Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The regular monthly meeting- of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution svill be held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday next , the Sth instant , at 4 p . m . On this occasion the number of vacancies on the two Funds , to be competed for at the May election , svill be declared .

The Duke and Dcchess cf St . Albans , svho arrived in tosvn tosvards the close of last sveek , svill remain for a fortnight , and then go to Prestwood Park , and there remain till Easter . The Oueen held a Council at jOsborne , at svhich there svere present the Earl of Kimberlej-, Viscount Oxenbridge , Sir William Harcourt , and Bro . the Right Hon . G . J Shasv-Lefevre . The Hon . George Denman SVBS ssvorn in a member of the Privy Council .

The Duke ol Edinburgh arrived at Clarence lions * , from Germany , svhere he has been present at the sveddings of his daughter , the Princess Marie of Edinburgh , and his niece , the Princess Margaret of Prussia , on Sunday morning last , and has since resumed his ofliciil duties at Devonport .

The Dukeof Ct nnaught arrived at Buckingham Palace from Berlin , on Monday morning , svhere he had represi nted the Queen at the marriage of the Princess Margaret of of Prussia . The following c \ iy he visited her Majesty at Osborne , and has since returned his military duties at Portsmouth .

The Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria , ssho for seme time past has been travelling in the East , arrived in Calcutta on Wednesday morning , and svas most cordiall received by the Viceroy and the Lieutenant-Gove-nor of Bengal , the streets from the station to Government House being lined by trooi s .

The eighth anniversary dinner of the Junior Engineering Scciety svas held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Saturday evening las' , untie r the presidency of Dr . John Hopkinson , F . R . S .-, Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , and Mr . W . It White , C . B ., Assistant Controller of the Navy , being among thc principal guests .

The nnr ual ball , in connection svith the Constitutional I . odge , svas held in the Assembly Rooms , Beverley , on Thursday . Ihe 2 <" . | h ult ., and svas a success , there being 1 S 0 guests . Mr . Evans' band supplied the music , and Mrs . Green the supper . Bros . J . F . Elsvell and W . W . Westeiby svere the M . C . ' s . Dancing svas kept up till four o ' clock the follosving morning .

The Princess of Wales and her daughters , the Princesses Victoi ia and Maud , are still at Sandringham , but the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York left their Norfolk residerce for London , en Monday , in ortler to be present at the opening of Parliament . In the evening their Royal Highnesses , svith the Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Mayi r Knill , svere present al the second Smoking Concert given eluiingthe present season by the Royal Amateur O . clu-stral Society .

The annual Masonic ball in connection svith the Province if Mcnmi utl sbre took plane at the Westgate Hotel . Newpnit , on ihe 27 th ult . Guests svere pretci . t from all parts of the e'oiinly tn the mi'tilirr of 120 — including Bro ; . George Eliot , Lei . C . Lyne , Capt . Homfray , Cap ' . I'nsvc'l ( Minir . mith ) , anil the otVcers of the I ' u . vinc a ! G-. nl Lodge . Host Dean c . 'ittreil in his usual s . ' . lisfactory style * , and the ball loom and supper room bad le ; n handsomel y decorated .

Thc marriage of the F . nl . of Dslkeitii , eldest snn [ the Duke of I'urcleugh , svith the Hon . Margaret lln'dgman , daughter of Viscount Newport , and granddaughter i f Bro . Ihe Earl ol Dtadorel , svas solemnised in Sr . Paul ' s , Kriirhtsbridgc , on Monday . Ihe Archbis ' iop of York

officiated , ancl am'ing thos ; present evens the Duke of Cambiidge , the Duke and Djchess of Kuccleugri , the French Ambassador , Bro . the Duke of Abercorn , Beo . the Marejuis and Marchioness e . f / . elland , Bro . Lord and Lady George Hamilton , and Bro . Lord and Lady Claul Hamilton .

Among the recent arrivals in tosvn may be mentioned Bro . the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn , from Dublin ; the Duke and Duchess 1 f Leeds , the Marquis and March ! mess of Londonderry , from Mount Stesvnt , County Dosvn ; the Marquis of Biistol , the Earl ef Wemyss , Bro .

