Masonic And General Tidings.

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS .

The regular monthly meeting of the Committee of Management of the Royal Alasonic Benevolent Institution will be held at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday next , the , th inst ., at four p . m . The Quarterly General Court nf the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys will be held at Freemasons' Hall to-day four

( Friday ) ^ t p . m ., when the number of vacancies to be filled in April will be declared , and the list of candidates approved . At the last regular meeting of the Fletcher Lodge , No . 213 , of Alark Alaster Masons , Bro . Geo . Dalrymple , P . AL 216 , was unanimously elected W . AI ., and Bro . Rev . Jas . Anderson , P . M ., Treas .

Bro . Lord George Hamilton came to town on Saturday last , and after transacting business at the Admiralty left again the same evening for the Wilderness Sevenoaks , on a visit to Lord and Lady Hillington . The Queen has been pleased to appoint Bro . Admiral Sir J . E . Commerell , V . C , G . C . B ., to be one of the Grooms-inwaiting in Ordinary to her Alajesty , vice Admiral Lord Frederick Kerr , appointed Extra Groom-in-Waiting .

Among those on whom Her Majesty has been pleased to confer honours at the commencement of the New Year is Bro . General Sir Frederick Sleigh Roberts , Bart ., V . C , G . C . B ., Commander-in-Chief in India , who has been raised to the peerage .

The Duke of Devonshire , till recently known as the Marquis of Hartington , has issued his address to his late constituents of the Rossendale Division of Lancashire , in which he thanks them for their kindness and consideration in electing him as their representative .

VVe are glad to hear that the condition of Bro . Lord Suffield was reported to be so favourable on Saturday last that it was announced there would be no more bulletins issued , lt is also good news that Bro . Lord Alexander Gordon-Lennox has made some slight progress .

lhe reports as to the progress made by Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein since the accident by which he lost one eye are very satisfactory . All is going on most favourably , and in a short time his Royal Highness hopes to be able to return home to Cumberland Lodge . His wife , the Princess Helena , has been most devoted in her care of her husband since the removal of the eye .

King George of Greece , brother of the Princess of Wales , who has been suffering from an attack of small pox , had so far recovered that he was able to go out for a two hours ' drive on the ist instant . He was accompanied by the Queen , and it was hoped and expected that his Alajesty would he able to join the family circle on Saturday last , all danger of infection having passed away entirely .

The Queen ' s New Year ' s gifts , which were distributed on Friday , the ist inst ., among SSi persons , consisted of joints of beef ranging from three to seven pounds , weighing in the aggregate 3501 lbs ., or rather more than a ton and a half , 1310 cwt . of coals in quantities of 3 cwt . to each family , and £ 100—given annually—to the Royal Clothing Club . The participants lived in the five parishes of Windsor and Clewer .

I he Duke and Duchess of Fife and their infant daughter , the Lady Alexandra Duff , arrived at Sandringham House on Saturday last on a visit to the Prince and Princess of VVales , and on Alonday the number of their Royal Highnesses' guests was increased by the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Teck , and the Princess Victoria of Teck . Prince George of Wales is progressing most favourably , his condition in all respects being most satisfactory .

A runaway engine did no end of damage at the Slough Station on New Year ' s Day . The driver had got off in order to arrange the points so that he misjht be able to cross tne branch line , when his engine ttarted off , and dashed at the rate of about 30 miles an hour into the wall of the engineers' office , into the clerks' room , and thence on to

the inspector ' s office . The clerks were fortunately able to escape by jumping through a window into the open street , so that no lives were sacrificed . Having done this damage , however , the engine was so battered about that it was not able to go further , and as the water from the boiler extinguished the fires the mnaway was pulled up sharp .

Bro . Sir Augustus Harris intends having a grand gala night at thc Royal Italian Opera , Covent Garden , on the occasion of the marriage of the Duke of Clarence and Avond . le and the Princefs Victoria of Teck , on the 27 th tebru'ry , when it is expected that the display at the gala visits of the Shah of Persia and the Emperor William will 1 , ¦« ibisuncKiu LIII _ . JJIHJJVIUI tr IIIIUIII iitu

. alt " 6 * tlier eclipsed . The programme is not unlikely to include M afc ^ 'tii ' s opera- " Cavalleria Rusticana , " and Ouunod s Philemon and Baucis . " Bro . Sir A . Harris is * , " ? lunlt : a "' " with the authorities mostly concerned , of "I , . y ent of 'he proposed arrangements being carried out , the highest personages and their guests are expected to

