Masonic And General Tidings

MASONIC AND GENERAL TIDINGS

The regular meeting of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution will take place at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday next , the 13 th instant , when the number of vacancies on the two funds will be declared , and the lists of candidates for the May election will be finally settled and approved .

A full account of the installation of Bro . W . Eckersall into the chair of W . M . of the Stability Lodge , 217 , will appear in our next issue . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., will preside at the next annual dinner of Earlswood Asylum for Idiots at the

Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street , on the 13 th March . Bro . Parkinson has been tor the last 20 years an ardent supporter of this admirable Charity , and has made himself familiar with its working , and we trust he will receive the support which his labours in behalf of the institution deserve . It is commonl y believed that in consequence of the delay which has taken place in the selection of a site for the new Wimbledon , this year ' s meeting of the National Rifle Association will be held at Wimbledon . The final announcement will be at the winter business meeting of the Association , which will be held at the Royal United Service Institution on the 28 th inst ., when the Commanderin-Chief is expected to be oresent . It is also stated that a

majority of the members of the Council are in favour of its being held as near London as possible , and that in consequence the choice of sites lies between Staines and a spot between Brighton and Lewes . The Melbourne Exhibition was closed by the Governor , Sir Henry Loch , on Thursday , the 31 st ult ., his Excellency being received by a guard of honour and the President of the Exhibition Committee , who presented him with an address .

A Requiem Mass was heldat the Roman Catholic Chapel in Farm-street , Berkeley-square , on Tuesday , in honour of his late Imperial Highness Rudolph , Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary . Among those present were the Prince of Wales , representing Her Majesty the Queen ,

the Princes Albert Victor and George of Wales , and all the other male members of the Royal Family in England , and Bros , the Duke of Abercorn , the Eirl of Lathom ( Lord Chamberlain ) , a majority of the members of the Diplomatic Corps , the Prime Minister , and others .

Bro . the Earl of Limerick has been appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard in succession to Bro . the Earl of Kintore , and is succeeded as Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen by the Earl of Romney . Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P ., First Lord of the Admiralty , accompanied by the Director of Naval Ordnance ( Captain Fisher ) , visited the gun works of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co . ( Limited ) , at Manchester , on the 31 st ult .

Every one must regret the destruction by fire , on Sunday evening , of the fine old Gothic church of Hanmer , Flintshire , built 4 S 0 years ago , and considered to be one of the grandest specimens of Gothic architecture . It was also noted for its exquisitely-carved oak ceiling , its

splendid stained glass windows , and its peal of bells ; but these are all destroyed now , and nothing remains of the ancient edifice but the tower , which is in a dangerous condition , and the four bare walls . The damage , so far as it is retrievable , is set down at £ 30 , 000 .

Bro . Baron Henry De Worms , M . P ., Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade , addressed his constituents at Liverpoal on the chief topics of the day on Tuesday evening . Among those who called at the Austrian Embassy , in Belgrave-square , when the sad news of the death of the Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria-Hungary

had reached this country , were the Prince of Wales , attended by Bro . Sir Francis Knollys , who travelled specially from Sandringham to London , General Sir Francis Seymour , on behalf of her Majesty , the Empress Eugenie , Baron H . De Worms , M . P ., Bro . Lord and Lady Algernon

Gordon-Lennox , most of the foreign Ministers , and several membersof the Ministry . Orders were given on the receipt of the news of the Crown Prince Rudolph ' s death for the Court to go into mourning on the 31 st ult ., to change mourning on the 7 th instant , and to go out of mourning on the 14 th instant .

Bro . Lord Mayor Whitehead presided at a meeting of City merchants , held under the auspices of the London Chamber of Commerce , at the Egyptian Hall , Piccadilly , on Friday , the ist instant , when Bro . Lord Brassey attended , and delivered a lecture on "The Actual Strength of the British Navy and the Expenditure required to secure its Supremacy . "

It is with extreme regret that we have had the news confirmed , from a very reliable source , of the resignation of Bro . the Rev . A . W . M . Weatherly , who has held the curacy of Portishead parish for some years . The rev . geitleman , by his kind and genial disposition , his generosity , his mingling with all classes , and many other traits of characterhas endeared himself in such a large measure

, to every parishoner , that the blow which has been so suddenl y struck is a very severe one , and we are quite sure that we are expressing the wish of the whole parish in sa ymg that we sincerely hope the decision he has arrived at may be reconsidered . Bro . Weatherly is at the present ' ¦ me W . M . of the Eldon lodge , No . 1755 , meeting at Portishead .

The " Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary , and Pocket Book" ( George Kenning , 16 , Great Queenstreet ) contains a great variety of information useful to freemasons . It is a handy volume for the pocket . —St James ' s Gazette . he ? i ' t DKAF - - ~ A Person cured o £ Deafness and noises in the tion f •23 years' standin S by a simple remedy , will send a dcscrip . Sn « , r FREE to any P « son who applies to NICHOLSON , ar , Bedford luare , London . W . C .

Masonic And General Tidings

The Mansion House Fund for the relief of the distress caused by the recent famine in China amounted , on Saturday last , to about £ 8000 . The Prince of Wales arrived at Osborne on a visit to the Queen on Friday , the ist im > t ., and the following morning paid a visit of inspection to the Queen Victoria Hospital Ship of the Mission to Deep Sea F ' uhermen . His

Royal H ighness returned to Marlborough House on Monday . At the annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Banffshire , held in the St . Andrew ' s Hall , Banff , on the 30 th ult ., Bro . the Earl of Fife was elected Prov . Grand Master ; and Bros . R . VV . Duff of Fetteresso , M . P ., Depute Prov . Grand Master ; James Simpson , Substitute

Prov . Grand Master ; Francis George , Prov . Senior Grand Warden ; James Gray , Prov . Grand Secretary ; Rev . Jas . Davidson , Piov . Grand Chaplain ; R . Morrison , Prov . Grand Treasurer ; Garden M . Hossack , Prov . Grand Clerk ; C . VV . Cosser , Prov . Grand Aichitect ; and A . M'Dougall , Prov . Grand Director of Ceremonies . The Prov . Grand Stewards were appointed .

The annual dinner of the Provincial Gi * and Lodge of Perth ( tast ) , of which the late Bro . Stewart iVleniies , M . P ., was Depute Grand Master , was to have been held last week , but out of respect to the memory of the deceased brother it has been postponed . A meeting of the Masonic Committee of Petitions for the Province of Devonshire was held on the 31 st ult .,

at the Mas > onic Hall , Gandy-street , Exeter . Bro . W . G . Rogers , 112 , P . G . D . England and D . P . G . M . Devon , the Chairman , presided , and the usual reports were presented . Bro . VV . G . Rogers , the Chairman , and Bro . J . B . Cover , the Secretary , were both unanimously re-elected . THE GAVEL CLUB . —VVe learn that the annual dinner in connection with the above club takes place at the Freemasons' J avern tnis ( Friday ) evening , and that an

exceptionally good musical evening is expected . The date fixed , tor the Cinderella is March 2 bth , and there is no doubt that it will be quite as successful as usual . The dinner will be under the presidency of Gaveller Bassano . Bro . W . Thomas , W . M . 2045 , will rehearse the ceremony of installation at the Hyde Park Lodge of Instruction , No . 1425 , held at the Porchester Hotel , Leinsterplace , Paddington , on Monday , the nth instant .

Tne City of Westminster Lodge ball will take p lace on the igth inst . at the Cannon-street Hotel . Double tickets ( including champagne supper and refreshments ) will be charged 30 s . Brctnren wisning to avail themselves of an enjoyable evening can have tickets by applying for same to tiro . J . A . Berther , Cannon-street Hotel ( Secretary to the Ball Committee ) .

Bro . Lord Mayor Whitehead had an interview on Tuesday with the Education Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society of England , in reierence to teaching the elements of agricultural chemistry and agricultural science in all rural schools .

Bro . Lord Halsbury ( Lord High of Chancellor of England ) presided at a complimentary banquet given , at the Holborn Restaurant on Tuesday evening , to Mr . Poland , Q . C . Among the guests present on the occasion were Bros . Sir E . Clarke , Q . C , M . P ., Solicitor-General , Sir VV . Charley , Q . C , Col . Howard Vincent , Q . C , Montagu Williams , and others .

The members of the Royal Navy Club of 1765 held their customary dinner in celebration of the anniversary of Founders' Day at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , on Tuesday evening . Bro . Sir Michael E . Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., who has been spending the recess at Williamstrip Park , near Gloucester , returned to town on Tuesday .

