Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE MEETINGS of the Royal Savoy Mark Lodge of Instruction will be resumed at the Cock Tavern , Highbury , on Sunday next at 7 p . m . THE KHEDIVE OF EGYPT has been on a private visit to Paris , and reached Trieste , where he embarked on board his yacht Brindisi on his return home , on the 25 'h nllimn .

LORD RUSSELL OF KILLOWEN , Lord Chief Justice of England , and Bro . Sir Frank Lockwood were the guests of Mr . August Belmont at the Gravesend ( U . S . A . ) races on Saturday last . THE NORTH LONDON CHAPTER OV IMPROVEMENT will commence tha winter session on Monday , the 5 th instant , at the Cock Tavern , Highbury . Companion ! are cordially invited to attend . IT IS SAID that Colonel Rhodes , half-pay late ist Dragoons , brother of Bro . Cecil Rhodes , is retiring from the service , and that a notice to this eft set may be lookid for in the London Gazette at an early date .

DURING A CYCLISTS' CARNIVAL at Exeter on the 25 th ult ., a tableaux representing Britannia , wtrch haT been built upon a trolly , overturned amongst the crowd , and several of the lighted lamps which surrounded it exploded , and burned a number of people . ADELINE DUCHESS OK BEDFORD will re-open the Strand Branch of the Children ' s Happy Evenings Association on Wednesday next . The institution was started three years ago , and has been the means of afforeling much happiness to the poor children of Clare Market and the neighbourhood .

AN EMERGENCY MEETING of lhe Cordwainer Ward Lodge will be held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Wednesday , the 7 th instant , at 6 o ' clock p . m . Bro . Alderman Vaughan Morgan is the W . M . ; Bro . H . J . Adams , P . G . S . B ., the Treasurer ; and Bro . H . Lovegrove , G . S . B ., the Secretary . IN RECOGNITION of his services during the expedition up the Nile , which has terminated in the capture of Dongola and the utter destruction of the Dervish force entrusted with its defence , her Majesty has been pleased to approve of the Sirdar—Sir H . Kitchener—being promoted to Major-General .

THERE HAS BEEN a further surrender of chiefs in Matabeleland , and , though the younger indunas place every possible difficulty in the way of bringing about a restoration of peace , there is every reason to hope that at an early date the country will be pacilud , and measures taken to restore confidence and reawaken trade .

IT IS ANNOUNCED that Bro . Viscount Ebrington has decided upon selling the whole of his estate in South Devon , which has been in the possession of the family several generations . Indeed , portions of the property in Tavistock and other parishes have already been sold , the tenants being among the purchasers . THE SIRDAR and his staff left Dongola on Sunday for El Debbeh and Merawi , which it is expected will be the frontier of the newly-acquired Egyptian province . Numbers of Sheiks and others have come in and besought and received pardon , and steps are _ being taken to obtain the arms and baggage which the Dervishes abandoned during their flight .

THE POOR HOP PICKERS from the East-end of London who went down into Kent and Sussex about a month ago in the hope of making money enough to keep them going for a time have returned home for the most part in a miserable plight , those who generally succeed in bringing back with them £ 10 or £ 12 having little mere than £ 2 or £ 3 , while others coultl only muster a few shillings . The hop crop has been a complete failure , anil not the smallest among the sufferers will be these poor East-end folk .

DuRiNe ; THE PRESENT monlh as many as four important musical festivals will be held ; that at Norwich , of which H . R . H . the Prince of VVales is President , from the Gth to the gth instant ; lhat at Sheffield , on the 13 th and 14 th instant ; that at Bristol , from the 14 th to Ihe 17 th instant ; and the North Staffordshire Festival at Hanley , on Ihe 29 th and 30 th instant . Handel ' s "Jephlha" heads the list of the performances at Norwich , and will be followed by Sir A , C . Mackenzie ' s " Rose of Sharon , " while other important woikswillbe given .

THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKETERS appear to be carrying all before them in the United States . Having defeated the New Jersey men in a single innings towards the end of last week , they commenced a match with a Philadelphia eleven , and going hrst to the wickets , ran up a total of 422 . The local team responded with 144 , and having to follow on , had made So for the loss of four wickets , when stumps were drawn for the day . On resumirg the next morning the Phi ' adelphia gentlemen increased this figure to 207 , and thus sustained a sinile innings defeat .

THE IRON GATES CANAL on the Danube has just becn opened by the Err . pcro Fiancis Joseph , who was accompanUd by the Kings of Roumania and Servia , the even being marked by an unbounded display of enthu iasm on the part of those who witnessed it . After the sovereigns had passed through the Gates , they quitted their steirmr , and proceeded to Berkuhabad , where a grand banquet was served in honour of the occasion . In the evening the sovereigns took farewell of each other , the King of Servia leaving for Belgrade , the King of Roumania for Crajova , and the Emperor for Bucharest , where he rejoined King Charles of Roumania , and experienced a splendid reception .

THE CZAR , with H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Dukeof Connaught , the Duke of York , and Prince Francis J oseph of Battenberg took part on Friday and Saturday last in deer drives , while on Monday the English Princes , with their Imperial visitor , went grcuse shooting . The Queen ' s dinner parties on the same days included the Emperor and Empress of Russia , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Duke and Duchess of

Connaught , Princess Henry of Battenberg , the Dukeand Duchess of York , Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg , and others . The Marquis of Salisbury ( Prime Minister and Secretary of Sta ' . e for Foreign Affairs ) arrived at the Castle on Saturday last , accompanied by Lord Hugh Cecil , on a visit to the Queen , On Friday the Russian Ambassador ( M . de Staal ) lift Balmoral for Birkhall . "' The daily arrangements and excursions have been of a similar character ever since .

WE ARE ASKED TO STATE lhat the following telegram was dispatched on the 23 rd ult ., by Bro . Sidney Holt , of the Cranbourne Lodge , to his Royal Highness , the Most VVorshipful Grand Master of England . His Royal Highness the Piince of Wales , Balmoral Castle , N . B . " At a meeting of the Cranbourne Lodge , held at Hatfield last evening , it was unanimously resolved that the hearty and respectful congratulations of the lodge be tendered to her Majesty on her having now reigned longer than any previous British Sovereign , and that it earnestly trusts she may be long spared to reign

over her people—and that Bro . Sidney Holt be requested to ask your Royal H-ghness to convey the above loyal wishes of one of the most prominent of the Hertfordshire lodges to your august mother—which icsolution he now has much pleasure in respectfully forwarding to the Grand Master of England . " The Grand Master graciously acceded to the request of the brethren of Cranbourne Lodge , and Bro . Holt received the following reply irom the Queen's Private Secretary . "Queen thanks members of Cranbourne Lodge of Freemasons for kind congratulations and good wishes forw-rded through the Grand Master of England . "

TIER MAJESTY ' ciuiser , Melpomene , which left Poitsmouth on the 24 th ult ., for the Cape of Geod Hope , with new crews for the gunboats Sparrow and Widgeon , and a large quantity of stores for both vessels , put back again to Pertsmouth harbour on Saturday last under stress of weather . Off Portland the wind blew with tremendous force , and huge waves were continually breaking over the vessel , sweeping away everything lhat was not fastened . Early on Friday morning , when the storm was at its worst , the pott lifeboat was lifted right out of the ship , the stern tackle being torn away . The wieckage was at once cut adrift , and was soon swept clear of the ship . A few minutes

later it was found that the starboard anchor davits were loose , and a party of men under Fiist Lieutenant J . H . S . Bender went to secure them , when a tremendous wave swept the ship from stem to stern , and Lieut . Bender had to be taken to the Sick Bay , where I e was found to have one of his thighs broken , and his elbow dislocated . A warrant officer sustained internal injuries , and a Second Class Petty Officer had four ribs broken . In all , two officers and seven men were injured . The storm was equally terrible in the Downs , ar . d the passenger service between Folkestone and Boulogne was stopped . Several wrecks took place off Felkestone , and the services of the lifeboats were frequently requisitioned ,