With reference to the approaching Royal marriage meetings are being held and Lommiilees formed for organising subscriptions with which to present gifts to the Princess > ictoria of I eck . Among these may be mentioned a Committee to present one on behalf of the ladies of England , tne subscriptions to which will be limited to £ 20 . Among tne members are the Duchess Dowager of . Marlborough , tne Duchess of Bedford , Maria Marchioness of Ailesbury , wie Marchioness of Hertford , the Countess of Sefton , the Countess

of Bective . and the Countess of Normanton . A meet , ™ was held at Windsor on Saturday last , under the Sin ™ - n . . .. Ma y ° - when it was resolved to presenl illuminated addresses of congratulation to the Queen and < ,, l" ¦ " !¦ , les on l . approaching marriage , and raise su scriptions for a wr dding present to the Duke of Clarence * iu nis Untie . A similar meeting was held at Norwich on Leir ^ i 1 y ' had heea convened by the Earl of overhigh u ' J- ' M . 1 a , lt of Nurf » " < . and was presided dividual c K Hlffh ^ herl , lf of thc cou "ty- I" 'his case inmanv « ^ c"pl " ? n ? - ere r ' ' ted ta £ l 3 s ., so lhat as ¦ "any as possible mi ght oin in the movement .

Masonic And General Tidings.

The citizens of York have subscribed over £ 200 for a wedding present to the Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Princess Victoria of Teck . Bro . the Duke , of Devonshire , after spending some davs at Devonshire House , has left town for Hardwick Hall , Derbyshire , where he will make some stay .

The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at Charing Cross on Monday afternoon from Coburg , where he had been spending Christmas , and has since proceeded to Devonport to resume his official duties . The Prince of Wales having lent his schooner yacht Aline to Bro . Lord Alexander Gordon-Lennox , the vessel , which has completed her outfit , has srone to Portsmouth to take the party on board and will shortly sail for the Alediterranean .

The International Sanitary Conference commenced its sittings in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall , Venice , on Tuesday , and at once voted an address of greeting to King Humbert . There were 30 delegates present , representing 15 different States .

The death rate in London during the last two weeks is found to have been 32 per 1000 , or higher than in any two consecutive weeks during the last 10 years , with the exception of January , 1 S 90 . This excessive mortality is ascribed to the fogs and low temperature .

The Countess of Carnarvon , with her daughters , the Ladies Margaret and Victoria Herbert , and her sons , the Hon . Aubrey and the Hon . Alervyn Herbert , have left England for Paris on a two months' visit to the French capital .

Bro . Lord Mayor Evans has consented to preside at the Goth anniversary festival of the Linen and Woollen Drapers ' , Silk Alercers' , Lacemen , Haberdashers ' , and Hosiers' Institution , which will be held at the Hotel Metropolis on the 17 th Alarch .

Great rejoicings have been held on the Duke of Richmond and Gordon ' s estate in Scotland over the coming of age on the 30 th December of Lord Settrington , the eldest son of Bro . the Earl of Alarch . A grand dinnerand ball were liven at Lochabers , Banffshire , and the town was brilliantl y illuminated .

In accordance with orders published in a supplement to the Gazette on Saturday last the Court is in mourning for the late Admiral his Serene Highness the Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg , G . C . B ., nephew of her Alajesty the Queen . On the 15 th inst . the Court will change mourning , and on the 22 nd inst . will go out of mourning altogether .

About 3500 poor children vvere entertained at dinner in the Dome of the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , on New Year ' s Day . The building was appropriately decorated , and the dinner consisted of roast and boiled beef , with plum pudding and dessert . After the meal was over the little ones were sent home , each with a useful article of clothing as a seasonable gift .

Saturday last , the 2 nd inst ., was the jubilee anniversary of the establishment of the Railway Clearing House . The promoters of this important institution were Air . Kenneth Alorrison , Bro . R . Carr-Glyn—subsequently Lord Wolverton—and Air . George Hudson , the ' Railway King . " At the outset the number of clerks was f ., ur , of whom one is still in the house , while the number at present engaged is 2000 .

Bro . Sir Al . E . Hicks-Bea h , Bart ., President of the Board of Trade , after consultation with the Admiralty and War Office authorities , has appointed a Committee to report upon the system of artillery practice seawards from ships and forts , and the conditions under which it should be carried out with due regard to the requirements of the service and the safety of life and property .

