Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE CORPORATION cf the City of London has voted 100 guineas to the Marine Society in aid of the funds for the training ship Warspite . BRO . THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN has left Adare House for Dub'in , in order to preside at the meetings of the Royal Commission on Horse Breeding in Dublin . THE DUKB AND DUCHESS OF SAXE-COBURG GOTHA brought their visit to the Oueen at Windsor Castle to a conclusion on Tuesday , and returned to Clarence House .

THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., had the honour of dining with the Queen at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening , and remained there for the night . The GOLDSMITHS' COMPANY have granted £ 25 , the Clothworkers' Company £ 50 , and the Mercers' Company £ -0 , towards the British and Foreign Blind Association , 51 , Cambridge Square , Hyde Park .

MRS . WALLACE , in the unavoidable absence , through illness , of Mrs . Burnelones , opened , on Tuesday evening , the new public library which has been erected in Gordon Road , Nunhead , by the Camberwell Vestry , from funds provided by Bro . Passmore Edward ? . THE DUCHESS OF YORK sent a number of handsome pincushions and other embroidered articles as a help to the bazaar which was held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings , in the Westminster Town Hall , in aid of the Society for the Home Teaching of the Blind .

THE MEMBERS of the Elizabethan Stage Society gave a representation of Shakespeare ' s comedy of " The Two Gentlemen of Verona , " in Merchant Taylors' Hall , Threarlneedle-street , on Saturday afternoon last , the company , having very courteously placed it at their disposal for the purpose . THE VICEROY OF INDIA turned the first sod of the Tapti Valley Railway on Tuesday , in the presence of Bro . Lord Sandhurst , Governor of Bombay , and a large concourse of spectators . His Excellency expressed himself , in the course of his speech , as being in favour of railway extension by private enterprise .

THE LORD MAYOR , who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress , Alderman Sheriff Ritchie , Sheriff Bro . R . H . Rogers , and the under Sheriffs , visited the Headquarters of the London Rifle Brigade in Bunhill-row on Saturday evening last for the purpose of distributing the piiz . s won by the members during the past yc ar . THB BIRMINGHAM AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION SOCIETY , of which Bro . the Earl of Warwick is the President , held it 4 Sih annual show , which opened in favourable weather , on Saturday last , among the winners being the Queen , H . R . H . the Prince oE Wales , Bro . the Duke of Portland , the Duke of Marlborough , Bro . Lord Wantage , and others .

THERE WAS a crowded audience at the celebration of the silver jubilee of the Gaiety Theatre , Dublin , on Saturday . list , among those present being the Lord-Lieutenant and the Countess Cadogan , the Chief Secretary , Bro . G : rald Balfour and Lady Betty Bilfour , Bro . Lord Roberts , and others . Dr . Villiers Stanford conducted the performance .

THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT in his report on the military manoeuvres in the neighbourhood of Aldershot , in August and September , speaks very highly of the con duct , discipline , and willingness of the Militia , and also of the general health of the whole of tie troops , the number of sick admitted to the hospital being only 671 out of a total of 29 15 ? , being at the rate of only two-and-a-half per cent .

ACCORDING TO THE RETURNS recently issued by the Board of Trade as to the casualt es caused by railway accidents during the first six months of the present year , three persons were killed in accidents to trains , rolling stock and perminent way , and 10 S injured , as compared with 10 and 100 during the corresponding period of 1895 . As regards the whole of the kingdom , 4 6 9 were killed and 2601 injured , being less in the former case by 9 and in the latter by 716 . A SPECIAL COURT of the Burgers' Company was held at the Albion Tavern ,

Aldersgate-street , on Tuesday evening , under the presidency of the Master ( Mr . C H . Devey ) , when Mr . Gilbert , R . A ., was presented with the freedom and livery of the Company , and expressed his thanks for the honour done him . The Company ' s annual dinner to the Lord Mayor and City Sheriffs was subsequently held , among the guests being Bro . Sir Frederick Abel , Sir Frank Lockwood , M . P ., and Major-General Sim .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES ' birthday on Tuesday was kept with the customary honours in London and Windsor as well as at Sandringham . Flags floated over Marlborough House and bells were rung , while a Royal Salute was fired in the Long Walk , Windsor . At Sandringham between 400 and 500 children were entertained at tea in the Estate Schools , the Royal party and their guests visiting the little ones during the repast . At King's Lynn , the Royal Warrant holders had their annual dinner in honour of the occasion .

