Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

Bro . the Crown Prince and the Princess of Prussia will again visit England this autumn . Bro . the Lord Mayor intends to spend his vacation in Scotland . Bro . Major Campbell , thc City Marshal , although unable to resume his duties , is , xve are glad to say , able to leave his room .

According to statements now current in Canada , Lord Chief Justice Coleridge will visit Quebec , Montreal , Ottaiva , and Toronto during his tour in America . According to a decision of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas , being a Deist is not a disqualification for initiation , but the applicant must believe in God and the

immortality of the soul . Bro . G . R . Sims , the well-known author ( son of Bro . G . Sims , of Aldersgate-street ) , has given the children of Orange-street School , Southwark , a treat . The elder ones xvere taken to Ashcead Woods , while the younger ones were entertained in the school-room .

Princess Beatrice is expected to pay a visit to Aberdeen on or about the 23 rd of September , to open a bazaar in aid of a fund for extending the Sick Children's Hospital . It is expected that her Royal Highness will on thc same occasion open the Duthie Park recently presented to the city . Comp . J . T . VVilson ivas installed M . E . Z . o £ the

St . Hilda ' s Chapter , No . 240 , South Shields , on the iSth ult ., by Comps . B . Levy , P . P . G . H ., and J . S . Wilson , P . P . G . I . Comps . M . H . Dodd and G . S . Shotton were installed respectively into the Second and Tftird Principals ' chairs . Bro . H . B . Marshall , C . C , was so much gratified on the occasion of his visit to the Butchers' Almshouses ,

Walham Green , on the day of the garden party , that he , with Mrs . Marshall and Miss Marshall , visited the inmates on Saturday , and gave each married couple txvo pounds of tea , and to each widoxv and xvidovver one pound of tea and some money . These kindly gifts xvere xvell appreciated . At a meeting of the committee of the Sunday Society , held on Sunday , at the Grosvenor Gallery , Mr .

Robson J . Scott in the chair , Mr . Mark II . Judge proposed the adoption of a memorial to H . R . H . the Prince of VVales , President of the Fisheries Exhibition , and the Committee of the Exhibition , to alloxv the collection to be opened to the public on some fexv Sundays before its final close . The new grand Central Station Hotel , Glasgow ,

in connection with the Caledonian Railxvay , has been opened under the management of Bro . C . Lord , formerly of the Cannon-street Hotel . It is of great size , there being no fexver than 550 apartments within the building , giving accommodation for over 420 guests , in addition to 170 servants and officials . The Illustrated London News has a capital engraving of the building .

On Friday , the 27 th ult ., the annual distribution of prizes axvarded to the successful scholars of the City of London School took place in the great hall of the school , on the Victoria Embankment . Bro . the Lord Mayor , xvho presided , xvas accompanied by the Lady Mayoress , and amongst those present were Bros . Alderman and Sheriff De Kevser , Sheriff Savory , A . J . Altman , E . Walford , Sir

John Bennett , H . B . Marshall , and Major T . D . Seivell . On a recent occasion a newly-installed W . M ., when investing his officers , having appointed txvo young laxvyers as Senior Deacon and Junior Deacon respectively , addressing them on their particular duties said , " If unfortunately a dispute should arise betxveen any of the brethren it xvill be your duty to endeavour to heal the

breach , and to hold out to them the olive branch of peace . Considering the profession ofthe S . D . and J . D ., something like an audible smile disturbed the solemnity of this part of the proceedings . —Rough Ashlar ( South Australia ) . The memorial stone of a new Wesleyan Chapel was recently laid at Englishbatch , near Bath , under agreeable circumstances . Mr . VV . Stoate , of Watchet , in laying

the stone , placed £ 50 thereon , and said the difficulty of obtaining a suitable piece of land had been overcome by the kindness of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales in leasing an excellent site on merely nominal terms . The land belongs to the Somerset portion of the Duchy of Cornwall , and he questioned xvhether a ceremony of that kind had ever taken place under such favourable auspices .

