Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold its regular monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday next , at 4 p . m . THE ROYAL MILITARY TOURNAMENT opened at the Royal Agricultural Haiti Islington , on Saturday last and will remain open till the end of next week . Several competitions took place , and there was the usual musical ride by a team of the Scots Greys .

VISCOUNTESS WOLSELEY has very kindly consented to present the prizes at the annual sports of the Duke of York ' s Royal Military School , on Friday , the 3 rd July , at 3 p . m . The band of the Royal Military School of Music , Kneller Hall , will play during the afternoon . THE BOROUGH of King ' s Lynn , after consulting with her Royal Highness , has decided to present Princess Maud of Wales , on her marriage , with a private omnibus for use between Appleton Hall and Wolferton Railway Station . The City of Norwich will present her with a Victoria .

THE MAYOR OF SWANSEA , Alderman Bradford , has received a communication from Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , informing him that , should weather permit , the yacht Britannia reaching Swansea in time , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales would have much pleasure in racing her at Swansea Regatta on July 25 th . THE QUEEN ' S birthday parade of the Honourable Artillery Company was held in the drill ground , Finsbury-square , E . C , on Saturday last , when Field-Marshal Sir Donald Stewart was present , and complimented the Earl of Denbigh , commanding officer , on the appearance and turn-out of the regiment .

LADY WATKIN , wife of Bro . Sir Edward Watkin , till lately member for Hythe , and widow of Mr . Herbert Ingram , founder and proprietor of the Illustrated London News , was buried at Boston , Lincolnshire , on Saturday last . There was a very large attendance of the townsfolk , and the wreaths were numerous and very beautiful .

HER MAJESTY ' J UDGES will attend in State at the afternoon service in St . Paul ' s Cathedral , on Sunday next , and will be received with the usual ceremonial , at 3 p . m ., by Bro . Lord Mayor Sir W . Wilkin and the Corporation . His lordship has been on a short visit to the Continent , but will return to the Mansion House to-morrow ( Saturday ) . BY PERMISSION OF THE BENCHERS , the Inner Temple Gardens were opened to the public on Monday evening , from G p . m . till dusk , and will be open every evening for the same time to the end of August . The privilege is intended more especially for the benefit of the poor children who dwell in the densely-populated neighbourhood round about .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by Major-General Ellis , arrived at Clivedon on Saturday afternoon last on a visit to the Hon . W . Astor , among the guests invited to meet his Royal Highness being the Duke and Duchess of Buccleugh , Lady Randolph Churchill , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Yarborough , Bro . Earl and Countess Carrington , Bro . Lord Roberts , Bro . Sir Edward and Lady Lawson , and Lady de Trafford .

A MEETING OF the Council of the Royal Botanic Society was held at the headquarters in Regent ' s Park on Saturday last , under the presidency of the Duke of Teck , when it was decided as an experiment that six musical promenades commencing from Saturday , the 13 th inst ., should be held in the gardens to which the public should be admitted on the payment of one shilling each , 23 of the Fellows having agreed to guarantee £ 5 each against the risk of loss .

THE FIRST MEETING during the season of the Coaching Club took place at the Magazine , Hyde Park , on Saturday last and brought together an immense concourse of spectators . As many as 2 S coaches put in an appearance . Bro . Albeit Brassey led the way , and was followed by Bro . Colonel Le Gendre N . Starkie , Mr . Hanbury , & c . At the Queen's Gate the procession broke up , 17 of the coaches going on to Hurlingham , where later they were joined by five others , and a number ot driving competitions were held .

THE 57 TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution was held at the H 6 tel Metropole , on Saturday evening last . Bro . the Earl of Lathom occupied the chair , and among those present were Bro . Viscount Powerscourt , Bro . his Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C , and others . The subscriptions amounted to close upon ^ 2000 , including £ 25 from the Queen , £ 10 5 from Messrs . Rothschild , and £ 52 ios . from Bro . the Duke of Bedford . Ihe musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . A . Schartau .