Bro . Lord Kensington has announced an abatement of 20 per cent , on the rents of all agricultural tenants on his Welsh estates , and similar reductions have been made by other landlords in other parts of Wales . A collision , which was attended with fatal consequences , occurred off Dungeness , on Sunday night ,

between the steamship Nereid , of Newcastle , and the sailing ship Killochan , of Greenock . Both vessels sank within 15 minutes of the disaster , 23 of the crew going down with them . The rest of the crews were saved by the steam tug Red Rose of London , whose crew made such gallant efforts that all who did not go down with the vessels were rescued .

Bro . Lord Magheramorne presided at the weekl y meeting , on the ist inst ., of the Metropolitan Board ol Works , when , in the course of the proceedings , an influential deputation from the Marylebone Vestry attended , and protested against the action of the Board in sanctioning the erection of certain buildings which will have the effect of narrowing the Marylebone-road .

A deputation , which included Bro . Lord Plunket , Archbishop of Dublin , waited on Mr . Balfour , M . P ., Chief Secretary for Ireland , on the ist inst ., on the subject of the Sunday closing of public houses and their early closing on Saturday night . A complimentary banquet was given to Bro . G . Collins , 1641 , on the ist inst .. at the Holborn Restaurant ,

in honour of his return to the London School Board at the recent election . The chair was occupied by Bros . T . E . Heller , P . M . 1641 , P . Z . 1329 , and there were several members of the School Board present , including Bros . H . Lynn , J . W . 217 , and J . Lobb . Among the friends present were Bros . J . W . Thomas , P . M . ; R . Greenwood , P . M . ; C . Wilson , and C . Woods .

Bro . Major Cockle ( Master of the Homers ' Company , member of the court of the Musicians' Company ) has composed an opera , founded on the play , "The Lady of Lyons . " It will be produced at a West-end theatre towards the end of May .

HOLLOWAY S OINTMENT AND PILLS . — though it is impossible , in this climate ot changing temperature , to prevent ill-health altogether . ) ct its form and frequency may be much mitigated by the early adoption of remedial measures . ' When hoarseness , cough , thick breathing , and the attending slight fever indicates irritation of the throat or cheat , Holloway's Ointment should be rubbed upon

these parts without delay , and his Pills taken in appropriate doses , to promote its curative action . No catarrhs or sore throats can resist these remedies . Printed directions envelope every package of Holloway's medicaments , which are suited to all ages and conditions , and to every ordinary disease to which humanity is liable . —ADVT .

Masonic And General Tidings

The election banquet of the Homers' Company was given on Saturday evening , at the Guildhall Tavern , when a large and distinguished company were present . The Master ( Bro . Major Cockle , Mus . Bac , Oxon , M . A . ) presided .

The Kingswood Lodge , No . 227 S , Elstree , was consecrated on Monday , the 4 th inst ., in the presence of a large gathering of the brethren from all parts of the Province of Hertfordshire and many distinguished visitors , among those present being Bro . JT . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov .

G . M ., who , with the assistanceof Bro . J . E . Dawson , D . P . G . M ., and his Prov . Grand Officers , performed the ceremony of consecration ; Bros . T . W . Tew , Prov . G . M . West Yorkshire ; H . Smith , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . ; James Terry , P . G . S . B ., P . P . J . G . W . Herts ; and T . S . Carter , P . M . 403 ,

P . P . J . G . W . We understand that , at the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Scotland to be held on Thursday , an effort was to be made by a number of the brethren to induce the Grand Lodge to reconsider its recent decision

exptllmg Bro . VVilliam Edwards from the Craft because of his having admitted two ladies to a Masonic funeral ceremony , in honour of their father , while the lodge was "tyled" in the Third Degree . A memorial in support of the application is said to have received the support of a large number of the brethren .

MASONIC BALL AT BANGOR . —A ball in aid of the Masonic Charities of the North Wales Province took place on the 30 th ult . at the George Hotel , and attracted a large and fashionable gathering of the Craft , nearly all the lodges in the province being represented . Bros . Dr .

Langford Jones and W . Thornton Jones , 3 S 4 , acted as honorary Secretaries , and the general arrangements were admirably carried out under the supervision of Bro . Dudley Dance , the manager of the hotel . The orchestra was supplied by Mr . J . Richardson .