Bro . Harry Marks having invited the members of the Iron-Bound Club of Instruction to a day ' s outing at the Island Hotel , Eel Pie Island , Txvickenham , on Monday , the 23 rd ult ., about 25 of the brethren xvent up the river Thames by steamboat , having a very enjoyable ride . Alter a most recherche banquet had been partaken of , and the

usual loyal toasts had been given , a presentation , in the form of a silver snuff-box , a silver cigar case , and matchbox , xvas made to their much-esteemed Preceptor , Bro . William Musto , sen ., P . M . 1349 and P . Z . 933 , who was evidently taken by surprise at the presentation , and responded xvith much good feeling to the " Hearty good xvishes " of the brerhren present .

The scheme for raising the hrench men-of-war xvhich are sunk in Abukir Bay is , it is slated , in a fair xvay of being successful . The position of five of the nine French ships of the line , said to have been sunk by the British fleet under Nelson , has been ascertained . The operations are being carried out under the supervision of Lieut . Ponsonby , late Royal Navy , and the results obtained hitherto are very satisfactory . Among the many articles

already brought to thesurfacef rom around and about the sides of the ships are three cannons , txvo of xvhich are of brass , the third being made of iron , and a considerable amount of copper sheathing and large pieces of lead that had evidently been used as ballast . A quantity of iron work , cannon balls , grape shot , & o , have also been found , and secured , in addition to several swords , cutlass blades , and flint muskets . Among the swords discovered is one of great value .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Lodge of Harmony , No . 220 , Garston , held its installation meeting on the 25 th ult ., Bro . VV . Olver , the S . W ., being installed in the Master ' s chair . The newly-elected Grand Master of New York is but 42 years old , and a Mason of only 15 years' standing . He is a millionaire . Bro . the Lord Mayor has g ix-en his consent to preside at the anniversary dinner of the Royal General

Dispensary , Bartholmeiv-close , at the Albion , on I'riday , October 19 th . Bro . Alderman Sir S . H . Waterlow , Bart ., M , P ., will sail on Saturday , the iSth inst ., upon a voyage round the xvorld . He expects to return to London in time for the reassembling of Parliament next February . It is reported that the coloured Grand Lodge of

Missouai has SS xvorking- lodges , xvith a membership of 2103 . 'This shoxvs an increase over the previous year of 220 . Pennsylvania has had two coloured Grand Lodges ; these have noxv united but xve have no statistics from them . The State apartments of Windsor Castle are now open for public inspection betxveen the hours of eleven and four o ' clock . They xvill be accessible during the absence

of the Court every Monday , Tuesday , Thursday , and Friday until further notice . A meeting will take place at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , on August ioth , at four o'clock , xvhen a committee xvill be formed to consider any suggestions that may be made in reference to erecting a monument to Captain Webb , and assisting his widoxv and children .

A Russian schooner is shortly to start from Archangel for Nova Zembla to visit the fishermen ' s refuge and meteorological and salvage stations recently established there by the Minister of Marine . It is proposeel to send a vessel to these inhospitable shores every year with various kinds of provisions ; and for thepurposeof studying the flora and fauna , andthe situation of the Samoyed colonies .

Bro . Henry Baldwin , P . P . G . D . C , P . M . and Sec . of the Brixton Mark Lodge , No . 234 , informs us this lod"e xvill hold an emergency meeting on Saturday , the 11 th inst ., at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street , for the purpose of advancing to this antient and honourable Degree , Bro . George Anthony Metzger , of Sierra Leone . A lodge of Royal Ark Mariners xvill aiterwards be held .

The experiments with the electric light from the Garrison Point Fort , Sheerness , xvhich proved very successful last week , were resumed at a late hour on Wednesday ni ^ ht . Advantage xvas taken of the presence of the ironclad Repulse , which was at anchor betxveen the Nore and Mouse light vessels , and a course of signalling operations betxveen the fort and the Repulse , by means of the electric light , were kept up for a considerable time xvith great

success * Bro . Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , Bart ., Prov . G . M . North VVales and Shropshire , on Tuesday presided at a meeting of " Old Westminsters , " in the Westminster School , on the occasion of the presentation to Dr . Scott , xvho is retiring irom the head mastership of the school , of a memorial of his 2 Syears' service . The memorial , for xvhich over £ 1200 have been collected , consists of a foundation for a " Scott Library " and a silver cup and pair of

candlesticks . Near Aldershot on Monday the divisional troops , under command of General Sir Daniel Lysons , took part in a sham fight . The Duke of Cambridge was present , accompanied by Bro . Lord Wolseley , Sir Arthur Herbert , and other ofiicers of the headquarters' staff . The northern armv . defending a position on the Fox-hills , was

commanded by the Duke of Connaught ( xvho xvas considered to have had the best of tbe engagement ) , and the southern by Sir Frederick Fitzwygram . Grouse prospects on Deeside this season are exceedingly varied . In the uplands , oxving to the severe snoxvstorm , the coveys are very thin , and the birds small .

