Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

"THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY * ' will be given its lootli presentation at the Avenue Theatre on Wednesday next , the 7 th instant . Mr , Weedon Grossrriith intends to run the play right through the summer at the Avenue . SPANISH ART IN THE CITY . —The exhibition of works of Spanish artists at the Guildhall Gallery continues to attract large numbers of visitors daily . The attendance up to date is 253 , 000 . the exhibition will close on Wednesday , the 28 th inst .

A MODEL YACHT REGATTA will be held at the Crystal Palace , upon the lake In North Tower Garden , on the 24 th instant , for which valuable prizes will be offered . Model yacht owners desiring to compete are requested to send in their names and full particulars to Mr . C . A . Barnett , Crystal Palace , from whom all details can be obtained . THE LIBRARY of the late Right Hon . Professor Max Mfiller , which consists of nearly 13 , 000 volumes , 8 i Sanscrit manuscripts , and many fine illustrated works , has been bought by Baron Iwasaki for presentation to the University of Tokio , Japan . A hall is now in process of construction for the reception of the books , which will be known as the Max Miiller Library .

SUCCESS attended the annual shows of the Royal and Central Bucks Agricultural Association , held under most favourable conditions in a meadow placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr . Leopold de Rothschild . Amongst the prize-winners were the Earl of Rosebery , the Earl of Buckinghamshire , Lady ( Anthony ) de Rothschild , and Lady Pauncefort-Duncombe .

READERS who make use of that excellent service , the Belle Steamers , would do well to send for the Company ' s official guide , which will be sent post free . The guide contains much interesting and useful information of a descriptive character concerning the daily trips to the various ports where the famous Belle Steamers call . The guide is admirably illustrated throughout , and has also a capital map of the route . We would Specially direct the attention of our readers to the development of Clacton , Walton , Felixstowe , and Southwold made by this company . The _ guide is well worth perusing , for it is so thoroughly explicit , and so graphically descriptive .

THE TIVOLL—On Bank Holiday , the 5 th instant , the Tivoli programme will be entirely changed with the one exception of Miss Fanny Field , who , having achieve ! such great success , has been specially re-engaged . The other numbers will include : The Electric Butterflies ( their first appearance in London ) , Charles Morritt , Stanley and Wilson , the Brothers Webb , Tom Costello , G . W . Hunter , Bert Sheoird , H . C , Barry , Arthur Reece , George French , Amy Height , Florence Esdaile , Kitty Wager , Jenny ValmOre , Carlotta Levey , Childie Stuart , The Salambos , The Harvey Boys , Brown , Newland , and Le Clerq , Barrello and Millay , and Miss Marie Dainton .

IN CONNECTION with the British Congress on Tuberculosis , which was attended by many American and Continental delegates , the dinner on the Friday was attended by the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor ( Bro . Frank Green , P . G . W . ) ; Bros , the Right Hon . W . Long , M . P ., P . G . W ., and Malcolm Morris , P . G . D . ; the Honorary Secretary , Bro . Sir A . J . R . Trendell , P . A . G . D . C ., and others . The congress was completed by a garden party , given by the Duke of Northumberland at Sio . i House , Isleworth , and a large number attended . We noticed Bros . Sir A . J . R . Trendell , P . A . G . D . C ; W . M . Bywater , P . G . S . B . ; and Henry Lovegrove , P . G . S . B . The function was seriously interfered with by the heavy rain .

THE PRINTERS' ALMSHOUSES . —On Saturday last the members of the Institute of Printers and Kindred Trades were invited by Mr . and Mrs . W . H . Collingridge to visit the Printers' Almshouses , Wood Green . Oiving to the continuance of the severe storm there was only a small attendance . In the intervals between the downpours the visitors strolled about the almshouses and grounds , and chatted with the

inmates . The band of the 3 rd London Rifles performed an excellent selection of operatic and dance music . The visitors and inmates afterwards adjourned to the boardroom , where tea was served . Subsequently a programme of vocal and instrumental music—arranged by Bro . C . J . Drummond , Messrs . A . W . Letts , and William Hilton , respectively the chairman , vice-chairman , and secretary of the Institute of Printers and Kindred Trades—were carried out to the great enjoyment of all .