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE arrived at Crieff en Saturday afternoon last fro Ballater , on his way to Drummond Castle on a visit to the Earl and Counfess " f Ancaster . ° ' THE ALBION LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . g , now meets at seven every Fridav evening at The Moorgate , Finsbury-pavement , E . C . * THE QUEEN ' WESTMINSTER LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , NO . 2021 , will meet the Criterion , Piccadilly , on Monday , the 5 th instant , at S p . m . ani every succeeding Monday until further advised . *

BRO . SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH , Bart ., M . P . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) and Lady Lucy and Miss Hicks-Beach , are staying with Sir John and Lady Heathcote ! Amory at their place at Pitlochrie . THE EARL OF ROSEBERY has promised to preside at a lecture which will h » delivered by Bro . Sir Walter Besant on "London , " early in December , under the auspices of the Metropolitan Reform Union .

THE TEMPLE CHURCH , which has been closed for repairs during the long vacation , will be opened on Sunday , the 4 th inst ., for divine service . The Master , the Rev " Canon Ainger , is expected to preach on the occasion . MARIAN RADFORD , aged eight , a Dorset candidate for the Girls' School at the approaching election , died at Lyme Regis on the afternoon of Tuesday , the 29 th ult . This reduces the number of candidates for next week ' s election to 27 .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE arrived on Wednesday evening at Appleby Castle Westmorland , on a visit to Bro . Lord and Lady Hothfield , among the guests invited to meet his Royal Highness being Sro . the Earl and Countess of Kintore , Lady and Miss Sheffield , and others . THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY and Mrs . Benson , with Bro . the Archbishop of Dublin and the Hon . Miss Plunkett , were amongst the guests of the Earl and Countess of Mayo at Palmerstown on the occasion of the opening service in the restored Cathedral of Kildare .

INTELLIGENCE has been received at the Admiralty to the effect that a boat bjlong . ing to H . M . ship Narcissus was capsized at Fish River , Grossevitch Bay , in the China Sea , on the 1 ith ult ., when Capt . H . B . Lang ( commanding the ship ) , an able seaman and two ordinary seamen were drowned . PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN has graciously consented to present the prizes and certificates won by lady numbers of the Southern suburban branches of the St . John ' s Ambulance Association . The ceremony will take place at the Crystal Palace on Friday , the 30 th inst .

NUMEROUS CONGRATULATIONS were received by the veteran Mr . Thomas Sidney Cooper , R . A ., on Saturday last , on the occasion of his completing his 93 rd year . It is more than 50 years since Mr . Cooper was made an Associate of the Royal Academy , while in 1 S 6 7 he was elected a Royal Academician . A MEETING of the annual Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution will be held at the Masonic Hall , Hope-street , Liverpool , this ( Friday ) evening , for the transaction of regular business and for the election of eight children , four on the Educational Fund , one on the Combined Fund , ani threj on the Advancement Fund .

THE MARQUIS OF LONDONDERRY ' S annual sale of pedigree Clydesdales and Shetlands took place at the Stud Farm , Seaham Harbour , on the 2 jth ult . Some very good prices were realised , some of the horses fetching as much as 100 guineas . Lord Londonderry , who was accompanied by Lord Lionel Cecil , presided at the luncheon , and Mr . Ernest Crow was the auctioneer .

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK , who had been staying for some time al Glenmuick House as the guest ot Bio . Lord and Lady G ' eneik , Ult for London on Tuesday morning . They were accompanied to the railway station by their h ist , and though the hour was unusually eaily , their depaiture was witnessed by a consiJerable number of the townspeople .

ACCORDING TO THE Registrar Generals returns , the number of deaths in th Metropolis last week was 1 S 5 below the average of the corresponding period for the list 10 years , but there was a slight increase in the rate as compared with the previous week from 14 . 6 to 14 . 9 . The death rates in Brighton and Croydon were respectively 11 . 7 and 9 . 7 , while that at Portsmouth stood at 9 . 9 .