In the lower districts more favourable reports are given . The birds are of a fair size , and the coveys range from seven to nine , the birds being already strong on the wing . There is no sign of disease . Pheasants , black game , and partridges are abundant . From other districts ol Aberdeen-Shire the reports are very encouraging for sport on the twelfth .

The novel feat of crossing the Channel on a tricycle formed so as to ansxver the purpose ot a boat , has been performed by a person named Terry , as part of the programme of a velocipede journey from London to Paris . The adventurous traveller , after having safely performed the water passage , left Calais early on Monday mornin " . and continued his journey to Paris , earring xvith

him his oars and other tackle , terry ' s frail craft shipped a Teat deal of water on nearing the French coast , where it ' was rather rough . It is said the construction of the machine has occupied ( he inventor tivelve months . The machine was an object of great curiosity amongst the French people . Bro . Dr . Benjamin Franklin ' s long lost but now

found manuscripts known as the "Stevens Collection , " that of Mr . Henry Stevens , G . M . B . ( Green Mountain Boy , alias Grand Master of Bibliography ) is well described in the Magazine of American History for June . This collection xvas purchased for the United States by Act of Congress , approved in 1 SS 3 , and is in excellent condition . It includes Franklin ' s autograph journal of his negotiations

in London in 1775 ; the records of the Paris Legation , 1777 to 178 ' , seven volumes ; Journal of the Peace Commissioners , 178010 17 S 3 ; Franklin ' s correspondence with David Hartley , etc . The publication of the manuscript treasures will be eagerly looked tor . —The Keystone . A lod" -e of Royal Ark Mariners will be held at Anderton ' s HotelFleet-street , on Saturday , the nth inst .,

, at the close of the meeting of the Brixton Mark ! odgc , for the purpose of elevating to this quaint and interesting Degree Bros . Metzger , Alfred Tattersall , R . H . Coulton , and other approved candidates . Also to enthrone ( by special dispensation from M . W . Bro . the Right Honourable Lord Henniker , M . W . G . M . M . M . ) Bro . George Joseph

Dunkley , P . P . G . Organist of Middlesex and Surrey , tbe VV . C . N . elect of this Royal Ark Mariner Lodge . Bro . Dunkley is also VV . M . elect of the very prosperous Mark Lodge to xvhich this lodge is attached , and xvill be installed into the chair of A . on Saturday , the ioth of November next .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Grand Lodge of Ioxva have determined to erect a fire-proof building for its library . The cost will be about 12 , 000 dollars . A convention has been concluded between Great Britain and the Republic of Chili for the settlement of thc claims cf British subjects .

The Prince Frederick William Lodge , No . 753 , held its installation meeting on the 25 th ult ., when Bro . J . Evans , the S . W ., xvas installed into the chair of K . S ., at Lord ' s Hotel , St . J ohn ' s-wood . Bro . J . H . Sillitoe , P . P . G . D . of C . East

Lancashire , on the 25 th ult ., installed the Master elect , Bro . Irving , into the chair of K . S . in the Ellesmere Lodge , No . 730 , Chorley . The Central Nevis learns that H . M . Corvette Canada , xvhich xvas some days overdue , arrived at Halifax , N . S ., on Wednesday . Prince George and all on board were well .

Bro . Alderman Staples will to-day ( Friday ) distribute the prizes to the children of Aldersgate Ward , National , Packington , Farringdon Within Ward , and St . Alphage Society ' s schools . It is now definitely arranged that the American Minister will unveil the memorial bust of Henry Fielding on Tuesday , the 4 th of September next . It will be placed

close to the busts , in the Somerset Shire Hall , Taunton , ol Locke , Blake , and Pym . Sixteen beacons have been erected on the Maplin Sands to denote the course to be taken by Government ships on their trials on the measured mile . The beacons xvere made by convicts at Chatham and fixed by mechanics from Sheerness Dockyard .

