Masonic And General Tidings.

Masonic and General Tidings .

THE COMMITTEE OF M ANAGEMENT of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will hold their monthly meeting at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday next , the 12 th inst ., at 4 p . m . The business will include the declaration of the vacancies on the two Funds ofthe Institution to be filledatthe annual general meeting in May next , and the sanction and approval of the lists of candidates . BRO . COLONEL PHINEAS C OWAN has been re-elected Master of the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers' Company for the ensuing year .

THE FIRST BATTLE OF F LOWERS of the season took place at Monte Carlo on Sunday and proved a great success . The Czarevitch witnessed the procession of carriages and cars from a tribune . THE 24 TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL ot the London Morayshire Club will be held at the Holborn Restaurant on Wednesday next , the 12 th instant , under the presidency of her Majesty ' s Solicitor General .

PARLIAMENT WILL MEET for the despatch of business on Tuesday , the nth inst ., and her Majesty will hold a Council at Osborne to-morrow ( Saturday ) , at which the speech from the Throne will be submitted for the Queen ' s approval . THE CUSTOMARY EASTER BANQUET at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor ( Bro . Sir W . Wilkin ) and the Lady Mayoress will take place on Wednesday , the 22 nd

April . H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge has accepted an invitation to be present . BRO . ARTHUR BRISCOE , P . P . G . Org . Surrey , P . M . Mozart Lodge , & c , is again elected ( for the fourth year in succession ) Organist to the Nonconformist Choir Union for the forthcoming Festival at the Crystal Palace , and his new Harvest Cantata will be included in the programme .

THE ANNUAL DINNER of the London Forfarshire Association < was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Saturday evening last under the presidency of Bro . Lord Kinnaird , who was supported by Lord Justice Rigby , who prior to his elevation to the bench represented the county in Parliament . THE ANNUAL distribution of prizes to the successful members of the Post Office Volunteers will be held in the Guildhall on Friday , the 21 st instant . Bro . Lord Mayor Sir VV . Wilkin will preside , and the distribution will be made by the Duke of Teck , who is Hon . Colonel of the regiment .

THE MARQUIS OF BUTE has expressed his willingness to contribute £ 500 to the funds of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Mines and Permanent Provident Society to assist it in dealing with the claims arising from the Tylorstown disaster last week . This is in addition to the £ 250 which his lordship contributes annually to the institution . THE IMPERIAL Russian Geopraphical Society celebrated the Jubilee of its foundation in H . Petersburg under the presidency of the Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich , who was supported by a number of Grand Dukes , severalMinisters , and other dignitaries . Addresses of congratulation and telegrams were received from 38 foreign and upwards of 100 Russian societies .

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS OF WALES has been graciously pleased Io beccme Palror . rss of Ihe Concert to be given , by kind permission of the Duchess of Suthcilard , at Stafford Hcuse , on Thursday , June nth , in aid of the building fund of Ihe Fice Home for the Dying , Clapham . All communications should be addressed to the Ladies' Ccmmiltee , at the office of the Honorary Secretary , Captain Portlock-Dadson , 2 S 1 , Strand .

THE HON . ALICE VERNON , daughter of the late Lird Vernon , of Sudbury Hall , Derbyshire , was married to the Rev . S . C . Lowry , Vicar of North Holmwood , Surrey , at Sudbury Parish Church on Monday , the bride being given away by her uncle , Bro . the Hon . William W . Verron , while the ceremony was performed by Bishop Anson , another of her uncles . Among those invited on the occasion were Lord Northbourne , Bro . Loid and Lady Burton , Bro . Sir Henry Wilmot , and the Hon . Mrs . Okeover .