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL presided at a meeting held in Middle Temple Hall on Tuesday on behalf of the Barristers' Benevolent Institution , among the members present being the Solicitor-General , Bro . Sir Edward Clarke , Q . C , M . P ., Bro . Sir Frank I ockwood , Q . C , M . P ., Bro . Judge Lumley [ Smith , and others . The annual report was adopted and the Committee of Management lor the ensuing year elected , but general regret was expressed , that out of the large number of barristers in practice throughout the country only 780 were found to give any support to the Institution . THE Imperial Institute Journal announces that the Executive Council , in

accenting fie resignation of Bro . Sir J . R . Somers Vine , C . M . G ., the Assistant Secretary and Geneial Sub-director , passed the following resolution : " The Executive Council , on the termination of Sir Somers Vine ' s connection with the Institute as Assistant Secretaiy and General Sub-director , desire to place on record their sense of the great administrative ability and the indefatigable zeal and energy which he has for so many years devoted to the interests of the Imperial Institute . " The resolution was signed by H . R . H . the Prince of Walts ( President ) , and Bro . Lord Herschell ( Chairman of Council ) .

HAVANA CIGARS , 1894 CROP . —It is well known that the 1 S 94 crop is one of the best Havana has produced in recent years , and is held in high esteem by connoiseurs . Thedemand for cigars of this crop is brisk , the chance of securing those of good quality of _ other crops being very rare . The 18 9 s was not a satisfactory crop at all . The 189 ( 0 is small , and has been principally used for cigar wrappers . As to 18 97 the prospicts arc , by all accounts , unfavourable . It will therefore be good news to smokers that they can obtain cigars of the 1894 crop carefully selected and well conditioned from

one of the leading houses in the trade—Spiers and Pond—who hold one of the largest * nd tint st stocks in the kingdom . Spiers and Pond have just issued , in an elegant form , an illustrated list of Havana cigars , 1894 crop , which has been produced regardless of cost , and is indeed a work of art . It can be asserted without hesitation , that such a list of any one fine crop has seldom—if ever—been offered to the public . In it a fine selection of this famous crop , comprising most ot the leading brands , is carefully and faithfully depicted , the illustrations repiesenting the exact size and general appearance of each cigar . No better guide to intending purchasers could possibly be devised .

HOSPITAL SUNDAY FUND . —Last week a meeting of the Council of the Hospital Sunday Fund was held at the Mansion House , the Earl of Strafford presiding . It was stated that the annual general meeting of representatives of the contributing congregations would take place at Guildhall on the 14 th inst ., under the presidency of the Lord Mayor . It was decided to recommend the names of Mr . Bonsor , M . P ., the Hon . Sydney Holland , and Bishop Barry for addition to the Council to fill vacancies which had arisen during the year . Bro . Archdeacon Sinclair , who mentioned that he had been in communication with the Bishop-Designate of London on the subject , moved that

Sunday , June 20 th , being the Queen's Accession Day , should be recommended as " Hospital Sunday" next year . Ihe Rev . E . E . Jenkins , ex-president of the Wesleyan Conference , seconded the resolution , which was cordially supported by Cardinal Vaughan and the Chief Rabbi , and carried unanimously . Bro . Archdeacon binclairsaid if either St . Paul ' s Cathedral or Westminster Abbey happened to be closed that day in view of the preparations for a Royal Commemorative service , the collections might be made there on a subsequent Sunday . A vote of thanks to Lord StrafforJ for presiding closed the proceedings .

Masonic And General Tidings.