BRO . THE LORD MAYOR visited Tunb ridge Wells on Saturday last for the purpose of inaugurating the new municipal telephone service . He was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and Bro . Sir John B . Monckton . In acknowledging the welcome extended to him by the Mayor of Tunbridge Well , the Chief M agistrate assu -ei those present that it gave himself and the Lady Mayoress very great pleisure to come down

and inaugurate the system . When asked to do so , he felt it was n * only a personal pleasure , but a duty which he owed to them to himself , and to the City of London to accede to the request . He most heartily congratulated the burgesses of Tunbridge Wells on the public spirit they had shown , and he did not doubt that what they done would be copied very largely by other towns . He wished the greatest possible success to their very important undertaking .

THE ANNUAL MEETING of the London and Middlesex Arch . c . logical Society was held at the London Institution on Friday , the 16 th ult ., under the presidency of Mr . E . W . Brabrook . C . B . The membership roll stood at the same figure as it did last year —161 . The meetings , held both in town and in country , had been very successful , and the numbers in attendance had been well kept up . _ The balance-sheet showed that the society was in a prosperous state . Materials were in hand for the issue of the Society ' s

Album , Part II ., but that might be deferred on account of expense until the year 1002 . The Council appealed strongly to members to do all in their power to increase the roll of membership . Mr . Welch pointed out that in London the archie ilogical spirit was grow ng at a rapid pace amongst all classes of society . Their Society , besides the important work which it accomplished by its meetings and publications , had done immense good in fostering a love for antiquities . The indirect inll jence which it exerted towards the preservation of objects of interest was of an important character .

OWING TO THE POPULARITY of their present arrangements , the New Palace Steamers , Ltd ., have decided not to make any material alteration ia their limit Holiday sailings . The Palace steamers Royal Sovereign and Koh-i-n > or nlllsail at their usual times from Old Swan Pier to Southend , Mirgate , and Rimsgite , the latter vessel doing her popular husbands' boat trio to Margate on Saturdiy , the 3 rd instant . La Marguerite will sail her usual trips to Mutate on Situ'diy an . l Sundiy , 3 rd and 4 th instant , and to Boulogne and bick on Bnk Holiday Monday . O . i this due the

summer lees at Boulogne commence . Horse racing , and all kinds of Continents gall amusements , will be in full swinj , making an extra aitracii > n a ° ih : already very attractive watering-place . A very pleasant stiy can be mide fron tie Mu . ihv t > Wednesday . The trip to Calais and back on Thursdays is steadily increasing in popularity with the London , Southend , and M irgate trip > era , they cvihntly appreciating a visit to this French port ( which is of such histori ; interest to Eigliini . i n ) , together with the popular times of sailing .

VIEW FROM RICHMOND-HILL . —Efforts now being made to preserve the beautiful view from Richmond-hill led to the assembling of representatives of the London County Council , the Middlesex County Council , the Corporation of the City of London , and other local authorities and associations at the County Hall , Spring-gardens , on the 31 st ult . An executive committee was appointed , consisting of the following gentlemen : Mr . A . M . Torrance , Lord Monkswell , London Countv Council ; Mr . Basil Holmes , Middlesex County Council j Mr . T . Skewes Cox , M . P ., Surrey County Council ; Mr . W . O . Clough , City Corporation ; Mr . Alderman Burt , Richmond

Corporation ; Mr . G . H . Judd , Twickenham , Urban District Council . 'Ihe Commons and Fool paths Preservation Society , the Metropolitan Public Gardens' Association , the Kyile Sonety , the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty , and the Thames Preservation League , are represented by the Right Hon . G . J . Shaw-Lefevie and Sir Robert Hunter on the committee , to which Sir E . J . Poynter , P . M . A ., and Sir W . Richmond , R . A ., have also been added . The Clerk of the London County Council will act as secretary to the committee , which will prepare a schene and report . Daily Teleeraph .

ANGLO-INDIANS AND OTHERS seeking genuine Indian-minufaclurcd condiments , currie stuffs , chutnees , preserves , poppidums , Bombay ducks , Nepaul pepper , & c , send to the original firm . C . Stembridge and Co ., 1 . 8 , Green-street , Leicester-square , London ; and Calcutta . Established 1821 , Write for price list ( Removed from 33 , Leicester-square ) .