We are glad to learn that Bro . Milton Smith has at length listened to the solicitations of his numerous friends and consented to offer himself as a candidate for the vacancy in the representation of the Ward of Bishopsgate on the Common Council caused by the lamented

death of Mr . W . J . Bush . Bro . Smith is a man of large and varied experience in connection with local and municipal affairs , and his election as a Common Councilman will be greatly to the advantage of the ward he represents as well as a further honour deservedly won by himself .

ROYAL PRINCESS S THEATRE . —Full houses at every performance last week attested the wisdom of the management in reviving " Hamlet "for twelve nights , with matinees of "The Lady of Lyons " on Wednesdays and Saturdays , To-morrow ( Saturday ) will positively be the last performance of "Hamlet , " as "Good Old Times" takes the stage on Tuesday , the 12 th . Miss Grace Hawthorne is now convalescent , and will be able to attend the rehearsal of " Now-a-Days " next week .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . H . B . MARSHALL , J . —On Wedneday the employes of Horace Marshall and Son presented Bro . H . B . Marshall , jun ., with an elegantly illuminated address , accompanied by a silverluncheon tray and biscuit box , with decanters and glasses , on the occasion of his approaching mairiage . Mr . John Morgan , the manager , through whom the presentation was made , assured Bro .

Marshall of the good feeling entertained towards him by the staff and of their recognition of his desire to promote their welfare . Bro . Marshall , in reply , said that no more gratifying present had been made to him . He cordially reciprocated their good feeling and good wishes , and he trusted that as time went on the friendship between them would be still more firmly cemented .

MASONIC "AT HOME . "—The Portsmouth Temperance Lodge , No . 206 S , whose trysting place is the sailor boys' room at the Soldiers' Institute , Portsmouth , is one of the most successful lodges on the south coast , for , though it is only four years old , it numbers 10 S members , and has contributed over £ 300 to the Masonic Charities . During the year just closed £ 67 has been subscribed to the

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , and at the meeting on the 28 th ult . a letter of thanks was read from the Secretary , Bro . G . F . Lancaster . At this meeting Bro . W . Miller was unanimously elected to succeed Bro . T . Tufnell as W . M . ; Bro . C . G . Adames was elected Treasurer ; Bro . John Wells was elected Tyler ; and the newly-elected W . M . was

chosen to represent the lodge at the Provincial Grand Lodge Committees . After the lodge meeting , the members were" at home " in the Lecture Hall of the Institute , and were joined by their wives and friends . In the course of the evening supper was served , and the music and singing were interspersed by some clever legerdemain tricks by Bro . P . H . Emanuel , a member of the lodge .

Bro . Barrell , P . M . 469 , P . Z . 272 , P . A . G . D . C . Lincolnshire , has been elected an Alderman , and the provisional Chairman of the County Council of Holland . The first meeting of the Stuart Lodge of Instruction , No . 1632 , was held on the 31 st ult ., at the Red Lion

Hotel , Poppin ' s Court , 112 , Fleet-street , E . G ., Bro . Speigel , P . M ., in the chair , and a numerous attendance of P . M . 's and brethren , when arrangements were made for the consecration of this lodge , on the 28 th inst ., at the Holborn Restaurant .

"Bacon ' s "—for nearly a century a well-known and at one time a much-frequented hotel—in the classic regions of Great Queen-street , closed its doors a few days ago , on its lease falling into the ground landlords , the Grand Lodge of Freemasons , Miss Pope , the actress , lived there once , and the carved chimney pieces and

moulded ceilings in two of the rooms would make the fortune of a curiosity-dealer . The putting up the shutters of this old-world hostelry gave rise to a wholl y unfounded report that Messrs . Spiers and Pond were about to relinquish the Freemasons' Tavern , which adjoins it . —The World .

"Your ( DR . LOCOCK ' S ) PULMONIC WAFERS are invaluable for the Voice , Throat , and Chest . All persons sutiering from Bronchitis , Hacking Cough , and DEPRIVATION OF REST , should take them . "—From Mr . riarle , M . P . S ., 32 , Market Place , Hull . In Asthma , Consumption , Bronchitis , Coughs , Colds , Gout , Rheu . matism , and all Hysterical and Nervous Complaints , instant relief and a rapid cure is given by Dr . LOCOCK'S WAFERS , which taste pleasantly . Sold by all druggists at is , i $ d . and as . gd . per box . ADVT .