ANONYMOUS DONORS have recently sent £ 1000 , and two sums of £ 500 each , to the Bishop of Wakefield , to be devoted to ecclesiastical purposes in his lordship ' s diocese . THE ANTI-MASONIC CONGRESS at Lyons has ended in a riot . The resolutions of the congress , under the guise of Christian democracy , were directed against Freemasonry and Jewish intervention .

A MORNING PERFORMANCE was given at the Tivoli on Monday afternoon in aid of the fund for raising a memorial to the late Bro . Sir Augustus Harris . There was a large audience , and for the most part the entertainment was of good quality .. MONDAY BEING ST . ANDREW ' S DAY , the Caledonian Society and other Scottish societies in London diverted themselves , as usual , to the celebration of the day set apart in the Calendar to their patron saint , and acquitted themselves well in the hospitality ' . hey showed to their guests .

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HERBERT KITCHENER , Sirdar of the Egyptian army , arrived in Cairo from England on Monday morning , bringing with him the Victorian Order which her Majesty has been pleased to confer on Slatin Pasha for his services during the recent campaign .

MR . CONYNGHAM GREENE , thenew BritishAgenttothe Transvaal Republic , reached Pretoria on Tuesday , and in the course of the afternoon had an interview with President Kruger , upon whom he is said to have made a very favourable impression . Mr . Greene met with a very cordial reception . THE will and codicil of Bro . Charles Sadler , of the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , who died on October 15 th , were proved oh the 21 st ult . ; by Mr . John Draper Sadler , the son , Mr . Alfred Goodman , and Mr . John Drewett , the executors , the value of the personal estate amounting to /' S 244 13 s . Sd .

WE REGRET TO HEAR that during the severe cold weather that recently prevailed in London , sundry deaths occurred from syncope consequent upon exposure to the cold . From different parts of the country the news is to the effect that the weather has been very severe , while in Lincolnshire there has been a good deal of ice . ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . —The annual provincial meeting of the united Provinces of Kent and Surrey will be held on Wednesday , the 23 rd inst ., at Mark Masons' Hall , under the banner of the Lullingstone Preceptory . The Provincial Prior , the Right Hon . the Earl of Onslow , will preside . A dinner will take place at close of meeting at Freemasons' Tavern .

THE ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS . —The Earl of Clarendon , Lord Lieutenant of Herts , Lord Hyde , and 40 other gentlemen were on Tuesday initiated as honorary members of the Ancient Order of Foresters , at Watford , in the presence of a large number of members of Court Star of Hertfordshire . Bro . Halsey , M . P ., was present , and with Earl Clarendon spoke on friendly society topics .

AMONG THE GUESTS whom Bro . the Earl and Countess of Warwick were entertaining at Warwick Castle last week were the Duke of Cambridge , Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , the Duchess of Manchester , Bro . the Marquis and Marchioness of Hertford , the Earl and Countess of Aylesford , Lady Randolph Churchill , Bro . Lord and Lady Algernon Gordon-Lennox , Bro . Lord and Lady Carnarvon , Mr . Henry Chaplin , M . P ., Mr . James Lowther , M . P ., and Bro . Christopher Sykes .

THE - DUCHESS OF SAXE-COBURG GOTHA and the Princess Henry of . Battenberg recently visited the workhouse in Windsor , which is situated near the Bishopsgate . They were conducted over the several wards by the Master and Matron and conversed pleasantly with several of the inmates . Before leaving , they wrote their names in the Visitors' Book , which contains the signatures of the Queen , the Prince Consort , the Queen of Prussia , and others .

THERE WAS A LARGE ATTENDANCE at the meeting held under the presidency of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha , in the Board Room of Charing Cross Hospital , on Saturday last , for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to raise the sum of £ 100 , 000 with a view to placing the hospital on a sound financial basis , and enabling it to enlarge its premises . Among those present were Bros . Lord Wantage and Lord Glenesk , the Hon . W . F . D . Smith , M . P ., Sir Charles Hall , Q . C , M . P ., Bro . Sir Douglas Straight , Bro . Major Clifford Probyn , and Bro . E . Terry .