Masonic And General Tidings.

FOR THE National Memorial to Queen Victoria £ 133 , 000 has now been received at the Mansion House . ON TUESDAY LAST the ex-Empress Eugdnie , travelling incognito , arrived at Glasgow from Oban . Places of interest , including the Exhibition , were visited on Wednesday by the party , which left for London on Thursday . THE KING , who has made frequent visits to Buckingham Palace during the pro . gress of the alterations there , paid his first visit to the adjacent Royal Mews on Tuesday last . The visit was not only the first since his Majesty ' s accession , but also the first paid by him for very many years .

"B .-P . " ORDERED TO REST—Major-General Baden-Powell on Wednesday telegraphed to the Press Association : " Kindly publish that owing to the effects of receptions on arrival and present heavy correspondence , the doctor orders me away for complete rest , and forbids letters following me . —BADEN-POWELL . "

H . R . H . PRINCE CHRISTIAN , who presided at a meeting ot the Royal Agricultural Society on Wednesday , announced that he had received a letter from Sir Francis Knollys expressing his Majesty the King ' s regret that , owing to the heavy year before him , he could make no promise to visit the society ' s show at Carlisle in 1912 . RED EAGLE FOR A SCOTS GUARD . —The German Emperor has bestowed the Order oj the Red Eagle ( third class ) on Paymaster-Sergeant Mitton , of the yi Scots Guards . The sergeant acted as interpreter during the visit of his Majesty on the occasion of the death of Queen Victoria . He is the only non-commissioned officer who possesses the order .

BRO . SIR THOMAS DYKE-ACLAND presided at the speech-day at Blundell ' s School , Tiverton , when it was ment'oned by the head-master ( Mr . A . L . Francis ) that 10 Old Blundellians had lost their lives in South Africa , including one ( Lieut . Spring ) murdered at Vlakfontein . Several had been mentioned in despatches . The Blundell ' s Scholarship at Balliol College was awarded to H . M . Veitch . to

A DONATION of ^ 5000 been forwarded Mansion House Queen Victoria Memorial Fund by Messrs . J . S . Morgan and Cc , on behalf of the delegates of the New York Chamber of Commerce , who recently visited England , and who wish to manifest " their grateful appreciation of the very cordial welcome they received from the King and Queen , and of the generous hospitality with which they were greeted during their stay at the hands of the English people . "

PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN and Princess Victoria left Cumberland Lodge , on the 1 st instant , for Germany . They drove to the Windsor Station of tre Great Western Railway , where Major Evan Martin and Mrs . Dick-Cunyngham were in attendance at the King ' s Room , and after journeying to London they subsequently left Victoria Station by the Flushing service for Bad Nauheim . Princess Christian and her daughter was expected to remain abroad about two months .

ON BEHALF of the Children ' s Fresh Air Mission , which is continuing its wjrkbegun iq years ago—of sending the poor ailing children of Holborn , Clerkenwell , and St . Luke ' s into the country for a fortnight in the summer , an earnest appeal is issued by the Bishops of Bristol , Islington , and Stepney , the Marquis of Northampton , Bro . Justice Bruce , and Captain Penton . Every six shillings contributed pays for one child ' s holiday . Mr . Walter Hazell , St . Peter ' s Schools , Onslow-street , Farringdonroad , E . C , is the hon . treasurer .

A CAXTON IN THE AUCTION ROOM . —Messrs . Sotheby ' s sale on Tuesday included a very fine and perfect copy of " The Ryall , or Royall Book j or Book for a King , " printed by William Caxton at Westminster , 14 S 7-8 S . It consists of 162 leaves folio , 10 in . by 7 J- in ., and is one of the five perfect copies recorded by Mr . Blades , the other four being in public libraries . The bidding started at £ 100 , and ultimately reached £ 1550 , at which price it was knocked down to Mr . Quaritch . No copy of this excessively rare book has been offered for sale for som ! years .