Earl and Countess Ci svper , Bro . the Earl cf Yarborough . Bro . the Earl of Wharncliffe , and Bro . the Earl of Feversham . lira , thc Manjuis of Watcrford has left town for Ismailia , and svill be joined by the Marchioness , and the Ladies Susan and Clcdagh Beresford , at Biindisi , on the 5 th instant .

We regret to rccoid the death of Bro . E . J . Sears-, Superintendent ^ the South-Eastern Railsvay , svhich took place at Nesv Elthani last sveek after a long illness from typhoid fever . The remains svere interred at St . Nicholas Church , SevenoaVs , the seivice being conducted by ihe Rev . J . S . Bartlett , Vicar of St . John's Sevenoaks , in Ihe prescrce of a lari . e assemblage cf friends , oflicials , and staff , win attended to the number of between < * »¦> and

7 C 0 , to pay a last tiibute of respect to the deceased . A special train left Charing Cioss at ii .. yi a . m ., to svhich a truck conveying the funeral car svas attached at Chislehurst * , and on ariival at Sevenoaks the cortege was formed anil headed by liie brass band cf the comjiany , of svhich Bio . Sears ssas President , proceeded to tbe crime ' s . The ollin and car sscie covered ssith svreaths and other floral emblems sshich had been sent fre m all parts of the line .

HiiLLinVAY s 1 'll . Ls . —Impurities of tlie bin cl Toe'lsirc he'allh it is al'Miluti-ly nii- essary that fe lluids anil -nil , Is of Ihe- liuuriu body should be kept free from those impurities which art- I-NIItit . iiatly ( Setting admission into ( he s \ -t ' ,-m liy erroneous liviii , ' , unsvhnie-MJine atmosphere-, ( r elisnnlc-re-il stonoirli . The- only s .. le ami certain s \ -.-iy to expel all iinjiurities is to hkt Holloway ' s

I'ills , which hive Hie pnsser of e-le . 'm .-iiig the- hired from nil noxious mailers , and at the same : time re moving anv irregularities sshich their presence may have alrea y produced in any organ . Holloway ' s I'ills t'xj . e-1 all humours which laint nr i 111-joverisli the liloi'd , wluc li they purily and iuvi ; . 'nrute , aud i ; ive general tone . 'Ihcy are applicalile io : i ]| alike yr . ung cr old , roimsl nr ilclicriti ' .--rAl > v r . !

Masonic And General Tidings.

The Annual Festival in aid of the funds of the Metropolitan I Hospital , Kingsland-road , N . E ., ts'ill be held at tbfc Hotel Metropole , on the ist May next , under the presidency of Bro . the Duke of Portland . ' A concert in aid of the Princess Mary Adelaide ' s Train- ing 1 lome for Servants svas given at the Star and Garter ( Hotel , Richmond , on Tuesday evening , the Princess Mary herself and the Princess May being present .

A terrible lire occurred at a cotton mill in Baka , Japan , on the 20 th December last , by svhich it is estimated that ijuite 300 lives sverc lost . The bodies of SS persons , mostly girls , have been already recovered . Bro . the Marquis of Salisbury has promised to open the Liverpool Overhead Electric Railsvay , to-morrosv ( Saturday . ) The line is seven miles long , and is reported to be the most important one of its kind ifi existence .

The Duchess of Albany and suite left Esher for Victoria , travelling thence by the London Chatham and Dover line to Oueenborough , svhere they embarked for Flushing . Her " Royal Highness ' s visit to her sister , the Queen Regent of tie Netherlands , svill extend ever about ten days .

At a banquet given in Sydney , New South Wales , on Saturday last , on the occasion of the cricket match between Nesv Sou h Wales and Victoria , Bro . the Earl of Jersey expressed n gret at finding himself under the necessity of resigning bis post of Governor of the former c jlony . Tbe Duchess of Albany svas •very cordially greeted on the cccasion of her visit on Monday evening 11 the Galleries of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours .

After jircsenting a number of prizes to the successful comp . titors at various examinations , her Royal Highness declared the Exhibition open . The Fanmakers' Company gave a dance at the Cannonstreet Hotel on Thursday evening , at svhich the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress anel Bro . Sir Augustus and Lady Harris svere present . After supper the Master of the Company , Mr . Ritter presented the Fanmakers svith a handscme silver loving-cup for future use .