OWING TO THE ARRANGEMENTS Mr . Frederick Kerr has entered into for the production of " Jedbuiy , Jun ., " at Terry's Theatre , the last nights of "The Strange Adventures of Miss Brown , " Robert Buchanan ' s merry farce , are now announced . Mi st cf Ihe cempany now playing at Terry ' s Theatre will appear in the new play , in addition to which the services of Miss Maude Millett have been secured . This lady will thus return to Ihe theatre where she , with Mr . Kerr , made her great success in Pinero ' s chaiming play " Sweet Lavender . "

BRO . THE REV . T . SELBY HENREY has been appointed to the vacant living of St . George ' s , Old Brentford , which is in the gift of the Rev . Dr . Oliver , Vicar of Ealing , and is woith about £ 430 yearly , and a vicarage house . Bro . Henrey was instituted to the living by tie Bishop of London on Tuesday last , and he will be inducted on Saturday , the 15 th , by Dr . Thornton , Archdeacon of Middlesex . It will be remembered that on the death of the Rev . Flocd Jones , Vicar of St . Botolph , Aldersgate , the parishioners were unanimous in seeking the atpointment of Bro . Henrey to the vacant benefice . He

had acted as curate-in-charge for six years , had held the confidence and support of his Vicar during the whole period , had inaugurated and successfully worked open-air services for woiking people in the churchyard , and generally endeared himself to everyone by his geniality , tact , and earnestness . When , however , these things were brought forward by the parishioners as reasons for his appointment , Canon Duckworth , who virtually had the appointment , regarded them only in the light of barriers to his appointment .

THE FUNERAL of the late Lord Leighton , President of the Royal Academy , was solemnised with great pomp and circumstance at St . Paul ' s Cathedral on Monday . The Queen was represented by Col . the Hon . W . Carrington , the Prince of Wales by MajoT-General A . Ellis—who stood as one of the pall-bearers—the German Emperor by the Gentian Ambassador , the King of the Belgians by the Belgian Minister , the Piincess of Wales by Lord Colville of Culross , the Princess Louise by Lieut .-Colonel Arthur Collins , and the Princess Christian by Col . the Hon . C . Eliot . The pall-bearers

included Major-General A . Ellis , Bro . [ the Duke of Abercorn , Sir Joseph Lister , President ot the Royal Society ; Sir John E . Millais , Bart ., R . A . ; Sir E . Maunde Thompson , Principal Librarian of the British Museum ; Sir Alexander C . Mackenzie , Principal of the Royal College of Music , and Mr . W . E . H . Lecky , M . P . The hearse , preceded by a detachment of the Artists' Volunteer Corps , anel followed by a number of private carriages , left the Royal Academy , Burlington House ,

at 11 a . m ., and , proceeding along Piccadilly , Charing Cross , Northumberland Avenue , and the Thames Embankment , reached the Cathedral shortly after noon , and was received by the Dean and clergy , the service being conducted by the Archbishop of York , as Chaplain to the Royal Academy , and the Dean . Among those invited to be pr . sent were Bros , the Dukeof Devonshire , the Marquis of Granby , Sir F . Lockwood , Loid Wantage . Sir E . Lawson , Sir F . Knollys , and Lord Suffield .

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY have again arranged with Messrs . Walter Hill and Co ., of G 7 and 69 , Southampton-row , London , W . C , to prepare and issue a list ot Farmhouse and Country lodgings to let in the vicinity of Great Northern stations , lt is also intended to include better class hotels and boarding houses , and full infoimation as to the book may be obtained on application at any Great Northern station , or of Mr . J . Alexander , Superintendent of the line , King ' s Cross Station , London , or of Messrs . Walter Hill and Co ., as above .

THE CYCLE CRAZE . —Nowadays , when everybody with the slightest pretension to beirg cor . sideied semebody of either sex—from Royalty downward—go in for that most enjoyable of exeicises—cycling—a word of advice may not be out of place to those whese intenlions are in the coming season to add one more to the already enormous army of pleasure-seekers on the wheel . Now , there are cycle manufacturers and cycle manufaclurers . Our experience has always been that it is infinitel y better and cheaper in lhe long run to patronise a first-class house , as by so doing you will be sure to

get unbounded satisfaction . The well-known firm of Benetfink and Co ., Cheapside , have now added a ejele department to their already palatial establishment , where there is to he teen such a magnificent display of safeties , tandems , tricycles , & c , with all the mtdcin improvements , to suit the tastes of the most fastidious . VVe doubt if there is a finer exhibition of machines anywhere . Intending visitors to London will be amply repaid by spending an hour viewing their other departments , as it is a sight not easily forgotten . The firm is situate exactly opposite Bow Church , and is easy of access from any part of the Metropolis .

Masonic And General Tidings.