THE ROYAL EXCHANGR . —On Saturday , the 20 th inst ., being the 59 th anniversary cf her Majesty ' s Accession , the Lord Mayor will unveil in the interior court of the Royal Exchange a marble statue of the Queen by Mr . Hamo Thorneycroft , R . A ., which will replace a statue of inferior merit on the same spot . Her Majesty , it will be remembered , opened the Royal Exchange in 1 S 44 . The statue has been provided by the Gresham Committee , a body representative ot the Corporation , and the Mercers' Company , and has taken some years to execute .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES held the last Levee of the season on behalf of her Majesty at St . James ' s Palace on Monday . His Royal Highness was accompanied by Prince Charles of Denmark , and among those present were the Italian , American , Turkish , Austrian , and Spanish Ambassadors , the Dukes of Norfolk and Westminster , Bro . the Duke of Devonshire , Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar , Sir H . H . Fowler , Lord lames of Hereford , Bro . Lord Mayor Sir W . Wilkin , Bro . Lord Halsbury , Bro . Sir M . White Ridley , Bart ., the Earl of Cadogan , and the Marquises of Salisbury and Lansdowne .

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE , as colonel of the regiment , presided at the annual dinner of the ist Grenadier Guards'Club , which was held at the H 6 tel Metropole on Monday evening . H . R . H . the Prince cf Wales was present , as also were , among othets , Bro . General Sir R . Gipps , Bro . Major-General Lord Methuen , Bro . the Duke of Bedford , Lord Chelmsford , Bro . the Hon . H . F . Eaton , Bro . Lord Claud Hamilton , Bro . the Marquis of Hertford , Lord Hood , Bro . the harl of March , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Lord Saltoun , Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar , and the Duke cf Wellington . The band of the regiment , under Bro . Lieut . Dan Godfrey , played during dinner .

A MASONIC MIRAGE . —A strange phenomenon was seen in Warsaw , Indiana , recently . It was a mirage of the Masonic Temple , in Chicago . The great building hung in the sky , apparently over a waggon factory , near the public square . The town had been visited by a storm ; the wind was high and rain fell furiously . Hail as large as walnuts rattled on the housetops and battered the windows of buildings . A great cloud hung , after the storm had subsided , in the western sky , and on its face was pictured the Masonic Temple in complete mirage . The structure was plainly visible , and people could be seen walking about in its vicinity . Warsaw is icg miles from Chicago , on the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne road . It has a population of . iroo . —Echo .

A NEVV FOUR-HORSE COACH has been put upon the road by Messrs . Spiers and Pond . It is called "The Criterion , " and leaves their establishment of that name in Piccadilly-circus at 11 . 30 a . m . every week-day , proceeding via Putney , Richmond , Twickenham , Teddington , Bushey Park , Hampton Court , and Thames Ditton to the Southampton Hotel at Suibilon , where a two hours' stop is allowed for luncheon , which in fine weather is served at separate tables on the lawn . It then returns via Ewell ,

Worcester Park , Ccombe Warren , Roehampton , arriving in London at ( 3 . 30 . Five firstclass teams are provided by Messrs . McNamara and Co ., contractors to the General Post Office , and who provide the teams for the working of the four-horse parcel post vans that leave St . Martin ' s-Ie-Grand every night for | various | destinations in the country . This ccach affords one of the most charming and delightful drives near London , and c ffets an advantage over most of the coaches leaving the Metropolis in the fact that the time of its depaiture is somewhat later than is usual .

THE TROCADERO RESTAURANT will shortly be opened by Messrs . J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , alter a lengthened period of preparation . Every effort is being made to make this the handsomest and most perfectly-equipped dining palace in Eun pe , and the arrangements for Masonic meetings will be made a special feature . Applications respecting bookings should be made as early as possible to the proprietors , J . Lyons and Co ., Limited , Cadby Hall , Kensington , where all inquiries should be addressed . — [ ADVT . ]

Masonic And General Tidings.

THE EMPEROR WILLIAM OF GERMANY has invited the members of the Institute of British Naval Architects to Potsdam on Friday , the 12 th instant , when a grand tattoo will take place in their honour . THE BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SHOW at St . Albans , which was rpened on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., was closed on Monday evening . The total of those who paid for admission was 34 , 100 as against 43 , 000 at Taunton in 1 S 95 .