A destructive earthquake occurred eatly on Tuesday morning on the Island of Zante , one of the Ionian Islands * , by svhich great damage to property has been done , accompanieil , it is said , by great loss of lifc . The same day the Island of Stromboli svas visited by an eartrejuake , svhic ' i svas follosved by an eruption from the volcano on the islind .

Bro . Alderman and Sher . ff Renals presided at thc third annual elirner in support of the Music Hall Benevolent Fund , svhich svas held at the Holborn Restaurant , on Tuesday evening , among the principal guests being Bros . Alderman F . Green and Sir Augustus Hariis . Donations and subscriptions to the amount of close on £ 500 svere announced in the course of the ev . ning .

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York svere present at the debate in the House ot Lords on Tuesdiy , the Ladies ' Gallery being crosveled , th' se present including the Duchesses ol Devonshire , Newcastle , Somerset , aid * . levelanJ , the Marchionesses cf Z-tland anil Tiveetldale , thi Countesses of Sefton , Arran , Denbigh , VVald grave , Ancaster , Darnley , Spencer , Dudley , Cadogan , l . ichliel I , Lm-hrdai e , and Temj 1 - , and Ladies Sudeley , Aberilirs ' , ' ( 'firing , Ho ll . 'ield , Addington , and Brassey .

A Masonic ball took jilace at the County Assembly Rooms , Dei liy , on I ' u-aday , the 31 st ult , about 140 ladies and gen lvmen being jiresent . I ' he mem ' iirs ol the Craft np | i' -ari-d in Masonic clo'hing , anil the reau ' t was ciarniiug and ef'fectivs . Bro . W . li . VVherltlin asvsrcil Hro . K .

Home to tli . scharge the duties of M . C . The ball room svas tastefully decorated svith plants and drapery , the former being sujip'ied by Mr . Levis , K-: Jle ' 5 t-in-road , and the latter by Hro . Arm . Ihe mus c vvas supplied by Mr . Burdett , and the sup-ier svas provided by Bro . Raynor .

ihetesvas an attending of ali . ut 200 a : the M isonie ball at ( lie Bath S , l on-- , l ' orqiiiy , on 111 ; 25 th ult ., in au ! eif ihcRiyil M isonie ilen : \ Mlint ln-ticuti m f jr Aged Freemasons , aad Widows of Fieemasons . At oni > -nd of the saloon , Md ne . Cassasvtti , svith characteristic kindness ,

held a stall for the sib of lljivers , by means ol svhich £ 11 svas realised for the Instituioa . 1 hc balcony SVAS draped svith Hags which , togethet svith thos = in the large saloon , svere lent by Bro . Hussey , of the Impel ill Hotel . Dancing commenced at half-past nine , Miss Bailey ' s bind supplying the mtis ' c .

1 in-: WEST LVNLSSIIIRK M . SSOXIC EUVCAHOMAI . IXSTITUTIDV . —The financial statement oi this Cnanty , svhich svill be presented to a meeting of the Court ot Governors at an early date , shows thit the balance list year svas £ ' 0 jS . The icceipts from the ball were ; £ 4 . 5- •, anil from donations ar . d subscriptions from lodges , cuaptcrs , etc ., £ 10 ( 15 , svhich , svith lesser items , gave a total of j ( , i 6 j 3 , svhile tie income iroin interest account svas £ ? C > 7 . Ine

sum of , ( , 300 had been paiden account of mortgage on tho Masmic Hall , the gro = s total incomi for the year reaching Hiii'J- A sum of ^ 1572 had been paid during I . Scj 2 for ihe educatien , ch thing , maintenance , and advancement 1 f children on ihe foundation , and ;( , 211 as one year ' s proportion ot the cost of nine presentations to certain institu lions svhere tie children are fully maintained , clothed , and educated .