MR . HENRY TATE , who recently made donations of £ 5000 to three Liverpool insti . tutions , has just promised a gift of equil amount to the Homeopathic Hospital in that city . THE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER presided at the amuial meeting of the Chester Charity Organisation Society , and was supported by Dr . Joyne , Bishop of Chester , and other members .

SIR FRANCIS SCOTT , who commanded the expedition to Coomassie , with Col . F . J . Kempster and Major H . E ; Belfield , arrived at Cape Coast Castle early on Saturday morning last , all being in good health . ' ACCORDING TO telegraphic advices received from New York , the American Line steamer , St . Paul , which ran ashore during a dense fog , on the 25 th ult ., near Long Branch , was successfully towed off shortly before 10 a . m . on Tuesday morning .

BRO . THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE has had telephonic connection established between Devonshire House and the Privy Council Offices , so that he may be in comunication with his department at any time during his residence in town . THE LEADING MEMBERS of the Ministry and the Opposition chiefs in both Houses of Parliament will give the usual full-dress Parliamentary banquets on Monday evening , the ioth instant , in view of Parliament being opened the following day .

PRINCESS ADOLPHUS OF TECK arrived at Grosvenor House from Eaton Hall on Saturday last , and was joined by Prince Adolphus , whose military duties detain him in town . On Tuesday the Prince went to Osborn and the Princess returned to Eaton Hall . ON THURSDAY , the 27 th instant , a special lecture will be given at the Royal United Service Institution by Captain Walter J ames on "The Necessity for an Army as well as a Navy for the Defence of the Empire . " The chair will be taken by Bro . Lord Wolseley .

THE HEALTH OF LONDON still remains very satisfactory , the Registrar-General ' s returns showing that the rate of mortality for last week was 17 . 8 per 1000 , while for Biighton it was 16 . The deaths from influenza were iS in number , or double what they were the week previous . IT IS CONSIDERED probable that the Queen will be accompanied by the Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein and her daughter , Princess Victoria , on the occasion of her journey from Windsor Castle to Nice , and that they will stay with her Majesty during her sojourn in the south of France .

MR . RAGLAN G . SOMERSET , one of her Majesty's Gentleman Ushers , attended by command as representative of the Queen , the funeral service held in St . Paul ' s Cathedral for the late Bro . Sir Joseph Barnaby on Tuesday . Several deputations from musical societies in London and the provinces , including one from Eton College , were also oresent .

COSTAKI PASHA has presented , through the Marquis of Salisbury , Foreign Minister , his letters of credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary , from his Imperial Majesty the Sultan of Turkey , while Senor Eusebio Machain his been formall y reserved as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from thj Rebublic of Paraguay .

THE RIGHT HON . A . J . BALFOUR , M . P ., First Lord of the Treasury , visited Bristol on Monday for | the purpose of addressing a political meeting , at which there were present , among others , the Duke of Beaufort , who presided , the Chancellor of the Exchequer ( Bro . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P . ) , Bro . Sir Edward Hill , M . P ., Bro . E . H . Llewellyn , M . P ., and other Members of Parliament .

BRO . CECIL RHODES , lately Prime Minister of Cape Colony , arrived in Plymouth on Tuesday on board the Union Steamship Company ' s steamer Moor , and proceeded at once by train to London . On his arrival at Paddington station at 3 p . m . Bro . Rhodes , on quitting the train , was loudly cheered by the crowd which had assembled to greet him , and he had some difficulty in making bis way to a cab and leaving the station .

BROS , RT . HON . A . AKERS-DOUGLAS , Lord Balfour of Burleigh , Lord Halsbury ( Lord Chancellor ) , Lord Ashbourne ( Lord Chancellor of Ireland ) , Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart . ( Chancellor of the Exchequer ) , the Duke of Devonshire , Lord George Hamilton , the Rt . Hon . W . H . Long and Sir M . White Ridley , Birt ., were present at the Cabinet Council which was held at the Foreign Office on Tuesday .

BY COMMAND of the Queen a special memorial service for the late Prince Henry of Battenberg was held in St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , on Tuesday afternoo 1 . I ' he Dean and several of the Canons and Minor Canons officiated , while the musical portions of the service were und . r the direction of Bro . Sir W . Parratt . The Mayor and Corporation of Windsor and a large number of persons were present on the mournful occasion .

