be given on the 2 Sth inst . for the benefit of the Nursing Department of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association . This is under the immediate patronage of the Queen and H . R . H . the Prince of Wales .

THE GUILDHALL ART GALLERY . —The formal opening by the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress of the Exhibition of the Loan Collection of Pictures by Painters of the British School who have nourished during her Majesty ' s reign will take place at the Guildhall on Tuesday , the Cth instant , at half-past 12 o ' clock , and the exhibition will be thrown open for the free admission of the public at 10 o ' clock on Wednesday , the 7 th instant , and remain open daily for three months on week-days from 10 to 7 , and on Sundays from 3 to 7 .

THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH OF ST . SAVIOUR , SOUTHWARK . — It has been arranged to hold a Masonic Seivice ( on behalf of the debt of £ 7000 on the Restoration Fund ) at the above church at four o'clock on the afternoon of Ascension Day , Thursday , the 27 th prox ., which will be of an exceptionally important character . Bro . the Right Hon . the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B ., Pro G . M ., has signified his intention to be p resent , accompanied by a number of Grand Officers . Tickets of admission to Masons will be issued in due course .

PRINCE AND PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OK SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN honoured the Right Hon . Sir A . and Lady Hayter with their presence at dinner at 0 , Grosvenorsquare , on Tuesday evening , among the guests being Karl and Countess Spencer , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Cork , Lord and Lady Reay , the Right I Ion . John Morley , M . P ., the President of the Royal Academy and Lady Poynter . Lady Hayter after , wards held a reception , which was numerously attended by the Corps Diplomatique , members of Parliament , and others .

THE 52 ND ANNUAL MEETING of the Ragged School Union was held at the Man . sion House on Tuesday , under the presidency of Lord Mayor Phillips , among the speakers being the Lady Mayoress , who was heartily applauded , Bro . Alderman Treloar , Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , Miss Coles , and Lord Fitzroy . According to the report , there were in 1 S 91 160 cripples on list , and in 1 S 95 some 6000 . It was announced that a friend of the Union had given a site at Bournemouth for a Home for cripples , which Bro , J , Passmore Edwards had promised to erect .

BY COMMAND of tbe Queen , his Royal Highness the Duke of \ ork , who was attended by Sir Francis de Winton and the Hon . Derek K-jppel , held a Levee at St . James's Palace on Tuesday . The G ^ ntlemen-it-Arms wire on duty undir the command of Captain Lord Belper , and the Yeoman of the Guard under Captiin the Eirl of Waldegrave . In the evening the Duke dined with Lord Belpsr and the Gantlemenat-Arms at their mess in St . James ' s Palace , a-nong the guests invited to m : et his Royal Highness being Viscount Cobham , Bro . the Hon . Sir Henry Keppel , Admiral of the Fleet , Bro . Col . the Hon . H . Byng , Admiral Sir W . Culme-Seymour , Vice-Admiral Sir F . Bedford , and Bro . General S : r Redvers Buller .

TUB FANMAKKRS' COMTANY ' EXHIBITION . —The Chairman of the Exhibition Committee ( Bro . Homewoud Crawford ) has received an official communication from Cimiez , informing him that her Majesty has luen graciously pleased to consent to lend one or two fans frcm her collection for the forthcoming exhibition of the Fanmakers Company at Drapers' Hall , which will be opened by the Princess Louise on May 25 th . Interest continues to grow in this exhibition , more especially from th ; number of valuable prizes effered , including one of £ 50 for the best fan-leaf , with a design for sticks , suitable for being executed in mothec-of-pcatl , designed and painted mist appropriately to commemorate the celebration of the 60 th anniversary of the Queen's accession . .

Miss BLANCHE GRAY ' 10 th annual dramatic performance will be given in the Opera Theatre of the Crystal Palace , Sydenham , on Monday , the aSth inst , in aid of the funds of the Norwood Cottage Hospital . Among those who have promised their patronage are the Earl and Count ; ss of Pembroke , Lord and Lady Lurj ; an , M - . C . E . Tritton , M . P ., President of the Hosoital , Bro . Sir J . B . and Lady Maple , the Right

Hon . T . C . Ritchie , M . P ., Bro . Sir F . Edridge , Mr . and Mrs . R . H . Fry , and Bro . Alderman Treloar . The late Charles Young ' s "Jim the Penman " has b ; en selected for the occasion , and the Crystal Palace military band , under the direction of Mr . C . Godfrey , jun ., will perform a selection of music during the evining . Tickets , 5 s ., 2 S . 6 d ., is . 6 d ., and is ., including admission to Palace after 6 . 30 p . m . The performance will commence at S p . m .

MIDLAND RAILWAY . —Easter holiday arrangements . Cheap excursions trains from London . On Thursday , the 15 th inst ., cheap excursions trains will be run from London to Leicester , Nottingham , Newark , Lincoln , ^ Birmingham , Burton , Derby Manchester , Blackburn , Bolton , Rochdale , Oldham , Liverpool , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , Scarborough , Newcastle-on-Tyne , the Furness District , Carlisle , & o , & c , returning the following Monday cr Tuesday ; and to Douglas ( Isle of Man )

available for returning any week-day within 10 days : and from London ( St . Pancras ) to ErHribu-gh , Glasgow , Greenock , Perth , Stirling , Aberdeen , Inverness , Nairn , Forres , Ballater , & c , & c , returning Monday , the 19 th inst ., or Friday , the 23 rd inst . Tickets will also be issued by the Scotch excursion at a single ordinary third class fare for the double journey , " available for returning on any day within 16 days fiom date of issue . On Easter Monday , the 19 th inst ., cheap day excursions trains will be run to St . Albans , llarpenden , and Luton .

EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES . This Society has issued its monumental returns for the year 1 S 9 G , which again proclaim the vastness of its ramifications and the impregnability of its resources . Each successive report cf the executives on either side of the Atlantic is a documsnt eagerly looked forward to as one of imperial importance by those of the community whose god is finance , and especially by those who are interested adherents to the Society and its well-proven system . The following summary of the new returns eloquently speak for

themselves , and may be commended to the careful perusal of those wno have hitherto but cist a cursory glance over such impcrtant details . During 1 S 96 , the income from premiums was £ 7 , 55 1 , 003 , being an increase of £ 67 , 424 over the previous year . The consideration for annuities was £ 246321 , an increase of £ 136 , 085 . Receipts from interest , dividends , and rents were £ i , S 6 o , 3 iS , being an increase of £ 193 , 491 . The whole income for the year was , £ 9 , 657 , 6 43 , which shows an advance of £ 397 , 001 . The assets now stand at a trills off £ 45 , 161 , 239 , having increased by £ 3 , 284 , 284 . This result has been ascertained after writing off £ 122 , 438 , as difference

in valuation of securities . The surplus stands at £ . 8 , 995 , 245 , having increased during 18 9 6 by £ 552 , 743 . The ample disbursements for the year were as follows : For death claims and matioied endowments there was paid £ 2 , 803 , 113 , being an increase over lK' j 5 of £ 7 ° , 7 J 7- 'f ' cash bonuses reached the sum of £ 505 , 402 , an increase of £ . S 8 , i 2 u . Annuities absorbed £ 90 , 621 , against £ 83 , 939 of the previous year . The surrender values of the year amounted to £ 74 6 , 312 , ana the matured tontine values to £ 425 , 410 . The liabilities of the Society , on a 4 per cent , standard , amount to £ 36 , 165 , 994 , leaving a net surplus of £ 8 , 955 , 245 . 1 he expense ratio for the year shows a further decline . J lead Office for United Kingdom , 6 , Princes-street , E . C ,