PRINCE RANJITSINHII was entertained at a banquet in the Town Hall , Cambridge , on Tuesday evening to commemorate the fact of his heading the batting averages for the current year . The Mayor presided , and both Town and Gown were well represented , among the piincipal guesls being the Master of Trinity , the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the County , the Master of Pcterhouse , Bro . Sirjohn E . Gorst , Q . C , one of the Members for the University , Mr . C . W . Alcock , Secretary of the Surrey Cricket Club , Mr . W . W . Read , Mr . F . S . Jackson , Mr . N . F . Druce , and

other well-known cricketers . The toast of the evening was pre posed by the Master ol Trinity ( Dr . Butler ) and very gracefully acknowledged by the Prince . THE 41 ST Annual Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society was opened on Monday in the galleries oi the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours , and on Saturday evening last a large number of the members attended the private view , the company being received by Bro . Sir H . Trueman Wood , one of the Vice-Presidents , in

the unavoidable absence of Captain W . de W . Abney , the President of the Council . Efforts have this year been made to raise the standard of excellence , and as a consequence out of 1100 submitted for exhibition only 354 have been accepted . However , there can be no doubt that though , with the exception of the RSntgen Ray exhibits , there are few new processes that have been attempted in the production or treatment of plates , great progress has been made as compared with the products of past years .

A COURT OF ALDERMEN of the Outer Chamber was held at the Guildhall on Monday , under the presidency of the Lord Mayor , Bro . Sir W . Wilkin , when Bro , Alderman Ritchie , the senior Sheriff elect , was introduced by the two senior Aldermen present , and then Deputy H . Rogers , the junior Sheriff elect , by two Aldermen below the chair . A precession was then formed , and conducted by the City Marshal into the

Great Hall , where the oaths of office were administered by the Town CTeik ( Bro . an John B . Monckton ) to the new Sheriffs , who were thereupon invested with the official robes and badges . 1 he procession then returned tothe Aldermen ' s roe m , and afterwards the majority ef the City magnates adjourned to the Sheriffs' Breakfast in Clothworkers' HaU .

ACCORDING TO A PROSPECTUS we have received the Soulh London Masonic Charitable Association , which was established as recently as January , 1894 , has already been doing some excellent work . Its object is to secure by its organisation the election of those candidates for our several Charitable Institutions who hail from boutn London . At the outset only ro lodgis and a single chapter enrolled themselves as members of the Association , but the votes and Inflaence tney were able to concentrate by this means sufficed to carry the election of three out of the four candidates adopted hy

the Association . An appeal is now being made to other South London lodges and chapre " to join and thus ensure the success of future candidates . The joining lee for lodges ana chapters is only one guinea each , while there is no individual subscription . The Honorary Secretary is Bro . Robert Edgar , "Brynllys , " Love-walk , Denmark-hill , S . G ., ot whom all necessary information may be obtained . The Association meets quarterly on tn second Wednesday in the month of March , June , September , and December , 7 . 30 p . m ., at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New-road .

AFTER ATTENDING Divine service at St . Laurence , Jewry , the Lord Mayor , Br 0 ' jL Walter Wilkin , and the members of the Corporation of London , went in precession to ' Guildhall , on Tuesday , where , under the presidency cf his lordship , a Common Hall * , held . Among those who were present as spectators of the proceedings were Bros . L Pirbright , Sir E . Lawson , Sir T . Sutherland , M . P . ; and Sir Eyre Shaw , while among w civic dignitaries were Bros . Alderman Sir J . W . Ellis , Bart . ; and Sir Reginald Hanso > . Bart ., M . P . ; Alderman G . Faudel-Philips , Bros . Alderman Davis , M . P ., Treloar , an Sir 1 . V . Moore : Ihe Titv rhamlwlain . Ihi . Trmn Citric f Hro Sir I . B . MoncKton U

and others . In due course , Alderman Faudel Pnilips was elected Lord Mayor London for the ensuing year , and received the hearty congratulations of those pr « , A vote of thanks to the retiring Lord Mayor having been proposed and unan ' i 0 rd adopted and acknowledged , the Common Hall was dissolved . In the evening "" v ^ w Mayer entertained the Lord Mayor Elect at dinner at the Mansion House , there P « " a large company assembled to do honour to the occasion ,