BRO . W . WOODTHORPE WILLIAMS , the junior partner in the firm of Messrs . W . Williams and Son , of 52 , Bread-street , died on the 28 th ult ., at the early age of 30 years , from pneumonia . Bro . Williams was in partnership with his father , Mr . W . Lisle Williams , and acted as buyer in the ornamental department . He had been associated with the business for 10 years , and had been a partner for six . He was a member of the Mizpah Lodge , and the Carnarvon Chapter .

H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , attended by Bro . Sir Francis Knollys and Gineral Clark , lelt Sandiingham for London on Sunday last and on his arrival iu the Metropolis at once drove to Marlborough House . On Monday H . R . H . the Princess of Wales , the Duke of York , and the Princesses Victoria and Maud travelled via the Great Eastern and South Western systems to Portsmouth , being joined en route by the Prince at Haverstock Hill . The Royal Party then crossed to Osborne in order that they might be present at the fu neral of P . ince Henry of Battenberg .

THE FUNERAL OF Bro . the Right Hon . Hugh C . E . Childers took place in the churchyard of Cantley , near Doncaster , on Saturday last . Among those present were the mtmbers ol the deceased's family , Bro . the Dean of York , Captain the Hon . Charles Harbord , representing the Queen , the Right Hon . A . J . Mundella , M . P ., General Sir Andrew Claike , the Mayor of Pontefraet , and Viscount Halifax , while wreaths were sent by Bro . Sir Banington and Lady Simeon , Lord and Lady Reay , Earl Spencer , Lord and Lady Playfair , the Earl of Northbrook , and Lord and Lady Glenesk .

NEW YORK HARBOUR was the scene of an exciting incident on Saturday list , when a big boat which had collided with a ferry boat was abandoned by its crew , and steamed away at full speed on its own account , running into the island on which the Statue of Liberty stands and damaging the pier . Then it ran down a schooner , carried away the bowsprit of another , and upset and demolished a rowing boat . At length , just as it was on the point of charging into the British ship Holyrood , a pursuing tug-boat caught her , and prevented her doing further mischief .

MUNIFICENT GIFTS . —lt is announced that Messrs . Lewis and Lewis , acting on behalf of the executors of the late David James ( Messrs . E . W . Gardiner and Edward Terry ) have sent cheques to the under-mentioned charitable institutions , which the executors have , in the exercise of their discretion , decided to benefit under the provisions of the deceased ' s will : Brompton Consumption Hospital , £ 1000 ; Blind School ( Indigent ) , £ 500 ; Institution for the Relief of the Indigent Blind of the Jewish Persuasion , £ 250 ; Charing Cross Hospital , £ 1000 ; Central London Throat and Ear

Hospital , £ 500 ; Ueat and Dumb Asylum , £ 500 ; Royal Eye Hospital , £ 500 ; Foundling Hospital , £ 1000 ; Guy's Hospital , £ iooo ; Golden-square Throat , Nose , and Ear Hospital , £ 500 ; Hospital for Sick Children , £ 500 ; the Royal Hospital for Incurables , £ 500 ; Hospital lor Jewish Incurables , £ 250 ; Jews' Deaf and Dumb Home , JC IOOU ; Jewish Board of Guardians , £ 4000 : Jews' Hospital and Orphan

Asjlum , £ 1000 ; Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , £ 500 ; Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , £ 500 ; Royal General Theatrical Fund , £ 3000 ; and Westminster Jews' Free School , £ 250 . The exeputors have now practically decided on the distribution ofthe whole ot the residue ; and , when some minor points have been disposed of , the remainder of the estate ( some £ 30 , 000 ) will also be distributed among the charities which have been selected .

ICVEKV HOUSE may shortly be supplied with electric light by a simple piece of mechanism placed over the kitchen chimney , it a new plan of Kdison ' s for generating directly from heatis successful . Thus the poorest person could have the beta-lit of a useful invention which is now regarded as a luxury only for the comfort of the rich . Mr . Thomas Holloway , however , lias given a greater blessing lo humanity than has yet been afforded hy the most wonderful discoveries of science . His Pills and Ointment have succeeded in cases where the greatest authorities on medical treatment have failed . Whatever the mcilica l treatment of a patient may be < these pills will ellect a cure if such a thing is humanly possible ,