The gu s ' . s at the Parliamentary dinner given by the Prime Alinister on Monday , included the bpeaker , the Mover and Seconder of the Address , the Chancellor of lb : Exchequer , the Chief Secretary for Ireland , the Horn ; Secretary , Bro . G . J . Shaw-Lcfevre , M . P ., and thc Attorney and Solicitor-General . Am ing those at the dinner given by the Earl of Kimbeiley as Ministerial leader in the Housi

ot Lords , svere Bro . Lord Herschell ( Lord Chancellor ) , liro . the Maiqtiis of Breadalbane , Kail .- [ n-iicer , Bro . Lord Carrington , Viscount Oxenbridtr-, Bros . Lords Kensington and Leigh , Bro . Lord Brassey , K . C . II . ; Bros , tbe Dukes of Atholl and Abercorn , Bros , the Marquises ot Hertford , Zetland , and Headfort , the Maiquis ol Londonderry , Utos the Earls of Albemarle , M-unt Edgcumbe , Egmont , unsloiv ,

Limerick , Yarbor . ugh , Uuriravcn , Lathom , and Wliarncliff . *; and Bros . I . oiels Balfoiirof BuiL-igh , Henniker , B . abourne , Halsbury , Ashb-urne , and Wantage were among tho .-e svhu dined with Lonl Sah .-buiy in Arlington-street : and Bros , bir !• :. Cljrke , O . C ; Sir John Gorst , O . C ; bir VV . Hatt Dyke , Bait . ; Lord George Ham lain , ' A . Akeis-Douglas , Sir James Ferg-usson , lla . it . ; Sir M . Hie Us- '•' each , anel Lord R . Churchill svere among those svho dined svith Bro , A . I . Ballour .

Masonic And General Tidings.

BVo ; John Bott wilt be installed W . M . of theBrixton Lodge ; No . i ( j 4 g , ori Saturday ( to-day ) , the 4 th inst ., at the Horns Tavern ,- Kennington . Installation at 5 . 30 , banejuet at 7 . The consecration of the fluke of York Lodge , No . 2 - 447 , svill take place at the Palatine Motel , Manchester , on Thursday , the 23 rd inst . Bro . Col . L-. Gendre N . Starkie , P . G . M ., svill preside .

The Oueen has been graciously pleased to accept a copy of MissNVhitmore Jones ' s b ok on "Games of Patience , " svhich contains instructions for playing more than 100 different games . It is said that her Majesty is a great patience player . Bro . the Eirl of Londesborough continues to make satis , factory progress towards recovery from his recent serious

illness , but the condition of Bro . Lord Stalbridge , though he is reported to be a shade better , is such as to cause very great anxiety . The marriage of Miss Mabel Florence White , elder daughter of Bro . Samuel White , of Queen Anne Loelge , Lordship Park , to Archibald Jamieson , Esq ., of Melrose ,

took place on the 2 Cth ult . The ceremony svas performed at St . John the Evangelist Church , Brownssvool Park . On the 27 th ult ., a Masonic ball was held in theTo . vn Hall , Rhy 1 , under the auspices of the Caradoc Lod < e . The proceeds svill ¦ be divided between the Royal Alexandra Children ' s Hospital , Rhyl , and the Nxth VVahs Masoaic Charitable Assciation .

The second annual ball and concert of the City of London Police ( by the kind permission of Lieut .-Col . Smith , the Commissioner ) , svill be held at the Cannon-street Hotel , on Monday , the 13 th inst ., in aid of the City Police Convalescent Home Fund . The music will be supplied by the City Police Band , in the Grand Hal ' , and Mr . Cohen ' s Quadrille Band in the Pillar Hall .

On Saturday , the 2 Sth ult ., Bro . the Earl of Euston , Deputy Grand Master of Mark Masons , assisted bv Bro Co ' . A . li . Cook , P . G . M . Middlesex , and Bro . Colonel Noel Money , C . B ., P . G . M . Surrey , consecrated the Tuscan Lodge , No . 45 S , at Mirk Masons' Hall . Bro . Frail-Richards in , Grand Reg ., svas afterwards installed as the first Master of the ne v lolge by Bro . C F . Matier , Grand Sec . We nope to give a report of the proceidings in our next .

MASONIC PutsiiNrvriON . —An interesting ceremony took place at the last dinnerof the Cimmittee of Inspection in connection svith the Grand Lodge of Ireland , svhen a handsome presentation svas made to Dr . Geirge B . White , svho for some years past has most generously placed his

musical abilities at the service of thi committee , the presentation , svhich took the form of a gold wa ' ch and chain , svas made by the Rev . B . Gibson , M . A ., as acting 1 hairman on behalf of the subscribers . Dr . White tendereel his thanks in suitable terms .