WEDNESDAY WAS the birthday of the Duke of York , who was be in on the 3 rd June , 1 S 65 , and the auspicious event was ' observed at Windsor in the usual manner , the bells ringing out merry peals , and a Royal salute being fired at noon in the Long Walk . As A RESULT of the Grand Fancy Fair held at Shortlands on Friday and Saturday of last week , which was opened on the former day by the Duchess of Albany , a cheque of £ 1000 will be handed to the Prince of Wales's Fund for the re-endowment of Guy ' s Hospital .

AT THE MASONIC BUILDINGS , Southport , on Saturday last , Bro . C . F . Matier P . D . G . M ., G . Sec , assisted by Bro . Vincent , P . A . G . D . C , and several Grand Officers , consecrated the Southport Council of the Allied Degrees , No . 25 , in the presence of a large gathering of distinguished brethren . THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE will hold a conversazione at their Central Technical College , Exhibition-road . S . W ., on Friday next , the 12 th instant , from 8 to 11 . 30 p . m . At 9 p . m . Bro . Lord Hilsbury , Chairman of the Council , and Lady Halsbury will hold a reception in the Library of the College .

AT THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire , held at Manchester , on the 13 th ult ., Bro . James Newton was appointed and invested as Provincial Grand Secretary in succession to Bro . John Chadwick , who retires after 17 years' service . Bro . Newton has held the position of Assistant Prov . Grand Secretery since 1 SS 6 .

H . R . H . THE PRINCESS OF WALES and her daughters , the Princesses Victoria and Maud , Prince Christian and his daughter , Ihe Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , Prince Christian Victor , and Prince Charles of Denmark visited the Royal Italian Opera , Covent Garden , on Monday and witnessed a performance of " Hiinsel and Gretel " and " PaEliacci . "

THE 2 STH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Surveyors' Institution was heldat the premises of the Society in Great George-street , Westminster , on Monday , under the presidency of Mr . Daniel Watney . The report showed that the membership of the Institution had increased during the past year by 223 and the investments by £ 4500 , raising the total of the latter to close on £ 35 , 7 60 . THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF RUSSIA visited the St . Catherine ' s Hospital , Moscow , on Sunday , for the purpose of seeing the persons lying there who were injured at the recent terrible catastrophe during the coronation festivities . The number lying there was 150 , and their majesties spoke kindly to all of them , afterwards visiting the other hospitals where sufferers are accommodated .

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON LAST , Bro . Lord Charles Beresford opened the new premises of the Temple Yacht Club on the West Cliff , Ramsgate . _ His lordship spoke in high terms of the lifeboatmen of Ramsgate , and expressed his belief that it would be an excellent thing if the boys and apprentices of the smacksmen could be drafted into the reserves as they attained the age of 20 years .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES ' S yacht Britannia won the first-class match from Southend to" Harwich in connection with the Royal Thames Yacht Club Races , on Saturday last , Satanita , who passed the winning post first , covering the distance in 4 h . 34 m . 32 sec , and the Britannia in 4 h . 37 m . 37 sec , Ailsa being third in 4 h . 41 m . 56 sec . The Britannia won on her time allowance .

THE MARRIAGE of Mr . H . Meysey-Thompson with Miss Williamson , daughter of Bro . Sir Hedworth and Lady Williamson , of Whitburn Hall , Durham , was solemnised at St . Peter's , Eaton-square , on Monday , among those invited to the ceremony being the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry , Sir H . and Lady Meysey-Thompson , Bro . the Earl and Countess of Ravensworth , Bro . Viscount and Viscountess Folkestone , the Earl and Countess of Iddesteigh , and Lord and Lady Newton .

A MEETING of the Barnby Memorial Trust Fund was held at Novello s , under the presidency of Mr . Brooke Hitching , Chairman of the Guildhall School of Music , on Wednesday , when subscriptions amounting to upwards of £ 1000 were announced , among the subscribers being Bros . Lord Mayor Sir VV . Wilkin , Sir A . Harris , Sir E . Clarke , Archdeacon Sinclair , and W . Ganz . Leeds and Cardiff have collected about £ 50 each and New York promises about 1000 dollars . A grand concert in the Albert Hall in aid of the Fund is proposed .