T . R . H . THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES , the Princess Victoria , and P rince and Princess Charles of Denmark , left Blenheim Palace , on the conclusion of their visit to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough , on Saturday last . The Royal Party drove under an escort of the Queen ' s Own Oxfordshire Hussars , of which the rince is Hon . Colonel , to Oxford , tne Woodstock troop giving place to the Oxford

troop , at Yarnton , a village midway between Blenheim and Oxford . At Oxford station , a guard of honour 100 strong , of the University Rifle Volunteer , wis drawn up and presented arms upon the arrival of their Koyal Highnesses . Tne streets throuji which the Royal cortege passed were thronged with spectators , who cheered their Royal Highnesses most heartily .

THE HAND-IN-HAND INSURANCE . —The hononrable and steady course of English Insurance Companies is marked this year by the completion of the second century of this Society . Started in 16 9 6 with the most modest surroundings , its useful work is shown by the well-known trade-mark—the hands clasped together in a firm grip—which has now been an indication of loyalty for 200 years . The Hand-in-Hand survives alone of all societies for protection against fire on the " mutual " system , by which profits ,

instead of going to shareholders , are returned to the insured , who can thus mostly reckon on being let off altogether from premiums every sixth year . The members whose lives are insured can elect between substantial additions to their policies , or material reduction of payments to the Society , while in all cases the directors have made such ample reserves as to provide for every claim that can possibly arise , and maintain the present most satisfactory rate of progress .

The fifth National Cycle Show , which is now open at the Crystal Palace , will be by far the largest and finest collection of cycles and accessories ever brought together , and certainly in no other building in the world could they be displayed to such advantage . To such proportions has the show grown that the capacities of the Crystal Palace are taxed to the utmost , and for the first time in connection with these shows the galleries have to be called into requisition . A new lift has , however , been erected , thus saving visitors the necessity of ascending the stairs . The military band will discourse sweet

music there each afternoon . The total number of exhibitors is 370 , and comprises the cream of the trade , both as regards makers of the complete cycle and makers of accessories such as saddles , gear cases , bells , lamps , & c . The principal feature of the show is , without doubt , the large number of ladies' cycles . These are to be seen in hundreds , most beautifully enamelled in all colours , and elaborately fitted and finished ; arranged as they are to the best advantage on handsomely furnished stalls , and

interspersed here and there with palms and ferns , they form a very pleasing sight ; in fact , the coup d ' ail from the gallery looking down the quarter mile of promenade is alone worth a visit to the show . The exhibition will remain open till Saturday , the 12 th inst ., and in addition a whole round of entertainments has been arranged by the management . There will be a special variety show every evening next week at eight o ' clock . Visitors cycling to the Palace can store their machines in safety at the Central Transept entrance for the nominal sum of twopence .

" \ DREAMT THAT I DWELT IN MARBLE HALLS" will be the pleasing fancy to every one who first crosses the threshold of the gorgeous Trocadero Restaurant , which now holds such a proud and enviable position in the " New London " starting into life round and about Piccadilly Circus . But instead of the " vassals and serfs " of the old song we shall find a warm and hospitable welcome from the courteous and spirited proprietors , Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , and the proverbial attention and personal comfort ever extended to the public by these well-known caterers and

restaurateurs . The basement floor is devoted to the grill room , with the buffet , smoking , reading , and billiard rooms . . The entrance floor is occupied by the grand restaurant , with its golden minstrel and great gallery in the style of Louis Quatorze , and attached to the gold hall and gallery is a splendid adjacent saloon in the style of Louis Quinze . Small but deliriously cosy dining rooms surround these splendid public rooms . The first floor of the new Trocadero is another welcome surprise , consisting as it does of a

ball room , a banqueting hall in the Empire period—a most admirable reproduction—and an ante-room in the style of Louis Treize . On the gallery level , at the top of the grand staircase , will be found a reception room , again in the style of Louis Treize ; a magnificent Masonic lodge in the period of Francois Premier , with , of course , the necessary ante-rooms for the comfort and convenience of the brethren of the Craft . Full particu lars can be had on application at the Trocadero , Piccadilly Circus .