The annual ball of tbe Doric Lodge , No . 23 , * ;^ , svas held on Friday , the 27 th ult ., in thi Hulme Tosvn Hall , and proved very successful . Tnere svere about 70 present . The room had been prettily dec iratcd for thi occasi in , and capital music had been proviled , svhich made it most

enpyab ' e . Him . G . A . M-yers , P . M ., A . K . Brett , and A . Is . Ueio-. hro . yd acteel as M . C . ' s . Bro . James Shirples , Fred . Morgan , and J . \ 1 . Veal desitve great praise forth ; indefatigable svay 111 which they svo ke 1 to in eke the lull su -h a success .

At the annual meeting of the Devon and Cornsvall Free masons' Hall and Clu'i Company , heii . e the orctnrcn separa ' . ed , Bro . Dr . Le . non asked the Chairman ' s acceptance of a vcry handsome aneroid barometer ani thermometer , to tie hung in the hall of the club . Tne Chairman , on behalf of thc members generally , thanked

Bro . Dr . Lemon for his furtur manifestation of his great interest in Freemasonry , and assured him that the gilt would be highly valuid by the membirsat Urge . Ihe barometer b . ars tsvo s-iv-r gilt plates , uoun one of svhich is the inseription : " P . vmoutn Erremasons' Club , " and on the other , "' Presented by VV . Bro . the Kev . Dr . Lemon , P . P . G . J . W ., etc , 1 S 03 . "

Follosving up the iccent Masonic Ball , the Freemasons of Stockton and lady friends , to the number of about 130 , held a most enjoyable re-union , on Friday evening , the 27 th ult ., thc progiamme consisting of dancing , vocal and instiumental music , and limelight viesvs . Ihe arrangements svere carried cut in a very cllicient manner by a Committee cf biethren , svhilst Hro . Tinkler discharged tha Secretarial duties most satisfactorily . The limelight

viesvs svere shosvn by Bros . Dosvns and Draper , in thc lodge rocm . A pleasing feature uf the musical programme svas the rendition by Aliss Brotherti n , daughter of Bro . John Brotherton , of a new song entitled " VVhen the shadows flee asvjy , " svritten and comjiosed by Bro . H . H . Keadman , the talented Organist ot tne Whitwell Lodge . The song , alike in the rendition and the Coinpos . tion , secured tne svarmest approval of the large aulience , and svas must deservedly encored .

At Messrs . Puttick and Simpson ' s , in Leicester-square , the horary ot Mr . 11 . Christie has just been dispersed . Amongst the best prices svere : "The Humorist , " by George Ciuiksh-uik , consisting of tales , anecdotes , epigiains , e * s *; ., ssith numerous coloured plates , T , 2 , j ; Dickens ' ••Pickwick Papers , " in the original parts , with all the svrappers , plates by Seymour and Pniz , £ , 13 ; the sani ; author ' s •¦ Croat Expectations , " 3 vols ., nrst edition ,

, ( , 13 5 s . ; Bcaumarcl ais' "LaFolle Journee , ou Le Manage de I'lgan-, " svith the double set of plates by t . Ouentin , £ 12 ; Liuik . s-iank ' s Comic Almanacks , neaily complete , lirst edition , jf , i 2 ; and the following illuminated manuscripts on vellum : —A flora ; Heat-e , Wth centiary , svith 220 beauti'ul aiabcsijic birders , and numerous large anil small miniatures and embellished capitals , A 20 ; amther

of the same period with full-pages miniatures and lloriatcel borders , ^ 14 ios . ; ai el another , highly ornamented , £ > ' )] Boucbet ' s *• Tiitimphes de la noble et amoureuse Dame , " 1530 , I iS ; 'Chivalry , Livre du prcux vaillant et trc--viceorieux Chevalier Palmerin d' Angleterre" ( lirst Freiic " version ) , jCiG ios . ; Racine s 1 heatre , 4 vols ., unique copy , printed on vellum , iicj 10 s .

Twelfth Annual Edition of Explanatory Book , sen ' gratis and post free , gives reliable inlor-nation how to mal " money quickly by Stocks and Shares . Highest and lowest prices ior past years . —Address , G . Evans and Co ., Stock brokers , 11 , Poultry , London , E . C .