VVe have to record the death on Saturday last of Sir George B . Airy , lately Astronomer-Royal . The deceased was bom at Alnwick on the 27 th June , 1 S 01 . Hegradmted at Trinity College , Cambridge , as Senior Wrangler in 1 S 23 , and in 1 S 26 was appointed Lucasian Professor at

Cambridge . In 1 S 35 he succeeded the late Air . Pond as Astronomer-Royal , and retained that office until about ten years ago when he retired on a pension of £ \ 100 a year . He was the author of many important works and had rendered incalculable service lo the cause of science .

In most calendars there is little to review , as they all seem to agree that there are 12 months , 52 weeks , and 365 days in the year . This year ' s Freemasons' Pocket Book , coming as it does on the top of the lamented death of its compiler , Bro . Colonel Shadwell Clerke , willhavea pathetic interest for all members of the Craft . Besides the matter usual in other pocket-books it contains a list of all the

regular lodges , with their places and times of meeting , a list ef all wearers of the purple , and much information invaluable to all Masons from initiates upwards . It is published by George Kenning , iC , Great Oueen-street , with the authority of Grand Lodge , for the benefit of the Charily Fund , and is priced 2 S . —Havik . Bro . Henry Wright , whose marriage at a City church

we recorded a few weeks since , was on Sunday last invited by the Duchess of Teck to White Lodge and to bring his autograph album , which we believe containsan extraordinary number of signatures of the Koyal Family and other distinguished persons . The Duke of Clarence and the

Princess May , win were present , exhihited considerable interest in the collection , and at the suggestion of the Duke and Duchess of Teck Bro . Wright atterwards called at Sheen Lodge and obtained the autograph of the venerable Professor Sir Richard Own , who at the age of 87 still take an interest in passing events .

The first step towards fully understanding the Freemasonry uf to-day is to understand the Freemasonry of primitive times , and uf the interven ng eras between then a'id the present . Any good history of Freemasonry—Foil ' s , or Gould's , or Stillson ' s—will enable a brother to accomplish this , lt is impossible to comprehend the present without knowing the past . If a brother desires to acquire this needed , this profitable , this enjoyable culture , he must

become a reaeung Alason . How lew , compaiatively , there are of them ! lluw few brethren possess at home even the beginnings of a Alasonic library ! How few patronise the periodicals of the Cralt ! But these few become the Craft ' s leaders . These few become truly intelligent Alasons . These few lin 1 out all that there is in Masonry , and make it one ofthe pr . me enjoyments of their lives . —New Zealand Mail .

Masonic And General Tidings.

We are pleased to hear that Bro . J . L . Poole , who has been somewhat seriously ill , is reported to be going on better and making satisfactory progress towards convalescence . The Earl and Countess Cowper have arrived at their country seat , Wrest Park . Amothill , Bedfordshire . The tenants annual dinner was fixed for VVednesday . Bro . the Duke of Devnnshire was on Alonday elected Chancellor of the University of Cambridge , in succession to his father , the late Duke , who had held the office for 30

years . Bro . Sir M . E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., ALP ., presided at a dinner held at the Royal Hotel , Bristol , on Tuesday evening , in aid of the Bristol special apoeal on behalf of the Commercial Travellers' Benevolent Institution .

The Duchess of Albany has been elected member of a working Committee appointed to arrange classes under the Surrey County Council Technical Education Scheme for the benefit of the villagers of Esher in cookery , dressmaking , nursing , and laundry work .

Bro . Francis VV . Frigout , P . AL 171 and 2041 , and one of the founders of the Anglo-American and Columbia Lodges ( who for some years pas' has occupied the position of Deputy Consul-Genera !) , has been appointed Vice and Deputy Consul-General of the United States of America at London , vice Mr . George C Hitt , resigned .

Viscountess Hambleden , widow of the Ri ght Hon . W . H . Smith , ALP ., has forwarded to the vicar of Portsea a cheque for £ 500 to complete the building fund for the parish church . The cost of erection was £ 46 . 000 , and the late First Lord of the Treasury contributed £ 27 , 0000 ! that sum . Her ladyship has also contributed £ 50 and her daughter £ 5 towards the organ fund .

The 32 nd session of the Crystal Palace Company ' s School of Art , Science , and Literature , re-opened after the Christmas vacation on Monday , the 4 th inst ., and the studies of the Junior Section will commence on Monday , the iSth inst . Lectures on ancient and continental history , English history , art , German language , and literature , elocution , social usages , and pianoforte playing will also be resumed . Further particulars can be obtained of the Superintendent in the Library , next the Byzantine Court .