HIS MAJESTY THE KINGgave audiences on the tst inst . to the ; Bishop of Ripon , Sir Thomas Lipton , and Lieut .-General Kelly-Kenny . Her Royal Highness Princess of Louise ( Duchess of Argyll ) visited their Majesties . Their Majesties , accompanied by her Royal Highness Princess Victoria and the children of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York arrived at Cowes in the afternoon from Marlborough House . The suite in attendance consisted of the Hon . Charlotte Knollys , Sir Francis Knollys , and Captain the Hon . Seymour Fortescue . Madamj Bricka was in attendance upon the Royal children .

MEMBERS of all shades of opinion in the House of Common ? expressed deep sympathy with Mr . Brodrick in the terrible bereavement which has fallen upon him by the unexpected death of his wife . Ladv Hilda Brodrick interested herself keenly in the political aspirations of her husband . She accompanied him to nearly every meeting in his last campaign , and was a great support to him in the anxieties incident to his arduous duties as War Minister . In Mr . Brodrick ' s absence from the Treasury Bench the questions relating to the War Office were answered by his able lieutenant , Lord Stanley . THERE WAS a great Masonic gathering at Warwick Castle on the 27 th ult .,

when Bro . Lord Warwick , Provincial Grand Master of Essex , entertained the msmners of the Craft in Essex and their wives . They were received at the Castle by Bro . Lnrd and Lady Warwick , and the party , numbering 500 , were entertained at luncheon . Bro . Lord Warwick , who presided , in proposing the toast of "The King , " said his Majesty had been a great source of strength to the Masonic Order during his Grand Mastership . Bro . T . J . Railing , in proposing "Th ? Health of Lord Warwick , " said it was a great privilege to have his lordship as Grand Master of Essex . Bro . Lord Warwick , in reply , said the Countess and himself had long looked forward to the gathering .

ALDERSHOT CLUB AND ROOMS COM ° ANY . LIMITED . —Registered on the 25 th ult ., by Waterlow Brothers and Layton , Limited , Birchin-lane , E . C ., with a capital of £ Gooo in £ 1 shares . Object , to acquire from Col . J . Davis , A . DC ., of Tilford , Surrey , and Mr . W , E . Foster , of Aldershot , Hants , certain freehold premises known as the New Victory Hotel , IIigh-street , _ Aldershot , to establish a club , Masonic and general public hall , and to carry on the business of club proprietors generally . N > initial public issue . The first directors ( to number not less than six nor more than 10 )

are Col . J . Davis , E . Figgiss , W . E . Foster , W . M . O'Connor , J . C . Carr , and F . Stroyan . Qualification , 50 shares . OSWESTRY FREEMASONS' HALL COMPANY , LIMITED . —Registered on the 24 th ult ., by Jordan and Sons , Limited , 120 , Chancery-lane , W . C , with a capital of £ 1000 in £ 5 shares . Object , to adopt an agreement , made June 13 th , 1 9 01 , between S . Lloyd of the one part and C . W . O'Conor , T . Redfern , W . Martin , A . C .

Minshall , W . H . Spaull , and K . J . Roberts of the other part , to acquire land in Oswestry , and to erect and maintain buildinge , offices , houses and club , billiard and lodge rooms ; to deal in and with any stocks and shares ; to negotiate loans , & c . Minimum cash subscription , £ 600 . The first directors ( tn number not les ? than three nor more than sev ? n ) are Lord Harlech , R . Redfern , R . J . Roberts , C W . O'Conor , A . C . Minshall , and W . Martin . Qualification , £ 20 .

Sonnet For The Month Of August.

SONNET FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST .

Lo ! August comes in buxom bloom arrayed—Like some proud mother , matronly , yet fair ; She says , "I will mature but will not fade Those charms July left to my watchful care . " 'Neath her warm ray will glow the garnished sheaves , 'Neath her glad breath will bend the ripening corn . And 'reath her wand bright hues will tint the leaves ,

As tho' by magic of some spell new-born . Her grace I liken to an opening flower , One that but yesterday was in its bud ; Or to a damsel that within an hour Will reach the brink of perfect womanhood . Or like the moon that only she can know , Which decks with beauty all the realm below ! Bradford . ' CHAS . F . FORSHAW , LL . D .