Ihe committee of the Societ } ' which has latel y been formed for the purpose of promoting State emigration have decided to hold a public meeting in support of the society's objects . It is expected that the meeting will be held at the Mansion House about the middle of August . A complete edition of Oliver Twist at the extraordinary loxv price of one penny has been issued by

the Liverpool Bon Marche . The work xvhich consists of upxvards of 100 pages in double columned type , is enclosed in a neat cover , and bears a portrait of Dickens . Bro . David Steinhauer has been installed W . M . of the Lebanon ' Lodge , No . 1326 . The ceremony took place on the 2 ict ult ., at the Railway Hotel , Felthatn , and xvas performed by Bro . Rayham Henry Thrupp , G . A . D . C , D . P . G . M . Middx .

A report just published gives very full details regarding the progress and present condition of M . de Lesseps ' s great project for constructing a ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama . That the work is being prosecuted with great energy and on a very complete scale is sufficiently attested by the information comprised in this interesting paper .

Legacies amounting in the aggregate to nearl y ^ 40 , 000 to various societies and institutions connected with the diocese of Exeter have been bjqueathed by Dean Boyd . £ 13 , 000 is left to the fund for the augmentation of poor livings in the diocese and city ; £ so % o tor the benefit of choristers leaving the cathedral ; £ 5000 to the fund bequeathed by Bishop Philpotts for the

establishment of a diocesan training college ; and , £ ' 10 , 000 for University education of the sons of necessitous clergy . There are numerous smaller legacies to the charitable institutions of Exeter . " Pilgrim ' s Progress " is the title of a 12 page circular giving full particulars of the proposed storming of San Francisco , in August , by a battalion of Knights

Templar of Nexv York , on the occasion of the 22 nd Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment , August 21-24 , 1 SS 3 . This " trip of a life-time " is to commence on the 7 th of August , and end on the 1 st of September . The circular is very graphic , enticing , and full of the proposed pleasures of thc occasion . Cost , 250 dollars . Ladies will accompany many of the Sir Knights . —Hebrew

Leader . The employes of Messrs . F . Allen and Sons , the xvell-knoxvn confectioners of Mile End , F .., numbering about 110 , held their annual beanfeast on Saturday , the 2 Sth ult ., at the Bull Inn , Sivanley , Kent , under the chairmanship of Mr . C Allen , one of the firm . After a most enjoyable dinner , which was excellently served by Mr .

Hutton , the xvorthy host , the usual loyal and other toasts having been duly honoured , tbe company dispersed to amuse themselves xvith cricket , sxvings , roundabouts , aunt sallies , Sic , until j . 30 p . m ., when dancing commenced and xvas kept up xvith spirit until the time of departure , 7 . 45 . Everything xvent xvell , and the party reached Canal-road about midnight , thoroughly well pleased xvith thc day ' s

outing . The Daily News has published a very interesting article on the Dead Sea Canal scheme . It says the proposal to connect the Mediterranean and the Red Sea by means of the River Jordan and the Dead Sea is a very bold one , and should it be carried out xvill produce some very striking results . 'This proposal is in some respects a rival

plan to the Suez Canal , and if carried out it xvould seriously affect the monopoly claimed by M . de Lesseps for his Company . Measured roughly on ordinary maps the canal would be about 230 miles in length , xvhile thc Suez Canal is only too miles . This nexv u-ater-xvay is proposed to begin at Haifa , in the Bay of Acre , just under the shadoiv of Mount Carmel , finishing at Akabah , at the end of the

Gulf of Akabah , the eastern fork of the northern extremity of the Red Sea , the Gulf of Suez being the xvestern fork . This line is very nearly the same as part of Mr . Laxvrence Oliphant's railway scheme , which he suggested in connection xvith the idea of colonising the land of Gilead . lt has to be remembered in considering this route that the Dead Sea , which is 4 G miles long , is 1202 feet beloiv the level of

the Mediterranean and the Red Sea , and to avoid the number of locks the Canal would otherxvise require to let ships doxvn 1292 feet , and again the same number to raise them up to the level of the Red Sea at Akabah , a g igantic scheme has been suggested , which is no less than to restore

the old connection between the Red Sea , and flood the Dead Sea and Jordan Valley again to its old level , meaning that a depth of 1292 feet of xvater is to be placed over its present surface . Some parts of the Dead Sea already give soundings of a depth nearly equal to this , and in one place it is over 1300 feet .