The many friends ot Bro . C . Fitzgerald Matier , Grand Secretary Alark Alaster Masons , will be sorry to learn that he has been seriously ill for the past fortnight . As we announced last week , this prevented his being present at the funeral of the late Grand Secretary . Since then his condition has been such as to cause considerable anxiety to his family and friends , but we are glad to learn that an improvement has taken place , and that he is in a fair way towards recovery .

IHE BADDEI . EY CAKK FESTIVAL . —Bro . Sir Augustus Harris ' s annual festival was as successful as ever , although the scene was changed from the stage of Drury Lane to the Opera House at Covent Garden . The official part of the ceremonial was performed by Sir Augustus himself , who cut the cake and distributed it to whomsoever wished to preserve a portion as a memento of the occasion . Supper

was served at the back of the stage , and the vast auditorium , the seats being covered with a platform , made probably the most spacious ball-room in London . As usual a large number of well-known personages were present . On Wednesday night , December 30 th , the Worshipful Alaster , Wardens , and Committee of the Anchor Lodge , No . > 337 > gave a dance in the Alasonic Hall at Northallerton ,

which was attended with great success . Over ( b ladies and gentlemen responded to the invitations sent out . Dancing took place in the banqueting room , Air . T . Jenkinson ' s band suppling the music , liros . James Ward and Dr . C . Tweedy efficiently acted as M . C . ' s , while the duties of Stewards were discharged by Bros . VV . Bell , H . E . Broderick , J . Naylor , T . Rus ell , J . Vasey , and AI . Walmsley . The evening was most enjoyably spent .

On Thursday night , December 31 st , the annual ball of the Fairfield Lodge , No . 2224 , was held in the National School , Long Eaton , and was well attended . Thebrethren , by special dispensation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire , appeared in full Alasonic clothing and jewels . About 100 ladies and gentlemen were present . The W . AL , Bro . N . J . Hughes-Hallett , was AI . C , and the acting

Stewards were Bros . J . Aiarshall and j . W . Chambers . Songs were given in the intervals by Bro . Rowland Hill , and Bro . J . W . Chambers gave a recitation . The ball was the most successful yet held by the lodge . The band was supplied by Air . John Turner . The Christmas number of the Freemason is replete with much besides the ordinary matter interesting to members of the Craft . In addition to the continued articles by G .

Bhzard Abbott and VV . J . Hughan , there are illustrated articles on " Hungarian Lodge Aledals " and " The Lodge of the Nine Muses , " by Fred . J . VV . Crowe , Prov . G . O . Devon , and W . L . respectively . Bro . Rob . Alorris has a pretty poem on " 1 he Freemason ' s Home . " There are seasonableChristmas stories— "The Last King of Leinster , " by F . AL Allen ( Edmund Downey ;; ' 'The ' Alerrie Maide , '" by Henry Sadler ; "A Alanx Story , ' by Barrule j and ' Light and Shade , " by T . C Walls—which help to swell the attractiveness of this number . —Citiseu .

Pnnce Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg , the Queen ' s nephew , was buried in the burial ground attached ~ o Holy Trinity Church , Sunningdale , on Monday . Amon _; those present were the Prince of Wales , the Duke of Clarence and Avondale , the Duke of Connaught , who represented the Queen , Prince Henry uf Battenberg , Prince Albert of

Schlcswig-IIoLtein . representing the Prince and Princess Christian , Prince Kdward of Saxe-Weimar , the Duke of Cambridge , the Duke of Teck , the Marquis of Lome , Bro . Lord Alcester , the Alarquis of Hertford , Admiral Sir John E . Commerell , V . C , G . C . B ., and others . A memorial service was also held in the Chapel Kuy . il , at which her Alajesty and other members ol the Royal Family were represented .

H 0 u . 0 w _ . 1 _ s I M . S . —With changing temperature the digestion becomes impaired , I her disordered , and mind d . spondent . The cause of tlie . se irregularities is easily removed liv the uss of Holloway ' s .-intmeiit and I'ilis . Th . y ilireetlv attack the source of the evil , reinov all iinpinilics from the . ireii ation , restore lhe alh-cted organs to their natural state , and correct all defective

secretions . An > a _ . y mean * of restoring health anil strength is supplied by Holloway ' s I'll s and Ointment . These famous imdiciiies arc bin d renovating re-medie-, whose influence reaches the great centre ' s of the iiervuii * system , p . iiili . s the circulation , induces a he-jllhy st-te of the bodily powers , gi . es tone t » the stomach and brain , producing a desire lor food , and all the proper requirements for health and vigour .