AUTUMN MANOEUVRES . —Nothing has been definitely setttled as to the autumn manoeuvres in England , but they will probably be on a very large scale . The Commander-in-Chief intends to have all the infantry regiments in England present , leaving only just enough men to carry on the duties in garrison towns . Ihere will be a large force of artillery and all the cavalry in England . If there are no grand manoeuvres , Ihere will at least be cavalry manoeuvres alone , under the Inspector-General , General George Luck , and they will take place in the ^ neighbourhood of Aldershot in the second week in August .

A SPECIAL MRETING of the Lewisham Lodge of Instruction , No . 2579 , will be held on Tuesday , the iGth inst ., at the Parish Hall , Ladywell , when the chair will be taken by Bro . Christopher Sims , W . M . 2579 , P . M . 1208 , 861 , & c , P . Z . 13 S 1 , Sic , P . M . ( Mark ) 223 , assisted by the officers of the Lewisham Lodge , and the symbols of the Craft Degrees in Ancient Freemasonry , and subjects relating to present-day working ,

with many interesting diagrams , showing the connection of our whole system and the relative dependency of its several parts , will be illustrated with lime-light diagrams , by Bro . Walter Clement Tyler , S . D . S 62 , I . G . 2579 , 1567 , & c , and their meanings expounded by Bro . Charles L . Nelson , W . M . elect 1702 , D . C 781 , Sic . The lodge will beo pened at seven o ' clock , and the lecture will commence at 7 . 30 p . m . punctually .

A LIVERPOOL ALDERMAN AND THE SULTAN . —We have been favoured by Bro . Alderman Houlding with the following account of his sojourn in Constantinople : On Friday we drove to the Palace . and Mosque of the present Sultan , Abdul Hamid , to witness the Selamlik or Sultan ' s procession to the Mosque . On presenting our embassy card we were shown into a special room overlooking the Palace-road and Mosque entrance . The spectacle was simply grand—soldiers to the number of 10 , 000 , with their bands playing and colours flying , matching to their various stations , the officers all in

full dress . About noon his Excellency Wood Pasha , introduced me to the Sultan s Chamberlain , who informed me that his Imperial Majesty had been pleased to confer upon me the Order of the Imteas , first-class , for services rendered ; and as there were so many visitors present he added that if 1 would select a party after the Sultan had returned from the Mosque , we could visit the stables and palace grounds , whieft

opportunity we eagerly availed ourselves of . He also informed me that the Sultan had given me permissim to select a party of eight or 10 to visit the Treasury , Seraglio , and the other palaces next day . At ni g ht we had a fancy dress ball on board , to which several visitors from shore were invited , and at the supper table his Excellency Wood Pasha , in the name of the Sultan , decorated me with the Order that his Imperial Majesty had so graciously conferred .

THE GREATEST ENTHUSIASM was shown on the Epsom Downs , and at the theatres , music halls , Olympia , the Indian and Ceylon Exhibition , and other places of public resort over the victory won by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales's horse , Persimmon , in the great race for the Derby . The only other horse that had the slightest chance of beating him was Mr . Leopold de Rothschild ' s St . Frusquin , which won the Two Thousand . The struggle for victory was a grand one , but in the risult , Persimmon proved the victor by a neck . In the evening his Royal Highness gave his usual Derby dinner at Marlborough

House , among the guests being the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha , the Duke of York , the Duke of Cambridge , Prince Christian , Prince Soltykoff , Bros , the Duke of St . Albans and the Duke of Devonshire , the Duke of Westminster , the Maiquis of Londonderry , Bro . the Marquis of Zetland , the Earl of Coventry , Bro . Ihe Earl of Hardwicke , Karl Cadogan , Bro . the Earl of Cork and Ossery , Bro . the Farl of Dunraven , Bro the Lowther

Earl of Durham , the Earl of Ellesmere , Bro Lord Stanley , the Right Hen . J . , Lord Alington , the Right Hon . H . Chaplin , and Bro . II . McCalmont . Among those who were prevented by various causes from obeying his Royal llghneis ' s command were the Duke of Richmond and Gordon , the Duke ot Beaufort , Bro . the Duk of 11 artland , Bros , the Earl of March , the Earl of Derby , and the Earl of Bradford , and Mr . L . de Rothschild .